ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (April 25 2013) – Former NABC World lightweight title-holder “Merciless” Mary McGee (20-1, 11 KOs) is going to Albuquerque with nothing but respect for her opponent, 14-time, three-division world champion Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm (32-2-3, 9 KOs). She’s also heading there to spoil the soon-to-be-retired Holm’s final appearance in a boxing ring, on Saturday night, May 11, at Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque.

Holm recently announced that she will retire from boxing after this fight to pursue her mixed-martial-arts career. McGee will challenge Holm for her International Boxing Association (IBA) and World Boxing Federation (WBF) junior welterweight titles in the 10-round main event on the “Mayhem” card, presented by Fresquez Productions.

Fighting out of Gary, Indiana, McGee earned her title shot against Holm by stopping Victoria Cisneros (TKO4) in her last fight (December 7), on a card headlined by Holm vs.Diana Prazak. The rugged Cisneros had been the full distance against the likes of, among the more notables, Holm (twice), Cecelia Braekhus, Layla McCarter, Chevelle Hallback and Melissa Hernandez.

“I appreciate the opportunity to fight Holly Holm, who is the biggest name in our sport,” McGee said. “A fight like this is good for our sport and I’m glad to be in it. She is a true champion who has always fought the best. They saw what I could do there in my last fight. I want to challenge myself to fight the best and have trained hard for that. I’m at that level now. In basketball, teams don’t choose who to play next, and I think women’s boxing should be the same way, fighting the next in line. Cecilia chose to fight Mia (St. John) in her last fight, instead of Holly, and that decision hurt our sport. I think it was stupid and made us all look bad.”

Described as a good boxer-puncher, McGee believes her ability to fight a variety of different ways presents the biggest problem for her opponent, who Mary says, “Brings her experience as world champion against the best and self-confidence into the ring. I could go on and on about her. She’s also a smart fighter who has been there, done that, and is always focused.

“I take nothing away from her and look forward to being in a great fight. But, flat out, I want to win. I will not disrespect Holly in anyway. I have nothing but respect for all she’s done in boxing. I do believe in myself and look forward to a great fight.”

Also fighting on “Mayhem” is a group of New Mexico’s most promising prospects. Albuquerque lightweight Matthew Baca (2-1, 2 KO’s) takes on Armando Gonzales (2-2, 1 KO) in a six-round bout. On the undercard in four rounds 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.”

Buenos Aires, Argentina (4/25/13) – Yesterday afternoon, defending WBC Middleweight Champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (50-2-2, 28KO’s) and the U.K.’s undefeated WBA interim champion Martin Murray (25-0-1, 11KO’s) completed the final media day ahead of their anticipated World Championship bout that will air live on HBO from Buenos Aires, Argentina Saturday night. The Championship bout will take place at the country’s famed 50,000-seat Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina, with HBO World Championship Boxing providing live coverage starting at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT. It marks HBO Boxing’s first-ever telecast from South America and the first time the native-Argentinean has fought at home in over 11-years.

The day kicked off with a international media teleconference, and ended with the final press conference held in Argentina. The presser was attended by over 25 television networks, and included over 150 media outlets in total. The entire country is buzzing about the event on Saturday, as it will be the first time the champion Martinez will ever have defended his middleweight crown on his home turf.

Both fighters will weigh-in tomorrow, live at 11 a.m. ET. Below is a complete transcript from yesterday’s teleconference, as well as photo’s from yesterday’s final presser.

L-R: Pablo Sarmiento, Sergio Martinez, Lou DiBella

L-R: Sampson Lewkowicz, Ricky Hatton and Neil Marsh

Photo Courtesy HBO/Will Hart

Lou DiBella: Thanks, everybody for joining us tonight. I can’t tell you how thrilling it is to be here in Buenos Aires and to see the excitement around Sergio Martinez. When my cab arrived from the airport this morning to the hotel, I saw three buses with Sergio on them, four trucks and about six billboards. He truly is a huge star right now in his homeland and we’re excited to bring this home coming to you on Saturday night.

The event will take place at a Club Atletico Velez Sarsfield. I’d like to thank everybody who works at Club Atletico Velez Sarsfield for their help. Our sponsors Aerolineas Argentina and YPF I’d like to thank them. I’d also like to thank the Secretary of Sports for Argentina and the Argentina Boxing Federation, as well as (Carlos Rodriguez) and everyone from the WBC.

This event will be televised in the United States on HBO. It will be televised live. There is a terrific opening battle between Luis Carlos Abregu, 34-1 with 28 KO’s, and Antoine Decarie, 27-1, 8KO’s for the WBC Silver Title and that should be a terrific competitive fight. I’d like to say a few words first. I’d like to introduce the Senior Vice President of HBO Sports, my friend, Kery Davis.

Kery Davis: Thanks, Lou. I’m really excited. I’m not in Buenos Aires yet, but I will be there tomorrow. We look forward to – anytime Sergio Martinez fights, we look forward to it. He’s one of the best fighters in the world, so it’s always an event when he laces them up and steps into the ring, but this one is really special.

It really represents a home coming for Sergio and it’s something that we at HBO have looked forward to since Sergio’s rise to the top of the middleweight division. This will be our first time televising fights from Argentina. We expect there will be a lively raucous crowd, which always makes for good television, and I’m sure they’re going to be cheering on their hero and Sergio.

Sergio opponent, Martin Murray, is a top middleweight contender and you know, he’s going to be facing tough odds, but you know, he’s used to being in the lion’s den, if you will, because he’s got a great credential going into Germany and fighting the former middleweight champion, Felix Sturm. We really think it is going to be an entertaining fight. Telecast will start actually from Ontario, California where we’ll do a heavyweight fight between two big punchers – Chris Arreola and Bermane Stiverne.

We’ll follow that by doing the under card welt away fight that Lou just referred to between Abregu and Decarie and then we’ll go right to the main event. It’ll be a triple header on HBO. Our start time, again, will be 8:30 Eastern and Pacific, and we look forward to a really exciting event. Thank you, Lou and Sampson for putting it together for us.

Lou DiBella: Thank you, Kery. Thank you, Kery. I’m going to introduce first a few members of the Martin Murray camp and then I’ll introduce Sergio’s camp and then I’ll go through the fighters for a few words. Martin Murray is promoted by Ricky Hatton and he’s here with his manager, Neil Marsh – the loquacious Neil Marsh – who I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting yet. I’m going to start with Neil and let Neil say a few words about his fighter.

Martin Murray is 25-0 with one draw, 11 KO’s, he’s never tasted defeat. I’ve looked at tapes of him and he’s one of the toughest guys in the middleweight division, absolutely deserving of being, not only in the top ten, but probably in the top five or six. He’s a very, very good fighter. That’s one of the reasons why Sergio wanted this fight. Sergio doesn’t shy away from any challenge and Martin Murray presents a real meaningful challenge. Neil, would you like to say a few words about your fighter?

Neil Marsh: Yes. Obviously, I’m Neil and it’s a pleasure to be involved with such a big fight. This is a fantastic opportunity for us. As you know, Martin went to Germany, went into a lion’s den once before, which we believe all was in good standings here in Argentina. We’re fully confident about the task ahead. We believe it’s our time.

Lou DiBella: Thank you, Neil. As many people in boxing have heard over and over again, he’s sung in arenas all over the world, there’s only one Ricky Hatton, and I’d like that one Ricky Hatton to say a few words about his fighting. Ricky?

Ricky Hatton: Hello. Hi, guys. Yes, very much looking forward to this fight. Obviously, there are so many versions of world titles these days, but this is for the real middleweight championship. He’s number 3 pound for pound and I can’t speak any more highly of Sergio Martinez. I remember him from the early days back in England when he was boxing in England against people like Adrian Stone, so he’s really paid his dues and he deserves to be held in such high recognition, which he has obviously held.

Like any good fighter – a good fighter, and that’s exactly what Sergio is – every good fighter’s lane comes to an end sometimes and I believe its Saturday night. There’s always some young, hungry person that comes forward to set the mantle and I believe Martin Murray is the man. He’s been in the lion’s den before against Felix Sturm, put in a performance while he was there and it may have been a little bit too soon for him, but we didn’t. That will hold him in good set for the task ahead.

I’ve seen a change in Martin this week, to be honest with you. He knows if he would have just took the bull by the horns a little bit against Felix Sturm, he may be able to come away with a win. He’s put that light to his game and I’ve seen a nasty Martin Murray this week. He’s come over to Argentina, he’s not overawed by the occasion like you would expect in Argentina when you’re fighting someone as high of a name as Sergio Martinez. He’s reaming with confidence, he’s never looked as sharp and inspired, and he’s got a real nasty streak about him.

You know, again, with Felix Sturm, maybe he should have started a couple rounds earlier. He’s going to put light on Saturday night. He knows he’s got to be aggressive in this fight and I’ve seen a total change in his demeanor this week. The main thing from his promoter in coming out there, all the way to Argentina, I don’t want to see the occasion getting to him or anything like that.

That has certainly not been the case. He just can’t come quick enough for Saturday night, so we’re certainly grateful for sharing the ring with a champion as good as Sergio Martinez. I think every good champion’s ring comes to an end, and I think Sergio’s will be coming to an end on Saturday.

Lou DiBella: Thanks, Ricky. I disagree with you, but thank you very much. I’d like to thank everybody in Team Martinez, particularly (Miguel), for all that they’ve done. Of course, I would be remised if I didn’t allow my partner in this event, he’s representing Sampson Boxing, I’ve said this many times, but he’s one of the great minds in boxing. He’s had years of being Sergio’s advisor and now has been very active in putting this deal together with our partners in Argentina and with the Argentine Government. I’d like to introduce, from Sampson Boxing, Sampson Lewkowicz.

Sampson Lewkowicz: Thank you very much, everyone. Yes, I’m here. Thank you very much to everyone. I really appreciate the opportunity that Lou DiBella allowed me to prove that I’m – that I throw my heart on the boxing as a promoter.

This is going to be the biggest event that I ever did on my own with the help of a new team, as well as mine. How I can say thank you to HBO to make history – not only for HBO, but more for somebody that I like so much and I love so much, like my own son, Sergio Martinez. This is well deserved for him to be on top of the game in this one country of Argentina.

I never forgot – Kerry Davis one day told me, (unintelligible) it happened probably two years ago. I told him it would be a fantasy, and today it’s a reality. Thank you. Thank you to every one of you, and thank you for the prayers, the support and so much. Thank you on behalf of all of the Martinez team. Thank you. God bless you.

Lou DiBella: Thank you, Sampson.

And now to the fighters – I have tremendous respect for this young man. He’s never tasted defeat, I love the way he fights, he’s a high pressure fighter, he’s relentless. I thought he’d beat Felix Sturm, and I know that this is a real challenge. I know that he did not come to Argentina overwhelmed or scared. He came here believing he’s going to win and he’s been telling everyone close to him that he’s going to win. I’m sure he’s going to tell you the same thing right now, Martin Murray.

Martin Murray: Yes.

Lou DiBella: You want to speak your words, Martin?

Martin Murray: Yes. It’s a pleasure to be here fighting Sergio in Argentina.

I’m having a great training camp. Like you just said, I’ve not come over here to lose or to make numbers. I’ve trained out and I’m trained to win. Sergio is a great fighter who I’ve looked up to over the past couple years, but I really think it’s my time. Whatever Sergio brings on Saturday, I’ll be ready for. I’m just looking forward to being involved in a great fight.

Lou DiBella: Thank you, Martin. The next gentleman I’m going to announce is the greatest fighter I have ever promoted.

Not only because he’s a terrific talent, not only because he’s, in my mind, at the top of the pound for pound list, right with Floyd Mayweather, but also because of the type of man he is.

He’s just a good human being, he’s got a great sense of social consciousness, he’s back in his homeland where he’s waited to fight until this moment, until he could pull off this type of event, and this is going to be a great (unintelligible) of people at Club Atletico Velez Sarsfield supporting their hometown hero, supporting the future hall of famer, and it’s my honor to present my fighter, Sergio Gabriel Martinez. Sergio? Oh, and translating for Sergio will be Ricardo Figueroa. Sergio? Ricardo?

Sergio Martinez (translated by Ricardo Figuero)

Sergio Martinez: Good afternoon. How is everyone? Everything is well on his side, better than ever. I am very confident. I know that the expectations are very high, but I am training at a very high level and I am very confident that I am going to have a great fight on Saturday. This Saturday, this fight will end by knock out. My training and my confidence are at the highest level, even higher than the last fight with Chavez and therefore, I predict a knock out this Saturday night.

QUESTIONS:

Diego Zorillo: In Argentina, you’ve become like a folk hero. How do you take all of that into consideration with yourself?

Sergio Martinez: Everything that I’ve been through in my life, you know, has been so overwhelming and hard that the boxing would be actually the lightest of the hardest things that I’ve had to endure in life. That’s how I feel about that.

I’ve had to learn, you know, to deal with changes and the pressures of boxing, but that’s done hand in hand with kind of like how my life has been as far as things being rough and things changing as I’ve evolved as a fighter in my life.

(Diego Zorilla): How do you feel with the irony that you started out as an athlete playing soccer and you played in this particular stadium and now you’re going not only play there, but obviously now fight as a boxer, as a biggest event ever in that stadium. How do you feel about that?

Sergio Martinez: I can honestly tell you that I cannot say how I’m going to feel because I have to be in the ring at the time and after the fight, I’ll be able to answer that with certainty. I’m definitely very excited and I’m looking forward to this, but I’ll be able to answer that question when I step out of the ring.

(Chris Guns): Yes, my first question is for Martin. Martin, you fought all of your fights in Great Britain besides the Felix Sturm fight. Basically, he was past the time and it was almost an even fight according to everybody. What do you think prepares you for taking on this kind of animal in his homeland of Argentina?

Martin Murray: The Felix Sturm fight was a learning experience for me. I learned loads in that fight, loads of things I learned in that fight, that I will be bringing into this fight. The fact that it’s such a big challenge, I know that a performance on Saturday is going to have to be the best performance for me, but it’s a performance that I’m more than capable of doing, and the fact that it’s against such a great fighter and he’s got me up for it.

I like doing the type of fights now where I can do it again, and I will be doing it again on Saturday. Like I said, I’ll be looking forward to putting all of the training to producing and coming out victorious.

(Chris Guns): Sergio earned his name in the sport. A lot of people have him as high up as number two or three in the world. He’s faced everybody, all kinds of styles, from Paul Williams to Kelly Pavlik and he’s been in the big event against Chavez. How do you assess Sergio’s career and how do you feel like is your best plan to beat him? What is the best way to fight Sergio Martinez?

Martin Murray: Obviously, I’ve never fought anybody like Sergio’s style before, but I know all different types of style. That was hard to get an exact guy with Sergio’s style with it being so unique, but we got plenty of different styles of sparring partners, who all did the things that we needed. We’ve had a good training cap. As well as that, I’ve got a great trainer who is always coming up with the right game, has the right tactics. We just think and we know that we’ve got what it takes to beat Martinez.

(Chris Guns): Good luck, Martin. Sergio, it’s been a while since you fought in front of your hometown. What kind of reception have you received?

Sergio Martinez: It’s been amazing, the best that you can imagine possible, landing here and then having the people cheering you. Just the love is very overwhelming and how everyone is treating me right now.

(Chris Guns): I know Lou DiBella thinks highly of Martin Murray, but a lot of people don’t give him much of a shot against you.

Sergio Martinez: Statistics are just, you know, those are just numbers and what peoples’ opinions are, but this is going to be a very tough fight. I am fully aware of that and I would never take any of that for granted. I know how people can predict, but when you get in the ring, it’s a fight. This guy, he deserves to be in the ring with me and I don’t look at any of that stuff, so I’m prepared for a very, very, very tough fight.

(Chris Guns): I hear you and Martin Murray pull an upset, you never know. You can’t really overlook anyone, but if you are successful, what are the chances that your next fight might be against someone like (Genetti Galaskin) or (Peter Quillin), someone who people give a legitimate chance to fight and beat you?

Lou DiBella: I think we’d rather not talk about his next fight before this one. He’s got a pretty big challenge on Saturday night. We’ll worry about his next fight after the fight.

(Chris Guns): Okay, and one more question. You’re not getting any younger Sergio. I haven’t seen any signs of slippage from you, but nobody can decide when is time, unless maybe Bernard Hopkins, you’re talking. How much longer do you see yourself fighting and do you see any changes as you’ve gotten older? Do you see any changes in your skill?

Sergio Martinez: I don’t even think of that kind of stuff right now. I’m focused right now on this fight that is coming up. Maybe after the fight, I’ll talk with my team and as they move with their future plans, I can give a better answer to that, but right now, I don’t think about any of that as age or a time or date. Right now, that’s not even a question in my mind.

(Lem Satterfield): Hey Lou, how you doing? Hello to Lou, Samson, Martin and Sergio.

Martin Murray: How you doing?

Lou DiBella: Hello.

(Lem Satterfield): So listen, Sergio is six, one and one in his last eight fights. Every single one of them has been exciting, he cuts guys up, he knocks them out, he gets up off the canvas and wins, and his last fight was on Pay per View. My question for all three of you – Sergio, Samson and Lou – is he appreciated for who he is and what he is as a fighter?

Lou DiBella: I’ll take the first crack at that one, since it’s all three of us. First of all, you can look at that six, one and one, and it pretty easily could be 8 and 0, because I thought he beat Paul Williams the first time and he certainly beat Kermit Cintron. I think people are getting a treat in getting to see – and I thank HBO for this, because all of his fights since Alex Bunema have been televised by HBO. You’re getting the chance to a see in my mind, one of the greatest middleweights who has ever lived and one of the two great middleweights in the history of Argentina. You can mention them in the same breath at this point. You could mention Sergio Martinez in the same sentence as Carlos Monzon and you’re not doing any injustice to Monzon. That’s how great Sergio is. I think that among the people who know, they know they’re getting the chance to see an all-time great fighter and a future Hall-of-Famer.

Does he get the credit he’s due? Maybe not, but it’s coming more and more, and Saturday night in his homeland, there will be 40,000 plus people filling the stadium to show him the love and respect that he deserves.

Sampson Lewkowicz: Sergio Martinez has jumped the fence to see what’s green on the other side. He’s motivated, he’s a human being and he’s got the heart for the people.

It creates an enigma that people – if he didn’t know about boxing today in Argentina especially, it’s all part of the human being of Sergio Martinez and today, you see the boxer. I believe that it’s an example for many area boxers that you need to get out of that circle to get to the people because at the end of the day, that will make you whatever you are today.

Today, I’m very, very proud to be part of this team with Lou, with Sergio, with (Pablos Samiento), with our assitant Raquel. This is an unbelievable team and I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone and hopefully we continue for one more year, because Sergio promised to his mother that he would not fight at age 40.

(Lem Satterfield): Sergio? Can Sergio answer that question?

Sergio Martinez: : I feel that respect is earned and I was once was in a situation where Murray wis. You have to earn your respect in this game. Everything I have done and everything I have accomplished, I have earned.

(Lozoro Malrose): Sergio, after your last fight, what do you feel you have to improve on and how do you feel with the pressure of fighting in front of your family?

Sergio Martinez: I am very conscious that there are a lot of things that you always have to improve, things with my trainer (Pablo) – we work on many things. I wouldn’t think to say, what are those things that I have to improve on or that I have improved on, but we’re very conscious of that and we continue to work to improve.

Bob Velin: Hey Sergio and Lou, how you doing? Sergio, I guess the obvious question is what does it mean to you to be back fighting in your home country after 11 years, and has it been more of a distraction for you training down there and getting ready for your fight or have people basically, you know, let you do your thing down there?

Sergio Martinez: Of course. When you come home and you’ve worked hard, people show love and appreciate and I have felt that and that receptiveness from the fans and the people, but that has not distracted me whatsoever. The eight weeks of camp have been wonderful, including this last week that we have moved camp here Everything has been great, no distractions. I’m ready to go.

Bob Velin: Question for Lou – what’s it been like to be down there with Sergio and just traveling around with him and did you go to his hometown, and how was that?

Lou DiBella: Actually, I just got in and to be honest, Sergio is laying pretty low this week. He takes – I mean, if you know Sergio, he takes fight week very seriously and it’s usually not a very social week for him. He likes to sort of keep to himself and get into his head for the fight. That’s always been the way and he’s not changing the routine here, even though he’s in Argentina.

For me, it’s been a little bit freaky. I mean, I got off an airplane and the room to get through customs, there was like 5,000 people in it and a couple of thousand recognized me, but I haven’t been here since I was a kid, so it just shows you the star power of Sergio Martinez and what he means in this country.

Like I said, like from my cab to the airport to the hotel, I passed I don’t know how many billboards, how many trucks, how many buses that had Sergio’s image on it. He really is like a rock star here right now and the atmosphere is charged and everyone knows about the fight.

By the terms – you know, I’m going to do some sightseeing in the next few days and get around Buenos Aires a bit and try to check out where Sergio is from, but I don’t expect to see Sergio all that often other than the press conference and the night of the fight, because I’m used to him at this point. His way is to very much keep focused and stay on his own and to himself this week.

(Jorge Javier): Well, Sergio, you know, we know that Argentina is a football crazy country and that’s been the main sport for many years. How do you feel your event will impact, you know, the actual people from your country there to continue to move on and make boxing a stronger, bigger sport, and have fighters such as yourself and other fighters you mentioned, to make them want to become boxers and come to the United States and follow their dreams as a boxer as you have?

Sergio Martinez: I feel that I have done my ground work and my fellow fighters are laying the ground work for boxing to become a much more popular sport, which is in fact popular already, but as I mentioned, it’s not at a level where soccer is, but we’re definitely working hard and laying this ground work. Not only the boxers, but I wants the companies – promoters, etc – to continue to promote and help boxers develop in order for them to become successful and future champions.

(Jorge Javier): I would also like to – this one is for Lou. Lou, with 50,000 people in Argentina, can Murray get a fair shake in a close fight there in Argentina?

Lou DiBella: Yes, I think he can get a fair shake in a close fight, yes. I do. I think he can get a fair shake. Now that being said, 40,000 people screaming for one fighter, you know, that gives that fighter that hometown advantage as far as his motivation and it might affect close rounds, but if Martin Murray wins the clear cut fight, I believe Martin Murray is going to get the decision.

Jim Slater: This is for Martin Murray. How we doing Martin?

Martin Murray: Yes, I’m good, thanks. Are you?

Jim Slater: Yes. I’d just like to ask you – it might sound a bit crazy – but most people think in this country, certainly, all the pressure is on you. Is there a chance in your mind that there’s more pressure on Sergio? As great of a fighter as he is, you know, it’s his homecoming, he wants to please his fans, he’s predicted the knock out. Do you think he might try too hard maybe to put on a show and this could work to our advantage?

Martin Murray: He’s obviously going to win best, just like me, but he’s a very smart fighter. Everything he’s done has worked for months and I can’t see him changing, but he’s, you know, he said he’s going to knock me out, so maybe he’s just trying a bit too hard and he could end up in trouble, but I plan for there to be 12 hard rounds and that’s what I think the fight is going to be.

Jim Slater: Hello, Ricky. Great to speak with you.

Rick Hatton: Hi, mate.

Jim Slater: Just one quick question. I know time is short.

Rick Hatton: Sure.

Jim Slater: Obviously, you’re not the fighter going to this one, you’re the promoter and you’re the advisor to Martin, but have you got that same kind of vibe, that same kind of feeling in your bones that you had entering your fight where you were the big underdog? Have you got that same kind of vibe that the upset is going to happen?

Rick Hatton: Very much so. This is why I went into promoting in the first place. You know, boxing is a passion for me and I was very fortunate through boxing to fulfill my dreams and make a wonderful future for myself and my family and my kids. What I’m doing is I’m helping people such as Martin to fulfill their dreams, you know?

Come Saturday night, I’ll be throwing every punch for Martin, but he has a wonderful chance. He knows he’s an underdog and he knows he’s up against it, but you know, we just feel it’s the right fight at the right time for Martin and although we all have the utmost respect – well I mean, when I boxed, I had the utmost respect for him, but when the bell went, I had to show him no respect. I’m seeing the same from the fighter.

He’s not coming over here to make up the numbers. He’s not coming over to get a sun tan. He’s come over because he barely believes he can beat Sergio. Sometimes when fighters tell you, “Yes, yes, I’m confident and I’m going to win” you can see right past them, but that is not the case for Martin. He’s got that nastiness that he knows he’s going to need to show the fighter and we’re just all jumping out of our skin waiting for Saturday to come.

It’s an exciting time for me as a promoter. I became a world champion and now I’m promoting lads outside winning world titles, so it’s going to be a very, very proud night for me, just like it is for Martin.

Jim Slater: Absolutely, and would this eclipse your win over the great Kostya Tszyu? I mean, you talk about great British away wins. Would this top your win even if Martin can do it?

Rick Hatton: Yes, I might say that, you know, when they mentioned the Kostya fight as one of the best British wins, that was with (unintelligible) – he was number two pound for pound and the best in the division. Sergio is number three pound for pound and the best in the division, but Martin is coming over to Argentina to fight a fermentable champion in his backyard and he’s marking some things off. You know, I think it wouldn’t even have clicked my win against Kostya Tszyu. That’s how big this fight will be for Martin.

Jim Slater: Right, well thanks very much Ricky. Thanks very much, mate. All the best, mate. We’re all pulling for you. Sergio is a great champion and obviously we respect him, but obviously in our pride, pride has to have the last word, and all of that is to Martin Murray.

Lou DiBella: I think that’ll wrap it up. I’d like to thank everybody for joining us. If you’re in Argentina right now, we’ll see you at Club Atletico Velez Sarsfield. If you’re back in the states, tune in on HBO at 8:30 Eastern time to get that Areolla/Steverne fight and then you’ll see Luis Carlos Abregu against Antonin Decarie, and of course, the true middleweight championship of the world, the real middleweight championship of the world, one of the pound for pound greats, Sergio Martinez, and undefeated Martin Murray from Great Britain. Thanks for joining us all and we look forward to this home coming on Saturday night. Take care.

The Martinez-Murray world championship telecast, which begins at 8:30 p.m ET/PT, will be produced and distributed live by HBO. Follow HBO Boxing news at www.hbo.com and at www.facebook.com/hboboxing. Use the hashtag #MartinezMurray to join the conversation on Twitter. For constant updates on the fight, including videos, pictures and articles, visit www.dbe1.com, www.hbo.com or www.maravillavsmurray.com.

A limited number of tickets are still available for purchase through www.tuentrada.com

FROM ALLBOXING.AU

As it became known AllBoxing.Ru, the Russian boxer Ruslan Provodnikov is regarded as one of the potential contenders for pound for pound best American Floyd Mayweather Jr. to fight, which is scheduled for September of this year and should be shown on Showtime PPV. According to Ruslan AllBoxing.Ru manager Vadim Kornilov, “If such conversations do take place and, in his opinion, if a fight takes place, it will be just as entertaining and intriguing than the last fight Ruslan against American Timothy Bradley. “Of course we are interested in this fight – said in an interview with Vadim Kornilov on AllBoxing.Ru. – “”herefore, if Floyd Mayweather will be the winner of a fight with Robert Guerrero, we are open to negotiations. I know very well Ruslan and I can confidently say that we dont avoid fights with the strongest contenders. He does not like to make loud statements and does not promise to beat all, knockout people or something like that. But, nevertheless, I want to remind you that few people gave him a chance to fight with one of the ten best P4P boxers in Timothy Bradley. What happened in the end – we’ve all seen. ”

The manager does not believe that Ruslan will be a clear underdog in a fight with Mayweather, and, according to him, there is a compelling reason. “In the corner by Ruslan will be one of the best coaches and strategists of modern boxing Freddie Roach, and the whole training process is going to work with him one of the best teams in the world boxing – he recalled. – So my word that the fight with Mayweather can not get less entertaining and competitive than the fight with Timothy Bradley, who claimed this year’s title of “Fight of the Year” is not mere statements, and knowledge of the situation from the inside. Ruslan is ready to give all of himself in training. He is ready to show their best qualities in the ring. He lives in boxing and will be incredibly motivated with the ability to fight the best boxers in the world. Give him the opportunity to fight the best, and he will use it one hundred percent. ”

It will be free drinks all around as Fight Club OC promoter Roy Englebrecht announced today that as a thank you to fans for the huge sold-out Fight Club OC show on April 11th, that he will offer a FREE DRINK to all fight fans who purchase a ticket between now and midnight Sunday, April 28th to the Thursday, June 6th Fight Club OC show in The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center!

Yes, purchase a ticket or tickets over the next four days, and for every ticket purchased online at www.fightcluboc.com, fans will received a drink coupon for a free beer…a free cocktail…a free glass of wine…or a free soda, and the June 6th show will feature seven pro bouts including three outstanding Mixed Martial Arts battles, featuring the OC debut of Rachael Cummins. Also on the card is top female boxer Rhonda Luna, who has been in three world title fights. Plus fans will get to see Santa Ana’s 7-2 Jose Correa, and the pro debut of Orange County’s top amateur fighter Anaheim’s Dwain Victorian!

Rachael Cummins fighting MMA June 6th

April 11th Fight Club OC show pictured above

So don’t delay, order your tickets before this Sunday night, April 28th and get your free drink. Order tickets at www.fightcluboc.com.

BROOKLYN (April 25, 2013) – Since the beginning of their professional careers, Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi and Adrien “The Problem” Broner, two of the biggest talkers in all of boxing, have never been afraid to speak up. Now, the time has come to put up or shut up as Malignaggi will defend his WBA Welterweight World Championship against undefeated Two-Division World Champion Broner on Saturday, June 22 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn in a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® main event. Plus, the heavyweight rematch the world has been waiting for is set as Johnathon Banks will look to repeat his 2012 upset win over Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell in the co-feature for Banks’ NABO and WBC International Heavyweight titles.

Malignaggi vs. Broner, a 12-round fight for Malignaggi’s WBA Welterweight World Championship is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T with Banks vs. Mitchell being presented in association with K2 Promotions. The SHOWTIME Championship Boxing telecast begins at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary fights will air 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, go on sale Saturday, April 27 at 10:00 a.m. ET and will be available for purchase at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-745-3000 and at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center beginning on Saturday, April 27 at noon ET. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

“This fight was the main motivation for winning my second world championship last year,” said Malignaggi. “I wanted be in a huge main event at Barclays Center. This is a blockbuster event and I can’t wait to make a successful title defense in Brooklyn where my roots are.”

“Paulette better be in some shape,” said Broner. “On June 22, I will be a three-time world champion in three weight classes at just 23-years-old.”

“I feel very good about this fight,” said Banks. “I expect a more determined and a more powerful Seth Mitchell for the rematch and I look forward to the challenge on June 22nd. I’m excited to be fighting and intend to put on a terrific performance for those in attendance at Barclays Center as well as those watching on SHOWTIME.”

“I’m excited about my opportunity to rematch Johnathon Banks on June 22 at Barclays Center,” said Mitchell. “I was disappointed with my last performance against him and look forward to meeting him in the ring once again. My team has been working extremely hard in preparation for this fight. I’m confident that my performance on June 22nd will properly showcase my abilities and will reignite talks of me competing for the heavyweight championship of the world.”

“Once again, we’re lookingforward to bringing a blockbuster fight to Brooklyn at Barclays Center,” said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “Paulie Malignaggi is the type of fighter that is not going to let anyone take his belt from him on his home turf, but he has his work cut out for him against one of the most talented fighters in the sport in undefeated rising superstar Adrien ‘The Problem’ Broner. Add in the rematch between Johnathon Banks and Seth Mitchell and it’s safe to say that the fireworks will be flying a few weeks before the Fourth of July.”

“All of us at the network are thrilled to have Adrien in his SHOWTIME debut, especially in a tough fight against the very smart and crafty world champion Paulie Malignaggi,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “When this fight first came available, I jumped at the chance to have it on SHOWTIME. This fight was one of the most talked about match ups of the year before it was even announced.”

“We are proud to host Brooklyn’s own Paulie Malignaggi for his second fight at Barclays Center,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets. “Paulie is a true pro at captivating audiences with his quick boxing skills, flashy style and invigorating personality. He is Brooklyn. While Paulie will certainly be the crowd favorite, we expect Adrien Broner to give him a great fight in what is sure to be another memorable night of championship boxing at Barclays Center.”

“All of us at the network are thrilled to have Adrien Broner in his SHOWTIME debut, especially in a tough fight against the very smart and crafty world champion Paulie Malignaggi,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “When this fight first came available, I jumped at the chance to have it on SHOWTIME. This fight was one of the most talked about match ups of the year before it was even announced.”

One of Brooklyn’s favorite fighting sons, Paulie Malignaggi (32-4, 7 KO’s) is a two-division world champion known for his lighting fast hands and even faster mouth. He first made his mark in the 140-pound weight class when he defeated Lovemore N’dou in 2007 for the IBF crown. In 2010, Malignaggi made the move up to welterweight and in April 2012 he captured the WBA welterweight title, traveling to the Ukraine to stop Vyacheslav Senchenko in his hometown. He has defended his belt once thus far, decisioning Pablo Cesar Cano at Barclays Center last October. Also well known for his role as color commentator on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, the 32-year-old who has faced the likes of Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan and Juan Diaz, will look to stop the rise of Adrien Broner a few miles from his home in Brooklyn.

At 23 years old, Adrien Broner (26-0, 22 KO’s) has captivated the boxing world with his work inside the ring and flashy charisma outside of it. Unbeaten as a pro, with a skill set that allows him to box or bang, and possessing a warrior’s attitude and heart, Broner won the WBO junior lightweight title in 2011 with a third round knockout of Vicente Martin Rodriguez. After knockouts of Eloy Perez and Vicente Escobedo, he moved up to 135 pounds, winning the WBC title with a thoroughly dominating eighth round technical knockout of Antonio DeMarco last November. Most recently, Broner stopped Gavin Rees in five rounds in February, and on June 22, he will make the leap from 135 to 147 pounds to challenge “The Magic Man.” Should he win, he will join Roberto Duran, Roy Jones Jr. and Robert Guerrero as the only fighters to win a world championship in their first fight after jumping a weight class.

The owner of one of boxing’s most inspirational stories, Johnathon Banks (29-1-1, 19 KO’s) captured the hearts of fight fans last fall. Shortly after the death of his mentor and trainer, Emanuel Steward, Banks took over for the legendary Hall of Famer as the trainer of Heavyweight World Champion Wladimir Klitschko in his title defense win over Mariusz Wach in November. A week later, the 30-year-old from Detroit stepped into the ring himself, and stunned the boxing world with his second round technical knockout win over Mitchell. On June 22, he’ll look to do it again.

Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell (25-1-1, 19 KO’s) is eager for the opportunity to avenge his only pro loss when he faces Banks at the end of June. A former standout Michigan State University linebacker, Mitchell tore through his opposition in the boxing ring for over four years, most notably beating Taurus Sykes, Timur Ibragimov, and Chazz Witherspoon, all by knockout. Now he’ll have to show the resilience of a champion as he attempts to even the score on June 22.

A full undercard will be announced shortly.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com or www.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/paulmalignaggi, www.twitter.com/AdrienBroner,www.twitter.com/BanksBoxingEnt, www.twitter.com/sethmayhem24www.twitter.com/barclayscenter and www.twitter.com/SHOSports, follow the conversation using #MalignaggiBroner or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOSports

New York, NY (4/25/13) – On Wednesday, May 15th, DiBella Entertainment returns to BB King Blues Club in NYC for the latest edition of its Broadway Boxing series with an exciting nine-bout card featuring a number of DBE’s top up-and-coming prospects.

Highlighting the card will be fast-rising, undefeated middleweight, Lamar Russ (12-0, 7KO’s), fellow undefeated middleweight prospect Delen Parsley (10-0, 3KO’s) and heavyweight contender Tor Hamer (19-2, 12KO’s). All three bouts are scheduled for eight rounds.

Russ joined the DBE roster late in 2012 and has yet to disappoint. He holds stoppage victories over previously undefeated prospects Jonathan Cepeda 12-0, 11KO’s (TKO-1) and Jose Alonzo 13-0, 7KO’s (TKO-4) and is coming off an eight-round unanimous decision over Jose Medina (17-12-1, 7KO’s) in his most recent outing which took place on January 23, at BB King Blues Club.

The Brooklyn-native Parsley is coming off a sensational 2nd round TKO over Tyrone Selders in his most recent outing, which like Russ also took place on January 23. Parsley dropped Selders with a picture perfect right hand right as the bell sounded to end round one. Parsley was all over Selders in the 2nd, giving him an absolute beating and causing Selders to quit on his stool. The bout on the 15th will be Parsley’s 5th appearance at BB King Blues Club since turning pro in 2009.

Looking to bounce back from his disappointing loss to undefeated heavyweight contender Vyacheslav Glazkov and regain the momentum he had from winning the Prizefighter Tournament in 2012 will be the New York City native Hamer. Hamer fought Glazkov back in December of last year in a bout that was aired live on NBC. Hamer got off to a good start in the fight, but was unable to continue after the fourth round, citing a chest and head cold that he had been battling just a week before the fight that was compromising his breathing. Hamer hopes to bounce back with an impressive victory and put himself back into contender status.

Additional bouts, including opponents for Russ, Parsley and Hamer will be announced shortly.

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 $1000 per table (5 seats at $200 per seat), Ringside Tables for $500 a table (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.

NEW YORK (April 25, 2013) – As the countdown to Saturday’s eagerly anticipated doubleheader on SHOWTIME continues, undefeated Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Danny “Swift” Garcia, unbeaten WBO Middleweight Champion Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin and world-rated 160-pound contender Fernando Guerrero participated in a media workout Wednesday at the famed Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn.

In Saturday’s main event on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Barclays Center in Brooklyn,Garcia (25-0, 16 KO’s), of Philadelphia, will defend his WBA Super, WBC and Ring Magazine titles against former Two-Division World Champion and hometown favorite Zab “Super” Judah (42-7, 29 KO’s), of Brooklyn. Quillin (28-0, 20 KO’s), of Manhattan, will make his first title defense when he faces the hard-hitting Guerrero (25-1, 19 KO’s), of Salisbury, Md., in the co-feature.

Also working out Wednesday was a young, promising local prospect who will compete on Saturday’s undercard, Zachary Ochoa (3-0, 3 KO’s), of Brooklyn. Ochoa will be opposed by Prichard, Alabama’s Calvin Smith (2-2) in a four-round super lightweight bout.

Remaining tickets priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, are on sale at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling 800-745-3000. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

Immediately following the world championship doubleheader on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will be a same-day-delayed telecast of former Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Amir “King” Khan (27-3, 19 KO’s), of Bolton, England, against former World Champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz, of Coachella, Calif., in a 12-round 143-pound catch-weight scrap on SHOWTIME Boxing: Special Edition.

Here’s what the fighters said Wednesday:

DANNY GARCIA, WBA Super, WBC and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Champion

On how he feels going into the fight: “I feel great and 100 percent ready. I’m motivated, hungry and sharp. I’m focused and I’m ready to go in there on April 27 and put on a tremendous show.

“I don’t need negativity to motivate me. I’m a positive person. Negativity doesn’t motivate me. I’m motivated by positive things’

On fighting at Barclays Center: “I’m ready to take over Brooklyn.

On Philly fans coming to the fight: “I guarantee I have more fans than Zab has coming to the fight.

On training camp: “My training camp was perfect. I think it was the best training camp I’ve ever had. Everything was on point…sparring, running, training, conditioning. Everything went perfect.”

PETER QUILLIN, WBO Middleweight World Champion

On being a middleweight: “I’m just very blessed to be able to be part of a division that is always an attractive weight class. The middleweights, you’ve got the speed and then you have the power. It’s like 50/50. It’s an action-packed weight class. I just want to make sure that when I go out there, I’m adding my own part of history to that.

On how Guerrero stacks up to other opponents he’s faced: “Guerrero deserves a shot at the belt. It’s something he worked for all his life, just like I did. Nobody’s going to come here and beat me. I already know I can put in a hard 12 rounds. This time, I got the best that money can buy. I got the best trainers and the best camp. This has by far been the best camp in my whole professional career. I know I’m well prepared and I’m ready. I’m keeping this belt in New York City.

On fighting Guerrero: “For the opportunity that he got, it’s something that he’s got to take in and know that it’s right there in front on him. If he’s not prepared fighting a guy like me, it’s going to show right away. We can be friends outside of the ring, but as soon as we step in the ring, no more friendship.

On the biggest challenger to his title: “I welcome all challengers, but I know there isn’t a middleweight like me. I’m the best in the world. I look in the mirror and see myself and say, ‘even he can’t beat me.’ I know what I’m doing outside of the ring is helping me to be a better fighter in the ring. That being said, let them all come.”

FERNANDO GUERRERO, Hard-Hitting, World-Ranked Contender

On the delay of the fight: “You’ve got to be ready for everything in the boxing world. We’re so used to it, dating to even in the amateurs. Until you’re in the ring, the fight might not happen, and even when you’re in the ring, the opponent might not show up. For me it’s just that experience. You live it and you make the best out of it, and I surely do.

On what he’ll bring to the ring to get a win: “Explosion. We’ve got to bring that smart, we’ve got to bring that power and we’ve got to bring that hunger. It’s better shown in the ring. I’m not just excited for the fight. I want people to know what I can do.

On how many fans he’s expecting at Barclays Center: “When I packed the house in Maryland (for a fight against Derrick Findley in Salisbury), I expected one person to be there, my father, but thousands were there. (This fight) I’m expecting maybe two people. We’ll see how many people come and show up.

On acting like a gentleman at press events: “I can only be me. If I feel the need to cuss, I’ll probably do it, if I feel the need to not cuss, I probably won’t do it. I don’t try to sell fights. The fights should be able to sell themselves. I try to sell myself as the person that I am.

On how this is different than his other fights: “I’m expecting a lot out of myself. I’m going to try and push myself harder, mentally and physically. I want to impress myself, I want to develop.”

ZACHARY OCHOA, Undefeated Brooklyn Light Heavyweight

On his fight prediction: “My prediction is, I box my way to a knock out.

“I want to say thank you to Golden Boy Promotions and SHOWTIME for giving me the opportunity to fight on this card. It’s great for me to show my talent and show the world what I’m working with.”

ABOUT “GARCIA VS. JUDAH”:

Garcia vs. Judah, a 12-round bout for Garcia’s Unified Super Lightweight World Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and supported by Golden Boy Promotions sponsors Corona and AT&T. In the co-featured attraction, WBO Middleweight World Champion Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin puts his title on the line against hard-hitting Fernando Guerrero in a 12-round fight. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP).

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, manager Vlad Hryunov bid an astounding $23.3 millon to stage the Heavyweight unification bout between Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin.

The bid is the third-biggest winning bid ever and far exceeded expectations. K2 Promotions, Klitschko’s company, bid $7.13 million and Sauerland Event, which promotes Povetkin, bid $6,014,444 at the ceremony at WBA headquarters in Panama City. The minimum bid was $1 million.

Rafael’s Boxing Blog
Get the latest scoop and analysis on the world of boxing from ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael in his blog.

“We all were totally surprised,” Klitschko manager Bernd Boente told ESPN.com. “We only have to make sure that the money goes into escrow and that it’s real. We are definitely willing to go through with it, but we have to make sure this is not one of those fake Don King purse bids [where he has defaulted multiple times after high bids].”

As champion, Klitschko is entitled to 75 percent of the winning offer ($17,499,997) with Povetkin due the remaining 25 percent ($5,833,333).

Asked whether the purse was the biggest in Klitschko’s career, Boente laughed and said, “By far.” The total is also easily the biggest purse of Povetkin’s career.

“I think this fight will wind up in Moscow,” Boente said.

“Right now the most important thing is that Wladimir wins his fight on May 4 against Pianeta,” Boente said. “Wladimir got the news about the bid and he said, ‘It’s interesting, but to be honest I just take it as news. I am 100 percent focused on Pianeta.’ ”

Hryunov was required to put down a 10 percent deposit with his bid — $2.3 million — as per WBA rules.

“If he doesn’t go through with it, he loses the money,” Boente said, noting that the $2.3 million would be split between the boxers and the sanctioning organization.

Buenos Aires, Argentina (4/24/13) – Earlier this afternoon, WBC Middleweight Champion “Maravilla” Martinez (50-2-2, 28KO’s) and the U.K.’s undefeated WBA interim champion Martin Murray (25-0-1, 11KO’s) held the final media conference call ahead of their World Championship bout that will air live on HBO from Buenos Aires, Argentina this Saturday evening. The card, which will be televised live beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, will be the first for Martinez in his native country of Argentina in over 11-years, and first ever since becoming Middleweight World Champion. The Championship bout will take place at the country’s famed 50,000-seat Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina. It marks HBO Boxing’s first-ever telecast from South America.

The two will meet face-to-face later on this afternoon in Argentina at the final press conference for the event. Below are quotes from the call.

SERGIO MARTINEZ – Champion

Thank you everyone for joining in on this call. Everything is going well with me and my preparations right now, better than ever. My team and I are extremely confident going into this fight, and the expectations are very high, and because of that I know that this is going to be a great event and a great night for my countrymen on Saturday night.

I have respect for Martin, but there is no doubt in my mind that this fight is going to end by knockout. My training for this fight has been the best I have ever had and my confidence is at the absolute highest level, and for that reason I guarantee this fight will end with a knockout on Saturday night.

MARTIN MURRAY – Challenger

It is an absolute pleasure to be here in Argentina. The people here have treated us with nothing but respect and we are very happy to be here in this country. Sergio is a great fighter, and I have nothing but the utmost respect for him. All that being said though, I didn’t come here to lose. I have had a great training camp and I feel that this is my time. Whatever Sergio brings on Saturday night I will be ready for it.

LOU DIBELLA – Promoter of Martinez

I can’t you how thrilling it is for us to be here and to see the excitement around this event and around Sergio. He truly is a huge star here in his homeland and we are just so excited for his homecoming on Saturday night.

Want to thank everyone who has been involved in putting this event together, including our partners here in Argentina, and my great partner and great friend with Sergio, Sampson Lewkowicz, as well as our sponsors and everyone from the Club Atletico Velez Sarsfield stadium.

The fight on Saturday night is not going to be an easy fight. Murray is one of the toughest guys in the middleweight division and he is a very, very good fighter and for that reason Sergio wanted this fight, because Murray presents a real and meaningful challenge.

Sergio is hands down the greatest fighter I have ever promoted. Not only is he a great boxing talent, but he is a great human being. He has waited for this opportunity, to fight again in Argentina for many, many years. I am excited to see all of those fans on Saturday night who are coming out to supporting their hometown hero and a future hall of famer.

SAMPSON LEWKOWICZ – Martinez Long-Time Advisor

Thank you to everyone involved in this event, especially our partners here in Argentina, Lou (DiBella) and of course everyone at HBO.

On Saturday night we are making history with this event and I have to thank HBO for that because they made this all possible. I love Sergio like my own son, and it is an honor to me to be able to provide him with this opportunity. We have talked about this for a long time, doing this event here in Argentina, and with Lou and HBO we have been able to make it a reality.

RICKY HATTON – Murray Promoter

We are very much looking forward to this fight on Saturday night. Obviously there are so many versions of world title’s these days, but this one is for the real middleweight championship. I can’t speak anymore highly of Sergio, he has paid his dues and deserves to be held in the absolute highest recognition. Like any great fighter though, everyone’s reign comes to an end at some time and I truly believe Sergio’s will come to an end Saturday night. I have seen a change in Martin this week, he is nasty right now. He knows the task at hand, and he is drilling with confidence. He has never looked as good as he has in the gym for this fight. I have seen a total change in his demeanor this week and Saturday cannot come quick enough for us. We are grateful to be sharing the ring with such a great champion on Saturday night, but we know that we are going to come out on top.

KERY DAVIS – Senior V.P. HBO Sports

All of us at HBO are very excited for this. Anytime Sergio fights it is a huge event for us, being that he is one of the best fighters in the world, but Saturday night is going to be very special. This is our first time ever televising a fight in Argentina, and we expect a very lively and raucous crowd on Saturday night. Murray presents a real challenge for Sergio. He is one of the top middleweight contenders in the world, and while he will be facing very tough odds on Saturday night, this isn’t the first time that he has had to enter into an opponent’s Lion’s den and because of that we expect nothing less than a spectacular event on Saturday night.

The Martinez-Murray world championship telecast, which begins at 8:30 p.m ET/PT, will be produced and distributed live by HBO. Follow HBO Boxing news at www.hbo.com and at www.facebook.com/hboboxing. Use the hashtag #MartinezMurray to join the conversation on Twitter. For constant updates on the fight, including videos, pictures and articles, visit www.dbe1.com, www.hbo.com or www.maravillavsmurray.com.

A limited number of tickets are still available for purchase through www.tuentrada.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (April 24th, 2013) — Fresh off a sold-out, standing-room-only crowd in March, Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports is bringing professional boxing back to Twin River Casino Friday,

May 17th, 2013 for another dynamic event featuring the region’s most sought-after talent.

“Mr. Providence” Vladine Biosse (14-2-1, 7 KOs) and female bantamweight sensation Shelito Vincent (8-0), also of Providence, will headline “The New Era” in a rare co-main event; Biosse will face Philadelphia veteran Latif Mundy (10-5, 4 KOs) in an 8-round super middleweight bout and Vincent will fight the dangerous Christina Ruiz (6-5-2, 4 KOs) of San Antonio, Tex., in an 8-round bout for the vacant Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) International bantamweight title.

Tickets for “The New Era” are $41.00, $76.00, and $126.00 (VIP) and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.shop.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.

Biosse, a two-time winner on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, is looking to avenge a Jan. 19 loss to Marcus Upshaw against the 5-foot-8 Mundy, who has faced tough competition in recent years against Ossie Duran, Matt Korobov and Patrick Majewski; the three have a combined record of 68-11-2 with 35 knockouts.

Ruiz, a two-time title challenger, will be Vincent’s toughest test as she fights for a title for the first time in her career. Ruiz recently lost a unanimous decision to International Female Boxing Association (IFBA) super bantamweight champion Kaliesha West in California and also challenged Alicia Ashley for the then-vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) title in July of 2011. Her last two wins (February of 2011 and April of 2010) have come by knockout. Vincent is coming off a March 1 win over Mikayla Nebel and is already 2-0 in 2013.

The undercard features the highly-anticipated rematch between Rhode Islanders Joe Gardner (11-5-1, 1 KO) of Woonsocket and Providence’s Alex Amparo (5-1, 3 KOs) in a six-round bout. Gardner handed Amparo his first career loss via unanimous decision in November and is coming off another impressive win over fellow Woonsocket native Reynaldo Rodriguez in March.

Boston’s Maceo Crowder (2-0, 1 KO), the half-brother of former U.S. Olympian and Providence native Demetrius Andrade, will return from a three-year absence to face Harwich, Mass., veteran Paul Gonsalves (4-3, 3 KOs) in a four-round super middleweight bout; and welterweight Jon Smith (1-0) of Cranston, R.I., will battle newcomer Oscar Diaz of Hartford, Conn., in a four-round bout. Willimantic, Conn., light heavyweight Kevin Cobbs (7-1, 2 KOs); female flyweight Noemi Bosques (1-0-1) of Providence; Hyannis, Mass., heavyweight Jesse Barboza (5-1-1, 3 KOs) and Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight Thomas Falowo (9-1, 7 KOs) will also be on the undercard in separate bouts. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

For more information on “The New Era” and all of CES’ upcoming shows, visit www.cesboxing.com.

(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “The New Era.” Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must enter through the West entrance.)

Atlantic City, NJ—Junior lightweight prospect Jason Sosa, of Camden, NJ, faces his toughest test as a pro when he takes on Georgi Kevlishvili, of Philadelphia, PA, in the scheduled eight-round semifinal contest on Saturday evening, June 1, 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, 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. First fight is 7.30 p.m.

Sosa, 25, is riding high, having knocked out his last three opponents, including a fourth-round knockout over Joseph “Chip” Perez, of East Hartford, CT, in the loser’s backyard at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT. Perez was 10-1 at the time.

A pro since 2009, Sosa is 8-1-3, 4 K0s. He is managed and trained by Raul Rivas.

Kevlishvili, 31, is originally from Gori, Georgia, in the former Soviet Union. His 12-5 record includes three knockouts. The combined records Kevlishvili’s last seven opponents was 70-3-1 when he fought them.

His best win, since migrating to the United States, was a six-round decision over Anthony Flores, of Philadelphia, in 2011.

In his last fight March 15 at the Valley Forge Casino in Valley Forge, PA, Kevlishvilli dropped an eight-round decision to Pennsylvania State lightweight champion Naim Nelson, of Philadelphia.

Sosa and Kevlishvili each have been stopped once.

Five preliminary 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 Bally’s Atlantic City.

NUTLEY, NJ (April 24, 2013)—Three undefeated fighters from Vito Melinicki’s GH3 Promotions will be in action on successive weekends in May.

Jr. Middleweight John “Apollo Kidd” Thompson & Middleweight Antoine “Action” Douglas will see action on May 10th in Miami, Oklahoma.

On May 17th, Light Heavyweight Lavran “Baby Bowe” Harvell will fight in Gatineau, Quebec Canada.

Thompson (11-0, 4 KO’s) of Newark, New Jersey will take on undefeated Giovanni Rodriguez (8-0, 5 KO’s) of Trujillo, Puerto Rico in the eight round televised co-feature on SHO BOX: The New Generation.

Douglas (6-0, 4 KO’s) of Burke, VA will fight Coy Witt (2-3, 1 KO) of Richlands, VA in a six round bout.

Harvell (12-0, 7 KO’s) of Atlantic City, NJ will box an opponent to be named in a fight that will be televised Live on Wealth TV and www.wealthtv.com

“This is a big month for our fighters”, said Vito Mielnicki of GH3 Promotions.

“These three have been progressing very nicely. Douglas has been on ESPN two times in the first three months of this year and now it’s time that Thompson and Harvell to get great exposure and we are confident they will shine on the national stage”

GH3 Promotions welterweight Anthony “Juice” Young (8-0, 4 KO’s) remained perfect on Friday night when stopped Rafael Montalvo in four rounds in Atlantic City

Fans can look forward to a big night of fist fighting on April 27! The contestants of the two main attractions and their teams exude optimism before their respective fights at the Sporthalle Hamburg, Germany this Saturday.

Jürgen Brähmer (39-2, 30 KOs), European Light Heavyweight Champion: “I am physically and mentally at the height of my ability. I am not thinking about Nathan Cleverly and the WBO World Championship. My focus is completely on my current challenge and that is Tony Averlant!”

Tony Averlant (18-7-2, 4 KOs): “I feel as if I am at the top of my game. I am serious about when I say that I will be the new European Light Heavyweight Champion come Saturday night!”

“Golden” Jack Culcay (14-0, 10 KOs), WBA Intercontinental Light Middleweight Champion: “I love being challenged and Pitto should be a good test for me. I feel well prepared for this bout and I will defend my belt and take another step towards world-level.”

Guido Nicolas Pitto (17-1, 7 KOs): “Jack Culcay is a real good boxer, but I am as big as a threat for him as he is for me. I am even more excited because an international title is at stake. This will be a real tough battle between the two of us and I will take this chance and beat him!”

There will even be a third championship bout to happen that night when light heavyweight Dustin Dirks (27-0, 20 KOs) tries to defend his WBA Intercontinental Crown against Oleksandr Cherviak (10-2-1, 3 KOs). Said promoter Kalle Sauerland: “Overall, we will have eight fights on our show this Saturday. Besides the three title fights, I am most excited about Firat Arslan’s outing for our promotion inside the ring. If he beats Varol Vekiloglu, he will very well get another world title shot later this year.”

Tickets for the big fight night at the Sporthalle Hamburg, Germany are available at www.eventim.de.

2012 British Olympic Gold Medal winner Luke Campbell has inked a promotional deal with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Sports and will make his pro debut in July ccording to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“I am overwhelmed to be a part of the Matchroom stable,” Campbell said at a news conference in London announcing his signing. “I am very excited about our journey together and where we can go. I have been an amateur boxer boxing for Great Britain for the last 13 years, and I have won medals at every major elite tournament.

“I have always known I wanted to be a professional fighter. I have always wanted to be a world champion as a professional boxer and the amateur career was that stepping stone. The experiences boxing around the world, in Russia, Germany, everywhere I have boxed against tough, hard opponents, all of them were learning curves for me for this real game which is the professional ranks.

“This is a huge day not only for Luke Campbell but for British boxing,” Hearn said. “We have someone in Luke that can penetrate fresh audiences and breathe new life into the sport. Luke is a tremendous young fighter and the perfect role model with a backing in his home city like I have never seen.”

“I think I learned a lot from the Olympic experience,” he said. “It was the first time going out there where you had so much pressure on your shoulders, boxing for 10,000 people who were there for you and cheering for you. I use the fans for my benefit. Every time they cheered that raised my game a little bit. To handle that type of pressure, especially in your own country, was tough but I went out there, I enjoyed it and learnt a lot from it. Experiences like that will help me in my pro career.

“Whether my debut is at [possible venues] KC Stadium or at Craven Park I think the fans will bring an electric atmosphere and is going to be a night to remember. It has never been done before for a professional debut, so it is a chance for the city and fans to make history and worldwide news and do a massive outdoor event for somebody’s pro debut. I am excited, I am training hard and I will put on the best show possible in the ring.”

Former four division champion Nonito Donaire had successful surgery on his right shoulder that followed his unanimous decision defeat to Guillermo Rigondeaux on April 13th according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“It’s just tender, totally tender,” Donaire told ESPN.com on Tuesday. “I’m trying to stretch it and I’m in physical therapy, trying to get it stretched out and get the shoulder back to normal.

“They fixed it up and when they were doing it they found the bone spur and bone basically floating in the middle of my joint that they vacuumed out,” he said. “The doctor did an amazing job. I’m already moving my arm. They expect me to be in a sling, but I don’t like being confined. They said the procedure went well and that if I can bear the pain, I could move it around and stretch, just not anything too strenuous. So I’m not wearing a sling and I’m stretching it out, but it feels like somebody is constantly punching me in the arm.”

“I’ve always felt the pain for quite a while,” he said. “The right shoulder was bothering me bad. I went to the doctor in January and the doctor was freaking me out saying he thought it was a full tear. But I wanted to fight. In the back of my head I thought it could be a career-ender, but I wanted to fight and all during training camp I didn’t use my right. I thought I would be able to do good with setting everything up with the left. Going into a fight with an elite fighter not at 100 percent is a big mistake and that is something I learned. You can’t take anyone lightly.”

“I have to get the left one fixed also,” Donaire said. “Every time I move at a different angle, the tendon is rubbing against the bone, so once my right shoulder heals I will go back and get the left one done, and I will come back stronger.

“I learned in that fight [with Rigondeaux], it’s a learning experience to make me stronger when I come back.”

When he does return, probably in the fall, Donaire, whose wife is expecting their first child, a son, in July, said he likely will move up one division to featherweight.

“I think 122 is kind of too small for me at this point, but with proper weight management I could make it happen, but only if I could get a rematch [with Rigondeaux],” Donaire said.

But he also acknowledged that Top Rank, his promoter, could offer him a fight with Mexico’s Victor Terrazas, who claimed a vacant junior featherweight title via split decision against countryman Cristian Mijares on Saturday night in Mexico City.

“If Top Rank is giving me Terrazas, I guess maybe,” Donaire said. “I feel I would be more comfortable and stronger at 126. I just want to fight the best out there.”

Fresh off his 1st round destruction of Abner Cotto, undefeated Lightweight Omar Figueroa will return to action on July 27 as part of a Showtime televised tripleheader that will feature Andre Berto taking on Jesus Soto-Karass and Keith Thurman taking on Diego Chaves in San Antonio according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“We’re going to price the tickets right, and I think we’re going to call the card ‘Bang for Your Buck’ because with Berto, Thurman and Figueroa, you have big bangers on the card,” said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer.

“We are really looking forward to bringing another big card to San Antonio. It’s a great fight city, and we wanted Omar Figueroa to be part of this significant tripleheader,” Schaefer said. “He will be in a significant fight. He had a terrific performance against an undefeated guy [Abner Cotto], and he’s one of those exciting guys where you want to have your popcorn and drink in front of you because you don’t want to get up because you know he might knock his opponent out at any moment.

“After the fight [against Cotto], I got a lot of emails from people saying, ‘Who is this guy? He’s so exciting, so strong.’ These kind of comments. Saturday night was a big night for Canelo Alvarez but it was a big night for Omar Figueroa also to have almost 40,000 people going nuts for him. It was amazing. Omar Figueroa has arrived, and let’s see how far he can go.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Timothy Bradley will defend the WBO Welterweight championship against Juan Manuel Marquez tentatively set for September 14th in Las Vegas.

The bout will pit the latest two men to hand Manny Pacquiao a loss.

“If Mayweather is going to fight on Sept. 14, we’ll move our date,” Arum said. “But this prevents anybody from bait-and-switching us. We talked to the [pay-per-view] industry about it. Nobody is looking to make trouble. We’re just looking to protect our position.

“Marquez and Bradley is a huge fight, especially with Hispanics, so we’d like to do it on Sept. 14. Nobody can say we’re jumping Golden Boy’s date. We have a date in reserve in case Mayweather fights on Sept. 14, which I don’t believe he will wind up doing. If he doesn’t, we will go on Sept. 14. If [Golden Boy chief executive Richard] Schaefer is going to bait and switch and try to put in some other fight on Sept. 14, he won’t get away with it. But if Mayweather fights then, fine. We’ll move.”

“The fight is agreed to. We have contracts out to both fighters,” Arum said. “[Top Rank president] Todd [duBoef] worked hard with both sides and [Marquez co-promoter] Fernando [Beltran] worked hard with Marquez and we came to terms with both of them.”

Promoter Bob Arum said he would move the date to October if Floyd Mayweather decides to fight on the the Mexican Independence Day date.

“It would be a very significant thing for Marquez to win another title,” Arum said.

“These guys wanted to fight each other, too. They really wanted to fight each other, even though either of them could have opted to fight Manny. But Bradley-Marquez is an interesting fight. People are going to see an action fight. Marquez is an action fighter, and Bradley showed he’s not afraid of slugging with anyone like he did [last month] in the fight with [Ruslan Provodnikov].”

Bradley, however, reached a “deal in principle” Monday night, manager Cameron Dunkin told ESPN.com.

“We do have a contract but [Bradley and his wife, Monica] want to make some changes, but none of the changes are financial that I know of. It’s been agreed to in principle,” Dunkin said.

“It’s a terrific fight and an action fight. I like my guy to win, of course, but I think it’s gonna be a really, really fun fight that people will enjoy. You’ve got two of the best boxers in the world. These are guys that know how to fight and who are not afraid to bang and who are tremendously skilled.”

“There were talks with two possible candidates for Sept. 14,” Marquez told ESPN Deportes. “We talked about Mike Alvarado and Timothy Bradley. But I love important challenges, the most difficult ones, and to me it would be a great challenge to fight Timothy Bradley, who is also the world champion. And to me it would be a great challenge to fight him and also to try to win a fifth title in another division, which to me is something very pleasing and would bring me a lot of pride. Right now, that’s the biggest challenge — and I love the biggest possible challenges.”

Marquez, with his clean knockout of Pacquiao, said he was looking for a new challenge rather than facing Pacquiao again, even though Pacquiao still leads their series 2-1-1.

“Look, what is being said about Pacquiao — that a fifth fight wouldn’t make sense — well, it’s just like that,” Marquez told ESPN Deportes. “It still doesn’t make sense. To me, it wouldn’t be a challenge, and I need challenges. I would like to close my career in good standing and leave a legacy behind me. I want everyone to remember me for having faced the best fighters out there, and I believe Timothy Bradley is one of them. And why not look forward to finding that fifth title in a fifth weight class, which is something no one here in Mexico has achieved?

“So to me this is an important challenge, a difficult challenge, a tough challenge. But I always have the mindset that anything can be achieved.”

“I think we can do 500,000 or 600,000 buys,” Arum said. “We think the lowest is 400,000, with a shot at 600,000. Marquez is now bigger in Mexico than Chavez Jr. after the way he beat Manny, and Tim is coming off that great fight with Provodnikov. People know a good fight.

Lucian Bute (31-1-0 24 KO) met with media representatives at the Palm Beach Boxing Gym in West Palm Beach to promote his upcoming fight vs. Jean Pascal (27-2-1, 17 K0s), which is being labeled by the media as the greatest fight in Canadian Boxing history,

On Saturday night, May 25th, airing live on HBO Championship Boxing from Bell Centre in Montreal, Lucian will step in the ring against former WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal. The gala is co-promoted by InterBox and Groupe Yvon Michel.

Here some quotes from Lucian Bute, Stephan Larouche and InterBox president, Jean Bedard.

Lucian Bute
“It’s been almost 6 years that he’s been talking negatively about me. He repeatedly said that I was afraid to face him and that by avoiding him I do not respect the fans. I always knew this fight would happen. It was just a question of choosing the right time. And here we are.”

“I accepted to move up to 175 to make sure the fight happens! The time has come to shut him up!”

“I was an undefeated boxer during my preparation leading up to the fight with Carl Froch. I knew nothing of the impact and consequences of defeat. I discovered the hardships of losing. It was very hard to live with what happened. The defeat made me lose some confidence in my abilities and it showed in my fight against Denis Grachev. I was hesitant in my performance. It took some time, but I am back and hungry for victory. I will not repeat any of my errors against Pascal.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve been at such peak physical condition. I miss this feeling!”

“Pascal is very present in my head. When I walk into the gym, I think of Pascal. I visualize the fight all the time, sometimes even while having dinner with my team!

Stephan Larouche
“Lucian said Pascal’s endurance lasts four rounds and he boxes 1:30 per round. This is true and I would say that Lucian is being generous. The way I see it Jean Pascal fights one minute per round and gives it his all towards the end to try and steal the round. ”

“Jean Pascal had a lot of injuries lately. I wish him all the best and I hope he will show up in top physical form. But let’s say, if the past is any indication of the future, he may struggle to perform during twelve rounds.”

Jean Bedard
“My fighter is highly motivated and I expect a great performance from him. Lucian and Stephan have come up with the strategic plan. Stephan’s team is implementing such plan and Lucian will execute it on May 25th. For a promoter, this is very reassuring.”

More than 17000 tickets have been sold. Good tickets are limited but still available for sale at the Bell Centre Ticket Office, by dialing 1-877-668-8269, or by visiting www.evenko.ca. Tickets are also available at Club de boxe Champion by calling 514-376-0980.

Go to www.InterBox.ca or www.groupeyvonmichel.ca for more information, or follow on Twitter @InterBoxca, @YvonMichelGYM, @lucianyl or @JeanPascalChamp.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (April 23, 2013) – Former Two-Division World Champion Zab “Super” Judah worked out for the media on Tuesday in preparation for his fight against Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Danny Garcia this Saturday, April 27, live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT) from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Joining Judah at Judah Brothers Boxing Gym in Brooklyn on Thursday were top middleweight contender Danny Jacobs (24-1, 21 KOs), of Brooklyn and 2012 U.S. Olympian Marcus Browne (3-0, 3 KOs), of Staten Island, both of whom will be featured in non-televised undercard bouts.

One of New York’s most accomplished boxers of all time, Brooklyn’s Judah (42-7, 29 KO’s) has faced some of the biggest names in boxing including Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto and Cory Spinks. The southpaw will look to dethrone the defending champ with his signature blazing speed and one-punch knockout power in his hometown of Brooklyn.

Philadelphia’s Danny “Swift” Garcia (25-0, 16 KO’s) was boxing’s breakout star of 2012, registering two convincing and impressive victories over legendary Mexican Erik Morales and a stunning fourth round knockout win over British superstar former Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Amir “King” Khan.

Immediately following Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will be a same-day-delayed telecast of SHOWTIME Boxing: Special Edition featuring Khan’s first fight in England in nearly two years against former World Champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz. Khan (27-3, 19 KO’s), of Bolton, England, will face Diaz (40-7-1, 29 KO’s), of Coachella, Calif., in a 12-round 143-pound catch-weight bout.

Here’s what Judah, Jacobs and Browne had to say on Tuesday:

ZAB JUDAH, Former Two-Division World Champion

“First and foremost the most important thing is Saturday night. It’s not just about winning. This is New York. This is Brooklyn. New York fans are very tough. They don’t want you to just win by one point. They want to see you really win.

How much did the fight postponement affect him: “Actually I think it was a blessing in disguise. God is the best planner of everybody. We think that we have plans, but apparently he plans better than us. I took training camp very seriously from November all the way up until now. I think the extra preparation is the icing on the cake.

On defeating Danny Garcia to silence Angel Garcia: “It’s called killing two birds with one stone. Angel Garcia’s a trainer. He’s a father. He’s the older man. I respect my elders. At the same time, I can’t get in the ring and fight Angel Garcia. What do I do? I fight. I knock people out. I can’t do that with Angel. I am going to knock Danny Garcia out and watch Angel come in there and pick him up.

On having his relationship with his dad: “It’s going great. My dad has a business here in New York City. I live in Las Vegas. I’ve got businesses in Las Vegas, so we had to split up. He’s still my dad. He calls me. He even Skyped during my [camp] workout. It’s all great. We’re Team Judah today.

How he grades himself going into the fight: “Mentally and physically, I give myself an A plus. I feel very calm, very at ease, very comfortable in this environment. Everything seems to be working out the way that it should work out. We ready for it.

On Danny Garcia: “There’s no excuses. We don’t want to hear any excuses. We gave him his two months to let his rib heal up. His rib, neck, thumb, back, elbow, toe, whatever he hurt. It’s all fixed up now in hopes that Saturday night we just get moving and put on a good fight.

“Saturday night, may the best man win.”

DANNY JACOBS, Top Middleweight Contender

On fighting again at Barclays Center: “It feels good, a little bit more pressure is off of me now. The first time around was kind of special, so I was a little nervous, but I feel good now. I feel confident. My opponent is a last minute replacement, but at the same time we’re going to go in there and do our job.

On how he’ll top his last performance at Barclays: “I’m just going to go in there and not even think about it. I’m just going to do what I was trained to do. I have a job and my job is to go in there and get the victory by any means necessary.

On how he feels going into the fight: “Physically, I feel amazing. I was training for February 9, so when that fell out, I took a week, maybe two weeks off and then I got back into the gym. I’ve been ready for about two months.

On his future after the fight: “I’m looking to step up [my level of opposition]. I feel good. I feel like the rush is out. I feel like stepping up. The only way to get experience is to step up.

On his son coming to the fight: “Oh he’s definitely going to be there in the front row screaming, ‘Go Daddy, go.’ He’s my biggest fan and he loves boxing. He’s just a fan of the sport and I love it.

On his four-month layoff: “Mentally, it messes with you just a little bit. Once you train so hard, you have an eight-week camp and then that fight is off, it’s tough because you have time away from your family. I’m a professional, so this comes with the territory and I know I have a job to do on Saturday night.”

MARCUS BROWNE, 2012 U.S. Olympian

On his relationship with Danny Jacobs: “Danny is like a big brother to me. I love Danny. Being in the gym with him and working right next to him means a lot. He showed me the way. It’s a beautiful thing.”

On which fighter he’s looking forward to seeing on Saturday night: “It’s crazy, butthere’s a whole bunch. I’ve seen Danny Jacobs come up and watched him in the gym. I came up in the gym watching Zab. He’s the first lefty I knew about when I got first got into boxing. He was one of my favorite fighters. When I was coming up he [Zab] knocked out Spinks for the title.

“Don’t forget about the people suffering from Hurricane Sandy. Just because it’s not in the news, it doesn’t mean people are not still homeless.”

ABOUT “GARCIA VS. JUDAH”:

Garcia vs. Judah, a 12-round bout for Garcia’s Unified Super Lightweight World Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and supported by Golden Boy Promotions sponsors Corona and AT&T. In the co-featured attraction, WBO Middleweight World Champion Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin puts his title on the line against hard-hitting Fernando Guerrero in a 12-round fight. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP).

Remaining tickets priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, are on sale at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling 800-745-3000. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

TRENTON, NJ (April 23, 2013)—On Thursday May 3rd, the 3rd annual Elite Heat Boxing Tournament will take place at Trenton High School.

The Tournament will feature the top amateurs from all over the country and is open to any boxer 8 years old and up.

Late registration will take place on May 2nd between 7am and 9pm

The weigh INS will take place on May 3rd between 7 am and 1pm. Later that day at 3 pm will be the coaches and draw meeting with the prelims and quarterfinals beginning at 6pm.

On May 4th at noon The Quarterfinals and the Semi Finals will take place.

The Tournament will conclude on Sunday May 5th with the finals in all classes beginning at 11 am.

Boxers and Coaches can download the application at www.eliteheatgym.com

Trenton High School is located at :
400 Chambers Street
Trenton, NJ 08601

Bethlehem, PA- World-class boxing returns to the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem on Friday evening, June 14, when a blockbuster triple header of fights with international as well as national implications headlines a card which will be televised live by the NBC Sports Network as part of its popular Fight Night series, beginning 9pm ET.

In a 10-round heavyweight contest, fast-rising Bryant Jennings, of Philadelphia, PA, will come up against powerful Andrey Fedosov, of Shuya, Russia.

Knockout artist Sergey Kovalev faces Cornelius White of Houston, TX, in a 12-round mandated bout for the vacant number 1 position in the IBF light heavyweight world rankings.

In the opening bout, a 10-round welterweight match, Bethlehem’s Ronald Cruz hopes to rebound from his first loss as a pro when he takes on rugged Jaime Herrera, of Franklin Park, IL.

Jennings, 28, broke into the world ratings in 2012 by winning all five of his fights (four of them televised by the NBC Sports Network), topped by wins over previously unbeaten southpaw Maurice Byarm, of Washington, DC, and former WBO heavyweight champion Siarhei Liakhovich, of Vitebsk, Belarus. Those wins pushed Jennings’ record to 16-0, 8 KOs, and landed him the # 3 spot in the world ratings by the IBF. Pretty heady stuff for a fighter who turned pro in 2010!

Fedosov, 27, also is riding high after knocking out veteran Darnell Wilson, of Takoma Park, MD, in his last fight April 20 in Hammond, IN, bringing his record to 24-2, 19 KOs.

Kovalev, 30, is currently ranked #4 by the IBF, 20-0-1,18 KOs and impressed Fight Night viewers in January with a dominant stoppage of former champion Gabriel Campillo. The highly anticipated test for Kovalev ended when Campillo made three trips to the canvas in round three. Since then, everyone has been buzzing about the Russian puncher, who now fights out of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Kovalev’s previous two starts were also televised by NBC Sports Network.

Cornelius “Da Beast” White, 31, is currently ranked #5 by the IBF and sports a record of 21-1, 16 KOs. The pair will enter the ring with rather similar records, but White will have the size advantage.

In the welterweight matchup, Cruz, 26, hopes to get back on the winning track after losing for the first time when he dropped a 10-round split decision to contender Antwone Smith, of Miami, FL, in his last fight Sept. 21 in the same ring.

A pro since 2009, Cruz is 17-1, 12 KOs. Both Cruz-Brewer and Cruz’s previous fight against Prenice Brewer were televised by NBC Sports Network.

Herrera, 24, likes to walk-in and bang, a style which should make his fight with Cruz a war. A pro since 2009, Herrera is 10-2, 5 KOs, but may have been unlucky to drop an eight-round decision to Adrian Granados, of Cicero, IL, in 2012. Many ringsiders felt Herrera did enough to beat Granados, who recently boxed a 10-round draw with Kermit Cintron, of Reading, PA.
ABOUT 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 9 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 Rochelle, NY – Jägermeister donates $50,000 to the newly formed Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in conjunction with “A Brother in your Corner,” the iconic brand’s social responsibility campaign and consumer competition with legendary boxing trainer, Freddie Roach.

In February, Jägermeister announced a partnership with Hall of Fame boxing trainer, Freddie Roach, to launch the pioneering ‘A Brother in Your Corner’ program developed to promote responsible consumption. The program challenged consumers to share their stories of how they too lived by the code of brotherhood and social responsibility for a chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Vegas with 3 friends where they will receive a private training session from Roach himself, ringside tickets to the weekend’s top fight, dinner with the boxing great and VIP access to the weekend’s most exclusive party.

In addition to honoring consumer’s tales through the competition, Jägermeister is supporting the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, a non-profit corporation also dedicated to brotherhood and protecting one another, with a $50,000 donation. Founded in October 2012 by veteran broadcaster Rich Marotta, the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame was created to pay tribute to those who have played a key role in the sport’s rich history and live by the same code as Jägermeister and Freddie Roach, the code of always having “A Brother in your Corner”.

“The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame is proud to be the recipient of this significant donation from Jägermeister. We are doubly proud because of the involvement of Freddie Roach, one of our first year inductees and force behind Jägermeister’s “A Brother in Your Corner” social responsibility program, says Rich Marotta, Founder and CEO of Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. Marotta continues, “Freddie’s sense of teamwork and care for his fighters rings loud and true with what this campaign is all about. The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame fully intends to apply the contribution from Jägermeister towards our ongoing efforts to display this same sense of brotherhood and social responsibility within the boxing community in Nevada.”

Freddie Roach says, “I am proud to join Jägermeister on the “A Brother in Your Corner” competition which challenged everyone to step up and show how strong their bonds are within their brotherhoods. Jägermeister not only awarded a worthy fan with an ultimate Vegas weekend based on stories of their bonds, but is now making a significant donation to the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, a strong brotherhood that I am fortunate enough to be a part of.”

“Jägermeister, Freddie Roach and the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame have shared values and core beliefs, all anchored in protecting one another and fighting for what is right. We view this donation as our contribution towards this positive message and a complement of our social responsibility efforts,” says Amanda Blanco, VP of Marketing for Jägermeister at Sidney Frank Importing Company, Inc.

In May of 2012, Jägermeister unveiled “Stronger Bond”, the brand’s first ever television and 360° advertising campaign in the United States. Aimed at the 21-29 year old male demographic, Jägermeister brought together seven men at the top of their respective crafts to form the ultimate bond. Freddie Roach was among these men, who not only had to embody the untamed edge of Jägermeister, but also had to be a part of a group whose success relies on their strong bonds with others – one of the foremost social components of the brand.

The donation will be presented by Jägermeister and Freddie Roach at Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s “Night with Boxing Legends” event, Thursday, May 2 at Diego’s restaurant, at the MGM Grand, beginning at 7:30 p.m. PT. Visit nvbhof.com or facebook.com/nvbhof for additional information about the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

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ABOUT JÄGERMEISTER: Jägermeister, which translates to “master hunter,” is the #1 selling imported liqueur in the United States and one of the top shot brands in the world. The liqueur is based on a secret recipe, combining 56 different natural ingredients, including select herbs, blossoms, roots and fruits. Jägermeister, with the distinctive square bottle, was developed in 1934 in Germany and the brand quickly gained global fame through its innovative marketing, unique taste profile and its association with good times. The brand recently unveiled its first-ever television and 360° advertising campaign in the United States. The bold and compelling “Stronger Bond” campaign features a pantheon of legends that speak to the 21-29 year old male demographic including All-Pro Wide Receiver – Keyshawn Johnson, Champion Boxing Trainer – Freddie Roach, Rock Icon – Kerry King, World Champion Bullfighter – Rob Smets, NASCAR Pit Crew Champion – Mike Lingerfelt, Famed Street and Tattoo Artist – Mister Cartoon and Big Wave Surfer – Nathan Fletcher. Jägermeister Liqueur is 35% Alc. /Vol. and imported exclusively by Sidney Frank Importing Company, Inc., New Rochelle, NY. Visit www.jager.com or www.facebook.com/JagerUSA for additional information. DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

SINGAPORE (April 23, 2013) – GLORY, the world’s premier kickboxing league that is home to the greatest martial arts stand-up fighters on the planet, today announced that it will bring its championship fight series to The United States for the first time ever with a one-night, eight-man, light heavyweight (209 pounds/95 kilograms) tournament at Hammerstein Ballroom at Manhattan Center in New York City on Saturday, June 22.

In one of several Superfights also scheduled for the event, heavyweight superstar and former secret service agent Daniel “The Savage Samurai” Ghita (46-9, 35 KOs) of Romania will collide with Muay Thai champion Brice Guidon (28-8, 13 KOs) of France.

Tickets for GLORY 9 New York, priced from $48 (plus handling fees), are on sale at all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com and charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

“We are thrilled to kick off the expansion of GLORY’s world championship kickboxing series to the U.S. with such a high-caliber event in the sports and entertainment epicenter that is New York City,” said GLORY Sports International CEO Andrew Whitaker. “We are looking forward to establishing the GLORY brand in the U.S. with this debut event that will showcase the product for what it is – the most exciting and elite form of world-class kickboxing, or martial arts stand-up fighting.”

Slated for battle in the single-elimination tournament, thus far, are hard-hitting KO artist Brian Collette (19-1, 16 KOs) of Norfolk, Va.; four-time world champion Danyo Ilunga (51-4, 41 KOs) of Germany; Muay Thai sensation Filip Verlinden (40-9-1, 16 KOs) of Belgium; Peter Aerts-protégé Mourad “The Silent Power” Bouzidi (75-20-2, 34 KOs) of Tunisia; world Muay Thai and Karate champion Steve McKinnon (42-5, 29 KOs) of Australia and granite chinned Koichi (26-8-1, 15 KOs) of Japan The remaining two tournament competitors will be announced soon.

In other Superfight action, hard-hitting “Bazooka” Joseph Valtellini (8-1, 7 KOs) of Toronto, Ontario Canada will square off with fellow rising star Francois Ambang (9-2, 4 KOs) of Mechanicsville, Va. in a welterweight (170 pounds/77 kilograms) matchup and Phil Nurse protégé Brett Hlavacek (8-1, 3 KOs) of New York, N.Y. will face three-time Muay Thi titlist Paul Marfort (10-5, 4 KOs) of Orlando, Fla. at welterweight.

The 27-year-old Valtellini, a high school teacher by day, has become a familiar face in New York, winning six of his pro Muay Thai bouts in The Big Apple, all by way of (T)KO. Valtellini, who also holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, made a splash, first start in the GLORY ring in Istanbul, Turkey on April 6, stopping Murat Direkci, a veteran with more than 10 times as many fights under his belt than Valtellini, in the third round of their matchup.

Ambang, a 26-year-old native of Cameroon, made a mark in New York City for the first time on March 22, winning the one-night, eight-man development Road To GLORY USA welterweight tournament at Capitale to earn a multi-fight contract with GLORY. Using heavy body attacks, Ambang defeated three consecutive opponents – two by way of TKO – including a first round stoppage of Hlavacek in the tournament’s championship round.

The 29-year-old Hlavacek reached the championship round of the tournament after scoring a stunning, 41-second TKO on Ryan Parker in the quarterfinal stage of the eight-man affair and earning a unanimous decision over Eric Utsch in the semifinal stage.

A draw to determine the GLORY 9 New York light heavyweight tournament’s quarterfinal stage matchups will be held on a date to be announced soon.

Doors at Hammerstein Ballroom will open at 5 p.m. EST and the first preliminary bout will begin at 6 p.m.

For more information, visit www.gloryworldseries.com.

About GLORY:

GLORY World Series (www.gloryworldseries.com) is the world’s premier kickboxing league, producing live events across the globe and offering up to $2 million in prize money to the winners of one-night, 16-man ‘Grand Slam’ tournaments and 8-man ‘Slam’ tournaments, which are open to only the best fighters in each of six different weight classes. The fight series also includes events with traditional, single bouts.

With television deals spanning every continent, online live video streaming of all shows and the world’s largest online martial arts library, GLORY is one of the world’s most widely distributed sporting organizations.

Owned and operated by Glory Sports International (GSI), the organization has offices in the UK, Netherlands, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and the US. Its personnel include an unprecedented mix of accomplished entrepreneurs and senior level executives from the diverse worlds of finance, sports marketing, television and martial arts fighting.

In 2013, GLORY launched the Road To GLORY tournament fight series to identify and develop new kickboxing talent in the United States, Japan and elsewhere around the globe into future champions and superstars of the sport.