EL PASO, TEXAS (April 8, 2021) – Middleweight contender D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard (20-0-1, 13 KOs) will step in to face Jaime Munguia (36-0, 29 KOs) for the WBO Intercontinental Middleweight Championship after Maciej Sulecki was forced to pull out of the fight due to an injury. The event will now take place on Friday, April 23 at The University of Texas at El Paso’s Don Haskins Center and will be streamed live exclusively
on DAZN worldwide, excluding Mexico, beginning at 6:00 p.m. PT/7:00 p.m. MDT/9:00 p.m. ET.

The event will be held under strict COVID-19 fan safety protocols and with a reduced event capacity below 40%. For detailed COVID-19 event safety fan protocols, click here or visit http://www.utepspecialevents.com.

Updated ticket information is available at the bottom of this release.

“D’Mitrius Ballard has been deserving of an opportunity like this for a while now,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “This is the chance to finally demonstrate to the world that he’s ready for the top guys in the division. We wish Maciej Sulecki a quick recovery, but we also we want to emphasize that Ballard is no mere replacement. He’s a real threat.”

Ballard is a 28-year-old contender who boasts a decorated amateur career in which he won several national championships. In 2013, the native of Temple Hills, Maryland began his professional career with a knockout victory against Kelly Henderson. Since then, Ballard has steadily moved up the rankings, taking on tough competitors such as Victor “Sina” Fonseca and Alan “Amenaza” Campa. Ballard, who is anxious to make his mark on the division on April 23, is coming off a majority draw against Olympic bronze medalist Yamaguchi Falcao.

“I feel very fortunate and blessed to have the opportunity to fight against Jaime Munguia,” said D’Mitrius Ballard. “I feel extremely blessed especially because of the condition the world is now in with COVID-19 and all the issues we are facing. This is the perfect opportunity to really showcase who D’Mitirus Ballard is and demonstrate my boxing abilities. I’m going to use this fight to re-introduce myself to the world.”

“These things happen in boxing, and I’ve always had the mentality that I have to be prepared for any opponent,” said Jaime Munguia. “I know that D’Mitrius Ballard is a great fighter with a lot of experience as an amateur and a professional, so I expect to deliver a great fight to get even closer to the world title opportunity.”

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Munguia vs. Ballard is a 12-round fight for the WBO Intercontinental Middleweight Title presented by Golden Boy in association with Zanfer Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate “The Official Beer of Boxing” and Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle.” The fight will take place on Friday, April 23 at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN worldwide, excluding Mexico, beginning at 6:00 p.m. PT/7:00 p.m. MDT/9:00 p.m. ET.

Tickets for Munguia vs. Ballard are on sale now and are priced at $200, $100, $60 and $35 not including applicable service charges. In an effort to promote social distancing, tickets will be sold in pods/groupings of 2, 3, 4 and 6 people only. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 915-747-5234. Tickets will also be available for purchase at http://www.utepspecialevents.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Fans who have already purchased tickets for Saturday, April 24 and would like to still attend Munguia vs. Ballard, your tickets and seating location are still valid for the new date and no further action is required. Ticket buyers who purchased tickets for April 24 through Ticketmaster or the UTEP Box Office and would like a refund, you can go back to your original point of purchase and request a full refund. Refund requests will be honored up until Wednesday, April 14.

Fans who purchased tickets on StubHub, or any other secondary ticket provider, should contact the provider’s customer service staff regarding the impacted date change. The UTEP box office, nor Ticketmaster, are not able to facilitate any credits, exchanges or refunds for tickets not purchased directly through them.

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 #MunguiaBallard.

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

Los Angeles – April 8, 2021 – Ring City USA today announced two compelling undercard matchups that will round out the main card for its Thursday, April 22 event from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. and live on NBC Sports Network (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).

The co-main event of the evening is a women’s featherweight world title bout between WBA World Champion Jelena Mrdjenovich (41-10-2, 19 KOs) of Edmonton, Canada, and world ranked contender Erika Cruz Hernandez (12-1-0, 3 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico, scheduled for ten rounds. Also featured on the NBC Sports Network main card is a highly anticipated clash between top undefeated junior welterweight prospects Juan Pablo ‘El Pivi’ Romero (13-0, 9 KOs) of Villa del Carbon, Mexico and Jonathan ‘Thunder’ Navarro (17-0, 9 KOs) of East Los Angeles, Calif., scheduled for ten rounds.

Mrdjenovich, 38, returns to the Ring City USA squared circle following her fifth world title defense, a 10-round unanimous decision victory against Iranda Paolo Torres on December 17, 2020 at the Wild Card Boxing Gym in Los Angeles, Calif. The three-division world champion won the WBA world title in March 2016 defeating champion Edith Matthysse. A pioneer for women’s boxing in Canada, Mrdjenovich is currently the second-ranked featherweight in the world by Ring Magazine, behind only recent Ring City victor Amanda Serrano.

Upset-minded Cruz Hernandez, 30, will be challenging for her first world title. The southpaw is currently riding an 11-bout winning streak including victories over world ranked contenders Vissia Trovato and Jocelyn Morales Torres. 

Making his United States debut, heavy-handed Juan Pablo Romero arrives for battle following a ten-round unanimous decision over Sergio Torres on November 28, 2020 in Mexico City, Mexico. Prior to his most recent outing, Romero, 31, has faced top competition for a rising prospect and performed well by knocking out four consecutive opponents within the first four rounds.

The 24-year-old Jonathan Navarro has become one of the most highly touted prospects in the United States since turning professional five years ago. The nephew of former perennial contenders Jose and Carlos Navarro, Jonathan is trained by the renowned Robert Garcia. Coming off a 17-month layoff, he hits the ring following a tremendous second round knockout of Lebin Morales on October 24, 2019 in Indio, CA. Among the victories on his ledger include a seventh-round knockout over then-unbeaten contender Damon Allen in August 2018.

The April 22 event from West Point, N.Y. is headlined by the previously announced heavyweight clash between undefeated contenders Jermaine Franklin (20-0, 13 KOs) and Stephan Shaw (14-0, 10 KOs). Bonus undercard action will stream live around the world on Twitch. Armed Forces Network Europe and Pacific will also make the broadcast available to U.S. Forces serving overseas on AFN TV. 

More details on the Ring City USA event on April 22 from West Point will be announced at a later date. Follow Ring City USA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest updates or visit www.ringcityusa.com.

About Ring City USA

Ring City, which launched in 2020, is boxing’s newest sports media platform. Working in tandem with a variety of promoters and talent, its new boxing series places an emphasis on competitive matchups that genuinely test the fighters and excite the fight fans. Ring City provides great fights in the ring and compelling shoulder programming outside of the ring. Ring City is the proving ground where up-and-coming talent can earn their stripes and launch themselves into the upper echelon of boxing stardom. 

About West Point

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal, liberal arts college located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America’s first college of engineering and continues today as the world’s premier leader-development institution, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country. Its mission remains constant—to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the U. S. Army. For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu.

PHILADELPHIA (APRIL 8, 2021)–Former Boxcino Heavyweight champion, and, current contender, Andrey Fedosov returns to action when he takes on Mahammadrasul Majidov on Saturday, April 17th at The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Fedosov of Shuya, Russia, will be making his first ring appearance of 2021, and has a record of 31-3 with 25 knockouts.

The former Boxcino champion, who began his career in his native country, has been very successful when taking his career stateside, as he has a record of 12-2 with 11 knockouts, which includes scoring three knockout victories to win the Boxcino Heavyweight title

Fedosov, who is promoted by Banner Promotions and Newsboy Boxing, is a former WBO Intercontinental and WBA Fedlatin Heavyweight champion.

Mojidov is 3-0 with three and knockouts, and is a three-time world amateur champion.

“I am excited to be back in the ring. The Pandemic held me back, but I am ready to go on April 17th. I know my opponent was a decorated amateur, but I am a very experienced professional. That will be the difference on fight night,” said Fedosov

“With a win, Andrey puts himself back in the mix in the heavyweight division. He has the ability to defeat anybody, and we look forward to him putting on a major performance on April 17th, said Banner Promotions President, Artie Pelullo.

“I am excited to be part of the team with Banner Promotions. We are looking forward on Andrey having a great performance and working towards being a top contender in the heavyweight division,” said Gary McCarthy of Newsboy Boxing Promotions.

Said Steve Burman of Newsboy Boxing Promotions, “This is going to be a great fight for Andrey. I can not wait for Andrey to get in there and display that he is one of the top heavyweights in the world. With a win, the sky is the limit for his success.”

The fight will be streamed live on DAZN.

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

Las Vegas – UFC® will deliver a middleweight main event almost three years in the making, as former champion and No. 1 contender Robert Whittaker takes on No. 8 Kelvin Gastelum. In an exciting co-main event, No. 9 ranked featherweight contender Jeremy Stephens returns to lightweight for the first time in eight years to face Drakkar Klose.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: WHITTAKER vs. GASTELUM will take place Saturday, April 17 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will air on ESPN and ESPN Deportes and be simulcast on ESPN+ (English and Spanish), with the prelims kicking off at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT followed by the main card at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

No. 13 men’s pound-for-pound fighter Whittaker (23-5, fighting out of Sydney, Australia) looks to build off the recent momentum of two impressive victories over Jared Cannonier and Darren Till. Throughout his run in the 185-pound division, he has delivered memorable wins over Yoel Romero (twice), Jacare Souza and Derek Brunson. Whittaker now has his sights set on another show-stealing performance to stake his claim for an opportunity to regain his crown.

The Ultimate Fighter season 17 winner Gastelum (17-6 1NC, fighting out of Yuma, Ariz. by way of Huntington Beach, Calif.) steps in to replace Paulo Costa to finally get his shot at Whittaker after their UFC 234 encounter was cancelled. A talented striker and grappler, he holds notable wins over Michael Bisping, Johny Hendricks and Tim Kennedy. Gastelum now hopes to take out another former UFC champion and re-enter the middleweight division’s top five.

Perennial fan favorite Stephens (28-18 1NC, fighting out of San Diego, Calif.) has delivered a series of spectacular knockouts during his 14-year stint on the UFC roster. Included on his resume are KO wins against Josh Emmett, Dennis Bermudez and former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos. Stephens now aims to turn heads once again at 155 pounds with another vintage performance.

Klose (11-2-1, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.) is gunning to make the most of his first UFC co-main event appearance by securing the biggest win of his career. A gritty competitor and striker, he has delivered entertaining victories over Bobby Green, Lando Vannata and Marc Diakiese. Klose now hopes to secure his first UFC finish by taking out another seasoned veteran.

Additional bouts on the card include:

Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski (30-20 2NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) squares off with Chase Sherman (15-6, fighting out of D’Iberville, Miss.)
Abdul Razak Alhassan (10-3, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas) moves up to middleweight to face Jacob Malkoun (4-1, fighting out of Sydney, Australia)
Luis Pena (8-3, fighting out of Gilroy, Calif.) returns to action against Dana White’s Contender Series veteran Alex Munoz (6-1, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) in a lightweight bout
Ricardo Ramos (14-3, fighting out of Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil) squares off with Bill Algeo (14-5, fighting out of King of Prussia, Penn.) at featherweight
Women’s flyweight prospects collide when Tracy Cortez (8-1, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) faces Justine Kish (7-3, fighting out of Cramerton, N.C.)
Alexandr Romanov (13-0, fighting out of Comrat City, Republic of Moldova) takes on Juan Espino (11-1, fighting out of Gran Canaria, Spain) in a battle of surging heavyweights
Former women’s strawweight title challenger Jessica Penne (12-6, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.) returns to the Octagon for the first time in four years when she meets debuting Lupita Godinez (5-0, fighting out of Vancouver, Canada by way of Aguascalientes, Mexico)
Bartosz Fabinski (15-4, fighting out of Warsaw, Poland) takes on Gerald Meerschaert (31-14, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) at middleweight
Zarah Fairn (6-4, fighting out of Paris, France) goes for her first UFC victory against UFC newcomer Josiane Nunes (7-1, fighting out of Fazenda Rio Grande, Parana, Brazil) in a women’s bantamweight contest
Tony Gravely (20-6, fighting out of Christiansburg, Va.) locks horns with Anthony Birchak (16-7, fighting out of Tucson, Ariz.) at bantamweight

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

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About UFC®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 625 million fans and 142 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to approximately 900M TV households across more than 175 territories. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 70 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR. UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About 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 12.1 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 $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).

About ESPN

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

QUINCY, Mass. (April 8, 2021) – Granite Chin Promotions is bringing old-time, local rivalry pro boxing back Saturday night, April 17, with the presentation of the “Crossroads” day-night doubleheader, featuring seven regional and local title fights, at New England Sports Center in Derry, New Hampshire.

Former New England middleweight champion Kendrick “Peppa” Ball (15-1-2, 11 KOs) steps up in terms of competition against Texas veteran Bryan “The Warrior” Vera (28-16, 18 KOs) in the 8-round main event for the vacant WBC USNBC (U.S.) Silver super middleweight title

Fighting out of nearby Worcester, Massachusetts, Ball is 11 years younger than Vera, who needs to win or retire, and riding a 6-fight win streak with a 3-inch height and reach advantages.

Fighting out of Austin, the 39-year-old Vera was originally known for his participation in the first season of The Contender, Reality Television series. He went on to defeat a trio of world champions – Andy Lee, Sergio Mora (twice) and Serhiy Dzinziruk – capturing five regional titles including the NABO middleweight crown.

Ball vs. Vera, the evening headliner of the day-night doubleheader (separate admissions), is co-promoted by Ball’s promoter, Classic Entertainment and Sports (CES).

“Events like this is what local boxing is all about,” Granite Chin’s Chris Traietti said. “’Crossroads’ is more than just the name for this event. It’s a reality for a lot of guys on this show. It is time to find out if some of these young up-and-comers are really as good as the hype, as well as learning if some of the veteran fighters have hit the end of the road. Our two shows offer a ton of boxing for fans to watch. On top of all the boxing, we will have live music from The Freight during the afternoon show.

“For the last 6-7 years, I have been learning, absorbing and, at times, failing to figure out how to make Granite Chin work. We hit our stride about 1 ½ years ago and not even a pandemic has been able to slow us down. This is only the beginning of a bright Granite Chin future. Thank you to everyone who has been supporting Granite Chin to allow us to grow to this point.”

In the co-featured event, New Hampshire welterweight champion Ryan Dibartolomeo (3-1-1, 1 KO) faces title challenger Marquis Bates (7-4, 5 KOs) in a 6-round bout.

Larry Pryor (13-23, 7 KOs) takes on Scott Lampert (1-1, 1 KO) for the vacant New Hampshire cruiserweight crown in a 6-rounder. Undefeated prospect Francis “The Tank” Hogan (4-0, 4 KOs), of Weymouth, MA, meets veteran Larry “Slo Mo” Smith (12-45-2, 8 KOs) in a 6-rounder for the vacant New Hampshire junior middleweight championship, and undefeated Schenectady, NY junior middleweight Jahyae Brown (8-0, 7 KOs) fights Dormedes Potes (12-2-1, 9 KOs) in an 8-round brawl for the vacant ABF Atlantic junior middleweight strap.

Former New England heavyweight champion Justin “Crazy Train” Rolfe (4-2-1, 3 KOs) squares off against Alfredo “Choncho” Trevino (9-8-1, 1 KO) in 6-round bout.

Also fighting on the evening’s undercard is unbeaten Holyoke, MA welterweight Denzel Whitley (3-0, 3 KOs) vs. Aquilando Brandao (0-3), and Fall River, MA welterweight Dustin Reinhold (5-4, 2 KOs) vs. pro-debuting Anthony Andreozzi.

Julien Baptiste (1-0, 1 KO), of Woburn, MA, and pro-debuting Holyoke junior middleweight Carlos Castillo are in separate 4-round bouts against opponents to be determined.

UBO All-America welterweight champion Brandon “The Cannon” Berry (20-5-2, 12 KOs) headlines the afternoon segment of “Crossroads” in an 8-round title defense versus challenger Gael Ibarra (5-2, 4 KOs).

Heavyweights Mike “Fly” Marshall (4-1, 3 KOs) and Tracey Johnson (4-9-6) throwdown in in the 8-round co-feature.

Canadian cruiserweight Yan “Wild Thing” Pellerin (10-1, 4 KOs) meets Steve “The Spoiler” Walker (26-36, 18 KOs) for the vacant ABF Atlantic cruiserweight title in an 8-round encounter.

In a pair of scheduled 8-round bouts, Danbury, CT junior welterweight Omar Bordoy, Jr. (10-1, 3 KOs) stays busy against Dewayne Wisdom (7-55-2, 3 KOs), while New England welterweight champion Mike “Bad Boy” Ohan, Jr. (11-1, 5 KOs) stays busy against Rynell Griffin (8-45-2, 2 KOs) in a non-title fight.

Also fighting on the afternoon undercard in 4-rounders are Jimmy Torney (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. pro-debuting Justin Velmure in battle of Boston heavyweights, Weymouth, MA pro-debuting welterweight Eric Goff vs. Jader Alves (0-4), and the pro debut of Demek Edmonds vs. Francisco Neto (1-11).

All bouts subject to change.

Tickets are priced at $35.00 (Day Show) / $45.00 (Night Show) for general seating (unassigned) and $220.00 (Day Show) / $300.00 (Night Show) for ringside tables (assigned and seats 4) and available to purchase online at www.ticketriver.com (Search: crossroads).

Doors open at 12:15 p.m. ET and 7:15 p.m. ET (night) with the first bouts, respectively, at 12:30 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. ET.

INFORMATION:
Facebook.com/GraniteChin
Twitter: @Granite_Chin

TROY WILLIAMSON insists he will see off Kieran Smith in their British Super-Welterweight title final eliminator on Friday April 30, live on BT Sport.

The Darlington man will be looking at the big time if he wins and guaranteed a shot at British champion Ted Cheeseman.

Williamson (15-0-1, 11 KOs) who has recovered from recent laser eye surgery said: “Me and Cheeseman would be a war.

“We have got a similar sort of style. We can box and come forward. I think at some stage it would catch fire and be explosive.

“I’m not sure if he wants to stick around and move on. If he does, we will meet and if not I will still get my shot once I come through Kieran.

“If I get the opportunity this year I will become British champion. I don’t run my mouth because I deserve the opportunity.”

Williamson admits that Smith (16-0, 7 KOs) will be his toughest opponent to date as a professional.

The Scottish southpaw is on a revenge mission having narrowly lost against Williamson when there were amateurs at the 2015 Tri-Nations tournament.

“We are the two underestimated guys in the division and nobody wants to fight us so we’re putting it on the line fighting each other,” said Williamson

“One million per-cent this is the biggest fight for me so far as a professional.

“I’m not looking at my Tri-Nations win. It’s now smaller gloves, longer rounds and we’ve both matured as fighters. It’s still 1-0 though and that will be in the back of his head.

“I’m more explosive, I hit harder, I believe I am going to be fitter on the night. I will be mentally and physically ready just like I always am.

“As a professional I have boxed higher calibre boxers. In his last fight he boxed somebody who was unbeaten but it was a padded record and they didn’t turn up to win.

“What makes me different is that I am hungry to succeed. I am a  complete athlete. I live and breath boxing. It will show on April 30.

“Fans can expect a great fight. It will catch fire at some point and be explosive. I will win.”

Another potential opponent for Troy is a mouth-watering meeting with young unbeaten hopeful Hamzah Sheeraz, a Frank Warren stablemate.

Hall of Fame promoter Warren has been desperate to make the fight, but it has fallen through twice inside the last few months.

Williamson promised Warren: “It will happen this year or early next year.”

‘Trojan’ who has been travelling around the country with trainer Craig Carney to get top class sparring added: ”I was due to fight Hamzah last November, but I injured my eye in sparring.

“I went back to training too early after the laser eye surgery. I took a thumb in the eye and it closed up so I couldn’t train.

“It got rescheduled for last month. Then he got injured so it’s not happening.

“I think we’re Frank Warren’s best two Super-Welterweights so that fight needs to happen.

“Hamzah is a good fighter. If we boxed now I think it is a bit too early for him and I’d show a bit of man strength.

“My full focus is Kieran and we will see where we go after whether it is Cheeseman or Hamzah next.”

In the main event on the behind closed doors London card brilliant South African Moruti Mthalane (39-2, 26 KOs) defends his IBF World Flyweight championship against Croydon’s Sunny Edwards (15-0, 4 KOs), a former GB amateur team-mate of Williamson.

In a ten rounder Belfast’s Michael Conlan (14-0, 8 KOs) faces dangerous Romanian Ionut Balata (14-2, 3 KOs)

Sunny’s older brother, Charlie Edwards (16-1, 6 KOs) the former WBC World Flyweight champion has his second fight as a Bantamweight on the undercard.

FOR TROY’S FULL INTERVIEW WITH DEV SAHNI ON THE LOWDOWN CLICK HERE

Hard-punching light heavyweight fan favorite Ahmed Elbiali says he can’t wait to show off the new skills he’s developed while working with trainer and former world super bantamweight champion Clarence “Bones” Adams.

Cairo-born Elbiali (20-1, 17 KOs) relocated from his adopted home in Miami three years ago to work with Adams at his private gym in Las Vegas and, at first, things didn’t go as well as hoped.

“Bones’ style took some getting used to,” admits Elbiali. “He’s very direct and it used to hurt my feelings sometimes, but now I know he’s a very realistic guy who just tells it like it is to help you improve. The whole environment in Vegas is different. People in Vegas are not as happy as people in Miami. Everyone who shows up to the gym in Vegas is grumpy. In Miami, the skies are always blue. You go outside in Vegas and its straight smog and heat. Now I get it.”

Once acclimated, Elbiali says the improvements in his technique were astonishing. “I think Bones is a great coach and he’s helped me to improve a lot as both a fighter and a person. We started over from the basics and everything is different now. Bones helped me realize a lot of things. I’m really excited to come back because I have so many new skills to show.”

30-year-old Elbiali, who was last seen demolishing former NABO champion Bryan Vera by sixth-round TKO in December 2019, says he’s living a clean life and working hard to reach his goal of becoming boxing’s first Egyptian-born world champion.

“Being a fighter in Vegas is the best. All these great fighters are helping me. I’ve been sparring with undefeated Russian cruiserweight, Andrey Mangushev, and learning a lot. The whole environment is great.”

With the pandemic sure to wind down eventually, boxing will go back to business as usual with live fans and fight cards all over the world every weekend. Elbiali, who is hoping to return to the ring in June, says he’s just biding his time until he can unleash his new-and-improved fists on the 175-lb division.

“I really love what I do. I can’t wait to get back in there. I am going balls to the walls from now on and leaving nothing to the judges. Like a lot of fighters, I just want to fight. Fighting is our profession, so when we don’t make money we struggle mentally. It doesn’t feel nice as a man to not be where you want to be in life. I can’t say its all about the money though. I want to prove myself and show how much I love what I do.”

Elbiali will be back in the ring soon with date and details to be announced shortly.

Tickets for Devin Haney’s WBC World Lightweight title defense against Jorge Linares at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Saturday May 29, will go on pre-sale tomorrow at 10am PT/ 1pm ET and on general sale on Friday April 9 at 10am PT/ 1pm ET. The event will air live worldwide on DAZN in association with Devin Haney Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions.
TICKETS STARTING AT $50 (PLUS FEES) WILL GO ON SALE VIA AXS.COM
Haney (25-0 18 KOs) defends his title for the third time having seen off the challenges of Alfredo Santiago and Yuriorkis Gamboa with comfortable points wins, but now faces the toughest test of his pro career to date in the form of Linares in his first fight back in his Las Vegas backyard since May 2016.

Linares (47-5 29 KOs) is looking to become a two-time holder of the WBC strap that he won in December 2014 against Javier Prieto, with Haney the 15^th World title battle and 53^rd bout in over 18 years as a pro. The fight was a catalyst to a four-year run where the Venezuelan ace beat Kevin Mitchell, Ivan Cano, Anthony Crolla twice, Luke Campbell and Mercito Gesta as Lightweight king before he faced defeat in a to-and-fro clash with Vasiliy Lomachenko in New York in May 2018.

The undercard for Haney vs. Linares will be announced soon.

MGM Resorts will implement its comprehensive Seven Point Safety Plan and its Entertainment & Sports “Convene with Confidence” program, which outline the company’s approach to protecting the health and safety of guests and employees. The multi-layered plans include everything from sanitation stations, masking and physical distancing to digital solutions that minimize touch points as well as enhanced cleaning protocol. Details can be found at MGM Resorts Entertainment Convene with Confidence.

PENSACOLA, FLA. (April 7, 2021) – Hard-hitting southpaw Bryant “Goodfella” Perrella detailed his current training camp, including what he’s learned from his new trainer, all-time great Roy Jones Jr., and previewed his upcoming showdown against former world champion Tony “Superbad” Harrison before they square off in the FOX PBC Fight Night main event and on FOX Deportes Saturday, April 17 from Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

“After my last fight I went on a bit of a sparring tour,” said Perrella, detailing the origins of how he linked up with his new trainer. “I ended up sparring with some of Roy’s guys in Pensacola, and afterward he let me stay to soak up some more knowledge. The rest is history. It was an easy decision to stay out there and grow under one of the best fighters ever. It’s like going off to a university. Every day I come in with my notepad and pen ready.”

Perrella will return to the ring after suffering a disappointing defeat in his last fight in February 2020 on FOX. Perrella led on all three scorecards heading into the final round against Abel Ramos, but was stopped in the waning moments of the round. For Perrella, he’s learned from the experience, and combined with his new trainer, believes it will all end up helping him long term.

“Everything that happened with the Ramos fight has been addressed and changed,” said Perrella. “That lost sent me on the journey that led me to this new weight class and training with Roy. Everything happens for a reason, as long as you look for that reason and have faith in it. That reason has been shown to me in so many ways and it’s a huge blessing.”

After spending a majority his career fighting at 147 pounds, Perrella will fight at the super welterweight limit for the first time since his third pro fight. For the six-foot, one-inch Perrella, he believes that moving up in weight full-time will open up different aspects of his game.

“The decision to move up in weight was because of how I felt in the Ramos fight,” said Perrella. “Making 147 pounds was taking a lot out of me. I performed well, but I know how I felt in that ring. I have so much more to give as a fighter. That was really only 30% of me. Making weight was coming at a cost and I no longer thought it was helping me.

“I know these fighters at 154 are bigger and stronger, but so am I. I’m going to be stronger than ever and I’m going to be ready to tangle. I probably should have been at this weight for a while. I was always a fighter moving down in weight. I still train hard like always, but by not having to worry as much about weight, I’m able to add big layers to my game. With all these changes, I even surprise myself some days with what I can do now. I’m super confident and I can’t wait to bring it all to the ring on fight night.”

Perrella not only finds motivation from returning in a primetime main event, but from having elite opposition in the former 154-pound champion Harrison. Perrella knows that Harrison presents a versatile and difficult task, but is more than up to the challenge in front of him.

“This is a huge opportunity to fight one of the top guys at this weight,” said Perrella. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. It definitely helps motivate me to have this kind of chance on this stage against a fighter like Tony.

“Tony has different layers and dimensions to his game. He can box with his jab and length, but he can also come forward with that high guard. At this level, it’s a game of adjustments. This is going to be an interesting clash of styles. There’s no other southpaw like me. He’s sharp and has experience, but I’m a whole different kind of animal than anything he’s seen.”

With Roy Jones Jr. in his corner, Perrella believes that he has the confidence to not only come out victorious on April 17, but to make this a memorable action fight for fans watching.

“I have a unique approach and now I have Roy passing down his knowledge from his experiences,” said Perrella. “It’s like a shortcut. I’m getting the knowledge handed right to me instead of going through it not knowing what to expect. This matchup is between two strong fighters and the fans can expect an action packed fight from start to finish.”

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ABOUT HARRISON VS. PERRELLA
Harrison vs. Perrella will see former WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Tony “Superbad” Harrison enter the ring to face hard-hitting southpaw Bryant “Goodfella” Perrella in the super welterweight main event of FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday, April 17 from Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features undefeated rising contender Omar “El Relampago” Juarez stepping up versus veteran Jessie Roman in the 10-round super lightweight co-main event. The telecast opener will see the return of sensational prospect Vito Mielnicki Jr. against James Martin in an eight-round welterweight matchup.

The event will be promoted by TGB Promotions and will take place without fans in attendance at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall, an AEG venue, in downtown Los Angeles.

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.