CLEARWATER, FLORIDA (April 24, 2018) Unified welterweight champion Keith Thurman has voluntarily relinquished his WBC title while he recovers from the effects of elbow surgery last year and a hand injury he suffered in training camp last month.

After speaking with WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman recently, Thurman decided that he would relinquish the title and open the way for former champions Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter, the two leading contenders for the WBC title, to fight each other for the championship while Thurman made a full recovery from his injuries.

“Due to my rehabilitation from my injuries, I agreed to relinquish my WBC title at this time. I continue to rehab my hand and elbow and I look forward to getting back in the ring this summer. This is a temporary setback and I will be the unified champion once again and look forward to winning back my WBC title as soon as possible,” said Thurman.

“Keith Thurman unfortunately has suffered two consecutive injuries that have kept him out of the ring after his sensational victory over Danny Garcia and he has graciously relinquished his title, and the WBC has mandated that Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter will fight for the title,” said Mauricio Sulaiman. “Keith will have a direct path to fight for the title once he has healed just as Vitali Klitshcko and other WBC champions have done in the past. Keith is a tremendous athlete, champion and role model. The WBC will support him completely during this difficult time. ”

Garcia (34-1, 20 KOs), a former unified champion at 140 pounds and the former WBC welterweight champion, lost the WBC title to Thurman by 12-round split decision in 2017. He bounced back with a knockout victory over former champion Brandon Rios in February. The WBC had made that fight a title elimination match, which put Garcia in line to fight Thurman again for the title.

Porter (28-2-1, 17 KOs), a former welterweight champion, lost a close 12-round decision to Thurman in 2016. He became the mandatory challenger for the WBC title when he knocked out Andre Berto last year. He maintained his status with a 12-round decision over Adrian Granados in November.

The 29-year-old Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs) has been plagued by a string of injuries the last two years.

Thurman injured his neck in a car accident in February 2016, which delayed his match against Porter by three months. When they met Thurman defeated Porter by unanimous decision on June 25.

He defeated Garcia by split decision in a welterweight unification match on March 4, 2017. A month later he had major surgery on his right elbow to remove bone spurs and calcium deposits. He is still in rehabilitation from that surgery.

Thurman injured his hand hitting the heavy bag last month and aggravated the injury sparring with some amateurs at his gym in St. Petersburg, Florida. An MRI revealed bruises to the metacarpal bones in the hand, which also has extensive swelling. Thurman can’t have any impact with the hand for at least 8 weeks, which added another delay to his ring return.

He now hopes to return to the ring in the late summer or early fall.

NATIONAL HARBOR (April 24, 2018) – WBC Featherweight World Champion Gary Russell Jr. (28-1, 17 KOs) and unbeaten No. 1 contender Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. (26-0, 14 KOs) hosted a press conference and faced off for the first time Tuesday before their championship showdown Saturday, May 19 live on SHOWTIME from MGM National Harbor in Maryland.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions in association with Golden Boy Promotions, are on sale now and are available by visitinghttp://mgmnationalharbor.com/.

The Russell vs. Diaz fight is part of a split-site SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast that will feature WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Adonis Stevenson defending his title against two-division world champion Badou Jack in a main event from Toronto presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

Russell Jr., a 2008 U.S. Olympian and 126-pound titleholder since 2015, will defend against his mandatory challenger in the 25-year-old Diaz, who represented the U.S. at the 2012 Olympic games and will be competing in his first title bout.

Here is what the fighters had to say Tuesday from TAP Sports Bar at MGM National Harbor:

GARY RUSSELL JR.

“It’s amazing to be fighting at home. It’s cool to know that the people I see around all the time will be able to get in the car and drive 15 minutes to come watch this massacre. I can’t wait.

“I appreciate JoJo for being honest and saying that he feels I’m the best featherweight in the world. That speaks volumes.

“We stay focused in the gym. The inactivity doesn’t mean anything. It’s no issue. I’ve had hand issues in the past but I’m able to preserve my body and stay sharp, stay focused. I’m a fighter that’s always in shape. I never take a day off. You can ask my wife. On anniversaries, we’re in the gym. On birthdays, we’re in the gym.

“Regardless of what the situation is, you want a sense of financial stability for yourself and your family. I’m at the point of my career where I have maybe six more fights in me. We want to maximize everything. We want to maximize our revenue and it’s been irritating because a lot of the champions don’t want to get in the ring with me. I appreciate JoJo for giving me the opportunity to sharpen my teeth a little bit more. At least he’ll have the opportunity to say he got in the ring with Mr. Gary Russell Jr.

“I’m one of the most dangerous fighters on the planet. Speed, power, ring IQ, we can get ugly if we need to. I don’t plan on going 12 rounds. I’m not going the distance with anybody for the remainder of my career. Mark my words.

“When you have guys that fight and move around a lot, it makes it difficult to get to them the way you want to. When you have a guy that is straightforward and will be in your face, it makes it much easier for me and they’re much more susceptible to get hit.

“A lot of fighters win with pure athleticism because they’re faster, stronger or in better shape. They’re not winning because they have the ability to make the necessary adjustments based on what goes on in the ring. I tell people all the time that boxing is intellect manifested on a physical form. In most cases, the more intelligent fighter wins.

“My father says that whenever you see a fight that is an all-out, knockdown war, it’s just two stupid fighters that didn’t have a plan B or the ability to make the adjustments to make the fight easier. If that’s JoJo’s game plan, it’s going to make this fight a lot easier for me. It’s not going 12 rounds.

“As far as a hit list of my next opponents goes, we are first going to take care of JoJo. I would love to get a unification bout with Leo Santa Cruz after that. If we don’t get that, I plan on moving up in weight and challenging whoever has the title in that division. You want to know who I really want, though? I want Mikey Garcia.

“My last fight will be against (Vasyl) Lomachenko. I want to conclude my career with breaking my foot off of him. That will be the conclusion of it. I’m willing to wait, though. Right now, we’re good.

“Of course I would entertain a fight with Gervonta Davis. We’re cool. He’s somebody that I actually watched grow up and develop as a fighter, but you have to stay in your lane. When I move up in weight, he’s got to get out of the way or he’s going to get ran over too.

“I didn’t want to come home to fight until I had a world title. That’s the reason I didn’t fight at home for so long. Now we have the title, and I wanted to fight at least one more time here.

“I want to maximize our revenue because I don’t plan on fighting for too much longer. I had my first fight at seven years old. I’m 29 now. That’s a long time competing and a lot of wear and tear on your body. I’m a guy that doesn’t cut corners, so it takes away from the time I could be spending with my family and friends. I’m ready to spend time with my family and children and live out the fruits of our labor. But in the meantime, everybody else is in my way. They’re trying to take food off my baby’s plate.”

JOSEPH DIAZ JR.

“I don’t think the fact that I’ve been more active will give me any advantage. I’m just doing what I’m supposed to be doing and getting the experience I need inside the ring before facing an elite fighter like Gary Russell Jr. My preparation has been good. I’ve fought tremendous opponents and I have all the experience to come out victorious May 19.

“It doesn’t affect me at all fighting in his hometown. I’m happy to fight in his backyard. He’s the champion and that’s what champions get to do. I know what he’s capable of doing. He says I don’t have the boxing IQ or the power and speed that he has, but he’s going to be in for a rude awakening come fight night. He’s going to see that I have all the tools.

“It’s a dream come true to be fighting on this stage. Ever since I roomed with Errol Spence at the Olympics, we always promised each other that once we became pro we were going to fight all the elite athletes and the best champions. Gary Russell Jr. is the best at 126 pounds. I’m not scared to fight him and that’s what Errol Spence did, too. He beat Kell Brook in his hometown.

“Gary Russell Jr. is by far the best featherweight in the world. Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares, Lee Selby, none of these guys want to fight Russell. They’re afraid of the speed and the counter shots. But I know what I’m capable of doing and I’ll showcase it May 19.

“A win would mean everything for me. It would be a dream come true realizing all of the hard work I’ve put in since I was 13 years old. It would mean that I’m the champion and I’d be the shot caller.

“I think his speed is an obstacle; he’s very fast. But that’s the thing about me, I’m good at adapting to any style that I fight. Come fight night I know that his speed is going to be fast, but it’s nothing that I won’t be able to take, or nothing that will shock me. I’m going to be able to adapt to that speed and make sure I’m able to land my shots when he’s opening up.

“I’m very confident; 100 percent confident I’ll beat him. I know that this is an opportunity that is presented to me and I’ll be victorious. I’ve always prayed to God that I could fight on SHOWTIME and for a WBC title. And now that I am it feels like it’s all settling in and it’s all coming true. I’m working hard every single day, and once I get my hand raised in victory I’m going to go from there.

“If he gets a little bit over confident like he did against [Oscar] Escandon, he’s going to be in for a rude awakening. He’s going to be shocked with not only my punching power, but also with my combinations and with my speed. I’m not like a Jhonny Gonzalez where I’m just throwing one shot, or slow combinations. I’m pretty fast with my punches and you won’t see my punches coming because I throw them very elusive and I punch from different angles. He’s going to be very shocked if he fights the way he fought Oscar Escandon.

“I don’t think it’s going to go the distance. Gary Russell is going to go out there and not back down and give the fight fans a good show, but I’m going to go out there and give a good show and not back down. So I think we’re both not going to back down and we’re going to brawl it out, and let the best man win.”

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports,www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @MrGaryRussellJr, @JosephDiazJr, @TGBPromotions, @GoldenBoyBoxing, @MGMNatlHarbor and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing and www.Facebook.com/MGMNationalHarbor. The event is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

GLENDALE, CALIF. (April 24, 2018) — Fellow 2004 Olympians and soon-to-be opponents GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN and VANES “THE NIGHTMARE” MARTIROSYAN met with the media — and each other — on Monday at Martirosyan’s gym, the Glendale Fighting Club. It was the first time the fighters addressed the media, and each other, since announcing their Cinco De Mayo world championship rumble. Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs), from Karaganda, Kazakhstan, boxing’s longest-reigning world champion (since 2010), will be defending his World Middleweight Championship crown for the 20th consecutive and record-tying time, against former two-time world title challenger and current No. 1 contender Martirosyan (36-3-1, 21 KOs), from Glendale, Calif. They collide on Saturday, May 5, under the stars at StubHub Center. The fight will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Promoted by GGG promotions, in association with Don King Productions, and sponsored by Tecate, Chivas Regal, Jordan and Hublot, remaining tickets to the Golovkin vs. Martirosyan world championship event are priced at $750, $500, $300, $200, $100 (sold out) and $50 (sold out), and may be purchased online at https://www.axs.com/events/353331/golovkin-vs-martirosyan-tickets?ref=edp_twpost, by phone at (888) 9AXS-TIX, or by visiting the StubHub Center box office.

Here is what the fighters had to say:

GENNADY GOLOVKIN

“I am glad to be back in the ring and giving a fight to my fans. I am happy that Cinco De Mayo will still have boxing. It is good for the sport. I want to stay active. I would like to fight four or five times every year. Cinco De Mayo is a big night for a fight and for a Mexican-Style fighter like me. It is very important to me to be fighting again, to be fighting on Cinco De Mayo. I didn’t want to disappoint the fans who wanted a fight on a Mexican holiday. I am grateful to the Mexican fans who support me and who supported me after the fight with Canelo and during the past two months.

“When my fight with Canelo was canceled I never stopped training. I wanted a fight on Cinco De Mayo. I stayed in Big Bear working hard with Abel hoping I would still be able to have a fight.

“Canelo? Right now he is over. Do I want to have the rematch in September? We’ll see. It’s a different deal. The boxing business is crazy. I’ll fight Canelo again. Ask him if he wants to fight me.

“I no longer think about Canelo. I am only focused on this fight. I just want to fight Vanes. I remember him from the 2004 Olympics. I know he is not easy. Vanes is a strong and active fighter in the ring. He is a good fighter . Vanes is a real guy. A real fighter. He is tall and strong. In 2004, I thought Vanes was the best boxer on the U.S. Olympic team.

“I have watched some tapes of Vanes’ fights. His fights with Lara. The minute the fight was signed Abel brought new ideas to the gym workouts. And no, I am not going to tell you those new ideas. The fans at StubHub Center will be watching two Mexican-style fighters from the area.

“I am still comfortable at 160 pounds. There are no big money fights at 168 pounds and besides, I am small at 160.

“I only ask for fights. I want more big fights. Huge fights. Title unification fights. I want to stay champion. It should be a clean sport. That is important to me.

“This fight is very important for boxing. Fans should not have to miss having a fight on Cinco De Mayo. This is my gift to the sport. Thank you to everyone for watching me and supporting me.”

VANES MARTIROSYAN

“This fight is the biggest test for me. It will show where I belong in this sport. I was able to take advantage of this opportunity because I never left the gym, even when previously scheduled fights kept falling through. I would take a week off and then return to the gym. It was hard but I never lost faith. A good fighter stays ready, stays in shape. How many times have we heard that about an opponent falling out and a replacement getting that golden ticket to fight for a world title?

“Regarding Canelo, you have to ask, ‘Why did he flunk two drug tests. Why did he withdraw from VADA? I don’t believe him. I don’t buy his excuse about tainted meat. If, God forbid, I had tested positive because of accidentally eating something, I would have myself tested every day to prove I was clean. No one wants to see someone cheat his way into a fight.

“That’s why fans love Triple G. Because he is so good in the ring and because he is clean. He has always been tested. He wants boxing to be a clean sport as do I.

“I have been counted out before and I have shined. This is my time. Fate has reached out to me and I am ready to seize the moment. You can never plan for something like this, but you can be prepared, and that’s why I never left the gym.

“I am excited to show everyone how good I can be. I feel so fresh and strong. Fans and Gennady will be amazed . We may not be Mexican but I guarantee you it’s going to feel like two Mexicans are going to war on Cinco De Mayo.

“I’m not afraid of Gennady. I’m psyched to fight him. This is why I became a fighter. I’m not the only one taking this fight on short notice. Everyone has a soft spot. I’ll find his. I have no fear. We are going to war — Mexican Style. Two trains colliding. We both love the Mexican Style of fighting. We’re both hard headed and heavy handed. To me, it’s not a REAL fight without a lot of Mexican fans. I’m not fighting to survive. I’ll be fighting to win!

“I don’t run like the guy who pretended to eat a bad steak. Let’s see how Gennady reacts to a fighter who doesn’t move away after being hit. Gennady’s chin hasn’t been tested the way I’d like to test it.

“Canelo is an easier fight than Gennady. Gennady has a fan-friendly style. Canelo ran from my mandatory challenge. That says a lot about him. That tells you everything about him.

“When I got the call from Don King, I was laying in bed with the kids. ‘Hey, man, there’s this guy they call Triple G or something like that, you want to fight?” I said, ‘Of course.’ That’s how I found out I got the fight.

“Before I knew I had this fight, I asked my wife who her favorite fighter was, besides me. She told me Gennady Golovkin. So now I have to beat his ass for that (laughing).”

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For more information, www.hbo.com/boxing; follow on Twitter @gggboxing, @hboboxing, @VanesBoxing, and @TomLoeffler1; become a fan on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/gggboxing, and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing; follow on Instagram @gggboxing, @vanesboxing, and @HBOboxing.

Laurel, Maryland (April 24, 2018) Speaking ahead of his final workout before heading to
Philadelphia, PA, hard-hitting super middleweight Demond “D’Bestatit” Nicholson (18-2-1, 17 KOs) could barely contain himself ahead of his rivalry showdown with hometown favorite, Jesse “Hard Work” Hart (23-1-0, 19 KOs) at the Liacouras Center this Saturday night, airing live on ESPN.

“This is the fight I’ve wanted since I was 14 and we were in the amateurs together. I’ve always wanted to fight Jesse, now I’ve got my chance and I’m going into his hometown and knocking him out on Saturday night,” said the 25-year-old Nicholson.

“Hart’s been completely babied as a professional whether it’s getting a decision he didn’t deserve against Dashon Johnson or matched soft as butter in his last fight; Awimbono looked asleep before the bell even rang.

“Now Hart’s facing a straight-up knockout artist who’s going to use him as a stepping stone to a world title shot,” continued Nicholson. “I’ve had a tremendous camp, great sparring and I’m ready to take advantage of the opportunity that Lou DiBella and his team have provided me with.”

With 10 first-round knockouts, Nicholson is a must-see attraction in the super middleweight division. Most recently, Nicholson stopped Josue Obando in the second round on August 25, 2017, in Miami, Oklahoma. Prior to turning professional in 2013, Nicholson had a stellar amateur record of 110-15.

“Philadelphia is one of America’s premier fight towns, and Demond Nicholson has the opportunity to prove he is a premier talent on Saturday night,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Hart may be positioned as the Philly favorite, but Demond lives only two hours away and has an incredible base of supporters. People will know Maryland is in the house.”

The 28-year-old Hart, son of Philadelphia boxing legend Eugene “Cyclone” Hart, is coming off a first-round stoppage of Thomas Awimbono on February 3, 2018. Prior to that, he challenged for the WBO Super Middleweight title, losing a hard-fought battle to champion Gilberto Ramirez.

Hart-Nicholson will be televised LIVE on ESPN and stream in English and Spanish on the ESPN App at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. Tickets, priced at $100 (ringside), $65 and $35, can be purchased at the Liacouras Center Box Office and www.liacourascenter.com, or by calling Peltz Boxing at 215-765-0922.

NEW YORK (April 24, 2018) – Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and unified women’s super middleweight Champion Claressa Shields will attempt to become a two-division world champion on Friday, June 22 live on SHOWTIME when she faces unified women’s 154-pound champion Hanna Gabriels for the vacant IBF and WBA Middleweight World Championships at Masonic Temple in Detroit, Mich.

The SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/PT and features the No. 1 fighter at 168 pounds facing the No. 1 fighter at 154 pounds as they both attempt to become champions for the first time in the middleweight division.

Shields (5-0, 2 KOs), who grew up in nearby Flint, was the first American boxer in history – male or female – to win consecutive Olympic Gold Medals. The 23-year-old turned professional following the 2016 Olympics and became unified women’s super middleweight world champion in just her fourth professional fight. Shields now begins her first camp with renowned trainer John David Jackson as she attempts to become a two-division champion.

“I can’t wait to get into the ring on June 22,” said Shields. “I love the fight against Hanna Gabriels – champion versus champion, exactly the kind of fight that I want every time to take women’s boxing to new heights. I’ve said one of my goals is to win world championships in three weight divisions. I’m proud to be super middleweight champion, and on June 22 I will add the middleweight championship to my accomplishments. I’m excited to be working with John David Jackson for the next step in my career as I look to conquer another division.”

Two-division champion Gabriels (18-1-1, 11 KOs) is the reigning WBA and WBO World Champion. The native of Costa Rica won her first world title at welterweight in 2009 and has since fought in an astounding 11 consecutive world title fights. The 35-year-old won her first belt in the 154-pound division in 2010 and became unified champion in 2016. In her last bout, Gabriels avenged the only loss on her record, a 2013 defeat to then-undefeated title challenger Oxandia Castillo. She looks to become a three-division world champion on June 22.

“I’m really excited and grateful to have the opportunity to showcase my skills against Claressa Shields on SHOWTIME,” said Gabriels. “This will be a great battle of two world champions, a great night for my country, and a great fight for women’s boxing. I only know one thing – the woman in front of me will lose. I take nothing away from Claressa’s accomplishments, but on June 22 she is facing a three-time world champion and I will take the ‘0’ in her record and prove I am the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.”

“This main event is yet another example of SHOWTIME Boxing’s commitment to delivering the best fighters in the best matchups,” said Gordon Hall, Executive Producer of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION. “We have two unified champions, the top fighters in their respective divisions, facing off for a championship in a new weight class. Will Claressa Shields be as dominant as a middleweight? Can Hanna Gabriels shock the world and hand Claressa her first loss since she was an amateur in 2012? We’ll find out on June 22.”

SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION (10 p.m. ET/PT) will also feature extensive highlights of unified women’s middleweight champion Christina Hammer (22-0, 10 KOs) as she defends her WBC & WBO titles in her U.S. debut against former world champion Tori Nelson (17-1-3, 2 KOs).

If both Shields and Hammer are victorious in their 160-pound bouts on June 22, they will meet in a fall blockbuster on SHOWTIME to determine the undisputed women’s middleweight world champion.

“I’m glad Christina Hammer will be fighting that night as well. After I beat champion Hanna Gabriels, I want to unify all the middleweight belts against Hammer,” Shields said. “I’ve never been so motivated. This will be a great year for women’s boxing. It’s our time!”

Hammer, of Dortmund, Germany, has dominated the women’s middleweight division for nearly eight years, having won the WBO title at 160 pounds in 2010. The 27-year-old became unified champion in 2016 with a unanimous decision over WBC titlist Kali Reis and has made two defenses as unified champion. Hammer won the WBO title in 2010 in her eighth professional fight and has dominated the middleweight division since, losing just a handful of rounds in her reign as champion at 160 pounds. Hammer, who also models professionally and was recently featured at Fashion Week in New York City, has campaigned mostly in Germany since turning professional in 2009.

“I have been training intensively for months for my first fight in the U.S.,” Hammer said. “I can’t wait to show my skills, desire and hunger to America and prove that I am THE middleweight champion of the world. While I have great respect for Tori Nelson, I promise I will defeat her in spectacular fashion on June 22 and send a message to Claressa Shields. It’s my time to shine!”

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.

“Women’s boxing will shine brightly on June 22 in Detroit as the best fight the best,” said promoter Dmitriy Salita. “Claressa Shields, in just her sixth fight as a professional, is once again showing her willingness to take on all challenges when she competes for a second world title against one of the best female fighters in the sport. Hanna Gabriels is a long-reigning world champion and a national hero in Costa Rica. This fight and this card, which features four women’s world champions battling each other, is the definition of world-class boxing. June 22 will be their time to shine, live on SHOWTIME in Detroit.”

TORONTO (April 24, 2018) – Undefeated knockout artist Adonis Stevenson, the longest reigning light heavyweight world champion, will defend his title against two-division champion Badou Jack on Saturday, May 19 live on SHOWTIME from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The showdown between Stevenson and Jack is one of the most intriguing matches in the light heavyweight division as Jack, a former 168-pound and 175-pound champion, has relinquished his title for the chance to challenge one of the hardest hitters in the sport. Both men are looking to make their claim as the class of the division.

Stevenson vs. Jack is part of a split-site SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT with featherweight champion Gary Russell, Jr. defending his title against mandatory title challenger Joseph Diaz from the MGM National Harbor in Maryland on Saturday, May 19.

Tickets for the Toronto show, which is promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel, Lee Baxter Promotions and Mayweather Promotions, are on sale Friday, April 27 and will be available at www.ticketmaster.ca.

“It is the second time that we will come to Toronto to promote a WBC world championship fight with Adonis Stevenson,” said Yvon Michel, President of Groupe Yvon Michel. “If you found the first event to be spectacular, be sure not to miss the second one as it will be a real firework! Badou Jack is a two-division world champion and an Olympian. He is dangerous and by far the biggest challenge for Adonis since he won the title against Chad Dawson in 2013. We are confident that ‘Superman’ has what it takes to defend his title successfully for the ninth time.

“I would also like to give thanks to our co-promoter Lee Baxter. This event would not have been possible without his collaboration. In addition, I am grateful for Lee and Wayne Zronik from MLSE, who are providing great support for this event and has opened the doors of the Air Canada Centre to us.”

“Mayweather Promotions is looking forward to partnering with Groupe Yvon Michel to pull off this highly anticipated matchup,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “Adonis Stevenson has been a reigning champion in this division since 2013. Badou Jack has risen to every challenge he’s faced in his career. Now, he has an opportunity to become a three-time world champion and that raises the stakes for him. I predict two confident, hard-punching and highly skilled fighters will enter the ring at Air Canada Centre on May 19, both determined to walk away a champion.”

“We are looking forward to hosting this spectacular event at Air Canada Centre,” said Wayne Zronik, Senior Vice President, Music and Live Events at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. “It is the first title fight that the venue will host. We’ve worked with this group before to bring world class boxing to the city and are excited for the return of championship boxing to Toronto, and to Air Canada Centre in particular.”

Stevenson (29-1, 24 KOs) owns one of the most powerful left hands in boxing and goes by the ring moniker “Superman”. The 40-year-old Stevenson has made eight successful defenses of his title since winning it with a knockout victory over Chad Dawson in 2013. The lineal 175-pound champion most recently defended his title with a second-round stoppage of Andrzej Fonfara last June and delivered a third round TKO over Tommy Karpency in his most recent defense in Toronto in 2015.

“I’m definitely excited and hungry to get into the ring and perform,” said Stevenson. “I’ve trained very hard for this fight against Badou Jack. I’m looking forward to winning this fight by knockout. I’m from the Kronk Gym and we always look for the knockout. Jack is a good, technical boxer. He was a world champion and he has done very well. He’s tough and I won’t underestimate him. I’ll be prepared for anything he brings in the ring.

“I’m fighting him at home in Canada, so I’m looking to give the fans a good show. I’ve got power and I’ve got the best left hook in boxing. I’ve got 12 rounds and I just need to touch you once to end it. It’s not complicated. I don’t need three or four shots. I just need one shot and you’re not going to recover. I’m going to finish you.”

The 34-year-old Jack (22-1-2, 13 KOs) relinquished his 168-pound world championship following a majority draw against James DeGale in 2017 to move up to light heavyweight. He made a successful debut at 175 pounds by knocking out Nathan Cleverly for the light heavyweight championship last August. Jack then relinquished that title to seek out this challenge against the division’s heaviest hitter. Born in Stockholm, Sweden, a 2008 Olympian for his father’s native Gambia and now residing in Las Vegas, Jack is looking to become a three-time world champion on his opponent’s home turf on May 19.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to fight for my third world title against one of the division’s best, Adonis Stevenson,” said Jack. “I’ve been asking for this fight for a long time and was willing to fight him anywhere, including his backyard. I know he’s good and very dangerous and that’s the reason I want to fight him. I’m all about the best fighting the best and come May 19th, I’m bringing the WBC belt back to Las Vegas. My newborn son, Malik was born just before training camp so now I have two children to fight for, which gives me all the motivation I need to get this win.”

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For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports,www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, mayweatherpromotions.com and www.groupeyvonmichel.ca follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @AdonisSuperman, @BadouJack, @MayweatherPromo, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing, , www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotionsand www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

FREEPORT, Grand Bahamas (April 24, 2018) – Bahamian boxing icon Sherman “Tank” Williams and Bahamian Sons Promotion presents live professional boxing, “Backyard Rumble”, on May 26 at A Social Affair and Convention Center in Freeport, Grand Bahamas.

“Bahamian Sons Promotions seeks to create an exciting venue in Freeport and across the Bahamas for live and televised professional boxing,” said Kimberly Williams, Sherman’s wife and president of Bahamian Sons Promotion. “Easy access to the beautiful islands of the Bahamas are the perfect place to train and get away.”

Fighting at home in the 10-round event, Williams (39-15-2, 1 NC, 21 KOs) takes on former world light heavyweight title challenger Epifanio “Diamante” Mendoza (43-26-1, 37 KOs), the Colombian knockout artist.

Williams has been stopped only once in 57 pro fights, extending former world champion Joseph Parker and Ruslan Chagaev, as well as top contenders Christian Hammer, Robert Helenius and Manuel Charr, the full distance in their fights. “Tank” defeated former world cruiserweight champion Al “Ice” Cole, fought world title challenger Jameel McCline to a draw, and was leading Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield until their 2011 fight was stopped due to questionable referee decision and declared a “no contest.”

During his 20 ½-years pro career, Williams has used his vaunted “conch (overhand right) punch” to knockout 21 opponents. His many heavyweight titles have included World Boxing Organization (WBO) China National, Oriental and Asia Pacific, PABA, World Boxing Council (WBC) Caribbean Boxing Federation, World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedecaribe and World Boxing Foundation Intercontinental championships.

Mendoza lost his world light heavyweight title fight in 2007 to Chad Dawson. The still dangerous Colombian defeated previously undefeated Rubin Williams (19-1). He has fought world champions Jeff Lacy, Beibut Shumenov, Yunier Dorticos, as well as world title challengers Sullivan Barrera, Luis Ortiz and BJ Flores.

Popular Florida heavyweight Chris Vendola (8-6, 8 KOs) faces former Mid-American cruiserweight champion Terry Porter (15-26-3, 9 KOs) in a six-round bout. Porter, a veteran boxer from Arkansas, has been in the ring with world champions James Toney, Samuel Peter and William Guthrie, in addition to infamous Ike Ibeabuchi.

Texas heavyweight Eugene “Mean Gene” Hill (34-1, 22 KOs), a former World Boxing Association International champion, meets an opponent to be determined. Hill is unbeaten in his last 19 fights (18-0-1).

Also fighting on the “Backyard Rumble” undercard is Houston (TX) super welterweight Star Johnson (6-28-1), Vero Beach, Florida welterweight Johnathan Pierre (2-0), and New Providence, Bahamas heavyweight Amron “Sandman” Sands (3-0, 3-0).

All fights and fighters subject to change.

Lewis Ritson defends his British Lightweight title against Paul Hyland Jr and Josh Kelly challenges Commonwealth Welterweight champion Kris George on a bumper bill at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle on June 16, live on Sky Sports.

Ritson is aiming to capture the coveted Lord Lonsdale for keeps in what has been a stunning reign as British ruler, landing the crown in October by stopping Robbie Barrett in the tenth round in Manchester before the Newcastle ace displaying his awesome power with a first round demolition against Joe Murray in February and coming out on top in a two-round shootout with former champion Scotty Cardle at The O2 in March.

Hyland Jr is the mandatory challenger for Ritson’s title and the unbeaten Belfast star will be confident of taking the title home having tasted title glory himself in 2017 landing the IBF European strap at home in June with a first round KO over Adam Dingsdale and then defending it against Dublin’s Stephen Ormond.

Kelly landed his first pro title at Principality Stadium in Cardiff in March, beating former IBF World champion Carlos Molina to claim the WBA International Welterweight title in just his sixth pro fight. The Team GB Rio Olympian is one of the hottest properties in world boxing and the Sunderland star now aims to bag his second strap against Australian George, who makes the second defence of the title he landed in November 2016 in his first fight away from Australia.

There’s a stellar card in support of co-headliners as former World champion Stuart Hall challenges former World title challenger Gavin McDonnell for the WBC International Super-Bantamweight title. Hall has been chasing a rematch with McDonnell’s twin brother Jamie after falling to the Doncaster man in 2011, two years before he landed the IBF World Bantamweight title. There’s added spice to the fight as Darlington’s Hall also looks to gain revenge for gym-mate Gamal Yafai who McDonnell beat in a career-best performance in Sheffield in March to land the title he defends in Newcastle.

Another former World title challenger in Surrey’s Charlie Edwards faces an important clash against South Shields’ Anthony Nelson for the vacant WBA Continental Super-Flyweight title, while Middlesbrough’s Simon Vallily takes on English Cruiserweight champion Derby’s Arfan Iqbal.

FIGHTER QUOTES FROM TODAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE

Josh Kelly: “It’s great to be fighting on a massive bill in the north east. when you are from here, you are fighting from day one, you don’t get the big opportunities that there are elsewhere so it’s great to bring the boxing back. Lewis and I are doing great things and I know the other north east boys on the bill are going to entertain so I can’t wait for a big night and the first of many here. Boxing brings the north east together, I can’t see the crowd being split, the fans are going to get behind us all and big-time boxing hasn’t been up here for a while and I feel now it’s the time to bring it back and the Metro Radio Arena is going to go off on June 16.”

Lewis Ritson: “It’s been a rollercoaster from the Barrett fight to now, three good performances and hopefully a fourth to come on June 16 in front of my home fans. Paul is unbeaten and he’s definitely my toughest test to date. But I’ll be ready with my great team behind me, he’s confident and so am I, our styles will gel so that should make for a great fight for the fans. I want to go all the way to the top. You need a bit of luck in this game but hopefully I can get past Paul, who is a good fighter and one that I am not looking beyond.”

Gavin McDonnell: “It’s a massive fight. Stuey has been looking for revenge over my twin brother and he’s been asking for that fight for a long time, but this is the nearest he’s going to get and I know he’ll bring his A-game and that’s all I want. I am after big fights that people want to watch and this gets the bit between my teeth and another step towards a World title fight – Eddie has said that if I come through this he will deliver another shot at a World title and that’s all the motivation I need. When you are on the journey you don’t believe that you are as good as you are, but I genuinely believe I can win a World title. I’ve had a close one with Vargas but it might have come a bit too soon. I didn’t think it at the time but looking back on it now, I think I’m more prepared and I’ve learnt so much. In boxing, you can be so close only for it to all be taken away, that’s what is driving me on and this time I will 100 per cent take my chances against Stuey and beyond.”

Stuart Hall: “When the fight was mentioned I thought ‘I’ve been chasing Jamie for years so this might be the closest I get to a rematch’ so I jumped at the chance. Gavin and I know each other and we’re quite friendly really, we know what each other is about. Gavin’s on a great run, he just had a good win over my gym-mate Gamal and I think I have got the tools to beat him in a great fight. I think Super-Bantamweight is really going to suit me. In the Paul Butler fight I did a lot of things wrong, it’s mad to say that I’ve been in the game this long and I am still learning things. I’ve changed a few things and let’s see if it works on the night.”

Charlie Edwards: “This is a great fight and one I’m really looking forward to. I’ve been wanting to fight Anthony since he had that great fight with Jamie Conlan and it’s a fight that I’m very confident in showcasing my skills. I believe he’s made for me, he needs someone to stand there, ‘you hit me, I hit you’ – so I’m going to give him a boxing lesson in front of his home crowd. The last year has been a bit frustrating with fights falling through so I’m buzzing to be back in a big fight.”

Anthony Nelson: “I’ve been out for a while, semi-retired, just sitting back and seeing what’s going on. I’m back now with a comeback fight on Saturday and then straight back into a big fight with Charlie. That’s the sort of fight that I want to be in and I think I deserve to be in. I’ve proved myself in my last couple of fights that I belong at that higher domestic level so it’s a massive opportunity. These sorts of chances don’t come around that often and if you don’t take them they may never come again.”

Eddie Hearn: “It’s fantastic to be back in the north east and this is a brilliant card from top to bottom with five excellent title fights.

“We’re back here in a big way and I’m really excited about this bill. Every time you come to a place like Newcastle you feel like the city really wants you to be here and you want big shows with the Sky Sports cameras – it feels like a Belfast or a Liverpool, it feels that the city is ready for a great night of boxing and that’s what we’ve delivered.”

Tickets are on sale to Matchroom Fight Pass members now priced £40, £60, £80, £100 and £200 VIP at www.stubhub.co.uk.

Tickets go on general sale at midday tomorrow from the Metro Arena at www.metroarenaonline.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

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.

NORWALK, Calif. (April 23, 2018) — World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior featherweight champion Jessie Magdaleno has spent his latest training camp running the mountains near Guadalajara, Mexico, and alongside some of the world’s best fighters at Legendz Boxing in Norwalk, Calif. Magdaleno is preparing for the role of main event headliner against No. 1 contender and interim champion Isaac Dogboe (18-0, 12 KOs) on Saturday, April 28 at The Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.

“I’m mentally ready. I’m physically ready,” Magdaleno said. “Being here with {trainer} Manny Robles keeps me ready. The sparring has been great, but I get impatient sometimes and just want to get in the ring for real. I have to stay calm and wait until the fight comes.”

Said Robles: “Dogboe is a real tough opponent. Jessie definitely has to be ready for this fight, and it should be a fan-friendly fight.”

Magdaleno (25-0, 18 KOs) won the world title with a unanimous decision over four-weight world champion Nonito Donaire on Nov. 5, 2016. He has defended his belt once, a second-round stoppage over Adeilson Dos Santos last April. When Magdaleno steps into the ring against Dogboe, it will have been 371 days since the Dos Santos fight.

“It’s been a long training camp, and I’ve been training with some excellent fighters,” Magdaleno said. “I was with {WBO featherweight champion} Oscar Valdez in Mexico, and now, it’s the home stretch. We’re more than ready to get back in the ring.”

The pre-fight drama escalated last month when Dogboe’s father/trainer, Paul Dogboe, told Ghana’s Pulse website: “We hope Magdaleno will not run like a chicken. We hope he makes the weight and comes in with no excuses because we are ready for him. We are ready to eat him like a chicken. We are focused, and our only mission is to devour him, eat the crazy chicken, throw him over the wall of Mexico and present the title to Donald Trump. Magdaleno will run when he sees Isaac.”

Paul Dogboe has since apologized, and Magdaleno is intent on doing his talking inside the ring.

“It’s about experience, staying focused, and doing our job,” Magdaleno said. “Manny keeps me focused on the fight, and that is my main concern.”

Magdaleno-Dogboe will be televised LIVE on ESPN and stream in English and Spanish on the ESPN App at 7 p.m. ET. Undercard bouts will stream live on ESPN+, available on the ESPN App, beginning at 4 p.m. ET. ESPN Deportes will air the fight at 10 p.m. ET.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Peltz Boxing, tickets, priced at $100 (ringside), $65 and $35, are ON SALE NOW and can be purchased at The Liacouras Center Box Office and www.liacourascenter.com, or by calling Peltz Boxing at 215-765-0922.

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

Queens, N.Y. (April 23, 2018) – Ronson Frank’s Uprising Promotions will be making its long-awaited return to New York on Friday, May 18, hosting a night of boxing at the lavish Club Amazura in Queens. This evening of action-packed entertainment will be presented by Uprising Promotions in association with New Mexican Promotions.

In the feature attraction, Brooklyn bantamweight Elton Dharry (22-5-1, 14 KOs) makes his return to the ring, taking on Oscar Mojica (11-4, 1 KO) of Dallas, Texas. Additionally, Brooklyn featherweight Ronica Jeffrey (15-1, 1 KO) will fight in New York for the first time in nearly three years when she hosts 15-bout veteran Jasmine Clarkson of Cedar Hill, Texas.

“We are happy to finally come home to New York,” said Ronson Frank, President of Uprising Promotions. “We originally started our promotion to provide local fighters with an opportunity to showcase their skills, so it is very gratifying to host another show here in New York. We have some exciting fights that we are lining up, and we really hope that the boxing community comes out in big numbers to support all of the fighters on the card.”

After starting his professional career with a 3-5-1 record over his first nine bouts, Dharry has rattled off 19 consecutive wins and has remained unbeaten for nearly nine years. In just his sixth professional contest, Dharry took on Leo Santa Cruz, who has since won world titles in three different weight classes and currently resides in the top 10 of many pound-for-pound lists. Dharry fought at Club Amazura once before in 2015, where he thrilled the crowd with a stoppage win over Miguel Robles.

Mojica will most definitely be coming to win when he meets Dharry on May 18, which will be his second outing of 2018. The Texas native last fought in Dallas this past February, where he fell in a razor-thin split decision to undefeated Ernesto Delgadillo for the USNBC Super Flyweight Title. Over the course of his 15-bout career, Mojica has never been stopped and has faced a total of eight undefeated opponents.

A former International WBF World Super Featherweight and interim IBA World Super Featherweight titleholder, the once-beaten Jeffrey will end a two-year absence from the ring when she returns on May 18. A highly-popular and well-achieved Brooklyn native, Jeffrey last fought in in 2016 when she traveled to New Zealand and defeated Gentiane Lupi for the vacant WBC Silver Female Featherweight Championship.

The sister of Uprising Promotions light heavyweight Samuel Clarkson, Jasmine Clarkson is a hard-nosed competitor who is known to take on any opposition and push the pressure in doing so. Clarkson has traveled all over the country to take on fan favorites on their home soil, and the April 18 fight with Jeffrey falls right in line with that mentality.

Additional fights for the April 18 card at Club Amazura will be made over the coming weeks, and fans can expect another compelling night of boxing courtesy of Uprising Promotions and New Mexican Promotions. Club Amazura is located at 91-12 144th Place in Jamaica Queens.

Sponsorship opportunities for this exciting night are available now for any companies or local businesses who are interested in showcasing themselves. To inquire about becoming a sponsor, call (516) 939-7861.

This Uprising Promotions card will continue the initiative to KO Autism, with proceeds from the night getting donated to The School For Language and Communication Development (SLCD) in Glen Cove, New York. For ticket information, call us today at (516) 939-7861.

Keep it locked to UprisingPromotions.com and @UprisingNYC for all of the latest information from Uprising Promotions.
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Brooklyn, NY (April 23, 2018) Saturday night at the historic Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, Evander Holyfield’s The Real Deal Boxingin association with World of Boxingpresented an action-packed nine-bout card entitled ‘Real Deal, Showcase Series III’. The entire card was streamed live on CBS Sports Interactive.

In the main event, Josue ‘The Prodigy’ Vargas, (11-1-0, 7 KO’s), of Bronx, NY via Aguadilla, Puerto Rico and Victor Vazquez (signed to Kings Promotions), (10-4-0, 4 KO’s), of Yonkers, NY clashed in an epic battle that epitomizes what The Real Deal Boxing stands for. Fighting almost entirely in the proverbial phone booth through the first six rounds, Vargas would finally gain the upper-hand as Vazquez’s corner saw their warrior endure too much punishment and stopped the bout at the 2:28 mark of the seventh round. With the fans on their feet throughout, both warriors displayed the type of courage that should make them fan favorites moving forward.

In the junior middleweight division, 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist Shakhram Giyasov, (2-0-0, 1 KO), went the distance but looked sensational in a six-round decision win over the valiant Gabor Gorbics, (24-11-0, 14 KO’s) of Hungary. Giyasov impressed the crowd of Russian supporters displaying a wealth of world class talent in only his second professional bout.

In a controversial move by the New York State Athletic Commission, the eight-round bantamweight clash between undefeated 2012 Olympian Duke Micah(21-0-0, 18 KO’s), of Accra, Ghana and Yoan Boyeaux, (41-5-0, 26 KO’s), was cancelled after the weigh-in. With Micah weighing in at 117.2 and Boyeaux at 121.6, the commission declared the weigh disparity too great to let the fight contracted at 122lbs. continue. The bout will hopefully be rescheduled with an announcement pending.

Heavyweight prospect Sergey Kuzmin, (12-0-0, 8 KO’s), of St. Petersburg, Russia knocked Jeremiah Karpency, (15-2-1, 6 KO’s), of Adah, PA, in the sixth round (1:57) of their scheduled ten rounder. Making his local debut, the 30-year-old, Kuzmin dropped the game but outgunned Karpency three times enroute to the victory.

2016 Olympian Batyr Akhmedov, (4-0-0, 3 KO’s), fighting out of Crimea, Russia stopped Oscar‘Verdugo’ Barajas, (18-6-1, 9 KO’s), of Michoacan de Ocampo, Mexico in the fourth round (0:56). The heavy-handed southpaw displayed a full arsenal dropping the valiant Mexican three times to earn the stoppage.

Making his second straight appearance at the Kings Theatre 2016 Olympic Bronze Medalist Murodjon Akhmadaliev, (2-0-0, 2 KO) looked sensational with a fourth-round stoppage (1:19) of battle-tested veteran Carlos Gaston Suarez, (7-5-3, 2 KO’s), of Buenos Aires, Argentina in a scheduled six-round junior lightweight bout.

Welterweights saw action in a hotly contested battle as Mathew Gonzalez, (5-0-0,3 KO’s) of Ridgewood, New York, won a four-round unanimous decision over Demetrius Wilson, (2-7-0), of Florissant, MO. Scores were 40-36 twice and 39-37.

Former amateur standout, Brooklyn’s Justin Biggs, (4-0-0, 4 KO’s), continued to impress as a professional with a fourth-round stoppage of previously undefeated Hungarian prospect Dominik Csaba Karoly(2-0-1, 1 KO.) The bout was stopped at the end of the stanza on the advice of the ringside physician.

In a very spirited four-round junior featherweight clash, Oscar Moreno, (6-0-0, 5 KO’s), of Mexico City, Mexico, stayed undefeated with a six-round split decision over Rafael Castillo, (1-2-0) of Bronx, NY. Scores were 39-37 twice for Moreno and 40-36 for Castillo.

Opening the night in the cruiserweight division, 2016 Olympian Kennedy Katende, (4-0-0, 1 KO), of Rubaga, Ghana, stayed undefeated, winning a six round split decision over Luther Smith, (10-3-0, 9 KO’s), of Bowie, MD. Scores were 58-56 twice for Katende and 58-56 for Smith.

Real Deal Sports & Entertainment is proud to partner with Medical Arts Radiology (www.medicalartsradiology.com) and Venum (www.venum.com).

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: @TheRealDealPromotions, @KingsTheatreBklyn

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Website: www.TheRealDealBoxing.com, www.KingsTheatre.com

PROVIDENCE, RI (April 22, 2018) – World-rated featherweight Toka “T Nice” Kahn-Clary (24-1, 17 KOs) has graduated from prospect to world contender. To fully develop, Kahn-Clary recently shifted his training camp from the smallest state in the country, Rhode Island, to the second-largest city in America, Los Angeles, where he has started working with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.

Fighting out of Providence (RI), Kahn-Clary made the six-week move to Roach’s famed Wild Card Boxing Club to receive fine tuning from Roach, avoid any potential distractions at home, and have an opportunity for world-class sparring sessions.

The chemistry was there right away between Roach and Kahn-Clary. After his first day working with Kahn-Clary, Roach said the following: “Today was a very good day. Toka has great ring-generalship, footwork and speed. I was impressed.”

“Freddie is very precise,” Kahn-Clary reported after a few days with New England native Roach. “Sometimes I get a little lazy on the ropes. No, no, not with him. I wanted to prove right away that I listen. We were working on the pads and Freddie said, ‘You’re not as dumb as you look.’ I thought that was cool coming from him and took it as a compliment. He’s working on me being in total control in the ring. I’m not really going to learn anything too new from him, but it always helps to add a new move here and there. He saw that I’m fast and work the angles. He’s not changing my style, just sharpening my tools.

“When there is sparring, the gym is packed with fighters from 122 pounds up to heavyweight. Not just two or three, but a whole lot of guys, and the competition between everyone is great We’re working on my next opponent. Right now, I’m just preparing for my next fight, and then we can focus on my opponent when we know who that will be.”

Toka-Kahn’s remarkable life story started in his native Liberia, where he knew very little about his real mother as a child, or how many siblings he has in his family. When his father moved to the United States and in 1998, six-year-old Toka Kahn and his younger sister joined him there in Philadelphia.
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His father, though, was later shot to death, leaving Toka and his sister alone. In 2000, they moved to Providence (RI) to live with a family that, frankly, didn’t really care what happened to them. All signs led to him falling in with the wrong crowd and getting into serious trouble. He was homeless for a while but, fortunately, he found boxing and that became his salvation.

Saved the day his friend first took him to Manfredo’s Gym in Pawtucket, RI, when boxing trainer Peter Manfredo, Sr., USA Boxing/New England president Jim Perella and the couple that eventually adopted him, Andrea Watson and Ron Clary, all became key parts of Toka’s dramatically changed life.

No matter the weather, including snow and freezing conditions, Toka always rode his bike seven miles each way to the gym from his residence, which didn’t even have electricity. He never told anybody, never complained. One day, Andrea told the quiet, private kid in the gym that Christmas was coming, and she had a present for him – an extra bedroom. He was adopted and proudly changed his name to Toka Kahn-Clary.

A decorated amateur boxer, who registered a 131-11 record, Kahn-Clary collected numerous medals at national tournaments, highlighted by a gold-medal performance at the 2010 U.S. National Golden Gloves Championships. He was also a silver medalist at the 2009 National Golden Gloves Championships and 2011 U.S. National Championships, as well as a bronze medalist at the 2012 U.S. Nationals Championships.

Kahn-Clary arrived in LA on April 16 and he will remain there until May 25. “At this point in his career,” Toka’s manager Seth DeRobbio explained, “he had to make this move to position himself for a world title shot. There’s no quality sparring in New England in his weight class. Freddie is one of the best, if not the best trainer in boxing. Toka is going to benefit from working with Freddie. No distractions out there, either. Toka is going to eat, sleep, wake-up, run, strength train and box. That’s it, all boxing, 24/7.”

“I’m excited to see what my friend Freddie is going to do with one of our star fighters,” remarked Kahn-Clary’s promoter, Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield. “Toka is ready for anybody in the 126-pounds division and Freddie is going to bring out the best in him.”

Manfredo, Sr. remains involved in Toka’s career, working his corner with chief second Roach for his next fight, hopefully, June 2nd in Atlantic City (NJ) on his promoter’s (The Real Deal Boxing) proposed card.

“I was involved in this decision and I’ve worked with Freddie before (with Peter Manfredo, Jr.),” Manfredo, Sr. remarked. “It is the right move to advance his career. Toka is probably the best fighter I’ve ever trained. He’ll be away from distractions at home and get quality sparring. Freddie is a top-notch trainer, who I have nothing but admiration and respect for. Freddie will teach him more and we work well together. He’s so knowledgeable and a great guy, too. Freddie is a teacher and I’ll learn more as well.”

Kahn-Clary recently became a father for the first time, but he understands the sacrifice he’s making for his pro boxing career will payoff sooner rather than alter for his family.

“I talk to my daughter every day,” the affable Kahn-Clary concluded. “Thank God for technology. I facetime because she’s five months old and I don’t want her to forget my face. I don’t know how fighters used to go away to camp.”

The 25-year-old Kahn-Clary is world rated by the International Boxing Federation (#11) and World Boxing Federation (#13). In his last two fights, Kahn-Clary defeated a pair of undefeated opponents, David Berna (13-0) by way of a second-round technical knockout in Louisville (KY for the interim North American Boxing Association (NABA) featherweight title, adding the NABA USNBC featherweight crown to his growing display case this past December, when John Vincent Moralde (19-0) was unable to continue after seven rounds of punishment in Providence.

INFORMATION:

Twitter & Instagram: @TokaKahnClary
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/tokakahn.

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GLENDALE, CALIF. (April 20, 2018) — Two-time world title challenger and 2004 Olympian VANES “THE NIGHTMARE” MARTIROSYAN (36-3-1, 21 KOs), from Glendale, Calif., challenges undefeated World Middleweight Champion GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN (37-0-1, 33 KOs), from Karaganda, Kazakhstan. The recently announced world championship rumble between the 2004 Olympians is only 14 days away and takes place on Cinco De Mayo — Saturday, May 5 — under the stars at StubHub Center and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Martirosyan was one of a handful of boxers in the conversation as Golovkin’s May 5 opponent following the cancellation of the Canelo rematch. Martirosyan was ready to go when the call came. He had been sparring with a couple of undefeated Russian boxers.

“Throughout the year, two camps started on and off. Every time we started somebody pulled out.,’ said Martirosyan. ‘The last was the WBC mandatory against Sulecki on March 17. We were getting ready for that and that didn’t happen because Sulecki pulled out to fight Danny Jacobs. So then we took a week off and got back in the gym again. It’s been like that for the past year – we would start camp then the fight falls through, then we take a week off and get back to camp again.

“Every time I talked to my promoter Don King, I would tell him my passion. I would tell him ‘give me a fight, let me show you what I can do.’ I knew he had been working hard to get me a fight then he got me this fight. When they asked me if I wanted it I said ‘of course.’ They asked me if I could be 176 by Friday and I said I am 176 right now. Thank God we were training and in such good shape. King got me the biggest fight and now it’s time to go.

“As a fighter, we train to fight and we are getting paid to fight. I am so happy because GGG is a fighter and he comes to fight. The fights that I didn’t look good in are against the people that ran from me like Lara and Andrade (recent decision losses) – they just try to run and outbox. I couldn’t make them fight. But GGG is coming to fight and that’s what I’ve been looking for – to show the boxing world what I can do.

“Styles make fights – everyone is human. I am fighting a person. Everyone is beatable – everybody.

Former UFC world champion and current WWE Superstar Ronda Rousey has shared the gym with Vanes for several years. “Ronda is a close friend of mine,” Martirosyan explained. “She’s always been a hard worker and gives us a lot of support. We came up together. We trained together when she only had one fight and was also working in a graveyard with dogs. Then she became a superstar. Ronda made it big in the UFC and now it is my turn to shock the world and let the boxing world hear my story. When she heard about the fight she told us she is very happy and real excited for us. ”

Golovkin and Martirosyan together boast a combined record of 73-3-2 (54 KOs) — a winning percentage of 94% with close to 3/4 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

Golovkin, boxing’s longest-reigning world champion (since 2010), and coming off consecutive title defenses against Canelo Alvarez and Danny Jacobs, will be making his 20th consecutive and record-tying middleweight title defense. Martirosyan’s resume boasts NABF, NABO, WBO Inter-Continental, WBA International and WBC Silver championship victories against the likes of former world champions Ishe Smith and Kassim Ouma, as well as a draw against Erislandy Lara. Standing at six-feet tall, Martirosyan will enter the ring as the taller and the younger gladiator. He is currently the WBC’s No. 1 world-rated super welterweight contender.

Promoted by GGG promotions, in association with Don King Productions, and sponsored by Tecate, Chivas Regal, Jordan and Hublot, remaining tickets to the Golovkin vs. Martirosyan world championship event are priced at $750, $500, $300, $200, $100 (sold out) and $50 (sold out), and may be purchased online at https://www.axs.com/events/353331/golovkin-vs-martirosyan-tickets?ref=edp_twpost, by phone at (888) 9AXS-TIX, or by visiting the StubHub Center box office.

For more information, www.hbo.com/boxing; follow on Twitter @gggboxing, @hboboxing, @VanesBoxing, and @TomLoeffler1; become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gggboxing, and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing; follow on Instagram @gggboxing, @vanesboxing,and @HBOboxing.

NEW YORK, NY (April 21ST, 2018) – TONIGHT, two undefeated prospects under the El Matador Management banner will be in action as part of a big card at the King’s Theatre in Brooklyn, New York.

Welterweight Mathew Gonzalez will take on Demetrius Wilson, while super welterweight Justin Biggs will take on fellow undefeated Dominik Csaba Karoly in a six-round bout.

Gonzalez (4-0, 3 KOs) of Queens, New York is ready for the eight-fight veteran, Wilson.

“Everything is doing well. I had excellent sparring, and my weight is good. I am just ready for Saturday,” said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez does not know much about much about his foe, but he is ready for whatever Wilson will bring to the squared circle on Saturday.

“I know he fought on the same show of my last fight. He fought a stablemate (Cesar Francis) of mine. That is about all that I know about him.”

This will be the 3rd consecutive fight for Gonzalez in Brooklyn, and the Queens native is happy to perform in front of familiar faces.

“It means a lot to fight in Brooklyn because I can fight in front of my family and friends. I had over 150 people at my last fight, and it means a lot to perform in front of them.”

Gonzalez would like to give himself a belated birthday present with a win on Saturday night.

“I feel good. Thursday was my 23rd birthday. I will have five fights in 11 months, and I am with good people with Real Deal Promotions and El Matador Management. I am hoping by my 25th birthday that I am 15-0. Right now, I just want everyone to keep their eyes on me. Saturday there will be fireworks in my bout, and I will guarantee excitement.”

Biggs of Brooklyn will look to keep his perfect knockout streak in-tact as he looks to go to 4-0 when he takes on fellow undefeated foe Dominik Csaba Koroly (2-0-1) of Hungary.

“My camp went great. I am in good spirits, and I am confident. I am excited to perform on Saturday,” said the 26 year-old Biggs.

“I have seen tape of Koroly. He is slick, and he is coming from Hungary. He is a fighter who has good defense and he likes to come forward, so this should be an exciting test for me.”

While most fighters are reluctant to take on an undefeated fighter so early in their career, Biggs knows that taking on good competition will serve him in the long run.

“I relish this opportunity. I have been getting respect for facing an undefeated guy. I am taking the appropriate steps to become great.”

This will be Biggs’ 2nd straight bout at the King’s Theatre, and 3rd straight in New York. Biggs, who is trained by championship trainer Yoel Judah, and the brother of former top prospect Raymond Biggs, Jr., enjoys being home, and feels that gives him aura of being comfortable as he heads into his 4th bout.

“Fighting at home is amazing. I had a big turnout for my last fight at The King’s Theatre, and the best part about it, I can sleep in my own bed and not have to get used to different surroundings the week of the fight.”

“I want to thank Real Deal Promotions Eric Bentley and Kevin O’Sullivan along with Felipe Gomez of El Matador Management. Because of them, I am getting known. People are catching on to who I am, and that is because of them. I just want to thank everyone who has supported me and those who will come out on Saturday. It is going to be an exciting night on Saturday.”

“It’s going to be an exiting night for my guys” said Felipe Gomez. “They both are stepping up their competition which I firmly believe will help them get better and build their confidence in the future. I am happy to see my guys staying busy and I want to thank The Real Deal Boxing for continuing to put on these great shows!”

www.elmatadormanagement.com

Frank Warren, in association with Top Rank, is delighted to announce the long-awaited homecoming fight of Irish amateur hero Michael Conlan.

The undefeated former Olympian will fight on home soil for the first time as a professional at Belfast’s SSE Arena on Saturday, June 30th, live on BT Sport.

Conlan, 26, has raced to 6-0 with five spectacular early finishes since making his professional debut with Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum and Top Rank on March 17, 2017.

Belfast native Conlan stopped heavy-handed Hungarian David Berna in two rounds at New York’s Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden last time out and will be looking to push on again in June.

The rising Featherweight star, who is also scheduled to fight Ibon Larrinaga May 12th as part of the Jorge Linares-Vasyl Lomachenko card at Madison Square Garden, is aiming to continue his impressive form and put on a show-stopping performance for his hometown fans.

“What a huge honour it is for me to box back in my home city,” said Conlan. “I’ve been to an awful lot of huge boxing events around the world, and there are very few that can match the atmosphere the people of Belfast can generate.

“Belfast is a city that loves boxing, and I’m very grateful that I can bring a big show to these shores that I call home. I feel I need to pay back all the fans that have been traveling to the U.S., time and time again, to see me fight. This one is for them, and I hope to bring many more fights to Belfast again in the future.

“I would like to give a shout-out to my management team MTK Global and promoters Frank Warren and Bob Arum for making this possible. See you all on June 30th!”

“I’m thrilled to be bringing Irish amateur hero Michael Conlan back to his hometown,” Warren said. “The Irish have been desperate to see him in action back home, and on June 30th, they will get the chance to watch one of the best Featherweight prospects in the world in the flesh.

“There is no doubt he has the potential to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Carl Frampton and Wayne McCullough – two of Ireland’s finest. He has made an explosive start to life in the professional code, and I’m predicting fireworks from him on his big homecoming.”

Ticket information for Conlan’s highly-anticipated homecoming will be announced soon.

Follow all the action ringside from Barclays Center in Brooklyn as Adrien Broner takes on Jessie Vargas in a battle of former world champions.  In the co-feature, Jermall Charlo takes on Hugo Centeno, Jr. for the WBC Interim Middleweight title.  The action kicks off at 9 pm ET / 6 PM PT with Gervonta Davis taking on Jesus Cuellar for the WBA Super Featherweight championship.

NO BROWSER REFRESH NEEDED.  THE PAGE WILL UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY

Round 1: Vargas jabbing..Broner counters with the left..1-2.Jab from Vargas….Jab..

Round 2 Right from Vargas..Right..Right..Right to body and 2 jabs..Body

Round 3 Right from Vargas..Left from Broner..Trading body shots..Jab from Vargas,,2 body shots..Right from Broner..Left hook from Vargas..Sharp right from Broner..uppercut..Good exchange at the end of the round

Round 4 Right from Broner..Good right..Jab from Vargas..Right from Broner..Counter left..Good right from Vargas..Trading hard body shots..Body work from Vargas..Right from Broner..

Round 5 Left to body from Vargas..Chopping right from Broner on inside..Right from Vargas..another..Straight right from Broner..Counter left and right

Round 6 1-2 from Broner..2 lefts from Vargas..right..Counter right from Broner..Left to body..Left to head..Left from Vargas.Right from Broner..Left From Vargas..

Round 7 Right over the top from Vargas..Left..Counter left from Broner..Jab from Vargas..Right from Broner..

Round 8 Flush right from Vargas…1-2 from Broner..Good right..right..Left from Vargas..Left from Broner…Big left from Vargas..Body shot from Broner..

Round 9 Right from Broner..sraight right..Jab..Jab from Vargas..Hard left..Left to body from Broner..Right from Vargas..right and left..Right from Broner..another right./Hard uppercut..great toe to toe action

Round 10 Jab from Vargas…Body shot.Jab..Counter right..Good right from Broner..Straight right from Vargas..Right from Broner, and another

Round 11 Left and hard right from Vargas..Left..Vargas bleeding around the left eye…

Round 12 Left from Vargas..

115-113 BRONER; 114-114 TWICE —FIGHT IS A DRAW

Round 1 Left from centeno

Round 2 BIG RIGHT AND HUGE LEFT AND DOWN GOES CENTENO AND HE DOES NOT GET UP

Round 1 Jab from Cuellar..Body shot..Left to body from Davis..Straight left..Good counter left..Hard body shots..Cuellar backing up..hard right hook from Davis..Counter left to body

Round 2 Jab from Davis..Hard body shot..LEFT TI THE BODY AND DOWN GOES CUELLAR..Right to body..left to head..Sharp counter left..

Round 3 Hard right hook from Davis..Right to body..Quick jab..Uppercut..3 HARD PUNCHES..STRAIGHT LEFT TO BODY AND DOWN GOES CUELLAR..HUGE COMBINATION AND DOWN GOES CUELLAR…FIGHT OVER

Carl Frampton won the WBO Interim Featherweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over former 4-divison champion Nonito Donaire at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Ireland.

Frampton won on all cards 117-111 and is now 25-1.  Donaire is now 38-5.

“I think Jamie deserves a lot of credit because the gameplan was perfect,” said Frampton. “As you saw in the 11th round, Nonito Donaire is a dangerous opponent. I survived the round and stuck to the gameplan. At times, my boxing was beautiful.

“Donaire was a sharp puncher throughout. I was definitely hurt in the 11th round, people could see it. But champions survive and that’s what I did. The only thing on my mind is fighting at Windsor Park. I can’t wait to get there”

EARLY RESULTS FROM THE BELFAST SSE ARENA

Fight # 1 – 16:00 hrs
4 X 3 Minute Rounds International Super-Middleweight Contest
RYAN HATTON TKO2 (1:59) V ATTILA TIBOR NAGY

Fight # 2
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Heavyweight Contest
ALEX DICKINSON KO1 (1:08) V LEE CARTER

Fight # 3
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Middleweight Contest
TROY WILLIAMSON TKO4 (2:41) V CHRISTIAN HOSKIN GOMEZ

Fight # 4
6 X 3 Minute Rounds International Featherweight Contest
TYRONE McCULLAGH TKO3 (2:10) V ELVIS GUILLEN

Fight # 5
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Featherweight Contest
MARCO McCULLOUGH WPTS6 (60-53) V ARNOLD SOLANO

Fight # 6
6 X 3 Minute Rounds International Super-Lightweight Contest
SAM MAXWELL KO1 (0:56) V MICHAEL ISSAC CARRERO

Fight # 7
6 X 3 Minute Rounds International Light-Heavyweight Contest
STEVEN WARD TKO3 (2:48) V MICHAL CIACH

BROOKLYN–  Adrien Broner and Jessie Vargas fought to an entertaining majority draw In front of 13,964 fans at Barclays Center.

The catchweight/welterweight bout saw Te fighters started off slowly, but the action picked up at the end of round two as Vargas started to land his jab.  Vargas seemed to race out to a lead, but Broner started to warm up in the middle rounds which set off several exchanges that thrilled the big crowd assembled at Barclays Center.

When it seemed that Broner was forging ahead, Vargas, who was bleeding from his left eye in round eleven, stormed back and landed some good combinations.

Broner won a card 115-113, while two judges scored the fight even at 114-114.

“I want to thank Jessie Vargas. He’s a two-time world champion for a reason,” said Broner, who was working for the first time with Kevin Cunningham as his head trainer. “He came to fight but at the end of the day, you all know I beat him. Point blank, period.

“I was connecting with rights. I got warmed up in the early portion of the fight. My trainer was a big help tonight. I want to thank Coach Cunningham as well as my original coach, Mike Stafford, for realizing I needed to do something different.

“I would love to fight Vargas again, but let’s go back to my town to do it.”

“I thought I won the fight,” Vargas said. “At the end of the day I can’t argue because I was fighting on the inside of the ring so I don’t know what you saw from the outside. I was landing clean blows. It was a good fight but at the end of the day I can’t dispute the decision.

“It must have been a close fight for the judges to have scored it the way they did. I felt that I won the fight and I was up two rounds. I’m relying on the judges to make the right decision.”

Jermall Charlo won the WBC Interim Middleweight title with a 2nd round destruction of Hugo Centeno.

Charlo landed a booming right that left Centeno open and prone from a nasty left hook that put him down and out at 54 seconds.

Charlo, 160 lbs of Houston, TX is 27-0 with 21 knockouts.  Centeno, 158.5 lbs of Oxnard, CA is 26-2.

“It’s been an amazing journey to get here,” said Charlo, the twin brother of WBC 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo. “I’m a two-time world champion. Bring on ‘GGG.’ I want that fight. I’m 27-0 with 21 knockouts. Everybody sees it. What more can I say?”

“Everybody has always avoided me and from now on, this is how it’s going to be,” said Charlo. “You see what you get.”

Gervonta Davis became a two-time world champion by destroying Jesus Cuellar inside of three rounds to become the WBA Super Featherweight champion.

Davis dropped Cuellar with a vicious body punch in round two.  In round three, Davis dropped Cuellar with a straight left to the body.  Moments later, it was a big barrage of punches that plummeted Cuellar to the canvas at 2:45.

Davis, 129 lbs of Baltimore is now 20-0 with 19 knockouts.  Cuellar, 129.2 lbs of Buenos Aires, ARG is 28-3.

“On the undercard of the Mayweather-McGregor fight, I just wasn’t focused,” Davis said. “It was the second time fighting on Mayweather’s card so it got to my head and it showed. After the fight, I went home and talked to my team and we decided it was time to leave Baltimore. I’m focused and it showed because I’m a champ again.

“There’s always bumps in the road when you want to become successful. It’s all about how you bounce back and tonight I showed that I’m a true champion.”

“The game plan was to box a little bit and open him up with some shots,” Davis said. “When it was time, I went forward and caught him with enough shots to get him out.

“I want the IBF belt back and I’m ready to unify it with whoever wins the [Tevin] Farmer vs. [Billy] Dib fight.”

Former world champion Rau’shee Warren pitched a shutout and won an eight-round unanimous decision over Juan Medina in a bantamweight bout.

Warren, 116.4 lbs of Cincinnati, OH won by scores of 80-72 on all cards, and is now 16-2.  Medina. 114.6 lbs of Lo Romana, MX is 10-3.

Heather Hardy remained undefeated by winning an 8-round unanimous decision over Paola Torres in a featherweight bout.

Hardy, 126.2 lbs of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 79-73 twice and 78-74 and is now 21-0.  Torres, 126.8 lbs of Monterrey, MX is 10-3.

Fabian Maidana dropped Justin Savi once en route to a stoppage after round three of their scheduled six round super lightweight bout.

Maidana, 141.8 lbs of Buenos Aires, ARG is 15-0 with 11 knockouts.  Savi, 141.2 lbs of Silver Spring, MD is 9-16.

Gary Antuanne Russell remained undefeated by stopping Andrew Rodgers in round two of their scheduled six-round super lightweight bout.

The time of the stoppage was 1:40 for Russell, 139.6 lbs of Washington, DC who kept his perfect knockout streak at 5-0 with 5 knockouts.  Rodgers, 136.4 lbs of Elkhart, IN is 4-3-1.

Shyngyskhan Tazhibay won 4 -round unanimous decision over Isaac Freeman in a welterweight bout.

In round one, Tazhibay dropped Freeman with left.

Tazhibay, 147 lbs of Washington, DC won by scores of 40-35 twice, and 39-36 to go to 6-0,  Freeman, 146.4 lbs of Ypsilanti, MI is 3-7-1.

Richardson Hitchins stopped Alexander Charneco in the first round of their scheduled six round super flyweight bout.

Hitchins dropped Charneco with a body punch and he was counted out at 1:17.

Hitchins, 143.6 lbs of Brooklyn is 5-0 with 3 knockouts.  Charneco 145.6 lbs of Aguada, PR is 4-5.

Dylan Price remained undefeated in winning a six-round unanimous decision over Edson Noria in a super flyweight bout.

In round four, Price dropped Noria with a body shot.

Price, 117 lbs of Sicklerville, NJ won by scores of 60-53 on all cards, and is now 6-0.  Noria, 116.8 lbs of Mexico City is now 2-3.

George Arias won an eight-round unanimous decision over Tyrell Wright in a heavyweight bout.

Arias, 238.2 lbs of Bronx, NY won by scores of 78-74 and 77-75 twice, and  is now 11-0.  Wright, 236 lbs of Jersey City, NJ is 9-2-2.

Amir Khan came back after a two-year hiatus by taking out Phil Lo Greco in the 1st round of their catchweight/junior middleweight bout at The Echo Arena in Liverpool, England.

Khan dropped Lo Greco twice , and the fight was stopped at 40 seconds.

Khan of Bolton, England is 32-4 with 20 knockouts.  Lo Greco of Toronto, Canada is 28-4.