Cynthia Calvillo moved up to flyweight and won a five-round unanimous decision over top-ranked Jessica Eye at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Eye had a good opening round, but that was it for her as Cavillo dominated the final four-rounds and the numbers showed that as Calvillo outlanded Eye by a 137-97 count, and was successful on four takedown attempts.

Calvillo, 126 lbs of San Jose, CA won by scores of 49-46 twice and 48-47 and is now 9-1. Eye, 126.25 lbs (.25 over the contacted weight limit( is now 15-8-1.

In a contentious build-up, Marvin Vettori choked out Karl Roberson in the opening round of their middleweight bout.

Vettori got Roberson on the ground and then pounded away, which led to a rear-naked choke that forced Roberson to tap-out at 4:17.

The two were supposed to meet last month in Jacksonville when Roberson missed weight and the fight was called off. Vettori and Roberson then had a confrontation in the hotel. Fast-Forward to yesterday’s weigh in, where once again Roberson missed weight. This time by 4.5 pounds, but the fight went on.

Vettori, 186 lbs of Trento, IT is 15-4-1. Roberson, 190.5 lbs of Neptune, NJ is 9-3.

Charles Rosa won a split decision over Kevin Aguilar in a lightweight bout.

Rosa was cut at the end of round two from a clash of heads. Aguilar out-landed Rosa 64-56.

Rosa took cards 29-28; Aguilar took a card 29-28.

Rosa, 155 lbs of Boca Raton, FL is 13-4. Aguilar, 155.5 lbs of Longview, TX is 17-.4

Andre Fili won a split decision over Charles Jourdain in a featherweight fight.

Fili won the fight on the strength of out-landing Jourdain 74-63 and 4-0 in take-downs.

Fili, 145.5 lbs of Sacramento, CA took two cards 29-28; Jourdain won a card 29-28.

Fili is now 21-7. Jourdainm 145.5 lbs is 10-3.

Jordan Espinosa won a unanimous decision over Mark De La Rosa in a bantameweight bout.

Espinosa controlled the action as he outlanded De La Rosa 192-48 and 2-0 on takedowns.

Espinosa, 135.5 lbs of Albuquerque, NM won by scores of 30-27 twice and 30-26 and is now 15-7-1. De La Rosa, 136 lbs of Fort Worth, TX is 11-5.

Maria Agapova choked out Hannah Cifers in the first round of their flyweight bout.

Agapova was relentless in agression. She landed a big kick that hurt Cifers and eventually got her to the ground where she was able to apply a rear-naked choke that forced the end of the fight at 2:42.

Agapova, 125.5 lbs of Kazakhstan is 9-1. Cifers, 125 lbs of Wake Forest. NC is 10-6.

Merab Dvalisvili won a unanimous decision over Gustavo Lopez in a catchweight bantamweight bout.

Dvalishvili, 139 lbs of Long Island, NY registered 13 takedowns, and won by scores of 30-26 twice and 30-25 and is now 11-4. Lopez, 140 lbs of Las Vegas is 11-5.

Julia Avila scored an opening minute stoppage over Gina Mazany in a bantamweight contest.

Avila landed a knee to the stomach that sent Mazana reeling back. Avila quickly followed Mazany and landed a barrage of quick punches, and the fight was stopped at 22 seconds.

Avila, 135 lbs of Oklahoma City is 8-1. Mazany, 136 lbs of Las Vegas is 6-4.

Tyson Nam scored an explosive opening minute knockout over Zarrukh Adashev in a bantamweight bout.

Nam landed an explosive right hand to the chin that sent Adashev down. While down, Nam landed another right to the wide-open face of Adashev and the fight was stopped at 32 seconds.

Nam, 135.5 lbs of Wapahai, HI is 19-11-1. Adashev, was 2.5 lbs over at Friday’s weigh-in is 3-2.

Christian Aguilera stopped Anthony Ivy in the opening minute of their welterweight bout.

Aguilera landed a hard right that hurt Ivy. He followed up with four hard shots, and the bout was stopped at 59 seconds.

Aguilera, 170.5 lbs of Brea, CA is 14-6. Ivy, 171 lbs of San Antonio, TX is 8-3.

ORANGE, Calif. (June 12, 2020) – Undefeated welterweight prospect Giovani Santillan (25-0, 15 KO), who is co-promoted by Thompson Boxing and Top Rank Inc., will face former world champion Antonio DeMarco (33-8-1, 24 KOs), on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 on ESPN. The 10-round bout will serve as the co-main event for Joshua Greer Jr. (22-1-1, 12 KOs) versus Mike Plania (23-1, 12 KOs). The Top Rank broadcast will start on ESPN beginning at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.

Here is what Giovani Santillan had to say about his training camp and more:

On his recent training camp

“I did my whole training camp in my hometown of San Diego, CA, with my dad Guillermo Santillan who is my head trainer. We are very blessed to have Danny Perez as a second in the corner. Together we have a great game plan put in place to face DeMarco, who is a crafty southpaw. All the sparring is done now and I’m in the best shape of my career. I’m fully prepared to go the distance if need be.”

On facing the toughest opponent of his career, former world champion Antonio DeMarco

“I am extremely focused going into this fight. Antonio DeMarco is the hardest fight of my career, and I want to be as prepared as possible. DeMarco is a true veteran with a lot of power. He has twice as many professional fights as me, so I know this is a major step up fight. I want to show the world that I am an elite fighter worthy of a top 15 ranking.”

On fighting on ESPN

“These times have been very tough, and I am glad that my promoters, Top Rank and Thompson Boxing, have given me this opportunity to fight on ESPN. It’s is a massive platform for me fighting in front of millions of people, and I am looking to take full advantage of it by putting on an exciting action-packed performance. Everyone will know my name after this fight.”

On signing with Top Rank

“I want to thank Ken Thompson and Alex Camponovo for believing in me, as well as my manager Dave MacWater. Thompson Boxing is a family business and they take care of their fighters very well. I’m blessed to now have a co-promotional agreement with Top Rank and thanks to them I am now on ESPN, the leader in sports. Top Rank has a history of building some of the biggest stars in the sport of boxing, and I feel I have the perfect team behind me to get me into contention for a world title.”

On what a win will do for his career

“A win against DeMarco will change my life. It will mean I would’ve won a fight against a former world champion on national television when hardly anything live is occurring. A lot of people are watching these fights, and I believe this will put me in contention to fight for a world title. I want to get a ranking in the top 15 of any of the major sanctioning body to be considered as a world title challenger, and defeating Antonio DeMarco will be a great step in that direction.”

ORANGE, Calif. (June 12, 2020) – Thompson Boxing Presents 3.2.1. Boxing show, coming in July. More details to follow shortly. For more information please visit the TBP Instagram page, Facebook page, YouTube channel, and ThompsonBoxing.com.

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Raging Babe’s Philly Special has been postponed again due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The event, originally set for March 27 and then rescheduled for June 19, was to feature an all-Philly main event between lightweights  Stevie Ortiz and Damon Allen. 

The fighters on the card have agreed to fight as soon as a date becomes available. 

Greg Sirb, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission, is expected to issue guidance on Monday, and Raging Babe has dates on hold every month through the end of 2020.  

“This is a tough time to be a promoter who depends on the live gate,” said Michelle Rosado, Founder and Promoter at Raging Babe. “Promotional companies that have television deals are able to put on shows with no fans. The middle-class promoters, those of  us who need people in seats to make the events work financially, we’re out in the cold, temporarily.”  

Fans can expect a big payoff for the wait.  

“Philly Special has all the elements of any big television card,” said Rosado. “We’ve got Philly fighters in very competitive matches. There’s a reason Philadelphia is known as a  terrific fight town. These guys aren’t out there to be flashy or to pad their records. Some of them have big amateur careers, some are undefeated, most have compelling stories, but nobody on the card is expecting a ‘gimme.’ They come to fight, and the matchups that Hall-of-Fame Matchmaker J Russell Peltz put together promise to be the kind of fights that make people fall in love with boxing. I can’t wait to get the green light, and we’re ready to go when that time comes.” 

Rosado acknowledged that the pandemic has been difficult for some of the fighters. 

“These boxers aren’t on a salary from a big-time manager or promoter,” she said. “They are in the gym every day, getting ready for their big shot. Many Philly fighters are known for working day jobs to keep afloat. We’ve got some amateur standouts who

rely on this platform to showcase their skills and help their careers progress.

The most important thing is keeping the fighters safe, their families and fans safe, and all the people involved with putting on an event safe.”  

Former super bantamweight world champion Jessie Magdaleno defeated Yenifel Vicente via disqualification because of repeated in the 10th and final scheduled round of their featherweight bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

In round one, Magdaleno dropped Vicente with a right hook while fighting out of the corner. In round four, Vicente landed a low blow that had referee Robert Byrd calling for a break. On Byrd’s way in to separate the fighters, Vicente landed a hard right hand that sent Magdaleno to the canvas. Magdaleno would lie on the ground for several minutes, and Vicente was deducted two points. Later in the round, Vicente was deducted another point for a low blow. In round five, Magdaleno dropped Vicente with a right hook.

In round 10, Vicente landed yet another punch below the belt and was deducted for the 3rd time. Seconds later, Vicente landed another low blow and Byrd mercifully disqualified Vicente at 1:38.

Magdaleno, 127.9 lbs of Las Vegas is 28-1. Vicente 126.5 lbs of Miami us 36-5-2.

“He was a rugged fighter. He was a tough veteran. I tip my hat off to him. He knew what he was doing. His way was to get me low,” Magdaleno said. “Gary Russell, I’m coming for you. But like I’ve said before, I want any of the champions at 126 pounds. I want to be a two-division world champion. Simple as that.”

In a fast paced featherweight bout, Adam Lopez won a 10-round majority decision over Louie Coria.

The two stood toe-to-toe and landed solid shots on the inside, and despite having swelling under both eyes, Lopez was able to land the more telling blows, and won by scores of 96-94 twice and 95-95.

Lopez, 125.75 lbs of Glendale, CA is now 14-2. Coria, 124.75 lbs of Moreno Valley, CA is 12-3.

“That was my toughest fight to date. I used to say my fight with Jean Carlos Rivera was my toughest fight, but this one was definitely my toughest fight,” Lopez said.  “Listen, I want to fight anyone Top Rank puts in front of me. This was a great, close fight, and I have the utmost respect for Louie Coria.”

Gabriel Muratalla stopped Fernando Robles in the 1st round of their scheduled four-round bantamweight bout.

Muratalla dropped Robles with a hard right hand. Robles got to his feet, but stumbled back and referee Robert Byrd stopped the bout at 2:33.

Muratalla, 118.25 lbs of Fontana, CA is now 3-0 with three knockouts. Robles, 118 lbs of Peafand, TX is 2-3.

“It’s wild. It was an experience, and I’m happy I did my thing,” Muratalla said.

Eric Mondragon and Mike Sanchez fought to a four-round majority draw in a lightweight bout featuring undefeated fighters.

In round one, Sanchez dropped Mondragon with a straight left. Moments later, it was Mondragon who sent Sanchez to the deck with a right hand.

Mondragon took a card 39-37, while two scores were even at 38-38.

Mondragon, 133 lbs of Maywood, CA is 3-0-1. Sanchez, 132.25 lbs of Colton, CA is 6-0-1.

Photos by Mikey Williams / Top Rank

BOSTON (June 11, 2020) – Ryan Roach’s Fighter Locker announced today that it has inked decorated U.S. Army boxer Daniel Bailey, Jr. to an exclusive managerial contract.

Born in Miami, the 24-year-old Bailey has had more than 100 amateur matches and he is currently the No. 10 ranked bantamweight in the United States.

Bailey joined the U.S. Army in 2015 and he is currently a Specialist 4th Class stationed at Fort Carson, which is in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He qualified to be a member of the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP), created to give elite Soldier-athletes to perform at the International level while also serving in the military.

WCAP members such as Bailey are allowed to train and compete throughout the year at Fort Carson, which is close to the state-of-the-art U.S. Olympic Paralympic Training Center, where they train with non-military elite athletes and coaches. Bailey has been able to train and compete with America’s top amateur boxers and spar with the likes of world champions Terence Crawford and Jamel Herring, among the most notables.

Bailey’s leading performances include 2012 Ringside World National Champion, Title Boxing Classic National Champion, and Florida state PAL Champion; 2018 & 2019 Colorado Golden Gloves Champion; and 4-time U.S. Army Champion.

“I’m ready to go,” Bailey said. “I’ve been training in a garage during this (pandemic).I want to start my legacy and can’t wait to get going. It’s time for me to transition into boxing full-time, but I also want to attend college and major in sports management. My main strength is my work ethic. The Army taught me discipline and to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal at any cost.

“I was being pursued by some managers, but they weren’t telling me what I wanted to hear, which is family first. I honestly believe that Ryan Roach is like that and he wants his fighters to be champions inside the ring and successful outside of it. He has the best interest in his fighters. I’m very, very excited to be working with Ryan.”

“Signing a top 10, blue chip prospect like Dan was very important to my stable is a major accomplishment,” manager Ryan Roach commented. “Aside from being an excellent fighter, he is also a great person, and soldier serving his country. Dan had other managers pursuing him and I’m honored he chose me. I am excited to start this journey and watching Dan achieve his goals inside and outside the ring.”

Bailey will be discharged early next year from the U.S. Army. The personable soldier-boxer fully intends turn pro and continue living in Colorado Springs.

“I want to start my own legacy and keep going,” Bailey concluded. “One day I want to be considered an icon in boxing, remembered long after I’m gone.”

Bailey joins Fighter Locker’s growing stable that includes a talented Ukrainian trio of North American Boxing Association (NABA) super welterweight title holder Stanyslav Skofokhod (19-2, 16 KOs), word-rated welterweight Karen Chukhadzhian (16-1, 7 KOs) and super lightweight Zoravor Petrosyan (7-0, 3 KOs). Other Fighter Locker stablemates include Dominican welterweight Juan Carlos “Merengue” Abreu (23-5-1, 21 KOs), the former IBF Youth World super lightweight champion; Lynn, MA super welterweight Khiry Todd (10-1, 8 KOs),Dorchester, MA welterweight Gabriel Duluc (15-3, 4 KOs), Troy, NY super lightweight RayJay Bermudez, Toronto, Canada welterweight Jeff “The Trouble 1” Tabrizi (8-3, 7 KOs), New Haven, CT super welterweight Jimmy “Quiet Storm” Williams (16-3-2, 5 KOs), plus former Kazakhstan National Team light heavyweight Alexey Sevostyanov and Irish National champion Paul Ryan, who will fight as a welterweight in the pro ranks. The latter two will make their pro debuts when boxing returns.

INFORMATION:
WEBSITE: fighterlocker.com, punch4parkinsons.com
FACEBOOK: /fighterlocker
TWITTER: @RoachRyan
INSTAGRAM: @RyanRoach82

Dmitriy Salita continues to expand his Salita Promotions YouTube Channel by reaching an agreement and obtaining a license to display the fight-video library of promoter/trainer Marshall Kauffman’s Kings Promotions on the Salita Promotions YouTube Channel, free of charge.

Pennsylvania-based Kings Promotions’ library includes action-packed bouts featuring world champions and exciting contenders and prospects such as former IBF Welterweight Champ Kermit Cintron, first-round KO world-record holder Tyrone Brunson, Christian Carto, Oshaquie Foster, Frank DeAlba, Marcus Bates, Raeese Aleem, three-time Olympian Anvar Yunusov, Steve Ortiz, Antuanne Russell, Antonio Russell, Paul Kroll, and Mykal Fox.

Kings Promotions was founded by world-renowned trainer, manager, promoter and matchmaker Marshall Kauffman in 1995. Kings Promotions has promoted over 120 events in the United States and abroad with its primary locations in Philadelphia, Allentown and Reading, PA. Kings Promotions events have been televised across the world on Showtime, HBO, ESPN, Fox, FS1, Spike and Telemundo.

In 2015, Kauffman was awarded Promoter of the Year by the boxing writers of America and was named Promoter of the Year in Philadelphia in 2017 and 2018.

“I am very excited to partner with Salita Promotions on this YouTube venture,” said Kauffman. “Dmitriy has always been a pleasure to work with and I am looking forward to doing so much more business with him in the near future!”

The Kings Promotions library will now become part of the massive Salita Promotions YouTube Channel that already features the esteemed collections of Cedric Kushner’s CKP, Dan Goossen’s America Presents, Gary Shaw Productions and Leon Margules’ Warriors Boxing Promotions.

“Marshall is a highly successful promoter who has trained and promoted many of the most exciting prospects from Pennsylvania and around the world for many years,” said Dmitriy Salita. “His unique collection of exciting names and fights makes a welcome addition our always growing YouTube Channel.”

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

 Jessie Magdaleno 127.9 lbs vs. Yenifel Vicente 126.5 lbs
(Featherweight – 128-lb Catchweight — 10 Rounds)

       Eric Mondragon 133 lbs vs. Mike Sanchez 132.3 lbs
(Lightweight — 4 Rounds

         Gabriel Muratalla 118.3 lbs vs.  Fernando Robles 118 lbs
(Bantamweight — 4 Rounds)
           Adam López 125.8 lbs vs. Louie Coria 124.7 lbs(Vacant NABF Featherweight Title — 10 Rounds)

 For more information, visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing.

Las Vegas – UFC^® action continues in Las Vegas with another action-packed fight night as No. 1 ranked women’s flyweight contender Jessica Eyetakes on No. 10 ranked strawweight submission ace Cynthia Calvillo. Also on the card, Karl Roberson and Marvin Vettorilook to settle their grudge match when the two middleweights finally meet in the Octagon. UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN^®: EYE vs. CALVILLO will be the first of three events taking place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas on June 13, 20 and 27 respectively; details of future cards will be announced at a later date. These events will be closed to the public and will be produced with only essential personnel in attendance.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN^®: EYE vs. CALVILLO will take place Saturday, June 13 UFC Apex in Las Vegas. All bouts will air on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in English and Spanish, and be simulcast on ESPN+, beginning with the prelims at 6 p.m. ET and the main card at 9 p.m. ET.

One of the toughest competitors in all of women’s MMA, Eye (15-7 1NC, fighting out of Cleveland, Ohio) intends to defend her spot at the top of the flyweight rankings and work her way back to another shot at the title. Experiencing a career resurgence since moving to flyweight, Eye has netted impressive wins over Jessica-Rose Clark, Katlyn Chookagian and Viviane Araujo. She now looks to spoil the 125-pound debut of Calvillo in her first UFC main event.

A standout in the UFC women’s strawweight division ever since her debut in 2017, Calvillo (8-1-1, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) aims to make a statement in her first fight at flyweight. One of the top prospects in women’s MMA, Calvillo established herself with notable victories over Cortney Casey, Joanne Calderwood and Pearl Gonzalez. She now looks to finally compete at her full potential and build a case for her first UFC title shot.

A veteran of Dana White’s Contender Series, Roberson (9-2, fighting out of Neptune, N.J.) looks to extend the longest winning streak of his UFC career with another signature finish. A well-rounded prospect with a variety of finishes both on the feet and the ground, Roberson has earned stoppages over Ryan Spann, Darren Stewart and Roman Kopylov. He now aims to be the first person to ever finish Vettori and break into the middleweight top 15.

Long considered to be one of the dark horses of the middleweight division, Vettori (14-4-1, fighting out of Mezzocorona, Italy) looks to secure a signature win to catapult him into the rankings. Arguably the top Italian prospect in the UFC, Vettori holds wins over Vitor Miranda, Cezar Ferreira and Andrew Sanchez. He now seeks to earn his third win in a row and work his way towards a rematch with champion Israel Adesanya.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Top featherweight prospects battle as Andre Fili (20-7, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) takes on Charles Jourdain (10-2, fighting out of Quebec, Canada)
• Merab Dvalishvili (10-4, fighting out of Long Island, N.Y.) and Ray Borg (13-5, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) meet in a clash of bantamweight grapplers
• Bantamweight action sees Dana White’s Contender Series veteran Jordan Espinosa (14-7, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) take on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Mark De La Rosa (11-4, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas)
• Hannah Cifers (10-5, fighting out of Kittrell, N.C.) sees a quick return to action when she meets Dana White’s Contender Series veteran Mariya Agapova (8-1, fighting out of Pavlodar Province, Kazakhstan)
• Charles Rosa (12-4, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) and Kevin Aguilar (17-3, fighting out of Longview, Texas) look to get back into the win column at lightweight
• In the women’s bantamweight division, Julia Avila (7-1, fighting out of Oklahoma City, Okla.) welcomes Gina Mazany (5-3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) back to the UFC.
• Tyson Nam (18-11-1, fighting out of Wahiawa, Hawaii) meets UFC newcomer Zarrukh Adashev (3-1, fighting out of Brooklyn, N.Y.) at flyweight
• In a featherweight bout all but guaranteed to deliver action, Jordan Griffin (18-7, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) takes on Darrick Minner (24-11, fighting out of Nebraska City, Neb.)
• UFC newcomers Anthony Ivy (8-2, fighting out of San Antonio, Texas) and Christian Aguilera (13-6, fighting out of Brea, Calif.) look to make a statement at welterweight

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

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 318 million fans and 80 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly one billion TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 65 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 and Instagram: @UFC.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the leading direct-to-consumer sports streaming service from Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown quickly to 7.9 million subscribers, offering fans thousands of live events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, as well as premium editorial content. 

Programming on ESPN+ includes exclusive UFC and Top Rank boxing events, thousands of college sports events (including football and basketball) from more than a dozen sports at 20 conferences, hundreds of MLB and NHL games, top domestic and international soccer (Serie A, MLS, FA Cup, Bundesliga – beginning in 2020, EFL Championship and Carabao Cup, Eredivisie), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby and cricket, exclusive ESPN+ Original series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films.

Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) through the ESPN App, (on mobile and connected devices), ESPN.com or ESPNplus.com. It is also available as part of a bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu (ad-supported), and ESPN+ — all for just $12.99/month

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment enterprise, features more than 50 assets – nine U.S. television networks, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN International, ESPN The Magazine and more.  ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

Promoter Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports on Wednesday that WBC/Lineal Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and IBF/WBA/WBO Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua have reached an agreement to fight each other twice in 2021.

“It’s fair to say [Joshua and Fury] are in agreement regarding the financial terms of the fight,” Hearn said. “We’ve been talking to [Fury’s management team] MTK, giving them the assurances from Joshua’s side that all the details on the structure of the deal is approved from our side. And it is from Fury’s side, as well.

“We’re in a good place. It’s fair to say that, in principle, both guys have agreed to that fight. Two fights.”

Hearn said that the first bout in their two-fight series could take place next summer and that there are no signed contracts at this time

Fury Tweeted, “

It’s official FURY VS JOSUAR AGREED FOR NEXT YEAR, I got to smash @bronzebomber first then I’ll annihilate @anthonyfjoshua#WEARESPARTANS“

TO SEE FURY’S COMMENTS

LAS VEGAS (June 9, 2020) — Don’t blink. Top Rank on ESPN’s summer schedule resumes with a trio of shows, commencing Tuesday, June 16, with the return of bantamweight contender Joshua “Don’t Blink” Greer Jr. in a 10-rounder against 23-year-old Filipino upstart Mike Plania at the MGM Grand Conference Center – Grand Ballroom in Las Vegas. 
 
The action continues from MGM Grand Thursday, June 18, when former two-weight world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza will face former world title challenger Mikkel LesPierre in a 10-round super lightweight showdown.
 
Week 2 concludes Saturday, June 20, at TV Azteca Studios in Mexico City, when WBO junior featherweight world champion Navarrete will fight Uriel “Yuca” Lopez in a 10-round featherweight bout. Navarrete-Lopez will headline one of two June cards from TV Azteca Studios, which will be promoted by Top Rank in association with Zanfer Promotions.
 
All three Week 2 events will air live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (in Spanish), with start times to be announced shortly.
 
“It is exciting to see these great fighters back in action and in fights that promise to be action-packed,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Greer and Pedraza have tough opponents in front of them, but if they are victorious, we could see them in world title fights before the end of the year. Navarrete is the king of the 122-pounders, a throwback fighter who wants to stay as active as possible.”
 
June 16
MGM Grand Conference Center – Grand Ballroom
 
Main Event
Joshua Greer Jr. (22-1-1, 12 KOs) vs. Mike Plania (23-1, 12 KOs)
10 rounds, Bantamweight
 
Greer, the Chicago product who taunts potential KO victims with custom-made pillows, is knocking on the doorstep of a world title shot. He has won 19 fights in a row and is currently the WBO No. 1 contender at bantamweight. Plania, meanwhile, has won eight straight bouts since a March 2018 decision loss to Juan Carlos Payano, a fight that propelled Payano to a world title shot against pound-for-pound great Naoya Inoue.
 
“Whoever the opponent is, it doesn’t matter. I prepare the same,” Greer said. “Every fight is a world title fight for me. I’m ranked number one in the world, so I have to take advantage of this opportunity. ‘Mr. ESPN’ is back!”
 
Co-Feature
Antonio DeMarco (33-8-1, 24 KOs) vs. Giovani Santillan (25-0, 15 KOs)
10 rounds, Welterweight
 
Former lightweight world champion DeMarco, who is coming off a competitive decision loss to top contender Jamal James, represents a quantum leap in class for the 28-year-old Santillan. A native of San Diego who has stopped his last four opponents, Santillan hopes to become the first man to knock out DeMarco in nearly eight years. In his last bout, he overcame a nearly 19-month layoff to knock out Wilfrido Buelvas in two rounds.
 
Undercard
 
Nikoloz Sekhniashvili (5-0, 4 KOs), a 26-year-old who hails from the nation of Georgia, will make his 2020 debut against Detroit native Isiah Jones (8-1, 3 KOs) in a six-rounder at super middleweight. Sekhniashvili, trained by Javiel Centeno, is part of a deep stable of fighters that includes Puerto Rican phenom Xander Zayas and lightweight contender George Kambosos Jr.
 
Super featherweight prospect Edward Vazquez (7-0, 1 KO), from Fort Worth, Texas, will face an opponent to be named in a six-rounder.
 
Puerto Rican-born heavyweight Hector Perez (6-2, 3 KOs) will fight southpaw spoiler Juan Torres (5-2-1, 2 KOs), from Cypress, Texas, in a six-round bout. Torres has won two straight and has never been knocked out in a professional match.
 
June 18
MGM Grand Conference Center – Grand Ballroom
 
Main Event
Jose Pedraza (26-3, 13 KOs) vs. Mikkel LesPierre (22-1-1, 10 KOs)
10 rounds, Super Lightweight
 
Pedraza, who won world titles at junior lightweight and lightweight, is taking another run at the super lightweight division following last September’s decision loss to Jose “Chon” Zepeda. His opponent LesPierre challenged Maurice Hooker for a world title last year, dropping a unanimous decision. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brooklyn resident received deliveries and assisted doctors and nurses at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in Manhattan.
 
“I am very excited to finally return to the ring after this long break. During quarantine, I made adjustments and trained hard from home, Pedraza said. “Despite everything that is happening in the world, my team and I have had a great training camp. I have done many runs up the mountains in Cidra, Puerto Rico. I am now focused on giving the fans a great show on June 18 against Mikkel LesPierre. We know he is a world-class fighter, but I am, too, and I am determined to return to the top once again.”
 
“I’m excited and blessed to be a part of the first round of televised sports as we navigate through this pandemic,” LesPierre said. “Jose Pedraza is a good fighter and a former world champion, but I feel that I have the tools to beat him. It will be a great fight and an opportunity for me to take my career to the next level. The Maurice Hooker fight was just a taste of what the elite level is all about. I’m determined to get back to title contention. This fight is the first step toward that goal. I’m ready to go.” 
 
Co-Feature
Gabriel Flores Jr. (17-0, 6 KOs) vs. Josec Ruiz (21-2-3, 14 KOs)
10 rounds, Lightweight
 
The 20-year-old Flores, fresh off a win on the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury 2 undercard, returns in his first scheduled 10-rounder. Flores, the Stockton, California native who signed with Top Rank when he was 16 years old, packed more than 10,000 spectators into the Stockton Arena last May to establish himself as one of the sport’s top regional ticket-sellers. Ruiz is unbeaten in his last 16 bouts.
 
Undercard
 
David “The Lion of Zion” Kaminsky (6-0, 3 KOs) will face noted spoiler Clay Collard (6-2-3, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder at super middleweight. Collard, who also is a veteran MMA pro, has defeated unbeaten prospects in his last two fights.
 
In four-round bouts each, Puerto Rican super featherweight Frevian Gonzalez (2-0, 1 KO) will fight an opponent to be named, while super lightweight Victor Rodriguez (2-0, 1 KO) will face Justin Horsley (0-1).
 
June 20
TV Azteca Studios
 
Main Event
Emanuel Navarrete (31-1, 27 KOs) vs. Uriel Lopez (13-13-1, 6 KOs)
10 rounds, Featherweight
 
Boxing’s most active world champion, Navarrete defended his title five times (all by KO) in nine months, most recently knocking out Jeo Santisima on the Wilder-Fury 2 Pay-Per-View undercard. Navarrete is fighting as a featherweight for the first time in nearly three years in what will be his sixth bout in 13 months. Lopez has a 2016 knockout victory over longtime Japanese contender Ryo Matsumoto.
 
Undercard action will feature Carlos “Chinito” Ornelas (25-2, 14 KOs), who will take on Edwin “Pupo” Palomares (12-3-1, 3 KOs) in a 10-rounder at featherweight. Featherweight prospect Sergio Chirino Sanchez (14-1, 8 KOs) will look to extend his winning streak to six against Gustavo Alan Pina (8-2, 5 KOs) in an eight-round bout.
 
Former interim world champion Silvia Torres (20-2-2, 7 KOs) will face 21-bout veteran Edith de Jesus Flores in an eight-rounder at light flyweight.
 
Mexico City-based flyweight prospect Ivan Armando Garcia (5-0, 3 KOs) will fight Roberto Palomares (5-4-1, 1 KO) in his first scheduled six-rounder.
 

Current WBO Featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson moved up in a weight to stop Felix Caraballo in a non-title junior lightweight bout at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The Top Rank promoted card was the 1st boxing event in the United States in almost three months due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

In round one, Stevenson was credited with a knockdown, when he landed a right hook to the body that saw Caraballo’s knee touch the ground.

Stevenson continued to batter Caraballo throughout the next several rounds, and in round six, Stevenson landed a perfect right to the body that sent Caraballo down and the fight was stopped at 1:31.

Stevenson, 130 lbs of Newark, NJ is 14-0 with eight knockouts. Caraballo, 130 lbs of Mayaguez, PR is 13-2-2.

“Everything about this fight week was different. After my last fight was canceled, I was happy to showcase my skills for all of the boxing fans,” Stevenson said. “He hit me with a couple shots, more than I’m used to, a couple jabs here and there. He was a tough guy, but I felt great in there after my training camp in Houston.”

Said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum: “What a magnificent performance by Shakur Stevenson. He keeps on getting better, and rest assured, he is a future pound-for-pound superstar.”

Prospect Jared Anderson remained perfect by stopping Johnne Langston in round three of a scheduled six-round heavyweight bout.

The two fought at a high-pace with Anderson landed a plethora of power punches. He distributed his punches nicely to the body and head. In round three, Anderson landed a hard left and right that forced Langston to slowly go to the canvas, and the fight was stopped at 1:55.

Anderson, 236 1/2 lbs of Toledo, OH is 4-0 with four knockouts. Langston, 218 1/4 lbs of Sarasota, FL is 8-3.

“He took some good shots. He was a tough opponent. I did what I wanted to. I did some stuff I didn’t want to do. I got caught with a good shot. It didn’t hurt me, but I definitely got caught with it,” Anderson said. “I know a different opponent could hurt me with a shot like that. We’ll go back to the drawing board and see what I did wrong.
 
“This wasn’t what I expected, but it was a great experience. I’m happy I got the opportunity to showcase my talents on ESPN at such a young age.”

Heavyweight Guido Vianello kept his perfect knockout record intact as he stopped Donald Haynesworth in the first round of their six-round

In round one, Vianello dropped Haynesworth with a hard right hand. Haynesworth got to his feet, but referee Jay Nady stopped the bout at 2:16.

Vianello, 239 1/4 lbs of Rome, ITA is 7-0 with seven knockouts. Haynesworth, 294 1/2 lbs of New Rochelle, NY is 16-4-1.

“It was an interesting experience. I spent three days relaxing in my hotel room, but everything went according to plan,” Vianello said. “I knew the right hand would be there, so I worked to set up that shot. I could not have asked for anything more.”

Quintavious Cash won a six-round technical unanimous decision over Calvin Metcalf in a middleweight fight.

In round three Metcalf was cut on the forehead from a legal punch. Replays showed it was from a clash of heads. After replay review, the cut was ruled a clash of heads. Later, the cut opened worse around the left eye, and the fight was stopped before the end of the fight.

Cash, 160 1/2 lbs of Las Vegas, NV won by scores of 60-54, 60-55 and 59-55 to raise his mark to 12-2. Metcalf, 158 1/4 lbs of Kansas City, MO is 10-4-1.

Two-Time Olympic Gold Medal winner, Robeisy Ramirez stopped Yeuri Andujar in round one of their six-round featherweight bout.

Ramirez dropped Andujar with a straight left that was followed by an uppercut. With Andujar hurt, Ramirez finished the fight with a hard three-punch combination that dropped and stopped Andujar at 54 seconds.

Ramirez, 126 lbs of Cienfugos, CUB is 3-1 with three knockoutsl Andujar, 125.5 lbs of San Cristobal, DR is 5-4.

“It was an honor to be the first fight back, and I am proud of the performance I gave tonight. My pro debut is long behind me, and I am progressing with every fight. I hope to return shortly,” Ramirez said. “I have a great trainer in Ismael Salas, who continues to add dimensions to my game. He is the man to lead me to a world title.”

Photos by Mikey Williams / Top Rank

LAS VEGAS and ABU DHABI – UFC^®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) today announced that the much-anticipated UFC FIGHT ISLANDÔ events will be held on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, one of the emirate’s most popular leisure, shopping and entertainment destinations.

UFC will produce four events on Yas Island, including one Pay Per View, UFC^® 251, and three Fight Nights.  The action-packed schedule begins with UFC 251 on Saturday, July 11, and will be followed with successive Fight Nights on Wednesday, July 15; Saturday, July 18; and Saturday, July 25.  Details for each event, including fight cards, will be announced in coming weeks. 

To accommodate existing public health guidelines, DCT Abu Dhabi will create a safety zone within the nearly ten square mile (25 km²) Yas Island that will include an arena, hotel, training facilities, and dining establishments.  This safety zone will only be open to UFC athletes and their coaches; UFC staff and other event personnel; and Yas Island employees who are necessary to ensure the operation of the facilities.

HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Our partnership with the UFC, now in its second year, has proved to be one of our most successful ventures in recent years. Thanks to their commitment and cooperation, we are proud to announce that Abu Dhabi will host the first ever “Fight Island” event, marking the long-awaited return of UFC fights to the global stage.”

He added: “We have worked closely with all government entities in Abu Dhabi to ensure that the staging of this historic event complies with the highest standards of safety for the athletes, coaches, and all UFC personnel as well as the safety of our community. This year, Abu Dhabi has successfully proven its ability to handle all challenges and promote the well-being of its visitors and residents; and today, we are here to showcase the best that our capital has to offer, as we look forward to opening our doors once again to the world.”

UFC President Dana White commented: “We came up with the idea of having fights on ‘Fight Island’ because we needed a destination to hold international events during the global pandemic.  Abu Dhabi has been an amazing location to hold fights over the past ten years and it is the perfect place for these events. The infrastructure we are building will be such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the fighters that’s never been done before – from the arena, the private training facility, and the Octagon on the island – it’s going to be an experience that none of us will ever forget. I can’t wait to deliver amazing fights from Yas island.”

In 2019, UFC and DCT Abu Dhabi entered into a groundbreaking five-year partnership to bring UFC events to the emirate.  UFC^® 242: KHABIB VS. POIRIER, the first event held under the new agreement, attracted more than 14,000 fans to Yas Island last September.  The agreement to bring UFC FIGHT ISLAND to Abu Dhabi is an expansion of the original five-year partnership between UFC and DCT Abu Dhabi.

UFC FIGHT ISLAND events will air live on global broadcasters around the world and on Pay-Per-View in select markets.  UFC events are broadcast in 175 countries and territories in 40 different languages and reach approximately one billion TV households. 

In the UAE and throughout the rest of the Middle East and North Africa, UFC content is streamed on UFC Arabia app, UFC’s first Arabic-language streaming subscription service in the region.  ‘UFC Arabia’ app can be downloaded through Apple Store and Google Play and is available on web, smart phone, tablets and Smart TVs.

Prior to 2019, UFC held events in Abu Dhabi in 2010 and 2014, including its first-ever outdoor event, UFC^® 112: INVINCIBLE, in April 2010, and UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: NOGUEIRA vs. NELSON in April 2014.

A full line of UFC FIGHT ISLAND products, including t-shirts, hats, water bottles, tote bags, and more are available now on UFCStore.com.

– ENDS –

About UFC^®
UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, with more than 318 million fans and 102 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly one billion TV households across more than 175 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes, representing more than 65 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, the world’s leading streaming service for combat sports. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor and 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 and Instagram: @UFC.     

About the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
The Department of Culture and Tourism conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction that enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. The Department manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and programmes relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The Department of Culture and Tourism supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate’s heritage. A key role played by the Department is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.

THE WBO EUROPEAN super flyweight champion Kaisy Khademi has teamed up with Frank Warren and will now fight on the Queensberry Promotions platform.

The unbeaten 25-year-old, 8-0 (2KO), fled his native Kabul, Afganistan, in the midst of military conflict back in 1998 at the age of four and, along with family members, embarked on a four-year journey to reach their ultimate destination of the United Kingdom.

The East Ham-based Khademi launched his professional boxing journey in October 2017 and set about learning his trade on the small hall circuit, culminating in his title opportunity that he grasped with a points victory over Pedro Matos in December 2019.

“I was very surprised when they sent the contract and it was a great offer as well, so I was very happy with it,” said Khademi in reaction to news of his promotional pact with a Hall of Fame promoter.

“I am very excited because it will be my first chance to box on a bigger platform, so I cannot wait. My career started a little slowly because it was very hard to get fights, especially with being a super flyweight.

“A lot of fights were getting cancelled and I stalled a bit, but hopefully now I am with a bigger stable things will be a lot more organised.

“Winning the WBO title was the moment of my whole boxing career so far and it was a title I would never have thought I would have got to. We won it and now I want to push on.”

Khademi is now part of a promotional squad that also includes both Sunny and Charlie Edwards operating around the fly-super fly weight categories, giving him established names to target when the time is right.

“I want to fight the best out there with everything in my time. There are great fighters out there and I want to be able to share the ring with them.

“The likes of Sunny and Charlie Edwards have been fighting on the bigger stage, which I haven’t, so I would like to have three or four fights before taking them on. I have no experience of fighting on the bigger platform, but in my own time I will be ready to fight them and pushing yourself is what boxing is all about.

“I would definitely love to fight them though,” he reassured, before expanding on his backstory and elongated route to setting up home in the UK.

“When we left the war was crazy so we became refugees I think in 1998 and headed to Pakistan. We were there for two years and things didn’t go well, while my older brother was already in the UK and wanted us to come here to the land of opportunity.

“My parents wanted a better future for their children so we decided to make our way here and it took almost two years on foot with a group of eight of us.

“I was very young and left my country at the age of four. The two years in Pakistan came to end when people started knocking at our door and pulling out a gun on my dad and things like that. Our lives were under threat so we needed to go somewhere safe.

“I remember leaving Pakistan and the two years after that was like an adventure for me at that age. I was a kid so people were giving me a piggy back when we had to go into the jungle to avoid capture by the police, who would have just sent us back to the previous country we had passed.

“So looking back it was a bit like an adventure, like a game of Hide and Seek where you didn’t want to get caught. The first country we got to that was more relaxed was Germany, but my dad said this was not our destination and our destiny was the UK.

“Once we got here in 2002 it was like heaven, so calm and relaxed, it was the best feeling.”

———————-

Kaisy’s first act as a Queensberry fighter was to speak to Dev Sahni as part of the ongoing Lockdown Lowdown series. The full interview can be seen here.

  Shakur Stevenson 130 lbs vs. Felix Caraballo 130 lbs
(Super Featherweight— 10 Rounds)
Judges/Referee: Tim Cheatham, Dave Moretti and Steve Weisfeld/Russell Mora 

      Jared Anderson 236.5 lbs vs. Johnnie Langston 218.3 lbs
(Heavyweight— 6 Rounds)
Judges/Referee: Patricia Morse Jarman, Max De Luca and Steve Weisfeld/Jay Nady

      Guido Vianello 239.25 lbs vs. Don Haynesworth 294.5 lbs
(Heavyweight — 6 Rounds)
Judges/Referee: Adalaide Byrd, Tim Cheatham and Dave Moretti/Jay Nady

     Quatavious Cash 160.5 lbs vs.  Calvin Metcalf 158.3 lbs
(Middleweight — 6/4 Rounds)
Judges/Referee: Patricia Morse Jarman, Max De Luca and Steve Weisfeld/Jay Nady          

                      Robeisy Ramirez 126 lbs vs. Yeuri Andujar 125.5 lbs
(Featherweight — 6 Rounds)
Judges/Referee: Adalaide Byrd, Tim Cheatham, Dave Moretti/Russell Mora
For more information, visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing.

Top Rank on ESPN live events return Tuesday, June 9, as WBO featherweight world champion Shakur Stevenson will take on Puerto Rican contender Felix “La Sombra” Caraballo in a 10-round super featherweight bout.  Main event coverage will air exclusively on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (in Spanish) starting at 7 p.m. ET.  

Top Rank on ESPN live events continue Thursday, June 11 when former junior featherweight world champion and top featherweight contender Jessie Magdaleno faces Dominican puncher Yenifel Vicente in a 10-rounder, with coverage starting at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.  

ESPN’s Top Rank play-by-play commentator, Joe Tessitore, will be calling the action from ESPN’s Bristol, Conn., studios.  Andre Ward (analyst), former #1 pound-for-pound two-division world titleholder and 2004 Olympic gold medalist, Tim Bradley (analyst), former two-division world titleholder and boxing insider Mark Kriegel, will join from their home studios. Boxing reporter Bernardo Osuna will be on-location in Las Vegas and provide reports in English and Spanish. Spanish-language coverage will be handled by Jorge Eduardo Sánchez on the play-by-play, and boxing Hall of Famer Juan Manuel Márquez on the analysis from home studios.  

Main Card, Undercards and Early Undercards (All times ET)