LAS VEGAS (Nov. 18, 2021)—Before WBO welterweight world champion Terence “Bud” Crawford and two-time champion “Showtime” Shawn Porter battle for division supremacy, a loaded PPV undercard and a pair of can’t-miss featherweight fights will set the stage Saturday, Nov. 20 at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

The PPV co-feature, a 12-round IBF middleweight world title eliminator, will see Brazilian 2012 Olympic silver medalist Esquiva “La Pantera” Falcao fight fellow unbeaten Patrice Volny.
 
The PPV telecast also includes a 10-round middleweight tilt between rising star Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly and former world champion Hassan N’Dam, and an eight-round lightweight duel between unbeaten prospect Raymond “Danger” Muratalla and Elias Araujo.

Presented by Top Rank and TGB Promotions, Crawford-Porter will be a Top Rank PPV exclusively on ESPN+ in the United States at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. CLICK HERE to view the ESPN+ order page.

The televised undercard (ESPN2 & ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT) will feature former junior featherweight world champion Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe against two-time title challenger Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz, and an eight-round featherweight rematch between Adam Lopez and Adan Ochoa. Lopez defeated Ochoa by four-round decision in 2017 when both fighters were undefeated prospects.

At Thursday’s undercard press conference, this is what the fighters had to say.

Esquiva Falcao

“You can be sure that I am very well prepared and I will bring the win to Brazil. I had the best training and the best sparring. I trained hard and I sparred hard and now I bring the title to Brazil. My last fight was against a Russian {Artur Akavov} and a very tough opponent. He had never been knocked down and I took him out in the fourth. I am prepared and no one will take this opportunity from me.”

Patrice Volny

“Not many people have seen me because I fight in Canada a lot. I am ready to fight. I have prepared for this and here I am on the stage in Vegas. If we have to box, we will box, and if we have to fight we will fight. I am ready for everything.

“I came to Vegas to train and I learned a little bit from each boxer I trained with. Coming to Vegas early I got to adapt and it’s been great. This is a big opportunity, and opportunities don’t happen every day, and when you get them, you’ve got to take them. We have been working many years for this.”

Janibek Alimkhanuly

“I am here to show the world ‘Qazaq Style.’ I want to put Kazakhstan on the map of boxing, not like all the other stops. My goal is not only to be a one-division champion, but to be a four-division world champion.  

“I think I should have got my first shot (at a world title) yesterday. I prepare 100 percent for each fight and I don’t want to fight former world champions. I want to fight present world champions. He was a good champion – he is a former world champion – and it will be easy work.”

Hassan N’Dam

“I want to thank my team for getting me ready, and I want to thank Bob Arum, and I want to thank my opponent who went to social media to tell me to be ready for the fight. Look at me. You think I’m not ready? I am ready to face you. Saturday night I am going to respond to you in the ring, so be ready.  I think you are ready and you need to be so we can do the good fight.  

“This is a good fight for me, and when I win, I will be closer to a world championship, and that’s why I took the fight. I feel good at middleweight. Super middleweight was too big for me.”

Raymond Muratalla

“I feel like I’ve been putting in the work and it’s really showing. It was more difficult than I thought it would be (coming back from COVID), but I just kept training and it’s been good. In the gym (Robert Garcia Boxing Academy), there are a lot of good fighters and we are sparring a lot with a lot of different styles and just continue to learn. This (fighting on a PPV) has come a lot sooner than I thought. I put in the work and good things are coming. I am different than a lot of fighters, I have a lot of skills and I’m going to show that Saturday night.  He’s an aggressive fighter – I am prepared for anything – so I’ll be good.”

Isaac Dogboe

“The losses to Navarrete helped me to see things clearly and for me to start paving my own way. Boxing has taken me places and got me to meet my new team. My new team made me realize boxing is not all about knockouts – it’s a thinking man’s game. Now I am trying to think a little bit more, enjoy the atmosphere a little bit more. With my new team – Perfecting Athletes – I can eat and drink on the day of a weigh-in and that is crazy, whereas before on fight week I’d be looking like a skeleton. 

“Diaz is a tough man. We know he is an energetic fighter and he will throw overhands and uppercuts. It will be fireworks. Let it begin.”

Christopher Diaz

“{The Navarrete fight} was a great fight. I pushed through every round, and {in the 12th}, I went down three times and I got up three times like the warrior that I am. On Saturday, every time I hit him, he will feel it, and let the best man win.  

“Two weeks after the last fight, they made me the offer to fight Dogboe, so I went back to the gym – let’s get it! I am here to fight the best. Will you go the 130 and fight Ito? Yes. Will you fight Navarrete? Yes. Will you fight Dogboe? Yes. So they send me the offer and here I am. Being the warrior that I am I will continue to get opportunities. It will be a great fight on Saturday night and the best man is going to win.”

Adam Lopez

“The kid is tough, and when we first fought, I have to give him credit. He was a tough competitor and had no quit in him. He’s got 12 wins and a couple losses, so that’s a winning record to me, and I’ve never turned down anybody, so let’s do it. I got pushed up quick with the {Oscar} Valdez fight. I went from a nobody to a featherweight contender. I’ve held my own against the best in the world. You all know I can fight, and I bring it every time, and it’s going to be a tough fight for sure.”

Adan Ochoa

“It’s always been on my mind since the first loss and it’s personal to me. I’m not the same fighter I was four years ago. I was barely an amateur transitioning into professional and now I feel like I’m ready for this. There is no animosity – it is just a loss that has stayed in the back of my mind.  You can expect fireworks. I am going to go straight at him and do what I’ve got to do to win.”

SATURDAY, November 20, 2021

ESPN+ PPV, 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

Terence Crawford vs. Shawn Porter, 12 rounds, Crawford’s WBO Welterweight World Title

Raymond Muratalla vs. Elias Araujo, 8 rounds, lightweight

ESPN2 & ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT

Isaac Dogboe vs. Christopher Diaz, 10 rounds, Dogboe’s NABF Featherweight Title

Adam Lopez vs. Adan Ochoa, 8 rounds, featherweight

ESPN APP (no paywall), 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT

Karlos Balderas vs. Julio Cortez, 6 rounds, junior lightweight

Tiger Johnson vs. Antonius Grable, 4 rounds, welterweight

PHILADELPHIA–Sonny Conto got a test for a couple of rounds, but he weathered some hard shots from Joel Caudle to knockout Caudle in round three of a scheduled six-round heavyweight bout in front of a capacity crowd at the inaugural fight card at Live Casino Hotel Philadelphia.

Caudle stood in and landed some flush shots. Conto gave as good as he received as he rocked Caudle several times over the first two rounds. In round three, Caudle continued to stand in and want to trade with the bigger Conto., but Conto landed a huge right hand that sent Caudle to the deck. Caudle got to his feet, but was wobbly, and referee Benjy Esteves stopped the fight at the end of round three.

Conto, 220.2 lbs of Philadelphia is 8-0 with seven knockouts. Caudle, 257.1 lbs of Raleigh, NC is 8-6-2.

In an entertaining contest, Christopher Burgos scored a mild upset by winning a six-round unanimous decision over Gerardo Martinez.

Burgos was able to land the more eye-catching blows in the fight, which saw each fighter take turns controlling the action.

Burgos, 138.9 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 59-55 twice and 58-56 and is now 3-4-1. Martinez, 138.7 lbs of Coatesville, PA is 5-2.

Daiyann Butt defeated Siefullah Wise via 3rd round disqualification in a scheduled six-round junior welterweight bout.

Wise was deducted points for holding and hitting in each of the first two rounds. Wise committed the same foul in round three, and referee Benji Esteves had seen enough and halted the action 53 seconds into round three.

Butt, 142.4 lbs of Philadelphia is 9-1. Wise, 144.6 lbs of Philadelphia is 4-7.

Jeremiah Kendrick made a successful pro debut with a opening round knockout of Tyrone Lewis in a scheduled four-round junior middleweight contest.

Kendrick landed a hard right to the head which stunned and hurt Lewis, and a follow up punch put him on the ground. Referee Shawn Clark stopped the fight upon Lewis getting to his feet at 1:05.

Bilal Quintyne needed a last second knockdown to eek out a four-round majority decision over Maurice Burke in a four-round battle of undefeated middleweights.

Burke controlled the first couple of rounds as he landed some solid right hands.

In round four, Quintyne dropped Burke with a hard right hand.

Quintyne, 159.8 lbs of Marietta, GA won by scores of 38-37 twice and 38-38 to raise his record to 2-0. Burke, 160.6 lbs of Philadelphia is 1-1.

Tariq Green made a successful pro debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Tunde Fatiregun in a light heavyweight battle.

Green, 174.5 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 40-36 and 39-37 twice and is now 1-0. Fatiregun, 176 lbs of New Brunswick, NJ is 1-1.

New York City / Los Angeles (November 18, 2021) Triller has announced  TrillerVerz IV set for Thursday, December 2 with a “Night of Heavyweights’ professional boxing card at The Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City followed by an iconic VERZUZ battle between music legends Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Three 6 Mafia from a location to be announced in Los Angeles, CA.

With the international boxing world still buzzing over the outstanding heavyweight world title clash between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder last month in addition to Anthony Joshua’s sensational unification battle with Oleksandr Usyk, fans globally are clamoring to see the division’s next generation of world champions with six undefeated heavyweight contenders fighting on ‘Night of Heavyweights’.

TrillerVerz IV will be broadcast exclusively on TrillerFightClub.com and FITE through the TrillerVerz subscription package priced at $2.99 per month.  TrillerVerz IV is the fourth event in the TrillerVerz series with the first three events each garnering over 5,000,000 unique viewers. TrillerVerz III saw a massive crowd at Barclays Center on October 17 witness an extraordinary VERZUZ battle between Brooklyn based music legends Big Daddy Kane and KRS-One.

TrillerVerz is produced by the award-winning Nigel Lythgoe, the Triller Fight Club visionary in addition to the producer and creative force behind American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance.

The Hammerstein Ballroom at Manhattan Center is located at 311 W. 34th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue’s. Tickets priced at $200, $125, $75 and $45 may be purchased starting Tomorrow, Friday, November 20 at 10:00 a.m. ET online at Ticketmaster / Triller Fight Club. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. ET with the first bell at 5:45 p.m. ET. Following the fights at 9:00 p.m. ET, the TrillerVerz IV broadcast will switch to Los Angeles for the VERZUZ battle at a venue to be determined and with ticket information and further event information forthcoming.

Formed in Cleveland, OH and an iconic American hip hop group for almost three decades, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony have sold millions of records through their ten-record discography. Their acclaimed career includes Grammy Awards, Soul Train Awards and American Music Awards.

Originating in Memphis, TN in 1991, Three 6 Mafia emerged as a horror themed hip-hop music group which would carry them to mainstream success. Releasing nine records, one of the group’s biggest hits, “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” won an Academy Award in 2006 for its inclusion in the movie ‘Hustle and Flow.”

Headlining ‘Night of Heavyweights’ in a ten-round battle of undefeated, heralded contenders, Cassius ‘C.O.G.’Chaney, (21-0, 14 KOs), of New London, CT clashes with Bronx, NY native ‘Gentleman’ George Arias, (16-0, 7 KOs). A college basketball player at the University of New Haven before turning to professional boxing, Chaney returns to action following a dominant ten-round decision over fellow contender Shawndell Winters on August 14, 2021 in Worcester, MA. On November 27, 2019, Chaney won the vacant World Boxing Council United States title with a third-round stoppage of Nick Jones. A native of the Dominican Republic, Arias hits the ring coming off a unanimous decision win over Joel Caudle on February 17, 2021. Prior to that victory, Arias defeated fellow undefeated prospect Gabriel Hernandez on October 24, 2019.

Co-featured in a scheduled ten-rounder of undefeated heavyweights, ‘Son of a Legend’, knockout artist Trey Lippe-Morrison, (18-0, 17 KOs), of Tulsa, OK faces former NFL Linebacker, Mike Balogun, (17-0, 13 KOs), of Upper Marlboro, MD. Well-known in the sport as the son of former Heavyweight World Champion Tommy Morrison, Lippe-Morrison, popular for his stunning knockouts, has built a huge following since turning professional in 2014. On August 14, 2021, Lippe-Morrison saw his most recent action, a dominant victory over Don Haynesworth. A college football standout for the Oklahoma Sooners before playing for six teams in the NFL, Balogun also turned professional in 2014. In his first start this year, he knocked out Keith Barr on April 10, 2021 in Vero Beach, FL.

In a WBC Female Heavyweight World Title bout, Hannah ‘La Amazona Black’ Gabriels, (21-2-1, 12 KO’s), of Alajuela, Costa Rica defends her title for first time against undefeated contender Danielle Perkins, (3-0, 1 KO), of Houston, TX over ten-rounds. A three-division world champion, Gabriels, one of the top female fighters in the world, won the heavyweight title with a second-round knockout of Martha Gaytan on April 17, 2021 in San Jose, Costa Rica. A professional since 2017, Gabriels’ fights draw massive crowds in Costa Rica where she is a national hero. The southpaw Perkins was an accomplished amateur winning a bronze medal at the 2018 World Championships and a gold medal at the 2019 competition. She makes her return to battle following a unanimous decision over Monika Harrison on March 5, 2021, sweeping all eight rounds on the three judges scorecards.

Featured in a scheduled ten-round heavyweight battle, Russian Andrey Fedesov, (32-3-0, 26 KOs), based out of Los Angeles, CA faces Junior ‘Hurricane’ Wright, (18-3-1, 15 KOs), of Detroit, MI. Fedesov is currently riding an eight-bout winning streak capped by a tremendous first round knockout of former amateur standout Mahammadrasui Majidov on April 17, 2021. He also holds victories over contenders Joey Dawejko, Donovan Dennis and Lenroy Thomas during this winning streak. The upset minded Wright hits the ring following a first-round knockout of Alfredo Trevino on August 28, 2021.

Fighting in an eight-round heavyweight scrap, Jerry ‘Slugger’ Forrest, (26-4-1, 20 KOs), of Brooklyn, NY battles Joe ‘Louis’ Jones, (12-4, 9 KOs), of Jersey City, NJ. A professional for nine years, southpaw Forrest hits the ring against Jones following a controversially scored majority draw against world ranked and undefeated Zhilei Zhang on February 27, 2021 in Miami, FL. He also has competed in hard fought ten-round battles with world ranked heavyweights Carlos Takam and Jermaine Franklin over the last two years. Looking to play the role of spoiler, the 26-year-old Jones is coming off a third-round knockout of Dhafir Smith on July 24, 2021.

In a six-round heavyweight bout, top prospect Frederic ‘The French Revolution’ Julan, (12-0, 10 KOs), of Brooklyn, NY faces perennial contender Denis ‘Drago’s Son’ Grachev, (20-15-1, 11 KOs), of San Diego, CA via Novvy, Russia. Julan hits the ring following a second-round knockout of Fidel Monterrosa Munoz on January 25, 2020. Battle tested veteran Grachev has faced a wealth of world champions and top contenders throughout his fourteen years as a professional including Chad Dawson, Marcus Browne,  Alfonso Lopez, Isaac Chilemba and Thomas Oosthuizen.

Triller Fight Club is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its extraordinary launch on November 28, 2020 which shook up the sports and entertainment world as Boxing Legends Mike Tyson and Roy Jones battled in Los Angeles, CA on a Pay-Per-View broadcast which garnered 1,600,000 PPV buys.

WORCESTER, Mass. (November 18, 2021) – Rivera Promotions Entertainment (RPE) hosted a press conference yesterday at Drafters Sports Café in Grosvenor Dale, Connecticut, to formally announce its “New England Future VIII” card on December 18 at Webster Town Hall in Webster, Massachusetts.

It marks the first professional boxing event in 27 years in Webster, where RPE promoter Jose Antonio Rivera fought twice in 1993 and 1994.

“We are excited to be finishing 2021 with an exciting card in Webster, Massachusetts,” said Rivera, a retired 3-time, 2-divisional world champion boxer. “All of our previous boxing events have been in Worcester and we will continue to bring exciting events to our hometown. We appreciate the love and support we have always gotten there, but we knew the time would come where we will want to branch out to other states, cities, and towns. Our ‘New England’s Future 8’ will be the first.”

THE SHOWDOWN

MAIN EVENT – VACANT N. E. JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 6 ROUNDS

Wilfredo “El Sucaro” Pagan (6-1-1,3 KOs), Southbridge, MA by way of Puerto Rico

vs.

Carlos Marrero, III (2-6-2, 0 KOs), Bridgeport, CT

CO-FEATURE – SUPER LIGHTWEIGHTS – 8 ROUNDS

Omar “The Beast” Bordoy (11-1, 3 KOs), Danbury, CT

vs.

“Ruthless” Augustine Mauras (7-12-3, 3 KOs), Lawrence, MA

SUPER WELTERWEIGHTS – 6 ROUNDS

Josniel “TG” Castro (7-0, 5 KOs), Boca Raton, FL

vs.

Alex “Careca” Sandro Duarte (15-12-1, 12 KOs), New York, NY by way of Brazil

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS

Bobby “BH3” Harris, III (3-0-1, 0 KOs), Worcester, MA

Vs.

TBA

SUPER WELTERWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS

Eslih Owuso (6-0, 4 KOs), Worcester, MA by way of Ghana

vs.

Anthony Everett (1-9, 0 KOs), Lawrence, MA

Anuel Rosa (2-0, 2 KOs), New Haven, CT

vs.

Stacy Anderson (0-8), Albuquerque, NM

SUPER LIGHTWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS

Oscar Bonilla (6-3-1, 1 KO), Bridgeport, CT

vs.

Seth Basler (0-17), Marion, IL

LIGHTWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS

Michael Valentine (6-1-1, 1 KO), Providence, RI

vs.

TBA

(Card subject to change)

Tickets are priced at $75.00 (reserved seating) and $45.00 (general admission) and available for purchase or by contacting Jose Rivera (elgallojar@gmail.com/508.864.6954), AJ Rivera

(anthoneerivera@gmail.com/774.272.2269) or any of the fighters.

Doors open at 6 p.m. ET, first bout at 7 p.m. ET.

Event sponsors include Shamrock Sports, Lundgren Honda, Greatest Hits Cannabis Company, Lake Shore Legal LCC Attorneys at Law, Emmloan, 616 Reality LLC, Drafters Sports Café, and Asmar Jewelz.

INFORMATION:

Twitter: @RiveraPromoEnt, @JoseRiveraChamp, @KingRivera_

LOS ANGELES (November 18, 2021) – Unbeaten super welterweight contender Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora plans to make the most of his opportunity stepping up in competition when he faces fellow unbeaten Sergio Garcia in a WBC Super Welterweight World Title Eliminator Sunday, December 5, which serves as the SHOWTIME PPV co-main event for Gervonta Davis vs. Isaac Cruz live from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

“Of course I see this as a step up fight,” said Fundora. “He’s ranked number two by the WBC for a reason. I want to show that I’m going to become a world champion. This is the next step toward reaching my goal.”

The 23-year-old Fundora has shot up the rankings and made a name for himself as must-see T.V. by engaging in numerous action fights. Since an August 2019 split-draw against Jamontay Clark, Fundora has won four-straight fights, including three in a row by stoppage. Amongst those three stoppage triumphs he became the first person to stop Nathaniel Gallimore and most recently dominated veteran Jorge Cota in May.

“We just want to keep winning and moving up with each fight,” said Fundora. “I’m just staying on the same routine so that I’m always ready for what’s coming next. We went right back into the gym after the Cota fight. I don’t ever worry about overtraining or anything like that, because we stay on a consistent routine of training hard.”

Fundora comes from a deeply-rooted boxing family, as both of his parents were fighters, in addition to his 19-year-old sister Gabriela, who sports a 4-0 professional record. That familial support has helped him remain focused on his goals while navigating his professional career.

“My parents taught me to respect the sport and it’ll respect you back,” said Fundora. “They also taught me that hard work pays off and that it shows up in every fight. I’ve learned that I just have to stick with the plan and keep improving day by day.”

A Coachella, California-native, Fundora will return to fight in Southern California for the second-straight fight after beating Cota in Carson in his last fight. Fundora is relishing the opportunity to again fight on friendly terrain, this time on the big stage downtown at STAPLES Center.

“This is home for me,” said Fundora. “It’s great to be fighting back-to-back times in Southern California. I went to STAPLES Center for a Vasyl Lomachenko fight before and it was a great atmosphere. I’m sure it’s going to be even more lively on December 5. I’m super excited for the opportunity to put on a great show for my fans that are there on fight night.”

With the 154-pound title belts currently held by unified WBC, IBF and WBA champion Jermell Charlo and WBO titlist Brian Castaño, who fought to a draw in July on SHOWTIME, Fundora plans to keep making steady improvement until his opportunity to fight for the belts arises.

“When the time comes to fight for the title, I’ll be more than ready,” said Fundora. “I’d love to fight Charlo or Castaño, but I’m just focused on taking it one fight at a time and facing whoever has those belts when my number is called.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, GTD Promotions and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased at AXS.com.

#

ABOUT DAVIS VS. CRUZ
Davis vs. Cruz will see five-time world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis defend his WBA Lightweight Championship against hard-hitting contender Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz live on SHOWTIME PPV on Sunday, December 5 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles in a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features rising super welterweight star Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora facing fellow unbeaten Sergio Garcia in a WBC Super Welterweight World Title Eliminator that serves as the co-main event. Plus, hard-hitting middleweight contenders Sergiy Derevyanchenko and Carlos Adames square off in a 10-round battle, while top featherweight contender Eduardo Ramirez faces former title challenger Miguel Marriaga in the pay-per-view opener.

New York (November 18, 2021)–Undefeated heavyweight Sonny Conto will be back in action as he competes in the headlining bout at the inaugural fight card at the Live Casino Hotel Philadelphia in his hometown of Philadelphia.

Conto, who is managed by Split-T Management, will take on Joel Caudle in a bout scheduled for six-rounds.

Conto (7-0, 6 KOs) will be making his 5th start in Philadelphia, and is coming off a 1st round stoppage over Waldo Cortes on April 10th in Tulsa, Oklahoma. That was the 5th opening round stoppage for Conto.

Caudle of Fuquay-Varina Marina, North Carolina is 8-5-2 with five knockouts.

Caudle, 31 years-old is a six-year pro who has wins over Miree Coleman (5-1) and Kimdo Bethel Boykin (11-1-1) as well as a draw with then-undefeated Niall Kennedy (11-0). Conto will be the 5th consecutive undefeated opponent that has shared the ring with Conto.

Conto weighed 220.2 lbs. Caudle was 257.1

Conto is promoted by Top Rank.

PHILADELPHIA (NOVEMBER 17, 2021)–Weights for Thursday night’s card at Live Casino Hotel Philadelphia

Sonny Conto 220.2 – Joel Caudle 257.1
Gerardo Martinez 138.7 – Christopher Burgos 138.9
Daiyann Butt 142.4 – Seifullah Wise 144.6
Maurice Burke 160.6 – Bilal Quintyne 158.8
Tunde Fatiregun 178 – Tariq Green 174.5
Jeremiah Kendrick 155.9 – Tyrone Lewis 157.4
?
Promoters: Joe Hand Promotions in association with BAM Boxing and Peltz Boxing
1st Bell: 7 PM ET

Demetrius Andrade has vowed to destroy Jason Quigley and make a big statement as he makes the fifth defense of his WBO World Middleweight title on Friday night (November 19) at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire, live worldwide on DAZN.
TICKETS START AT $30 (PLUS FEES) AND ARE ON SALE NOW FROM TICKETMASTER.COM
Andrade (30-0 18 KOs) has been circling his fellow champions at 160lbs on the hunt for unification battles that have yet to surface, but continues to remain active and fighting hungry challengers like Quigley (19-1 14 KOs), with the 30 year old aiming to become the fourth Middleweight world ruler from Ireland.

‘Boo Boo’ meets his fifth European opponent for his crown and the two-weight World king is determined to send him back empty handed like he’s done to all-comers so far – and deliver a performance that will have fans and pundits clamoring for him to land the big fight he craves.

“I’ve been training to be destructive,” said Andrade. “Someone is going to stop this fight. Put your house on it.

“I look to give everybody a beating in a sense, to outclass them. Going in and knocking people out is cool but I also like to get rounds in and show my skill level. We just saw Canelo and Caleb Plant, it took him 11 rounds to end the fight but I’m not Caleb Plant. There’s a whole lot more in me than what Caleb showed. That’s the type of fight that I would like to get in and do though, to show my skills, my heart, my conditioning, what I am made out of.

“Anyone can get caught with a lucky punch or caught cold and fight’s over. I know KOs sell and that’s cool, but the wealthiest athlete in the sport was Floyd and he didn’t knock anyone out for a long time at the end. So, it’s funny how KO’s sell, but when I get KOs I don’t get the fights; I think that they would rather fight me thinking that I don’t have power rather than having power. At the end of the day, do they want to get in the ring with me? Jason Quigley said yes.

“I have a good contract, I am making good money and at the end of the day, I can’t get frustrated and be emotionally driven as it’s out of my control, I am just focusing on me and right now that’s Jason Quigley on November 19 and I am happy for that as it’s one step closer to show people how much longer are they going to keep avoiding me, but I don’t get paid if I don’t fight so it’s not about them, it’s about me, what am I doing? How do I keep showing people that yes, Demetrius should be fighting them, and we want to see it?

“I’m excited, boxing is back in full force, the fans are back in the arena, and we’re near my hometown and we’re going to bring championship boxing to a state that’s never had it before, that’s a real honor and I am ready to get back in there and show people what I am about.

“My fight in Providence was amazing and I would love to fight there again but New Hampshire is next door so that’s cool too, it’s just a little drive for me so that’s good too!

“Jason was an Olympian, he’s 19-1 and his name was in the mix to fight Canelo at one point, so for me to step in the ring with someone they have to be good and for Canelo to consider fighting someone he must be pretty good – we’re going to do what we are going to do and that’s make quick work out of Quigley.”

Andrade’s clash with Quigley tops a quadruple header of World title action, with Murodjon Akhmadaliev (9-0 7 KOs) defending his WBA and IBF World Super-Bantamweight titles against José Velásquez (26-9-2 19 KOs).

It’s Mexico vs. Puerto Rico in the long-awaited showdown between WBC World Flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez (18-1 14 KOs) and McWilliams Arroyo (21-4 16 KOs) and the fourth World title bout on the bill is the second step on the path to crowning an undisputed women’s champion at 140lbs as Kali Reis (18-7-1 5 KOs) takes on Jessica Camara (8-2) for the WBA, IBO and vacant WBO straps.

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 17, 2021)—Terence “Bud” Crawford and “Showtime” Shawn Porter didn’t need to hoot and holler to make their point. With fight day three days away, they were all business. The longtime acquaintances came up together in the amateur ranks in the late 2000s. At the time, Porter outweighed Crawford by more than 30 pounds. More than a decade later, the welterweight stars are finally crossing paths.

Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs), the three-weight pound-for-pound great, will make the fifth defense of his WBO welterweight title against Porter (31-3-1, 17 KOs) on Saturday, Nov. 20 at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Presented by Top Rank and TGB Promotions, Crawford-Porter will be a Top Rank PPV exclusively on ESPN+ in the United States at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. CLICK HERE to view the ESPN+ order page.

At Wednesday’s main event press conference, this is what Crawford and Porter had to say.

Terence Crawford

“I respect everything that Shawn does. Shawn is athletic, he can box, he can bang, he can move around in the ring, he can cut corners and take angles. I’m not going to sit here and say that I don’t respect anything that he does. I’m just going to say that I do a lot of things better than Shawn. I’m going to show him come Saturday.

“Once we signed that contract, the switch was already flipped and I can’t wait to go out there Saturday to display my talent and look good doing it. Until then, right now I’m just chilling, playing Call of Duty in the room by myself all day. I’ve been in the room all day isolating.” 

Shawn Porter

“I don’t think there’s too much that I can say to Bud that’s going to change the way he thinks about himself and the outcome of this fight. He can’t look at me and say, ‘I’m going to beat your ass’ and I’m going to believe that, and he knows that, and he won’t dare to do it. I could say the exact same thing he said, and I believe it.

“Terence, you know better than I do that you’ve matured. I feel like people see your personality and your character right now more than they’ve ever seen, but I feel like I’m still correct in saying that when the wrong Tweet or Instagram post goes up, you can get upset.

“There are people you can get to, and there are people that you can’t get to. I’m one of those people that you can’t get to, and I got a feeling that you can get to him quicker on the microphone than you can in the ring. In the ring, he is solid, but there may be something that is posted or said that might have an affect on him {during} the fight.

“I’m relaxing, I’m drinking water and just biding my time. I am a showtime fighter, and I can’t wait for showtime on ESPN+ PPV. I’m a really even-keeled type of guy. I like things to be easy, and fight week is always easy for me.”

SATURDAY, November 20, 2021

ESPN+ PPV, 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

Terence Crawford vs. Shawn Porter, 12 rounds, Crawford’s WBO Welterweight World Title

Raymond Muratalla vs. Elias Araujo, 8 rounds, lightweight

ESPN2 & ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT

Isaac Dogboe vs. Christopher Diaz, 10 rounds, Dogboe’s NABF Featherweight Title

Adam Lopez vs. Adan Ochoa, 8 rounds, featherweight

ESPN APP (no paywall), 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT

Karlos Balderas vs. Fidel Cervantes, 6 rounds, junior lightweight

Tiger Johnson vs. Antonius Grable, 4 rounds, welterweight

LOS ANGELES –BELLATOR MMA announced today that U-NEXT has become the promotion’s new exclusive broadcast partner in Japan beginning with BELLATOR 272: Pettis vs. Horiguchi, which takes place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on Friday, Dec. 3, and airs live in Japan on Saturday, Dec. 4 starting at 9 a.m. JST. The exclusive two-year streaming agreement will see U-NEXT air all BELLATOR live events, including preliminary bouts and have a library of past events on demand beginning in December.

Hailing from Takasaki, Gunma, Japan, Kyoji “The Typhoon” Horiguchi (29-3) is the former BELLATOR 135-pound titleholder and current RIZIN champion. On Friday, Dec. 3, Horiguchi will challenge current BELLATOR Bantamweight World Champion Sergio “The Phenom” Pettis (21-5) in a bid to reclaim the title he once held.

BELLATOR MMA is owned by media giant, ViacomCBS, and hosts over 30 live events annually across the globe featuring many of the sport’s best fighters. In addition to Horiguchi, BELLATOR is home to several Japanese mixed martial artists including Shinsho Anzai, Keita Nakamura, Kana Watanabe and Goiti Yamauchi.

Scott Coker, President, Bellator MMA:

“We are very excited to be able to have our fights air in Japan on the U-NEXT network. Throughout the history of this great sport, Japan has always had a ton of dedicated and knowledgeable MMA fans and we are thrilled to be able to regularly bring them our great events starting with this incredible fight between two world champions in Sergio Pettis and Kyoji Horiguchi.”  

Tenshin Tsutsumi, President and Representative Director of U-NEXT:

“I am very pleased to be able to deliver the world’s famous martial arts competition BELLATOR to Japanese viewers. The world title match of the coming BELLATOR 272, where the current RIZIN bantamweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi challenges BELLATOR bantamweight world champion Sergio Pettis is attracting nation-wide attention. We hope every MMA fan in Japan will enjoy the fight through our live streaming service.”

About BELLATOR

BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, BELLATOR events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, BELLATOR can be seen on SHOWTIME. BELLATOR is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. BELLATOR is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About U-NEXT

U-NEXT is a video distribution service with the largest number of unlimited viewing works. In addition to enjoying unlimited viewing of over 220,000 movies, dramas, and anime, we also have a lineup of over 20,000 rental works, including the latest works that have just been released and broadcast, and over 680,000 manga and books. We provide an entertainment experience that transcends genres, allowing you to seamlessly enjoy “watching” and “reading” with a single app.
U-NEXT: https://video.unext.jp 

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 17, 2021) — From Tokyo to Top Rank, two recent U.S. Olympic silver medalists have found their professional home.

Lightweight sensation Keyshawn “The Businessman” Davis and heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr., two of Team USA’s three silver medalists in Tokyo, signed long-term promotional contracts with Top Rank. All good things come in threes, as undefeated junior welterweight prospect Kelvin Davis, Keyshawn’s older brother, also inked a deal with the promotional powerhouse.

The Davis Brothers, from Norfolk, Virginia, will make their respective Top Rank debuts Saturday, Dec. 11 on the Vasiliy Lomachenko-Richard Commey card at Madison Square Garden. Keyshawn Davis will fight in a six-rounder on ESPN & ESPN Deportes (9 p.m. ET) as part of a televised quadruple-header that features the Jared Anderson-Oleksandr Teslenko heavyweight battle and middleweight Nico Ali Walsh in a four-rounder.

Torrez will have his pro debut in early 2022, with details announced in due course.

Top Rank promotes all five male U.S. Olympians from Tokyo, including featherweight silver medalist Duke Ragan (4-0, 1 KO), middleweight Troy Isley (3-0, 2 KOs), and welterweight Tiger Johnson, who makes his pro debut Saturday on the Terence Crawford-Shawn Porter undercard.

“Top Rank is proud to promote an outstanding group of fighters who also comport themselves with dignity outside the ring,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Richard Torrez Jr. is a southpaw pressure fighter who will instantly become a heavyweight fan favorite. I can’t wait to see the Davis Brothers, both of whom have valuable experience as pros and will shine at Madison Square Garden on December 11.”

Keyshawn & Kelvin Davis: The Journey Begins

Keyshawn Davis (3-0, 2 KOs), pegged by many experts as one of the sport’s elite young talents, returned to the amateurs following three professional fights in early 2021. The 22-year-old earned silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics, 2019 World Championships and 2019 Pan American Games, falling in the gold medal match each time to Cuba’s sensational Andy Cruz.

Keyshawn and Kelvin Davis are trained by Brian McIntyre, who has a star-studded roster that includes pound-for-pound king Terence “Bud” Crawford and former junior lightweight world champion Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring. Keyshawn Davis hopes to follow in the footsteps of another Norfolk great, the late Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker, a four-division champion who won his first title as a lightweight. He also draws inspiration from a group of Olympic medalists who turned pro under the Top Rank banner and went on to win world titles: Floyd Mayweather Jr., Oscar De La Hoya, Michael Carbajal, and Shakur Stevenson.

“When I look at all the great fighters Bob Arum promoted, it’s an honor to continue that legacy,” Keyshawn Davis said. “I know it will be my time one day, so I’m going to trust the process, develop my skills, and work towards becoming a world champion. The Davis Brothers are coming to make their mark.”

Kelvin Davis (2-0, 1 KO) last fought May 8 on the Canelo Alvarez-Billy Joe Saunders card and defeated Jan Marsalek by unanimous decision. A 6’1 southpaw, the 24-year-old promises to be a stylistic challenge as a 140-pounder.

“Joining Top Rank with my younger brother is a thrill, not only for me, but for our entire family,” Kelvin Davis said. “I’ve been grinding in the gym since my last fight, and I am ready to put the junior welterweight division on notice.”

Richard Torrez Jr: California Central Valley’s Heavyweight Hopeful

Richard Torrez Jr. hails from Tulare, California, a farming community in the Central Valley located roughly 45 minutes from Fresno.

The 22-year-old comes from a proud fighting family. His father and trainer, Richard Torrez Sr., was an accomplished amateur boxer who had more than 250 fights and advanced to the semifinals of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials. His grandfather, Manuel Torrez, founded the Tulare Athletic Boxing Club in the early 1940s. That gym helped hone the youngest Torrez’s talents and led him to a meteoric rise through the amateur ranks.

“After the Olympics, I took my time in deciding my professional future, and I was impressed with what Top Rank had to offer,” Torrez said. “I want to build something in this sport, and Top Rank has a long history of developing young fighters into champions.

“I am also thrilled to be joined at Top Rank by my Olympic teammates. Duke, Tiger, Troy, Keyshawn, and I grew up together as amateurs. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Torrez was a U.S. National Championships gold medalist in 2017 and 2018, in addition to capturing three U.S. Youth National titles from 2014-2016. He became the first U.S. Olympic Super Heavyweight to medal since Riddick Bowe took home silver in 1988. Torrez had a 154-10 amateur record, a run that ended in Tokyo with a competitive decision loss to longtime rival Bakhodir Jalolov, who is 8-0 as a pro.

At 6’2 and roughly 230 pounds, Torrez is a volume puncher who has long thrived against taller and naturally larger fighters. Outside the ring, he is a Renaissance man. He was valedictorian of his class at Mission Oak High School, played multiple varsity sports and was president of the school’s chess club. The straight-A student who climbed to amateur boxing’s apex now sets his aim on the professional game.

HOLLYWOOD, FL. (November 17, 2021) – The new year will kick off with a heavyweight bang, as five exciting heavyweight matchups take center stage on a jam-packed FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View on New Year’s Day live from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

The main event will see top heavyweight Luis “King Kong” Ortiz take on former world champion Charles Martin in a 12-round IBF Heavyweight Title Eliminator. In the co-main event, unbeaten rising heavyweight star Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez will square off against Puerto Rican Olympian Carlos Negron in a 10-round attraction.

The pay-per-view telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will also see heavyweight contenders Jonnie Rice and Michael Coffie battle in a 10-round rematch, former title challenger Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington in a 10-round showdown against Turkish Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen and unbeaten Viktor Faust facing Iago Kiladze in a 10-round attraction to open the pay-per-view.

“Heavyweight boxing is always must-see, and we’ll be kicking off the new year with nothing but titanic sluggers looking to impress in FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View showdowns,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “This is a stacked lineup of fights available for fans at an affordable price of $39.99. Luis Ortiz and Charles Martin are both amongst the top of the heavyweight contender ladder and will be able to solidify their position for a world title shot with a win on January 1. One of the most active rising heavyweights, Frank Sanchez will return to action after a career-best victory in October for a tough duel against Carlos Negron. With five fights in all, New Year’s day will be non-stop action with gargantuan duels taking place live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, go on sale Monday, November 22 at 10 a.m. ET and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com. Pre-sale tickets go on sale this Friday, November 19 at 10 a.m. ET.

With exceptional power and sublime technical skills, Ortiz (32-2, 27 KOs) has been a fixture atop heavyweight rankings for years, with his only defeats coming in memorable contests against former longtime heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. Born in Camaguey, Cuba and trained by longtime coach Herman Caicedo in Miami, Ortiz won three bouts between Wilder contests, defeating Travis Kauffman, Christian Hammer and Razvan Cojanu. Prior to that run, Ortiz picked up victories over the likes of Bryant Jennings, Tony Thompson and Malik Scott to build up his heavyweight resume. Most recently, Ortiz blasted out Alexander Flores in the first round of their November 2020 bout.

“I can’t wait to give my fans in South Florida a great show on New Year’s Day and earn another shot at the heavyweight title,” said Ortiz. “Charles Martin is a good fighter, but he’s standing in my way. The only thing on my mind is getting in the ring and making a big statement in this fight to show again why I’m feared by the heavyweight division.”

The 35-year-old Martin (28-2-1, 25 KOs) became heavyweight champion in January 2016 when he won by TKO against then unbeaten Vyacheslav Glazkov. After losing his title to Anthony Joshua, Martin has won five of his last six fights, with all of his wins coming inside the distance. Originally from St. Louis, now living in Las Vegas and currently training in Southern California with Manny Robles, Martin bounced back from a narrow decision defeat to Adam Kownacki in 2018 to earn three-straight victories, including most recently knocking out Gerald Washington in February 2020.

“Nobody wants to fight me and nobody wants to fight Ortiz, so we’ll fight each other,” said Martin. “I’m going to show the world on January 1 why I deserve a title shot. I’ve paid my dues and I want my belt back. Beating Ortiz is going to get me one step closer to that goal. In order to become two-time heavyweight champion, I have to get past Ortiz first, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

An amateur standout from his native Cuba, Sánchez (19-0, 13 KOs) now trains in San Diego with top trainer Eddy Reynoso. The 29-year-old has stayed busy on his rise up the heavyweight rankings, scoring three victories in 2020 as he earned a unanimous decision over Joey Dawejko and stopped Brian Howard and Julian Fernandez. Sanchez most recently scored a career-best win in October, dropping previously unbeaten Efe Ajagba on his way to a unanimous decision victory.

“I’m happy to be back so soon after beating Agjaba, but the work is only beginning,” said Sanchez. “There’s much more to be done. I believe I will be the first heavyweight champion in Cuban history. Negron is a strong, dangerous opponent. I’ll have to be my best, but I’m confident that I will come out victorious. I believe in my team, and my team believes in me. We’ll start the New Year off getting to 20-0, remain busy and make a strong case for a world title by year’s end.”

The 2008 Puerto Rican Olympian Negron (25-3, 20 KOs) rides a five-fight winning streak into January 1, including four wins by stoppage. The 34-year-old bounced back from defeats to Dominic Breazeale and Brian Howard to put together his win streak, which includes a March 2020 knockout over previously unbeaten Robert Alfonso. Negron has fought professionally since 2009 and now lives in Miami where he trains alongside Luis Ortiz.

“This is a great opportunity for me to get a win over a strong up-and-coming fighter and show everyone what I’m capable of,” said Negron. “I’m training hard and I’ve had great sparring in order to be ready for anything that Sanchez is going to bring. My experience and preparation are going to be the difference. I’m extremely motivated to give the fans a great fight and put myself in position to get a world title opportunity.”

Born in South Carolina and now fighting out of Los Angeles, Rice (14-6-1, 10 KOs) will look to repeat a career-best performance in the rematch against Coffie, after he stopped the previously unbeaten fighter in the fifth-round in July. Rice won six of seven fights from 2018 through 2019 before a pair of losses in 2020 against then unbeatens Efe Ajagba and Demsey McKean. In a pro career that dates back to 2014, the blemishes on Rice’s records have all come against previously unbeaten fighters.

“In my last fight against Coffie, I went in there to prove myself and do what I had been training to do,” said Rice. “It was sink or swim, and I came out on top. Now I have to go out there on January 1 and show that it wasn’t a fluke. This is a great stage for me to display my talents and prove that I’m capable of big things. I’m looking to give the fans a great performance and I know that Coffie is doing the same. Don’t miss this fight.”

Coffie (12-1, 9 KOs) hopes to bounce back from his first career defeat after dropping the first matchup against Rice in July. A Marine Corps veteran who picked up boxing after returning from overseas, Coffie quickly impressed in amateur tournaments enough to earn sparring assignments with Deontay Wilder and Adam Kownacki. He was born in the Bronx, but now trains in Orlando, Florida and broke through in 2020 with three dominating stoppage victories, including knockouts over previously unbeaten opponents Darmani Rock and Luis Pena.

“I want to get it back and make it an actual fight this time against Jonny Rice,” said Coffie. “Last time, I was in a position where I faced some adversity, and I had to make a decision to go through with the fight. I know that I can fight through adversity, and on January 1, I will be ready for whatever way the fight goes. On January 1, there will be a fight.”

Washington (20-4-1, 13 KOs) is a six-foot-six heavyweight contender who was a former college football standout at the University of Southern California and a U.S. Navy veteran. Born in San Jose, California, Washington most recently lost a contest against former heavyweight champion Charles Martin in February 2020. Prior to that fight, Washington had delivered a knockout of veteran contender Robert Helenius in July 2019. Washington was unbeaten in his first 19 pro fights before dropping his world title challenge to Deontay Wilder in February 2017.

“I’m looking forward to stepping back in the ring on January 1,” said Washington. “I’m ready to go to work and get myself back in position for some big time fights. My experience is going to be the difference in this fight. It’s going to be a great night of heavyweight action!”

A 2016 Olympian for Turkey, Demirezen (14-1, 11 KOs) has fought out of Hamburg, Germany in the professional ranks since turning pro in late 2016. The 31-year-old won his first 11 pro fights, including a second round stoppage of Rad Rashid to capture a European heavyweight title in 2018. Demirezen made his only other U.S. start in 2019, when he became the first person to go the distance against Efe Ajagba, losing by decision. Since that defeat, Demirezen has scored three-straight victories, most recently stopping Nikola Milacic in March.

“I learned a lot from my loss to Ajagba and I’m looking forward to getting another chance to box in the U.S.,” said Demirezen. “I’m still angry about the Ajagba fight, because I know that I could have won. I want to show now that I belong on this stage. I’m proud to be in this position to show what I can do and I’m going to make the most of the opportunity.”

The 29-year-old Faust (8-0, 6 KOs) turned pro in February 2020 after an extensive amateur career fighting out of his native Svitlovodsk, Ukraine. Faust knocked out his first four opponents, before winning dominant six and eight round decisions. After a first round knockout over previously unbeaten Jacek Piatek in May, Faust made his U.S. debut in October, dropping Mike Marshall twice on his way to a third-round TKO victory.

“I’m really excited to be back fighting in the U.S. again on January 1,” said Faust. “I’ve been welcomed warmly and fighting stateside already feels like my living room. I love the atmosphere. This is a great chance to show myself on this pay-per-view show against a very high-quality opponent. I won’t disappoint fans when I step into the ring.”

Kiladze (27-5-1, 19 KOs) returned to the win column in September, with a knockout victory over Mathew McKinney. Since he began fighting stateside full time in 2017, Kiladze’s losses have come against top heavyweights Adam Kownacki, Michael Hunter, Efe Ajagba and Joe Joyce, who sported a combined 45-1 record heading into their matchups against Kiladze. Originally from Georgia and now fighting out of Los Angeles, Kiladze owns a 2019 draw against then unbeaten Robert Alfonso and won six straight fights between 2014 and 2018.

“I’ll be ready on fight night and I’ll be focused,” said Kiladze. “I’m grateful for the opportunity and training hard to put on a good performance and leave the ring with a victory.”

#

Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

Los Angeles, CA – November 17, 2021 – Probellum is delighted to announce the promotional signing of undefeated teenage star Francisco ‘Panchito’ Rodriguez.

Rodriguez (4-0, 4 knockouts) has looked tremendous since making his professional debut earlier this year, with the 19-year-old featherweight winning all four of his fights by stoppage.

The latest of those wins came in October when he stopped Edgar Daniel Ahumada in the fifth round, while he has also picked up knockout wins over Pedro Raul Avila, Jesus Jovanni Ruiz Gutierrez and Adan Caro Gutierrez.

Rodriguez has ties in both America and Mexico, meaning the possibilities are endless for the talented youngster, with Probellum now on hand to guide his career and help him reach the very top.

He is the latest fighter to sign with Probellum, with their elite roster including fighters such as Regis Prograis, Nonito Donaire, Badou Jack, Donnie Nietes, Lee McGregor, Eimantas Stanionis, Arthur Biyarslanov, 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 and Jason Mallia.

They have 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, BXSTRS Promotions in Mexico, 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, and Box Office Sports in Ghana.

“I’m excited to be part of the Probellum Family,” said Rodriguez. “I’m young but I’m more than ready to show the world what I’m capable of.”

“We’re extremely pleased to sign such a promising young fighter in Francisco Rodriguez,” said Richard Schaefer, President of Probellum. “At just 19-years-old, his whole career is ahead of him, and we’re looking forward to putting him on the path to huge success.”

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

Los Angeles, CA (November 17, 2021) Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions returns with its acclaimed Hollywood Fight Nights series on Friday, December 10 at the Quiet Cannon – Montebello Country Club.

Advance tickets starting at $150 (VIP Ringside), $100 (Preferred Seating) and $80 (General Admission Seating), are on-sale online at Hollywood Fight Nights / Seating. The Quiet Cannon – Montebello Country Club is located at 901 via San Clemente, Montebello, CA 90640. Doors will open on the night of the event at 5:30 p.m. PT. For more information on the venue please visit www.QuietCannon.com.

Among the top Southern California rising stars appearing in separate bouts on the big card are Undefeated Junior Lightweight Adrian ‘Bam Bam’ Corona, (8-0, 2 KOs), of Rialto, CA, trained by the legendary Ben Lira and Heavy-Handed Cruiserweight Marco Deckmann, (6-1, 5 KOs), of North Hollywood, CA who is guided by Hall of Fame Trainer, Freddie Roach in addition to Undefeated Junior Lightweight Eric Mondragon, (4-0-1, 2 KOs), of Maywood, CA and Undefeated Lightweight Ruben ‘Gallito’ Islas, (2-0, 2 KOs), of Rialto, CA.

Also featured on the card are Highly Regarded Irish Amateur Standout, Pro Debuting Junior Middleweight Callum Walsh of Riverside, CA, Undefeated Middleweight Eric Priest, (5-0), Pro Debuting Junior Lightweight Raul Chavez and Undefeated Featherweight Darilai Kuchmenou, (2-0). Callum Walsh is also trained by Freddie Roach.

More information on these bouts will be announced shortly.

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LAS VEGAS (November 17, 2021) – Frustrated by Dmitry Bivol’s silence, even after Team Zurdo and Golden Boy Promotions sent the World Boxing Association (WBA) Light Heavyweight World Super Champion a legitimate contract offer, Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez now has a clear path to his first World title shot in the light heavyweight division.

Ramirez (42-0, 28 KOs) has been matched against Yunieski “The Monster” Gonzalez (21-3, 17 KOs) on December 18 in San Antonio (TX) in the official WBA Light Heavyweight Title Eliminator to determine Bivol’s mandatory challenger.

“I’m excited to end the year with this eliminator bout,” Ramirez said. “This is the path I’ve been planning for and I’m very humbled and honored to be in this position. The WBA is a great organization and I appreciate Mr. Gilberto Mendoza for allowing me to be in this position.”

Bivol (18-0, 11 KOs) expressed his desire to fight Ramirez before and after the latter knocked out Sullivan Barrera (22-3, 14 KOs) this past this past July. Suddenly, though, Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearns claimed that Bivol would instead fight John Ryder next month in the United Kingdom, and then target WBA and WBC Super Middleweight Champion “Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs), at either 168 or 175 pounds.

“I was surprised when Bivol turned down the fight we offered because it was something I thought he wanted. I know he’s a tough warrior and aspires to be the best, which is why I was surprised. He publicly called me out and sand that he was ‘ready.’ But unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case on his end. Again, in boxing, this seems like a common scenario where a fighter barks and barks, but he can’t back it up when it’s time to fight. With this fight (vs. Gonzalez) in place, Bivol has nowhere to run, and he will eventually have to face me.

“I’m not sure why Bivol thinks Canelo will face him in the near future. The probability of that happening within the next three fights is very, very low for him. Sadly, I think he’s just the cannon fodder for this scenario.”

The first Mexican to capture the World super middleweight title, “Zurdo” has waited too long to risk his first World title opportunity in the 175-pound division to look past the dangerous Gonzalez’ (21-3, 17 KOs). Ramirez and Gonzalez, respectively, are rated No. 3 and No. 4 by the WBA, and their 12-round main event will headline a Golden Boy-promoted card to be streamed live on DAZN.

HAMZAH SHEERAZ has rammed Bradley Skeete’s threats back at him, taunting: “You’ve never smashed anyone.”

The red-hot Ilford prospect makes the fourth defence of his WBO European Super-Welterweight title against Skeete at Copper Box Arena, London on Saturday December 4, live on BT Sport.

It’s a huge step up for Sheeraz, while former British Welterweight champion Skeete must win to keep his big-time career alive.

Sheeraz, 22, who trains in Los Angeles under Ricky Funez said: “I have seen a few interviews where he said he wants to come and smash my face in.

“In the most respectful way possible I don’t think Bradley has smashed anybody’s face in.

“He has outboxed opponents and outclassed them, but in all honesty he has smashed no one’s face in.

“I’m hoping he does try to do that because it will be an even more entertaining fight to meet him in the middle of that ring.

“This a good fight, no it’s a great fight and as Frank Warren described it’s a breakout for me.”

Although Sheeraz jumped at the chance to face Skeete when the fight was offered he never expected to meet his South London rival who trains in Sheffield under Dominic Ingle.

Sheeraz was still a teenager when he had had his fourth and fifth professional fights on bills in Brentwood when Skeete was World ranked and the star attraction.

Hamzah can even recall sparring with his latest rival just a few months after leaving school while working as an apprentice electrician.

He added: “It’s mad to think I was on his undercards three years ago and now he is challenging for my belt.

“When I used to train with Dominic Negus I sparred with Bradley when I was 17 before I turned professional with Frank.

“Dominic said after the spar that I would fight him one day and I didn’t think anything of what he had said.

“When I boxed on Bradley’s undercard I wasn’t thinking of us ever meeting because he was looking at a World title shot against Jeff Horn, but he didn’t get that fight.

“Here we are and this is a great opportunity for myself.”

In the bill topper Manchester’s Lyndon Arthur (19-0, 13 KOs) defends his Commonwealth and WBO International Light-Heavyweight title against Ilford’s Anthony Yarde (21-2, 20 KOs) in a rematch of last December’s controversial clash that he won on points.

 Ilford’s Hamzah Sheeraz (13-0, 9 KOs) puts his WBO European Super-Welterweight title on the line against Penge’s former British champion Bradley Skeete (29-3, 14 KOs).

In a third title fight the vacant WBC International Silver Lightweight crown is up for grabs when Maidstone puncher Sam Noakes (7-0, 7 KOs) meets Willenhall’s Shaun Cooper (11-2).

Exciting Super-Bantamweight prospect Dennis McCann (10-0, 6 KOs) is in eight round action.

Mill Hill Heavyweight George Fox (4-0) faces a tough eight rounder against Pole Kamil Sokolowki (10-23-2, 4 KOs).

Chatham Light-Heavyweight Karol Itauma (4-0, 2 KOs), Reading Super-Featherweight Charles Frankham (3-0, 1 KO) and Islington Super-Featherweight Masood Abdullah (2-0, 2 KOs) are in six rounders.

Two four rounders complete the bill and feature Ilford Super-Bantamweight Umar Khan (2-0) and Upminster’s Super-Welterweight debutant Sonny Liston Ali.

Tickets for the event can be purchased here

Hospitality Tickets – £330
Lower Bowl Seat – £55

Los Angeles, CA – November 17, 2021 – Probellum is pleased to announce its latest multi-fight, multi-year co-promotional agreement – teaming up with Pro Boxing Team Finland.

Under the leadership of promoter and former two-time Juho Tolppola, Pro Boxing Team Finland has quickly become the leading promotion in Finland, holding a large number of high-profile events over the last few years.

Pro Boxing Team Finland boasts an impressive list of fighters, which includes cruiserweight star Samuli Karkkainen, who has won 14 of his 15 bouts, with seven of those wins coming by knockout.

The new deal will see Probellum working with Pro Boxing Team Finland to hold a number of events in the country, helping to take boxing from strength to strength at both a grassroots and national level.

“Pro Boxing Team Finland is happy to join forces with Probellum,” said Juho Tolppola. “Probellum being our new international partner will be an important factor to help our promotion and boxers to step up to the next, higher, level, and we expect a long-term and successful co-operation between Probellum and Pro Boxing Team Finland.”

“The co-operation with Probellum will be a big boost for my personal career,” said Samuli Karkkainen. “Over the next year I expect to get ranked in the EBU-EU rankings, and later in the same year also into the EBU rankings, and I hope that Probellum will be a factor in helping me to achieve my target.”

“We’re happy to unveil our co-promotional agreement with Pro Boxing Team Finland,” said Richard Schaefer, President of Probellum. “They have firmly established themselves as the biggest promoter in all of Finland, and we are confident that with Probellum on board, we can now help to take boxing in the country to the next level.”

The partnership with Pro Boxing Team Finland is Probellum’s latest co-promotional agreement, having also secured deals 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, BXSTRS Promotions in Mexico, 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, and Box Office Sports in Ghana.

Probellum has also acquired an elite roster of talent, which includes Regis Prograis, Nonito Donaire, Badou Jack, Donnie Nietes, Lee McGregor, Eimantas Stanionis, Arthur Biyarslanov, 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 and Jason Mallia.

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

BRITISH, Commonwealth and European Super-Bantamweight champion Jason Cunningham has signed a multi-fight promotional deal with Queensberry.

Doncaster’s triple-title holder is closing in on a World championship challenge after brilliant wins against Gamal Yafai and Brad Foster cemented his status as one of the division’s top boxers.

Cunningham (30-6, 6 KOs) caused one of the biggest upsets of 2021 when he thrashed Yafai on points at Manchester Arena in May, taking his rival’s European crown.

Last month he outpointed Foster in Birmingham, adding the British and Commonwealth belts that his new Queensberry stablemate held .

Southpaw Jason insists Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren can deliver a World title fight in 2022.

Cunningham, 32, is willing to step up and face any of the current champions, Murodjon Akhmadaliev (IBF and WBA Super), Brandon Figueroa (WBC), or Stephen Fulton (WBO).

He added: “I am excited to be working with Frank Warren, after seeing first hand how much he supports and backs his fighters.

“After spending years in the away corner on small hall shows I will finally be given the chance to be the home fighter.

“Thanks to all the team at Queensberry, I can look forward to working towards a World title.

“I have had a brilliant career, I am doing all right. I want to go for it and get the biggest fights I possibly can.

“The World champions are all good fighters and that is a step up, but after my wins against Gamal and Brad over the last few months there is only one place to go.”

Cunningham’s manager Stefy Bull said: “I am so happy for Jason to finally be presented with a lucrative promotional contract with one of the World’s leading promoters.

“They share my vision and goals for Jason and I believe it’s going to be a fantastic few years chasing the ultimate goal of becoming champion of the World.”

Warren is delighted to welcome another World class fighter to the growing Queensberry team, and says: “Jason is another great addition.

“Jason and Stefy made it clear that they are after the biggest fights and it’s the job of myself and the Queensberry team to deliver.

“This year, Jason proved that he belongs in the World title picture. Very few expected him to beat Gamal and he won comfortably and he emerged on top again against Brad in what was seen as a 50-50.

“We are looking at getting Jason out pretty early in 2022 and next year should ensure he is involved against the best in the Super-Bantamweight division.”

Cunningham who celebrates ten years as a professional next month is one of the few boxers to be a three-weight Commonwealth champion. He has won titles at Bantamweight and Featherweight besides the Super-Bantamweight crown he currently holds.

Jason who has won six fights on the spin has never lost at Super-Bantamweight and often taken fights outside his weight class to remain active.

With current Undisputed Super Middleweight Champion Canelo Alvarez now confirmed to be facing WBC Cruiserweight Champion Ilunga Makabu in his next bout, Sampson Lewkowicz, promoter of undefeated two-time super middleweight world champion David “El Bandera Roja” Benavidez, has received permission from the WBC Board for Benavidez to fight for their Interim Championship in his next bout.

Today at their 59th annual world convention in Mexico City, Alvarez’s trainer Eddy Reynoso petitioned the WBC to allow the future hall-of-famer to challenge Makabu for a chance at another world title in an amazing fifth weight division. Reynoso’s request was granted unanimously.

In response, Lewkowicz immediately requested that Benavidez (25-0, 22 KOs), whom many considered at the top of the list of potential next Canelo opponents, be given a chance to hold their world championship for the third time in his undefeated career. The request was also granted.

An opponent for Benavidez’s attempt at a third WBC belt will be announced shortly.
About Sampson Boxing

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America. Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ESPN+, DAZN, VS., FOX, Fox Sports and several international networks. For more information, visit sampsonboxing.com.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (November 16, 2021)

Undefeated super bantamweight OLEH “UKRAINIAN PITBULL” DOVHUN (13-0 5KO’s) made the most of his opportunity Saturday night in Pittsburgh, thoroughly dominating power punching Baltimore native, GLENN DEZURN (then 14-2-1 10KO’s) for the NABA Super Bantamweight Title.

In an important crossroads bout between two fighters on the precipitous of moving into world contender status, Dovhun and Dezurn went to battle in front of the Ukrainian filled crowd at the Cathedral Room at St. Nicholas in Pittsburgh. From the opening bell, Dovhun controlled the action with superior footwork and pinpoint accuracy. Finding success with a straight left and right uppercut, Dovhun continued to keep Dezurn off balance and in retreat.

In the fourth of the scheduled ten round title bout, Dezurn attempted to turn the momentum and launched an aggressive attack on Dovhun. Dezurn’s aggression caused a clash of heads leaving a cut under the left eye of Dovhun. Unfazed by the cut with full focus on the NABA Title at stake, Dovhun continued to pick off Dezurn with a slew of combinations that left the power punching Dezurn unable to answer. Dovhun stayed sharp and consistent throughout the fight and won the NABA Super Bantamweight Title by a clean sweep unanimous decision (100-90 3x). With the win, Dovhun is set to move into the top 15 in the WBA rankings and is in line for a massive 2022.

“I want to thank everyone for their support,” said Dovhun. “You are all the best. I heard everyone shouting loudly and it was incredible. With such support we will be world champion. God bless America!”

Dovhun-Dezurn was co-promoted by Integrity Fighter Management and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Star Boxing’s former WBO World Champion CHRIS ALGIERI is set to face off with rising welterweight prospect CONOR BENN on
December 11, in Liverpool England LIVE on DAZN.

Tickets available by clicking HERE

STAR BOXING ARCHIVES:
The “Common Man” Joe Smith Jr.: WBO World Champion
Ruslan Provodnikov vs Chris Algieri WBO World Title (Full Fight)

Kali Reis says there’s no chance of her looking past ‘dangerous’ Jessica Camara as they clash for the WBA and vacant WBO World Super-Lightweight titles on Friday night (November 19) at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire, live worldwide on DAZN.

TICKETS START AT $30 (PLUS FEES) AND ARE ON SALE NOW FROM TICKETMASTER.COM

Reis (18-7-1 5 KOs) was in London and working on the DAZN broadcast as Chantelle Cameron booked her spot for a 2022 undisputed fight at 140lbs with victory at The O2 over Mary McGhee, and now Reis and Camara (8-2) battle to meet the Briton for all the marbles.

Reis didn’t just travel to watch the bout though, getting plenty of sparring in while across the pond as she moved towards the end of her camp for her eighth World title bout in a 26-fight career to date.

The 35 year old, who wrote and starred in a feature film titled Catch the Fair One, is eager to land the undisputed title in double quick time as she looks to achieve as much as possible in the game before pursuing more work in the film industry – but ‘Mequinonoag’ says that can wait as she eyes being the star attraction on Friday night and setting up the Cameron fight in style.

“Jessica hasn’t been at 140lbs or in the rankings as she’s been at 130lbs and 135lbs,” said Reis. “But she’s coming in off an excellent win against Heather Hardy, one of the pioneers of women’s boxing in this era, whose only loss was to Amanda Serrano who is one of the best to ever do it – so she’s dangerous, I know that.

“She’s improved from her loss to Melissa St. Vil too so I don’t overlook any opponent, and this is boxing, anything can happen. I commentated on her last two fights, and I give huge respect to her for stepping up and taking this opportunity, as there’s a lot of fighters out there that want to pick and choose fights and not step-up, but Jessica has stepped up so respect to her for that and she’s here for a reason, she wants to become undisputed too.

“She’s a lighter fighter coming up so she’ll have hand speed and fast feet, she doesn’t have as much pressure in a way as I have the titles to defend so maybe the pressure is off her, but as I said when I commentated on her, she has the composure of a veteran, it’s amazing, she had a huge hematoma on her head from the first round against St Vil and she didn’t bat an eye at that and against a legend like Hardy, she did her job, she’s very composed, she has great fundamentals and fast hands.

“I was in London to train but I am in this tournament, so my eyes were wide open for that fight. I was there to see potential opponents live and it was better being there, seeing them at the presser, the weigh-in and around the hotel, the whole energy around the event. We’ve been talking about fight Chantelle for a while now and it was a dream fight for fans in the US and UK. I like how she carries herself and to see her in person was great, she was nothing short of what I expected, she’s a delight to be around and she’s a very determined fighter, and you feel her energy when you are around her.

“Chantelle is a really good boxer and has that killer instinct that you cannot teach. She did what I thought she would do, and it was a great performance, but everybody is beatable including myself, I saw a lot but ultimately, she got the job done in good style.

“I spent a good week in London, we trained and sparred, Noel Callan, Hannah Rankin’s trainer, hooked us up and I think we had 40 rounds in three days, so we definitely got that work in! It’s becoming a regular trip, it’s the third time this year that I’ve been to the UK ahead of fights, it makes sense as you get the quality work over there.

“We have great sparring in America too, most of my sparring is with guys but we do have some females come in, but they come one time and they don’t come back, so it’s hard to get consistent quality sparring in Philadelphia. The only other quality sparring I get is with Katie Taylor when I am in Rhode Island but now I live and train in Philly it’s hard to do that.

“My Native American name is ‘Mequinonoag’ which means ‘many feathers’ or ‘many talents’ and my mother named me correctly, I’m blessed to have this personality where I am fascinated by art and storytelling and all aspects of life, and I don’t see just one path, your journey has many, many paths.

“So the acting and storytelling came to me and I am definitely going to explore it and see what kind of ‘World championships’ I can get in that world too, so you will definitely see me on the big screen again because boxing is a short career and while I have more to do in the sport, it’s a brutal one and I don’t want to outstay my welcome, so when the time comes to gracefully bow out I want to have my wits about me so I can do all these other things after boxing.

“Demetrius and I have known each other since we were young, we’re two Cape Verdean kids from Rhode Island. He started fighting way before I did, and I saw him as a teenager going to do great things as an amateur and we have trained together lots and we have the same strength and conditioning coach. We know each other very well, he’s my brother from another mother and it’s so awesome that we are finally fighting on the same card.”

Reis and Camara clash on a massive night of quadruple World title action, topped by Demetrius Andrade (30-0 18 KOs) defending his WBO World Middleweight title against Jason Quigley (19-1 14 KOs). 

Murodjon Akhmadaliev (9-0 7 KOs) defending his WBA and IBF World Super-Bantamweight titles against José Velásquez (26-9-2 19 KOs) and it’s Mexico vs. Puerto Rico in the long-awaited showdown between WBC World Flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez (18-1 14 KOs) and McWilliams Arroyo (21-4 16 KOs).

LOS ANGELES (November 16, 2021): WBC Interim Lightweight World Champion, Joseph “JoJo” Diaz (32-1-1, 15 KOs), hosted a media call on Today, Tuesday, November 16 to talk about his upcoming bout with WBC Lightweight World Champion, Devin “The Dream” Haney (26-0, 15 KOs) on December 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, live worldwide on DAZN. Below is what the fighter had to say to the media members in attendance.

To listen to the full audio, click HERE.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS

“Devin Haney vs. Joseph ‘Jojo’ Diaz, Jr is one of the best lightweight match-ups that can take place now. We feel strongly that Jojo is more than ready, he is prepared, he is focused. His last fight was an amazing showing of what a true champion is all about. Not only did he display power but he had the speed, the intelligence, the IQ was through the roof. I’m very proud that he will be fighting another great world champion. Like I have said before: styles make fights and Jojo has the perfect style, the perfect mentality to upset, and beat the great world champion Devin Haney.”

JOSEPH ‘JOJO’ DIAZ, JR., WBC INTERIM LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION:
“This is a really, really big fight December 4th, live in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. I’m really looking forward to it. I am having a really tremendous training camp. I just feel like at 135 pounds I am someone to be reckoned with. I’m very, very dangerous at this weight. My preparation has been phenomenal both physically and mentally. I’m ready and I’m prepared for this moment in my life. I feel like this is an opportunity of a lifetime and I’m not going to take it for granted.

“Devin Haney is one hell of a fighter, don’t get me wrong, he has great tools and he has a great boxing skills, but so do I. I’m a 2012 Olympian, I’m a two-weight division champion, I’ve fought multiple, multiple guys that have had experience inside the professional ranks; and I just know that all that experience will be showcased come December 4th. I’m really looking forward to putting on a great performance for myself, my family, my son, and all the fight fans. Come December 4th, I will be crowned ‘And The New’ world champion.

“I was already pushing for both of those fights, Ryan Garcia or Devin Haney. I just wanted to make the best fight for myself and whatever opportunity was created that was big for my moment I really had to capitalize on it. So now that, unfortunately, Ryan Garcia ended up pulling out due to a hand injury Devin Haney was right on the list and he is the next victim. I am glad that he was able to accept the fight and we all agreed on terms, and here we are, fighting December 4th.

“My strength and my endurance is what feels different at 135 pounds. At 130 I was depleting my body, depleting my muscles, and not only that, it was just taking a lot out by trying to make that weight. I feel like now I don’t have to deplete myself. I don’t have to lose that extra five pounds and my body now feels more relaxed and more comfortable at 135. I feel a lot more energized. I feel a lot stronger. I feel like my speed, my reaction time in the ring is just more snappy. I felt like that with the Javier Fortuna fight. It was my first fight at 135 pounds and I felt good. That fight was probably one of my best performances in my career, but come December 4th you guys are going to see a very, very exciting and different transformed fighter. I’m really looking forward to putting on a great performance.”

Tickets starting at $58 (plus fees) go on sale Friday, November 5 at 10:00 a.m. PT and can be purchased by visiting AXS.com.

Haney vs. Diaz, Jr is a 12-round fight for the WBC Lightweight World Championship presented by Matchroom Boxing in association with Golden Boy. The fight will take place on Saturday, December 4, live exclusively on DAZN.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #MunguiaRosado.

NEW YORK – November 16, 2021 – Three-time NBA All-Star Deron Williams and legendary NFL running back Frank Gore faced off for the first time following a press conference announcing their professional heavyweight boxing debuts on Tuesday at Edison Ballroom in New York City.

Williams vs. Gore will take place on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury, live on SHOWTIME PPV on Saturday, December 18 at AMALIE Arena in Tampa. The four-round heavyweight bout will be contested with a 215-pound contractual limit as the two legends make their professional boxing debuts. 

Also appearing at Tuesday’s event was seven-division world champion and current unified featherweight champion Amanda Serrano, who will face 135-pound titleholder Miriam Gutiérrez in the co-feature of the SHOWTIME PPV event.

Tickets for the live event, titled #PaulFury: One Will Fall, are now available for purchase at www.amaliearena.com.

Below are quotes from Williams, Gore and Serrano.

Deron Williams

“I’ve always wrestled all the way until high school and always been a big boxing and MMA fan. I’ve done a lot of training at my gym, Fortis MMA, in Dallas for the past six years.

“I’ve always wanted to do an MMA fight. I had one that I was training for before Covid hit but my opponent pulled out. It was always in the back of my mind and I’ve always stayed in shape and stayed training. I got a call from Nakisa (Bidarian) who I hadn’t talked to in five years and he said Frank Gore was training and looking for an opponent, and I felt like it was a great opportunity. I felt like if I didn’t take it I’d be kicking myself for the rest of my life.

“Frank looks good. If I’m going to do a fight I’d rather do it with someone who is capable and who has been training. The man is tough, there’s no doubt about that. Anyone who can take that many snaps in the NFL has to be tough. It’s a good challenge for me and something that I can check off the bucket list.

“Most people are behind me. I’ve had some people say, ‘You’re fighting Frank Gore. What are you doing?’ But that’s OK. There are a lot of unknowns in this game, so it makes it exciting. I’ve been training for years and doing a lot of MMA, and a lot of it has been boxing.

“I first started wrestling when I was like five. I didn’t really know what it was and I spent the whole season being dragged on the mat by my mom crying because I was so scared to go in there. But she said I had to because she had already paid for it and said you’re going to do this every weekend. So I basically went out there crying, got pinned, walked off the mat and then did it again for the whole year. The next year she asked if I wanted to sign up again expecting I would say no, but I actually said yes for some reason. I did that for about a half year before I turned into a little animal. So I think that year and a half of getting pinned made me tougher. Wrestling is a tough sport, and it was a great base for me and I’m really glad I did it and was able to go to the state tournament in Texas as an eight-year-old and 12-year-old. And I would have loved to have kept going but it was in the same season as basketball.

“I loved watching the heavyweights. Growing up in the ‘90s and watching (Mike) Tyson and all those wars they had. And watching (Evander) Holyfield. It was just a special time in boxing and there were still other fighters, but those were the ones I was watching and who I was excited to see.

“I jogged four miles yesterday and that was the first time I’ve ever run four miles. It’s getting out of your comfort zone and it’s a different feeling. Basketball, and football for him, we’re comfortable with that work. It’s learning to get hit in the face and being OK with it. It’s just a new challenge. I’ve been retired for four years now. You just miss competing. You miss having something to train for.”

Frank Gore

“l have always loved boxing. I’ve been training since 2005. I was doing it because it would save my legs since I play running back. I just fell in love with it, how hard it was and I’m very competitive. I was just doing it for the cardio. My first time I didn’t think I could do it, but I kept getting better and better at it.

“I’m definitely not doing this for the money. I’m blessed. I’m good and blessed with football and off-the-field stuff.

“I’ve always been an underdog my entire life. I was raised in a one-bedroom apartment. I blew out both of my knees and many thought I wouldn’t make it to the NFL. Sixteen years later and I’m No. 3 on the all-time list.

“I’m happy to be here and I respect Deron. He’s coming from the NBA and I always say any man who gets into the ring has got to be different. I don’t care what sport you play. I’m training my behind off for December 18.

“I know he’s trained in MMA and coming over from the NBA but he’s no Nate Robinson. He’s been doing MMA for six years so I have to respect that. He’s been wrestling since he was a kid. I’m training my behind off and the only one I can worry about is myself. I’m looking forward to the challenge and let the best man win on December 18.

“Football and boxing are totally different. When you watched me play I never really got hit. That’s why I was able to last so long. I played off of angles. Now, with boxing I’m going in there with guys that have had 300 amateur fights, are 10-0 as pros. So I can’t just dodge all the shots they are throwing because they have more ring experience.

“I would say jogging has been the toughest thing. In football we never jogged. We always did sprints and pulled the sled but I had to really train myself to jog. I had to put my mind somewhere else and work on it.

“My favorite fighter is Floyd (Mayweather, Jr.). There are a bunch of guys I like to watch now. I like Terence (Crawford) and I like Errol Spence, Tank (Davis), Shakur Stevenson. I just want to be the best of me. Whatever my coach tells me to do I’m going to go out and try to do and do my best to get this win on December 18.”

Amanda Serrano

“This fight is more important than the Katie Taylor fight. Miriam Gutierrez is a tough girl at 135 pounds and it’s not my natural weight class. I’m moving up two divisions. I have to get through Miriam in a way that people will want to see me fight Katie next.

“I would actually rather lose the weight than gain the weight. It’s so hard for me to keep the weight on because once I start training I drop it. I’m eating a lot of good foods and had to hire a nutritionist for this camp to make sure I’m strong. I’m a little girl, but I pack a punch wherever I go.

“I definitely want the Katie Taylor fight. That night could be the night I accomplish my goal and become the first undisputed boxer to come out of Puerto Rico. That would be an amazing night. Right now I’m concentrating on boxing because I have two amazing fights but in the future I definitely want to become an MMA champion, but right now it’s all about boxing.

“Pound for pound I think is a matter of opinion. Some people think I am, some people think it’s Claressa Shields. Katie actually fights the week before me so she has to look good, and I have to look good. I’m training really hard for Miriam. I know she is a tough girl and I’m just going to go out and be the best I can be and I think the fight with Katie Taylor is going to happen.”

# # #

For more information on #PaulFury visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow on Instagram via @JakePaul, @TommyFury, @MostValuablePromotions and @ShowtimeBoxing, Twitter via @JakePaul, @TommyTntFury, @MostVpromotions and @ShowtimeBoxing, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

NEW YORK (November 16, 2021) – The New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF) has announced its 29-member Class of 2121. The 10th NYSBHOF induction dinner, sponsored by Ring 8, will be Sunday afternoon (12:30-5:30 p.m. ET), May 1, at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York.

“Every year the selections get more difficult,” NYSBHOF president Bob Duffy said. “Everyone of these new inductees has been a major part of New York boxing. It’s talent like this that makes NYSBHOF so successful.”

Living boxers heading into the NYSBHOF include WBO Heavyweight World Champions and Michael Bentt (11-2, 6 KOs), also a 4-time New York Golden Gloves gold medalist, and Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs (60-6-1, 53 KOs), 3-time World light middleweight titlist Verno Phillips (42-11-1, 2 KOs), WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Donny “Golden Boy” Lalonde (42-11-1, 21 KOs), WBC World Light Heavyweight Champion Johnny “The Heat” Verderosa (41-5-1, 33 KOs), 2-time World title challenger and No. 1 ranked welterweight contender Larry “No Fear” Barnes (44-3-1, 17 KOs), and welterweight Johnny Turner (42-6-2, 32 KOs)

Posthumous participants being inducted World Lightweight Champion Al Singer (62-9-2, 26 KOs), World’s Colored Light Heavyweight Champion Kid Norfolk (88-25-7, 49 KOs), lightweight Patsy “Cannonball” Giovanelli (44-7-1, 14 KOs), World Bantamweight Champion Cannonball Eddie Martin (81-12-4, 29 KOs), World Light Heavyweight title challenger Battling Seki (60-24-4, 31 KOs), Novice New York Golden Gloves and Intercity Golden Gloves champion Solly Krieger (82-25-6 , 54 KOs), No. 1 world ranked middleweight contender Herbie Kronowitz (55-23-5, 10 KOs), World featherweight champion Tommy Paul (80-28-10, 26 KOs), and World Bantamweight Champion and US Olympian Lou Salica (67-17-12, 13 KOs).

Living non-participants heading into the NYSBHOF are judge Ron McNair, promoter/manager/matchmaker Don Elbaum, journalists Ed Schuyler and Bill Verigan, author/journalist Tom Hauser, author/journalist/promoter/inspector Mike Silver, and Jill Diamond, Secretary of the World Boxing Council and International Chair or WBC Cares.

Posthumous non-participant inductees are trainer and Stillman’s gym owner Lou Stillman, promoter/manager Bill Cayton, NYC Mayor James Walker who legalized boxing in NY, publicists John Condon and Irving Rudd, journalist Richard K. Fox, and trainer Victor Valle.

Each attending inductee (or direct descendant of) will receive a custom-designed belt signifying his or her induction into the NYSBHOF.

The 2021 inductees were selected by the NYSBHOF nominating committee members: Randy Gordon, Henry Hascup, Don Majeski, Jim Monteverde and Neil Terens.

All boxers needed to be inactive for at least three years to be eligible for NYSBHOF induction, and all inductees must have resided in New York State for a significant portion of their boxing careers or during the prime of their respective career.

NYSBHOF

CLASS of 2012: Carmen Basilio, Mike McCallum, Mike Tyson, Jake LaMotta, Riddick Bowe, Carlos Ortiz, Vito Antuofermo, Emile Griffith, “Sugar” Ray Robinson, Gene Tunney, Benny Leonard, Tony Canzoneri, Harold Lederman, Steve Acunto, Jimmy Glenn, Gil Clancy, Ray Arcel, Nat Fleischer, Bill Gallo and Arthur Mercante, Sr.

CLASS of 2013: Jack Dempsey, Johnny Dundee, Sandy Saddler, Maxie Rosenbloom, Joey Archer, Iran Barkley, Mark Breland, Bobby Cassidy, Doug Jones, Junior Jones, James “Buddy” McGirt, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Bob Arum, Shelly Finkel, Tony Graziano, Larry Merchant, Teddy Brenner, Mike Jacobs, Tex Rickard and Don Dunphy.

CLASS OF 2014: Floyd Patterson, Tracy Harris Patterson, Billy Backus, Kevin Kelley, Juan LaPorte, Gerry Cooney, Mustafa Hamsho, Howard Davis, Jr., Lou Ambers, Jack Britton, Terry McGovern, Teddy Atlas, Lou DiBella, Steve Farhood, Gene Moore, Angelo Prospero, Whitey Bimstein, Cus D’Amato, William Muldoon and Tom O’Rourke.

CLASS OF 2015: Saoul Mamby, Joey Giamba, Johnny Persol, Harold Weston, Lonnie Bradley, Paul Berlenbach, Billy Graham, Frankie Genaro, Bob Miller, Tommy Ryan, Jimmy Slattery, Bob Duffy, Mike Katz, Tommy Gallagher, Bruce Silverglade, Charley Goldman, Jimmy Johnston, Cedric Kushner, Harry Markson, Damon Runyon, and Al Weill.

CLASS OF 2016: Aaron Davis, Charles Murray, Vilomar Fernandez, Edwin Viruet, Hector “Macho” Camacho, Rocky Graziano, Rocky Kansas, Joe Lynch, Joe Miceli, Ed Brophy, Joe DeGuardia, Randy Gordon, Dennis Rappaport, Howie Albert, Freddie Brown, Howard Cosell, Ruby Goldstein, and Jimmy Jacobs.

CLASS OF 2017: Gaspar Ortega, Renaldo “Mr.” Snipes, Doug Dewitt, “The Bronx Bomber” Alex Ramos, Dick Tiger, Jose Torres, “Nonpareil” Jack Dempsey, Don Majeski, Ron Katz, Stan Hoffman, Bobby Bartels, Hank Kaplan, Al Gavin, Arthur Donovan, and Dan Parker.

CLASS OF 2018: Lou “Honey Boy” Del Valle, Jake Rodriguez, Terrence Alli, “Baby” Joe Mesi, Kid Chocolate, James J. “Gentleman Jim” Corbett, Jack McAuliffe, Billy Costello, Melio Bettina Ralph “Tiger” Jones, Charley Norkus, Dave Anderson, Pete Brodsky, Herb Goldman, Bobby Goodman, Melvina Lathan, Ron Scott Stevens, Johnnie Addie, Johnny Bos, Murray Goodman, Bert Randolph Sugar and Sam Taub.

No class of 2019 due to COVID-19 restrictions

CLASS OF 2020: Jorge Ahumada, Alfredo Escalera, Freddie Liberatore, Dennis Milton; Lou Savarese and Merqui Sosa, Soldier Bartfield, Steve Belloise, Jimmy Goodrich, Tami Mauriello, Davey Moore, Freddie “The Welsh Wizard” Welch, Don Ackerman, Bobby Cassidy, Jr., Rick Glaser, Jack Hirsch, Max Kellerman, Dr. William Lathan, Julie Lederman, Ron Lipton, Kevin Rooney, Dan Daniel, Bobby Gleason, Flash Gordan, A.J. Liebling, Tony Mazzarella and manager Dan Morgan.

Tickets are priced at $125.00 per adult and $60.00 for children (under 16) and include a complete brunch and cocktail hour upon entry, starting at 12:30 p.m. ET, as well as dinner (prime rib, fish, or poultry) and open bar throughout the day. Tickets are available to purchase by contacting NYSBHOF president Bob Duffy at 516.313.2304 or depcomish@aol.com. Ads for the NYSBHOF program are available, ranging from $80.00 to $200.00, by contacting Duffy. Go online at www.nyboxinghof.org or www.Ring8ny.com for additional information about the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.

ABOUT RING 8: Formed in 1954 by an ex-prizefighter, Jack Grebelsky, Ring 8 became the eighth subsidiary of what was then known as the National Veteran Boxers Association – hence, RING 8 – and today the organization’s motto remains: Boxers Helping Boxers.

RING 8 is fully committed to supporting less fortunate people in the boxing community who may require assistance in terms of paying rent, medical expenses, or whatever justifiable need.

Go online to www.Ring8ny.com for more information about RING 8, the largest group of its kind in the United States with more than 350 members. Annual membership dues is only $30.00, and each member is entitled to a buffet dinner at RING 8 monthly meetings, excluding July and August. All active boxers, amateur and professional, are entitled to a complimentary RING 8 yearly membership. Guests of Ring 8 members are welcome at a cost of only $7.00 per person.

INFORMATION:

www.nyboxinghof.org

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Honda Center for the first time in over two years with a heavyweight title unification bout that will see former teammates collide, as UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou battles interim champion Ciryl Gane. Newly crowned UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno runs it back with former titleholder Deiveson Figueiredo in the co-main event.

UFC^® 270: NGANNOU vs. GANE will take place Saturday, Jan. 22 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. All bouts will be simulcast on ESPN+ in English and Spanish beginning at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT with the ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass prelims. The prelims will continue exclusively on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & 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^® 270: NGANNOU vs. GANE tickets will go on sale Friday, Nov. 19 at 10 a.m. PT and are available for purchase at ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Nov. 17 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, Nov. 18 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

No. 4 men’s pound-for-pound fighter Ngannou (16-3, fighting out of Paris, France by way of Batie, Cameroon) aims for his first successful title defense following a thrilling KO win over Stipe Miocic in March. Among the most feared strikers in the UFC, he also holds memorable finishes against Junior Dos Santos, Cain Velasquez and Alistair Overeem. Ngannou now hopes to deliver his most impressive performance yet by handing Gane his first career loss in emphatic fashion.

Undefeated Gane (10-0, fighting out of Paris, France) has wasted no time rising through the heavyweight ranks, capturing the interim title with a spectacular TKO win over Derrick Lewis in August. A former professional kickboxer, he has also delivered notable victories against Alexander Volkov, Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Junior Dos Santos. Gane now intends to dethrone his former teammate to begin his reign atop the UFC heavyweight division.

No. 10 men’s pound-for-pound fighter Moreno (19-5-2, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) delivered the biggest victory of his career in December by submitting Figueiredo to earn the UFC flyweight championship. Initially featured on The Ultimate Fighter season 24, Moreno has also secured notable victories against Brandon Royval, Jussier Formiga and Louis Smolka. Moreno now aims to prove he is the top flyweight in the world by stopping Figueiredo a second time.

Former champion Figueiredo (20-2-1, fighting out of Soure, Pará, Brazil) is determined to even the score with Moreno by recapturing the belt with a vintage performance. A powerful striker and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, he has delighted fans with memorable wins over Joseph Benavidez (twice), Tim Elliott and Alexandre Pantoja. Figueiredo now plans to get revenge on Moreno in their third battle to once again reach the top of the 125-pound ladder.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Top five middleweight contenders collide when No. 3 ranked Jared Cannonier (14-5, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.) takes on No. 4 Derek Brunson (23-7, fighting out of Wilmington, N.C.)
• Undefeated featherweights battle when No. 13 ranked contender Movsar Evloev (15-0, fighting out of Sunzha, Republic of Ingushetia, Russia) squares off with Ilia Topuria (11-0, fighting out of Alicante, Spain)
• No. 6 ranked women’s flyweight contender Viviane Araujo (10-3, fighting out of Brasilia, DF, Brazil) takes on. No. 11 Alexa Grasso (13-3, fighting out of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico)
• Kay Hansen (7-4, fighting out of Fullerton, Calif.) squares off with recent Dana White’s Contender Series signee Jasmine Jasudavicius (6-1, fighting out of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada) at flyweight
• Trevin Giles (14-3, fighting out of Houston, Texas) meets Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Michael Morales (12-0, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) at welterweight
• Tony Gravely (21-7, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) faces Dana White’s Contender Series signee Saimon Oliveira (17-3, fighting out of Balneario Camboriu, SC, Brazil) in a bantamweight bout
• No. 15 ranked bantamweight contender Cody Stamann (19-4-1, fighting out of Sparta, Mich.) squares off with rising Said Nurmagomedov (14-2, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia)
• Warlley Alves (15-5, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) faces Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Jack Della Maddalena (10-2, fighting out of Perth, Western Australia) in an intriguing welterweight bout
• Poliana Botelho (8-4, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) takes on Ji Yeon Kim (9-4, fighting out of Incheon, South Korea) at flyweight
• Greg Hardy (9-4 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) squares off with Aleksei Oleinik (59-16-1, fighting out of Moscow, Russia) in a battle of heavyweight finishers
• Matt Frevola (8-3-1, fighting out of Long Island, N.Y.) faces unbeaten Dana White’s Contender Series signee Genaro Valdez Solo (10-0, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) in an exciting lightweight matchup
• Rodolfo Vieira (8-1, fighting out of Orlando, Fla. by way of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) aims for another show-stealing submission when he takes on Wellington Turman (17-5, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) at middleweight

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

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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 Honda Center

Nestled in the heart of Orange County, Honda Center stands as one of the premier entertainment and sports venues in the country. Owned by the City of Anaheim and managed by Anaheim Arena Management, LLC, the arena is home to the 2007 Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks, and annually hosts dozens of top-name concerts such as Elton John, Justin Timberlake, Ariana Grande, Jay-Z, Garth Brook, and Foo Fighters. Since 2005, Anaheim Arena Management/Anaheim Ducks owners, Henry and Susan Samueli, have invested millions of dollars into facility upgrades, continuously improving the guest experience at Honda Center.

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).

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.  ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

(This is the first story in a short “Fantasy Fights” series about boxers who fought in 2021 on RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT PASS cards to be matched next year in potentially explosive fights on the same platform.)

LAS VEGAS (November 16, 2021) – Arguably Mexico’s No. 1 welterweight, Santiago “Somer” Dominguez (25-0, 19 KOs), against Michael “Boy Wonder 150%” Williams, Jr. (19-0, 12 KOs) is the first RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT PASS’s “Fantasy Fights” potential showdown for the same live streaming platform in 2022.

UFC FIGHT PASS® is the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, on which RJJ Boxing has streamed live and exclusively for the past three years. To sign up for UFC FIGHT PASS, please visit www.ufcfightpass.com.

“Throughout the long, rich history of boxing,” veteran RJJ Boxing matchmaker Guy Taylor explained the genesis of ‘Fantasy Fights,’ “fans have always asked, ‘What would happen if these two ever fought each other.’ You couldn’t ask for a more polar opposite match-up than Santiago Dominguez and Michael Williams, Jr.”

Dominguez vs. Williams, Jr. is a classic contrast of styles, featuring a pair of gifted, undefeated welterweights seemingly on the verge of stardom.

RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT PASS has helped boxers develop their skills in highly competitive matches, in addition to providing invaluable exposure worldwide, since 2019 despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

The heavy-handed Dominguez, who is a former NABF Welterweight Champion and past No. 15-rated in the world, stopped former WBA World title challenger Jesus “Chino” Antonio Rubio (13-4, 7 KOs) for the vacant WBC Latino strap in the October 15th main event in Mexico. It was Dominguez’ only fight in nearly a year because he needed to give his body a break. Dominguez improved to 5-0 (4 KOs) fighting career-wise on RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT PASS.

The 22-year-old Williams, fighting out of Fayetteville, North Carolina, is trained by living legend Roy Jones, Jr. Last March in Biloxi, Mississippi, Williams defeated Starr Johnson, who couldn’t continue after the opening round. Williams improved to 2-0 (2 KOs) on RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT PASS.

“Santiago is a throwback Mexican fighter, who stands 5’ 8” and was born in Ciudad Obregon Sonora, Mexico, just like his hero, the great Julio Cesar Chavez, Sr.,” Taylor added. “Williams, Jr. is a flashy, fast-footed boxer with lightning-quick hands who stands 6’ 1”. To put that in context for a welterweight, Michael is the same height as Hall of Famer Thomas ‘Hitman’ Hearns. Williams is also trained by arguably the greatest all-around fighter, Roy Jones. Jr.”

“This is a fight that can easily be made given the status of both fighters from RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT PASS. I truly feel that, stylistically, there is no better match-up in 2022 than an undefeated, power-punching Mexican against an undefeated, slick, counter puncher from the United States. And they are both approaching their prime.”

INFORMATION:

Websites: http://www.RoyJonesJrBoxing.com, www.ufcfightpass.com

Facebook: /UFCFightPass, /KeithVeltre, /World_Cup_Boxing_Series

Twitter: @UFCFightPass, @Keith_Veltre, @RoyjonesJRfa @RoyJonesJrOfficial

Instagram: @UFCFightPass, @KeithVeltre, @RoyJonesJrBoxing, @Ritzglitzglam, @World_Cup_Boxing_Series

TikTok: @WorldCupBoxingSeries

ABOUT ROY JONES JR, BOXING PROMOTIONS: Co-founded in 2013 by 10-time world champion Roy Jones, Jr. and Keith Veltre, Roy Jones, Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions is on its way to reinventing boxing. RJJ has already made a massive impact in the boxing community in a few short years. Creating exhilarating content for UFC Fight Pass, CBS Sports, Showtime, ESPN and beIN Sports in many of the finest venues across the country, RJJ has proven it is conquering the sweet science of the sport.

Based in the fight capital of the world, Las Vegas, NV, Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions is climbing to the top at a fast pace, adding young talent to its growing stable.

ABOUT UFC FIGHT PASS®: UFC FIGHT PASS® is the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports. Since launching in 2013, UFC FIGHT PASS is now available in more than two hundred countries and territories. UFC FIGHT PASS provides its members with unlimited access to live UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims; live mixed martial arts and combat sports from around the world; original series and historical programming; special features; behind-the-scenes content; in-depth interviews; and up-to-the minute reports on the world of combat sports. UFC FIGHT PASS subscribers also have 24/7 access to the world’s largest fight library, featuring more than 20,000 bouts from dozens of combat sports organizations, as well as every fight in UFC history. Fight fans can access UFC FIGHT PASS on personal computers, iOS and Android mobile devices, Apple TV, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and Sony TVs with Android TV. For more information, please visit www.ufcfightpass.com.

The NJ Boxing Hall of Fame has voted Shawn Darling as “Coach of the Year.”

Darling learned his trade from International Boxing Hall of Famer Matthew Saad Muhammad. In addition to learning from Muhammad, Darling was always studying the training methods some of the best boxing minds on the East Coast.

They included: Bill Johnson, Don Givens, Walli Moses, Shaun George and Denny Brown. Darling was also fortunate to be in the company of many of New Jersey’s best fighters such as Kevin Johnson, Bobby Czyz, Bruce Seldon, John Brown, Shamone Alvarez, Prince Badi Ajumu.

Shawn has also had great success coaching and managing numerous Jersey Shore professionals with the most recent being Chris “Sandman” Thomas, “Quick” Nick Valliere, “The Brawler” Dan Pasciolla & Hafiz “Big Dawg” Montgomery.

“Shawn has been one of our top coaches for years,” said Henry Hascup, president of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame. “He not only teaches young boxers how to box, nut he also acts like a father figure to many of them, which is far more important. He prepares them for adulthood, on how to conduct themselves even when the decision does not go their way.”

Darling opened his Gladiator Boxing Gym in 2005 in Forked River, New Jersey where such fighters as Bryant Jennings, Derric Rossy, Jesse Hart, Sonny Conto, Zhang Zhilei and Peter Quillin have sparred in the gym.