NEW YORK – October 15, 2019 – Six talented prospects with a combined overall record of 65-1 will make their ShoBox: The New Generation debuts on Friday, November 15 live on SHOWTIME at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT from WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa.

Undefeated welterweight prospect Erik Vega Ortiz (16-0, 9 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico will face 2016 Olympian and decorated amateur Alberto Palmetta (12-1, 8 KOs) of Argentina in the 10-round main event. Hard-hitting Marcos Escudero (10-0, 9 KOs), also of Argentina, will take on Houston’s Joseph George (9-0, 6 KOs) in the 10-round light heavyweight co-featured bout. In the telecast opener, Uruguayan knockout artist Amilcar Vidal (9-0, 8 KOs) will fight for the first time in the U.S. when he meets Zach Prieto (9-0, 7 KOs) of El Paso, Texas, in an eight-round middleweight bout.

The event is promoted by Sampson Boxing in association with Paco Presents. Tickets, starting at $10, are on sale now and available at www.WinnaVegas.com.

“We can’t wait to see what these future champions show us in their debuts on ShoBox: The New Generation, a series that has built so many careers and champions,” said promoter Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “These are very important fights for all six of these boxers’ young careers and another step toward them graduating from prospects to contenders.”

In the main event, the 23-year-old Vega Ortiz will bring an all-out, pressure style similar to many of his fellow countrymen of Mexico. Ortiz started boxing at age seven and ended his career at an impressive 45-2 amateur record. He trains at the Gimnasio CREA gym in Tijuana and graduated this year with honors in Business Administration from the university Autónoma de Baja California. The 24-year-old will make his U.S. debut in his first true test after building his undefeated record against mostly limited opposition in Mexico.

“Boxing fans will want to tune in November 15 to witness a classic rivalry between Mexico and Argentina,” Vega Ortiz said. “We know what we are facing in Alberto Palmetta. He is a well-rounded boxer with a great amateur career and an ex-Olympian. But, at the end of the day, that doesn’t matter to me. These are the types of challenges I like and I am looking forward to pleasing my fans.”

Olympian Palmetta came out of the amateur ranks billed as one of the top prospects in Argentina’s boxing history. Palmetta started boxing at age 14 and competed in 112 amateur fights, winning numerous national and international distinctions including the bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada. He was the captain of the Argentinean national team and was considered a top-10 prospect in the world at his weight before he turned pro.

The 29-year-old southpaw’s only pro loss came against then-10-1 Argentinian Gonzalo Gaston Coria. His last two fights took place in Charlotte, N.C. Palmetta is co-promoted by former world champion Sergio Martinez of Maravillabox Promotions and Sampson Boxing.

“My fist goal in boxing was to be an Olympian boxer, and my second was to become champion of the world,” Palmetto said. “This is the first step on my way to realizing my dream of becoming a world champion. Great effort brings great achievements.”

The co-featured bout features the 26-year-old hard-hitting Escudero from Cordoba, Argentina, who is riding a six-fight knockout streak. As an amateur, he competed nationally and internationally, including becoming a national champion in Argentina in 2014 and representing his country in the Pan-Am Games in 2015. He finished the unpaid ranks with a respectable 60-5 record. In just his second year as a professional, Escudero has already won the WBC Latin Silver Light Heavyweight Championship. He is currently living and training in Miami and managed by Gardner Payne of Payne Boxing.

“Throw me to the wolves and I’ll return leading the pack,” Escudero said. “The time has come for me to shine. Thank you to my team and my promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, for this opportunity. I will not disappoint.”

Escudero will have his hands full with Houston’s George, a former high school basketball star who started boxing at age 19. Managed by Washington Redskins Pro Bowl lineman Trent Williams and trained by former NFL All Pro running back Adrian Peterson and James Cooper, George went 76-5 as an amateur and was the National Golden Gloves champion in 2015 at 178 pounds. He also placed third in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.

The 6-foot-2 George will face his toughest test as a pro against Escudero. “I know very little about my opponent, except that he is a puncher against limited opposition,” George said. “Training is going great. I have been on weight for quite some time now because I really fight at 168 pounds, but I believe my skill set is enough that fighting at 175 is not a problem at all. I train with one of the best trainers in the world in James Cooper. Coop has gone over a game plan and I will execute it to a T.”

In the telecast opener, Uruguayan power-puncher Vidal is currently living and training in Coachella, Calif., and fighting for the first time in the U.S. As an amateur, he suffered just one loss in 59 fights. Vidal is trained by his brother Richard Vidal and Freddy Fundora in Coachella and spars with Freddy’s son Sebastian Fundora, a current undefeated welterweight who has appeared twice on ShoBox.

“I’m very focused and at the same time excited to be performing in the U.S. for the first time,” Vidal said. “Coming from my home country Uruguay, it was always a dream to fight in America. That’s now turning into a reality on November 15.”

Prieto, who fought last on October 5 in Vado, N.M., had a reported 70 amateur fights going 50-20. He started boxing at age 11 and is known for his aggressive style and power. He fought current WBA super lightweight champion Regis Prograis to two split decisions in the amateurs. A 2011 New Mexico Golden Gloves silver medalist, Prieto has trained with former WBA super welterweight champion Austin Trout and was a Texas Junior Olympic State Champion.

“I have worked a long time hoping for an opportunity like this to come along,” Prieto said. “From what I have seen of my opponent, he is strong and it is going to take a lot of strategy to beat him. He is someone that is going to take more than overpowering to defeat. A victory would mean another step down the road for me in mastering my craft and being able to step up and fight anyone they put me against.”

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For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, #ShoBox, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports.

About ShoBox: The New Generation

Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 80 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

Las Vegas – UFC®’s final Pay-Per-View event of 2019 will feature three blockbuster world championship bouts. In a highly anticipated welterweight championship grudge match, Kamaru Usman defends against No. 2 ranked contender Colby Covington. Featherweight champion and No. 7 ranked pound-for-pound fighter Max Holloway will go for his fourth successful defense against powerhouse No. 1 contender Alexander Volkanovski. Women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion, as well as No. 5 ranked pound-for-pound fighter, Amanda Nunes looks to continue building her historic legacy as she puts her 135-pound belt on the line in a rematch with former women’s featherweight titleholder and No. 1 ranked bantamweight Germaine de Randamie.

UFC® 245: USMAN vs. COVINGTON will take place Saturday, Dec. 14 at T-Mobile Arena and will stream live nationally on Pay-Per-View, exclusively through ESPN+ in the U.S. at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT in both English and Spanish.

ESPN+ is the exclusive provider of all UFC Pay-Per-View events to fans in the U.S. as part of an agreement announced in March and continuing through 2025.

As UFC® 245: USMAN vs. COVINGTON approaches, fans will be able to purchase it online at ESPNPlus.com/PPV or on the ESPN App on mobile and connected-TV devices. ESPN+ is available as an integrated part of the ESPN App on all major mobile and connected TV devices and platforms, including Amazon Fire, Apple, Android, Chromecast, PS4, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, X Box One and more.

Preliminary fights will air nationally in English on ESPN2 and on ESPN Deportes (in Spanish) starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with the early prelims simulcast on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Winner of The Ultimate Fighter season 21, Usman (15-1, fighting out of Dallas, Tx. by way of Auchi, Nigeria) is unbeaten since joining the UFC roster in 2015. He ascended the 170-pound ranks with impressive wins against Rafael Dos Anjos, Demian Maia and Leon Edwards, and his last outing saw him dominate Tyron Woodley to capture the welterweight championship in March. Usman now looks to take out his most heated rival to earn his first successful title defense.

Former UFC interim welterweight champion Covington (15-1, fighting out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) is poised to prove he’s the best in the world at 170 pounds. Currently riding a seven-fight win streak, the NCAA Division I All-American wrestler has netted big victories over Dos Anjos, Maia and Dong Hyun Kim, but Covington secured his most impressive win to date in his last outing against former champion Robbie Lawler in August. He now aims to settle the score with Usman and take home the welterweight championship.

Among the most dominant champions on the UFC roster, Holloway (21-4, fighting out of Waianae, Hawaii) has beaten the who’s who of the featherweight division. Over the course of his career, he’s scored dominant wins over former UFC title holders Frankie Edgar, Jose Aldo (twice) and Anthony Pettis, as well as top contender Brian Ortega. The Hawaiian now looks to take out one of the division’s most dangerous contenders for his fourth successful title defense.

Unbeaten for over six years, Volkanovski (20-1, fighting out of Windang, New South Wales, Australia) aims to be the next Australian athlete to capture a world championship. The former rugby player has been on a tear since joining the UFC roster in late 2016, securing impressive victories over Aldo, Chad Mendes, Darren Elkins, Jeremy Kennedy and Mizuto Hirota. Volkanovski now has his sights on dethroning Holloway to hand the Hawaiian his first featherweight loss since 2013.

The greatest women’s fighter in mixed martial arts history, Nunes (18-4, fighting out of Coral Springs, Fla. by way of Bahia, Brazil) won her first encounter with De Randamie via TKO in 2013. Her resume also includes first-round stoppage wins over former bantamweight champions Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate and Holly Holm. Nunes also became the first female two-division titleholder in UFC history last December with a 51-second KO victory against Cris Cyborg. She now hopes to etch her fifth bantamweight title defense in dominant fashion.

Former UFC featherweight champion De Randamie (9-3, fighting out of Utrecht, The Netherlands) is gunning for a measure of revenge against Nunes. Since that loss, she has won five straight with dominant victories over Raquel Pennington, Holly Holm and Larissa Pacheco. In July, De Randamie delivered a spectacular 16-second TKO win against Aspen Ladd. She now aims to become the second woman to win UFC championships in two divisions by handing Nunes her first loss in over five years.

Additional bouts on the card include:

Perennial fan favorite Matt Brown (23-16, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) returns against dangerous Ben Saunders (22-12, fighting out of Orlando, Fla.) in an exciting welterweight bout
Recent flyweight title challenger and No. 2 ranked contender Jessica Eye (14-7, fighting out of Cleveland, Oh.) takes on rising No. 6 Viviane Araujo (8-1, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil)
In a clash of flyweight contenders, No. 6 ranked Brandon Moreno (14-5-1, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) faces No. 7 Kai Kara France (20-7-1, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand)
Undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series signee Punahele Soriano (6-0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) debuts against Oskar Piechota (11-2-1, fighting out of Gdynia, Poland)

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

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

Tickets for UFC® 245: USMAN vs. COVINGTON go on sale Friday, Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. PT. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.axs.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Oct. 17 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

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About UFC®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 300 million fans and 70 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly one billion TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 60 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR. UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

About T-Mobile Arena

T-Mobile Arena, the 20,000-seat venue located on the Las Vegas Strip between Park MGM and New York-New York, opened April 6, 2016. The arena hosts more than 100 events annually including major headline entertainment, awards shows, UFC, boxing, basketball and other sporting events, family shows and special events. T-Mobile Arena also is the home of the Vegas Golden Knights, a National Hockey League expansion team and the city’s first professional sports team. The city’s newest landmark, recently named the No. 1 venue on Billboard Magazine’s 2018 Arena Power List as well as the “Best New Major Concert Venue” by Pollstar Magazine, features 50 luxury suites, more than two dozen private loge boxes, complete broadcast facilities, and other specially designed exclusive hospitality offerings and fan amenities destined to create a guest experience second to none. Toshiba Plaza, an adjacent two-acre outdoor entertainment space, features performance stages, a variety of video screens and other interactive content and display areas. Industry-leading architect Populous designed T-Mobile Arena to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s standards for LEED® Gold Certification. T-Mobile Arena is a privately funded joint venture between AEG and MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). For more information, visit T-MobileArena.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. It reached 2 million subscribers in less than a year and offers fans thousands of live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, along with premium editorial content.

Programming on ESPN+ includes hundreds of MLB and NHL games, exclusive UFC, Top Rank boxing and PFL fights and events, top domestic and international soccer (Serie A, MLS, FA Cup, UEFA Nations League, EFL Championship, EFL Carabao Cup, Eredivisie, and more), thousands of college sports events (including football, basketball and other sports), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby and cricket, new and exclusive series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films. Fans can sign up for ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and can cancel at any time.

ESPN+ is available as an integrated part of the ESPN App (on mobile and connected devices) and ESPN.com. They are the industry-leading all-in-one digital sports platform, delivering a rich, personalized experience to tens of millions of fans every month.

About ESPN

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

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 15, 2019) — Two of boxing’s foremost action stars are set to light up the Las Vegas Strip for a Thanksgiving Weekend fistic bash Saturday, November 30 at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

In the main event, former featherweight world champion Oscar Valdez will make his long-awaited super featherweight debut in a 10-rounder against former world title challenger Andres “Jaguarcito” Gutierrez.

The co-feature will see the fighting pride of Belfast, former two-division world champion Carl “The Jackal” Frampton, take on the unbeaten Tyler “The Golden Child” McCreary a 10-round super featherweight contest (128-pound catchweight).

Valdez-Gutierrez and Frampton-McCreary will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+, the leading multi-sport streaming service, starting at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The undercard will stream on ESPN+ beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Queensberry Promotions and MTK Global, tickets priced at $100, $85, $65, $45 and $20 (general admission) go on sale Friday, October 18, at 10 a.m. PT and are available online at www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com or through Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000.

“This a tremendous super featherweight doubleheader, and both Valdez and Frampton have their hands full against tough opponents,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “If Valdez and Frampton win, world title opportunities await them in 2020.”

‘I’m looking forward to November 30, as it’s my first fight as a super featherweight,” Valdez said. “I know my opponent is tough, but I plan on putting on a show for the fans. This is my third camp with Eddy Reynoso, and it’s going great. This is an important first step towards another world title, and I plan to make the most of it. Don’t miss it!”

“I am going to take full advantage of this opportunity,” Gutierrez said. “I hope Valdez is prepared for a super featherweight war. I’m now training in Las Vegas with the professor, Ismael Salas, and ‘Memo’ Heredia. Boxing fans, get ready for a true Mexican-style battle!”

Valdez (26-0, 20 KOs) made six successful defenses of his WBO featherweight world title, a reign highlighted by all-action brawls against Miguel Marriaga, Scott Quigg and Genesis Servania. A two-time Mexican Olympian, Valdez is seeking new challenges in a weight class loaded with premier talent. He closed out his featherweight world title reign with a pair of wins over then-unbeaten foes earlier this year, knocking out Carmine Tommasone in February and scoring a unanimous decision over Jason Sanchez in June. Valdez is 6-0 with six knockouts when fighting in Las Vegas and is looking for lucky number seven. Gutierrez (38-2-1, 25 KOs) has won three consecutive fights since dropping a technical decision to Abner Mares in October 2017 for the WBA featherweight world title. He last fought June 22 in San Juan del Río, Mexico, decisioning former world champion Tomas Rojas over 12 rounds.

Frampton (26-2, 15 KOs), a former super bantamweight and featherweight world champion, is ready to make his 2019 debut. He last fought December 2018 in Manchester, England, losing by unanimous decision to IBF world champion Josh Warrington in a Fight of the Year contender. He was scheduled to fight August 10 in Philadelphia against Emmanuel Dominguez but was forced to drop out the week of the fight after a concrete pillar fell on his hand at the fight hotel. Frampton is making his first appearance in Las Vegas since January 2017, when thousands of Northern Irish fans made the trip across the pond for his rematch against Leo Santa Cruz. One of his nation’s most decorated fighters, Frampton holds victories over Santa Cruz, Quigg, Nonito Donaire and Kiko Martinez.

McCreary (16-0-1, 7 KOs), from Toledo, Ohio, is a five-year pro who, at 26 years of age, is entering the prime of his career. In his last fight, July 19 in Oxon Hill, Maryland, he overcame a stiff challenge from Jessie Cris Rosales to prevail via eight-round split decision. In search of a signature win, McCreary will take a quantum leap in class, but he is confident that his youth and athleticism will prevail.

“I’m delighted to be making a comeback after what has been a horrific year in my career,” Frampton said. “I didn’t get the Top Rank deal off to an ideal start, but coming back in Vegas is great for me, especially against a really strong opponent. It needed to be someone who would test me. It’s what I want, it’s what ESPN wants, what MTK Global wants and what Top Rank wants, so I’m 100 percent confident it’s the right move for me. McCreary is a quality opponent, but if I want to be competing against the top guys in the world, which I believe I can, then I need to be beating guys like him and doing it in style.”

“I’m delighted we’ve got Carl out again before the end of the year,” said Frank Warren, Frampton’s co-promoter. “He had a tough time of it in August with the freak injury, which meant he couldn’t fight as planned. In this fight against McCreary, I believe Carl will prove that he is still an elite fighter and will be fighting for world titles again before long.”

“It’s a big step up for me, but I feel that I’m ready for it,” McCreary said. “It’s an opportunity I couldn’t turn down, and I feel that every fight is a risk. This is one where, if anything, I would love to risk my undefeated record against a fighter like Frampton. A win here means a world title shot next.

“I was in the gym training for my October 26 fight and my trainer {Lamar Wright} said we got a call that Carl Frampton was looking for a fight. They didn’t have anyone, and I said, ‘I’ll take it.’ I didn’t hesitate.”

Use the hashtags #ValdezGutierrez and #FramptonMcCreary to join the conversation on social media.

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

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. It reached 2 million subscribers in less than a year and offers fans thousands of live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, along with premium editorial content.

Programming on ESPN+ includes hundreds of MLB and NHL games, exclusive UFC, Top Rank boxing and PFL fights and events, top domestic and international soccer (Serie A, MLS, FA Cup, UEFA Nations League, EFL Championship, EFL Carabao Cup, Eredivisie, and more), thousands of college sports events (including football, basketball and other sports), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby and cricket, new and exclusive series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films. Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and can cancel at any time.

ESPN+ is available as an integrated part of the ESPN App (on mobile and connected devices) and ESPN.com.

About The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is a unique luxury resort and casino that offers a decidedly different perspective. Located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, The Cosmopolitan’s distinct vertical multi-tower design features more than 3,000 guestrooms with residential living spaces, private terraces and breathtaking views of the city skyline. Luxury amenities include a premier lineup of world-class culinary experiences; an intriguing mix of bars, nightclubs and entertainment venues; 100,000-square-foot-casino; award-winning spa, salon and fitness center; unrivaled pool district and an eclectic line-up of hand-selected boutiques. For more information visit: www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

NEW YORK CITY (Oct. 14, 2019) — Boxing’s pound-for-pound boogeyman is ready to battle the machine.

Terence “Bud” Crawford will defend his WBO welterweight world title against undefeated mandatory challenger Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas Saturday, December 14 at Madison Square Garden as part of a special ESPN-televised tripleheader that will immediately follow the 2019 Heisman Trophy Presentation (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). ESPN Deportes will provide the Spanish-language telecast.

The triple-header on ESPN and ESPN Deportes will also feature IBF lightweight world champion Richard “RC” Commey defending his title against human highlight film and Brooklyn native Teofimo Lopez. Additionally, in the 10-round featherweight special attraction, Irish sensation and New York fan favorite Michael “Mick” Conlan will battle unbeaten Russian Vladimir Nikitin in a rematch of their highly controversial 2016 Olympic quarterfinal bout.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment and MTK Global, tickets priced at $506, $306, $206, $106 and $56 (not including applicable fees) go on sale Friday, October 18 at 12 p.m. ET and can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.MSG.com.

The undercard, with fights to be announced in the coming weeks, will stream exclusively on ESPN+, the leading multi-sport streaming service, starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

“This is the best fight card of the year, and Madison Square Garden is a fitting venue for what will be a special night,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Terence Crawford is a generational talent, but he’ll have his hands full against the ‘Mean Machine.’ Teofimo Lopez is taking a giant step up against Commey, and it will be a tremendous fight. Mick Conlan has been asking for Nikitin since the day he signed with Top Rank. He finally gets his wish, and I know he wants to correct the tremendous injustice of the Rio Olympics.”

“Egidijus Kavaliauskas is a two-time Olympian and I can’t take him lightly,” Crawford said. “He’s got everything to gain and nothing to lose and that makes him dangerous. I never overlook any opponent, and this will be no exception. I’ll be ready for anything and everything he brings on December 14 when I return to my second home, Madison Square Garden, and live on ESPN.” 

“I have prepared my whole boxing career for a fight of this magnitude,” Kavaliauskas said. “Terence Crawford is an excellent fighter, but I fear no man. Nobody has seen the best of the ‘Mean Machine’ yet. I am going to shock a lot of people on December 14, but it won’t be a surprise to me. I earned this title shot. It is my time.”

Crawford (35-0, 26 KOs), the pride of Omaha, Nebraska, has been impeccable since turning professional, winning world titles in three weight classes and unifying all four major world titles at super lightweight. He is 13-0 with 10 knockouts in world title bouts and has knocked out his last six opponents, including Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz, bitter rival Jose Benavidez Jr. and Manny Pacquiao conqueror Jeff “The Hornet” Horn. In his last bout, April 20 at Madison Square Garden, Crawford neutralized former unified super lightweight world champion Amir “King” Khan en route to a sixth-round TKO after Khan could not continue following a low blow. Kavaliauskas (21-0-1, 17 KOs) will be the fourth undefeated fighter Crawford has faced in his last five bouts.

A native of Kaunas, Lithuania, Kavaliauskas represented his homeland at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, rising the professional ranks with convincing victories over perennial contenders Juan Carlos Abreu and Roberto Arriaza. Kavaliauskas has a February 2018 TKO win over David Avanesyan, who is now the current European welterweight champion. He has never been knocked down as a pro or amateur and trains out of the famed Boxing Laboratory in Oxnard, California.

Commey (29-2, 24 KOs) has had a career year, winning the vacant IBF lightweight title February 2 in Frisco, Texas with a devastating second-round TKO over Isa Chaniev. He defended the belt June 29, knocking down former lightweight world champion Ray Beltran down four times before stopping him in the eighth round. A native of, Accra, Ghana, he has won four in a row by knockout.

Lopez (14-0, 11 KOs), at 22 years old, is one of boxing’s budding superstars a big-punching, big-talking fighter who has become the sport’s latest viral sensation. His post-fight Fortnite celebrations and backflips are the exclamation point to his highlight-reel knockouts. He fought last year on the post-Heisman Trophy celebration telecast, knocking out Mason Menard in 44 seconds and then putting on the jersey of Heisman winner Kyler Murray. Lopez is 3-0 in 2019, most recently prevailing via 12-round decision July 19 over Japanese veteran Masayoshi Nakatani in a title eliminator.

“I’m very excited to fight at the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden, in my second world title defense against Teofimo Lopez,” Commey said. “My lifelong dream of becoming a world champion became a reality through many years of hard work in my homeland of Ghana through the UK, Europe and finally in the United States. I want to thank everyone on my team for making this possible. On December 14, I will put on another spectacular performance in defending my world title for my fans in the arena and those watching on ESPN and around the world.”

“Richard has fought all over the world for many years to achieve his lifelong dream of not only becoming a true world champion, but also becoming a boxing star, and on December 14 against Teofimo Lopez, I believe that he will successfully defend his title for the second time in spectacular fashion,” said Lou DiBella, Commey’s promoter.

“I’m finally back at Madison Square Garden, the place where I always wanted to win my first world title,” Lopez said. “I believe this fight will shut up all of the critics and prove to everyone that I back up my talking in the ring. I respect Commey as a champion, but when we’re in that ring, it’s going to be lights out for him. Come December 14, I am officially taking over the lightweight division.”

Conlan (12-0, 7 KOs), who is ranked in the top 10 as a featherweight by three of the major sanctioning organizations, is looking to avenge the final, and most controversial loss, of his amateur career. With a semifinal berth — and a guaranteed Olympic medal — on the line, Nikitin was the beneficiary of a decision most experts believe Conlan deserved. The indelible image of the Rio Olympics was Conlan’s double middle-finger salute to the judges. Conlan’s disappointment motivated him for what has been a flawless professional campaign. A proven ticket-seller at Madison Square Garden thanks to his annual St. Patrick’s Day appearances, Conlan is coming off a rousing TKO win over Diego Alberto Ruiz on August 3 in front of 10,000 hometown fans at Belfast’s Falls Park.

Nikitin (3-0, 0 KOs) did not turn pro immediately following the 2016 Olympics, electing to fight as an amateur throughout 2017. He signed a professional contract in 2018 with Top Rank, in large part because he wanted to face Conlan as a pro. Nikitin’s come-forward style has translated to the pro ranks, as he’s won a trio of decisions. He has fought on the same card as Conlan twice as a professional. The message was clear: Conlan and Nikitin were destined to meet again. They were supposed to fight August 3 at Falls Park, but Nikitin suffered a torn biceps in training.

“I’m beyond excited to fight for the sixth time in my favorite venue in the world, the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden,” Conlan said. “The boxing fans in New York City have been incredibly supportive of my career, and I look forward to putting on another great show for them, as well as my Irish fans coming over for this massive holiday event.

“Vladimir Nikitin and I have unfinished business from the 2016 Olympics, and I can’t wait until December 14 to set the record straight.”

“Michael Conlan has done a lot of talking about me and our Olympic fight over the last few years. The talking finally ends December 14,” Nikitin said. “He’s bitter over our last fight and can’t accept the result. Well, my hand will be raised once again.”

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

Use the hashtags #CrawfordMachine, #CommeyLopez and #ConlanNikitin to join the conversation on social media.

ORANGE, Calif. (Oct. 14, 2019) – Welterweight prospect Angel Ruiz (16-0, 12 KOs), fresh off a first round knockout win in his main event debut from June, steps back into the main event attraction this Friday, Oct. 18, in Thompson Boxing’s “Path to Glory” show from the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif.

Ruiz, 22, faces fellow southpaw Javier Flores (14-2, 12 KOs) in the 8-round showcase fight. The Mexican-born Ruiz, who now lives in Los Angeles and trains out of the Maywood Boxing Gym, has recently began to gain exposure in the American market after breaking out from the Tijuana boxing scene.

Five out of his last six fights have taken place from the greater Los Angeles area. He rides a five-fight knockout win streak into his scrap with Flores, who is perhaps the toughest test of his young career.

“It’s a big fight for me,” remarked Ruiz. “I know a lot of people are interested in seeing what I can do against a tough opponent and I’m ready to show everyone that I have what it takes to get to the top.”

Ruiz shinned in his last fight by dispatching quality veteran Miguel Zamudio in the first round.

In that fight, he tagged Zamudio with a left hand from his southpaw stance. He quickly followed up with a bevy of punches that overwhelmed Zamudio.

“I did what I came here to do,” said Ruiz after the fight. “I’m just happy I was able to finish this early and give the fans something to talk about.”

Ruiz came out fast as lightening, as his nickname, “Relampago,” suggests.

“He looked really sharp and in command right from the start,” said Doug Fischer, TB Presents livestream color commentator. “I wanted to see more of him, but that’s what happens when you end a fight early.”

Tickets for “Path to Glory” are priced at $40, $60 and $100 and are available for purchase at ThompsonBoxing.com, or by calling 714-935-0900.

All fights will be streamed live on TB Presents: Path to Glory via our Facebook page, YouTube channel and ThompsonBoxing.com. Beto Duran will handle blow-by-blow duties, while Doug Fischer provides expert, color commentary.

The livestream starts at 8:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 p.m. ET.

In the co-feature, lightweight George Acosta (7-1, 1 KO) of Whittier, Calif. faces Roberto Almazan (9-12, 4 KOs) of Brownsville, Tex. in a 6-round fight.

Junior welterweight prospect Alec Zavala (3-0, 2 KOs) of Fontana, Calif. meets Marquese Steward (1-1) Pflugerville, Tex. (6-rounds).

Super bantamweight Ivan Zarate of San Pedro, Calif. makes his professional debut against an opponent to be named later (4-rounds).

Junior lightweight Chris Crowley (1-0-1) of Santa Ana, Calif. fights Luis Alvarado (1-0) of Pasco, Wash. (4-rounds).

Canadian lightweight Golden Garcia (11-0-1, 6 KOs) meets Mexico’s Hector Garcia (14-7-2, 8 KOs) in a fight scheduled for 6-rounds.

The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 N. Vineyard Ave, Ontario, CA 91764 and can be reached at 909-937-0900.

“Path to Glory” is presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Everlast.

For more information, please visit ThompsonBoxing.com.

For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please check our Facebook Page, watch our YouTube channel on Thompson Boxing TV, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @ThompsonBoxing.

NEW YORK (October 14, 2019)–This past Friday night, four members of the Split-T Management stable scored big wins at DeCarlos Convention Center in Warren, Michigan.

Undefeated super welterweight Ardreal Holmes (10-0) won a eight-round unanimous decision over Walter Wright in a super welterweight bout.

Holmes of Flint, Michigan, boxed his way to the victory by keeping the veteran at bay, and won by scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 77-75.

Michael Moore was impressive in dominating Alex Hloros by scoring a 2nd round stoppage in their scheduled eight-round super middleweight bout.

Moore (18-3, 8 KOs) of Cleveland Ohio beat up Hloros until the corner threw in the towel at 2:47.

Anthony Barnes was impressive in defeating tough Kenneth Council but somehow the judges came back with a six-round split-decision for Barnes.

Barnes of Huntington Woods, Michigan, pushed the action and was the superior boxer and won by scores of 60-54, 58-56 and somehow a card was awarded to Council by a 59-55 tally.

Rolando Vargas needed just 59 seconds to take out Rashio Evans in a lightweight bout.

Vargas (4-0, 4 KOs) of Milwaukee landed a booming left that sent Evans down and out.

Hanover, MD (October 14, 2019) – Jeter Promotions has announced the signing of undefeated lightweight Brandon Chambers to a promotional deal.

Chambers was born in Kentucky, but now resides in Baltimore, Maryland, and has a record of 1-0-1 with one knockout..

Chambers attended Baltimore International College, which is now known as Strafford University.

The 34 year-old Chambers is an eight-year veteran of the Baltimore Police,and he has become a popular ticket seller on the Maryland circuit.

Chambers began boxing at the age of 18, and he competed in 10 amateur bouts.

“I always wanted to be a boxer after watching Mike Tyson fight, but my mom was very against it. She felt the same way when I became a Police Officer,” said Chambers.

Chambers turned professional March 8th with a draw with Christopher Haney.

“I am pressure fighter, who likes to mix it up on the inside,” Chambers said when describing his style.

“It makes me feel good that Jeter Promotions sees potential in me both as a fighter and as a role model in the community. Tony Jeter is a good person as well. It is extremely difficult to balance both being a police officer and being a boxer, but this is my dream and its my passion.”

Chambers has two children. Both girls ages 11 and four.

In his off-time, Chambers enjoys to cook and Crab Macaroni is his best dish.

On Friday night at Maryland Live Casino, Chambers will rematch the man who he had a draw with in pro debut, Christopher Haney.

“This is a rematch. I thought that I won the 1st bout, so on Friday night alot of questions that remained from that fight will be answered.

Reading, PA (October 14, 2019)– King’s Promotions has announced the signing of undefeated featherweight Carlos Vidal as well as re-signing undefeated heavyweight Michel Polite Coffie.

“We at King’s Promotions have high expectations for both of these undefeated fighters. We are extremely proud of these signings , and cannot wait for them to get back in the ring,” said King’s Promotions CEO, Marshall Kauffman.

Vidal of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and now resides in North Las Vegas, Nevada has a record of 15-0 with 14 knockouts.

Vidal was a two-time Puerto Rican National Champion with an amateur record of 104 wins against just 10 losses.

Since turning professional in 2016, Vidal has a win over Antonio Castro (5-1). In his last bout, Vidal stopped Jesus Ricardo Armenta on May 25th in Mexico.

Vidal has stopped his last four opponents.

Coffie of Brooklyn, New York, has a record of 6-0 with five knockouts.

Coffie turned professional on November 21, 2017 with a 1st round stoppage over Ralph Alexander.

Coffie is coming off a 2nd round stoppage over Eduardo Vitela on March 29th in Philadelphia.

He was the number-one ranked amateur super heavyweight

Coffie won the 2017 New York Daily News Open Champion where he defeated the number-one ranked fighter in the United States, Nkosi Solomon.

Before boxing, Michael and his nine siblings were removed from care from their drug addicted mother, and awarded to the state of New York. At age two, he was put into foster care and bounced from family to family in each section of Brooklyn.

One he reached his teenage years, Michael was placed in a stable family in Malverne, New York.

Michael then relocated to Brooklyn and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Michael served for eight years, which included tours in Afghanistan.

Patrick Day suffered a traumatic brain injury during his bout on Saturday night. He was rushed to Northwestern Memorial hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. As of Sunday evening, Patrick is in a coma caused by the injury and is in extremely critical condition. On behalf of Patrick’s team, we appreciate the outpouring of support, prayers, and offers of assistance from all corners of the boxing community.

Updates will be provided as circumstances change. In the meantime, we ask that the privacy of Patrick and his family be respected during this difficult time.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF Middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin could defend his title against mandatory challenger Kamil Szeremeta on February 29th in Chicago.

“Feb. 29 is the date we’re looking at here. We have a hold on the arena,” promoter Eddie Hearn said late Saturday night at a news conference at the arena after the event he promoted there in which former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk made his heavyweight debut with a seventh-round knockout of Chazz Witherspoon in the main event.

“Gennadiy’s had back-to-back fights at the Garden, and we’ve seen from the ticket sales for this event (on Saturday night) that we have a good reputation and relationship with fight fans in [Chicago], and if he fights his mandatory, which is Szeremeta, the Polish fighter, then it would make sense to come here with such a huge Polish community. It’s not a definite, but it’s definitely a venue we’re looking at.

“It’s difficult to go to a place twice in the year with the schedule, but if there was a place we’d go twice to in a year, it would be Chicago. We’ve probably had our two biggest gates in this arena outside of [Anthony] Joshua-[Andy] Ruiz in America and it’s a great city.”

Hearn said that Szeremeta is pushing for his mandatory title fight with Golovkin and that GGG “wants to fight Canelo, but I don’t think he’s going to wait for a decision from Canelo. So it all depends on what happens in the next few weeks. Obviously, the Kovalev fight is only three weeks away. So it’s not like [Golovkin] can’t wait until then, but I don’t think he’s prepared to wait until December, etc., to have another fight [set up]. If the IBF say that the mandatory is due [since he won] a vacant title, which is generally what happens for a vacant belt, then he would jump in and take that fight.”

Boxing fans from around the world can flock to the biggest fight of the year – the Clash on the Dunes in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia – to support their heroes Andy Ruiz Jr and Anthony Joshua after the Kingdom launched new super-fast tourist visas.

On December 7, in the UNESCO heritage site of Diriyah – known as the land of kings and heroes – Anthony ‘AJ’ Joshua will attempt to recapture belts taken from him by Andy ‘Destroyer’ Ruiz Jr in Diriyah Arena, a purpose-built arena for 15,000 fans on the night.

Tickets for this incredible showdown go on sale this Sunday, October 13, at 9pm KSA time (10pm in UAE, 7pm in the UK and 2pm US) and are available at www.diriyahseason.sa.

It will be the first-ever World Heavyweight Title fight ever to be staged in the Middle East and forms part of the month-long ‘Diriyah Season’, a spectacular season of world-class sport, global entertainment, and culture,  officially launched on Sunday night at a glittering ceremony in the ancient city, the birthplace of modern Saudi Arabia on the outskirts of Riyadh.

This follows the announcement in recent days that travelers from 49 countries across the world can now secure 90 day tourist visas online in just seven minutes to attend the festival. For more information got to visa.visitsaudi.com.

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said: “This is the biggest boxing match on the planet, and it will be taking place in one of the most unique venues ever.

“We already know there is a great passion for boxing in the Kingdom, but AJ and Andy will want their fans to come and support them, from across the region and from the UK and the US and Mexico.

“It’s great news that these tourism visas have been launched, that’s a big step forward for the country and it means that boxing fans wherever they are can come witness an unmissable night. This fight will go down in history as one of the greats.”

Due to the unique venue, being staged outside of the UK or the US, the fight has already seen parallels drawn in the media to some of the most iconic fights in history, such as Muhammad Ali’s fights against George Foreman – “the Rumble in the Jungle” – and Joe Frazier – the “Thrilla in Manila”.

Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki AlFaisal Al Saud, Chairman of the GSA, said: “We have already seen the energy created by boxing when we staged the World Boxing Super Series match last year, this landmark moment – the first World Heavyweight Title fight in the Middle East – now takes that excitement to a whole new level.

“Athletes and audiences can expect to be knocked out by the passionate reception this event will enjoy in the Kingdom, and now, with the launch of tourism visas for 49 countries, it has never been easier for fans from around the world to come be part of history.”

HH Prince Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chairman of SCEE, said: “This is a historic moment for Saudi Arabia welcoming the first World Heavyweight Championship. As a nation we have started to pave the way for becoming a global player in the sports and entertainment industry and we have witnessed a real appetite for the boxing sport.

“This is the biggest boxing fight that has taken place in the region to date and we are bringing it to Saudi Arabia on December 7 – the world is watching us and we promise to deliver an unparalleled experience. SCEE are a proud partner of the GSA bringing Clash on the Dunes to Diriyah Season, 2019.”

Tickets for all of Diriyah Season’s spectacular events and entertainment will be available online at www.diriyahseason.sa with Formula E Tickets on sale now, Clash On the Dunes tickets on October 13, and Diriyah Tennis Cup on October 26. Tickets for other events as well as season long tickets will be announced soon. Follow Diriyah Season’s news and announcements on the official social media pages on twitter and Instagram @diriyahseason.

Junior Middleweight Patrick Day had emergency brain surgery following his 10th round knockout loss to Charles Conwell in Chicago, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Day, 27, was down for several minutes while receiving medical attention and was eventually taken out of the ring on a stretcher and rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Day remained unconscious as he was taken to an ambulance and then suffered a seizure before arriving at the hospital’s emergency room for treatment, according to sources.

At some point after arriving at the hospital, Day, who was given a breathing tube, went into a coma, according to a source with knowledge of Day’s condition, although it is unclear if he lapsed into it naturally or if doctors placed him in a medically induced coma, which is a method used to allow time for swelling on the brain to go down.

Former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk moved up to heavyweight with a stoppage over Chazz Witherspoon after round seven of their scheduled 12-round bout at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

Usyk dominated the bout with quick combinations that tired out Witherspoon, who took the bout on five days notice. Witherspoon started to redden around his face and although he tried, he was outgunned and his corner pulled the plug on the bout.

Uysk, 215 lbs of Kiev, Ukraine is now 17-0 with 13 knockouts. Witherspoon is now 38-4.

Dmitry Bivol retained the WBA Light Heavyweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Lenin Castillo.

In round six, Bivol landed a sharp right that dropped Castillo.

Bivol was systematic and won just about every round as the scores read 120-107 and 119-108 twice.

Bivol, 174.3 lbs of St. Petersburg, RUS is 17-0. Castillo, 175 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is 20-3-1.

Jessica McCaskill retained the WBA/WBC Super Lightweight title with a 10-round majority decision over the woman she won the titles from in Erica Farias.

The fight was very sloppy with a lot of holding, mostly from Farias.

Farias was deducted a point in round four for holding.

McCaskill was deducted a point in round six for hitting behind the head.

McCaskill, 138.7 lbs of Chicago won by scores of 97-91, 96-92 and 94-94 to raise her mark to 8-2. Farias, 138.1 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 26-4.

Arthur Biyarslanov won a six-round unanimous decision over Tyrome Jones in a super lightweight battle.

In round five, Biyarslanov was bleeding from over his right eye, but landed more, and won by scores of 59-55 twice and 58-56 to raise his mark to 5-0. Jones is 4-6-1.

Anthony Sims Jr. remained perfect by stopping Morgan Fitch in round six of their scheduled 10-round super middleweight fight.

In the opening minute, Sims put Fitch down with a big right. Sims followed that up with a vicious flurry that resulted in a 2nd knockdown.

In round six, Sims landed a perfect counter right hand that buckled Fitch and was ruled a knockdown. Sims then jumped on Fitch and landed a hard four-punch flurry and the bout was stopped at 2:18.

Sims Jr., 168.5 lbs of Plainfield, IN is 20-0 with 18 knockouts, Fitch, 167.5 lbs of Pittsburgh, PA is 19-4-1.

Charles Conwell scored a vicious 10th round stoppage over Patrick Day in a junior middleweight bout.

In round four, Conwell landed a right hand that knocked Day down.

In round eight, it was a harder right hand that sent Day to the canvas. In round nine, Conwell was cut above the right eye. In round 10, Conwell landed a hard right-left combination that sent Day crashing to the canvas. The head of Day bounced hard off the deck, and he was down for several minutes. Day was taken out of the ring on a stretcher.

The time of the finish was at 1:46.

Conwell, 153.8 lbs of Cleveland, OH is 11-0 with eight knockouts. Day, 153.7 lbs of Freeport, NY is 17-4-1.

Otha Jones III won a four-round majority decision over Eric Manriquez in a super featherweight bout.

Jones, 129 lbs of Toledo, OH is 4-0. Manriquez, 130 lbs of Houston, TX is 7-9-1.

Former world champion TJ Doheny stopped Jesus Martinez at the end of round five of a scheduled eight-round super bantamweight fight.

In round one, Doheny landed a hard left that drove Martinez into the ropes that was rightfully ruled a knockdown. Doheny dominated the action and hurt Martinez on several occasions and the fight was stopped between rounds five and six,

Doheny, 124 lbs of Bondi Junction, AUS is now 24-1 with 16 knockouts. Martinez, 124 lbs of Monteria, COL 26-10.

Josh Warrington thrilled his hometown fans by stopping Sofiane Takoucht in two rounds to retain the IBF Featherweight title at First District Arena in Leeds, England.

In round two, Warrington dropped Takooucht with a big right hand. Seconds later, it was another huge right to the head that sent Takoucht down for a 2nd time. Warrington then landed big combination that started Takoucht that forced a referee stoppage at 2:54.

Warrington, 125 lbs of Leeds, UK is 30-0 with seven knockouts. Takoucht, 124 lbs of France is 35-4-1.

Zelfa Barrett stopped Jordan McCorry in round nine of their scheduled 12-round super featherweight fight.

In round three, Barrett landed a thudding left hook to the body that put McCorry down.

In round eight, It was another body shot that hurt McCorry, and a follow up right to the head sent McCorry to the deck. Adding insult to McCorry, he was docked a point for landing a punch after the bell. In round nine, Barrett landed an uppercut to the head that sent McCorry to the canvas, and the bout was stopped at 1:43.

Barrett, 129 lbs of Manchester, UK is 23-1 with 14 knockouts. McCorry, 130 lbs of Scotland is 18-7-1.

George Davey made a successful pro debut with a four-round decision over Zygimantas Butkevicius in a super welterweight contest.

Davey, 154 lbs of York, UK won by a referee score of 40-36 and is now 1-0. Butkevicius, 156 lbs of Lithuania is 2-26.

Lyndon Arthur won a 12-round unanimous decision over Emmanuel Amim in a light heavyweight fight.

In round three, Amim was cut around the right eye. In round four, Amim was cut over his left eye. Later in the round, Arthur dropped Amim with a hard right

In round eight, Amim landed a hard flurry on the ropes that hurt Arthur, and in the process opened up a cut over Arthur’s left eye.

Arthur, 174 lbs of Manchester, UK won by scores of 117-110, 117-111 and 115-112 to raise his unbeaten mark to 16-0. Amim, 172 lbs of Accra, GHA is 14-3-1.

Reece Mould won a six-round decision over Bayardo Ramos in a featherweight bout.

In round two, Mould dropped Ramos with a right hand.

Mould, 133 lbs of Doncaster, UL won by a 60-53 score and is now 13-0. Ramos, 135 lbs of Spain is 8-15-1.

In round two, Mould dropped Ramos with a right hand.

Shabazz Masoud won a six-round decision over Yesner Talavera in a featherweight bout.

Masoud, 126 lbs of the UK won by a referee score of 60-54, and is now 6-0. Talavera, 130 lbs of Garona, SPA is 15-12-1-2.

Los Angeles, CA (October 12, 2019) The World Boxing Association (WBA) has ordered an immediate rematch of the September 28th Junior Welterweight World Title fight between Batyr Akhmedov and Mario Barrios. The two sides now have thirty days for a free negotiating period before a purse bid is called.

The first fight, thoroughly dominated throughout by the 28-year-old Akhmedov, was controversially scored for Barrios by scores of 114-112, 116-111 and 115-111 which caused a massive uproar amongst the huge crowd at Staples Center and the ringside media all of whom scored the fight for the Uzbek. Fans also immediately took to social media in droves to voice their displeasure.

At the request of World of Boxing Promotions, the WBA conducted a review of the fight by independent judges and concluded an immediate rematch was in order. The first fight took place as part of the Fox Sports Pay-Per-View event headed by the 147lb. world title bout between Errol Spence Jr. and Shawn Porter.

“I’m very happy to have the support of my team and to have the WBA order the immediate rematch,” said the 2016 Olympian who represented Turkey. “I knew during the fight I was winning by a wide margin and was stunned when the fight was over at the announced scores. The rematch provides me the opportunity to fulfill my dream of becoming a world champion.” Akhemdov is trained by Joel Diaz in Indio, CA.

“We have always defended and will defend the positions of our boxers and welcome this decision by the WBA,” said Andrei Ryabinsky, who heads World of Boxing. “I want to emphasize that we have no complaints about Mario Barrios. He is a real fighter. I’m sure that the guys will please the audience with another great fight and let the strongest win.”

“It was very important for us to ensure that Batyr was given the opportunity to prove that he deserves the world championship title,” said Vadim Kornilov. “We look forward to this fight and we hope that justice will prevail this time.”

Doors open at 4pm (local)

First bell 4.15pm
10 x 3 mins USBA Super-Welterweight contest
Charles Conwell 153.8lbs               vs            Patrick Day 153.7lbs
Cleveland, Ohio                                                Freeport, New York

FOLLOWED BY

4 x 3 mins Welterweight contest
Reshat Mati 151lbs          vs            Norfleet Stitts 150.5lbs
Staten Island, New York                 Fort Wayne, Indiana

FOLLOWED BY

4 x 2 mins Super-Welterweight contest
Summer Lynn 147lbs       vs            Jenna Thompson 147lbs
Chicago, Illinois                                 Toledo, Ohio

From 6pm

8 x 3 mins Super-Bantamweight contest
TJ Doheny 124lbs              vs            Jesus Martinez 124lbs
Bondi Junction, Australia               Monteria, Columbia

FOLLOWED BY

10 x 3 mins Super-Middleweight contest
Anthony Sims, Jr. 168.5lbs            vs            Morgan Fitch 167.5lbs
Plainfield, Indiana                                            Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

FOLLOWED BY

6 x 3 mins Super-Lightweight contest
Arthur Biyarslanov 137lbs             vs            Tyrome Jones
Toronto, Canada                                               South Bend, Indiana

From 8pm

10 x 2 mins WBA and WBC World Super-Lightweight titles
Jessica McCaskill 138.7lbs             vs            Erica Farias 138.1lbs
Chicago, Illinois                                                 Buenos Aires, Argentina

FOLLOWED BY

12 x 3 mins WBA Super World Light-Heavyweight title
Dmitry Bivol 174.3lbs      vs            Lenin Castillo 175lbs
St. Petersburg, Russia                    Santo Domingo, D.R.

FOLLOWED BY

12 x 3 mins Heavyweight contest
Oleksandr Usyk 215lbs   vs            Chazz Witherspoon 242lbs
Kiev, Ukraine                                     Philadelphia, Pennsylvania                          

FOLLOWED BY

10 x 3 mins Super-Featherweight contest
Giovanni Mioletti 131lbs                vs            Josh Hernandez 130lbs
Chicago, Illinois                                                 Chicago, Illinois

FLOAT

6 x 3 mins Super-Featherweight contest
Otha Jones III 129lbs       vs            Eric Manriquez 130lbs
Toledo, Ohio                                      Houston, Texas

NEW YORK (October 7, 2019)–Split-T Management undefeated prospects Charles Conwell and Otha Jones III will be back in action on Saturday night as they will appear on the Oleksandr Usyk – Chazz Witherspoon card at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

2016 United States Olympian Conwell will take on a tough test in Patrick Day in a junior middleweight bout scheduled for ten-rounds. Jones takes on veteran Eric Manriquez in super featherweight bout scheduled for six-rounds.

Conwell of Cleveland, Ohio has a perfect mark of 10-0 with seven knockouts.

The 21 year-old will be making his 2nd start of 2019 as he is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision over Courtney Pennington on June 8th at Madison Square Garden. Conwell also has wins over Roque Zepata (4-1-3) and Travis Scott (19-3).

Day is a quality fighter who brings in an impressive mark of 17-3-1 with six knockouts.

The Long Island native is a product of the tough New York scene, and has wins over Donald Ward (5-1), Pennington (8-2-2), Virgilijus Stapulionis (27-3-1), Eric Walker (15-0), Kyrone Davis (13-1) and Ismail Iliev (11-0-1).

“Camp went well. I sparred with top guys, and I feel strong. I am ready and in shape,” said Conwell. “Patrick Day is an OK fighter. I know I can beat him.”

Day, who as mentioned above has fought and beat top opposition, should be a good test for Conwell and give a good indiction where the former Olympian is at in his young career.

“I feel this is a step up fight. I can compare to his other opponents. I am looking to better what they did against him. This fight will show who I am, and this is the 1st step to make a statement. Tune in on October 12th, I am going to put on a great show and get the win.”

Conwell checked in at 153.8 lbs. Day was 153.7.

Conwell is promoted by DiBella Entertainment.

Jones of Toledo, Ohio has a record of 3-0 with one knockout.

Jones, 19 years-old was a 21-time National Amateur champion has dazzled fans in the United States and The United Kingdom. He began his pro career with a six-round unanimous decision over Giorgi Gelashvili. Jones is coming off a six-round unanimous decision over Matias Agustin Arriagada on June 29th in Providence, Rhode Island.

Manriquez has a record of 7-8-1 with three knockouts. Jones will be the 8th undefeated opponent that the Houston native has faced. Manriquez has a win over previously undefeated Oscar Moreno (7-0).

“Training camp was great, I am ready to put on a great performance and get a knockout on Saturday night,” said Jones. “This will be my 4th fight in seven months, and I am continuously learning all the small things that come with the pro game. I know Manriquez likes to come forward, and from what I have seen, he is tough. Expect a great performance from me and I just want all my fans to follow me at @OthaJones3rd”

Jones was 129 lbs. at Friday’s weigh-in. Manriquez was 130 lbs.

Jones is promoted by Matchroom Boxing.

Photos via Conwell and Jones Facebook Pages.

The fights will be streamed live on DAZN, beginning at 7 PM ET.

Queensberry Promotions are proud to present the return of the ‘Leeds Warrior’ Josh Warrington as he defends his IBF World Featherweight Championship against Sofiane Takoucht. The show will be held at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, and will air live on BT Sports.

Both of the main event competitors weighed in successfully, with Josh Warrington registering a weight of 8st 13lb 7oz on the scales and Sofiane Takoucht slightly lighter at 8st 12lb 8oz

Elsewhere on the card, Zelfa Barrett (9st 3lb 5oz) defends his Commonwealth Super Featherweight Championship against the always exciting Jordan McCorry (9st 4lb) and Lyndon Arthur will contest the vacant Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Championship against the Ghanian Emmanuel Anim (12st 4lb 8oz).

Reece Mould (9st 7lb 10oz) will meet Bayardo Ramos (9st 5lb) over 6 rounds, George Davey (11st 12lb) will make his pro debut against Zygimantas Butkevicius (11st 2lb) and the much heralded Shabazz Masoud (8st 10lb 14oz) will compete against Yesner Talavera (9st 4lb 12oz)

Running Order Below:

Fight # 1 – 16:00 hrs

4 X 3 Minute Rounds International Super-Lightweight Contest

EVALDAS PETRAUSKAS                
V        
JOHNSON TELLEZ

Fight # 2

6 X 3 Minute Rounds Middleweight Contest

SHAKIEL THOMPSON                
V        
LOUIS VAN POETSCH

Fight # 3

4 X 3 Minute Rounds International Light-Heavyweight Contest

CALLUM SIMPSON                    
V        
KIRI PSONKO

Fight # 4

6 X 3 Minute Rounds International Middleweight Contest

MARK HEFFRON                    
V        
RUI MANUEL PAVANITO

Fight # 5

4 X 3 Minute Rounds Featherweight Contest

JACK DANIELS                    
V        
JAMIE SPEIGHT

Fight # 6

6 X 3 Minute Rounds Middleweight Contest

JOHN JOYCE                    
V        
JORDAN GRANNUM

Fight # 7 

TROY WILLIAMSON                
V        
TBA 

Fight # 8
6 X 3 Minute Rounds International Featherweight Contest

SHABAZZ MASOUD                
V        
YESNER TALAVERA

Fight # 9 

6 X 3 Minute Rounds International Featherweight Contest

REECE MOULD                    
V        
BAYARDO RAMOS

Fight # 10 

THE VACANT COMMONWEALTH LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

12 X 3 Minute Rounds @ 175 lbs

LYNDON ARTHUR                
V        
EMMANUEL ANIM

Fight # 11

4 X 3 Minute Rounds International Super-Welterweight Contest

GEORGE DAVEY                    
V        
ZYGIMANTAS BUTKEVICIUS

Fight # 12 

THE COMMONWEALTH SUPER-FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

12 X 3 Minute Rounds

ZELFA BARRETT                    
V        
JORDAN McCORRY

Fight # 13 

THE IBF WORLD FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

12 X 3 Minute Rounds

JOSH WARRINGTON                
V        
SOFIANE TAKOUCHT

Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing USA are delighted to announce a multi-fight promotional deal with Julio Cesar Martinez and Canelo Promotions.

Martinez (14-1 11 KOs) is set to fight for the vacant WBC Flyweight title against Cristofer Rosales later in the year following his controversial clash with former champion Charlie Edwards.

The Mexican travelled to London in August to face the WBC king, and Martinez floored Edwards with a ferocious barrage in the third round – but a body punch when Edwards had taken a knee led to the fight being changed from a third round KO for the challenger to a no-contest and a rematch ordered.

Edwards has since vacated the belt having cited issues making the weight and will look to fight for World honors at Super-Flyweight, meaning that Martinez’s first fight with Hearn will be against the former WBC champion Rosales.

“I’m so happy to sign with Matchroom Boxing USA and I can’t wait to challenge for the World title later this year,” said Martinez. “I know with Eddie Hearn and Eddy Reynoso I have the perfect team to take me all the way to the top and become a huge star in the sport.”

“It is a pleasure to start this alliance with the best promoter in boxing,” said Eddy Reynoso, Sport and Talent director at Canelo Promotions. “We will work very hard and with great enthusiasm to launch Mexican talents to the big boxing leagues!”

“This is a great signing for Matchroom Boxing USA and I’m delighted to team up with Eddy Reynoso and Canelo Promotions to work with Julio Cesar Martinez,” said Hearn. “Julio is a dangerous young fighter who will be in many exciting fights over the years. I believe with his style he has the chance to become a huge star in Mexico and we look forward to the journey together – first things first, the WBC World title in December.”

Philadelphia, PA (October 11, 2019)– A big night of action is planned for Friday night, October 25th at The 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.

The nine-bout card is promoted by King’s Promotions.

The main event will see super middleweight Brandon Robinson (13-2, 9 KOs) of Upper Darby, PA battling Martez McGregor (8-2, 6 KOs) of Maywood, Illinois.

Two Philly-Favorites will see action in separate six-round junior welterweight bouts as Naim Nelson (13-4, 1 KO) of Philadelphia battles Roy McGill (6-3,3 KOs) of Harrisburg, PA and Damon Allen Jr. (15-1-1, 5 KOs) of Philadelphia fights Danny Flores (15-17-1, 8 KOs) of Mexico City.

Also in six-round bouts will be Shinard Bunch (3-1, 3 KOs) of Trenton, NJ taking on Vincent Floyd (4-8-1, 2 KOs) of Philadelphia in a welterweight contest.

Rasheen Brown (4-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia looks to stay undefeated against an opponent to be named in a super bantamweight fight.

In four-round bouts:

Avril Mathie (3-0, 2 KOs) of Miami fights 24-fight veteran Karen Dulin of North Kingston, Rhode Island in a bantamweight attraction.

James Martin (4-1) of Philadelphia squares off with Juan Rodriguez (8-15-1, 6 KOs) of Haymarket, VA in a welterweight fight.

Nicoy Clarke (2-4) of Jersey City, NJ tangles with Angel Rivera (4-1, 3 KOs) of Harrisburg, PA in a cruiserweight battle.

Ryan Umberger (2-0, 2 KOs) of Philadelphia fights Leon DeShields (0-6) of Camden, NJ in a junior middleweight clash

Tickets are $100, $75 and $50 and can be purchased at www.2300arena.com

NEW YORK (October 11, 2019)–TONIGHT, four Members of the Split-T Management stable will be in action at DeCarlos Convention Center in Warren, Michigan.

Undefeated super welterweight Ardreal Holmes takes on the capable Walter Wright in an eight-round bout; Michael Moore battles Alex Hloros in a six-round middleweight tussle; Undefeated super middleweight Anthony Barnes fights capable Kenneth Council; Undefeated super lightweight prospect Rolando Vargas battles fights Rashio Evans.

Holmes of Flint, Michigan has a record of 9-0 with four knockouts. The 25 year-old Holmes will be making his 2nd start of 2019. He is coming off a unanimous decision over Lanardo Tyner on May 18th.

Holmes, who was the number-one ranked amateur welterweight in the United States, competed in the Olympic Trials. As a professional, Holmes holds a 1st round stoppage over Bryan Goldsby (4-1).

Holmes is promoted by DiBella Entertainment.

Wright of Seattle, Washington maybe best known for competing on The Contender in 2006. He has a record of 17-7 with eight knockouts.

The 38 year-old has wins over Mike Hannash (2-0), Ray Craig (3-0), Darnell Boone (4-0-1), Vinroy Barrett (21-5), Dan Wallace (8-0) and Mark DeLuca (21-0).

Moore of Cleveland, Ohio has a record of 17-3 with seven knockouts.

The 33 year-old is a nine year-pro who made it to the semi-finals of the 2018 Contender as he defeated Malcolm McAllisiter (9-1) and Gerald Sherrell (9-1). This will be his 1st appearance of 2019.

Hloros of Mount Clemens, Michigan, has a record of 18-7-2 with 12 knockouts.

The 16 year-veteran has wins over Jason Wahr (1-0-2), & Jeremiah Jones (1-0-1). Hloros has faced world champions Rob Brant and Demetrius Andrade.

Barnes of Huntington Woods, Michigan is undefeated with a record of 11-0 with eight knockouts.

The 28 year-old is a seven year pro, and is making his 1st appearance of 2019. He is coming off a unanimous decision over Dwayne Williams on July 13, 2018.

In Council, Barnes is taking a step up in competition. Council of Knoxville, Tennessee has a record of 10-2-1 with eight knockouts. His only two defeats have been to undefeated fighters, which includes dropping a fight to Erickson Lubin.

Vargas of Milwaukee, Wisconsin is 3-0 with all three of his wins coming inside of two rounds. Just twenty years-old, Vargas was a 2017 National Junior Champion, and he has lived up to expectations in all of his victories. Two of his three knockouts have come against undefeated foes in Jessi Hackett, and in his last bout, Vargas took out Nathaniel Lee Davis in one round on July 19th in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

Evans, 0-1 is from Wilson, North Carolina

Jay Harris remained undefeated with a 4th round stoppage over Paddy Barnes in a flyweight bout at Ulster Hall in Belfast, Ireland

In round three, Barnes was cut over the right eye. Seconds later the two had a furious exchange in the center of the ring. With a minute to go in the round, Barnes landed a perfect left hook to the body that Barnes on the canvas. In round four, Harris landed a hard right to the head that sent Barnes down for the 10-count at 2:14.

Harris is now 17-0 with nine knockouts. Barnes is 6-3.

Sean McComb won an eight-round decision over Emilano Rodriguez in a junior welterweight bout.

McComb, 141 lbs of Belfast IRE won by a score of 78-73, and is now 9-0. Rodriguez, 139 lbs of Tedonia, ARG is 23-6.

Former WBO Lightweight champion Terry Flanagan defeated Michael Ansah by 4th round disqualification in a scheduled eight-round junior welterweight bout.

Ansah was deducted a point in round three for hitting on the break. he committed the same offense in the next round, and the bout was stopped at 2:58.

Flanagan, 139 lbs of Manchester, UK is 35-2. ANsah, 135 lbs of Accra, GHA is 17-10-2.

Paddy Donovan made a successful pro debut with a one-punch knockout over Arturo Lopez in round one of their scheduled four round welterweight bout.

Donovan landed a perfect left hand that put Lopez flat on his back at 1:16 of round one.

Donovan, 147 lbs of Limerick, IRE is 1-0 with one knockout. Lopez, 144 lbs of Girona, MEX is 5-14-3.

Seanie Duffy remained perfect by pounding out a four-round decision over Edwin Tellez in a lightweight fight.

Duffy, 135 lbs of Ireland won by a 40-36 score, and is now 3-0. Tellez, 131 lbs of Nicaragua is 12-58-5.

Pierce O’Leary won his pro debut with a four-round decision over Oscar Amador in a welterweight fight.

O’Leary, 143 lbs of Ireland won by a 40-36 score, and is now 1-0. Amador, 145 lbs of Nicaragua is 10-23.

BROOKLYN, NY (October 11, 2019) – On Saturday, December 7, undefeated WBC Middleweight World Champion Jermall Charlo will defend his title against highly-ranked contender Dennis Hogan live on SHOWTIME from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™, in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Lions Only Promotions and TGB Promotions, are on-sale Monday, October 14 at 10 a.m. ET and can be purchased at ticketmaster.comand barclayscenter.com. Tickets also can be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center, starting Tuesday, October 15 at 12 p.m. ET. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

More information on the event will be announced in the coming days.

Matchroom Boxing are delighted to announce the signing of decorated amateur Hopey Price on a multi-year contract.

Boxing at Super-Bantamweight, Price debuts at the Manchester Arena on November 2 joining the supporting cast to Katie Taylor’s World Title shot and Anthony Crolla’s farewell fight.

The slick southpaw landed Gold at the Olympic Youth Games last year in Buenos Aires to go alongside his two European Championships and seven National Titles. 

“I’m very excited to see what this new journey brings,” revealed Price. 

“I believe I’ve got the right team around me to make it to the very top. One of the main reasons in turning pro was that I believe I didn’t have much more to achieve in the amateurs, I won a medal in every major tournament. It’s now time to see what I can do in the pro game and try to win as many titles as possible.”

Born and raised in Leeds, Price links up with trainer and manager Dave Coldwell in nearby Rotherham: “I’m really excited to be working with a young, exciting talent like Hopey. His amateur record speaks for itself. He’s developing nicely in the gym alongside the other lads and we had him sparring some high level professionals out in LA recently. Hopey’s adapting to the pro game already, there’s a lot of potential there.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn added: “I am delighted to welcome Hopey to the team and I look forward to and exciting future together. Hopey was an outstanding amateur and although he is still very young, his boxing IQ is well beyond his years. I have watched him working with Dave Coldwell and I strongly believe with the development and experience he will go all the way to the very top.”

General sale tickets priced £40, £60, £100 and £250 (VIP) are available NOW via Manchester Arena (www.manchester-arena.com), StubHub (www.stubhub.co.uk) and Matchroom Boxing (www.matchroomboxing.com).