NOTTINGHAM Light-Heavyweight hope Ezra Taylor has signed promotional terms with Frank Warren’s Queensberry.

Taylor, 26, won a string of regional amateur titles but is now chasing bigger belts in the professional ranks, and believes he has the platform to achieve that.

His only professional fight was in March 2020 when he stopped Jevgenijs Andrejevs inside two rounds.

Taylor is trained by Ray Ricketts who coached him as an amateur at Bilborough Community Boxing Club and managed by former professional Costas Evangelou.

“Costas pulled the strings and put a good word in for me. I’m guessing Frank’s guys did their research and after a few meetings a deal was signed,” said Taylor who will box on a Queensberry show in July.

Thanks to sponsors, Taylor is now a full-time fighter and recently left his job as a sales account manager.

Ezra whose boxing heroes are Roy Jones Jr and Andre Ward added: “I was selling a dream to people, now I have bought the dream I have been sold.

“This is fantastic opportunity and I have some great people behind me. I will give it everything that it takes.

“In the first year I want to get as many fights as possible behind me adapting to what it is like when the pressure is on as a professional.

“Hopefully I will be build myself up, challenge for titles, win them and move on to the next one until I reach the top.”

Taylor first walked into a boxing gym in his early teens, but never expected to even compete as an amateur let alone earn a professional contract with a Hall of Fame promoter.

He explained: “I started when I was about 14, but I was only going to the boxing gym once a week to keep fit.

“Eventually I had to spar with guys who lived boxing, were in the gym most nights and competing as amateurs. I started getting beat up.

“I just wanted to be fit, fling a skipping rope around and tell my friends I was hitting the bag in the boxing gym.

“I lost interest, but still used a gym and eventually I got a bit of height and muscle. I went back to the boxing gym when I was 19-years-old, again for fitness and the rest is history.

“I was 20-3 as an amateur, my only losses came at elite level and I won five regional belts, but I was stepped up quickly because I was a late starter.

“It was a tough amateur career. Four fights in I was fighting guys who had 20 fights and that’s a lot in experience terms.

“On paper, I was meant to lose but I kept the momentum going and ended up in the elite championships early on.

“I’m grateful it happened because a lot of these kids have about 70 fights and it wasn’t a walk in the park. It made me the boxer I am today.”

London, UK (20 July 2021) Big-punching Coventry ace River Wilson-Bent believes that Stoke-on-Trent rival Nathan Heaney doesn’t want to face him for the Vacant English Middleweight title now that purse bids have been called by the BBBofC.

Midlands Area Champion Bent, 27, is gagging for the showdown and senses that Heaney has gone cold after seeing Bent knockout his last three opponents back-to-back in devastating style.

His last fight in May was a thriller against George Farrell when he halted the Derby man in the seventh round and is now looking to take the next step up on his pursuit of the Lonsdale belt.

In an interview with Ali Drew for Hennessy Sports’ YouTube Channel, Bent said, “We’ve shared a couple of rounds, we’ve done a few rounds with each other sparring. Yeah, it will be a great fight, especially for the Midlands area. He’s a Stoke lad and I’m Coventry. The amount of tickets that we’ll both sell, the roof will be lifted. I think the fight should happen. On my behalf and my team’s behalf the fight will happen. The only reason it won’t happen is obviously him. I’d fight him in Stoke in front of all of his fans and I’d walk out first. That doesn’t bother me I want this fight it’s a massive fight. Let’s see what he says,”

Bent continued, “I don’t think he’s up for it to be fair. I hope he proves me wrong but I don’t think he wants the fight. I didn’t see him share it [news of the English title purse bids] when it first came out, I messaged him saying, ‘this is cracking, let’s have it’. He looked at it, seen it, didn’t write anything for a while then he messaged me back saying ‘it would be a cracking fight’. Then I messaged him back saying ‘Are you up for it then?’ Are we going to do it?’ and he didn’t even reply. So he’s looked at it and not replied that indicates to me that he’s had second thoughts or he hasn’t thought about it and I sense he doesn’t want the fight.”

Hammer-fisted Bent, who holds down a full-time job as a roofer, has been compared to a young Ricky Hatton with a similar exciting, hard-hitting, all-action style and can sell a huge amount of tickets due to his popular down-to-earth, man of the people, personality.

He said, “Ricky Hatton’s a legend. If I can pull it off and get the same legacy as he has it it will be a dream,”

Hailing from Exhall, Bent aims to rejuvenate Coventry’s boxing scene that has a rich history with British and Commonwealth Champions champions including Dean Pithie, Neil Simpson, Richard Evatt, Steve Bendall and Andy Halder and he aims to go even further and become the city’s first World Champion.

He added, “Yeah definitely, I want to win the British title, I think there’s been two British champions from Coventry. If I can go on to European and World title. If I win the English next, if I do fight Heaney for it, then it’s the next on the ladder. I’ll keep going up and up. Yeah, bringing boxing back to Coventry will be mad.”

For further information go to www.hennessysports.com or social media: Facebook @HennessySports, Twitter @HennessySports and Instagram @hennessysports

CARLOS TAKAM HAS fired a forthright warning to Joe Joyce ahead of their heavyweight showdown on Saturday night, warning the British Olympian that he intends to put a first dent in his perfect professional record at the SSE Arena, Wembley.

Takam, an LA-based, French-Cameroonian, is a two-time world title challenger with nearly four times as many fights as Joyce under his professional belt.

He has got the impression that he has been drafted in as a fall guy for Britain’s next big heavyweight hope, with the winner of this fight at the head of the queue to face the winner of Anthony Joshua-Oleksandr Usyk for the WBO world title.

Far from being fodder for the Juggernaut, Takam insists he is in it to win it and plans on inflicting a Wembley upset.

“Hey boy! What’s up Joyce?,” said Takam in a direct message to the Putney man. “I hope you are ready for this fight because I’ve come here to win. On Saturday you won’t beat me, I’m sorry. This is my time. This is Carlos Takam time and I’m going to beat your guy!

“I will see you on Saturday night Joe and I am here to win, not to lose. See you boy, I am ready for the win, definitely.”

The fighting talk from the Frenchman was backed up by Joyce’s promoter Frank Warren, who knows he has imported a top-notch heavyweight to test his man at the highest level.

“He’s a seasoned performer who comes to fight and you know that his and Joe’s styles will make a fight,” said the Hall of Fame fight maker. “He will come at Joe and that will suit Joe, I think, and he will have to be at his best and he will have to do it better than the other guys did like Joshua and Chisora.

“That is how I look at it but, I repeat myself again, he has only had 12 fights and this is a big step up where a win will see him keep his mandatory position to fight the winner out of Joshua-Usyk taking place in September. I think the fight will be ordered pretty soon after that.

“Joe has been in with tough guys right from the start because of his age and he has done that, but you can still see there are things he needs to do and work on. I think that Takam will be another good name for his record and it will be another great experience for Joe.

“They are big guys who will be throwing bombs at each other and Joe has got a good chin. Takam does come to fight, he throws shots and I can tell you from talking to his team, they fancy the job.”

Joe Joyce v Carlos Takam for the WBC Silver and WBO International titles takes place at the SSE Arena, Wembley on Saturday (July 24).

Hamzah Sheeraz (12-0, 8 KOs) makes the third defence of his WBO European title against Spaniard Ezequiel Gurria (15-1, 3 KOs).

Swansea’s Chris Jenkins (22-3-3, 8 KOs) will finally defend his British and Commonwealth welterweight titles against Nottingham’s Ekow Essuman (14-0, 5 KOs) after recovering from injury.
 
In a well matched fourth title fight, Peacock gym ace Chris Bourke (9-0, 6 KOs) defends his WBC International super-bantamweight title against Bloxwich’s James Beech Jnr (12-1, 2 KOs).
 
There is also heavyweight action featuring David Adeleye (6-0, 5 KOs), while Mill Hill’s George Fox (3-0) will make his Queensberry debut. Reading super-featherweight hope Charles Frankham (2-0, 1 KO) has also been added to the stacked bill., along with ‘The Gent’ Micky Burke Jr (4-0, 1 KO) who also returns after his first stoppage victory in November last year.

Tickets are available NOW from AXS.com. Click here to buy tickets.

£50 Tier
£70 Floor/Tier
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£150 Floor

CORONA, CA (July 19, 2021) – Undefeated lightweight prospect, Ruben “Ace” Torres (11-0, 9 KOs), who is nearing the point of being called a contender, will headline Thompson Boxing’s “We. Are. Back.” on Saturday, August 14th, 2021. Torres will be taking on Richard “Diamante” Zamora (19-4, 12 KOs), of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, in a scheduled 8-round bout.

540 days after their last live event, this will be the first fight with fans in attendance and everyone is encouraged to get their tickets now. Tickets priced at $50, $75, & $100, and are available for purchase by calling 714-935-0900, or online at ThompsonBoxing.com.

This event will take place at the Omega Products International Event Center in Corona, CA. Doors open at 5:00 pm PT with the first fight starting at 7:00 pm PT.

Torres, now 23-years-old from South Central Los Angeles, is trained and managed by Danny Zamora, who has worked with Torres since the start of his career.

“I am so excited to have the fans back,” said Torres. “I feed off the crowd’s energy and it makes me want to put on the best performance possible for them. Knowing I’ll have friends and family there makes a huge difference, but I still have a job to do against Zamora who is no slouch inside the ring.”

Torres is nearing the point of being a ten-round fighter and facing an experienced veteran like Zamora will be a good test. He has goals of a world title shot soon.

“I am excited about this fight because this opponent brings a lot to the table,” Torres continued. “He has fought Mario Barrios, Antonio Moran, and many other great fighters and I want to show that is the level that I am on.”

“We are happy to announce that we can finally open safely to the public. We were able to successfully promote our shows during this tough time through our live streams,” said Ken Thompson of the 321 Boxing series that launched in July of 2020. “But it is the fans who make each event unique with the atmosphere, they bring that extra motivation to the fighters. This will surely be a sold-out show and I can’t wait to see everyone having a great time, enjoying great fights.”

In the co-feature, super bantamweights Humberto Rubalcava (11-2, 7 KOs), of Orange, Calif, and Eros Correa (10-0, 7 KOs), of San Jose, Calif., will go to battle in an 8-round bout.

This event will stream live for free on the Thompson Boxing Promotions website (www.thompsonboxing.com), as well as their Facebook and YouTube pages, in additions to Fight Hub TV, our proud Media Partner.

UNDERCARD BOUTS:

Super lightweight Israel “Bad Ways” Mercado (9-1, 7 KOs) of Pamona, Calif., will face Eduardo “Dinamita” Rafael Reyes (10-17, 6 KOs) of Reynosa, Mexico (6-rounds).

Welterweight Louie Lopez (8-1-1, 4 KOs) of nearby Corona, Calif., will face an opponent TBA (6-rounds).

Middleweight Nelson “Knuckle” Oliva (1-0, 1 KO) of Fontana, Calif. will face Antonio Duarte (2-2) of Tijuana, Mexico. (4-rounds)

Opening the card is bantamweight Lazaro Vargas of Indio, Calif (1-0, 1 KO), who will face Alexis Alvarado (2-0, 2 KOs), of La Puente, CA. (4-rounds)

Rich Marotta will operate as the blow-by-blow commentator with expert commentary by Doug Fischer and Steve Kim. Jessica Rosales will serve as the onsite ringside reporter.

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

For more information, regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please visit ThompsonBoxing.com. You can also follow the conversation on social media, please use #321Boxing and #ThompsonBoxing.

Please check our Facebook Page, watch our YouTube channel on Thompson Boxing TV and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @ThompsonBoxing.
Fight Hub TV is a proud Media Partner with Thompson Boxing shows and a great resource for all things Boxing.

Boston (July 19, 2021):

Boston Boxing Promotions is proud to present the biggest boxing event to take place in New England since the pandemic, The Great American Boxing Bash, three consecutive Friday Nights of boxing live from the legendary Castleton in Windham, New Hampshire and broadcast for free on Boston Boxing Promotion’s YouTube Page.

The regional excitement surrounding The Great American Boxing Bash is unprecedented with tickets to the first event selling out shortly after going on sale and now being sold online at 4 times the face value.

“Although Boston Boxing Promotions was able to run 4 empty venue events during the pandemic, hardcore boxing fans in and around New England have not been able to attend a live event in over a year and half. The demand was so overwhelming from both fighters and fans, we decided to do three straight weekends featuring over 30 fights.” Said Boston Boxing Promotions president, Peter Czymbor.

“And if there was one fight that our fans have been begging for it is the long awaited neighborhood war between two of our most popular fighters, Harry Gigliotti (7-2, 3 KOs) and Brandon Higgins (7-1, 5 KOs). This fight has been building in anticipation among local boxing fans since both fighters turned pro and now with virtually identical records, it’s a true 50/50 fight and the winner will be ready for the national stage.”

In addition to the highly anticipated Gigliotti vs. Higgins showdown, The Great American Boxing Bash will feature:

The most popular and talented fighter to emerge from Maine since Joey Gamache, Brandon Berry (22-5-2, 15 KOs) who fights Travis Casetellon (16-4-1, 12 KOs) for the NABA-USA Welterweight Title.

The return of undefeated blue chip prospect, Evan Holyfield (6-0, 4 KOs), son of Hall of Famer and only 4 time heavyweight world champion, Evander Holyfield.

The return of Massachusetts’ undefeated Amanda Pavone (8-0, 3 KOs) who is closing in on a world title shot.

An appearance from Oxnard, California single shot knockout sensation, Danny Robles (6-0-1, 4 KOs) who went viral last year on a Boston Boxing Promotions event when he set a state record for fastest KO at 13 seconds.

Connecticut’s buzzed about national amateur standout, Alejandro Paulino (1-0, 1 KO), who recently turned professional on a Boston Boxing event and is already considered one of New England’s most promising prospects.

Undefeated heavyweight, James Torney (4-0, 4 KOs) who has been serving as one of Deontay Wilder’s chief sparring partners in preparation for his mega fight with Tyson Fury.

And a who’s who of fighters from one of the hottest regional boxing scene in the country including James Perkins (4-0-1, 3 KOs), Nick Molina (3-0, 1 KO), Travis Gambardella (6-1-2, 2 KOs), Kris Jacobs (3-1-1, 1 KO), Kyle Cusick (2-1) and many more.

Despite knowing all 3 shows would be sold out, it was still important to Czymbor and company that the national audience that the promotion gained during the pandemic not be forgotten. Therefore the Great American Boxing Bash will remain free to watch live and online with commentary from fan favorite, BoxRec’s Grey Johnson and a revolving door of special guest commentators that has included on past broadcasts, boxing legends like Micky Ward.

“After the the amazing viewership we received for our empty venue shows during the pandemic, we wanted those fans from around the country and the world to be able experience the excitement that is Boston Boxing Promotions at the Castleton, a venue which has become New England’s version of the late, great Blue Horizon. We can’t wait to showcase one of the best regional boxing scenes in the country with the Great American Boxing Bash.”

The Great American Boxing Bash presented by Boston Boxing Promotions takes place Friday, July 23rd, Friday, July 30th and Friday August 6th at the Castleton in Windham, New Hampshire. Tickets for July 23rd are completely sold out. Very limited tickets remain for July 30th and August 6th and are available at www.boxingnh.com. All three nights will be aired live on www.YouTube.com/BoxingBoston

ABOUT BOSTON BOXING PROMOTIONS

Boston Boxing Promotions was founded in 2013 and is dedicated to the resurgence of professional boxing at the regional level, particularly in the New England area. Since that time, it has presented professional boxing events in places like Boston, Cape Cod, New Bedford and New Hampshire. Boston Boxing Promotions was the first independent boxing promoter on the east coast to hold an event during the pandemic, last August when they held an empty venue show in Windham, New Hampshire that was broadcast for free on YouTube and watched live by thousands of boxing fans worldwide. After 4 empty venue events for free and broadcast online at www.youtube.com/bostonboxing Boston Boxing Promotions returns with The Great American Boxing Bash, three consecutive Friday Nights of boxing July 23, July 30 and August 6. All three events will be broadcast live and for free on www.youtube.com/bostonboxing

Follow Boston Boxing Promotions on Social Media!

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA (July 19, 2021) — Tuesday will mark the second anniversary of eight-division world champion and boxer laureate Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s dethroning of then undefeated WBA welterweight “super” champion Keith Thurman.  Manny, at age 40, became the oldest man to win a welterweight title.  But it was 20 years ago — June 23, 2001 to be exact — that Manny made his U.S. debut as a professional fighter.  Following a sixth-round knockout victory of Kumanpetch Kiatvoraph to retain his WBC International super bantamweight title, on April 28, 2001, in the Philippines, Manny and his manager traveled to San Francisco for a vacation.  In early June, they took a Greyhound bus down the coast to Hollywood in search of a gym and some ring work to stay in shape — literally a busman’s holiday!     

Below are the recollections of Manny, Freddie, Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Lampley, who called the fight from ringside for HBO, and Ross Greenburg, the executive producer of that HBO PPV telecast.

MANNY PACQUIAO

“We were staying in a small apartment in Hollywood, near the Denny’s On Sunset Boulevard, not far from the highway (Highway 101).  The Denny’s and the apartment building are still there,” said Manny.  “We wandered over to a gym that had been recommended to us — Wild Card Boxing Club — and my manager introduced himself to a man in the gym and told him he was looking for a trainer to work mitts with me.  That man turned out to be the gym owner, Freddie Roach, who agreed to work with me.  After the first round, I returned to my corner and said I just found my new trainer.  Freddie was great with the mitts and as I soon found out, great with instruction too.  Suddenly, as I was preparing to go back to the Philippines, we get an offer to challenge IBF junior featherweight champion Lehlo Ledwaba.  I was the No. 3-rated contender and the two fighters ahead of me couldn’t, or wouldn’t, take the fight.  Freddie and I had trained together about two weeks and now I’m walking into the ring at the MGM Grand to fight Ledwaba on HBO Pay-Per-View.  It was crazy!  That fight changed my life.”

WORLD-FAMOUS FREDDIE ROACH   

“I opened up Wild Card in hopes that one day a new Muhammad Ali would walk in looking for a trainer.  And then, in 2001, he did. Only he was nearly a foot shorter, weighed 122 pounds and spoke very little English,” said Freddie.  “I remember the first time we met.  He came in looking for a trainer to work the mitts and after the first round I went back to my corner and said this guy is sensational.  We have a new fighter.  Soon Manny gets the call offering him the Ledwaba fight.  He was getting ready to go back to the Philippines.  If that call comes a day later, Manny misses out on that fight.  We trained for two weeks and every day I’m falling more and more in love with his boxing skills and power.  He was that good.  So now it’s fight week and I’m going to every casino trying to lay a bet on Manny.  Unfortunately, the fight was considered such a mismatch that no casino would post odds on it.  The guys at Top Rank were really giving me the business, saying that Manny didn’t stand a chance and I’m trying to convince them that Manny is going to do a number on Ledwaba.  Top Rank was promoting the show and Manny’s fight was the co-main event to Oscar De La Hoya vs. Javier Castillejo, and Ledwaba was considered the class of the division.  Manny jumped on Ledwaba from the start and finished him in the sixth round.  It was brutal.  But what a night.  I remember we all went to dinner to celebrate at some small restaurant near the MGM Grand.  Manny and I went from strangers to a world championship team in about two weeks.  It sounds like a movie, doesn’t it?”

JIM LAMPLEY          

“Larry Merchant and I had both seen Ledwaba for the first time with our own eyes on April 21 USA, April 22 South Africa when he defended his title against Mexican contender Carlos Contreras on the undercard of Lennox Lewis vs. Hasim Rahman.  That night Ledwaba looked immaculate in easily handling Contreras.  He showed balance, timing, skillful craft, and to our eyes seemed pretty clearly to be the best 122-pound fighter in the world.  He was 33-1–1 against a pretty representative assortment of contenders from varied geographic bases.  We were pleased to learn he would be back on HBO exactly two months later.  

“On the day before Ledwaba vs. Manny Pacquaio (Pock-Yow, we had to practice it and not everyone in the room was having an easy time of it), we met a young Filipino who looked like an unlikely challenger.  Not a lot of experience, seemingly a bit wide-eyed, and a little short of the necessary English language base to explain to all of us non-Tagalog speakers exactly what he was about.  I leaped to the inner conclusion the experienced and confident Ledwaba was likely to school him.  Why not??

“The following evening Ledwaba was swept away by a furious storm of power punching activity, and so were we.  Ledwaba was never in the fight, and by the time Pacquaio had finished him off, in round six, we were well aware that if the world’s best junior featherweight was in the ring in Las Vegas, that was the unknown Filipino, not the skilled South African to whom he had laid waste.  It was the beginning of HBO’s lengthy and colorful journey with one of the greatest and most exciting prizefighters in the history of the planet, and the fact that the story—-twenty years later—-HASN’T ENDED YET is simply mind boggling.  Mind boggling.”   

ROSS GREENBURG

“What I remember vividly about Manny’s arrival on HBO PPV was the two-week notice to face Ledwaba, and our announcers at ringside — Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant, and George Foreman — being given a crash course on his history and his ring acumen.  The fight began with Jim asking the audience to excuse him as he tries to pronounce his name, in the second round Larry Merchant said that coming into the fight people were “wondering if this fight would catapult Ledwaba to superstar status, and now they are wondering if the same can be said of Manny Pacquiao.”  By the end of the fight Larry Merchant said, “I didn’t know anything about Manny Pacquiao before the fight, and I was very impressed with what I saw during the fight, and now I want to see him again.”  It was clear to all of us at ringside and in the truck that we were about to go on a ride of a lifetime with a transformational boxing superstar.”

Manny’s victory over Ledwaba was also the start of arguably boxing’s longest and most successful partnership.  With Freddie in his corner, literally and figuratively, Manny won world titles in seven different weight divisions in a career of firsts that not only defines the champion he repeatedly became, but the Filipino spirit which has been embraced by the world.  Over the past 20 years, Manny has played David to a roster of Hall of Fame Goliaths, scoring the most impressive victories of his era against the likes of Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Márquez, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, and Shane Mosley.  In his last three fights, which took place during a 12-month period, from July 15, 2018 through July 20, 2019, Manny ran the table, winning welterweight world title fights against Lucas Matthysse, Adrien Broner, and Thurman.          

Manny (62-7-2, 39 KOs), the one-time Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Decade and three-time BWAA Fighter of the Year, hails from Sarangani Province in the Philippines.  He faces his biggest professional boxing challenge when he takes on undefeated unified WBC/IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. (27-0, 21 KOs), of Desoto, Texas.  Spence is 11 years younger and over four inches taller than the amazin’ Manny.  Would Manny have it any other way?  The Pacquiao-Spence world championship event, which headlines a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View, Saturday, August 21 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, is promoted by TGB Promotions, MP Promotions and Man Down Promotions.  The pay-per-view will begin at 9 p.m. RT / 6 p.m. PT.  Remaining tickets can be purchased through t-mobilearena.com and axs.com.

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

JOE JOYCE CARRYING out his best work on canvas is not an unusual concept. After all, 11 of his 12 professional opponents to date have met with the floor of the ring or been saved from the imminent prospect by the instincts of a protective referee.

But Big Joe is also big into transferring his visions, experiences and emotions onto the fabric favoured by painters and artists, with the man known as The Juggernaut just as content quietly perching in front of his easel as he is marching forward with menacing intent under the lights in the ring.

The more than accomplished artist is particularly proud of his latest works. Not exactly painting by numbers, but the No.10 figures strongly in this very personal portrait.

It is a painting that tells the story of his November 28, 2020 heavyweight collision with the multi-titled, seemingly indestructible wrecking machine, Daniel Dubois.

Joyce got the sense that, in the eyes of the watching public, he was merely cast as another step on the gloried career ladder of the young world champion in waiting.

While he never doubted himself – and nor should he have, given his Olympic standing – Joyce accepted his role as a decorated underdog and knew the proof of the pudding would be in the punching.

And his jab, which essentially won him the fight, was on point and Dubois could take no more of the spearing accuracy and sunk to his knee in the 10th round to take himself out of the firing line. His left eye socket that had taken a pummelling from the left glove of Joyce was grotesquely swollen and his race was run.

The plaudits, along with belts, now belonged to Joyce and his portrait marks this moment in time for one of boxing’s quiet achievers.

“It was a turning point for me, where I went from an underdog to pretty much a fully fledged prospect,” explained the 35-year-old, who returns to the fighting fold against Carlos Takam at the SSE Arena, Wembley on Saturday night. “It was a fight where everyone thought I was going to lose and even get knocked out in the first few rounds.

“I proved a lot of people wrong and won a lot of people money for Christmas.”

The fact that many of the fight public and pundits didn’t give him a prayer, Joyce believes, worked in his favour on the night, with the weight of expectation heaped firmly on the young man.

“Yeah it was less pressure and the heat was on Dubois. I’ve been in a lot bigger fights, the Olympics for instance, with a lot of people watching me, so I am used to the pressure. I just get on with it and perform on the night.

“The painting definitely reflects my moment, but I don’t know if it is quite finished yet. I look at it and think I could do more detail, but then I might lose some of the freshness of it. Maybe I have captured it,” he wondered, before telling the process of how he went about capturing the defining point of the fight.

“I just printed off an image, but I didn’t have a particularly good picture because it was from a clip of the fight and it was a bit pixelated so I couldn’t get all the detail I wanted. It does get to the point when you can overdo a painting and it is quite good to know when to stop, otherwise you can ruin the essence of what you are trying to paint.

“I can push my work to being almost photo realistic by painstakingly painting, but it just takes so long and you can get bored of painting the same thing. More recently I have preferred to work it all out in one sitting.

“You don’t want it to be too perfect or you might as well just blow up a photograph.”

This isn’t Joyce’s first venture into personal portraits and it almost certainly won’t be his last.

“The last time I did a self-portrait was my first year of university and I had some massive canvas that one of the students in the third year helped me make. It ended up being so big that it was wider than my outstretched arms and almost as tall as me.

“I will do one for the world title, for sure.

“The thing is, with boxing and painting, it takes time and you have to work at your skills.”

Joe Joyce v Carlos Takam for the WBC Silver and WBO International titles takes place at the SSE Arena, Wembley on July 24.

Hamzah Sheeraz (12-0, 8 KOs) makes the third defence of his WBO European title against Spaniard Ezequiel Gurria (15-1, 3 KOs).
 
Swansea’s Chris Jenkins (22-3-3, 8 KOs) will finally defend his British and Commonwealth welterweight titles against Nottingham’s Ekow Essuman (14-0, 5 KOs) after recovering from injury.
 
In a well matched fourth title fight, Peacock gym ace Chris Bourke (9-0, 6 KOs) defends his WBC International super-bantamweight title against Bloxwich’s James Beech Jnr (12-1, 2 KOs).
 
There is also heavyweight action featuring David Adeleye (6-0, 5 KOs), while Mill Hill’s George Fox (3-0) will make his Queensberry debut. Reading super-featherweight hope Charles Frankham (2-0, 1 KO) has also been added to the stacked bill., along with ‘The Gent’ Micky Burke Jr (4-0, 1 KO) who also returns after his first stoppage victory in November last year.

Tickets are available NOW from AXS.com. Click here to buy tickets.

£50 Tier
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Las Vegas – UFC^® today announced that the 9^th Annual UFC International Fight Week^™ will take place in Las Vegas from Tuesday, September 21, through Saturday, September 25, headlined by UFC^® 266: VOLKANOVSKI vs. ORTEGA, presented by Modelo.The event-filled week will also include the traditional 2020 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonyand a two-day, interactive UFC Fan Experience^®.

The prestigious 2020 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Toyo Tires^® will be held on Thursday, September 23, and will honor specific achievements and contributions to UFC and the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. 

In addition, on Friday, September 24, and continuing on Saturday, September 25, fans will be able to take part in an easily accessible and fully interactive, free, two-day UFC Fan Experience that will feature meet and greets, autograph sessions, and partner activations that provide unprecedented access to UFC champions, top-ranked contenders, Hall of Famers, and other UFC personalities.

Fans from around the world who converge on Las Vegas for UFC International Fight Week will also be able to enjoy ceremonial weigh-ins, press conferences and live entertainment of a traditional Fight Week leading to the schedule’s culminating event, UFC^® 266: VOLKANOVSKI vs. ORTEGA, on Saturday, September 25, at T-Mobile Arena.

Details regarding the bout card for UFC 266, event locations and additional activities for UFC International Fight Week will be announced at a later date. For more information, visit UFCFIGHTWEEK.COM.

World champions Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano left everything in the ring as the battled to a 12-round split draw in a fight for the undisputed junior middleweight championship and the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Early on, it looked like it would be a short and easy night for Charlo as he hurt Castano with a left hook in the 2nd round. Castano, who was clearly on shaky legs. He was able to get out of the round and that was bad news for Charlo. Over the next half dozen rounds, Castano not only righted himself, but dominated most of the rounds as he was able to get in a lot of solid offense with most of it coming by pinning Charlo on the ropes and landing effective shots. Castano was able to feature a nice straight hand and seemed to hurt Charlo on a couple of occasions with good left hooks.

In round 10, Charlo was able to get himself back in the fight by hurting Castano with a right hand that had the native of Argentina on shaky legs throughout the round. Over the final six minutes, the two stood mostly on the inside firing off and landing effective punches in an effort to clearly forge ahead on the final scorecards.

Charlo landed 151 of 533; Castano was 173 of 586.

When those scorecards were announced, Castano took a card 114-113; Somehow Nelson Vazquez gave Charlo nine rounds on his 117-111, and a third card was even at 114-114.

Charlo of Houston, Texas holds on to his IBF/WBA/WBC titles and is now 34-1-1. Castano keeps his WBO crown and is now 17-0-2.

Jermell Charlo

“Shout out to San Antonio for coming through. The win is what I wanted to hear. I won this fight. I hurt him way more than he did to me. Castano is a real warrior. But my power is serious at this weight division.

“My coach told me I needed the knockout in the ninth round and I just knew he knew what he was talking about. I trust my coach. This come with boxing – wins, losses and draws.

“He threw a hell of a lot of punches. My skills and my ability and my power – I felt like I won this fight and I deserve to be going home undisputed. I am glad to have fought for undisputed. It’s different. I still hold my titles. I can’t wait to get home to my babies, take a break from boxing and then get back to the drawing board and see what’s next.

“I want to be undisputed. That’s what I want. That’s my destiny.”

Brian Castano

“I won the fight. There were some rounds that he did hit me and he hit me hard. But I won this fight. I want to thank SHOWTIME and Al Haymon for this fight. It was a great opportunity.

“I want to thank San Antonio. I was hurt in the 10th round and I had to recoup. Same with the beginning of the 11^th round. But I did enough to win this fight. I hope I get the rematch. He is a great fighter. I need the rematch.”

Romero Knocks Out Yigit in 7 to retain Interim Lightweight Title

Rolando Romero retained the WBA Interim Lightweight title with a 7th round stoppage over late-replacement Anthony Yigit

In round three, Yigit was cut over his left eye. In round five, Romero was deducted a point for holding. Immediately after that, Romero landed a big right at the bell that sent Yigit down for a knockdown.

In round seven, Romero dropped Yigit with a hard right hand. Seconds later it was a left that was followed by a right that put Yigit down again, and the fight was stopped at 1:54.

Romero, 135 lbs of Las Vegas is 14-0 with 12 knockouts. Yigit, 140.25 lbs of Sweden is 24-2-1.

Rolando Romero

“I fought a tough kid above my weight class. I fought a 140-pounder and I f***ing stopped him. Simple as that.

“In the seventh round, I knew it was over. I swear I thought it was over after that first knockdown but I didn’t have time in that round to jump on him.

“I want Gervonta Davis at 140. I want him at 140. I mean, he only has 16 fights. I have 14 now. I am ready for him. Time to stop him. Time to knock him out. I know what he can do but I know what I can do. I am a lot stronger. Let’s see if we can make it happen.”

Vidal wins Majority Decision over Aleem

In a terrific back and forth brawl, Amilcar Vidal Jr. won a 10-round majority decision over Immanuwel Aleem in a middleweight fight.

The fight was fought at close quarters with each guy taking turns getting the better of the action. Vidal got credit for his body punching, but this was a crowd pleasing fight that could have gone either way.57

Vidal landed 205 of 571 punches; Aleem was 183 of 647 punches.

Vidal, 160.5 lbs of Uruguay won by scores of 97-93 twice and 95-95 and is now 13-0. Aleem, 162 lbs of East Meadow, NY is 18-3-1.

Amilcar Vidal

“I was not surprised by his strategy of working inside. We worked on that in camp. I wanted to work him in and then I would finally show him my power in the end.

“It was a great fight against a really tough opponent, but the fruits of my labor alongside my brother during training camp paid off and I never lost my cool.

“We felt sure of ourselves as a team and I knew (Aleem) would feel me as soon as I found my ideal distance and reach.

“I believe I was a fair winner, but I am not here to argue about the score. I may have lost my way in a couple of rounds, but I regained control of the fight and I have as much as I took.

“Like I told you before the press conference, it’s about going step by step. We took a major one tonight, and now my promoter will let me know what’s next. I’ll be ready. We are nice and comfortable at 160 pounds.

“Uruguay can rest easy knowing Amilcar Vidal is here to stay.”

Follow all of the action as Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano battle it out for the undisputed Junior Middleweight championship.  The action begins at 9 PM ET as Middleweights Amilcar Vidal takes on Immanuwel Aleem as well as Rolando Romero defends the WBA Interim Lightweight title against Anthony Yigit

NO BROWESER REFESH NEEDED; THE PAGE WILL UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY.

Round 1: Right from Castano..Lead right to the body

Round 2 Big left hook staggers Castano..1-2…

Round 3 Charlo Jabbing..2 Big left hooks from Castano

Round 4 Right to body from Castano…Jab and left hook from Charlo..Sweeping left hook..Right from Castano.. Left hook..right and left to jaw…Right from Charlo…Right from Castano..Right from Charlo..

Round 5 1-2 from Charlo…Lead right from Castano…left hook…1-2 from Charlo..Counter from Castano…Jab and right from Charlo…

Round 6 Jab from Charlo..Counter..Body..Right from Castano..Furry..Castano landing on the ropes

Round 7 Jab from Charlo…2 rights from Castano..Chopping right…left hook to the Liver..Short left from Charlo

Round 8 Short left hok from Cstano..Right hand and left hook..Nice right..Left to head…Jab…Right from Charlo

Round 9 Jab from Charlo..Combination from Castano…Right hand..Body shot

Round 10 Left hook from Castano…Charlo lands a right..Right rocks Castano…Left hook to the body..Hard right..Left hook to the jaw..Right

Round 11 Hard right from Charlo..Left hook to body and head….Right and left from Castano…Left hook..Jab pops Charlo’s head back..Left hook and right hand..Uppercut from Charlo

Round 12 Left hook from Castano…Combination from Charlo..Double left hook from Castano…Body work…Left hook from Charlo..

114-113 CASTANO; 117-111 CHARLO; 114-114

Round 1 Left from Romero..Right drives Yigit back…Bdy shot from Yigit…Counter from Romero..

Round 2 Left from Yigit..Left hook from Romero…Left from Yigit…Right from Romero…2 Lefts from Yigit…Big right from Romero..

Round 3 Right from Romero…Right to body

Round 4 Left from Yigit..Solid left from Romero..3 punch combination

Round 5 Jab from Romero…Counter right from Romero..Left from Yigit…ROMERO DEDUCTED POINT FOR HOLDIMG…BIG RIGHT ATTHE BELL DROPS YIGIT

Round 6  Jab to body from Romero…Clipping right to the jaw..Right

Round 7 Right from Romero…COUNTER RIGHT AND DOWN GOES YIGIT..Big right from Romero....BIG RIGHT AND DOWN GIES YIGIT…FIGHT OVER

Round 1: Jab from Aleem.  Double left hook
Round 2 Lead right from Vidal…Right to the body..Left to the body…Long right…Left hook to body from Aleem
Round 3 Lead right from Aleem…Left hook…Nice left to body from Aleem..Double left to body from Vidal…Body shot from Aleem…Nice left hook to the body from Vidal…Double jab from Aleem…Left hook to liver from Vidal…Lead uppercut
Round 4 Uppercut from Vidal..Right…Left hook to body and head…Left to liver…Right uppercut from Aleem…2 body shots from Vidal..Good action inside…Uppercut and left hook from Vidal..Trading shots at close range…Right uppercut from Aleem…Short uppercut on inside from Vidal…
Round 5 Lead right from Vidal…Double jab from Aleem..Right from Vidal….Nice right…Uppercut and body shot from Aleem..Double left hook…Counter left hook from Vidal…2 right uppercuts from Aleem…Combination from Vidal
Round 6 Left hook to live from Vidal…Aleem lands on the inside…Sharp hook from Vidal…Left hook from ALeem…Vidal lands 2 shots to the body and a right to the head….Right to body hurts Aleem..Straight right and a big left to the body
Round 7 Jab o the body from Aleem..Right…Right uppercut from Aleem
Round 8 Left hook from Aleem..2 rights to body from Aleem…Left hooks to the body…Good counter shot…Left Staggers Vidal
Round 9 Trading heavy flurries…Right to body from Vidal…Combination from Aleem,…double right from Vidal
Round 10 Ripping shots to the body from Vidal….Both guys giving their all down the stretch

95-95; 97-93 TWICE FOR VIDAL

Los Angeles, CA (July 17, 2021) World Ranked Super Welterweight Serhii ‘El Flaco’ Bohachuk, (18-1, 18 KOs), of Los Angeles, CA makes his return to the ring Tonight, July 17 in an eight-round clash against Brandon ‘The Business’ Baue, (16-23, 11 KOs), of Troy,  Missouri at the Rock Rapids Rumble in Rock Rapids, Iowa. The fight is promoted by 15 Rounds Boxing in association with 360 Promotions and Ural Promotions and will be broadcast globally on FITE.TV at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT.

After enduring his first loss as a professional to Brandon Adams on March 4, 2021, the 26-year-old Bohachuk, one of the most exciting super welterweights in the sport, looks to resume his march towards a world title opportunity under the watchful eye of renowned trainer Manny Robles. In preparation for tonight’s fight, Bohachuk has been sparring with world ranked contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. in Southern California.

JOE JOYCE’S manager Sam Jones has hinted that he has spies in the camp of big fight rival Carlos Takam.

Several of Sam’s tweets might be mind games ahead of their Heavyweight blockbuster at SSE Arena, Wembley on Saturday July 24, live on BT Sport.

In a recent message Jones tweeted: “Good sparring session again yesterday

@carlos_takam the way your (sic) picking the pace up towards the end of the rounds is very impressive.”

But Takam appeared unsettled when Queensberry’s Dev Sahni asked him about Team Joyce getting info from Takam’s camp, snapping: “I don’t know how he got that information, but I don’t give a f**k.”

Takam (39-5-1,  28 KOs) who will be challenging for Joyce’s WBO International, WBC Silver and Commonwealth Heavyweight titles added:  “I don’t want to speak about that. I just want to focus on the fight.”

Joyce (12-0, 11 KOs) was also coy about whether he has inside info, saying: “You’ll have to find out if we have spies in his camp. I am not divulging any information.

“I am ready. It’s going to be a great fight. May the best man win and that will be me.”

Joyce could have got even up close and personal with Takam and not needed a gym plant. Arrangements were made for the pair to spar in Las Vegas, but his rival’s trainer got cold feet and pulled the plug.

Joyce said: “I assumed he didn’t want the smoke.

“Sam Jones sorts my sparring when I am in America training and I thought I would be sparring with Takam, but I was told he wasn’t sparring.”

Frenchman Takam defended his trainer, explaining: “I said ‘why not?’ when I was asked to spar with Joe. My trainer said he didn’t want me to spar with him because he felt we would fight.

“I was okay to spar, but my coach said; ‘One day you are going to fight that guy.’ Anyway what is the smoke?”

“What’s the smoke?” Joyce replied. “You’re going to get the smoke.”
 

Joe Joyce v Carlos Takam for the WBC Silver and WBO International titles takes place at the SSE Arena, Wembley on July 24.

Hamzah Sheeraz (12-0, 8 KOs) makes the third defence of his WBO European title against Spaniard Ezequiel Gurria (15-1, 3 KOs).
 
Swansea’s Chris Jenkins (22-3-3, 8 KOs) will finally defend his British and Commonwealth welterweight titles against Nottingham’s Ekow Essuman (14-0, 5 KOs) after recovering from injury.
 
In a well matched fourth title fight, Peacock gym ace Chris Bourke (9-0, 6 KOs) defends his WBC International super-bantamweight title against Bloxwich’s James Beech Jnr (12-1, 2 KOs).
 
There is also heavyweight action featuring David Adeleye (6-0, 5 KOs), while Mill Hill’s George Fox (3-0) will make his Queensberry debut. Reading super-featherweight hope Charles Frankham (2-0, 1 KO) has also been added to the stacked bill., along with ‘The Gent’ Micky Burke Jr (4-0, 1 KO) who also returns after his first stoppage victory in November last year.

Tickets are available NOW from AXS.com. Click here to buy tickets.

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CARLOS TAKAM says Joe Joyce will be wishing he’s back in the ring with Oleksandr Usyk when he starts landing bombs next week.

Cocky Carlos leapt at the chance to challenge for Joyce’s WBO International, WBC Silver and Commonwealth Heavyweight titles at SSE Arena, Wembley on Saturday July 24, live on BT Sport.

Joyce had been sweating on a date with Oleksandr Usyk, but that fell through when Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua never materialised.

Joyce did fight Usyk in the WSB in 2013 losing on points and Takam told him: “I am a more difficult fight for Joe than Usyk.

“Joe knows Usyk because they boxed before and Usyk knows Joe.

“I am a problem because Joe has never fought someone like Carlos Takam. How am I going to fight him? It’s a surprise.

“I have experience. He has never fought anybody with my experience. That’s why I say he hasn’t fought anyone like me.”

Both Joyce and Takam are explosive punchers, and the French star predicts that it will be over with the first knockdown.

“He is going to try and put me down, I am going to try and put him down. Whoever puts someone down first is the winner,” he added.

“I want to hurt him like he is going to want to hurt me. We are going to punch each other and I am ready for that fight.Three further title clashes will take place on the undercard of Joe Joyce v Carlos Takam for the WBC Silver and WBO International titles at the SSE Arena, Wembley on July 24.

Hamzah Sheeraz (12-0, 8 KOs) makes the third defence of his WBO European title against Spaniard Ezequiel Gurria (15-1, 3 KOs).
 
Swansea’s Chris Jenkins (22-3-3, 8 KOs) will finally defend his British and Commonwealth welterweight titles against Nottingham’s Ekow Essuman (14-0, 5 KOs) after recovering from injury.
 
In a well matched fourth title fight, Peacock gym ace Chris Bourke (9-0, 6 KOs) defends his WBC International super-bantamweight title against Bloxwich’s James Beech Jnr (12-1, 2 KOs).
 
There is also heavyweight action featuring David Adeleye (6-0, 5 KOs), while Mill Hill’s George Fox (3-0) will make his Queensberry debut. Reading super-featherweight hope Charles Frankham (2-0, 1 KO) has also been added to the stacked bill., along with ‘The Gent’ Micky Burke Jr (4-0, 1 KO) who also returns after his first stoppage victory in November last year.

Tickets are available NOW from AXS.com. Click here to buy tickets.

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To watch Dev Sahni’s full interview click here

Fighting Spirit Series .42 [Japan Youth]

Juliana Velasquez: 

“I think I would be clinching a bit more, her striking didn’t surprise me, but I felt that I did enough to retain the title.”

“I beat her with my jab, if you look at her face, it’s messed up, if you look at mine, my face is fine. I think people in the audience favor her because she has a kickboxing style and I counter, but I think it was my boxing that was the difference tonight.”

“When I come in here, I don’t think of myself as a champion, I think of myself as someone who needs to earn the belt and tonight I felt that I did that.”

#5–Tyrell Fortune (11-1, 1 NC) defeated #7-Matt Mitrione (13-9, 1 NC) via submission (strikes) at 1:45 of round one

Tyrell Fortune:

“I feel great coming out of the fight. He stepped forward so I went for the shot instead of throwing the punch and I guess I made contact with my head. Besides that I was running through him for the takedown. As you saw, I finished on top, and the fight went from there.

“I didn’t feel it (the clash of heads), I can only go off of what he was saying at the time. Like I said, I was just looking to get on top and continue to fight so I didn’t really know what else to do. I thought if there was a contact that the ref would have saw and we would have stopped that’s why I paused for a second on top of him. I didn’t go right to punching. Once the ref said to continue, I was continuing to fight.

“I want Tim Johnson. I don’t want a title shot. I’d rather have Tim Johnson first. That’s really the only fight I’ve been training for since that loss. To me, with him taking that loss (against Valentin Moldavsky) and me getting this win, it should line us right up… I’m gonna’ try to knock his a– out just like he did me.”

Matheus Mattos (13-2-1) defeated Cee Jay Hamilton (15-9) via TKO (strikes) at 1:33 of round two

Matheus Mattos:

“He’s a wrestler. So, he could have done the boring game and taken me down. But he chose to go for the striking. Fortunately, he did it because it was a beautiful knockout. If Bellator could send more strikers to me, then they would be welcomed.”

“I feel great, perfectly strong. But I felt my knee go ‘thwack.’ And I stopped moving a lot. I didn’t do much footwork. I knew this was going to be on my hands, because my leg was painful. Hopefully, everything went well. 

“My two losses were to two of the best in the world. So, I’ve been fighting at a high level a long time and I’m prepared for everyone. They can see that this fight welcomed me to Bellator, and now they know me. They know Matheus Mattos is a striker and he’s coming for us.

“I’m in my prime now so I’m prepared for everyone.”

 #2–Arlene Blencowe (14-8) defeated Dayana Silva (9-6) via TKO (punches) at 1:00 of round three

Arlene Blencowe:

“I feel great. I want to give a shout out to my kids at home. I’ve been away from home for nine weeks and it’s the longest I’ve ever been without my kids. So, this win is for you.”

“I was just trying to gauge my distance. It was starting to be a little bit of a slow fight, so sorry about that fans. I could hear you yelling. But I was determined to keep my pace and not rush into anything. We knew that she swung with power and that the overhand right and the left hook came pretty quick. We’ve been working a lot on kicks, and I’m going to have a lot of bruises tomorrow. And hopefully her calves will be sore too.”

#5-Johnny Eblen (9-0) defeated Travis Davis (10-5) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)

Johnny Eblen:

“My coaches when I came back to the corner told me not to brawl. So, I took their advice and I thought I wrestled smart.”

“He was talking s— saying, ‘Hey, let’s brawl in the corner.’ I’m like, ‘Bro, that’s stupid.’ That’s why you’re not where I’m at. Because you don’t fight smart. You’re trying to come out here and brawl. You can do that all you want, but you’re not going to be a world champion like me.”

Preliminary Card: 

Said Sowma (7-2) defeated Ronny Markes (19-9) via KO (punches) at 1:09 of round one

Cody Law (4-0) defeated Theodore Macuka (1-1) via TKO (punches) at 1:54 of round one

Diana Avsaragova (4-0) defeated Gabriella Gulfin (2-3) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Adil Benjilany (6-3, 1 NC) defeated Johnny Soto (4-2) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Charlie Campbell (4-1) defeated Nicholas Giulietti (2-2) via TKO (punches) at 1:30 of round two

Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.

About BELLATOR

BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts and kickboxing 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.

PHILADELPHIA (July 16, 2021)–Demetrius Andrade defends his WBO Junior Middleweight world title tonight against Brian Rose on the next installment of Classic Fight Night on fubo Sports Network.

Currently the WBO Middleweight champion, Andrade (20-0) met Rose (25-5-1) on June 14, 2014, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Andrade was making the first defense of the crown that he had won just seven months prior with a win over Vanes Martirosyan. The former U.S Olympian was looking to make a statement in front of the New York crowd against Rose, who was riding an 11-fight winning streak, which included wins over former world champions Vivian Harris and Joachim Alcine.

Watch what happens when these two junior middleweights collided in this world title showdown at 8 PM ET.
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About fubo Sports Network
Available on 75 million devices, fubo Sports Network is the live, free-to-consumer TV network featuring sports stories on and off the field. Launched by live TV streaming platform fuboTV (NYSE: FUBO) in September 2019, fubo Sports Network airs live sports, award-winning original programming and partner content from CampusLore, FanDuel, Stadium, The Players Tribune, USA TODAY and VSiN, among others. Stream for free on LG Channels, News on Tubi, Plex, Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel, Vizio Channels and XUMO or as part of fuboTV’s base subscription package of 100+ sports, news and entertainment channels.

For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please like the Banner Promotions Facebook Page, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @BannerBoxing

Undisputed IBF, WBA, WBC & WBO Super Welterweight World Championship Unification – 12 Rounds

Jermell Charlo – 153 lbs.

Brian Castaño – 153 ¼ lbs.

Referee: Hector Afu; Judges: Tim Cheatham (Nev.), Nelson Vazquez (P.R.), Steve Weisfeld (N.J.)

WBA Lightweight Interim Title – 12 Rounds

Rolando Romero – 135 lbs. 

Anthony Yigit – 140 ¼ lbs.

Referee: Rafael Ramos; Judges: Lisa Giampa (Nev.), Wilfredo Esperon (Texas), Robin Taylor (N.Y.)

*Yigit weighed in over the 135 lb. limit. Romero cannot lose his title.

Middleweight Bout (162 lbs.) – 10 Rounds

Amilcar Vidal – 161 ½ lbs. 

Immanuwel Aleem – 162 lbs.

Referee: Ellis Johnson; Judges: Ruben Carrion (Texas), Glen Crocker (Texas), Anthony De Los Santos (Texas)

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ABOUT CHARLO VS. CASTAÑO

Charlo vs. Castaño will see unified WBC, WBA and IBF World Champion Jermell Charlo and WBO World Champion Brian Castaño battle for undisputed status at super welterweight as all four 154-pound belts hang in the balance for the first time in history on Saturday, July 17 live on SHOWTIME from AT&T Center in San Antonio in a Premier Boxing Champions event.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will also feature unbeaten Interim WBA Lightweight Champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero taking on lightweight contender Anthony Yigit in the co-main event, plus unbeaten middleweight Amilcar Vidal matching up against veteran contender Immanuwel Aleem in a 10-round bout that opens the telecast.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Lions Only Promotions and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through www.attcenter.com. Romero vs. Yigit is co-promoted with Mayweather Promotions.

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

Xu Can will defend his WBA Featherweight World Title against Leigh Wood on the first week of Matchroom Fight Camp in Brentwood, Essex on Saturday July 31, live worldwide on DAZN.

Can (18-2, 3 KOs), who is recognised by The Ring Magazine as the No.3 Featherweight in the world, won China’s first ever WBA World Title when he defeated Puerto Rico’s defending Champion Jesus Rojas with a unanimous decision at the Toyota Center, Houston, in January 2019. 

At the age of 24 and 10 months, ‘Monster’ created history by becoming China’s youngest ever World Champion, and just the third from the country to win a World Title, with scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 118-110 over Rjoas, in what was his second appearance as a pro in the U.S.

He successfully defended his WBA crown at the first attempt by stopping Japan’s former Super-Bantamweight World Champion Shun Kubo in six rounds in his hometown of Fuzhou in May 2019. Can made the most of his hero’s welcome, flooring Kubo in round five before ending the contest in the next round.

Can’s all-action style was on full display in his next Title defence as he threw 1,562 punches on route to inflicting a first loss on Manny Robles III at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, impressively outworking and breaking down Robles over 12 rounds to earn a unanimous decision. 

Nottingham’s Wood (24-2, 14 KOs) landed the vacant British Featherweight Title last time out at The SSE Arena, Wembley in February by stopping previously unbeaten Doncaster fighter Reece Mould with a brutal knockout in the ninth round.

Wood, who is trained by top coach Ben Davison, has only lost twice in his 26-fight career – a sixth round stoppage defeat when challenging Gavin McDonnell for the vacant British Super-Bantamweight Title in just his 12^th pro fight and a narrow points loss to eventual MTK Golden contract winner Jazza Dickens last year. 

“I have been idled nearly 20 months without a fight,” said Can. “In the past 5 months in Miami, my coach Pedro Diaz has worked me very hard. This is by far THE best preparation for my Title fights. I feel that I am in an excellent status, physically and mentally. In the next 3 weeks, my goal is to focus on the training and preparation. Leigh Wood is a tough opponent to face and he also has the privileges to fight at home. I must devote 200% of efforts to keep my Title. I can’t wait to see how I turn out on July 31.”

“Opportunities like this don’t always come around, I won’t need another,” said Wood. “I’m going to be World Champion. He’s very good volume puncher, if you let him fight his fight, you’re in for a hard night. I know what I have to do, and I will be exchanging on my terms.”

Elsewhere, WBA Bantamweight World Champion Shannon Courtenay (7-1, 3 KOs) will now put her World Title on the line for the first time against the USA’s Jamie Mitchell (6-0-2, 4 KOs) on Fight Camp Week 3 on Saturday August 14. 

Can vs. Wood is part of a huge night of boxing as Fight Camp returns with a bang, Welterweight star Conor Benn (18-0, 12 KOs) puts his WBA Continental Title on the line against Mexico’s Adrian Grandos (21-8-3, 15 KOs) following his sensational first round KO win over Samuel Vargas, Tommy McCarthy (18-2, 9 KOs) and Chris Billam-Smith (12-1, 10 KOs) collide in a huge showdown for the European, British and Commonwealth Cruiserweight Titles, former World Title challenger Avni Yildrim (21-3, 12 KOs) aims to bounce back from his loss to pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez when he takes on ‘Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver’ Jack Cullen (19-2-1, 9 KOs), Liverpool Super-Welterweight Anthony Fowler (14-1, 11 KOs) promises to build on his huge third-round knockout win over Jorge Fortea when he takes on Roberto Garcia (44-5, 27 KOs), Manchester Lightweight Campbell Hatton (2-0) continues his young journey in the pro ranks and former amateur star Sandy Ryan makes her highly-anticipated professional debut at Super-Lightweight.

‘JUGGERNAUT’ Joe Joyce rode through Wembley Park this week and confidently declared that he wants a Heavyweight shootout with Anthony Joshua under the iconic arch of the new Wembley Stadium.

Before heading to BOXPARK Wembley to sample London’s largest VR arcade – Meetspace VR – Joyce took a lap of the national stadium and was clearly inspired by what he saw.

“AJ at Wembley Stadium for a World Title? That would be incredible.”

If Joyce KO’s the experienced brute Carlos Takam on July 24^th he’ll be made mandatory challenger for the winner of the expected Joshua/Usyk September showdown, so such a clash may be well within reach.

Many in boxing have made Joe the overwhelming favourite for the fight with Takam, but ‘The Juggernut’ is taking nothing for granted.

“It’s the dimensions of him, he’s a bit shorter but he’s got a long reach and throws big looping shots.”

Despite being the underdog for his spectacular November 2020 victory over fancied prospect Daniel ‘Dynamite’ Dubois, Joyce considers Takam a tougher fight than the one he had with the young Greenwich banger.

“He’s got good head movement, experience… it’s going to be a different kind of fight than Dubois, a tougher fight. He’s got a good chin and he can bang.”

Before the serious stuff begins next week, though, there was time for some fun at London’s premier VR gaming experience, Meetspace VR.

Flanked by his managers Sam Jones and Adam Morallee, Joe was treated to time in the Undead Arena as well as being one of the first people in the UK to play the new game, Far Cry VR: Dive Into Insanity.

“I like to play games, especially after training with my feet up at my desk watching something and playing at the same time,” he revealed, “but today was different. VR is a real workout!”

“We started off by rolling around on the ground, shooting zombies, it was fun. Then we played the new Far Cry VR game.

“It was a brilliant game. I’ve had fun. It’s tactical… you don’t know where you’re getting shot from and you’ve got to work together for your objectives. It’s been a good day, I’ve had a great time.”

Alas, in boxing, it can’t all be fun and games.

“I’ve got sparring tonight, another session later this week and then it’s all eyes on July 24^th. Knock Carlos Takam out and then we can start thinking about Joshua at Wembley Stadium for real!”

About meetspaceVR: meetspaceVR brings world class free roam VR experiences all under one roof. With venues in Nottingham (Victoria Centre), London (Wembley Boxpark) and Birmingham (Utilita Arena) meetspaceVR has blown the minds of over 50,000 adrenaline seekers since launching in October 2018. Learn more at https://www.meetspacevr.co.uk/

More information about the experience can be found at https://meetspacevr.co.uk/zerolatency-farcryvr/

Watch the trailer on Vimeo here

Joe Joyce v Carlos Takam for the WBC Silver and WBO International titles takes place at the SSE Arena, Wembley on July 24.

Hamzah Sheeraz (12-0, 8 KOs) makes the third defence of his WBO European title against Spaniard Ezequiel Gurria (15-1, 3 KOs).
 
Swansea’s Chris Jenkins (22-3-3, 8 KOs) will finally defend his British and Commonwealth welterweight titles against Nottingham’s Ekow Essuman (14-0, 5 KOs) after recovering from injury.
 
In a well matched fourth title fight, Peacock gym ace Chris Bourke (9-0, 6 KOs) defends his WBC International super-bantamweight title against Bloxwich’s James Beech Jnr (12-1, 2 KOs).
 
There is also heavyweight action featuring David Adeleye (6-0, 5 KOs), while Mill Hill’s George Fox (3-0) will make his Queensberry debut. Reading super-featherweight hope Charles Frankham (2-0, 1 KO) has also been added to the stacked bill., along with ‘The Gent’ Micky Burke Jr (4-0, 1 KO) who also returns after his first stoppage victory in November last year.

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