It will be a hot night of world-class boxing action in the Big Apple when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: TERENCE CRAWFORD VS. FELIX DIAZ AND RAYMUNDO BELTRAN VS JONATHAN MAICELO is seen SATURDAY, May 20 at 10:15 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from Madison Square Garden in New York, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports broadcasting team will call the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

The fight will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and affiliate portals.

The main event features the talented rising superstar from Omaha, NE, Terence Crawford (30-0, 21 KOs) as he returns to Broadway to take on Felix Diaz (19-1, 9 KOs), from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and now living in New York City, in a scheduled 12-round junior welterweight title contest. 29-year-old Crawford has become a force in the junior welterweight division and a standout star in the sport. Known for his knockout power and ring dominance, the 2014 BWAA Fighter of the Year is coming off a knockout title defense victory over John Molina, Jr. and is determined to dominate the 140-pound division. Diaz, a crafty 33-year-old southpaw, with only one blemish on his record, is a 2008 Olympic gold medalist seeking to pull off an upset by demonstrating that his formidable and seasoned ring skill set can outfox the reigning undefeated champion.

Crawford’s New York debut was a year ago when he handled Hank Lundy in the Theater at Madison Square Garden. Now, Crawford gets to showcase his dazzling skills in the big room at the Mecca of Boxing.

The evening’s opening bout features a lightweight match and 12-round title eliminator between Raymundo Beltran (32-7-1, 20 KOs) from Los Mochis, Mexico, now living in Phoenix, AZ going against Jonathan Maicelo (25-2, 12 KOs) from North Bergen, NJ originally from Callao, Peru. Beltran, 35, is looking to continue his climb in the division after his previous loss to Terence Crawford in November of 2014. He has won his last three bouts, while Maicelo, 33, is in on a four-bout winning streak. Beltran was profiled last December on the HBO State of Play series from FILM 45 (“Fighting Chance”) and on May 9 it was recognized with the Sports Emmy® Award for Outstanding Short Documentary.

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Dave Harmon; director, Johnathan Evans.

® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

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Errol Spence has set up camp in Amir Khan’s gym in Bolton as he prepares to challenge Kell Brook for the IBF World Welterweight title on May 27 at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, live on Sky Sports.

Spence touched down in Manchester on Monday as he looks to rip the crown from the Sheffield ace in his backyard, and the unbeaten mandatory challenger will sharpen his tools in the Bolton training base of Brook’s bitter rival, Amir Khan.

Brook is finalising preparations for the fourth defence of his crown in Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands and says that there is nothing that the challenger can do to prevent him cementing his spot as the number one Welterweight in the world at the home of Sheffield United.

“That’s Amir Khan through and through,” said Brook. “He would love to see me lose this fight so he doesn’t have to fight me but that’s not going to happen.

“He can lend Errol his gym but he can’t save him on May 27 and the only thing on my mind is the fight.

“The fans know what I’m about. I’ve gone from moving up to Middleweight to fight Gennady Golovkin to coming back down to face one of the most dangerous Welterweights out there. All I want to do is give the fans what they want – that’s what they deserve.”

Brook’s clash with Spence tops a huge night of action in the steel city where George Groves faces Fedor Chudinov for the vacant WBA World Super-Middleweight title.

Jamie Cox meets Lewis Taylor for the WBA Inter-Continental Super-Middleweight title on his Matchroom Boxing debut while Dave Allen takes on with Lenroy Thomas for the vacant Commonwealth Heavyweight title.

Tickets for the night are still on general sale priced as follows: tiered seating at £40, £60 and £80 and pitch seats at £80, £100, £150 and £200 –VIP Packages are sold out.

Tickets are on sale from Sheffield United’s Box Office at http://www.sufc.co.uk/tickets/, on 0114 253 7200 and in person from the box office at Bramall Lane – all tickets purchased from Sheffield United are subject to a 10 per cent booking fee.

Face value tickets for May 27 are also be available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ . StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing and Anthony Joshua.

NEW YORK, NY – May 17, 2017 – Evander Holyfield’s Real Deal Sports & Entertainment is proud to announce their partnering with VENUM, a world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of sports apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of combat sports and fitness activities. VENUM is based in Paris, France, with offices in Paris, Los Angeles, London, and Hong Kong. The company sponsors top athletes in MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, karate, boxing, Muay-Thai and fitness. Founded in 2006, VENUM is the official boxing glove brand of Real Deal Sports & Entertainment.

“We are excited to announce our new partnership with VENUM, as they have proven to be a superior-quality product and company,” said Eric Bentley, COO of Real Deal Sports & Entertainment. “We are committed to providing our fighters with the very best and, by partnering with VENUM, we continue to honor that commitment by supplying them with the necessary training apparel and equipment to enhance their performance and preparation.”

For more information, please visit www.therealdealboxing.com and www.venum.com.

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ABOUT REAL DEAL SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Evander Holyfield’s Real Deal Sports & Entertainment will promote world-class and entertaining boxing events and will strive to be a company that does what is best for the sport and the fighters. With Holyfield’s vision to provide mentorship to athletes, prioritize fighter health and safety, and create innovative and interactive platforms for the fans, Real Deal Sports & Entertainment is at the forefront of revolutionizing the sport of boxing.

For more information, please visit www.therealdealboxing.com and visit us at Facebook.com/TheRealDealBoxing, on Instagram @therealdealboxing and on Twitter @therealdealbox.

PARIS (May 17, 2017) – Exciting unbeaten prospect Money Powell IV (1-0, 1 KO) will make his second professional start on Friday, June 2 when he takes on Hungary’s Sandor Jozsa (5-3-1, 2 KOs) in a four-round super welterweight attraction from Le Dome – Palais Des Sports de Paris.

The June 2 event is headlined by French Olympian and 2016 super heavyweight gold medalist Tony Yoka making his professional debut against unbeaten Travis Clark (12-0, 8 KOs) live in France on Canal Plus at 7:30 p.m. CET.

“Stepping into the ring in Paris is going to be a special experience and I can’t wait to show the French fans what I’m all about,” said Powell IV. “I want to be able to connect with as many people as possible and this is a great opportunity in just my second fight. I’m going to keep training hard like I do every day and give the fans something to remember on June 2.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Ringstar France and sponsored by Unkut Paris, start at 25 € and are available by calling Ticketmaster at 0825 038 039, or visiting www.ticketmaster.fr and www.FranceBillet.com.

“I am very happy to take ‘Money’ Global! All of France will get a chance to see the future of Boxing. Money Powell is an American, born in Germany and now fighting in Paris, France in only his second professional outing. This goes to show you that ‘Money’ truly knows no borders,” said Richard Schaefer, Chairman & CEO of Ringstar Sports. “This young man has so many great attributes inside and outside of the ring and we’re excited to introduce him to as many new fans as possible. This is going to be a great experience for Money as he continues to sharpen his skills in the pro ranks.”

Powell made his pro debut on April 9 in Los Angeles in spectacular fashion as he used his height and reach advantage to dominate Todd Templeton and score two knockdowns before the referee halted the fight at 2:55 of the first round.

Born in Germany, where his former boxer father was stationed in the military, Powell dedicated himself to boxing for good when his family moved back to the U.S. in 2011. The 19-year-old has quickly made a name for himself since then, winning the 2016 Youth Welterweight National Championship to earn the top ranking in the 152-pound division by USA Boxing. Fighting out of Fort Mitchell, on the state line of Alabama and Georgia, Powell will continue his pro campaign on June 2.

The 26-year-old Jozsa turned pro last October and won his first three contests, including two victories by way of stoppage. Representing Hungary, Jozsa has been busy in 2017, fighting five times already including one draw and victories over Levente Siktar and most recently Laszlo Vadasz.

For more information visit www.ringstar.com or follow in Twitter @Ringstar, @laboxesurcanal, @TonyYoka and @Swanson_Comm.

LOS ANGELES (May 17, 2017) – Heavy-handed super lightweights Pablo “El Demoledor” Cesar Cano (30-5-1, 21 KOs) and Fidel “The Atrisco Kid” Maldonado Jr. (23-3-1, 19 KOs) will battle over 10 rounds for the vacant WBC Fecarbox super lightweight title as the main event of the June 17 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN in the Tostitos Championship Plaza at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Championship hardware will be on the line in the all-Texas co-main event as standout Golden Boy Prospect Joshua “The Professor” Franco (10-0, 5 KOs) of San Antonio faces off against Oscar Mojica (10-2, 1 KO) of Dallas for the WBC Youth Silver Super Flyweight title.

Cano, a 27-year-old former interim WBA World Super Lightweight champion and veteran contender who has faced off against the likes of Sugar Shane Mosley, Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi and Ashley Theophane is coming off a significant victory over Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera in his last bout.

“Even though I have been a professional for 11 years, I feel like I am just hitting my prime,” Cano, of Atizapan de Zaragoza, Mexico, said. “With a win over Maldonado, I feel like I will be ready to take on the top opponents at 140 pounds and compete for a world title.”

Maldonado, a 25-year-old southpaw out of Albuquerque, New Mexico is undefeated in his last five fights after engaging in a five-knockdown firefight with Amir Imam and is hungry to push further towards a world championship.

“I can’t wait to get in the ring with Cano and show the Texas fans what I’m all about,” Maldonado Jr., said. “People may call this a crossroads fight, but I’m only interested in taking one road — towards a world championship.”

“We’re honored to host a great fight night with Golden Boy Boxing at Tostitos Championship Plaza at The Star,” said Stephen Jones, Dallas Cowboys Chief Operating Officer. “With Ford Center’s outdoor video board and the turf in the plaza, the outdoor area will create a lively experience for boxing fans, and we’re excited to have this event here in Frisco, Texas.”

Rounding out the card will be a quartet of Golden Boy’s top Texas prospects.

Hot off his fifth consecutive knockout in five fights, highly decorated amateur and super lightweight prospect Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (5-0, 5 KOs) will be scheduled to go six rounds for the first time against a soon-to-be-named opponent.

Other Dallas-based Golden Boy prospects Javier Martinez (1-0, 1 KO), a super featherweight, and Alex Rincon (1-0, 1 KO), a super welterweight, will appear in separate bouts with Martinez to face an opponent to be named and Rincon stepping in against Saul Palacios (1-0, 1 KO) of El Paso.

Opening up the card, San Antonio native Hector “El Finito” Tanajara Jr. (8-0, 4 KOs), a super featherweight, will fight Eduardo Reyes (7-9, 5 KOs) of Reynosa, Mexico.

Cano vs. Maldonado Jr., a 10-round super lightweight fight, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, BORN BOLD and Hennessy, never stop, never settle. The bout will take place outside on Saturday, June 17 at Tostitos Championship Plaza at The Star in Frisco, Texas on ESPN 2 and ESPN Deportes starting at 9:00 p.m. CT.

Tickets for Fight Night at The Star are on sale and priced at $90, $50, and $20, not including applicable service charges. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets will be available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com. Additionally, walk up purchases are available at the AT&T Stadium Box Office (Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. CT to 5:00 p.m. CT) or on day of the event at the Ford Center Box Office beginning at 3:00 p.m.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and www.hbo com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @hboboxing, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing, and follow the conversation using #GBPonESPN

NEW YORK – Kell Brook will defend his IBF World Welterweight title against U.S. star Errol Spence Jr. at Bramall Lane in Sheffield on Saturday May 27, live on Sky Sports Box Office and live on SHOWTIME®. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will begin at 5:15 p.m. ET / 2:15 p.m. PT.

Both Brook and Spence took part in a media conference call on Tuesday to discuss next week’s bout. Brook (36-1, 25 KOs) will make the fourth defense of his IBF belt against Spence (21-0, 18 KOs), the mandatory challenger and one of the most highly regarded contenders in the sport today.

Also joining the call were Eddie Hearn, Managing Director of Matchroom Sport, and Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports.

Here is what the principals had to say on the call on Tuesday:

KELL BROOK
“I think [Errol Spence] is a great talent. He’s been doing what is being asked of him. He’s been knocking over everyone that’s been put in front of him, but he’s up against the champion now. A big strong welterweight and I believe that I train very, very hard and I’m ready to fight and I am very honored to fight in my home city of Sheffield.

“I’m up for this fight and I know what I’m up against. Errol Spence is a talented fighter and I know that it is going to be a very, very tough match but I have been putting the work in at the gym and I’m in absolute focus… I’m ready for anything that comes next Saturday.

“[The crowd size] is definitely up there and that added pressure is going to make me sharper and more aware on the night of the fight. I’m fighting in my hometown and it’s going to give me a lot more energy, I’m very positive. I’m out here training in the Canary Islands and in the storm and in the heat. I’ve been sparring with big fat guys that are strong, tough middleweights with good punches… I’d like to say I’ve sparred with two to three fighters a day… I’ve been putting myself through it in training and I’ve made sure that I’ve done everything to make sure I dominate and I’m in a great place.”

I assume that you feel you are the best welterweight in this division. Who do you think is second best? And where do you think Errol Spence fits in that mix?
“I think the second best has to be Keith Thurman. I think Errol is maybe next below Thurman. He’s definitely high up there. I’ve got a lot of respect for Errol Spence. His hook is the real deal and I think he’s the real deal. I just don’t think it’s his turn yet. Specially up against someone like me. I’m an animal. I’ve done the weight right and like I said, I’m ready for whatever Errol brings.

What was the decision-making process behind staying a welterweight?
“Everybody wanted me to move up because they know that I’m a happier and a better fighter at a slightly heavier weight. But all of my career I’ve been champion and I’ve become a world champion at welterweight. It’s been hard with ups and downs and I just couldn’t give up that title just to move up in weight… I just didn’t want to move up in weight without defending my world title. It took me a long time to get. That’s why I would rather put myself through it to make this welterweight limit… Nobody is just going to get the belt without fighting me for it.”

What does it say about Errol that he is willing to go to your hometown for a world title shot like you did coming to the U.S. to win your world title?
“It just shows me that he believes in his abilities. I was in the same position that he was in. End of the day it’s just going to be me and him in the ring no matter where it is. It’s just going to be me and him. He believes in his talent and I know he’s going to be up for it because when I was coming to fight Porter as the challenger it was a dream and it’s now his dream fighting for the biggest fight of his life, for all the marbles and the world title. I know what he’s going through. He’s flying over to England, I flew to America. There are many things that go through your mind. You question yourself; you ask yourself many, many questions. I know all that is being asked of him to get him to this stage.

“The thing is that he’s up against me and I know what it takes to be champion. I’ve defended it so many times. I know it’s going to be a hard, hard fight but I’ve also put myself through it. I know what it takes to be champion and I know what it takes to defend that title. So, it’s going to be one hell of a fight. It’s the best fighting the best so all I can say is it’s going to be an amazing fight.”

How much of an advantage do you feel in this fight?
“I can’t really tell you that. I just know that I’ve fought at a world title level. I’ve beat the champion before. I’ve been in big fights. I know it is hard being the challenger, I know it is hard being the champion. All I know is I’m up against a very, very good fighter in Errol Spence and all I can say is I’ve prepared 100 percent for this fight.”

When were you confident that your eye was okay?
“I am very confident in my surgeon… You know it’s always nice, well not nice, but getting punched for the first time and feeling it in the first spar it’s always good to take that first boxer. Since then, it just feels brand new so there’s no doubt there in the eye.”

What was the process in getting back down to welterweight?
“[My nutritionist] has brought new things to the table to improve with me. Getting the weight back to welter, you know, you never stop learning. I’m not as moody as I thought I was going to be cutting down the weight. If you’ve seen me, I’m in great shape, I’m light. I’m down to weight. So, I’m not feeling as bad and I’ve got plenty of energy than thinking back to other times I’ve had to make welterweight.

“Just with the fight I know that I had to go back down to welterweight. I’m not thinking ‘this meal’s going to taste nice.’ I’m thinking this meal is just fuel for my next weight class. It’s all about the mindset and I’ve got my mind focused and my mind ready.”

Can you tell us why you think you won the fight against Shawn Porter?
“I won the fight because I won the fight and I threw more shots and caught him with the cleaner shots. He was jumping in and I won the fight with the cleaner shots and I hit him more than he hit me. That’s why.”

How long do you think you’d like to stay at 147 after this fight?
“I’ve not really thought about that too much. After I fight at this weight again, I’d like to unify the division again through Keith Thurman and then move up. That would be the ideal situation for me.”

How does it feel to come off a huge fight and go in to another big fight back-to-back?
“That’s where I want to be… I want to be putting the biggest fights on for the fans because when my time is up I want remembered as the guy who never ducked anybody when the biggest fights could be made… I want to fight all the top guys.”

ERROL SPENCE JR.
“I’m excited to fight for my first world title. It’s something that I’ve been waiting for a long time now. Something that I knew that was going to happen… I’m excited that it’s finally here and that I’m finally getting the opportunity to prove myself and prove that I am the best welterweight in the division. Kell Brook, who’s a good fighter, has great skills and he’s a strong fighter too, he can fight… I know it’s not going to be an easy fight for me; it’s going to be a real test to go to his hometown and to take his title from him. It’s something that real fighters do…they go to other people’s town and fight the champion. I’m going to go to his hometown and take the title.

Can you talk about your anxiousness about having to sit for nine months waiting to get this opportunity?
“It was difficult sometimes. It was positive because I got to hang out with my kids and family. It was difficult watching fighters on TV have success and go on to win titles. It was kind of frustrating sometimes but I knew I had to be patient – timing is everything – and that my opportunity was going to come.”

Were you surprised that Brook returned to the welterweight division to fight you? What were your thoughts about his decision?
“I wasn’t surprised. Kell Brook’s a real fighter that wants to fight the best. A lot of people said he would be ducking me… I kind of knew he was coming down. I wanted him to come down because I wanted to take the belt from the champion. I didn’t want to fight the next available guy. I wanted to fight the champion, the guy who has the belt and earn it the right way.

“I think the triple G fight is in the past. He had nine months to recover… There are guys that have been in tougher wars than that. Nine months is enough time for him to recover and recuperate and get back to normal. I’m expecting a 100% Kell Brook to come to fight. I’m not expecting an injured Kell Brook. It looks like he’s making his weight pretty good. I have to worry about the best Kell Brook.”

Can you tell us why going to London two weeks early was important for you?
“It’s been a struggle with the jet lag and adjusting to the time. We’ve been having great training, great sparring and I’m basically just staying focused out here. It was a good decision to come out here earlier.”

Had you heard or read about anyone else in the past that had gone out there too late?
“I’ve heard about guys coming in on Tuesday or three days before the fight and being jet lagged. We just wanted to take all the precautions and come out here early so we’ll be 100 % prepared.”

Can you tell us what it was like for you to get down to 147 pounds or maybe what you walk around at?
“It’s not easy at all. I’m a big welterweight too. It’s my job and I don’t complain about making weight because it’s my job. It’s part of what I have to do. I walk around pretty heavy, but I get the weight off and come 100% prepared. I’m not worried about my weight; I’m not worried about his weight. That’s what all fighters go through. There are guys that come down 30 or 40 pounds all the time. It’s not something that I worry about.”

What do you expect the environment to be like next week at Bramall Lane?
“I expect the environment to be lively. These are hardcore boxing fans in the UK. These people know their boxing. They really come out to support. I expect him to have a lot of support. I expect me to have a lot of boos and I welcome that. It’s a lot of pressure on him to perform in front of his family and his friends. I’m not worried about the crowd. It’s me and him in the ring… Watch me win the world title.”

In some ways is it better to fight him in his hometown in the sense that all the pressure is on him as you mentioned before?
“I don’t know. You still have to perform in the ring whether you’re fighting in his hometown or fighting in America or fighting anywhere else. You still have to show up and you still have to perform. At the end of the day it’s just me and him in the ring, but it is a lot of pressure fighting at home. You have a lot of expectations and a lot of people who rely on you to put on a great performance. It’s a lot of pressure on him too regardless of where he’s been.”

Do you feel in a sense that you’ll get more credit if you win this fight because you went over to his hometown and did it?
“Definitely. I feel like this is a legacy defining fight for me. Most guys with my pedigree get the title handed to them in some type of way. They don’t go across seas to fight the hometown guy against a good fighter like Kell Brook. That’s really unheard of. So I definitely think I get a lot of credit for going overseas and fighting Kell Brook.”

If you pull of the win, how much sweeter will it be that you did it in the champ’s back yard in front of around 30,000 people who are mostly going to be rooting for that guy?
“That’s a dream situation for most boxers. To win a world title in someone else’s back yard shows that you have a lot of grit about yourself and the utmost confidence in yourself to go and do that. I can’t wait.”

Do you feel that the last time you left England in 2012 without an Olympic medal, that maybe you had something to prove to the English this time around?
“No, I don’t feel like I have anything to prove. With the Olympics, it’s a lot of politics. There are a lot of different things that go on during the Olympic Games. I feel like that’s in the past, that was the amateurs, this is the pros now. I feel like I have a lot to prove to myself. Of course, I have a lot to prove to fans overall…That I’m the best welterweight and I feel like I’m the best fighter in the welterweight division. That’s the only thing I feel like I have to prove.”

You’ve called out Keith Thurman in the past. Is that something that’s on your mind at this point in your career?
“It’s not something that’s on my mind right now but it’s definitely the fight that I want in the future and it’s a fight that’s easy to make. But right now I have to get past Kell Brook for that fight to even be possible.”

What did you learn from the Golovkin fight that you can apply to fighting Kell?
“I thought Kell Brook was going to win the first half of the fight and that Triple G was going to catch up to him. Overall, it shows a lot of heart and a lot of grit to stand in there sometimes and take some shots and trade some shots with Triple G. Overall, I don’t really look into that fight. I saw some shots that Triple G landed and some things that he did but we don’t take too much from that fight.”

What about the fight that he had a couple years ago with Shawn Porter? Is there anything you’ve been able to get from that fight that you could apply?
“Definitely. We’ve been looking at a couple fights and that’s one of the fights that we’ve been looking at and that we could apply a couple things to. It was a close fight; I thought it could have gone either way. It’s one of the fights we’ve been looking at. Shawn Porter’s a different fighter than me but we take little things from everybody.”

Would you like to make a prediction for this fight?
“Prediction is I’m coming home on the airplane with the belt.”

EDDIE HEARN, Matchroom Sports Managing Director and Brook’s promoter
“It’s 30,000 that’ll be packed into Sheffield’s Bramall Lane next week and obviously off of 90,000 at Wembley, as well. It’s a wonderful time for British boxing. It’s a wonderful time for world boxing. And I think it’s fantastic looking at Showtime’s schedule, really the way they’re embracing the national scene as well as the American scene.

“Of course, this weekend they’re in London for the Gervonta Davis-Liam Walsh fight. This, looks like a great fight on paper as well and back in the north of England the week after. So, we’re really excited. This is a fight that is getting huge traction over here now because it really is the best versus the best in my opinion.

“I’ve long believed Kell Brook is the No. 1 welterweight in the division and we’ve all watched the rise of Errol Spence coming through. And I think that this is a fight that perhaps promoters and advisors of another time might’ve swerved.

“Errol Spence has looked sensational, so why go to the UK and gamble against Kell Brook? Because, they believe they can win and because he believes he’s the best. Kell Brook, coming off of a GGG fight, why fight a young, dangerous contender? The answer is, because he believes he can beat him. Because he doesn’t want to swerve the challenge, he wants to be the best as well. I think here, in my opinion, you have the No. 1 and No. 2 welterweights in the world. And that’s no disrespect to Keith Thurman. He’s a wonderful fighter but for me, this is the fight of the year in the welterweight division. I think this could be the fight of the year.

“I am so pleased to get the chance to fulfill a childhood ambition of fighting in these football grounds that he’s supported throughout his whole life. And one of the reasons we wanted to do that is. We could’ve gone to the O2 Arena and we probably would’ve made a little more money, but we need to be like an absolute razor-sharp diamond in this fight. A crowd of 30,000 at Bramall Lane would ensure that Kell Brook is that razor-sharp diamond and I believe will go on and prove that he is the No. 1 fighter in the division and one of the best pound for pound fighters in world boxing.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President & General Manager SHOWTIME Sports
“When the best fight the best, special things happen. We saw that two weeks ago in a Matchroom promoted event at Wembley Stadium, 90,000 fans and a new British Pay-Per-View record.

“We saw that back in March with Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia on CBS in a fight that generated five-million viewers. We saw the best fighting in January on SHOWTIME with the Frampton and Santa Cruz rematch as well as James DeGale and Badou Jack in a potential fight of the year.

“We know that when the best fight the best, we get memorable nights. We get reminded of everything this sport can be. In closing,

“I have to give credit to Errol and Kell and their respective teams for taking the tough fights. This is a real treat for boxing fans. I’m going to be going to the fight in person because as a boxing fan, this is an event that I do not want to miss.”

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For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing. To become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

LAS VEGAS (May 17, 2017) – Let the boxing binge watching begin this Saturday, May 20 when separate shows on SHOWTIME and FS1 deliver six matches running over six consecutive hours. This boxing extravaganza will present a unique opportunity for fans to watch boxing starting at 6 p.m. ET and continue throughout the evening.

“It’s not unusual to spend all day Sunday watching the NFL or to spend the day watching the NBA playoffs,” said Tim Smith, Vice President of Communications for Haymon Boxing. “But it’s rare for boxing fans to be able to turn on the television in the early evening and binge watch great action until late at night. The slate of shows on May 20 will provide that opportunity for boxing fans.”

Kicking off the day will be an action-packed 130-pound championship match with undefeated young star Gervonta Davis (17-0, 16 KOs) defending his title against No. 1 contender Liam Walsh (21-0, 14 KOs) from Copper Box Arena in London, England with coverage beginning on SHOWTIME at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

The 22-year-old Davis is the youngest reigning American world champion in boxing and he will travel to England for his first title defense against Walsh, an undefeated southpaw fighting in his hometown of London.

Immediately following the Davis-Walsh bout, things kick into high gear with three matches originating from MGM National Harbor outside of Washington, D.C. Gary Russell, Jr. (27-1, 16 KOs) defends his 126-pound world title against Oscar Escandon (25-2, 17 KOs) in the main event.

A pair of world title eliminators round out the televised portion of the card. Andre Dirrell (25-2, 16 KOs) and Jose Uzcategui (26-1, 22 KOs) meet in a 168-pound match with the winner set to fight for the interim IBF title and a shot at current champion James DeGale. Two-division champion Rances Barthelemy (25-0, 16 KOs) takes on Kiryl Relikh (21-1, 19 KOs) in a 140-pound title eliminator with the winner earning an opportunity to fight for a world championship.

Rounding out the night is a pair of Premier Boxing Champions matches on FS1 and FOX Deportes from Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas that start at 10 p.m. ET.

David Benavidez (17-0, 16 KOs), an ascending star, will meet former world title challenger Rogelio “Porky” Medina (37-7, 31 KOs) in a 168-pound title eliminator in the main event. Benavidez will face the toughest test of his career against Medina, a veteran who gave DeGale all he could handle last year. The winner will get a shot at the 168-pound world championship.

Unbeaten 126-pound contender Jorge Lara (28-0-2, 20 KOs) takes on hard-hitting brawler Mario Briones (28-5-2, 22 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight match in the co-feature.

Binge Away!

Star Boxing’s popular “Rockin’ Fights” series, returns on Thursday, June 15th at The Paramount in Huntington, NY with an interesting main event when Cletus “The Hebrew Hammer” Seldin (19-0 16 KO’s Long Island, NY) takes on former world title challenger “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis (26-10-2 13 KO’s Atlantic City, NJ). The show will be the 27th edition of Joe DeGuardia’s acclaimed “Rockin’ Fights” series.

Seldin last appeared in the ring in June of 2016 destroying the very tough Jesus Selig in 1 round. It was the second consecutive 1st round knockout for Cletus and making it his 7th knockout in a row. Arnaoutis will be the most experienced and dangerous fighter Seldin has ever faced.

Cletus has gone through various ailments since that fight but is 100% healthy now and eager to get back in the ring. His fan friendly style and knockout punching power has attracted large, enthusiastic crowds to every fight. In an ironic twist, the Long Island fans pound out a thunderous “Hammer” chant, almost similar to the symbolic Greek war chant that Mighty Mike’s proud Greek fans shouted when Might Mike was a rising star.

Cletus knows this is his toughest test to date and had these thoughts about Arnaoutis, “I’ve seen Mike fight many times and he is a very good fighter who has fought the best in our division. I know this will be a toughie but that’s what I want for me and my fans”.

Arnaoutis is coming off 2 straight knockout wins in his home country, Greece, and is a veteran of almost 40 fights. Mike challenged for the world title in 2006 but lost due to a highly controversial split decision to then champion Ricardo Torres.

Arnaoutis is also a former USBA champion and has shared the ring with the likes of Victor Ortiz, Delvin Rodriguez, Chris Algieri, and Danny Garcia. Mike knows this may be his one of his roughest fights and has set up camp in Atlantic City to prepare for Seldin. Arnaoutis had this to say about the upcoming fight, “I’ve seen Seldin fight and I know he is a very strong puncher but he has never faced a fighter like me. I will use my skill and experience to beat him”.

Promoter Joe DeGuardia stated, “This is a terrific match between the up and coming Seldin and the highly-experienced Mike Arnaoutis. Cletus is in against his toughest and most experienced opponent ever. Mike has been in with some of the very best in the world throughout his career and this is the kind of tough and dangerous opponent that Cletus has been seeking.”

The fights begin at 7:30 pm ET! Undercard soon to be announced.

Tickets are on sale now at Star Boxing (718) 823-2000 or www.starboxing.com, The Paramount box office (631) 673-7300, or Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1 (800) 745-3000.

Philadelphia, PA (May 16, 2017) – This Friday night, May 19th, Carlos Rosario will take on Josh Davis in a scheduled eight-round lightweight bout that will headline a terrific night at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia.

The show is promoted by King’s Promotions.

Rosario of Pennsauken, New Jersey, has a record of 7-1 with four knockouts, and has won seven consecutive since dropping his pro debut.

The 26 year-old is a three-year professional, and has wins over Victor Vasquez (4-1), Bobby Hornsby (8-1), and his last outing when he stopped Lance Williams on March 11 in Philadelphia.

Davis, also 26, fights out of Washington, D.C., and brings in a respectable record of 10-1 with four knockouts.

The six-year professional will be making his first start in 18 months. Davis, who has won six straight is coming off a four round unanimous decision over Justin Lopez on November 12, 2015.

In the six-round co-feature, it will be a battle of light heavyweight’s as Amir Shabazz (4-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia will take on Antowyan Aikens (10-3-1, 1 KO) of Atlantic City.

Also in six-round bouts:

Tyrone Crawley, Jr (6-0) of Philadelphia will take on Juan Rodriguez (7-6, 5 KO’s) of Manasa, Virginia in a lightweight fight.

David Gonzales (8-2, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia will look to get back in the win column when he battles Darius Ervin (4-1) of Los Angeles, California in a junior welterweight bout.

Steven Ortiz (5-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia takes on Hector Rivera (3-1, 2 KO’s) of San Juan, Puerto Rico in a lightweight bout.

Anthony Burgin (10-3, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia will take on an opponent to be named in a lightweight bout

Thomas Velasquez (8-0, 5 KO’s) of Philadelphia will battle Brandon Sanudo (5-3, 2 KO’s) of Baja California, Mexico in a lightweight bout.

In four-round Bouts:

Vincent Floyd (2-2-1, 1 KO) of Philadelphia will square off with Rafael Montalvo (3-3, 3 KO’s) of St. Clair, PA.

Antonio Allen (0-5) will take on Demetrius Williams (0-2) in a battle of Philadelphia based junior welterweights looking for their first win.

Lucas Dos Santos (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Miami, Florida will battle an opponent to be named in a welterweight bout.

Rounding out the card will be a four round junior welterweight bout between Titos Gosalves of Philadelphia (0-1) and pro debuting Gerardo Martinez of Phoenixville, PA.

Tickets for this great night of boxing can be purchased at www.2300arena.com for $100, $75 and $50

THE WEIGH IN WILL BE THIS THURSDAY, MAY 18 AT THE STADIUM HOLIDAY INN AT 5:30 PM

ORANGE, Calif. (May 16, 2017) – Giovani Santillan, who was slated to highlight Thompson Boxing Promotions’ 17 year anniversary show on Friday night, is off the card due to dehydration.

The junior welterweight was having difficulty getting down to the 140 lb. limit. He was scheduled to fight Juan Garcia Mendez for the vacant WBC FECOMBOX championship (8-rounds).

“It’s unfortunate that Giovani could not cut the required weight in time,” said Alex Camponovo, matchmaker and general manager at Thompson Boxing. “I hope he gets well soon. We’ll see what happens with his career in the next few weeks.”

“I feel bad for Juan Garcia Mendez who trained hard for this fight. We are trying to find him a late replacement. In the meantime, we have elevated the championship bout between Southern California rivals Erick Ituarte and Isaac Zarate as our main event. It is a terrific fight between two hard nosed competitors.”

Ituarte (16-1-1, 2 KOs) and Zarate (12-2-2, 2 KOs) will compete for the vacant Junior NABF featherweight title scheduled for eight compelling rounds.

The new co-feature showcases hard hitting junior bantamweight Ricardo Espinoza (10-1, 8 KOs) of Tijuana, Mex. against fellow brawler and hometown rival Christian Ayala (9-1, 4 KOs) in a bout scheduled for 8-rounds.

Espinoza vs. Ayala has all the makings of a barnburner, as both boxers bring an exciting brand of fighting into the ring.

Thompson Boxing’s 17 year anniversary show will be live streamed on its website and Facebook Live beginning at 7:45 p.m. PDT this Friday.

Tickets for “New Blood” are priced at $40, $60, & $100 and are available for purchase online at ThompsonBoxing.com, or by calling 714-935-0900.

The live stream, titled “TB Presents: New Blood,” will be anchored by blow-by-blow announcer Beto Duran with Steve Kim providing expert color commentary.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. local time with the first bell at approximately 7:45 p.m. The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 N. Vineyard Ave., Ontario, CA 91764 and can be reached at (909) 937-0900.

“New Blood” is presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Lucas Oil, in association with Everlast.

For more information, please visit ThompsonBoxing.com. To follow the conversation on social media, please use #NewBlood, #ThompsonBoxing, #TBLiveStream.

For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please check our Facebook Page, find us on YouTube and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @ThompsonBoxing.

Robert Helenius’ (24-1, 15 KOs) and Dereck Chisora’s (26-7, 18 KOs) WBC Silver World Heavyweight title fight, which was due to take place on May 27 at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland, will be rescheduled for after the summer.

Helenius and Chisora were set to renew their rivalry following a controversial European title fight in December 2011. However, as promoter Nisse Sauerland explains, boxing fans will now have to wait a little longer before seeing the heavyweight rivals go toe-to-toe in a hotly anticipated rematch.

‘’It is with regret that we have been forced to reschedule this event, but due to a number of contributing factors, this has been a neccesary decision,’’ said Sauerland.

‘’I would like to apologise to all the fans who were looking forward to a great spectacle on May 27, but we will deliver an even bigger and better event after the summer.’’

Further details on the new date will be announced shortly. Tickets purchased for the May 27 event will remain valid for the new date. Customers are also entitled to a full refund. Please contact Ticketmaster for more information: http://www.ticketmaster.fi/

Dillian Whyte has been forced to postpone his clash with Mariusz Wach on June 3 at The O2 in London due to a foot injury.

Whyte was set to face the Pole in his first outing since his epic battle with Dereck Chisora in Manchester in December, with ‘The Bodysnatcher’ aiming for a key win over the former World title challenger to underline his credentials to land a World title shot of his own.

“Dillian is on the verge of a World title shot and we can’t afford to enter a fight at this stage not being 100 per cent,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “We expect to see him return in July before challenging for the World Heavyweight title towards the end of the year.”

Fans who purchased tickets for the event should contact their point of purchase for a refund.

Liam Walsh is so intent on taking the IBF world super-featherweight title from Gervonta Davis he left his wife in labour for a training camp.

Son Ryan was born last month, hours after leaving the family home in Cromer for a sparring trip to Wales. That meant it was several days before Walsh saw his latest arrival for the first time.

He hopes that sort of dedication will help defeat fast rising American star Davis at London’s Copper Box Arena on Saturday night.

Walsh unbeaten in 21 fights said: “I left my missus in labour a couple of weeks ago on a Thursday because I had to go to Wales for training.

“She gave birth the next day and I didn’t get to see Ryan until five days later. That is part of the sacrifices I have had to make for this fight.

“He is named after my twin brother and my other son after our eldest brother Michael.

“People think I’m mad, but my brothers mean everything to me. It’s the way we are. None of us actually own anything. Anything we have is ours. When I win this fight it will be for the family.”

There is a stack of hype surrounding Davis who is tipped to become the world’s pound-for-pound King by his promoter, Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Davis landed in Britain earlier this week and ring great Mayweather Jr will be here for the fight, but Walsh is ready for any mind games they might play on him before fight night.

Walsh, who celebrates his 31st birthday on Thursday added: “I am prepared for anything he wants to do, but come weigh-in time I strictly advise him to stay at arms length.

“Were fighters first and foremost, but although I’m prepared for anything I am professional and will conduct myself in the right way.

“But you can only push me so far before you overstep the boundary.”

All floor seating at the Copper Box Arena has SOLD OUT.

Remaining tickets priced £40 and £50 are available from www.seetickets.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk

LOS ANGELES (May 15, 2017) The USNBC Super Middleweight title will be up for grabs when red-hot Super Middleweight prospect D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard (16-0, 12 KOs) rides a five-knockout steak into a 10-round battle against heavy-handed Adrian Luna (18-4-1, 11 KOs) in the co-main event of the May 18 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN. The event was originally scheduled to be live on ESPN2, and has now been upgraded to ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya will be ringside watching the action as Diego De La Hoya faces hard hitting Erik Ruiz.

The fight – which will serve as chief support to WBC Youth World Champion Diego De La Hoya’s (17-0, 9 KOs) fight with Erik Ruiz (16-6-1, 6 KOs) — will take place at Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona and be televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes starting at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST. Calling the action live ringside for ESPN will be Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins.

A slew of Golden Boy’s top prospects will round out the stacked card.

Hoping to make TV, super featherweight prospect Hector “El Finito” Tanajara Jr. (8-0, 4 KOs) will face in a four or six-round fight against Daniel Bastien of Monterrey, Mexico. Tanajara is quickly returning from a brutal war in March in which he tasted the canvas for the first time in his career only to rise and win a unanimous decision over Daniel Perales.

Longtime Mexican super lightweight superstar Roberto “Tito” Manzanarez (34-1, 28 KOs) will square off in his second fight in the U.S. under the Golden Boy banner in an eight-round battle against Tijuana, Mexico’s Erick “Platano” Martinez (13-6-1, 7 KOs). Manzanarez was last seen in February taking out longtime contender former world champion Gamaliel Diaz with a brutal body shot in the fourth round.

Phoenix, AZ native Eben Vargas (4-0, 3 KOs) will take on Rodolfo “Rudy” Gamez (1-2) in a four-round welterweight fight. Vargas, a decorated amateur, will return to the ring only weeks after a stellar first-round knockout against Jose Mesa.

Staying active, undefeated super lightweight prospect Jonathan “Thunder” Navarro (9-0, 6 KOs) will return for the second time in just over a month and look for a repeat of his April knockout performance. He will fight Ciudad Juarez’s Ricardo “Maniac” Fernandez (3-4-4) in a six-round super lightweight bout.

Opening up the card, undefeated super flyweight prospect Joshua “The Professor” Franco (9-0, 5 KOs) will battle for six rounds against Mexicali, Mexico’s Marco Sanchez (9-4-2, 4 KOs).

De La Hoya vs. Ruiz is a 10-round super bantamweight bout set for May 18, presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Showdown Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate “Born BOLD” and Hennessy, never stop, never settle. ESPN and ESPN Deportes will transmit the fights live from Casino Del Sol beginning at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST. ESPN3 live stream of the fight will begin at approximately 8:30 p.m. EST/5:30 p.m. PST.

Tickets are on sale and range from $30.00-$105.00 (includes convenience fee). Tickets are available for purchase at the Casino Del Sol gift shop and online at casinodelsol.com.

Videos and images are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link: http://bit.ly/DeLaHoya-Ruiz. Credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions for any photos/video.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com; follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @ESPNBoxing and @ESPNBoxeo; become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/espn.fnf, and www.facebook.com/ESPNBoxeo; and follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @ESPNBoxeo. Follow the conversation using #GBPonESPN.

About Casino Del Sol:
Located in southwest metropolitan Tucson, Ariz., the Pascua Yaqui Tribe is a federally recognized tribe with nearly 20,000 enrolled members. The Tribe owns and operates several enterprises including Casino Del Sol. Arizona’s only Forbes Four Star and AAA Four Diamond casino resort, one of the Best Hotels in Arizona named by U.S. News & World Report; Casino of the Sun; AVA Amphitheater, a 5,000-seat open-air concert venue named Casino Arena/Amphitheater of the Year by Casino Entertainment Awards; Sewailo Golf Club a par-72 championship course designed by Notah Begay III; and the Del Sol Marketplace. For more information, call 1-855-SOL-STAY (765-7829) or visit www.CasinoDelSol.com; Follow Casino Del Sol on Facebook and Twitter.

LOS ANGELES, CA (May 15, 2017) Top prospect DANIEL “TWITCH” FRANCO, of Rancho Cucamonga, CA improved to 16-1-3, 11 KO’s, with a blistering first around knockout of FRANCISCO SUAREZ, (5-5-1, 5KO’s) in Ensenada, Mexico this past Friday night.

The victory was the 25-year-old Franco’s highly anticipated return to battle following his first professional loss to Christopher Martin on March 23rd.

Next up for Franco is a showdown with rival JOSE HARO, (13-1-1, 7 KO’S) on Saturday, June 10 telecast live on CBS Sports Network, (10 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. PT) for Franco’s previously held IBF-USBA Featherweight Title at the WinnaVegas Casino and Resort in Sloan, Iowa.

“I was thrilled to get back in the ring and very relived to score the knockout,” said Franco. “Right after my loss to Martin, I was right back in the gym determined to get my title back.”

“Haro and I have been on the same path for a while now, this is a fight that’s been talked about for at least a year. Now we get to settle it where the stakes are the highest, I’ll be ready.”

Said manager Ray Chaparro, “The loss to Martin was a setback for Daniel and the team but he was in great shape this past Friday and truly showed his determination to get back his title. No doubt he’ll be ready for Jose Haro on June 10 in what will be an excellent TV fight for the fans.”

Franco vs. Haro is featured at “KO Night Boxing: WAR In WinnaVegas”, presented by KO Night Boxing LLC, in association with Roc Nation Sports, Ringside Ticket Inc. and WinnaVegas Resort Casino. TITLE Boxing is the official gloves provider for KO Night Boxing.

Tickets are on sale at the WinnaVegas box office and online at www.tickets.winnavegas.biz. Advance ticket prices are $35.00 ringside (rows 1 & 2), $35.00 VIP Reserved Seating (rows 3 & 4), $20.00 General Admission Reserved Seating (rows 3 & 4) and $15.00 General Admission Standing Room Only.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. (May 15, 2017) – Top 126-pound challenger Oscar Escandon shares his thoughts on training camp and more ahead of his first world title opportunity against WBC Featherweight Champion Gary Russell Jr. Saturday, May 20 on SHOWTIME from MGM National Harbor in Maryland.

Coverage on SHOWTIME begins at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT and features super middleweight contenders Andre Dirrell and Jose Uzcategui battling for the IBF Super Middleweight World Championship plus two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy taking on Kiryl Relikh in a 140-pound world title eliminator. In the telecast opener, from Copper Box Arena in London, Gervonta Davis puts his IBF Jr. Lightweight Title on the line against Liam Walsh.

Tickets for the live event at MGM National Harbor, promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $200, $150, $100 and $50, and are now on sale. To purchase tickets go to http://mgmnationalharbor.com/.

Here is what Escandon had to say from Las Vegas before he wraps camp and heads east to headline at MGM National Harbor in Maryland:

On his recent training camp:

“Training camp started off in Gilroy, California where we got a lot of good sparring in the Bay Area. But then we moved camp to Las Vegas where we are training in high elevation. We are running up at Mt. Charleston where the elevation is 8400 feet. All in all, it has been a fantastic camp.”

On fighting in his first main event on SHOWTIME:

“It’s a dream come true to be fighting on SHOWTIME, especially in the main event for a world title. I believe the fans watching will enjoy my fighting style. I always bring excitement to the ring. This will be a fan-friendly fight to watch.”

On facing his opponent, champion Gary Russell Jr:

“Gary Russell Jr. is one of the best fighters in the division. I know it’s not going to be an easy task to defeat him but I’m confident in my ability to come out victorious. I will dig deep and impose my will on him.”

On training with head coach Ruben Guerrero:

“Together Ruben and I get along very well. He’s always there for me when I need him. We are doing everything to get better and we’ll be ready to go. We have a nice game plan that we will display on fight night.”

On what a victory will do for his career:

“This is the biggest fight of my career and a win will lead to bigger and better things, like unification bouts. To capture the WBC world title will be an honor for my team and my people of Colombia. I need to win this fight and capture that WBC title. I can see myself in major fights with a victory.”

# # #

ABOUT RUSSELL JR. vs. ESCANDON

Gary Russell Jr. vs. Oscar Escandon is a featherweight world championship showdown that headlines SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on Saturday, May 20 from MGM National Harbor in Maryland. Televised coverage begins on SHOWTIME at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT and features super middleweight contenders Andre Dirrell and Jose Uzcategui in a matchup for the Interim IBF Super Middleweight World Championship plus two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy in a WBA 140-pound world title eliminator against Kiryl Relikh. In the telecast opener, from Copper Box Arena in London, Gervonta Davis puts his IBF Jr. Lightweight Title on the line against Liam Walsh.

For more information, follow on Twitter @MrGaryRussellJr, @TGBPromotions, @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.

Fort Washington, MD (May 15, 2017)- on Saturday night June 3rd, undefeated junior welterweight Mykal Fox take on battle-tested Daniel Sostre in the main event of a nine-bout card at the Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, Maryland

The card is promoted by King’s Promotions.

Fox of Forestville, Maryland has become a popular headline attraction in the Beltway

The 21 year-old Fox has a record of 13-0 with four knockouts.

The three-year professional has continuously stepped up the competition, and will be making his seventh start at the Rosecroft Raceway, and is coming off a eight-round majority decision over Tre’Sean Wiggins on February 11th.

Sostre of Highland, New York via Vega Baja, Puerto Rico has a record of 13-12-1 with five knockouts.

The 33 year-old is a 12 year veteran, and is known for fighting top competition.

Fox will mark the 11th undefeated opponent that Sostre has faced.

Sostre has wins over Kenny Galarza (16-3), Chris Gilbert (11-0), Jay Krupp (14-3), Tommy Rainone (12-2), Mike Ruiz (8-2) & Broderick Antoine (2-0).

Sostre will be looking to get back in the win column after dropping his last three fights to fighter’s who have a combined record of 45-2-1. In his last bout, Sostre dropped an eight-round majority decision to Derrick Cuevas (12-0-1) on December 10th in Catono, Puerto Rico.

In six-round bouts:

Luther Smith (8-1, 7 KO’s) of Bowie, Maryland battles an opponent to be named in a cruiserweight bout.

Greg Outlaw, Jr. (2-0) of Bowie, Maryland will fight an opponent to be named in a lightweight bout.

Marcus Bates (6-0-1, 6 KO’s) of Washington, DC will fight Roberto Pucheta (10-10-1, 6 KO’s) of Jalisco, Mexico in a super bantamweight tussle.

In four-round bouts:

Justin Hurd (2-0, 1 KO) of Accokeek, Maryland takes on Jonathan Garcia (4-15-1,1 KO) of Aguada, Puerto Rico in a junior middleweight bout.

Tyrek Irby (2-0, 1 KO) of Forestville, Maryland battles Brandon Sanudo (5-3, 2 KO’s) of San Felipe, Mexico in a junior welterweight contest.

Malik Loften of Suitland, Maryland makes his pro debut against an opponent to be named in a featherweight contest.

Lamont McLaughlin (0-1) of Philadelphia boxes against Jessie Singletary (0-2) of Washington, DC in a super middleweight fight.

Jordan Peters (1-0-1) of Washington, DC will take on an Bryan Perez Nevarez (2-6-1, 1 KO) of Carolina, Puerto Rico in a super bantamweight contest.

Tickets are on sale for $75, $60 and $40 at www.kpboxing.com or by calling 301-899-2430

The reviews are in, and the numbers are in, and the decision is unanimous: the debut of FIGHTNIGHT LIVE, on Facebook Live Thursday evening from Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, was a KO victory.

Watchers of the stream, which drew 37,000-plus “uniques” on fight night, and continues to draw clicks, enjoyed a Star Boxing main event topped by a junior middleweight scrap between vet Delvin Rodriguez and up ‘n comer Courtney Pennington.

More numbers: Almost 3,000 comments were shared by watchers during the four plus hour show, which provided incredible value for fans of the sweet science. Fans said things like, “This is the future of the sport, live FREE streaming.” “This stream is giving expose to young guns that would not ordinarily get it on broadcast TV!” “After tonight’s streaming many will talk about it and many more will watch if there’s a next time, this is the bomb!”

“I was inundated with complimentary texts, emails and calls almost as soon as the stream started, and it was a lot of fun watching the numbers swell from 27 views at the start of the broadcast to 40,000-plus by now,” said Mark Fratto, Principal of Linacre Media. “Like many others, we believe that the present and future of ‘televised’ boxing, MMA, Muay Thai and really all live sports is digital. Further, by putting these events on Facebook we’re providing an interactive environment for fight fans to not only view the events, but to connect with each other and provide their own real-time commentary during the bouts. We believe in high-quality, cost-efficient production that can give fans free access to hundreds of global, national and regional live fight nights without breaking the bank of the promoter and also without sacrificing what sports fans have come to expect from their viewing experience – multiple camera angles, graphics, replays and behind-the-scenes access and interviews. We don’t want traditional fans, digital customers and cord-cutters to be relegated to trying to watch other spectators’ live feeds off their cell phones.”

Promoter Joe DeGuardia went on air during the main event. He was visibly impressed and shared his enthusiasm while watching Pennington spring the upset.

“This has been incredible,” DeGuardia said. “It is great that fans will now be able to see more fights on a platform with massive reach. This is good for everyone and a perfect way for fighters to expand their fan base. I am pleased to be involved.”

Said boxing fan-favorite Ray Flores, who sat in the blow-by-blow chair, “It was an honor to be a part of FIGHTNIGHT LIVE and work with such talented individuals. I’m extremely excited about what the future has in store for the series. More than anything, thank you to all the fight fans who tuned, shared it, and commented. Fan interaction and world class fights is the basis for FIGHTNIGHT LIVE. I cannot wait for the next show!”

“We want to have something of a distinct identity,” said analyst Michael Woods, who publishes NYFights.com and does the TALBOX podcast for Everlast. “We want watchers to be able to interact with us, be part of the show, have a voice. We also want to have fun, keep it loose at times, as well. We will be incorporating that interactivity even more going forward. This series aims to be and I think is well on its way to establishing a paradigm in the space.”

“We firmly believe this new series is beneficial to all parties involved. More exposure for the sport and for the fighters,” said Fratto, whose production services company does 200 live events each year. “This production model is designed to be lean and cost-effective. And that enables us to cover more events, and with Facebook, we know we are being seen world wide and on a platform with a great deal of potential.”

Future FIGHTNIGHT LIVE dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

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

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

Vidal Rivera remained undefeated by winning a 4-round majority decision over Jesus Salas in a battle of undefeated lightweights.

Rivera of Camden, NJ on by scorecards of 39-37 twice and 38-38 to go to 6-0. Salas is 1-1.

Mike Hilton remained perfect by stopping Eric Cason in the first round of their scheduled four round cruiserweight bout.

Hilton dominated the action until the fight was waved off at 2:51.

Hilton of Trenton, NJ is 6-0 with six knockouts. Cason is 2-6.

Brandon Robinson stopped Phillip Legrand in round two of their scheduled four round light heavyweight bout.

Robinson dropped Legrand with an uppercut and the bout was stopped at 45 seconds of round two.

Robinson is 2-1 with 2 knockouts. Legrand is 1-5.

Gowar Karya made a successful pro debut by stopping Jose Homar Rios in round three of their scheduled four round featherweight bout.

Karya jumped on Rios and the bout was stopped at 29 seconds.

Karya is 1-0. Rios is now 1-5.

Kal Yafai thrilled his hometown fans in Birmingham, England, and made the first the defense of the WBA Super Flyweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Suguru Muranaka.

The bout headlined another tremendous day of action AWE-A Wealth of Entertainment.

“I am thrilled to be able to bring this action-packed cards to the American fight fans,” said Charles Herring, President of AWE-A Wealth of Entertainment.

“In recent months, The super-flyweight division has been one of the divisions that has featured terrific fights, and today Kal Yafai proved that he is one of the elite in the division. Sam Eggington carried on the momentum of stopping Paulie Malignaggi, and won in another thrilling fight. We have a great Spring and Summer fight schedule that we will be excited to share with the fans very shortly.”

Yafai looked like he was going to have an early day as he sent his Japanese challenger down to the canvas in round two. Muranka proved sturdy and even had a few moments in the fight. Yafai was deducted a point in round eight for low blows, but he was comfortably ahead, and won by scores of 119-107 twice and 118-108.

Yafai is 22-0. Muranaka is 25-3.

Rising welterweight contender Sam Eggington stopped Ceferino Rodriguez in round ten of their scheduled 12-round welterweight bout.

It was an exciting fight throughout, but the taller Eggington took control of the bout and drilled Rodriguez with ahard uppercut on the inside that sent him to the canvas and the fight was stopped.

Eggington, 146.8 lbs is is 21-3 with 13 knockouts. Rodriguez, who is managed by former world middleweight champion Sergio Martinez is 24-2.

Gamal Yafai dropped Sean Davis six-times en-route to a seventh round stoppage over Sean Davis in a scheduled 10-round Super Bantamweight bout featuring Birmingham based fighters.

Yafai dropped Davis three times in the 7th round, focusing mostly on the body and the bout was stopped at 2:27.

Yafai, 121.9 lbs is now 12-0 with 5 knockouts. Davis, 121.3 lbs is nos 12-1.

Former world title challenger Frankie Gavin won a eight-round decision over Renald Garrido in a super welterweight bout.

Gavin, 148.9 lbs won a a referee score of 77-75 ans is now 24-3. Garrido, 145 lbs is 18-15-1.

Josh Kelly stopped Jony Vina in round four of their scheduled six-round welterweight contest.

In round four, Kelly dropped Vina with a right hand. Kelly continued to pound Vina and the bout was stopped at 1:27.

Kelly is 2-0 with 1 knockout. Vina is 6-2.

In a spirited battle of undefeated middleweight’s, Adam Harper won a decision over Ryan Kelly.

The referee scorecard read 97-95 for Harper, 152.9 lbs and is now 8-0. Kelly 153.9 lbs id 8-1.

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. – May 12, 2017 – Weights for the WBA Super Flyweight world title bout between champion Kal Yafai and Suguru Muranka that will take place TODAY!!! LIVE on AWE- A Wealth of Entertainment at 2 PM ET / 11 AM ET

For fans who do not have AWE, they can access the fight on the AWE channel on www.klowdtv.com

Khalid Yafai 114 1/2 vs. Suguru Muranaka 114 1/4
(WBA super flyweight title)
Ceferino Rodriguez 145 3/4 vs. Sam Eggington 146 1/2
Sean Davis 121 1/4 vs. Gamal Yafai 121.6
Frankie Gavin 148.6 vs. Renald Garrido 145
Ryan Kelly 153.6 vs. Adam Harper 152.6

Bristol, PA (May 13, 2017) – Weights for Tonight’s card at The Grundy Arena

Derrick Webster 167 – Frankie Filippone 166.6
(WBF International Super Middleweight Title)
Ikram Kerwat 134 – TBA
Mikkel Lespierre 145.7 – Jerome Rodriguez 143.8
Vidal Rivera 132 – Jesus Salas 132
Mike Hilton 199.2 – Eric Cason 186.9
Brandon Robinson 166 – Phillip LeGrand 168.3
Gowar Karya 125.5 – Jose Homar Rios 132.9

Promoters: Deuce Promotions, Mis Downing Promotions and Kane 5 Promotions
Venue: Grundy Arena
1st Bell: 7 PM ET (Doors 6 PM)

Tickets for this night of championship boxing cost $125 for VIP, $75 for Front Row, $50 for Floor seating & $30 for General admission and can be purchased by calling 215-688-3546

The Grundy Arena is located at :
475 Beaver St, Bristol, PA 19007

Here are the highlights from tonight’s live broadcast of AXS TV FIGHTS: CES MMA 44. Headlining the night was featherweight champion Matt Bessette, whose powerful striking scored him a TKO victory over challenger Rey Trujillo when the doctor called a stop to the fight after the second round of the main event.

Full highlights are available to embed via YouTube here: http://bit.ly/CES44_Highlights

Earlier in the night, UFC veteran Sean Soriano stopped Jacob Bohn with leg kicks in the second round – http://bit.ly/CES44_Soriano

Photos for media use are available to download via dropbox here. Please photo credit Will Paul/CES MMA – http://bit.ly/CES44_Photos

CES MMA 44 Official Results:
Main Event – Featherweight Title Fight – Matt Bessette (22-7) defeated Rey Trujillo (20-19) via TKO due to doctor’s stoppage at 5:00 in round two.
Co-Main Event – Heavyweight Fight – Greg Rebello (22-7) submitted Kevin Ray Sears Jr. (6-4) at 4:47 in round three.
Featherweight Fight – Sean Soriano (10-5) stopped Jacob Bohn (5-4) via TKO due to leg kicks at 3:21 in round two.
Welterweight Fight – Manny Walo (12-2-1) outlasted Jon Manley (9-4) to win by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Light Heavyweight Fight – Mike Rodriguez (8-2) out-struck Alec Hooben (5-3) tow in by TKO at 4:46 in round one.
Flyweight Fight – Carlos Candelario (6-0) scored a first round TKO over Timothy Wheeler (2-2) 1:12 into the fight.
Middleweight Fight – Justin Sumter (4-1) defeated Brian Sparrow (2-1) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

PHILADELPHIA–Christopher Brooker won a workmanlike eight-round unanimous decision over veteran Oscar Riojas in a super middleweight bout that highlighted a seven bout card at a jam packed SugarHouse Casino.

The card was promoted by King’s Promotions.

Brooker was very solid throughout as he tried to work on in the inside. In round three, he landed a perfect left hook that drove Riojas into the ropes. Brooker worked inside and was the busier man throughout the contest.

Brooker of Philadelphia won by scores of 78-74 on all cards and is now 12-3. Riojas of Monterrey, Mexico is 14-8-1.

Jerome Conquest put in a solid six-rounds in winning a unanimous decision over Daniel Perales in a super lightweight bout.

Conquest of Philadelphia won by scores of 60-54 and 59-55 twice, and is now 7-2. Perales of Monterrey, Mexico is 10-10-1.

Henry Beckford scored an upset four-round majority decision over previously undefeated Blake Mansfield in a super middleweight contest.

Beckford of Coram, New York won by scores of 58-56 twice and 57-57, and is now 5-6. Mansfield of Burlington, NC is now 5-1-1.

Sam Orapeza literally had to hang on and win a four-round unanimous decision in a cruiserweight bout over Kyle McNutt.

Orapeza dropped McNutt with a perfect straight left in round one, and it looked like it was going to be Orapeza’s 2nd consecutive first round knockout. McNutt gathered himself in had a solid round two. Orapexa took control again in round four, as he scored a hard knockdown and seemed seconds away from finishing the fight. He may have punched himself out as in the last 45 seconds of the bout, McNutt battered and staggered Oarapeza all over the ring. Had the bout been 30 seconds longer, the outcome could very well have been different, but Orapeza of Philadelphia got the nod by the tune of 38-37, 39-35 and 39-36. Orapeza is now 2-0. McNutt of Battle Creek, MI is 1-3.

Jeffrey Torres won a four-round unanimous decision over Kashon Hutchinson in a lightweight bout.

Scores were 40-36 and 39-37 twice for Torres of Philadelphia, who is now 3-0. Hutchinosn of Reading, PA is 2-3.

Harold Lopez and Basyzbek Baratov fought to an exciting majority draw in a flyweight bout.

Towards the end of round three, Lopez landed a left to the body that sent Baratov to the canvas.

Lopez of Bethlehem, PA took a card 39-28 and two other scorecards read even at 38-38.

Lopez is 1-0-1. Baratov is 2-1-2.

Chaise Nelson won a four-round unanimous decision over Bryan Perez Nevarez in a featherweight bout.

At the end of round two, Nevarez dropped Nelson with a counter right hook.

Nelson of Dayton, Ohio won by scores of 39-37 and 38-37 twice and is now 5-1. Nevarez of Carolina, Puerto Rico is 2-6-1.

KINGS PROMOTIONS IS BACK THIS FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE 2300 ARENA WITH A TERRIFIC NIGHT OF BOXING HEADLINED BY LIGHTWEIGHT’S CARLOS ROSARIO AND JOSHUA DAVIS