LIVE ON DAZN FROM 6PM (local)
 
8 x 3 mins Super-Lightweight contest
 
Gabriel Valenzuela 138.9lbs vs.     Juan Ocura 138.9lbs
Tepic, Mexico                                    Sabrinas, Mexico
 
Followed by
 
8 x 3 mins Super-Middleweight contest
 
Diego Pacheco 167lbs          vs.     Jesus Moroyoqui Palomares 167lbs
Los Angeles, USA                             Sonora, Mexico
 
Followed by
 
10 x 3 mins Welterweight contest
 
Christian Alan Gomez Duran 147lbs       vs.     Jorge Perez Sanchez 147lbs
Guadalajara, Mexico                                             Tlanelpantla, Mexico
 
Followed by
 
12 x 3 mins interim WBA World Light-Flyweight title
 
Daniel Matellon 107.6lbs     vs.     Jose Argumedo 107.6lbs
Panama City, Panama                     Tepic, Mexico
 
Followed by
 
12 x 3 mins WBC World Flyweight title
 
Julio Cesar Martinez 112lbs vs.     Joel Cordova 112lbs
Mexico City, Mexico                          Mexico City, Mexico

MINNEAPOLIS (June 25, 2021) – Cuban sensation and unbeaten WBA Super Middleweight Champion David Morrell Jr. and undefeated challenger Mario Cázares squared off at a press conference on Friday ahead of their 12-round contest that headlines FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes this Sunday, June 27 from The Armory in Minneapolis.

Also in attendance at Friday’s press conference were cruiserweight knockout artist Efetobor Apochi and fellow unbeaten Brandon Glanton, who meet in the 10-round co-main event, as well as rising super lightweight contender Omar “El Relámpago” Juárez and All Rivera, who battle in a 10-round attraction to kick off the FOX telecast at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.

Here’s what the fighters had to say Friday:

DAVID MORRELL JR.

“I did everything the same to prepare for this fight. I trained hard. Only this time I had much more time to get in shape.

“This fight is going to be a war. It’s going to be Cuba vs. Mexico. I know he’s well prepared, but I know that I’ve prepared better.

“I’m ready for whatever happens. If it goes the distance, then I’ll be ready to win. If it goes easier and ends inside the distance, I’m still going to win. I prepared very well for this fight.

“My game plan is to stay happy and to be ready for whatever. My mood is not going to change.

“There’s been a lot of talk that I may not be ready for a test like this. I’m going to prove all of those people wrong on Sunday. I’m ready for this fight and for all of the fighters at 168 pounds.

“Minneapolis is my home. I’m happy to be fighting here. I consider everyone in Minneapolis to be part of my team. This is my new home and I’m excited to put on a great show at The Armory on Sunday.”

MARIO CÁZARES

“I understand the Cuban style of fighting very well. We have a lot of influence from the Cuban style. So I know Morrell and I understand exactly where he’s coming from with his style.

“This opportunity didn’t happen overnight. I’ve been working towards this moment and getting ready for this fight for a long time.

“Sunday is going to be a war.”

EFETOBOR APOCHI

“I’m blessed and happy to be here. I’ve been working hard for weeks to prepare for this. This is my life. I’m a warrior and a fighter.

“I don’t think he’ll be able to hang with me in there and go the distance. It’s not going to happen. I have the best team in the world around me.

“I want to fight undefeated fighters because I like fighting for championships. I don’t like to fight guys who have lost before. So when they told me I’m going to fight Glanton who’s 13 – 0 with 11 knockouts I said, ‘Good, I like that.’ That’s what boxing is all about. It’s about entertainment, and it’s a business and a show. People want to see action. I love challenges. I’m bringing the fight on Sunday. Nobody brings the fight to me. I bring the fight!”

BRANDON GLANTON

“I feel strong. My weight is on point. This camp has been great. I’ve had enough time to get to know who I’m fighting and get everything together that I’ll need to be ready for this fight.

“I’m definitely excited to get back in the ring. Fans or no fans, I’m a professional and I’m here to handle my business. It feels good to fight someone who they think deserves to be in there with me and I look forward to whatever Apochi does on Sunday.”

OMAR JUÁREZ

“I’m mentally and physically in the best shape of my life. I’m ready for whatever Rivera is going to bring to the table on Sunday.

“This training camp was amazing. We did things a little differently. I’ve actually been training with Mario Barrios so that both of us could get the work we needed for our fights this weekend.

“I’m more than ready for this fight and I’m excited to get back into the ring on FOX.”

ALL RIVERA

“Training camp went really well. We’ve just been working hard to make sure that everything is ready on fight night.

“All of our plans are coming together perfectly for a great night of action on Sunday.”

#

ABOUT MORRELL VS. CAZARES
Morrell vs. Cazares will see Cuban sensation and unbeaten WBA Super Middleweight Champion David Morrell Jr. defend his title against undefeated challenger Mario Cázares in a 12-round duel that headlines FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Sunday, June 27 from The Armory in Minneapolis.

The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features cruiserweight knockout artist Efetobor Apochi taking on fellow unbeaten Brandon Glanton in the 10-round co-main event, and rising super lightweight contender Omar “El Relámpago” Juárez battling All Rivera in a 10-round attraction to kick off the telecast.

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 @WarriorsBoxingProm, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

New York, NY (June 25, 2021) WBA super lightweight world champion Kali Reis is receiving a wealth of accolades from the international entertainment media for her starring role in the movie, ‘Catch the Fair One’, which is a scintillating thriller set in the sex trafficking world of indigenous women.

Directed and produced by award-winning Josef Kubota Wladyka, the movie premiered on June 13, at the famed Tribeca Film Festival with the film and Reis garnering awards and rave reviews, as her character searches for her missing sister. The film won the Festival’s 2021 Audience Award and Reis, in her acting debut, won the Special Jury Award for her performance. Among the outlets praising the movie are IndieWire, The Daily Beast, Film Threat, Hammer To Nail and Loud and Clear Reviews.

‘Catch the Fair One’ can be screened through the festival at www.TribecaFilm.com and the trailer can be viewed via YouTube HERE.

Reis’ ring nickname, “KO Mequinonoag”, which means “many feathers, many talents”, represents her Native American heritage, of which she is part Cherokee, Nipmuc, and Seaconke Wampanoag. A former WBC middleweight champion, Reis captured the WBA super lightweight world title on November 6, 2020, earning a unanimous decision victory against Kandi Wyatt. DiBella Entertainment will soon announce Reis’ next world title defense, which will happen over the summer.

Stated Reis about the movie and the response from the media, “I am overwhelmed with pride and honor over the reviews for ‘Catch the Fair One’. When the director and I first started this journey back in 2017, we had dreams of bringing awareness to this detrimental epidemic of MMIW (missing and murdered indigenous women) and sex trafficking in general.

“Between Josef’s incredible artistic ability in storytelling, his in-depth look into this world and my authentic input through my own personal experiences, we were able to create this intense and necessary film. Native and Indigenous women and men have been mistreated and deemed ‘merciless savages’ or ‘less than human’ since their first contact with colonizers.

“My aim is to bring awareness to issues important to my community through the platform I’ve built for myself in almost 13 years as a boxer and Josef does the same through film. I am filled with gratitude to everyone who was a part of this project and especially grateful to Tribeca for featuring ‘Catch the Fair One’ in this year’s film festival.

“I am so honored to be able to tell this story and humbled by all those who took the time to watch it. This film is in no way, shape, or form an answer or solution to the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women, girls and relatives. It is just our artistic interpretation for people to question why this isn’t reported in mainstream media and why this continues to happen every day.

“People have asked me how they can help the cause. Educate yourself and seek to have conversations with those who may not know anything about MMIW. The more we speak about it, the more we can start to heal and make preventative actions more accessible to communities that lack resources.

“It is important that we honor our ancestors who gave up so much for us to survive and be here now. We are worthy of being recognized as the first people of this land. However, we are the forgotten race and it is time that people realize we are still here and a part of society as a whole. It is our goal that one day our women will be less targeted and not have to worry that their babies will become yet another statistic.”

Reis’ boxing promoter, International Boxing Hall of Famer Lou DiBella said, “Kali Reis is a true boxing champion. Her performance in ‘Catch the Fair One’ is riveting and powerful. It’s a natural extension of her advocacy for missing and murdered indigenous women. I’m very proud to work with this socially conscious, multi-talented woman. Do not miss this film.”

Social Media
DiBella Entertainment
Instagram: @DiBellaEnt
Twitter: @LouDiBella, @DiBellaEnt
Facebook: @DiBellaEntertainment

Kali Reis
Instagram: @Kali_Reis
Twitter: @KO_Reis86
Facebook: @KaliKOReis

Julio Cesar Martinez is hunting down all the belts at Flyweight as he defends his WBC title against Joel Cordova in the headline fight of the opening event of Matchroom and DAZN’s new series of fight nights in Mexico with Canelo Promotions and Clase y Talento on Saturday night at the Dome Alcalde – CODE Jalisco in Guadalajara, live worldwide on DAZN.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW FROM M$150

Martinez (17-1 13 KOs) puts the green and gold belt on the line for the third time and has spoken of his desire to make up for lost time having had two defenses against McWilliams Arroyo cancelled due to injury.

‘El Rey’ takes on fellow countryman Cordova (12-4-2 3 KOs) in his first fight since blasting Moises Calleros Garcia away in two rounds in Mexico City in October, and Martinez is eager to retain his belt in style before aiming battles with his fellow title holders at 112lbs.

“My goal? To have all the belts and be the best pound for pound in Flyweight,” said Martinez. “So, as I have always said: with whoever, wherever. [IBF champion] Sunny Edwards just crowned himself. I beat his brother; I took his belt. I would be proud and very happy if he gives me the opportunity to fight with him for unification.

“With [WBA champion] Artem Dalakian it would be a prideful too. He is undefeated as well. A fighter who is willing to clash, who is capable of knockouts. Now, as I have always said, I want to face the best. That’s what we’re here for.

“[WBO champion] Junto Nakatani is a fighter with a lot of style, a lot of technique and, of the elite. Again, as I have always said, I want to face the best and make history.”

Martinez’s clash with Cordova is part of a stacked card in Guadalajara, with Cuba’s Daniel Matellon (11-0-2 6 KOs) making the first defense of his interim WBA World Light-Flyweight title against Jose Argumedo (24-4-1 15 KOs).

There is a 12th pro-outing for rising Mexican-American starlet Diego Pacheco (11-0 8 KOs), Gabriel Valenzuela (23-2-1 13 KOs) looks to build on his impressive win in London, England over Robbie Davies Jr in February against Juan Ocura (14-14-1 6 KOs), Christian Alan Gomez Duran (20-2-1 18 KOs) features on the card having recorded stoppage wins on two Canelo cards in December and May against unbeaten Jorge Sanchez (13-0 5 KOs).

PHILADELPHIA (June 25, 2021)-Rising Lightweight Nahir Albright will take on Jeremy Hill In the main event on Friday night, July 23rd, which will kick off “Crossroads” weekend at the 2300 Arena.

The card will be the first of back-to-back shows as RDR Promotions will be back the very next night with another action packed show that will also feature some of the best talent in the county.

Albright of Sicklerville, New Jersey has a record of 12-1 with six knockouts.

The 25 year-old Albright has been streaking as he stopped his last four opponents which includes early wins over Dante Cox (6-1) and his fight when he stopped former world title challenger Cosme Rivera in eight-rounds on May 28th in Rivera’s home country of Mexico. Albright also has wins over Danny Murray (1-0), Glenford Nickey (4-1-1) and Roy McGill (6-1-1).

Hill of New Orleans has a record of 15-1 with 10 knockouts.

Hiil, 28 years-old is a three-year pro who has wins over Leshawn Alcoks (1-0), Xavier Wilson (11-1-1) and Travis Castellon (16-3-1). Hill is coming off of a fourth round stoppage over Deivi Julio on May 15th in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Also taking part in an eight-round bout will be Derrick Whitley Jr. taking on an opponent to be named in a welterweight bout.

Whitley of Springfield, MA is 6-1-1 and is a four-year professional. He is coming off a no-contest against Jermaine Corley, as Whitley suffered a cut before the fourth round.

Donald “No Love” Smith (12-1, 8 KOs) of Philadelphia will take on an opponent to be named in a eight-round featherweight bout.

In a six-round super bantamweight bout, Romuel Cruz (5-0-1, 2 KOs) of Philadelphia takes on Roberto Pucheta (10-18-2, 6 KOs) of Jalisco, Mexico.

In a six-round heavyweight crowd pleasing match, Garrett Wilson (18-17-1, 8 KOs) of Philadelphia fights Joel Caudle (8-5-2, 5 KOs) of Raleigh, NC.

In four-round Bouts:

Raekwon Butler (2-0, 2 KOs) of Brooklyn, NY takes on Dieumerci Nzau (11-14, 8 KOs) of Silver Spring, MD in a welterweight contest.

Ryan Umberger (4-0, 4 KOs) of Bensalem, PA takes on Ryan Schwartzberg (0-1-1) in a junior middleweight fight.

Isaiah Johnson (1-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia fights Damien Robinson (1-0, 1 KO) of North Carolina in a super lightweight contest.

Rashan Adams of Philadelphia makes his pro debut against an opponent to be named in a junior lightweight bout.

Muhsin Cason (7-0, 4 KOs) of Las Vegas will see action in a cruiserweight bout.

Tickets are $75, $100, $150 and $250 for VIP Box, and can be purchased from the fighters or emailing rricerivew@yahoo.com

1st Bell is at 7 PM

New Haven, CT (June 25, 2021) – It’s easy to dismiss a fighter after an unexpected loss. It’s easy to suggest he or she should move on, call it a career, and count their blessings while figuring out what to do with the rest of their life.

For Jimmy Williams, boxing is life. It’s what he’s done best since he was a teenager growing up in New Jersey. And even when he gave up on it for a few years to play college football and take his shot at the NFL, boxing was waiting for him with open arms again when an injury ended his dream of playing professionally.

Boxing has been Williams’ launching pad for success over the past eight years, so when he took an unexpected loss against a journeyman challenger in December, the 34-year-old New Haven, CT, veteran never flinched. While others whispered that this might be the end of his career, Williams continued to press forward. The outcome that night was irrelevant; two months removed from a devastating knockout loss to Brandun Lee, Williams needed that fight in December to prove he still had something left in the tank.

Six months later, Williams is back atop his perch, looking ahead to the next great challenge – and peering back at those who doubted – following the biggest victory of his career.

The proud father of twin boys and longtime truancy officer at West Haven High School is the new reigning Universal Boxing Organization (UBO) Super Welterweight Champion after defeating former world title-holder Yuri Foreman by majority decision this past weekend in Atlanta. Williams bloodied Foreman in the third round and floored him twice in the sixth en route to a 75-75, 77-73, 77-73 win, toppling a once dominant champion with 39 professional bouts and 35 wins under his belt, by far the most accomplished, respected opponent Williams has faced in his long career. Williams improved to 18-5-2 with the win.

There’s no way to underscore what this means for the “Quiet Storm.” Six months ago, Williams looked like a fighter with one foot out the door after losing in Mexico to 11-23-2 Esteban Villalba, by no means in the same conversation with a fighter like Foreman. Now Williams is on top of the world again in what he calls his true “prime,” all for one simple reason – he believed when others doubted. Can a 34-year-old challenger in the competitive super welterweight division still chase his dream of winning a world title? Why not? Williams has proven nothing is impossible.

“This is a dream come true,” said Williams, who has spent his entire career since the age of 26 under the guidance of promoter Jimmy Burchfield and CES Boxing. “Once this opportunity presented itself, I knew I had to take it. I knew a fight like this would bring out my world-class kills. I knew I had to be ready to go.

“Yuri Foreman, that’s a big name in boxing. People looked at me like I didn’t stand a chance. Even Foreman’s camp, I’m sure they looked back at my losses and how I lost and thought this was a fight they should win. On paper, it looked like a great fight for Yuri, but it was everything for me, and I showed why.”

The irony is this fight was originally scheduled to take place in Louisville, KY, in March, further back during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. Williams spent his camp working for the first time with Rhode Island-based trainer Brian Johnson, at first commuting back and forth from New Haven to Providence before living out of a hotel during the final weeks before the fight to cut down on his travel. Everything was coming together perfectly; Williams felt a new sense of purpose under Johnson, whom he considered a father figure – Williams lost both of his parents during his teen years – and even back then spoke about being in his prime despite having eight years under his belt.

Then the unthinkable happened. Foreman, who felt ill leading up to the bought, tested positive for COVID at the weigh-in, forcing the promoter to postpone the fight. In boxing, postponements and promises of a make-up date often turn into cancelations, and with Foreman having just turned 40 not knowing what his future would bring, Williams wasn’t sure he’d get this opportunity again.

As fate would have it, the bout was, in fact, rescheduled for this past weekend fairly early in the process, so Williams didn’t lose much time between the end of his first camp and the start of the new one. Then fate intervened again. With Johnson unable to accompany Williams to Atlanta for the fight, Williams was forced to find a new home to finish his camp with a little more than a week to go before fight night. He decided upon Champs Boxing Club in nearby Danbury – the home of several pro fighters, including Omar Bordoy, Mike Marshall, Vinnie Carita, and Geoffrey Then, among others – and met with trainers Tommy Smalls and Dave McDonough, both of whom welcomed him with open arms. Their motto – “You give us 100 percent, and we’ll give you 150 percent.”

Smalls and McDonough weren’t just opening their doors to let Williams ride out the rest of his camp. They traveled this journey with him, watching film, implementing new techniques, and providing the necessary guidance to help Williams get over the hump. He worked hard and they worked even harder. On fight night, it all clicked – something that doesn’t always happen when working with a new team on short notice. When Williams had to weather an early storm between rounds, Smalls and McDonough kept him calm and focused in the corner, and Williams responded with a championship performance, catching his second wind in the sixth round to score the two knockdowns that ultimately won him the fight.

“They prepared just like I did, so I was prepared,” Williams said. “I was little nervous deep down, but once I got to Champs, I was like, ‘OK, this is going to work.’ It just felt like we were all on the same page.

“Putting [Foreman] down twice in the sixth, that was the turning point. In my head, I knew I was up, so I just had to box and use my skills. I knew he would try to land a big shot to even it up, so it was a mental game at that point, but I believed in my skills and my willpower. I learned a lot about myself.”

As for what’s next following his big win in Atlanta, Williams promises to remain patient and make the smart choice. He’s found a new team at Champs, proving chaos can often be a blessing in disguise. Williams overcame a lot to get to this point – losses in the ring, heartbreak at the weigh-in, even unexpected turmoil right before fight night. Doubt him again and he’ll just continue to prove there’s no expiration date on guts and perseverance.

“This win definitely gets me back in the mix,” Williams said. “I feel like I’m in my prime now. The football, everything else, that’s behind me. I’ve grown as a fighter. I’m experienced and feel like I’m at my peak now.”

Visit CESFights.com for more information, or follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter at @CESBOXING.

INFORMATION
CES Boxing is one of the top promotions in the northeast and one of the few to successfully promote both mixed martial arts and professional boxing. Launched in 1992 by longtime boxing judge Jimmy Burchfield Sr., the promotion is the only in professional boxing to boast two reigning WBC Youth world champions in lightweight Jamaine Ortiz and featherweight Irvin Gonzalez. CES Boxing recently teamed with UFC Fight Pass, the world’s No. 1 streaming platform for combat sports, to showcase its events to a worldwide audience.

Atlantic City, NJ (June 25, 2021)–, Hard Hitting Promotions is pleased to formally announce a landmark boxing series at The Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City titled, Boardwalk Boxing Powered by Hard Hitting Promotions and Showboat Hotel.

The series was announced at a packed press conference that took place this past Tuesday at The Showboat Hotel, with the first event taking place on Saturday, July 31st.

“I am so glad to be part of this. This is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Manny Rivera, Partner with Hard Hitting Promotions. “This is just a small piece of what is going to happen in Atlantic City. This has been a vision for the last three and a half years. What we will be doing is putting on great fights and high quality events, and we can see this as the start of bringing big time boxing in Atlantic City like it used be. You can see what we are trying to do in our first event, by having excellent fights with all of the fighters getting tested in real fights.”

“Starting on July 31st, we will start a 12-fight series with Hard Hitting Promotions. This is the largest commitment to boxing in Atlantic City in an Atlantic City property since the 1990’s,” said Brandon Dixon, president of Tower Investments. “We are committed to making boxing an integral part of the city’s non-casino entertainment in addition to our professional boxing series, we will be rolling out a truly unique amateur fight series.”

In the main event on July 31st, undefeated Christian Tapia battles Mason Menard in a 10 round fight for the NABA Super Featherweight title.

Tapia of Coamo, Puerto Rico, has a record of 11-0 with 10 knockouts,

Tapia, 27 years-old is a four-year professional, and is coming off a 4th round stoppage over Carlos Colon on March 7th, 2020 in Atlantic City..

Menard of Rayne, Louisiana has an impressive mark of 36-5 with 25 knockouts.

The 32 year-old Menard is a 14 year-professional who has racked up wins over Thomas Dardar (8-1), Lonnie Smith (14-3-2), Ivan Otero (8-1), Oscar Bravo (21-4), Eudy Bernardo (21-0), Bahodir Mamadjonov (19-2). Menard is coming off a close majority decision defeat to highly ranked Emmanuel Tagoe (31-1) on November 27th in Hollywood, Florida.

In the co-feature, undefeated bantamweight Dylan Price of Sicklerville, New Jersey takes on tough Edwin Rodriguez in an eight-round bout.

Price, 22 years-old of Sicklerville, NJ is 13-0 with 10 knockouts. Price, a four-year professional, has stopped his last four opponents, and is coming off a 2nd round destruction over Elias Joaquino on April 17th in Philadelphia.

Rodriguez, 28 year-old of Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico has a record of 11-5-2 with five knockouts.

Rodriguez, a nine-year veteran, has wins over Carlos Rodriguez (12-1), Juan Carlos Camacho (6-0) and highly regarded Saul Sanchez (12-0). Rodriguez is coming off a disputed draw with decorated contender Joshua Greer (22-2-1) on November 14th in Las Vegas.

Local favorite, Anthony “Juice” Young returns in an eight-round bout against veteran, Todd Manuel in a welterweight fight.

Young of Atlantic City is 21-2 with eight knockouts.

Young, 33, will be making his 13th appearance in his hometown, is coming off the best win of his career, as he stopped former super welterweight world champion Sadam Ali in three-rounds on March 4, 2019 in Las Vegas,

Manuel of Rayne, Louisiana is 19-17-1 with five knockouts, has posted wins over K Lon Spencer (4-0), Arthur Thomas (1-0) and Tom Howard (8-1). Manuel is on a two-fight winning streak, and in his last contest, he won an eight-round unanimous decision against Jesus Angulo on June 4th in Mexico.

In six-round bouts:

Ricardo Caraballo (6-1, 2 KOs) of Riverview, Florida takes on an opponent to be named in a flyweight fight.

Emmnauel Rodriguez (9-0, 4 KOs) of Quebardillas, PR will fight an opponent to be named.

Jan Carlos Rivera (4-1, 4 KOs) of Philadelphia will take part in a welterweight bout.

Jerome Conquest (10-5, 1 KO) of Philadelphia fights an opponent to be named.

In a four-round bout, welterweight Dezmond Lucas (2-0, 1 KO) of Bronx, NY will make an appearance against an opponent to be named.

Tickets for this amazing evening boxing are $150, $100, $75 and $55 and can be purchased.

HERE—CLICK TO BUY TICKETS

Eddie Hearn
“Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to Guadalajara. It’s an absolute honor to be sitting here not just next to Eddy Reynoso and the team, but to bring major televised events to Mexico live on DAZN and it all begins this Saturday with our World Championship main event Julio Cesar Martinez against Joel Cordova for the WBC Flyweight World Championship and a tremendous card here in Guadalajara

“This project is very important to us. It gives us the chance, of course, to work with Eddy Reynoso and Clase Y Talento and Canelo Alvarez and Canelo promotions to help bring major televised events here to Mexico.

“We all know that this is the birthplace of some tremendous fighters, but there is so much more talent that can be produced here in Mexico, so much more opportunity that can be given to young fighters.

“And, of course, we want to thank DAZN for their investment in the sport in Mexico and Eddy and Saul as well for their partnership for this really exciting series.

“Four shows over the next six months and many shows beyond that as well. Chances for world Champions to defend their titles here. Chances for young prospects to get the opportunity to box in their Homeland. And if you’ve been watching our shows around the world lately, you’ve seen a lot of Mexican fighters coming to the UK and beating British fighters. So, we’ve decided to come here and work with them rather than against them. Tremendous fighters, tremendous talent. This is going to be a brilliant, brilliant run and a great series. And as I said, kicks off Saturday night here in Guadalajara live on DAZN.”

“Eddy, first event for us in Mexico important to do it in Guadalajara. And so important for Mexican fighters to get these opportunities.

Eddy Reynoso
“We’re really thrilled to have the best promoter of boxing here in Guadalajara. It’s a really great opportunity for the Mexican boxers and the Guadalajara boxers to have a good platform and international platform. And we are sure that it’s going to have the start of a really great thing here in Mexico.

Eddie Hearn 
“You’ve seen Gabriel Valenzuela come over and beat Robbie Davies Jr. You’ve seen Mauricio Lara come and beat Josh Warrington. You’ve seen Jovanni Straffon beat James Tenneson. So many great fighters for us to unearth in this series.”

Eddy Reynoso
“There’s a lot of talent here in Mexico. We’re really happy that they’re looking at Mexico for getting talent, and it’s a really great opportunity for us. We have here the best boxing in the world. But also we have a lot of young talent that wants to have opportunities. And we’re really happy that you are giving this opportunity to the young talent.”

Eddie Hearn
“And one of those fighters that broke our hearts recently, Gabriel Valenzuela, who came to the UK to beat Robbie Davies Jr, now gets the opportunity to fight here in the UK. Gabriel, a tremendous win in England last time. Now a great opportunity for you to fight here in Guadalajara.

Gabriel Valenzuela
“First of all, we’re really thankful for the opportunity of being here in this big fight. We feel very excited and happy. My team and I are motivated. This project is bringing more opportunities to bring about new talent from Jalisco and Mexico. The truth is Mexico is world power in boxing and I’m certain thousands of champions can come from here.

Eddie Hearn
“Gabriel, hopefully a good win on Saturday. You’re in the world rankings now ready and push forward to try and look for a shot at the world title later this year.

Gabriel Valenzuela
“First we have to focus on this fight in the Saturday. We have talked with Eddy and there are plans to look for a world title fight at the of 2021. Hopefully, things come together. We want to be champions of the world right now.”

Eddie Hearn
“And the beauty of this DAZN platform globally is the opportunity for fighters to fight all around the world in key markets, but also to gain valuable experience. Diego Pacheco has boxed in Mexico before. He’s also boxed in Saudi Arabia. He’s had several fights in the US, Diego, welcome back. I know you love to fight here in Mexico, former member of the Mexican team as well. Great new run of events here in Mexico and looking forward to getting back in the ring on Saturday.”

Diego Pacheco
“First and foremost, I want to thank everyone for being here. I want to thank Eddie Hearn and Eddy Reynoso for putting together this event here in Guadalajara for all of us and a lot of other young Mexican fighters.

“I feel like this opportunity that they’re giving to these Mexican fighters is one that should have been done a long time ago because there’s so much talent here in Mexico that doesn’t get the opportunity or the platform to show the world what they have.

“I’m really happy and excited for these Mexican fighters and me as well for the opportunity. I want to take my team, my family and everyone has helped me get to this point. I’m ready to go Saturday and don’t miss it on DAZN.”

Eddie Hearn
“We go on to Christian Duran. Welcome. Tremendous performance last time out on the Canelo Alvarez undercard. You have a big fight on Saturday for your career. You look in great shape, ready to go.

Christian Duran
“For this upcoming fight I feel great, I feel strong. We are facing a strong rival, but I’m good. I feel very strong. So, I’m going to give it my all and God willing I will win on Saturday.”

“I think these fight series are important. Not just these, but each one of the fights in a boxer’s career because from each of them impacts their prospects.”

“I feel relaxed, good, and strong. God willing, Saturday I’ll be the one who’s hand is raised in the air. So, I’m here. Ready for whatever Eddy provides us. We are ready to work.”

Eddy Reynoso
“Gabriel and Christian are both great prospects. Gabriel comes with a huge triumph in England. Valenzuela also comes with two great performances in Saul’s functions. Pacheco fought in the Callum Smith undercard. He’s a tremendous prospect. He’s of the best in the U.S. Overall, it’s a very important undercard. They are young boxers that will no doubt continue to grow.”

Eddie Hearn
“Three great fighters looking to make a name for themselves broadcasted all around the world live on DAZN from Guadalajara this Saturday.

“One thing you can be guaranteed on these cards and guaranteed with Mexican fighters is no easy fights. I’ve never known a Mexican fighter to turn down an opportunity. And this is a fight, a tremendous fight for the WBA interim Flyweight Championship of the world, a fight that was put together by Eddy Reynoso.”

Eddy Reynoso
“Before anything else, Daniel Matellon is a great fighter. A World Champion. Argumedo has also been a champion. We went to Japan to beat Takamaya. Now, he’s jumping weight classes. It’s going to be a great fight and both boxers will adapt to the different boxing styles.”

Eddie Hearn
“This division right now is absolutely red hot. Of course, you’ve got Kyoguchi, the Super champion who’s promoted by Matchroom and managed by Eddy Reynoso as well. You have Soto, the WBO Light Flyweight Champion of the world. You have other great fighters. Also, Mexican champion Bermudez the regular champion at Light Flyweight with the WBA. This is a big moment for you to put your name in the mix with all those fighters.”

Daniel Matellon
“This is a great opportunity with DAZN, and I won’t let it go to waste. I’m already a champion and I’ll be defending it for the first time to keep it.”

Eddie Hearn
You’re fighting a Mexican in Mexico. The atmosphere is going to be red hot in there. You look very calm and cool, but it’s going to be a lot of noise in there and a lot of pressure on you on Saturday. But you’re ready for that.

Daniel Matellon
“I’m a calm guy. I’m used to pressure as I’ve traveled to various countries. To fight here in Mexico brings me joy. I think we’ll make a great combat and will not give judges a chance to have a contradicting discussion about that.”

Eddie Hearn
Argumedo, a massive opportunity for you. Eddy Reynoso made this fight. We know that your all action. This is going to be a war from the first round to the last round, however long it lasts. Massive opportunity for your career on Saturday.

Jose Argumedo
“Of course, this is going to be a great fight. It’s a joy to fight against a great champion. We are reading to put on a great fight on Saturday.”

Eddie Hearn
“The WBA interim Championship of the world. This is a great fight. Matallon against Argumedo Do not miss this fight live on DAZN from Guadalajara on Saturday.

Eddie Hearn
“A huge fight on Saturday night. Two Mexicans will battle for the WBC Fly Weight Championship of the World. Of course, the WBC world Flyweight champion, El Rey Julio Cesar Martinez against Joel Cordova. This is a special moment when two Mexicans get to battle it out for the wonderful green and gold WBC Championship.

“Eddy, Firstly, I know you work with, of course, El Rey and represent him as well. Two Mexicans going for the WBC world title, a special fight on Saturday.”

Eddy Reynoso
“It’s very important for Martinez to reappear. It’s been a while since he last fought. Things came up. Now, he’s very prepared. It’s going to be very good fight. Joel is an extraordinary fighter as well.

“A world title fight between two Mexicans rarely happens. We are fortunate that it’s happening here in Guadalajara. It’s going to be a great fight. I think Martinez’ return versus Cordova, a fellow Mexican, will be a war.”

Eddie Hearn
“Eddy, the first time I ever met you, I think, was when you came to London with Julio Cesar Martinez. You fought Charlie Edwards. It was going towards the way of a knockout. It ended a no contest. But how special is this young man? I know he’s had his difficulties, but people talk about the potential, and I know he has a tough fight on Saturday, but Julio Cesar Martinez could really be one of the big emerging stars of Mexican boxing.”

Eddy Reynoso
“We expect a lot from Martinez. We expect him to win more championships, to climb divisions. We are looking for a fight with Gallo Estrada. Hopefully that can happen this year. But right now, he has to face a strong fighter that is coming for the championship. At the end of the day, when they enter the ring, the winner is who is going to takeoff.”

Eddie Hearn
“Joel, a lot of people talking about Julio Cesar Martinez, but a lot of people from Mexico tell me you are very dangerous”

Joel Cordova
“Well, Martinez, besides being a great champion, he’s also a great friend. For me, this fight is very important. I train and focus differently for each of my rivals. Martinez is not an exception. He’s a true champion and he’s going to face another one.”

“We come prepared to fight. For both styles: strategy and clashing.”

Eddie Hearn
“The first time I saw [Martinez] I couldn’t believe what I saw. He came to London. The best word to describe Julio Cesar Martinez is dangerous and a little bit crazy, ‘loco’ as you say. But I truly believe that this man has the ability and the heart and just the character to become a real star of Mexican boxing. He is so exciting to watch. And it’s been a frustrating period and a tough, tough battle for him to come back. But the opportunity to move up the divisions. I heard him talk about a fight with Juan Estrada. Can you imagine that fight Martinez against his trade? These are the kind of fights that he has the potential of being in, but he must come through Saturday night.”

Julio Martinez
“As I’ve always have said, with everything but fear and with whomever, wherever. This is boxing. He’s a great friendly, truthfully. Let the best fighter win and that we both leave the ring in good health.

Eddie Hearn
How difficult was it for you to accept that Fame and the money and the Championships? I know you’re wearing it a lot around your neck right now with your jewelry.

Julio Martinez
“I had never had to throw away fights, so that was disappointing. I’m here to box and truly see if I am of the best there is. I want to face the undefeated. I want to unify the belts, God willing. I’m grateful to Eddy Reynoso and Eddie Hearn and I will not disappoint them. 

Eddie Hearn
Well, this is a tremendous fight, Julio season Martinez against Joe Cordova for the green and gold WBC world title. As I said, two Mexicans fighting out to become world champion on Saturday night. Julio defending his title, Joe Cordova, trying to shock the world and become world champion himself.

I cannot wait to be in the Arena on Saturday night. Everyone: tune in on DAZN. Wherever you are in the world, you can watch this fight live.  And everybody, turn out on Saturday night, come down and begin this adventure with us with Matchroom, with Clase y Talento, with Eddy Reynoso, with Saul Alvarez and Canelo Promotions.

“This is a massive opportunity for boxing in Mexico, and we promise you, we will be providing great opportunities for talented young fighters and world Champions to fight at home. This series is going to be a lot of fun live on DAZN.”

ENDS

Martinez’s clash with Cordova is is part of a stacked card in Guadalajara, with Cuba’s Daniel Matellon (11-0-2 6 KOs) making the first defends of his interim WBA World Light-Flyweight title against Jose Argumedo (24-4-1 15 KOs).

There is a 12th pro-outing for rising Mexican-American starlet Diego Pacheco (11-0 8 KOs), Gabriel Valenzuela (23-2-1 13 KOs) looks to build on his impressive win in London, England over Robbie Davies Jr in February against Juan Ocura (14-14-1 6 KOs), Christian Alan Gomez Duran (20-2-1 18 KOs) features on the card having recorded stoppage wins on two Canelo cards in December and May against unbeaten Jorge Sanchez (13-0 5 KOs).

ATLANTA (June 24, 2021) – Four-time world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis and WBA Super Lightweight Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios went face-to-face Thursday at the final press conference before they meet in the SHOWTIME PPV main event this Saturday, June 26 from the award-winning State Farm Arena in Atlanta in a Premier Boxing Champions event.

Thursday’s press conference also featured top 154-pound contender Erickson “Hammer” Lubin and former unified champion Jeison Rosario, who meet in a WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator in the co-main event, super welterweight contender Carlos Adames and Mexico’s Alexis Salazar, who battle in a 10-round showdown on the PPV, and hard-hitting Olympian Batyr Akhmedov and former world champion Argenis Mendez, who square off in the opening bout of the PPV telecast beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

Tickets for the live event at State Farm Arena, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, GTD Promotions and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com. The Akhmedov vs. Mendez fight is promoted in association with World of Boxing.

Here is what the press conference participants had to say Thursday from the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center:

GERVONTA DAVIS

“Camp has been great. We always have great camps and we are ready for Barrios and whatever he plans to bring. I am ready and hopefully we have an action-packed fight.

“I think he is making a mistake. It’s not just the height. He thinks he’s stronger than me, so we are just going to have to wait and see. If he believes that I’ve never seen anyone like him, then so be it. But they always learn on fight night. That’s when the real me comes out.

“I’ve been working each and every day in the gym to become a better fighter for Saturday night. I can’t wait to see the performance I put on. Moving up to 140 is definitely a great opportunity. I’m looking forward to it and I’m ready to give the fans what they want to see, which is a great fight.

“You know I’m coming. I’m excited to be in this position, I’m soaking it all in. Saturday night is going to be a great night of boxing. It’s going to be an exciting fight on my end and if I hurt him, we know that I am going to get him out of there. It’s going to be an explosive night for the sport of boxing.

“When I fight bigger guys in the gym, I always show up. I hate when people think that I’m small and try to take advantage of me. This is one of the fights where you will see the best of Gervonta Davis.

“It’s going to surprise him when I connect. It’s not only that I hit hard, but its where I place my punches and he will see that Saturday night. Once again, it’s going to be a great night, not just my fight but the whole card. I actually plan on coming to the arena early because I want to see the undercard. Saturday is going to be a great night for boxing.”

MARIO BARRIOS

“I have all of the tools and I have the size to present a lot of difficulties to Tank, and that’s what I plan on doing.

“Both of us throw with bad intentions. We’re in there to hurt and take out our opponent. May the best man win. whether it is round 1 round 12.

“Tank Davis is going to learn what it’s like to be in there with the type of fighter that I am. Buy your tickets and order the pay-per-view. I know he’s ready and we had a great camp in the Bay Area. We’re both coming with it on Saturday.

“We’re going to find out a lot about each of us on Saturday. I expect him to come with his best, and I’m coming with nothing less. It’s going to be bombs away.

“My coach is an Oakland OG and he has his way of talking in the gym and hyping everything. At the end of the day, I’m always responsible for everything I say. I’m always true to my word and come Saturday it’s going to be a very exciting fight.

“I’m just so focused on Saturday night and getting into the ring and using everything we worked on in training camp. Virgil has me prepared and we’ll be ready to make any adjustments we need.

“Like Leonard Ellerbe said, they have big plans for him. I fully intend on f***ing up those plans come Saturday.”

ERICKSON LUBIN

“I feel really confident, I feel strong, and I’ve had my best camp since I’ve been a pro. I’m ready to fight, and Saturday is just going to be another amazing performance by me.

“I chose this fight because I don’t want any tune-up fights. I don’t like guys with lopsided records, and I don’t want the easy fights. I want the top guys in the division, so when I get my title shot or become the champion, they can say I beat everyone.”

“I didn’t come this far just to come this far. I want to take this all the way to the top. I want to be the best in boxing. Not just the best in the weight class, but the best in boxing.”

“He will come out like he always does, aggressively. If he does try to box me, that will be a mistake. He can’t outbox me; my skills are second to none. When he does come out aggressive, I’m going to tame him.”

“I’m excited about the pay-per-view, I’m excited about fans being back in the building and I’m just ready. I’ve been prepared for weeks now, and I plan to give the fans what they came to see, which is my best performance possible.”

JEISON ROSARIO

“I’m absolutely ready to do whatever it takes to win. I possess the power in my hands to end the fight, both in the first round and the 12th round. I’m ready both physically and mentally to endure the 12 rounds if needed to come out victorious in the end.

“I could care less what we say right now. This Saturday night, we are going to see who is faster, stronger, and who has the will to win. That’s the bottom line. The rest is pure talk.

“People can expect a war. I’m a warrior and I love to be fighting that war inside the ring. I want people to be happy and to enjoy this fight. It’s going to be a great show.”

CARLOS ADAMES

“My opponent is a very talented fighter, but I have more experience, which will play a factor in this fight. I also have every one of the fundamentals needed to bring him into the way I want to fight, and then I am going to come out with my hand raised in the end.

“I’m in a great position in my career to get another world title shot. That climb back begins on Saturday. I have everything I need to become world champion.

“With me, there is no room for experimenting. If he is coming to fight, he is really going to have to come to fight. Expect a great fight on Saturday night, I’m going to be more than ready.”

ALEXIS SALAZAR

“Regardless of what my opponent might say, it’s not all about strength, it’s about strategy as well. When you fight smart, you can do a lot of things. I’ll be ready to fight and I look forward to what promises to be a great bout on Saturday night.

“This is going to be a war. We’re both ready, so let’s step in there and do it. I’m ready to leave it all in the ring.

“I respect what Adames can do, but nobody knows just how good I am. This is my chance to announce myself and show everyone what I can do.”

BATYR AKHMEDOV

“I’m not looking past Argenis Mendez. He is a former world champion and a very credible fighter. I am only looking forward to this fight and then after that we can talk about my rematch with Mario Barrios.

“My opponent is very experienced. Out of a few options we had, I chose the toughest and strongest guy to face. I believe he is also very exciting and comes forward, so that promises an action-packed fight.

“I think that he is tailor-made for me also. He likes to fight and rumble, which I like. It promises to be a good fight. I’m going to do everything I can and God willing, I am going to win.”

ARGENIS MENDEZ

“I am glad to be here. I believe that this fight will be different because my opponent likes to come forward and is an aggressive fighter. That is exactly how I like to fight.

“My opponent is a very strong fighter that will provide us with a very good fight because he will engage with me. I will emerge victorious, but it will be an exciting and interesting fight.

“This is a big opportunity that I plan to take advantage of. I am a warrior and I plan to come out victorious on Saturday and then go after the title that I want.”

LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions

“It gets no bigger than this Saturday night. Anytime you’re thinking about major fights, you think about Gervonta Davis. He is the most exciting fighter in the entire sport.

“When you think of ‘Tank’ Davis, there is one word to describe him, and that’s exciting. When it comes to pay-per-view, people want nothing but excitement, and that’s what ‘Tank’ Davis delivers.

“’Tank has a tough opponent that he is facing this Saturday night in Mario Barrios. I can’t say enough about the young man, he is a tremendous fighter that does everything well. He’s an excellent puncher with great speed, and he is led by none other than a very good friend of mine, Virgil Hunter, who is a no-nonsense guy. Virgil Hunter guided Andre Ward his entire career, and we know what kind of career Andre Ward has had. Virgil Hunter is going to have Barrios prepared.

“I’m really excited about the co-main event. Erickson Lubin is trained by one of the top trainers in the entire sport in Kevin Cunningham and is on a five-fight winning streak. I can’t say enough about him. I’ve been really impressed about his commitment to excellence when it comes to facing top contenders. He has been very determined and doesn’t take any time off. He is taking on the former unified champion in Jeison Rosario, who has had a tremendous camp and refuses to be denied this coming Saturday night. He is determined to get everything back that he just recently lost.

“Carlos Adames is another exciting Dominican fighter who is a top 154-pound contender, taking on Alexis Salazar, who is on a 15-fight win streak in his own right.

“The card this Saturday night is full of talent from top to bottom. In the first bout, we have Batyr Akhmedov, who has faced the WBA Champion Mario Barrios, and he’ll be going up against Argenis Mendez, who is another guy who is always in exciting fights. That will be a non-stop action fight.

“We have major plans for Tank Davis. Will Barrios f**k up our plans Saturday night? Tune in to SHOWTIME pay-per-view.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, President, Sports and Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.

“SHOWTIME Sports is on an unprecedented run of combat sports events in both boxing and MMA. From ShoBox to SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING to Bellator MMA, and even a really exciting exhibition that nobody saw coming. SHOWTIME continues to deliver the most compelling, exciting, interesting, and biggest events at every level of combat sports. We are in the middle of a run of ten events in the last nine weeks. This upcoming event might be the crown jewel of all of them.

“This will be just the fourth boxing show at State Farm Arena, but the second in the last 18 months. The first one was Tank vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa on December 28, 2019, with a near capacity crowd of over 14,000 people in the arena.

“Just six years ago, Tank was on the non-televised portion of a ShoBox event, and now here he is headlining his second pay-per-view coming off of the biggest win of his career. He is making his tenth appearance on SHOWTIME, and probably the most challenging of his career, jumping up two weight classes in a quest to become great.

“In his 24 fights, Tank has never faced anyone as tall as Mario Barrios, or with a reach as long as Mario Barrios. Tank brings some weapons of his own. Of fighters ranked by The Ring, there are only two fighters in all of boxing with a higher KO percentage. As his fans know, Tank is finishing his fights with KO’s 96% of the time.

“The WBA Champion at 26-0 with 17 KO’s is the big, strong, and tough Mario Barrios. If you have seen the ALL ACCESS, you know what kind of warrior spirit he brings into this fight. This is a true pick ‘em fight. You have Tank, who seems unstoppable at this point, jumping up two weight classes in the biggest challenge of his career.

“Erickson Lubin at 23-1 and just 25 years of age is making his seventh appearance on SHOWTIME and is the WBC #1 ranked contender. That means he is the mandatory. Most people in his position as the mandatory would be taking an easy fight waiting for their shot at the title, but that’s not Erickson Lubin. Erickson Lubin is taking on the former unified champion Jeison Rosario. This is a fight which certainly could have been a main event on SHOWTIME.

“Jeison Rosario is a former unified champion at 154, the consensus top three or four coming off of a tough loss against the best fighter in the division. That will be a firefight of its own.

“I thank our partners at PBC, Mayweather Promotions, and TGB Promotions. This is an outstanding card and we are proud to be here in Atlanta with it.”

#

ABOUT DAVIS VS. BARRIOS
Davis vs. Barrios will see four-time world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis set his sights on capturing a title in a third weight class when he faces undefeated WBA Super Lightweight Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios in a SHOWTIME PPV main event Saturday, June 26 at the award-winning State Farm Arena in Atlanta in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The pay-per-view telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will feature a battle of two top 154-pound contenders as Erickson “Hammer” Lubin faces former unified champion Jeison Rosario in a WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator in the co-main event. Super welterweight contender Carlos Adames will take on Mexico’s Alexis Salazar in a 10-round showdown and hard-hitting Olympian Batyr Akhmedov steps in against former world champion Argenis Mendez in a 12-round WBA Super Lightweight Title Eliminator to kick off the pay-per-view telecast.

The event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, GTD Promotions and TGB Promotions. The Akhmedov vs. Mendez fight is promoted in association with World of Boxing.

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

LAS VEGAS (June 24, 2021) — Former pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko is ready for the next chapter. Eight months after losing an undisputed lightweight title match to Teofimo Lopez, “Loma” returns Saturday night in a 12-round lightweight bout against Japanese contender Masayoshi Nakatani at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

In the 10-round middleweight co-feature, undefeated sensation Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly will fight former world champion Rob “Bravo” Brant. 

Both fights will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, with undercard bouts set to begin on ESPN+ at 7:15 p.m. ET/4:15 p.m. PT.

At the final press conference, this is what the fighters had to say.

Vasiliy Lomachenko

“I can’t wait to be back in the ring. I’m very excited and I want to show my best skills. I want to prove to myself, my family, my friends, my team, who I am in the ring.” 

“He is a tough guy. He has the height and the reach. I think he is a very good boxer. That’s why he was my choice as an opponent.” 

“It’s great to have fans {in the crowd}. They push us in the ring. They give us energy.” 

“I have a fight this Saturday, and after that, we can talk about a rematch. I want it!” 

Masayoshi Nakatani

“A fellow Japanese fighter {Inoue last week} having a great performance is very motivating for me.” 

“This is a fight that I have to win and that I want to win.” 

“When this fight came up, I felt that it is the biggest fight of my career. But getting the fight doesn’t mean anything. I must win for this fight to mean something. I’m going to win!” 

Rob Brant

“I’m feeling amazing. It’s never a surprise being the underdog. I’m looking forward to it. You have to take the risks. I have no problem with being the underdog.” 

“I learned a lot of patience and guidance from my trainer, {Brian} ‘BoMac’ McIntyre. I have always been known as a high-volume boxer, but with BoMac I have learned and developed a lot of the patience.” 

“This is Top Rank. Everyone wants to be at the highest level, and I want to prove that I belong here. My focus is 100 percent on beating Janibek on Saturday.” 

Janibek Alimkhanuly

“This fight is very important for me. I’m 100 percent ready, and Saturday night I’m going to show what ‘Qazaq Style’ is all about. Very soon I’ll be fighting as the main event.” 

“Three years ago, I started training with Buddy McGirt. I like him a lot. He is looking to add more tools to the style that I already have. We are already looking to win a world title together.” 

SATURDAY, June 26, 2021

ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Masayoshi Nakatani, 12 rounds, lightweight

Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Rob Brant, 10 rounds, Alimkhanuly’s WBO Global and WBC Continental Americas Middleweight Titles

ESPN+, 7:15 p.m. ET/4:15 p.m. PT

Giovani Santillan vs. Cecil McCalla, 10/8 rounds, welterweight

Robert Rodriguez vs. Luis Fernando Saavedra, 6 rounds, bantamweight

DeMichael Harris vs. Jonatan Hernan Godoy, 4 rounds, lightweight

LAS VEGAS (June 24, 2021) – Eight-division world champion and Philippine Senator Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao and undefeated unified WBC and IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. will meet in a blockbuster championship showdown that headlines a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View Saturday, August 21 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

This battle for welterweight supremacy will pit the division’s reigning king against a legend of the sport who has proven in recent years that he is still worthy of his long held standing.

Tickets for the live event are on sale tomorrow, Friday, June 25 at 10 a.m. PT and can be purchased through t-mobilearena.com and axs.com.

#

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.

New York, New York (June 24, 2021)

There is just something about heavyweight boxing! On July 24, at the SSE Arena in Wembley, United Kingdom, CARLOS TAKAM (39-5-1 28KO’S) is set to fight JOE “THE JUGGERNAUT” JOYCE (12-0 11KO’S) with high stakes in the heavyweight division on the line.

While the fists will fly on July 24th in Wembley, the jabs have already begun on social media. Earlier this week, BT Sports, who will be airing the heavyweight bout, tweeted a video of Joe Joyce sparring, in which manager Sam Jones, warns Takam – “if [Takam] hits Joe clean in the early rounds it’s the worst thing that could happen because it will make Joe more mad and he will go to work.”

Boxing on BT Sport ? on Twitter: “? @mrsamjones88 has…

? @mrsamjones88 has warned @carlos_takam, if he gets @JoeJoyceBoxing mad, The Juggernaut will go to work ? #JoyceTakam pic.twitter.com/qYjmA7KpVC

Read more
twitter.com
Takam did not take kindly to Jones words of advice, responding via his twitter @Carlos_Takam, “I am ready to work even before I am hit, this is the difference here. #TeamTakam”

Carlos Takam on Twitter: “I am ready to work even before …

I am ready to work even before I am hit, this is the difference here #TeamTakam https://t.co/XyKp8fnvm6

Read more
twitter.com
Takam respects Joyce as a fighter, but knows that a world title shot could be in the cards with a big time victory on July 24th. Jones was not afraid to counterpunch the Cameroon born heavyweight’s rebuttal, “He didn’t turn up to spar Joe [in] vegas, let’s hope he turns up July 24.”

Sam Jones on Twitter: “He didn’t turn up to spar Joe on…

He didn’t turn up to spar Joe on vegas let’s hope he turns up July 24 ? https://t.co/RG8bsyolWI

Read more
twitter.com
As things are heating up ahead of this highly anticipated heavyweight battle on social media, one thing is for certain, words are words, but only time will tell which man will rise to the occasion and take what he believes is rightfully his.

Joyce-Takam is promoted by Frank Warren’s Queensberry in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

LAS VEGAS, NV (June 24, 2021) – Thompson Boxing Promotions’ undefeated super welterweight contender, Giovani Santillan (26-0, 15 KOs), returns to the ring this Saturday, June 26, 2021, against Cecil McCalla (23-4, 10 KOs). The 10-round bout, promoted by Top Rank, takes place in Las Vegas on the undercard of Vasily Lomachenko vs. Masayoshi Nakatani. Santillan-McCalla will be among the undercard bouts streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+ at 7:15 p.m. ET/4:15 p.m. PT.

Santillan, who will be making his 2021 debut, feels confident going into this bout after having a great training camp.

“I put in a lot of hard work with my team and took my strength and conditioning to new levels,” said Santillan. “I’m feeling extremely confident that I’ll be able to perform at a very high level in every round because I made all the needed sacrifices to be in the best shape of my life. I want to leave no doubt in the judge’s minds with an electrifying performance, and my mind will be on stopping McCalla before the final bell rings. I’m looking to steal the show.”

“Giovanni is really focused for this fight,” stated promoter Ken Thompson. “He’s on the verge of landing a big fight and a victory will solidify him as a top contender, one who will be eligible to fight for a world title soon. We are proud of his accomplishments and want to see him shine this Saturday.”

Julio Cesar Martinez says he’s eager to make up for lost time as he prepares to defend his WBC World Flyweight title against Joel Cordova in the headline fight of the opening event of Matchroom and DAZN’s new series of fight nights in Mexico with Canelo Promotions and Clase y Talento on Saturday night at the Dome Alcalde – CODE Jalisco in Guadalajara, live worldwide on DAZN.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW FROM M$150

Martinez’s (17-1 13 KOs) reign as champion has been blighted by injury since landing the green and gold strap in December 2019, ruling him out of two defenses against McWilliams Arroyo in Tulsa, Oklahoma last summer and in Miami, Florida in February.

When the 26 year old does put his belt on the line, he does so in exciting fashion, with impressive wins over Cristofer Rosales, Jay Harris and Moises Calleros Garcia to date, but having been unable to face Arroyo and move onto the unification fights he desires, ‘El Rey’ feels that Saturday night’s all-Mexican clash is an important moment to show that he’s the top dog at 112lbs.

“I am happy and excited to be back in the ring and have the chance to make up for lost time,” said Martinez. “It’s already been more than four months without a fight. I am so disappointed that two fights fell through but here’s hoping to return as I’ve always said, with everything except fear, and to always leave everything on the ring.

“It was the hand thing. I was boxing with super tough guys and in one clash, all good clashes by the way, I hit a guy in the head and my metacarpal swelled. I was going to move forward, but Mr. Eddy Reynoso and Mr. Mauricio Sulaimán saw the lesion and thought it was too swollen, so they opted to take care of me and not let me fight.

“Now I am happy but at the same time sad as I had great opportunities and because there you can see the support and thank God, I was given all the support by Mr. Sulaimán, Mr. Eddie Hearn, and Mr. Reynoso.

“We know Cordova and he knows it. It’s going to be a very good fight. I have boxed with him before. At one time, we sparred with him. We did a collaboration for el Gallito, sparring as part of an exhibition. The guy has a lot of heart, he also likes to go forward and I feel that a fight with a lot of action is going to be very good. And as always, let the best man win.

“As always, to do what I know, what I have trained for with my coach Mauricio Aceves. Attack, not get too crazy, take care of myself and move forward, throw out my combinations. We are ready for the twelve rounds or, God willing, the fight reaches a knockout.”

Martinez’s clash with Cordova is is part of a stacked card in Guadalajara, with Cuba’s Daniel Matellon (11-0-2 6 KOs) making the first defends of his interim WBA World Light-Flyweight title against Jose Argumedo (24-4-1 15 KOs).

There is a 12th pro-outing for rising Mexican-American starlet Diego Pacheco (11-0 8 KOs), Gabriel Valenzuela (23-2-1 13 KOs) looks to build on his impressive win in London, England over Robbie Davies Jr in February against Juan Ocura (14-14-1 6 KOs), Christian Alan Gomez Duran (20-2-1 18 KOs) features on the card having recorded stoppage wins on two Canelo cards in December and May against unbeaten Jorge Sanchez (13-0 5 KOs).

LAS VEGAS (June 24, 2021) — The Ali legend lives on. 
 
Nico Ali Walsh, the 20-year-old grandson of the “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali, has signed a multi-fight promotional pact with Top Rank and will turn pro in a four-round middleweight bout Saturday, Aug. 14 live on ESPN.
 
Ali Walsh is the son of retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Robert Walsh and Rasheda Ali Walsh, Muhammad Ali’s daughter and a noted public speaker who uses her platform to raise money for Parkinson’s research.  
 
“I’m doing what I love,” Ali Walsh said. “Signing with Top Rank is a dream come true. I’m going to have fun on Aug. 14 and the next time I fight. Top Rank will give me the name, date and location, and I’ll have a great time. I am honored to continue the fighting legacy that my grandfather started. It is a responsibility I don’t take lightly.”
 
Ali Walsh, who was born on Chicago’s South Side and now resides in Las Vegas, had roughly 30 amateur fights. As a young child in Chicago, he made his amateur debut at a benefit for St. Baldrick’s Foundation and broke out the Ali Shuffle. Ali Walsh graduated from Bishop Gorman High School in 2018 and is currently a full-time student at UNLV, where he is on track to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business next spring. 
 
He’ll be juggling classes and fighting as he embarks on his pro career under the guidance of Bob Arum, who promoted 27 of his grandfather’s fights, including the epic “Thrilla in Manila” bout against Joe Frazier and the rubber match against Ken Norton at Yankee Stadium. Ali Walsh’s uncle, Mike Joyce, brokered the deal with Top Rank and will serve as his nephew’s manager, agent and attorney.
 
“Family history and legacy was a big factor in Nico signing with Top Rank,” Joyce said. “I’ve signed many fighters to Top Rank, and Bob has always treated them fairly. Nico was a little bit in awe of Bob, and it cemented his belief that he was with the right promoter. He thinks this is going to be a historic journey.” 
 
“Nico’s grandfather was a pretty good fighter,” Arum quipped. “Hopefully, Nico will emulate his success. He’s a young man of great character, which one would expect from Muhammad Ali’s grandson.”
 
Ali Walsh has enlisted a pair of Kronk Gym’s most notable figures for his in-ring development. SugarHill Steward, nephew of the late Emanuel Steward and the head trainer of WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury, will be his chief second. Richard T. Slone, who held numerous positions at Kronk and is now a world-renowned artist, will be in Ali Walsh’s corner as a trainer and cut man. During a recent training camp in Las Vegas, he sparred former world champion Julian Williams and unbeaten junior welterweight contender Shohjahon Ergashev.
 
Some of Ali Walsh’s earliest gym memories are with his grandfather by his side. Ali remains a symbol of sport and humanity to countless people, but to Ali Walsh, he’s the beloved grandpa he calls “Poppy.” 
 
Ali Walsh said, “To me, I was hanging out in the gym with my grandfather. Sometimes I have to remind myself that he’s everyone’s idol.”

SHOWTIME Sports continues to unveil its busiest and most comprehensive combat sports schedule yet with boxing, BELLATOR MMA and extensive behind-the-scenes coverage across all events. Following is a glance at what fight fans can expect to see over the next seven weeks on SHOWTIME.

*Plus, the BELLATOR 261 weigh-in is LIVE now, and the Davis-Barrios press conference will be live at 1 p.m. ET.

FRIDAY, JUNE 25 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT – HEAVYWEIGHTS COLLIDE IN BELLATOR MMA:

• On Friday night, No. 1 ranked heavyweight Tim Johnson and No. 3 ranked heavyweight Valentin Moldavsky will vie for the interim title in the main event of BELLATOR MMA 261. The talented and versatile Sean Grande, voice of the Boston Celtics, will act as play-by-play announcer. Grande fills in for SHOWTIME Sports’ lead play-by-play announcer Mauro Ranallo, who will be ringside for boxing the following night in Atlanta.

SATURDAY, JUNE 26 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT– GERVONTA “TANK” DAVIS RETURNS TO SHOWTIME PPV:

• One of boxing’s biggest attractions returns to the ring as Gervonta “Tank” Davis jumps up two weight classes to the 140-pound division to take on undefeated Mario “El Azteca” Barrios, the WBA Super Lightweight World Champion. It is the second SHOWTIME PPV main event for Baltimore’s Davis, who seeks to conquer a third weight division against San Antonio’s Barrios. The last time boxing fans saw Davis, he scored one of the most sensational knockouts of 2020 against decorated champion Leo Santa Cruz on Halloween. Davis closed out 2019 with a spectacular performance against Yuriorkis Gamboa in front of a sold-out State Farm Arena crowd where he will return on Saturday night.

• SHOWTIME PPV OVERVIEW: Saturday’spay-per-view co-feature pits two top 154-pound contenders as Erickson “Hammer” Lubin faces former unified champion Jeison Rosario in a WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator. Plus, super welterweight contender Carlos Adames will take on Mexico’s Alexis Salazar in a 10-round showdown and hard-hitting Olympian Batyr Akhmedov steps in against former world champion Argenis Mendez in a 12-round WBA Super Lightweight Title Eliminator to kick off the telecast.

• Viewers can purchase the telecast at SHO.com/PPV and watch live on any SHOTWIME supported device.  The event is also available via all traditional cable and satellite providers and via PlayStation store and Sling TV. Davis vs. Barrios is also available at select closed-circuit locations and movie theatres.

SATURDAY, JULY 3 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT – SHOWTIME RETURNS TO THE WAR GROUNDS:

• Expect nothing but fireworks on Independence Day weekend as undefeated Interim WBA Super Featherweight Champion Chris “Primetime” Colbert continues his rise to stardom in one of boxing’s elite divisions. Colbert will face hard-hitting 130-pound contender Tugstsogt “King Tug” Nyambayar on Saturday, July 3, headlining the live SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. The SHOWTIME telecast will feature unbeaten rising star Michel Rivera battling lightweight contender Jon Fernández in a 135-pound WBA title eliminator in the co-main event as well as highlights of undefeated super lightweight contender Richardson Hitchins squaring off against Darwin Price in a 10-round duel.

SATURDAY, JULY 3 – ALL ACCESS: DAVIS VS. BARRIOS EPILOGUE:

• The Emmy® Award-winning series ALL ACCESS is on hand in Atlanta to reveal never-before-seen moments from fight week, intimate scenes from the locker rooms before and after the fight and inside the ropes on Saturday night. ALL ACCESS: Epilogue premieres immediately following next week’s live telecast of Colbert vs. Nyambayar. Catch up on ALL ACCESS: DAVIS vs. BARRIOS Episode One and Episode Two before Saturday’s PPV telecast.

FRIDAY, JULY 16 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT – BELLATOR 262:

• The main event features undefeated 125-pound world champion Juliana Velasquez (11-0) making the first defense of her title against BELLATOR Kickboxing’s Flyweight World Champion and No. 4 ranked Denise Kielholtz (6-2).

SATURDAY, JULY 17 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT – UNDISPUTED STATUS ON THE LINE IN HISTORIC BOUT:

• In less than one month, Houston’s Jermell Charlo will look to make boxing history when he defends his WBC, WBA and IBF belts against WBO champion Brian Castaño in one of the most anticipated and important fights of the year. Both fighters aim to achieve something that has never been done before by becoming the first undisputed champ at 154 pounds in the four-belt era. Despite being a pay-per-view caliber scrap, fight fans can witness boxing history on SHOWTIME. “If he’s saying he’s going to make me risk my life, what do you think I’m going to make him do with his?” said Jermell at last week’s kickoff press conference. “Charlo is strong and a good boxer but he has never suffered in the ring before. He will on July 17,” said Castaño.

FRIDAY, JULY 23 – SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION TURNS 20-YEARS-OLD:

• ShoBox: The New Generation celebrates its 20-year anniversary with a four-fight card Friday, July 23. The popular series debuted in Atlantic City on July 21, 2001 and has produced 84 fighters who later went on to win a world title. Just as it has for the past 20 years, the upcoming quadruple-header will feature prospects matched tough.

SATURDAY, JULY 31: THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FIGHT IN BELLATOR MMA HISTORY:

• The greatest BELLATOR fighter of all-time, Patricio Pitbull, meets the greatest homegrown BELLATOR talent of all-time, AJ McKee, in the finals of the BELLATOR Featherweight World Grand Prix. What began with 16 featherweight athletes vying for a one-million-dollar grand prize has come down to Pitbull, the BELLATOR MMA No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, and the 17-0 knockout artist McKee, in what will be the most significant BELLATOR fight in history.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14 – BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE UNIFICATION FIGHT SET:

• Another significant world championship unification fight will take place on SHOWTIME on Saturday, August 14 as the WBC Bantamweight World Champion Nonito Donaire will face WBO Bantamweight World Champion John Riel Casimero in a 118-pound bout with Filipino bragging rights also at stake.

FEATHERWEIGHT hope Muhammad Ali is already thinking of greatness after just two professional fights.

He might share his name with ‘The Greatest,’ but the Bradford boxer believes he is also heading to the top.

Ali, 25, hopes to make it a hat-trick of professional wins when he faces Lee Glover (11-4, 3 KOs) at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Saturday July 10, live on BT Sport.

The 2016 Olympian is already talking of moving up in class and conquering the best with the ultimate target American ace Shakur Stevenson.

First he fancies challenging Queensberry stablemates Louie Lynn, the WBC International Silver Featherweight champion, and WBO World ranked number four Super-Featherweight, Archie Sharp.

Sharp is also in action on the impressive Royal Albert Hall bill on July 10th, when he faces Marcio Soza for the WBO Global belt.

“I wanna go all the way. I have dedicated my life to this sport,” insisted Ali (2-0).

“I have got no animosity towards Archie. I just want to fight him. It will be entertaining.

“We sparred when we were on Team GB when I was a Flyweight and he was a bit heavier but we’re almost the same weight now.

“Louie Lynn is also very good. He has a similar style to myself  – is busy and throws a lot of punches.

“I beat him quite easily in the Senior ABAs but that was five or six years ago. Time moves on and anything could happen.”

Stevenson is tipped to become an all-time great, and Ali who is trained in Manchester by Anthony Farnell accepts that dream match is some way off still.

He added: “If I keep doing well and get up to that level I would love to fight him. Hopefully we can that fight on down the line.

“If I keep winning and move up to that weight, I would love that down the line.

“I am a big Featherweight and it will be natural for me to move up. I don’t think I will have to try too hard.”

Ali turned professional in February 2020 with a disqualification win against Stefan Sashev, and followed that up in December by outpointing Jamie Quinn.

He hopes former English title challenger Glover will be more ambitious than his previous professional opponents.

Ali said: “For my last opponents I might as well have stayed in the gym and punched a bag. Hopefully this guy throws something back.”

Commonwealth Light-Heavyweight champion Lyndon Arthur (18-0, 12 KOs) headlines the Royal Albert Hall bill on July 10th. He makes the first defence of his WBO Inter-Continental title against Italian Davide Faraci (15-0, 7 KOs).

The Mancunian’s bitter rival Anthony Yarde (20-2, 19 KOs) faces unbeaten German Emin Atra (17-0, 12 KOs) in a non-title ten rounder.

 Also on the bill WBO ranked number one Super-Middleweight Zach Parker (20-0, 14 KOs) will defend his WBO International belt against Uzbek Sherzod Khusanov (22-2-1, 10 KOs).

WBO ranked number four Super-Featherweight, Archie Sharp (19-0, 9 KOs) meets Nicaragua’s Marcio Soza (21-6-2, 12 KOs) with the vacant WBO Global championship on the line.

Prodigious bantamweight talent Dennis McCann (9-0, 5 KOs) faces Tanzanian John Chuwa (20-4, 10 KOs).

Elsewhere on the card, 2016 Olympian Muhammad Ali (2-0) will have his third professional assignment against Lee Glover (11-4, 3 KOs), with Lightweight KO-artist Sam Noakes (5-0, 5 KOs) and Light-Heavyweight former Olympic Youth champion Karol Itauma (2-0, 1 KO) also featuring.

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 23, 2021) – Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (41-0, 27 KOs), Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz Jr. (31-1-1, 15 KOs) and Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada (20-0, 8 KOs) hosted a media workout today at Brickhouse Boxing Club in North Hollywood, California ahead of their respective bouts. All three will return on July 9 live on DAZN from Banc of California Stadium in Downtown Los Angeles.

Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy, also attended the workout.

Below is what today’s participants had to say.

GILBERTO RAMIREZ, Light Heavyweight Contender:
“I feel grateful and happy to be fighting on July 9. It will be an amazing night. There will be a lot of Latinos and a lot of Mexican people supporting. It has given me an additional motivation. It’s going to be a great night, along with Joseph Diaz Jr. and Seniesa Estrada.”

“I expect an explosive fight. We both will come forward. People like seeing explosive fights, and that’s what we are going to deliver. I am doing everything I can in camp to make sure that I win.”

“I’m happy to be with Golden Boy. I joined them because Oscar De La Hoya is my idol. I have been watching him since I was a kid. Also, he is a legend, and that’s what I want to be as well. Together we can make that happen.”

JOSEPH DIAZ JR., Former IBF Super Featherweight Champion:
“I’m ready to defeat this boogeyman that everyone is scared to fight. I’m not afraid or worried about anything he’s going to bring inside that ring. I’ve seen it all already. I’ve covered all of my bases in training camp, and I’m ready to perform on July 9.”

“I’m ready to brawl with him, but I don’t think he’ll want to exchange once he feels my power. He’s going to try to be elusive and try to box. That’s the fight I am expecting. But I can also work with other styles too. If he wants to brawl, we can do that too.”

“I want to deliver a spectacular performance. I’m going there to try to hurt Javier Fortuna. I’m really focused. I’ve just had one of the best training camps of my entire career, and I’m ready.”

SENIESA ESTRADA, WBA Minimumweight World Champion:
“I just fought for a world title in March. Then, I took a couple weeks off training and went right back into the gym. I’m happy to be fighting for another world title. I feel comfortable at all these weight classes, and I see myself fighting and defending titles at 105, 112 and 115 pounds.”

“Tenkai Tsunami is a tough fighter. She has fought in different weight classes, and she has even gone as high as bantamweight. Although she has some losses, they’ve been against legit champions. She has never been stopped either. That shows that she always goes in there to win and to fight.”

“By fighting smart and sticking to my game plan, I will be successful. I think that if all goes as planned, I could even stop her.”

#

Zurdo vs. Barrera is a 12-round special attraction in the light heavyweight division presented by Golden Boy in association with Zurdo Promotions. Diaz Jr. vs. Fortuna is a 12-round battle for the vacant WBC Interim Lightweight Championship presented by Golden Boy in association with Sampson Boxing. The event is sponsored by Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle” and “BetOnline – Your Online Sportsbook Experts.” The fight will take place on Friday, July 9 at Banc of California Stadium in Downtown Los Angeles and will be streamed live on DAZN.

Tickets for Zurdo vs. Barrera are on sale and are priced at $150, $75, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges. In an effort to promote social distancing, tickets will initially be sold in pods/groupings of 2, 3, 4 and 6 people only, subject to change with local and state guidelines. Tickets will be available for purchase at www.bancofcaliforniastadium.com or www.ticketmaster.com. The Banc of California Stadium is located in historic Exposition Park, 3939 S. Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90037.

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 #ZurdoBarrera

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link: http://bit.ly/ZurdoBarrera into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy for any photo and/or video usage.

Diego Pacheco believes he’s the hottest young fighter in Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable, and he plans to prove it in style as he takes his spot on the opening event of Matchroom and DAZN’s new series of fight nights in Mexico with Canelo Promotions and Clase y Talento on Saturday night at the Dome Alcalde – CODE Jalisco in Guadalajara, live worldwide on DAZN.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW FROM M$150

Pacheco moved to 11-0 in February with a points win over eight rounds on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez’s win over Avni Yildirim at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, only the third time the 20 year old has gone the distance.

Pacheco fights over eight rounds for the second time in the ranks on Saturday, taking on the unbeaten Jesus Moroyoqui Palomares (7-0-1 4 KOs), and Pacheco believes he has the chance to feature heavily on the new shows and prove that he is the next star to breakthrough at Matchroom.

“I have fought on Canelo cards and Anthony Joshua cards, and I was the smallest guy on the card,” said Pacheco. “I feel that this sort of show that gives me the chance to take over the night and show everyone that I am next.

“I think that I am the best young fighter at Matchroom, but in my next two or three fights, for those that don’t believe it yet, I will prove that I am the best prospect at Matchroom, and the next big star in boxing.

“I always knew that I had what it takes to compete with anybody in the pro game. I’ve been going through the process slowly and I think that people are now recognizing that I am a talent and things like that, it’s pushing me to keep going because I know that I have a lot to learn and achieve in the sport, I’m so hungry and I want to show that I am going to be a World champion, and I want to fight for a World title when I am 22.

“I am not where I want to be but I happy with where I am going, I’m trusting the process and I know that nothing just happens overnight. I just have to stay dedicated; I have big dreams and a lot of other prospects that I get compared to are 24 or 25, people forget that I am only 20, I have a lot to learn, and I am not into my man strength yet.

“I think that at 21-22, people will see my full potential. I’m excited to be fighting on DAZN with the new Matchroom deal. It’s all over the world and I am going to get new fans watching me, so I want to put on a show.

“It was one of my toughest fights yet last time out, going through that has helped me in camp for this fight, I see things a little differently now. I’ve been sparring with Zurdo Ramirez in this camp, he’s got a fight soon, and here in LA you just meet at a gym at a certain time, and you all just work, so I am never worried about getting good sparring.”

Pacheco is part of a stacked card in Guadalajara, topped by all-action Mexican Julio Cesar Martinez (17-1 13 KOs) defending his WBC World Flyweight title against Joel Cordova (12-4-2 3 KOs).

There’s more World title action on the night with Cuba’s Daniel Matellon (11-0-2 6 KOs) making the first defends of his WBA World Light-Flyweight title against Jose Argumedo (24-4-1 15 KOs) with Matellon being elevated to full champion after landing the interim title in February 2020.

Gabriel Valenzuela (23-2-1 13 KOs) looks to build on his impressive win in London, England over Robbie Davies Jr in February by defending the IBF Intercontinental Super-Lightweight title he won that night against Juan Ocura (14-14-1 6 KOs), Christian Alan Gomez Duran (20-2-1 18 KOs) features on the card having recorded stoppage wins on two Canelo cards in December and May against unbeaten Jorge Sanchez (13-0 5 KOs).

ATLANTA (June 23, 2021) – Four-time world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis and undefeated WBA Super Lightweight Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios took part in a media workout to kick off fight week at the College Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday ahead of this Saturday’s blockbuster SHOWTIME PPV® event.

Tickets for the live event presented by Premier Boxing Champions are on sale now and available for purchase through Ticketmaster.com.

Here is what Davis, Barrios and the rest of the fighters in attendance had to say on Wednesday:

GERVONTA DAVIS

“I’m excited to be in this position to be able to give the fans what they want to see, which is an exciting fight. Atlanta showed me love the last time I came, so why not come back?

“This is one of my toughest fights on paper. I’ll be ready and hopefully he’ll be ready, and we’ll give the fans what they want to see.

“Las Vegas is definitely a boxing town. My team is there at Mayweather Promotions and I brought my personal team out there as well. We’re all a family. We train together, get along, and help each other.

“There is no pressure on me, I am just going out there to do my job. It’s just another day at the job for me. Hopefully he’s ready because I’m definitely ready and we can give the fans what they want to see, which is a knockout.

“[Barrios] is a young champion. I’m going up two weight classes to face him. If they don’t give me the respect after this, I don’t know what I have to do. It’s pretty cool. This is actually the first time I’m fighting at this weight class. Whatever opportunities they give me at 135, or 140, I’ll take them.”

MARIO BARRIOS

“This is all brand new, but I’m taking it all in and excited to be in Atlanta. I’m just excited to go out there on Saturday and give everybody a great fight.

“No doubt about it, Tank is by far the toughest test for another title defense and I’m going to do whatever it takes to be successful on Saturday. There’s going to be fireworks on Saturday.

“This is a huge opportunity and I’m very excited for this chance. This is a very winnable fight for me, regardless of what everyone has been saying. I’m just excited to be back in the ring and in Atlanta.

“I think it’s not going to be until we both get in the ring that people realize how much size I really have for 140 pounds. Somehow, he’s still the favorite although he’s the challenger in this fight. I just take that as more motivation for me.

“Height-wise, reach. Those are the major advantages. I’m just as dangerous as he is. And just as explosive and just as fast. And I will show that on fight night.

“When they came to me, I said let’s do it but I was like, ‘I’m not going down to 135,’ and they said, ‘Nah, he’s going to come up.’ And I said, ‘Even better.’

“I’ve seen him fight plenty of times. He’s a great fighter and he’s been very successful at the lower weight divisions against the smaller opponents. But this is a different fight for him.

“I didn’t take too much from the Leo Santa Cruz fight. I felt [Gervonta] fought him the way he did because he didn’t respect Santa Cruz’s power. But with our fight he’s going to have no choice and he’s not going to fight me the way he fought Santa Cruz. Whatever he does fight night, I’m going to have to adapt.

“I’ve been boxing just as long as he has and I have an excellent boxing IQ, just as he has. It only takes one punch to change a fight, and he definitely has that one punch. But I’ll find out if that power carries over to 140 pounds.”

ERICKSON LUBIN

“We always work hard. Every camp is hard. It’s just that this time we added a little longer. We’ve been working since my last fight and I’m just so excited to go out there and display my talents.

“Me and Jeison Rosario, we’re both hungry. I just think I want it more and my preparation is going to speak for itself and the fans can only expect fireworks and the best of me.

“It’s not just one thing we’re working on; we’re working on everything to be our best. Everything is clicking on all cylinders right now. I feel I’m ready to fight. I’ve been ready to fight weeks ago. Everything is going to show on Saturday night.

“I’ve seen him fight against Charlo and others – I’ve seen enough. I know what I have to do to get him out of there. I’m a competitor and want to give the fans the best show.

“My loss affected me and motivated me big time. I know my abilities and I know what I’m capable of, so I just went back to the drawing board and took it all in. I understood how serious this sport is, and how unforgiving this sport is. So I knew I had to go out there and do things different to take my career to another level. That’s what I did.”

CARLOS ADAMES

“I felt great when I got the call to be on this card. I was very happy to get this opportunity.

“There are four corners in the ring, I am going to catch him eventually. Outside of the ring he may be able to run from me, but inside the ring he won’t be able to.

“It’s about a sense of responsibility. I’m always ready to fight regardless of how long I have to prepare. My responsibility is to always be ready whenever I am called upon to put on a good show for the fans.

“It’s a great opportunity and I’m very thankful to PBC and SHOWTIME for having me in consideration. I want to show what I am worth on Saturday.

“I know that my opponent is an aggressive fighter who throws a lot of punches with his right hand. I will be ready for anything. I have the capacity to adapt to whatever he wants to do, so I don’t care what he comes with because I am going to be ready.

“Being with PBC makes me feel closer to the belts. Now all I have to do is go in the ring and show what I am capable of to earn those belts as soon as possible.”

ALEXIS SALAZAR

“I had a lot of emotions when I learned I would be fighting on this card. More than anything, it was a dream come true because I have worked my entire life for this. I thank God for this opportunity and I’m going to take advantage of it.

“I can’t stay in front of my opponent for too long, I need to box against him. It’s what I know how to do and it’s what I’ve been preparing to do.

“I feel great and I feel really ready for this fight. This is my first time fighting in Atlanta, it’s a really nice city.

“It’s a great motivation for me to be moved up to the pay-per-view card. I feel more motivated to do what I know how to do. I train and work hard every day, so nothing’s new.

“I want to prove how ready I am and to reach new heights. I want to show people wherever you are from, it’s possible to reach your dreams. I train every day, and work hard every day and there is no better motivation for me than to work this hard and to fight on this stage.

“I’ve been getting great sparring and I’ve been training at Wild Card in Hollywood, and those guys are warriors. All my sparring partners are hungry and this past week they all showed it.

BATYR AKHMEDOV

“It is my first time being in Atlanta and it’s an honor for me to fight here on such a great card in front of such great people.

“Thank you so much for all of your support. I fought Mario in a World Title fight and went through a war, and now we work on the mistakes. I am ready to put on another performance, and I’ll do my best for the fans to enjoy an exciting fight.

“Under my coaches, Joel and Antonio Diaz, I have the best team in the world. It is a learning process every time whether it’s a win, lose, or draw. You have to make adjustments to your performances and that is what we did.

“I will do my best to bring the action and make the fans remember this fight. I already like the city of Atlanta. You can see right away that people like boxing here. It’s going to be a good card with good fights.

“I am very happy with the experience I have gotten in my previous fights and I expect it to help me in the future.”

ARGENIS MENDEZ

“I feel great, I’m very happy and very excited. I’m very happy to be here today and excited to leave with a victory.

“The most important thing is coming away with the victory. I am very focused on the fight this Saturday.

“The main event is really none of my business because in the end, I am focused on my fight. After Saturday night, I will care about whichever one of the two in the main event wins their fight because then they will be my next opponent.

“I think this will be an interesting fight because boxing has changed. Akhmedov is an Olympian, and despite the fact that he has fewer fights, he lost a controversial decision to Mario Barrios. I think this fight will present a lot of different challenges and it will be an interesting fight for everyone to see on Saturday night.

“My training was a bit peculiar in Manchester, England, which was a different setting for me. I loved every second of it. My coach couldn’t be here because of COVID-19 circumstances, but I am still supported by my team right here which is great. I’m really excited to show what I have been working on this Saturday night.”

#

ABOUT DAVIS VS. BARRIOS

Davis vs. Barrios will see four-time world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis set his sights on capturing a title in a third weight class when he faces undefeated WBA Super Lightweight Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios in a SHOWTIME PPV main event Saturday, June 26 at the award-winning State Farm Arena in Atlanta in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The pay-per-view telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will feature a battle of two top 154-pound contenders as Erickson “Hammer” Lubin faces former unified champion Jeison Rosario in a WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator in the co-main event. Super welterweight contender Carlos Adames will take on Mexico’s Alexis Salazar in a 10-round showdown and hard-hitting Olympian Batyr Akhmedov steps in against former world champion Argenis Mendez in a 12-round WBA Super Lightweight Title Eliminator to kick off the pay-per-view telecast.

The event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, GTD Promotions and TGB Promotions. The Akhmedov vs. Mendez fight is promoted in association with World of Boxing.

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

NEWARK, N.J. (June 23, 2021) – Rising unbeaten heavyweight Michael Coffie will square off against former world title challenger Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington in the 12-round main event of FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday, July 31 from Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Welterweight prospect and New Jersey-native Vito Mielnicki Jr. will battle James Martin in an eight-round rematch in the co-main event, as Mielnicki looks to avenge the first loss of his career. Kicking off the broadcast at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, unbeaten prospect Joey Spencer takes on Dan Karpency in an eight-round battle.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale tomorrow, Thursday, June 24 at 12 p.m. ET and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com.

“Michael Coffie has risen up the heavyweight rankings quickly and will look to take another big step when he faces the always dangerous Gerald Washington live on FOX on Saturday, July 31,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “In the co-main event, the fans at Prudential Center will be in for a treat as New Jersey’s Vito Mielnicki Jr. steps right back into the ring seeking revenge against James Martin, after Martin spoiled his perfect record in April. Adding in the return of powerful prospect Joey Spencer, and this card is full of intriguing fights from top to bottom.”

A Marine Corps veteran who picked up boxing after returning from overseas, Coffie (12-0, 9 KOs) quickly impressed in amateur tournaments enough to earn sparring assignments with Deontay Wilder and Adam Kownacki. The 35-year-old was born in the Bronx, but now fights out of Brooklyn. Coffie broke through in 2020 by stopping previously unbeaten Luis Pena in the fifth round of their August matchup before earning a TKO over Joey Abell in November. Coffie added a highlight-reel knockout over previously unbeaten Darmani Rock in January of this year.

“This is going to be a really good fight,” said Coffie. “It’s a fight I need to get me moving in the right direction. I’ve been wanting to fight Washington for a while now. He’s only been beat by top level guys, and this is a way to prove that I belong in that class. It’s amazing to be headlining on FOX. This is a ‘no guts, no glory’ kind of fight. I have to take advantage of this opportunity in a step-up 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 real excited to be back in the ring and back on FOX,” said Washington. “This is another major opportunity for me and I’m going to do everything in my power to fully capitalize on it. Michael Coffie is a good fighter. I like what I’ve seen from him so far. Not to mention, we’re both veterans. I’m looking forward to this fight and I expect fireworks. I believe my experience will carry me to victory. “

Representing Roseland, New Jersey, Mielnicki (8-1, 5 KOs) will look to bounce back after losing by decision to Martin in April on FOX. The 19-year-old began turning heads during an exceptional amateur career where he compiled a 147-22 record and was named the Most Outstanding Boxer of the 2011 Junior National Golden Gloves amongst many accolades before turning pro. Mielnicki was able to add four victories to his ledger in 2020 and he kicked off his 2021 campaign with a knockout of Noe Lopez in February on FOX.

“I believe everything happens for a reason and everyone has their own path,” said Mielnicki. “James Martin was the better man that night in our first fight, and I know what to expect from him come July 31. You won’t see a young prospect doing what I’m doing, making a rematch only four months after my first career loss, in my hometown and in front of my family and friends. Expect nothing but fireworks on July 31. I can’t wait to show the world why I’m different! Tune in and get your tickets now.”

The 24-year-old Martin (7-2) scored a career-best victory in upsetting the previously unbeaten Mielnicki in April. Martin first turned pro in 2017 and won his first four fights to begin his career. Fighting out of Philadelphia, Martin has won three of his last four showdowns dating back to late 2019, including dropping a decision to unbeaten prospect Xander Zayas in February.

“I am going for the knockout this time,” said Martin. “You will see me fight better. I feel I have the advantage, because I gave him his first loss, and he will always have that in the back of his head. I don’t think that he can bring anything different in the rematch.”

The 21-year-old Spencer (12-0, 9 KOs) turned pro in February 2017 and immediately caught the eye of fans and pundits with his combination of speed, power and athleticism. Following an impressive 2020 campaign which included a KO victory over Shawn West in August, the Linden, Michigan native kicked off 2021 with a first-round TKO over Isiah Seldon in January on FOX. Spencer will continue his march toward world title contention against Adah, Pennsylvania’s Karpency (9-3-1, 4 KOs).

“I can’t wait to get in the ring on July 31,” said Spencer. “I’m training hard to become the first person to knock out Karpency. I’m going to bring the fight for the fans like I always do and give everyone watching a great show.”

“I’m excited to fight one of boxing’s top prospects in Joey Spencer and I’m having a great training camp leading up to fight night,” said Karpency. “He’s an excellent fighter, but make no mistake, I’m coming to win on July 31. I’m a boxer-puncher and I can rely on either style. We’re going to adjust to what we see in the ring and take it from there. I’m grateful for this opportunity and I’m planning to make the most of it.”

#

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.

Fans of international boxing can wake up to boxing for brunch this Sunday, June 27, at 9:00 am ET (6:00 am PT), as Salita Promotions proudly presents another marathon 14-fight matinee of Russian boxing on their popular YOUTUBE CHANNEL, free of charge from the Soviet Wings Sport Palace in Moscow, Russia. The event, entitled “Fight and Win” and presented by Shamo Boxing in association with Salita Promotions, will feature a rugged eight-round battle between WBO #3 and IBF #7 bantamweight Nikolai Potapov (22-2-1, 11 KOs), of Podolsk, Russia, now residing Brooklyn, and Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania’s Oscar Richard (7-3-1, 2 KOs).

And in the 10-round co-main event, Beshariq, Uzbekistan’s Bakhromjon “B.F.” Fozilov (3-1-3, 3 KOs) will face 18-fight veteran Andrey Tomashchuk of Chelyabinsk, Russia for the WPBF International Middleweight Championship.

30-year-old Potapov has bounced back nicely from his highly controversial “loss” to fellow contender Josh Greer by scoring two big victories, including his last outing, a shutout unanimous decision over Ukraine’s then 16-2 Oleksandr Hryshchuk in December 2020 in Moscow. In his 11-year career, Potapov has already held the WBA Asia and WBO NABO Bantamweight Championships.

“I look forward to returning to the ring and putting on an exciting performance for my fans in Moscow and worldwide,” said Potapov, who has steadily moved back into contention for another big fight, whether a rematch against Greer or a challenge of one of the division’s champions.

Also scheduled for battle in featured fights are Saint Petersburg, Russia’s Zurab Kvitsiani (7-1, 2 KOs) taking on Khimki, Russia’s David Nikolaev (9-7-1, 5 KOs) in a middleweight eight-rounder; Grozny, Russia’s (via Almaty, Kazakhstan) undefeated super lightweight Shamil Malsagov (3-0, 1 KO) up against Ufa, Russia’s Rustem Fatkhullin (8-8, 3 KOs) over eight rounds; and once-beaten Tikhon Netesov of Irkutsk, Russia (5-1, 2 KOs) facing Khimki, Russia’s (via Vanadzor, Armenia) Arkadi Harutyunyan (4-17, 1 KO) in a six-round super lightweight battle.

The event’s complete bout sheet can be found HERE.

I am thrilled to bring a Sunday show from Moscow to boxing fans in the US via our YOUTUBE CHANNEL, said Dmitriy Salita. “Nikolai is one of the best bantamweights in the world. Coming off this weekend with Inoue’s incredible performance, I believe Nikolai will show that he is elite and ready to challenge ‘The Monster.’”
Calling the action in English will be Canada’s Corey Erdman, a commentary veteran for ESPN, NBC, CBS, SpikeTV, BoxNation, DAZN and SNY, as well as UFC Fight Pass’ recurring series Broadway Boxing. Erdman is also a lead columnist for Boxing Scene, and a regular combat sports contributor to VICE.

The livestream is part of Salita Promotions’ ever-expanding YOUTUBE CHANNEL, that already offers thousands of hours of past fights from many of the biggest names in boxing, free of charge, and attracts more than 5 million monthly views with 196,000 subscribers and hundreds of thousands of daily viewers. Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular video updates of boxing’s greatest legends, its best fighters, toughest contenders and brightest prospects in action.

#

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

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

(June 23, 2021) —Welsh flyweight contender Jay Harris needs one more victory to receive a second crack at world title glory. Harris will take on Ricardo Sandoval in a 12-round IBF world title eliminator this Friday, June 25 from Bolton, England.
 
The co-feature will see former bantamweight world champion Paul Butler fight Mexican veteran Willibaldo Garcia in a 10-rounder for the vacant WBO International bantamweight title.
 
Harris-Sandoval and Butler-Garcia will headline a scheduled five-fight stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ starting at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.
 
Harris (18-1, 9 KOs) was one half of one of 2020’s best fights when he dropped a unanimous decision to Julio Cesar Martinez for the WBC flyweight world title. He returned in fine form last October, topping Marcel Braithwaite via unanimous decision to move up the rankings and into this title eliminator. Sandoval (18-1, 13 KOs), from Montclair, California, has won 14 consecutive bouts, including five straight by stoppage. He last fought in February 2020 and knocked out Filipino veteran Raymond Tabugon in seven rounds.
 
WBO No. 2 bantamweight contender Butler (32-2, 15 KOs) won the IBF bantamweight world title in 2014, then vacated the belt to challenge Zolani Tete for the IBF junior bantamweight world title. He fell to Tete via eighth-round stoppage but is 15-1 in the six-plus years since, winning regional titles at both junior bantamweight and bantamweight. Garcia (12-4-1, 6 KOs) is 11-1-1 since a 1-3 start to his career, with his only defeat in that stretch coming via majority decision to former world title challenger Alejandro Santiago Barrios. This will be his first fight outside of Mexico.
 
In other streaming action on ESPN+:

• Dublin-born junior welterweight prospect Pierce O’Leary (6-0, 2 KOs) will make his second appearance of 2021 against Czech veteran Jan Marsalek (8-3, 7 KOs) in a six-rounder. Marsalek last fought on the Canelo Alvarez-Billy Joe Saunders undercard in May and knocked down unbeaten prospect Kelvin Davis, ultimately losing a four-round unanimous decision.
   
• Undefeated lightweight contender Gary Cully (12-0, 6 KOs), who is coming off a March stoppage victory over Viktor Kotochigov, will fight Viorel Simion (22-5, 9 KOs) in a 10-rounder. Simion is a 15-year pro who has fought the likes of Shakur Stevenson, Lee Selby and Scott Quigg.
   
• In a 10-round eliminator for the British light heavyweight title, Hosea Burton (25-2, 11 KOs) will face Liam Conroy (18-6-1, 9 KOs), who has participated in a number of notable all-action brawls over the years. Burton and Conroy are each looking to bounce back from defeats suffered in MTK Global’s Golden Contract tournament. 

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 13.8 million subscribers.
 
Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $5.99 a month (or $59.99 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 $12.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $18.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).