6 Rounds Middleweight contest
Tursynbay Kulakhmet 161.7lbs
Fouad El Massoudi 162.1lbs 

6 Rounds Super Middleweight contest
Andrei Dascalu 166lbs
Angel Emilov 166.4lbs

4 Rounds Super Welterweight contest
Harvey Lambert 149.2lbs
Fabio Cascone 154.15lbs

6 Rounds Super Bantamweight contest
Tom Welland 126lbs
Yuri Zanoli 122.14lbs

6 Rounds Super Lightweight contest
Ben Marksby 143.8lbs
Kurt Jackson 141.15lbs

6 Rounds Super Welterweight contest
Travis Waters 149.8lbs
Mykhailo Sovtus 152.9lbs

6 Rounds Super Welterweight contest
Dan Toward 155.4lbs
Nikolas Dzurnak 153.9lbs

IBO World Super Welterweight title final eliminator
12 Rounds
Josh Kelly 153.8lbs
Placido Ramirez 153.2lbs

Jake Paul scored a one-punch, first-round stoppage over Andre August in a scheduled eight-round super middleweight bout at The Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida.

Paul felt August with a jab and then uncorked a perfect right uppercut to the jaw that put August down and out on his back, and the fight was over at 2:32.

Paul, 199.4 lbs kf Cleveland is now 8-1 with five knockouts. August, 198.8 lbs of Houston is 10-2-1.

Jake Paul

On his first round KO of Andre August

“Man, I’m just really happy. You know, that’s that delayed gratification, working hard this whole entire year, and it just all paying off. You know, just the power of manifestation, that’s insane. Saying it all week, saying it in my meditation, visualizing it, and making it come into fruition, and it’s a real man. I’m trying to just take in and love it the whole entire moment, and look back on it, and have fun during this whole entire experience and that’s the biggest key for me right now and it’s going to be an amazing Christmas.”

“I think this [win] is the best one. Just the first round, calling it the whole entire week, not getting hit one time in the fight, and just setting him up for that. He kept on ducking low, ducking low, and I was like, okay, I’m going to throw the uppercut, but I got to make sure he keeps on ducking low, assessed him, set him up for it, and finished it through that day hard.”

On why he took the risk of facing Andre August

“[It was] a big risk big risk and people can be discredited or say what they want but they didn’t get in there with him he’s been doing it his whole life and you look at the guy he’s strong and he’s a risk, especially him not being a big name. Putting all the line against someone like him, everyone thought it was kind of crazy, everyone first thought, what, really? You’re going to do that? Why? Where? What’s going on? What’s the plan here? And it’s just one answer, to become world champion.”

On walking out to Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

“We just always had these vibes going in camp, and sometimes we’re playing different music, and one day we were sitting in the backyard, and this pal’s like, it’s Christmas, oh my God, they’ll start playing the Christmas hits. And that first song came on and I was like, this is what I’m walking up to.”

On converting haters to fans with his first-round knockout against a 10-1 pro

“If I was walking on water in front of everybody’s eyes, they would say I couldn’t swim. When you take this path, and you’re in the top of a sport, and you got there in three and a half years with the jealousy and hate and insecure people, all the time, of course, they’re gonna critique and find any little thing that they can to try to bring me down. But what they don’t know is that it’s just making me bigger, just making me stronger, just making me more motivated to go ahead and become world champion. This is one step closer. This guy was 10-1 [and] boxing his whole life. [He was a] three-time Golden Glove champion and he [was finished in] two and a half minutes. And I was just getting woke up for it, so…. shhh. Be quiet, y’all. Be quiet. At some point, you gotta turn that hate and be like, okay, fine, I’m gonna just jump on the bandwagon. All aboard, yo. Like, y’all went from haters and all this shit, like, we welcome everybody. If you hated me before, it’s cool, you know, I forgive you. Come to the fun side. I know you wanna dance to the Christmas jingle I want. I know you’re at home, like, itching like, I can’t, I can’t help it, I wanna dance! So just kick it up! Jump off the bandwagon! Get used to it. Get used to this. I’m gonna be here forever in this sport. Like I said, I predicted all this from the start. I made it happen [with] manifestation of reality. So keep the criticisms coming, but it’s not gonna do anything.”

On his punching power

“My coaches always told me before my first rope, but mainly Shane Mosley, he was like, you got popped, you hit hard, you hit hard. And I didn’t know. [I thought] he was like, you know, just gassing me up or something. Then after I dropped, gave him the first round, I was like, oh shit, okay, maybe I do have his power… And just from that Ohio milk, there’s something different. That stuff is insane. My bone density is on point.”

On Franchón Crews-Dezurn’s WBC super middleweight title win vs. Shadasia Green

“Great job, Franchón. I wish that Shadasia would have gotten it, but… It was a good fight. It was a great fight. Congratulations.

On the biggest thing he’s learned from boxing

“I wish I could summarize that man. It’s been thousands of hours in the gym, but I think more so just believing in myself and my ability, having fun out there, and surrounding myself with the right student. When Thurman, Jalion, and Larry Wade came in, the whole attitude changed and pushed me so much harder than I’d ever been pushed before. And that was really the difference maker. And really my boxing career didn’t start until after I lost because they came in, corrected my basic fundamentals that I had skipped by due to other coaches skipping by it and they pushed me, did thousands of drills on my footwork every single day, getting my mind right, surrounding myself with amazing people, and that really is what elevated everything. So, I just owe it to everyone else, you know, and the people around me, pushing me and wanting the best way.”

On returning to the old Jake Paul

“Yeah, like, just having fun when I’m in that mode, enjoying the sport, you know, dancing around in the ring, making jokes all the time, you know, talking trash to my opponents while I’m hitting them in the face. Before, I was just trying to do things too much and just like making everything perfect, technique, technique, technique, do this, do this, do this, do this. And just everything, the vibe of the can’t change, the coaches, Larry tells me every day, just be you, just bring that old, crazy motherfucker back. And he showed me the video of me with my tongue out, after I KO’d Tyron [Woodley], playing with my cut on my head, and he’s like, this isn’t here anymore, like you need to bring this back. And I just really remember that every day now, like he’s right, I just gotta be fucking crazy and bring back all the problems and the madness and fight like a dog and have fun, and that’s the difference here. You see me in the walkout, dancing in the locker room, messing around with my brother, getting on his shoulders during the broadcast, all of these things is what makes me special, and I just lost that in previous fights.”

On how lesser known boxers can make a name for themselves

“We live in a different boxing world now, in a different digital age in general, and it’s the fighters’ responsibility now to promote themselves. And once they realize that, and realize instead of sitting around on the weekend and playing video games in between the training sessions, they gotta be on TikTok and making YouTube videos and getting out there and going on interviews and podcasts and getting any opportunity they can to grow their name. That’s why I would just encourage everybody else. The promoter is dying. It’s now the responsibility of the fighter. That’s the new boxing world. Just hustle, man. Just hustle.”

On KSI 

“He’s chasing views as a 30-year-old man, and I’m chasing legacy and belts. All kudos to him. I hope he makes his wildest dreams come true.”

On facing Logan in WWE

“Man, I’m trying to be on his team. I don’t want to go up against him. He’s the dog in WWE. I’m trying to be his team partner.”

Crews-Dezurn Decisions Green to win WBC and WBA Interim Super Middleweight Crown

Franchon Crews-Dezurn won the WBC and WBA Interim Super Middleweight title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Shadasa Green.

Crews-Dezurn landed 78 of 382. Green was 77 of 240.

Dezuen, who was the former undisputed champion and huge underdog won by scores of 98-92 and 97-93 twice and is now 9-2, Greuen, 167.2 lbs of Paterson, NJ is 13-1.

On MVP

“First of all, shout out to MVP. MVP is a great platform for women’s boxing. Shadasia [Green] was a great competitor and I always look to fight against competition. I don’t want it easy, I wasn’t built for easy. And a couple months ago, I didn’t even know what was next, but I think my journey wasn’t over. I wanna thank Peter Kahn, my manager, who’s always fighting for me just as hard as I fight in the ring. I want to thank my coaches [and] my husband, my team.

On winning back her WBC title

“This has been a journey. You see everybody’s running at the top. You guys saw me at my lowest in the UK, but I still have my head held high, and I still have high hopes. I’m going to keep going. I’m going to keep going. And my journey isn’t over because my journey isn’t for me. It’s for the little girls, the big girls, the old girls, the young girls, to have somebody look up to you and to God. So this is a special night for me. I dedicate this to my mom, and my tribe, a couple other people who lost dear ones, so thank you. Thank you.”

“I’m here to entertain you guys. I’m here to fight for legacy. And you always need that one character that’s going to give you all some entertainment. So, that’s me. Right.”

“I stamped myself in history and you can never take [away] being a champ, but tonight is very special. I’m trying to let it set in. I feel amazing, I feel blessed and I’m grateful. I just love the smile on my team’s face.”

On being slated as the underdog vs. Green

“I’m an underdog. I’m a top dog with an underdog mentality. So it’s not anything new to me. And they don’t have to believe in me. I believe in myself and I must have a team that believes in me. And you need inspiration, there you go.”

On her next fight

“The goal has remained the same. I want to go back to the UK. They gave me so much love and it’s a great joy. [My goal is to] go to the UK and run it back with Savannah Marshall. All the way down the line, at least before my last fight, I want to run it with my good sister, Claressa [Shields]. But we’ll see what happens. Maybe I blow up a win, maybe I go down a win. The opportunities are limitless.”

“We’re gonna take DMV over to the UK, so we’re gonna have fun. Woo!”

“[My next fight will be] probably second quarter of 2024. Like, I’m happy to be active. To get two fights in six months is amazing. I think I’m going to get better and better, but probably first or second quarter of 2024.”

On Shadasia vs. Savannah’s punching power

“I would say Shadesia has sharp power, like she’s got sharp inside punches, but Savannah has like leverage, because she’s a very tall, heavy-handed woman. She’s been like that since the amateurs. But yeah, yeah, yeah. I have no disrespect. Savannah is the bigger puncher.”

On settling bad blood with Shadasia Green

“I approached her and you know. I apologized, you know, for what I did, she apologized for what she did. At the end of the day, we two young women pushed into something and her goal was to get her name out there for people to know who she is. She’s accomplished that, she has a great future, she’s a good fighter. I have no ill will towards her. I respect her [and everyone] I share the ring with. [Shadasia,] thank you for sharing the ring with me.

On 3-minute women’s rounds

“We gonna throw hands regardless, as long as we’re compensated. For me, I’ve been in this game a long time, and I get paid, if I have to fight three minutes, I’m gonna be paid for three minutes. If I have to fight 12 rounds, I’m gonna be paid for 12 rounds. Nobody wants to do a job, and do extra in their job, and not get paid for it. I’m in prize fighting at this point. Respectfully.”

On what her mom could say if she could have been there tonight

“Go on, get it baby. I love you.”

Tellez Stops Navarro in 10th

Yoenis Tellez scored a vicious 10th and final round stoppage of Livan Navarro in a welterweight bout.

In round three, Tellez dropped Navarro with a hard right hand.

In round 10, Tellez landed a booming left hook that froze Navarro and he plummeted to the deck and the fight was stopped.

Tellez, 153.1 lbs of Santiago, CUB is 7-0 with six knockouts. Navarro, 153.8 lbs of Havana, CUB is 15-2.

Lorenzo Medina Stops Temple in 6th

Lorenzo Medina scored a shocking sixth and final round stoppage over Joshua Temple in a heavyweight bout.

In round two, Temple landed a right to the head that put Medina on the canvas.

In round six, Medina landed a left hook that rocked Temple. Temple was hurt, and Medina jumped on Temple and landed a huge flurry of punches and the fight was stopped at 29 seconds.

Medina, 244.4 lbs of Hialeah, FL is 9-0 with eight knockouts. Temple, 221.8 lbs of St. Louis is 12-3.

Elijah Flores remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Javier Mayoral in a welterweight bout.

Flores, 149 lbs of Bronx, NY won by scores of 60-54 and 59-55 twice and is now 7-0. Mayoral, 148 lbs of New Orleans is 6-4-1.

Alexander Gueche stopped Clayton Ward in round three of their four-round bantamweight bout.

In round four, Gueche landed a big right drove Ward to the ropes. Ward was hurt and could have received an eight-count, but the referee did not ruled that and two big shots later the fight was stopped at 2:05.

Gueche, 116 1/2 lbs of Long Beach, CA is 3-0 with three knockouts. Ward, 116 1/2 lbs of Cypress, TX is 1-1.

Zachary Randolph won a six-round majority decision over Michael Manna in a cruiserweight bout.

In round five, Manna was swelling under both eyes.

Randolph, 186 3/4 lbs of Fairmont, WV won by scores of 60-54, 58-56 and 57-57 and is now 10-3-1. Manna, 191 lbs of Pittsburgh is 7-6.

MINNEAPOLIS – December 15, 2023 – Hard-hitting super middleweight contender Sena Agbeko has set out to earn the “African Rocky” moniker as the upset-minded Ghanaian enters his showdown against WBA Super Middleweight Champion David Morrell Jr. tomorrow night in Minneapolis in the final SHOWTIME main event.

Agbeko has previously fought on the network twice, losing to Vladimir Shishkin in February 2021, a setback in his stateside journey, before beating the previously unbeaten Isaiah Steen on the network in October 2022, a career-changing victory that catapulted him toward Saturday’s title opportunity.

“I fought to get this fight back, because I deserved it,” said Agbeko, who had originally been scheduled to face Morrell in April before a ruling from the commission in Las Vegas. “I’ve already accomplished a lot, and tomorrow night I have the stage to prove that I’m the best. It’s perfect timing that my journey has culminated with the last SHOWTIME main event, and I’m going to make sure it’s a memorable night.

“Morrell’s team thinks that I’m just sheep going to the slaughter house, but what they don’t know is that I’m a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

Dmitriy Salita, who has promoted shows on SHOWTIME and fought on the network himself during his fighting days, spoke to the importance of this opportunity for Agbeko and his belief that the fighter will take advantage when he steps into the ring tonight.

“It’s a bittersweet moment for me both as a promoter and a fan of the sport of boxing,” said Salita, the President of Salita Promotions. “I’m very excited and grateful to deliver this world title fight opportunity for Sena Agbeko, who’s been the underdog and overcome many challenges in the ring and outside to reach this moment. He has developed on SHOBOX and now graduated to a world title fight against one of the best in the division. He is ready and motivated to fight the fight of his life on Saturday night.

“To top it off, it’s the last SHOWTIME boxing event in its rich 37 year history. As a young kid I used to rush home from Starret City Boxing Club to watch boxing on SHOWTIME. And now years later our fighter Sena Agbeko is fighting in the main event on its final broadcast. It is bittersweet indeed.”

The final SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will begin tonight at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, with Morrell vs. Agbeko topping a three-fight card.

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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. 

Regarding an incident on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at the WBA Convention in Orlando that is virally making the rounds on social media, promoter Sampson Lewkowicz wishes to clarify that Australian WBA #1 middleweight Michael Zerafa was in no way involved in the violent altercation captured on video.

After a disagreement over mandatory bouts and interim titles at the convention, Lewkowicz was attacked and humiliatingly spit on by ?the son of Zerafa’s manager, CEO and Founder of Grant Gloves, Elvis Grant Phillips. ?

However, recent news reports could be interpreted as linking Zerafa to the melee that ensued and Lewkowicz wants it known that the fighter was not involved in the attack. In fact, Zerafa and his fiancée have since contacted Lewkowicz to offer their concerns for the 72-year-old veteran promoter’s wellbeing.

Lewkowicz has filed battery charges with the Orange County Sherriff’s Office over the cowardly attack.

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About Sampson Boxing

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

TOPPENISH, WASHINGTON (December 15, 2023)  —  Roy Jones Jr., legendary world champion boxer and now trainer and promoter, will have a selection of his prized fighters headline an action-packed fight card at Legends Casino in Toppenish, Washington on January 25, 2024.

In the main event, undefeated Yakima born Andrew Murphy will fight in a ten-round super middleweight bout. German star and World Boxing Federation (WBF) women’s welterweight champion Ikram Kerwat will fight in the co-main event. The third of Jones’ fighters on the card is former Commonwealth Games and Asian Games Silver Medalist, lightweight Mandeep Jangra.

Promoted by Roy Jones Jr. Boxing, tickets, priced at $60, $50 and $40, are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Legends Casino Gift Shop or on-line at Ticketmaster HERE

Doors open at 6 pm and first bell will be at 7 pm PT.

For media credential requests, click https://www.emccredentials.com/royjonesjr

“I am very happy to be promoting again back at Legends Casino with my good friend Greg Fritz and the rest of the fine people that work there. Legends provides me and my fighters with wonder hospitality,” said Jones. “I will be bringing with me some treats. One of them is Mandeep Jangra, who is an Indian fighter and very entertaining. The second is Andrew Murphy, who is a lot of fun to watch because he is always looking for that knockout. Another is my protégé, Ikram Kerwat, who has the fine combination of being very attractive and can also fight. I am really looking forward to January 25.”

Andrew Murphy (7-0, 5 KOs) was born in nearby Yakima, Washington and now resides in Pensacola, Florida. January 25 will be the twenty-three-year-old’s third fight at Legends Casino, each as a main event fighter. Andrew will be fighting in ten-round bout.

Ikram Kerwat (13-3, 5 KOs) was born in Tunisia and resides in Frankfurt, Germany. The thirty-nine-year-old made her pro debut in 2015 after having two children. In only her sixth pro fight Ikram won the WBC International lightweight title. On November 13, 2022, she won the WBC Silver super featherweight title and in her last bout, on June 24, Ikram won the WBF World welterweight title. Jones has been her trainer since 2017.

Mandeep Jangra (6-0, 4 KOs), born and raised in Kharian, India, had a wonderful amateur career highlighted by winning Silver Medals at the Asian Amateur Boxing Championships and Commonwealth Games. This will be Mandeep’s fourth bout under Jones’ tutelage.

The fight card will also include some LOCAL BOXING TALENT. In a battle of undefeated heavyweights, Renton, Washington’s Nicholas Mills (3-0, 2 KOs) and Canada’s Brandon Colantino (3-0) fight in a four-round bout; Union Gap’s Carlos Villanueva (5-3, 1 KO) will attempt to knock off Bend, Oregon’s undefeated Alberto Rivas (4-0, 1 KO) in a six-round cruiserweight scrap; and in a six-round super featherweight clash of undefeateds, Mount Vernon’s Luis Gallegos (5-0, 2 KOs) battles fellow Washingtonian Josue Cadena (3-0, 1 KO). 

Live streaming information will be announced soon.

ROY JONES JR. was world champion at middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight (undisputed) and in 2003 became the first former middleweight world champion to become world heavyweight champion in over 106 years when he beat John Ruiz to win the title. Throughout that stretch he was recognized as the No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

Eddie Hearn and Peter Berg proudly announced that the Churchill Boxing Club will be relaunched as that Matchroom Churchill Boxing Gym as the world’s leading boxing promoter finds a first-class home in Los Angeles.
 
Matchroom’s stable of fighters will have a base in the west coast hotbed of boxing with the Matchroom Churchill Boxing Gym, and the promotional powerhouse will be able to call on the facility for media workouts and promotional activities around its events, fighters and commercial partners.
 
The Churchill Boxing Club opened in 2013 under the watchful eye of the critically acclaimed director, producer, writer, and actor Berg. The gym is currently home to seven pro fighters and has previously been used by the likes of Dmitry Bivol, Canelo Alvarez, Gennadiy Golovkin, David Benavidez and many more champions. Berg’s passion for boxing has been well documented and reaches beyond the gym, with him guiding the careers of many fighters, and this partnership with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom is a massing and meaningful moment for Peter and Churchill, as they step deeper into the world of boxing as respected and coveted members of the community.
 
“It’s a very venture for us with the launch of the Matchroom Churchill Boxing Club,” said Hearn. “I had the pleasure of coming here and watching Dmitry Bivol train and I believe it is one of the top gyms in the country with great management.
 
“Our business has become global in recent years and particularly with our move into America. I’ve had the pleasure of promoting some of the biggest names in American boxing and the biggest shows, but we wanted to do something different.
 
“It’s important for us to provide a facility for our stable of talent that we felt was trusted, elite, with top trainers and facilities, and with our long-standing relationship with Peter Berg, who has just as much passion for boxing as anyone we’ve ever met. We both have a vision for the sport, we both love the sport and Peter loves to see the top fighters in the gym and for it to flourish, and it’s an opportunity for our fighters to have a home in California.”
 
“One of the things that boxing needs is leadership, and responsible, quality, visionary leadership,” said Berg. “In my mind, Eddie Hearn is that leader, and I’m very happy and proud that our gym can be in business with the man who is going to lead the sport into the future. 
 
“We’re really proud to be in business with Matchroom and I hope that this is the beginning of a calling to pro fighters all over America that are looking for great training, a direct connection to the best promoters in the world in Matchroom, we’re open for business so come on down.”
 
Integral to the new venture, Charlie Sims will be the Head of Development at the Matchroom Churchill Boxing Gyn. Sims’ father and world-renowned trainer Tony leads the Matchroom Gym in the UK in Essex, and Charlie believes the Los Angeles gym will be as effective in housing and hosting champions.
 
“We have such a successful gym in the UK with Tony, so it was about bringing that over here,” said Sims. “The first time I walked into the Churchill Gym, I knew it was the right place. I was chomping at the bit to get this partnership going and I cannot think of two better stories to blend than Eddie Hearn and Peter Berg. It’s going to be a really exciting journey.”

Hamza ’Thriller’ Uddin is the latest bright British boxing prospect to sign with Matchroom – and the rising Flyweight sensation already has his sights set on becoming a future World Champion.

The former Team GB fighter is an eight-time National champion, with seven International golds and three GB titles to his C.V following a decorated amateur career.

The 20-year-old, who is trained by Raj Uddin and managed by Sam Jones, is also the youngest-ever two-time senior elite champion and an undefeated senior. Having conquered the amateur scene, Uddin’s signature to turn professional has been highly sought after. 

And having put pen to paper to make his debut in 2024 – live worldwide on DAZN – a confident and charismatic Uddin has immediately set himself the target of being a “legend” of the sport.

“I’m excited to use all of the experience I have gained to win more titles as a professional,” said Uddin. “Matchroom are the biggest boxing promoters in the world. For my dreams and aspirations, only Matchroom could cut it for me. Nobody else. Matchroom are the best in the world.

“I’m from a little place called Walsall but I have won eight National titles, three GB titles and seven International golds. I’ve been a part of the Team GB set-up and I’ve got a lot of accolades to take with me into the pro game. 

“My background is from Bangladesh. I believe I will be the first professional fighter from a Bangladesh origin, or certainly the first one of note. So I want to become the first British-Bangladeshi World Champion, something that has never been done before or not even been heard of. That’s a special piece of history that I want to create it in the near future. 

“My ultimate dream is to become a World Champion – but I want to become a unified, an undisputed and a multi-weight world champion. I want to be a legend in this sport, not just another boxer.”

Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn revealed he is thrilled to add Uddin to his world class stable of fighters – and hopes to introduce him on the big stage early in 2024.

Hearn said: “Hamza Uddin is some talent. Look at his amateur pedigree, it speaks for itself. He has a massive following in the Midlands and is all-action style will see him fast become a fans’ favourite when we unleash him in the professional arena. I’m delighted to have signed yet another thrilling prospect to our impressive ranks at Matchroom and we expect big things from Hamza in the future.”

EDDIE HEARN
 
I think that this is one of the fights of the year, the big unification match-up between Jesse Rodriguez and Sunny Edwards, the WBO and IBF World titles on the line. It’s so unique to see the best vs. the best, and this is unquestionably the best vs. the best of the division. When we signed Sunny, he said he wanted any champion at any moment, and Jesse has had an incredible run, and it’s unusual two see to young, undefeated guys in their complete prime who are willing to risk it all at this stage. No marinating fights, no stringing fights out, no fighting weaker champions – this is just the best vs. the best.
 
On the undercard, there’s so many well matched and important fights for everyone’s career, it’s a massive night not to be missed, live on DAZN.
 
JESSE RODRIGUEZ
 
This is the biggest fight of my career, no doubt, but I approach it the same way I always do; cool, calm and collected. There’s no need for talking, all my work has been done in the gym and on Saturday night, you’ll see that. 
 
I’ve always been this way, and this is nothing different, it’s just another day and on Saturday night I am ready to shine. Camp is done, training is done, we have the right game plan and come Saturday night, people will see everything we’ve been working on, my hand will be raised in victory, and I am taking his belt, his ‘0’ and it’s time. 
 
I respect him as a person, I said yesterday though that on social media he likes to talk but in person he doesn’t. If I didn’t want this fight, I wouldn’t be here. We wanted it and that’s why we’re here. I am going to do you like Julio Cesar Martinez did to your brother. 
 
We’re ready, he’ll see, just tune in on DAZN. Bam Rodriguez, unified champion on Saturday night.
 
SUNNY EDWARDS
 
The reason why I don’t talk in person is that if I started talking and bullying you the way I could; your trainer didn’t come to Orlando, and he’s not sat here – why? Because he is scared of what I say. Your whole team is on eggshells, no one wants to look at me, you have been walking doing sweat sessions last night; I just want to make sure you don’t have any excuses for your bad hand, bad jaw, that’s why I didn’t bully you. 
 
I know exactly who I am, I just didn’t want to bully a 23 year old kid because you wouldn’t have turned up otherwise. That’s why we’ve been chilling. You don’t know who you are, you don’t even know if you like boxing. You have been a nice, quiet little boy and now you want to say I don’t know who I am? You are the one that’s confused. Of course I shake your hand, you are a fighter. It’s not about talking shit, the reason I laid off you was I know how hard it was to get you and your team to accept this fight. You didn’t want this fight. On Saturday night you are going to be like your brother, retired. You have no heart for this.
 
Everyone says ‘game plan, game plan, game plan’ but it all goes out of the window when you can’t lay a glove on me. Facts. I’m not worried about this kid. 
 
MURODJON AKHMADALIEV
 
I am on the same page as you Eddie, I believe that I won my last fight. Yes, I gave up a few early rounds but from the fifth to the 12th, I won all the rounds, and I believe I was the winner of that fight. But that doesn’t matter right now, I have a tough opponent in front of me, he’s the best out of all the available fighters and I am taking him very seriously and I am here to take back what belongs to me.
 
KEVIN GONZALEZ 
 
It’s a really tough test, a difficult exam, but I am going to pass it with flying colors. My focus is completely on MJ, but obviously, if I win this fight, I could go to face the winner of Inoue vs. Tapales. This is another step in my process, and I am really ready for this fight.  
 
GALAL YAFAI
 
I’m on a big card here with Sunny and Bam, and I know [people are going to look to put me and those guys together in the future. But my eyes are firmly on Rocco on Saturday, to get the win and look good. It’s not enough to win nowadays, if I do, it’s how I perform that’s looked at. So, I need to win, look good and then I can sit back and watch the main event. 
 
If anyone saw me fight in the amateurs, I wasn’t a typical amateur. I was a front foot fighter and putting people down in the Olympic finals – and that’s not normal, especially for a Flyweight. But I am not going to sit here and big myself up too much, I do my talking in the ring, and we’ll see what happens on Saturday.
 
ROCCO SANTOMAURO
 
If you have ever seen me fight, I’m going to bring a good, entertaining fight. I always bring it and I am looking forward to facing an Olympic gold medalist and putting on a great performance, I’ll let my hands do the talking and bring how the W. I’m going to bring my experience, yes, he’s an Olympic gold medalist, but he’s only had five fights, so we’ll see how that plays out against a veteran in the ring.
 
PETER MCGRAIL
 
The likes of Ja’Rico O’Quinn they all watch me but when they get in there, it’s a completely different story. I’ve watched about two minutes of him, I’m always taking it each fight at a time and it’s another step-up. Last time out he was 17-0, this guy is 16-1, those are the types of tests we need, they’re all steppingstones to the World title fight and Ja’Rico is just another guy to step over on Saturday.
 
JA’RICO O’QUINN
 
I’m relaxed, I’m chilling up here in my slides. If I could, I’d put my feet on the table, I’m chilling, comfortable. I’m thankful to you Eddie to be on this platform. They have been loud as hell during this camp, in my DMs on Instagram and everything. He has to back that shit up now, we’re here now. Peter, you’re quiet over there now. He’s going to be running from me all night. I watched him, he’s a good kid, soft-spoken, he’s never been in anything real, and he’ll go into his shell on Saturday night. I always bring the fight, don’t worry about that.
 
CARLOS MUJICA
 
We gave everything in Detroit, as we will do on Saturday. I felt like I won that fight but we’re ready once again to give everything and get the victory.
 
ARTURO POPOCA
 
Thanks to God and to Eddie Hearn for this opportunity, we’re ready to put on a great fight on Saturday.
 
ALBERT GONZALEZ
 
It’s motivating to be able to perform on a card like this, I’m thankful, I’ve been working my ass off and I hope that come Saturday I’ll show that in the ring. The camp with Robert Garcia is no joke, we have the best of the best there in sparring, trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, I’m more than ready and confident not only in myself but in the rest of the team that we’re going to come over here and do what we do best, and that’s get the victory.
 
ALEXIS MOLINA
 
Thank you to Matchroom for the opportunity. We’re going to give everything for this fight, put it all on the line. I have been working hard in training camp and we’re ready to put on a show and take the victory home to Guadalajara.
 
JOE MCGRAIL
 
These are the fights I want to be in, I want to start pushing on now and keep building. I had my pro debut on a Matchroom show, and now I’m making my US debut on a Matchroom show, so thank you Eddie.
 
JUNAID BOSTAN
 
I’d like to thank Eddie Hearn and Tom Dallas for making the fight, and I was surprised they made the fight. In my last few fights, I’ve fought undefeated guys, Area champions, Scottish champion, and now I’m fighting this fool? I can’t believe it. We had a few opponents lined up, we accepted them all, but they fell through for whatever reason. I was asking for this to be made and didn’t think Eddie or Tom would make it, but I am glad it was. This idiot is getting beaten up differently on Saturday night.
 
I’m delighted to be on this card for my American debut, not a lot of people get this sort of opportunity so early in their career. I’m not just saying it because I dislike the guy, but I do honestly believe I stop him. 
 
GORDIE RUSS II
 
I’m ready to bust him up and send him back across the pond. He’s not ready for this in America. Let him fight the bums over there. He’s made a big mistake, I applaud him for strapping up and coming here, but it’s not going to be enough, I will stop you bro, and that’s real talk. He’s already in the books, I have him. He’s going to have to be carried out, on his back or face, this is not a game.

Jose Sanchez won a 10-round unanimous decision over Walter Santibanes in a action filled super bantamweight bout at the Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, California.

Sanchez, 124.4 lbs of Cathedral City, CA won by scores of 99-91 twice and 98-92 and is now 12-0. Santibanes, 124.5 lbs of Phoenix, AZ is now 12-3.

“I want to thank Golden Boy and Miguel Cotto Promotions for giving me the opportunity to fight for the first time in front of my hometown as the main event,” said Tito Sanchez. “This was a real war. The crowd’s cheers kept me going through the tough times, and with them having my back, I was able to push through and get the victory. My right middle knuckle was severely injured in the third round, but I made it 10-rounds with the Coachella Valley’s support.

Eric Priest remained undefeated with a first round stoppage over Paul Mendez in a eight-round middleweight out.

In round one, Priest dumped Mendez with a hard right hand. Mendez was hurt throughout the round and landed a huge flurry of punches that forced a referee stoppage at 2:09.

Priest, 161.4 lbs of Kansas City, KS is now 12-0 with eight knockouts. Mendez, 160 lbs of Delano, CA is 21-5-2.

“After my last fight, I made a lot of adjustments and I believe that’s what helped me get the knockout tonight,” said Eric Priest. “Training with Ismael Salas in Las Vegas has been great for my career – I have been able to rub elbows with top level fighters as well as current and former world champions who help me improve my craft. My message to the middleweight division is that if you didn’t know me before, you’ll know me now.”

Jorge Chavez remained undefeated by stopping Jerson Ortiz after round two of their eight-round super bantamweight bout.

In round one, Chavez dropped Ortiz with a flurry in the corner. Chavez continued to punish Ortiz, and the fight was stopped in the corner after round two,

Chavez, 123.6 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 9-0 with seven knockouts. Ortiz, 123.8 lbs of Managua, NIC is 17-10.

Ricardo Ruvalcaba remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Irvin Macias in a welterweight fight.

In round five, Macias began to bleed from the nose.

Ruvalcaba, 141.6 lbs of Ventura, CA won by scores of 80-72 twice and 78-74 and is now 11-0-1. Macias, 142 lbs of Monterrey, MEX is 15-4.

Justin Figueroa remained undefeated with a third-round stoppage over Jerome Clayton in a four-round junior middleweight bout.

In round two, Fugueroa dropped Clayton with an overhand right to the top of the head. Late in the round Figueroa scored a knockdown on a right to the body.

In round three, Figueroa dropped Clayton with a straight right to the face. Figueroa ended things when he dropped Clayton with another body shot at 1:58.

Figueroa, 153.4 lbs of Atlantic City, NJ is 7-0 with six knockouts. Clayton, 154 lbs of New Orleans is 9-3-1.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to the APEX with a middleweight clash that will see No. 7 ranked Roman Dolidze battle No. 12 Nassourdine Imavov. Also on the card, No. 13 ranked lightweight contender Renato Moicano meets No. 15 Drew Dober.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: DOLIDZE vs. IMAVOV will take place Saturday, February 3 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will stream exclusively on ESPN+ in English and Spanish with the prelims beginning at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT followed by the main card at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.

Additionally, the finals for ROAD TO UFC Season 2 will air live at 11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT on UFC Fight Pass from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas on Saturday, February 3, following the broadcast of UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: DOLIDZE vs. IMAVOV.

UFC Apex VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that includes premium seating, all-inclusive hospitality, in-seat beverage service, meet-and-greets with UFC octagon girls and more. Visit UFCVIP.com for more information.

ROAD TO UFC is a ground-breaking “win and advance” tournament that takes top MMA prospects from Asia and gives them a pathway to a UFC contract. Season 2 started with 32 mixed martial arts athletes, with eight competing in each of four men’s weight classes: flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight and lightweight. The athletes in ROAD TO UFC came from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Thailand.

The opening round took place on May 27 and 28 at the UFC Performance Institute Shanghai, and the semifinals took place following UFC FIGHT NIGHT: HOLLOWAY VS THE KOREAN ZOMBIE in Singapore on August 27. Following the conclusion of the finals for ROAD TO UFC Season 2, the four winners will be awarded UFC contracts.

Dolidze (12-2, fighting out of Batumi, Georgia) looks to deliver another signature KO in his first UFC main event. Known for his highlight-reel finishes, Dolidze rose through the middleweight ranks with bonus-earning stoppages of Jack Hermansson, Phil Hawes and Kyle Daukaus. He now aims to begin his 2024 campaign with a statement victory and break into the Top 5.

Imavov (12-4, fighting out of Paris, France) returns to the Octagon planning to reignite his run towards the title. A well-rounded competitor who has finished nine of his 12 victories, he holds notable wins over Joaquin Buckley, Edmen Shahbazyan and Ian Heinisch. Imavov now has his sights set on becoming the first person to finish Dolidze in impressive fashion.

Grappling ace Moicano (17-5-1, fighting out of Brasília, Federal District, Brazil) aims to build another win steak by defending his spot in the rankings. A high-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, all 10 of his finishes have come via submission, including wins over Brad Riddell, Alexander Hernandez and Cub Swanson. Moicano now seeks to make quick work of Dober and turn his attention to the top of the division.

Knockout artist Dober (27-12 1NC, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) looks to add to his record for most knockouts in UFC lightweight history. Among the most exciting athletes in the division, Dober’s last seven wins have come by KO, including finishes of Ricky Glenn, Bobby Green and Terrance McKinney. He now plans to notch his biggest victory yet and insert himself into the title conversation. 

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 8 ranked flyweight contender Viviane Araujo (12-5, fighting out of Brasília, Federal District, Brazil) aims to hand No. 11 Natalia Silva (16-5, fighting out of Pingo D’Agua, Minas Gerais, Brazil) her first UFC loss
• William Gomis (13-2, fighting out of Paris, France) returns to action against Melsik Baghdasaryan (8-2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif.) in a featherweight bout
• Gilbert Urbina (7-3, fighting out of Mercedes, Texas) meets Charles Radtke (8-3, fighting out of Naples, Fla.) in a welterweight contest
• Flyweight action sees Luana Carolina (9-4, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) take on Julija Stoliarenko (11-8-2, fighting out of Visaginas, Luthuania)
• Aliaskhab Khizriev (14-0, fighting out of Makhachkala, Dagestan) defends his undefeated record against Makhmud Muradov (26-8, fighting out of Bukhara, Uzbekistan) in an exciting middleweight tilt
• Fan favorite Molly McCann (13-6, fighting out of Liverpool, England) aims for another signature KO against fellow striker Diana Belbita (15-8, fighting out of Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada) at strawweight
• Welterweights Themba Gorimbo (11-4, fighting out of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa) and Kiefer Crosbie (10-4, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland) collide in an all-action bout
• JeongYeong Lee (10-1, fighting out of Daegu, South Korea) looks to remain undefeated in the UFC when he faces Blake Bilder (8-1-1, fighting out of Costa Mesa, Calif.) at featherweight
• Nate Maness (15-3, fighting out of Henderson, Ky.) plans to knock Azat Maksum (17-0, fighting out of Rayimbek, Almatinskaia Oblast, Kazakhstan) from the ranks of the unbeaten in a flyweight matchup
• Landon Quinones (7-2-1, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla.) seeks to spoil the UFC debut of Dana White’s Contender Series signee MarQuel Mederos (8-1, fighting out of Littleton, Colo.)
• Heavyweight Dana White’s Contender Seriesalums clash as Thomas Petersen (8-1, fighting out of Webster, Minn.) meets Jamal Pogues (10-4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.)

ROAD TO UFC Season 2 Finale Bouts:

·         Flyweight Final: 22-year old dedicated finisher Jiniushiyue “Little King Kong” (13-2, fighting out of Sichuan, China) faces decorated national wrestler 21-year old Rei Tsuruya (8-0, fighting out of Chiba, Japan).

·         Bantamweight Final: Experienced, aggressive striker Xiao Long (26-7, fighting out of Hunan, China) faces well-rounded grinder Chang Ho Lee (9-1, fighting out of Goyang, South Korea).

·         Featherweight Final: Iconic aggressive strikerKaiwen (12-5, fighting out of Hunan, China) faces seasoned, intelligent tactician Yizha (24-4, fighting out of Sichuan, China).

·         Lightweight Final: Former UFC athlete and strong finisher Rongzhu (24-5, fighting out of Sichuan, China) faces power wrestler Shin Haraguchi (7-0 1NC, fighting out of Kagoshima, Japan).

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

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 233 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 over 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s active fighter roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global sports and entertainment company Endeavor and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

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About ESPN

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

LOS ANGELES (December 14, 2023) – Undefeated super middleweight prospect Darius “DFG” Fulghum (9-0, 9 KOs) concluded a memorable 2023, knocking out Pachino “Chino” Hill on December 2nd in the second round, in his hometown of Houston on a Golden Boy Promotions card headlined by Ryan Garcia vs. Oscar Duarte on a live DAZN stream from Toyota Center.

The 27-year-old Fulghum was 6-for-6 in 2023 with six knockouts, all since May, increasing his perfect pro record to 9-0 with nine knockouts. In Darius’ six fights this year, he has only needed 16 total rounds to stop his six opponents.

In 2023, Fulghum started working with 3 Point Management (3 PM), a growing Los Angeles-based company, in addition to signing an exclusive promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions.

“Everything that has happened in my boxing career has been perfect timing,” Fulghum commented, even when I was an amateur. I graduated (from college) in 2019, right before the pandemic, and I was able to work my schedule around to compete in The Nationals.

“I don’t know how I could have had a better year other than winning a world title, but that wasn’t realistic right now. I had a perfect year, six fights in seven months, all won by knockout. I learned so much this year in and out of the ring like the process. . I never take days off. I’m gaining all the experience I’ll need to get that world title belt. Everything has been in sync, and I give a lot of the credit to my family for always supporting me.”

A licensed nurse in Texas with a degree from Prairie View A & M University, Fulghum was a decorated amateur boxer, ranked No. 1 in the USA as a heavyweight, despite fighting as a light heavyweight/super middleweight as a pro. He captured top honors at the 2018 National Golden Gloves Tournament and 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. All of his amateur accomplishments were achieved while he attended college.

Fighting at home as a pro for only the second time during his career, Fulghum wanted to do something special for his family, friends, and fans in Houston. He did just that…..

Team Fulghum came up with the idea for him to wear his Prairie View A & M cap and gown during his walk up to the ring and after the fight when his hand was raised in victory by referee Mark Calo-oy.

“I loved it,” Fulghum added. “Me and my team wanted to make my first fight in Houston something special. I’m so happy it came out really nice. Everything was absolutely ridiculous, Houston really showed up. I felt the love.”

If 2023 was a banner year, Fulghum plans to make 2024 a breakthrough campaign.

“I want to make noise in my division next year and 168 (lbs.) is tight,” Fulghum concluded. “People are starting to notice me, but I don’t have the leverage right now to call out anybody, never mind (David) Benavidez, Canelo (Alvarez), (Jermell) Charlo or (Jaime) Munguia. Next year, I want people to watch me fighting tough competition.”

Perfect timing!

INFORMATION:

Instagram/X (Twitter)/Linkedin: @DariusFulghum

MINNEAPOLIS – December 14, 2023 – Undefeated WBA Super Middleweight Champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. and knockout artist Sena Agbeko went face-to-face Thursday at the final press conference before they meet in the SHOWTIME main event this Saturday, December 16 from The Armory in Minneapolis in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The press conference also featured exciting contenders Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela, who meet in a 12-round WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator as they rematch in the co-main event, plus all-action former world champions Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Andre Berto, who square off in a 10-round welterweight rematch in the telecast opener at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

The telecast had previously been scheduled to include WBC Flyweight World Champion Julio Cesar Martinez facing unbeaten Angelino Cordova, however that fight has now been postponed after Martinez experienced visa issues trying to enter the country.

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 is what the fighters had to say Thursday:

DAVID MORRELL JR.

“When you disrespect me, you’re gonna suffer. When you talk like that to my face, now it’s time for the punishment. I’m going to knock his ass out in the sixth or seventh round this Saturday night. My Christmas present for him is gonna be a knockout.”

“This is a great opportunity to headline the last fight on SHOWTIME. I was ready for him in April and I’m ready for him now. I’ll show him and anyone who doubts me.

“it’s going to be worse for him now. I’m better now than if we had fought in April. I’m taking him right out now.

“I’m really just focused on Agbeko. My body and my mental are 100%. I’m not thinking about David Benavidez right now. I’ll come for him after Agbeko. I’m taking this guy out first. 

“I feel great to have this opportunity. My family is coming here to watch me for the first time. This is my time and this is my moment. I want everything.

“Having my family here doesn’t put pressure on me. It takes the pressure away. It’s going to make me feel great and clear my head, since I don’t need to worry about how they are doing in Cuba anymore. Once I’m inside the ring, my focus will be fully on Agbeko.”

SENA AGBEKO

“I’ve always had the mindset that I want to be the top guy at super middleweight. I want to face the best. That’s what I’ve wanted since the beginning.

“I can’t hate a man who’s on the same mission as me. We both want to be world champion. We were supposed to fight in April, and I believe that someone went to great lengths to stop the fight from happening then.

“I wanted this fight because of what I know about myself. There’s so much that I’ve done that people have chosen to ignore. I just wanted a chance. I’ve just needed the stage to prove it.

“I fought to get this fight back, because I deserved it. I’m grateful to the universe, and to David and his team for accepting the fight.

“I truly believe that his team thinks I’m a sheep coming to the slaughter house. But they don’t know that I’m a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

“This will be the culmination of everything I’ve ever dreamed of. It’s been a long 12 years. I’ve trained the whole time like I’m fighting for a world title. To win this fight Saturday night will mean everything to me. I want to add my name to a long line of Ghanaian champions.”

CHRIS COLBERT

“I’m not forced to do anything. I’m my own boss. This was the option that I chose. I’m tired of hearing him talk. I’ve always wanted to prove myself.

“He’s a sore loser, but he comes to fight. He’s gonna come to fight. I want to prove to the world and to his fans that he didn’t win. I’m gonna come dominate. I want him to take his loss like a man.

“It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish. He dropped me in the first 30 seconds and he didn’t’ finish me. It says a lot about him as a fighter. He had 2:30 to finish me in the first round.

“He got tired. I landed so many jabs. Saturday night I’m gonna make him stop crying about this. I’m ready.” 

JOSE VALENZUELA

“I learned I have to keep my foot on the gas. It was pretty clear to everyone that I won. He said that I was a bum, but it looked like he was getting jumped in there. Everything happens for a reason and I’m happy to be back.

“I made the adjustments that I had to make. Saturday I’m knocking him out. I had a tremendous training camp.

“I’m gonna knock this clown out. It’s over for him. I can see in his eyes that he’s scared. He said he had different plans after the first fight. But he had to come back here to face me.”

ROBERT GUERRERO

“These fists are hungry and I gotta feed them. It’s been a long time coming. Things change, but like my dad always told me, ‘the older the bull, the stiffer the horn.’ We’re ready to go.

“The last time we fought, I was really a 135-pounder fighting at 147. I’ve grown into the weight now. It’s gonna be a lot different match now.

“We were both in Las Vegas out there running and doing our camps. I’m ready and I’m excited to do it again. When you run at that elevation in Las Vegas, there’s nothing like it.

“If you know Robert Guerrero, you know I come for war. We come no matter what. It’s just what we do. We’re warriors.”

ANDRE BERTO

“Anybody who follows me, they know I stay in shape. This is a fight that I felt like I always needed to get back. Same thing with Victor Ortiz. I shouldn’t have even stepped into the ring against Guerrero when we first fought. I’m on a revenge tour now before I leave this game.

Robert is a great fighter of course, and he did what he did. But I’m hungry for this one. I still think about situations from that fight back then. I’m hungry to get this one back. We had a hell of a training camp and we’re gonna get it.

“I wasn’t in the right space mentally or physically when we first thought. I only gained four pounds after the weigh-in. Even then he barely beat me. I’m not taking anything from Robert, because he’s a beast.

“Now, even at this age, I’m feeling like a beast right now. I’m focused right now. I didn’t pull any punches in camp. I had young studs pushing me every day. I feel good and I feel fresh.”

#          #          #

ABOUT MORRELL VS. AGBEKO

Morrell vs. Agbeko will see undefeated WBA Super Middleweight Champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. battle knockout artist Sena Agbeko headlining action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, December 16 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Armory in Minneapolis.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and feature exciting contenders Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela in a 12-round WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator as they rematch in the co-main event, and all-action former world champions Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Andre Berto squaring off in a 10-round welterweight rematch in the telecast opener.

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

MINNEAPOLIS – December 14, 2023 – The previously scheduled matchup between WBC Flyweight World Champion Julio Cesar Martinez and unbeaten Angelino Cordova has been postponed. Martinez experienced visa issues trying to enter the country, forcing the bout to be rescheduled for next year.

The fight had been set to appear on the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast this Saturday night headlined by undefeated WBA Super Middleweight Champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. battling knockout artist Sena Agbeko from The Armory in Minneapolis and presented by Premier Boxing Champions. The telecast will continue as a tripleheader.

Exciting contenders Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela will meet in a 12-round WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator as they rematch in the co-main event, while all-action former world champions Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Andre Berto square off in a 10-round welterweight rematch in the telecast opener.

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.

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

Jesse Rodriguez says he wants to be remembered as a legend of the sport – and that starts by taking Sunny Edwards’ belt and unbeaten record as they clash in a Flyweight unification blockbuster at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN.
 
WBO king Rodriguez (18-0 11 KOs) returns to the state where he landed his first World title back in February 2022 when he defeated Carlos Cuadras to land the WBC Super-Flyweight strap. The San Antonio star defended that title twice with wins over Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Israel Gonzalez before becoming a two-weight champion on home turf in April by seeing off Christian Hernandez.
 
Edwards (20-0 4 KOs) finally gets the blockbuster showdown that he’s been craving after becoming the IBF champion in April 2021 with a trademark classy win over Moruti Mthalane in London. A pair of successful defenses in Dubai followed in December against Jayson Mama and in March over Muhammad Waseem before victory in defense number three followed in his adopted Sheffield hometown over Felix Alvarado.
 
It’s a first ever unification bout for both men and the victor will be crowned the number one in the division, and is exactly the sort of bout that the 25 year old American feels he can get his teeth into. ‘Bam’ knows that Edwards has the goods to make it an exciting fight but having already seen off a modern-great in Rungvisai, Rodriguez feels that he’s a step too far for the Briton.
 
“This fight is going to be exciting,” said Rodriguez. “The sky is the limit for me; anybody, anywhere. He’s a very good fighter, very technical, very skillful, fast, smart. I knew one day down the line we would meet up and here it is. He hasn’t been in with someone with the skills I have, and with the power on top of that. I don’t care what it takes, I’m going to win, I’m taking his belt, and I’m taking his ‘0’. I’m going to knock him out.
 
“I want to be remembered as a legend, as a fighter that never dodged a fight. I’m here for a good time, not a long time. I feel like I have what it takes to not only drop him but to finish the fight early. 
 
“I decided to get an AirBnB for this fight and separate myself from the camp house. There’s a lot on the line, so I wanted to be as comfortable as possible, so little things like that play a big part in training camp. 
 
“I do this to myself because I want to have a better life. I have a daughter on the way, I want to provide everything she ever needs. I’m a lot more motivated, every day i think about my daughter. I want to provide everything for her, so I am going extra hard, harder than I ever have before. What does it take to be the best? It’s hard work, dedication, sacrifice, heart and a lot of will. 
 
“My jaw feels good. It’s a little numb but the doctor said it would be like that for a while. I’m felt a little crack and then my ear started ringing so I knew something was up. I was able to bear it and finish the fight. I didn’t enjoy the win. I went straight to the hospital and got surgery on the Monday, and then I was on the six-week diet, strictly pudding, smoothies, milkshakes, whatever I could eat without chewing was what I was on, but as long as I’ve got my coffee, I’m good.
 
“A lot of things have changed since becoming World champion. In San Antonio, they treat me like a king. I go into restaurants and get free food and free coffees in the coffee shops. I was living at home before the World title fight, but after winning the title I got my own apartment and started living on my own. Life has been amazing since then. I appreciate what I did that day, but it’s in the past now. I have the biggest fight of my life coming up and I use that feeling as motivation because I know winning this one would be ten times what I felt back then.”
 
Rodriguez and Edwards clash on a stacked night of action in Arizona, with chief support action provided by the the WBA World Super-Bantamweight title eliminator battle between former champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev (11-1 8 KOs) and #2 ranked Mexican Kevin Gonzalez (26-0-1 13 KOs).
 
The main event stars unbeaten British World ruler Edwards, and four more Brits cross the pond to end their 2023 in the US. Galal Yafai (5-0 4 KOs) defends his WBC International Flyweight title against Rocco Santomauro (22-2 6 KOs), Peter McGrail (8-0 5 KOs) fights in the States for the first time in the paid ranks, and fights for his first pro title as he takes on Ja’Rico O’Quinn (16-1-1 8 KOs) for the WBA Continental Super-Bantamweight belt. McGrail’s younger brother Joe McGrail (7-0 3 KOs), who fights for the eighth time in the pros against Brandon Rosales Marquez (6-5-2) over six rounds at Featherweight. The fifth Brit to step through the ropes on the night will be rising star Junaid Boston (7-0 6 KOs), with the Rotherham talent tackling unbeaten Detroit man Gordie Russ II (6-0 6 KOs) over eight rounds at Super-Welterweight.
 
Completing the line-up in Arizona are Californian Arturo Popoca (11-0-1 7 KOs) who faces Carlos Mujica (8-3 3 KOs) over eight rounds at Super-Bantamweight and Albert Gonzalez (5-0 2 KOs) who takes on Robenilson Vieira de Jesus (5-1 1 KO) over six rounds at Featherweight.

Sunny Edwards believes he’s unbeatable when he is at his best – and plans to prove that in his unification battle with Jesse Rodriguez at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN.
 
Edwards (20-0 4 KOs) finally gets the blockbuster showdown that he’s been craving after becoming the IBF champion in April 2021 with a trademark classy win over Moruti Mthalane in London. A pair of successful defenses in Dubai followed in December against Jayson Mama and in March over Muhammad Waseem before victory in defense number three followed in his adopted Sheffield hometown over Felix Alvarado.
 
It’s a first ever unification bout for both men as WBO king Rodriguez (18-0 11 KOs) returns to the state where he landed his first World title back in February 2022 when he defeated Carlos Cuadras to land the WBC Super-Flyweight strap. The San Antonio star defended that title twice with wins over Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Israel Gonzalez before becoming a two-weight champion on home turf in April by seeing off Christian Hernandez.
 
Fight fans and pundits alike have been salivating over the prospect of these two men finally getting their hands on each other, with a raft of previews pouring over their respective traits and finding it hard to separate them. But for the Briton, there’s no doubt in his mind that he adds a second belt to his waist on Saturday night and says it doesn’t matter who is in the ring, if he’s at his best, there’s only ever going to be one winner.
 
“I don’t have to overthink it; I know the best of me is capable of beating anyone at this weight and the weights above,” said Edwards. “After I beat Bam, I feel there’s a lot more still to come. That’s the first step, unified champion of the world, it sounds good. Bam has got quick hands, good feet, heavy hands as well. He’s a great fighter, but he’s not been in with me yet.
 
“I was made for this. I’ve never had anything else; I’ve never done anything else; I’ve never really wanted anything else. I don’t do it for anyone, to make anyone proud. If anything, the compliments and the flattery makes me feel uneasy. Everywhere I’ve gone throughout my life I’ve had people saying nothing but good things about how good I am.
 
“I feel like my last fight was a kind of pre-season for this one. This fight was always spoken and thought about. I’ve stayed in the gym straight out of that fight in June and I’ve applied myself, so I am genuinely raring to go.
 
“I like a build-up, but that’s more for the fans than for me, I like them to be excited for the fight. Maybe I’m more of the spiteful one, the outspoken one, the confident one. Whereas he’s a very good fighter but he seems uneasy in public, he isn’t happy in front of the camera, he’s not confident in front of groups of people. If he wasn’t a boxer, you wouldn’t see much of him at all.”
 
Edwards and Rodriguez clash on a stacked night of action in Arizona, with chief support action provided by the the WBA World Super-Bantamweight title eliminator battle between former champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev (11-1 8 KOs) and #2 ranked Mexican Kevin Gonzalez (26-0-1 13 KOs).
 
The main event stars unbeaten British World ruler Edwards, and four more Brits cross the pond to end their 2023 in the US. Galal Yafai (5-0 4 KOs) defends his WBC International Flyweight title against Rocco Santomauro (22-2 6 KOs), Peter McGrail (8-0 5 KOs) fights in the States for the first time in the paid ranks, and fights for his first pro title as he takes on Ja’Rico O’Quinn (16-1-1 8 KOs) for the WBA Continental Super-Bantamweight belt. McGrail’s younger brother Joe McGrail (7-0 3 KOs), who fights for the eighth time in the pros against Brandon Rosales Marquez (6-5-2) over six rounds at Featherweight. The fifth Brit to step through the ropes on the night will be rising star Junaid Boston (7-0 6 KOs), with the Rotherham talent tackling unbeaten Detroit man Gordie Russ II (6-0 6 KOs) over eight rounds at Super-Welterweight.
 
Completing the line-up in Arizona are Californian Arturo Popoca (11-0-1 7 KOs) who faces Carlos Mujica (8-3 3 KOs) over eight rounds at Super-Bantamweight and Albert Gonzalez (5-0 2 KOs) who takes on Robenilson Vieira de Jesus (5-1 1 KO) over six rounds at Featherweight.

ORLANDO, FL – December 14, 2023 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the highly-anticipated 8-round cruiserweight battle between Jake “The Problem Child” Paul (7-1, 4 KOs) vs. Andre August (10-1, 5 KOs) on Friday, December 15, preceded by MVP’s 10-round special championship feature of Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green (13-0, 11 KOs) vs. Franchón Crews-Dezurn (8-2, 2 KOs) for the WBC super middleweight title and the WBA Interim Championship title, is the highest recorded gate for a boxing event in Orlando’s history. Puerto Rican fighter Miguel Cotto’s bout vs. Delvin Rodriguez at the Amway Center, which has a capacity of 20,000, in October 2013 previously held the record in Orlando. Tickets for Paul vs. August, presented by CELSIUS Essential Energy Drink, also broke the record for highest average ticket price, matching the average ticket price of Paul’s latest fight vs. Nate Diaz at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. 

Since headlining his first fight, Paul has broken records at every arena he’s fought at across his 9-fight professional career, and his upcoming bout vs. August in Orlando marks a new city record. Paul’s record-setting appearance in Dallas, TX for Paul vs. Diaz was the highest boxing gate and second biggest combat sports gate ever at the American Airlines Center. Previously, Paul vs. Silva broke a record for the second highest combat sports gate at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, and Paul vs. Woodley II set the record for the highest combat sports gate at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Paul vs. Woodley I was the highest boxing gate ever at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland. 

Paul vs. August will headline Most Valuable Prospects IV, which will feature additional action-packed bouts between light middleweights Yoenis Tellez (6-0, 5 KOs) vs. Livan Navarro (15-1, 9 KOs) for the WBA Continental Latin Americas title and heavyweights Lorenzo Medina (8-0, 7 KOs) vs. Joshua Temple (12-2, 10 KOs). 

Most Valuable Prospects IV continues the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. All events within Most Valuable Prospects in 2023 have taken place on Friday nights at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL. The series has been renewed for six installments in 2024 and DAZN will air the series globally across its platforms as a part of its subscription package. CELSIUS Essential Energy Drink acts as the presenting sponsor of the Most Valuable Prospects Series, with DraftKings serving as the Official Sports Betting Partner for Most Valuable Prospects IV.

Paul vs. August fight week events are free to the public and continue today, Thursday, December 14 at the Caribe Royale Resort. The public weigh-ins begin at 6:00PM ET, with doors opening at 5:00PM ET. The weigh-ins will be shown live on Jake Paul’s YouTube channel, MVP’s YouTube channel, and DAZN’s YouTube channel.

“It’s unbelievable that Jake made his debut in 2020, also in Florida, and sold less than 1500 tickets with a miniscule gate,” said Mike Leanardi, Director of Boxing of MVP. “Now in 2023, we’re back in Florida, this time Orlando, and despite it being a week before Christmas and him facing a formidable but unknown opponent, Jake broke Miguel Cotto’s record for the highest gate and average ticket price of any boxing event in Orlando’s history. Just being mentioned in the same breath as Cotto speaks volumes to Jake’s starpower. If anyone still doubts Jake Paul, I’m proud to say they’ve been proven wrong yet again. Thank you Caribe Royale and Boxlab Promotions for being a great partner for this record-breaking night.”

“On behalf of Caribe Royale and Boxlab Promotions we’re extremely proud to be a part of the highest grossing boxing event in Orlando history,” said Amaury Piedra, Managing Director of Caribe Royale Resort and President of Boxlab Promotions. “This just further validates the fact that Orlando has become the capital of Championship Boxing in Florida and the entire Southeast!”

For more information, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @MostVPromotions, and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @JakePaul, @MostValuablePromotions, and @DAZNBoxing.

How to watch DAZN  

• Visit DAZN.com and follow the steps to sign up now
• Once signed up, download the DAZN app to watch on any device
• Go to the app store on your chosen device, search ‘DAZN’ and download the DAZN app  
• DAZN is available on your phone, tablet, smart TV, streaming devices such as Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and gaming consoles. 
• Connect multiple devices to your account to watch at home or on the go  

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP have produced Jake Paul’s last five global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Diaz match. The promotion company also signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About DAZN

DAZN is a leading digital sports platform in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, Canada, US and the UK.? Its wide range of exclusive content includes top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, LaLiga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world – Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC.? 

DAZN is the NFL’s global partner and, from the 2023 season, will be the only place for fans around the world to watch every NFL match through the NFL Game Pass International add-on subscription. DAZN is a global home for boxing and combat sports through its partnerships with Matchroom Boxing the Professional Fighters League, and a global home for Women’s Football with UEFA Women’s Champions League and Finetwork Liga F.? DAZN is adding more and more sport to its platform to create a destination for sports fans.?

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DAZN is reimagining the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, bet, play, share, socialize, and buy tickets, NFTs and merchandise. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN.?

DAZN is available on most connected devices including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles, ensuring that fans have access to a ground-breaking rights catalog and slate of incredible content. In the UK and globally, DAZN can be accessed on Samsung, LG, Sony and Panasonic Smart TVs and on Games Consoles including PlayStation and Xbox. Subscribers also have access to DAZN on their Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and Apple TV and can find the app on their iPhone, iPad, and android mobile devices. DAZN is available as an Amazon Channel on Amazon Prime TV and can be viewed on Channel 429 on Sky in the UK and Ireland.   

DAZN is a global, privately-owned company with employees in over 25 countries. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit?www.dazngroup.com.??

THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED middleweight collision between Hamzah Sheeraz and Liam Williams has got a new date and will take place on Saturday 10 February at London’s Copper Box Arena, live on TNT Sports.

Tickets for Sheeraz vs Williams are on sale at 12pm tomorrow (Friday 15 December) available from ticketmaster.co.uk.

The fight between the undefeated Sheeraz and former world title challenger Williams was originally set to go ahead in early December before Sheeraz suffered a perforated eardrum in training that forced the fight into 2024.

Now the fiercest test of the Ilford man’s professional career to date is back on and Sheeraz is already hard at work preparing over in Los Angeles, where he has been for the last week, with trainer Ricky Funez at the Ten Goose Boxing Gym.

During the recovery period of Sheeraz, Williams, 31, reminded us all that he has lost none of his old menaces by making more or less a minute’s work of Florin Cardos at York Hall at the end of November.

With a new date now booked in, festive celebrations for both men are now firmly put on hold.

“I am back in the flow of things now, grafting away,” reported 24-year-old Sheeraz. “Like I said last time, I think this is the perfect fight for me and it is not one that I can really take lightly. Hopefully, God willing, it will be a good camp and come February 10 I will get the job done in a good fashion and I will be a name that the middleweights start calling out and wanting to fight.

“Festivities are cancelled for me this year. Normally we do a little dinner and whatnot together with all the family because it is an excuse to do so. This will be the first time in my whole boxing career that I will have to grind through it. Sacrifice is nothing new to me and it is what you have to do to get to the top and go that extra mile to make it happen.”

To have a fight date confirmed, one that can reboot his middleweight prospects, Welshman Williams is happy to ditch the Christmas trimmings, even though with two children, he knows temptation will not be completely removed from his household.

“I am over the moon now the fight has been rescheduled,” said the KO-artist from Clydach Vale. “It is obviously not the best time with Christmas just around the corner now. With having kids it is going to be a little bit more difficult and there is gonna be a lot of food hanging about the house!

“There is obviously a lot on the line for me. It is a big opportunity with the belt we are fighting for and, realistically, I need to win if I want to get back onto that world title stage.”

Promoter Frank Warren added: “I really believe we are in for something very special at the Copper Box on February 10. It will be a classic collision of youth versus experience, a young fighter on the up against one looking to prove he still belongs.

“It provides a cracking fight to kick us off in 2024 a week before we head over to Riyadh for the big undisputed heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

“I believe Hamzah is destined to reach the very top, but he will be tested like never before against Liam. This is a fight not to be missed.”

Tickets for Sheeraz vs Williams on 10 February 2024 at the Copper Box Arena, Stratford go on sale at 12pm tomorrow (Friday 15 December) available from ticketmaster.co.uk.

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Copper Box Arena, managed by GLL, a charitable social enterprise and worker-owned cooperative, operating under the community-brand, Better.

Miami, FL (December 13, 2023 ) Peter Kahn, President of Fight Game Advisors, has announced today the signing of undefeated featherweight prospect John Laryea, (12-0-1, 10 KOs), from the boxing rich country of Ghana.

Ranked #15 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), the 23-year-old Laryea has already claimed victory in four bouts scheduled for twelve rounds. Most recently he defended the WBO African Featherweight Title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Gabriel Odoi Laryea (no relation) on October 7, 2023 at the famed Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, Ghana.

Additional recent victories for the hard-hitting Laryea include Solomon Martey (TKO-6), George Krampah (KO-2) and Sebastianus Natanael (TKO-4).

Stated Peter Kahn, “As I have said many times before, Ghana has such a rich boxing history not only in Africa, but in the entire world. I am very excited to be working with John Laryea and his team to guide John to the next level towards becoming a world champion.” 

In regards to the announcement, John Laryea said, “This news hit me so good and I can’t stop thinking about the day my coach and manager told me about the good news . I am very grateful to my manager Samuel Anim Addo and my coach Carl Lokko for changing my life as a professional boxer. It’s time for me to work harder so that I can become a world champion for Ghana.”

“I am looking forward to working with my team and Peter Kahn as I prepare to fight on the biggest stages in boxing. Still God is my Strength!”

Stated Samuel Anim Addo, “It is great to have Peter Kahn on board as we plan to move to the next level with the right partner of the John Laryea project. I am glad and honored to have Peter on board. I just want John to remember that ‘Everyday is Business’”

Continued Coach Carl Lokko about the partnership, “With the building up of John Laryea to the world stage, having Peter Kahn coming on to join the great team we already have will make us much stronger. With Peter onboard, John will have the opportunities to maximize his talents on the world stage.”

Kahn has a wealth of experience working with fighters from Ghana including the organizing of Emmanuel Tagoe’s fight with boxing superstar Ryan Garcia on April 9, 2022.

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Peter Kahn was the recipient of the prestigious 2022 Manager of the Year award from the Boxing Writers Association of America and was inducted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame in 2023.

A South Floridian since 1992, Kahn has been working in professional boxing for thirty years. Learning from the ground up, Kahn began as an amateur boxer in South Florida. His operational work with boxing icon Don King started in May of 1995 for the then biggest promotional company in the world. During this time, Kahn worked intimately on many memorable promotions featuring boxing superstars Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez, Felix Trinidad, Terry Norris, and Ricardo Lopez.

In 2003, Kahn joined startup boxing promotional company Warriors Boxing Promotions as Director of Boxing Operations. His work there included the signing of numerous world champions and producing  countless world championship fights including memorable battles for Hector Camacho and Michael Moorer. His success also included working with three-time, two-division world champion Randall Bailey, who Kahn went on to manage. 

As an acclaimed boxing manager, one of Kahn’s earliest clients was former IBF super featherweight world champion and now a renowned trainer of champions, Robert Garcia. Kahn has gone on to manage many world champions and top prospects over the last fifteen years. In 2021 and 2022, Kahn was the only manager in the history of boxing to guide undisputed male and female fighters simultaneously; lightweight George Kambosos Jr. and super middleweight Franchón Crews-Dezurn. Kahn is currently the manager of fast rising star, junior middleweight Xander Zayas and many other world ranked contenders and highly regarded prospects through his company Fight Game Advisors. 

Since 2017, Kahn has been a boxing contributor to Forbes and CBS Sportsline. Kahn is also the Associate Producer of Netflix Original Series Fightworld. 

MINNEAPOLIS – December 13, 2023 – Former world champion Alberto Puello will return to take on fellow unbeaten Ector Madera in an eight-round super lightweight showdown as they headline the SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN show this Saturday, December 16 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Armory in Minneapolis.

Action live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page will also feature middleweights Kyrone Davis and Cruse Stewart in an eight-round attraction, plus light heavyweight contender Lawrence King duels Alex Theran in a six-round fight. The streaming presentation will be hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show hosts Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell.

These fights precede a four-fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® telecast headlined by undefeated WBA Super Middleweight Champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. battling knockout artist Sena Agbeko and beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 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.

Puello (21-0, 10 KOs) will return to action for the first time since August 2022 when he captured the WBA Super Lightweight World Championship with a victory over Batyr Akhmedov. A native of San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic, Puello now resides and trains in Las Vegas. Pueloo first shot up the rankings in July 2019, when he bested the previously unbeaten Jonathan Alonso via unanimous decision to capture an interim title. He will return to The Armory in Minneapolis for the second time, after previously scoring a unanimous decision over hometown favorite Veshawn Owens in December 2021. He will face Bakersfield, California’s Madera (11-0, 6 KOs), who now resides in Stockton and who will step up in competition to challenge the former champion Puello. The 27-year-old has fought professionally since 2016, and has put together a pair of three-fight knockout streaks so far. He last fought in 2022, scoring victories over Timothy Parks in August and Alejandro Frias Rodriguez in December.

The 29-year-old Davis (17-3-1, 6 KOs) will look to pick up a second victory in 2023 after previously dominating Cristian Fabian Rios in January to earn a unanimous decision. That victory came after a run that saw Davis battle two-time champion Anthony Dirrell to a draw in February 2021, before stepping in as a late replacement two fights later to drop a hard-fought contest against super middleweight superstar David Benavidez. An amateur standout representing Wilmington, Delaware, Davis trains in Philadelphia under the tutelage of top trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards. He duels the Maple Grove, Minnesota resident Stewart (8-2, 6 KOs) who will look to bounce back from a pair of defeats to unbeaten rising contender Elijah Garcia and then-unbeaten Hakim Lopez in 2022. The 34-year-old turned pro in 2018 before reeling off eight-straight victories.

A native of San Bernardino, California, King (13-1, 11 KOs) is a frequent sparring partner of undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and enters this fight on a nine-bout winning streak. Since a narrow decision defeat in his fifth pro fight, the 27-year-old has stopped eight of his last nine opponents. King has already earned two victories in 2023, including most recently stopping veteran contender Marco Reyes after six rounds in June. He will be opposed by Colombia’s Theran (23-12, 15 KOs), who now trains in Lynn, Massachusetts. The 33-year-old turned pro in 2011 and has fought a slew of contenders including Anthony Yarde, Yunieski Gonzalez and Radivoje Kalajdzic.

Highlighting the non-televised undercard is talented junior middleweight contender Joey Spencer in a six-round bout against Argentina’s Marcelo Bzowski.

The non-televised undercard will also see exciting rising prospect Michael Angeletti (9-0, 7 KOs) step in for an eight-round super bantamweight bout against Mexico’s Angel Contreras (13-7-2, 7 KOs), unbeaten super middleweight Shawn McCalman (14-0, 7 KOs) facing Cristian Olivas (22-9, 19 KOs) in an eight-round duel and unbeaten super lightweight prospect Jose Chollet (2-0, 2 KOs) battling Lyle McFarlane (2-2, 1 KO) in a four-round matchup.

Rounding out the card is a pair of Mayweather Promotions rising prospects as unbeaten super middleweight John Easter steps in for a four-round fight against South Carolina’s Javier Frazier, while lightweight Charles Harris Jr. squares off against Minneapolis’ Marlin Sims in a six-round battle.

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ABOUT MORRELL VS. AGBEKO

Morrell vs. Agbeko will see undefeated WBA Super Middleweight Champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. battle knockout artist Sena Agbeko headlining action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, December 16 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Armory in Minneapolis.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and feature exciting contenders Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela in a 12-round WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator as they rematch in the co-main event. Plus, WBC Flyweight World Champion Julio Cesar Martinez defends his world title against unbeaten contender Angelino Cordova and all-action former world champions Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Andre Berto square off in a 10-round welterweight rematch in the telecast opener.

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

Los Angeles, CA (December 12, 2023) Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions has announced an outstanding battle added to the Saturday, January 27 event at the Commerce Casino featuring an eight-round light heavyweight clash between undefeated fighters; Umar Dzambekov, (8-0, 5 KO’s) of Los Angeles and Curtis Millender, (3-0, 2 KOs), of Placentia CA.

The January 27 event, broadcast globally on UFC FIGHT PASS, is headlined by the ten-round WBC Continental Americas Featherweight Championship between Undefeated Rising Star Omar Trinidad, (14-0-1, 11KO’s), of Boyle Heights, CA and Cross-Town Rival Jose ‘El Mudo’ Perez, (11-2-2, 5 KOs), of Oak Hills, CA.

Advance tickets priced at $250, $150, $100 and $80 can be purchased online at www.360Promotions.us. The Commerce Casino, ‘The World’s Largest Card Room and Site of the LA Poker Classic’, is located at 6131 Telegraph Road, Commerce, CA 90040. For more information and directions visit their website.

Stated Tom Loeffler, “Coming off an impressive win against tough veteran Frederic Julan at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on November 9, Umar Dzambekov is coming right back on January 27. He is in with another tough opponent, undefeated Curtis Millender. Millender is an experienced combat sports fighter and is coming to win this fight; this is a great addition to our first event kicking off the 2024 schedule at the Commerce Casino.”

Trained by Marvin Somodio at the famed Wild Card Boxing Gym in Hollywood, CA, the 26-year-old powerhouse Dzambekov starts his 2024 campaign following an exceptionally busy 2023 with six exciting victories. In addition to the eight-round unanimous decision over Julan, Dzambekov also defeated David Zegarra (KO-1), Kwame Ritter (UD-8), Crispulo Javier Andino (KO-3), Nathan Sharp (KO-3) and Anthony Fleming (KO-4).

The upset minded Millender returns to battle following an eight-round decision over hometown favorite Ryan Ford on May 26, 2023 in Alberta, Canada. His other two victories, both knockouts, came in Costa Mesa, CA over Kealil Kanekoa (April 27, 2023) and in his pro debut against John Mercurio (February 17, 2022). He also holds a professional MMA record of 21-9

Additional fights for the January 27th event will be announced shortly.

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LOS ANGELES, CA: (December 12, 2023): The undefeated, former World Champion Jaime Munguía (42-0, 33 KOs) hosted a media day in Los Angeles today ahead of his 12-round super middleweight clash against former Interim World Champion John “The Gorilla” Ryder (32-6, 18 KOs) of the U.K. The explosive fight night, which is presented in association with Zanfer Boxing and Matchroom Boxing, will take place at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, January 27 and broadcast worldwide on DAZN.

Here is what today’s participants had to say:
JAIME MUNGUÍA, FORMER WORLD CHAMPION:
“I am thankful to Golden Boy and to Zanfer for this opportunity. Ryder is a great opponent and I know that this fight will open many doors.”

“I am not desperate for a knockout of John Ryder. I feel like I have the capabilities and I am fully prepared and trained to knock him out. If it happens, it will happen naturally.”
FREDDIE ROACH, TRAINER TO JAIME MUNGUÍA:
“Jaime Munguía is a really good puncher. He trains really hard every day. He’s ready to go 12-rounds any day of the week.”
FERNANDO BELTRAN, CEO OF ZANFER BOXING:
“It’s been a ride with Jaime Munguía and I am really proud of him. He’s a very loyal kid, and very hard-working. It’s been a pleasure to work with him, and to be involved in his career has been a privilege.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF GOLDEN BOY:
“The future starts today. Jaime has a tough challenge ahead of him, and with the addition of Freddie Roach in his corner we hope that he can do the job that Canelo couldn’t. We are very proud of Jaime Munguía and we expect a great 2024 for him.”

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Munguía vs. Ryder is a 12-round fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Matchroom Boxing. The event will be available worldwide to all subscribers on DAZN, both live and on demand.

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 #GarciaDuarte

NEW YORK, NY (December 12, 2023) DiBella Entertainment is thrilled to congratulate both Miyo Yoshida and Amanda Galle on becoming world champions over the weekend.

On Saturday, Miyo Yoshida seized the IBF Bantamweight World Title with a unanimous decision victory against Australian Ebanie Bridges at the Chase Center, in San Francisco, CA, live on DAZN Pay-Per-View, as part of the Haney-Prograis undercard. Taking the bout on short notice as a late replacement opponent, oddsmakers had Yoshida, of Kagoshima, Japan, as a 7-1 underdog. With her eight-year-old daughter watching from ringside, Yoshida outworked Bridges over 10 entertaining rounds, often finding a home for her overhand right. After a hard-fought battle by both fighters, the scorecards read 99-91 twice, and 97-93, all for Yoshida. With the win, Yoshida, 17-4, is now a three-time, two-division world champion. She previously held the WBO Super Flyweight World Title twice.

“Ebanie Bridges was a great champion and it was a very tough fight,” said Yoshida. “I really want to say it is thanks to Lou and DiBella Entertainment that I was able to become a world champion again after only one year in the United States. I am very grateful to all of them. Coming in as a late replacement, we only had about two weeks to train for this title match. However, I joined with Team Sosa and I believe that my victory was made possible thanks to the support of the entire team.”

“I am so proud of Miyo,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “What an epic performance to win a third world title. A thrill for a hard-working, dedicated, single mom to realize this dream in front of her little girl! Miyo is a warrior and she beat a warrior. I am so happy for one of the nicest people in boxing.”

Photo Credit: Jeff Lockhart Photo

On Sunday, Amanda Galle, of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, defeated Niorkis Carreno, of Trujillo, Venezuela, to capture the IBO Bantamweight World Title. The two fought at Rebel Entertainment Complex in Toronto, with Galle winning by unanimous decision via tallies of 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94. The event was promoted by Lee Baxter Promotions, who co-promotes Galle with DiBella Entertainment. Galle, now 9-0-1 (1 KO), used her footwork, angles and speed to outbox the experienced Carreno, 24-4 (19 KOs), who was a three-time world title challenger entering the bout.

“I’m on a mission to be what I am destined to be. On Sunday, I became the new IBO World Bantamweight Champion,” said Galle. “The ultimate goal for me is being the undisputed bantamweight world champion. I am made for this. I am now reaping the rewards for all of my dedication and hard work in boxing for the past 16 years. Everything beforehand prepared me for this moment and whatever is to come ahead.”

“I knew when I signed Amanda to a co-promotional deal with Lee Baxter that she had the potential to become a world champion and I am thrilled to see her achieve her dream,” said DiBella. “She worked incredibly hard to reach this moment in her career and there are even bigger hurdles to overcome that I know she’ll be prepared for. Amanda Galle is one of the best fighters at bantamweight and she is ready to take on the division’s elite.”

On the undercard in Toronto, world ranked super lightweight contender Jessica Camara, of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, earned a dominant victory against Mexican Estafania Orozco Oliva. Stopping Oliva at the 1:18 mark of the fourth round, Camara improved to 12-4, with 3 KOs. Camara is rated #1 by the WBC and #7 by the WBO. In 2021, she challenged Kali Reis for the unified WBA/WBO/IBO Super Lightweight World Championship, losing a very close split decision.

DiBella Entertainment

Instagram: @DiBellaEnt

Twitter: @LouDiBella, @DiBellaEnt

Facebook: @DiBellaEntertainment

LOS ANGELES (December 12, 2023) – Back on October 21st, undefeated super flyweight John “Scrappy” Ramirez, after waiting 10-plus months to fight in a World Boxing Association (WBA) title eliminator, the pride of South Central Los Angeles destroyed his Panamanian opponent, Ronal Batista (15-3, 9 KOs), dropping him twice to close the DAZN show in the fourth and final round.

The 27-year-old Ramirez, who was ranked No. 2 (No. 1 was unrated) and matched against No. 7 Batista, automatically became the No. 1-ranked, mandatory challenger for WBA Super Flyweight World Champion Kazuto Ioka (30-2-1, 15 KOs), of Japan, who last June dethroned defending world champion Joshua Franco (116-112 twice and 115-113) in a rematch of their previous draw.

“Nothing is promised in this business, so I’m not sitting around waiting,” Ramirez said. “I continue working hard because I believe in me and my team. If this fight (vs. Ioka) isn’t happening right away, my team will get me in a good fight. I’ve got to move on. I’ll just beat the next guy and I’ll still be the mandatory contender. I’ll be even better learning, getting more experience and I can redefine my skill set. And he’s (Ioka) getting older and I’m still young.”

An electrifying fighter of Belizean and Honduran descent, rising star Ramirez has patiently waited to learn about his impending world title shot. Ioka has until one year after he won the title (June 24, 2023) to make a mandatory defense, but reports spread quickly after Ioka’s his last fight that his next fight would be against lineal and World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Flyweight World Champion Juan Francisco Estrada (44-3, 28 KOs) in a title unification match on New Year’s Eve in Ioka’s hometown of Tokyo. Negotiations stalled for the Ioka-Estrada unification showdown and collapsed. It was recently announced that Ioka will fight on New Year’s Eve in Japan for the 12th time, not against Estrada, but versus Josber Perez (20-3, 18 KOs), of Venezuela, the WBA’s No. 8 world rated super flyweight.

Meanwhile, “Scrappy” Ramirez has stayed in top condition training with and sparring Regis Prograis (29-2, 24 KOs) at Brickhouse Boxing Club in N. Hollywood, California. Prograis was preparing for his title defense last Saturday against Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) in San Francisco. Since his last fight “Scrappy” has also cracked The Ring magazine’s independent ratings at No. 10.

“I worked with Regis who was getting ready for his fight with Haney,” Ramirez noted. “That’s what I’ve been doing, going to different training camps, when I’m free. I get more knowledge working at different training camps, learning other ways to train, working in different cultures. No vacations for me. I’ll go on to the next camp with a different fighter who has a big fight. Doing what I do keeps it fun for me and I keep learning.”

It’s Scrapp Time! Ramirez is ready, willing, and able to fight Ioka anytime the reigning champion wants, even in Tokyo, if the offered deal makes sense.

Ioka has won seven of his last eight fights (7-0-1) since his last loss on December 31, 2018 in Macau, when he lost a 12-round split decision to WBO Super Flyweight World Champion Donnie Nietes (41-1-5), which Ioka avenged in their July 13, 2022 rematch, in which Toka took a 12-round unanimous decision in Tokyo to be crowned WBO world champion.

“I’ll fight him in Japan, on the moon…..anywhere he wants,” Ramirez added. “I AM READY NOW, it’s Scrapp Time! My time will come.”

In addition to defeating Franco and Nietes, Ioka has defeated Francisco Rodriguez, Jr. (34-4-1) and McWilliams Arroyo (17-3), respectively, by way of 12 and 10-round unanimous decisions, as well as knocking out current No. 2 WBA contender Kosei Tanaka (15-0) and Aston Palicte (25-2-1).

Having fought outside of his native Japan only three times — Philippines, China and in Inglewood, California – it’s a safe bet that Ioka will insist on defending his title in his native Japan.

“Scrappy” Ramirez works with 3 Point Management (3 PM), a rising Los Angeles-based managerial company that has a growing stable of gifted boxers, including former world super middleweight champion and current WBA cruiserweight mandatory challenger Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (45-1, 30 KOs), WBA Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Champion Kareem Hackett (12-0, 6 KOs), super middleweights Darius “DFG” Fulghum (9-0, 9 KOs), Cem “Champ” Kilic (17-1, 11 KOs), and heavyweight Zach Spiller (4-0, 3 KOs).

INFORMATION:

Facebook: /JohnRamirez

Instagram: @Scrappyboxing

(Dec. 12, 2023) — Italian featherweight Francesco Grandelli returns against unbeaten Belgian Stefan Voda in the 12-round main event this Saturday, Dec. 16 at Palasport Le Cupole in Turin, Italy. 

In the eight-round junior welterweight co-feature, Spanish contender Sandor Martin takes on Belgium’s Mohamed El Marcouchi.

Grandelli-Voda, Martin-Marcouchi and additional undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT.

Grandelli (17-2-2, 3 KOs) began his pro career with a decision win over Marco Iuculano in May 2015. He experienced an early draw in his fourth fight and suffered his first loss in his sixth fight before scoring 11 straight wins ahead of a split draw against Mauro Forte. Following a decision win over Kane Baker, Grandelli suffered a first-round stoppage loss in a rematch with Forte in May. He bounced back with a six-round decision win over Emiliano Salvini in July. Voda (14-0, 5 KOs) is a five-year pro who has spent his entire pro career fighting in his homeland. The unbeaten 30-year-old returns after a unanimous decision win against Maicol Velazco in April.

Martin (41-3, 14 KOs) authored the 2021 Upset of the Year when he stunned Mikey Garcia by majority decision and sent the four-weight world champion into retirement. Martin, who hails from Barcelona, Spain, followed up the Garcia triumph with a 10-round unanimous decision over Jose Felix last April. He suffered a split decision loss against Teofimo Lopez last December, but bounced back with a sixth-round knockout win against Arblin Kaba in July. El Marcouchi (29-3, 12 KOs) heads to this contest following a second-round knockout against Giorgi Gviniashvili in May.

In other ESPN+ streaming bouts:

• Maxim Prodan (21-2-1, 16 KOs) will fight in an eight-round welterweight clash against Argentina’s Miguel Cesario Antin (20-12-1, 8 KO). Prodan, a Ukrainian-born warrior residing in Italy, is coming off a second-round knockout win over Mirko Marchetti in March.
   
• Italian southpaw Biagio Grimaldi (5-1, 3 KOs) looks to avenge his defeat against Darwin El Badaouy (2-2-1, 1 KO) in an eight-round lightweight rematch. Badaouy defeated Grimaldi via decision in March. 

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