TYSON FURY will face two-time world heavyweight title challenger Francesco Pianeta in his second comeback fight next month.

The lineal heavyweight champion will face the 6ft 5in Italian on Frank Warren’s blockbuster open air show at Belfast’s Windsor Park on Saturday August 18, which is live on BT Sport.

Fury, 29, ended a lay off of more than two and half years last month when Sefer Seferi retired on his stool after four rounds and southpaw Pianeta is a step up in class for the Manchester man.

German based Pianeta (35-4-1) has 21 knockout wins on his record, but fell short in world championship challenges against Wladimir Klitschko and Ruslan Chagaev.

Warren said: “The Seferi fight is history and Pianeta is a far better operator than him. His level of opposition tells you that.

“Tyson had been out of boxing for a long time and Pianeta is a good opponent for what is Tyson’s second fight back after his break.

“Tyson had a short rest after Seferi, but is back in full time camp ready for this challenge in Belfast.

“He needs rounds under his belt before moving on to the next level and this fight will do that and make him work for his win.”

Pianeta, 33, is a former WBO European and EBU EU champion and knows beating Fury will put him in line for another world title fight.

Hall of Fame promoter Warren added: “I am sure Pianeta will get into the Belfast ring desperate to upset Tyson.”

Fury (26-0) became the world’s premier heavyweight and Ring Magazine champion when he took the IBF, WBA and WBO belts from Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015 – becoming the first man to defeat the Ukrainian great in more than 11 years.

The Belfast bill is topped by local superstar, WBO ‘interim’ featherweight champion Carl Frampton who faces Australian challenger Luke Jackson.

Another Irish star Paddy Barnes is in world title action when he challenges Nicaragua’s feared WBC champion Cristofer Rosales.

Among the undercard action is a cracking Belfast v Dublin clash between Steven Ward and Steve Collins Jr. Lewis Crocker, WBO European middleweight champion Luke Keeler and Marco McCullough are also in action.

Limited remaining tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.ie. priced at £80, £100, £120, £150, £250, £400 (includes hospitality). Buying tickets over the phone – 0844 847 2455. To purchase Accessible Seating – 0333 321 9996

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LOS ANGELES (July 11, 2018): Jaime Munguia (29-0, 25 KOs), the newly-crowned WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, hosted a media workout today at the Westside Boxing Club ahead of the first defense of his title against former world champion Liam “Beefy” Smith (26-1-1, 14 KOs) in a 12-round main event Saturday, July 21 at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas. The fight will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Alberto “Explosivo” Machado (19-0, 16 KOs), who will put his WBA Super Featherweight World Title on the line as he faces undefeated No. 1 Contender Rafael “Sweet Pea” Mensah (31-0, 23 KOs) in the 12-round co-main event, also participated in the workout.

Here’s what Munguia and Machado had to say during today’s media workout:

JAIME MUNGUIA, WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion:

“We had a sensational training camp. We have a great team, so I feel very good. The potential fight against Gennady Golovkin really got my name out there. It allowed me to get the opportunity to fight for a world title. I’m grateful for that. I’m also grateful that the NSAC didn’t allow me to fight against Golovkin because it lead to this world title.

I’m always 100% ready. I got the call to fight Sadam Ali with only two weeks notice. The only struggle was to lose the weight, but other than that I was ready. I knew my advantage was my reach and my power. I knew that he was a smaller fighter. Those were the keys to my victory.

I feel very motivated now that I am a world champion. Everyone is going to talk about to me after this fight. This will open up more opportunities, and people will mention my name with the likes of Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin.

I think that the only advantage that Liam Smith has is that he’s fought in big events before. But I have many fights under my belt. I have a lot of experience. I had over 100 fights as an amateur. All this experience gives me a lot of confidence when I step into the ring. Also, Smith might say that he’s a natural 154-pounder, but I want to tell him that I’m a natural 160-pounder who drops down. I’m very happy with the training camp we had and very confident about this fight.”

ALBERTO “EXPLOSIVO” MACHADO, WBA Super Featherweight World Champion:

“It’s been about 10 months since my last fight. But it served me well. It allowed me to get some rest and to work on some technical details I needed to work on. I had been boxing for 15 years straight, so it was a necessary rest.

Fighting on HBO for the first time was a dream come true. I used to gather with my friends to watch Miguel Cotto, Ivan Calderon and Felix Trinidad on HBO, so this was definitely a dream come true. The fight against Jezreel Corrales was very tough. At first, he didn’t event make weight. I knew he had a lot more experience than I did too. But I brought out the spirit that characterizes us a boxers to walk away with the victory.

For this camp, I worked on strategy and technique. I had more time to travel to Los Angeles and work with Freddie Roach. During this camp, I really got to see why he is a Hall of Fame trainer. I got to see why he’s had so many world champions. On July 21, you will definitely see a new and improved Alberto Machado.”

(ABOVE: Maricela Cornejo, Joet Gonzalez and Richard Acevedo pose for the media ahead of their fights on
the July 13 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN)

Click HERE for Photos/Videos
Photo Credit: Tom Hogan-HoganPhotos/Golden Boy Promotions
Video Credit: Golden Boy Promotions

Fighters from the July 13 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN also participated in the workout. Rising featherweight contender Joet Gonzalez (19-0, 11 KOs) will battle for the vacant NABO 126-pound title against Rafael ‘Big Bang’ Rivera (25-1-2, 16 KOs) in the 10-round main event.

Richard “Kansas Kid” Acevedo (2-0, 2 KOs) will return in a four-round super welterweight fight against Quantavious Green (1-2-1, 1 KO) of Shreveport, La. Maricela “La Diva” Cornejo (11-2, 4 KOs) will return in a six-round super middleweight fight against Samantha Pill (3-0) of Fairmont, West Virginia. All the action will take place at The Novo by Microsoft
at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles.

Here’s what fighters on the July 13 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPNhad to say during today’s media workout:

JOET GONZALEZ, Featherweight Contender:

“I can compete with all the champions at Featherweight. I’ve sparred with the likes of Oscar Valdez, Leo Santa Cruz and Mikey Garcia. And I compete with them. I’m not just a sparring partner. I give them their money’s worth. That should tell you where I am in the division. I’m excited that Golden Boy gave us the opportunity. My manager Frank Espinoza and my team really worked hard for this fight. The NABO title will open a lot of doors and opportunities, so I’m really excited about that. My best quality is being smart. There are fighters who get scared when they get touched. But I can take a punch. If we need to make it a war, I can make it a war. But because I fight smart, I know how to get someone out using my head.”

MARICELA “LA DIVA” CORNEJO, Super Middleweight Prospect:

“It’s been great to feel the support from Golden Boy. We have had great meetings. That makes me confident because I know they have my back. They’re doing their part to help me, so I know I have to be in the gym doing my part as well. Samantha Pill had 10 fights as amateur. That’s six more than I did. I didn’t have that much but I’m learning on the job. She’s taller than me so I know I have to go in there smart, but I was made for this. I always knew I was meant to be successful in this sport, and I feel myself getting better and better in every fight.”

RICHARD “KANSAS KID” ACEVEDO, Super Welterweight Prospect:

“I’m staying busy with Golden Boy Promotions, and it feels great. I’m in the best shape of my life training with the Saucedo Brothers at Westside Boxing. My opponent is a tough guy and I know I can’t go in too confident, but I’m positive I’ll come out with a great win. I feel stronger than ever and I look forward to moving up in my division to get better and better fights.”

Munguia vs. Smith is a 12-round fight for the WBO Junior Middleweight
World Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Zanfer Promotions and Frank Warren. Machado vs. Mensah is a 12-round fight for the WBA Super Featherweight World Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions in association with Don King Productions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING” and Casa Mexico Tequila. The event takes place Saturday, July 21, 2018 at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas. The fight will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Tickets for Munguia vs. Smith are priced at $20, $50, $75, $100 and $125, not including applicable service charges and taxes. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or The Joint Box Office at (702) 693-5000. Tickets will also be available for purchase at www.goldenboytickets.com and www.ticketmaster.com.

Gonzalez vs. Rivera is a 10-round fight for the vacant NABO Featherweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING” and Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle.” The fights will take place on Friday, July 13, 2018 at The Novo by Microsoft at L.A. LIVE. Doors to the event open at 3:00 p.m. PT, and the first fight begins at 4:00 p.m. PT. ESPN and ESPN Deportes will air the fights beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets for Gonzalez vs. Rivera are priced at $20, $40, and $60, not including applicable service charges and taxes. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call AXS at1-888-9-AXS-TIX (1-888-929-7849) or The Novo Box Office (213) 765-7000. Tickets will also be available for purchase at www.goldenboytickets.com, www.thenovodtla.com, www.axs.com, and www.lalive.com.

July 21 Boxing After Dark:
For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.hbo.com/boxing and www.hardrockhotel.com. Follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @HBOboxing @HardRockHotelLV. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,
www.facebook.com/hboboxing and www.facebook.com/HardRockHotelLV. Visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @HBOBoxing and @HardRockHotelLV. Follow the conversation using #MunguiaSmith.

July 13 GBP on ESPN:
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and http://www.espn.com/boxing/; follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @ESPN, and @ESPNBoxeo; become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing; and follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing and @OscarDeLaHoya. Follow the conversation using #GonzalezRivera.

July 21 Boxing After Dark:
Photos and videos are available to download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link http://bit.ly/MunguiaSmith into a browser. Credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions for photos and videos used.

July 13 GBP on ESPN:
Photos and videos are available to download by clicking here or copying and pasting link: http://bit.ly/GonzalezRivera into a browser. Credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions for photos and videos used.

NEW ORLEANS (July 11, 2018) – Championship boxing is back in “The Big Easy” on Saturday at the Lakefront Arena. Native son Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (21-0, 18 KOs) defends the WBC super lightweight diamond belt against fellow unbeaten Juan Jose Velasco (20-0, 12 KOs), while unbeaten lightweight sensation Teofimo Lopez (9-0, 7 KOs) looks to continue “The Takeover” against once-beaten William Silva (25-1, 14 KOs) for the vacant WBC Continental Americas lightweight title.

Prograis vs. Velasco and Lopez vs. Silva will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 7 p.m. ET. The undercard will be streamed on ESPN+ beginning at 4:30 p.m ET and include several standouts, including 2016 U.S. Olympian Charles Conwell (7-0, 5 KOs) in a six-round middleweight bout against Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native Travis Scott (19-3, 5 KOs), 2016 Olympic gold medalist Fazliddin Gaibnazarov (4-0, 2 KOs) versus fellow unbeaten Kevin Johnson (5-0, 4 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight bout; unbeaten 130-pound contender Erick De Leon (17-0-1, 10 KOs) against Adrian Young (25-4-2, 19 KOs) in a 10-rounder; featherweight prospect Jean Carlos Rivera (13-0, 8 KOs) versus Angel Luna (12-4-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-rounder; and the professional debut of the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist from Russia, Vladimir Nikitin.

Many of the fighters from Saturday’s card worked out for the media Wednesday at New Orleans Boxing Club. This is what they had to say.

Regis Prograis

“I’m not going to say I go in looking for the knockout, but I go in to try and hurt my opponent. Boxing is a brutal sport, and that’s how it’s supposed to be. I feel like I’m a killer. Of course, I’m nice. I can smile with ya’ll, but when I get in there, I’m a killer.”

“When I hit somebody and I know they’re hurt, then I know I got them. My whole thing is if I hit them and I see some type of weakness in their body, or I see something going, then I know automatically I got them. It’s over.”

“When I started {boxing}, I was a natural street fighter most of the time. It was a big influence because it started me off and gave me the hunger. I wanted to be great and I knew I wanted to be a professional boxer since probably when I was 14 or 15.”

“There are way more distractions {fighting at home}, but it’s part of the game. You gotta do it. It’s part of my job.”

Teofimo Lopez

“I’m 20 now. I’ll be a world champion by 21. Then I’m going to clean out the 135-pound division. And yeah, I know Vasiliy Lomachenko is in my way.”

“This is my last fight as a 20-year-old, and I know that I’m going to put on another great show. ‘The Takeover’ is real, ladies and gentlemen. The dude I’m fighting has never been knocked out, but he’s never seen anyone like me. I just can’t wait for Saturday night, and I have a bunch of tricks up my sleeve that nobody has seen.”

“I don’t smoke. I don’t drink. I respect the sport. My time is coming.”

Juan Jose Velasco

“The pressure is not an issue for me. The pressure is on Regis. I’m not expected to do much, which is fine by me. I’ll prove the experts wrong.”

“I feel like everyone is pulling for him, that it’s a gimme fight for Regis. Everyone can talk, but on Saturday, he’ll have to fight.”

William Silva

“I feel great. Teofimo was a great amateur and an Olympian, but this is the pro game. The pros are a different animal.”

“In the ring, there ain’t no underdog. It’s whoever has the will and the skills. When you’re in the ring, you show your skills.”
# # #

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment, tickets, priced at $200 (ringside), $125 (floor), $75, and $40, are on sale now, and can be purchased at the Lakefront Arena box office, Ticketmaster.com and charge by phone at 800-745-3000. Discounts for military, students and New Orleans Police Department members ? $75 tickets for $50 and $40 seats for $25 – are available when presenting valid ID at the Lakefront Arena box office.

LAS VEGAS (July 11, 2018) – Rising contender Ladarius Miller (16-1, 5 KOs) will face Dennis Galarza (16-3, 9 KOs) a 10-round lightweight match that headlines Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce Friday, August 3 from Sam’s Town in Las Vegas.

The telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features a 10-round welterweight showdown between Cesar Barrionuevo (34-3-2, 24 KOs) and Abel Ramos (19-3-2, 14 KOs) plus unbeaten junior welterweight Juan Heraldez taking on Kevin Watts (11-2, 4 KOs) in a bout scheduled for 10 rounds.

Tickets for the event, which is being promoted by Mayweather Promotions, begin at $25, are on sale now and will be available at www.samstownlv.com/entertain.

“We have a stacked card prepared August 3 for fans in Las Vegas and watching on Bounce,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “Ladarius Miller has stepped his fight game up and is making tremendous strides with his career. He’s putting in the work and I’m sure he’ll be ready to take on Dennis Galarza and come out victorious on fight night. The bouts leading up to the main event will prove to be crowd pleasers as well, bringing the fans an overall great night of boxing.”

The 24-year-old Miller has been on a tear since a loss in February 2016, showing off increased power plus the speed that defined him since turning pro in 2014. Miller has won seven fights in a row, including a victory over Jamel Herring and previously unbeaten Maynard Allison. Born in Memphis but living and training out of Las Vegas as a pro, Miller has already scored two stoppage victories this year in his adopted hometown.

“I feel great right now and happy to get back in the ring,” said Miller. “I have a great team behind me and they’re giving me motivation to fight and train even harder than ever. Galarza is another step up for me and someone who I’m very aware of. I have to be patient in this next fight. If I see an opportunity for a knockout then I’ll go for it, but it’s not the plan. I have the skillset. All I can do is go out there, download his plan, and react. My goal is always to give the fans an exciting show while I’m out there.”

Galarza, an outstanding amateur boxer, stepped up in competition and dropped a narrow decision to veteran contender Edner Cherry in April. The 25-year-old Galarza, who’s from Brooklyn but trains in Orlando, had won three straight fights heading into that bout and will look to get back in the win column in the same building where he won a 10-round decision against Omar Tienda last June.

“I don’t back down from anybody and Ladarius Miller is no exception,” said Galarza. “I walked out of my last fight against Edner Cherry knowing that I won the fight, even though I didn’t get the decision. I won the respect of the fans and now I’m back with another chance to prove myself. I know Miller very well and I know a win here can put me into the upper echelon of the division. This is a coming out fight for both of us and I’m looking to win impressively.”

The 29-year-old Barrionuevo fights out of Salta, Argentina and has been the Argentine welterweight champion since 2015. He enters this fight the winner of his last 10 contests, including a first round destruction of Adrian Luciano Veron in January. Barrionuevo will be making his U.S. debut when he enters the ring in Las Vegas on August 3.

Fighting out of Casa Grande, Arizona, Ramos made his welterweight debut by stopping Emmanuel Robles last July before challenging once-beaten Jamal James in April and losing by a narrow majority decision. The 27-year-old has bounced back with two stoppage victories in 2018 and has draws against world champion Maurice Hooker and contender Levan Ghvamichava on his resume.

Heraldez is unbeaten since turning pro in 2009 and picked up the biggest victory of his career thus far when he triumphed over previously undefeated Jose Miguel Borrego last August on the Mayweather vs. McGregor undercard. Fighting out of Las Vegas, the 27-year-old will make his 2018 debut August 3 looking to further his contender credentials.

The Los Angeles-native Watts put his career back on the right path with a knockout victory over then once-beaten Ryan Karl in April and hopes to build on that with another notable victory August 3. The 26-year-old won his first 11 pro fights before suffering defeats to then unbeaten fighters Eddie Ramirez and Jose Miguel Borrego.

# # #

Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce will also be available to be streamed live via Bounce’s new subscription-video-on-demand service Brown Sugar, which features an extensive and one-of-a-kind library of iconic black movies as well as Bounce original programming and series. Brown Sugar is available on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Channels, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Kindle, Android and Apple smartphones and tablets and web browsers via BrownSugar.com. Brown Sugar also has Google Chromecast capabilities which allow video to play on televisions directly from mobile devices and tablets for consumers with Android and iOS devices. There is a free initial trial period for subscribers with a retail price of $3.99/month thereafter.

Bounce (@BounceTV) airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage, and features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports, and more. Bounce has grown to be available in more than 109 million homes across the United States and 97% of all African-American (AA) television homes, including all the top AA television markets. Visit BounceTV.com for more information. Bounce is part of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP).

For more information visit: www.premierboxingchampions.com and www.mayweatherpromotions.com follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @BounceTV, @MayweatherPromo, and @Swanson_Comm, become a fan on Facebook at: www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, Facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.Facebook.com/BounceTV. Follow the conversation using #PBConBounce. PBC on Bounce is sponsored by Corona: La Cerveza Mas Fina.

For local channel location, visit BounceTV.com.

Cardiff, Wales (July 11, 2018) 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist Daniyar Yeleussinov, (2-0-0, 1 KO), of Kazakhstan will face battle-tested veteran Gabor Gorbics, (24-11-0, 14 KO’s), of Budapest, Hungary in a six-round welterweight battle on Saturday, August 4, 2018 at the Ice Arena Cardiff, as part of Matchroom Boxing’s acclaimed JDNXTGEN series telecast on Sky Sports.

The event is headlined by a vacant Commonwealth Lightweight Title clash between Joe Cordina and Sean Dodd.

Fresh off his dominant performance in his London debut on June 6, Yeleussinov has begun preparations for this third professional fight. Fighting at the famed York Hall, the exciting southpaw won a six-round decision over veteran Zoltan Szabo.

Joined in London by local Kazak dignitaries and supporters, Yeleussinov is also expected to have a wealth of fans in Cardiff on August 4.

“As I progress in my professional career I will continue to add to my skill set,” said Yeleussinov. “Every day in training camp I learn more about becoming a better and more aggressive professional fighter.”

“Daniyar has improved in both of his professional bouts and we look for even greater improvement on August 4 against Gorbics,” said Ziya Aliyev of Boxing Stars Management Group, LLC. “We’ve heard the Cardiff boxing fans are loud and passionate and we can’t wait to have them see Daniyar.” Boxing Stars Management Group LLC is headed by Aliyev and Elvis Crespo.

Gorbics has faced numerous world class prospects over the course of his six years as a professional including Kerman Lejarraga, Liam Williams, Asinia Byfield, Radzhab Butaev, Sergey Lubkovich and Shakhram Giyasov.

Yeleussinov took the U.S. boxing fans by storm with a show-stopping performance in his pro debut on the April 28, 2018 Daniel Jacobs-Maciej Sulecki card recording a third-round knockout of Noah Kidd at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Las Vegas – The highly anticipated 28th season of The Ultimate Fighter® will see UFC® middleweight champion Robert Whittaker coach opposite No. 4 ranked contender Kelvin Gastelum. Following the series, which debuts Wednesday, August 29 on FS1, the two will clash for the middleweight title at a date that will be determined in the near future.

The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters will also feature a dynamic cast of men’s heavyweights and women’s featherweights. Each tournament winner will receive a six-figure UFC contract. Following the series, the live finale will take place on Friday, November 30 at The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV.

Whittaker (21-4) won The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes as a welterweight and has gone on to become one of the most successful TUF winners in the UFC. He is the reigning UFC middleweight champion and has claimed five post-fight bonus awards in his last four fights.

Gastelum (16-3, 1 NC) also won The Ultimate Fighter, claiming the middleweight trophy during the 17th season of the show. He has been dominant at 185 pounds, taking out former champions and superstars such as Michael Bisping, Jacare Souza and Tim Kennedy.

Below is a full list of competitors (name, age, professional record and fighting out of):

FEMALE FEATHERWEIGHTS

Leah Letson | 25 | 4-1 | Milwaukee, WI

Larissa Pacheco | 23 | 11-2 | Belem, Brazil

Marciea Allen | 36 | 7-2 | Wood Dale, IL

Pannie Kianzad | 26 | 9-3 | Copenhagen, Denmark

Bea Malecki | 26 | 2-0 | Stockholm, Sweden

Julija Stoliarenko | 25 | 4-2-1 | Kaunas, Lithuania

Katharina Lehner | 28 | 7-1 | Cologne, Germany

Macy Chiasson | 26 | 2-0 | New Orleans, LA

MALE HEAVYWEIGHTS

Ben Sosoli | 28 | 6-2 | Melbourne, Australia

Maurice Greene | 31 | 5-2 | St. Cloud, MN

Michel Batista | 34 | 4-0 | Miami, FL

Juan Francisco Espino Diepa | 37 | 8-1 | Las Palmas, Spain

Justin Frazier | 28 | 10-2 | Cave City, AR

Anderson Da Silva | 31 | 3-0-1 | Sao Paulo, Brazil

Przemyslaw Mysiala | 35 | 22-9-1 | Maidenhead, England

Josh Parisian | 28 | 7-2 | Brighton, MI

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Visit the UFC® Press Portal for information and content to support your UFC coverage.

About UFC®

UFC® is a premium global sports brand and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2018, UFC boasts more than 284 million fans worldwide and has produced over 400 events in 21 countries since its inception in 1993. Acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment and fashion leader Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG), together with strategic partners Silver Lake Partners and KKR, UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas with a network of employees around the world. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe, while programming is broadcast in over 165 countries and territories to more than 1.1 billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content to fans around the world. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

About Pilgrim Media Group
Pilgrim Media Group, a Lionsgate company, produces a wide variety of unscripted and scripted content for television and digital platforms, as well as feature films. The company’s series include Discovery’s Street Outlaws (and spinoffs Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings and Street Outlaws: Memphis), Fast N’ Loud, Misfit Garage, Garage Rehab and Shifting Gears with Aaron Kaufman; My Big Fat Fabulous Life for TLC; two-time NAACP Award-winner Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s for OWN; Two time MMA Award-winner The Ultimate Fighter for FS1, in its 27th season; Wicked Tuna and Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks for National Geographic; and Bring It! and Love at First Flight for Lifetime. Pilgrim also produced the scripted series Recovery Road for Freeform, multiple original movies for Lifetime, and is in development on numerous other scripted projects for TV, film and streaming outlets. Pilgrim’s feature documentary, Soufra (which won two awards at Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival), premiered in North America at DOC NYC, with theatrical runs in New York and Los Angeles, and invitations to screen at international film festivals, including Cannes. The company also continues to produce award-winning content via its digital studio, 1620 Media.

Bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue has joined The World Boxing Super Series, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“We are thrilled to have Inoue on board for season two’s amazing bantamweight tournament,” said promoter Kalle Sauerland, the chief boxing officer of tournament organizer Comosa AG. “His stage name, ‘The Monster,’ has proved fitting. Inoue is an extremely exciting fighter and possesses absolutely extraordinary power. Inoue has become one of the biggest idols in his native Japan and now gets the chance to showcase his skills in the (Muhammad) Ali Trophy tournament, the greatest stage of all.”

“It is an honor to be able to participate and compete in such a great tournament,” Inoue said. “Of course, I will win and as the winner of the tournament, I will continue onto the next journey of my boxing career.”

British cruiserweight prospect Mikael Lawal (6-0, 4 KOs) continues his rise up the professional ranks on Saturday, July 14 at the Baden Arena in Offenburg when he meets Istvan Kun (7-10-1, 4 KOs) on the Zeuge-Fielding undercard.

Lawal, now 6-0, has made a promising start to his paid career. Fighting out of Stonebridge Boxing Club, the 23 year-old from Shepherd’s Bush returns following a fifth-round TKO win over Adam Williams at the Manchester Arena.

“I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring and fighting on a big show in Germany,” says Lawal. “It will be a good opportunity to build my experience and grow my profile boxing on another big card.

“Istvan Kun is a good opponent. He is the type of fighter who likes to come forward but once he feels my power he might want to start taking a step back.”

Prior to his seventh professional contest, Lawal has been in Kiev sparring WBC and WBO World Cruiserweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk as he prepares for his World Boxing Super Series unification showdown with IBF and WBA Super Champion Murat Gassiev.

“Sparring with Usyk has been a great experience,” he says. “It’s given me something to look forward to and made me want to train even harder because one day I want to be in his position. I want to be in the mix with the top guys in the division. At the moment, I’m just trying to gain experience and learn the game, but one day, I’ll be coming for those belts.”

Lawal fights on the undercard of Tyron Zeuge’s WBA World Super Middleweight title defence against Rocky Fielding, which also features hotly tipped British super middleweight Zach Parker and top German talents Leon Bunn and Denis Radovan.

Zeuge vs. Fielding will be shown live and exclusive on Sport1 in Germany and Sky Sports in the UK. Tickets are available via www.eventim.de or by calling +49 (0)1806-533933.

LOS ANGELES (July 10, 2018) – WBC Lightweight World Champion Mikey Garcia worked out for the press Tuesday at Fortune Gym in Los Angeles as he prepares for his 135-pound title unification against IBF titlist Robert Easter Jr. Saturday, July 28 live on SHOWTIME from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) will also see Cuban heavyweight slugger Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz returning to action to face former title challenger Razvan Cojanu in a 10-round bout and unbeaten super lightweight contender Mario “El Azteca” Barrios taking on hard-hitting Jose Roman in a 10-round showdown.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Ringstar Sports and TGB Promotions, begin at $50, plus applicable fees, and are on sale now. To purchase tickets, visit AXS.com.

Here is what Garcia, his brother and trainer Robert Garcia and Ringstar Sports Chairman and CEO Richard Schaefer had to say ahead of Garcia’s first title unification fight:

MIKEY GARCIA

“It’s been seven years since I last had the chance to fight here in LA, and that was even before I was champion. Now after all of my accomplishments, I get to come home and put on a unification match for my local fans.

“Every time I walk into the ring, there’s a moment where I get butterflies and feel the emotions from the fans. This time it’s with my hometown fans and that’s really special. I’m really looking forward to it because I know the fans are going to show up and show their love and support.

“I think I’m in my prime right now. I’m in the best shape physically and mentally that I’ve ever been in. I need to take advantage of the moment right now and take on the biggest challenges. I want to give the fans fights to remember. Those are the fights that excite me the most.

“I know Easter is very tall and has a longer reach than me. In the gym, we’ve been working on sparring partners who present different challenges and made adjustments from there. I have to catch him reaching in or put pressure and work my way inside. There are different things that I’m capable of doing.

“I’m pretty experienced from fighting taller guys in the past, so I don’t think it’s going to make too huge a difference. It’s a disadvantage on paper, but once fight night comes, I’ll be ready.

“This is a big fight for me and I’m sure it’s the biggest fight of Easter’s career so far. I’m glad to hear he’s training extra hard. It shows me that he’s motivated and hungry to show off his very best, just like I am.

“This is my natural weight and so far everything in camp has been smooth. The weight started coming off right away and now just restricting the diet enough so we get to where we want to be.”

ROBERT GARCIA, Garcia’s Brother & Trainer

“We know that Robert Easter is training like never before to be ready for this fight against Mikey. He has a huge reach advantage, so we know he’s going to come in and use that. He has a new trainer [Kevin Cunningham] who is going to try make us box with him.

“We don’t listen at any criticism of Easter for having close decisions in his last couple of fights. We know that Easter is going to come in having trained like never before. It’s going to be the best Robert Easter Jr. possible on fight night.

“Mikey fighting at home in front of his hometown fans is huge for us. We know that there’s extra pressure that comes with it, but everything we’ve done together so far in his career has prepared him for it. I’m confident it’s going to bring out the best in him.”

“We have to use our experience advantage. Mikey has fought the better competition, but Easter is a young guy who wants to take Mikey’s spot. Mikey is very smart, so he’s going to look for the right punch to do damage.”

RICHARD SCHAEFER, Chairman & CEO of Ringstar Sports

“Mikey Garcia has the opportunity to dominate at 135 and 140-pounds, plus he even wants to move up in weight and challenge himself against the best at 147-pounds. It shows the character and strength of Mikey Garcia. No challenge is too big for him.

“Whenever Mikey Garcia fights, it is must-see TV. He’s as good as it gets in the sport. This challenge against Robert Easter Jr. is the kind of fight that can turn you into a boxing fan. This is going to be a barnburner. They say that styles make fights and these two styles are made for each other.

“There was always somebody who carried the sport of boxing who was in Los Angeles, but right now there isn’t. Mikey is coming to fill that void. To have Mikey back at STAPLES Center is a perfect pairing of fighter and arena. STAPLES Center tends to bring out the best in fighters and that’s sure to happen again on July 28.”

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For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, www.premierboxingchampions.com and www.staplescenter.comfollow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @MikeyGarcia, @RobertEaster_Jr, @Ringstar, @TGBPromotions @STAPLESCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and www.facebook.com/STAPLESCenter.PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

Evander Holyfield’s The Real Deal Sports and Entertainment and Lee Baxter Promotions in association with Louisville Top Knotch and the World Boxing Council, are proud to announce that the semi-final round of The Jose Sulaiman World Invitational Tournament will take place on Saturday, August 25th in Toronto, Canada.

A press conference open to the media, officially announcing the event and the venue location, featuring legendary 4x time heavyweight champion, Evander Holyfield, representatives from The Real Deal Boxing and Lee Baxter Promotions and several undercard fighters will take place this Thursday, July 12th in Toronto at The Omni King Edward Hotel (37 King Street East) at 1pm. Media arrivals will take place at 12pm and food will be served.

The second event in the highly-anticipated international welterweight tournament will see the quarterfinal winners face each other in co-main events when South Africa’s Chris Van Heerden (26-2-1) takes on Ghana’s Fredrick Lawson (27-1) and the USA’s Brad Solomon (28-1) faces Mexico’s Francisco Santana (25-6-1).

The undercard will feature tournament alternate, Russia’s Sergey Lubkovich (8-0), English featherweight contender, Alex Dilmaghani (17-1) and a who’s who of popular Canadian fighters including the return of 2x world title challenger, Dierry Jean (29-2-1), undefeated prospects, Kane Heron (11-0-1), Joshuah Lupia (3-0) and more.

After the tournament’s first round in April, which took place at the renowned KFC Yum Center in Louisville, Kentucky, the WBC positioned the 4 winners in their top 25 world rankings (Santana #14, Lawson #15, Van Herdeen #22, Solomon #23). The two semi-final winners in August will move up the ranks again and then go head-to-head later this year in the finals. The overall winner of the Jose Sulaiman World Invitational Tournament will be in a position to fight for the WBC Welterweight World Title in 2019.

Chris “The Heat” Van Heerden (26-2-1, 12 KO), the popular southpaw with a celebrity following has only been stopped once in his professional career, against one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world, Errol Spence. Since then the South African native has been on a 3 fight win streak and is already deep into his training camp at Wildcard West in Santa Monica, California.

“Adversity introduces a man to himself and I have come face to face with it. I know what I’m made of and now the semi-final is another step closer to becoming a champion again.”

Frederick “General Okunka” Lawson (27-1, 21 KO) the power punching Ghana native now residing in The Bronx has over 20 knockouts and is eager to provide the tournament with it’s first stoppage.

“Ain’t no stopping Team Lawson now, we’re on the move. Nothing can change the course of my destiny. I respect Chris and his accomplishments but I’m just too strong and hungry for him. Watch me take him apart on fight night. General Okunka is coming to do battle and will surely prevail.”

Brad “King” Solomon (28-1, 9 KO), the slick-moving and highly-skilled boxer hailing from Georgia, whose only professional loss came by a controversial split decision, feels another win in the tournament will prove to the boxing world he is the most overlooked and underrated boxer in the entire welterweight division.

“My ring rust is over. Be on the lookout for speed, quick footwork and fast hands this entire tournament. This is my opportunity to showcase my skills to the world.”

Francisco “Chia” Santana (25-6-1, 12 KO) the battle tested veteran from Santa Barbara, California representing Mexico, did not make the initial 8-man bracket but an online fan vote earned him an alternate spot. After a fighter pulled out, Santana, who has taken world champions like Jermell Charlo and Sadam Ali the distance in all out wars, shocked the tournament’s #1 seed and Olympic Gold Medalist, Feliz Diaz in what is an early candidate for upset of the year.

“I was coming off another robbery in a split decision loss. My promoter had dropped me. I couldn’t find a fight. I took a full-time job on a ship to support my wife and little girl. I thought maybe my career was over. When I got in the tournament, I knew it was my last chance and I brought that mentality into the ring. I’m glad I am the underdog again because it fuels my fire. On August 25th you will see the best version of Francisco Santana yet. I am a man on a mission to win this tournament.”

Besides the exciting action in the ring, the Jose Sulaiman World Invitational Tournament received glowing praise for the initiatives it’s taking to make long overdue changes in the sport in three distinct categories.

Judging & Scoring

To combat one of boxing’s biggest issues, inexplicable if not downright awful judging and scorecards, the tournament features 5 judges as opposed to the regular 3. One for each side of the ring as well as one judge who watches the fight on a monitor with no sound. Halfway through the fight, scorecards are announced to the audience and the fighters so everyone is aware of how the 5 judges are viewing the bout. The first round of the tournament did not have a single controversial decision in 5 back to back 10-round fights and several fights had distinct momentum shifts after the cards were announced at the half way point. The Real Deal Boxing also developed a standardized scoring system that is given to judges in advance which clearly defines the way a round should be scored to eliminate any subjectivity from the equation. Last but not least, any bouts that end in a draw immediately head to a 11th and final round that judges must give to one of the fighters.

Instant Replay

A nearly universal request from fighters, fans and the entire boxing community, the tournament uses instant replay. In the case of a controversial or potentially wrong call, the incident in question is reviewed in between rounds, allowing officials to get it right every time. Instant replay helps assure the bout’s outcome and scorecards are never affected by a missed call, be it a slip ruled as a knockdown or a cut from an accidental headbutt ruled as punch or vice versa.

Fighter Safety

In the tournament’s first round fighters were required to undergo a pre fight MRI and post fight MRI (on the following day of the fight) regardless of the bout’s outcome. In addition, The Real Deal Boxing has it’s own internal team of physicians to oversee the health and safety of all the fighters on their roster, helping to address the inconsistent medical standards brought on by differing requirements from each regulatory authority. The expense of these additional medical and safety requirements is covered entirely by The Real Deal Boxing.

It’s the type of significant changes the only 4-time heavyweight champion of the world, Evander Holyfield promised when he launched The Real Deal Boxing last year.

“I always said that if I ever threw my hat into the ring as a promoter, I would make it a priority to bring real change to the sport. The tournament is our first shot at doing just that and I’m very proud we’re not just talking about how to improve the sport, we’re actually making things happen.”

“These changes were never meant to be a gimmick or a publicity stunt. These are real initiatives that Evander and our team wanted to do to better the sport for the fighters and the fans. The unique setting of the tournament allows us to try out those changes in the course of 3 events and the results so far have been fantastic.”, explains Sal Musumeci, The Real Deal Boxing’s CEO.

“Now that we’ve proven it can work, several commissions have reached out to us to learn more and discuss how they can incorporate some of our initiatives. Our ultimate goal is to have all Real Deal events, not just the tournament, use these changes and we welcome all commissions and promotors to join us in the effort.”, add Eric Bentley, COO of The Real Deal Boxing.

“We’re aware these things take time and it’s going to be process but now with round 2 of the tournament we can once again prove that adding things like additional judges, instant replay and post fight MRIs can help make boxing a better sport for the fans and the fighters. We’re excited to partner with Lee Baxter Promotions, a fast-rising and like-minded promotional company who share the same excitement for the future of the sport as we do.”

Toronto’s Lee Baxter Promotions are putting the finishing touches on a stacked undercard of Canadian fighters to further add to the excitement.

“I made a promise I would continue to bring world class boxing to Toronto. Now with the help of Evander Holyfield and The Real Deal Boxing, the city will play host to a major international tournament. Toronto boxing fans can be assured that Canadian contenders, prospects and local rivalry clashes will be featured on an amazing undercard.”, explains Lee Baxter, President of Lee Baxter Promotions.

As Holyfield sums it up, “We invite the entire boxing world to watch the semi-finals live from Toronto on August 25 to see not only four hungry welterweight contenders go head to head for the opportunity of a lifetime in a legendary boxing venue but also to see the beginning of long overdue changes in the sport we all love.”

Ticket information, broadcast details and the full undercard will be released shortly. For more information visit The Real Deal Boxing and Lee Baxter Promotions.

The Jose Sulaiman World Invitational Tournament is proudly sponsored by Venum Fight Gear and Fight Wear.

LOS ANGELES (July 10, 2018): Golden Boy Promotions’ partnership with Facebook will kick off with a bang as Jesus Rojas (16-1-2, 19 KOs) defends his WBA Featherweight World Title against Joseph Diaz, Jr. (26-1, 14 KOs) in the main event of the inaugural edition of Golden Boy Fight Night at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood. The action will be streamed live on Saturday, August 11 beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT. Fans can catch all the fights by clicking here.

Rojas is a 31-year-old puncher who is coming off a seventh-round knockout against former interim WBA Featherweight World Champion Claudio Marrero. During his time off, Rojas was elevated to world champion status, and he’ll be making the first defense of this title against Diaz, Jr. The native of Caguas, Puerto Rico is an experienced champion as he has taken on the likes of former world champion Jorge “El Travieso”Arce and featherweight contenders Jorge “El Pilón” Lara and Abraham “Chamaco” Lopez.

“I’m ready to come back after almost a year off,” said Jesus Rojas. “I’ll defend my title for the first time on a very important Golden Boy card which will start a new association with Facebook. Diaz Jr. is tough, intelligent and fast, but I have the power and the experience to score a spectacular win against him. We’ll see you all this August 11 in Hollywood.”

Diaz Jr. is a 25-year-old southpaw who represented the U.S. at the 2012 Olympic games in London. Immediately after, Diaz Jr. signed with Golden Boy Promotions and began a stellar career that has earned him a spot at the pinnacle of the featherweight division. Diaz Jr.’s first title opportunity was against Gary Russell Jr. in May of this year. Though he did not win, Diaz Jr.’s impressive efforts earned him an immediate title shot but this time against Rojas.

“I’ve always said that I’m going to be a world champion.,” said Joseph Diaz Jr. “I learned from my last fight, and now I know the adjustments I need to make in order to have a world title around my waist. I’m going to make a big statement in the 126-pound division. It’s also an honor to be the main event of the first-ever Golden Boy show with Facebook. It shows the faith my promoter has in me to be a leading name in the new era of boxing.”

In the co-main event, Ferdinand “Lucky Boy” Kerobyan (9-0, 5 KOs) of North Hollywood, Calif. will battle across a scheduled six-rounds of welterweight action. Aaron “Silencer” McKenna (4-0, 3 KOs) of Monaghan, Ireland will participate in a four-round welterweight fight.

Opponents for these two fighters will be announced shortly.

Rojas vs. Diaz Jr. is a 12-round fight for the WBA Featherweight World Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Universal Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate,”THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” and Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle.”The fights will take place Saturday, August 11, 2018 at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood. The action will be streamed live on Facebook Watch in the U.S. and globally on the Golden Boy Fight Night Facebook Page beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT. Fans can catch all the fights by following the Golden Boy Fight Night Page.

Tickets for Rojas vs. Diaz Jr. are on sale now and are priced at $40, $50, $60 and $80 not including applicable service charges and taxes. Tickets will be available for purchase at
www.goldenboytickets.com and the Golden Boy Promotions Facebook page.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and www.avalonhollywood.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @AvalonHollywood. Become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and https://www.Facebook.com/AvalonHollywood/
Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya and @AvalonHollywood. Follow the conversation using #GBPonFB and #RojasDiazJr

Photos and videos are available to download by clicking here or by copying and pasting link: http://bit.ly/RojasDiazJr into a browser. Credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions for photos and videos used.

LOS ANGELES (July 10, 2018) – Cuban heavyweight slugger Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz returns to action to face former world title challenger Razvan Cojanu in a 10-round bout on Saturday, July 28 live on SHOWTIME from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The three-fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) will open with unbeaten super lightweight contender Mario “El Azteca” Barrios takingon hard-hitting Jose Roman in a 10-round showdown. The event is headlined by lightweight world championship title unification bout between WBC Lightweight World Champion Mikey Garcia and IBF Lightweight World Champion Robert Easter Jr.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Ringstar Sports and TGB Promotions, begin at $50, plus applicable fees, and are on sale now. To purchase tickets, visit AXS.com.

After having heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder nearly out on his feet in their March classic, Ortiz (28-1, 24 KOs) eventually succumbed to the power of the unbeaten champion. Now, Ortiz looks to get back to world title contention on July 28. Originally, from Camaguey, Cuba, now residing in Miami, Fla., Ortiz will fight in Los Angeles for the first time as a professional. Ortiz quickly became one of the most avoided men in boxing with victories over Bryant Jennings, Tony Thompson and Malik Scott on his way to the memorable showdown with Wilder.

“I’m looking to make a statement on July 28 and get back to challenge for the heavyweight championship of the world,” said Ortiz. “I’m excited to be back in the ring. I am thankful to have this opportunity. To all the fans in Los Angeles, don’t miss this great card at STAPLES Center. ‘The Real King Kong’ is coming to LA!”

A native of Romania and fighting out of Burbank, Calif., Cojanu (16-3, 9 KOs) challenged then WBO heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker for the title in May 2017. Cojanu took the New Zealand champion the distance but lost via unanimous decision in the champion’s home country. Standing over six-foot-seven, Cojanu scored three straight knockout victories in 2016 to earn the title shot and will return to the ring for his first fight in the U.S. since January 2016.

“I’m proud and confident to know that I will be stepping into the ring against a worthy opponent on July 28,” said Cojanu. “Luis Ortiz is a world-class fighter with a lot of experience, which will give me the opportunity to show my skills to all the fans at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and watching on SHOWTIME.”

The 23-year-old Barrios (21-0, 13 KOs) has been impressive since moving up to 140 pounds last March. He’s scored stoppage victories over Yardley Cruz, Jose Luis Rodriguez, Naim Nelson and most recently a second-round destruction of Eudy Bernardo. The five-foot-ten Barrios of San Antonio had previously campaigned at 130 pounds before making the move to the higher weight class that has helped unlock his power.

“I fought on SHOWTIME EXTREME but making my debut on SHOWTIME has always been a dream of mine since I was a kid,” said Barrios. “Now, the time has come to show why I’m here. I’m ready to keep showing why I’m going to become a star and one of the sport’s next great fighters. Come July 28, everyone should tune-in for a great night of fights. It’s ‘Azteca’ time.”

Fighting out of Garden Grove, Calif., Roman (24-2-1, 16 KOs) scored knockouts in nine of his first 11 pro fights and has won 10 of his last 11 leading up to July 28. The 30-year-old most recently dropped a decision to Wilberth Lopez last September after a run of defeating veteran fighters and will look to put himself back on the path to a world title with a victory over Barrios at STAPLES Center.

“I’m very excited to have this great opportunity,” said Roman. “Barrios has been on a roll, but I have the experience to take him out. Both of us bring pressure and I know he’s going to be hungry to keep his record perfect. I’m more motivated than I’ve ever been for this fight. I can’t wait to put on a show in my backyard for all the great fans in Southern California.”

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For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, www.premierboxingchampions.com and www.staplescenter.comfollow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @MikeyGarcia, @RobertEaster_Jr, @Ringstar, @TGBPromotions @STAPLESCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and www.facebook.com/STAPLESCenter.PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania – July 10, 2018 – Former WBC International Light Heavyweight world champion Sullivan Barrera (21-2, 14 KOs) returns to the ring to regain his standing as one of the world’s top Light Heavyweights. Barrera faces top five Light Heavyweight Contender “Irish” Seanie Monaghan (29-1, 17 KOs) in the 10-round main event at the Sands Bethlehem Casino and Event Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on Saturday, August 18, 2018. The event is promoted by Main Events and World of Boxing and will be streamed live via Facebook Watch as part of the Golden Boy Fight Night series. Fans can catch all the fights by clicking here.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, July 13.

Barrera vs. Monaghan is the second live card of the recently announced Facebook series, a collaboration between Golden Boy Promotions, Facebook and Main Events, offered to fans around the world via live online streaming.

Barrera, 36, a native of Cuba who defected to the United States after fighting for the Cuban National Team, now lives and trains in Miami, Florida. He makes his return to the ring after taking WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol deep into the 12th round of their title fight in November 2017 before being stopped, by far the most difficult opponent of Bivol’s professional career. The WBC ranks Barrera fourth in the competitive Light Heavyweight division.

Monaghan, also 36, is a Long Island, New York native with proud Irish roots. He began his professional boxing career at the late age of 28 but quickly made up for lost time. After his first and only loss as a professional in 30 fights to Marcus Browne in July 2017, Monaghan started his comeback quest with a win in November 2017, and intends to make up for lost time against Barrera.

“Thank you to my team, my coach Derik Santos, my promoter Main Events, my manager Luis Molina, and thanks to Seanie Monaghan for taking this fight,” said Barrera. “As always, I’m willing to face the top guys in my division. This is another tough fighter. I look forward to August 18 and I’ll give the fans a great show. They will see me start to climb my way back up to facing the very best light heavyweights in the world.”

Barrera’s trainer, Derik Santos, said training is already underway for the fight. “We are working, and are dedicated as usual. Thank you to manager Luis Molina and our promoter Main Events. Sullivan has gone into tough fights over the years, and has consistently shown himself to be one of the toughest light heavyweight contenders in the division.”

Despite the pressure on them, Barrera and Santos maintain the same confidence and positive attitude that led Barrera to the top. “Train well and overcome, has been the directive since day one,” declared Santos. “Our expectations are the same today.”

Barrera is no stranger to Seanie Monaghan, and he’s looking forward to the match-up. “This fight is do or die for both of us. I’ve been going back and forth with Barrera on Twitter for a couple of years now. This will finally be our chance to settle it in the ring, no more talking,” said Monaghan.

Monaghan recently lost his father, and has plans to bring the late Davy Monaghan’s ashes back to his hometown of Navan in Ireland someday while wearing a title belt around his waist. His fight with Barrera is as much for his father as it is for himself.

In the ultra-competitive Light Heavyweight division, the talent pool is deep, and virtually every fighter ranked among the Top 15 contenders is a threat to the current titleholders. Main Events’ CEO and Barrera’s promoter, Kathy Duva, selected this high-stakes fight as a perfect fit for the first Main Events-promoted card in the Golden Boy Fight Night series. “We have delivered the best in boxing entertainment to the fans for 40 years,” said Duva. “What better way to start our next 40 years in business by expanding access to our fan-friendly fights around the world with online streaming technology.”

Duva promised: “Technology has changed a lot in this world, but one thing will never change about Main Events: our determination to make the best matches and feature amazing athletes in the ring. I know Sullivan Barrera and Seanie Monaghan will give everything they’ve got for their legacy, and for the fans.”

About Barrera-Monaghan: This light heavyweight main event will headline the second live boxing card of the new Golden Boy Fight Night series on Facebook, live from the Sands in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on Saturday, August 18. The event is promoted by Main Events and World of Boxing.

Tickets, priced from $105 to $55, go on sale to the public on Friday, July 13 and will be available through Ticketmaster, the Sands Event Center box office and by emailing Main Events at boxing@mainevents.com.

Las Vegas (July 10, 2018) – Two-Time World Champion Badou Jack has confirmed that he will appear, have a booth and hold a Meet & Greet with his fans at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the fourth Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday September 15, 2018 from 10am to 5pm, during Mexican Independence weekend.

Jack will once again appear at this year’s Expo where he will be introducing and showcasing his new “Ripper Nutrition” http://rippernutrition.com products. Jack will be signing gloves, photos and merchandise. Boxing fans will also have a great opportunity to take pictures with this boxing star also known as “The Ripper”.

The Swedish professional boxer, who is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, held the WBC Super Middleweight title from 2015 to 2017. On April 24, 2015 he defeated Anthony Dirrell to win the WBC championship belt and defended it successfully against George Groves at the MGM Grand Las Vegas on September 12, 2015 during Mexican Independence weekend. He competed in a 2017 Fight of the Year candidate against James Degale that ended in a majority draw at Barclays Center in Brooklyn last January. He made his light heavyweight debut by defeating WBA World Champion Nathan Cleverly in August 2017 and recently came off from an incredible performance that resulted in a draw when he faced WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson this past May in Toronto, Canada. The fight was co-promoted by Mayweather Promotions.

Jack joins, Mia St.John, Jessie Vargas, Erik Morales and Fernando Vargas as an early commitment to this year’s Box Fan Expo.

About Ripper Nutrition
Ripper Nutrition, is co-founded by 2-division world boxing champion Badou Jack. It was formed to create the cleanest and purest supplements, providing athletes and fitness enthusiasts of all levels an edge in both training and competition.Ripper Nutrition is a brand worthy of world champions because it was built by a world champion. These supplements are caffeine-free, made with high-grade ingredients that are safe for competition, and come enriched with Lunasin, a powerful antioxidant that clinical studies have shown to reduce inflammation, support heart health, and boost your immune system.

About Box Fan Expo
Box Fan Expo has been a huge success with fans and boxing industry people. Many boxing stars have attended the last three Expos such as Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns, Marco Antonio Barrera, Roy Jones Jr., Marcos Maidana, Sergio Martinez, Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Tim Bradley, Deontay Wilder, Amir Khan, Shawn Porter, Fernando Vargas, Zab Judah, James Toney, Vinny Pazienza, Mikey Garcia , Mia St.Johns, Leo Santa Cruz, Badou Jack, Terry Norris , Riddick Bowe , Earnie Shavers, Leon Spinks, Danny Jacobs, Abner Mares, Jorge Linares, Brandon Rios and many more…

Exhibitors such as boxing gear, apparel, new equipment’s, energy drinks, alcohol, supplement products, broadcasting media, sanctioning bodies and other companies who wish to participate will once again have a chance to showcase their brand to fans, media and the boxing industry.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online at:
https://boxfanexpo.eventbrite.com

Box Fan Expo is the ultimate boxing fan experience event, which allows fans to Meet and Greet Boxing Superstars of today, current and former world champions, Legends of the sport and other boxing Celebrities at their booth. On Site, fans will experience different activities from Autograph Sessions, Photo Sessions, FaceOff with your favorite boxers, as well as a chance to purchase merchandise and memorabilia from their booth, plus so much more… you won’t want to miss this must-attend Expo!

Box Fan Expo will also feature top boxing organizations, promoters, ring card girls, famous trainers and commentators as well as boxing gear companies “ALL UNDER ONE ROOF”.

Throughout the next few months leading up to the Event, there will be weekly updates on the many stars that will commit their appearance at the Boxing Expo. And for anyone in the Boxing industry or other Exhibitors (non-industry), who would like to be involved and reserve a Booth, contact Box Fan Expo:

Telephone number: (514) 572-7222 or Las Vegas Number (702) 997-1927

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on the Box Fan Expo is available at: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

You can follow Box Fan Expo on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/BoxFanExpo

and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

Talented amateur John Docherty has signed a promotional agreement with Matchroom Boxing.

Docherty landed Commonwealth Games bronze for Scotland in Australia in April, defeating England’s Ben Whittaker to reach the semi-final stage and land his medal.

The former Team GB man has chosen to join the paid ranks following his success Down Under and will follow in the footsteps of three-weight World ruler and Scottish legend Ricky Burns by training under Tony Sims in Essex.

Docherty will start life as a Super-Middleweight and will make his debut in the new season, and the 20 year old cannot wait to get his pro journey underway.

“I am so excited to get my pro career started,” said Docherty. “I loved my time with Team GB and representing my country in Australia was a huge honour, but that chapter is closed now and I cannot wait to test myself in the pro’s.

“It’s brilliant to team up with Matchroom Boxing and Sky Sports, and training with Tony in Essex is going to bring me on so much. There’s lots of class fighters in the gym and of course, I’ll be training with Ricky, who is a legend in Scotland and someone I’ve always looked up to, so to be able to learn from him every day is going to be amazing.”

“I am delighted to welcome John to the team,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “John’s amateur pedigree speaks for itself and he has all the ingredients to be a big success in the paid ranks.

“He’s a fiercely ambitious young man that is eager to learn every day, which is vital to make it in this sport. John’s commitment to move down to Tony’s gym in Essex to be alongside his fellow countryman and Scottish great Ricky Burns shows how dedicated he is to becoming a star, and I can’t wait to see his journey get underway in the new season.”

After his 11th hour cancellation of his title defense last Saturday night, WBC Super Lightweight champion Jose Ramirez will be back in action on September 14th in Fresno, California, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“We’re booked up through August, so he’ll be going in September,” Top Rank Promoter Bob Arum said. “We’re going to do it the night before the Canelo Alvarez-[Gennady] Golovkin rematch. My guys are looking for an appropriate opponent and working on a couple of possibilities, but we’re going to Fresno.”

The fight last Saturday was cancelled after challenger Danny O’Conner fell ill while trying to lose the last couple pounds to make the 140-pound weight limit.

“I wish him a speedy recovery,” Ramirez said. “He is a father. He does have a wife. He is a husband. I hope he recovers from this. It’s a learning experience for me. I hope to bring another fight here in the near future. I’m going to take one week off and go back to another eight weeks of training.”

New York, NY (July 9, 2018)-Split-T Management has signed undefeated super middleweight Anthony Barnes.

Barnes of West Bloomfield, Michigan has a record of 10-0 with 8 knockouts.

The 27 year-old Barnes began boxing at the age of 15, and racked up an amateur record of 62-10 with 25 knockouts.

Barnes was a five-time Michigan Golden Gloves Champion.

He turned professional on October 12, 2012 with a 3rd round stoppage over Steve Wofford. Barnes has continued to win, and is coming off a 1st round stoppage over veteran Lenwood Dozier on April 13th in Detroit.

Barnes, who is trained by Javan “Sugar” Hill, has juggled his career with being a Process Server.

“I signed with David McWater because he was a straight shooter,” said Barnes. “What you see is what you get. I asked people I know he manages and people who know him. Everyone says good things to about him, which confirmed by what I thought.”

Said Split-T Management CEO, David McWater, “Anthony has movie star looks, and one punch power that can knock any super middleweight out. We share similar thought and a plan on how he can become champion and in 3 years. I see him not only as a champion, but one of the big attractions in boxing”

Barnes will be back in action this Friday night, July 13th, when he takes on Dwayne Williams in a six-round bout on a show that is promoted by Carlos Llinas CLIP Promotions at The MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit.

ABOUT SPLIT-T MANAGEMENT

Headed by David McWater, Split-T Management has amassed one of the top stables in boxing.

Their impressive roster includes:

World Rated Contenders

IBF Super Lightweight Mandatory Title Challenger Ivan Baranchyk

Welterweight “The New” Ray Robinson

Former Bantamweight Title Challenger Antonio Nieves

2016 Olympians

Lightweight Teofimo Lopez

Junior Middleweight Charles Conwell

Bantamweight Antonio Vargas

Undefeated Prospects

Heavyweights: Stephen Shaw, Marcus Carter, Yegor Plevako

Cruiserweights: Joshua Temple, “Mighty” Joe Jones

Light Heavyweights: Joseph Williams, Bortirali Mamajonov

Super Middleweights: Isiah Steen, DeAndre Ware, Isiah Jones, Anthony Barnes

Middleweights: Marquis Moore, Raquel Miller

Junior Middleweights: Ardreal Holmes, Hurshidbek Normatov, Fred Wilson, Jr.

Welterweight’s Janelson Bocachica, Poindexter Knight, Mark Dawson, Boubacar Sylla, Brian Ceballo

Junior Lightweight: Erick De Leon

PHILADELPHIA, PENN / CHICAGO, ILL. (July 9, 2018)–On June 30th, in Phoenix, Arizona, heavyweight Andrey Fedosov (30-3, 25 KOs) returned to the ring with a 1st round stoppage over Francisco Mireles.

The 32 year-old Fedosov was making his 1st start under his new management team, Journeyman Management.

With his new managers, Journeyman Management headed by longtime boxing man, Andrew Zak, along with promoters Banner Promotions and Hitz Boxing, Fedosov will look to position himself in the suddenly hot heavyweight division.

“It took some time, but now he is with his new family,” said Andrew Zak of Journeyman Management.

“Not only does he have a new management team, but now a new trainer in Buddy McGirt. We see him becoming a complete fighter. He is learning a lot from Buddy. And now that he is with our team, he is adding a lot to his game, and we see him being a world champion.”

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

Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions proudly announces the signing of Russian super middleweight prospect Aslambek Idigov to a promotional contract.

Undefeated Idigov (13-0, 5 KOs) hails from Grozny, Russia, but is currently training in Detroit with Javan SugarHill Steward at Kronk Gym. The 22-year-old slugger made his debut under the Salita Promotional banner last June, with an impressive unanimous 10-round decision over then once-beaten James Ballard at the Masonic Temple in Detroit.

Idigov won the IBO Youth Super Middleweight Title in December 2016 with a unanimous decision over countryman Igor Selivanov.

“Training in Detroit at the Kronk Gym has helped me in many ways,” said Idigov. “I learned how to train like a pro and am learning different techniques and boxing tactics. It has taken my game to new levels.”

Promoter Salita, who is amassing a large stable of promising Eastern Bloc fighters, male and female, says his Russian prospect is developing quickly working out at Kronk.

“Aslambek is a strong, hungry, aggressive fighter. Seeing him improve every day over the last several months, training in Detroit, and his impressive win over James Ballard showed me that he has real world-class potential. At only 22 years old with already several quality wins under his belt, Aslambek is on his way to becoming a force in the super middleweight division.”

9 July 2018 – Bangkok, Thailand: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), held a kick-off press conference on Monday, 9 July at the W Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand to formally announce ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES, which is set to take place at the Impact Arena on 6 October.

Photos of the press conference are available here.

In addition to the announcement of the organization’s much-awaited return to Bangkok for another star-studded live event, ONE Championship also took time to announce its partnership with Nakornloung Promotion to co-promote the bout of boxing superstar Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in the main event of ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES.

In attendance was Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, Chatri Sityodtong, WBC and The Ring Super Flyweight World Champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai sat at the head table alongside promoter of Nakornloung Promotion and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Thainchai Pisitwuttinan and Managing Director of Petchyindee Academy and Promoter of Rajadamnern Stadium, Nuttadaj Vachirarattanawong, as well as ONE Championship’s celebrated Thai martial arts superstars such as Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai, Rika “Tinydoll” Ishige, Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex and Petchmorrakot Wor. Sangprapai.

Ticket information for ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES is available at www.onefc.com.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “It is my honor and my pleasure to see some of the greatest martial artists on the planet compete in ONE Championship. The thing that makes ONE Championship different from any other organization in the world, is that we want to build and unleash martial arts superheroes to ignite the world with inspiration, hope, dreams, strength, and courage. This coming October, Thailand will host the biggest event in martial arts history as talented athletes from boxing, mixed martial arts and Muay Thai will join together under one roof in celebrating Asia’s greatest cultural treasure. ONE Championship will create an indelible legacy on 6 October.”

Police Gen. Kovid Pakdeepoom, Vice President of WBC, stated: “We are thrilled to work with ONE Championship for the upcoming event in October. Our association with a world-class organization like ONE Championship satisfies our goal in nurturing the legacy of boxing across the globe. ONE Championship has made groundbreaking initiatives in the development of mixed martial arts and other forms of martial arts in Asia and around the globe. Certainly, there’s so much that everyone should be excited about this event in Bangkok.”

Thainchai Pisitwuttinan, Promoter of Nakornloung Promotion and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, stated: “Our work in boxing has always been driven by our passion and love. The best part of it is that we get to give life-turning opportunities to boxers and their families. Each of them has their own stories, but they are all driven by the same dream – to be the world champion. I am glad that our promotion and ONE Championship have coalesced in having a common mission and vision for combat sports athletes around the globe. I just cannot begin to say how massive of an event this will be. History will be made on 6 October.”

Nuttadaj Vachirarattanawong, Managing Director of Petchyindee Academy and Promoter of Rajadamnern Stadium, stated: “I appreciate ONE Championship’s efforts in exposing and elevating Muay Thai on a global scale. It is an honor and a privilege to be in partnership with this great martial arts promotion that has been followed by billions of fans around the world. It is with expectancy that I look forward to the event on October 6th.”

Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, WBC and The Ring Super Flyweight World Champion, stated: “I am happy and honored to take part in this historical ONE Championship’s event. I was at ONE Championship’s event in Bangkok earlier this year, and it blew my mind with its world class production, entertainment, and fights. I would also like to thank everyone who made this possible. With ONE Championship opening its doors for athletes like me to showcase our talent on the global stage, it means a lot. This is a new challenge, and I love challenges. I am looking forward to defend my WBC World title belt in ONE Championship.”

Shannon Wiratchai, ONE Athlete, stated: “Competing in front of my hometown fans is always a great pleasure. It is an honor for me to represent my country. I will do my best to make my people proud. Since I joined ONE Championship, I have learned so much that it has helped me throughout my career. I feel that I am ready to take the next step.”

Rika Ishige, ONE Athlete, stated: “Martial arts in Thailand has really taken off, and I am proud to be a part of its growth. I have progressed a lot so far in my young career. The possibilities are endless for me, and I will continue to work hard to make my family and my fans proud. This is an awesome opportunity to showcase my skills at a big event this coming October.”

Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, ONE Athlete, stated: “It was such a surreal experience for me the first time I stepped into the ONE Championship ring. This time, I will be given the chance to compete on the world’s most premier martial arts stage in front of my countrymen. Thank you, ONE Championship, for the opportunity to have this grand homecoming in October. I am truly honored and will make everyone proud. I can’t wait for October.”

Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex, ONE Athlete, stated: “I am still grinding everyday. You can say that I’ve done it all in the sport, but it’s not yet over for me. ONE Super Series is the right path for me and my professional career. The desire to compete, it’s still in me. I am glad that I was able to make a ONE Super Series debut earlier this year because it has already given me the feel of what the future holds. It’s a great opportunity for every practitioner of Muay Thai and kickboxing.”

Petchmorrakot Wor. Sangprapai, ONE Athlete, stated: “This is going to be a big event on 6 October. For the first time in history, the best of the best from different combat sports will join together. I am excited for this, especially for Muay Thai. I am ready to take this next step into my career. This is a chance for me to showcase my skills to the world and to show fans the beauty of Muay Thai.”

Srisaket Sor Rungvisai is one of Thailand’s most celebrated pugilists in history, winning the prestigious WBC Super Flyweight World Championship on two occasions. Holding a professional record of 45-4-1 with 40 knockouts, Sor Rungvisai is ranked No. 6 on the pound-for-pound best boxers list of The Ring Magazine. After regaining the WBC Super Flyweight World Championship in March 2017 and then successfully defending it twice in the USA, Sor Rungvisai will defend his WBC World title in ONE Championship’s historical event in Thailand.

Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai of Thailand is one of the most thrilling offensive innovators in ONE Championship. The creator of the OneShin Striking System, Wiratchai developed his own style which incorporates various elements from Muay Thai, boxing, wrestling, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Training out of Tiger Muay Thai and Bangkok Fight Lab, Wiratchai emerges as Thailand’s biggest and most exciting martial arts star.

Rika “Tinydoll” Ishige is a 29-year-old female atomweight from Thailand who trains out of Tiger Muay Thai and Bangkok Fight Lab. She is of mixed Japanese and Thai heritage, beginning her martial arts training at age 9 with aikido and taekwondo. Heavily influenced by her late father who trained in judo, Ishige went on to hone her skills as a martial artist, and turned professional in 2017. All of Ishige’s victories have ended via impressive finish, showcasing her high-level grappling skills.

Nong-O Gaiyanghadao is considered by Thai boxing purists as one of the top pound-for-pound Muay Thai practitioners in the world. He is a four-time Lumpinee Stadium champion, a Rajadamnern Stadium champion, two-time Thailand national champion, and two-time Fighter of the Year. He is also a five-division world champion in the sport. Nong-O is known for the incredible speed, power and precision behind all his strikes. He made a successful ONE Super Series debut last April, defeating Fabio Pinca via unanimous decision.

32-year-old Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex is one of the most recognizable names in the world of Muay Thai. Known by the moniker “The Boxing Computer” as a testament to his impeccable in-ring techniques, he has won numerous championships in his stellar kickboxing career, including the WBC Super Welterweight Muay Thai World Championship and the coveted Lumpinee Stadium World Championship.

Hailing from Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand’s northern Isan region, Petchmorrakot Wor. Sangprapai has already defeated some of the biggest names in Muay Thai, earning multiple accolades in the process. Spurred by his success and proven talent, Petchmorrakot went on to claim the prestigious Lumpinee Stadium World Championship in two divisions, as well as the WMC Muay Thai title, in a career spanning almost 200 professional bouts.

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 is the largest global sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Championship 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. The world’s most exciting martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1.7 billion potential viewers across 136 countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, and more.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former bantamweight belt holder Juan Carlos Payano has entered the World Boxing Super Series.

“I am very happy to join the tournament, ecstatic to be very honest,” Payano said. “Looking forward to regaining my championship. It is great to see the best fighting the best and in the end being recognized as truly the best in the division. I want to be recognized as the undisputed best. I want to prove that I am the best.”

“The bantamweight tournament will be nothing but exceptional,” said promoter Kalle Sauerland, the chief boxing officer for tournament organizer Comosa AG. “Payano is a former champion, an experienced fighter guaranteeing fast-paced action. He is another great addition to a star-studded Season II of the World Boxing Super Series.”

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (July 8, 2018) – Last night in star fashion, San Antonio’s undefeated female boxing sensation, Selina “Aztec Queen” Barrios,” improved to (4-0, 2 KOs), with devastating one punch knockout over current WBF international lightweight champion, Aida “Lady Sparta” Satybaldinova (3-1-1). Barrios landed a crushing picture perfect left hook to the chin of Satybaldinova, ending the bout at the 1:24 mark of round four, in what many would say is a candidate for “Knockout of the Year”. The fight that took place at the American Bank Center Water Garden room in Corpus Christi, TX, presented by Reyna Promotions.

From the opening bell both fighters went bombs away, with Selina landing the cleaner, more powerful blows to Satybaldinova. “Lady Sparta” was all game as she went toe-to-toe with Barrios, holding her ground for the time being, but taking a lot of damage. In round two, both fighters continued to leave everything in the ring, throwing power punches with both hands. Barrios again was getting the better punches off. In round three, Barrios hurt Satybaldinova with a combination flurry of punches, but Aida being the warrior that she is, made it to round four. After another aggressive being to the round, Barrios landed that massive left hook to the jaw of Satybaldinova, and the fight was over.

“I wanted to come out tonight and give my Texas fans a night to remember,” said Selina Barrios, who is the current NABF lightweight champion. “After feeling her out in the first couple of rounds, I knew I was going to land a big shot at some point in the right, because she was standing right in front of me. When I landed that left hook, I knew she wasn’t going to get up. I set it up nicely, and she walked right into it. I have a lot of respect for Aida, she fought like a warrior, and if she wants the rematch, I’ll give it to her.”

“I fought hard but didn’t get victory tonight,” said Satybaldinova. “Next time I will win. I will continue to work harder to fight the best. I will never give up. I hope to fight Selina again in rematch.”

With the victory, Selina gets the fourth win of her career. Barrios said she is willing to fight anyone in the lightweight division, including all champions. When asked about what next Barrios stated.

“I want to call out all the women fighting in the lightweight division.” Barrios continued. “You might have took the Olympics from me, but you cant run from me now. Katie Taylor and Mikaela Mayer, you can’t hide forever, I’m coming for all Y’all.”

“Selina put on a spectacular show tonight,” said Colin Campbell, co-manager of Barrios. “A performance like this puts her at the top of all females vying to be considered the most dangerous fighter in women’s boxing.”

“What an unbelievable knockout Selina displayed tonight,” stated Charles Campbell, who co-manages Barrios with his son Colin. “Once the knockout hits the masses, its going to go viral. Selina belongs up there with Clarissa Shield as one of the best female boxers in the sport. No female boxer is more exciting to watch then Selina Barrios, no one!”

“All females fighting at lightweight and super featherweight better take notice of Selina Barrios.” said Barrios’ advisor-promoter Kerry Daigle, of Keep Punching Entertainment. “Although Selina had a remarkable performance tonight, the best is yet to come. We still haven’t seen the best Selina Barrios yet, and that is scary. She is taking the boxing world by storm.”