BARAOU AND MOLINA MAKE WEIGHT, READY FOR WBC TITLE CLASH

Abass Baraou (4-0, 2 KOs) will look to continue his rise up the super welterweight ranks as he faces former World Champion Carlos Molina (29-10-2, 8 KOs) for the WBC International title tomorrow night in in Koblenz.

The hottest prospect in German boxing returns to action following victories over Artur Mueller, Denis Krieger, Robert Maess and Sasha Yenhoyan, and challenges for his first major title against Chicago-based Mexican Molina.

WBC International Super Welterweight Championship:
Abass Baraou: 69.7 kg
Carlos Molina: 69.1 kg

The undercard sees Leon Bunn attempt to extend his uneaten run against Ukraine’s Viktor Polyakov, Jama Saidi defend his IBF European Super Welterweight title versus Arman Torosyan, Anthony Yigit take on Mohamed Khalladi, and Sophie Alisch make her paid debut against Sopo Kintsurashvili.

Light Heavyweight – 10 Rounds:
Leon Bunn: 79.6 kg
Viktor Polyakov: 78.2 kg

IBF European Super Welterweight Championship:
Jama Saidi: 69.1 kg
Arman Torosyan: 69.6 kg

Super Lightweight – 8 Rounds:
Anthony Yigit: 64.7 kg
Mohamed Khalladi: 64.7 kg

Featherweight – 4 Rounds:
Sophie Alisch: 56.5 kg
Sopo Kintsurashvili: 56.2 kg

Middleweight – 8 Rounds:
Slawa Spomer: 72.8 kg
Igor Fanian: 73.2 kg

Welterweight – 4 Rounds:
Yves Barz: 66.4 kg
Andrei Staliarchuk: 66.1 kg

Middleweight – 4 Rounds:
Feizu Culhai: 71.7 kg
Sabri Ulas Goecmen: 67.2 kg

Limited tickets are available online via www.eventim.de.

New York, February 15, 2019

Having previously announced the dual main events of the February 22nd “Rockin’ Fights” of Belgium’s, JOEL “BIG JOE” DJEKO vs Italian SIMONE “TYSON” FEDERICI and local Huntington favorite, JOHNNY “HITMAN” HERNANDEZ against tough Texan MARQUIS “THE HAWK” HAWTHORNE,
STAR BOXING announced a true New York centric undercard today.

In a scheduled 6-round welterweight bout, Wyandanch, Long Island’s own TERELL “THE PROBLEM CHILD” BOSTIC (3-1 1KO) returns to The Paramount in search of vengeance against Hartford, Connecticut’s ANUEL ROSA (1-0 1KO). Bostic was last seen at “Rockin’ Fights” 33 in a thrilling, action packed bout with undefeated OMAR “THE BEAST” BORDOY (then 6-0 2KO’s). Getting up, off the canvas in the 3rd round, Bostic fought his way back into the fight, finishing the final two rounds by trading freely at the center of the ring, behind deafening cheers booming from the sold-out crowd. Dropping a split decision, Bostic eyes Figueroa as his next tally in the win column. Rosa, who made his pro-debut this past June 16 in Hartford, Connecticut, will be seeing the famed Paramount for the first time and hopes to remain undefeated attempting to defeat Bostic in his hometown venue.

Also returning to The Paramount, in his second professional bout, DASHAUN “TOO SWEET” JOHNS (1-0 1KO) is set to take on hard-hitting tough Philadelphian DERRON LAWSON in a 4-round welterweight bout. Hailing from the Bronx, amateur standout Dashuan Johns made his pro-debut at “Rockin’ Fights” 33 against Devon Grant and left no doubt in his first round TKO victory. Dashuan, a personal trainer in Westchester County, had the ringside crowd jumping as his clients packed the ringside seats to watch their personal trainer in action. Lawson is also no stranger to The Paramount, having fought twice at the venue, dropping hard fought, close decisions to undefeated prospects Johnathan Arroyo, and Alex “El Torro” Vargas. Dashaun looks to make it two in a row in his young professional career, while Lawson plans to ruin his undefeated record on February 22nd.

Also in action will be Bellport, Long Island’s, ALEX “EL TORRO” VARGAS (2-0) against BENJAMIN BORTEYE in a scheduled 4-round welterweight bout. Vargas, a former New York Golden Gloves champion, returns to The Paramount for his third appearance, looking to remain undefeated taking on Borteye (4-4 4KO’S), of Silver Spring, MD, by way of Ghana. Borteye who last fought amateur standout and undefeated professional Reshat Mati at Madison Square Garden on January 18th. Vargas will look to continue his undefeated streak at The Paramount.

Star Boxing promoter, JOE DEGUARDIA, said this about the undercard bouts set for next Friday night, “It is truly rewarding that the Paramount has become one of the best boxing venues in the country. I am looking forward to another exciting night of “Rockin’ Fights” on February 22.”

A sensational night of thrilling fights has formed, as Star Boxing, once again, brings phenomenal action-packed professional boxing to Long Island. This exciting undercard brings an added punch to the all-world cruiserweight main event between Belgium’s Djeko vs Italy’s Federici and the local favorite Johnny Hernandez fighting the ‘on a roll’ Marquis Hawthorne. Fans are buzzing with the return of Long Island prospects, Terrell Bostic, Alex Vargas and Dashaun Johns. All three bring in vocal support to The Paramount and fans are anxiously awaiting February 22nd.

“Rockin’ Fights” 34 is presented by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

Bouts subject to change
GET YOUR TICKETS TO “ROCKIN’ FIGHTS” 34 TODAY!
FIGHT: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, 2019
$50, $60, $100, $150, $200
BUY TICKETS HERE!
MEDIA:
MAIN EVENT PROMO: DJEKO vs FEDERICI

INFO:
STAR BOXING is excited to return to its renown Long Island venue, The Paramount, on February 22nd, for another thrilling night of “Rockin’ Fights.” The 34th edition of the acclaimed fight series brings extreme boxing talent from across the world, right to Huntington’s, The Paramount. The main event is a real toss-up between the ‘big boys’ in a truly international fight between European champs. Giant Belgium JOEL “BIG JOE” DJEKO will take on Italian challenger, SIMONE “TYSON” FEDERICI in an intriguing 10-round cruiserweight bout. The co-main event will feature the return of Huntington’s own JOHNNY “HITMAN” HERNANDEZ who will be taking on upset minded, MARQUIS “THE HAWK” HAWTHORNE
PAST RELEASES:
“Rockin’ Fights” 34 Co-Main Events Announced
“Rockin’ Fights” 34 Media Credential Application
FACTS:
ROCKIN’ FIGHTS 34 is presented by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing. “Rockin Fights” is sponsored by Modell’s Sporting Goods, The Inn At Fox Hollow, Camelot Limousine and The Tudor Advisory Group.

RIVERSIDE, CALIF. (February 15, 2019) – Once-beaten contender “Mad Man” Marcos Hernandez will look to continue his winning streak from “The Contender Season Five”, when he rematches Jeison Rosario live on FS1 and FOX Deportes Saturday, February 23 from the Armory in Minneapolis and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

Coverage on FS1 and FOX Deportes begins live at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT and is headlined by former WBC super-middleweight champion Anthony Dirrell facing Avni Yildirim for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight Championship.

The 25-year-old from Fresno, California is looking to continue his journey to a world title as he has beaten four well-regarded prospects in only fifteen fights. Hernandez is currently training with Henry Ramirez in Riverside, California, and looking forward to his rematch with Rosario, who he fought to a draw last February in Texas.

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

Here is what Hernandez had to say about his upcoming matchup and more:

On his rematch against Jeison Rosario:
“I fought Jeison Rosario almost one year ago exactly. I have a lot of respect for him because we fought to a draw, but that being said, I felt I got the better of him. This not a six-round bout like our first match, this is a ten-round fight, and I know what needs to be done to further my career with my performance in this fight.”

On his recent training camp:
“I really like training with Henry Ramirez in Riverside, California. Henry is a cool guy who’s trained a lot of top fighters and knows what it takes to get the job done. In Fresno there were many distractions, so moving away from my family, my wife and kids, it is a sacrifice that I make to go to the next level. This is a job and I treat it like a job. I am doing everything possible to be a contender.”

On fighting on this PBC event on FS1 and FOX Deportes:
“I’m very excited as this is my third time on FS1. I love what Premier Boxing Champions is doing for the sport of boxing, bringing fights to network television. FS1 has been good to me and I am excited that one of my biggest wins will be on FS1 so everyone can watch it.”

On his goals for 2019:
“I want to stay active, but my focus is solely on Rosario and getting that win. My hopes are to get in with a fighter with a big name. I’ve fought a lot of tough fighters, but not a lot of big-name fighters yet. I am hoping that by the end of this year I can fight one of those fighters’ people have seen on television for years.”

# # #

ABOUT DIRRELL VS. YILDIRIM
Dirrell vs. Yildirim will see former super middleweight world champion Anthony Dirrell face top contender Avni Yildirim for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight World Championship in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes on Saturday, February 23 from The Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and features welterweight championship contender Jamal James fighting in his hometown for a third straight time against Janer González in a special 10-round attraction in the co-feature.

Fans can live stream the fights on the FOX Sports app, available in English or Spanish through the FOX, FS1, FS2 or FOX Deportes feeds. The fights are available on desktop at FOXSports.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku.

Cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and junior middleweight Kell Brook could be fighting next in the United States, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Eddie Hearn said May 18 is the target date, with Chicago as a possible location, for the southpaw Usyk (16-0, 12 KOs), 32, of Ukraine, to face contender Povetkin (34-2, 24 KOs), 39, of Russia, in a fight that would mark Usyk’s official entrance into the heavyweight division.

Hearn said he is also hoping to finalize the fight between Brook and Jesse Vargas — weight to be determined but between 147 and 150 pounds — for either late May or early June, at a location on the West Coast to be determined. Brook (38-2, 26 KOs), 32, of England, has won two fights in a row against lesser opponents since losing two fights in a row, by fifth-round knockout to Gennady Golovkin for the middleweight title in 2016 followed by an 11th-round knockout loss to Errol Spence that cost him his welterweight belt in May 207.

Hinckley, Minn. (Feb. 15, 2019) – A late entry into boxing at the age of 24, Derrick “Take it to the Bank” Webster (28-1, 14 KOs) has continually developed under the tutelage of head trainer Denny Brown since the duo began working together when he was still in the amateur game. The unbreakable bond between them has since driven a steady incline up the professional boxing rankings, and they now step onto a huge stage as Webster takes on Lennox Allen (21-0-1, 14 KOs) for the WBA Gold Super Middleweight Title on Friday night at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota.

“I feel amazing. I have been waiting my whole life for an opportunity like this,” said Webster after he stepped off the scales at 165.2 pounds on Thursday afternoon. “In the eyes of a lot of people, I am not supposed to be here, but I am here. I started this boxing thing at 24-years-old and didn’t turn pro until 2009, and here I am ranked in the world. I had an amazing training camp. I am injury free, my mind is focused, and everything is on point. I really am very appreciative to be here.”

As mentioned, Webster has spent the entirety of his professional career under the guidance of head trainer Denny Brown, who has been the one constant and easily the most dependable person for him during that time. The two have become so close that Webster not only considers him family but also views him as a father figure.

“Denny is like a father to me. He started as a friend and became a father to me,” Webster remarked. “This belt would be as much his as it would be mine. He never wants any personal recognition. His recognition is my success. He always tells me to beat everybody with success. Even when I blow a guy out of the water, he has never really been satisfied because he knows we had higher marks to reach. He wanted us to be a world champion, and here is our opportunity to become a mandatory for an amazing, life-changing payday. He deserves this just as much as I do, and I am not sure if I want it more for me or if I want it more for him (laughs). We both want it together.”

As for his bout on Friday night, Webster says that boxing fans can expect the absolute best version of himself when he steps into the ring.

“People are going to see the best Derrick Webster that they have ever seen,” he confirmed. “They are going to see boxing. They are going to see movement. They are going to see brawling. They are going to see my inside game. They are going to see me thinking. They are going to see the maturity that Derrick Webster has developed over these 13 years in boxing. And they are going to see the hunger and eagerness that I have attained over this journey to get here. Everybody is going to be on the edge of their seats.”

Currently ranked no. 8 in the world and the top-ranked super middleweight in the country by the WBA (Allen is ranked no. 9), Webster stands 6-foot-4 and is a slick southpaw who has lived in the gym throughout his entire boxing career.

“I weighed in at 165 pounds, and I have been on weight for a week. That is a disciplined fighter for you,” he stated. “I was eating breakfast this morning and watched my opponent go work out to make weight. I am so ready. My family deserves this. My kids deserve this. Tiffany and my in-laws deserve this. This is what it is all about. This is an opportunity to silence a lot of haters. That is not a main motivation for me, but it comes with the territory. For all of those people who have never believed in me, I am about to wake them up. That belt will be coming home. I don’t want to be over the top and say that it is going to be an early night, but we have trained to make it an early night.”

Webster, who is signed to Greg Cohen Promotions, will take on Allen as a showcase bout to a Rob Brant vs. Khasan Baysangurov scrap for the WBA Regular Middleweight Title. Webster vs. Allen will air live on ESPN+ (sign up for a seven-day free trial), with Brant vs. Baysangurov broadcasting on ESPN.

London (15 February 2019) Derek ‘War’ Chisora has enlisted the service of top U.K trainer Dave Coldwell as he prepares to make his return to the ring.

In the latest twist to his compelling career, under the guidance of David Haye’s Hayemaker Boxing, Derek Chisora has today announced he is now working with Dave Coldwell as a showdown with Joseph Parker later this year seems likely.

Dave Coldwell, the man who guided Chisora’s good friend Tony Bellew to become World Champion, also formally head of boxing at Hayemaker, before Coldwell then went on to work with Bellew, the rest, is history.

Despite Haye and Coldwell’s war of words during the build up to both Bellew fights, scores were settled in the ring, both are delighted to once again combine forces with the shared goal of driving Chisora towards the biggest heavyweight clashes out there.

Former World Title Challenger Chisora caused shock waves when last October he announced his partnership with former heavyweight foe Haye. Two months later, the Londoner proved he still has plenty to give when he came sensationally close to beating Whyte. Going into the eleventh round of the exhilarating and brutal fight, Chisora was ahead on two of the judges’ scorecards, despite a number of arguably harsh decisions by the referee, but was then caught with Whyte’s devastating left hook.

Haye welcomed Chisora moving under the training supervision of the Sheffield man who has built a solid reputation for his work with former World Champions Bellew and Jamie McDonnell; his brother Gavin, a former World Title challenger; current Commonwealth Champion Jordan Gill and unbeaten prospect Anthony Fowler.

Refreshed, revitalised and with a new focus for 2019, Chisora has already started training with Coldwell at his Rotherham base as the pair look to get back in the ring in the coming months, in a truly exciting period for the division.

Chisora said, “People know by now that I don’t like to do things the conventional way. This is a new direction for me, I’m excited to be working with Dave Coldwell, I’m learning every day, I’m buzzing. Dave has done amazing work with my good friend Tony Bellew and his other boxers. I’m hungry to get back in the ring again, I will be back with new armoury I’m ready for WAR. I’m hearing Team Parker have been calling my name, that’s easy to do when your on the other side of the planet. WAR Chisora is ready, I’m preparing for battle with whomever believes there are ready for WAR. If Team Parker want to take on this challenge, they know where they can find me.”

Coldwell said, “Boxing throws up plenty of surprises and it was a real big surprise to get a call from David to work with Derek. It’s water under the bridge as far I’m concerned with any past history and we’re now working together for the benefit of Derek. I’ve known Derek for many years through his great friendship with Tony Bellew and we’ve always got on well together. He’s adapted very quickly to life up here and settled in the gym which shows that he’s serious about his career, there is a real hunger to develop and improve. I’m very excited to be working with him.”

Haye said, “Boxing is a unique sport where a rivalry can quickly turn to a partnership for the benefit of a working cause, as my partnership with Derek demonstrated. That certainly took everyone by surprise. It all came so tantalising close for Derek in December against Whyte, but as the saying goes ‘That’s boxing’ and especially in heavyweight boxing where one punch can end things. At Hayemaker we’re one hundred percent behind Derek and Dave and we support them as they embark on their quest to be part of the biggest, most exciting heavyweight showdowns.

Friday night’s ShoBox: The New Generation telecast will also be shown live in the UK and Ireland on the BoxNation boxing channel (3 am UK time).

Emanating from the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, Kansas, the event will feature a 10-round super lightweight showdown between undefeated prospects Shoh Ergashev (15-0, 14 KOs) of Uzbekistan and Maryland’s Mykal Fox (19-0, 5 KOs) and a 10-round super bantamweight battle for the WBA-NABA Championship between Fort Worth’s rugged Jesse Angel Hernandez (12-1, 7 KOs) and Britain’s Thomas Patrick Ward (25-0, 4 KOs).

The US-based commentary team will consist of Barry Tompkins calling the action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts.

BoxNation – The Channel of Champions – is a 24-hour dedicated boxing subscription television channel, available in the United Kingdom and Ireland on TalkTalk Plus TV: Channel 415, Sky: Channel 427, Virgin Media: Channel 546 and BT: Channel 415. For more information on BoxNation, visit their website HERE.

Event promoter Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions says the addition of BoxNation is a welcome bonus for his fighters on the card, Ergashev and Hernandez.

“BoxNation picking up the event will allow Shoh and Jesse to also display their talents to European fight fans and increase their worldwide profiles. They are both in against top-level opponents who will seriously test them. I’m happy BoxNation decided to pick up this terrific event. It’s a great opportunity for all the fighters on the telecast to become bigger stars around the world.”

MULVANE, Kan. – February 14, 2019 – Unbeaten super lightweight and rising star Shohjahon Ergashev and fellow undefeated Mykal Fox made weight just a day before their ShoBox: The New Generation main event headlines a doubleheader live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT) from Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, Kan.

The 10-round clash between Uzbekistan’s power-puncher Ergashev (16-0, 15 KOs) and Fox (19-0, 5 KOs) will follow the 10-round co-featured super bantamweight fight pitting 28-year-old ShoBox veteran Jesse Hernandez (11-1, 7 KOs) against WBO No. 4-ranked Thomas Ward (25-0, 4 KOs) in what will be the toughest test of Hernandez’s career.

Here is what the fighters had to say on Thursday from the Kansas Star Casino.

FINAL WEIGHTS, REFEREES AND JUDGES

Super Lightweight 10-Round Bout

Shohjahon Ergashev – 142* lbs.

Mykal Fox – 142* lbs.

Referee: Bill Clancy (North Carolina); Judges: David Sutherland (Oklahoma), Karen Holderfield (Arkansas), Mike Contreras (Nebraska)

*–Fight contracted at a catchweight of 142 pounds.

Super Bantamweight 10-Round Bout

Jesse Hernandez – 121 lbs.

Thomas Ward – 121 ¾ lbs.

Referee: Kevin Champion (Missouri); Judges: David Sutherland (Oklahoma), Karen Holderfield (Arkansas), Jeff Sinnett (Nebraska)

FINAL QUOTES:

SHOHJAHON ERGASHEV:

“I know the odds are against me because of his height. He says he’s 6-foot-4 and the tallest fighter I’ve fought was 6-foot-1.

“I just have to be the smarter fighter tomorrow. My limited English skills has never hurt me in the ring and communicating with my corner. Fighting is a universal language. My English is a little bit better; it’s getting better.

“I trained for this fight both in Detroit and some in Florida and sparred with bigger guys like Anthony Dirrell and Leon Lawson at the Big Time Boxing Gym in Boca Raton. I had my conditioning coach B.B. Hudson in Florida with me too. So we are more than ready to go come fight night.

“I’m not eyeing one particular fighter; I just want to fight for a title. It’s been a year since my ShoBox debut against Sonny Fredrickson and I’ve improved a lot. I can’t wait to show my skills tomorrow night.

“I have some surprises that I’ll show on my way into the ring. I like to make it fun, and the fans will see that when I enter the ring.”

MYKAL FOX:

“This is the best shape I’ve ever been in. We’ve been trying to put this fight on for a long time. We tried to do it last year, but it didn’t work out. I decided to fight someone the caliber of Ergashev because he’s undefeated, and I’m undefeated. We have similar records, so why not?

“I’ve been watching [Ergashev] fights every day on YouTube. There is some danger in that, but I feel like I the more I can study what he does in the ring, the better prepared I will be.

“I don’t know what comes next for me. I’m still young. I’m just focused on tomorrow night.

“Right now, my brother [ShoBox alumnus Alantez Fox] thinks I’m the better fighter than him, but that’s only because I’m fighting tomorrow. I bet after the fight he will go back to thinking there’s no one better than him.”

JESSE HERNANDEZ

“Eventually, I’ll be a featherweight, but I think I can make this weight [122 pounds] for another year, year and a half.

“I’ve studied him on YouTube. I know what to do tomorrow night. I know how to exploit my advantage. He has a No. 4 ranking by the WBO so if we get the win we can get his rating, if not better.

“He’s never seen a fighter like me; never fought in the States, or against a Mexican fighter. So I know I have the advantage. I have the ring IQ, and am the smarter fighter.

“I have 10 rounds as my mindset. Last time I was on ShoBox I wanted to get my opponent out of there. But not this time. Of course, if I hurt him in the first round I will try to get him out of there. But it’s OK to win by decision too.”

THOMAS WARD

“I was offered this fight and it’s a nice opportunity for me. It’s live on SHOWTIME, so why not? This is a great stage and it’s a very winnable fight for me.

“Eventually we will get a world title shot. I just have to keep winning. I know I have the ability and the time is now. If the opportunity is right, we will take whatever is put in front of us.

“He’s supposed to be an aggressive fighter and I’m a boxer so it will be a good mix of styles. I know that he’s a good, strong fighter, but I’ll be ready to handle whatever he gives me.

“Of all the rounds I’ve boxed in 25 victories, I’ve only lost four or five rounds. If you’re not getting hit, you’re not losing.

“I’m a family man and don’t go out. I’ve just been focused 100 percent on my boxing career.

“I’ve been in the States since February 6. We stopped in New York on our way here and trained for a few days. I trained at Mendez Boxing in Manhattan and also trained at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn.”

# # #

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 79 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 mo

Rob Brant 158.6 lbs vs. Khasan Baysangurov 158.8 lbs
(Brant’s WBA Middleweight world title – 12 Rounds)

Joshua Greer Jr. 117.8 lbs vs. Giovanni Escaner 116.2 lbs
(Greer’s WBC Continental Americas Bantamweight title – 10 Rounds)

Mikaela Mayer 129.6 lbs vs. Yareli Larios 129.6 lbs
(Mayer’s NABF Super Featherweight title – 8 Rounds)

ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET)

Tyler Howard 159.8 lbs vs. Cristian Olivas 159.6 lbs
(Middleweight – 8 Rounds)

Lennox Allen 168 lbs vs. Derrick Webster 165.2 lbs
(vacant WBA Gold super middleweight tite – 10 Rounds)

Ismail Muwendo 134.6 lbs vs. Hevinson Herrera 133.8 lbs
(Lightweight – 8/6 Rounds)

Steven Nelson 172.4 lbs vs. Felipe Romero 179 lbs
(Light Heavyweight – 8/6 Rounds)

Joe James 139.4 lbs vs. Demetrius Wilson *
(Super Lightweight – 4 Rounds)
* Wilson to weigh in later

Swing Bouts (ESPN+, Time Permitting)

Cem Kilic 167.4 lbs vs. Zach Kelley 165.2 lbs
(Super Middleweight – 6 Rounds)

Ramiro Hernandez 126.8 lbs vs. Gavino Guaman 125.6 lbs
(Featherweight – 6 Rounds)

Kevin Cruz 134.2 lbs vs. Rondale Hubbert 139 lbs
(Lightweight – 8/6 Rounds)

Albert Bell 133 lbs vs. Edward Kakembo 132.6 lbs
(Lightweight – 8/6 Rounds)
For more information visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook:facebook.com/trboxing; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing.

Use the hashtag #BrantKhasan to join the conversation on social media.

London (14 February 2019) Chris Eubank Jr is in the best shape of his life heading into his huge super-middleweight showdown with foe James DeGale on Saturday 23rd February at The O2, promoted by Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) and Poxon Sports, exclusively live in the U.K on ITV Box Office in the U.S on Showtime.

Eubank Jr. arrived his flashy new McLaren supercar as the Brighton star opened his gym to the media today to go through a power-packed session with trainer Nate Vasquez in the ring and with long-time trainer Ronnie Davis closely watching on.

The Brighton star displayed his ripped physique ahead of the 168 pound battle for supremacy and looked sharp and powerful on the hand mitts, while slamming power shots into the body belt with just over a week left until the big fight.

Eubank said, “I can’t wait for the fight now, I’m just counting down the days,”

“I’ll be relentless in the fight and I won’t stop,”

“James will be on form, he respects and fears me so we will see the best James Games come to this fight”

“He’s had some hard fights in his career and this one against me could be career ending for him, but I think we’re going to see the best DeGale in a long time,”

“He’s had some hard fights, that’s for sure. It’s one of those things – a fight like this, especially against me, could be career ending.”

A Storm Is Coming is headlined by the long awaited domestic blockbuster showdown between James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr for the Vacant IBO World Super-Middleweight Championship; Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Joe Joyce defends his title against Challenger and Former WBC World Champion Bermane Stiverne; Former IBF World Featherweight Champion Lee Selby returns to action and takes on Omar Douglas; The British Heavyweight Title Eliminator between Andre Sterling and Ricky Summers. Plus an action packed undercard featuring super-featherweight Anthony Cacacae; welterweight Chris Kongo; light-heavyweight Seb Eubank and the pro-debut of cruiserweight Chez Nihell.
VIDEO
James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr. Head-To-Head on The O2 roof

To embed the DeGale-Eubank O2 Roof Video use the following code:

Tickets available from www.AXS.com and Inner Ringside/VIP Hospitality from www.sportandmusic.co.uk

This fight will be shown exclusively on ITV Box Office. For further information and updates, please go to www.itvboxoffice.com

For further event information, please visit www.poxonsports.uk and www.premierboxingchampions.com or follow on Twitter and Instagram at @PoxonSports, @PremierBoxing, @ITVBoxOffice, @ITVBoxing and join the conversation with #DeGaleEubankJr

Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PoxonSports/, www.facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and www.facebook.com/ITVBoxing/

To embed the DeGale-Eubank A Storm Is Coming promotional trailer use the following code:

CARSON, CALIF. (February 14, 2019) – Veteran contender and two-time title challenger Andrzej Fonfara has withdrawn from his match against Edwin Rodriguez that was scheduled to be part of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes on Saturday, March 9 from Dignity Health Sports Park, formerly StubHub Center, in Carson, California.

Stepping in as the replacement co-feature is a 10-round, all-action welterweight showdown between hard-hitting Abel Ramos and battle-tested Francisco “Chia” Santana. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is headlined by WBC Welterweight World Champion Shawn Porter making his first title defense in primetime against mandatory challenger Yordenis Ugas.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at AXS.com.

The 31-year-old Fonfara announced that he is retiring from boxing, prompting him to withdraw from the fight against Rodriguez on Wednesday.

“There is no more enthusiasm and above all no more of the motivation and adrenaline that gave me the desire to go into the ring and compete,” Fonfara said. “I am healthy. Everything is okay. But I no longer have the heart for boxing.”

Ramos (23-3-2, 18 KOs) has put together four technical knockout victories since losing a hard-fought majority decision to welterweight contender Jamal James in front of James’ hometown crowd in Minneapolis on April 13, 2018. The 27-year-old from Casa Grande, Arizona proved against James that he’s a formidable opponent for anyone in the 147-pound division.

Santana (25-6-1, 12 KOs) needs an impressive victory over Ramos to remain a force in the welterweight division. The 31-year-old Santana of Santa Barbara, California is coming off a majority decision over the always-tough Felix Diaz and owns victories over then unbeaten fighters Eddie Gomez and Kendal Mena.

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Fans can live stream the fights on the FOX Sports app, available in English or Spanish through the FOX or FOX Deportes feeds. The fights are available on desktop at FOXSports.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

Former light heavyweight title challenger Andrzej Fonfara announced his retirement, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I’m fine physically, but I don’t have my usual desire to give boxing the 100 percent it deserves,” Fonfara said in a statement on Tuesday. “I want to thank all who helped me through this crazy, great ride.”

With yesterday’s announcement of the Joshua vs. Miller heavyweight championship fight to be held on June 1, Greg Cohen, co-promoter of challenger Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller, is happily giving his congratulations to Miller and his co-promoter, Dmitriy Salita, for securing the huge opportunity.

That Saturday night, the Brooklyn-born WBA #2- and WBO #3-rated Miller (23-0-1, 20 KOs) will face WBA Super, IBF, WBO and IBO World Heavyweight Champion Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs) in virtually Miller’s backyard of Madison Square Garden in New York. The fight will also be broadcast to a huge worldwide audience on DAZN domestically and Sky Sports Box Office Internationally.

Miller’s rise, Cohen says, from obscure unknown to literally being one punch away from taking over the sport of boxing, took patience, expert guidance, and lots of money, as well as other-worldly dedication and unshakable confidence from Miller.

“This is a true boxing success story,” said the elated Cohen. “When Dmitriy and I agreed to partner up on Jarrell’s career, I knew it’d be a long road. But we both saw something special in him.”

And so, the pair set about securing ever-growing opportunities for their fighter, at first in anonymous club shows in boxing’s remote locales and later, as Miller continued to win impressively and gain momentum, in a series of important televised showcases that led to this.

“Jarrell has been perfect,” said Cohen. “He told us early on he was going to win the heavyweight championship of the world and he’s done nothing to shake our belief in him. He has promised to tear up everyone put in front of him and then gone out and done it over and over. He’s a special fighter and a privilege to work with.”

Both Salita and Cohen are having career years as promoters. In addition to Miller, Salita Promotions handles the career of women’s superstar Claressa Shields and welterweight smashing machine Shoh Ergashev. Shields is scheduled for the biggest women’s boxing showdown in history against German fellow world champion Christina Hammer in April. Ergashev will be putting his fearsome power on display on ShoBox: The New Generation this weekend.

Cohen, meanwhile, continues to build on his reputation as a top-level scout of raw talent. Miller marks potentially the third time Greg Cohen Promotions has gotten in on the ground floor of an anonymous raw talent and brought them to a world championship. New Mexico-based former world champion Austin Trout and current WBA Middleweight Champion Rob Brant were also brought up through the ranks from out of nowhere by Cohen.

Brant will make the first defense of his world title this weekend in Minnesota with potentially huge super fights looming on the horizon should he win.

“GCP is an overnight 10-year success,” laughs Cohen. “We’ve had many setbacks and disappointments, but in the end it’s all been worth it to see truly dedicated and talented fighters like Jarrell and Rob make the most of their careers. I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish.”

And getting Miller to the big fight is just the beginning, according to Cohen.

“Joshua and his people are thinking this is their man’s big debut in the US to help him gain popularity over here and generate interest in a future fight against Deontay Wilder. They think they’re just going to walk over him easily. That’s not what’s going to happen.”

According to Cohen, Joshua has the types of flaws that will make him an ex-champion against Miller.

“Anthony Joshua has not been the same since the Klitschko fight. You can reach him. He’s been fortunate enough to recover and win so far, but against Jarrell Miller, if he can touch you, he’s going to knock you out. Jarrell’s chin is made of iron. He’s going to still be there in the middle rounds when Joshua starts losing steam. And sooner or later, he’s going to hit Joshua like he’s never been hit before and it’s going to be all over. Americans will own the heavyweight division once again after June 1.”

JOSHUA VS. MILLER TICKET SALES ANNOUNCEMENT

Important information for fight fans on tickets for the New York blockbuster
Tickets for Joshua vs. Miller at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 1 will be available to purchase this Friday!

Madison Square Garden Pre-Sale begins at Midday ET (5pm GMT) on Friday 15th February via Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com)

Fight Pass Pre-Sale begins at Midday GMT (7am ET) on Monday 18th February via StubHub (www.stubhub.com)

General Sale tickets are on sale at Midday ET (5pm GMT) on Tuesday 19th February via Madison Square Garden and StubHub (www.stubhub.com)

Tickets 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.

Official Ticket and Travel Packages, including the opportunity to travel on the Official Charter Plane, are available to purchase via Sportsworld (www.sportsworld.co.uk) Prices start at £1,095. Reserve your seat today.

Tickets are priced, $106, $156, $206, $306, $406, $506, $756, $1,006, $1,256 and $2,506 plus applicable booking fees.

Wheelchair seats, companion seats, aisle seats and Assistive Listening Devices are available to purchase by calling 212-465-6034

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (February 14, 2019) – Two-division world champion and philanthropist Badou Jack has officially launched Badou Jack Promotions and Events LLC in the United Arab Emirates, as he continues to grow his portfolio of ventures outside of the ring.

“I am looking forward to bringing a lot of excitement to Dubai with some very entertaining combat sports events,” said Jack. “This is a great opportunity to take the next step in my career with this promotional company. We’re looking to build something with the fighters and the fans that will become part of the fabric of the entertainment culture in this region.”

Badou Jack Promotions will hold their inaugural event on Friday, May 3 from the Five Palms Jumeriah in Dubai.

“Five Palm Jumeirah Dubai is excited to partner with Badou Jack Promotions to deliver an unforgettable evening of excitement and entertainment on May 3,” said Aloki Batra, CEO Five Hospitality.

Adding to his sports supplement company Ripper Nutrition and non-profit organization the Badou Jack Foundation, Jack’s promotional company is another aspect of his burgeoning enterprise.

“Badou is very popular in the Middle Eastern region”, said Jack’s Business Manager Amer Abdallah. “He has a tremendous business mind and is eager to put on some great events in Dubai.”

Jack has been in the Middle East since his fight in January, doing charitable missions while also exploring entrepreneurial opportunities in the region that he has frequented throughout recent years.

“We have tremendous support from the Dubai market and our investor group, with some exciting events planned,” Abdallah stated. “We are excited to launch the promotion and deliver great entertainment to our fans in Dubai starting with the May 3 event.”

With the May 3 date set, and bigger events in the works for the future, Jack is on his way to bolstering his business credentials with this new company, while also providing unique viewing experiences for the people in the UAE.

“This is a region steeped in tradition and culture,” said Jack. “We believe the time is right to invest in making combat sports a fun and entertaining part of that culture. The audience is there; we just need to bring them memorable events worth of this vibrant
region.”

# # #

ABOUT BADOU JACK

Badou Jack “The Ripper” is a two-time, two-division boxing world champion who has held the WBC Super Middleweight and WBA Light Heavyweight world titles. Born in Sweden, he represented his Father’s native Gambia in the 2008 Olympics before turning pro in 2009. Jack is promoted by boxing legend Floyd Mayweather’s Mayweather Promotions and lives and trains in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Outside of the ring, Jack has prepared for life after boxing through strong business investments, while also giving back and establishing himself as a philanthropist all over the world. Jack owns and operates the Ripper Nutrition supplement, which already boasts a multi-million-dollar Asian distribution deal, and the recently-announced Badou Jack Promotions. His Badou Jack Foundation is dedicated to helping children all over the world, including providing resources for refugee children in Jordan.

For more information, follow Jack on Twitter and Instagram @BadouJack, on Facebook at Facebook.com/badoujacktheripper or by visiting BadouJackFoundation.org and RipperNutrition.com.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Feb. 14th , 2019) — As a young up-and-comer, the heavy-handed Sicilian who breezed through his amateur career undefeated, Juiseppe Cusumano promised his coach and mentor, Robert Matney, he’d one day win a world title.

When Matney, a former Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy, died unexpectedly in 2014, Cusumano’s career took a turn for the worse. The promising heavyweight struggled with alcohol abuse and sat on the shelf for more than two years, the victim of a shady manager who robbed him of most of his earnings without booking him any fights.

There were days Cusumano struggled to get out of bed. Friends and family urged him to give up boxing a find another career. But Cusumano refused to throw in the towel. He had a promise to keep.

Next Saturday at Twin River Casino Hotel, Cusumano (17-2, 15 KOs) finally has the opportunity to cash in when he faces Brendan Barrett (7-1-2, 5 KOs) of Ventura, Calif., in an eight-round showcase for the vacant National Boxing Association (NBA) World Heavyweight Title, one of three title bouts at CES Boxing’s 2019 season opener.

The NBA, dormant for more than six decades after it changed its name to the World Boxing Association (WBA) in 1962, has returned under the direction of its new president, Damon Gonzalez. The Feb. 23rd Cusumano-Barrett showdown is the first NBA heavyweight championship bout since 1951 when the legendary Jersey Joe Walcott knocked out fellow Hall of Famer Ezzard Charles at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.

The list of former NBA heavyweight champions includes 11 Hall of Famers, among themJack Dempsey, who won the inaugural title in 1921; Gene Tunney; Max Schmeling; Jack Sharkey; Max Baer; Jim Braddock; Joe Louis; Floyd Patterson and the iconic Rocky Marciano, Cusumano’s idol as a young fighter. Marciano won the World Heavyweight Title in 1952, stopping Walcott in the 13th round of their scheduled 15-round fight in Philadelphia. He defended it six times before retiring at 49-0 in 1955.

Other sanctioning bodies existed at the time, including the New York State Athletic Commission, which dissipated in the early 1960s with the formation of the WBC, and the European Boxing Union, but the NBA was the first of today’s major sanctioning bodies to recognize world champions and its history is indisputable. The opportunity to wear that belt and join a list of champions that includes names such as Schmeling, Louis, Patterson and Marciano is a dream come true for Cusumano.

“It’s something I really need to get,” Cusumano said.

Reunited with trainer Marcus Luck, Cusumano continues to get stronger and leaner with each fight camp, shedding the excess weight from his year-long layoff between 2016 and 2017. He has implemented new techniques into his training regimen and enters next weekend in the best shape of his life as he aims for his 16thwin in his last 17 fights.

“With CES signing me [in 2017] it’s really helped me out because they have watched the process of me growing back into the fighter I should be,” said Cusumano, who has fight eight times in the last 17 months since joining forces with CES Boxing president Jimmy Burchfield Sr. “Even though I’m not 100 percent there yet, you can see the process. Each time, I’m getting better and better and my body is getting better.

“I’m learning things, too, because I’m older. I’m 30 years old, so I can’t train like I was when I was 20, but I had to learn that after a few fights because I did feel a little heavy in the [2018] fight with Bernardo Marquez, so I was like, ‘OK, I did something a little wrong here,’ because I shouldn’t have felt that heavy. Now it’s more about being in fight shape already. I should be in shape weeks before the fight. Not work harder, but work smarter, like Floyd [Mayweather] says.”

Cusumano struggled early in that fight with the southpaw Marquez before extending his then 12-fight win streak with a fourth-round knockout, but his run came to an unexpected halt less than a month later when he lost to the slick and surprisingly-elusive Robert Simms by unanimous decision. Cusumano still feels he won that fight, but admits the awkward 5-foot-11 Simms frustrated him by landing quick shots to the body, then holding on for dear life, not allowing the 6-foot-4 Sicilian to use his height and reach to his advantage.

His opponent next weekend is the same height as Simms, which may initially raise eyebrows, but Cusumano insists there are several differences between Barrett and Simms, many of which may play into his favor on the 23rd.

“Simms was a little slicker. He was very flexible for his weight,” Cusumano said. “With Barrett, he’s a little more stiff and more hard-headed. He’s a hard-headed guy that likes to throw bombs and likes to keep his head and come forward. That’s not going to be a very smart thing to do with me, especially with the shape I’m in.”

Cusumano and Barrett have combined for 20 knockouts in their careers, 15 for Cusumano and five for his opponent. Neither have been knocked out. Cusumano is confident he can use his jab more effectively than he did against Simms and use it to set up his knockout punch — the “bang-bang, night-night,” as he calls it — similar to the way he finished Marquez in May after three sluggish rounds.

“If he doesn’t get knocked out,” Cusumano said, “he’s going to have a serious headache the very next day.”

Twenty-two-year-old Worcester, Mass., prospect Jamaine Ortiz (9-0, 4 KOs) faces 21-year-old Oxnard, Calif., standout Ricardo Quiroz (10-0, 5 KOs) in an eight-round bout on the main card of CES Boxing’s 2019 season opener for the vacant WBC World Youth Lightweight Title. Headlining is female featherweight sensation Shelly Vincent (23-2, 1 KO) of Providence, R.I., by way of New London, Conn., who faces Budapest veteran Edina Kiss (15-9, 9 KOs) in an eight-round rematch of their 2015 bout, won by Vincent by majority decision.

Tickets for the event start at $47 and are available online at www.cesboxing.com or www.showclix.com or by phone at 401-724-2253/2254. Next weekend’s event also makes history as part of the world’s first ultra-high definition, high dynamic range — also known as 4K — event streaming live via VIVE Network TV. The VIVE app is available on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Play (Android TV), iOS, Roku and all smart TVs. Visit https://tickets.vivetv.network to purchase.

Doors open at 6 p.m. ET and the first preliminary bout begins at 6:30. VIVE will stream two bouts for free on Facebook beginning at 8 before the 4K televised pay-per-view main card kicks off at 9. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Also on the main card, female super bantamweights Marcia Agripino (3-1-1) of Ledyard, Conn., and Boston’s Amanda Pavone (6-0, 2 KOs) face one another in an eight-round bout for the vacant New England Championship. Taunton, Mass., welterweight Marqus Bates (5-2, 3 KOs) faces Jair Ramos (5-2-2, 2 KOs) of Waterbury, Conn., in a six-round bout and super lightweight Nicholas Briggs (2-0, 2 KOs) of Worcester puts his unbeaten record on the line against Andy Aiello (1-1-1) of Bridgewater, Mass., in a four-round bout. Unbeaten Pawtucket, R.I., super featherweight Ricky Delossantos (6-0, 1 KO) returns in his toughest test to date against U.S. Army National Guardsman Javar Jones (7-1, 2 KOs) of Indianapolis.

Providence junior middleweights Victor Reynoso (2-0, 2 KOs) battles 1-0 John Williams of Baton Rouge, La., who scored a knockout win in his pro debut in August, while fellow unbeaten junior middleweight Lamont Powell (2-0, 1 KO) of Providence faces 29-year-old Kenneth Chery (1-1, 1 KO) of Montreal Quebec. Likewise, Providence lightweight Michael “Bling Bling” Valentin( 4-0, 1 KO) returns from a one-year layoff to face Philadelphia’s Christopher Burgos (1-3-1, 1 KO) in a four-round bout and decorated New York City amateur Arnold Gonzalez makes his long-awaited professional debut in a four-round super lightweight bout against Falls Church, Va., veteran Stacey Anderson (0-4).

Visit www.cesboxing.com, www.twitter.com/cesboxing or www.facebook.com/cesboxing for more information, or follow CES Boxing on Instagram at @CESBOXING.

ARLINGTON, TX. (February 14, 2019) – Unbeaten IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. defends his title against undefeated four-division champion Mikey Garcia in a highly anticipated and historic showdown for pound-for-pound supremacy that headlines a Premier Boxing Champions on FOX Sports Pay-Per-View event on Saturday, March 16 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The four-fight pay-per-view card will also see unbeaten former super middleweight world champion David Benavidez taking on veteran contender J’Leon Love in a 10-round showdown, undefeated former 118-pound champion Luis Nery battling former champion McJoe Arroyo in a 10-round attraction and fan-favorite Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola facing unbeaten Jean Pierre Augustin for 10-rounds of action.

Tickets for this showdown, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Ringstar Sports, are on sale now, and can be purchased at SeatGeek.com, the Official Ticketing Provider of AT&T Stadium.

Spence and Garcia will go face-to-face on Saturday, February 16 at a press conference in Los Angeles that will air live on FOX from the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT. The press conference is open to ticket holders for the Leo Santa Cruz vs. Rafael Rivera featherweight championship fight.

On Tuesday, February 19, Spence and Garcia will square off at a press conference from
AT&T Stadium where they will finally go toe-to-toe on March 16.

Garcia is stepping up two weight classes from his last fight to challenge Spence for the welterweight title in Spence’s backyard, not far from the Dallas suburb of DeSoto where Spence grew up a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan. Garcia will be fighting in Texas for the ninth time as a pro and figures to be buoyed by the large contingent of Mexican and Mexican-American fans that will be in attendance.

His task has historical parallels to the paths taken by great fighters like Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao, who all moved up multiple weight classes to challenge all-time great welterweights. Mosley and Pacquiao were both successful in moving up from lightweight to defeat Oscar De La Hoya, while Marquez’s rise to welterweight was halted in a decision loss to Floyd Mayweather.

Spence is a power-punching welterweight who has stopped his last 11 opponents heading into this intriguing matchup against the brilliant tactician that Garcia has established himself as. With a clash of two superb boxers in the prime of their careers and squarely in the top-five of the mythical pound-for-pound rankings, the winner can stake a claim as the best boxer in the sport today.

“Errol Spence Jr. vs. Mikey Garcia is a matchup of two highly-skilled and accomplished fighters in a true blockbuster showdown,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Fans will get to see the hometown hero Spence against the Mexican-American superstar Garcia with huge contingents of fans uplifting them to put on a performance to match the moment. Combined with a jam-packed pay-per-view undercard of action fights, this has all the makings of a once-in-a-lifetime event.”

“Spence vs. Garcia is an event that transcends boxing and is a coronation that will crown the new ‘King of Boxing,'” said Richard Schaefer, Chairman and CEO of Ringstar Sports. “In addition to the main event, fight fans will be treated to a spectacular night of boxing featuring three of the most exciting Mexican fighters in the sport in David Benavidez, Luis Nery and Chris Arreola. This is exactly what a pay-per-view card is and should be all about: entertainment and non-stop action from the first bell to the last!”

“We are proud to host a boxing match of this magnitude with Errol Spence Jr. and Mikey Garcia,” said Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager Jerry Jones. “AT&T Stadium was built to house the greatest sporting events on the planet, and we feel we have another incredible boxing event on the horizon with this matchup in our building on March 16.”

Spence (24-0, 21 KOs) is no stranger to big stadium events as he won the IBF title by traveling to England to take on then-champion Kell Brook at Bramhall Lane soccer stadium on May 27, 2017. In front of a raucous crowd of over 27,000 loyal Brook supporters, the 28-year-old Spence stopped Brook in round 11 to wrest away the title.

This will be Spence’s third defense of the title. After beating Brook, he successfully defended it with an eighth-round stoppage of two-division champion Lamont Peterson and then knocked out mandatory challenger Carlos Ocampo in the first round in his last fight at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, near his hometown of Desoto, Texas on June 16. Spence turned pro shortly after representing the U.S. at the 2012 London Olympics with much promise and rose to the championship ranks with wins over former champion Chris Algieri and veteran contenders Leonard Bundu, Alejandro Barrera and Chris van Heerden.

“I can’t wait for March 16th. It doesn’t get bigger than this,” said Spence. “Fighting at AT&T Stadium in my hometown is a dream come true. If I beat Mikey Garcia the way I plan on beating him, I will be the guy in the sport. This is my year and Mikey isn’t going to stop me. I am training like this is the biggest fight of my life and I want to put on a great show for the fans and win convincingly.”

Garcia (39-0, 30 KOs) is striving to put together a legendary career and is aggressively pursuing that goal. He has won world championships at featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight. He now eyes a welterweight title against the consensus class of the division in Spence. Fighting out of Moreno Valley, California, Garcia unified the IBF and WBC Lightweight World Championships in his last bout by scoring unanimous decision victory over Robert Easter, Jr. on July 28.

The 31-year-old first reached the championship ranks by blitzing through the featherweight and junior lightweight division, defeating Orlando Salido, Juan Manuel Lopez, Roman Martinez and Juan Carlos Burgos to establish himself as a star in the sport. Garcia has been on a fast track since ending a nearly 2-1/2-year hiatus with a knockout victory over Elios Rojas in 2016. After the victory over Rojas, Garcia scored a KO victory over Dejan Zlaticanin for the WBC lightweight championship in January 2017, before defeating four-division champion Adrien Broner in July and then captured a title at 140-pounds by dropping and defeating Sergey Lipinets last March.

“In my career I’ve always sought to fight the best in boxing and this fight against Errol Spence Jr. is just that,” said Garcia. “I want to be known as one of the all-time greats and what better way to do that than to win a welterweight title and become a five-division world champion. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Errol and what he’s accomplished, but I fully expect to leave the ring at AT&T Stadium with the welterweight world title. This is a match that I’ve been looking forward to for a long time and I plan on giving the fans a performance they’ll never forget.”

The 22-year-old Benavidez (20-0, 17 KOs) became the youngest fighter to ever win a super middleweight title in 2017 when he defeated Ronald Gavril at just 20-years-old. Fighting out of Phoenix, Benavidez’s older brother Jose is also a pro fighter who challenged Terrence Crawford last year. Benavidez most recently won a rematch against Gavril last February, and as WBC “Champion in Recess” he will look to reclaim his belt against the winner of the Anthony Dirrell vs. Avni Yildirim bout for the vacant title on February 23.

Born in Detroit but fighting out of Las Vegas, Love (24-2-1, 13 KOs) has long been amongst the top contenders at super middleweight and most recently lost a decision to Peter Quillin in August. The 31-year-old had been previously unbeaten in seven bouts heading into the contest against Quillin.

Currently riding a nine-fight knockout streak, Nery (28-0, 24 KOs) will look to get one step closer to a fight to regain a bantamweight title when he steps into the ring March 16. The 24-year-old from Tijuana, Mexico twice traveled to Japan and stopped Shinsuke Yamanaka in WBC title fights. In 2018 he stopped Jason Canoy and Renson Robles heading into his U.S. debut against Arroyo.

A 2008 Olympian for his home country of Puerto Rico, Arroyo (18-2. 8 KOs) captured a 115-pound championship with a technical decision over Arthur Villanueva in their 2015 clash. After dropping decisions against Rau’shee Warren and Jerwin Ancajas, the 33-year-old most recently defeated Sander Diaz last June.

An exciting brawler inside the ring, Arreola (37-5-1, 32 KOs) is well-known for challenging the best heavyweights in the sport throughout his career, and for becoming a popular attraction in and around his native Los Angeles for his fighting style and persona. The 37-year-old faced the likes of Vitali Klitschko, Tomasz Adamek, and Bermane Stiverne, before challenging Deontay Wilder for his title in 2016. After a brief retirement, Arreola returned to stop Maurenzo Smith last December.

Unbeaten and fighting out of Louisville, Augustin (17-0-1, 12 KOs) will face his toughest and most experienced test to date in Arreola. Born in Haiti, Augustin turned pro in 2014 and has steadily climbed up the heavyweight rankings.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @Ringstar, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

About AT&T Stadium:
AT&T Stadium is one of the largest, most technologically advanced entertainment venues in the world. Designed by HKS and built by Manhattan Construction, the $1.2 billion stadium features two monumental arches, the world’s largest HDTV video board cluster, an expansive retractable roof and the largest retractable end zone doors in the world. Features of the stadium include seating for 80,000 and expandability for up to 100,000, over 300 luxury suites, club seating on multiple levels and the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop, open to the public year round. The stadium is also home to a world-class collection of contemporary art, made up of over 50 pieces from an international array of curated artists displayed on the walls and in the grand public spaces of the venue. In addition to being the Home of the Dallas Cowboys since opening in 2009, the stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLV, the 2010 NBA All Star Game, the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four, the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship Game and the annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. The venue has also played host to high school and college football, concerts, championship fights, international soccer matches, and other special events. For more information, go to www.attstadium.com.

Bensalem, PA—Garrett Wilson, a seasoned fighter and one of the last of the old-school Philly fighters, goes against another veteran when he boxes Brian Howard in an 8-round cruiserweight bout in the main event Xcite Fight Night 3 at Parx Casino on Friday evening, March 1.

The event will mark the first of four Joe Hand’s Xcite Fight Night boxing events in 2019 at Parx Casino®. The seven-bout fight card figures to attract a huge crowd.

Wilson, who lives in South Philadelphia, has fought the best. Twelve of his 34 previous opponents were undefeated at fight time. The combined record of his opponents stands at 397-78-19 but that did not keep him from being rated among the Top 10 cruiserweights in the world at various times during his almost 11-year career.

Known as the “Ultimate Warrior,” Wilson has competed in five different countries, nine different states and 23 cities as a pro.

“I’m an everyday blue-collar worker,” Wilson said, “with the heart of a warrior and the mindset of a champion. Talk is cheap and I got bills to pay.”

He may be one of the nicest fighters outside of the ring, always with a smile on his face, but he channels that energy differently inside the ring with half of his wins (18-15-1 record) coming by knockout.

Wilsons’ biggest wins have come over Omar Sheika, Chuck Mussachio and Andres Taylor. The wins over Sheika and Taylor avenged a loss (Sheika) and a draw (Taylor). Wilson currently holds the Pennsylvania State Cruiserweight Title.

Across town, Brian Howard trains at Fast Lane Boxing Gym in West Philadelphia.

“I’m blessed,” said Howard. “I feel great about my upcoming fight. It’s my first time fighting in Philadelphia and I am thankful for the opportunity to fight such a notable guy; Wilson is a champion”

Howard (13-2, 10 K0s) is a Georgia native but now calls Philadelphia his home. A pro since 2010, Howards two wins came by knockout over a pair of undefeated fighters: Alex Guerrero in Queens, NY, and Shawndell Terell Winters in Elk Grove Village, IL.

First fight is 7:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased tickets from the Hold My Ticket Call Center at (1-877-466-3404) and at www.parxcasino.com/entertainment.

About March 1

The March 1 card will consist of seven fights, beginning at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 6:30 pm. The card I spromoted by Joe Hand Promotions. This event is only for adults age 21 and older. Tickets priced at $50, $75 and $100 are on sale at Joe Hand Promotions (215-364-9000). You can also purchase tickets from the Hold My Ticket Call Center at (1-877-466-3404) and atwww.parxcasino.com/entertainment.

About Parx Casino

Parx Casino® is owned and operated by Greenwood Racing, Inc. Parx Casino® is conveniently located 20 minutes north of center city Philadelphia, I-95 exit 37 or PA Turnpike exit 351 (westbound), exit 352 (eastbound) onto Street Road in Bensalem. Parx features over 200,000 square feet of gaming; over 3,300 slot machines and 133 live table games; a private poker enclave with over 80 poker tables; live racing & simulcast action; Parxgrill, an upscale signature restaurant; Liberty Bell Gastropub, farm-to-fork inspired menu; Foodies quick service dining; Chickie’s & Pete’s Crab House and Sports Bar; 360 bar and live music venue; Jax sports bar; Circle Bar; Bambu Noodle House; Earl of Sandwich®; Xlounge, ultramodern luxury lounge; the Xcite Center, an over 1,500-seat live entertainment venue and complimentary parking for 5,000 cars. For more information on Parx Casino®, visit www.parxcasino.com.

Filip Hrgovi? has signed a co-promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing and Team Sauerland, with his future fights to be screened exclusively live on DAZN in the US and Sky Sports in the UK.

The Rio 2016 Olympic Bronze Medallist has made a blistering start to his professional career, racing to seven wins from seven fights – with five of those wins coming by knockout – since making his pro debut in September 2017.

Ranked in the top ten in the World with the WBA, the 26-year-old Croatian star already finds himself being positioned for a World title fight, having been matched aggressively from the very start of his career.

He sent shockwaves through the Heavyweight division with a sensational third-round knockout win over Amir Mansour to claim the WBC International belt in his hometown Zagreb, and also has notable wins against former World title challenger Kevin Johnson and Brit Tom Little.

As Hrgovi? continues to climb the World rankings and move closer to an inevitable World title shot, the highly-touted prospect says he is delighted to be teaming up with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing alongside his current promoter Team Sauerland.

“I am very happy and honoured that my promoter Team Sauerland will be working with Matchroom Boxing, DAZN and Sky Sports to deliver me big fights as I continue my World title quest,” said Hrgovi?. “This will be great for my career and proves I am one of the best prospects in the business. My goal is to become World Champion and to hold all the belts in the Heavyweight division. I know to be the best, I will have to beat the best, and as I proven so far in my professional career, I am willing to fight any heavyweight out there.

“I look forward to being involved in huge fights all around the World and showing boxing fans what Filip Hrgovi? can do!”

“Heavyweight boxing is currently enjoying a huge resurgence and we believe Filip Hrgovi? is the most exciting up and coming fighter in the division,” said Nisse Sauerland. “We’re delighted to be working with Eddie Hearn and Sky Sports, with whom we have always enjoyed an excellent relationship, and DAZN, who are doing great things for boxing in the US, and plotting a route forward that will take Filip to the top of the Heavyweight pile.”

“I’m excited to team up with Team Sauerland to work on an exceptional young Heavyweight in Filip Hrgovi?,” said Eddie Hearn. “Everyone in the sport knows what a threat this man is and he is already willing to jump in big fights at such an early stage in his career. Fans will get to watch Filip all over in the World competing in all major fight cities – don’t blink!”

JOE MULLENDER WAS given prior notice that his name was firmly in the frame for a shot at the British title, but being tipped the wink did not prompt a scouting mission to assess the strengths of a potential opponent.

Mullender challenges Liam Williams for the British middleweight title at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday March 8 and the basher from Brentwood, known as Smokin Joe, had knowledge of the prospect before the Welshman claimed the title with an emphatic stoppage of the previously unbeaten Mark Heffron at the Manchester Arena in December.

“I was at one of the award do’s with my manager Andy (Ayling) and Francis (Warren) and they just said to me ‘do you want to fight the winner?’. I said ‘how much?’ Done!” stated the 32-year-old with a record of 11-2.

A pre-Christmas jaunt to Manchester was never on the cards though, according to the former English champion.

“No, I’m not bothered, it really doesn’t bother me,” insisted Mullender. “I could have gone there and sat ringside peeping through the ropes. What difference is that going to make?

“I can’t judge a fight and sit there wondering if I could exploit this or that. Listen, he’s gonna punch my head in and I’m gonna punch his head in. Game plans go out of the window so it is irrelevant to me who won because at this level everyone is a good fighter.

“I know what I am good at and I know what I have to do. What he’s good at, he’ll do, so there is nothing special to it in my opinion.

“I don’t feel like I had to sit there and watch it and I haven’t looked at it since either. I don’t need to, Liam is a good fighter and I am not one to sit and study and opponent.

“Who is he? Lovely, see you then.”

Williams is a world level operator who has previously challenged for an Interim title at super welterweight, as well as a final eliminator for a world title. Mullender, by contrast, admits his style is of a more basic nature and could be described as up close and personal.

“Yeah and it is made for fighters like Liam, but my tactics are not going to change. I’m not going ‘I’m going to shock the world’ and then go on the back foot. I’m telling him in the press conference that I am coming to ‘ave it with him.

“So he either irons me out or we are having a fight. It is as simple as that.
“I don’t pretend to be something I’m not, but everyone can come and watch me or fighters of my style and think they will pick them apart.

“Well, who has?

“I don’t know what he will do, but he can make it a very simple fight for himself by running, staying on the back foot and jabbing my head off. That is probably what Dom Ingle is saying to him, that I am basic and if I take too many he will stop me.

“Come on then, stop me!

“It is one thing looking at it from the outside and saying I am going to do this or that. When I am on your chest, try and stop me then. If you ain’t, I am gonna tickle your ribs and I am gonna beat you up.

“Otherwise, you’ve got to beat me up. It isn’t hard to work out.”

Tickets are priced from £40 and are available to buy via RoyalAlbertHall.com
TICKETS START FROM £40
GRAND TIER: £100
LOGGIA: £100
SECOND TIER: £75

LOS ANGELES (February 13, 2019) – Fighters competing on Saturday’s Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes event took part in a media workout Wednesday as they near their respective showdowns this Saturday night at Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

Tickets for the show, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Ringstar Sports, are on sale now, and can be purchased at AXS.com.

Wednesday’s workout featured Mexican contender Rafael Rivera, who will battle WBA Featherweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz in the main event.

Also working out Wednesday at City of Angels Boxing Club were unbeaten former champion Omar Figueroa and hard-hitting John Molina Jr., who battle in super lightweight action, and unbeaten prospect Donnie Marshall, who faces fellow-unbeaten Sebastian Fundora in a super welterweight bout that kicks off televised coverage at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Unbeaten 2016 U.S. Olympian Karlos Balderas was also in attendance, as he competes in a TV swing bout.

The fighters will go face-to-face at a press conference on Thursday that will feature former two-time world champion and Southern California favorite Fernando Vargas. Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday:

RAFAEL RIVERA

“When I got this opportunity, I didn’t think twice. I was training and ready and I wanted this challenge. I’m here to make the most of it.

“Like I always say to my fans, be ready for a great fight. I’m looking to make this very exciting and interesting. The belt is coming back with me to Tijuana.

“I never look for the knockout, but I’ve still been able to get them. I’m ready, so I hope he’s also ready to give the fans a great fight.

“This is a big challenge for me. I’m coming for that world title. I want to prove how good I am and become a world champion for my fans in Tijuana.

“I love to face the best fighters out there. Leo is a fighter who throws a lot of punches. We’ve seen it and we’ve studied it. But I don’t think he’s very fast. I’m faster than he is and I have to take advantage of that. I have to counter him when he comes in and do my job.”

OMAR FIGUEROA

“I’m looking to come back strong against Molina. My style is always to go in there for the knockout and give the fans a great show. The sooner we get him out of there, the better.

“We know that John Molina is a tough fighter. He’s been in there with some of the best in the world and he’s given them problems. We expect him to bring a great fight.

“We’ve seen Molina box before and make things difficult for certain fighters. I’m going to try to make the fight my style of fight and we’ll see if he obliges. Once he feels the power, he might choose to box.

“I don’t think this goes past six rounds. I’m confident about that. We’re going to be ready for anything Molina brings.

“I’ve been doing a lot of healing physically, mentally and spiritually. I’m looking to show on Saturday that I’ve got everything together.”

JOHN MOLINA JR.

“I feel excited and confident. Maybe overconfident, but I am ready. We did our job in the gym and now we are ready for the fight.

“I have to expect the best version of Omar Figueroa. He is a smart kid. I don’t know if he is trying to entice me into a war right away. I don’t know what his game plan is, but we will find out on Saturday.

“Fans need to tune in on FOX and FOX Deportes February 16. This is going to be a war and I believe we’re going to steal the show.

“This isn’t my first go around against a Joel Diaz-trained fighter. I did it before with Ruslan Provodnikov and now it is my job to beat Figueroa.

“I am not affected by being considered the underdog. Every one of my fights, fans make money. I think Provodnikov I was 11-1. When you become a veteran in the sport, you stop worrying about stuff like that. Talk is cheap.

“There is a lot at stake for me. I don’t feel pressure, but there is a lot at stake. Every fight of my career I have something to prove and Saturday is no different.”

DONNIE MARSHALL

“This is my first big opportunity and I’m ready to take full advantage. I’m going to show everybody where I’m at.

“I’m going to take it as it comes in the ring. We have a game plan, but I’m a creator in the ring. I create on the go. I’ll fit in where I can and go with the flow of the fight.

“The only challenge I see is his height. He’s obviously very tall at six-foot seven-inches. We know what we have to do to break him down. I don’t even really see the height as a challenge, because I spar with heavyweights all the time.

“I’m 10-0, but I only started boxing when I was 20, about 10 years ago. I don’t have the time like young prospects who want to play around, I want to fight any and everybody I can right now.”

KARLOS BALDERAS

“I feel excited and anxious to get back in the ring. I’m ready physically and mentally. I know that my opponent won’t be ready for the heat I’m going to throw at him.

“This year I’m looking to be busy. I want to be back in the ring in April if everything goes well on Saturday. After this fight I’m going to move to Los Angeles and add trainer Roberto Alcazar to my team. He’s had a lot of experience in big fights and I think he’s going to be a great help. I can really understand clearly what he’s trying to teach me.

“I’m going to show everyone that I’m the real deal once again. I’m going to prove why these fighters can’t make it through a fight with me. This year is all business for me.”

# # #

ABOUT SANTA CRUZ VS. RIVERA
Leo Santa Cruz vs. Rafael Rivera is a Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes event that will see featherweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz take on Mexico’s Rafael Rivera in the main event Saturday, February 16 from Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features unbeaten former champion Omar Figueroa battling hard-hitting John Molina Jr. and a matchup between unbeaten prospects Sebastien Fundora and Donnie Marshall. Rising prospect and 2016 U.S. Olympian Karlos Balderas will compete in a swing bout that will air live if time permits.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions, @Ringstar and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

SAN ANTONIO, TX (February 13, 2019) – Prince Ranch Boxing’s highly touted amateur standout and 5-Time National Champion, Ricky Medina (2-0, 2 KO), looks to continue his fast rise to the top of the featherweight division when he returns to the ring on Feb. 23, 2019 at the Floresville Event Center, in Floresville, TX. The event titled “Small Town Big Showdown” is being presented by TMB & PRB Entertainment. Medina will face an opponent TBD.

The 18-year old high school senior, Medina, has been training hard in preparation for his upcoming bout. He’s started his career with two consecutive knockouts and has plans to remain undefeated with a stellar performance on fight night.

“I’ve been working extremely hard in the gym and I’ll be ready to go when I step in the ring on February 23rd,” said Medina, who is managed by Greg Hannley, CEO of Prince Ranch Boxing. “I’m happy with the progress of my career and I’m thankful for the team around me. I love fighting in Texas where all my family and friends can watch me fight. As always, if I get my opponent hurt, I’m going for the knockout.”

“Ricky Medina is a great kid with a ton of talent and charisma,” Greg Hannley said. “When he fights, you can see he’s on another level. His success in the amateurs is transcending in the pros. I’m looking forward to another great performance from him. He’s a very special talent to say the least.”

“When we signed Medina, we knew we had something special,” said Rick Morones, of TBM & PRB Entertainment who promotes the young San Antonio native. “He’s a special fighter and we will continue to keep him busy.”

“Everything about Medina spells world champion,” stated Alex Draghici, of TMB & PRB Entertainment. “When he fights his talent is obvious. His fighting style is fan friendly as well.”

“Small Town Big Showdown” takes place at the Floresville Event Center on Feb. 23, 2019. Tickets priced $25 General Admission, $80 Ringside and $800 VIPTables (10 seats) are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (210) 449-5599 or (210) 322-9974. The Floresville Event Center is located at 600 SH 97West, Floresville, TX 78114. Doors open at 6:00 PM, first bell at 7:30 PM.

PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 13, 2019) — The Nail and the Mean Machine are ready for their South Philly close-up.

WBC and lineal light heavyweight champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk will make the first defense of his world title against Doudou Ngumbu on Saturday, March 30 at the 2300 Arena. In the 10-round co-feature, Gvozdyk’s stablemate, top welterweight contender Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas, will take on Philadelphia native Ray Robinson.

Gvozdyk-Ngumbu and Kavaliauskas-Robinson will air live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The undercard, including the IBF welterweight title eliminator between Kudratillo “The Punisher” Abdukakhorov and Keita Obara and an appearance by Philadelphia-born heavyweight prospect Sonny Conto (1-0, 1 KO), will stream live on ESPN+ beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Peltz Boxing, tickets priced at $125, $75, and $50 go on sale Thursday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at 2300arena.com, the 2300 Arena box office at (267) 758-2173, or by calling Peltz Boxing at (215) 765-0922.

“It was a long journey for me to become a world champion, and I plan on showing everyone why I am the best light heavyweight in the world,” Gvozdyk said. “Ngumbu is a tough fighter who I cannot afford to overlook. My goal in 2019 is to unify with the other champions, but before I can do that, I have to take care of business on March 30.”

“It is a great opportunity to face arguably the best light heavyweight fighter in the world. After 12 years and 46 fights in my career with serious opposition, I get my first shot at a major world title,” Ngumbu said. “I have the utmost respect for Oleksandr Gvozdyk, a great champion who took the WBC title in a war against Adonis Stevenson. It is not going to be easy, but I believe I am much more experienced as a pro and I intend to use that to my advantage.”

Gvozdyk (16-0, 13 KOs) captured an Olympic bronze medal for his native Ukraine in 2012 as part of a national team that included two-time gold medalist and future promotional stablemate Vasiliy Lomachenko. He climbed the rankings with dominant wins over the likes of Nadjib Mohammedi and Yunieski Gonzalez and won the WBC interim light heavyweight title last March with a unanimous decision against Mehdi Amar. As the mandatory challenger, he traveled to Quebec City and, behind on two of the three judges’ scorecards, knocked out longtime champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson in the 11th round. Ngumbu (38-8, 14 KOs) is coming off perhaps the most significant win of his career, a 12-round majority decision over then-unbeaten Yoann Kongolo in May of last year. A native of the Democratic Republic of Congo who is now based in France, Ngumbu will be making his first attempt at a world title.

Kavaliauskas (21-0, 17 KOs) is universally regarded as one of the welterweight division’s top contenders, a massive puncher who rolled through then-beaten Roberto Arriaza in three rounds last November in Oklahoma City. He has knocked out five of his last six foes and is the WBO’s top contender for the belt currently held by pound-for-pound great Terence “Bud Crawford. Robinson (24-3, 12 KOs) is a rangy southpaw boxer who rebounded from back-to-back losses early in his career to Shawn Porter and Brad Solomon to win 13 in a row. In his last bout, Feb. 17, 2018 against Yordenis Ugas, he saw that winning streak come to an end when Ugas scored a seventh-round stoppage.

“I know a lot of Robinson’s fans will be in Philadelphia to cheer him on, but they will leave the 2300 Arena disappointed,” Kavaliauskas said. “This is the year that I fight for, and win, a welterweight world title. I am ready for anybody, including the Crawford-Khan winner. I will show everyone in Philadelphia and watching on ESPN what the ‘Mean Machine’ is all about.”

“I am always excited to come home and put on for my city,” Robinson said. “Every fight is a risk, but the higher the risk, the bigger the reward.”

Abdukakhorov (15-0, 9 KOs), a native of Uzbekistan who now lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, went 2-0 in 2018, including a convincing 12-round unanimous decision over Laszlo Toth in defense of his WBC silver welterweight belt. Obara (20-3-1, 18 KOs), who hails from Tokyo, is one of the division’s heaviest punchers. He knocked out Alvin Lagumbay in three rounds last August, a measure of revenge over the man who knocked him out in two rounds less than four months earlier.

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

Use the hashtags #TheNail and #MeanMachine to follow the action on social media.

To subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 per month, go to www.espnplus.com.

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Programming on ESPN+ includes hundreds of MLB and NHLgames, exclusive UFC and Top Rank boxing 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 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.

London (13 February 2019) With little over a week until he steps between the ropes at The O2 to confront his bitter rival Chris Eubank Jr, Two-Time IBF World Champion James DeGale MBE today exhibited his lean and sculpted physique, hand speed and power-punching to a captivated audience at a packed media work out at Stonebridge ABC in Wembley.

Looking ripped and ready, DeGale moved with poise and grace around the ring, mixing it up with speed and power to make it clear to everyone present that he’s primed to do battle with his Brighton arch-rival on Saturday 23rd February, exclusively live in the U.K on ITV Box Office and in the U.S on Showtime, promoted by Premier Boxing Champions and Poxon Sports.

DeGale was put through his paces by his long-time trainer Jim McDonnell in front of the watching media and also former IBF World Middleweight Champion Darren Barker and Team DeGale member Paulie Malignaggi, the former WBA and IBF World Welterweight Champion.

He expressed some stern words of warning for Eubank Jr, “Come February 23rd the smile will be wiped off his face. He’s all show. If I’m honest, if his surname was Smith, you wouldn’t know who he was. He’s riding off his dad’s name. There are levels in boxing and I’m on a level above him. Come fight night, it’s going to be a schooling. Eubank Jr is gonna get schooled. I’ve dubbed this a ‘retirement’ fight. When he loses, he’s finished, he’s done. This will be his last fight.”

He added, “I’m so excited about this fight. I’ve been training for a long time and I’m feeling great, feeling focused and ready to do battle. The last couple of years, injury wise, have been very frustrating for me. But now I can honestly say that I’m feeling great. I’m going to put in a fantastic performance against Chris. Come February 23rd it’s going to be a fantastic night and a fantastic victory for me.”

DeGale even found time to surprise his mum Diane with a bouquet of Valentine’s Day flowers before posing for photographers who captured his relaxed determination as fight night approaches.

Commenting on fighting in London again, DeGale added, “I’m a London boy through and through. I was raised in Harlesden and I’m proud of my city, proud of where I’m from. So, it will be good to go back to The O2 and put on a fantastic performance for the fans. I can’t wait.”

A Storm Is Coming is headlined by the long awaited domestic blockbuster showdown between James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr for the Vacant IBO World Super-Middleweight Championship; Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Joe Joyce defends his title against Challenger and Former WBC World Champion Bermane Stiverne; Former IBF World Featherweight Champion Lee Selby returns to action and takes on Omar Douglas; The British Heavyweight Title Eliminator between Andre Sterling and Ricky Summers. Plus an action packed undercard featuring super-featherweight Anthony Cacacae; welterweight Chris Kongo; light-heavyweight Seb Eubank and the pro-debut of cruiserweight Chez Nihell.
VIDEO
James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr. Head-To-Head on The O2 roof

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Tickets available from www.AXS.com and Inner Ringside/VIP Hospitality from www.sportandmusic.co.uk

This fight will be shown exclusively on ITV Box Office. For further information and updates, please go to www.itvboxoffice.com

For further event information, please visit www.poxonsports.uk and www.premierboxingchampions.com or follow on Twitter and Instagram at @PoxonSports, @PremierBoxing, @ITVBoxOffice, @ITVBoxing and join the conversation with #DeGaleEubankJr

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TORONTO, ON—Lee Baxter Promotions is excited to announce the signing of one of Canada’s top boxing stars, welterweight contender Custio Clayton.

Clayton (15-0, 10 knockouts), a 2012 Olympian and six-time national champion, has been knocking on the door of world title contention, fast-tracking through the 147-pound ranks in just over four years as a professional.

The Dartmouth native, who is trained and managed by Eric Belanger, will now have a chance to showcase his skills in the burgeoning boxing hotbed of Toronto, the home base of Lee Baxter Promotions.

“I’m just really excited to get back in the ring. Especially in Toronto, where I can show a new market what I’m all about,” said Clayton, who has relocated to Ottawa, Ontario.

The addition of Clayton bolsters a growing list of potential world title contenders on Baxter’s roster, including Samuel Vargas, Stanyslav Skorokhod, Dusty Harrison and Patrice Volny.

“I’m extremely excited to have Custio on our team. He is the best pure boxing talent in all of Canada, and even though he’s only 15 fights into his pro career, he’s not a fighter who needs coddling or more seasoning,” said Baxter. “We believe he is a fight or two away from a big fight, a world title fight, and we firmly believe he can bring a title home to Canada.”

Clayton was last seen in 2018, when he turned in a comprehensive shutout performance against the unbeaten Stephen Danyo.

“I never stopped training. We have a fresh team and we’re all really hungry to work together. I feel Lee is a hungry promoter with a lot of momentum and upswing, and I’m very happy to be joining his team,” said Clayton.

The 31-year old will make his debut under the Lee Baxter Promotions banner on March 29 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, on the very same plot of land that legends such as Muhammad Ali, Jose Napoles and George Chuvalo have fought. Clayton’s opponent will be named shortly.

“Custio has the potential to become a legend in Canadian boxing circles, and the first of the final steps towards immortality will happen on March 29,” said Baxter. “He has the look and the charisma to resonate with the community the way the Raptors have, and become Toronto’s first boxing superstar. If everything goes to plan, the city will have a new major sports franchise: The Blue Jays, the Raptors, the Maple Leafs, Toronto FC, and Custio Clayton.”

Heavyweight boxing’s biggest star Anthony Joshua OBE will defend his WBA Super, IBF, WBO and IBO World titles against Jarrell Miller in his long-awaited U.S. debut at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday, June 1, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the U.S.

Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs), defended his World titles with a devastating knockout of dangerous Russian Alexander Povetkin last time out at Wembley Stadium in September in what was the Olympic Champion’s fourth straight stadium fight in front of over 80,000 fans.

It was a crushing return to the scene of his historical triumph over legendary Champion Wladimir Klitschko in April 2017, where he produced the performance of a lifetime to claim the WBA crown in an unforgettable battle in front of a post war record crowd of 90,000 at England’s National Stadium.

The British sensation blasted Povetkin to the canvas with a brutal assault in the seventh round and then floored the WBA mandatory challenger again to signal a sudden and dramatic ending to his 22nd professional victory in his home city.

And now sport’s biggest name will follow in the footsteps of Heavyweight greats such as Joe Louis, Joe Frazier, Evander Holyfield and Muhammad Ali when he crosses the Atlantic to silence Brooklyn’s brash ‘Big Baby’ Miller at ‘The Mecca of Boxing’.

“June 1st I am heading to The Big Apple and I plan to embrace the culture and leave with an appetite for more,” said Joshua. “I will be fighting Jarrell Miller at the legendary Madison Square Garden. It has been an honour and a blessing to fight at some of the best venues in the World at home in the UK, not least Wembley Stadium, but the time has come to head across the Atlantic and defend my Heavyweight titles in the USA. I am looking forward to taking on another challenge with a good boxer & a brilliant talker, it will be an exciting fight, I will leave nothing to chance and plan on dismantling Miller in style to make my mark.”

Miller (23-0-1, 20 KOs), has been calling for a British scalp ever since he went face-to-face with Joshua during a heated exchange at the launch of DAZN’s streaming service in the U.S. in July last year, and the undefeated 300lbs giant is promising to turn AJ’s American dream into a living nightmare as he looks to announce himself on the biggest stage of all.

Miller earned his shot at Joshua with successive wins over former World title challengers Gerald Washington, Mariusz Wach, Johann Duhaupas and Tomasz Adamek, crushing the latter inside two rounds on his Matchroom Boxing USA debut at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago in October.

He followed this up with another big stoppage win, this time steamrolling Bogdan Dinu in four rounds to claim the interim NABA Heavyweight title at the Kansas Star Arena, and now Miller returns to his home city to fulfil a lifelong dream of fighting for the World Heavyweight crown.

“AJ is making a huge mistake coming over here to fight me in my own backyard,” said Miller. “He wants to announce himself on the American stage but all he’s doing is delivering me those belts by hand. Its dog eat dog in the ring and this dog has got a bigger bite, he’ll be leaving New York empty-handed. This is the fight that I’ve been chasing all my life and on June 1 I’m going to achieve the thing I was born to do and win the Heavyweight Championship of the World. That punk AJ is standing in the way of my dreams and on June 1 he’s getting run the hell over.”

“It’s been an eventful few months but I’m delighted to finally announce that Anthony Joshua will make his American debut at the iconic Madison Square Garden on June 1,” said Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing Managing Director. “AJ has created an incredible ‘Lion’s Den’ atmosphere in the UK and we plan to bring that energy to New York on a card that will be stacked with British vs. American talent. When you look at the Heavyweight greats that have graced the renowned ‘Mecca of Boxing’ the names of Ali, Frazier, Marciano and Tyson stand firm and June 1 will be a moment when the World will witness AJ’s turn.

“Jarrell Miller is someone I know well having been involved in his last 4 fights in America. I know how much he wants this fight and I know the belief that him and his team have in beating AJ. He is a mountain of a man with an incredible work rate and he will get the chance to challenge for 4 World Heavyweight belts in his backyard this summer. They went to head to head for all the wrong reasons last Summer and next week they will do it again as we get ready for the big build up for a momentous moment on June 1st at MSG.”

“We are delighted to be showing this massive occasion on Sky Sports Box Office and our team will provide every step of an enticing build up,” said Adam Smith, Head of Sky Sports Boxing. “Every boxer wants to conquer America and the time has come for AJ at the iconic Madison Square Garden. It’s been the home of countless classics, from Ali vs. Frazier to the controversial bout that was called a draw between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis 20 years ago. It’s another chapter in the Joshua story.”

“Anthony Joshua is the number one Heavyweight in the World and DAZN is excited to deliver the British star’s much-anticipated U.S. debut at the iconic Madison Square Garden,” said Joseph Markowski, DAZN Executive Vice President, North America. “In New York awaits a hometown fighter in Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller who has been quite vocal about his plans to spoil Joshua’s stateside arrival. He poses a real threat to dethrone the Heavyweight king in what will undoubtedly be a major international attraction and we are eager to see what will unfold June 1 on DAZN.”

“The World Heavyweight Championship at Madison Square Garden is unlike any setting in the World and we couldn’t be more thrilled to host Anthony Joshua and Jarrell Miller,” said Joel Fisher, Executive Vice President, MSG Marquee Events. “The legacy of Heavyweights at ‘The Mecca of Boxing’ that began with the likes of John L. Sullivan, Gene Tunney, ‘Jersey’ Joe Wolcott, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Joe Louis, Evander Holyfield, Wladimir Klitschko and Lennox Lewis will continue when Joshua and Miller step into the famed Garden ring in front of a packed house on June 1.”

“On June 1 Brooklyn’s Jarrell Miller will fight in the World’s greatest city for boxing’s greatest title — the Heavyweight Championship of the World — on boxing’s biggest stage — ‘The Mecca of Boxing’ Madison Square Garden,” said Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions. “It is a dream come true for Jarrell, but it is exactly what we envisioned and what I promised him when I began working with Jarrell in his second professional fight. He is on the verge of making history and I am proud to have been there since the beginning. On June 1 Jarrell follow in the footsteps of Brooklyn Heavyweight greats Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe to bring the Heavyweight World title back to its rightful home NY.”

“It is incredible to be a co-promoter of Jarrell Miller’s World title challenge against Anthony Joshua on June 1st streamed live on DAZN,” said Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions. “The fact that this event is taking place at Madison Square Garden makes it extra special as it’s a home game for Team Miller. I can’t wait to hear Michael Buffer announce, “And the NEW…!”

JOSHUA VS. MILLER TICKET SALES ANNOUNCEMENT

Important information for fight fans on tickets for the New York blockbuster

Tickets for Anthony Joshua’s long-awaited American debut against Jarrell Miller at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 1 will be available to purchase from this Friday!

Madison Square Garden Pre-Sale begins at Midday ET (5pm GMT) on Friday 15th February via Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com)

Fight Pass Pre-Sale begins at Midday GMT (7am ET) on Monday 18th February via StubHub (www.stubhub.com)

General Sale tickets are on sale at Midday ET (5pm GMT) on Tuesday 19th February via Madison Square Garden and StubHub (www.stubhub.com)

Tickets 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.

Official Ticket and Travel Packages, including the opportunity to travel on the Official Charter Plane, are available to purchase via Sportsworld (www.sportsworld.co.uk) Prices start at £1,095. Reserve your seat today.

Tickets are priced, $106, $156, $206, $306, $406, $506, $756, $1,006, $1,256 and $2,506 plus applicable booking fees.

Wheelchair seats, companion seats, aisle seats and Assistive Listening Devices are available to purchase by calling 212-465-6034

Micki Nielsen (25-1, 15 KOs) is full of confidence as he prepares to challenge Yves Ngabu (19-0, 14 KOs) for the European Cruiserweight title on Saturday night at the Eventhal Schiervelde in Roeselare, Belgium.

Nielsen faces his biggest career test as he attempts to dethrone the undefeated champion in his backyard, but the hard-hitting Copenhagen-native believes he is up to the challenge and ready to bring the EBU belt back to Denmark.

“I feel great,” said Nielsen. “I’ve boxed away from home before, and to be honest, it doesn’t bother me, especially when I know I have what it takes to win.

“I’ve had no problem making weight, my conditioning is good, and my coach says I’m in my best shape ever. I’ve worked hard and I’m ready to become European Champion on Saturday.”

Ngabu claimed the European title with a fourth-round knockout win over Tomas Ladi in April 2017, before retaining the belt in similarly emphatic fashion when stopping Geoffrey Battelo in the fourth-round in his first defence in January.

“He’s definitely a good opponent, but I believe I’ve faced better,” says Nielsen, who sees a victory over Ngabu as his route back to the upper echelons of the cruiserweight division following his sole career defeat to Kevin Lerena in 2016.

“I’ve watched his fights and I know he likes to come forward and throw a lot of shots. He throws some good punches and likes to use his uppercuts on the inside, but I’m confident in my own ability and I feel well prepared.

“I want to knock him out in front of his fans on Saturday. It will be a statement for me to prove I’m back and ready to face the best in the division.

“Of course, the victory is the most important thing, but a knockout will bring me back to where I was before my defeat to Lerena, and a European title will open the door to some great fights and some big shows in Denmark. That’s the goal!”

Promoter Nisse Sauerland is backing his man to get the job done in Belgium.

“We’ve only seen glimpses of Micki’s true potential so far,” says Sauerland. “But on Saturday, he has the opportunity to show what he’s made of by taking the title from an undefeated champion. Ngabu is a strong opponent, but I believe Micki has the strength and ability to become European Champion.”

Micki Nielsen’s European Cruiserweight title challenge against Yves Ngabu can be seen live and exclusive in Denmark on TV3 Sport from 20.00 (CET).

13 February 2019 – Bangkok, Thailand: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), earlier today held the ONE: CLASH OF LEGENDS Official Kick-Off Press Conference at the W Hotel in Bangkok.

In attendance at the Press Conference and part of the head table was Hua Fung Teh, Group President of ONE Championship, main event athletes Nong-O Gaiyanghadao and Han Zi Hao, co-main event athletes Kongsak P.K.Saenchaimuaythaigym and Alaverdi Ramazanov, Shannon Wiratchai and opponent Amarsanaa Tsogookhu, and Rika Ishige and opponent Nou Srey Pov.

Ticket information for ONE: CLASH OF LEGENDS is available at www.onefc.com.

Photo: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1b36SXAjUQYr3V01QZE5VrCO_bldTO5R1
Video:

Hua Fung Teh, Group President of ONE Championship, stated: “Thailand has given the world one of the most famous martial arts in human history. Muay Thai is an intricately crafted and devastating striking style known for its effectiveness and power. It comes as no surprise that Thailand is recognized for having the best strikers in the world. That’s why we at ONE Championship love being back here, because we feel that we are one with the martial arts spirit and the culture of this beautiful country. This Saturday, ONE: CLASH OF LEGENDS will showcase Muay Thai, together with other martial arts, in all their glory, an thrill fans all over the world.”

Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title Contender, stated: “It is an honor to be here in front of all the media and the fans. I would like to say, I am extremely excited and happy for this incredible opportunity. Han Zi Hao is very fast and he is a great athlete. I will tell you one thing, I will not underestimate him. Through hard practice and training, I have become stronger. Expect the best version of Nong-O Gaiyanghadao in the ring this Saturday night. I’m coming for the belt and it would be an honor to be crowned the first ever ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion.”

Han Zi Hao, ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title Contender, stated: “This time, I have the chance to challenge for the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title, and that means a lot to me. I came to Thailand to practice Muay Thai when I was 14 years old because I know the best in the world train here. Nong-O [Gaiyanghadao] has been my idol since I was a kid. Now, I have the chance to face my idol in the ring, and it is a big honor for me. I want to bring the belt back to China. I will do my best.”

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

About ONE Championship™
ONE Championship (ONE) is the largest global sports media property in Asian history, and the largest producer of millennial live sports content in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE is the Home of Martial Arts, and is the world’s largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. ONE hosts the biggest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions on the largest global media broadcast in Asia. ONE eSports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship, runs Asia’s largest global eSports Championship Series with some of the biggest blockbuster game titles in the world. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1.7 billion potential viewers across 138 countries with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, Great Sports, Tencent, and more.

NEW YORK – February 12, 2019 – Undefeated middleweight world champions Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer will meet on Saturday, April 13 live on SHOWTIME to crown the women’s undisputed 160-pound world champion. The blockbuster unification from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. will be the main event of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION live at 9 p.m. ET/PT and is arguably the most significant women’s boxing event in history.

Shields vs. Hammer features two of the consensus top-10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world squaring off to crown only the second undisputed champion in female boxing history. The fight, originally scheduled for November 2018, was postponed due to a now-resolved medical issue suffered by Hammer.

The 23-year-old Shields (8-0, 2 KOs) is a two-division champion who holds the IBF, WBA and WBC 160-pound titles. The 28-year-old Hammer (24-0, 11 KOs) owns the WBO belt, is the WBC Champion in Recess, and has dominated the women’s middleweight division for more than eight years. Shields and Hammer fought on the same card last June on SHOWTIME, with both fighters winning impressively to set up the first undisputed showdown in the women’s 160-pound division.

The winner of Shields vs. Hammer will join Terrence Crawford, Jermain Taylor, Bernard Hopkins, Oleksandr Usyk and women’s welterweight Cecilia Braekhus as the only fighters to have unified all four major world titles in any weight class.

Shields vs. Hammer is promoted by Salita Promotions. Ticket prices and on-sale date will be announced next week by Boardwalk Hall.

“I always seek the biggest challenges and set the highest goals. I will be ready like never before and will defeat Christina Hammer on April 13,” said Shields. “Nothing will stop me from becoming undisputed champion and continuing my journey to carry women’s boxing to never-before-seen heights. I want to be the greatest of all time and change the game forever for all women in sports, and April 13 is an important step on that road to history.”

“I have waited a long time for this moment,” said Hammer. “I am bigger, stronger and more experienced than Claressa Shields. I am undefeated and have been a champion for over eight years. I can’t wait to show the world that I am the best and undisputed middleweight champion of the world.”

“SHOWTIME Sports has a long history of featuring the best in women’s combat sports, whether it was with Laila Ali and Christy Martin in boxing, or Gina Carano, Cris Cyborg and Ronda Rousey in MMA,” said Gordon Hall, Executive Producer of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION. “More recently, since 2016 we have featured today’s elite with Claressa Shields, Christina Hammer, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano appearing in an industry-leading 10 presentations of women’s boxing. Male or female, SHOWTIME has delivered the best fighters in their toughest matchups, and April 13 will be no different. We have two of the best pound-for-pound female fighters in the world facing each other with all four middleweight titles at stake. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

“The biggest women’s fight of all time is set to take place on April 13 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City,” said promoter Dmitriy Salita. “Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer, both champions, both in their prime, are not only taking on the biggest challenge in their respective careers by meeting each other in the ring, but are breaking barriers for boxing and for women in sports. April 13 is destined to be an electric and historic night of boxing live on SHOWTIME.”

“Shields vs. Hammer is the biggest and most important fight in women’s boxing history – two undefeated unified champions in their prime battling for the undisputed middleweight championship of the world,” said Shields’ manager Mark Taffet. “Christina Hammer is indeed a very good fighter and champion, but Claressa Shields is once-in-a-lifetime. The same intense focus and determination that got Claressa through life, earned her two Olympic gold medals, and won her five world titles in eight pro fights will carry her to victory on April 13.”

“We are very excited to bring world-class championship boxing back to Atlantic City’s Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall,” said Matt Doherty, Executive Director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. “This reinforces the CRDA’s commitment to attract world-class sporting events and increase visitors to our destination.”

Shields was the first American boxer in history – male or female – to win consecutive Olympic gold medals. The Flint, Mich., native turned professional following the 2016 Olympics and became unified women’s super middleweight world champion in just her fourth professional fight. Shields moved down to middleweight for her June 22 headliner on SHOWTIME, defeating Hanna Gabriels to win the IBF and WBA titles and become a two-division champion in just her sixth professional contest. After Hammer was named WBC Champion in Recess due to her medical issue, Shields picked up the vacant WBC title last November with a unanimous decision over Hannah Rankin. She most recently defended all three titles in December against Femke Hermans.

Hammer, of Dortmund, Germany, has been the dominant force in the women’s middleweight division since winning the WBO title in 2010. Hammer became unified champion in 2016 with a unanimous decision over WBC titlist Kali Reis and made four defenses as unified champion. In her eight years as champion, Hammer has lost just a handful of rounds across 16 world title fights. Hammer, who also models professionally and was recently featured at Fashion Week in New York City, made her U.S. debut on June 22 after campaigning mostly in Germany since turning professional in 2009. After being forced to withdraw from the November unification due to the health issue, Hammer won a non-title fight via second round knockout last Saturday, February 9 in Germany.

The undercard for the SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION telecast will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Emmanuel Rodriguez – Naoya Inoue WBSS bout is set for May 18th in Glasgow, Scotland, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“My destiny is to win the prestigious (Muhammad) Ali Trophy and prove I am the best bantamweight in the world,” Inoue said. “I cannot wait to box in the United Kingdom in front of their loud fans and I will show them a ‘Monster’ performance.”

“I have been waiting for this moment my entire life,” Rodriguez said. “I always wanted to fight the best, and now I am fighting a boxer considered (one of) the best by the boxing reporters and fans. That’s great motivation for me, my team and Puerto Rico. We got this. I am going to get the victory. Puerto Rico will shine in Scotland and I am confident of going all the way and take home the Ali Trophy.”

An interim WBC Heavyweight title fight between Dominic Brezeale and Dillian Whyte has been ordered, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“It’s great. It’s about time the WBC ordered this fight,” Whyte told ESPN. “Breazeale shouldn’t have been the mandatory in the first place. I’m about to go and claim what is mine, the WBC world heavyweight title. This fight will take me one step closer. Let’s go, baby! Let’s go!”