NEW YORK (August 11, 2023) – Split-T Management fighters will be front and center in action over the coming weekend.

Friday night in Atlanta. three Split-T fighters will be in action on the second installment of the OTX Boxing series on DAZN at 8:30 PM ET.

Tyler Howard will be back in action after a 21-month layoff when he takes on Raul Solomon in an eight-round middleweight bout.

Howard of Crossville, Tennessee has a record of 19-1 with 11 knockouts. The 29 year-old Howard has quality wins over Isiah Seldon (12-1-1 & Cristian Olivas (16-3). Howard is coming off his first blemish when he lost to Ian Green on November 5, 2021 in Las Vegas,

Solomon of Long Beach, California is 12-1 with 10 knockouts. The 24 year-old is coming off a second round stoppage of Angel Hernandez on April 15th of Pomona, California.

In a six-round featherweight bout, David Navarro takes on D’Angelo Fuentes. Navarro of Hemet, California is 5-1 with three knockouts. The 23 year-old Navarro has won three straight, and is coming off a second round stoppage over Luis Cambero on October 21, 2022 in Atlantic City.

Fuentes of Coconut Creek, Florida is 8-1 with five knockouts. The 24 year old has already defeated Justice Bland (5-1) and his last fight, which was a second round stoppage over previously undefeated Kevin Ford (4-0) on October 7, 2022 in Bensalem, PA.

Also seeing action in Atlanta will be former National Golden Gloves champion Giovanni Marquez. Marquez will take on Nicky Vittone in a six-round junior welterweight bout.

Marquez, 22 of Houston, Texas is 5-0 with three knockouts. Marquez began his pro career with a win over undefeated Nelson Morales. In his last bout, Marquez won a six-round unanimous decision over Bryan Springs on April 1st in Houston.

Vittone of Pine Brook, New Jersey is 9-2-1 with seven knockouts. The 27 year-old is looking to get back in the win column after being stopped by Jordan Rosario on April 1st in Paramus, New Jersey.

Saturday in Glendale, Arizona, undefeated heavyweight Antonio Mireles takes on Dajuan Calloway in a six-round bout.

The 6’9″ Mireles is 7-0 with six knockouts. Mireles has already defeated undefeated fighters Brandon Hughes (2-0) and Eric Perry (5-0-1). In his last outing, The native of Des Moines, Iowa went the distance for the first time and took home a decision win over Patrick Mailta (6-1) on March 25th in Fresno, California.

Calloway of Warrensville Heights, Ohio is 7-2 with seven knockouts. The capable 31 year-old has a first round stoppage over Kahlil Smoot (8-1) on his ledger. Calloway is coming off two consecutive stoppage wins, with the latest being a first-round win over Alex Davis on June 24th in Cleveland.

Mireles is promoted by Top Rank.

Mireles vs. Calloway will be streamed live on ESPN+ at 8 PM ET,

LAS VEGAS – August 11, 2023 – Public on-sale begins today at 10 a.m. PT for the highly-anticipated event that will see Mexican superstar and pound-for-pound great Canelo Álvarez defend his undisputed super middleweight world titles against hard-hitting undisputed junior middleweight world champion Jermell Charlo headlining a SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) Saturday, September 30 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Tickets will be available through AXS.com. The event is promoted by Canelo Promotions and TGB Promotions.

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For more information visit sho.com/ppv and www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #CaneloCharlo, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing and www.Facebook.com/premierboxingchampions/.

IBF Bantamweight World Championship – 12 Rounds

Emmanuel Rodriguez – 118 lbs.

Melvin Lopez – 117 lbs.

Referee: David Braslow; Judges: Walessa Roldán (N.Y.), Robin Taylor (N.Y.), Paul Wallace (Md.)

Super Lightweight Bout – 10 Rounds

Gary Antuanne Russell – 138.4 lbs.

Kent Cruz – 142 lbs.*

Note: Cruz was two pounds over the contracted weight of 140 pounds. The fight will proceed as scheduled. 

Referee: Bill Clancy; Judges: Brent Bowell (Md.), Eric Irizarry (Md.), Sharon Sands (Calif.)

Welterweight Bout – 10 Rounds

Travon Marshall – 146.8 lbs.

Gabriel Maestre – 146.6 lbs.

Referee: Sharon Sands; Judges: David Braslow (Md.), Bill Clancy (N.C.), Paul Wallace (Md.)

SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN

Stream Live at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT

on the SHOWTIME Sports^® YouTube Channel and SHOWTIME Boxing^® Facebook Page

Bantamweight Bout – Eight Rounds

Michael Angeletti – 117.8 lbs.

Jonathan Lopez – 118 lbs.

Referee: Eric Irizarry; Judges: Sharon Sands (Calif.), Robin Taylor (N.Y.), Paul Wallace (Md.)

Middleweight Bout – 10 Rounds

Jose Benavidez Jr. – 158.6 lbs.

Sladan Janjanin – 160.6 lbs.

Referee: Brent Bowell; Judges: David Braslow (Md.), Bill Clancy (N.C.), Waleska Roldán (N.Y.)

Bantamweight Bout – Eight Rounds

Damien Vázquez – 120 lbs.

Jeronil Borres – 121.6 lbs.*

Note: Borres was 0.6 pounds over the contracted weight of 121 pounds. The fight will proceed as scheduled. 

Referee: Sharon Sands; Judges:  David Braslow (Md.), Eric Irizarry (Md.), Walaska Roldán (N.Y.)

Veteran sportscaster Brian Custer will host the telecast while versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo will handle the blow-by-blow action alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and three-division world champion Abner Mares. Three Hall of Famers round out the telecast team – Emmy^®-winning reporter Jim Gray, world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr., and boxing historian Steve Farhood, who will serve as unofficial scorer. The executive producer is four-time Emmy Award winner David Dinkins, Jr., with Ray Smaltz III producing and Chuck McKean directing. Sportscaster Alejandro Luna will call the action in Spanish on Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) with former world champion and SHOBOX: The New Generation^® commentator Raúl “El Diamante” Marquez serving alongside him as the expert analyst. 

The SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN show is hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show co-host Luke Thomas and one of the sport’s most highly regarded trainers, Stephen “Breadman” Edwards.

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For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #RodriguezLopez, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

   •  Emanuel Navarrete 130 lbs. vs. Oscar Valdez 129.8 lbs
(Navarrete’s WBO Junior Lightweight World Title — 12 Rounds)
Referee: Wes Melton
Judges: Lisa Giampa, Chris Wilson and Zach Young

   •   Lindolfo Delgado 140.7 lbs vs. Jair Valtierra 139.4 lbs
(Junior Welterweight — 10 Rounds)
Referee: Chris Flores
Judges: Dennis O’Connell, Craig Harmon and Esther Lopez

•  Richard Torrez Jr. 235.4 lbs  vs. Willie Jake Jr. 249.6. lbs 
 (Heavyweight — 6 Rounds)
Referee: Robert Hoyle
Judges: Dennis O’Connell, Lisa Giampa and Esther Lopez

(ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT)

•    Emiliano Fernando Vargas134.8 lbs  vs. Jorge Luis Marquez Alvarado  133.7 lbs 
 (Lightweight — 4 Rounds)

•  Antonio Mireles 270.7 lbs  vs. Dajuan Calloway 391.7 lbs 
 (Heavyweight — 6 Rounds)

•  Eduardo Ayala 160 lbs vs. Sergio Rodriguez 161 lbs
 (Middleweight — 6 Rounds)

•   Ricardo Ruvalcaba 141.6 lbs vs. Adrian Orban 141.5 lbs
 (Junior Welterweight— 6 Rounds)

World rated contender Elijah Pierce (18-2, 15 KOs) needed just three rounds to knock out Mike Plania (28-3, 15 KOs) on Friday night. The event was promoted by Overtime Boxing and streamed on DAZN. 

Pierce is currently world rated by the WBC, IBF and WBO. 

The 26 year old southpaw connected with a short and succinct shotgun left hand that dropped Plania, and the Florida-based Filipino fighter failed to pick himself back up from the canvas. This marks the first time Plania has been stopped in 31 fights. 

“I’ve been telling everybody, the power is real. I know I’m the hardest punching super bantamweight in the world. I feel like I’m the only one who can beat Inoue, as once he feels my shots he’ll respect me.”- said Pierce. 

Elijah’s manager Trifon Petrov has been pushing for a big fight for his fighter.

“This was an extremely impressive win for Pierce. He did the unthinkable and stopped Plania. Pierce is on a tear since we started working together, he won 9 in a row, 7 by knockout. He paid his dues, he is ready for the biggest names in the weight class.”- said Trifon Petrov. 

After last week’s win, Pierce proved once again he is a top 5 fighter in the world. He is a high risk fight for all those rated above him, so whenever Elijah Pierce’s name comes up most fighters don’t even want to entertain a conversion about possibly fighting him. 

“I know my manager has been working on trying to make the Ra’esee Aleem fight. I will take this fight in a heart beat. Him and I are the best USA based fighters in the weight class. Let’s run it.” said Pierce. 

When asked about Stephen Fulton, here is what Pierce had to say. 

“Although I think Fulton is a great fighter and I respect him, I have seen a lot of flaws I could exploit and he also showed how he does with big punchers. If he and I ever fight, it would be another one-sided beating just like what Inoue did to him… would he fight me though is the question?”

Pierce wouldn’t mind going overseas and fighting some of the big names there either.

“I’ve gone to people’s hometowns and embarrassed them in front of their families and friends. I wouldn’t mind going to Australia and doing the same to Sam Goodman.”- said Elijah Pierce. 

GLENDALE, Arizona (Aug. 10, 2023) — Emanuel Navarrete (37-1, 31 KOs) and Oscar Valdez (31-1, 23 KOs) are ready for an all-Mexican duel.

Navarrete will put his WBO junior lightweight world title on the line against former two-division world champion Valdez this Saturday, August 12, at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

In the 10-round junior welterweight co-feature, rising contender Lindolfo Delgado (17-0, 13 KOs) will square off against Jair Valtierra (16-2, 8 KOs). U.S. Olympic Silver Medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (5-0, 5 KOs) will open the televised tripleheader in a six-round heavyweight tilt against Willie Jake Jr. (11-3-2, 3 KOs).

Navarrete-Valdez, Delgado-Valtierra, and Torrez-Jake will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

The ESPN+-streamed undercard (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) will feature the returns of unbeaten lightweight phenom Emiliano Fernando Vargas and heavyweight southpaw Antonio “El Gigante” Mireles.

Vargas (5-0, 6 KOs) will fight Mexico’s Jorge Luis Marquez Alvarado (3-5-1 2 KOs) in a four-rounder. Mireles will take on hard-hitting Ohio native Dajuan Calloway (7-2, 7 KOs) in a six-rounder.

In a six-round middleweight battle between two of Phoenix’s crowd favorites, Sergio Rodriguez (7-0-1, 6 KOs) and Eduardo Ayala (9-3-1, 3 KOs) will clash for intra-city bragging rights. Rising junior welterweight prospect Ricardo Ruvalcaba (9-0-1, 8 KOs) will make his fourth appearance of 2023 in a six-rounder against Adrian Orban (6-3, 4 KOs).

At Thursday’s press conference, Navarrete and Valdez were joined by Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales. The Mexican legends will present the winner of Navarrete-Valdez with a commemorative jacket designed by Tijuana-born fashion designer Kiko Baez.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.

Below is what the fighters had to say:

Emanuel Navarrete 

“We all know that this fight is raising a lot of expectations. It would be totally fraudulent if Valdez and I didn’t give 100 percent in this fight. We all know that everyone expects a war in the ring. We have all that it takes to make for a great fight.”

“I have said that the fight with Valdez was necessary for my career because of everything it represents. The rivalry between Mexicans is something essential. It’s a good thing for the fight. But boxing fans have also put a lot of pressure on me, saying that my career was missing that cherry on top. They said that I needed an impressive and iconic fight where I exert much more of myself. The fight with Valdez is that kind of fight.”

“Obviously, the fact that Barrera and Morales are here indicates that our promoter wants to tell us something. We have to do something at least similar to what they did. That is the goal. Everything is set so that we can deliver a great fight. I see Valdez, and I see that he’s ready. We’re two days away from getting into the ring, and it’s going to be a great night on Saturday.”

Oscar Valdez
 
“This fight means the world to me. The loss to Shakur Stevenson sparked something different in me. It woke something up. It made me realize how much I missed boxing and how much I love the sport. The year away from boxing made me miss it so much. I also miss being a world champion. So, it also means the world to me to have another opportunity to become a world champion again.”
 
“Camp was great. It can be in Lake Tahoe, San Diego, Guadalajara or even China. camps are always the same for me. We train hard for each fight, but for this fight we trained even harder. We trained not only harder, but smarter. We have to be smart in this fight. We had a perfect camp. Eddy Reynoso and my team have done a great job, and we’re ready for this fight.”
 
“It’s an honor for Barrera and Morales to be here. It means the world to be because I grew up in the era of Barrera and Morales. These two don’t know how much they inspired me. That was the era that I grew up watching. They are warriors.”
 
“I want to win. I want to be a world champion again. I want to show the fans a good fight. So, I am ready.”

Marco Antonio Barrera

“I’m happy to have been invited for this tremendous fight. Every time there is a Mexican boxer in the ring, you will see a war. And on this occasion, Valdez and Navarrete know what’s going to happen in the ring. I think it will be the type of fight that all Mexicans know how to deliver.” 
 
“Fights between Mexicans will always be exciting. Here we have two Mexicans in the ring who want to be in one of the most historic fights between Mexican boxers. That’s what they are looking to do.”
 
Erik Morales
 
“This is a great opportunity for these two Mexican boxers to demonstrate that Mexican boxing is always very exciting. I’ve had the opportunity to speak with both separately. Both have said that there will be a great war. So, I’ve some to see this great war.”
 
“Mexicans fight because they have a big heart and for pride. The belts don’t matter. Nothing matters. The only thing that matters is determining who is the best fighter from Mexico.”

Lindolfo Delgado 
 
“I would like to have some belts soon. I’d like to fight for a world title soon. I want to do what I have always dreamed of doing, which is to be a champion. But first thing’s first. I have to work hard and concentrate on this next fight.” 
 
“I’ve come with a strong desire to do something impressive in this fight. I know that I have a strong opponent in front of me who has come to win. But I want to deliver a great show so that the people can enjoy it. That way, I can continue being on great cards like this one.”
 
Jair Valtierra 
 
“I’m very excited to be part of such a big card. I know that is an opportunity for people to get to know me, and I will take advantage of it.”
 
“A victory this Saturday would elevate my career to an elite level. It will be the start of my story in professional boxing as a big name. I feel more than ready for this fight.”
 
Richard Torrez Jr.
 
“I’m feeling great. Camp was a long camp. But I’m excited that it’s fight week because we get to really focus on the fight now. We hit the gym last night when we got here. It’s a must for us now. We usually go out and run and then afterward we’ll shadowbox. It’s a way to acclimate and get used to the area. No matter where you are, it’s good get acclimated, and that first workout right after the flight is the right way to do it.”
 
Emiliano Fernando Vargas
 
“This has become a lifestyle. I’ve been in camp pretty much this whole year. I love what I do. And I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I love going to the gym. I love feeling tired. I love pushing that extra mile. At the end of the day, to be able fight in front of thousands of fans on ESPN is a blessing.”
 
Sergio Rodriguez 
 
“I feel great. I feel honored to get another opportunity here with Top Rank. It’s a highly anticipated fight between two of Phoenix’s best middleweights. So, it’s a good way to start the Navarrete vs. Valdez card.”
 
Eduardo Ayala 
 
“It’s a great feeling and a great opportunity to be fighting at home. A victory would mean a lot to me. Sergio and I have a lot of friends in common. They’ve been hyping it up for a while, so it would mean a lot.”
 
“Well, firstly, it gives me happiness to know that they want to emulate what I did in boxing. They want expand the list of great Mexican boxers. And that’s what these kinds of fights do. It expands the list of Mexican boxers.”

Saturday, August 12

ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)
 

Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez, 12 rounds, Navarrete’s WBO Junior Lightweight World Title 

Lindolfo Delgado vs. Jair Valtierra, 10 rounds, Junior Welterweights

Richard Torrez Jr. vs. Willie Jake Jr., 6 rounds, Heavyweights

 
ESPN+ (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT)

Emiliano Fernando Vargas vs. Jorge Luis Marquez Alvarado, 4 rounds, Lightweights

Sergio Rodriguez vs. Eduardo Ayala, 6 rounds, Middleweights
 
Ricardo Ruvalcaba vs. Adrian Orban, 6 rounds, Junior Welterweight   

QUINCY, Mass. (August 10, 2023) – The “Veterans Stadium Showcase,” presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), was held today at Malachy’s Saloon for tomorrow evening’s Pro-Am card at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, Massachusetts.

“Veterans Stadium Showcase” will be streamed live on www.bxngtv.com

Tickets for “Veterans Stadium Showcase” are on sale and available for purchase online at www.EventBrite.com.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET with the amateur matches starting at 6:30 p.m. ET, pro card commences at 8 pm. ET.

Fighters’ official weights below:

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

MAIN EVENT – JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS (8)

(R) Harry Gigliotti (9-4, 3 KOs), Haverhill, MA 139.6 lbs.

(L) Mike Ohan, Jr. (18-2, 9 KOs), Holbrook, MA 139.4 lbs.

CO-FEATURE – USBF & MASSACHUSETTS MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS (8)

(L) Julien Baptiste (5-3, 2 KOs), USBF Champion, Woburn, MA 158.6 lbs.

(R) Jamer Jones (3-1, 3 KOs), Mass. Champion, Pittsfield, MA 160.8 lbs.

MIDDLEWEIGHTS (8)

Francis Hogan (14-0, 13 KOs), Weymouth, MA 159.2 lbs.

Miguel Angel Suarez (15-12, 9 KOs), Beccar, Buenos Aires, Argentina 155.8 lbs.

VACANT USBF CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (6)

Scott Lampert (5-8, 4 KOs), Dover, NY 193.6 lbs.

Thomas O’Toole (7-0, 5 KOs), Galway, Ireland 186 lbs.

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS (6)

Robert Talarek (27-20-3, 18 KOs), Ruda Slaska, Poland 168 lbs.

Tommy Hyde (5-0, 4 KOs), Cork, Ireland 168.2 lbs.

LIGHTWEIGHTS (6)

Nathan Benichou (2-16-1, 2 KOs), Puebla, Puebla, México 133.8 lbs.

Gabriel Morales (7-0, 4 KOs), Lowell, MA 134.8 lbs.

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS (6)

Kenny Larson (7-0, 5 KOs), Salem, MA 153.6 lbs.

Alfred Raymond (1-6-1, 0 KOs), Warwick, RI 155 lbs.

HEAVYWEIGHTS (4)

Bruno Saravia (pro debut), Boston, MA 197.6 lbs.

Kevin Nagle (2-0, 2 KOs), Scituate, MA 294.4 lbs.

MIDDLEWEIGHTS (6)

Luke Iannuccilli (6-0, 3 KOs), Methuen, MA 156.6 lbs.

Ryan Thomas Clark (2-4, 1 KO), Berwick, NH 158.6 lbs.

(card subject to change)

INFORMATION:

Facebook.com/GraniteChin

Twitter: @Granite_Chin

NEW YORK, NY – August 10, 2023 – Today, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced the full fight card lineup for its second installment of its Most Valuable Prospects series. Taking place on Friday, August 18 in Orlando, Florida, the main event between Nestor “El Mas Bravo” Bravo and Will “III Will” Madera will be preceded by a co-main 10-round bout between welterweights Damian Lescaille (4-0, 3 KOs) and Hugo Noriega (8-0, 5 KOs). Both fights will be Continental Americas Title bouts. Additional matchups include welterweights Elijah Fores (5-0, 2 KOs) and Elijah Williams (6-0, 2KOs) who will be competing for six rounds, Lorenzo Medina (7-0, 6 KOs) vs Antonio Torres (4-0, 4 KOs), and Antraveous Ingram (5-0, 2 KOs) vs Orlenis Licea (0-0-1), who made his debut on Most Valuable Prospects I. 

The Most Valuable Prospects series is produced and promoted by MVP, with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter and is distributed by DAZN. The second event in the series continues the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. All events within Most Valuable Prospects will take place on Friday nights in 2023 and will be hosted by the series’ official title sponsor, Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL. DAZN will air the series across its platforms as a part of its subscription package which will include the entire main card lineup and prelims. Tickets are now on sale at https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/22005EEADB50BF76

24-year-old Damian Lescaille is a Houston, TX resident that hails from Camaguey, Cuba. Trained by the legendary Ronnie Shields, the southpaw holds a record of four wins with three KOs and will be returning to the Caribe Orlando Resort for his fifth career fight. 

Lescaille will be facing Hugo Noriega, a 33-year-old Miami, Florida native who stands at a staggering 6’2 and holds a record of eight wins with five KOs. Promoted by M&R Promotions, this welterweight rocket proved his prowess after earning an amateur win over Olympic Gold Medalist Roniel Iglesias and will be entering the ring on August 18 with a KO in mind. 

“Most Valuable Prospects II is stacked with talent and the potential to find boxing’s next big thing. MVP is thankful to all of our partners and athletes for participating in the second of many events in our new series that highlights up and coming fighters ,” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “Make sure to tune in on DAZN or purchase your tickets at ticketmaster.com because this event promises to be an action packed night filled with some of the most promising fighters in the sport.” 

“Caribe Royale is once again pleased to serve as the title sponsor for the Most Valuable Prospect Series. This is an exciting night of Boxing Action with two title belts on the line. This event is great for local fans and also fans watching on DAZN,” said Amaury Piedra, Managing Director of Caribe Royale Resort and President of Boxlab Promotions. “This prospect series is one of a kind as we have the top young fighters in the game going head to head. We’re happy to be working with Jake, Nakisa, and the entire team at MVP on our second installment of the series.” 

August 18th’s card will also welcome Elijah Flores and Elijah WIlliams, who will go head-to-head in a 6-round welterweight bout. Flores is a 19-year old fighter out of Redlands, California who’s putting his undefeated record on the line.  

His opponent, Elijah Williams a Newburgh, New York native who holds a record of 6 wins with four KOs and no losses. The 20-year-old fighter stands at 5’9 and is ready to take a big step up in professional competition after a stellar amateur career. 

Most Valuable Prospects II will also host four preliminary bouts on Friday, August 18th including returning to the series is Florida’s very own Lorenzo Medina (7-0, 6 KOs) who will be taking on Jamestown, NY native Antonio Torres (4-0, 4 KOs) in a 6-round heavyweight battle. 24-year-old Antraveous Ingram (5-0, 2 KOs) will be facing Orlenis Licea (0-0-1), who is returning to MVP’s series after making his debut in May at Most Valuable Prospects I. The two middleweight fighters will face off in a 4-round bout. 

For more information, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @MostVPromotions, @DAZNBoxing, @Boxlab_AP, and @cariberoyale or on Instagram via @JakePaul, @MostValuablePromotions, @DAZNBoxing, and @cariberoyaleorlando.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVPworks to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP has produced Jake Paul’s last four global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Fury match, which surpassed 800,000 Pay-per-view buys worldwide. The promotion company also signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head-to-head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About DAZN

DAZN is a leading digital sports platform in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, Canada, US, and the UK.? Its wide range of exclusive content includes top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, LaLiga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world – Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC.?  

DAZN is the NFL’s global partner and, from the 2023 season, will be the only place for fans around the world to watch every NFL match through the NFL Game Pass International add-on subscription. DAZN is a global home for boxing and combat sports through its partnerships with Matchroom Boxing the Professional Fighters League, and a global home for Women’s Football with UEFA Women’s Champions League and Finetwork Liga F.? DAZN is adding more and more sport to its platform to create a destination for sports fans.? 

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DAZN is reimagining the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, bet, play, share, socialize, and buy tickets, NFTs and merchandise. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN.? 

DAZN is available on most connected devices including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles, ensuring that fans have access to ground-breaking rights catalog and slate of incredible content. In the UK and globally, DAZN can be accessed on Samsung, LG, Sony, and Panasonic Smart TVs and on Games Consoles including PlayStation and Xbox. Subscribers also have access to DAZN on their Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, and Apple TV and can find the app on their iPhone, iPad, and android mobile devices. DAZN is available as an Amazon Channel on Amazon Prime TV and can be viewed on Channel 429 on Sky in the UK and Ireland.    

DAZN is a global, privately-owned company with employees in over 25 countries. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit?www.dazngroup.com.?? 

About Caribe Royale Orlando Resort

Located just minutes from the Walt Disney World® Resort in the nation’s number one convention and tourist destination, Caribe Royale Orlando is the only AAA Four Diamond all-suite meetings resort in Orlando. A TripAdvisor 2022 Travelers’ Choice Award winner – among just 10 percent of hotels worldwide to receive the distinction – the upscale Caribe Royale is emerging from a $140 million renovation that includes fully remodeling all of its one-bedroom suites, an all-new 50,000-square-foot grand ballroom (bringing the total meeting space to 220,000 square feet), and an inviting new lobby. Being privately-owned, Caribe Royale offers meeting planners faster approval cycles and more flexibility to create stand-out events. To learn more or to book a visit, event or meeting, visit www.cariberoyale.com. Follow the all-suite convention hotel on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(@cariberoyale), LinkedIn and Pinterest. #cariberoyaleorlando

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. – August 10, 2023 – Former world champion Emmanuel Rodriguez and streaking contender Melvin Lopez went face to face at Thursday’s final press conference before they meet for the vacant IBF Bantamweight World Championship this Saturday, August 12 headlining live on SHOWTIME from The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Maryland in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The press conference also featured fighters competing on the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® telecast that will see undefeated rising star and Capitol Heights, Maryland-native Gary Antuanne Russell taking on fellow unbeaten Kent Cruz in the 10-round super lightweight co-main event, plus sensational top prospect and Landover, Maryland-native Travon Marshall dueling unbeaten two-time Olympian Gabriel Maestre in the 10-round welterweight telecast opener at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through www.mgmnationalharbor.com/.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from MGM National Harbor:

EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ

“I’m more mature and experienced now than I was when I first won the title. I will be the fifth world champion from Puerto Rico right now and that would be a privilege. That’s the goal in this fight.

“I guarantee you I’m gonna come out with the win on Saturday, because I’m the toughest opponent he’s ever faced.

“I’m gonna prove I’m the best fighter in the division. This is gonna send a message to all the other champions that I’m here to stay.

“I’ve had so much love and support from Puerto Rico already. The island is eager to see me fight and I want to give back all that love with a win on Saturday night.

“Starting in the fourth round, I should be able to figure out what he’s got in store for me. Then I feel like I can stop him between the fourth and seventh rounds.

“I’ve trained in Mexico and it’s been like a second home. They’ve really supported me. I owe it to all of them to give it my all.

“The fans are gonna see an amazing show and the best version of Emmanuel Rodriguez. I guarantee that.”

MELVIN LOPEZ

“Winning would bring me happiness and pride for my country, and it would prove to me that all my hard work ever since I was little, paid off.

“He can say whatever he wants, talk is cheap. Saturday night is where it’s all shown. He’s gonna have to back it up.

“I’m not gonna guarantee a knockout. I’m an animal that hunts for his prey. I’m gonna try to get him where I want and whatever happens, happens.

“He says he’s the best in the division, and he’s gonna try to show it. But I’m gonna do the same thing. I’m gonna try to show that I’m the best on Saturday night.

“I’m gonna give it my all for the world title. We both want it badly. For everyone watching on Saturday night, I’m gonna do everything I can to bring the title home.”

GARY ANTUANNE RUSSELL

“People are gonna see a Grade-A performance from me on Saturday. It feels really good to be back. Cruz is gonna bring his physical best and I’m gonna bring everything I need to put the fire out.

“My knockout streak is a good thing, but the object of this sport is to continue to win. A knockout would be a notch on my belt and I plan to get it, but it’s not a weight on my shoulders.

“It’s up to me to just perform at my highest peak. We have to execute everything at the highest level. That’s what will leave me victorious.

“He can expect pain. It’s the hurt business. Someone’s ‘0’ has got to go. At the end of the day, I’m gonna take my hat off to him and be respectful, but I’m gonna show everyone that I do it for the art. I love this sport.

“I’m back in my hometown and representing my area. If I get good grades, I make the family look good right? That’s the objective. People are gonna be saying that I’m a beast.

“Pressure busts pipes and makes diamonds. If anything, I’m at ease fighting at home.”

KENT CRUZ

“Beating Russell will mean everything for my career. This is the fight that we’ve been waiting on. This is gonna bring the best out of me and it’s gonna make me up my level and up my ability.

“People are gonna be surprised. We had a terrific camp and brought out the old Kent Cruz. I’m gonna shock the world come Saturday night. For sure.

“This is my third southpaw in a row, so we’ve been training for southpaws for a long time. It’s been easier for me because we just maintained what we were doing. I love fighting southpaws because it makes it easier for me to set up what I want to do.

“I feel like he has more pressure on him than me, because he’s fighting in his hometown. I just have to do my part and come out victorious Saturday night. We’re gonna do whatever it takes.

“I’m gonna shock the world. People are looking past me, but I’m gonna wake them up for sure.”

TRAVON MARSHALL

“The 147-pound division is about to be wide open and there are a lot of good prospects coming up. It’s time to get a gauge on who’s gonna be next to take over.

“A victory over Maestre will give me standing in the division. With me being this young and going up against a two-time Olympian, that’s an amazing thing.

“Me and my team are prepared for anything. Make sure you tune in on time Saturday night, because I’m gonna snipe him out of there.

“He’s never faced anyone like me as a pro. It’s a whole different caliber over here. People are gonna say that this young guy is the one after this fight.

“You’re gonna see a dominant performance by a young up-and-coming prospect that came out of nowhere. They’re gonna know my name after Saturday night.”

GABRIEL MAESTRE

“He’s gonna have to be ready each and every round, because I’m coming to win. I know that he’s young and hungry and that he’s fighting at home, but I’ve prepared myself for all of that.

“The fans are going to be the true winners, because this is gonna be a true spectacle and a memorable fight for everyone watching.

“I’m beyond motivated for this fight. The American fans like to see a brawl and I’m gonna go punch for punch with Travon. It’s gonna be fun.

“I respect what Marshall says, but the real talking is done inside of the ring. He hasn’t fought anyone like me and he has no idea what he’s in store for.”

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For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #RodriguezLopez, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

Sheffield, England – 9 August 2023 – All-action Doncaster star Reece Mould will make the first defence of his WBA Continental Lightweight Championship against Kent rival Martin McDonagh on Friday 6th October in Sheffield.

Mould versus McDonagh headlines a double-title GBM Sports show that also features the fiery Commonwealth Super-Flyweight Championship showdown between Emma Dolan and Nicola Hopewell.

The venue for the GBM Sports show will be officially announced on Monday.

It’s set to be real 50-50 clash between Mould and McDonagh as the pair are expected to trade some serious leather with the winner going on to pursue bigger honours.

Mould (18-1-0, 6 KO’s) won the title in style against the previously unbeaten Hamed Ghaz in February on a unanimous decision and then defeated the hard Mexican Christian Lopez Flores in June, but now arguably faces the toughest test of his 19-fight career.

World rated Mould is out to prove that he’s the real deal and is on a mission to become World Champion.   A victory against McDonagh is crucial to remain on course towards challenging for a World title.

Mould said, “I can’t wait for this one! McDonagh is the type of test I want and need at this stage of my career.  When it’s an all British clash with a title on the line it makes it that bit more special and adds an extra edge to it.  I believe he’ll be coming to win and take the title and I know that I’ll have to be at my very best and I’ll be more hungrier and determined to keep hold of the belt and everything it means for my future.”

Hard-as-nails McDonagh (12-2-0, 1 KO) from Sheerness is the reining Southern Area Lightweight Champion and will provide a stern test for the ambitious Mould.

The 28-year-old southpaw defeated Connor Marsden by tenth round stoppage in September last year to claim the title and then made first defence in a hard fought, tense, battle against Ben Smith in April this year to retain the title on a points victory.

McDonagh said, “I’m really looking forward to the fight with Reece it’s a very tough fight but one I’m confident in winning.   A win gets my his world ranking and puts me in the place I feel like I deserve. Thank you to Izzy of GBM Sports and my manager Lee Eaton for getting me the opportunity and I look forward to putting on a career best performance.”

The remaining boxers to feature on the undercard have also been confirmed.

It was announced on Monday that rising prospects Naphtali Nembhard, Adam Mohammed, Will Cawley and Nohmaan Hussain will all feature in the line up.

GBM Sports have now announced that up-and-coming prospects Bree Wright, Faraqat Ali, Joe Hayden, Sheldon McDonald, Red Johnson and Declan Cairns have all been added to the show to complete an action-packed 12-fight card.

Sheffield’s only female professional boxer, welterweight Wright (3-0-0, 1 KO) has built an unbeaten record as she looks towards challenging for her first title shortly.  Burbeary has battled through mental health and weight issues to start her pro boxing career and counts her friend and World Champion Terri Harper as her inspiration.

Sheffield Super-Featherweight ‘El Frako’ Ali (7-0-0) will have domestic titles in his sights with a victory on the night.  The rising talent is unbeaten in seven and has featured on all GBM Sports’ card to date.

Dave Allen protege Hayden (10-0-0) from Coinsborough has been billed as ‘Doncaster’s busiest and brightest boxing prospect’.  The 23-year-old southpaw has amassed a ten-fight unbeaten record in just over a year of turning pro and his quality has been recognised by World Title contender Jack Catterall who insists on using Hayden for sparring.  Hayden was also a former semi-professional player with Maltby Main and Frickley Athletic.

Sheffield Cruiserweight McDonald (6-1-0, 2 KO’s) is another former semi-professional footballer having played for Sheffield FC, Handsworth and Clipstone.  He was studying Accountancy at Sheffield’s Hallam University and boxing in the amateur code when his friend and mentor former World Cruiserweight Champion Johnny Nelson noticed his boxing talent and advised him to drop football.  McDonald followed his advice and turned professional and has also completed his successfully completed his Accountancy degree.

Completing the card will be unbeaten Sheffield Super-Middleweight prospect Johnson (3-0-0) and Worksop Welterweight Cairns (6-1-0, 1 KO).

Promoter Izzy Asif, CEO of GBM Sports, commented, “What a fight it’s going to be between Mould and McDonagh.  This has the makings of a great fight between these two proud warriors.  Full credit to McDonagh for challenging Mould in his Yorkshire strong hold and I know he’ll give it everything he’s got.  Reece is really riled up for this fight and knows that everything he has worked for is on the line so he knows that there are no two ways about it – he must win.  I’m delighted to add the remaining names to the show and it will be GBM Sports’ biggest and best fight night to date.  I’m really looking forward to seeing all these boxers’ in action on the night and it’s quality from the top to the bottom on the card.  With Reece headlining and Dolan versus Hopewell in the chief support, all the way through to Nembhard, Mohammed, Cawley, Hussain, plus our announcement today of Wright, Ali, Hayden McDonald, Johnson and Cairns.  It’s going to be an amazing night to show the depth and talent in GBM Sports and how far we’ve come in a short space of time.

LAS VEGAS – August 9, 2023 – Mexican superstar and pound-for-pound great Canelo Álvarez will defend his undisputed super middleweight world titles in a blockbuster showdown against hard-hitting undisputed junior middleweight world champion Jermell Charlo headlining a SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) Saturday, September 30 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Canelo, who’s amassed one of the best resumes of his generation at only 33-years-old, will make the third consecutive defense of his WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO super middleweight world titles against the junior middleweight king Charlo in the first matchup of the four-belt era pitting two reigning undisputed champions against each other. With a win, Charlo would add his name alongside legendary champions such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Roy Jones Jr. by successfully jumping two weight classes to win a world title.     

Pre-sale tickets are available tomorrow, Thursday, August 10 from 10 a.m. PT until 10 p.m. PT through AXS.com by using the code: PBC

Public on-sale begins Friday, August 11 at 10 a.m. PT with tickets available through AXS.com. The event is promoted by Canelo Promotions and TGB Promotions.

“Canelo Álvarez and Jermell Charlo are fighters who dare to be great every time they enter the ring and have shown that once again by going headfirst into this dream matchup between the two best fighters in their divisions,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Canelo is already a surefire Hall of Famer but continues to seek the biggest and best fights for his devoted fans. Charlo has also established himself as one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters and would leave no doubt about his place in boxing’s hierarchy with a win on September 30. This is a night you won’t want to miss on SHOWTIME PPV and at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.”

“We are very excited about this historic matchup under the PBC banner,” said Eddy Reynoso, Canelo’s Manager and Trainer. “Our team is very focused on this fight and we have decided to hold a high-altitude training camp to prepare. We have a great champion in Charlo in front of us and this will be an exciting fight because of the styles both fighters bring to the ring.”

“Canelo vs. Charlo is a legitimate mega-fight and yet another testament that SHOWTIME® continues to deliver the biggest and best matchups in the sport.” said Stephen Espinoza, President, SHOWTIME SPORTS®. “In a banner year that has already featured some of the most anticipated fights in recent memory, Canelo vs. Charlo stands out as a historically unique showdown between two undisputed champions. September 30 will be another can’t-miss event for boxing fans around the world.”

Having captured world titles at 154, 160, 168 and 175-pounds, Canelo (59-2-2, 39 KOs) will enter the ring for yet another super fight as he looks to become the first man during the four-belt era to defend all four titles successfully three consecutive times. The fighting pride of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Canelo became undisputed at super middleweight in November 2021 by taking the IBF belt from then unbeaten Caleb Plant via an 11^th-round TKO headlining a SHOWTIME PPV. After dropping a light heavyweight title fight against Dmitriy Bivol in May 2022, Canelo rebounded to defeat Gennadiy Golovkin in their September 2022 trilogy fight before most recently defeating John Ryder in May.

Under the guidance of his renowned coach Reynoso, Canelo has triumphed over a long list of elite fighters since turning pro at just 15-years-old in 2005, including Golovkin twice, plus Shane Mosley, Erislandy Lara, Miguel Cotto and Sergey Kovalev to name a few. Outside of the Bivol fight, Canelo’s only other defeat came against undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather in September 2013.

“I’m very happy that we got to make a fight of this magnitude between two undisputed champions,” said Canelo. “Jermell Charlo has also faced the best in his division, and I’m glad that the fans are going to enjoy a world class fight between us on September 30.”

Houston’s Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) unified the junior middleweight titles in emphatic fashion his last time out, knocking out Brian Castaño in round 10 of their May 2022 rematch, after they fought to a draw in a July 2021 slugfest. The 33-year-old became a unified champion in September 2020, dropping Jeison Rosario three times on his way to an eighth-round knockout that earned him the WBA and IBF titles. Before that fight, Charlo had avenged the only loss of his career as he reclaimed his WBC belt via an 11^th-round knockout of Tony Harrison in one of 2019’s best fights.

Charlo is trained by 2022 BWAA “Trainer of the Year” Derrick James in Dallas and won his first world title in his debut fight with James by scoring an eighth-round knockout of John Jackson in 2016. He followed up that victory with three successful defenses, knocking out Erickson Lubin and Charles Hatley, and winning a decision over former world champion Austin Trout. Charlo and his twin brother and two-division champion Jermall, who fight under their Lions Only banner, made history in 2016, becoming the first twins in boxing history to simultaneously hold world championships in the same weight class.

“I’m really excited to make history once again on September 30,” said Charlo. “This is the biggest fight in boxing and I’m coming to leave it all in the ring like I do every time. I manifested this fight into existence and earned it with everything I’ve done in this sport so far. Canelo is a great fighter, but he’s gonna see what Lions Only is all about. When the fight’s over, people are gonna have to recognize that I’m the best fighter in the sport.” 

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For more information visit sho.com/ppv and www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #CaneloCharlo, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing and www.Facebook.com/premierboxingchampions/.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (Aug. 9, 2023) — Lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla suffered a training injury and has been forced to withdraw from his ESPN-televised co-feature this Saturday, Aug. 12, against fellow unbeaten Diego Torres at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

The 10-round junior welterweight tilt between rising contender Lindolfo Delgado and Jair Valtierra is the new co-feature and will be televised directly before the WBO junior lightweight world title showdown between reigning champion Emanuel Navarrete and former two-weight world champion Oscar Valdez.

Navarrete-Valdez, Delgado-Valtierra, and the heavyweight showdown between Richard Torrez Jr. and Willie Jake Jr. will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.

Delgado (17-0, 13, KOs) represented Mexico at the 2016 Rio Olympics and won his first 11 bouts by stoppage. He made his Top Rank debut in June 2021 and outlasted then-unbeaten puncher Omar Aguilar by decision last August in a 2022 Fight of the Year contender. Delgado fought at Desert Diamond Arena in February, knocking down veteran Clarence Booth en route to a one-sided decision victory. Valtierra (16-2, 8 KOs), from Leon, Mexico, lost an eight-round decision to Muratalla last July. He returned in February against the unbeaten Nestor Bravo, and the bout was ruled a no contest in the fourth round after a head clash opened a cut near Bravo’s right eye.

Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman:

“It’s a night of Heavy Duty action at The O2 in London, with Anthony Joshua now facing ‘The Nordic Nightmare’, 6ft 9in Robert Helenius as ‘AJ’ looks to move on to some of the biggest fights in the division, and the undercard is stacked with some of the biggest, baddest and best Heavyweights in the world, along with some of our youngest talent.

“We know the issues of the last few days and it’s never easy to think on your feet and adapt, but the instruction from Anthony Joshua was clear, ‘I’m ready to fight and I want to fight on Saturday.’ 

“We have to thank our broadcast partner DAZN. The great news for subscribers that this is no longer Pay-Per-View – unbelievable value for fight fans to be able to watch ‘AJ’ in a big fight with a great undercard, so thank you to them for their support as we have not only ‘AJ’ that wanted to fight on Saturday, but all these undercard fighters that have had long training camps too, and as we all know, you only get paid when you fight.  

“It’s been a challenging few days and I want to thank ‘AJ’, who stayed focused after putting 12 weeks of hard work into his camp and was desperate to fight on Saturday night and showcase the hardwork that took place, and Robert Helenius, who accepted the challenge and has a good team of people around him we knew wouldn’t mess around, and we knew he was fit and had just boxed. This is an important fight at The O2.”

Anthony Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs faces Robert Helenius over 12 rounds at Heavyweight):

“I looked at the undercard and I know how important it is for them to compete. I know how hard you (Eddie Hearn) worked, and all the Matchroom staff, my coach, DAZN, so it’s a responsibility I have. Late replacements aren’t ideal but it’s the third time it’s happened. A long career will present these types of obstacles and I’ve just got to get used to them, it’s just another rock in my shoe to the top of the mountain. 

“The principles remain the same, worry about myself. Robert and I sparred years ago, we shared the ring, but I’ve sparred with so may styles, competed with som many styles, the objective remains the same – victory, and victory by any means. There’s no overtime in boxing so I have to be on my A-game and inflict pain to get the victory.

“Coming off the back of Covid, everyone suffered during that period. The sport industry slowed down and now we just want to get some momentum going again. As Derrick said, I came out to camp early this year, I took a couple of weeks, maybe a month back in the UK then went to Dallas, to try to progress on. So, my goal was to fight as many times as possible, like Robert, he fought on Saturday, you have to stay active, keep expressing your skill as that’s the only way to improve. I fought in April, but I’ve spent a lot of time in the ring in the gym as we do a lot of ring work in Dallas, and that’s the closest thing to a fight. It’s not just hitting the bags and mitts, there’s a lot of combat training so I am physically ready. 

“It would be silly to underestimate him, or anyone. I have to take him deadly serious and credit to him, he’s coming to roll the dice, he wants to win. Other Heavyweights that were mentioned, finance is an issue – risk versus reward, but in reality, that’s not all there is for him, so good luck to him, and shout out to everyone in Finland, I’ve been there before, and we’re looking to provide some good entertainment from top to bottom as the card is unbelievable. 

“The card is phenomenal, it’s the old days at The O2 and this is what we want to bring, it’s entertainment. It’s not ‘I’m coming out to watch Anthony Joshua’, no, it’s ‘I’m coming out to watch a Matchroom show, a great night of boxing’, so credit to everyone involved in this.”
 
Derrick James, trainer of Anthony Joshua:

“You have to move forward. Now it is all about Robert who is a pretty good fighter, you will see everything ‘AJ’ has been able to work on throughout camp and implement it into his game.

“We have had a little more time this time. It’s all about the process, he’s brought into that process and he’s getting better and better. 

“The only difference from Dillian to Robert is you have to change the trajectory of the punches, one shorter and lower, now higher because he’s 6ft 9in. But it’s good, he’ll be able to show his transition from fighting one guy to a week later another guy, so we will see.”

Robert Helenius (32-4, 21 KOs fights Anthony Joshua over 12 rounds at Heavyweight): 

“Thank you for giving me this opportunity. This fight offer came to me after my fight at the weekend. I was going on vacation with my family but not anymore, here we are. We had a good camp behind us, and we feel ready. I am ready to fight, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. I respect him, he’s a good fighter. It’s going to be glorious. I’ve been chasing the World Title for 15 years and when you get this big of an opportunity you can’t let it slip and I will give everything to win this fight.”

Markus Sundman, manager of Robert Helenius: 

“Massive opportunity, when do you get a call this close to a fight night and you come off a camp and you are in shape, everything has fallen into place. Victory would mean everything.”

Alfie Sharman, VP DAZN:

“We were obviously disappointed with the news but we move, and here we are in London with an AJ fight week, and everybody knows with an ‘AJ’ fight week it’s a huge event. 

“We want to thank our great partners ‘AJ’, Freddie Cunningham and everyone at 258, Eddie, Frank and Matchroom and the teams at DAZN working tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure the event goes ahead. Robert is a tough opponent; he’s been in with the best and he’s here to spoil the party.

“The O2 will be full on Saturday, the undercard is incredibly strong, and this night is part of the DAZN subscription and there’s much more to come, make sure you tune in on Saturday live on DAZN.”

WHAT:          “Veterans Stadium Showcase” Pro-Am Boxing Event

WHO:            The Lineup

MAIN EVENT – JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS (8)

Harry “The Hat” Gigliotti (9-4, 3 KOs), Haverhill, MA

Mike “Bad Man” Ohan, Jr. (18-2, 9 KOs), Holbrook, MA

CO-FEATURE – USBF & MASSACHUSETTS MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS (8)

Julien “Black Dragon” Baptiste (5-3, 2 KOs), USBF Champion, Woburn, MA

Jamer Jones (3-1, 3 KOs), Mass. Champion, Pittsfield, MA

MIDDLEWEIGHTS (8)

Francis “Frank The Tank” Hogan (14-0, 13 KOs), Weymouth, MA

Miguel “El Pirado” Angel Suarez (15-12, 9 KOs), Beccar, Buenos Aires, Argentina

VACANT USBF CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (6)

Scott “Bombz” Lampert (5-8, 4 KOs), Dover, NY

Thomas “The Kid” O’Toole (7-0, 5 KOs), Galway, Ireland

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS (6)

Robert Talarek (27-20-3, 18 KOs), Ruda Slaska, Poland

Tommy “The Governor” Hyde (5-0, 4 KOs), Cork, Ireland

LIGHTWEIGHTS (6)

Nathan Benichou (2-16-1, 2 KOs), Puebla, Puebla, México

Gabriel “The Menace” Morales (7-0, 4 KOs), Lowell, MA

SUPER WELTERWEIGHTS (6)

Kenny “The Lionheart” Larson (7-0, 5 KOs), Salem, MA

Alfred Raymond (1-6-1, 0 KOs), Warwick, RI

HEAVYWEIGHTS (4)

Bruno Saravia (pro debut), Boston, MA

Kevin Nagle (2-0, 2 KOs), Scituate, MA

MIDDLEWEIGHTS (6)

Luke “The Quiet Storm” Iannuccilli (6-0, 3 KOs), Methuen, MA

Ryan Thomas Clark (2-4, 1 KO), Berwick, NH

(card subject to change)

_____________________________________________________________________ 

WHEN:           Friday, August 11, 2023 (Aug. 12 rain date)

WHERE:        Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy, MA

TICKETS:  Tickets for “Veterans Stadium Showcase,” are on sale and available for purchase online at www.EventBrite.com.

LIVE STREAM: www.bxngtv.com

WEIGH IN: Malachy’s Saloon, 51 Granite Street in Quincy, MA

OTHER:     Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET with the amateur matches starting at 6:30 p.m. ET, pro card commences at 8 pm. ET.

INFORMATION:  

Facebook.com/GraniteChin

Twitter: @Granite_Chin

NASHVILLE, TN. – August 9, 2023 – Exciting undefeated prospect Da’Velle Smith picked up his third victory of the year on Tuesday night, as the Saiita Promotions’ prospect delivered a third-round TKO of veteran Dedrick Bell in their middleweight clash that took place in Nashville, Tennessee. The stoppage came 2:59 into the round and improved Smith’s record to 6-0 with 5 KOs.

“It felt good to be back in the ring,” said Smith. “I knew I was in with a veteran and I was prepared to get some rounds in. I was patient and did what I had to do to get the victory. I want to keep the momentum going and hopefully get right back into the ring to fight again in September.”

Bell presented the most experienced challenge of Smith’s young career, as the 69-fight veteran has faced the likes of Yordenis Ugas, DeMarcus Corley and Jose Benavidez Jr. to name a few, throughout his career. The 22-year-old Smith first burst onto the scene in September 2021 by winning the WBC’s inaugural Big Belt Championship by knocking out Ricky Evans in the first round.

His 2023 campaign had already seen him stop Gyorgy Mizsei in February before blasting out the previously unbeaten Kahydlian Woods in the first round on the Claressa Shields-Maricela Cornejo undercard in June. Training in the renowned Kronk Gym, Smith has begun to catch the eye of luminaries in the boxing world as he works his way up in the sport.

“Da’Velle is progressing at a fast past and is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the middleweight division,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “He’s tall, strong, skills and a big puncher coming out of the Kronk Gym in Detroit.”

“It was good to have Da’Velle on the show in the Kronk colors,” said Christy Martin, boxing legend and the promoter of last night’s show. “You could tell from his performance that he is a special fighter.”

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ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS

Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including SHOWTIME, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.

Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action. 

LOS ANGELES (August 9, 2023) – An exciting regional battle pitting undefeated super featherweight prospect Austin Brooks (10-0, 3 KOs) versus Anthony Chavez (11-3-1, 3 KOs), in the 10-round main event on a solid top-to-bottom card, presented by Toro Promotions, Inc. and Whitfield Haydon Boxing, on Saturday night, August 26, at the famed Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington.

Austin Brooks

The 27-year-old Brooks, fighting out of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, is a rising star in the 130-pound weight class, who has fought a few times on the ESPN platform. He has yet to fight more than six rounds in any of his pro fights to date.

“I feel blessed for the opportunity to be fighting in the main event,” Brooks remarked. “To get my first 10-round fight against a quality opponent and in the main event is something I’ve been working towards. I will capitalize on this moment.”

The more experienced Chavez, representing Redlands, California, was a bronze medalist at the 2015 USA National Championships. He is a throwback fighter who is trained by the highly respected Henry Ramirez.

A rare match-up featuring two undefeated prospects, Jon Bryant (8-0, 2 KOs) and Axl Melendez Salgado (6-0, 4 KOs), will square off in the six-round, co-featured event. Fighting out of Bremerton (WA), Bryant is coming off an impressive six-round decision win over veteran DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (52-35-1, 28 KOs), the former World Boxing Organization (WBO) Light Welterweight World Champion.

“We are very excited to be back at the Emerald Queen Casino,” promoter Azat Torosyan (Toro Promotions) said. “Tacoma, we are crafting another unforgettable show filled with intense action.”

On the undercard in six-round matches, Seattle featherweight Gregory Cruz (5-2, 3 KOs) faces Roberto Negrete (4-1-1, 2 KOs), undefeated Portland super lightweight will take on Filipino Jake “D’ Twins” Bornea (14-5-1, 7 KOs), the former WBO Asia Pacific Youth Flyweight titleholder, and Fife (WA) super middleweight Cameron “The Puerto Rican Bakugo” Seville Rivera meets tough, upset-minded Antonio “Ton The Beast” Hernandez (7-16-2, 4 KOs). The opening bout of the evening will showcase lightweight hopeful Josue Cadena in a good test against California club fighter Dan Hernandez (2-2, 1 KO).

Card subject to change.

Tickets for the event are priced at $100.00, $60.00, and $40.00, and may be purchased by calling (253) 594-7777 or at www.Emeraldqueen.com.

LOS ANGELES, CA (August 9, 2023) – Three-division and five-time world champion Yokasta Valle (28-2, 9 KOs) will make her grand 2023 return to U.S. soil after selling out stadiums in her native Costa Rica and will defend her IBF and WBO Minimumweight World Championship titles against a soon-to-be-announced opponent. Nicaraguan-born and Costa Rican-raised, Valle will participate in a 10-round match as part of the Zepeda vs. Gesta fight card. A guaranteed barn burner of a main event, William “El Camarón” Zepeda (28-0, 24 KOs) will defend his WBA Continental Americas Lightweight Title in a 12-round match against Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (34-3-3, 17 KOs). The co-main event will also produce fireworks for the illustrious Mexican Independence Weekend with Vancouver’s Victor “El Tornado” Morales (18-0-1, 9 KOs) scheduled to defend his WBA Intercontinental Featherweight Title against Mexico City’s Edwin “Pupo” Palomares (18-4-2, 9 KOs) in a 10-round fight.

Doors to The Commerce Casino & Hotel open at 2:30 p.m. PT, The Golden Boy Fight Night: Zepeda vs. Gesta Prelims on YouTube and Facebook Watch begin at 2:30 p.m. PT, and the DAZN broadcast will begin at 5:00 p.m. PT/ 8:00 p.m. ET.

Tickets for Zepeda vs. Gesta are on-sale today, Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 10:00 am PT and are priced at $150, $100, $75, and $50 plus applicable fees. A limited amount of Golden Boy VIP Experience seats will also be available for purchase with exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades included. Standard and VIP tickets can be purchased at GoldenBoyPromotions.com.

The undercard has been stacked from head-to-toe with Golden Boy’s must-watch prospects and soon-to-become contenders. Houston, Texas’ Darius “DFG” Fulghum (6-0, 6 KOs) will look to continue his knockout streak in an eight-round light heavyweight fight against Mexico City’s Ricardo “Tyson” Luna (25-10-2, 16 KOs). Fulghum will be leveling up after breezing through a third-round technical knockout victory against Jeremiah Curtright last April 29.

Opening the DAZN broadcast with eight-rounds of middleweight action, recently signed Eric Priest (10-0, 7 KOs) who represents Wichita Falls, Texas and is now under the tutelage of world championship trainer Ismael Salas, will face off against Danish-born Simon “Vikingo” Madsen (13-1, 10 KOs) who now calls Mexico City home. Priest is returning to the ring after a slugfest last May 27 against Argentinian Ricardo Villalba. Madsen’s second professional fight in the U.S., he will be looking for redemption after his first go-around in the States didn’t go according to plan.

On the The Golden Boy Fight Night: Zepeda vs. Gesta Prelims streamed on YouTube and Facebook Watch, Daniel “Junebug” Garcia (6-0, 5 KOs) of Denver, Colorado will fight Guadalajara, Mexico’s Erick “Aidahoe” Benitez (4-4, 1 KO) in a four-round super featherweight match. In a six-round super lightweight fight, Mexicali, Mexico’s Pinpon Reyes (10-0, 5 KOs) will measure up against Roberto Gomez (5-1, 5 KOs) of Mexico City.

Recently signed to Golden Boy, Mexican Olympian Gael Cabrera (1-0, 1 KO) of Sonora, Mexico will participate in a four-round super bantamweight fight. Making his pro-debut and opening Mexican Independence Day Weekend festivities, Jordan Cervantes of East Los Angeles will participate in a four-round lightweight fight. Opponents for both will be announced soon.

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Zepeda vs. Gesta is a 12-round fight for the WBA Continental Americas Lightweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The fight is sponsored by Betonline, “BetOnline, Your Online Sportsbook Experts.” The event will be available worldwide to all subscribers on DAZN, both live and on demand.

Media interested in applying for a media credential can submit their request at https://forms.gle/ftJEyQUyfYavLyDM8. Credentials are due EOD, September 12.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #ZepedaGesta

NEW YORK (August 9, 2023) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league, has announced two-time Olympic gold medalist and three division boxing champion Claressa Shields will return to the PFL SmartCage with a multi-year agreement. Shields is regarded as one of the top combat sport athletes in the world.

Shields began her MMA training in 2020 under the tutelage of Roberto Alencar. The PFL continues to bolster their roster with some of the biggest names in combat sports including Francis Ngannou, Jake Paul, Shane Burgos, Cedric Doumbe and Amanda Serrano.

“It is a privilege to announce the PFL has re-signed the most dominant women’s boxer in the world, Claressa Shields, to a new multi-year agreement,” said Peter Murray, CEO of the Professional Fighters League. “Claressa and the PFL share a fighter first, merit-based value system and take on the world attitude. We are proud to welcome “The GWOAT” back to the PFL and the sport of MMA.”

“I am excited to return to a fighter-first organization, and I can’t wait to return to The PFL SmartCage,” said Claressa Shields. “My goal remains unchanged; I will be the first athlete to hold championships in both boxing and MMA simultaneously. I have grown so much since my first MMA fight and cannot wait to put my skills on display.”

Shields is looking to make her PFL SmartCage return in 2024.

The 2023 PFL Playoffs continue live from The Theater at MSG in New York City on August 18 and 23, airing on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.

PFL is the #1 fastest growing company in MMA and the #2 MMA company on a worldwide basis. PFL is the only league in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year, making PFL a “win and advance” meritocracy like all other major sports. PFL fighter roster hails from over 20 countries and 25% of PFL fighters are independently ranked in the top 25 of their weight-class. The company leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage powering real-time betting and next-gen viewing experience.

About Professional Fighters League
Professional Fighters League (PFL) is the fastest growing and most innovative sports league. PFL is the #2 MMA company worldwide on all key metrics and the only with the sports-season format where individual fighters compete in Regular Season, Playoffs, and Championship. The our global live fight franchises: PFL League Season, PFL Challenger Series, PFL PPV Super Fights, and PFL Europe.

PFL airs live in the U.S on ESPN and ESPN+ and is broadcast and streamed to 140 countries with 25 international leading media partners, including DAZN, Stan Sport, Viacom18, RMC Sport, Globo, Star Times, FPT, CSM, DirectTV, ITV, and MBC.  PFL has dozens of major brand sponsors such as Anheuser-Busch, GEICO, Bose, US Marine Corps, and Celsius Energy Drink. 

PFL is backed by blue-chip investors including Ares, Luxor Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, Knighthead, Legends, and numerous NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS team owners.

MMA is the growth sport of this decade, with over 600 million fans worldwide, the youngest audience demo of any sport, and true global revenue streams.

PFLmma.com; Instagram (@PFLmma); Twitter (@PFLMMA); Facebook (/PFLmma)

Top Rank presented by AutoZone: Navarrete vs. Valdez will be presented live this Saturday, August 12, at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT, on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ from Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona.

In the main event, three-division world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete will defend his WBO junior lightweight world title against former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez.

Navarrete (37-1, 31 KOs), the fighting pride of San Juan Zitlaltepec, Mexico, captured the WBO junior featherweight world title by defeating Isaac Dogboe in December 2018. After five defenses, he moved up to featherweight and defeated Ruben Villa for the vacant WBO title in October 2020. The 28-year-old defended his crown against Christopher Diaz, Joet Gonzalez and Eduardo Baez. In February, he became a three-division world champion with a ninth-round knockout victory over Liam Wilson.

Valdez (31-1, 23 KOs), from Nogales, represented Mexico at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. The 32-year-old captured his first world title in July 2016 with a second-round stoppage win over Matias Rueda. In February 2021, he became a two-division world champion with a 10^th-round knockout against Miguel Berchelt. Valdez suffered his first loss to Shakur Stevenson in April 2022 and is coming off a unanimous decision victory against Adam Lopez in May.

In the co-feature, undefeated lightweight contender Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (18-0, 15 KOs) takes on unbeaten Mexican standout Diego Torres (17-0, 16 KOs) in a 10-round clash.Muratallahas stopped 12 of his last 13 opponents and is on track to have his most impressive year yet. Torres is a young powerhouse who’s set to celebrate his 26^th birthday by making his long-awaited U.S. debut.

U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (5-0, 5 KOs) will open the tripleheader in a special feature, six-round heavyweight tilt against Willie Jake Jr. (11-3-2, 3 KOs).

The undercard Streams Exclusively on ESPN+ at 7:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. PT.

ESPN’s Joe Tessitore will call the action with Hall of Famer, Timothy Bradley, Jr. Mark Kriegel and Bernardo Osuna?will serve as reporters.

Digital, On Demand and Exclusive to ESPN+

ESPN.com 

• What you should know about Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez’s title fight by Mike Coppinger
• Out Friday: Bradley’s Breakdown 

ESPN+: On Demand Shows, Archives & Premium Articles

• Top Rank: Real Time– All-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night. 
• Who Do U Fight 4?– Learn what drivesthe next generation of Top Rank stars. 
• State of Boxing– Post-show coverage of the biggest fights on ESPN and ESPN+. 
• Best of Boxing Spotlight – An archive of the all-time best Top Rank fights. 

Follow @ESPNRingside: Facebook Instagram Twitter TikTok

Navarrete vs. Valdez (All Times ET)

Original Programming:

Ahead of their upcoming bouts, ESPN will air two original programs: The Gentleman Boxer: Richard Torrez Jr. and Hecho en Mexico: Navarrete vs. Valdez 

The Gentleman Boxer: Richard Torrez Jr. is a 30-minute candid look at the rising American heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr. (5-0, 5 KO) ahead of his upcoming special feature bout in Arizona. Fight fans will get to know the charismatic 24-year-old California native who took home a silver medal for the United States at the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Hecho en Mexico: Navarrete vs. Valdez is a 30-minute cinematic presentation of the two Mexican warriors who will go “mano a mano” in the Arizona desert. The show previews the marquee main event between three-division world champion and defending WBO junior lightweight world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (37-1, 31 KO) and the former Mexican Olympian and two-division world champion Oscar Valdez (31-1, 23 KO).

In addition to the air times below, both programs will be available for replay on-demand in the ESPN App and on ESPN.com and ESPN+.

(All times ET)

About ESPN

About ESPN+

Hall-of-Famer Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt (24-6-2, 7 KOs) continues her comeback on Saturday night, facing Josefina Vega (9-5, 4 KOs) in an 8-round lightweight bout.  The fight serves as the co-feature to Chordale Booker’s WBC US super welterweight title defense against Nicolas Hernandez on CES Boxing’s stacked “Summer Heat 2023” show at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

This will be Clampitt’s 5th bout since coming out of retirement in 2021 after an 8-year layoff, when she left the squared circle to raise her family and pursue other interests.  The Warwick, RI, resident initially retired after suffering an injury in a TKO loss to Holly Holm in 2010.  

“I had 2 young children and training with toddlers was pretty much impossible,” reflects Clampitt of the difficult decision to leave the sport.  “After my son, I wanted to try it one more time and have a retirement fight and then I thought ‘I’m done.’”

Having won 4 major world titles across 2 weight classes, Clampitt won a unanimous decision over Dominga Olivo at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, RI, and left boxing in 2013 with a 21-5-1 record, having accomplished her lifelong dream of becoming a world champion several times over.  

But while Jaime focused on her family and “On the Ropes,” a gym located in Warwick that she owns with 3 other women, a funny thing happened to female boxing: the sport exploded in popularity with the emergence of Irish superstar Katie Taylor in a way that no one could have imagined.

“I didn’t think I’d have another chance at this, but women like Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano brought female boxing to another level,” admits Clampitt, who stayed active during her hiatus by bodybuilding and training amateur fighters.  “Once I started to see that, I thought: ‘I’m still in awesome shape, I’m in the gym every day.  Why not?  Let’s just see what happens.’”

As Clampitt contemplated a return to the ring, she called her friend and now trainer Steve Maze about working out again.

“I said, ‘let’s just hit the mitts and see what happens,’” recalls Clampitt, who returned to the sport almost 8 years later in 2021.  “I never lost the love for boxing, and once I started training, I just got that desire and drive again.”  

What Clampitt wasn’t aware of is that because she had been retired for more than 5 years, she was being considered for the International Boxing Hall of Fame at a time when she was planning a comeback.

“I didn’t know that I was nominated,” laughs Clampitt.  “One day, one of the amateur boxers that I trained said ‘Why didn’t you tell me that you were nominated into the hall of fame?’ I didn’t even know.  It was a surprise.  I was wondering: should I be coming out of retirement?  I just got this nomination, I don’t know, but everyone was so supportive and understanding.”

When Jaime returned, she noticed that female boxing had drastically changed – not only were women being compensated more fairly, but they were headlining major events.  

“I’ve been to quite a few big fights over the years, and Taylor-Serrano was the most insane fight I’ve ever been to,” says Clampitt of the 2022 ‘Fight of the Year’ between two of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.  “I actually cried because I was so proud of both of them.”  

The fight was the culmination of years of growth in a sport where the female fighters are setting the example of the best facing the best.  The attention garnered was nothing like what the 47-year-old experienced earlier in her career.

“I got my pro license in 1999 and my first pro fight in 2000, so I’ve been around forever,” explains Clampitt.  “When I started amateur boxing in 1992, they didn’t even want to put us on amateur shows or even have us in the gym.  No one would even put us on shows until I met Mr. [Jimmy] Burchfield [Sr., founder of CES Boxing].  He is a pioneer of female boxing.  He was one of the first promoters that put females on, so to see these women headlining at Madison Square Garden was very emotional for me.”  

Indeed, Jimmy Burchfield Sr. played a pivotal role in Clampitt relocating from her native Gravelbourg in Saskatchewan, Canada, to settling and fighting out of Warwick, Rhode Island.

“I got the opportunity to fight Liz Mueller at Foxwoods, and she was promoted by Jimmy,” recalls Clampitt of her first fight in the United States in February 2001, when she was 3-0.  “I knew who she was because we were in the world championships in Finland together.  We fought on ESPN at a time when women were not featured on TV.  Teddy Atlas was commentating the fight, and everyone thought I won it.”  

Mueller was awarded a close majority decision, but Clampitt’s performance impressed Burchfield so much that he offered her a contract a few months later.  By June of that year, “The Hurricane” was making her CES debut in her adopted state of Rhode Island, where she’s lived ever since.  The pairing paid off, as Clampitt rose to the top of the lightweight and super lightweight divisions under CES Boxing’s banner.

2007 turned out to be Clampitt’s best year.  In February, she won the IBF lightweight title against the ultra-popular Mia St. John.  Clampitt followed that up in June with a unanimous decision over the legendary Jane Couch for the vacant IBF super lightweight title.  

“Mr. Burchfield always treated me with the upmost respect and believed in me,” says Clampitt of her longtime promoter.  “When I fought Mia St. John, I was the main event.  That was unheard of.  Besides Christy Martin, there weren’t a lot of females headlining shows.  He took a chance on me, and I will forever be grateful because not only did he do a ton for my career, but he did a lot for female boxing getting us known and seen because he was putting me on TV.”

And while the sport has changed in many ways, Clampitt has also gained a lot from her time away from it.

“My style has changed over the years,” says Jaime of her evolution.  “I had a long amateur career, so when I started, I showed a lot of movement and boxed on my toes.  As I’ve aged, I feel stronger and I feel like I have more power, so I like to get in there and mix it up.  I spent years building a lot of strength and I like to use that a lot more in the ring now.”

Not only did Jaime’s physical strength improve, but the years away allowed her hands to fully recover after dozens of amateur and professional fights.

“It was a lot of start-stop for me at the time,” says Jaime of nagging hand injuries.  “It was very disappointing when I was younger, but the rest in between allowed my body to heal.  I had 8 years off before my comeback.  I didn’t spar when I was off.  I was lifting weights, I was raising kids, I was in the gym, but not getting hit.  That’s given me longevity.”    

On Saturday, the rejuvenated Clampitt plans to use all of her experience and boxing ability when she faces the little known Josefina Vega at Mohegan Sun Arena.

“She’s a veteran of the sport,” says Clampitt of her Ecuadorian opponent, who has been boxing since 2012.  “There’s not a lot of information on her, so my team and I are ready for anything.  If I have to box, I’ll box.  If I need to go after her, I’ll go after her.  The exciting part of this camp is that we have to be ready for anything. We’re going to have to adapt and we know that.”  

And while her comeback ideally leads to a 5th world title, the practical Warwick resident takes it one step at a time and is equally focused on being compensated fairly in the new women’s boxing economy.  

“Of course, I would love to fight for a title,” acknowledges Clampitt.  “Right now, we just take it fight by fight because of my age.  I’m 47.  It’s almost unheard of in male or female boxing.   Boxing changed a lot over 30+ years, and I want to be part of something great and push myself.  I’ve had so many people tell me ‘no’ during my career that I want to prove them wrong.  While I don’t do it for the money, I deserve to be compensated adequately for what I’ve done.  I’m still motivated, still healthy, and I’m going to keep going as long as I can.”       

Tickets for “Summer Heat 2023” are priced at $46, $66, $140 and $165.  Tickets are quickly selling out, so fans are encouraged to buy them at CESfights.com, Ticketmaster or at the Mohegan Sun box office.  Weigh-in and final press conference are open to the public on Friday and will be held outside the Mohegan Sun Arena.  Doors open at 4pm on Saturday, with the first amateur bout starting at 4:30pm and the pro card beginning at 7pm.

For more information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.

INFORMATION

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions on the East Coast.  Founded in 1992 by Jimmy Burchfield Sr., CES Boxing has promoted many world class fighters, including Jamaine Ortiz, Juiseppe Cusumano, Hank Lundy, Vinny Paz, Peter Manfredo, Mariusz Wach, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, Chad Dawson and Ray Oliveira. CES Boxing has promoted such super fights as “The Thriller on Triller: Tyson v Jones Jr.”, “Mayweather vs. Gotti III” and “The Contender: Manfredo v Pemberton”.

ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA

Mohegan Sun Arena finished 2021 with its first “#1 Indoor Arena” ranking for its capacity in the world according to Pollstar and VenuesNow, ranked among the top 10 venues in the U.S. regardless of size based on ticket sales, and was named “2021 Innovator of the Year” by Celebrity Access for its ViacomCBS residency.  In recent years, the “Most Beloved Venue in America” has also been the “#1 Casino Venue in the World,” “#1 Social Media Venue in the World” and a seven – time national award – winner for “Arena of the Year.”  For more information on concerts and other great events, visit Mohegan Sun. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711.

LAS VEGAS, NV (August 8, 2023) – In a move that underscores his commitment to climb the ranks of the super featherweight division, Top Rank’s undefeated boxing sensation Andres Cortes (20-0, 11 KOs) has announced his intention to square off against the victor of the highly anticipated showdown between Emanuel Navarrete (37-2, 31 KOs) and Oscar Valdez (31-1, 23 KOs). The monumental clash is set to take place this Saturday, August 12, at the Desert Diamond Arena.

Fresh off his most astonishing victory to date, Cortes secured a seventh-round stoppage against Xavier Martinez (18-2, 12 KOs) that propelled him to victory and saw him seize the prestigious WBC USA Silver title at super featherweight. The triumphant win not only solidified his unbeaten record but also positioned him as a force to be reckoned with in the competitive world of boxing.

“My recent victory was a defining moment for me, and I am more than ready to take on the best in the division,” said Cortes ahead of the Navarrete vs. Valdez showdown. “Navarrete and Valdez are both remarkable fighters, and I’ll be watching their clash closely. I have the utmost respect for both of them but make no mistake—I want to face the winner. I believe I have what it takes to emerge victorious and prove myself as a true contender and a world champion.”

Cortes has established himself as a super featherweight powerhouse on the rise. His skill, resilience, and grit have made him a standout in the division, and he’s determined to continue his ascent by securing a bout against the winner of Navarrete vs. Valdez.

“I feel I’ve earned the right to fight the winner of this fight.” continued Cortes. “I’ve never turned down a fight and did everything my promoter told me to do. I’m grateful to Top Rank for getting me to this point in my career and now I’m ready to become a world champion. All I need is the opportunity.”

Cortes’ rapid rise and drive have positioned him on a collision course with boxing’s elite, promising fans a thrilling spectacle when the time comes for his next showdown.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (Aug. 8, 2023) – The protagonists of one of boxing’s most iconic trilogies will be in attendance this week as Mexico prepares to crown a new king.

Mexican legends Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales will be on hand for the fight week festivities leading up to the WBO junior lightweight world title showdown between reigning champion Emanuel Navarrete and former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez this Saturday, August 12, at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

Navarrete-Valdez, the Raymond Muratalla-Diego Torres lightweight co-feature, and the heavyweight showdown between Richard Torrez Jr. and Willie Jake Jr. will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.

The Barrera-Morales trilogy began on Feb. 19, 2000, as reigning WBC super bantamweight world champion Morales secured a razor-tight split decision victory against WBO champion Barrera in a historic back-and-forth tussle that was named Ring Magazine Fight of the Year. Part 2 took place on June 22, 2002, with Barrera capturing the WBC featherweight title via unanimous decision in a verdict that had pundits and fans split.

In their November 2004 rubber match, Barrera emerged victorious for a second time, dethroning then-WBC super featherweight champion Morales by majority decision in another Ring Magazine Fight of the Year. Since then, their trilogy has inspired future generations, including Navarrete and Valdez, who will go toe-to-toe as they attempt to etch their names among the most storied all-Mexican showdowns.

“To know that two legends from an important Mexican trilogy will be there during fight week gives us some added pressure,” Navarrete said. “They set the bar really high. What they did is difficult to do, let alone surpass. But Valdez and I have what it takes to leave a similar mark.”

“The fans want to see a fight like the ones between Morales and Barrera,” Valdez said. “Every time there is a fight between Mexicans, it’s a great battle, and this won’t be the exception. I always tell people that I grew up during the era of Morales and Barrera. They inspired me to be the fighter that I am today. So, to leave something similar in history would mean the world to me.”

The full suite of Navarrete vs. Valdez fight week events will stream live on Top Rank’s YouTube, Twitter and Facebook pages, in addition to various ESPN platforms.

Thursday, Aug. 10: Navarrete vs. Valdez Final Presser
4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT
Streaming live on ESPN+ and Top Rank’s YouTube, Twitter & Facebook pages

* Barrera and Morales will chat about the historical significance of Saturday’s fight.

Friday, Aug. 11: Navarrete vs. Valdez Official Weigh-In
3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT
Streaming live on ESPN+ and Top Rank’s YouTube, Twitter & Facebook pages

* Barrera and Morales will pose alongside Navarrete and Valdez during the weigh-in and face-off.

Saturday, Aug. 12: Navarrete vs. Valdez Fight Night
10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
Main card airing live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+. Undercard action begins at 7:15 p.m. ET/4:15 p.m. PT on ESPN+.

* Barrera and Morales will be seated ringside. After the fight, they will present the winner with a special gift.