KO King Anthony Yarde (22-2, 21 KOs) is the no.1 contender for American Joe Smith Jr.’s WBO World Light-Heavyweight title, and that fight is likely to happen this year.

The Ilford man is now on a mission to clean up the 175lb division after knocking out Lyndon Arthur in four rounds last month, getting revenge for a controversial points loss one year earlier.

His trainer Ajayi told Dev Sahni on The Lowdown said: “The longer Anthony has to prepare and get better no one is beating him. I believe this in my heart.

“When the time is right, because everything is timing, Anthony Yarde will beat all the guys in a fashion where he we won’t leave no doubt, just like Lyndon Arthur.”

Yarde’s outspoken trainer added: “I have said it over the years, ‘Tunde Ajayi has never trained a fighter to win on points’. Anthony’s record speaks for it. Anthony is a knockout merchant.

“I didn’t see anything new from Joe Smith Jr in his defence against Steve Geffrard. Anthony Yarde is a different proposition.”

“Like us he has come up the tough way and always had his back against the wall. He is a fighter continually getting better having dethroned some legends of the sport.

“We went up against a legend (Sergey Kovalev) and come up short. Joe Smith came up against one, Bernard Hopkins and knocked him out.

“From my perspective Frank Warren will do what he always does and deliver. The WBO have said Joe Smith has to fight Anthony Yarde next.

“People expect Anthony Yarde to win a World title. Joe Smith talks paydays and Frank can deliver that. Joe Smith isn’t getting the Canelo fight so he has to look at us.”

After just 12 amateur contests and 18 professional fights, in August 2019 Yarde travelled to Sergey Kovalev’s back yard in Chelyabinsk and challenged for the Russian’s WBO World title.

Yarde almost pulled off one of boxing’s greatest upsets in round eight badly hurting the champion, but the Briton’s lack of big fight experience told and he was stopped three rounds later.

Ajayi says: “With experience comes wisdom. We now have the wisdom not only in the fight but out of it in terms of preparation for a World title fight.

“Even stuff like the media obligations. We never had that before Russia. We just went there with nuts and guts and faith in our abilities, but I think we are there now.

“We are going to become World champions. We have the right team. James Cook has been the cement that we needed to solidify the team.

“We’re looking forward to the Joe Smith fight. That is the only fight on my mind at the moment, but we are not frightened by anyone.”

(January 20, 2022) – Unbeaten contender Ema Kozin has worked her way into position as the mandatory challenger for WBC/WBA/IBF Middleweight World Champion Claressa “G.W.O.A.T.” Shields and she will look to earn a historic win for her native Slovenia when she challenges Shields on Saturday, February 5 from Cardiff, Wales and available live on pay-per-view in the U.S. and Canada.

“This win would be historic for myself and for my country,” said Kozin. “Claressa certainly has a good reputation and is one of the greatest female boxers out there, but I don’t feel any pressure because of who she is. I see it as a huge opportunity and not as some kind of burden.”

The 23-year-old Kozin has worked her way up the rankings earning 10-round unanimous decision victories over former world title challengers Maria Lindberg and Chris Namus. Most recently, Kozin stopped Radana Knezevic in two rounds in May 2021 as she awaited this showdown with Shields.

“I have been preparing specifically for this fight for more than half a year and I’ve made a lot of progress as a fighter,” said Kozin. “I’m feeling ready, excited and eager to show everything I’ve learned in this ring.”

Kozin will be looking to spoil Shields’ U.K. debut as a professional on February 5, which would not only make her a world champion, but would derail Shields’ plan for a lucrative matchup in her next fight against WBO Middleweight Champion Savannah Marshall. The 5-8 southpaw hopes to take advantage of the opportunity to leave her impression on fans watching fight night.

“The boxing fans can expect a good fight,” said Kozin. “I’m going to go in there and make this interesting for everyone watching. I will give everything I have like I always do and show the world how tough a fighter I am.”

As she nears this career-defining bout, Kozin gives credit to her team, led by head trainer and manager Rudolf Pavlin, for giving her every advantage and resource needed to be at her best when she duels Shields.

“I have a great team behind me, from my trainer to my technique coach to my strength coach,” said Kozin. “We have put a lot of emphasis on my regeneration, so I have been going weekly to do the hyperbaric chamber, cryotherapy and bioresonance. It’s important for me to feel good so that I can give 100% when I train. I’ve also been on weight for more than a month now, so I can eat normally and I don’t need to worry about losing weight before the fight.”

#

ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS
Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including SHOWTIME, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.

Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action.

HOW TO WATCH THE February 5 – Claressa Shields vs. Ema Kozin PPV

TV: Cable, satellite & telco PPV providers, including Xfinity, ____________Spectrum, Contour, Fios, and Optimum, among others (U.S.), as ____________well as leading operators in Canada.

Streaming: PPV.com and FITE.TV

GLASGOW (Jan. 20, 2022) — Two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez will cross the pond to battle Irish veteran Eric Donovan in a 10-round featherweight battle Saturday, Feb. 26 at OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.

Ramirez-Donovan highlights a loaded undercard before the highly anticipated junior welterweight showdown between Scottish undisputed world champion Josh “The Tartan Tornado” Taylor and undefeated WBO No. 1 contender Jack “El Gato” Catterall.

The entire Taylor-Catterall card will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+.

“Ever since that shocking loss in his professional debut, Robeisy Ramirez has shown why he was one of the top fighters from the 2016 Rio Olympics,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Robeisy fought all over the world during his amateur career, and we are thrilled that he will be able to showcase his skills for the Scottish fans.”

Ramirez (8-1, 4 KOs) is no stranger to fighting on British soil. At the 2012 London Olympics, he stunned the flyweight field as a 16-1 underdog to win gold. Ramirez won a second gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and defected from Cuba in July 2018. Following a split decision defeat to Adan Gonzales in his August 2019 pro debut, Ramirez has won eight straight fights, including a shutout decision win over Gonzales in their 2020 rematch. Ramirez shined on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III undercard last October, dominating the previously unbeaten Orlando Gonzalez over 10 rounds. Donovan (14-1, 8 KOs), a one-time Irish amateur star from Athy, has won two fights since an August 2020 TKO loss to Zelfa Barrett.

Ramirez said, “Ever since I won my first Olympic gold medal in London, I’ve wanted to fight again in this part of the world. Scottish fans are incredibly passionate, and I can’t wait to put on a great show for them in front of a sold-out arena. My opponent is a tough Irishman, and I will be at my very best to come out victorious.”

In other undercard action on ESPN+:

• Nick ‘The Glasgow Warrior’ Campbell (4-0, 4 KO’s) and Jay ‘The Ghost’ McFarlane (12-5, 5 KO’s) will collide in a highly anticipated showdown for the vacant Scottish heavyweight title.
   
• A pair of Top Rank-signed prospects will make their respective professional debuts in six-rounders. Featherweight Kurt Walker won bronze at the 2017 European Championships, silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and gold at the 2018 EU Championships and 2019 European Games. Walker, who represented Ireland last summer at the Tokyo Olympics, lost to Top Rank stablemate Duke Ragan in a hotly contested quarterfinal bout. Junior middleweight Kieran Molloy, from Galway Ireland, won 11 national amateur titles and earned a bronze medal at the 2018 EU Championships in Valladolid, Spain. 

• Top Rank-signed welterweight sensation Paddy “Real Deal” Donovan (7-0, 5 KOs), from Limerick, Ireland, returns to action in a six-rounder. Donovan is coming off last August’s first-round knockout over Jose Luis Castillo.
   
• BOXXER Series junior welterweight winner Cori Gibbs (16-0, 3 KOs) will begin his new promotional deal in an eight-rounder.
• Rising female star Ebonie Jones (1-0) has her second pro fight against Effy Kathopouli over six rounds at junior featherweight. Portsmouth’s Jones, a former Team GB standout amateur and HGV driver in the British Army, made her pro debut last October with a points win over Vaida Masiokaite.
• Edinburgh cruiserweight ace Scott Forrest sets out on his professional journey when he makes his pro debut in a six-round contest. Born in South Africa, Forrest relocated to Forth, Scotland, as a five-year-old. He competed at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games and has sparred former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 17.1 million subscribers.

Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $6.99 a month (or $69.99 per year)
at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).

WBA Heavyweight Champion Trevor Bryan will defend his title against Jonathan Guidry on Saturday, Jan. 29, at the W.D. Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio.  Don King Promotions will present a six-championship fight card.  Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster or the W.D. Packard Music Hall.  The tickets will be priced at $550, $350, $250, $175, and $80. The fight card will be televised through Donking.com, DKPBoxing.com, or itube247.com beginning at 7 p.m. ET at a cost of $49.99.

DON KING: International Boxing Hall of Fame Promoter

On staging this event at the W.D. Packard Hall in Warren, Ohio:

“It is going to be a great, super night of boxing. There will be six championship fights and two world titles. We are going to put fun back into boxing. It is going to super, spectacular greatness. We are going to enjoy ourselves again and not be ruined by Covid.”

On Trevor Bryan vs. Jonathan Guidry:

“It is going to be a great fight because you have two undefeated fighters coming together. It gives the fans an opportunity to get some relief momentarily from all of the threats of Covid.”

On Guidry:

“That’s what makes boxing great. Neither of these guys have tasted defeat. Give the people what they want. People are my most important asset. We want to give back to the people.”

On Bryan being rusty after not fighting for a year:

“The WBA has more or less held us hostage, not intentionally, but by the rules they have. It locked Trevor down for a whole year. If Guidry wins, he will be ready to go right off the bat.”

On staging this event on Jan. 29 in Warren, Ohio:

“I am a promoter of the people, by the people, and for the people. The magic lies in my people ties. I promote the people.”

On having W.D. Packard Hall as the host:

“We wanted to have a homecoming. Warren is not too far from the training camps where you had Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and Larry Holmes. It is great to be coming home again.”

On when he is going to slow down:

“I will slow down when I go to heaven. The gangsters blew up my car, my house. I am fighting a crooked system where women cannot get their rights and equality, and Black people cannot get a chance. That is why I have been fighting since I came out of the penitentiary.”

“Ali came in and brought five or six guys to Cleveland, Ohio, to start me off with boxing. I was running numbers in Cleveland.”

“I am a cat with nine lives. I have been challenged nine times, and I am still here.”

“We are all God’s children. He has a reason for me to be there. We want to establish a program to help all these homeless people here. They have lost their spirit. There is nothing wrong with them. They have lost hope in America. We want to preach elevation.”

On being associated with Bryan and his unique attributes:

“Bryan has the spirit of a winner. He has unwavering dedication. The dream is going to come true. Everybody can see that he cares about people and his family. That is what comes from hard work and commitment. This is what he really wants. He is in the right place at the right time.”

On his 2022 plans for Bryan:

“He (Bryan) is ready to fight anybody. We will take on anybody. We may take them all in the same night. We want to be able to demonstrate and illustrate that a champion is a champion. We want Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder. I put on a fight to give the people what they want. We have a champion here. This demonstrates to the public that Bryan is a champion. It makes me feel good to go back to where I started in Ohio. We are going to be home and safe.”

On coming back to Ohio:

“I never really left. My physical being left to the great state of Florida and Nevada. Both (late Nevada Senator) Harry Reid and I come from humble beginnings and worked hard for the betterment of the American people. It will be good to go home. That is where the memories came from. You never forget where you came from.”

TREVOR BRYAN: WBC Heavyweight World Champion

On it being a year since his last fight, and if he has more to lose than Guidry:

“It has been a hard year for everyone, especially everybody in boxing. We have been diligent, staying in the gym, working hard. We are going to show the world why I am the champion on Jan. 29. I have a great opponent in front of me. I am going to do what champions do.”

On preparing for Guidry:

“We don’t really worry about what opponents do. We worry about what the Dream Team does best. I plan to capitalize on that.”

On what he must do to get fights against opponents like Tyson Fury:

“After this fight, everybody is going to be shouting my name. I am not worried about that. Boxing people know who Trevor Bryan is. I am here to stay. I am here to fight the best. I am the best. I am the champion.”

On deciding to go with Don King as a promoter:

“When I first signed with Don King, he showed me all the champions he made. I told him that day that I am going to be a champion myself, so you can add me to this list, and here I am now. I am building my own legacy. We continue to still win, to look good. I can’t wait for these blockbuster fights that are coming up soon.”

On British heavyweight boxer Daniel DuBois wanting to fight Bryan in 2022:

“I am the champion. I am a fighter. I love to fight. Whenever I sign my name on the dotted line, I am ready to go. Everybody is supposed to come for me. Everybody is supposed to speak my name. Trevor Bryan is a true champion, and we want to see him in there with the best.”

On the renaissance of the heavyweight division and the pressure he feels to be sensational on Jan. 29:

“There is no pressure at all. I am the heavyweight champion as well. Trevor Bryan is here to stay. I am here to defend this title with the best. I am going to be sensational.”

On fighting Jonathan Guidry in 2011:

“You’re telling me I fought Jonathan Guidry before? Transferring from my amateur career to my professional career, it is a brand-new platform. I am here now. I am the champion now. I am willing to fight anybody, especially if I fought them before. I would fight them again just to show that I am the man. I am the truth. The Dream is the dream. I am here to stay, and I am here to show that this legacy starts here. It starts to show with these great fights. This is a second-time duo. I’m coming to show that.”

On how important his level of training and conditioning has been for this fight:

“It’s cold in Ohio, but we are going to turn up the heat on Jan. 29. Hopefully, I can get this man out there early. I do not get paid for overtime.”

JONATHAN GUIDRY: Undefeated WBA No. 13-Ranked Heavyweight

On Trevor Bryan:

“Trevor is pretty good. He has a good jab, but I do not think he is one of the elite heavyweights. We have a better shot against him.”

On whether any of Bryan’s previous opponents stand out:

“It takes a lot to get in the ring, so I know he (Bryan) is prepared. He has not had a really big fight against a top heavyweight, but neither have I. It is a good test for both of us to see who deserves it.”

On fighting Bryan in 2011 as an amateur:

“We fought at the Golden Gloves nationals in Indiana. He is a big guy and has a really good jab.”

On being a different fighter since he fought Bryan in the amateurs.

“We have had a lot more fights now. I was kind of smaller then. Now I am at 250. I am a lot smarter, a lot faster on my feet and a lot stronger.”

On being the underdog:

“No one has had the world title from [Houma] Louisiana where I am from. It is a big opportunity for me to really show my talent and that I really can fight. I am really strong. I don’t think it is going to go the distance, but we prepared ourselves for that just in case it goes that way.”

On what to expect from the Bryan fight:

“I don’t think anybody is going to make it past the seventh or eighth round.”

On facing someone who is undefeated:

“I am the underdog, so they might be overlooking me. He (Bryan) might be overlooking me, which I hope. We are going to shock him.”

On the differences between fighting as an MMA fighter as opposed to boxing:

“I am not too much on MMA. I did it one time. I prefer boxing to MMA. Boxing is more of a mental game. MMA is more luck. You have to set this up, that up. Boxing is more mental than physical to me.”

On being on a card promoted by Boxing Hall of Famer Don King:

“Not a lot of people can say they fought on a Don King card. I am glad he has given me the opportunity to fight for the world title. Like Don says, he loves giving the people the opportunity to show their talent. Without that opportunity, I would still be on a shrimp boat.”

JONTAHAN LABERTO: TRAINER FOR JONATHAN GUIDRY:

On fighting for the WBA heavyweight crown and his thoughts on Guidry:

“We just enjoy the opportunity. We saw the talent Guidry had, the boxing IQ, the power, the whole package. We are excited to have this opportunity.”

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to T-Mobile Arena for the first time in 2022 with a highly anticipated welterweight matchup that will see No. 1 ranked contender Colby Covington clash with former teammate and friend No. 6 Jorge Masvidal.

UFC^® 272: COVINGTON vs MASVIDAL will take place Saturday, March 5 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. All bouts will be simulcast on ESPN+ in English and Spanish beginning at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT with the ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass prelims. The prelims will continue exclusively on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT followed by the ESPN+ Pay-Per-View main card that will kick off at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

UFC^® 272: COVINGTON vs MASVIDAL tickets will go on sale Friday, Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. PT and are available for purchase at axs.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Jan. 20 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Covington (16-3, fighting out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) aims to make a statement by delivering his most dominant performance to date in his fifth consecutive UFC main event. A former NCAA Division I All-American wrestler, Covington’s relentless cardio and pressure has earned him marquee wins over former UFC champions Tyron Woodley, Robbie Lawler and Rafael Dos Anjos. He now looks to retain his spot at the top of the welterweight rankings and once again work his way back into the title picture.

Fan favorite Masvidal (35-15, fighting out of Miami, Fla.) has his sights set on landing another spectacular knockout and proving that he is still as dangerous as ever. The owner of the fastest KO in UFC history, he has finished his last five victories before the final bell, including stoppages over Nate Diaz, Ben Askren and Darren Till. Masvidal now plans to start 2022 with the most gratifying win of his career and begin rising back up the ranks.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• A battle of top strawweight contenders sees No. 3 ranked Marina Rodriguez (15-1-2, fighting out of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil) face off with No. 4 Yan Xiaonan (13-2, 1 NC, fighting out of Beijing, China)
• An exciting featherweight matchup sees No. 10 ranked contender Edson Barboza (22-10, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) take on No. 11 Bryce Mitchell (14-1, fighting out of Sherwood, Arkansas)
• Hard hitting heavyweights collide as Serghei Spivac (13-3, fighting out of Chisinau, Moldova) and Greg Hardy (7-4, 1 NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) look to start their 2022 campaigns with a statement
• Devonte Smith (11-3, fighting out of Garfield Heights, Ohio) meets Erick Gonzalez (14-6, fighting out of Torrance, Calif.) in a clash of lightweight strikers
• Flyweights Maryna Moroz (10-3, fighting out of Volnogorsk, Ukraine) and Mariya Agapova (10-2, fighting out of Pavlodar, Kazakhstan) vie to break into the top 15
• Fireworks are expected as Jalin Turner (12-5, fighting out of San Bernardino, Calif.) locks horns with Jamie Mullarkey (14-4, fighting out of Holgate, New South Wales, Australia) in a lightweight bout
• Nicolae Negumereanu (11-1, fighting out of Brasov County, Romania) looks to extend his win streak against Dana White’s Contender Series signee Ihor Potieria (20-2, fighting out of Kiev, Ukraine)
• Fan favorite Kevin Holland (21-7, 1 NC, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas) returns to welterweight to face Alex Oliveira (22-11-1, 2 NC, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• No. 9 ranked flyweight Jessica Eye (15-10, 1 NC, fighting out of Cleveland, Ohio) plans to halt the momentum of No. 14 ranked Manon Fiorot (8-1, fighting out of Nice, France)
• Intriguing flyweight action sees No. 12 Timothy Elliott (18-12-1, fighting out of Lee’s Summit, Mo.) battle No. 15 Tagir Ulanbekov (14-1, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia)
• Light heavyweight strikers Dustin Jacoby (16-5-1, fighting out of Springfield, Ill.) and Michal Oleksiejczuk (16-4, 1 NC, fighting out of Leczna, Poland) aim to steal the show

Visit the UFC.com for information and content to support your UFC coverage. Please click here to apply for the event.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 625 million fans and 178 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global sports and entertainment company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About T-Mobile Arena

T-Mobile Arena, the 20,000-seat venue located on the Las Vegas Strip between Park MGM and New York-New York, opened April 6, 2016. The arena hosts more than 100 events annually including major headline entertainment, awards shows, UFC, boxing, basketball and other sporting events, family shows and special events. T-Mobile Arena also is the home of the Vegas Golden Knights, a National Hockey League expansion team and the city’s first professional sports team, as well as UFC’s exclusive Las Vegas arena destination. The venue, named the No. 1 venue on Billboard Magazine’s 2018 Arena Power List as well as the “Best New Major Concert Venue” by Pollstar Magazine in 2016, features 50 luxury suites, more than two dozen private loge boxes, complete broadcast facilities, and other specially designed exclusive hospitality offerings and fan amenities destined to create a guest experience second to none. Toshiba Plaza, an adjacent two-acre outdoor entertainment space, features performance stages, a variety of video screens and other interactive content and display areas. Industry-leading architect Populous designed T-Mobile Arena to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s standards for LEED® Gold Certification. T-Mobile Arena is a privately funded joint venture between AEG and MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). For more information, visit T-MobileArena.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The full card has been set for this Saturday, January 22, 2022’s Salita Promotions boxing event, entitled “Detroit Brawl”, in the Lincoln Ballroom of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, Michigan.

Appearing in the night’s 10-round middleweight main event will be WBC #9- and WBO #15-ranked middleweight Hugo “The Boss” Centeno Jr., who will face Atlanta’s Antonio Todd (12-5, 7 KOs).

In the eight-round co-main event, Detroit’s undefeated Winfred “Hotboy” Harris Jr. (20-1-1, 10 KOs) returns home for the first time in three years to take on Mexico City veteran Esau Herrera (19-13-1, 8 KOs) for the LBF USMC Super Middleweight Championship.

Also scheduled to appear is power-punching undefeated Detroit middleweight “prospect to watch” Marlon Harrington (5-0, 4 KOs) in a six-rounder vs. Albany, Georgia’s Terry Roscoe (2-8). Featured in separate six-round battles will be undefeated Houston-based welterweight Quinton Randall (8-0, 2 KOs) taking on also undefeated Julian Smith (5-0, 4 KOs) of Country Club Hills, Illinois; and in a six-round pro debut Grand Rapids, Michigan-based amateur star Joseph “Sug” Hicks Jr., will begin his fast-track route to potential stardom against Saint Louis, Missouri’s Montrel James (1-7).

And in another highly anticipated pro debut of an amateur national champion, Grand Rapids lightweight Joshua James Pagan will have his first paid fight against Steubenville, Ohio’s Glenn Mitchell (3-6, 3 KOs).

Rounding out the exciting action will be a four-round welterweight scrap between undefeated Detroit super welterweight Gordie Russ II (2-0, 2 KOs) and Leslie Michael Klekotta (3-7, 2 KOs) of Conroe, Texas.

Tickets for “Detroit Brawl” start at $35 (service fees will apply). Order tickets online or call or visit the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center Box Office (313.943.2354) at 15801 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn during Box Office hours: Thursday and Friday from 11 am to 4 pm and 5 pm to 8:30 pm on the day of the event.

PLEASE NOTE: Tickets ordered online will be mailed up to one week prior to event date. Tickets ordered within a week of event will be placed in will call in the box office for pickup. A limited quantity of VIP tickets are also available by calling Lina at 313.529.7604.

The Ford Community & Performing Arts Center is located at 15801 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. On fight night, doors open at 6:30 pm and the action starts at 7:00 pm.

#

About Salita Promotions

Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including Showtime, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.

Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action.

Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman:

“Thank you, Nottingham, for turning out today, it was actually ten years this May coming that we were sat here for Carl Froch vs. Lucian Bute. Ten years since we were last in the Nottingham Arena for a major fight night, a world championship fight night.

“That night still reminds me of how great boxing is, one of the greatest nights in British boxing history and of course coming up on March 12, we have another tremendous night. We’ve been wanting to come back to this city for a long time and now we’ve got the excuse to do it with a brilliant fight – the World Featherweight title between Nottingham’s own Leigh Wood against Belfast’s Michael Conlan.

“It’s just a brilliant fight for both guys, for Michael Conlan he’s got the profile, the amateur pedigree, for a long time he’s been widely regarded as a World Champion in waiting. This young man to my right, Leigh Wood, people should be proud of, he’s really done it the hard way in the pro ranks.

“Wood boxed on small halls shows, fighting as the away fighter, suffered defeats when he probably shouldn’t have, took last minute fights. In our back garden in the summer, produced one of the best performances from a British fighter for a long time, dethroning Can Xu to become the World Champion.

“On March 12, Nottingham gets the chance to celebrate one of their own as a World Champion. It’s always great to have a kid from the city, a Nottingham boy, that gets a chance to defend his world title in front of his people live on DAZN.” 

Leigh Wood – Nottingham, England – 25-2, 15 KOs – making the first defence of his WBA Featherweight World Title against Michael Conlan:

“I’m extremely focused, I was here as a young boy watching Froch do it, I was supposed to fight on that bill. To come here and watch Froch do it gave me that experience, how we handled the pressure throughout the week, I was taking it all in because I knew my time would come.

“Ten years old I wanted to do this, I wanted to be here in this seat right now and I’m not going to let it slip. I’m one fight away from a City Ground fight which is my dream and I’m not letting it slip.

“I’m not looking at that fight [Warrington], I’m not bothered about the belt, or the money. I’m here to do a job, I’m focused on Conlan and I know what I need to do to win. I’m working on the next seven weeks, practicing exactly what I need to do to come out and get the win. After the fight, we’ll look at what’s next and the belt situation.

“I respect him [Conlan] as a fighter, he’s not a fighter I’ve watched and thought he does anything unexpected or special. I do rate and respect him as a fighter, making sure I’m doing everything I need to do to win. He is quite tricky; we’ve looked at him in great detail.

“Social media wise, it seems like he’s got all of Team Conlan trying to rattle me, but it is what it is, I give what I get. He can do what he wants to try and throw me off, but I just see it as a weakness, trying to get any advantage he can – it’s not going to work one bit but do that opposite.

“This fight is everything to me. I don’t need to discredit him, tell him what he wasn’t done or performances, I know what I’m capable of and I know what I can do, I’m going to go out and do it – set up a massive fight, my dream fight at the City Ground.”

Ben Davison, trainer of Leigh Wood:

“It’s a tremendous fight and as Jamie and Michael said, the travelling Irish fans will cause a great atmosphere, the Nottingham fans have just shown they’ll bring a great atmosphere

“Every blood, sweat and tear that both these lads have put in over the years from when they both started boxing, it all boils down to this fight and this moment. There’s pressure, a hell of a lot of pressure, whoever can handle, accept, and learn how to use that pressure can create a diamond on the night. It’s a fantastic fight and it will be a fantastic turnout on the night.

“This is Michael’s first World Title shot and Can Xu was Leigh’s first World Title shot, obviously it’s a dream to fight for a World Title but for Leigh Wood it’s always been his dream to box for a World title in Nottingham. He’s got that now and that’s what brings the pressure for Leigh, he’s dealt with pressure before and he’s very good with dealing with it, I believe that will show on the night.

“It’s hard to explain but it still shocks me how hard Leigh hits, it’s freakish. I’ve trained him for over a year now and when I put the pads on it still shocks me. That isn’t going to win this fight, Michael’s a very versatile fighter who can adjust throughout the fight, through the rounds as well. Preparation, tactics, Leigh understanding what he needs to do and when he needs to do it, that’s going to be vitally important.” 

Michael Conlan – Belfast, Northern Ireland – 16-0, 8 KOs – challenging Leigh Wood for the WBA Featherweight World Title:

“I was elated for him, I wished Leigh good luck on the week of the fight and really wanted him to win. I’ve got a lot of respect for him, he seems like a really good guy and I’ve heard loads of good things about him. I have the utmost respect for him as a person and fighter but fuck all that until after the fight. Let’s get the fight done.

“I’ve been in with big punchers my whole life, I’ve had over 250 fights in the amateurs and sparred numerous rounds with big punchers – Oscar Valdez.

“I have answer for anything Leigh does, I know what type of fighter he is, he punches hard yes but slow feet and curly head. I’ll punch ahead of him.”

Jamie Conlan, Conlan Boxing:

“I believe it’s destiny, Michael has always been tipped in Ireland to be one of the best boxers ever to come out of the country. He’s proved that as an amateur, he become the only male World Champion from Ireland as an amateur.

“He’s progressed nicely as a pro and when the opportunity to come to Nottingham come up, and there was some bitching and moaning, we were very happy because we sat down and said that’s what it’s meant to be. To become World Champion, you must go to the opponents back yard and beat him in front of his own family, friends, that’s how to state a legacy.

“The energy that’s coming across from Ireland, the ferocity and hostility that’s going to be in that arena. We’re very excited and I’m very proud as a brother, very proud to be part of his crew and see him progress to get to this moment. This is the one, this is destiny.

“No doubts at all, on March 12 he’ll be champion. We came just the two of us, that’s how confident we are, we don’t need to bring everyone in our gym and watch him to a press conference. We’ve come here, it’s business, very excited.

“Belfast, when they get behind their own, it’s hard to beat. As a city we don’t have much, boxing is our sport and passion, our boxers in Ireland and Belfast especially as back page news. In England footballers take priority, in West Belfast where we’re from boxers are lauded over any other sportsman because they understand that Belfast is a boxing city.”

Tickets for Wood vs. Conlan are priced £40, £60, £80, £100, £150 and £300 (VIP).

Matchroom Fight Pass members are able to purchase tickets NOW. Priority ticket info has been emailed directly to eligible members.

General Sale tickets can be purchased via StubHub (www.stubhub.co.uk) from midday on Thursday January 20.

THE BRITISH WELTERWEIGHT champion Ekow Essuman has signed a new three-year deal to continue his promotional association with Frank Warren and Queensberry.

Ekow, 32, who holds a record of 16-0 with seven KOs, had three fights under his previous agreement, which also reaped the IBF European title along with the Commonwealth belt in the space of just over a year.

So it was a productive period for the Nottingham man known as ‘The Engine’, who seized the British and Commonwealth titles from Chris Jenkins in July of last year and defended against the previously unbeaten Danny Ball in October. Cedrick Peynaud was defeated in September 2020 for the IBF European honours.

“I am ecstatic  to sign because I know that in the next three years I will be pushed and catapulted up the ranks,” reacted the former Team GB product. “I am really excited because I know Frank is one of those promoters that, when he is behind you, can really elevate you up the rankings.

“You need to catch his eye and I went about doing it in the right way. Basically, everybody knows what I am about now.”

Ekow agreed that, over the course of the last year and a bit, he has set about rubber stamping his undoubted potential and proved himself a genuine threat in the division that domestic contenders are not queuing up to fight.

“The first fight with Peynaud was a warm-up for everything and I knew I had to prove myself after that. I wanted a statement performance but the ring rust played a little part in that. Against Chris Jenkins I did that and the Danny Ball performance was the icing on the cake.

“I had always said to people that I just needed the right opponents to bring out the different sides to my boxing and from now on people can just expect exciting matches.

“My next fight will be an IBF defence because, after the last one, it is hard to find opponents for a next British defence without anybody being made mandatory. So it will be an IBF fight against a really good opponent and I can’t wait for that, to show people another side to my style.

Promoter Frank Warren added: “Ekow has shown himself to be a contender of genuine class in his last two fights and I have been so impressed with what I have seen. I would happily put him in with any welterweight in Britain at the moment and expect him to triumph, but they all know how good he is and won’t fancy the job.

“We won’t hang about and will plot a route for him through the world rankings because Ekow is at the point of his career where he is ready for anything.”

DETROIT (January 18, 2022) – Boxing superstar Claressa “G.W.O.A.T.” Shields, boxing’s only two-division undisputed world champion, held a media workout in Detroit on Tuesday as she nears her WBC/WBA/IBF middleweight world championship defense against #1 ranked challenger Ema Kozin taking place Saturday, February 5 live on pay-per-view in the U.S. and Canada.

Shields will be making her U.K. debut as a professional, entering the ring as the co-main event from Motorpoint Arena Cardiff in Wales, with star U.K. middleweights Chris Eubank Jr. and Liam Williams meeting in the main event.

Guided by Salita Promotions, Shields signed a lucrative multi-fight deal with promoter Boxxer and broadcaster SKY Sports in the U.K. that has put her on the path toward a super fight showdown with WBO Middleweight Champion Savannah Marshall in 2022.

The pay-per-view telecast will begin at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT and can be purchased through the recently-launched PPV.com streaming platform from iNDEMAND, FITE.TV and will be carried in North America across all cable, satellite and telco PPV platforms. On TV, boxing fans can order the event through Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Fios, and Optimum, among others (U.S.), as well as leading operators in Canada. Complete PPV distribution details can be found below.

Here is what Shields, and her promoter Dmitriy Salita, had to say on Tuesday from Downtown Boxing Gym in Detroit:

CLARESSA SHIELDS

“The boxing world has forgotten who the best female fighter is since I’ve been doing MMA. The other girls like Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor have been showcasing some great skills, but I’m planning to showcase even better skills in my fight February 5.

“I hope Savannah Marshall shows up at the fight. She can jump up in the ring after I win and talk some stuff. But talking doesn’t win fights, training does. She’s going to see a great performance and I’m going to prove that I haven’t been running from her. We’ve been chasing her.

“When you fight in a different country, you have to do your research on a lot of things and start doing things differently. We’re going to train in Las Vegas for a week so that I can get used to the altitude in Cardiff.

“I’m looking forward to coming back and showcasing my skills. In my last fight, I was coming off over a year layoff and I didn’t perform how I wanted to. When I watch back the film, I wasn’t sharp. I didn’t have the speed and the timing that I normally have.

“I feel like I have to dominate in every fight. Not only am I in her territory, but I have the mentality that everyone wants me to lose. That’s why I go out and smash these girls and make them hold on for dear life.

“This is my first time fighting in another country professionally, but I’ve fought in at least 10 different countries already. I won gold medals in London and in Rio. I’ve been everywhere.

“She’s got a lot of pro experience. I like it. I’ve already dethroned fighters with a lot of experience anyway. I give her credit for working her way up from the bottom to become my mandatory. I’m going to show her that she hasn’t fought anyone like me.”

DMITRIY SALITA, President of Salita Promotions

“It was great to see Claressa and her longtime coach John David Jackson putting in the work and looking sharp at Downtown Boxing Gym in Detroit today. This place is a light for the Detroit boxing community, just like Claressa is. She grew up in nearby Flint, one of the most challenging place in the world and has become one of the best fighters in our sport and is doing things no one has done before.

“This fight on February 5 is leading toward the biggest women’s boxing match of all time between Claressa and Savannah Marshall. It was great to have media support both locally and nationally today and looking forward to a great night on February 5.

“Claressa has fought in sold out venues here in Michigan and now she’s going overseas, but fans in Michigan and throughout the U.S. and Canada will be able to see her on pay-per-view. It’s a perfect opportunity for sports fans to continue to follow Claressa on her journey of greatness.

“Claressa is going to be up against a very tough, skilled and undefeated number one contender in Ema Kozin. She’s young and hungry and she’s going to bring he very best to the table. It’s a very stern test for Claressa before she gets in there with Marshall.”

#

ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS
Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including SHOWTIME, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.

Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action.

HOW TO WATCH THE February 5 – Claressa Shields vs. Ema Kozin PPV

TV: Cable, satellite & telco PPV providers, including Xfinity, ____________Spectrum, Contour, Fios, and Optimum, among others (U.S.), as ____________well as leading operators in Canada.

Streaming: PPV.com and FITE.TV

NEW YORK – January 18, 2022 – ShoBox: The New Generation returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Fla. for the second time in two months on Friday, February 18 for an exciting tripleheader featuring six prospects with a combined record of 74-2-2, five new to the developmental series. The action takes place live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

The main event will see undefeated lightweight prospect Jamaine Ortiz (14-0-1, 8 KOs), who shared the ring with Jaron Ennis and Teofimo Lopez during a decorated amateur career, make his ShoBox debut against once-beaten Nahir Albright (14-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-round bout that could have long-term consequences for boxing’s hottest division. Albright is an aspiring R&B singer who belted out a tune during a post-fight interview following his last win. The co-feature matches ShoBox returnee Joe George (11-0, 7 KOs) facing Sean Hemphill (14-0, 8 KOs) in an eight-round super middleweight bout of unbeatens. The telecast opens with Philadelphia’s undefeated welterweight prospect Paul Kroll (9-0, 6 KOs) squaring off against perennial spoiler Marquis Taylor (12-1-1, 1 KOs) in an eight-round battle between ShoBox newcomers.

The three-fight telecast is promoted by King’s Promotions.

“This edition of ShoBox has compelling storylines and terrific matchups that make it a must-see for boxing fans,” said Gordon Hall, executive producer for ShoBox: The New Generation. “I’m particularly interested in finding out if Jamaine Ortiz or Nahir Albright can emerge as serious players at 135 pounds. Or if Joe George can follow up his sensational KO in his last outing against the gifted and elusive boxer-puncher Sean Hemphill. Or whether Paul Kroll can fulfill his vast potential against the talented Marquis Taylor. I can’t wait to see how it all plays out on February 18.”

Here is a closer look at the matchups:

Ortiz vs. Albright – 10-Round Lightweight Main Event Bout

Fighting out of Worcester, Mass., the 25-year-old Ortiz is a promising prospect in the loaded 135-pound division. Blessed with fast hands and an aggressive style, Ortiz delivered a career-best win over Sulaiman Segawa in November 2020 on the undercard of Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones, scoring a seventh-round KO to become the first fighter to stop Segawa. Known as “The Technician,” Ortiz, who sometimes fights out of the southpaw stance, is also the only fighter to beat current 11-1 lightweight Ricardo Quiroz. His last time out, Ortiz overcame two knockdowns to battle the undefeated Joseph Adorno to a majority draw in a thrilling eight-round affair in April. He recently spent five weeks in California helping pound-for-pound great Vasiliy Lomachenko prepare for his December fight with Richard Commey. Ortiz built his foundation in the amateurs, where he went 100-14 and sustained spirited losses to Ennis and Lopez. Ortiz is a former full-time union carpenter and college student who currently dabbles in real estate and has spoken of finishing college and perhaps attending medical school following his boxing career.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to be the main event on ShoBox,” said Ortiz. “I’ve been waiting for this a long time. I’m ready to put on a great performance. This is a great platform for future champions, and on February 18 I’m going to put the lightweight division on notice.”

Albright turned pro in 2016, dropping a majority decision in his debut against current 13-1 pro Anthony Laureano, before bouncing back to rattle off 14 straight wins. The streaking prospect has earned stoppages in five of his last six bouts which all took place in 2021, including his last time out when he dropped Michael Dutchover four times en route to a sixth-round stoppage victory. Albright will be making his ShoBox debut but has already beaten two fighters who have appeared on the developmental series in Dutchover and the 16-2 Jeremy Hill. The 25-year-old from Sicklerville, N.J. was originally scheduled to face Ortiz in November 2020 but was forced to withdraw with an injury.

“It’s a great feeling to headline on ShoBox,” said Albright. “The Hill fight was a step-up fight and I proved again that I belong. I will show again against Jamaine Ortiz that I am on my way to being a world champion. Ortiz is a sharp, fast and slick fighter. I’m sure he will give his all and it will be a good fight, but I will be victorious.”

George vs. Hemphill – Eight-Round Super Middleweight Bout

Managed by San Francisco 49ers All-Pro offensive lineman Trent Williams, George will return to the ring for the first time since scoring one of 2020’s most vicious KOs. The Houston native landed a stunning uppercut in the ninth round to immediately end his rematch with Marcos Escudero. George previously emerged victorious via a split decision victory in a battle of then unbeaten fighters when he first faced Escudero on SHOWTIME in November 2019. The 32-year-old George played basketball in college and didn’t start boxing until he was 19. He fought in the amateurs for five years, winning the 2015 National Golden Gloves and going 74-5 before making his pro debut in 2016. Campaigning primarily at light heavyweight, George will look to continue his success when he moves down to super middleweight on February 18.

“I am excited to be back on ShoBox,” said George. “I have won on this stage before and on February 18th, I will prove it again that I am one of the top super middleweights out there.”

Hemphill made his pro debut in 2019 and has already reeled off 14 consecutive wins without a blemish after a standout amateur period. He has fought six times since George last stepped in the ring, including once already in 2022. Hemphill scored an eight-round unanimous decision over Jeyson Minda in front of his hometown New Orleans fans on January 7. The 26-year-old known as “Silky” fought three times in 2021, scoring two TKOs. George will be the first undefeated opponent of Hemphill’s career with multiple victories. Hemphill is managed by Adam Glenn, son of the late Jimmy Glenn, who owned the beloved Jimmy’s Corner bar in Midtown Manhattan and was a well-known, iconic figure in boxing circles. Hemphill was a member of Team USA during a stellar amateur career (55-12) that saw him rise to become one of the top light heavyweights in the country.

“This is a great opportunity for me,” said Hemphill. “I have been looking for something like this to showcase my talent. I have been going through a lot in my personal life such as Hurricane Ida and I want to show people that I am fighting through it all. This is a good fight for me and it will show the world how great I am. This will take my career to the next level. I have been fighting on local shows and this is a big step up and a big stage for me to show I am part of the next generation.”

Kroll vs. Taylor – Eight-Round Welterweight Bout

Representing the fighting city of Philadelphia, Kroll is a four-year pro who already owns impressive wins over the highly regarded ShoBox alum Shinard Bunch and previously undefeated Philadelphian southpaw Mark Dawson. He also owns a 10-round victory over Lucas Santamaria in perhaps the toughest test of his career. Kroll overcame a knockdown in the second round to recover and earn the unanimous decision. A highly-touted amateur with a record of 123-17, Kroll won the U.S. Olympic Boxing Trials in 2015 and has sparred with the likes of standouts Julian Williams, Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia.

“This is a great opportunity for me to get back on television against a good opponent,” said Kroll. “I am looking forward to a big win. I’ll take a unanimous decision, but I definitely want the knockout that will make a statement. I have seen a couple clips of Taylor and I see that he’s a good fighter, but I know he can’t beat me. He’s tall and had a draw with Lucas Santamaria. I’m really excited to be on ShoBox and I’m going to perform and put on a show for everybody.”

The 28-year-old Taylor is a nine-year veteran who owns wins over three then-undefeated fighters including Jimmy Williams (14-0-1) and Sanjarbek Rakhmanov (10-0-1), who have both appeared on ShoBox, and Oscar Torres (8-0). The 6-foot-1 Taylor suffered his only career loss to current 21-2 contender Ladarius Miller. Following that loss, Taylor won five consecutive fights before taking on two-time welterweight world champion Kermit Cintron. That fight was ruled a no contest after Cintron was cut from an accidental headbutt. Taylor has one opponent in common with Kroll, Lucas Santamaria, who Taylor fought to a majority draw in June 2019. His last time out, Taylor traveled to Colombia where he earned a third-round KO over Esteban Alseco. Taylor refined his tools in the amateurs, where he went 130-20.

“I appreciate the opportunity and I have been trying to get on ShoBox for years,” said Taylor. “I have a lot of appreciation and gratitude, and I still can’t believe it’s finally happening. I am just anxious to get in the ring now. I know Kroll is a good boxer and an undefeated fighter. This will be my fifth undefeated opponent. I have the tendency to have fighters fight my fight. I am super motivated for this and I’m coming to win in spectacular fashion. I am always the underdog and stealing fights is my thing.”

Hall of Famer Barry Tompkins calls the action from ringside with veteran combat sports reporter Brian Campbell and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts, and Hall of Famer Steve Farhood remotely performing unofficial scoring duties.

The executive producer of ShoBox: The New Generation is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

#

For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, #ShoBox, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 86 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

CLEVELAND, OH (January 18, 2022) – Established boxing manager, best known for his eye for talent and guiding amateurs into the pros, Tim VanNewhouse, has signed Milwaukee’s own Daniel Blancas, a six-foot, four-inch middleweight who was a 13-time national champion.

“I wanted to start my career off right, and I know Tim VanNewhouse will guide me the best way possible,” said Blancas, who is just 20-years old. “It’s all about working with the right people, and I believe we have built a strong team. I am ready to make my pro debut and take the steps necessary to follow my dream of becoming a world champion.”

“Blancas is huge for the weight class and has good power to go with his height,” said VanNewhouse, who’s stable includes prospects Najee Lopez, Darrelle Valsaint, Jan Paul Rivera and Tommy Wu. “I’ve been following Daniel for many years. He entered the sport at just 8 years old. He has a wonderful father and family pushing him to be the best he can be. He is a charming young fighter who is physically gifted with good ability. Soon everyone will see his fan-friendly style and I expect we will see a bunch of knockouts from him”.

“I had a style that was better suited for the pros. We considered many offers from several managers, but my dad and I knew we wanted to work with Tim.” concluded Blancas. “I appreciate my time competing for USA Boxing, but that time has come and gone, and I feel I went as far as I could. Now it is time for me to establish myself as one of the best young fighters in the pros and I am ready to prove it.”

Blancas’s promotional deal and pro debut will be announced in the coming weeks.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – January 18, 2022 – Hard-hitting featherweight contender Tugstsogt “King Tug” Nyambayar will now take on once-beaten contender Sakaria Lukas in the 10-round telecast opener live on SHOWTIME this Saturday, January 22 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, N.J.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and is headlined by WBC Featherweight World Champion Gary Russell Jr. defending his title against top contender and WBC mandatory challenger Mark Magsayo. Super lightweight contenders Subriel Matías and Petros Ananyan meet for a rematch in the 12-round co-main event.

Vic Pasillas was originally scheduled to face Nyambayar, but was forced to withdraw after a positive COVID-19 test.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com.

Nyambayar (12-2, 9 KOs) won a silver medal representing his native Mongolia in the 2012 Olympics and now lives in Southern California, where he’s trained by John Pullman. The 29-year-old ascended the featherweight rankings after his extensive amateur career with victories over then unbeaten Harmonito Dela Torre and former interim champion Oscar Escandon. He earned his first world title shot by defeating former champion Claudio Marrero in January 2019, before dropping his championship bout against Russell on SHOWTIME. Nyambayar returns to the featherweight division after challenging top 130-pounder Chris Colbert in a July contest he lost by decision.

Lukas (25-1, 17 KOs) steps into the ring looking for his third straight win to put himself in position to vie for a world title. A native of Omuthitugwalwani, Namibia, his U.S. debut came in December 2020 as he dropped a 10-round decision against Mexican contender Isaac Avelar. Lukas, who has fought professionally since 2011, bounced back from the defeat by knocking out Mario Macias Orozco in February 2021 before earning a decision victory over Marco Antonio Chable in March 2021.

The non-televised undercard will include unbeaten super welterweight Evan Holyfield (8-0, 6 KOs), son of legendary heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, taking on Virginia’s Chris Rollins (5-3-1, 4 KOs) in a six-round fight, plus Philadelphia’s Rasheen Brown (11-0, 7 KOs) in a six-round featherweight duel against fellow unbeaten Katsuma Akitsugi (7-0, 1 KO).

Rounding out the lineup is Puerto Rico’s Abimael Ortiz (9-1-1, 5 KOs) in an eight-round super bantamweight bout, unbeaten middleweight LeShawn Rodríquez (12-0, 9 KOs) battling Atlanta’s Sixto Suazo (9-2-1, 7 KOs) for eight-rounds of action and the pro debut of Washington, D.C. native Max Garland in a four-round welterweight contest.

#

ABOUT RUSSELL VS. MAGSAYO
Russell vs. Magsayo will see WBC Featherweight World Champion Gary Russell Jr. defend his world title against top contender and WBC mandatory challenger Mark Magsayo headlining action live on SHOWTIME Saturday, January 22 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, N.J.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features a 12-round rematch between super lightweight contenders Subriel Matías and Petros Ananyan in the co-main event, plus hard-hitting featherweight Tugstsogt Nyambayar squaring-off against Sakaria Lukas in the 10-round telecast opener.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow on #RussellMagsayo, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

Orlando, FL (January 18, 2022)–DKO Boxing Management has gotten off to a fast start in 2022 as two of its prized fighters remained undefeated while a third undefeated fighter fights a high-profile bout coming up on February 5th.

On January 7th William Foster III remained undefeated with a tough eight-round split over previously undefeated Edwin De Los Santos.

The fight was the opening bout of a ShoBox: The New Generation card on SHOWTIME.

On the same card, on the Off-Television portion, heralded super middleweight Elvis Figueroa won an eight-round unanimous decision over Ryan Adams.

Coming up on February 5th, undefeated featherweight Edward Vazquez takes on Raymond Ford in a 10-round bout for the WBA Continental Featherweight title at the Footprint Arena in Phoenix.

Foster extended the power punching De Los Santos the full eight round distance and took over control of the bout as the fight progressed. De Los Santos started fast in round one but Foster withstood the early onslaught and began to take control in round 2. As Foster took control of the action it became a sloppy fight at times with a lot of holding on the inside initiated by De Los Santos.

In round four, De Los Santos was deducted a point for holding the head. De Los Santos was also cut over the left eye in the round. Foster was able to create space and land solid shots in the second half of the fight, and won by 77-74 twice, while, somehow, De Los Santos won a card 77-74.

Foster of New Haven, Connecticut, 129 1/4 lbs of West Haven, CT is now 14-0 (9 KO’s). De Los Santos, 129 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is now 13-1 (12 KO’s).

“I was pressuring him the whole time and I knew he was slowing down and eventually I would get to him,” said Foster, who kept moving forward as the fight progressed and dictated and landed the more powerful punches. “I thought it was the right decision because I was landing more shots as the fight went on.”

The 28-year-old Foster – the younger brother of 20-0 professional light heavyweight prospect Charles Foster – was surprised with how fast De Los Santos started. “I knew I had to stay calm, and I adapted and my experience allowed me to adjust to what was happening,” Foster said. “He wasn’t devastating, and the punches never hurt me. I knew he would slow down and when he did, I began to land my shots and had success with my pressure.”

Figueroa, also of New Haven, moved to 10-0 with the unanimous decision over the durable Adams. Figueroa boxed well and was able to win by scores of 80-72 and 78-74 twice.

Vazquez of Fort Worth, Texas is 11-0 with three knockouts and will be looking to establish himself by taking on former National Amateur champion and undefeated Ford.

Vazquez, who is the former WBC USNBC champion will look to add Ford to a victim list that already includes Everado Jhoao (1-0), Brandon Arvie (2-0), Brandon Cruz (6-0), Adan Ochoa (11-1), Irvin Gonzalez (14-2) and a 1st round stoppage over Ezequiel Alberto Tevez on November 5th in Irving, Texas.

The Vazquez – Ford showdown will be streamed live on DAZN.

Foster and Figueroa are co-managed by Marilyn Rosa. Foster, Figueroa and Vazquez are promoted by KO Night Boxing.

PITTSBURGH (January 17, 2022) – Philadelphia super featherweight Avery Sparrow (11-3, 4 KOs) upset local favorite Matt “Sweet Child” Conway (20-3, 9 KOs) this past Saturday night, registering a 10th round technical knockout for the vacant International Boxing Association (IBA) Super Featherweight and Pennsylvania State title, at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center in Cheswick, Pennsylvania.

“Winter Mayhem”, presented by Gionta Management, was streamed live on www.facebooklive.com.

The scheduled 12-round main event was an old-fashioned battle of cross-state rivals, Philly’s Sparrow and Pittsburgh’s Conway.

Sparrow came out taking advantage of his considerable length advantage, jabbing effectively to rack up points round by round. Sparrow caught Conway with left hooks in the second half of the fight, hurting him in the 10th round. Once Conway was sent backwards to the ropes, Sparrow blasted him with 10 unanswered punches, until referee Chris Riskus waved off the fight. Sparrow led in scoring going into the 10th by scores of 89-82, 88-83 and 87-84.

Sparrow won his first fight in more than three years, when he took a 10-round majority decision over fellow Philadelphian Hank Lundy (29-7-1), snapping Conway’s 3-fight win streak in the process.

“This was our best show yet,” promoter Derek Gionta said. “We had a great crowd at a first-class venue. The main event was a great fight and give credit to Avery and his team on a well-deserved victory. It was a contrast of styles between him and Conway. The slick counter-puncher prevailed in the end over the aggressive pressure fighter.”

“Matt had a very busy 11 months, dating back to last February, going 3-1 with this one being a 12-round title fight. He will look to regroup and resume his career possibly at 126 pounds as he has no trouble making that weight. That will be a decision he and his team will make.”

“I’m eager to see what Avery does next and who (his promoter) Russell Peltz matches him up with as I feel his best days are ahead of him. We were proud to hold such a high-level fight on a regional club show in Pittsburgh. All parties involved were true professionals. My wheels are already spinning for the next show.”

In the co-feature, Alliance, Ohio lightweight Ryizeemmion “The Humble Beast” Ford improved to 7-1 (5 KOs) by stopping an overmatched Charles Clark (3-9-1, 1 KO) when Clark’s corner threw in a white towel late in round one. Ford controlled the fight with his long jab and sharp combination punches to the head and body over a usually game and durable Clark.

Illinois heavyweight Anthony Hollaway (4-2-2, 3 KOs) overcame a 42-pound weight disadvantage against Thomas Hawkins (4-10-1, 1 KO) to take a 4-round unanimous decision. Holloway controlled the action from start to finish against a game Hawkins and mixed in some good power shots in spurts while eluding counters from Hawkins. Hawkins showed some spark with his left hand at times, but Hollaway was too skilled.

Lightning quick super featherweight Alexander Castellano (6-1, 2 KOs) started strong and never took his foot off the pedal versus Shawn Rall (1-5, 1 KO) as the former pitched a shutout, winning each round on all three judges’ scorecards. There were no knockdowns and neither fighter was hurt at any point. Rall put up a game performance once again.

Portugal super featherweight prospect Milton Jorge Andrade Jeremias (3-0, 2 KOs) remained undefeated as he used his 8” height advantage against an elusive and rugged David Boria (0-5), of Ashtabula, OH. Jeremias owned the first two rounds, but his Ohio opponent came back strong in the third round, rocking Jeremias with a solid head shot, and he carried the fight to the final bell. Jeremias won a 4-round majority decision.

Complete results below:

OFFICIAL RESULTS

MAIN EVENT

VACANT IBA SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD & PENNSYLVANIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Avery Sparrow (11-3, 4 KOs), Philadelphia, PA

WTKO10 (1:30)

Matt Conway (20-3, 8 KOs), Pittsburgh, PA

(Sparrow won the IBA Super Featherweight World & Pennsylvania State titles)

CO-FEATURE-LIGHTWEIGHTS

Ryizeemmion Ford (7-1, 5 KOs), Alliance, OH

WTKO1 (2:51)

Charles Clark (3-8-1, 1 KO), Dallas, TX

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Anthony Hollaway (4-2-2, 3 KOs), Peoria, IL

WDEC4 (40-36 x 3)

Thomas Hawkins (4-10-1, 1 KO)

SUPER FEATHERWEIGHTS

Alexander Castellano (6-1, 2 KOs), Tonawanda, NY

WDEC4 (40-36 X 3)

Shawn Rall (1-5, 1 KO), Bedford, OH

Milton Jorge Andrade Jeremias (3-0, 1 KO), Porto, Portugal

WDEC4 (39-37, 39-37, 38-38)

David Boria (0-5), Ashtabula, OH

INFORMATION:

Facebook: /DerekGionta

Twitter: @DGionta

Instagram: @d_p_g1

LinkedIn: DerekGionta-GiontaManagement

Mauricio Lara returns to action against Emilio Sanchez at the Pechanga Arena San Diego in San Diego, California on March 5, live worldwide on DAZN, on a packed event topped by the mouth-watering trilogy clash between Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez.
TICKETS STARTING AT $50 (PLUS FEES) ARE ON SALE NOW AT AXS.COM
Lara (23-2-1 16 KOs) makes a welcome return to the ring following his nasty cut in his rematch with Josh Warrington. The Mexican traveled to Yorkshire in September to take on the Leeds man at Headingley Stadium in a rematch having stunned the boxing world by stopping for former World ruler in the ninth round of their clash in February in London. The rematch was heating up before an accidental headclash in the second round left Lara with a nasty gash over his left eye and the contest had to be waved off.

The 23 year old has healed up and will look to get back into the mix for major bouts and World title action at Featherweight, and the first man in the way of his path to the top table is Sanchez (19-1 12 KOs). The 27 year old Californian will be looking to provide an upset of his own in the biggest fight of his eight year career to date, with Sanchez fighting over ten rounds for the second time in his career and entering the fight on the back of his 12^th KO win back in May over the experienced Christian Esquivel.

There’s a stacked card in support of the trilogy clash between Estrada and Chocolatito – with the focus on Eddie Hearn’s bright young talents and an exciting debutant.

Angel Fierro is eager to gatecrash the party at the top of the Lightweight division, and the WBO #4 will display his credentials in the second defense of his WBO NABO title against Juan Carlos Burgos. Fierro (19-1-1 15 KOs) picked up the vacant title with a stunning KO win over Alberto Machado in March – climbing off the deck in the first and second rounds to put the former World ruler away in the sixth. The 23 year old San Diego based Mexican blasted Cristian Bielma away in four rounds in his first defense in Puerto Vallarta in November, and will be looking to make a similar statement against the experienced former World title challenger Burgos (34-6-2 21 KOs).

Diego Pacheco (13-0 10 KOs) fights in the paid ranks for the 14^th time and the rangy Super-Middleweight tastes eight round action for the fourth time against Genc Pllana (9-3-1 5 KOs).

Marc Castro (5-5 5 KOs) is in his sixth pro fight and has yet to go the full distance, his opponent over six rounds will be named soon.

Anthony Herrera (1-0 1 KO) made an explosive start to the pro game with a second round KO win on the undercard of the Teofimo Lopez vs. George Kambosos Jr blockbuster in New York in November, and the 21 year old former Team USA talent goes for the second time in San Diego against an opponent to be named.

Debutant Skye Nicolson completes the card, and the Australian star will make her long-anticipated debut at Featherweight in California. The 26 year old won Commonwealth Games gold at her home games in 2016 and represented Australia at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, and now looks to translate her amateur success into the paid ranks.

“This is a great night of boxing with a stacked undercard beneath a brilliant main event,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “You have so many fighters on this card that can become big stars in the future. Mauricio recorded one of the upsets of 2021 against Josh and is looking to cement his name as a real contender at Featherweight.

“There’s some exciting young stars in action on the rest of the card. Angel is chasing down his fellow contenders and champions at Lightweight, Diego is such a handful and is ready to step up this year, Marc has blasted every opponent away to date, Anthony looked the business on his debut and Skye is going to be a big hit in the paid ranks – March 5 is going to be a spectacular night of action from start to finish.”

CHEATHAM COUNTY, TN (January 17, 2022) – Undefeated lightweight prospect, Tyler “Short Fuse” Tomlin (12-0, 8 KOs), of Cheatham County, TN, is taking his upcoming bout on February 5th against Charlie Serrano (16-6-2, 5 KOs), of Tampa, Florida, extremely serious as he’s been getting work with undefeated rising star Andres Cortes (16-0, 9 KOs).
?
“It was an honor to have Andres and his team travel out here to help me for the biggest fight of my career,” said Tomlin. “Andres Cortes is one of the best fighters in the world, and I needed the best work possible, so I made sure that I brought Andres in camp to prep me. To be great you have to do what others won’t.”

Ty, who will be fighting in front of a packed house on February 5th, will look to entertain his fans in nearby Clarksville, TN, as Tomlin is ready to send them home happy with a knockout victory.

“We can’t be like other fighters and just stick to sparring the people around us, we needed world-class work, so we brought in Andres Cortes,” said his father and trainer, Darryl Tomlin. “We want to be the prospect of the year in 2022, and we have set that goal, and to do that we need the best people around us, every single day to get the best results. Andres and his brother Luis were sensational getting us ready for this fight.”

For those unaware, Cortes has had two highlight-reel KOs in his last two bouts. Cortes is being touted as a breakout star of boxing in 2022.

“I’m going to do everything in my will to stop my opponent and this camp has set the tone for that result,” conluded Tomlin “I want to be the Derrick Henry of boxing, and this year I am going to be running over the competition. We have not cut one corner, and this is the next step of my journey to being a major force in the sport of boxing.”

The show is being promoted by One-One-Six Boxing Promotions, in association with Tomlin’s promoter, DiBella Entertainment. Tickets priced $20and $40, are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (256) 458-2341. The Winfield Dunn Center is located at 601 College St. Clarksville TN, 37044.

New York (January 17, 2022) — Split-T Management Fighters kicked off the new year in style as featherweight Abraham Nova and junior welterweight Omar Rosario registered impressive victories at The Turning Stone Casino Resort in Verona, New York.

Abraham Nova made his featherweight debut with an 8th round stoppage over William Encarnacion.

Nova dominated the action as he landed some solid body punches early. Nova began to take his work upstairs and started to wobble Encarnacion in round six. Nova continued to break Encarnacion down through the rest of the fight, which was stopped at 55 seconds of round eight after a big flurry of punches.

Nova, 126 3/4 lbs of Albany, NY is 21-0 with 15 knockouts. Encarnacion, 127 lbs of The Dominican Republic is 19-2.

Nova said, “It feels good to fight close to home a day after my birthday. I had a tricky opponent in front of me, but I got the job done.

“I want {WBO world champion Emanuel Navarrete}, to be honest. Everybody thinks he’ll blow me out. Put him in there. Let’s see if he’ll do it. I know I’ll beat him. I know I have the punch output, I know I’ll knock him out, and I know I’ll be the next WBO champion.”

Nova is promoted by Top Rank, Murphy’s Boxing and 12 Rounds Promotions

Omar Rosario celebrated his 24th birthday with a six-round unanimous decision over Raekwon Butler in a junior welterweight fight.

Rosario dominated the action as he came out working the body. Rosario used a very pinpoint jab that would set up power punches. The fight was close to being stopped in Rosario’s favor several times, but Butler was either saved by the bell or was able to do just enough to get out of the round.

In round six, Butler was bleeding from his nose.

Rosario landed 132 of 368 punches; Butler was 52 of 218.

Rosario, 139 1/4 lbs of Caguas, PR won by scores of 58-55 and 59-54 twice and is now 6-0. Butler, 138 1/4 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is 4-2.

Rosario is promoted by Top Rank.

Photos from Mikey Williams / Top Rank via Getty Images

DEERFIELD BEACH, FL (January 17, 2022)—Veteran boxing announcer Bob Alexander and Youngstown, OH favorite and former WBA lightweight champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini have been named to Don King’s telecast team for the championship night of boxing on Saturday, Jan. 29 from Warren, Ohio at the W.D. Packard Music Hall.

Two world championship fights, four NABA championship fights and a special cruiserweight attraction will be a part of the great night of boxing in Ohio.  The cost of the telecast is $49.99 and boxing fans can connect to the event through Donking.com, DKPBoxing.com or itube247.com beginning at 6 p.m. ET.

The co-main events will feature two World Championships–Ilunga Makabu (28-2 with 25 KOs) of South Africa defends his WBC World Cruiserweight Championship against Thabiso Mchunu (23-5, 13 KOs) of South Africa and the other co-main event will pit WBA World Heavyweight Champion Trevor Bryan (21-0, 15 KOs) of Ft. Lauderdale, FL risking his title against Jonathan Guidry (17-0-2, 10 KOs) of Dulca, Louisiana.

Tickets for the spectacular night of boxing are on sale at Ticketmaster or the W.D. Packard Music Hall.  The tickets will be priced at $550, $350, $250, $175 and $80. 

King has four other NABA titles on the line for fighters who are knocking on the door of stardom.

The NABA Gold Heavyweight championship will pit veteran Alonzo Butler (34-3-2, 25 KOs) from Chattanooga, TN taking on young Ahmed Hefny (13-1, 5 KOs) from Egypt via Queens, NY.

The NABA Cruiserweight title clash features Johnnie Langston (9-3, 3 KOs) of Sarasota, FL and Nick Kisner (22-5-1, 6 KOs) of Baltimore, MD.

The NABA Middleweight Championship will be up for grabs as local product Michael Moore (18-3, 8 KOs) of Cleveland, OH will meet Anthony Lenk (17-7, 7 KOs) of Niagara Falls, NY.

The sixth and final title fight of the night will showcase Cody Wilson (10-3, 7 KOs) of West Virginia, VA and Tre’Sean Wiggins (12-5-3, 6 KOs) of Newburgh, NY battling for the NABA Welterweight championship.

The evening will get rolling with a special Cruiserweight attraction pitting Jaywon Woods (11-1-1, 5 KOs) of Danville, VA challenging Shawn Miller (18-6, 7 KOs) of Troy in an eight-round affair.

The veteran announcer Alexander has worked for Don King Productions in the past and has called fights on Showtime, ESPN, Fox Sports Net, HDNet, Sun Sports, MSG and Pay Per View.   Alexander was elected to  the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame in 2010.

Mancini, who hails from Youngstown, OH, will handle the color commentating of the championship night of boxing.  Mancini, who went by the nickname “Boom Boom” was one of the most popular and exciting professional fighters during his career that spanned 1979 to 1992.  A member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, the former world lightweight champion Mancini had a pro record of 29-5 with 23 KOs.

ORANGE, CA (January 17, 2022) – Ready to challenge the best in the division, undefeated lightweight Ruben “Ace” Torres (17-0, 14 KOs) of South-Central L.A., Calif., who is looking to contend for a world title, is one-step closer to that goal as he headlines Thompson Boxing’s “New Blood” event, on Friday, February 18th, 2022. Torres will face an opponent TBA in the 10-round main event.

This event will take place at the Doubletree Hotel Ontario, CA. Doors open at 6:30 pm PT with the first fight starting at 8:00 pm PT. Tickets are priced at $50, $75, and $100, are available for purchase by calling 714-935-0900, or online at ThompsonBoxing.com.

“Thompson has done a great job with my career, along with my manager and trainer Danny Zamora, I am in the perfect place in my career to contend for a big fight this year,” said Torres. “I know this is going to be a big year for me, I just have to be calm, patient and focused, as I know as long as I win good things will happen. I am ready to make everyone proud and it all starts on February 18th. I’m ready to put on an amazing show and carry that momentum for the rest of the year.”

In the 8-round co-feature, Isaac “Dinamita” Zarate (16-5-4, 2 KOs), of San Pedro, Calif., will be featured in an eight-round co-main event featherweight bout, with an opponent to be named at a later date.

“It is great to be back fighting in Southern California and back around my friends and family,” said Zarate. “I have had a few rough fights and now I am looking to get a win, and put myself in position to challenge some of the best fighters in the world.”

This event will stream live for free on the Thompson Boxing Promotions website (www.thompsonboxing.com), as well as their Facebook and
YouTube pages. In addition, Fight fans will be able to watch all Thompson Boxing fights, weigh-ins, and behind-the-scenes content, via their new Mobile App downloadable on Apple and Google.

UNDERCARD BOUTS:
Welterweight Loui Lopez (9-1-1, 4 KOs) of Corona, Calif. will face Cristian Dominguez (11-3, 6 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada. (6-rounds)

Heavyweight Oscar Torrez (7-0, 4 KOs), of Rialto, Calif., will face TBA. (6-rounds)

Opening the card is super bantamweight Ivan Zarate of San Pedro, Calif (3-0, 1 KO), who will face an opponent to be named at a later date. (4-rounds)

This event is sponsored by Thompson Building Materials, transforming spaces in beautiful places; Omega Products International, the leading stucco manufacturer in the United States; Henry / Fortifiber, moisture system control as easy as 1,2,3, and Makita, rule the outdoors.

For more information, regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please visit ThompsonBoxing.com. You can also follow the conversation on social media, please use #ThompsonBoxing.

Please check our Facebook Page, watch our YouTube channel on Thompson
Boxing TV, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @ThompsonBoxing.

Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Carlos Cuadras will reignite their rivalry with the vacant WBC World Super-Flyweight belt on the line at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday February 5, live worldwide on DAZN.
TICKETS STARTING AT $20 (PLUS FEES) ARE ON SALE AT 12PM MT AT TICKETMASTER.COM
The pair first met in May 2014 for the same title, with Cuadras claiming the crown via a unanimous technical decision following an accidental headclash in Mexico.

There’s more than just the WBC crown on the line for Rungvisai (50-5-1 43 KOs) and Cuadras (39-4-1 27 KOs), with the winner likely to be pitted against the winner of the March clash between Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez, setting up more fireworks in the always exciting 115lb division.

Rungvisai heads into the bout on the back of three victories in Thailand following his clash with Estrada where he surrendered the WBC crown that he fights Cuadras for. Victory in the rematch in Phoenix would see the 35 year old win the green and gold strap for the third time and almost nine years since he first picked up that crown.

Cuadras ended Rungvisai’s reign on that occasion and the Mexican made six defenses of the title before Chocolatito took the crown in California in September 2016. It’s the second time that the 33 year old has tried to reclaim the throne and comes on the back of his last battle for the belt where he floored defending champion Estrada in the third round of his defense before the champion prevailed in Mexico in October 2020.

“I’m really looking forward to winning in this championship bout,” said Rungvisai. “I really want to become the first three-time WBC champion of Thailand. I also have an unfinished business with Juan Francisco Estrada. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Matchroom and DAZN for making this fight possible”. 

“I am very excited for this opportunity to fight for another world title,” said Cuadras. “We are sparring 3-4 different southpaws that have a similar style to Rungvisai. We are ready to win, and I am training very well in the high-altitude mountains of the ceremonial center in Otomi in México.

“I want to thank firstly God and Teiken, especially Mr. Honda who has never left me behind and always given me a hand in boxing. We will not disappoint come fight now and bring back another title for Mexico and Teiken.”

A stacked card in support of the rematch is led by Light-Flyweight sensation Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez as he closes in on World title action. Rodriguez (14-0 10 KOs) dispatched Jose Burgos in style inside four rounds in his last outing in Fresno in October, and the WBA #2 and WBO #4 will look to enhance his claim for world honors against an opponent to be named soon.

There’s more World title action on the card as Jamie Mitchell makes the first defense of her WBA Bantamweight title against Carly Skelly. Mitchell (7-0-2 4 KOs) claimed the strap in October in England by seeing off Shannon Courtenay via majority decision, with the belt only on the line for the American after then-champion Courtenay failed to make the weight. After winning the belt in Liverpool, Mitchell will defend the title against a Liverpudlian fighter, as Skelly (4-0-1) fights for her first World title having picked up the WBC International Super Bantamweight title at home against Dorota Norek in October, a year after a split draw against Amy Timlin for the Commonwealth crown.

Raymond Ford defends his WBA Continental Featherweight title for the second time against Edward Vazquez. Ford (10-0-1 6 KOs) impressed in his first defense in New York in November, stopping Felix Carabello in eight rounds to retain the belt he landed in England in August via a third round KO of Reece Bellotti. Unbeaten Texan Vazquez (11-0 3 KOs) will look to end Ford’s reign in Phoenix, and the 26 year old fights for his first title in his 12^th pro outing.

Matchroom’s latest Stateside signing Aaron Aponte (4-0 KOs) looks to extend his unbeaten start to life in the paid ranks against unbeaten Canadian Louis Jourdain (2-0 1 KO), Light Heavyweight talent Khalil Coe (1-0-1 1 KO) also meets Canadian opposition in the form of Stuart Twardzik (1-0-1 1 KO) and there’s a big stage for two Arizona fighters, Heavyweight Adam Stewart (12-1-1 8 KOs) and Middleweight Elijah Garcia (9-0 8 KOs).

“Srisaket and Carlos promises to be another brilliant Super-Flyweight World title battle,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Carlos got the better of Srisaket in their first fight seven years ago – and there’s no doubt in my mind that this will be a real fan-friendly war with so much at stake.

“The undercard is stacked with talent. Jesse is a World champion in waiting and is so exciting to watch, Jamie was terrific in beating Shannon in Liverpool and I know Carly will give everything to try to take the title back to England and Ray’s stock rises with every impressive win he notches. Aaron is our latest signing and one to watch, Khalil is looking to bounce back from a draw last time out and it’s a great opportunity for local guys Adam and Elijah to make an impression under the bright lights.”

Rungvisai and Cuadras headline the event that was initially due to be held at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, but logistical and operational issues mean the night moves venues but stays in Arizona and just a short distance to the downtown home of the Phoenix Suns. It’s a return to the venue for Matchroom where Daniel Jacobs defeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in December 2019. A clash between Jessie Vargas and Liam Smith was slated to top the bill but the former tested positive for COVID forcing it to be postponed, with the fight set to be rescheduled.

Los Angeles, CA – January 17, 2022 – Probellum is delighted to announce the promotional signing of Ukrainian fighter Tsotne Rogava.

The 28-year-old heavyweight made his professional boxing debut in April 2021, when he secured a knockout victory over Petar Mrvalj.

Previously, Rogava enjoyed an impressive amateur career, before going on to compete professionally as a Muay Thai kickboxer, where he became the 2018 ACB KB heavyweight champion.

“This is a big moment in my career, and I’m delighted to sign for Probellum,” said Rogava.

“After making the transition from Muay Thai kickboxing to professional boxing, I’m very excited about what the future holds, and I firmly believe that under the guidance of Probellum I can go on to achieve a lot of success.”

“Tsotne has shown his fantastic capabilities within combat sports for many years, and we are extremely pleased to sign him,” added Richard Schaefer, President of Probellum.

“He produced an eye-catching performance on his professional debut last year and we are very much looking forward to watching him develop and grow.

“We fully expect 2022 to be a pivotal year for Tsotne as he showcases his boxing abilities to fans around the world.”

Rogava becomes the latest addition to Probellum’s ever-growing stable, which also includes the likes of Pat and Luke McCormack, Troy Williamson, Regis Prograis, Nonito Donaire, Donnie Nietes, Lee McGregor, Eimantas Stanionis, Arthur Biyarslanov, Noel Mikaelian, Taras Shelestyuk, Ricky Burns, Paul Butler, Lewis Ritson, Muhammad Waseem, O’Shaquie Foster, Hovhannes Bachkov, Darius Fulghum, Eduardo Hernandez, Mark Dickinson, Brandon Moore, Jack Bowen, Jason Mallia, Hebert Sousa, Dina Thorslund, Ben Rees and Will Cawley.

Probellum has also secured co-promotional agreements with Wasserman Boxing, Universum in Germany, Groupe Yvon Michel in Canada, Maravillabox Promotions in Spain, Kynoch Boxing in Scotland, Mitchell Sports Promotions in England, LNK Boxing in Latvia, Titov Boxing in Russia, Glozier Boxing in New Zealand, Cuadrilatero Boxing in Colombia, PR Best Boxing in Puerto Rico, Shuan Boxing Promotions in the Dominican Republic, Bufalo Boxing in Nicaragua, Team Ellis Boxing in Australia, Moron Boxing in Venezuela, Volcano Boxing in El Salvador, Armin Tan Promotions in Indonesia, Pro Boxing Team Finland and Box Office Sports in Ghana.

For live news and updates, be sure to follow Probellum on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

About Probellum

Launched in September 2021, Probellum is a global boxing promotion and media company, and the fastest-growing brand in the sport.

Probellum’s elite stable includes Nonito Donaire, Lee McGregor, Donnie Nietes, Troy Williamson, Dina Thorslund, Muhammad Waseem, O’Shaquie Foster, Will Cawley, Mark Dickinson and Pat and Luke McCormack.

Since launching, Probellum has signed co-promotional partnerships with some of the biggest promoters globally, including Wasserman (Germany), Universum (Germany), GYM (Canada), Maravilla Box (Spain), Team Ellis (Australia), Titov Boxing Promotions (Russia), Volcano Boxing (El Salvador), BXSTRS Promotions (Mexico), PR Best (Puerto Rico) Glozier Boxing (New Zealand), Box Office Sports (Ghana) and LNK Boxing (Latvia).

Probellum hosted its inaugural event at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena in December 2021.