HUGE NAMES SCHEDULED TO APPEAR AT ATLANTIC CITY BOXING HALL OF FAME WEEKEND

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ. (May 29, 2018) — Below is a list of all the Inductees, all-time greats, legendary Personalities & Dignitaries that are scheduled to appear throughout the weekend at the 2nd annual Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend hosted at The Historic Clardige Hotel.

Evander Holyfield–Legendary Cruiserweight & Heavyweight champ; 2018 ACBHOF Inductee
Roy Jones, Jr.–Legendary 4 division champion
Vinny Paz-2 division-world champion; 2018 ACBHOF Inductee
Ray Mercer-Former Heavyweight champion; 2018 ACBHOF Inductee
Bruce Seldon-Former Heavyweight champion; 2018 ACBHOF Incuctee
Jeff Chandler–Former Bantamweight champion; 2018 ACBHOF Inductee
Richie Kates–2-time world title challenger; 2018 ACBHOF Inductee
Bobby Czyz-Former 2-division world champion; 2018 ACBHOF Inductee
Hector Camacho, Jr.–Middleweight; son of 2018 ACBHOF Inductee Hector Camacho
Mauricio Sulaiman–President of the WBC; Son of 2018 ACBHOF inductee Jose Sulaiman
Diane Fischer– Promoter; 2018 ACBHOF Inductee
Jean Williams–Judge; 2018 ACBHOF Inductee
Joseph Pasquale–Judge; 2018 ACBHOF Inductee
David Weinberg–Writer; 2018 ACBHOF Inductee
Bernard Fernandez–Writer; 2018 ACBHOF Inductee
Ray Bailey–2018 Photographer; 2018 ACBHOF Inductee
Michael Spinks–Former 2-division world champion
Larry Holmes–Former Heavyweight champion; 2017 ACBHOF Inductee
Riddick Bowe–Hall of Famer 4-time world heavyweight champion
Mark Breland–2-Time world welterweight champion
Marlon Starling–2-time world welterweight champion
Iran Barkley–Former 3-division world champion
DeMarcus Corley–Former Junior Welterweight world champon
John Scully–Former Light heavyweight contender
Larry Hazzard–New Jersey Commissioner; 2017 ACBHOF Indcutee
Steve Smoger–Hall of famer referee, 2017 ACBHOF indcutee
Dave Bontempo–Broadcaster, 2017 ACBHOF Inductee
Freddie Roach–Hall of Fame Trainer
Aaron Snowell-Trainer of Champions
Plaxico Burruss–Super Bowl Winning Wide Receiver
Eddie Alvarez–Former UFC Lightweight champion
Clinton Portis–Former NFL Running Back
Jill Diamond–WBC, 2018 ACBHOF Honoree
Frank M. Gilliam, Jr.–Mayor of Atlantic City

-PLUS MORE-




UFC® RETURNS TO CALGARY WITH A PIVOTAL LIGHTWEIGHT REMATCH BETWEEN CONTENDERS (#3) EDDIE ALVAREZ AND (#4) DUSTIN POIRIER

Calgary, Canada – UFC® makes its long-awaited return to Calgary with a thrilling lightweight rematch between former champion and No.3-ranked contender Eddie Alvarez and No.4 Dustin Poirier. Also, former featherweight champion and No.2-ranked contender Jose Aldo will battle No.4 Jeremy Stephens in a co-main event guaranteed to deliver fireworks. UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: ALVAREZ vs. POIRIER 2 takes place Saturday, July 28 at Scotiabank Saddledome and will air live on FOX. The event will broadcast live in Canada on CTV Two.

Alvarez (29-5 1NC, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn., USA) and Poirier (23-5 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla., USA) originally met one year ago, in an exciting bout that ended in a no contest. They now get to pick up where they left off in front of a packed house in Calgary.

An MMA veteran for almost 15 years, Alvarez’s most recent outing saw him become the first fighter to finish Justin Gaethje this past December. Not only did the bout win Fight of the Night honors at UFC 218, it also took the No.2 spot on UFC.com’s Top 10 fights of 2017 list. Over the course of his career, he’s earned victories over Anthony Pettis, Gilbert Melendez and Tatsuya Kawajiri. In 2016, he knocked out Rafael Dos Anjos to capture the UFC lightweight championship. Alvarez now looks for another show-stealing performance to stake his claim for a title shot.

A former featherweight mainstay, Poirier has been on a tear since moving back to lightweight in 2015. During his run in the UFC’s stacked 155-pound division, he’s taken home five fight night bonuses. He’s netted sensational wins against Antony Pettis, Jim Miller, Bobby Green, Yancy Medeiros and Joseph Duffy and in his last appearance, he delivered an incredible TKO victory over Justin Gaethje in a Fight of the Year contender last month. Poirier now plans to settle the score with Alvarez and earn his first shot at UFC championship gold.

The UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: ALVAREZ vs. POIRIER 2 co-main event will feature a pair of featherweight KO artists.

The most dominant 145-pound titleholder in UFC history, Aldo (26-4, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) looks to get back on track following losses to current champ Max Holloway. During his legendary 10-year win streak, he beat the best the featherweight division had to offer. Among his victims are former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar, Chad Mendes and UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber. The all-time great is now gunning to reclaim momentum against one of the division’s heaviest hitters.

A 13-year MMA veteran, Stephens (28-14, fighting out of San Diego, Calif., USA) has been on a tear in the featherweight division. Currently riding a three-fight win streak – with each bout netting him a fight night bonus – he plans to use Aldo as a stepping-stone to a title shot. Known for his powerful hands, Stephens has delivered exciting knockouts against Josh Emmett, Dooho Choi, Dennis Bermudez and Rony Jason. A win over the Brazilian legend would thrust Stephens straight into the title mix.

Additional bouts on the card include:

Former women’s strawweight champion and No.1-ranked contender Joanna Jedrzejczyk (14-2, fighting out of Olsztyn, Poland) throws down with No.5 Tecia Torres (10-2, fighting out of Colorado Springs, Colo., USA)
No.4-ranked women’s flyweight contender Alexis Davis (19-7, fighting out of San Jose, Calif., USA by way of Niagara Falls, Ont., Canada) looks to stake her claim for a title shot against No.8 Katlyn Chookagian (10-1, fighting out of Kenilworth, N.J., USA)
In a clash of surging lightweights, No.13-ranked contender Alexander Hernandez (9-1, fighting out of San Antonio, Tex., USA) squares off with No.15 Olivier Aubin-Mercier (12-2, fighting out of Montreal, Canada)
Strawweight contenders collide when No.12-ranked Randa Markos (8-6, fighting out of Windsor, Ont., Canada) takes on No.13 Nina Ansaroff (8-5, fighting out of Weston, Fla., USA)
No.10-ranked flyweight contender Dustin Ortiz (18-7, fighting out of Franklin, Tenn., USA) battles No.12 Matheus Nicolau (13-2-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
In a battle of talented strikers, John Makdessi (15-6, fighting out of Montreal, Canada) locks horns with Ross Pearson (22-14 1NC, fighting out of Sunderland, England)
Kajan Johnson (22-12-1, fighting out of Vancouver, Canada) goes for his fifth straight win against rising prospect Islam Makhachev (15-1, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia)
Alberta native Jordan Mein (30-12, fighting out of Lethbridge, Alta, Canada) looks to blow the roof off the Saddledome when he meets Alex Morono (14-4 1NC, fighting out of Houston, Tex., USA)
Hometown favorite Hakeem Dawodu (7-1-1, fighting out of Calgary, Canada) aims for his first UFC victory when he faces Austin Arnett (15-5, fighting out of Clarkston, Wash., USA)
In light heavyweight action, Gadzhimurad Antigulov (20-4, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) takes on Ion Cutelaba (13-3 1NC, fighting out of Chisinau, Republic of Moldova)

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

Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: ALVAREZ vs. POIRIER 2 go on sale Friday, June 1 at 10 a.m. MT and will be priced at $320.25, $236.25, $189.00, $152.25, $120.75, $99.75, $78.75 and $56.25 CAD. Tickets are available for purchase via Ticketmaster.ca and limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, May 30 at 10 a.m. MT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, May 31 starting at 10 a.m. MT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: ALVAREZ vs. POIRIER 2 will air live on Saturday, July 28 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on FOX. In Canada, the main card will be broadcast on CTV TWO and RDS 2.

Since 2008, the UFC has staged 25 events in the Great White North, across 10 different cities – Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saskatoon, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg.

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




KELLY: I MUST WIN COMMONWEALTH TITLE FOR NORTH EAST BOXING

Josh Kelly believes big time boxing will be back to stay in the north east if he can rip the Commonwealth Welterweight title from Kris George at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle on Saturday June 16, live on Sky Sports.

Kelly is gunning for his second pro title having landed the WBA International strap at Principality Stadium in Cardiff in March against former World ruler Carlos Molina in just his sixth outing in the paid ranks.

‘Pretty Boy’ puts that title on the line against George, the Australian defending the Commonwealth for the second time having seen off Jack Brubaker in October after landing the crown in November 2016 against Cameron Hammond.

The 28 year old visitor will look to derail Kelly’s progress, but with a card stacked full of local talent led by co-headliner and British Lightweight king Lewis Ritson, the Sunderland ace plans to add more silverware in style to keep the Sky Sports cameras coming back to the north east.

“It’s a massive night for boxing in the north east and it’s a big step up to fight for the Commonwealth title in my seventh fight,” said Kelly. “It’s another puzzle for me to solve, I like to look at fights like they are problems to work out and I feel that I’ll do it in good fashion.

“Lewis has got a massive fanbase and I am really building a good following too so it should be a brilliant night.

“I’ve seen videos and clips of Kris in action, I like to study them. He’s quite raw and as an Australian he’s going to be tough and a proud champion, he’s a worthy title holder but I feel that I’ll show I’m a level above.

“I have to keep winning so that we can keep coming back and putting on big nights like this. The north east hasn’t had anything this big for a long time and to look at the quality of young talent on the bill it shows that there’s a bright future up here – as long as we all perform. That’s what I intend to do on June 16 and I’m sure the other boys will as we want to put it on the map.

“When boxing is involved, what football team you support goes out of the window. There will be Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Newcastle fans there on the night and they’ll all come together to support the lads.

“When you are this end of the country you are fighting from day one to get noticed, so to box on a card like this on Sky Sports it’s massive, and we need the fans from all over to get behind us so we keep coming back. I’m moving fast and I cannot wait to see where I will be in a year’s time.”

Kelly’s clash with George is part of a huge night of action in Newcastle as Ritson aims to land the Lord Lonsdale belt outright against Paul Hyland Jr.

Gavin McDonnell defends his WBC International Super-Bantamweight title against Stuart Hall in a must-win clash for both men, Charlie Edwards and Anthony Nelson meet for the vacant WBA Continental Super-Flyweight title and Arfan Iqbal defends his English Cruiserweight belt against Simon Vallily.

Tickets priced £40, £60, £80 and £100 are on sale now from the Metro Arena at http://www.metroradioarena.co.uk, on 0844 493 6666 or in person from the Metro Radio Arena Box Office. Please note venue facility and booking fees will apply. VIP tickets are on sale priced at £200 from http://www.matchroomboxing.com/tickets

Face value tickets for June 16 are available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ . StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing and Anthony Joshua.




Ali Trophy Super-Middleweight Final: Groves vs Smith

The much-anticipated Ali Trophy Super-Middleweight Final between George Groves & Callum Smith is set to go ahead later this summer.

Contrary to some reports on social media that the Hammersmith fighter had been replaced, Comosa AG, the company behind the World Boxing Super Series, will be delaying the British super-fight until late August or early September to allow Groves as much time as possible to take part in the concluding night of the 168lb competition.

The WBA Super Champion (28-3, 20KOs) dislocated his shoulder in the final round of his semi-final win over Chris Eubank Jr in February. There had been the desire from Comosa AG to complete the competition by late July, but after boardroom discussions and consulting the public demand it has been decided to postpone the final further.

“As is the nature of injuries, especially the type of injury that George suffered, getting an exact recovery date is nearly impossible,” said Comosa AG’s Head of Boxing Kalle Sauerland.

“We have been clear that the tournament has to finish within a certain timeframe, but we also realise that Groves vs Smith is the most ideal final. By pushing the super-middleweight final date back as far as we can, we are giving fans the biggest chance of seeing this incredible match-up!”

“It is nice to get a provisional date,” said Groves. “We have got something to work towards now. I have been in the gym for a while now, so when we get an exact date we can focus in.”

“We know about Smith, we have seen him for a long time and obviously I boxed his brother. We are supremely confident of getting the win and getting a good win. We already have some good sparring lined up, fighters similar to Smith. I am looking forward to getting back to work and winning the Ali Trophy.”

On his recovery from the injury suffered late on against Eubank Jr, Groves said: “The injury recovery has been fine, it is just like we said it would be. It was a dislocated shoulder that required surgery to stabilise the joint.”

This will be Groves’ third defence of his WBA Super World title, with all three fights involving British opponents – Jamie Cox and Chris Eubank Jr.

“Yeah, it is funny how these things work out. It means that you always know you will be fighting at home, well at least in the UK! When you both speak the same language, you can delve a little more into their psyche, find out a little more about what makes them tick and maybe get in their head a bit.”

The delayed Final date will also give WBC Diamond belt holder, Smith (24-0, 17KOs), the chance to finally challenge for a World title, having been in mandatory positions over the last few years he has yet to have had his shot.

“It is great to finally to get the fight,” said Smith. “It is the one I have wanted for a long time. I am really happy it is going to be Groves rather than anyone else, it is the fight the fans want too.”

“I’ve been ticking over in the gym and staying prepared, but now I can switch on and aim towards a late summer date. Now that we have the date, even a rough one, I’m excited.”

“The fact that the final of the Ali Trophy is against George and for his title, I am made up. I have been waiting for a world title fight and feel like I have been unlucky at missing out on opportunities, but now I’ve finally got it.”

The revised date and venue for the George Groves vs Callum Smith Ali Trophy Super-Middleweight Final will be announced in the coming weeks.




Luis Nery fight cancelled

Luis Nery’s June 9th fight against Jetro Pabustan has been cancelled due to pressure from the WBC, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“Along with his representatives, Luis Nery attended an audience on March 9 [with WBC representatives],” the organization said in a statement on Monday. “During this hearing, the position of the WBC was to reach a settlement after considering the best way to help the boxer return to the ring and also to eventually contest the world championship of the World Boxing Council. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman put forward two clear options to Luis Nery. The first was for him to accept the conditions of the WBC in order to correct the problems which led him to lose the world title. The second option was for Nery to ignore the body and pursue his career on a different path. Nery clarified that he would follow any regulation imposed by the WBC. We deeply regret the decision of Nery to fight while being suspended by the WBC. Due to this action, it is clear that his decision has changed.”

“Zanfer Promotions informs that former WBC bantamweight world champion Luis ‘Pantera’ Nery will not fight June 9 as announced,” the company said in a statement. “Nery will wait for the resolution of the World Boxing Council. [Nery] will fully comply with the guidelines to which he committed himself to.”




Hrgovi? returns on June 9 to face the undefeated Tovor in Munich

Croatian heavyweight sensation Filip Hrgovi? (4-0, 3 KOs) returns to the ring on June 9 in a ten-round contest against Mexico’s Filiberto Tovar (9-0, 5 KOs) in Munich, Germany.

The Rio 2016 Olympic Bronze Medallist has enjoyed a storming start to his professional career dispatching his first three opponents inside the distance before scoring an eight-round unanimous decision over Irish-boxer Sean Turner in his last outing.

These dominant displays have seen Hrgovi? earn a World ranking with the World Boxing Council, one of boxing’s four major governing, and listed as No.41 in the World by independent statistic site BoxRec.

The 25 year-old from Zagreb will look to continue his meteoric rise up the heavyweight ranks as he returns to Germany for third-time following victories in Nuremberg and Schwerin to face the undefeated Tovar at the Postpalast in Munich.

“I believe my opponent Filiberto Tovar is a good boxer,” says Hrgovi?. “His results speak for themselves. I have to respect such an opponent and cannot underestimate him. This is heavyweight boxing and he will be keen to challenge me.

“I have been on the fast track and facing very good boxers so far in my career. I’m satisfied with my progress and I want to continue gaining experience against the best available boxers. Big fights are coming, but I must take things step by step, and for now, the next important step is my fight in Munich.

“I have a true appetite and I’m on a quest to conquer as many belts as possible in my career. Saying this, my promoter and my manager are working hard to find the best opponents for me. If you want to be a true champion, then you have to beat them all!”

Promoter Nisse Sauerland says the fans in Munich can expect an entertaining contest as he reiterates his belief that Hrgovi? can one day rule the heavyweight division.

“Filip is a special talent,” says Sauerland. “He brings excitement with him every time he enters the ring and it will be no different on June 9 when he meets Filiberto Tovar in his first ten-round contest. We believe he is a World Champion in waiting. He is being fast tracked through the heavyweight division and soon he’ll be challenging for his first major title.”

Before fulfilling his promoter’s prophecy, Hrgovi? must first overcome the unbeaten Tovar, a man confident of causing an upset. “I predict a knockout victory,” says the 23 year-old from Guadalajara. “There’s no European alive who can beat an undefeated Mexican!”




EARLY RESULTS FROM FRESNO, CALIFORNIA

In a bloody battle, Isidro Ochoa won a six-round unanimous decision over Ricardo Arias in a super featherweight bout.

Ochoa, 125.6 lbs of Fresno, CA won by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55 to remain perfect at 5-0. Arias, 127.2 lbs of Rancho Mirage, CA is 1-4-1.

Bryan Lua stopped Francisco Camacho in round three of a scheduled six-round super featherweight bout.

In round three, Lua landed a left hook to the body that sent Camacho to the canvas. It was another left to the body that dropped Camacho for a 2nd time in the round. Lua finished things with an overhand right in the corner that put Camach down for a 3rd and final time at

Lua, 131.2 lbs of Madera, CA is now 5-0 with 2 knockouts. Camacho, 130.6 lbs of Matamoros, MEX is 5-8-1.

Alexander Besputin remained perfect with a 3rd round stoppage over Saul Corral in a scheduled 10-round welterweight bout.

In round three, Besputin dropped Corral with a left uppercut to the jaw..Moments later, it was a left to the liver that put Corral down, and the fight was stopped at

Besputin, 146.6 lbs of Oxnard, CA is 10-0 with 8 knockouts. Corral, 146 lbs of Monterrey, MEX is 27-12.

Piotr Apostol remained undefeated with a 4-round unanimous decision over Carlos Castillo in a lightweight bout.

Apostol, 137 lbs of Althenia, NJ won by scores of 40-36 twice, and 39-37 and is now 5-0. Castillo, 135.4 lbs of Lindsey, CA is 4-6.

Jose Salinas remained undefeated by scoring a 2nd round stoppage over Carlos Apodaca in a lightweight bout,

In round one, Salinas dropped Apodaca with a left hand. Seconds later, Salinas scored another knockdown off of a flurry of punches. In round two, Salinas was all over Apodaca and floored him with a flurry in the corner, ans the fight was stopped at 32 seconds.

Salinas, 132.4 lbs of Indio, VA is 5-0 with 2 knockouts. Apodaca, 130.8 lbs of San Luis Rio Colorado, MEX is 2-10-2.




BOXING HALL OF FAME WEEKEND EDITION OF GOLDEN BOY BOXING ON ESPN TO SHOWCASE TRAVELL ‘BLACK MAGIC’ MAZION AGAINST DAQUAN PAULDO IN CO-MAIN EVENT

VERONA, N.Y. (May 25, 2018): Travell “Black Magic” Mazion(12-0, 11 KOs) of Austin, Texas will put his undefeated record on the line against once-beaten Daquan Pauldo(17-1, 9 KOs) of Orlando, Florida in an eight-round super welterweight fight in the co-main event of the June 8 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. In the main event, Diego De La Hoya(20-0, 9 KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico will defend his NABF and NABO Super Bantamweight Titles against Jose “Sugar” Salgado(35-4-2, 28 KOs) of Cozumel, Mexico in the 10-round fight.

ESPN3 will stream the fights live beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. ESPN2 will air the fights at 12:30 a.m. ET/9:30 p.m. PT. ESPN Deportes will air the fights the following day at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Mazion has the tools and the team that are guaranteed take him to the top, especially since he is trained Ozell Nelson. Nelson is known for training former undisputed middleweight championand Olympic Bronze Medalist Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor, who in his prime ended Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins’12-year reign as world champion. Mazion has been touted to have all the skills that Taylor had bad more, reflected partly by his 90% knockout rate.

“I have the team and the skills, both of which will do all the talking,” said Travell Maizon. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to be the co-main event for such a legendary weekend, especially because I’ve got a legendary coach behind me. I want to thank Golden Boy and my team. Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”

Representing Orlando, Fl., Daquan Pauldo, formerly known as Daquan Arnett, only has one-blemish on his record. Pauldo has come back with six impressive victories since.

“I’ll make sure that people haven’t forgotten about me,” said Daquan Pauldo. “I wanted to be more active this year. I’ve been training harder at my original weight class, and I will come into the ring on ESPNshowing that I’m someone you should look out for. I want to thank Golden Boy and my team for this opportunity. I’m ready.”

The event will take place during the International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, where legendary fighters such as “Dr. Ironfist” Vitali Klitschko, Erik “El Terrible” Morales, and Ronald “Winky” Wright will be inducted, along with important figures in the sport of boxing such as Peter Kohl, Steve Albert, Jim Gray and Lorraine Chargin.

Super lightweight prospect Daniel Zorrilla (6-0, 5 KOs) of Rio Piedras, Puerto will participate in the night’s swing bout, which is schedule for four or six rounds against a soon-to-be-announced opponent.

Participating in a four-round super lightweight fight, Dallas, Tex.’s Alex Rincon (3-0, 3 KOs) against Agua Prieta, Mex.’s Engelberto Valenzuela (11-13, 3 KOs). Rincon, whose fights have all ended in a knockout, will seek to maintain his unblemished knockout record.

Kenneth “Bossman” Sims, Jr. (12-1, 4 KOs) of Chicago, Il. will participate in a six-round super lightweight fight. The “Bossman” fought at the 2012 Olympic Trials, losing to eventual representative Jose Ramirez by one point.

In a four-round heavyweight fight, Syracuse, New York’s Luis Vargas (3-0, 2 KOs) will return to Turning Stone Resort Casino after ending his previous fight in a clear unanimous decision victory. Lawrence Gabriel (2-1-1, 1 KO), who also represents Syracuse, will open up the card in a four-round cruiserweight battle and will return after a technical knockout victory earlier in May.

De La Hoya vs. Salgado is a 10-round super bantamweight fight for the NABF and NABO Super Bantamweight Titles presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Don Chargin & Paco Presents.The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING” and Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle.” The fights will take place on Friday, June 8, 2018 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. ESPN3 will stream the fights live beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. ESPN2 will air the fights at a delayed start time of 12:30 a.m. ET/9:30 p.m. PT. ESPN Deportes will air the fights the following day at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend is packed with a series of events starting Thursday, June 7 until the induction ceremony on Sunday, June 10. The weekend kicks off on Thursday with the opening bell ringing and ringside lectures on the museum grounds. Friday, June 8 will feature another series of lectures preceding the celebrity fist casting, followed by the highly anticipated Fight Night, broadcasted live from Turning Stone. Saturday, June 9 will showcase a golf tournament, a 5K race, another series of lectures, a boxing autograph card show, a VIP “Gala” and the Banquet of Champions at 8:00p.m. The weekend will conclude on Sunday with the Parade of Champions and the Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 2:30p.m. Click here to see the full schedule.

Host of the June 8 event, Turning Stone Resort Casino is a Forbes Four-Star Award-winning destination resort, which continues to distinguish itself as a premier venue for fight-of-the-year level boxing. The May event will mark Turning Stone’s 26th nationally-televised boxing event, cementing the resort as a leading destination for nationally-televised combat sports. Turning Stone features world-class amenities including four hotels, more than 20 signature restaurants and dining options, two spas, an all-new 125,000 square foot Las Vegas style gaming floor, a cabaret-style Showroom, a 5,000-seat arena, five golf courses, several bars, cocktail lounges and nightlife venues with live entertainment every weekend.

Tickets for this matchup are on sale and are available from $34 and $85 for the first two rows ringside, $70 for remaining ringside seats and all others priced at $49, $45 and $39 plus any applicable fees. Tickets can be purchased at the Turning Stone Resort Box Office in person or by calling 315-361-7469 or online at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com).

Professional media requesting credentials for June 8 must contact Kelly Abdo, Turning Stone Resort Casino Public Relations Manager at kelly.abdo@turningstone.com.

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

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 #GBPonESPN.




THE REAL DEAL BOXING’S JUNE 2 & JUNE 9 EVENTS TO STREAM FOR FREE ON CBS DIGITAL’S SPORTSLIVE OTT SERVICE

Atlantic City, NJ/Brooklyn, NY (May 25, 2018):

Evander Holyfield’s The Real Deal Boxing has announced that both of their upcoming events on June 2nd (in Atlantic City) and on June 9th (in New York City) will be streamed live, free of charge, on the SportsLive OTT service, available online and via mobile and Roku apps. Both live streams will start at 7pm Eastern Time.

The June 2nd, Atlantic City event will be a special Hall of Fame edition of The Real Deal Boxing in celebration of Evander Holyfield’s induction into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame that weekend. The event which takes place at the famed Boardwalk Hall, will be headlined by The Real Deal Boxing’s world-ranked featherweight contender, Toka Kahn Clary (24-1, 17 KOs) who will defend his NABA Featherweight Title against Emmanuel Dominguez (22-6-2, 14 KOs). Providence, Rhode Island’s Clary spent this camp at the Wildcard Gym in Hollywood with new trainer Freddie Roach and is eager to make a statement as he closes in on a world title shot.

Then the following week, on June 9th, The Real Deal Boxing heads to Kings Theater in Brooklyn, New York for a Puerto Rican Day Parade Weekend event featuring a card that is literally a who’s who of New York based Puerto Rican prospects headlined by The Real Deal Boxing’s Edgar Berlanga (7-0, 7 KOs).The young and flashy power puncher is fast becoming a legitimate star in New York’s Puerto Rican community, stopping every opponent of his career in the first round. Berlanga is looking to continue his knockout streak on the celebratory occasion in front of his growing fan base.

“We’re excited to be working with CBS Sports Digital once again for a back to back weekend of Real Deal Boxing events,” says Holyfield, the 4 time heavyweight champion of the world turned promoter.

“With the SportsLive OTT service, we can make sure that boxing fans not just in Atlantic City and New York but across the country can see our great stable of young fighters and the competitive match ups that The Real Deal Boxing is becoming known for. We invite everyone to join us for free on June 2nd and June 9th on SportsLive and see what The Real Deal Boxing is all about.”

The Real Deal Hall of Fame Special Edition takes place Saturday, June 2nd at the Adrian Phillips Theater inside Boardwalk Hall and is presented in association with Mis Downing Promotions and the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame. Tickets are on sale now and priced at $150, $100, $50 and $35. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com and in person at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office. For more information visit www.therealdealboxing.com and www.acbhof.com.

The Real Deal Boxing’s National Puerto Rican Weekend Showcase takes place Saturday, June 9th at Kings Theater in Brooklyn, New York. Doors open at 6pm and first bell is 7pm. Tickets are priced at $150, $125, $75, and $50. Tickets are on sale now and available at www.ticketmaster.com and in person at the Kings Theater box office. For more information visit www.therealdealboxing.com and www.kingstheater.com.

The SportsLive streaming service, powered by the CBS Interactive Advanced Media division of CBS Sports Digital, gives subscribers unlimited access to thousands of live events and on-demand videos across high school, college and professional sports.




Full Card Set for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship & First Legal, Regulated and Sanctioned Bare Knuckle Event in the U.S. Since 1889

CHEYENNE, WY (May 25, 2018) – The full lineup of matchups are set for the inaugural Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) fight card that will feature 12 bouts Saturday, June 2 live on pay-per-view from Cheyenne Ice & Events Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

The first legal, regulated and sanctioned bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889, “BKFC: The Beginning,” will air throughout the United States and Canada on pay-per-view through MultiVision Media, Inc., on FITE-TV app and fite.tv on all major television and streaming distribution outlets for $29.99 in 4K. The event can be ordered at www.bareknuckle.tv/bkfc1.

The pay-per-view telecast will feature former boxing world champion Antonio Tarver providing color commentary.

Headlining the card is former UFC Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez taking on Pennsylvania’s Lewis “The Beast” Rumsey in five rounds of heavyweight action, while Lineal Bare Knuckle Boxing Heavyweight World Champion Bobby Gunn battles Brazil’s Marcelo Tavares in a seven-round attraction.

A five-round women’s showdown between “Rowdy” Bec Rawlings and Alma Garcia will also be featured on the groundbreaking pay-per-view event. A former UFC fighter, Rawlings recorded two wins in UFC among her seven professional MMA victories. The 29-year-old from Brisbane, Australia enters the ring looking to bring her signature aggressive style into bare knuckle boxing. She will take on Garcia, a professional boxer with seven fights under her belt and fighting out of Denver, Colorado.

Held under the auspices and control of the Wyoming Combative Sports Commission, headed by Chairman Bryan Pedersen, the card features only established professional fighters who have competed in boxing, MMA, kickboxing or Muay Thai.

BKFC heavyweight tournament action will feature Arizona’s Eric “The American Soldier” Prindle battling Missouri’s Sam Shewmaker, Las Vegas-native Maurice “The Gorilla” Jackson against Hawaii’s Dale Sopi and Chicago’s Arnold “Bomaye” Adams competing against California’s DJ “Da Protégé” Linderman in a series of five-round quarter final matchups.

Additional fights on the stacked night of bare knuckle boxing include Virginia’s Reggie Barnett versus Pennsylvania’s Travis Thompson in a five-round 135-pound fight, Texas-native Johnny “Brutal” Bedford in a 137-pound, five-round matchup against Wyoming’s Nick “Garfield” Mamalis and a 155-pound showdown between Phoenix’s Estevan “El Terrible” Payan and Washington’s Omar “Gallo Fino” Avelar scheduled for five rounds.

Rounding out the night of fights are a pair of 145-pound fights as San Diego’s Joey Beltran meets California’s Tony “Kryptonite” Lopez in a five-round bout and Winnipeg’s Desmond Johnson taking on New Mexico-native Austin Ward in a five-round affair,plus Canada’s Brandon Cheverfield against Indiana’s Jorge Gonzales in a five-round 165-pound attraction.

Tickets for the live event are available now exclusively at www.bareknuckle.tv and are priced from $50 to $200.

# # #

ABOUT BKFC: THE BEGINNING
“BKFC: The Beginning” will be distributed live on pay-per-view on Saturday, June 2 at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT and will be available to over 100 million households in the United States and Canada via cable and satellite, and carried throughout the world on traditional television, apps, Smart TVs, home computers, laptops, iPhones, iPads and android devices via Chromecast, Apple TV, Sony Playstations, etc.

Please consult your local guide for channel and replays throughout the month. The suggested retail for “BKFC: The Beginning” is $29.99.

“BKFC: The Beginning”, will be produced in state-of-the art 4K and distributed by New York-based MultiVision Media, Inc. The executive producer is Brian Ricco.

For more information visit www.bareknuckle.tv or follow on Twitter at @BKBChampionship, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/bareknucklefc and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bareknucklefc.




FRANK WARREN PARTNERS WITH THE BBC FOR EXCLUSIVE RADIO RIGHTS OF TYSON FURY’S COMEBACK FIGHT


Frank Warren has partnered with the BBC for exclusive radio rights to Tyson Fury’s highly-anticpated comeback fight against Sefer Seferi at the Manchester Arena on June 9.

Former WBA, WBO and IBF Heavyweight World Champion Fury will end an exile of over two-and-a-half years when he fights at the Manchester Arena for the first time in his career.

Fellow Mancunian Terry Flanagan bids to become the city’s first ever two-weight World Champion when he takes on unbeaten American Maurice Hooker for the Vacant WBO Super-Lightweight crown.

The BBC’s multi-event deal with Warren got underway with memorable coverage of Carl Frampton’s brilliant performance against four-weight World Champion and Filipino legend Nonito Donaire at the SSE Arena in Belfast last month.

‘The Jackal’ earned the WBO interim Featherweight belt with a classy win over Donaire in front of an electric sell-out crowd and set up his dream summer Windsor Park fight in doing so.

Frampton and his trainer Jamie Moore then swapped the canvas for the radio mic alongside Mike Costello to provide commentary for Josh Warrington’s historic World Title win over long-standing rival Lee Selby at Elland Road last week.

Warrington stunned the boxing World by becoming the first man from Leeds to win a World Title in front of over 20,000 fans at the home of his beloved Leeds United.

And now Costello and his team turn their attention to the Manchester Arena as Fury looks to begin his rise back to the very top of the Heavyweight division.

Frank Warren: “I’m delighted to partner with the BBC for exclusive radio commentary on one of the most eagerly-anticipated comeback fights of all time. This is even more brilliant news for fight fans following the success of our first two events with the BBC. We’ve already delivered two memorable nights and on June 9 I’m predicting even more fireworks when the big man finally gets himself back in the ring and under the lights.”

Ben Gallop, Head of BBC Radio and Digital Sport, said: “Tyson Fury’s comeback fight promises to be a fantastic occasion. We’re delighted to have added his homecoming bout in Manchester in June, as well as his second fight, to our multi-event deal with Frank Warren. With exclusive commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website, boxing fans won’t miss a moment of the action.”




Regis Prograis to Headline New Orleans Homecoming July 14 at Lakefront Arena


NEW ORLEANS (May 25, 2018) — Regis “Rougarou” Prograis was born in New Orleans and became a fighter in The Big Easy. He never returned home to fight. Until now. Prograis, the World Boxing Council (WBC) interim super lightweight champion, will make his triumphant homecoming against fellow unbeaten Juan Jose Velasco on July 14 at Lakefront Arena on the campus of the University of New Orleans (UNO).

In the co-feature, young knockout artist Teofimo Lopez continues his rise up the lightweight rankings against once-beaten William Silva in a 10-rounder.

Prograis vs. Velasco and Lopez vs. Silva will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 7 p.m. ET with soon-to-be announced undercard bouts to be streamed on ESPN+ beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment, tickets, priced at $200 (ringside), $125 (floor), $75, and $40, go on sale TODAY, May 25 at 10 a.m. CST, 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 UNO box office.

“I’m thrilled and honored to be fighting back home in New Orleans,” Prograis said. “For the last couple of years, everywhere I’ve went people have asked, ‘When are you fighting at home?’ I’m beyond excited that we can make this happen. The people of New Orleans have supported me from day one, and I love being from here and having the opportunity for the world to see me fight at home.”

“Regis is a superstar in the making. He has all the tools and intangibles to be an international star,” said Lou DiBella, Prograis’ promoter. “I’m very happy to showcase his talents on ESPN on July 14 in his hometown of New Orleans.”

“Regis is the most dynamic, articulate and talented new force in boxing today,” said Peter Berg, Prograis’ manager. “He is the future and the future is now.”

“I asked to fight on the big stage, and now I am getting what I wanted,” Lopez said. “I’m grateful to Top Rank and ESPN for giving me the opportunity to showcase my talent and take over another show. The takeover is real, ladies and gentlemen. Come July 14, you will see it.”

Prograis (21-0, 18 KOs) lived in New Orleans until he was 16 years old but relocated to Houston after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005. He started boxing seriously after moving to Houston, training alongside future world champions Jermall and Jermell Charlo. Following an amateur career that included nearly 100 fights and a Texas State Golden Gloves title, Prograis made his pro debut in April 2012, winning eight bouts in his first two years in the paid ranks.

On June 25, 2016, Prograis won the vacant NABF super lightweight junior title with a fourth-round stoppage of Luis Florez. He turned heads last June when he knocked down the previously unbeaten Joel Diaz Jr. four times in the second round to score the knockout in a nationally televised main event. In March, as an encore, he steamrolled former 140-pound unified champion Julius Indongo to win the interim world title, knocking him down four time en route to a second-round TKO.

Velasco (20-0, 12 KOs), from Buenos Aires, has fought only twice outside of his native Argentina. This will be his third ring appearance of 2018, as he stopped Sergio Manuel Liendo in the seventh round in February and Jorge Martin Garcia in the second round in May. The 31-year-old has won four of his last five bouts via knockout.

Lopez (9-0, 7 KOs), a 2016 Olympian for his parents’ native Honduras, has had a meteoric rise through the pro ranks since turning in November 2016. Named Yahoo Sports’ 2017 “Prospect of the Year”, Lopez has lived up to the billing in 2018. In February, he shut out the durable Juan Pablo Sanchez over six rounds. On the Vasiliy Lomachenko-Jorge Linares undercard May 12 at Madison Square Garden, Lopez turned into a viral superstar with his first-round knockout of Vitor Freitas. As Freitas attempted to get up, Lopez did the “Take the L” dance from the popular video game Fortnite.

Silva (25-1, 14 KOs), from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has never been knocked out during a nearly 12-year pro career. He has won two straight since his only loss, a 10-round unanimous decision to then-undefeated Felix Verdejo.

For more information visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, facebook.com/espndeportes; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, @ESPN @ESPNBoxeo, @ESPNDeportes. Use the hashtag #PrograisVelasco to join the conversation on social media.




Horn in car accident; Crawford fight still on

WBO Welterweight champion Jeff Horn was involved in a car accident, but it was not serious enough to affect his June 9th defense against Terence Crawford, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“We don’t let little things like car accidents or bruised hands stop us unlike those (expletive) American fighters, who if it was them they would be crying right now they would have to delay the fight,” Duco Events promoter Dean Lonergan, who co-promotes Horn with Top Rank, told ESPN in a text message.

“No one was badly hurt but it stunned me,” Horn told the Australian newspaper the Courier Mail. “Fortunately, I was in the car alone and my wife Jo and baby Isabelle were home. The man in the center of the crash just had his head buried in his hands. He was really upset, really in shock. I jumped out of the car to make sure everyone was OK. The ambulance people came but thankfully there weren’t any serious injuries. It could have been much worse. The accident was a shock but nothing is going to derail me from beating Terence Crawford. I’m very fit. I feel I’m going to peak right at fight time.”

Next up is Crawford, and Carl Moretti, vice president of Top Rank, Crawford’s promoter, was happy to hear that Horn was OK.

“We’re thankful Jeff was not hurt in the accident,” Moretti said. “However, come June 9 he’s gonna run head straight into something that hits like a Mack truck and is as fast as a Lamborghini — ‘Bud’ Crawford.”




Lomachenko vacates 130 lb title


Vasyl Lomachenko will vacate his WBO 130 lb championship and keep the WBA Lightweight title, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I am writing you on behalf of Team Lomachenko. As you are well aware on May 12 Vasiliy moved up in weight to challenge WBA lightweight champion Jorge Linares,” Top Rank’s Carl Moretti wrote to WBP President Paco Valcarcel.. “As you saw, he was successful in capturing the lightweight title. Vasiliy wishes to continue to campaign in the lightweight division. Therefore, we respectfully relinquish our WBO junior lightweight title so that an opportunity may be given to the ranked contenders to compete for the vacant belt.

“Paco, we are so grateful to you and the WBO family for affording us the privilege of being a WBO world champion from the start of his career. We hope in the near future we will once again be afforded the chance to fight for another championship with the WBO. As always, we thank you for your continued support and friendship.”

“Lomachenko will not go on Aug. 25, but it’s still possible that his next fight will be a unification with Ray,” Top Rank’s Bob Arum said, adding that after a trip home to Ukraine following the victory against Linares that Lomachenko would return to Southern California on Monday night and will meet with him and manager Egis Klimas next week to discuss his future plans.

“Loma is going to stay at 135 pounds because we believe there are bigger fights and much better competition in that weight class,” Klimas told ESPN. “We’ve been talking about the next fight and maybe unifying with the titles with Beltran but everything is up in the air.”

 




Inoue destroys McDonnell to win Bantamweight crown

Naoya Inoue obliterated Jamie McDonnell to win the WBA Bantamweight title at  Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.

Inoue dropped McDonnell in the opening frame with a body shot.  Seconds later, Inoue landed a furious combination that sent McDonnell oto the canvas, and the bout was stopped at 1:50.

Inoue of Japan won a title in his 3rd division, and is now 16-0 with 14 knockouts.  McDonnell of Great Briton is 29-3-1.

Ken Shiro defended the WBA Light Flyweight title with a 2nd round stoppage over Ganigan Lopez.

Shiro landed a perfect right to the body that folded up Lopez to the canvas.  He could not beat the ten-count.

Shiro is 13-0 with seven knockouts.  Lopez is 34-8.




FOLLOW MCDONNELL – INOUE LIVE!

Follow all the action as Jamie McDonnell defends the WBA Bantamweight title against undefeated former world champion Naoya Inoue.  The action begins at 7:15 am ET with the WBC Light Flyweight title bout with champion Ken Shiro defending against Ganaigan Lopez

NO BROWSER REFRESH NEEDED.  THE PAGE WILL UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY

12-ROUNDS–WBA BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE–JAMIE MCDONNELL (29-2-1, 13 KOS) VS NAOYA INOUE (15-0, 13 KOS)
ROUND 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 TOTAL
MCDONNELL
INOUE* TKO

Round 1: 2 body shouts from Inoue…LEFT TO BODY AND DOWN GOES MCDONNELL…HARD COMBINATION..LEFT TO HEAD DOWN GOES MCDONNELL…FIGHT OVER

 

 

12 ROUNDS–WBA LIGHT FLYWEIGHT TITLE–KEN SHIRO (12-0, 6 KOS) VS GANIGAN LOPEZ (34-7, 19 KOS)
ROUND 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 TOTAL
SHIRO* 10 KO 10
LOPEZ 10 10

Round 1 

Round 2 Right from Shiro..RIGHT TO BODY AND DOWN GOES LOPEZ,,,HE DOES NOT GET UP FIGHT OVER




Final Press Conference: Ancajas and Sultan Ready to Make History

FRESNO, Calif. (May 24, 2018) — History is only two days away, as Jerwin “Pretty Boy’” Ancajas will defend the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior bantamweight world title in the main event Saturday evening against countryman Jonas Sultan at the Save Mart Center. It marks the first world title bout featuring two Filipino fighters in 93 years, when Pancho Villa defended the world flyweight title against Clever Sencio on May 2, 1925.

In the co-feature, Great Britain’s Kal Yafai will make the third defense of his World Boxing Association (WBA) super flyweight title against David Carmona.

Ancajas vs. Sultan and Yafai vs. Carmona will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN+ beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Undercard bouts will be shown on ESPN+ starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. The undercard includes undefeated welterweight prospect Alexander Besputin (9-0, 7 KOs) in a 10-rounder against Saul Corral (27-11, 18 KOs); unbeaten lightweight prospect Ismail Muwendo (19-0, 12 KOs) against John Moralde (19-1, 10 KOs) in an eight-rounder; and Central Valley 130-pound prospects Bryan Lua and Isidro Ochoa in separate six-round bouts.

This is what the fighters had to say.

Jerwin Ancajas

“For me, Filipino boxers fight with their heart, so I consider a Filipino opponent to be difficult in the ring.”

“It is God’s will that we are here, participants in the main event. I thank Top Rank for the opportunity.”

Jonas Sultan

“It has always been my dream to fight for a world championship, and this opportunity has come my way. Throughout my career, and when I was young, this is what I dreamed of. I am going to go all out to win this championship.”

“I studied Ancajas’ style very carefully, and now it’s my opportunity to do what I can.”

Kal Yafai

“I watch the fights with my trainer. Carmona is a tough fighter. He’s been in the ring with guys like Inoue and Cuadras, took them both the distance. Cuadras was close. He could’ve won that fight. So, yeah, he’s tough, experienced. He’s had three world title fights, so he knows what he’s doing in there. On Saturday, he’s going to come across someone who is very quick. I think I’m just too good all around, and especially when I’m looking to make an explosive performance in my U.S. debut. I think he’s in a little trouble, but I’m going to go out there, box him, take what I can, and go from there.”

“I’ve come out here to deal with business on Saturday night, defend my world title, impress, look good, and dazzle in front of an American audience on ESPN+.”

David Carmona

“I’m ready to fight. I hope to have a good opponent in the ring. He’s a champion, and we’re going to make a good fight.”

Bryan Lua

“I can show my power and my talent and my speed, but this Saturday night, I want to show that I can box, I have power, and I have the one-punch knockout power as well.”

Isidro Ochoa
“Look where I’m at now. Nine years after winning my first national title, I’m signed by Top Rank, one of the biggest promotional companies, fighting on the biggest cards.”

“I watch every fight. Every big fight I’m on, I stay and watch all the fights because I learn things. Although I’m outside the ring, you learn from watching the best.”

###

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Big Al Entertainment, Joven Sports, and Matchroom Boxing USA, tickets to this world championship doubleheader, priced at $147 (ringside), $47, $37, and $17, plus applicable fees, are ON SALE NOW and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000, or at the Save Mart Center box office. For more information and box office hours, visit www.savemartcenter.com.




ACTION-PACKED EIGHT-BOUT CARD ANNOUNCED FOR ‘HOLLYWOOD FIGHT NIGHTS’ EVENT WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6 AT THE AVALON!

Los Angeles, CA (May 24, 2018) A sensational card of action-packed fights has been announced by Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions for the highly anticipated return of ‘Hollywood Fight Nights’ set for Wednesday, June 6 at the AVALON in Hollywood, CA.

Advance tickets priced at $200 for VIP Ring Mat and $125 for VIP Ringside (first two rows), $85 for Preferred Floor Seating and $60 for Balcony General Admission are now on sale online at www.360Promotions.us through the interactive seating chart by clicking HERE or by calling 800-283-8699.

The historic AVALON is located at 1735 Vine Street in Hollywood, CA adjacent to the iconic intersection of Hollywood Blvd. and Vine St. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. on the night of the event with the first bell scheduled at 6:15 p.m. For more details on the AVALON, please visit their website, www.AvalonHollywood.com

In the main event, former world title challenger Denis Shafikov, (38-4-1, 20 KO’s), will clash with Hector ‘El Estudiante’ Suarez, (12-6-1, 6 KO’s), of Ensenada, Mexico over eight rounds.

Trained by the world-renowned Abel Sanchez, the always exciting Shafikov is looking for a world title shot in the near future, holding recent victories over top contenders Richard Commey and Jamel Herring.

Fighting for the first time in the United States on April 6, 2018, the 22-year-old Suarez is coming off a hard-fought battle with undefeated local prospect Hector Tanajara in Los Angeles, CA, losing an eight-round decision. Prior victories in 2017 for Suarez were over top prospects Sebastian Maldonado and Cesar Ramirez.

In a six-round middleweight tilt, standout Ukrainian prospect Serhii ‘El Flaco’ Bohachuk, (8-0-0, 8 KO’s), faces off against Vardges Vardanyan,

(1-0-0) of Panorama City, CA.

The 23-year-old Bohachuk, known for his show-stopping knockouts, has become one a must-see attraction for Southern California fight fans. Now making his home in Los Angeles, Bohachuk stopped Lucius Johnson in the third round on March 27 at the premiere of ‘Hollywood Fight Nights’.

Also 23-years-old, the southpaw Vardanyan had an outstanding amateur career, winning the bronze medal at the Pan-American Games. He also competed in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials. In his professional debut, the 5’11” local Armenian favorite won a four-round decision over Fernando Hernandez on June 17, 2017 in Los Angeles.

Making his triumphant return to Los Angeles, undefeated top prospect Brian Ceballo, (2-0-0, 1 KO), of Brooklyn, NY will face Adan Ahumada,

(3-4-2, 2 KO’s), of Matamoros, Mexico in a scheduled four round welterweight bout.

The 24-year-old Ceballo, a former amateur standout, has quickly impressed local fight fans with two dominant victories to kick-off his professional career. On May 5, 2018, he scored a four-round unanimous decision over Nam Phan on the undercard of the record-breaking ‘GGG’ show at the Stubhub Center in Carson, CA.

In a special attraction six-round women’s flyweight bout, Louisa ‘Bang Bang Lulu’ Hawton, (7-1-0, 3 KO’s), of Perth, Australia faces off against Elvia Trevino, (2-3-0), of Matamoros, Mexico.

Hawton will look to bounce back from her first loss to Anahi Torres on February 24 at The Forum over eight rounds challenging for the WBC International Junior Flyweight Title. The title fight was Hawton’s first bout in the United States.

The 24-year-old Trevino has recently battled undefeated prospect Lorraine Villalobos in two consecutive bouts, losing hard-fought four round decisions in the Los Angeles area.

Popular undefeated junior lightweight prospect Mario Ramos, (4-0-0, 4 KO’s), of San Diego, CA will look to keep his knockout streak intact against Guadalupe Arroyo, (3-11-0), of Huntington Beach, CA.

Fighting at the inaugural ‘Hollywood Fight Nights’ on March 27, 2018, Ramos scored a first round knockout of Oscar Eduardo Quezada in front of his legion of supporters.

Also fighting on March 27 at the AVALON, Arroyo lost a hard-fought six round decision to Luis Rosales.

Boxing out of Anaheim, CA, undefeated middleweight prospect Jonathan ‘Diamante’ Esquivel, (5-0-0, 5 KO’s), will clash with battle-tested veteran Ulises ‘El Cerillo’ Jimenez, (23-22-1, 15 KO’s) of Xochimilco, Mexico in a scheduled six round clash.

The 23-year-old Esquivel will look to continue his streak of victories inside the distance, most recently scoring a second-round knockout of Cameron Burroughs on February 17, 2018 in Las Vegas, NV.

With back-to-back victories in his last two starts, Jimenez looks to capitalize on his last win over six rounds against Alejandro Barrera on July 14, 2017 in Zamora, Mexico.

In the featherweight division, Tijuana, Mexico’s Luis Rosales, (7-1-1, 3 KO’s), will battle Roberto Pucheta, (10-13-1, 6 KO’s), of Jalisco, Mexico in a six-round bout.

Competing at the first ‘Hollywood Fight Nights’ card, the 24-year-old Rosales won a six-round decision over Guadalupe Arroyo, his second victory in a row. The upset-minded Purcheta has faced a long list of top prospects over his ten years as a professional and will be looking to stop the Rosales path of victories.

Rounding out the card in a four round women’s junior welterweight bout, Los Angeles native Elvina White, (1-0-0) will face an opponent to be announced.

——————————-

Tom Loeffler was recognized by ESPN in 2017 as being involved in the promotion of the three biggest events of the year including the Anthony Joshua/Wladimir Klitschko World Heavyweight Championship at Wembley Stadium in London, the Gennady Golovkin/Daniel Jacobs World Middleweight Championship at Madison Square Garden and the massive Canelo Alvarez/Gennady Golovkin event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

These three events totaled over 130,000 tickets sold in addition to their extraordinary numbers in pay-per-view sales and network viewership worldwide.

Social Media

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www.360Promotions.us




FIGHTNIGHT LIVE APPROACHING 1.5 MILLION VIEWS FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL INAUGURAL CAMPAIGN


NEW YORK (May 24, 2018) – Recently celebrating its first anniversary and now approaching 1.5 million views for the series, Facebook FIGHTNIGHT LIVE next turns the corner to year two, looking to build upon its meteoric rise after a highly successful inaugural campaign.

The fan-friendly series that – among other aspects – prides itself on the real-time conversations held between fight commentators and the viewing audience has showcased more than 300 fighters during 17 live event broadcasts in its first 12 months. In doing so, the interactive platform has generated the loyal interest of fight fans from across the United States and around the globe, including significant audiences in Mexico, the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, and even fans in South America, Asia and Australia.

“We are extremely proud of what FIGHTNIGHT LIVE has accomplished since May 2017. We’ve had 17 shows originating from New York, Boston, Atlantic City, Philadelphia, New England, Phoenix and America’s Heartland, where many different promotions gained an incredible amount of exposure via this exciting, truly social platform. To be able to have several events where more than 150,000 people have tuned in only scratches the surface on the market interest for these events, and we are ready to take FIGHTNIGHT LIVE to the next level in year two,” said Mark Fratto, Principal and Director of Business Development, Linacre Media.

“Beyond the numbers, we’re really pleased with the way the shows have been presented and produced,” Fratto continued. “We’ve been able to showcase more than 300 up-and-coming fighters to fight fans all over the world, and help them expand their bases. And we’ve been able to invite our viewers to be part of the action by fostering real-time interaction between our broadcasters and viewers on the fight activity, the decisions and the knockouts; it’s the next-best thing to having a ringside seat.”

Now at more than 1.4 million views for the series, FIGHTNIGHT LIVE has continued to deliver impressive numbers throughout its rookie season, which has already included seven live shows in the first five months of 2018:

Over the first 11 months of programming, the numbers on the 17-show FIGHTNIGHT LIVE series have showed promise and potential for the new platform with an average of 83,714 fight fans tuning in per event and more than 1.4 million fans served.
The Sept. 9 “Real Deal Promotions: Empire State” from Resorts World Casino (225,000), the August CES “Super Saturday” from Foxwoods (203,000), the Sept. CES “Twin River Twinbill” from Lincoln, R.I. (157,000) and the March 17 Murphy’s “St. Patrick’s Day Clash” (150,001) all logged 150,000 or more views, and collectively the 17-show series has seen a total of more than 30,000 total hours of Facebook video consumed by 1,423,132 users across all devices.
In addition to the raw viewership numbers, the fully-interactive, fan-friendly productions have seen more than 173,000 collective live post engagements (more than 10,200 per show), including more than 116,000 “likes” or “loves,” almost 30,000 comments and nearly 10,000 shares.
FIGHTNIGHT LIVE broadcasts are viewed by 76 percent men, 24 percent women. The top demographic is comprised of males ages 25-34, which encompasses approximately 30.0 percent of the audience, on average.
The Sept. 9 “Real Deal Promotions: Empire State” set a new bar with 224,658 views and the Sept. 15-16 DiBella-CES doubleheader carried the series to three-quarters-of-a-million views in just over four months. TheFeb. 10 Hard-Hitting Promotions “Philly Fight Night” show stands out individually with 3,421 live hours of content viewed, while the Sept. 15 DiBella card saw more than 40,000 viewer interactions including almost 39,000 “likes” or “loves” and the March 17 Murphy’s “St. Patrick’s Day Clash” set a new high-water mark for shares with 2,182.
The FIGHTNIGHT LIVE page on Facebook has more than 80,000 fans and more than 83,000 followers. And Facebook itself has taken notice – the world’s No. 1 social network recently profiled FIGHTNIGHT LIVE on its “Success Stories” media blog, noting the series’ use of industry best practices for production and interactivity: https://www.facebook.com/facebookmedia/success-stories/fightnight

Created and produced by Linacre Media out of New York City, the FIGHTNIGHT LIVE series features professional announcers, multiple camera angles, television graphics, replays and behind-the-scenes access and interviews. The streamed shows are available globally wherever Facebook is available. The initiative not only enables fans from around the world to tune in, but also gives up-and-coming fighters a global platform to showcase their abilities, gives promoters an accessible “broadcast” solution and gives sponsors the ability to reach a mass audience via branded content.

More FIGHTNIGHT LIVE Spring and Summer 2018 dates will be officially announced in the coming weeks.

FIGHTNIGHT LIVE is available online at:
https://www.facebook.com/FaceFIGHTNIGHTLIVE/

Follow all the action via social media at FaceFIGHTNIGHTLIVE on Facebook, @FaceFIGHTNIGHTLIVE on Instagram and @FIGHTNIGHTLIVE_ on Twitter, or by using the hashtag #FIGHTNIGHTLIVE. For the latest Linacre Media events and broadcast schedule, follow @LinacreMedia across all social platforms or use the tags #LinacreMediaEvents or #LinacreMediaOnTV.




Pascal to end brief retirement to face former Hockey player and UFC fighter Bosse


Former light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal will face former minor-league hockey player, and UFC fighter Steve Bosse on June 29th in Montreal.

“I don’t want to have no regrets and that is why I came back,” Pascal said. “I take this fight very seriously. I am already in the gym and I will have a good training camp. I found back the love for my sport.”

“I always wanted to fight a heavyweight. Steve is the perfect opponent to test myself (because) he is a big guy who was 224 pounds in his last fight,” Pascal said.

“But, still, I will put his boxing career where it belongs — on ice.”

“All my life I was an underdog. They said I could not play hockey. I played and was the most popular guy in the league,” said Bosse, who last fought in the UFC in June 2016. “They said I shouldn’t do MMA. I reached the UFC and did pretty good. Now some say I should not box? I will surprise the doubters June 29.

“Remember, I am the puncher here. I can end the fight with one punch. He can’t. I will send him back to retirement.”

“Pascal is saying it is his ambition to test the heavyweight division as it is his longtime dream to fight with the big men,” promoter Yvon Michel said. “(In this fight) you have a former world champion moving up a weight class against a bigger guy, who is also a crowd pleaser. Make sure you don’t blink.”




Epic Sports wins Pulev – Whte purse bid

Dillian Whyte v Lucas Browne Weigh-In
The Courthouse Hotel, Shoreditch
Pic: Christopher Dean / Scantech Media Ltd / Matchroom
07930 364436
chris@scantechmedia.com
www.scantechmedia.com

Epic Sports won the purse bid to stage a IBF heavyweight elimination bout between Kubrat Pulev and Dillian Whyte, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Epic Sports & Entertainment, headed by former longtime Don King attorney John Wirt, won with a bid of $1,500,111 to easily beat two other bidders. Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn, Whyte’s promoter, offered $831,111, while Pulev promoter Team Sauerland bid $801,305.

Pulev is entitled to 75 percent of the winning bid ($1,125,083.25), and Whyte will receive the remaining 25 percent ($375,027.75).




CHRISTINA HAMMER TRAINING CAMP NOTES

Unified Women’s WBC and WBO Middleweight Champion Christina Hammer has taken to the mountains of Austria for this leg of her intense training camp.

Hammer (22-0, 10 KOs) will make her U.S. fighting debut while defending her titles against former world champion Tori Nelson (17-1-3, 2 KOs) on Friday, June 22. The bout will serve as a supporting bout to two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and unified women’s super-middleweight champion Claressa Shields’ attempt to become a two-division world champion against unified women’s 154-pound champion Hanna Gabriels at Masonic Temple in Detroit, Mich.

Shields vs Gabriels will be contested for the vacant IBF and WBA Middleweight World Championships and telecast on SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION at 10 p.m. ET/PT live on SHOWTIME. Extensive highlights of Hammer vs. Nelson will also be shown.

Hammer, of Dortmund, Germany, has dominated the women’s middleweight division since 2010. The 27-year-old says training at elevation in the mountains of Austria is bringing the best out of her.

How has training camp gone so far?

“My camp has gone well. We train three times a day and work hard to be in the best shape possible on June 22 in Detroit.”

Can you tell us about your current training location?

“We are in Austria, staying at a place in the mountains that is about 5000-feet elevation. It’s amazing here. The nature and the mountains inspire me and give me power. It’s very comfortable to do my roadwork and go to the boxing gym because everything is situated in a comfortable way.”

What is a typical day like at training camp?

“We’ve been in Austria for the last 10 days. At 7:30 am, we start the first interval runs. At 9 am, I have breakfast and at 11 am, we go up to the mountains to our gym (which is at 6500 feet high) to do my strength and conditioning work. Later, in the afternoon, we start our boxing work. The nature and beautiful surroundings give me peace of mind.”

How and why is your training camp built into different stages?

“The mountains are perfect to prepare for the fight. You are away from your hometown stay more focused on training. The air is thin and this high level of elevation gives your body a higher level of conditioning. On June 10, we will move on to our next stage of training, which will take place in the United States. That will be to help acclimate me to the new time and climate for fight night on June 22, which is when I will put all of this hard work together and have it pay off in a big way.”

Who is your head trainer?

“My coach is Dimitrie Kirnos. I started my professional career with him. He himself was Soviet Union Boxing Champion and trained many top champions. He is old school and pushes my mind and body to the limit. He is a big part of my team we have a great bond. I have much respect and admiration for him.”

Have you done anything different preparing for this fight?

“I spar with lots of shorter fighters, like Tori Nelson. I guarantee that it will be much more explosive and impressive than Claressa Shields was against her.”

American fans love knockouts. Can they expect a Christina Hammer KO on June 22?

“That’s why I train hard and give everything in the gym. I want to be amazing that night and a knockout would be a perfect ending.”

?What is your prediction for June 22?

“I will show my power and skills. People will see who the real unified Middleweight Champion of the world is. My performance will speak for itself!”

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by Salita Promotions, are available at Ticketmaster.com or at the Masonic Temple Box Office at (313) 832-7100. VIP tickets are priced at $300, ringside tickets at $125, and remaining tickets at $75, $50 and $35.




MCDONNELL: I’M READY FOR ‘MONSTER’ CHALLENGE

Jamie McDonnell says he’ll prove that he’s the best Bantamweight in the world as he faces pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue in Tokyo, Japan on Friday, live on Sky Sports.

McDonnell puts his WBA crown on the line for the seventh time against Inoue, the Japanese star known as ‘Monster’ who is aiming to become a three-weight World ruler in just his 16th pro fight.

The Doncaster ace has been on the road in four of his last five fights and adds a third continent to his pro career as he looks to extend his ten-year unbeaten run in his toughest test as a pro.

The 32 year old believes his success as WBA ruler has been largely unnoticed, so he wants to use this clash with Inoue to cement his place amongst the elite level.

“I’ve gone under the radar the last couple of years but this fight puts me right up there,” said McDonnell, who weighed in at 117.5lbs, with Inoue at 118lbs. “When I beat Inoue everyone in the world will know my name. That’s given me the motivation to make yet another successful World title defence.

“We know he’s a very good fighter, we know his qualities but we are ready to bring it. This is a very big fight for the both of us. I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do and that’s win at all costs.

“I’m feeling very confident, I’ve prepared with 12 hard weeks for this fight. We had some time in Dubai to help with the time adjustments and the work out there was top class preparation.”




Broner turns down $6.75 Million deal from Hearn on Twitter


According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Adrien Broner turned down a lucrative offer from promoter Eddie Hearn and posted the possible deal on Twitter.

“I’m sorry Eddie Hearn you a good guy and all but you tried to give me a worst (sic) deal than Roc Nation offered me,” Broner wrote, adding #ThisS—IsOVA and #SlaveDeal.

Broner posted what he said was the one-year, $6.75 million offer sent to his camp by Hearn that read, “Further to our recent conversations, you may have seen our announcement last week for our new deal for 16 shows per year in the US. I would be very interested to offer Adrien a 3 fight promotional agreement.”

Terms of the deal called for Broner to fight in September for a purse of $2 million, followed by a second fight in March for $2.25 million, with the third fight in September 2019 for $2.5 million — higher than Broner’s previous best official purses.

“This will give AB security and also a concrete schedule to work from. 3 fights in 12 months! I will await your feedback and am here to answer any questions you have,” Hearn wrote.

“We’re definitely open to it and to hearing what he has to say, and me and my twin brother are willing to work something out if it makes sense,” Jermall Charlo said. “Of course, I want to hear what he has to say.”




Media Workout Notes & Quotes: Ancajas, Sultan Prepare for First All-Filipino World Title Bout in 93 Years

FRESNO, Calif (May 23, 2018) – No matter the result, history will be made Saturday evening at the Save Mart Center, when Jerwin Ancajas defends the IBF junior bantamweight title against Jonas Sultan. It will be the first all-Filipino world title bout contested since 1925.

In the co-feature, WBA 115-pound champion Kal Yafai of Birmingham, England, will make his U.S. debut against two-time world title challenger David Carmona.

Appearing on the undercard will be a pair of 4-0 Central Valley junior lightweight prospects: Isidro Ochoa of Fresno and Bryan Lua of nearby Madera, Calif.

Many of the fighters from Saturday’s card worked out for the media Wednesday at Heartbeat Boxing.

This is what they had to say.

Jerwin Ancajas

“My goal is to entertain the crowd. For my fans, the Filipino community here, I’m looking forward to this fight.”

“I’m proud that my dream has come true. All of my sacrifices paid off.”

“Sultan is hungry for a world title fight, to prove he is the best. I am confident, but not overconfident, because he’s also Filipino. We are expecting a good fight for the fans.”

“There are many great fighters in the Philippines, and I am happy that Jonas and myself can share this big stage. We are making history, and I am glad that we can fight to see who is the best.”

Jonas Sultan

“For me, I’m really proud for this fight because I am the one fighting for a championship that is history-making in the Philippines. I am very grateful that I am the one. This is my dream in life, to fight for the world championship.”

“This is very good for me because this is an important opportunity. Jerwin is a good fighter. He has speed and power. I trained hard. I have a really good plan for this fight.”

Kal Yafai

“It was the right time in my career {to make my American debut}. I had the opportunity, to not only to fight in the U.S., but fight on a Top Rank card. Top Rank is a very respected promoter, and my promoter, Eddie Hearn, thought it was the best opportunity for me. So, that’s what we did.”

“At this moment, I don’t really care about {Ancajas-Sultan} because I have a job to do myself. I’m not looking past this fight. After my fight, I’ll obviously watch the fight if I’m not too tired. I always concentrate on what I have in front of me.”

“There are plenty of great fighters at 115 pounds. Jonas Sultan is a great fighter, and he can’t be written off on Saturday night. Jerwin is a great fighter also, who I expect to win on Saturday.”

Bryan Lua

“My first three opponents, I tried to hit them with everything, and they went in survival mode for the rest of the four rounds. With my last fight (a first-round KO), I just took my time, let him in, and caught him with a left hook.”

“It’s like I’ll be fighting in my backyard. All the people that have been supporting me from Madera, Fresno, and the entire Central Valley will be there. I’m just excited to put on a show.”

“Now that I’m training with Jose Ramirez and {trainer} Robert Garcia in Riverside, it motivates me more to showcase my talent here, so one day I can be the main event or the co-main event with Jose.”

Isidro Ochoa

“I’m really excited for this. It’s been my dream since I was little to fight in big arenas like the Save Mart Center. All of my family and friends in Fresno will be able to make it here.”

“Since Jose Ramirez turned pro, I feel like it’s opened the doors for a lot of Central Valley fighters. There is really good talent here in the Central Valley. Everyone knows Fresno as this really bad neighborhood, but deep down inside Fresno, there are a bunch of kids who want to do something with their lives. Boxing pushes people to accomplish their dreams.”

###

Ancajas vs. Sultan and Yafai vs. Carmona will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+ beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET., while undefeated welterweight prospect Alexander Besputin, Lua, Ochoa, and other undercard bouts will be shown on ESPN+ starting at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Big Al Entertainment, Joven Sports, and Matchroom Boxing USA, tickets to this world championship doubleheader, priced at $147 (ringside), $47, $37, and $17, plus applicable fees, are ON SALE NOW and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000, or at the Save Mart Center box office. For more information and box office hours, visit www.savemartcenter.com.




DIBELLA ENTERTAINMENT’S BROADWAY BOXING SERIES HITS MELROSE BALLROOM IN ASTORIA, QUEENS, NY ON THURSDAY, JUNE 21

New York, NY (May 23, 2018) Celebrating its Fifteen Year Anniversary, DiBella Entertainment’s (DBE) acclaimed Broadway Boxing series returns on Thursday, June 21, at the beautiful Melrose Ballroom in Astoria, NY.

Tickets starting at $50 may be purchased online at www.MelroseBallroomNYC.com or by clicking HERE. The Melrose Ballroom is located at 36-08 33rd Street, Astoria, NY 11106. Doors on the night of the event will open at 6:00 PM with the first bell at 7:00 PM. Broadway Boxing is presented by Nissan of Queens, Azad Watches, OPTYX, Christos Steak House and Gagliardi Insurance.

Boxing fans can also catch all of the action on the new DiBella Entertainment streaming home, LIVE.DBE1.com, for a cost of $6.95.

“I’m thrilled to bring the Broadway Boxing series to Melrose Ballroom in Queens, right on the border of Astoria and Long Island City. It has a very intimate atmosphere and is easy to get to from Midtown Manhattan,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “I am a strong supporter of women’s boxing and this card will showcase two excellent women’s bouts. Coming off her world title victory and a subsequent PR campaign which included multiple television appearances, Long Island’s WBA world super middleweight champion Alicia Napoleon will return to the ring. San Francisco’s unbeaten Raquel Miller, a Golden Gloves champion who fought Claressa Shields in a hotly contested battle as an amateur, will make her DBE debut. Highly touted Uzbekistan Olympian Bakhodir Jalolov, a massive heavyweight that will be a future threat to the top contenders, will look for another impressive knockout, and his teammate Elnur Abduraimov, also an amateur standout, will make his pro debut. Former lightweight world champion Dejan Zlaticanin, the first Montenegrin to win a world title, continues on the road back to the top of the division. Brooklyn will be well represented with Mikkel LesPierre matched very tough in a welterweight main event, and the popular heavy-hitting Jude Franklin will bring out his legion of fans. Puerto Rican brawler Jose Roman will also make his New York debut.”

In the main event, Brooklyn’s Mikkel “Slikk Mikk” LesPierre will compete in a scheduled 10-round welterweight bout. Sporting an undefeated record of 19-0-1, with eight knockouts, LesPierre won the WBC USNBC Super Lightweight title in his last start, a fantastic 10-round decision against then-undefeated Noel Murphy on February 7, in New York City.

Returning to action in a scheduled 10-round battle is former WBC Lightweight World Champion “Dynamite” Dejan Zlaticanin (23-1, 16 KOs), of Podgorica, Montenegro. Making his New York City debut, the hard-hitting southpaw turned heads with a first-round knockout of Hevinson Herrera on December 14, 2017.

WBA World Female Super Middleweight Champion Alicia “The Empress” Napoleon (9-1, 5 KOs), of Lindenhurst, Long Island, NY, will make her first start since winning her world title, in an eight-round bout. On March 3, at Barclays Center, Napoleon was victorious with a 10-round unanimous decision versus then-undefeated Femke Hermans, who now holds the WBO 168lb. title.

Fighting out of Brooklyn, NY, 23-year-old undefeated junior lightweight Jude “King Czar” Franklin (7-0, 6 KOs) will compete in a six-round bout. The heavy-handed Franklin is coming off his career-best victory; a second-round knockout of Floriano Pagliara on February 7, in New York City.

Newly signed to DiBella Entertainment, massive heavyweight Bakhodir Jalolov (1-0, 1 KO), of Sariosiyo, Uzbekistan, will be featured in a six-round clash. Jalolov represented Uzbekistan at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, and compiled an amateur record of 84-13, winning four National Championships from 2013 to 2016. Standing six-and-a-half feet tall, the 23-year-old Jalolov had the distinguished honor of being Uzbekistan’s flag-bearer at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2016 Olympic Games. He successfully turned pro on May 5, with a stunning third-round knockout of previously undefeated Hugo Trujillo at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Making his professional debut in a four-round lightweight bout is Elnur Abduraimov, of Chirchiq, Uzbekistan. A standout amateur with a record of 195-20, the 23-year-old Abduraimov was a five-time National champion and a gold medalist at the 2015 World Championships.

Both Jalolov and Abduraimov are co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Fight Promotions Inc. and are trained by the renowned Pedro Diaz and Ravshan Khodjaev in Miami, FL.

Unbeaten female middleweight prospect Raquel Miller (5-0, 3 KOs), of San Francisco, CA, will make her DBE and New York debut in a scheduled six-round contest. Managed by David McWater’s Split-T Management, Miller turned pro in May 2016. As an amateur, Miller was a 2012 National champion, a silver medalist at the 2012 Women’s World Championships, and an Olympic Team Alternate, having competed in the 2012 Olympic Trials. She also won the Colorado Springs Golden Gloves tournament in 2013 and won gold at the National Police Athletic League tournament in 2014.

Rounding out the exciting card, all-action Puerto Rican native Jose “Cheito” Roman
(5-0, 3 KOs) will make his New York City debut in a scheduled six-round junior middleweight bout. The 24-year-old hits the ring following a six-round decision against Jonathan Garcia on March 3, in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

Further details on these bouts will be announced shortly.




Marathon Boxing for the World 5K Walk on Sunday, July 22 in Caguas, Puerto Rico.


Puerto Rico (May 23, 2018) – On Sunday, July 22, Marathon Boxing For The World will hold a 5K Walk in Caguas, Puerto Rico, a fundraiser for Make A Wish Foundation of Puerto Rico facility . The facility (home) houses children with Cancer and other terminal illnesses , sustained major damages due to Hurricane Maria .
No less than 20 of the greatest fighters in Puerto Rico will participate in the walk such as:

1.Felix “Tito” Trinidad
2. Juanma Lopez
3. Felix Verdejo
4. Ivan Calderon
5. John John Molina
6. Daniel Santos
7. Alex “El Nene” Sanchez
8. Daniel “Pipino” Alicea
9. Andy Agosto
10. Eliezer “Waa” Gonzalez
11. Wilfredo Rivera
12. Carita Lopez
13. Luvy Callejas
14. Kiria Tapia
15. Tatiana Ortiz
16. Andy Agosto
17. Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gomez
18. Nelson Dieppa
19. McWilliams Arroyo
20. Tito Acosta
21 Hector Camacho jr

Mercedes Simmons, who is a board member for the Marathon Boxing World as well as the CEO of Pretty Girl Promotions is thrilled to have such an incredible outreach from the Puerto Rico boxing community.

“This will be a truly amazing event, and we are honored that the legends of Puerto Rico Boxing will hep raise money for this most important cause,” said Simmons.

Organization President Abner Perez

Vice President Andy Agosto indicated the champions have all gathered for this cause .

Abner Perez can be reached @ 787-673-7363.




Expanded Package Builds Upon Agreement Announced Earlier this Month Includes 30 Fully Exclusive UFC Fight Nights and 42 Nights of Live Event Coverage per Year

UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, and The Walt Disney Company’s new Direct-To-Consumer and International segment along with ESPN, today announced the full scope of the historic multi-year agreement that makes ESPN-branded media platforms the exclusive digital and television home of the UFC in the United States, further expanding streaming rights to UFC on ESPN+ and building upon the agreement revealed earlier this month.

Starting in January 2019, ESPN+ and ESPN become the exclusive digital and linear distributors in the United States for UFC, showcasing 42 live events, 30 of which will feature a full card of 12 UFC bouts. ESPN linear networks will broadcast 10 exclusive events as well as all UFC pay-per-view preliminary fights, while ESPN+, the recently-launched multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service, will offer 20 exclusive events and all preliminary fights for “UFC on ESPN Fight Night” programs. Events broadcast on ESPN will be branded “UFC on ESPN Fight Night,” while events streamed live on ESPN+ will carry the “UFC on ESPN+ Fight Night” moniker. With this agreement, the only destination where fans can watch all UFC programming is the ESPN app, and in the future, the full breadth of content will be available on ESPN+.

Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN President and Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks said, “ESPN’s unparalleled multimedia platform is the perfect home for the UFC and will deliver tremendous value to both parties. UFC fans are passionate and loyal and we plan to bring the full power of ESPN’s live coverage, powerful storytelling and unmatched distribution to serve them in an unprecedented fashion. We can’t wait to get started.”

Added Kevin Mayer, Chairman, Direct-To-Consumer and International, The Walt Disney Company, “The expansion of our relationship with UFC is an exciting development for fight fans. Delivering 20 exclusive UFC fight nights per year and a host of original content to UFC’s young, passionate and tech-savvy fan base, makes ESPN+ the clear new digital home for UFC and further establishes our new service as the leading platform for direct-to-consumer sports streaming.”

Dana White, President, UFC said, “Every year for the last 18 years, we have taken this sport and brand to another level. We find innovative ways to promote our athletes and build stars. Today is another monumental day for UFC, our athletes, and our fans. We are now part of the ESPN family, recognized around the world as the pinnacle in sports broadcasting. I am very excited for this next chapter for UFC.” With more than 280 million fans around the world, UFC boasts the youngest fan base among major professional sports organizations in the US with a median age of 40 and an audience comprising 40% millennials.

UFC on ESPN
Fight Nights Platform # of Events
UFC on ESPN+ Fight Night ESPN+ 20
UFC on ESPN Fight Night * ESPN networks 10
UFC PPV Preliminary Fights ESPN networks 12
* Prelims for UFC on ESPN Fight Night will be streamed live on ESPN+

Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year). To subscribe, fans simply download or open the ESPN App (or visit ESPNPlus.com). In addition to live, exclusive events, the lineup of UFC content available to ESPN+ subscribers will include:
Exclusive, all new-seasons of “Dana White’s Contender Series” beginning in June 2019
A new original, all-access series produced by IMG Original Content
Exclusive pre- and post-event shows for all 30 “UFC on ESPN Fight Night” programs on ESPN and ESPN+
Non-exclusive access to UFC’s full archive of programming, including historic events, classic bouts, and original programming
Additional UFC-branded content, including “UFC Countdown” shows, press conferences, weigh-ins, and pre-and post-shows

In addition to the live events and content included in the ESPN+ subscription, fight fans will be able to purchase and watch UFC FIGHT PASS® (UFC’s DTC streaming offering) and UFC PPV events via ESPN+ and within the ESPN app, for a separate cost.

ESPN will also bring fans a variety of UFC content across ESPN’s widely consumed linear and digital platforms, including an exclusive, 30-minute special on ESPN’s linear networks previewing upcoming bouts and breaking down match ups leading up to each UFC PPV; hundreds of hours of UFC library programming on linear networks; and re-airs of current UFC PPV events.

The ESPN App and ESPN+ are available on mobile and TV-connected devices and on ESPN.com. The new ESPN App with ESPN+ are available on devices and platforms including Amazon (Fire TV, Fire Stick, Fire Smart TVs, Fire tablets), Android (Android phones, Android TV), Apple (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and supported in the Apple TV App), Chromecast and Roku.

–30–

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the first-ever multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International segment and ESPN. It offers fans thousands of additional live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks. This includes hundreds of MLB, NHL and MLS games, Grand Slam tennis, Top Rank boxing, PGA Tour golf, college sports, international rugby, cricket, the full library of ESPN Films (including 30 for 30) and more. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time.

ESPN+ is an integrated part of a completely redesigned ESPN App. Already the leading sports app, the new ESPN App is the premier all-in-one digital sports platform for fans and a showcase of the company’s culture of innovation. With a richer, increasingly more personalized experience, the new ESPN App curates all of ESPN’s incredible content into an experience unique to each fan’s individual tastes. ESPN+ is also available through ESPN.com.

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.




Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 & FOX Deportes Presents Three-Hour Show to Kick Off Memorial Day Weekend Saturday Beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI (May 23, 2018) – Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and there’s no better way to kick off the season than with three hours of boxing as Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes delivers a night of action Saturday, May 26 from the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Once-beaten Eddie Ramirez will take on former world champion Argenis Mendez in a 10-round super lightweight showdown in the main event, while former title challenger Oscar Escandon meets unbeaten 2012 Olympic silver medalist Tugstsogt Nyambayar in a 10-round featherweight bout in the co-main event.

Televised action begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will also feature Justin DeLoach (17-2, 9 KOs) taking on Jeison Rosario (14-1-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight match plus unbeaten Joshua Zuniga (9-0, 4 KOs) clashing with Justin Pauldo (10-1, 5 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight attraction.

“Eddie Ramirez is trying to get into the title picture and Argenis Mendez wants to regain his world title status and that’s going to set up for fireworks in the main event. All of the boxers in the other matches have a lot to gain with a victory as well and that shapes up to a superb night of boxing action,” said Tim Smith, Vice President of Communications for Haymon Boxing. “Toss some hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill and then settle in for three hours of boxing. It’s the perfect way to kick off the summer of 2018.”

Ramirez (17-1, 11 KOs) is looking to bounce back from suffering the first loss of his career in his last outing. Ramirez was knocked out by former world champion Antonio DeMarco last October on FOX, although Ramirez believed the referee acted too hastily in ending the fight. The 25-year-old from Aurora, Illinois was rapidly moving up the ranks before the loss, having scored impressive stoppage victories over then unbeaten prospects Kevin Watts and Ryan Karl and a split decision victory over Erick Bone in fights that aired on FS1 and FOX Deportes.

The 31-year-old Mendez (24-5-1, 12 KOs) is coming off a split decision victory over Ivan Redkach last May on FS1 and FOX Deportes. With the win, the fighter out of the Dominican Republic rebounded from back-to-back losses to lightweight champion Robert Easter, Jr. and Luke Campbell. A member of the 2004 Dominican Olympic team, Mendez won a 130-pound world title with a knockout victory over Juan Carlos Salgado in 2013. He fought Rances Barthelemy twice to defend the title, with the first fight being declared a no decision before Mendez dropped the rematch.

Escandon (25-3, 17 KOs) is trying to climb back into the featherweight title picture after losing by TKO to world champion Gary Russell, Jr. in his last fight on May 20. The 33-year-old from Ibague, Colombia scored a knockout victory over Robinson Castellanos in a 2016 interim featherweight title fight and lost a split decision to Moises Flores in a 2015 interim super bantamweight title bout.

Nyambayar (9-0, 8 KOs) went the distance for the first time as a pro last time in the ring as he earned an eight round unanimous decision over then unbeaten Harmonito Dela Torre last November. The 25-year-old from Ulan-Bator, Mongolia won a silver medal at flyweight at the 2012 London Games and has trained in California since turning pro in 2015.

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Fans can live stream the fights on FOX Sports GO, available in English or Spanish through the FS1 or FOX Deportes feeds. The fights are available on desktop at FOXSportsGO.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. In addition, all programs are also available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage andwww.foxdeportes.com.
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LUCAS ‘LA MAQUINA’ MATTHYSSE DISCUSSES TRAINING CAMP AHEAD OF SUPER FIGHT AGAINST MANNY ‘PACMAN’ PACQUIAO


INDIO, CALIF. (May 23, 2018): Argentine knockout artist Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse (39-4, 36 KOs) discussed his training camp routine ahead of his super fight against future Hall of Famer Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round welterweight clash. The fight, which will be for Matthysse’s WBA Welterweight World Title, will take place Sunday, July 15 at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The 35-year-old champion is now entering the first stages of sparring at the Boys and Girls Club in Indio, California, with head trainers Joel and Antonio Diaz. This team of brothers oversee a training camp that includes other fighters from the exclusive Golden Boy Promotions stable, including Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas, Diego De La Hoya, Marcelino “Nino” Lopez, Vergil Ortiz Jr., Christian “Chimpa” Gonzalez and Oscar Duarte. Mario Narvaez, who is the brother of former two-division world champion Omar “El Huracan” Narvaez, also forms an important part of the Matthysse team, while Federico Wittenkamp is in charge of his strength and conditioning training. For the native of Trelew, Chubut, Argentina, this is not an ordinary training camp as his career will be defined by the result of this highly anticipated fight.

Matthysse’s training camp schedule consists of:
Strength and conditioning with Federico Wittenkamp at 8:00 a.m.
Training in the gym at 3:30 p.m.
Sparring sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Mitts, strategy and boxing routine on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
Matthysse had the following to say regarding his break from boxing, his training camp, and his fight against Pacquiao:

“I have been training in the United States for about a month already after having trained for two months in Argentina. I still have about a month and a half left, and I’m preparing very well. We’re focused very much on this fight, and people will see the same Lucas Matthysse as always, the one who always looks for the action. It’s a fight that I like because of our similar styles and because we are of the same height.

“After my last loss against Viktor Postol, I decided to take a break of about nine months where I would do nothing but enjoy my time with my family. I would fish, ride my motorcycle, be at home or spend time with my friends. I needed the time to forget about boxing and recharge my batteries so I could start again fresh with my training.

“I’ve been a professional for several years. I’ve fought with good fighters, and I got a lot of experience in Argentina and the United States. Training with Joel Diaz now is something that’s really good for me. After having lost to Postol, I wanted to return, but I didn’t know where and how. I had known Joel Diaz for some time already, so I decided to start my career again with him in the United States.

“I expect the same Manny Pacquiao as always. He is a respectable champion, but I’m a champion as well. I’ve been fighting for a long time. I know he has a lot of experience as well. It will be a great fight, and I expect to see the same Manny Pacquiao I watched on television. Now I’m going to see him in the ring. This is something very big for me and my career.”

Pacquiao vs. Matthysse is a 12-round fight for the WBA Welterweight World Championship presented by Manny Pacquiao Promotions in association with Golden Boy Promotions and Arano Box. The fight will take place Sunday, July 15, 2018 at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event will air live in the United States on Saturday, July 14, 2018. Tickets for this event will be announced shortly.

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

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com. Follow us on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing. Visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing. Follow the conversation using #PacquiaoMatthysse