NEW YORK, NY (June 5, 2023) – DiBella Entertainment has inked a promotional agreement with rising featherweight contender Edward “Kid” Vazquez (14-1, 3 KOs), from Fort Worth, TX.

Vazquez hails from a fighting family. His grandfather and uncle were both fighters, along with several cousins. On his seventh birthday, Vazquez asked his father to take him to the local boxing gym in Fort Worth; a birthday present that would change the trajectory of his life. 

This trip to the gym would lead to an impressive amateur record of 82-8, including eight Fort Worth Golden Gloves gold medals, a Texas Golden Gloves gold medal, a win at the Ringside World Championships and a runner-up spot in the 2012 Junior Olympics in Mobile, AL. 

At 18, and fresh out of high school, Vazquez was transitioning to turn professional and traveled up the coast of California looking for sparring and inspiration. He found both, spending time training and sparring with Oscar Valdez and Ryan Garcia, among others. Vazquez made his professional debut in 2016, winning a unanimous decision versus Willie Miller. 

He has been with his current trainer, Ray Barrera, out of FHG Boxing Gym, in Fort Worth, ever since his third pro fight. Vazquez would go on to win 11 bouts before suffering his lone defeat at the hands of Raymond Ford in February 2022. It was a fight that would result in a highly controversial win for Ford, who is now rated in the top 10 by three of the major sanctioning bodies.

Vazquez rebounded from that split decision loss with two wins to close out the year.

In March 2020, Vazquez’s life would change dramatically with the birth of his daughter, Saylor. The pandemic was just getting underway, and becoming a father was both exhilarating and scary for the young fighter. 

“It forced me to level up,” Vazquez said. “I always knew I would make it happen with boxing, but now I have to because I have my daughter.”  

In December 2022, Vazquez would get the call to fight DiBella prospect Misael Lopez on Showtime’s “ShoBox” series. 

“I was hesitant to take the fight because I knew I would be coming in as the ‘B-side,’” said Vazquez. “I was robbed in my fight versus Raymond Ford, and didn’t want that to happen again, but I ultimately accepted the fight.

“It was a good, action-packed fight,” Vazquez continued. “He definitely tested my IQ. He was game, and wasn’t going to back down. He was coming to beat me and was 100% confident he was going to do so. I spoiled the plan.” 

Vazquez would earn a split decision win against Lopez after 10 rounds of action, on February 17, 2023, at the Stormont Vail Event Center, in Topeka, KS.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Edward Vazquez,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “He’s one of the best featherweights in the world and he proved that when he beat Raymond Ford, no matter what the scorecards read. Ford’s now #2 in the world and despite the zero on his record, Edward Vazquez beat him on international television. An interesting and well-spoken kid, Edward has the potential to be a world champion. He should be undefeated and highly world ranked right now. This was a no-brainer signing for DiBella Entertainment.”

“I’m so excited to be a part of DiBella Entertainment,” said Vazquez of the signing. “We’ve worked our entire lives to land a deal with someone as prominent as Lou DiBella. I’ve been fighting for almost 21 years. It’s been a grind. You’re not really sure if it’s going to pay off and it finally seems like it’s going to pay off. 

“Now, we finally have the platform to go after the top 10 featherweights, the top 20 guys,” Vazquez continued. “Lou is finally the guy that can get me in the door. I’m coming for them.” 

“We knew we had something special going into the fight with Lopez,” said DKO Boxing’s Dave Dubinsky, who manages Vazquez along with Jim Kurtz. “We’re thrilled that Lou sees what we do in Vazquez, and we’re looking forward to working with DiBella Entertainment to take Edward to the next level.” 

Sampson Lewkowicz, President of Sampson Boxing, proudly announces the signing of undefeated Mexican American welterweight prospect Freudis Rojas Jr. (10-0, 10 KOs) to an exclusive promotional contract.

The 24-year-old Rojas, also known as Freddy to his friends, was an accomplished amateur boxer for the United States on the international stage, winning a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships, as well as serving as a 2020 Olympic Alternate.

Standing 6? 2?, the powerful Vegas-based southpaw turned professional in January 2021 and hasn’t had to go more than four rounds while amassing his perfect record.

In his most recent outing, he knocked out durable veteran Gilbert Venegas in less than a round in February of this year. Despite having faced a long list of undefeated prospects and contenders, Venegas hadn’t been stopped in six years previous to facing the hammers in Rojas Jr.’s fists.

“I feel blessed for the opportunity and deal with Sampson Boxing,” said Rojas. “Me and my manager Marlon Johnson felt strongly that Sampson was the right fit to take my career to the next level. I will be the next superstar of boxing and a world champion. I want to fight the best and put on spectacular fights for the fans. I thank God for blessing my career.”

“Freddy is blessed with a very knowledgeable and strong team of Freudis Rojas Sr., Kay Karoma, Evins Tobler, and Kevin Smalls, and we all feel that signing with Sampson is a very strong career move,” added manager Johnson. “With Sampson, the sky is the limit. He is a great promoter with years of experience and boxing knowledge, and he has an innate ability for spotting and developing boxing talent. With Freddy’s hard work, dedication, faith in God and Sampson’s guidance. He will become the next star in boxing.”

Lewkowicz says signing Rojas Jr. will almost certainly add to the long list of world champions in his promotional stable.

“Freudis Rojas will be a future star in the welterweight division and more,” said a happy Lewkowicz. “This young Mexican American has the team and the experience, power and skills to move quickly up the ladder to a world championship, and I am proud to be able to help him get there. Welcome to the Sampson family.”

Rojas’ first ring appearance under the Sampson Boxing banner will be in July.

#

About Sampson Boxing

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America. Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ESPN+, DAZN, VS., FOX, Fox Sports and several international networks. For more information, visit sampsonboxing.com.

Los Angeles, CA (June 5, 2023) World Ranked and Undefeated Junior Middleweight Contender Charles ‘Bad News’ Conwell, (18-0, 13 KOs), is petitioning the World Boxing Council (WBC) for a world title fight against WBC and Undisputed World Champion Jermell Charlo, (35-1-1, 19 KOs). Conwell is currently ranked #2 in the division by the WBC and is managed by Mark Habibi and Wise Owl Boxing. The 2016 U.S. Olympian is promoted by Hall of Famer Lou DiBella and DiBella Entertainment.

Stated Mark Habibi, “Our understanding is that the WBC will order a rematch between Brian Mendoza and Sebastian Fundora next. We want the WBC to therefore make Charles the mandatory challenger for Jermell Charlo. Alternatively, the WBC can make him the mandatory challenger for the rematch between Mendoza and Fundora and allow him to take an interim fight. It seems like Charlo is just sitting on the belt and Charles is ready now to fight him, Mendoza or Fundora.”

“The interim champ was knocked out cold. I don’t truly understand why the WBC would even consider allowing this rematch to happen. Charles has been patiently waiting for his opportunity. It’s not fair to him for this to continue.”

Charlo has not fought since his knockout victory over Brian Castano on May 14, 2022. Mendoza knocked out Fundora on April 8, 2023 to garner the WBC Interim World Title.

The 25-year-old Conwell last fought on November 26, 2022, defeating hard-hitting Dominican Juan Carlos Abreu. The 2016 U.S. Olympian also holds victories over Juan Carlos Rubio, Patrick Day, Wendy Toussaint, Madiyar Ashkeyev and Courtney Pennington.

QUINCY, Mass. (June 5, 2023) – Old-time boxing returns this Saturday night as Granite Chin Promotions (GCP) presents “Fight Night at the Vets Club” at the Bridgewater Veterans Club in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

Headlining the event is a six-round main event between New England rivals, Woburn’s (MA) Julien “Black Dragon” (4-3, 2 KOs) and Ryan Clark (2-3, 1 KO), of Berwick (NH), for the vacant United States Boxing Federation (USBF) Middleweight Championship.

A celebrated amateur boxer who was a 2020 USA Boxing Olympic Boxing Team alternate, as well as a 2020 USA Boxing Elite National and multiple New England Golden Gloves champion, Boston lightweight Arika Skoog (1-0-1, 1 KO), faces Sarah “Switch Kick” Click (1-4-1), of Orlando (FL), in a six-round bout,

Former New England Welterweight Champion Mike “Bad Man” Ohan, Jr. (17-2, 9 KOs), of Holbrook (MA), is in a stay-busy fight against Alaskan William Parra Smith (4-14-1, 3 KOs) in an eight-round match.

Unbeaten Lynn super middleweight James “Pitbull” Perkins (11-0-1, 8 KOs), a gravedigger from Lynn (MA), tangles with Texas veteran Larry “Slo Mo” Smith (13-52-2, 9 KOs) in a six-round.

Popular Scituate heavyweight Kevin Nagle (1-0, 1 KO) throws-down with  Reinaldo Souza (0-1) in a four-round match in the opener.

Card subject to change.

Tickets are priced at $60.00 (floor seats), $40.00 (standing room only), and $400.00 for ringside tables of 4 and available for purchase at https://granite-chin-promotions.ticketleap.com.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET, first bout at 7 p.m. ET.

LAS VEGAS, NV (June 5, 2023) – Undefeated Jr. Featherweight, Ra’eese Aleem (20-0, 12 KOs), ranked IBF #5, gears up to face his toughest challenge yet, a 12-round title elimination bout against IBF #4 rated contender, Sam Goodman (14-0, 7 KOs). 

Aleem, hailing from the United States, is embracing stepping out of his comfort zone to fight Goodman in his home country of Australia. This will be the first time in his challenging career that Aleem will fight out of the USA. For years, Aleem has been ducked by all the top fighters in the division. He explains why he is willing to travel outside of the country for a fight.

“I am thrilled to be back in the ring and eager to showcase my skills on Australian soil,” said Aleem, from his training camp in Las Vegas. “Stepping out of the USA for the first time in my career is my way of letting everyone in boxing know that I’m ready to do whatever it takes to get a title shot. I am fully prepared to leave everything in the ring and make a decisive statement by getting the knockout. I don’t want to let any decision be in the hands of the judges. I feel winning this fight outside of the USA, will show how serious I am about becoming world champion.”

“Aleem has proven that he’s one of the best fightiers in the 122-pound division and its no secret why he’s also the most avoided fighter at super bantamweight,” said Greg Hannley, Aleem’s manager and CEO of Prince Ranch Boxing. “Aleem should be applauded for fighting overseas against a guy fighting in his own country. He’s hungry and he’s ready to come out victorious.”

Aleem vs. Goodman will air live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, June 17 (Sunday, June 18 in Australia) from the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia in a Premier Boxing Champions event. The main event featuring Tim Tszyu defending his Interim WBO 154-pound title against the tough Mexican contender Carlos Ocampo. The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Detroit, Michigan (June 3, 2023) – Star Boxing has been busy in the midwest this week. Starting earlier in the week, Star Boxing CEO JOE DEGUARDIA attended the 38th annual IBF Convention in Chicago, where he spent time with the IBF boxing community and advocated on behalf of Star Boxing’s roster of fighters with the IBF.

Tonight, in keeping with the midwest, IBF theme, Star Boxing super welterweight, WENDY “HAITIAN FIRE” TOUSSAINT (14-1 6KO’s) will fight for the vacant IBF-USBA Super Welterweight Championship against rangy undefeated southpaw, ARDREAL HOLMES JR. (13-0 5KO’s) over 10 rounds at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The fight has major world rating implications for the winner.

“It has been a busy week with a lot of great momentum for Star Boxing fighters, that will conclude with a major opportunity Saturday night for Wendy Toussaint,” said JOE DEGUARDIA. “Thank you to the IBF for an enjoyable week at the 38th annual convention in Chicago, and now, we turn our sights to Detroit, tonight, as Wendy Toussaint takes on Ardreal Holmes in an important UBSA Championship fight on DAZN.”

Holmes-Toussaint is promoted by Salita Promotions and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

NEW YORK (June 3, 2023)-Tonight at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, two undefeated fighters and Michigan natives will be in action on a DAZN streamed card (9 PM ET).

In the co-feature bout, Ardreal Holmes will be featured against Wendy Toussaint in a 10-round USBA Super Welterweight championship fight.

Holmes of Flint is 13-0 with five knockouts. The 28 year-old Holmes is establishing himself in the 154-pound division with wins over Bryan Goldsby (4-1), Vernon Brown (13-1-1) and his last outing when Holmes defeated Ismael Villareal (12-0) on February 17th in Topeka, Kansas.

Toussaint of Huntington, New York, has an impressive mark of 14-1 with six knockouts. The 31 year-old Toussaint has wins over Anthony Gangemi (4-1), Courtmey Pennington (7-0-1), Sadiq Muhammad (4-1), Isiah Jones (9-2), Travis Gambardella (7-1-2) and his last bout when Toussaint won an eight-round unanimous decision over Asinia Byfield on June 18, 2022 in New York City.

Holmes, who is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Holden Productions, weighed 153.4 lbs. Toussaint was 149.8 lbs.

?In the DAZN opener, Joseph Hicks Jr. takes on Antonio Todd in an eight-round bout for the WBC Americas Silver Middleweight title.

Hicks of Grand Rapids is 6-0 with five knockouts. The 29 year-old Hicks has a big win over Bilal Quintyne (4-0). In his last bout, Hicks scored a second round stoppage over Noah Kidd on April 14th in Detroit.

Todd of Atlanta is 14-7 with eight knockouts. The 28 year-old Todd has a win over former world title challenger Hugo Centeno (28-3-1).

Hicks, who is promoted by Salita Promotions, weighed 159.4 lbs. Todd weighed 158.2 lbs.

Claressa Shields won a 10-round unanimous decision over Maricela Cornejo to retain the Undisputed Middleweight Title at The Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Shields dominated the fight and was very aggressive throughout the bout and landed several hard rights that stopped Cornejo in her tracks. Cornejo was not very aggressive and took a lot of shots in her defensive posture.

Shields landed 124 of 485 punches. Cornejo was 32 of 307.

Shields, 159.6 lbs of Flint, MI won by scores of 100-89 and 100-90 twice and is now 14-0. Cornejo, 155 lbs of Los Angeles is 16-5.

“I feel great,” said Shields post-victory. “I was landing my shots. I won every round like I knew I could. I went for the knockout how many times this fight? Maricela is tough. She did a great job. Height doesn’t matter and power doesn’t matter either. It’s all about the skills and will and heart, and I always have more than the other girls.”

“Stay smart and not get hit with her big right hand,” she said of her strategy. “Hit bigger to the body and check her to the head. I knew I could win. Straight right for the money. When I would hit her harder, she would take off. I led off with the right too many times, so I will work on that when we get back to the gym. Maricela is super tough. She was in shape and able to take the shots and able to get away from them. It was a great fight. I can’t wait to go home and watch it and see what I can work on.”

“I’m good. I felt fine,” Cornejo said. “Obviously there is so much more I could work on. I want to see the fight again and see the mistakes that I’ve done just to improve on. I think I held my ground and I know I caught her with some good shots and I just need to work on much more to be able to continue those rights I know I landed on her.

“I’m not happy with the loss, I’m just disappointed,” she continued. “I need to just watch it. It’s intense the way she comes forward. I would have done better being more assertive going forward and not going straight back. That’s something I’ve worked on a lot.”

Ardreal Holmes Wins Technical Split Decision over Toussaint

Ardreal Holmes won a technical split decision over Wendy Toussaint in a bout that was stopped in round eight of a scheduled 10-round super welterweight bout.

In round four, Toussaint was deducted a point for hitting behind the head.

Holmes boxed well by using his height, while Toussaint was coming on late by pressuring the taller Holmes.

In round eight, the two clashed heads and the forehead of Toussaint immediately began to gush blood. The fight was allowed to continue, but only briefly as the blood continued to shoot out of the forehead and the fight went to the scorecards at 1:54.

Holmes, 153.4 lbs if Flint, MI won by scores o 77-74 and 76-75 while a third card went to Toussaint by a 77-74 tally.

Holmes is now 14-0. Toussaint, 149.8 lbs of Huntington, NY is 14-2.

“I was expecting a tough fight. Just wasn’t in the shape we wanted to be in, but no excuses. I got the job done,” said Holmes post-fight. “I felt like I didn’t catch my second wind until the seventh or eighth round. That’s when I felt like the fight was really changing. I felt like I took the earlier rounds and he started coming on late.”

Holmes said the fast pace Toussaint kept throughout the fight was unexpected. “He actually surprised me,” admitted Holmes. “Watching film, he usually slows in the fourth or fifth round. That’s what I thought he was going to do, but he shocked me. My plan was to come on halfway through the fight and I thought I was going to close it out at the end. I thought the decision was fair. It was four-four (in rounds), but the point (deduction) did it. He was out of gas the last quarter of the fight.”

“I didn’t lose that fight,” said a disappointed Toussaint. “It was my plan to come out fast and outwork him and it worked. I had him hurt. I don’t agree with the point deduction, and the judges got it wrong.”

Hicks Decisions Todd

Joseph Hicks Jr. remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Antonio Todd in a middleweight bout.

Hicks had Todd in trouble several times during the fight, and although he could not get the stoppage, he was dominant in winning the decision.

Hicks, 159.4 lbs of Grand Rapids, MI won by scores of 80-72 on all cards and is now 7-0. Todd, 158.2 lbs of Atlanta is 14-8.

“I didn’t expect Todd to be that awkward,” said Hicks afterwards. “I knew he was tough, but he was awkward. He did a lot of unorthodox things. He dropped his head after he jabbed. He switched back after his jab, and he got the counterpunch. I was trying to time him, but he was flinching back.”

“It means everything to be a part of this fight card and this event,” Hicks continued. “I’m very grateful to Claressa and Salita Promotions. The GWOAT, Claressa, she’s going to win tonight. I’m very grateful to her, because without her, this opportunity is not here for me. I’m ready for whoever they give me next. I’m going back to the drawing board. We’re going to fix a lot of things, get sharper and be better in my next fight.”

“He was the better man tonight. Hicks is a good fighter. We knew that coming in. We knew he was a good fighter; captain of the USA Boxing Team. We knew he was a good fighter the whole time. Sometimes you come up short. I wasn’t hurt like I was about to go down, but he hit me in the back of the head a couple of times, headbutted a couple times, but nothing major. I’m okay.”

Regis Prograis is ready to bring big-time boxing back home to New Orleans – starting with his WBC World Super-Lightweight title defense against Danielito Zorrilla on Saturday June 17 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, live worldwide on DAZN.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW AT TICKETMASTER.COM
Prograis (28-1 24 KOs) is looking to shine in his first fight at home since beating Terry Flanagan in October 2018 as he aims to land the unification fights he craves in the second half of 2023, with undisputed on his mind in 2024. 

‘Rougarou’ fights under the Matchroom banner for the first time on June 17, and with his new partnership with Eddie Hearn, the 34 year old is heavily involved in the rest of the card, ensuring an all-Lousiana bout between New Orleans’ Jeremy Hill (18-3 11 KOs) takes on Baton Rouge’s Mark Davis (19-1 5 KOs) over eight at Lightweight, and Houston-based 2020 Olympian Ginny Fuchs (2-0 1 KO), being advised by Prograis, fights for the third time in the paid ranks on the card against Indeya Smith (6-7-2 1 KO) over eight rounds at Super-Flyweight.

Prograis admits that fighter management and promotion could be in his future, but the WBC king says that there are many more chapters to be written in his own fighting career first, starting with a long-awaited return to the Big Easy.

“The last time I fought in New Orleans it was nice, but this is the Smoothie King Center, it’s on a different level, I’m ecstatic,” said Prograis. “You can’t soak up the moment too much because I still have to go out there and fight, I still need to do that, but it’s really a dream come true because coming up, when I first started boxing, I wanted to fight there – it was a two-part dream, fight at the Smoothie King Center and then at the Superdome, so this is the first big step towards doing something huge in my city.

“We’re starting Rougarou Promotions with this card and with my partnership with Eddie, I feel we’re taking more control and direction not just of my future in the ring, but with other fighters. I said for the undercard ‘I want this guy, I want Ginny’ – that’s what I want to do. It makes sense if we’re bringing big time boxing to New Orleans that we have some fighters from here on the card. 

“I don’t know if I want to be a promoter per se, and I feel that I have a long way left in my own career, but right now at home, I do want to have NOLA fighters on the card and to help them shine. I’m in the gym in New Orleans and Houston, I see the talent out there, so when I fight, I want people to see them.

“It’s going to blow it up. We did the Lakefront in 2018, but this is big. Eddie said ‘listen, if we do good, we’re going to keep coming back’. So that’s why we need everyone to come out because it can be a regular thing. This used to be a boxing town, but it faded over the years, so if we do good, I think this will become a regular thing.

“As the champion, you must be even hungrier as those contenders are coming for you and that they want what you got. There are wolves behind me all day long, so my mindset has to be that there’s fighters all over the world that are coming for me and I need to outwork them, out train them, be hungrier than them – I have to be on my A-game every day.”

Prograis defends his World title on a stacked night of action in New Orleans. 

Unbeaten Australian Heavyweight Justis Huni (7-0 4 KOs) faces Andrew Tabiti (20-1 16 KOs) over ten rounds, unbeaten pair Shakhram Giyasov (13-0 9 KOs) and Harold Calderon (27-0 18 KOs) meet in an eliminator for the WBA Welterweight crown and Ramla Ali (8-0 2 KOs) defends her IBF Intercontinental Super-Featherweight title against Julissa Guzman (12-2-2 6 KOs).

Criztec Bazaldua (1-0) kicks off the night on Before the Bell against Elroy Fruto (1-1) over four rounds at Lightweight and Aaron Aponte (7-0-1 2 KOs) meets Xavier Madrid (4-2 2 KOs) over eight at Super-Lightweight.

RIYADH, JUNE 3, 2023 – Current Unified WBA, IBF, WBO Heavyweight World Champion Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) has signed a multiflight deal with Saudi Arabian based promotional company, Skill Challenge Promotions (SCP) established by His Highness Prince Khaled bin AbdulAziz in 2023 after the astounding success of hosting some of biggest boxing events in The Kingdom.

Usyk recently fought in The Kingdom in August 2022 defeating Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision to retain his belts in their highly anticipated rematch labelled ‘Rage on the Red’ Sea hosted by Skill Challenge Entertainment and The Ministry of Sport.

“Skill Challenge Promotions takes pride in working with an elite champion such as Oleksandr Usyk who not only possesses technical greatness in the ring but greatness outside it as well as an ambassador for the sport” stated SCP Chairman Prince Khaled. “Our aim is to work with multi-dimensional champions who possess the mutual core values Oleksandr does as we appreciate those above everything else.”

The signing of Usyk to The Kingdom’s Skill Challenge Promotion’s draws significant parallels with Cristiano Ronaldo’s signing with the Saudi Football League demonstrating the influence and momentum the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is gathering in the sporting world aligned with Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s national reform programme, Vision 2030.

Director of Boxing Operations for the Promotion, Amer Abdallah stated, “Prince Khaled’s “mission” is to put on the best fights for the fighters and for the fans working in collaboration with all global promoters, management and networks collectively.”

There has been much talk around the anticipated December showdown with WBC Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury for a unification bout to declare an Undisputed Heavyweight Champion after numerous failed attempts to make the fight happen.

“It is obviously the fight most boxing fans want to see and in time we hope to be able to make an announcement regarding the direction we’ll take with the unification bout” Abdallah continued. “But the first order of business is his defence against Daniel Dubois in August 2023.”

“It is great honour and joy for me to return to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Oleksandr Usyk stated during the press announcement in Riyadh. “It’s an excellent opportunity to work with His Highness Prince Khaled and to reach our team’s goal to claim the WBC Heavyweight Champion title to become The Undisputed Champion. I haven’t got any big plans, like a samurai I have the way… the way I walk.”

“This is a chapter in the lifetime of Oleksandr and history in the making” Alex Krassyuk, Usyk’s Promoter and K2 founder stated.

“We want to thank Prince Khaled and the boxing world really needs a promotion like Skill Challenge Promotions and people like Prince Khaled who is so loved in the sport. It is an honour for me to bring one of my best fighters in Oleksandr Usyk to Skill Challenge Promotions.” stated long time Manager, Egis Klimas.

Skill Challenge Entertainment was founded by His Highness Prince Khaled bin AbdulAziz of Saudi Arabia, launching their inaugural event in 2019 featuring the rematch between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz dubbed “Clash on the Dunes”. After the global pandemic, Skill Challenge Entertainment hosted the rematch of Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua branded “Rage on the Red Sea” in August of 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The company’s most recent global event, “The Truth” featured global stars Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury and Badou Jack vs Illunga Makabu for the WBC Cruiserweight Title which took place in February 2023 and became the largest hybrid boxing event to ever take place.

Allentown, PA (June 2 2023)–Weights for Jeter Promotions card at The Parkview Inn in Allentown, PA

Jonathan Rodriquez 118 – Brian Cannady 118

WBC US silver Bantamweight title

?

Francis Oran 212 – Raphael Carolina 212

Joel Flores 133 -Hakim Smith 134

Thanjhae Teasley 147 vs Benjamin Lamptey 146

MINNEAPOLIS – June 2, 2023 – Hard-hitting Interim WBC Middleweight Champion Carlos Adames will battle former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams in the 12-round main event of action live on SHOWTIME Saturday, June 24 from The Armory in Minneapolis in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and featured top super welterweight contenders Erickson “Hammer” Lubin and Luis “Cuba” Arias squaring off in the 10-round co-main event. Super flyweight world champion Fernando “Pumita” Martinez will put his IBF title on the line against unbeaten Filipino contender Jade Bornea in the telecast opener.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster. Lubin vs. Arias is co-promoted with Mayweather Promotions.

“Saturday, June 24 will see three high-stakes matchups play out in the ring, topped by rising middleweight star Carlos Adames looking to take out  hungry former champion Julian Williams, who has his eyes set on championship gold in a second division,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “With Erickson Lubin and Luis Arias squaring off, the winner will be in prime position for a 154-pound title shot, while Fernando Martinez can send a message to the rest of the super flyweight division with a decisive victory against the undefeated Jade Bornea. This lineup shapes up to deliver another electric night at The Armory in Minneapolis.”

Adames (22-1, 17 KOs) has become a force in the middleweight division as he nears a chance to earn a world title opportunity at 160 pounds. Adames scored a career-best victory by overcoming top contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko in December 2021 and followed that up by knocking out Juan Macias Montiel in the third round to capture his interim belt last October. The 29-year-old Adames was born in Comendador, Dominican Republic and now lives in Washington Heights, New York. He established himself as a contender with a slew of victories over the likes of former champion Carlos Molina, Frank Galarza, Joshua Conley and Alejandro Barrera, with his only defeat coming by narrow decision in a 2019 154-pound title fight against Patrick Teixeira.

“I’ve trained hard for this fight and I’m ready to defend my interim WBC middleweight title against Julian Williams, who we all know is a very tough fighter,” said Adames. “I’ve worked tirelessly to earn my way in the sport and I’m ready to prove I belong at the top of the middleweight division. I’m grateful for the opportunity to showcase my skills on SHOWTIME, and I’m determined to put on a great performance for the fans. On June 24 The Armory in Minneapolis will be electrifying. I’m coming to win.”

Philadelphia’s Williams (29-3-1, 16 KOs) became a unified world champion at 154-pounds in May 2019 when he upset Jarrett Hurd in one of the year’s best fights, winning a close-quarters brawl by unanimous decision. The 33-year-old dropped the titles in his first defense, losing to Jeison Rosario in January 2020, before coming up on the short end of a narrow decision to Vladimir Hernandez in October 2021. He most recently returned to his winning ways last November, dominating Rolando Mansilla at The Armory  on his way to a unanimous decision.

“Training has been going great and I’m extremely well-prepared for this fight,” said Williams. “I’ve just been grinding and making the best of everything that I have. I haven’t seen that much of him, so I’m preparing for anything Adames can bring. A win on June 24 would mean everything. This is what I strive for. It’s been a little choppy, but I’m just looking forward to a tough fight in Minneapolis.”

The 27-year-old Lubin (24-2, 17 KOs) will return to the ring after going toe-to-toe in one of 2022’s best fights, which saw him trade knockdowns with fellow contender Sebastian Fundora on SHOWTIME in April 2022. Heading into the Fundora fight, Lubin had put together an impressive six-bout winning streak since a loss to unified 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo in 2017, a run that included triumphs over Jeison Rosario, Terrell Gausha and Ishe Smith.  A native of Orlando, Fla., Lubin turned pro at 18 years old in 2013 and became one of the youngest prospects to ever appear on the developmental series SHOBOX: The New Generation and soon after was named “Prospect Of The Year” by ESPN and Ring Magazine in 2016.

“I’m looking forward to making my return on SHOWTIME,” said Lubin. “Every fight is important and I treat them all the same. This one is no different because I’m coming in with a chip on my shoulder. I’m planning to dominate Luis Arias so I can get my rematches with Jermell Charlo and Sebastian Fundora. I want to avenge my defeats and that starts with a big performance on June 24. It’s ‘Hammer’ time on SHOWTIME.”

A native of Milwaukee who now trains out of Las Vegas, Mayweather Promotions’ Arias (20-3-1, 9 KOs) most recently dominated Jimmy Williams in May 2022 on his way to a unanimous decision. Arias had scored a career-best victory in June 2021, as he earned a decision over former unified champion Jarrett Hurd on the Mayweather vs. Paul SHOWTIME PPV undercard. Arias has also battled former champion Daniel Jacobs and owns a draw against veteran contender Gabriel Rosado.

“I’m back on the big stage and this time I’m staying here for the long haul,” said Arias. “I’m planning on bringing an all-out war as soon as the bell rings. June 24 has a great lineup, but this fight will definitely steal the show. I want to thank Floyd Mayweather and the Mayweather Promotions team for getting me this opportunity. I’m coming to make the most of it. War is coming!”

The unbeaten Martinez (15-0, 8 KOs) became the first world champion promoted by his countryman, former two-division world champion Marcos Maidana, with a scintillating victory over Ancajas on SHOWTIME in February 2022. The 31-year-old from Avellaneda, Argentina made the most of the opportunity, landing a division record 421 power shots of the 427 total punches landed to secure a unanimous decision victory over Ancajas. They rematched in October 2022, with Martinez putting on an even more convincing performance to retain his title via unanimous decision.

“This is going to be my first time fighting in Minneapolis and I hope the fans know that I’m coming to put on a show for them,” said Martinez. “My goal isn’t just to win, it’s to show that I’m getting better and that I’m on my way to my goal of unifying the titles.”

Fighting out of General Santos City in the Philippines, Bornea (18-0, 12 KOs) will fight in the U.S. for the second time on June 24 after earning a decision over Ernesto Delgadillo in their January 2020 clash. Since then the 27-year-old has added three victories, including a pair of 2022 triumphs that saw him best Mohammed Obbadi in January and Ivan Meneses in August. A pro since October 2014, Bornea is part of a boxing family as his twin brother Jake also fights professionally.

“I have been waiting for this opportunity ever since I turned pro,” said Bornea. “I have watched Martinez twice fight against my friend and countryman Jerwin Ancajas, so I know his style well. On June 24, I am going to win that title and bring it back to the Philippines where it belongs. I’m thankful to my whole team for this opportunity and I’m going to make the most of it.”

#         #         #

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

A razor-sharp Josh Kelly has warned Gabriel Corzo he is in a world of “trouble” when the pair meet in a high-stakes clash on June 24. 

Kelly collides with the unbeaten Argentinean at the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle later this month, with the packed Wasserman Boxing event shown live and exclusive around the world on DAZN. 

The world No2, who displayed frightening speed and power during Friday’s training session at The Booth Boxing Gym, knows victory over the tough Corzo will put him within touching distance of a shot at the world title. 

Kelly says a win will also bring his dream of fighting for the top prize at the Stadium of Light – the home of his beloved Sunderland AFC – next summer, that bit closer to being a reality. 

The 2016 Olympian feels unstoppable, believes he is about to enter his “prime” years and is now ready to take over the world in the next 12 months. 

“It is going to be an explosive performance on June 24 and my skillset, coupled with the way I am performing at the moment, means I can’t be matched. I am looking for the big names now,” Kelly declared. 

“Having just turned 29, I am coming into my prime and Corzo is going to be in trouble later this month. 

“I know I will get the chance for this world title in the next 12 months and I will win it.” 

Kelly vs Corzo headlines a great night of boxing in Newcastle on June 24, with Liam Dillon and Qais Ashfaq battling it out for the vacant British super featherweight title, in the co-main event.  

Local heavyweight Steve Robinson trades punches with Franklin Ignatius in a not-to-be-missed eight round collision.  

Chloe Watson continues her journey to the top of the flyweight division, when she takes on Argentina’s Belen Valdebenito, stepping up to eight rounds for the first time.  

Codie Smith, one of the most exciting additions to the professional ranks in years, will bring a noisy army of fans from Yorkshire with him for his latest bout.  

Darlington’s Ben Marksby plans on making a statement about his super lightweight ambitions, while the Mikkel Kessler-trained Oliver Zaren boxes in front of a UK audience for a second successive time.  

North East fighters Luke Cope, Travis Waters and Joe Laws are also set to draw in the crowds, on a huge night of action in Newcastle. 

QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – June 2, 2023 – Undefeated Australian superstar Tim Tszyu will return to the ring and defend his Interim WBO 154-pound title against Mexican contender Carlos Ocampo headlining action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, June 17 (Sunday, June 18 in Australia) from the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia in a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and will also feature top super bantamweight contender Ra’eese Aleem taking on undefeated Australian Sam Goodman in an IBF 122-pound title eliminator in the co-main event.

Tszyu will make the first defense of his interim belt after capturing it in March on SHOWTIME with a career-best showing in stopping former champion Tony Harrison. He had originally been scheduled to face Undisputed Super Welterweight Champion Jermell Charlo in Las Vegas in January, before Charlo was forced to withdraw due to injury. With a victory on June 17 in his home country, Tszyu can lock in a date with Charlo later this year.

The event is promoted by No Limit Boxing and The Rose Brothers, in association with TGB Promotions.

“Tim Tszyu has solidified his place near the top of the super welterweight division and will once again bring his fan-friendly style to the ring for fans in the U.S. watching on SHOWTIME,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “An experienced and hungry Carlos Ocampo will be coming to Australia to upset Tszyu’s plans and disrupt his path toward a long-awaited showdown with the 154-pound division’s undisputed champion Jermell Charlo. Adding in top contender Ra’eese Aleem taking on the rising Australian Sam Goodman, and this shapes up to be a great doubleheader of action fights on Saturday, June 17.”

The 28-year-old Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) has quickly climbed the rankings in the 154-pound division with an all-action, aggressive style. The notable names on his resume include former welterweight champion Jeff Horn, whom Tszyu stopped in round eight, and Terrell Gausha, a top contender and member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. A native of Sydney, Australia, Tszyu made his U.S. and SHOWTIME debut against Gausha and showed his poise and toughness by rallying back from a first-round knockdown to win the fight via unanimous decision. Tszyu grew up playing soccer, but soon gravitated toward boxing. The decision led to him following in the legendary footsteps of his father, Kostya, who was an undisputed 140-pound champion and who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011.

“I was full training on Monday after the thing happened on Saturday,” said Tszyu to Australian press in reference to a dog bite on his right arm. “I’m not going to be limited at all…There’s a dog in me right now that’s about to come out.

“I’m a fighter. My job is to fight. I won’t sit on the couch and wait for [Jermell] Charlo’s hand to get better. I want to fight in the meantime,” added Tim Tszyu previously to the Australian media about his announcement for his title defense against Ocampo. “The fans deserve the fights…The Charlo fight is in the making, but I’m not underestimating Ocampo. I’ve got a hard task ahead of me.

“Technically, this fight is going to be much harder than my previous fights. The Mexican style will require something new in me and I expect it to be tough. Despite being Australian and on the other side of the globe, I’m headlining a fight on SHOWTIME for the third time. Is anyone else doing that? Everyone knows I’m coming to take over.”

The 27-year-old Ocampo (34-2, 22 KOs) rode a 12-fight winning streak into his last matchup, which saw him drop a decision to 154-pound contender Sebastian Fundora last October in a SHOWTIME main event. The 12 consecutive triumphs dated back to the only other loss of his career, which came to current unified welterweight champion Errol Spence, Jr. in a 2016 knockout defeat. During the 12-fight stretch, the Ensenda, Baja California, Mexico native scored nine of those victories by stoppage, including traveling to Mikael Zewski’s home country of Canada to stop the fan-favorite by ninth-round TKO.

“I’m looking forward to my fight against Tim Tszyu,” said Ocampo. “We are both warriors who go forward without fear. The fans will be the true winners that night, because I’m going after that title at all. Costs and it’s coming back to Mexico with me. He won’t want to hand it over to me, so I’ll just have to take it from him.”

Owning a top-10 ranking at 122-pounds from multiple sanctioning bodies, Aleem (20-0, 12 KOs) put on the most impressive performance of his career in January 2021, dominating in a battle of unbeatens by dropping Victor Pasillas four times before eventually stopping him in round 11. Raised in Michigan and training out of Las Vegas, the 32-year-old Aleem stopped seven-straight opponents before most recently earning decisions over Eduardo Baez in November 2021 and Mike Plania in September 2022. Aleem made his SHOWTIME debut in February of 2020 with a fourth-round stoppage of Adam Lopez on SHOBOX: The New Generation.

The 24-year-old Goodman (14-0, 7 KOs) scored a career-best victory in his last outing, announcing himself as a 122-pound contender with a dominant unanimous decision victory over former world champion T.J. Doheny in March. After an impressive amateur career that included four national championships and an appearance in the 2017 World Amateur Championships, the Australian from Albion Park, New South Wales turned pro in April 2018 and began compiling his unbeaten record.

The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL telecast is executive produced by four-time Emmy award winner David Dinkins, Jr., with Ray Smaltz III producing and Chuck McKean directing.

#         #         #

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

NEW YORK – June 1, 2023 – Unbeaten light heavyweights Clay Waterman and Kenmon Evans will square off in a new SHOBOX: The New Generation eight-round telecast opener as the popular prospect series returns to Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y., during International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend on Friday, June 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT live on SHOWTIME.  

Waterman (10-0, 8 KOs) had a solid amateur career with a record of 140-20. A 2011 junior world champion, the Queensland, Australia native was a 2018 Commonwealth Games medalist and 2019 Asian Grand Slam champion. He is an eight-time Golden Gloves champion and 13-time state champion. Waterman is managed by Brendan Bourke.

Evans (10-0-1, 3 KOs) of Port Orange, Fla., is promoted by International Boxing Hall of Famer and former world champion Christy Martin and trained by Pete White. As an amateur, Evans suffered just one loss with 29 victories. He won the Florida Golden Gloves in 2013 and the Florida PAL tournament in 2012. One of 16 children, Evans served eight months in jail in 2014 on a charge that was eventually dropped. After his release, he decided to turn pro. He also teaches youth boxing classes at Pete White’s gym.

“Evans is a real success story,” said Martin. “He got out [of jail] and he’s going to stay out.”

Blue-chip prospect and top-10 ranked light heavyweight Ali Izmailov (10-0, 7 KOs) faces his toughest test to date when he takes on fellow unbeaten and highly decorated amateur Charles Foster (22-0, 12 KOs) in the 10-round SHOBOX^® main event. In the co-feature, highly regarded prospect Richard Vansiclen (13-0-1, 6 KOs) from Seattle, Wash., faces fellow unbeaten hard-hitting Colombian Juan Carrillo (10-0, 8 KOs) in a 10-round super middleweight matchup.

Ryan Martin (25-2, 15 KOs) was originally slated to take on former SHOBOX main-event winner and rising super lightweight prospect Mykquan Williams (19-0-1, 8 KOs) in a 10-round super lightweight bout before Martin pulled out due to personal reasons.

This marks the fourth time since 2013 that a SHOBOX card has taken place in conjunction with Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, which will occur June 8-11. SHOBOX has visited Turning Stone Resort Casino a total of seven times previously during its 21-year history. The three-fight telecast on June 9 is promoted by Dmitriy Salita’s Salita Promotions.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Turning Stone Box Office or online at Ticketmaster.

International Boxing Hall of Famer Barry Tompkins calls the blow-by-blow action for SHOBOX with fellow Hall of Famer Steve Farhood joining the team remotely as the unofficial scorer. Former world champion Raul Marquez and veteran combat sports reporter and MORNING KOMBAT co-host Brian Campbell will serve as ringside expert analysts. They will be accompanied by Hall of Famer and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® analyst Al Bernstein, as well as by Hall of Famer Jimmy Lennon, Jr., handling ring announcing duties. The executive producer of SHOBOX: The New Generation is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

 # # #

For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, #ShoBox, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports

About SHOBOX: The New Generation

Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 89 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more. 

TOLEDO, Ohio (June 1, 2023) — Two Ohio-born talents have joined the pre-Independence Day celebration as part of the ESPN+-streamed undercard to the heavyweight doubleheader featuring Toledo’s  Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson against Kazakhstan’s Zhan Kossobutskiy in a 10-round main event on Saturday, July 1 at Toledo’s Huntington Center. 
 
Cleveland native Abdullah Mason will make his third appearance of 2023 in a six-round lightweight fight against Tobias Green, while Toledo-born junior lightweight Tyler McCreary will face an opponent to be named in a six-rounder.
 
Anderson-Kossobutskiy and Arslanbek Makhmudov-Raphael Akpejiori will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
 
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Universum Boxing, tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.
 
Mason (8-0, 7 KOs) is a 19-year-old prodigy who was considered one of the brightest talents in U.S. amateur boxing before signing with Top Rank in October 2021. Mason debuted as a pro the following month with a second-round TKO over Jaylan Phillips. In 2022, Mason went 5-0 with four knockouts. The southpaw phenom plans to be just as dominant this year after a first-round knockout over Erick Garcia Benitez in April and a sixth-round TKO win over Desmond Lyons last month on the Devin Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko undercard. Green (10-3, 3 KOs) is a 27-year-old Floridian who returns after an eight-round decision win against Ryan Schwartzberg last October. 
 
McCreary (17-2-1, 8 KOs) is an almost nine-year pro who is on the comeback trail. Following his 2019 showdown against former two-division world champion Carl Frampton, the 30-year-old experienced a near-two-year layoff before losing to Manuel Rey Rojas in 2021. Last month, however, he overcame another layoff to score a first-round knockout against Jake Bornea in Toledo.

BIG BEAR, CA (May 31, 2023) – Mexican superstar and former World Champion Jaime Munguia (41-0, 32 KOs) hosted a media workout today to promote his upcoming clash against Ukrainian world champion contender Sergiy “The Technician” Derevyanchenko (14-4, 10 KOs). The event was hosted at Munguia’s training gym in Big Bear Lake and was attended by Golden Boy’s Chairman and CEO, Oscar De La Hoya. The 10-round super middleweight fight is presented in association with Zanfer Boxing, is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 10 at Toyota Arena, in Ontario, CA and will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN beginning at 5:00 p.m. PT/ 8:00 p.m. ET.

Below is what Jaime Munguia and Oscar De La Hoya had to say about Munguia’s upcoming clash:

JAIME MUNGUIA, FORMER WORLD CHAMPION AND SUPER MIDDLE WEIGHT CONTENDER:

“Derevyanchenko is a tough fighter. He is someone who has gone to the ring and gone the distance with high profile fighters. No one has been able to knock him down and I think this fight and a victory against Derevyanchenko will show everyone that I am ready for any challenge.”

“I am not very worried about what has happened in other fights that Derevyanchenko has been involved in. I do not feel pressure about knocking him out, but I do know that I am going to deliver a convincing victory. I know that I am going to go into the ring and do what I have to do to win.”

“We have always pursued high profile fighters like Golovkin and Charlo and those fights haven’t materialized due to circumstances that are out of our control. He hasn’t fought in two-and-a-half years and is still considered the world champion, I am not sure what his plan is moving forward, but I am ready to face him if he wants to get in the ring with me. For Golovkin, we reached out to him for this fight, and he didn’t return, I think he may be enjoying a vacation.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF GOLDEN BOY:

“We are confident that Jaime Munguia will deliver on a magnificent fight for fans this Saturday, June 10. Derevyanchenko is a tough opponent who has faced the likes of GGG, Daniel Jacobs, and Carlos Adames.”

“We want all the big names for Jaime – but we want that fight against Charlo. After our major commercial success with the Ryan Garcia fight, we have the framework to work with PBC and Showtime. But, if that can’t happen, Munguia will fight anyone – Gennadiy, or even David Benavidez are great options for him.

#

Munguia vs. Derevyanchenko is a 12-round super middleweight fight that is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Zanfer Boxing. The event is sponsored by “BetOnline – Your Online Sportsbook Experts,” and AutoZone, “Get in the zone, Autozone.” The fight will take place on Saturday, June 10 from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, and will be streamed live worldwide on DAZN.

Tickets for Munguia vs. Derevyanchenko are on sale and are priced at $150, $100, $75, $50 and $30 not including applicable service charges. Tickets will be available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com, Toyota-arena.com, Goldenboypromotions.com or the Toyota Arena box office Monday through Friday from 12pm-4pm.

Media interested in covering the fight can apply for a credential by clicking HERE. Media credential applications are due by Monday, June 5.

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 #MunguiaDerevyanchenko

BIG DAVID ADELEYE is back in the ring in just over a week in a first defence of his WBO European heavyweight title when he takes on the big-hitting Serbian Emir Ahmatovic on Friday, 9 June at York Hall, live on BT Sport.

Also in title action is undefeated lightweight Mark Chamberlain (12-0, 8 KOs), who makes a second defence of his IBF European title against the champion of Italy Marvin Demollari (12-4, 2).

The WBC International Silver super lightweight champion, Henry Turner (10-0, 3), is all set for a domestic war against Tom Farrell (21-6, 5) in what will be a second defence of his belt.

Unbeaten heavy Adeleye (11-0, 10), who is closing in on a shot at the British title, takes on the Germany-based Ahmatovic (12-1, 9) with a sole reverse coming against forthcoming IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic in December 2021.

In his last fight, the man known as ‘Atomic’ seized the WBC Mediterranean title with a second round blitz of the then 11-1 Hueseyin Akdemir in Germany.

Waterlooville southpaw Chamberlain is blazing a trail in the lightweight ranks, with the 24-year-old coming into the fight off the back of a destructive fifth round defeat of the tough Italian Vairo Lenti in February.

Demollari, 28, became national champion in late 2022 with a decision win over the 13-0 Daniel Spada, before making a successful defence against the 11-1 Francesco Santacroce in May.

The skilful Showman Turner, just 22, is on a run of three stoppage wins out of four and was last in action in February with a statement victory over Zeus de Armas at York Hall.

His experienced opponent Farrell, 33, from Liverpool, was also last in action in Bethnal Green, where he dropped a decision against Harlem Eubank, having previously taken part in the Boxxer super lightweight tournament, where he was edged out in the final against Cori Gibbs, having defeated Ben Fields and Kane Gardner to reach the last two.

Also back on a busy York Hall card is the brilliant teenage super featherweight Royston Barney-Smith (5-0, 3), who will take on the redoubtable Christian Lopez Flores over six rounds. The 19-year-old’s last three fights have resulted in first round stoppages.

The eye-catching light heavyweight star of the future Ezra Taylor (5-0, 4) from Nottingham goes up against Khalid Graidia, who recently took Karol Itauma the full eight rounds and rising super welterweight Carl Fail (8-0, 2) from Northampton takes on Frank Madsen, with both fights taking place over eight rounds.

In six round action is Carl’s twin brother Ben Fail (2-0, 1), also at super welterweight, along with exciting Thetford cruiserweight Tommy Fletcher (4-0, 3) and Reading super welterweight Joshua Frankham (7-0, 2).

Tickets for the show at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Friday, 9 June are available now from: Ticketmaster.co.uk.

Dear Eddy Reynoso,

Since you have chosen to conduct our negotiations for David Benavidez to face Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in public, I’m forced to correct a few mistakes you made in claiming you haven’t received any offers.

On Monday May 29 at 4:45 pm, I emailed you what I’m sure would be one of the most lucrative offers of Canelo Alverez’s career to face Benavidez.

Please know that you do indeed have an offer to face Benavidez, a sizeable one, and I must tell you that I’m offended by your claim that I’m “fantasizing” about making this fight happen.

If you are also unable to find this open letter and no one tells you about it, would anyone who knows him please let Eddy know that I will send this same offer any time for him to communicate to Canelo Alvarez.

All he needs to do is provide a working email address, apparently.

Sincerely,

Sampson Lewkowicz

#

About Sampson Boxing

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America. Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ESPN+, DAZN, VS., FOX, Fox Sports and several international networks. For more information, visit sampsonboxing.com.

LAS VEGAS – May 31, 2023 – In a matchup that will go down in boxing history as one of the most significant title fights of all time, unified WBC, WBA and IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth’’ Spence Jr. will take on WBO 147-pound world champion Terence “Bud’’ Crawford for the Undisputed Welterweight World Championship on Saturday, July 29 in a highly anticipated SHOWTIME PPV clash from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The winner of this battle of undefeated superstars will become the first undisputed welterweight world champion in the four-belt era and likely emerge as the sport’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. Spence vs. Crawford joins Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns, Pernell Whitaker vs. Julio César Chávez and Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao, as a generational matchup of two popular stars whose dynamic and aggressive styles should produce an instant classic. Both Spence and Crawford have reached the pinnacle of boxing’s glamour division with their sublime skills and can stamp themselves alongside 147-pound legends like Leonard, Mayweather, Sugar Ray Robinson and Pacquiao, with a win on July 29.

Spence and Crawford have been circling each other since Crawford became a welterweight champion in 2018, and now, IT’S ON!

Pre-sale tickets are available tomorrow, Thursday, June 1 from 10 a.m. PT until 10 p.m. PT through AXS.com by using the code: BOXING

Public on-sale begins Friday, June 2 at 10 a.m. PT with tickets available through AXS.com. The event is promoted by Man Down Promotions, TBC Promotions and TGB Promotions.

“I’m truly excited to be a part of the biggest fight in boxing and the best welterweight matchup of the century,” said Spence. “Terence Crawford is a great fighter and our styles are going to make for a great fight. I told him and the world what I was going to do after I captured my first welterweight title and it’s been strap season ever since. On July 29, I’m going to put on a tremendous performance and become the undisputed king of the welterweight division. This is truly going to be a night to remember, one where history is made, and I want everyone to be a part of it.”

“The fans and I have both wanted this fight for years and now it is finally happening,” said Crawford. “This truly is a once in a generation fight, so come out to T-Mobile Arena or tune in to SHOWTIME PPV for the biggest fight in boxing. On July 29, I look forward to making history and becoming two-time undisputed champion of the world.”

“This is an undeniably historic matchup taking place on July 29, because the winner of this fight will go down as the greatest welterweight of this era,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “On top of being for undisputed status, and in addition to pitting two of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport against each other, Spence vs. Crawford is an electric style matchup that has captured the imagination of fans everywhere. Boxing’s premier division will have a definitive number one when the dust settles this July at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.”

 “With the addition of this blockbuster event, SHOWTIME SPORTS’ industry-leading schedule becomes even stronger,” said Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports and Event Programming for Showtime Networks Inc. “Spence vs. Crawford is the type of matchup that will demonstrate boxing’s enduring popularity — a marquee event to bring the sports world to a halt with all eyes on the center of the ring in Las Vegas. This fight will be talked about alongside all of the legendary welterweight and undisputed world title bouts throughout history. Together with our partners, we are proud to once again deliver the biggest and best fights that the sport can offer.”

Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) has displayed mental toughness inside and outside of the ring throughout an already storied career. He survived a horrific car crash in 2019 and had surgery to repair a detached retina in 2021. Defying both the odds and other’s expectations, Spence came back to not only defend his title but added even more titles to his trophy case.

Born in Long Island, N.Y., the 33-year-old was and raised in Desoto, Texas where he embarked on an accolade-laden amateur career that culminated with him as a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team that competed in London, England. He went back to England and won his first welterweight championship when he traveled to Sheffield to meet local favorite and IBF Champion Kell Brook in 2017, stopping Brook in round 11 for the IBF title.

Spence successfully defended the title three times before adding another welterweight title by defeating Shawn Porter in one of 2019’s best fights. After taking time off to recover from injuries from the car crash, Spence defended the unified title with a unanimous decision victory over two-division champion Danny Garcia in 2020. A detached retina scuttled plans to meet Pacquiao in a 2021 showdown, but Spence wasn’t going to be denied as he defeated Yordenis Ugas, who bested Pacquiao as a replacement for Spence, to win the WBA title with a resounding TKO on April 16, 2022.

Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) is an accomplished ring tactician who has held world titles at lightweight, super lightweight and welterweight. His special blend of blazing fast hands, high ring IQ, superb counter punching ability and defensive prowess has put him in position to become boxing’s first male undisputed champion in two weight classes if he can get past Spence.

The 35-year-old from Omaha, Neb., kicked off his championship run by winning the WBO Lightweight Title with a unanimous decision victory over Ricky Burns in 2014 and began his 140-pound reign by stopping Thomas Dulorme for the WBO Title in 2015. He added the WBC belt in 2016 with a unanimous decision victory over Viktor Postol and became the undisputed champion at 140 pounds with a KO of Julius Indongo in 2017.

Crawford didn’t stick around to defend his undisputed crown at super lightweight, opting to move up to welterweight in 2018 instead. He announced his presence with a TKO victory over Jeff Horn to claim the WBO Championship. He has successfully defended the title six times, including stoppage victories over former 147-pound champions Porter and Brook. In his most recent fight, Crawford scored a highlight-reel KO of David Avanesyan last December.

#         #         #

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports and www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #SpenceCrawford, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @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/.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (MAY 31, 2023)–Boxing’s fastest rising series, Country Box, Where Music Meets Boxing will be back with Country Box 4 on Tuesday night, June 13th at The Troubadour Nashville.

The first three installments have been a huge success as some of the country’s best prospects have been able to ply their trade, while the sold-out crowds have been treated to concerts featuring Country Music heavyweights Leon Evertette, Clayton Q and Adam Warner.

Country Box is the brainchild of longtime boxing manager turned promoter Jimmy Adams.

Adams guided fighters such as Oliver McCall, Greg Page, Tony Tucker, Robert Daniels, Steve Cunningham, Bert Cooper and Sharmba Mitchell.

Due to strong ties in the music and boxing industries, Adams has and will be able to secure big names in both spaces and combine it to a night of unforgettable entertainment.

” I did 47 fights in 1997. All in one year, and that’s how Tennessee became number-two for boxing, beating out Las Vegas & Atlantic City, NJ with California being number-one. My first fighter to ever manage was Earnie Shavers. My mentor in understanding boxing has been promoter and long time friend Don King, who I still have a very close tie to. Country Box is a platform for unknown fighters & entertainers to get a shot in becoming Champions or Country Superstars. Really its where today’s nobodies can become tomorrow’s somebody. I am excited because my son Jimmy Jr is training to become a professional boxer and my daughter Masey Adams is following my footsteps in becoming a boxing manager plus she runs the social media for Country Box. On a personal note from my heart I am so proud to have my wife standing behind me for support, my children are working to turn it into a family business, Howard Wear, Christy Dembrock, Robert Golden, Chris Harris part of my team and so blessed to have professional people on my team like Marc Abrams, John Moceyunas, Christy Martin, Albert Haynesworth. Thanks to Jennifer the owner of The Troubadour for allowing her place to become the home of Country Box “Where Music Meets Boxing” 

The short term goal is to stage events on the first Tuesday of every month.

Several fighters such as former Mexican amateur star Erick Arellano and Eduardo Aguillar are local fighters that have been staples on the series, while undefeated outsiders Elijah Williams and Deon Pruitt have come from New York and the Virgin Islands respectively and have started to plant flags on the series.

Tickets for the June 13th show can be purchased here

DETROIT – May 31, 2023 – Undisputed Middleweight World Champion Claressa “G.W.O.A.T.” Shields and No. 1 rated contender Maricela Cornejo went face-to-face for the first time on Wednesday at the final press conference before they meet in the ring this Saturday, June 3 from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and streamed live on DAZN in the U.S. and Canada.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and can be purchased through 313Presents.com, Ticketmaster.com and the XFINITY Box Office at Little Caesars Arena. The event is promoted by Salita Promotions and 313 Presents.

The press conference also included rising unbeaten and Flint-native Ardreal Holmes and his opponent Wendy Toussaint, who meet in the super welterweight co-main event.

Flint’s Shields will headline the first-ever boxing event at Little Caesars Arena, the home of the Detroit Pistons and Detroit Red Wings. Shields has relished in the adoration of The Motor City, including a visit to throw out the first pitch at last night’s Detroit Tigers game, and will look to give her fans a thrilling show in defending her undisputed crown against Cornejo. Catch up on fight week with the “SHIELDS VS. CORNEJO: FIGHT WEEK DAILY” five-part digital video series debuting each night through fight night (episode one available HERE).

Here is what the press conference participants had to say Wednesday from Little Caesars Arena:

CLARESSA SHIELDS

“I’m facing a younger, taller and more savvy opponent in Maricela Cornejo than I was in Hanna Gabriels. I want to thank Maricela for accepting this challenge and coming here. I know that she’s always in shape. It’s gonna be a real throwdown in Motown.

“I know she said she wants to go out there and dance, but you’re gonna be dancing by yourself. Because I came to fight. She can salsa all she wants, but I came to throw down and show my skills.

“It’s fight week and there’s not much more to say. Boxing is changing. To be having this fight here in front of thousands of fans in Detroit, with the G.W.O.A.T. in the main event, we don’t get too many of these opportunities.

“I’m just happy and excited about this fight. I’m looking forward to putting on a show and showing that I’m the greatest once again.  

“People in Detroit are ready to celebrate. The city is already celebrating because it’s a big moment for Detroit. But I’m still focused on winning the fight. It’s big for all of us, but I’m keeping my head down.

“When I got the call about fighting at Little Caesars Arena, it felt like there was a slim chance we’d get to fight here. They offered a lot of money to fight again in the U.K., but I wanted to bring my titles here.”

MARICELA CORNEJO

“When I got the call I was getting ready for another fight, so we were coming to the end of camp anyway. This isn’t a last minute thing for me, because I’m always ready. I’m always staying in the gym. I live, eat and breathe boxing.

“I’m ready for this opportunity and there’s no excuses come Saturday night. Claressa has done so much for the sport of boxing and everyone in this sport is trying to do our part. Our responsibility is just to make a difference in the sport and that’s what we’re trying to do. She needs a good dance partner to do that. When they called, I said I’m ready to dance.

“Being an underdog doesn’t affect me at all. I’m gonna go put some money on myself. I knew I’d be the underdog. She’s got the titles, so I know what I have to do.

“I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that this is the perfect time for me to take this fight. Some might think that it’s short notice, but I’m in tip-top shape.

“She’s coming after me, so I’m fighting fire with fire. There’s no backing down at all. It’s gonna take heart, endurance, everything and the kitchen sink. That’s the kind of fighter that Claressa is and I’m so ready for it.”

ARDREAL HOLMES

“I’m really happy that everyone came out and that Flint and Detroit are gonna get to watch us on Saturday. This is a Michigan thing. It’s a Michigan card. We all want to show out.

“I know that I have to look impressive and open the door for me to eventually fight for a world title. I’m taking it one fight at a time, but I’m coming for the top of the division.

“There’s not much more talking, I’ll just see everyone on June 3.”

WENDY TOUSSAINT

“I’m very happy to be here for this fight. I know my opponent is very tough, but this is nothing new to me. I’ll see you in the ring on Saturday.

“I’ve had a great training camp and I feel prepared for this fight. I respect Holmes, but he’s not going to be bringing anything that I haven’t seen before.”

DMITRIY SALITA, President of Salita Promotions

“Big-time boxing is back in Michigan on June 3 right here at Little Caesars Arena, and we’re going to see Claressa Shields defend her undisputed title against the top rated contender Maricela Cornejo. This is a big event for Detroit, Michigan and boxing as a whole. They say ‘a tree grows in Brooklyn’, but boxing grows in Detroit.

“This is going to be a historic night of boxing. Claressa Shields has opened the door for Michigan and Detroit talent to be seen on a worldwide scale. This card will feature some of the best talent in the world of boxing from right here in the state.

“The city of Flint has provided some of the best fighters in the sport of boxing and many believe that Ardreal Holmes is next in line. He is undefeated and stepping in for the most challenging fight of his career.”

HOWARD HANDLER, President of 313 Presents

“Welcome to fight week. As Detroit’s premier live entertainment company, 313 Presents is excited to present the first ever boxing event here at Little Caesars Arena. We’re making history with this fight.

“I want to thank Claressa and her whole team for all their hard work and preparation, as we’re just a few days away from the big event. I also want to thank Maricela for stepping in and taking on this challenge.

“In addition to the main event, Dmitriy has put together a terrific fight card featuring some of Michigan’s best prospects. On top of Flint, Michigan being represented we’ve got Dearborn and Grand Rapids, and each of these fighters are going to make this first ever boxing event here historic and memorable.

“Claressa, you definitely inspire and give hope to many people out there. Claressa has really gone above and beyond to give back to people who are often overlooked. We’re looking forward to a great crowd and the city being abuzz for boxing.”

Las Vegas – UFC^® makes its highly anticipated return to Salt Lake City, Utah on Sat., July 29 with a Fight of the Year candidate that will see No. 2 ranked lightweight contender Dustin Poirier run it back with No. 3 Justin Gaethje for the vacant BMF title. The co-main event will see former UFC light heavyweight champion and current No. 3 ranked contender Jan Blachowicz look to spoil the 205-pound debut of former middleweight titleholder Alex Pereira.

The event is the result of a partnership with Utah Sports Commission and Smith Entertainment Group.

“I’m excited to return to Salt Lake City, which has one of the nicest arenas in the world,” UFC President Dana White said. “The fan response last year was incredible and this time we’re bringing one of the most anticipated cards of the year with two of the baddest fighters in the world for the BMF title. I want to thank the Utah Sports Commission and Smith Entertainment Group for their continued support. UFC 291 will be one of the biggest events of the year.”

“Last year’s epic UFC 278 Pay-Per-View event brought huge economic impact and tremendous global media exposure to Utah: The State of Sport,” said Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission. “With that success we are excited to partner again with the UFC, Smith Entertainment Group and welcome some of the top MMA fighters in the world as we play host to UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to have UFC back to Salt Lake City. UFC 291 will be one of the most anticipated sporting events of 2023, and we’re all in on hosting it at the Delta Center,” said Ryan Smith, chairman of Smith Entertainment Group. “Utah is a premier sports and entertainment destination, and SEG is committed to bringing world-class events to the state and providing exceptional experiences to fans, talent, and organizations while they are here. We’re thrilled about our continued partnership with UFC and Utah Sports Commission. We look forward to hosting another successful fight night.”

UFC^® 291: POIRIER vs. GAETHJE 2 will take place at Delta Center with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT exclusively on ESPN+ PPV. The prelims will be available on ABC, ESPN ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (English and Spanish), at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The night’s action will start at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT with Early Prelims on ESPN+ (English and Spanish) and UFC Fight Pass.

UFC^® 291: POIRIER vs. GAETHJE 2 tickets are set to go on sale to the public on Friday, June 2 at 10 a.m. MT and will be available through ticketmaster.com.Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, May 31 at 10 a.m. MT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, June 1 starting at 10 a.m. MT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

No. 13 men’s pound-for-pound fighter Poirier (29-7 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Lafayette, La.) is coming off his thrilling submission win over Michael Chandler last year. A dynamic striker and grappler, the former interim lightweight champion also holds spectacular victories against Conor McGregor (twice), Max Holloway (twice) and Eddie Alvarez. Poirier now looks to stop Gaethje once again and take home the BMF belt.

Former interim lightweight champion Gaethje (25-4, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of Safford, Ariz.) has long established himself among the most exciting fighters in MMA. A heavy-handed striker and wrestler, he has earned memorable wins over Michael Chandler, Donald Cerrone and Rafael Fiziev. Gaethje now plans to even the score with Poirier by delivering another highlight-reel KO.

Blachowicz (29-9-1, fighting out of Warsaw, Poland) intends to take out another former champion in impressive fashion. Known for his “legendary Polish power,” he holds notable victories against Israel Adesanya, Luke Rockhold and Dominick Reyes. Blachowicz now hopes for a show-stopping performance to stake his claim for a title shot.

Pereira (7-2, fighting out of Danbury, Conn. by way of Sao Paulo, Brazil) looks to turn heads at light heavyweight by stopping one of the division’s most decorated athletes. A former kickboxing standout, he holds thrilling KO wins over Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland and Andreas Michailidis. Pereira now intends to make a statement against Blachowicz to enter the light heavyweight Top 5.

Other bouts on the card include:

• Fan favorites collide when Tony Ferguson (26-8, fighting out of Orange County, Calif.) battles Bobby Green (29-14-1 1NC, fighting out of Fontana, Calif.) in a lightweight bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks
• Former middleweight title challenger and No. 5 ranked contender Paulo Costa (14-2, fighting out of Contagem, MG, Brazil) returns to Salt Lake City to face surging Ikram Aliskerov (14-1, fighting out of Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia)
• No. 7 ranked welterweight contender Stephen Thompson (17-6-1, fighting out of Simpsonville, S.C.) faces No. 15 Michel Pereira (28-11 2NC, fighting out of Tucuma, Para, Brazil) in a battle of exciting strikers
• No. 11 ranked heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis (26-11 1NC, fighting out of Houston, Texas) aims to take back the UFC knockout record all for himself when he meets Marcos Rogerio de Lima (21-9-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil)
• No. 12 ranked welterweight contender Michael Chiesa (18-6, fighting out of Spokane Valley, Wash.) locks horns with Kevin Holland (24-9 1NC, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas) in an intriguing matchup
• Matthew Semelsberger (11-5, fighting out of Frederick, Md.) squares off with Yohan Lainesse (9-2, fighting out of St-Bruno, Quebec, Canada) in an all-action welterweight bout
• Roman Kopylov (10-2, fighting out of Bachatsky, Kemerovo, Russia) meets Claudio Ribeiro (11-3, fighting out of Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brazil) at middleweight
• Trevin Giles (16-4, fighting out of Houston, Texas) battles undefeated Gabriel Bonfim (14-0, fighting out of Brasília, Brazil) in a welterweight tilt
• CJ Vergara (11-4-1, fighting out of San Antonio, Texas) takes on Vinicius Salvador (14-5, fighting out of Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil) at flyweight
• Joanne Wood (16-8, fighting out of Glasgow, Scotland) faces Priscila Cachoeira (12-4, fighting out of Bangu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in a flyweight bout

Media members wishing to apply for UFC^® 291: POIRIER vs. GAETHJE 2 credentials may sign up here.

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 233 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to over 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s active fighter roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global sports and entertainment company Endeavor and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About Utah Sports Commission

The Utah Sports Commission was created to be a catalyst for Utah in its Olympic legacy efforts and to help enhance Utah’s economy, image, and quality of life through the attraction, promotion, and development of national and international sports. Since the 2002 Olympics and Paralympics, the Utah Sports Commission has attracted over 1000 major events to the state. The Sports Commission works closely with communities, sports entities, and organizations to provide event services ranging from the bid process, on-site logistics, volunteer coordination, sponsorships and promotional opportunities, and other related services. It is a not-for-profit 501(c)6 business league and Utah Sports Commission Foundation, a not-for-profit 501c3 charitable organization, is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees consisting of statewide sports, business, community, and government leaders. For more information, visit www.utahsportscommission.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About Smith Entertainment Group

Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) is a sports, technology, and entertainment investment group focused primarily on the state of Utah. SEG’s portfolio includes the Utah Jazz (NBA), Real Salt Lake (MLS), the Delta Center, America First Field, the Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G League), Utah Jazz Gaming (NBA 2K League), Real Monarchs (MLS NEXT Pro), the Zone Sports Radio Network, the Utah Royals (NWSL – coming in 2024), and other Utah-centric business ventures.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

Baltimore, Maryland (May 31, 2023)–World class boxing returns to Baltimore on Saturday, June 24th as Ponytail Promotions and CNC Entertainment presents a big night at The Patapsco Arena.

In the featured contest, Mack Allison IV takes on Patrick Ayi Ayree in a eight-round super featherweight bout.

Allison of Baltimore is 16-3-1 with 11 knockouts. The 25 year-old is a seven-year pro who is coming off a fourth round stoppage over Lonnie Jackson Jr. on April 22nd in Baltimore.

Ayree of Accra, Ghana is 22-2-2 with 13 knockouts. The 27 year-old is 10 year-pro. He has wins over Michael Pappoe (12-1), Isaac Dowuona (6-0), Abraham Bonsu (12-2-1). Ayree, who will be making his United States debut, is coming off a eight-round draw with Bright Ayala (16-1) on January 5th in Ghana.

A massive 12-bout card has been assembled and it will include an eight-round super middleweight bout between Tyrell Boyd (8-, 8 KOs) of Baltimore and Derrick Vann (4-7) of Philadelphia.

In four-round bouts, Deshawn Owens (2-0, 1 KO) of Baltimore, Maryland takes on debuting Alberto Boites Salazar of Hampton, Virginia in a welterweight bout.

Pro debuting Juan Pablo Guillen Arancibia of Arlington, Virginia takes on Jaden Webb in a featherweight bout.

Fighters seeing action in four-round bouts against opponents to be named are middleweight Walter Sanders (2-0, 1 KO) of Baltimore; super featherweight La’Vay Lawrence (2-0, 2 KOs) of Washington, DC; super featherweight Dravintay Speed Rawls (13-1-1, 8 KOs) of Glenarden, Maryland; debuting welterweight Anwar Wingate of District Heights, Maryland; heavyweight Isaiah Branch (1-0, 1 KO) of Baltimore, Maryland; featherweight Christopher Glenn (3-0) of Hagerstown, Maryland; debuting welterweight Ricky Sanabria of Salisbury, Maryland; featherweight Ervin Fuller III (3-0, 2 KOs) of Fort Washington, Maryland

Tickets can be purchased at ponytail-promotions.eventbrite.com or call 410-499-5361

SUNRISE, FL. – May 31, 2023 – The undercard is now set as a stacked lineup will lead up to undefeated boxing Hall of Famer Floyd “Money” Mayweather’s return to the ring on Sunday, June 11, in an exhibition showdown against professional fighter John Gotti III, the grandson of famous gangster John Gotti.

A unique crossover extravaganza and star-studded night featuring musical performances and more, “LAST NAMES MATTER” will be available through Zeus Network Pay-Per-View on Sunday, June 11, from FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, in partnership with renowned director and producer Deon Taylor. Be sure to catch the exciting fight week activities at The Fontainebleau Miami Beach, the official Fight Week home of Mayweather vs. Gotti.

Tickets for the live event are available through Ticketmaster by clicking HERE.

In the co-featured, eight-round exhibition, film and fighting star Ulysess “The Monster” Diaz will rematch popular UK-based fighting star Khalas “BabaYaga” Karim in the sequel to their all-out war from February that stole the show on another Mayweather topped Zeus Pay-Per-View undercard.

Incredibly, Cuban-born, Miami-based cruiserweight Ulysses “The Monster” Diaz didn’t start fighting professionally until he was 35 years old. The subject of a 2022 Urban Film Festival-winning documentary about his life, Diaz grew up with accomplished rapper and singer Pitbull and even traveled the world as his head of security. The now 42-year-old has a successful boxing career at 14-1, 13 KOs and is a breakout star at bareknuckle boxing, where he broke the record for the World’s Fastest Combat Sports KO, made official by Guinness World Records, by laying out Donelei Benedetto in three seconds. Diaz is engaged to WWE Diva Dana Brooke.

Popular “Wicked n’ Bad” light heavyweight champion and boxing prodigy Khalas Karim currently resides in the UK and is originally from Morocco via Denmark. Karim asserted himself as a force by going toe-to-toe with the formidable Diaz in their first clash, an exhibition slugfest for the ages. Despite the size and experience disadvantages, Karim showed refined technique against Diaz and was surging as the fight progressed.

In another high-profile four-round exhibition, world-class heavyweight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller will take on popular Vegas-based undefeated heavyweight Antonio Zepeda.

The undefeated Jarrell Miller was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, home to his idols and former greats Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe. An outspoken and entertaining slugger, Miller began boxing at the age of 16 and went 10-1 as an amateur. Now 34-years-old, the 6’ 4” Miller currently holds a professional record of 26-0-1, with 22 KOs and was last seen knocking out former champion Lucas Browne in six rounds in March of this year. Still considered a dangerous heavyweight, Miller is closing in on a career-defining fight against one of the current stars of the big man’s division.

An “against the odds” story of perseverance, Antonio Zepeda was raised in Phoenix group homes after his father, who was serving a life sentence for murder, died in prison in 2014, and his mother, who struggled and was on the streets, died a year earlier. The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Zepeda was a Phoenix Camelback High School All-Arizona football defensive end. He began his boxing training less than a year after his dreams of an NFL career ended at UNLV in 2017, when he suffered a broken tibia, torn MCL and meniscus. The 28-year-old Zepeda is currently 6-0, 6 KOs as a boxer and a 2-0, 2 KOs in MMA. Now residing in Las Vegas, Zepeda’s fighting style has drawn comparisons, stylistically, to former Polish heavyweight Andrew Golota.

Also scheduled for action is a four-round bareknuckle boxing match between MMA star Hector Lombard and Eric Turner.

Héctor Lombard is a Cuban and Australian professional mixed martial artist, bodybuilder, and former Olympic judoka who competes in the Light Heavyweight division of Eagle FC. Lombard is best known for his tenure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and has also fought in Deep, Pride, and Bellator where he was the inaugural Bellator Middleweight Champion. Born in Cuba Lombard represented his home nation at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in Judo.

In another four-round exhibition bout, J’Hon Ingram will battle Ryan “Stone” Allen.

Light welterweight prospect J’Hon Ingram (3-0, 3 KOs) has been touted as “The Next Floyd Mayweather,” by Mayweather himself. The undefeated Las Vegas resident had a short amateur career of just 12 bouts, as his impressive style was already better suited to the professional ranks. Originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Ingram was first introduced to Mayweather when the Hall of Famer was looking for a sparring partner for an upcoming exhibition fight. The first sparring session with Mayweather proved life changing for Ingram and gave him experiences money can’t buy. The 22-year-old Ingram most recently saw viral success online for knocking out world champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero in a sparring video.

The 30-year-old Ryan Allen (10-6-1, 5 KOs) currently resides in Las Vegas, but originally hails from Jackson, Michigan. A seven-year professional, Allen has faced a list of top contenders, including current world champion Robeisy Ramirez and has never been stopped. The deceptively capable Allen has never lost to a fighter with more than one loss on this record.

To open the action, Kamari “KB3” Burnside will fight three exhibition rounds against Brendan Jackson.

A Las Vegas resident, Burnside is a promising amateur boxer and sparring partner for fellow boxing prospect Nico Ali Walsh at Top Rank Gym. A Floyd Mayweather protegee, the 6’ Burnside was formerly a basketball standout guard at Desert Oasis High School in Las Vegas where he was named the Las Vegas League Defensive Player-of-the- Year; averaging 13 points per game, 4 assists per game, 3 rebounds per game, 2.8 steals per game, and breaking the Nevada high school record for steals in a season with 84.

In addition to Mayweather’s exhibition, the event will feature performances from superstar recording artist Ozuna and more. Ozuna has won multiple Latin Grammy Awards and Billboard Music Awards, in addition to his 2018 collaboration with DJ Snake, Cardi B and Selena Gomez on “Taki Taki” that went quadruple platinum.

The event is dedicated to the loving memory of Marikit “Kitchie” Laurico, Mayweather’s longtime assistant who passed away suddenly in April.

#         #         #

ABOUT ZEUS NETWORK

Founded by Lemuel Plummer (also serves as CEO), The Zeus Network, is the first subscription-on-demand streaming service created by millennials for millennials. Launched in July 2018, the network features exclusive, original scripted, unscripted comedy and drama series and other premium content. Zeus is available to subscribers for $5.99 monthly on mobile phones and desktop computers at The Zeus Network.com. The Zeus mobile and connected TV apps are available on the Apple App store, Google Play Store, Amazon App Store, Roku and more providing access to anywhere, anytime, any device. Follow Zeus on Instagram and Facebook under @TheZeusNetwork.

Ahead of the June 10 Junior Welterweight Championship live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY, ESPN will air Trash Talk: Taylor vs. Lopez, a 30-minute all-access preview into one of the most heated world title fights of the year.

Viewers will see both fighters sound off in a verbal war as the show goes inside the fight camps of undefeated WBO junior welterweight world champion Josh Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) and the former unified lightweight kingpin Teófimo Lopez (18-1, 13 KOs).

It’s “The Tartan Tornado” vs. “The Takeover.”  Taylor, the first British fighter to become undisputed champion in the four-belt era, proudly represents his native Scotland and is on the shortlist of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world today. Lopez, a native son of Brooklyn, New York, headlines for his third time at “The Mecca of Boxing,” where he seeks to become a two-division world champion and regain his place among the pound-for-pound elite.

In addition to the air times below, Trash Talk: Taylor vs. Lopez will also be available for replay on-demand in the ESPN App and on ESPN.com and ESPN+.

Trash Talk: Taylor vs. Lopez

ESPN+, ESPN App Boxing Content: Live and Upcoming, On Demand, Studio Shows, Archives

• Top Rank: Real Time Go all-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night
• Boxing
• Top Rank
• State of Boxing

• Max on Boxing Max Kellerman hosts a 30-minute series weighing in on key boxing news and providing insights on the sport’s top fighters and upcoming events
• Who Do U Fight 4? Get to know the next generation of Top Rank stars and learn what drives them

Follow @ESPNRingside on social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter TikTok

About ESPN 

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.? ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.? 

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).   

LOS ANGELES (May 31, 2023) – Undefeated prospect Darius “DFG” Fulghum (4-0, 4 KOs) headlines a sold-out pro card event for the first time this Saturday night against Las Vegas-based light heavyweight Symari Alexander (2-1, 2 KOs) in the six-round main event at Galveston Island Convention Center in Galveston, Texas.

“Words can’t really express how I really feel about headlining this show (presented by El Tigre Promotions),” Fulghum said. “Not only am I headlining for the first time, but I’m fighting locally (Galveston is a 45-minute drive from Houston). It’s a blessing; great opportunity for me. I’m ready to put on a show!”

The 26-year-old Fulghum, who is a promotional free agent, and Alexander are familiar with each other, having fought twice in the amateurs in 2016.

“I beat him twice and there was a walkover too (technically 3-0),” Fulghum remembered. “But that was a long time ago and it doesn’t mean anything now. We’ll see how we’ve grown as fighters, both of us, how we’ve evolved. This is our trilogy fight.”

Fulghum is coming off an impressive victory this past April 29^th, when he destroyed the battle-tested, Jay Williams in the second round, finishing him off with a devastating left hook, right-hand combination. Darius hadn’t fought in eight months and now he’s fighting only five weeks later.

“I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do because my pro career started a little slow,” Fulghum remarked. “I was in shape, on weight, so I figured. why not take this fight? I want to keep rolling as soon as possible. My preparation literally doesn’t change. I’m in the gym working hard and that’s what works for me. Plus, I get to put on a show for my hometown crowd. Texas has always shown me great love and support and I hope to return the favor to my community in due time.”

A licensed nurse in Texas with a degree from Prairie View A & M University, Fulghum was a decorated amateur boxer, ranked No. 1 in the USA as a heavyweight, despite fighting as a light heavyweight/super middleweight as a pro, capturing top honors at the 2018 National Golden Gloves Tournament and 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, all accomplished as he attended college.

Fulghum is working with 3 Point Management (3 PM), a growing company based in Los Angeles that has a growing stable of gifted boxers including former world super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-1, 30 KOs), NABA super flyweight champion John “Scrappy” Ramirez (12-0, 8 KOs), light heavyweight Kareem Hackett (11-0, 5 KOs), super middleweight Cem “Champ” Kilic (17-1, 11 KOs), and heavyweight Zach Spiller (3-0, 2 KOs).

INFORMATION:

Instagram/Twitter/Linkedin: @DariusFulghum

May 30, 2023) — Undefeated super middleweight contender Erik Bazinyan returns in a 10-round main event against Mexico’s Jose de Jesus Macias this Thursday, June 1 at Casino de Montreal in Montreal, Canada.
 
Bazinyan-Macias and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Bazinyan (29-0, 21 KOs) is a 28-year-old native of Yerevan, Armenia who moved to Canada when he was 16. Following an amateur career of more than 100 fights, he debuted as a pro in 2013, four months after his 18th birthday. Bazinyan rose the rankings by defeating a host of seasoned veterans, including Alan Campa, Saul Roman, Scott Sigmon, and Marcelo Esteban Coceres. Bazinyan returns to the ring after defeating Alantez Fox in February and plans to turn his attention toward the top dogs of the division if successful on Thursday. Macias (28-11-4, 14 KOs) is a 12-year veteran who holds a win over Bazinyan’s stablemate and two-time title challenger Steven Butler. The 31-year-old heads into this clash following a decision loss to Pavel Silyagin last July.

In other streaming action from Montreal:

• Canada native Steve Claggett (34-7-2, 24 KOs) will face Puerto Rican former world champion Alberto Machado (23-3, 19 KOs) in a 10-round junior welterweight battle. Claggett has scored five consecutive knockout wins since losing to Mathieu Germain in 2021. In his last fight, he beat Rafael Guzman Lugo via seventh-round TKO in March. Machado is coming off an eighth-round stoppage win against Jose Angulo last December.
   
• In an eight-round junior lightweight bout, Avery Martin Duval (9-0-1, 5 KOs) takes on Mexico’s Andres Sanchez Ramirez (6-6-3, 2 KOs). Duval looks to extend his winning streak to six, while Ramirez returns after two wins in his native land.  
   
• Southpaw prospect Thomas Chabot (8-0, 7 KOs) makes his 2023 debut in a six-rounder against Luis Bolanos Lopez (4-2-1). 
   
• Middleweight standout Alexandre Gaumont (7-0, 5 KOs) looks to earn his fourth straight knockout in a six-round fight against Poland’s Piotr Bis (6-2-1, 2 KOs).

# # #

 
About ESPN+  
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). 

DETROIT – May 30, 2023 – Undisputed Middleweight World Champion Claressa “G.W.O.A.T.” Shields kicked off fight week on Tuesday with a media workout as she prepares to bring big-time boxing back to Detroit when she takes on No. 1 rated contender Maricela Cornejo this Saturday, June 3 from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and streamed live on DAZN in the U.S. and Canada.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and can be purchased through 313Presents.com, Ticketmaster.com and the XFINITY Box Office at Little Caesars Arena. The event is promoted by Salita Promotions and 313 Presents.

The main event fighters showed off their skills Tuesday at the Downtown Boxing Gym in Detroit, as they prepare to enter the ring in the first-ever boxing event at Little Caesars Arena. Here is what the main event participants had to say Tuesday:

CLARESSA SHIELDS

“I had to switch my mind set up when Maricela Cornejo became the opponent. She’s tall, she’s fresh and she’s fought for the world title before. This chance to fight for undisputed is once in a lifetime for her. I’m excited to face an opponent who I know is ready to go.

“I’ve watched Cornejo on film and seen how she boxes. The thing is, I just feel like I’m a league above these girls, and I’m gonna show it on Saturday night.

“I’m super excited to fight in front of thousands at Little Caesars Arena. I’ve had to keep my head down and train. I might put the makeup and hair and nice clothes on, but I’m not doing anything but focusing on the fight. This is a big moment for Detroit and myself, but the most important thing right now is just winning this fight.

“No matter who is fighting me on Saturday, they’re getting their ass kicked. The same thing that was gonna happen to my previous opponent, is what’s gonna happen to Cornejo.”

MARICELA CORNEJO

“When I got the call, I was just about ending camp for a fight on June 6. It was perfect timing. Everything lined up so well that I couldn’t say no.

“This was the first camp I ever had a strength and conditioning coach. Coach Larry Wade put me in the best possible shape so that I could take advantage of this opportunity.

“I know what kind of fighter Claressa is, but I also know what kind of fighter I am. I have absolutely no doubt in my ability with this new team I have and the strength and confidence that they installed in me.

“This is Mari 2.0. I’m taking it on. If you watch any film that’s out there on me, there’s absolutely nothing that looks anything like this Maricela. I’m excited for the world to see the new me too.”