Farah Ennis provides the fans with a little insight into his fight on ESPN this Friday:

Q One: Why and when did you start boxing?

A: My dad and brother were fighters. It’s in the Ennis blood.

Q Two: What was your amateur record?

A: I didn’t have a lot. But being around my family, it seemed that I grew up in boxing.

Q Three: What do you believe are the qualities you possess in the ring to help you achieve success against the best talent in the world?

A: I believe I’ve got good punching and boxing skills with a solid defense.

Q Four: Whom have you fought, or worked with, that makes you believe you have what it takes to get to the top?

A: I’ve been in camp with Sakio Bika and Gennady Golovkin, which was great sparring and learning experience.

Q Five: In 2011, you fought and lost to the then undefeated Alexander Johnson. Short and sweet, what happened?

A: Sometimes you make decisions for the fans, even when its against your own best interest, and for the week leading into the fight I caught the flu, but decided to press on. It was a lesson learned that cost me an “L” on my record.

Q Six: Tell the fans what type of fighter Francisco Sierra is and why many in our sport believe he is a gatekeeper for fighters wanting to take the next step towards the top? What do you believe you can do against Sierra in your ESPN televised fight?

A: He’s a rough and very experienced fighter. I hear many are picking him to beat me. All I can say, I’m in great shape and you will see Friday night.

Q Seven: Two other questions. There are some big 168-pound matches coming up on HBO next month, Mikkel Kessler vs. Carl Froch, and Lucien Bute vs. Jean Pascal. First, give the fans on which you pick to win those bouts? And who would you pick if the two winners than fought each other?

A: Both of these fights, in my eyes, will be determined on who wants it more will win. At this level you can’t underestimate any fighter.

Q Eight: If you were successful in beating Sierra on Friday, whom would you like to fight next?

A: Sierra is first. After that, I leave it to my promoter and management to move me in the right direction towards a world title.

Tensions are high. Only three days to go before it gets serious at the
Multiversum Schwechat, Austria. Spaniard Roberto Santos (18-6-3, 10 KOs)
takes on hometown favorite Marcos Nader (16-0-1, 2 KOs) for a second time,
after having fought out a draw back in November at the very same venue. Both
men want to settle the score once and for all and prove that they are better
than the other. Moreover, both agree that a trilogy will not be needed.

When asked if there would be another fight, if the championship bout should
again end in a tie, Nader replied: “That won’t happen. I will do everything
possible to bring that belt to Vienna. I know that I have been training well
which gives me confidence.” Otto Ramin, the German coach of the Austrian
fighter added: “During preparation our focus was on minimizing the
weaknesses and build on his strengths. That gives us great believe.”

Current EU Middleweight Champion Roberto Santos also aims to avoid a
possible third encounter: “I know Marcos Nader better than I did before our
first fight. Hence it was easier to prepare for him this time round,” said
the 31-year-old. The “Tiger of Benidorm” promised: “I feel good and strong.
We won’t have another draw. I will do everything to prevent that from
happening again. If necessary, I am not going to rely on the judges’
scorecards again.”

Tickets for the big show at the Multiversum Schwechat, Austria are available
at www.multiversum-schwechat.at and www.boxen.com.

LAS VEGAS (April 10, 2013) – Promoter Don King, the four fighters who’ll compete this Friday, April 12, on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast), and the other boxers who will fight on a stacked undercard participated in the final press conference Wednesday at Treasure Island Resort & Casino.

In a clash of southpaw lightweight boxers in the ShoBox 12-round main event, unbeaten WBA No. 3-ranked contender Angelo “The Cobra” Santana (14-0, 11 KOs), of Miami, Fla., meets Bahodir “Baha” Mamadjonov (11-1, 7 KOs), of Houston, Texas by way of Uzbekistan.

A solid co-feature will pit super lightweights Amir “Young Master” Imam (8-0, 7 KOs), of Albany, N.Y., against Jeremy “Hollywood” Bryan (16-2, 7 KOs) of Paterson, N.J., in an eight-round match.

Tickets, all priced at $100 each plus tax and fees, are on sale at Treasure Island box office or by calling (866) 712-9308 or (702) 894-7723. Doors open at 3 p.m. PT. The first live undercard fight is at 4:30 p.m.

In the top non-televised bout, Ryan “The Irish Outlaw” Coyne (21-0, 9 KOs), of St. Louis, and Marcus Oliveira (24-0-1, 19 KOs), of Lawrence, Kan., collide in a battle of unbeatens in a WBA light heavyweight elimination bout. The winner of the 12-rounder will become the No. 1-ranked 175-pounder by the WBA and mandatory challenger to champion Beibut Shumenov.

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

What the fighters and King said Wednesday:

ANGELO SANTANA

“First I want to thank God and second I want to thank my promoter, Don King, for the opportunity to fight on Friday. I also want to thank my opponent for taking the fight.

“I’m not much of a talker, but I can tell you my camp was great and everything about my preparation has been perfect. This is going to be a great fight.’’

BAHA MAMADJONOV

“I’m happy to be here and I want to thank everybody, including Team Santana, for giving me this opportunity. This is going to be an amazing fight.

“I think we’re both taking a chance, but this is the kind of fight that fans love – two young, evenly matched fighters fighting each other. I think experience-wise we are just about the same.

“The timing for me for this fight is perfect, and I am absolutely ready. I’m treating it like a world title fight; that’s how important this fight is.

“Obviously, Santana is a power puncher who believes in his punching power, which he has the right to do. The key for me is to not let him get set.’’

AMIR IMAM

“I want to thank Don King, SHOWTIME and Treasure Island for giving me the opportunity to showcase my talents. I hope this is the beginning of a long marriage with SHOWTIME.

“On Friday, I’m going to put on a show. It’s show time, but it’s the Young Master time, too.’’

JEREMY BRYAN

“First and foremost, I want to thank God. I’m as prepared as I can be. I trained for a month and a half in North Carolina so I am fit.

“I don’t watch tapes of my opponents, but I know this guy is a lot like me. We were both good amateurs who are trying to step it up as professionals. I’m just going to go in and do what I do.

“There’s no pressure. It’s all on him. This is his first tough fight, but it’s not mine. I hope everyone tunes in to watch, or comes to the fight. I’m really looking forward to this. I’ve been fighting at 140 pounds since 2004, since my amateur days. A win puts me where I need to be in the 140-pound division.’’

RYAN COYNE

“Don (King) talked about frustrations. I’ve had a lot in the last eight months. It was a battle to get this fight. I know my opponent is a very good athlete and puncher. There is no need to demonize my opponent, but I will win on Friday night.

“I’ve said a lot of harsh things over the last eight months but I want to thank everybody, including Don King.”’

MARCUS OLIVEIRA

“I let my hands do the talking in the ring. My opponent will have to back up everything he said about coming to win the fight. If he does bring it, I will answer back with my fists.’’

PROMOTER DON KING

“When Martin Luther King was assassinated, I was in the penitentiary, so when I named this event ‘Fight for Freedom …The Dream Lives On’ I was thinking of Reverend King’s assassination 45 years ago this month. I embody the belief that anything is possible in this great nation known as America. And the dream of victory lives in the hearts of these fighters.

“Angelo Santana is the living embodiment of the American Dream. He came here on a raft with 27 people from Cuba. This is the only nation on earth where people try to break in rather than break out.’’

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

About Treasure Island
Treasure Island on the Las Vegas Strip is a privately owned hotel and casino and stands alone as the only major Strip property to claim that unique market position. Boasting nearly 3,000 guest rooms, Treasure Island is a world-class destination for headline entertainment, the enchanting Sirens of TI nightly outdoor show and Mystère, the classic Cirque du Soleil performance that combines the powerful athleticism, high-energy acrobatics and inspiring imagery that have become the company’s hallmark. Upscale and casual dining choices, hip nightspots and indulgent spa and shopping experiences further complement the one-of-a-kind Treasure Island guest experience. For information visit www.treasureisland.com, https://www.facebook.com/TIvegas or follow the property on Twitter @TIVegas.

About Don King Productions
Don King Productions has promoted over 600 world championship fights with nearly 100 individual boxers having been paid $1 million or more. DKP also holds the distinction of having promoted several of the largest pay-per-view events in history, as gauged by total buys, including: Holyfield vs. Tyson II, 1.99 million buys, June 1997; Tyson vs. Holyfield I, 1.6 million buys, November 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, 1.58 million buys, August 1995.

DKP has promoted or co-promoted 10 of the top 25 highest-grossing live gates in the history of the state of Nevada including: Holyfield vs. Lewis II, paid attendance: 17,078, gross: $16,860,300 (NOTE: Also second-highest live-gate gross for any event in the history of the world.), date: Nov. 13, 1999; Holyfield vs. Tyson II, paid attendance: 16,279, gross: $14,277,200, date: June 28, 1997; Holyfield vs. Tyson I, paid attendance: 16,103, gross: $14,150,700, date: Nov. 9, 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, paid attendance: 16,113, gross: $13,965,600, date: Aug. 19, 1995.

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

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, ageless IBF Light Heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins will make the mandatory defense of his crown against German based Karo Murat this summer.

“History is marching on,” said Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer. “Bernard is up for the challenge. Karo Murat is 29, young enough to be Bernard’s son. He’s a good fighter and he has been waiting for this kind of opportunity.”

“It’s an obligation I have to do now,” Hopkins told ESPN.com while taking a break from a training session at the Joe Hand Boxing Gym in Philadelphia. “If there was a better option, maybe I’d do it. But there is no real option that’s better right now with all the other [top] guys fighting other fights right now. So there’s no other better option right now financially or historically than doing this fight and getting it out of the way, and at least you don’t get stripped of the title. But I got bigger fish to fry after I execute this guy. After this I want a superfight.”

“I had already made a deal and agreed on the purse and everything with (Sauerland’s) Chris (Meyer), but I had to wait to sit down face-to-face with Bernard,” Schaefer said. “He came to Los Angeles and we met on Friday, and Bernard made it clear to me that he feels great and that history will march on. I told him, ‘Great, looking forward to it, now let me get it done.’

“I needed to know from Bernard if he wanted to fight or if he wanted to fight but fight somebody other than Murat. He could have said, ‘I am calling it a day’ or he could have given up the title to fight someone else or he can defend the title. The IBF has always been supportive of Bernard, and he has a good relationship with the IBF, and he said, ‘I’m not giving up the title.'”

“From what I’ve seen of Murat, he’s a durable guy and a ‘B’ fighter, but I have to look at him like he’s an ‘A’ fighter,” Hopkins said. “He fought Cleverly and he got some experience. He’s rough and tough, so you got to come up with a game plan, especially at age 48. People want to tune in and see, ‘Is tonight the night Bernard Hopkins gets old?’

“We have come to an agreement,” Meyer said. “We at Sauerland and Karo are exited about this. We expected that Bernard would prefer to fight Cleverly in the U.K. or even resign from boxing. But he is what he is — a warrior, a fighter. He does now what he always did — do his mandatory, even against a fighter who is virtually unknown in the USA. Karo is delighted that after a very long wait of more than 12 months he has now his go, his shot at the world title.

“I have to give credit to Richard, who is one of the toughest negotiators in this industry. But he is a true professional and knows the business inside-out. We were able to close a deal within a very short time. We are happy to work with Richard and his whole team.”

Hopkins said his goal is take care of Murat and move on to a super fight. He said he is interested in unifying light heavyweight titles with Cleverly or defending against super middleweight titlist Carl Froch of England, should he defeat Mikkel Kessler in their May 25 rematch.

“Those are both huge fights over there in the U.K., and I’d go over there for those fights, no problem,” Hopkins said. “I love when the crowd is against me. I love shutting them up.”

“Listen, these guys have fights coming up and nobody is banging the door down to fight Bernard Hopkins,” he said. “I talked to Richard along with [attorney] Eric Melzer, and I know I had a duty after the Cloud fight to fight the mandatory, so we decided to get Murat out of the way, and then I can go on and unify the titles before I turn 50.”

Chicago, IL, Wednesday, April 10, 2013–Bobby Hitz announced today that Russian sensation Andrey Fedosov will fight Darnell “Ding-A-Ling Man” Wilson in an eight round heavyweight bout which will be the main event on Saturday, April 20 during “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” and that Dimar Ortuz will go up against Harley Kilfian in the six round cruiserweight co-feature. Tickets for the fight card, which returns to Hammond, Indiana’s The Venue at the Horseshoe Casino, are available at hitzboxing.com.

“We are pleased to have a destructive heavyweight like Andrey as part of the Hitz boxing team, I expect big things for him and a world title can’t be too far out of reach,” said Hitz, President and CEO of Hitz Boxing. “I am pleased with Dimar’s development as a fighter. Chicago fight fans should be proud of this hometown boxer.”

Tickets for “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” are priced at $90.00 for ringside seats and $40.00 for orchestra seats, they are available at hitzboxing.com, all Ticketmaster outlets and ticketmaster.com. All bouts are subject to change. Doors open 7:00 pm and the action starts at 7:30 pm.

Fedosov (23-2, 18 KOs) is the former WBC Youth Heavyweight Champion from Shuya, Russia and Wilson (24-16-3, 20KOs), his opponent, is from Takoma Park, Maryland. Ortuz (8-0, 5KO’s), is from Chicago while Kilfian (10-12, 8 KOs) is from Menominee, Wisconsin.

The rest of the card features the pro debuts of super flyweight Fidel Navarrete of Chicago, welterweight Roy Navarro of Chicago and heavyweight Nick Asberry of Waukegan, IL, all fighting in four round bouts.

Additionally there will be four round matches for super flyweight Johnny “Wite Boi” Determan (6-0, 5KOs) of Omaha, NE, lightweight Frank Scalise (5-1, 5KOs) of Chicago, light welterweight Russell Fiore (7-2, 6KOs) of Chicago, welterweight Nick Ramirez (1-0, 1KO) of Rockford, IL, and heavyweight Rahim Muhammad (3-0, 2KOs) of Detroit. Light welterweight Antonio “The Aztec God of War” Canas (6-1, 3KOs) has a six round bout.

Since its debut in 1991, Hitz Boxing has been the Midwest’s leading boxing promoter. Led by Bobby Hitz, who boasted a 21-4 record with 18 KO’s as a boxer, Hitz Boxing is the longest running boxing promoter in the Chicago area dating back to the bi-monthly boxing series the “Ramada Rumble,” held at the former Rosemont Ramada Inn. The organization currently promotes the wildly popular “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN and is the subject of “Hitz Boxing,” a reality show airing on YouTube which has amassed over 4 million views. Over the years the organization has produced matches that have included some of the top names in boxing such as James Toney, Antonio Tarver, Montell Griffin, Iran Barkley, Andrew Golota and “Fast Fres Oquendo.

The $500 million Horseshoe Casino, a Caesars Entertainment Corporation property, just 20 minutes from downtown Chicago is the premier entertainment and gambling destination in Chicagoland. Where legendary gaming lives on, Horseshoe boasts more than 350,000 square feet with over 3,000 slot machines, over 100 table games, one of the largest poker rooms in the Midwest, and more. The Venue at Horseshoe Casino is proud to offer the ultimate concert and entertainment destination and premier experience in a flexible space that can hold up to 3,300 guests. Dining elegance is not overlooked and guests can choose from a variety of dining options including; Jack Binion’s Steak House which overlooks Lake Michigan and winner of the 2009, 2010, 2011 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and the May 2012 OpenTable Diners’ Choice award, around-the-globe variety at the Village Square Buffet, and a taste of Chicago at Benny’s Pub and Eatery.

For more information, please visit: www.chicagohorseshoe.com.

Must be 21 years or older to gamble or attend events at The Venue. Know When To Stop Before You Start® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9WITH-IT © 2012 Caesars License Company, LLC.

LINCOLN, R.I. (April 10th, 2013) — Rather than sit back and wait for the right fight to come to him, Rob Font has taken a much more proactive approach to his budding mixed martial arts career.

“If you’re willing to fight all of the tougher guys no one else wants to fight, you can stay busy,” said the Boston native, who’ll return to the cage Friday night at Twin River Casino. “If you try to look for that guy with a 5-5 record, it might not work out.”

No wonder Font (5-1, 1 KO) has been so active this year; in February, he dominated former No. 1-ranked featherweight Saul Almeida in one of the early-candidates for the 2013 upset of the year, and now he’s preparing for another tall task Friday, April 12th, 2013 when he faces undefeated Lucas Cruz (6-0, 2 KOs) on the undercard of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “Path Of Destruction” card.

Coincidentally, Font has carved his own path the old-fashioned way by taking on whoever stands in front of him, regardless of record, height or whatever intangible that might work against him. The win over Almeida, a former Bellator Fighting Championships veteran, was the biggest of his career, which began professionally in 2011, but he could surpass that Friday if he upends Cruz, a rising star also fighting out of Boston who has racked up his own impressive resume since he first stepped into the cage two years ago.

“This is a totally different matchup,” said Font, referring primarily to the contrast in style between Almeida and Cruz, not to mention Almeida’s lanky, 6-foot-1 frame, “but I honestly think it’s a better matchup for me stylistically.

“With Almeida, you’re dealing with his length and his grappling. Cruz comes forward, and I think I’m a better counterpuncher than anyone he’s ever fought.”

Against Almeida, Cruz stayed on the outside and used a deadly arsenal of front- and rear-leg kicks, along with his jab, to keep his taller opponent at bay.

“Everyone who fights tall guys always tries to get on the inside and work the body, but I didn’t want to get too close where he could take me down,” Font said. “I could definitely see his frustration building up. He tried to shoot for a takedown like three or four times, but he wasn’t even close. I knew his whole game plan; he likes to take you down, stay on top and smother you.”

Can Font prevent Cruz from implementing his own game plan? Chances are both fighters stay on their feet for the duration of the fight, which is the way Font wants it.

“I love those kind of fights,” he said. “Those are the fights I do well in. I can’t wait. He’s a little like [Ultimate Fighting Championships middleweight champion] Anderson Silva in that he always comes forward. He likes to clinch a lot and drive those knees. I need a lot of lateral movement and to keep my jab in his face the whole time.”

Cruz not only presents a different challenge, but perhaps the most difficult fight of Font’s young career. Nicknamed “The Golden Boy,” the 23-year-old Cruz last fought in December when he won a unanimous decision against previously-unbeaten featherweight Andres Jeudi. Prior to that, he won convincingly against veterans John Ortolani (first-round knockout) and Pete Jeffrey (first-round submission) to earn a spot among the top five fighters in his weight class in the northeast. Typically a lightweight, Cruz is moving down to featherweight for this fight and, in doing so, taking on one of the hottest fighters in this weight class.

With a win Friday, Font could wind up in the same conversation among the best featherweights in the region.

“That’d be awesome,” Font said. “I feel I’ve been battle-tested, and Cruz is another worthy opponent.”

Tickets for “Path To Destruction” are $36.00, $56.00, $101.00 and $126.00 and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.cesmma.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.

The main event of “Path To Destruction” is a rematch between the Pawtucket, R.I., native Chattelle (11-8, 8 KOs) and Dennis Olson (12-7, 1 KO) of Amherst, N.H. The undercard features nine bouts, including Rhode Island natives Shaun Marmas (4-4, 1 KO) of Coventry and Providence’s Thomas Evans (2-1), who will face one another in a three-round featherweight bout, and Boston’s John “Doomsday” Howard (17-7, 8 KOs), who will face Iowa’s Jason Louck (15-10, 7 KOs) in a middleweight bout.

Also on the undercard, TriForce’s Keenan Raymond will debut against Northborough, Mass., lightweight Jay Bakanowski (1-1); Kody Norby (3-0) of Woonsocket, R.I., will put his unbeaten record on the line against flyweight Jimmy Grant (3-1) of Carlstadt, N.J.; and welterweight Toby Oden (1-0) of Milford, Mass., will return against Jersey City veteran Emmanuel Walo (2-1).

Fan-favorite Dinis Paiva Jr. (3-3, 1 KO) of East Providence, R.I., will also be back in action searching for his third consecutive win against Cambridge, Mass., native Kin Moy (2-0); and Massachusetts natives Matt Doherty (1-0, 1 KO) of Salem and Whitman’s Johnny Campbell (5-4, 3 KOs) will square off in a bantamweight bout. Unbeaten lightweight Nate Andrews (3-0, 1 KO) will face Asa Zorn (0-1) of Salem, Conn.

(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Path To Destruction.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must enter through the West entrance).

DOVER, Del. — Ed Sutor, President and CEO of Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, today announced several special guest appearances for the Friday Night Fights event on April 12. “The excitement for the upcoming boxing matches has attracted well known celebrities from the boxing and entertainment worlds,” said Sutor.

Washington, D.C., hip hop rapper, Wale, is expected to make an appearance as a guest in the Rollins Center® at for Friday Night Fights, April 12. Wale has won two BET awards, a Soul Train Award for best new artist in 2010, and was nominated this year for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song, “Lotus Flower Bomb.” His single, “Bad,” featuring Tiara Thomas is currently #31 on the Billboard Hot 100 and climbing. His third studio album, Gifted, is scheduled to release in June.

Professional boxing sensation Andre Ward (26 wins, 14 by knock out, zero losses) will also be in attendance as a special guest. Ward is the current WBA, WBC and The Ring Super Middleweight Champion. He was a gold medalist at the 2004 Summer Olympics then won his first world championship in 2009. Ward is rated as the No 2 pound-for-pound boxer in the world by Yahoo! Sports, Sports Illustrated, ESPN and The Ring. He was named Ring Magazine fighter of the year in 2011. Boxrec.com currently has Ward listed as the No. 1 super middleweight in the world.

The boxing card features three championship title shots on the line. Amir “Hardcore” Mansour will challenge his opponent for the NABA and the WBF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship Titles.

“Queen” Ronica Jeffrey and Natasha “Nightmare” Spence will battle for the WIBA Super Featherweight Championship Title.

Limited tickets are still available. Call VIP Services at 800-711-5882 for information. The first bout will begin at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Will call will be open from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Visit doverdowns.com for updates. Event, times and card are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

FRED STERNBURG: This is Top Rank’s fourth great boxing event in the span of five weeks. This Saturday it’s 2012 Fighter of the Year and WBO junior featherweight champn Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire taking on undefeated WBA Super Bantamweight Champion and former two-time Cuban Olympic Gold Medalist Guillermo “El Chacol” Rigondeaux in one of the most anticipated fights in many years in a terrific title unification bout for the 122 lb. title.

BOB ARUM: Thank you. If I talk in Mandarin, will there be anyone to translate? Anyway, it’s good to be back in the United States and good to be back in my native New York and it’s even better that on Saturday we have a classic match-up to present at Radio City Music Hall. The buzz for this fight has been absolutely tremendous and in the next couple of days we will be able to announce a complete sellout. We have been inundated with requests for tickets. I know that many of the New York Knicks players, who are off on Saturday night will be coming to the fight as well as many of the players from the New York Football Giants. The entire community, and sports community, is focusing on this particular battle which takes place at Radio City Music Hall between Nonito Donaire and Guillermo Rigondeaux. So it’s a real pleasure and honor for us to promote this event and I also want to take this opportunity to welcome our co-promoters Caribe Promotions, who are co-promoting this event with Top Rank.

GARY HYDE (Rigondeaux Manager): We are absolutely delighted and excited about the fight. We are really looking forward to it and our fighter is in the best condition he has ever been and he is really focused for this fight. We are very confident of victory on Saturday night.

BORIS ARENCIBIA (Caribe Promotions): Nonito is one of the best in the game and we have really been anticipating this fight. We are happy to have put this together with Top Rank.

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: Training camp has been going very well and I am in the best shape of my career and I am very excited about this weekend.

NONITO DONAIRE: It’s been great. Camp has been going great. It is going to be a great fight. He has been the best ever at the amateur level trying to become one of the best at the professional level. It is going to be something – people are going to be there for a treat. It’s going to be a great fight.

How do you feel now about facing Rigondeaux where in the past you have been skeptical?

NONITO DONAIRE: In the beginning when I followed Rigondeaux, I wasn’t impressed with the Ricardo Cordoba fight, but the more that I watched him fight I realized he is more worthy of it. But first things first, I wanted to go Abner Mares first then Rigondeaux but that fight didn’t happen and now that I have been watching Rigondeaux the more formidable I see him. I am seeing that he is a really tough guy. Not only does he have speed and power but he does well mentally so I am really excited about the fight. When you do this for awhile, like I have, you tend to be motivated by having a good fighter in front of you and that is why I disregarded Rigondeaux in the beginning because of the Cordoba fight, so when the fight with Mares didn’t happen, Rigondeaux was the next guy in line. The more that I watched him fight, the more excited I got about the fight. He has a lot of talent and that’s why I am training hard for this fight.

What made you change your mind after the Cordoba fight?

NONITO DONAIRE: He fought better and progressed as he fought different opposition. As much as I can say he hasn’t fought the guys at my level – the more he fought, the better he got. That was worth the determination of me working hard.

How is it training as well as having a pregnant wife?

NONITO DONAIRE: I don’t need anything. I have accomplished more than many other fighters have in the boxing world. To me the most precious moments I have is feeling this kid kick. To be there and to witness every movement and every kick – I am really happy. But my focus is once I get inside that ring my focus is to win.

So it hasn’t been a distraction?

NONITO DONAIRE: Not at all. As much as I like to spend time with my wife, when I am inside that ring I have been performing well against my sparring partners and getting ready for the fight.

Your last fight in NYC was disappointing…

NONITO DONAIRE: I think there will be fireworks this time. It may be a chess match. We are both defensive because we can see the punches coming, but when it comes down to the fight we are both aggressive and offensive guys so I don’t think it will be anything near that fight [with Omar Narvaez] and the people in New York and the people watching on HBO will have a treat.

How is your weight?

NONITO DONAIRE: Weight is good. I have been getting bigger so I may want to try to move up. Training has been excellent and we have had excellent sparring. Everything I needed to prepare for this fight has been given to me and we are ready.

Is it important to score a knockout?

NONITO DONAIRE: I think, and you know me as a fighter, I want people to have fun and I will always go for the knockout if given the opportunity.

What would you say is Rigondeaux’ greatest strength?

NONITO DONAIRE: I think his ability to see punches and to be intelligent in there. He has speed and power like I do. It is going to be, who is the smartest guy in the ring and who has the biggest heart?

Do you think your pro experience will be to your advantage?

NONITO DONAIRE: When it comes down to speed-power and power and tactical ability then my experience will come in handy in terms of pushing through and going all-out and going more rounds I think that is going to be a big factor when it comes down to we are evenly matched. If it comes down to speed and power then my experience will be an ace for me but that is something we will need to find out – if he is stronger than me or faster than me.

Is this your most important fight?

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: Nonito is a great tactician and has enormous power so I think it’s going to be an exciting fight. At this point it is the most important fight of my career. This fight will determine the best in the 122-pound weight class.

After the Narvaez fight you said you were disappointed for the fans…

NONITO DONAIRE: I am thankful for the fans so I want to give them the best treat that I can and that’s why I am not afraid to get hit or to take hits. I am there to give as much excitement as I can. The fans are there for me and I am thankful for them for supporting me throughout this time and to me that’s important.

How do you think you can get Rigondeaux to exchange?

NONITO DONAIRE: it is impossible to say what I will do because I am a fighter who is given a situation and reacts to that situation and whatever that may be I know I have the power and weapons. It may be the left or it may be the right. I know I have power in both hands and that’s what makes me scary. I have power from all angles and the overhands or I have the straight punches. Rigondeaux has the same thing, power in both hands. But it’s going to be a great fight. To set things in motion I have to put the energy out there to make him engage or do whatever I want him to do.

With Nishioka you made him come forward to finish him off…

NONITO DONAIRE: With Toshiaki Nishioka, at the moment he thought he could box me, but ultimately my tactic was well-played to the point where he started to reach in and I capitalized. But at the beginning he tried to power me in and I needed a different approach and that’s the same thing that will happen with Rigondeaux – I will need to find out what type of fighter he is to make a point in strategy.

Does Rigondeaux feel the same? That he needs to be exciting?

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: Yes, in this fight I will try to engage more than I have in the past. I want to give the fans what they want to see. Nonito is an aggressive boxer and I will be coming for him. I expect the same from Nonito. He is a great boxer and a great technician. I think there are going to be a lot of fireworks.

How do you think amateur experience compares to pro experience? Spinks had less than 10 pro fights and beat Ali…

NONITO DONAIRE: That’s correct, Ali was older at that time but Spinks did shock the world and I do listen to every history lesson that is out there and that’s what makes me work hard and train hard. But I do understand that back then, amateurs fought the way that professionals fought. During Rigondeaux’ time it was about the point system. It was about scoring the points and being tactical. You could have 500 amateur fights but when you go pro it is a different world. Although, an amateur like Rigondeaux is able to shift his ways to become a world champion. He is able to use his skills and learn from that. That’s why we do not underestimate him and trained very hard for this fight. We are training for this fight like we are fighting the best out there.

What would it mean to you to bump off the best 122 pounder?

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: It would be a huge accomplishment to add to my amateur accomplishments. A victory over Nonito would show the world that I can compete against the best in the world in a professional capacity.

Do you view this as a big step up in competition?

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: I have great respect for Nonito. His record speaks for itself and what he has done as a professional boxer. I believe that I belong at this level and if I am going to be the best, I believe you’ve got to beat the best. Right now Nonito is the best and on April 13 I am going to give it my all.

Is there a fight on Nonito’s resume that he looks at as his best?

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: I think in his last couple fights Nonito has become sharper. His last couple fights he has looked his best and the fight against Nishioka was impressive.

How do you get in those long arms and powerful punches? It has proven to be a tall task…

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: He is a boxer that acts on reaction. Action / reaction – he takes it from there. In the moment of the fight he reacts. He really has no strategy with the length of his arms. He reacts in the ring.

Two Gold Medals or Unifying titles – which is bigger accomplishment?

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: The amateur accomplishments that I have had I want to repeat on a professional level. Like I said before, beating Nonito would be beating the best in the division. I have great respect for Nonito and I think he is a great fighter. Beating him would be a great accomplishment in itself. If we beat him we can say we are true professionals. He can stop talking about me as an amateur. A win absolutely would be a bigger accomplishment than the Gold Medals.

What part of Guillermo’s style will be the toughest for you?

NONITO DONAIRE: he’s an incredible fighter. Having only 11 fights and becoming world champion – he’s an elite fighter. That’s why after Mares fell through he was the next guy in line. We want to fight the best. We want to clean up this division – that is the goal my team has.

Do you think people think it is a disadvantage you have only had 11 professional fights?

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: Obviously the public does not respect me because of the number of fights I have had. Nonito has three times the experience I have at the professional level so the public has chosen Nonito as the favorite.

NONITO DONAIRE: I am at that point that I have to have that fire. I am at a point in my career that if I think a fight won’t be difficult I won’t train as hard. When we checked it out we saw this guy has a lot of talent and that’s what we are excited about. I saw that he didn’t have many fights and at the same time I know he will get better every time he gets in the ring – and he has proven that he is that person that gets better. That’s what we are fighting him now, now that he’s at that level.

How important was it to you that he accepted VADA testing?

NONITO DONAIRE: It is good to prove that you are clean in the sport of boxing as well as any sport. That’s important to me and I commend him for doing it. This way everybody is good, everybody is clean and there is no doubt.

Bob, how do you feel about the last five weeks promoting four great fight cards?

BOB ARUM: I don’t know where I am anymore. I went into a restaurant today and I asked a waiter for chopsticks. It’s been fun and I think this is the highlight of the whole experience. We’ve had some great fights – Tim Bradley’s fight with Provodnikov and Rios and Alvarado – terrific fights — then the whole Macau experience. Now I am really looking forward to Nonito and Guillermo. I have thought about this fight for a real long time and I think it’s going to be a classic battle.

I just want to remind everyone that at the Boxing Writers Association of America Awards dinner is on Thursday and Nonito Donaire will be recognized at the Fighter of the Year and Pacquiao-Márquez 4 as the Fight of the Year among the various awards at that dinner in Manhattan on Thursday night.

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: Once again I would like to thank Nonito for accepting the fight. I would like to thank Top Rank, Caribe Promotion and HBO – everyone that has helped put together this fight. I think this is the fight the world wants to see – the two top 122-pounders getting in the ring to fight each other.

NONITO DONAIRE: I am honored, man, honored for the award that I won for my accomplishments last year. And now I am honored to be fighting in this historic venue. I want to thank Top Rank and Caribe Promotions for having the kid ready for this fight. I know Guillermo’s camp has him ready for this fight. Thanks to HBO and all the fans out there – this is going to be a great fight. I owe New York a great fight and this is going to be it

**********************************************

2012 Fighter of the Year and World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior featherweight champion NONITO “Filipino Flash” DONAIRE and undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) super bantamweight champion and former two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist GUILLERMO “El Chacal” RIGONDEAUX rumble in a world title unification battle, This Saturday! April 13, on New York’s biggest stage — Radio City Music Hall. It will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

For Top Rank, this will complete its New York Promotional Triple Crown, having already promoted world title fights at the old and the new Yankee Stadiums and numerous events at “The Mecca of Boxing,” Madison Square Garden. This also marks only the second time Radio City Music Hall has ever hosted professional boxing in its 82-year history. The first fight was the Roy Jones Jr. vs. David Telesco light heavyweight world championship on January 15, 2000.

Donaire vs. Rigondeaux is promoted by Top Rank, in association with Caribe Promotions, Tecate and Madison Square Garden. Remaining tickets, priced at $300, $150, $75 and $35, are available for purchase at the Radio City Music Hall Box Office, Madison Square Garden Box Office, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com, www.radiocity.com and www.thegarden.com.

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

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF Jr. Middleweight champion Ishe Smith will defend against mandatory challenger Carlos Molina this Summer.

“We made an agreement to let [Mayweather Promotions] promote the fight,” said Molina’s promoter Leon Margules. “We made a deal on the money, on the airline tickets, on the parameters of the fight. I went back and forth with Leonard and we worked it out.”

“I think Molina can beat anybody in the division, whether it’s Ishe Smith, Canelo Alvarez, Austin Trout, anybody,” Margules said. “He’s hell for anybody, so we’re excited to get a shot at the title.”

Las Vegas, Nevada – And then there were two. The Ultimate Fighter® returned to FX on Tuesday night, with the final episode of its seventeenth season, featuring two semifinal elimination fights. New Yorker Uriah Hall and Kelvin Gastelum of Yuma, Ariz. secured their berths in the final and moved within reach of a lucrative contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship® and a brand new Harley Davidson.

Gastelum continued to utilize his impressive wrestling, submitting favored Josh Samman at 4:02 of the first round via rear naked choke. Hall followed in the second semifinal of the evening, spending 9:49 in the Octagon® – more than his two previous fights combined – before securing a TKO victory over Dylan Andrews.

The fighters will square off in the final at The Ultimate Fighter Finale on Saturday, April 13. Given that both fighters were members of Team Sonnen, UFC light heavyweight challenger Chael Sonnen has officially won the Harley Davidson motorcycle, presented to the winning coach.

A full recap is available at ufc.com and below are the season results at a glance:

Team Sonnen – coached by UFC® light heavyweight Chael Sonnen – (8-6)

Luke Barnatt (1-1, TKO win over Gilbert Smith in episode 2, TKOd by Dylan Andrews in episode 10)

Uriah Hall (3-0, KOd Adam Cella in episode 3, KOd Bubba McDaniel in episode 11, TKOd Dylan Andrews in episode 12)

Zak Cummings (0-1, lost a UD to Dylan Andrews in episode 8)

Tor Troeng (0-1, TKOd by Josh Samman in episode 6)

Jimmy Quinlan (1-1, submitted Clint Hester in episode 7, tapped to strikes from Josh Samman in episode 11)

Kevin Casey (0-2, lost a UD to Collin Hart in episode 4, lost via TKO [failure to answer to bell] to Bubba McDaniel in episode 9)

Kelvin Gastelum (3-0, submitted Bubba McDaniel in episode 5, defeated Collin Hart by TKO in episode 10, submitted Josh Samman in episode 12)

Team Jones – coached by UFC® light heavyweight champion Jon Jones – (6-8)

Clint Hester (0-1, submitted by Jimmy Quinlan in episode 7)

Josh Samman (2-1, TKO win over Tor Troeng in episode 6, TKO win over Jimmy Quinlan [tapped to strikes] in episode 11, submitted by Kelvin Gastelum in episode 12)

Bubba McDaniel (1-2, submitted by Kelvin Gastelum in episode 5, defeated Kevin Casey by TKO [failure to answer to bell] in episode 9, knocked out by Uriah Hall in episode 11)

Gilbert Smith (0-1, TKOd by Luke Barnatt in episode 2)

Collin Hart (1-1, defeated Kevin Casey by UD in episode 4, TKOd by Kelvin Gastelum in episode 10)

Adam Cella (0-1, KOd by Uriah Hall in episode 3)

Dylan Andrews (2-1, defeated Zak Cummings by UD in episode 8, defeated Luke Barnatt by TKO in episode 10, TKOd by Uriah Hall in episode 12)

All but two of this season’s cast members will make their return on the Finale card, as Thor Troeng recently submitted Adam Cella at UFC on FUEL TV®: MOUSASI vs. LATIFI. The full fight card is now available at ufc.com.

Tickets for The Ultimate Fighter® Finale are on-sale now. To purchase tickets visit the Mandalay Bay Events Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com, or charge-by-phone at 800.745.3000.

The Ultimate Fighter® Finale takes place Saturday, April 13, live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev. The event will air live on FX at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

For more show information, and your chance to play the TUF Fantasy Tournament, visit ultimatefighter.com and follow us on Twitter @TUFonFX or on Facebook.com/TUF.

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®

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

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries, to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide, in 28 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and Australia via Main Event and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with nearly 2.4 million followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs and video games, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, a new franchise in development with EA, UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.

FX

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from Fox. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 98 million homes. The diverse schedule features a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning hit dramas series Sons of Anarchy and Justified; the miniseries American Horror Story: Asylum; the upcoming drama series The Americans; the acclaimed hit comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Louie, Archer, Wilfred, BrandX with Russell Brand, and Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell; and the upcoming comedy Legit. The network’s library of acquired box-office hit movies is unmatched by any ad-supported television network. FX’s other offerings include the acquired hit series Two and a Half Men and How I Met Your Mother, and live sports with UFC and NCAA football.

No one can say they have seen what Mark F. Villanueva has seen, or certainly done what he has about it.

Living most of his life in the Philippines, Mark Villanueva, a boxing trainer and journalist has been forced to cringe at the sight of the city’s youth on the streets as his worldly domain gradually depleted. It’s now time someone takes a stand! With his heart on his sleeve and a dream in his pocket Mark F. Villanueva is spending every day working to get young life-fighters off the streets and into a boxing gym.

Why boxing? That’s the easiest question one can ask Villanueva, a man born and raised in a boxing family. Locally, basketball is the sport you’ll see children and young adults pursuing. Even though Villanueva never participates as a fighter, as a trainer and as writer he has a special place in his heart for the fight game – and deep memories of these close times with his deceased father lie within.

What is Mark’s goal? His drive? That tingle in his head that tells him he isn’t aiming for a lost cause? The people. Growing up in IloIlo City his life philosophy is based on a Muhammad Ali quote “Service to others is how you pay rent for your room here on earth”. Many children view themselves as a lost cause, starving on the streets, being absorbed in gang violence that places them in unimaginable dilemmas.

For years Mark Villanueva committed to making heart liquefying and hosting charity events. He became discouraged citing the long-term nullification they had. So now he is on the front lines. Working with individuals as he himself takes inspiration from some supporting names in boxing including promoter Lou Dibella, Boxing writer Wilson Pitts, former world champion Wayne McCullough, and many more.

His current campaign is based off of many factors. He is currently expanding and renovating the “Mark Villanueva Boxing Academy” in Iloilo City, Philippines. This gym will be open to ALL youth in poverty throughout the surrounding areas. Prior to that the academy needs much renovation though. With damaged ceilings, exposed wiring and various structural damage this gym is still too hazardous to use. So Mark needs your help.

Mark had an estimate done on the needed renovation needed, it will cost about $4,000 USD (160,000 PHP). There are 20 days left in his groundbreaking campaign with just over $1,,000 needed to go! If this goal is reached Mark will be one step closer to saving hundreds of suffering children in the Philippines. And your spare change can do it all.

Not $1 will be used for personal gain. If the goal amount is broken prior to the end date of April 29th the remainder of the money will be used for new gym equipment to further improve the gym environment.

Not many people would dare to step their feet into this task. The common man may yield to the pressure placed upon him. That man is not Mark Villanueva. A man who dares to dream. A man who willfully works two full time jobs just to keep his dream afloat. Life is a fight, and Villanueva will not take a knee until he leaves with a knockout.

Learn more about Mark’s loyal work here. It features more information and proof about one man’s dedication to change an entire local society.

NEW YORK (April 9, 2013) – Two of Hall of Fame promoter Don King’s most promising, undefeated young prospects, lightweight Angelo “The Cobra” Santana and super lightweight Amir “Young Master” Imam will compete in featured fights this Friday, April 12, on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

Both boxers, highly regarded and packed with potential, are in tough.

A former amateur standout and the current WBA No. 3-ranked 135-pound contender, southpaw Santana (14-0, 11 KOs), of Miami, Fla., faces fellow lefthander Bahodir “Baha” Mamadjonov (11-1, 7 KOs), of Houston, Texas by way of Uzbekistan, in the 10-round the main event at Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. Mamadjonov is a substitute for the injured Carlos Cardenas, who withdrew with a shoulder injury last week.

In his toughest fight to date, Imam (8-0, 7 KOs), of Albany, N.Y., will be opposed by Jeremy “Hollywood” Bryan (16-2, 7 KOs) of Paterson, N.J., in the eight-round co-feature. Imam has won his last seven fights by knockout, all inside four rounds.

Tickets, all priced at $100 each plus tax and fees, are on sale at Treasure Island box office or by calling (866) 712-9308 or (702) 894-7723. Doors open at 3 p.m. PT. The first live undercard fight is at 4 p.m.

The 5-foot-8 Santana, who turns 25 on April 19, will be making his second consecutive start on ShoBox. In a career-best performance last Nov. 16, he registered one of the most devastating knockouts in 2012 – a brutal fifth-round stoppage over previously unbeaten Johnny Garcia (13-0) in Hallandale, Fla.

Taking his first significant step up in class, the aggressive-minded, heavy-handed Santana scored three knockdowns, one from a left hand in the second and two more from massive left hands in the fifth. The last left rendered Garcia unconscious, and the referee halted the proceedings without a count at 1:41.

“He was very tough but I was able to knock him out and that was my intention,’’ Santana said. “That performance said it all. It proved I’m ready. I was nervous at the beginning; this was my first national TV appearance and I needed a round to gain my composure. (But) I was waiting for him to gain confidence and attack. Once he did that I was able to unload my left hand.’’

Said ShoBox expert analyst and boxing historian Steve Farhood regarding the vicious KO win: “Santana gave us the impression that he’s special by the power he showed in his ShoBox debut. The knockout he scored over Garcia was undeniably one of the most spectacular knockouts of the year, and at first glance Santana gives the impression of being able to steamroll anybody he hits with that left hand.’’

This will be the third scheduled 10-round bout for the Cuban-born Santana, a two-time national amateur champion and pro since 2008. He’s only been six full rounds one time, however, and that was over three years ago. The majority of his fights have been wipeouts – four of his knockouts came in the first round, three in the second and two in the third. He’s flattened his last seven opponents in five rounds or less.

Mamadjonov, a skilled and determined boxer, doesn’t figure to go as swiftly.

“Baha presents a difficult challenge for Santana for a couple of reasons,’’ Farhood said. “First, he’s a late substitute and Santana had been preparing for other fighters. Secondly, he’s a southpaw and Santana’s prior opponents for this show were all right-handed. Baha was in a very close fight with Darley Perez and Perez is one of the best lightweight prospects in the world. So this should be a real test for Santana.’’

Armando Alvarez, a longtime sports producer at Telemundo, has seen several of Santana’s scraps in and around Miami and has high praise for the crowd-pleasing slugger.

“In my opinion Santana is as good as any active Cuban fighter and that’s including Yuriorkis Gamboa, Guillermo Rigondeaux and Erislandy Lara,’’ Alvarez said. “He’s extremely disciplined, has fast hands, and superb power. He’s a treat to watch, and I believe this bout will catapult him to a world title shot.’’

Santana, who’s appearing before a Las Vegas crowd for a third time, is looking forward to another eye-opening performance. “I’ve been preparing for this for over three months in Hialeah, Fla., and I’ve been sparring three times a week although it’s difficult to find guys who want to spar with me,’’ he said.

“I don’t know anything about my opponent. I just make sure that I prepare myself the best I can.’’

In the summer of 2007, Santana defected from Cuba on a makeshift boat to re-unite with his childhood sweetheart, Anay, in the United States. Ten days after his arrival on Sept. 1, 2007, he signed with Don King Productions.

Mamadjonov (pronounced Mama-John-ov) is a 5-foot-6, 25-year-old who’d won all 11 of his fights until losing his 10-round debut on a split decision to Perez in a competitive contest on Aug. 10, 2012.

Manadjonov wobbled Perez and had him in big trouble in the fourth but was the victim of an unintentional headbutt in the middle rounds that left him “seeing stars.’’ Still, going into the eighth round it was either guy’s fight to win. But Baha went down from a short right uppercut and Perez, a 2008 Colombian Olympian, went on to triumph in a give-and-take scrap by the scores of 95-94, 96-94 and 94-95.

Baha disagreed with the judges. “I felt I won the fight,’’ he said. “The knockdown was a slip. I’m very disappointed with the decision.’’

After nearly 200 amateur fights, the two-time World Military champion and Asian champion in 2005 turned pro in May 2011. He fought seven times that year and five times in 2012. A gym rat, he’s been in training for almost two months in Houston.

“My whole life is boxing,’’ said Baha, who possesses good speed and movement. “I moved to the United States in September 2010 to catch my dreams. I want to be a world champion. Everybody says when they watch my fights, ‘Oh, you’re a classic fighter.’ I just try to make a good, clean fight in the ring.’’

Imam (pronounced E-Mom) is a 5-foot-11, 22-year-old up-and-comer who is making his ShoBox debut and third start in 2013. Like the main event, this fight also doesn’t figure to be a blowout.

“Amir Imam was a top amateur and he’s making a gigantic jump in class by taking on a proven warrior in Jeremy Bryan,” Farhood said. “This will be Imam’s national television debut and I think viewers will be surprised at the poise and skill fight this very young fighter will show.

“In the tradition of ShoBox, both fighters are facing their toughest opponents to date.’’

Imam was an accomplished amateur before turning pro on Nov. 5, 2011 with a four-round decision over Christian Steele in Hollywood, Fla. Imam’s initial five fights took place in Florida; his last two, both this year, were in the Dominican Republic. He’s won by third-round TKO in his last three outings. He defeated Alejandro Lebron in his most recent effort last March 9.

“I was right back in the gym in Deerfield Beach, Fla., after my last fight,’’ Imam said. “We don’t take any days off here. I’ve been sparring with a lot of fighters so I get a lot of work. I’ve worked with people like Richar Abril, Yuriorkis Gamboa, people like that.

Imam was born in Albany, N.Y. He started to box at the age of 12. He went pro shortly after losing in the finals at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2011. The confident youngster views himself as an entertainer, a puncher-boxer fans should keep a close eye on now and in the future.

“I come to fight and I put on a show,’’ he said. “I take care of business. You don’t get paid for overtime. I can do it all. I can be a pressure fighter, a boxer, I can push it up. You’ve got to adapt to what’s in front of you. I don’t really know anything about Bryan except he’s got a good record under his name.

“The Young Master’s on stage now. I’ll be shining in boxing for a long time, performing to my best. The new kid’s on the block.”

Bryan, a 5-foot-9, 27-year-old, turned pro in November 2007 after a stellar amateur career. A two-time National Golden Gloves Champion (2004-2005), he had impressive amateur victories against current Unified Super Lightweight Champion Danny Garcia and contender Hank Lundy.

A resident of Sumter, S.C., Bryan has won two in a row since returning to the ring in October 2012 after two years off. The layoff came shortly after he’d suffered two knockout losses over a six-month span in 2010. Bryan is coming off the biggest victory of his career, an eight-round majority decision over Yuri Ramanau (aka Romanov) last Jan. 4 in Miami.

An excellent boxer with good speed and movement, Bryan isn’t exactly in awe of Imam.

“There’s one thing about me,’’ Bryan said. “I don’t call out any fighters. I don’t pick fights. I just go in the ring and do what I’ve got to do. I just listen to my coaches. I don’t know a thing about this kid I’m fighting except he was a good amateur. I don’t care about his (pro) record. The record doesn’t mean a thing. You can have three wins and 30 losses and still win a big fight.

“I do what I do in the ring. I adapt to anything. I transform easy in the ring. On Friday, he’ll bring his ‘A’ game, I’ll bring my ‘A’ game, and the best man will win that night.’’

In the top non-televised undercard bout, Ryan “The Irish Outlaw” Coyne (21-0, 9 KOs), of St. Louis, and Marcus Oliveira (24-0-1, 19 KOs), of Lawrence, Kan., collide in a battle of unbeatens in a WBA light heavyweight elimination bout. The winner of the 12-rounder will become the No. 1-ranked 175-pounder by the WBA and mandatory challenger to champion Beibut Shumenov.

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

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

About Treasure Island

Treasure Island on the Las Vegas Strip is a privately owned hotel and casino and stands alone as the only major Strip property to claim that unique market position. Boasting nearly 3,000 guest rooms, Treasure Island is a world-class destination for headline entertainment, the enchanting Sirens of TI nightly outdoor show and Mystère, the classic Cirque du Soleil performance that combines the powerful athleticism, high-energy acrobatics and inspiring imagery that have become the company’s hallmark. Upscale and casual dining choices, hip nightspots and indulgent spa and shopping experiences further complement the one-of-a-kind Treasure Island guest experience. For information visit www.treasureisland.com, https://www.facebook.com/TIvegas or follow the property on Twitter @TIVegas.

About Don King Productions

Don King Productions has promoted over 600 world championship fights with nearly 100 individual boxers having been paid $1 million or more. DKP also holds the distinction of having promoted several of the largest pay-per-view events in history, as gauged by total buys, including: Holyfield vs. Tyson II, 1.99 million buys, June 1997; Tyson vs. Holyfield I, 1.6 million buys, November 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, 1.58 million buys, August 1995.

DKP has promoted or co-promoted 10 of the top 25 highest-grossing live gates in the history of the state of Nevada including: Holyfield vs. Lewis II, paid attendance: 17,078, gross: $16,860,300 (NOTE: Also second-highest live-gate gross for any event in the history of the world.), date: Nov. 13, 1999; Holyfield vs. Tyson II, paid attendance: 16,279, gross: $14,277,200, date: June 28, 1997; Holyfield vs. Tyson I, paid attendance: 16,103, gross: $14,150,700, date: Nov. 9, 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, paid attendance: 16,113, gross: $13,965,600, date: Aug. 19, 1995.

About Showtime Networks Inc.:

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, April 9 – Before former World Champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz steps into the ring for his highly-anticipated comeback fight against Pipino Cuevas Jr. on Saturday, April 13, fans at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas will be treated to a full slate of undercard action featuring local junior lightweight prospect Jerry Belmontes in an eight round bout against Nicaragua’s Daniel Diaz in the evening’s co-main event that will be televised on FOX Sports Networks, FOX Deportes and FUEL TV.

This exciting card is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Leija & Battah Promotions and sponsored by Corona. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. PT on fight night and the first bell rings at 7:00 p.m. PT. The FOX Sports Networks telecast will air live at 10:00 p.m. ET/9:00 p.m. CT/7:00 p.m. PT. FOX Deportes will air the fights on Sunday, April 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. FUEL TV will rebroadcast the fight on June 9 at 12:00p.m. ET/9:00 a.m. PT.

Tickets priced at $161, $152, $102, $47, $22 and $17 are available for purchase by calling Leija & Battah Promotions at 210-979-3302 or via email at m@leijabattahpromo.com, at the American Bank Center Box Office, H-E-B Ticketmaster Outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or via charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.

“The Corpus Christi Kid” Jerry Belmontes (17-1, 5 KO’s) will certainly have the crowd on his side on April 13 when he looks to bounce back from the lone loss of his career against Eric Hunter last December. A highly decorated amateur star, the 24-year-old turned pro in 2008 and won his first 17 bouts before the decision loss against Hunter. Now he gets his shot to get back in the win column and continue his journey to the top of the junior lightweight division in front of his hometown fans. Former world title challenger Daniel Diaz (19-4-1, 14 KO’s) has the experience and style to upset the hometown favorite on April 13 and despite moving up to 130 pounds for the first time, the 27-year-old from Managua has every intention of delivering the goods on fight night.

Also featured on the broadcast will be welterweights Justin DeLoach (1-0) of Augusta, Georgia and Edinburg, Texas’ Martin Gonzalez (1-1), as they compete in a four round fight.

Corpus Christi will be fully represented in undercard action as junior lightweight Ramsey Luna (10-0, 4 KO’s) puts his perfect record on the line against Dallas’ Jesus Rocha (2-3-1), welterweight Cesar Villa (2-0, 1 KO) takes on Laredo’s Alberto Espinoza (1-3), heavyweight Ernest Reyna (1-0) faces Houston’s Tony Wilcox (0-4) and Robert Vela (5-0-1, 3 KOs) faces Francisco Arellano (4-1) of Bay City, with all four fights are scheduled for four rounds.

Other undercard bouts include a six round fight between another Corpus Christi native, Greg Gutierrez (9-1, 2KO’s) and Dallas’ Jose Rodriguez (6-1, 2 KO’s) in a clash of lightweight prospects and San Antonio’s Kendo Castaneda (2-0, 1 KO) battling Laredo’s Olvin Mejia (4-5-3, 4 KO’s) in a four round junior lightweight match. In the four round junior lightweight opener, San Antonio’s Joseph Rodriguez (2-0, 1 KO) takes on Brownsville’s Carlos Orenday (0-4).

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and www.AmericanBankCenter.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com, www.twitter.com/LeijaBattahPR, and www.twitter.com/1Babybull and visit on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page. For more information on FOX Deportes visit www.FOXDeportes.com, become a follower on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FOXDeportes and visit www.facebook.com/FOXDeportes on Facebook.

The third championship bout has been added to the fight card in Hamburg, Germany on April 27. The fans at the Sporthalle Hamburg are already looking forward to the title fights between current European Light Heavyweight Champion Juergen Braehmer and Tony Averlant as well as Jack Culcay putting his WBA Intercontinental Light Middleweight Title on the line when he meets Guido Nicolas Pitto in the ring. Now it has been announced that Dustin Dirks (27-0, 20 KOs) will also be risking his first ever professional championship belt, the WBA Light Heavyweight Intercontinental Title. In his first defense the German will face off with Ukraine’s Oleksandr Cherviak (10-2-1, 3 KOs).

Dirks knows that the opponent for his maiden defense could have been easier. “Cherviak has never been stopped in his professional career. I watched his fight against my stable mate Eduard Gutknecht which he only lost via unanimous decision. You can see that he has a very uncomfortable style of boxing. He also likes to jump at his foes out of nowhere. Hence I will have to be on my toes for the whole duration of the fight and cannot allow myself to switch of just for a split second.”

However, although the prodigy of Coach Otto Ramin is wary of Cherviak´s threat, he is convinced that the belt will still be his after April 27. “I have two weeks left of intense sparring sessions. I will take full advantage of the time I have. As long as I am fully prepared when I step into the ring come fight night I know that I will beat him. Maybe I can even improve my KO ratio.”

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

Marcos Nader (16-0-1, 2 KOs) can hardly await April 13. This Saturday, he is going to face Roberto Santos (18-6-3, 10 KOs) in a hotly anticipated rematch for the Spaniard’s EU Middleweight Crown. Back in November of last year, their first clash ended in a draw. This time, Nader wants to prove that he is the better man inside the squared circle.

On Tuesday, the Austrian hopeful held an open workout before the eyes of the media and fans at the BOUNCE Box-Gym in Vienna, Austria. In the process, he displayed his fast hand speed in a training session with his coach Otto Ramin. “I’m in perfect shape as my preparation was as good as never before. I want to bring the EU belt to Austria”, said the confident 23-year-old afterwards.

The defending champion Roberto Santos was not in attendance for today’s open workout but will arrive in Austria for tomorrow’s press conference, which will be held at 11.00 am at the Montesino Gasometer Entertainment Center in Vienna.

Tickets for the big show at the Multiversum Schwechat, Austria can be purchased at www.multiversum-schwechat.at.

NEW YORK – Before Tyson Fury and Steve Cunningham go at it in the heavyweight showdown of the year on NBC network television, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in the afternoon of April 20th, a loaded undercard will warm up the New York crowd and have them ready for the anticipated main event.

The stacked undercard is led by an 8-round middleweight match between Brooklyn’s Curtis “Showtime” Stevens, 23-3, 17 KOs, and Chicago’s Derrick “Superman” Findley, 20-9, 13 KOs. This nationally televised co-feature is likely to be a punch-out, with both fighters known as straight forward battlers with a taste for knockouts. The NBC broadcast will begin at 4PM ET. Stevens has smoked his last two foes in a single round, and Findley toppled Ronald Hearns, the son of the great Thomas Hearns, in his last knockout win.

Also featured on the undercard is undefeated Philly lightweight Karl “Dynamite” Dargan, 12-0, 6 KOs, in a 6-rounder against Sergi Ganjelashvili, 4-5-1, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. This will already be the second fight of 2013 for Dargan, who has vowed to stay active after a stop-and-start couple of years in the ring. With his uncle, top-flight trainer Brother Naazim Richardson, in his corner, Dargan is expected to make his move in the division this year, and finally reach the potential that his stellar amateur career suggested would come his way. Dargan will look to score lucky win #13 against Ganjelashvili.

Cruiserweights Sevdail “The Illyrian” Sherifi, 9-1-2, 8 KOs, and Josh “The Juice” Harris, 8-6-1, 6 KOs, will clash in a heavy-fisted 6-rounder. Both fighters will enter the ring with excellent knockout stats. All but one of the Sherifi’s wins have come by KO, while Harris, the southpaw from Youngstown, OH, has stoppage wins over Alex Mejias and Jaywon Woods to his credit. Chances are this fight will end long before the final bell.

Undefeated Brooklyn-based but Poland-born heavyweight Adam Kownacki, 4-0, 4 KOs, takes on Calbert Lewis, 0-2, of Gary, IN, in a 4 round preliminary bout. The Polish puncher will look to keep his record perfect, while Lewis will chase his first victory as a pro.

Hughie Fury, the cousin of main eventer Tyson Fury, will make his American debut in a 4-round fight. His opponent has not yet been confirmed, but just like his more famous relative, the younger Fury will be looking to make an impression on the Garden boxing fans. The 18-year old Hughie is also a heavyweight, but measures a ‘”mere” 6’ 6″, a full three inches shorter than his gargantuan cousin.

After the undercard brawls are finished and the smoke finally clears, the MSG crowd will be in the perfect mood for the big 12-round heavyweight eliminator between Fury and Cunningham.

APRIL 20TH FIGHT INFO

April 20th at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York features a 12-round heavyweight battle between Tyson Fury and Steve Cunningham in the main event. Curtis Stevens will take on Derrick Findley in the 8-round middleweight co-feature. Six additional bouts are planned for the undercard. Doors open at The Theater at Madison Square Garden doors open at 1:15PM ET. The main event and co-feature will be broadcast 4PM ET on NBC as a special 2 hour afternoon presentation of NBC Fight Night. The card is presented by Hennessy Sports and Main Events.

The main event is an official IBF Heavyweight Voluntary Eliminator fight for the #2 position. The winner must meet #1 or the leading available contender to establish the mandatory challenger for Heavyweight King Wladimir Klitschko.

Tickets are priced at $25, $50, $100, $250 and $500. Tickets are available at the Madison Square Garden box office, through Ticketmaster 866-858-0008 and at ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices include a $5 Facility Surcharge. Ticketmaster purchases are subject to a Ticketmaster Surcharge. Wheelchairs, companion seats, aisle seats and Assistive Listening Devices are available 212-465-6035.

The Darwish Brothers are proud to announce their next show and it features two big EFC title fights in the co-main events.

New Jersey’s premier mixed-martial-arts promotion, The Darwish Brothers, will return on Saturday, May 18, to the Xanadu Theater at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Hotel in Atlantic City for “Extreme Fighting Championships: MMA MANIA”.

Featuring high-intensity MMA action in a world-class casino setting and many of the New Jersey area’s best young talent, Extreme Fighting Championships: MMA MANIA will be The Darwish Brothers’ latest festival of pain at the beautiful Trump Taj Mahal.

Both of the night’s high-octane co-main events will feature extremely popular battlers, each coming off victories in their last fights, vying for highly coveted EFC titles.

In the first co-main, colorful fan favorite Nick Mauriello (4-2) of New Jersey will face equally popular Pennsylvania resident Frank Doyle (3-1) for the vacant EFC Super Welterweight Championship in a fight that will have both fighters’ loyal armies of fans out in force.

In the other co-main event, New Jersey cage-fighting hero Montsir “Monster” Mohammad (2-2) will face New York’s well-regarded Christopher Vallaro (5-2) for the EFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Mohammad will be looking to win his first MMA title against the formidable Vallaro, who hasn’t lost since 2009.

“March’s event at the world-class Taj Mahal was a wonderful success and we are looking forward to continuing that with this fantastic event,” said promoter Hani Darwish. “We will be announcing more fantastic matchups in the near future. This is an event and a venue that MMA fans don’t want to miss.”

“Both the co-main events are between fighters who bring out hundreds of fans. The night of the show will be an amazing spectacle with rival camps cheering their heroes on to victory. This is the type of show my brother and I envisioned when we began promoting many years ago,” said Wally Darwish.

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

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

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

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

suzan@efcmma.com

Website: www.EFCMMA.com

Twitter: @EFC_MMA, @hanidarwishmma

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/efcmmafights

Costa Mesa, CA: Heavyweight prospect Jonathan Hamm has been added to this Thursday’s Fight Club OC Show, and this new bout will now make Thursday’s show the biggest Fight Club OC show in its short three year history in The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center, with eight….count them….eight pro boxing and mixed martial arts bouts for fans in attendance.

Hamm, who is promoted by King Sports Enterprises will face Alabama’s tough Kevin Howard, and Hamm will be looking for his 6th pro win against only one loss.

Plus, with Thursday’s temperature to be close to 80 degrees, the Fight Club OC Cigar Lounge will be open for business and the smoking lamp will be lit!

Happy Hour starts at 5:30pm in Baja Blues right next to The Hangar, with Hangar doors opening at 6:30pm and the first bout at 7:30pm.

All tickets are only $50 for this great night of combative sports action, and can be purchased online at www.fightcluboc.com. The entire eight bout fight card can also be viewed online at www.fightcluboc.com .

The April 12 edition of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra will feature former Junior Featherweight titlist Rico “Suavecito” Ramos (21-2, 11 KOs) and Oscar “Fantasma” Gonzalez (17-2, 3 NSF, 13 KOs) in the 10-round Featherweight main event. Friday’s show from the Little Creek Casino in Shelton, Wash., will air live at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2 HD, ESPN Deportes+ and WatchESPN and later televised Saturday April 13, at 2:30 a.m. on ESPNEWS and 8 p.m. on ESPN Deportes. The card is promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions.

Commentators:
Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas will be ringside describing the action for ESPN2 HD, while studio host Todd Grisham (@GrishamESPN) will provide the latest boxing news and highlights. Alex Pombo and Delvin Rodriguez will call this week’s fights for ESPN Deportes’ Viernes de Combates (Friday Night Fights) with Leopoldo Gonzalez and Pablo Viruega in the studio. Bilingual reporter Bernardo Osuna (@osunaespn) will report from New York where Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KOs) will meet Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KOs) for the Junior Featherweight Championship on Saturday night.

Main Event:

Los Angeles’ Ramos, who won the Junior Featherweight title in 2011, is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision loss to Ronny Rios.

“Since my last fight, I feel like I’ve got to start coming back even harder than before.” Ramos said. “I’ve got to start showing everybody that I’m better. I can’t wait to get back into the ring and get back to my boxing style and winning ways. I know I have the skills, talent and determination to take my career back to the world championship level.”

Mexico’s Gonzalez, promoted by former four-time titleholder Erik Morales, is looking to rebound from a 10-round unanimous decision loss to Raul Hirales.

“I know Rico Ramos is a tough fighter,” Gonzalez said. “We know he is a former champion and considered one of the best at 122 pounds, but I am confident that I have the talent and ability to beat him.”

Co-Feature:
Friday’s eight-round co-feature will pit Super Middleweights Farah “Quiet Storm” Ennis (20-1, 12 KOs) of Pennsylvania against Francisco “Panchito” Sierra (25-7-1, 22 KOs) of Mexico. Ennis scored a 10-round unanimous decision win over Richard Pierson in his last fight, while Sierra is looking to rebound from a 10-round majority decision loss to Marco Antonio Periban.

Opening Fight:

Friday’s card will open with a four-round Junior Middleweight bout between undefeated 2012 Mexican Olympic team Welterweight Oscar Molina (2-0, 1 KO) and Daryl Gardner (1-1, 1 KO). Molina is the identical twin brother of 2008 U.S. Olympian Javier Molina and younger brother of Lightweight contender Carlos Molina.

ESPN Deportes and SportsCenter to Cover Donaire vs. Rigondeaux:

Gonzalez and Osuna are in New York providing pre-fight coverage of the Donaire- Rigondeaux fight for ESPN Deportes’ Golpe a Golpe, SportsCenter and ESPN.com.

The bout will mark just the second time boxing has taken place at Radio City Music Hall, and will be televised on HBO Championship Boxing at 11 p.m.

ESPN’s coverage will include Tuesday’s media workouts, interviews with both fighters and trainers, and Friday’s weigh-in. Golpe a Golpe’s Viruega, Gonzalez, Osuna and Rodriguez will present a pre-fight special Saturday at 10 p.m. featuring fighter arrivals, highlights from their biggest fights, interviews and locker room look-ins. Post-fight coverage will include a 2 a.m. Golpe a Golpe with highlights, analysis and English and Spanish in-ring interviews by Osuna for ESPN Deportes and SportsCenter.

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

NEW YORK (April 9, 2013) — Fresh off of his sensational victory over Brandon Rios, Mike Alvarado will celebrate with the public when he attends the 88th annual dinner of the Boxing Writers Association of America, this Thursday (April 11), at the Capitale in New York City. It is only fitting that Alvarado should be there to soak in the accolades. His first bout with Rios barely missed out on being named the 2012 “Fight of the Year.” The rematch is sure to garner many votes when all is said and done in 2013.

Also announcing his plans to be in attendance is middleweight title holder Gennady Golovkin. The unbeaten Golovkin who is generally considered one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world is taking a well earned rest after having fought just last week, scoring an impressive stoppage over Japan’s Nobuhiro Ishida

Alvarado and Golovkin are the latest stars committed to attending what is called the Academy Awards of boxing. Also confirmed to attend are Nonito Donaire, Juan Manuel Marquez, Roy Jones, Timothy Bradley, Ruslan Provodnikov, Paul Malignaggi, Steve Cunningham, and Danny Jacobs.

There will be ample opportunities to take photos, get autographs, and chat with the many celebrities in attendance.

Dave Diamante the host of NBC’s sports show “The Lights” will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

All ticket holders will receive a gift bag valued at approximately $125.

There are a limited number of tickets still available. They can be purchased by contacting Event Coordinator Gina Andriolo at ginaandcom@aol.com (917-312-6418) or BWAA President Jack Hirsch at ajhirsch5@aol.com (516-790-7592).

For full information on the dinner go to www.bwaa.org.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

2012 BWAA Award Winners

Nonito Donaire The Sugar Ray Robinson Award Fighter of the Year
Robert Garcia The Eddie Futch Award Trainer of the Year

Juan Manuel Marguez – Manny Pacquiao IV The Ali-Frazier Award Fight of the Year

Al Haymon The Cus D’Amato Award Manager of the Year

Kathy Duva & Bruce Trampler The Barney Nagler Award Long & Meritorious Service

Steve Farhood The Marvin Kohn Award Good Guy

Danny Jacobs The Bill Crawford Award Courage Overcoming Adversity

Peter Finney The A.J. Liebling Award Outstanding Boxing Writer

Dave Kindred The Nat Fleischer Award Excellence In Boxing Journalism

Max Kellerman The Sam Taub Award Excellence in Broadcast Journalism

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bernie Awards for boxing writing winners will also be presented. A silent auction will be held.

Cocktails are available at 6:00 p.m. ET, followed at 7:30 p.m. ET by dinner and the awards ceremony.

Promoters Camille Estephan, of Eye of the Tiger, and Greg Cohen, of Greg Cohen Promotions, are proud to announce they will be teaming up in association with Pitbull Promotions to present the Friday, May 10, broadcast of SHOBOX: The Next Generation emanating from the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma.

In the night’s televised main event, Montreal, Quebec, Canada’s undefeated IBF #3-ranked Dierry “Dougy Style” Jean (24-0, 16 KOs) will take on Los Angeles’ IBF #7-rated southpaw Cleotis “Mookie” Pendarvis (17-3-2, 6 KOs) in a 12-round IBF eliminator for the mandatory #1 spot at 140 lbs.

The two warriors will also be vying for the right to face the winner of the upcoming Lamont Peterson vs. Lucas Matthysse world title fight on May 18 in Atlantic City.

In his most recent fight, NABF champion Jean stopped Mexican Juan Jesus Rivera in the second round last February in Gatineau, Québec. Pendarvis was last seen beating long-time top contender Michael Clark by five-round technical decision last December in Los Angeles.

In the televised co-feature, undefeated Newark, New Jersey, middleweight John “Apollo Kidd” Thompson (11-0, 4 KOs) will face Georgia via Nassau, Bahamas’ also undefeated Taureano Johnson (14-0, 10 KOs) in an eight-rounder between up-and-coming prospects.

“I could not be happier to be working with Camille, one of the most intelligent professional people I’ve ever encountered in the boxing world,” said Greg Cohen. “It’s a delight to work with him and Dierry, who I believe will be boxing’s next superstar. I’m very grateful to be part of this team.”

Tickets are priced at: Reserved: $25.00, Premium: $40.00 and Platinum: $60.00 and are available at www.buffalorun.com or by calling The Buffalo Run Box Office (918) 542-7140. On fight night, doors open at 7 pm. The exciting undercard will be announced shortly. All bouts subject to change.

On Friday March 29th, Ermano Fegatilli (27-5-0 5 KO’s) needed to make a statement – and boy did he deliver with a lopsided 8 round thrashing of French veteran Karim Chakim (25-9-0 11 KO’s) at the Topsporthal in Liege, Belgium.

Chakim lied on the retreat from the opening bell, eating Ermano’s sharply angled punches at will. After the final bell went off, Chakim looked a defeated man, unable to land any substantial blows on the actively adjusting Fegatilli.

For Fegatilli this finally exerted revenge, Chakim beat Fegatilli in a 2006 bout, which Fegatilli did later avenge with an edgy split decision verdict. This was conclusive, and it punctuated on “ll’Dottore” and his massive improvements in the last near-decade.

It’s a new era for Ermano Fegatilli, he is reaching for the stars. To fully embrace the fighting spirit, he has already scheduled his next three bouts. The first fight will be on May 31st in Antwerp, Belgium for six rounds. The next will be on June 22nd in Grammont, Belgium, Scheduled for eight rounds. Finally, on the 23rd of August in Ostend, Belgium he is set for another eight-rounder.

After this phase of phase of vigorous momentum throttling activity Ermano Fegatilli will be ready to participate on the WBC tournament sometime in the middle of fall. Not much can be released on that subject as of now although it is known his first opponent will be Benin-based Justin Savi (27-2-0 18 KO’s). If he would win this tournament he’d but at the doorstep of titlist Gamaliel Diaz and mandated for a world title shot.

Ermano Fegatilli realizes at 28 he is likely about to hit his physical peak. With an intelligent boxer-puncher craft he may not always spark the highlight reel but he will show his opponent who is the best man in the ring. When it is all said and down – that’s all that matters for him to rise to greatness.

Ermano wants to thank his manager Mirco Giuliani, he really does a great job (With his career). His promoter Claude Van Heede and Olivier Orlans who organize great fights with him, and of course his coaches, Albert Syben, Renald de Vulder and Sandro Menconi! Ermano will be returning from a short vacation to Cuba very soon to begin training camp for his May 31st bout.

Andre Kut’s KEA Boxing Promotions in association with Global Boxing Promotions have outdone themselves in putting together a boxing extravaganza which is set for Saturday, April 13th at Schuetzen Park in North Bergen, New Jersey. The show features the return of undefeated welterweight sensation Juan “The Beast” Rodriguez (10-0, 4Ko’s) as he faces hard hitting Emmanuel Medina (3-3-1, 3Ko’s) in a spirited six round contest. If that weren’t enough The other co-main highlights the return of “The Brick City Bullet” Alex Perez (16-1, 9Ko’s) of Newark New Jersey, who looks to bounce back from the first loss of his career when he swaps punches over six rounds with the always dangerous Kenny Abril (14-5-1, 7Ko’s).

KEA Boxing’s own Juan Rodriguez has become a crowd pleaser because of his aggressive style, which has produced action packed fights throughout his career. Recently Rodriguez scored an impressive knockout of Daniel Crabtree that had him out before he hit the canvas. Now Rodriguez knows it is time to step it up and promises those in attendance that they will be impressed. “On Saturday night you will see the new and improved Juan Rodriguez,” said the Union City, New Jersey native. I had developed some bad habits in the ring, but I have had my best camp so far and worked out all of the bad habits. I am now ready for anybody that my Promoter KEA Boxing puts in front of me and it all begins on Saturday.”

His opponent Emmanuel Medina (3-3-1, 3Ko’s) of Quincy, Massachusetts has scored a knockout in all three of his victories and owns a draw against David Curiel on the last KEA Boxing card at the Mount Airy Casino and Resort in Mount Pocono, PA. Will Rodriquez continue on his path toward his world title aspirations? Or will the heavy hands of Medina pull off the upset?

The other co-main event of the evening features the comeback of former CABOFE champion Alex “The Brick City Bullet” Perez (16-1, 9KO’s) of nearby Newark, New Jersey as he tries to rebound from his unsuccessful bid for the NABF title in an eight round welterweight contest against the always dangerous Kenny Abril (14-5-1, 7Ko’s).

The card will have Polish pride on the line as two rising former Polish national amateur champions look to keep their undefeated professional records intact as Patryk Szymanski (6-0, 2Ko’s) and Michal Chudecki (5-0, 3Ko’s) appear in separate six round contests. Patryk Szymanski will have to battle another undefeated welterweight prospect in David “The Riot” Roman Curiel (3-0-1, 1Ko) of Paterson, New Jersey. The always exciting Michal Chudecki will square off against ten fight veteran Christian Steele (3-5-2, 1Ko) of Staunton, Virginia in a six round scrap.

Local junior middleweight and crowd favorite, Anthony Cangemi (2-0, 2Ko’s) looks to keep his perfect knockout streak intact when he battles it out over four rounds with Cedar Springs, Michigan’s Joe Vincent (0-1).

If heavyweights are your bag of choice, then you won’t want to miss Joey Cusumano (6-1, 4KO’s) of Virginia Beach, Virginia as he tries to hand Roseville, Michigan’s Jeffrey Kugel (2-0) his first loss as a professional.

Andre Kut has pulled out all the stops and even added a special four round women’s super featherweight attraction as Philly slugger Elizabeth Sherman (4-2, 2Ko’s) squares off against the Bronx, New York’s Nydia “Dha Phenomenal” Feliciano (5-4-3) in what could be the fight of the night.

Andre Kut’s KEA Boxing Promotions prides itself on putting on competitive fights featuring tomorrow’s champions at affordable prices.

Tickets are affordably priced at $55, $65, $75 and $100.

April 8, 2013 – I am pleased to announce that according to laboratory results I am not under suspicion of having taken a banned substance in connection with my bout against Lamont Peterson.

We have received an email from Dr. David Eichner, Director of the WADA accredited Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory that my results “do not suggest doping.”

As explained to me, “intact HCB” indicates the use of that banned substance. A confirmatory test reflected that I did not have “intact HCB” and thus doping was ruled out in my case.

There is an atypical finding for “non-intact HCB,” which, as explained to me, is naturally produced. That finding will be explored further by my physicians.

This explanation, too, was provided directly by the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory located in Salt Lake City.

I requested a full WADA drug screening at the time of my bout with Lamont Peterson. Under the circumstances I am very glad that I did because it not only provided protection against drug cheating but also alerted me when I finally got the proper information of the need for further medical testing.

I look forward to returning to the ring at 147 lbs.

Robert Byrd has been tapped to be the 3rd man in the ring on May 4th when Floyd Mayweather meets Robert Guerrero for the WBC Welterweight championship in Las Vegas.

Selected to judge Mayweather-Guerrero were Duane Ford and Jerry Roth, both longtime Nevada judges with lots of championship experience, and New York’s Julie Lederman, who also has a lot of world title experience.

Jay Nady of Nevada will serve as the referee for Ponce De Leon-Mares. Judges assigned to the bout are Dick Houck and Robert Hoyle, both of Nevada, and Michael Pernick of Florida.