BETHLEHEM, PA. (December 25, 2015) – Undefeated super featherweight contender
Omar “Super O” Douglas (15-0, 11 KOs) faces his toughest test when he battles
Frank De Alba (17-1-2, 6 KOs) in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 and BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes with televised coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Tuesday, December 29 from Sands Bethlehem Event Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

With the fight taking place just four days after Christmas, Douglas and De Alba are trying to go about their business just as everyone else in light of the time of the year where most are spending time with family and gorging out on holiday food.

“My training has been great. I am just putting the finishing touches on camp. We are just working on the gameplan and focusing on defense,”said Douglas.

“For me fighting around the holidays is no big deal. I have fought around Thanksgiving a lot, so training around this time has no affect on me. This fight is very important and there will be more Christmas’in future years. This is a huge opportunity that I won’t let slip away.”

When asked how he will be spending Christmas, Douglas will mix in some work to go with celebrating.

“I will go to my mother’s house early, open gifts and have a great time with my family. I will kick back for a little and go on a run and hit the gym late in the day and put the finishing touches on everything. I am on weight so everything is good.”

Said De Alba, “Training camp has been great. Honestly, the camp could not be any better. I am excited for Tuesday. I have put in the work and it should be a great fight.”

“The holidays are not a distraction. When I dedicate myself, I am only focused on the fight. I really don’t think about the holiday, especially when I have a fight of this magnitude. I only think about the fight.”

Like Douglas, De Alba will get in some leisure time on Christmas Day while he continues to put the work in for Tuesday’s encounter.

“I will go to my family’s house. I will see all the kids, open up gifts and enjoy my family. I am good on weight but will do some cardio in the morning. The work has been done . If it is not done by now, there is nothing in the last few days that will change. This is going to be a great fight and may the best man win.”

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com www.sandseventcenter.com and http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage, www.foxdeportes.com
Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @SuperO130KP, @FS1, @TheSBEC, @foxdeportes and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.faceboox.com/foxdeportes and www.Facebook.com/the SBEC. Highlights available at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions.

SAN ANTONIO, TX (December 24, 2015) – Yesterday hot undefeated super-featherweight prospect, Mario Barrios (14-0, 8 KOs), joined the Christmas spirit by donating gifts to the local boys and girls club in San Antonio. Barrios, along with cornerman Rick Nunez, delivered shoes and toys to the kids, brining smiles to everyone involved.

“It was great to see the smiles on all the kids when Rick and I dropped off the gifts,” said Mario Barrios. “I know there are a lot of kids out there that don’t get to receive many gifts during Christmas so it was nice to provide something extra for these children. It was fun and everyone was happy.”

“Mario Barrios has a big heart and he’s a great role model to everyone out here in San Antonio.” said Rick Nunez. “When he asked me to join him I didn’t hesitate. Together we were able to put a lot of smiles on those kids. It was very rewarding and Mario and I are very happy to be part of something special during Christmas.”

Unbeaten Ahmet Patterson aims to make 2016 his breakthrough year, starting with Ryan Aston on Friday 22nd January at the York Hall.

Patterson features as chief-support to headliner Ryan Walsh’s first British Featherweight title defence, exclusively live on BoxNation.

The top-talent from Dulwich takes on the Dudley ‘Tank’ with the Vacant IBF Intercontinental Super-Welterweight Championship on the line and a win will secure him an IBF world top 15 ranking.

Known as the “Punch Picker” for his precision punching, Patterson, is ready to deliver a top performance and make his name in the red hot 11st division.

“I’ve been bubbling away for the last few year but I’m ready to burst through the scene next year and start ripping it up,” said Patterson.

“It’s an exciting division with lots of top domestic names, Liam Smith, Brian Rose, Mathew Macklin, Liam Williams, Gary Corcoran, Jimmy Kelly, I’d like to end 2016 by facing at least one of those names,”

“I’m working my way towards the world title, that’s my dream, I want the British title along the way to make my mark as the best in Britain, any other belts I win will be fantastic, but it’s the world title I’ve set my sights on,”

“I don’t watch or study opponents so I don’t know what Aston is like, that’s the way I fight every opponent, I like to figure them out when I get in the ring. To me that is what a true fighter is, the ability to get in the ring and suss out what’s in front of you and put a plan together to beat him,”

“It’s great to be in action at the beginning of the year and I’m kicking it off with a winning performance against Aston before making my next move.”

Heading up the undercard Erith super-bantamweight Lewis Pettitt makes his comeback; Dagenham lightweight talent Ediz Hussein competes in a six rounder; West Ham super-welterweight Sam McNess; Chelmsford super-middleweight Billy Long; Chingford lightweight Archie Sharp; West Ham super-lightweight Ben Smith and Sidcup super-featherweight D.P Carr.

Tickets priced at £40 and £60 are available from Ticket Master at www.ticketmaster.co.uk and 0844 844 0444

For media accreditation please go to www.frankwarren.com and go to the events page to apply.

The Channel Of Champions, BoxNation, will televise live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546 and Talk Talk 415. Subscribe at www.boxnation.com Or watch online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android.

BETHLEHEM, PA. (December 23, 2015) – Undefeated welterweight prospect Miguel Cruz (11-0, 10 KOs) will face Virgil Green (11-4, 3 KOs) while unbeaten light heavyweight Leo Hall (8-0, 7 KOs) takes on Dustin Craig Echard (11-2, 8 KOs) in a pair of eight round bouts on Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 and BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes on Tuesday, December 29.

Live coverage starts at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT from Sands Bethlehem Event Center and is headlined by undefeated super featherweight contender Omar “Super O” Douglas (15-0, 11 KOs) in a 10-round battle against Frank De Alba (17-1-2, 6 KOs).

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by King’s Promotions, are priced at $100, $75 and $45, not including applicable service charges and taxes and are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

Additional action features undefeated 21-year-old prospect Kyrone Davis (9-0, 4 KOs) of Wilmington, Delaware in an eight round middleweight affair against Phoenix’s Andrew Hernandez (10-2-1, 2 KOs), undefeated Philadelphia-born featherweight Stephen Fulton (7-0, 3 KOs) in a six round attraction and 19-year-old Philadelphia-product Milton Santiago (12-0, 3 KOs) in an eight round welterweight showdown against Puerto Rico’s Daniel Sostre (13-11-1, 5 KOs).

Also entering the ring is undefeated Brooklyn-born prospect Earl Newman (7-0, 6 KOs) in a six-round light heavyweight contest against Victor Kpadenou (10-8, 5 KOs) of Benin, undefeated featherweight Chris Colbert (3-0, 2 KOs) out of Brooklyn who battles Philadelphia’s Derrick Bivins (2-3-2, 1 KO) in a six round fight and 27-year-old Denis Douglin (19-4, 12 KOs) out of Marlboro, New Jersey in an eight round super middleweight bout.

Round out the packed night of action is Pittsburgh’s Justin Johnson (6-10-4) against Philadelphia’s David Gonzalez (6-0-2, 1 KO) in a four round super lightweight fight, hard-hitting Ecuadorian super welterweight Eduardo Flores (23-18-3, 15 KOs) against Junior Castillo (8-0, 8 KOs) of Reading, Pennsylvania in a six round bout and Philadelphia’s Jerome Conquest (3-1, 1 KO) in a six-round super lightweight battle against Christian Molina (4-1, 3 KOs) out of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Born in Aguada, Puerto Rico and now residing in Lake Mary, Florida, the 25-year-old Cruz was a member of the Puerto Rico National Team as an amateur. He turned pro in 2012 and owns five victories in 2015 as he ended fights with Daniel Rodriguez, Eli Addison, Juan Rodriguez, Travis Hartman and Anthony Abbruzzese inside the distance. He will take on the 27-year-old Green out of Vancouver, Washington. Green enters this bout on a three-fight winning streak and as the winner of six of his last seven bouts.

Undefeated at just 21-years-old, Hall looks to close out 2015 with five straight wins after knocking out Ricardo Campillo in October. The Detroit native turned pro in February 2014 by stopping Brand Larvadain. He will be opposed by the 29-year-old Echard out of West Virginia who owns a victory over Jason Pauley in 2015.

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com www.sandseventcenter.com and http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage, www.foxdeportes.com
Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @SuperO130KP, @FS1, @TheSBEC, @foxdeportes and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.faceboox.com/foxdeportes and www.Facebook.com/the SBEC. Highlights available at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions

23 December 2015 – Singapore: Asia’s largest sports media property, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has announced that the organization will lead the global MMA industry by banning weight-cutting by dehydration and instituting a new set of regulations and policies governing the weigh-in procedures and contracted weight limits. The new program, which is the first of its kind for combat sports, is focused on athlete safety by introducing “walking-weight” competition via multiple weigh-ins and tests before and during fight week, including 3 hours before an event begins.

Athletes will now compete at their “walking-weight”, which will be determined by a robust system that will track his/her weight on a regular basis throughout the period that the athlete is contracted to ONE. Full details of the new weigh-in program can be found on www.ONEFC.com.

The revolutionary weigh-in program was established after thorough discussions and recommendations by ONE Championship’s medical and competition team, consisting of Chief Doctor Dr. Warren Wang, Chief Medical Advisor Dr. James Okamoto, Vice President Mr. Rich Franklin, Vice President of Operations & Competition Mr. Matt Hume, Global Athlete Services & Competition Director Mr. Richard Auty and China Athlete Services & Competition Director Mr. Vaughn Anderson.

CEO of ONE Championship™ Victor Cui stated, “ONE Championship has paved the way for MMA in Asia and we have always been at the forefront of innovation for the sport. By banning weight cutting by dehydration, we are leading the way globally for enhanced safety standards for professional MMA athletes. We believe that through the implementation of this new weigh-in program, our fighters will enjoy a safer and healthier life inside and outside of the cage. I invite the other two major global MMA organizations, Bellator and UFC, to follow in our footsteps to protect athletes and to eliminate the process of weight cutting by dehydration.”

Vice President of ONE Championship™ Rich Franklin stated, “Today I’m proud to have been involved with developing the new weigh-in program for ONE athletes. As a former MMA champion, I’ve been through the process of weight-cutting by dehydration countless times and I know first-hand how it affects an athlete physically. I personally understand the importance of safety and competing at your very best as a professional MMA athlete and after reviewing the new regulations and policies governing the weigh-in procedures and contracted weight limits, this new program does both for our athletes.”

Vice President of Operations & Competition of ONE Championship™ Matt Hume stated, “The safety of our athletes is the top priority of ONE. After bringing in top medical officials from both the USA and Asia, we believe we have put together the best possible weigh-in program in combat sports. This program will revolutionize the way weigh-ins are conducted around the world and we look forward to the positive outcome it will have on safety standards related to weight-cutting globally.”

The new program will commence from January 2016 and will be applied to all athletes competing under the ONE banner.

For more updates, please visit www.onefc.com and follow Twitter and Instagram @ONEFCMMA and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA.

About ONE Championship™
ONE Championship is the largest sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, the world’s most exciting mixed martial arts organization hosts the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. ONE Championship™ has partnered with FOX and STAR Sports for an unprecedented 10-year cable television deal with a coverage that spans 70+ countries across the world.

BROOKLYN (Dec. 22, 2015) – Four heavyweights will meet in two world title fights for one history-making night in Brooklyn.

Undefeated heavyweight challengers Charles Martin and Vyacheslav Glazkov will battle for the vacant IBF World Championship on Saturday, Jan. 16, at Barclays Center, live on SHOWTIME®. Glazkov vs. Martin joins the previously announced main event featuring undefeated WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilder (35-0, 34 KOs), of Tuscaloosa, Ala., making the third defense of his title against confident Artur Szpilka (20-1, 15 KOs), of Wieliczka, Poland.

“There has not been a heavyweight title fight in Brooklyn in 115 years. On Jan. 16, there will be two,” said Promoter Lou DiBella of DiBella Entertainment.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Warriors Boxing and Sferis Knockout Promotions, start at $25, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Purchase before January 1 and receive a 10 percent discount. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

?”?I’m feeling really blessed to get this opportunity,” said Martin. “I want to become a world champion so I can go down in history as a top heavyweight. Glazkov ?is a great fighter. He’s undefeated, ?so I know ?it’?s going to be a t?ough fight, ?but I’m coming in to be victorious. ?I’m getting ready and ?training hard so I can go out there and get that win.” ?

“I am looking forward to getting back in the ring and finally getting my opportunity to fight for a world title,” said Glazkov. “I want to thank everyone who helped me get to this place in my career.”

“It’s an honor to promote a dynamic young champion like Deontay Wilder against a tough threatening opponent like Szpilka,” said DiBella. “What would have been the first heavyweight title fight in Brooklyn in 115 years is now one of the first two. Martin versus Glazkov should be an extremely competitive fight and fans will be treated to the rarity of being able to see two world heavyweight championship fights on the same card.”

“I am excited to be involved in this historic event involving two heavyweight world titles fights, contested on the same evening,” said Leon Margules, President of Warriors Boxing. “Having worked with Artur Szpilka since he began his career, I know he is more than ready for this challenge. Artur and Charles Martin both have all the tools necessary to win heavyweight world title in Brooklyn on January 16.”

“January 16 will be our best card yet,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “We’re excited to host two heavyweight world title fights in one night and continue to make Brooklyn the center of boxing.”

Martin (22-0-1, 20 KOs), of Carson, Calif., by way of St. Louis, is 22-0-1 with 20 KOs and is rated fourth by the IBF. The Ukrainian Glazkov, the No. 1-ranked IBF contender, is 21-0-1 with 13 knockouts.

The unbeaten Martin has stopped his last 12 opponents. The 6-foot-5, 29-year-old southpaw is coming off a third round TKO of Vicente Sandez in September. Martin, a top-level amateur, has maintained a busy schedule since turning professional – he fought four times in 2015 and five times in 2014. Martin is trained by U.S. Olympian Henry Tillman in Big Bear, Calif.

The aggressive-minded, 6-foot-3 Glazkov has won seven consecutive fights, including both his outings in 2015. Glazkov, who has never been knocked down, owns victories over former champions Steve Cunningham and Tomasz Adamek. The win over Cunningham this past March earned him the No. 1 spot in the IBF. Before turning pro in July 2009, Glazkov was an amateur standout in the Ukraine – he won the bronze medal at super heavyweight at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and was a silver medalist at the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships. The 31-year-old will make his U.S. debut fighting for the IBF belt that was recently vacated by Tyson Fury.

# # #

Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP. For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @BronzeBomber, @Szpilka_Artur, @BarclaysCenter, @WarriorsBoxingProm and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter

Reading, PA. (December 21, 2015) – Heavyweight contender, Travis “My Time” Kauffman was honored in his hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania by the City Council for his excellent performance on December 12th against Chris Arreola in San Antonio, Texas.

In the proclamation, Kauffman was honored for not only his fight with Arreola, where he battled the former two-time world title challenger to a fight in which most people watching the fight both at ringside and watching on NBC had Kauffman ahead, but also for his activities in the community, which includes feeding the homeless and giving back in many facets in Reading.

“I worked hard for years just to get recognized by the city I love,” said Kauffman. “I made many mistakes in my life, but I turned my life around and have done everything to give back to my community and the people of Reading, Pa. I’m honored today to finally be recognized in my city after all the hard work and the dedication. Thank you to the mayor, the City Council, and the people of Reading, Pa for this award. I’m at a loss for words, but my journey has just begun. I love my city and will rep it until the death of me.”

Kauffman, 30-2 with 22 knockouts, is already back in the gym and is looking forward to his next bout which should come in the beginning of 2016.

Las Vegas, NV (December 21, 2015) This past Friday night at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, world ranked lightweight Denis “Genghis Khan” Shafikov, (36-2-1, 19KO’s) and undefeated cruiserweight contender Murat “Iron” Gassiev, (22-0-0, 16KO’s) were featured in separate fights telecast on Spike TV.

Both fights ended in less than satisfactory matters with Shafikov and Gassiev coming up short despite putting on dominating performances.

“Denis and Murat both deserved much better than the scoring and poor referee’s judgment,” said Leo Khorolinsky of Ural Boxing Promotions, manager of both fighters.

“Denis fought brilliantly against Rances Barthelemy, (24-0-0, 13KO’s), for the vacant IBF Lightweight World Championship, for almost the entire fight he drilled him with perfect combinations while the opponent looked confused.”

“Despite being badly cut in the 8th round, Denis still pressed the action until the end. Barthelemy knew he was in trouble in the second half and resorted to multiple low blows which the referee did nothing about.”

At the end of the twelve rounds, Barthelemy was declared the unanimous decision victor by scores of 116-112 twice and an appalling 119-109.

Continued Khorolinsky, “For a judge to be so completely wrong and only give Denis one round tells me he’s not qualified to assess scores on a world championship level. The other two were also off in only giving Denis four rounds as he clearly and effectively pressed the action and won the fight.”

Featured in the co-main event in an IBF Cruiserweight Title Eliminator, Gassiev faced the also undefeated Isiah Thomas, 15-0-0 (6KO’s) of Detroit.

Stalking Thomas from the opening bell, Gassiev controlled the action as he cut off the ring and displayed his full arsenal of heavy-handed power shots.

At the end of the third round, Gassiev drilled Thomas with a massive overhand right to the head followed by a second similar punch that landed just after the sound of the bell ending the round.

Thomas returned to his corner claiming that he could not continue and referee Jay Nady sighting his “diminished capacity” stopped the bout and declared it a no-contest as the fight did not reach four rounds.

“Thomas was looking for a way out, he knew Gassiev’s power was too much and that he was going to get badly hurt,” said Khorolinsky. “If there is a rematch Murat will waste no time in attacking him and going for a true stoppage.”

“I have full faith in Denis and Murat becoming world champions, after the holidays they will both return to Big Bear Lake, California to commence training camps with Abel Sanchez. We’ll get both of them in the biggest fights possible in 2016.”

LOS ANGELES (December 21, 2015) – Golden Boy Promotions closes their last fight weekend of 2015 with big fights and big victories in the United States and Mexico.

From Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York on Saturday, December 19, Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (24-0, 21 KOs) put on a spectacular performance and proved to the boxing world to be a serious threat in the heavyweight division when he defeated former world champion contender Bryant “By-By” Jennings (19-2, 10 KOs) on HBO Boxing After Dark® via seventh round technical knockout. Ortiz maintained his undefeated status and his WBA Interim Heavyweight World Title, putting him in the running to face any of the heavyweight world champions in 2016.

Headlining the HBO Latino Boxing® card, also from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York, Vyacheslav “Lion Heart – Chingonsky” Shabranskyy (15-0, 12 KOs) kept his undefeated record intact when he out-boxed Yuneski Gonzalez (16-2, 12 KOs) to a majority decision victory in an action-packed brawl that saw both fighters land huge shots throughout the fight. In the co-main of the HBO Latino telecast, “King” Gabriel Rosado (22-9, 13 KOs) shook off some tough early rounds to earn a hard-fought unanimous victory against former IBF Welterweight World Champion Joshua “Grand Master” Clottey (39-6, 22 KOs).

Also on Saturday, former WBA Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano (29-4-1, 21 KOs) of Tlalnepantla, Mexico and former WBC, WBA and IBF Flyweight World Champion Cristian “El Diamante” Mijares (53-8-2, 26 KOs) of Durango, Mexico, fought in respective bouts at the Gimnasio Deportivo Tlalli in Tlalnepantla, Mexico. Mijares defeated Christian Abbrazola (18-9-2, 13 KOs) from Chiapas, Mexico via seventh-round technical knockout in their scheduled eight-round lightweight fight while Cano faced on of the toughest fighters from Merida, Yucatan, Mexic, Silverio “Chamaco” Ortiz (34-15, 16 KOs) in a bloody 10-round super welterweight fight that showed a lot of action when Ortiz hit the canvas three times throughout the fight giving Cano a victory via unanimous decision.

Starting off the weekend in Indio, Calif. and Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico on Friday, December 18, Golden Boy Promotions put on two great events that featured the victories of two of its most promising fighters. First, Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz Jr. (19-0, 11 KOs) captured the vacant NABF Featherweight Title in a stunning second round technical knockout victory over the experienced Hugo “Olimpico” Partida (21-7-2, 16 KOs), live from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif and televised live on Estrella TV’s Boxeo Estellar. From Tijuana, boxing legacy Ivan “Niño Maravilla” Morales (29-1, 17 KOs) secured a fifth-round technical knockout victory over Manuel “Menny” Jimenez (13-8-1, 7 KOs) of their scheduled eight-round super bantamweight fight from Club Escape.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, or visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing.

South African super-puncher Zolani Tete, the Former IBF World Super-Flyweight Champion, has signed a long-term, multi-fight, promotional agreement with Frank Warren as he looks to become a two-time world champion.

Tete, from Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape, is one of the most explosive punchers in the division with a 18 knockouts in 22 wins and 12 of them coming inside the first round.

The 27-year-old southpaw is well remembered in the UK for his eighth round knockout of then unbeaten Ellesmere Port ace Paul Butler in March this year in an IBF World title defence.

Since then he’s vacated the title and notched up two further wins, smashing Diuhl Olguin in eight round in September and then outpointing Jether Oliva over twelve rounds, only a few days ago, to capture the WBO Africa title.

All-action Tete is excited to join Warren and believes that the Hall of Fame Promoter will be the man to guide him in his quest of becoming not only a two-time world champion, but also a multi-weight world champion

“I’m very excited to sign with Mr. Warren who’s international reputation and expertise is second to none and I believe that he is the man to put my trust and faith into with my career,” Said Tete.

“My ambition is to win another world title at super-flyweight and I will then move up to bantamweight and do the same there, and I could even move on to super-bantamweight, with Mr. Warren’s guidance my opportunities are endless and I look forward to a great 2016 with him,”

“My first fight under his promotion will be very soon and as the English fans’ have seen I bring a big punch and excitement every time I fight, I can’t wait to thrill the fans’ again.”

Warren has promoted many of the great African fighters in his four decades as a promoter, including world champions Baby Jake Matlala, Harry Simon, Sugar Boy Malinga and the legendary Azumah Nelson, is delighted to now be promoting a future great in Tete.

“Zolani is a world class operator and I’m absolutely delighted that he’s signed with me and look forward to working with his team,” Said Warren.

“I’ve promoted many great African fighters over the years, legends of the sport like Nelson, I had many great nights with Malinga and also Simon, I believe that Zolani could join them as a great fighter in his own right,”

“There are big plans for him next year, he could still fight at super-flyweight and there are also exciting options for him at bantamweight, he’ll soon be fighting for world titles.”

Tete’s manager Mlandeli Tengimfene is thrilled to join Warren, he said, “I believe that Zolani will be taken to a who new level by Mr. Warren and that is what he needs,”

“He’s a world class fighter and he needs world class promotion and that is what Mr. Warren is a specialist in so we are excited to be working with him, no one can do a better job,”

“Zolani is very very happy and now we will get to see the very best of him as he embarks on a very ambitious plan of winning world titles in different weights and mark himself as one of the greats from our continent.”

LAS VEGAS (December 21, 2015) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) will kick off the New Year with its 27th live event and first trip ever to the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. on Saturday, Jan. 23, live on NBCSN at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

In the WSOF27 lightweight (155 pounds) main event, Mike “The Martian” Ricci will square off with Caros “The Future” Fodor while, in the light heavyweight (205 pounds) co-main event, heavy-handed finisher Teddy Holder will battle undefeated Shamil Gamzatov.

“We are excited to make our debut in Memphis thanks, in great part, to V3 Fights, which has a stellar reputation for putting together great events in that market and is helping us bring our brand of live, world-class MMA action to new fans,” said World Series of Fighting CEO Carlos Silva.

Tickets for the event start at just $39.99, and are on sale at WSOF.com, all Ticketmaster locations, ticketmaster.com, the FedExForum Box Office, or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Mike Ricci vs. Caros Fodor

The 29-year-old Ricci (11-4) of Montreal, Quebec, Canada will enter the World Series of Fighting decagon cage on a three-fight win streak after scoring a highlight reel KO on Joe Condon with a head kick in the first round (2:41) of their matchup in the quarterfinal stage matchup of the WSOF25 one-night, eight-man tournament.

Fodor (10-4) of Kirkland, Wash. is looking to notch his third consecutive win in his World Series of Fighting debut after concluding a successful, four-fight run in Asia. The 31-year-old protégé of Matt Hume and brother of fellow World Series of Fighting competitor and costumed superhero Phoenix Jones exploded onto the national MMA scene in 2010 when he ran to five consecutive wins with the now defunct Strikeforce promotion.

Teddy Holder vs. Shamil Gamzatov

Holder (9-2) of Bartlett, Tenn. is a former high school football star turned MMA machine who made his first big mark in the sport at WSOF19 on March 28 after being bumped up from the event’s undercard to a co-main event matchup with established star Thiago Silva, on the day of the event due to the withdrawal of Silva’s original opponent, Matt Hamill, from the matchup.

Holder, whose nine-career victories have all come by way of (T)KO or submission, scored an upset, first round (2:00) TKO on Silva with a barrage of punches.

The unbeaten Gamzatov (9-0) of Makhachkala, Russia will make his debut in the U.S. after finishing all of his professional opponents to date in either the first or second round. The 25-year-old is the number two ranked light heavyweight in the Ukraine and the number 24 ranked light heavyweight in Russia.

Additional matchups for WSOF27 will be announced soon.

For more information, visit fedexforum.com, ‘like’ FedExForum on Facebook or follow on Twitter (@FedExForum).

ABOUT WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING

“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF) is a worldwide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com and follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries. WSOF and World Series of Fighting are registered trademarks of MMAWC, LLC.

ABOUT NBCSN
NBCSN, part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 85 million homes, the Emmy Award-winning network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL) – including two games of the Stanley Cup Final — Premier League, Formula One, IndyCar, Tour de France, the 34th America’s Cup, and beginning in 2015, NASCAR. In addition, NBCSN features college football, college basketball, college hockey, cycling, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, Fight Night boxing, Ironman, the Dew Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as Costas Tonight, NFL Turning Point, Pro Football Talk, The Dan Patrick Show, and NASCAR America. NBCSN is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

21 December 2015 – Singapore: Asia’s largest sports media property, ONE Championship™ (ONE) is thrilled to announce the dates for 14 upcoming events in 2016 that will be headlined by ONE’s roster of elite international world champions and local mixed martial arts heroes.

23 JANUARY
: CHANGSA STADIUM, CHANGSA, CHINA
29 JANUARY
: STADIUM NEGARA, KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
20 FEBRUARY
: ISTORA SENAYAN, JAKARTA, INDONESIA
18 MARCH
: THUWANNA INDOOR STADIUM, YANGON, MYANMAR
15 APRIL
: MALLS OF ASIA ARENA, MANILA, PHILIPPINES
06 MAY
: SINGAPORE INDOOR STADIUM, SINGAPORE
27 MAY
: IMPACT ARENA, BANGKOK, THAILAND
17 JUNE
: PHO PHU STADIUM, HO CHI MIN CITY, VIETNAM
01 JULY
: ASIA-WORLD EXPO, HONG KONG, CHINA
05 AUGUST
: NTU SPORTS CENTRE, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
02 SEPTEMBER
: STADIUM NEGARA, KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
22 OCTOBER
: ISTORA SENAYAN, JAKARTA, INDONESIA
11 NOVEMBER
: SINGAPORE INDOOR STADIUM, SINGAPORE
02 DECEMBER
: MALLS OF ASIA ARENA, MANILA, PHILIPPINES

In addition to this, ONE Championship™ is set to host an additional 10 events in China this year which will be announced shortly. The rapid growth of ONE Championship™ has significantly increased the demand for world-class international entertainment in Asia, and the organization is ready to deliver.

CEO of ONE Championship™ Victor Cui, stated, “As we wrap up 2015, I’m very pleased that it has been a great year for ONE Championship™ in terms of growth as we continue to expand at an incredibly rapid pace. We look forward to bringing our signature brand of world-class MMA action into more cities in Asia come 2016.”

“With our success in Asia and the Middle East, we are thrilled to announce that we will be entering three new markets next year, namely Thailand, Vietnam and Hong Kong. These are amazing cities with a massive following of martial arts fans and next year, these fans will get to experience ONE Championship’s superlative MMA events live!”

Cui added, “We will also return to our favourite cities in Asia – Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Singapore – with even greater shows and blockbuster fight cards that will ignite stadiums and get fans demanding for more!”

ONE Championship™ will announce further ground-breaking partnerships, explosive fight cards and main events as the demand for world-class mixed martial arts action hits a fever pitch among fight fans all across Asia.

For more updates on ONE Championship™, please visit www.onefc.com and follow Twitter and Instagram @ONEFCMMA and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA.

About ONE Championship™
ONE Championship is the largest sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, the world’s most exciting mixed martial arts organization hosts the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. ONE Championship™ has partnered with FOX and STAR Sports for an unprecedented 10-year cable television deal with a coverage that spans 70+ countries across the world.

By Bart Barry

Among the very few benefits of the PBC’s 2015 emergence is this: We now know clarity in prizefighting’s flagship division – heavyweight, according to legend – assures the longterm health of our beloved sport exactly not at all. Having a unified heavyweight champion for the last few years did nothing to defend us from what existential threats attacked in 2015.

That means Saturday’s match between Cuban Luis Ortiz, who, despite growing to 6-foot-4 in the world’s best amateur-boxing program, we’re told by his trainer, confronts more hardships than a Thomas Hardy heroine, and American Bryant Jennings was inconsequential as it was entertaining. Ain’t nothing wrong with that.

Last week I watched Chasing Tyson, an ESPN documentary that concludes with Tyson concluding Evander Holyfield is among the five greatest heavyweights of all time, or top three. There’s a touch of selfaggrandizement in that, and everything Tyson says, but Tyson’s rather substantial point is not missed: Holyfield is underrated. Possibly. He made quite a lump of cash for a man who didn’t get his due, and as a boxer-puncher who migrated from cruiserweight, he was not destined for what raucousness attended Tyson’s ascent and reign and descent and clutch of nostalgia tours (San Antonio’s performance of Undisputed Truth, despite HBO’s sponsorship, was cancelled for lack of ticketbuyers).

It was a nostalgia tour of my own that put me before the documentary: The late eighties and early nineties were the time I enjoyed boxing most for understanding its business least. Young prizefighting fans, or sportsfans generally, likely cannot imagine this, but there was an epoch when you knew almost nothing about your favorite prizefighter but his record and tapemeasurements – just like you knew almost nothing about your favorite Major Leaguer that wasn’t oppositeside his photo on a small piece of cardboard.

Memorizing purse sizes and opponents-avoided and broadcasting networks, these things, seemingly so essential today, were not what a young aficionado did. Probably a few kids incorporated perceived pieces of their favorites’ personalities in their identities, but mostly it was not a fulltime endeavor, or if it was you outgrew it. While the five minutes given to sports on your local nightly newscast gave you a fight result, accompanied by still photos or drawings from ringside, you didn’t learn anything definite about a heavyweight title fight till Sports Illustrated arrived the following Thursday.

What about Tyson on HBO? Cable didn’t even come to our town till Tyson’s reign was underway, and there was no way my father was going to pay more for a movie channel than the network broadcasting Red Sox and Bruins games.

A goodish amount of the superfights of the Tyson era, then, happened in one’s imagination before he got a tape of the fight in his family’s VCR a month later, and if I might be forgiven the blasphemy, I’m fairly certain that in maintaining this substantially greater distance between athlete and fan, things were healthier, less intimate, less urgent. If your favorite lost, you talked about it for a day or two, the novelty dissipated, and life marched right along.

What struck most about Chasing Tyson, and here is where we meander back to current events, was how sensationally more athletic those guys were than the beasts who lumber about at the end of the Klitschko Era. Persons who like to know things, who fetishize the number of data they carry about in their heads – a metric dated brutally by the billions of things any five-yearold with an internet connection can now “know” in a halfminute of searching – multiply height and reach and weight and quickly conclude today’s heavyweights are the most dominating that have peopled prizefighting’s purpled plains.

Nonsense. Watch the speed and craft shown by Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe, and know the James “Buster” Douglas who fought Tyson in Tokyo would race through most of the top heavyweights today, regardless of their height and reach advantages, and Douglas is as much a trivia question now as he was a punchline back then.

That is not to detract, quite, from Saturday’s HBO fare, a main event that saw Ortiz win the proper way, knocking the stuffing out of Jennings, another American in the athlete-cum-fighter line, a man who tried his hands and feet at lots of other sports till he was too old to make money at them then began boxing at age 24 (where he eventually lost the 2009 Golden Gloves title to a heavyweight now calling himself Cam F. Awesome [who’s actually a breathing synonym for “composure” in a fight]).

Ortiz is better schooled than Americans because he came of age in an excellent system, learning from men who fed their families by teaching boxing, not hobbyist dads holding stopwatches and yelling “give me ten more!” under the auspices of discipline or conditioning, or vicariousness. When he flows, Ortiz sort of resembles a prizefighter from any weightclass other than heavy, and that is high praise indeed.

A thought experiment that bears repetition: Imagine Wladimir Klitschko reduced by a foot and 100 pounds and set across from a prime Juan Manuel Marquez or Manny Pacquiao. For how many rounds would Marquez or Pacquiao toy with him before dropping the black curtain – two? three? There was a time, the one captured in Chasing Tyson, when heavyweights were very large versions of middleweights, when you might imagine a Holyfield or Tyson, shrunken by some inches and 50 or so pounds, stresstesting Floyd Mayweather’s defensive wiles to Emergency. Contrarily, for a snicker imagine one of today’s heavyweight titlists, Deontay Wilder, six inches and 60 pounds smaller and set across from Andre Ward. Then keep the mirth rolling by imagining a 112-pound man with Tyson Fury’s toolkit pitted against Roman Gonzalez.

Let us have no more loose talk about today’s heavyweight prizefighters belonging on pound-for-pound lists, whatever gaudy win streaks they enjoy. They are genetic lottery winners, each and every, and that’s enough – we don’t have to call them great at boxing, too.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

Luis Ortiz scored an impressive 7th round stoppage over Bryant Jennings in a Heavyweight bout at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

Ortiz rocked Jennings with straight left in round one and once again in round three with a combination in round three.  Jennings showed tremendous resolve by landing some solid shots inside that seemed to throw Ortiz of his game.

In round seven, Ortiz landed a thudding left that sent Jennings down face first.  Jennings was able to continue but for not much loner as two more lefts sent him stumbling into the ropes and the fight was stopped at 2:41.

Ortiz, 239 lbs of Cuba is 24-0 with 21 knockouts.  Jennings, 229 1/2 lbs of Philadelphia is 19-2.

Former Featherweight champion, Nicholas Walters and Jason Sosa battled to a dubious 10-round majority draw

Walters focused on the body and landed some crisp shots inside.  Sosa was wobbled in round five from a short right on the inside.  Sosa showed heart but Walters was accurate on the inside and landed 113 more punches then Sosa.

Somehow Sosa won a card 96-94 while two cards read even at 95-95.

Walters, 129 1/2 lbs of Montigo Bay, JAM is 26-0-1.  Sosa, 130 lbs of Camden, NJ is 18-1-4.

Gabriel Rosado pounded out a 10-round unanimous decision over former world champion Joshua Clottey in a Middleweight bout.

Rosado, 158 lbs of Philadelphia, PA won by scores of 97-93 twice and 96-94 and is now 22-9. Clottey, 157 lbs of Bronx, NY is 39-5.

Former world champion, Yuriorkis Gamboa won a 10-round unanimous decision over Hylon Williams in a Lightweight bout.

Gamboa, 133 lbs of Miami, FL won by scores of 98-92 twice and 96-94 and is now 25-1. Williams, 133 lbs of Houston, TX is now 16-2-1.

Miguel Berchelt scored a 3rd round stoppage over Rolondo Giono in a scheduled 10-round Super Featherweight bout at Coliseo Yucatan in Meridia, Mexico.

Berchelt floored Giono with a hard combination to the body in round three and the bout was stopped at 1:40.

Berchelt of Mexico is 28-1 with 25 knockouts. Giono of Panama falls to 17-7.

Juan Macias Montiel scored a 3rd round stoppage over previously undefeated Ivan Montero in a scheduled 10-round Super Welterweight bout.

In round three, Montiel drilled Montero with a perfect right down the middle that crumpled Montero to the canvas. A follow-up flurry forced the referee to stop the bout at 43 seconds of round three.

Montiel is 19-2-1 with all 19 coming early. Montero is 19-1.

Fernando Carcamo won a 6-round unanimous decision over Jonathan Duran in a Welterweight bout.

Carcamo is now 20-6-1. Duran is 13-11-1.

Alexis Uribe dropped Ruben Estrella in round one, Estrella returned the favor in round two, but it was Uribe who came home with the 4-round majority decision in the Super Featherweight bout.

Uribe was making his pro debut. Estrella is 0-2.

Follow all the action as Luis Ortiz battles Bryant Jennings for the WBA Interim Heavyweight title.  The action begins at 10:15 PM ET / 7:15 PT with a Super Featherweight bout between former world champion Nicholas Walters and Jason Sosa

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Round 1 Ortiz working the body…Straight left hurts Jennings..Big left hurts Jennings again..Jennings wobbling..God body shot..

Round 2 Jennings lands a combination..right..Uppercut from Ortiz..Uppercut from Jennings..

Round 3  Big left hurts Jennings..Combination from Jennings…

Round 4 Ortiz lands a left…2 Uppercuts from Jennings

Round 5 hard uppercut from Ortiz

Round 6 Combination for Ortiz

Round 7 Body shots from Jennings..Straight right from Jennings..HUGE UPPERCUT AND DOWN GOES JENNINGS..BIG RIGHT AND JENNINGS STUMBLES INTO THE ROPES..ONE MORE SHOT AND THE FIGHT IS STOPPED

Round 1 Good left hook to body from Walters..Left to body..Hard body..left to body and right from Sosas..Right from Walters

Round 2 Hard left from Walters..Right..left to body..Uppercut..Uppercut..Sosa lands a right uppercut..Good body shot

Round 3 Walters lands a jab

Round 4 Walters lands an uppercut on the inside

Round 5 Hard right wobbles Sosa..2 rights and uppercut from Sosa..Hard body shot from Walters..

Round 6

Round 7 Hard body shot from Walters..Vicious left hook to the body

Round 8 Walters lands a right down the middle

Round 9 2 hard rights from Sosa..right on the inside..Walters lands a body shot..Hard right and left hook from Sosa

Round 10 Right lead from Walters…

96-94 Sosa, 95-95 on 2 cards….DRAW

Punches:  Walters: 281-622    Sosa: 168-873

Former world title challenger Jonathan Barros won a 10-round unanimous decision over Pablo Barboza in a Super Featherweight bout at Salón Múltiple de la Sociedad Española in Santa Fe, Argentina.

Barros is 40-4-1. Barboza is 24-8.

Jose Villalobos won a 6-round split decision over former world title challenger Sebastian Lujan in a Super Welterweight bout.

Villalobos is 7-1-2. Lujan is 43-11-2.

Elias Araujo stopped Cristian Gonzalez in the final round of their Lightweight bout.

In round two, Araujo landed a heavy barrage in the corner which forced the referee to administer an 8-count. It was more of the same in round three as the heavy punches forced another 8-count on Gonzalez. In the fourth round, Araujo landed a hard flurry of punches and the bout was stopped.

Araujo is 8-0. Gonzalez is 6-5.

Maximiliano Veron won a 4-round split decision over Jonathan Casafu in a Super Lightweight bout.

Veron is now 7-0. Casafu falls to 5-11-5.

Rafael Dos Anjos retained the UFC Lightweight title with a 1st round destruction over Donald Cerrone at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.

Dos Anjos landed a left kick to the body that hurt Dos Anjos and he unloaded a barrage of punches on Cerrone against the Octagon.  Cerrone got to the ground but he absorbed a few more hard shots and the fight was stopped by referee Herb Dean at 1:06.

Dos Anjos, 154 lbs of Rio De Jineario, BRA is 25-7.  Cerrone, 154 1/2 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is 28-7-1.

Alistair Overeem scored an explosive 2nd round stoppage over former Heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos.

Dos Santos was bleeding from around his right eye and chin in the second frame.  Overeem landed a perfect left hook that dropped Dos Santos and the fight was quickly stopped at 4:43 of round two.

Overeem, 243 lbs of Amsterdam, The Neatherlands is now 40-14-1.  Dos Santos, 239 lbs of Salvador, BRA is 17-4.
Nate Diaz won a 3-round unanimous decision over Michael Johnson in a Lightweight bout.

Diaz, 156 lbs of Stockton, CA won all cards by scores of 29-28 and is no 19-10.  Johnson, 155 1/2 lbs of Boca raton, FL is 17-10.

Karolina Kowalkiewicz remained undefeated by winning a unanimous decision over Randa Markos in a Strawweight bout.

Scores were 30-27 and 29-28 twice for Kowalkiewicz, 114 1/2 lbs of Lodz, POL and is now 8-0.   Markos, 116 lbs of Montreal, QUE, CAN is 5-4.
Charles Oliveira scored a 1st round chokeout over Myles Jury in a Featherweight bout.

Oliveira was able to get a jumping choke on Jury while he was standing and he tapped out at 3:05

Oliveira, 150 1/2 lbs of Houston, TX is 21-5-1.  Jury, 146 lbs of Gilbert, AZ is 15-2.

Oliverira is now tied for the most submission wins.

Nate Marquardt stopped CB Dollaway in the 2nd round of their Middleweight bout.

Marquardt landed a perfect counter right hand while Dollaway was coming in that dropped Dollaway.  Marquardt landed one punch on the ground and the bout was stopped at 28 seconds of round two.

Marquardt, 186 lbs of Denver, CO is 37-15-2.  Dollaway, 185 1/2 lbs of Tempe, AZ is 16-9.

Valentina Shevchenko won a 3-round split decision over Sarah Kauffman in a Bantamweight bout.

Schevchenko won by scores of 29-28 twice while Kauffman took a card 29-28.

Shevchenko is 10-1.  Kauffman, 136 lbs of Victoria, BC, CAN is 17-4-1.

Tamden McCrory made Josh Samman in round three of their Middleweight bout.

McCrory won via triangle choke at 4:10 of round three.

McCrory, 185 lbs of Binghimton, NY is 14-3. Sammanan, 186 lbs of Tallahassee, FL is 12-4

Nik Lentz scored a 3-round split decision over Danny Castillo in a Lightweight bout.

Lentz won two cards 29-28 while Castillo took a card 29-28.

Lentz, 156 lbs of Coconut Creek, FL is 28-7-2-1. Castillo, 156 lbs of Sacramento CA is 17-10.

Joe Miller and Jim Allers fought to a no-contest in their Featherweight bout after Allers inadvertently poked Miller in the eye and he was unable to continue.

Miller, 146 lbs of Coconut Creek, FL is 21-9-1. Allers, 145 lbs of Ft. Lauderdale, FL is 13-2-1.

Billy Joe Saunders won the WBO Middleweight title with a 12-round majority decision over Andy Lee at The Manchester Arena in Manchester, England

Saunders dropped Lee twice in round three.  The first was from a perfect counter right on the chin.  Lee was hurt and tasted the canvas again from a flurry of punches that was punctuated by a right hand.  Lee was only occasionally able to land his vaunted power shots.  Saunders was never in any danger and the fight  turned into more of a jabbing contest, for which Saunders held his own.

Saunders won by scores of 115-111 and 114-112 and is now 23-0.  Lee of Limerick, Ireland is 34-3-1.