MARAT GAFUROV OUTLASTS NARANTUNGALAG JADAMBAA TO BE CROWNED UNDISPUTED ONE FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION PLUS: KAIRAT AKHMETOV SHOCKS ADRIANO MORAES TO CAPTURE ONE FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ALSO: YANG SEN WINS BEIJING FEATHERWEIGHT TOURNAMENT II

21 November 2015 – Beijing, China: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), in partnership with Wujie, packed the Gymnasium of National Olympic Sports Centre in Beijing to the rafters with another evening of world-class mixed martial arts action. ONE WUJIE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS (BEIJING II) rocked the arena with a series of exciting fights, including a spectacular main event. In an intense battle of two champions, Marat “Cobra” Gafurov successfully unified the ONE Featherweight World Championship with a technical submission victory over Narantungalag Jadambaa.

Visit the official ONE WUJIE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS (BEIJING II) photo gallery by clicking: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ivh34n9pza3q94o/AADwuMwRg-gnDecd5AIBoQyTa?dl=0

In the main event of the evening, Marat “Cobra” Gafurov of Russia overcame a spirited effort from now former champion Narantungalag Jadambaa of Mongolia to win by technical submission in an exhausting title bout. Jadambaa proved to the world that his striking is an absolute force to be reckoned with, battering Gafurov with well-timed kicks and pinpoint punching. Gafurov however, dominated from top position with various submission attempts and ground-and-pound. In the end, Gafurov secured a breathtaking rear naked choke to put Jadambaa to sleep, coercing referee Olivier Coste to call a halt to the contest.

In the co-main event, Greco-Roman wrestling specialist Kairat Akhmetov showcased his superior takedown ability to remain undefeated by trumping now former champion Adriano Moraes to capture the ONE Flyweight World Championship. Although Moraes led slightly with his revamped striking technique, Akhmetov scored on multiple takedowns and nullified the Brazilian’s submission attempts with top control. Judges scored the bout in favor of Akhmetov by split decision after five rounds.

Yang Sen took the fight straight to opponent Zhang Jia Cai to win by impressive Kimura submission in the Beijing Featherweight Tournament II final bout. Yang beat Zhang to the punch on numerous occasions and commandeered the action on the mat to set up the spectacular finish. With the victory, Yang maintained his undefeated record and was crowned tournament champion.

In an evenly matched flyweight contest, Li Wei Bin and Wang Ya Yong both put on an amazing display of grit and heart for three gruelling rounds. The two fighters maintained a fast pace throughout, with Li utilizing well-calculated strikes to keep Wang at bay. A spinning backfast landed for Wang in the second round but Li accomplished more down the stretch. Two judges had Li winning the fight as he was awarded with a split decision victory.

Nikolay Aleksakhin of Seltso, Russia utilized world-class wrestling to punish Burenzorig Batmunkh of Mongolia en-route to an impressive submission finish. Aleksakhin dominated his opponent on the ground and also established command in the striking department, highlighted by a spinning backfist in the final round. After three rounds of action, Aleksakhin was able to secure the rear naked choke, compelling Batmunkh to tap out.

Jeff “The Machine” Huang evened the score with Trestle Tan by scoring a quick technical knockout victory over the Filipino mixed martial artist. Tan blasted Huang with a combination to open the bout but Huang was able to secure a clinch up against the cage where he tagged Tan repeatedly with uppercuts, forcing the stoppage just moments into the first round.

Ma Jia Wen figured in a phenomenal performance against Wang Ya Wei as he trounced his opponent from start to finish with devastating power shots from all angles. Ma showcased dynamic striking technique and good range awareness to keep Wang at a distance, unable to take the fight to the ground. After two rounds of absolute dominance, the Tianjin native simply would not be denied of victory as he defeated Wang by unanimous decision.

Zhang Jia Cai got the better of the exchanges and showed solid submission defense against Qiao Long Fei who had no answer for Zhang’s tenacity. Zhang pummeled Qiao repeatedly with powerful strikes and dictated the action on the feet. On the mat, Zhang was able to lock in a modified rear naked choke from the side, forcing Qiao to tap out in the first round.

Mixed martial artist Ala Teng Bu Ri Ge De and Sanda specialist Yang Sen kicked off ONE WUJIE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS (BEIJING II) with a classic battle between grappler and striker. Ala Teng Bu Ri Ge De tried to control the action from top position but Yang’s striking superiority shone through as he repeatedly blasted his opponent with heavy strikes. In the end, two judges saw the fight for Yang who took the bout by split decision.

Official results for ONE WUJIE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS (BEIJING II)
ONE Featherweight World Championship bout: Marat Gafurov defeats Narantungalag Jadambaa by Technical Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:39 minutes of round 4
ONE Flyweight World Championship bout: Kairat Akhmetov defeats Adriano Moraes by Decision (Split)
Beijing Featherweight Tournament II final bout: Yang Sen defeats Zhang Jia Cai by Submission (Kimura) at 0:35 minutes of round 2
Flyweight bout: Li Wei Bin defeats Wang Ya Yong by Decision (Split)
Welterweight bout: Nikolay Aleksakhin defeats Burenzorig Batmunkh by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:39 minutes of round 3
Welterweight bout: Jeff Huang defeats Trestle Tan by TKO (Strikes) at 1:30 minutes of round 1
Beijing Featherweight Tournament II alternate bout: Ma Jia Wen defeats Wang Ya Wei by Unanimous Decision
Beijing Featherweight Tournament II semi-final bout: Zhang Jia Cai defeats Qiao Long Fei by Submission at 3:42 minutes of round 1
Beijing Featherweight Tournament II semi-final bout: Yang Sen defeats Ala Teng Bu Ri Ge De by Decision (Split)

In case you missed the action log on to www.oneppv.com for the full replay of the fights at only US $9.99.

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.




DIEGO DE LA HOYA SHINES IN HIS GRAND RETURN TO LAS VEGAS

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 20, 2015) An action-packed card kicked off a weekend of back-to-back fight nights in Las Vegas, preceding the highly-anticipated Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez card at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on Saturday, November 21 on HBO PPV. Attracting a crowd of 1,339, the night featured undefeated boxing legacy and fan-favorite Diego De La Hoya (13-0, 7 KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico facing fellow countryman Giovanni “Lloviznas” Delgado (15-4, 9 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico in what was an explosive eight-round super bantamweight main event, live on Boxeo Estelar on Estrella TV.

Ring legend Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins, former world champion Fernando “Feroz” Vargas and Golden Boy Promotion’s fighters “King” Gabriel Rosado, who also stars in the upcoming film CREED, Ivan “Striker” Delgado, Oscar “El Jaguar” Negrete and Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa were all on hand to enjoy the night of action.

De La Hoya shined with a unanimous decision victory over Delgado in his grand return to Las Vegas and to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. The fight saw back and forth action as both fighters traded combinations in the middle of the ring. Delgado proved a difficult opponent, landing hard combinations to the body and then following up with shots to the head of De La Hoya. De La Hoya showed his toughness and durability, taking Delgado’s shots and countering with clean effective punches of his own.

“I knew he (Delgado) was going to be a tough opponent,” said De La Hoya. “I used to spar with him when I was 15 years old so I was familiar with his style but I think now I am a faster and more intelligent fighter and that’s what gave me the victory tonight. This victory also proved to me that I have a great passion for the sport and hope to become a world champion soon. I’m not going to quit until I achieve my goal. I want to thank all the fans that came out to support me and I’m glad I closed out the year with victory.”

In the co-main event, undefeated John Karl Sosa (13-1, 6 KO’s) of Caguas, Puerto Rico battled Alan Sanchez (17-3-1, 9 KO’s) of Fairfield, CA in an eight-round welterweight bout. A tactical affair in the first few rounds, the two fighters showed their skill and ring intelligence as they got accustomed to the other’s style. Entering the final stanza of the fight, Sanchez was able to catch Sosa with a powerful shot that sent him to the canvas. Clearly hurt, Sosa bravely met the count but was sent down twice more, forcing the referee to call a stop to the bout, awarding Sanchez the win by sixth round technical knockout.

“I think my experience showed tonight. I was able to beat the favorite tonight, a young undefeated top prospect and this win means a lot to me and my career. I won and in a great way dropping him three times in the sixth round. This win proves that I have grown as a fight and am ready to go to the next level and compete for a regional title,” said Sanchez.

In the first televised bout of the evening, Guadalajara, Chihuahua, Mexico’s Horacio Garcia (30-1, 21 KO’s) took on Raul “Bule” Hidalgo (24-14, 8 KO’s) of Nuevas Casas Grandes,Chihuahua, Mexico. With Jose “Chepo” Reynoso, trainer of Canelo Alvarez in his corner, Horacio attacked Hidalgo from the opening round, landing hard shots to the head and body. The second round saw more of the same, as Garcia cornered Hidalgo on the ropes and landed clean, unanswered shots, prompting the referee to stop the fight, declaring Horacio the winner by second round technical knockout.

“This is my first time fighting in the U.S. and I feel that I gave a great performance. I am a strong, hungry fighter and this victory impressed the fans. I was prepared and I am ready to come back and show fans more,” said Garcia.

The last bout on The Ring TV’s live stream, Roy “Pitbull” Tapia (11-0-2, 6 KO’s) of East Los Angeles faced Erik Ruiz (14-4, 6 KO’s) of Oxnard, CA in an eight round super bantamweight matchup. The bout was close throughout, with both fighters landing shots at close range and trading momentum back and forth. Going to the scorecards, Ruiz was able to come away with a win via split decision.

“I thought I won the majority of the rounds but I got the win and that’s all that matters. Roy was a really tough guy and he came out throwing hard to the body like he said he would. It was a good fight and I’m glad the fans enjoyed it,” said Ruiz.

“He was beating me to the punch from the first round and it made it difficult to keep my rhythm. Honestly, I felt like I had lost but I know that I will come back stronger when I am in the ring next,” said Tapia.

As part of The Ring TV’s live stream, crowd favorite, Jason “El Animal” Quigley (9-0, 8 KO’s) put on a show as always in a four-round super middleweight bout against Marchristopher Adkins (5-2, 2 KO’s) of Dallas, TX. Quigley boxed effectively, controlling the distance and landing clean, hard shots, earning his first unanimous decision victory.

“It’s very exciting to get a knockout, but it’s also good to go the distance. I felt I showed my fans that I can box as well. I was in control the whole time and able to pressure him whenever I wanted. At the end, I knew I won every round,” said Quigley.

Opening up The Ring TV’s live stream, Francisco Esparza (2-0, 1 KO) of Las Vegas, NV, battled Jose Rodriguez (2-2, 1 KO) of San Juan, Puerto Rico. In a thrilling opening bout, the two fighters traded shots in the center of the ring, setting the tone for the card. At the end of the bout, Esparza was awarded a majority decision victory making his trainer Fernado “Feroz” Vargas proud.

“This was my second professional fight and I felt more comfortable and able to pace myself. I was also able to apply pressure when I wanted. My strategy was to move my head and break him down on the inside and I feel I did that efficiently tonight,” said Esparza.

Diego De La Hoya vs. Giovanni Delgado was presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra and Carmelita Chorizo. Doors opened at 4:30 p.m. and the first bout began at 5:00 p.m. The Boxeo Estelar broadcast aired live on Estrella TV at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00p.m. PT. The card also streamed live on EstrellaTV.com and on YouTube via FenomenoStudios. The Ring TV live stream began at approximately 5:00 p.m. PT through 6:00 p.m and was viewed on RingTVLive.com, YIPTV.com, Fightsports.tv, UCNLive.com,Facebook.com/RingTV, Livestream.com, and The Ring TV Channels on Roku and Amazon Fire.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.estrellatv.com, www.hardrockhotel.com, follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @EstrellaTV, @HardRockHotelLV and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/EstrellaTVNetwork, www.facebook.com/HardRockHotelLV visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @EstrellaTV and @HardRockHotelLV and follow theconversation using #BoxeoEstelar.




VIDEO: HBO Boxing News: Canelo’s Keys to Victory




Video: Between Rounds with Stokes and Sergey Kovalev




Video: Marco Antonio Barrera reflects on Naseem Hamed fight




Official Weights from Las Vegas

Saturday’s HBO Pay-Per-View® telecast begins at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.

The main event features Puerto Rican superstar Miguel Cotto taking on Mexican Sensation Canelo Alvarez in a 12-round middleweight championship mega-fight.

Official Weights from Las Vegas
Miguel Cotto: 153.5 lbs.
Canelo Alvarez: 155 lbs.

Join the conversation on Twitter: #CottoCanelo




VIDEO: 24/7 Cotto/Canelo Episode 2: Full Show




SHELDON MOORE TO MAKE UPRISING PROMOTIONS DEBUT ON NOV. 28th IN SWEDEN

Brooklyn, N.Y. (Friday, Nov. 20, 2015) – Belgian super welterweight Sheldon Moore (14-3-1, 10 KOs) will be making his debut under the Uprising Promotions banner next Saturday, November 28th, facing 29-fight veteran Lukasz Janik in Sweden. The bout goes down at the Rocklunda Hall in Vasteras, with Moore scheduled to make a quick turnaround on December 12th when he meets Islam Teffahi (17-5-2, 5 KOs) for the WBC International Silver and WBC Francophone Super Welterweight titles.

“Sheldon has a lot of talent and ability. We look to harness that energy and move him the right way,” said Ronson Frank, President of Uprising Promotions. “We are excited about his future as we build up the momentum for his upcoming title fight in December. After that fight, we are looking to bring him back over to the United States in January. I am excited about the possibilities for Sheldon and for us to have him part of the race towards our dream.”

Moore, 28, comes to Uprising Promotions following a fifth round knockout of Zoltan Sera this past May in Belgium. A winner of three of his last four bouts, the 5-foot-10 Moore has 10 stoppages over the 14 victories on his resume. He has fought predominately in Belgium over his 18-bout pro campaign, but he has also made four appearances in the United States as well. A boxer-puncher who is not afraid to test himself, Moore has faced nine opponents with three or less defeats.

Janik (14-14-1, 8 KOs) has been a bit of a world traveler when it comes to boxing, with the date in Sweden marking the tenth different country where he has competed as a professional prizefighter. Along with his willingness to travel, the Polish boxer has also fought 15 fighters with two or less losses over his pro campaign.

For more information on Uprising Promotions and to keep up with all of our latest news, make sure to follow us on social media: @UprisingNYC




Live Stream: Cotto vs. Canelo Official Weigh-In – Friday at 5:30 P.M. ET/2:30 P.M. PT




CROLLA AND MURRAY BACK EACH OTHER FOR GLORY

Callum Smith v Rocky Fielding  British Super Middleweight Title Fight, Echo Arena, Liverpool. Picture by Mark Robinson. 7th November 2015.
Callum Smith v Rocky Fielding British Super Middleweight Title Fight, Echo Arena, Liverpool.
Picture by Mark Robinson.
7th November 2015.

San Diego, CA – November, 20, 2015 -Anthony Crolla and Martin Murray have backed each other to land World titles on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.

Murray faces WBO World Super-Middleweight champion Arthur Abraham at the TUI Arena in Hannover, Germany in his fourth World title fight while Crolla meets Darleys Perez in a rematch for the WBA World Lightweight title at the Manchester Arena TOMORROW, November 21, live on AWE–A WEALTH OF ENTERTAINMENT beginning at 3 pm ET / 12 noon PT

St. Helens favourite Murray had three cracks at the top prize at Middleweight, with a controversial draw in Germany against Felix Sturm in 2011, a loss to Sergio Martinez in Argentina in 2013 after flooring the hometown favourite and a brave challenge to Gennady Golovkin in February for World titles. The 33 year old is the second Brit to challenge Abraham for his WBO strap this year after Crolla’s gym-mate Paul Smith met him in February in a rematch, and ‘Million Dollar’ thinks Murray will dethrone ‘King Arthur’.

“Martin can definitely take the title from Arthur on Saturday,” said Crolla. “Paul took him the distance twice and was on the receiving end of some harsh judging in the first meeting, and we all saw chinks in his armour in those fight that I am sure Martin can exploit.

“He’s come so close before against Sturm and Martinez but it feels like the right time for him to get the belt around his waist, and it will be a great boost if I am walking to the ring knowing that Martin has just beaten Arthur.”

Crolla was on the end of a tough call in his first meeting with Perez in July, when his he was only handed a draw for his heroic effort against the Colombian champion, who seemed to have handed the title to the Manchester favourite with points deductions in the 11th and 12th rounds for low blows.

Murray thought the 28 year old deserved the nod that night, but says that Crolla will go the extra yard tomorrow having almost got over the line in July.

“I thought Anthony won the first fight with Perez,” said Murray. “He was tremendous and got robbed really. I know how that feels and although you never truly get over it, you do realise when you go that close that you belong at elite level – and that will give Anthony massive belief.

“I spoke to him in Liverpool last week and he was so confident that he will do the business, and I think that we’re going to have two new World champions in Britain on Saturday.”

Boxing fans can enjoy this amazing card on AWE available on AT&T U-Verse, ch 147 and 1147 in HD, Verizon FiOS TV, ch 169 and 669 in HD, and numerous regional cable providers across the nation. Please check www.awetv.com for boxing updates.

About AWE LIVE BOXING

AWE LIVE Boxing features live world title championship and elimination bouts showcasing today’s most exciting fighters. Since the inception of AWE’s live boxing events in 2011, AWE has earned multiple Boxing Writers Association of America nominations for “Fight of the Year” and has featured over thirty world class boxing events. In 2013, AWE showcased all live bouts featuring heavyweight David Price. AWE aired live the stunning upsets of Tony Thompson over David Price, along with Adonis Stevenson and Tony Bellew cards, who fought each other for the light Heavyweight championship; 2008 Olympic Gold Medal winner James DeGale. AWE brought boxing fans two of the most controversial bouts which saw Ricky Burns keep his Lightweight title against Ray Beltran. AWE fans have witnessed the explosive power of undefeated heavyweight Tyson Fury multiple times on the network, including Fury’s victory over Kevin Johnson. In 2014, AWE televised the crowning of lightweight champion Terence Crawford with his win over Burns as well as the exciting rematches between Carl Frampton and Kiko Martinez as well as Tony Bellew defeating Nathan Cleverly.

About AWE – A Wealth of Entertainment

A Wealth of Entertainment (“AWE”) features a wide range of lifestyles and entertainment programming from exotic travel and outrageous homes to live world championship boxing. AWE is featured on over a hundred cable providers, including AT&T U-Verse, ch 147 and 1147 in HD and Verizon FiOS TV, ch 169 and 669 in HD. For more information, please visit www.awetv.com.




MITCHELL FACES BARROSO FOR WBA INTERIM TITLE AT THE O2 – PEREZ OR CROLLA FOR THE WINNER

Kevin Mitchell will face Ismael Barroso for the WBA Interim Lightweight title at The O2 in London on December 12, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

The clash takes Mitchell back to the scene of his epic WBC World title clash with Jorge Linares in May, and the popular Londoner will need to be at his very best at the sold-out venue against the visitor.

Unbeaten Barroso holds an enviable record of 18 wins with 17 of them coming inside the distance, and the reward for both men on the night is huge – as the victor must face the winner of Saturday’s rematch between WBA king Darleys Perez and Anthony Crolla within 90 days for the World title.

‘El Tigre’s’ impressive KO record is a daunting prospect for Mitchell, but the 31 year old believes he can beat the southpaw and hopes that will set up an all-British showdown with Anthony Crolla in 2016.

“This is a massive fight for me,” said Mitchell. “Barroso is a strong southpaw with power in both hands, but I am confident that I can smother that threat, impose my skills on him and get the win on another great night at The O2.

“I thought that Anthony won the first fight with Perez. I am sure he was gutted but the whole country is behind him and nobody more than me. He’s a great guy and a great fighter, and I’ll be cheering him on tomorrow – if he gets the win and I beat Barroso, we’ll serve up a massive fight in the spring.”

Mitchell’s clash with Barroso is part of a blockbuster night of action at The O2 topped by Anthony Joshua MBE’s British and Commonwealth Heavyweight title clash with bitter rival Dillian Whyte.

Chris Eubank Jr and Spike O’Sullivan meet in a final eliminator for the WBA World Middleweight title, Liverpool Cruiserweight favourite Tony Bellew faces Mateusz Masternak, while Josh Warrington and Luke Campbell MBE both also feature.

Anthony Joshua vs. Dillian Whyte is SOLD-OUT – visit http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ to get your hands on tickets.

StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing and Anthony Joshua MBE.




MURRAY REFLECTS ON PRIZEFIGHTER AHEAD OF WORLD TITLE TILT

Martin Murray
Martin Murray challenges Arthur Abraham for the WBO World Super-Middleweight title tomorrow in Hannover, live on Sky Sports – seven years after he claimed the Prizefighter Middleweight’s trophy.

Murray’s success that night came at York Hall in Bethnal Green, a far cry from the luxurious surroundings of the TUI Arena that will play host to his fourth World title shot against ‘King Arthur’.

But the St Helens star says much of his success in the ring can be traced back to November 22, 2008, where he beat Joe Rea and Danny Butler before edging out Cello Renda in a bruising final in east London.

“I was 9-0 and not at all well-known going into that night,” said Murray. “I boxed well and then the final against Cello was a classic, and from that night onwards my profile grew with it being live on Sky Sports.

“I’ve got great and fond memories of that night – especially the money! It did me the world of good and it’s mad to think that since then I’ve had three World title fights and I’m ready for my fourth.

“I’ve poured every ounce into the camp for this one and I sound like a broken record, but this feels like the right time for me and crucially, the right weight for me.”

The Super-Middleweight division remains one of the most attractive on the World stage and Britain is enjoying a purple-patch for talent right now. James DeGale MBE defends his IBF crown in Canada next weekend while Callum Smith and George Groves are massive fights out there in 2016. Murray admits that those fights appeal to him, but he has to get the crown first, and failure to do so could even see him consider his future.

“James has mentioned the fight but he cannot look past Bute and I cannot look past Abraham,” said Murray. “I know I can win this and if I do, there are big fights out there for me, if I don’t though, it could spell the end of my career – just because I really feel that this is my chance to finally get my hands on a World title.

“I would have to weigh things up if I don’t get the decision, so a lot rests on what happens tomorrow. I am not ready to retire, I think I am only just getting into my prime, so that is another motivation to get the win. This is the fourth one and the most confident I am of winning. I would be more gutted to not win this one than the others. I really feel that I am going to win and I have banked on that.”




TEAM COTTO EYES MAYWEATHER AS TRAINER ROACH BACKS HIM TO WIN REMATCH ON EVE OF BLOCKBUSTER SHOWDOWN WITH CANELO LIVE ON BOXNATION

miguel-cotto
LONDON (Nov 20) – Miguel Cotto’s trainer Freddie Roach wants the Puerto Rican ace to rematch and knockout pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather.

The Hall of Fame trainer believes he has the right strategy to overcome boxing’s number one fighter and wants four-weight champion Cotto to face him again should he be victorious in his middleweight blockbuster this weekend against Canelo Alvarez, live on BoxNation.

35-year-old Cotto was outpointed by Mayweather when they met in May 2012 but had not yet joined forces with the much respected Roach, someone who Cotto believes would have helped him knockout the now retired superstar.

“I would love for Miguel to win this fight [against Canelo] by knockout, call out Mayweather and then end his career,” said Roach.

“Miguel always tells me that if he had me in his corner when he fought Mayweather he would have knocked him out. He tells me that story all the time.

“I think Miguel could pull off the strategy I have to beat Mayweather. I think that would be a good fight for him. I think I could put Miguel in a very aggressive mode,” he said.

Any hopes of facing Mayweather however could be dashed this Saturday night when Cotto steps into the ring against Mexican foe Canelo.

The former unified light-middleweight champion goes in as the bookies favourite in the fight but trainer Roach says his man is in top shape and ready to expose the Latino boxing idol.

“Miguel has had a great training camp for this fight. We’re 100% ready for this fight, the biggest fight of the year. I’ve never seen Miguel better than this,” said Roach.

“We are going to box a lot in this fight. We’re not just going out there looking for a knockout. I don’t want him doing that. I want him using his foot speed and his angles. He’s a more complete fighter now than ever.

“Canelo’s defence is terrible. He follows you wherever you go. He’s like a robot. If you use angles on him, he will be lost. He cannot make adjustments well,” he said.

Flame-haired Canelo though is well aware of the threat he is up against but will be looking to continue the momentum from his last fight that saw him knockout James Kirkland inside three rounds.

“I’ve had a great preparation. I’ve worked very hard. I am patiently waiting for Saturday night to have my hand raised in victory once again. It’s going to be a difficult fight – I know that – but that is why I prepared properly, and I am ready to give a great fight,” said Canelo.

British fighter Lee Haskins is also set to feature on the undercard as he takes on Randy Caballero for the IBF bantamweight world title.

The Bristol boxer will get his chance to shine under the bright lights of Las Vegas and can’t wait to step into the ring.

“Fighting in Las Vegas, fighting in a fight of this magnitude, I never thought in my dreams I would be on an undercard like this, that’s what’s giving me the extra push. It feels absolutely amazing just to be here,” said Haskins.

“The magnitude of the fight, seeing everybody here, just up in the middle of the Vegas square, it’s incredible.

“I’m sure he’s done a lot of sparing and he’s just as ready as myself. I’m just looking forward to having a great fight,” he said.

Cotto v Canelo is live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 525, TalkTalk 415, online or app) this Saturday night. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-
About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.415), online at Livesport.tv and via apps (ios, Android, Amazon). BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.




Interim champ Haskins fights for the right to call himself world champ on Saturday night

LONDON (20 NOVEMBER) IBF interim world bantamweight champion Lee Haskins faces Randy Caballero in Las Vegas on Saturday night (November 21) and knows that victory will finally give him the right to call himself world champion.

The 31-year-old Bristolian won his IBF interim title in June with a stunning sixth-round knockout of highly-rated Japanese southpaw Ryosuke Iwasa, live on Channel 5, but must now beat IBF world bantamweight champion Caballero to upgrade his belt and be recognised as a genuine world ruler.

“I have to beat Randy Caballero to become a true world champion,” said Haskins.

“I’m now one of the best in the division. That was proven against Iwasa. But I don’t believe I’m a legitimate world champion yet.

“There are a few other British ‘world champions’ in a similar position – either interim champions or regular champions – and they are happy to pretend they are the real deal. But that’s not me. I’ll beat Randy Caballero on Saturday night and then call myself world champion.”

American Caballero is unbeaten in 22 professional fights, 13 of which have ended inside the distance, but hasn’t fought since beating Stuart Hall over 12 rounds in October 2014. He won the IBF world title that night in Monte Carlo – the very title Haskins is desperate to get his hands on this weekend.

“Caballero is a good fighter and is solid all-round,” said Lee, 32-3 (14 KOs). “I’ve been keeping my eye on him, knowing that a fight between us could happen, and I’ve always fancied my chances of beating him.

“I’m unpredictable and unconventional. Even I don’t know what I’m going to do a lot of the time. And I know Caballero will have seen nothing like me before.”

Haskins’ manager, Chris Sanigar, added: “Lee’s been looking great in the gym, he’s done everything right, and we’ve got 100% confidence in him.

“People say he’s got a puncher’s chance, but he’s got much more than a puncher’s chance. He can outbox Caballero and he can knock him out. Caballero will never have seen anything like Lee’s style before and it could leave him bamboozled and wondering what’s hitting him. I have total belief in Lee’s ability to pull this off and bring the world title back to Bristol.”

*** Watch Randy Caballero vs. Lee Haskins live and exclusively in the UK on BoxNation from midnight (November 21) ***

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NARANTUNGALAG JADAMBAA AND MARAT GAFUROV SET FOR ONE FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT

20 November 2015 – Beijing, China: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), announced today that the mixed martial artists competing at ONE WUJIE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS II (BEIJING) are ready for all the action which takes placetomorrow evening, 12 November, at the Gymnasium of National Olympic Sports Centre in Beijing, China. ONE Featherweight World Champion Narantungalag Jadambaa and interim ONE Featherweight World Champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov have successfully made the featherweight limit ahead of their main event bout.

Visit the official ONE WUJIE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS II (BEIJING) weigh-in photo gallery by clicking: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6k384krsvdao0f3/AABoZfKfuYDUszYYrjf_77sta?lst=

CEO of ONE Championship, Victor Cui stated, “ONE Championship is back in Beijing and we’ve lined up an amazing card for fans all across the world! Our featherweight champions, Narantungalag Jadambaa and Marat Gafurov are ready to unify the ONE Featherweight World Championship. Get ready for a thrilling night of world-class MMA action!”

ONE Featherweight World Champion, Narantungalag Jadambaa stated, “I am proud to be recognized as champion. It is an honor for both myself and my country. Tomorrow night, Marat Gafurov and I will determine who will have the privilege to be called the undisputed champion.”

Interim ONE Featherweight World Champion, Marat Gafurov stated, “It has always been my dream to be champion. I won’t stop until I am considered the best in this sport — for my family, my country and for myself. Tomorrow night, I have the chance to claim sole honor of being ONE Featherweight World Champion. It’s an opportunity that I am ready to seize.”

COMPLETE WEIGH-IN RESULTS

MAIN EVENT
ONE Featherweight World Championship Unification bout: Narantungalag Jadambaa (65.8kg/145.0lbs) VS Marat Gafurov (65.8kg/145.0lbs)

CO-MAIN EVENT
ONE Flyweight World Championship bout: Adriano Moraes (56.6kg/124.5lbs) VS Kairat Akhmetov (56.7kg/ 125.0lbs)

MAIN CARD
Flyweight bout: Li Wei Bin (56.7kg/125.0lbs) VS Wang Ya Yong (56.7kg/125.0lbs)
Welterweight bout: Burenzorig Batmunkh (76.3kg/168.0lbs) VS Nikolay Aleksakhin (76.9kg/169.0lbs)
Welterweight bout: Jeff Huang (76.9kg/169.0lbs) VS Trestle Tan (75.7kg/166.5lbs)
Featherweight bout: Ma Jia Wen (65.6kg/144.5lbs) VS Wang Ya Wei (65.8kg/145.0lbs)

BEIJING FEATHERWEIGHT TOURNAMENT II SEMI-FINALS
Featherweight bout: Zhang Jia Cai (65.6kg/ lbs) VS Qiao Long Fei (65.5kg/144.0lbs)
Featherweight bout: Yang Sen (65.4kg/144.0lbs) VS Ala Teng Bu Ri Ge De (65.6kg/144.5lbs)

Fans from around the world can witness the action online via live streaming at http://oneppv.com. The event will be available for purchase at just US$9.99.

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




New opponent for Gutknecht, Torosyan replaces Zeuge

Arman Torosyan (16-2-1, 13 KOs) has stepped in as a late replacement to face
Eduard Gutknecht (28-3-1, 11 KOs) on Saturday night at the TUI Arena in Hannover, Germany.

Gutknecht was originally scheduled to fight Tyron Zeuge, but yesterday, the Berlin boxer was forced to withdraw after contracting a viral infection.

‘‘We spoke to Arman last night after it became apparent that Tyron would be unable to compete and he accepted the fight immediately,’’ said Christian Meyer, CEO of Sauerland Event. ‘’He has not stopped training since his last fight and he is eager to cause an upset.’’

‘’This could well be my last chance,’’ said Torosyan, who returns following a points loss to Nuhu Lawal in October. ‘’In my last fight, I didn’t box to the best of my ability, so against Gutknecht, I want to show that I should not be written off!’’

In the evening’s main event ‘King’ Arthur Abraham defends his WBO World Super Middleweight title against Britain’s Martin Murray, live on SAT.1 in Germany and Sky Sports in UK. Limited tickets are available via eventim.de.




Video: Cotto – Canelo weigh in




UNBEATEN SHAWN CAMERON, CHRIS GALEANO MAKE WEIGHT FOR CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWCASE

Brooklyn, N.Y. (Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015) – U.S. Army war veteran Shawn “Killa” Cameron (10-0, 5 KOs) of Brooklyn and Bronx native Chris Galeano (9-0, 1 KO) both weighed in under the 157-pound limit on Thursday, setting up a battle of unbeaten fighters for Friday night at the Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn. Promoted by DiBella Entertainment, Cameron will be facing Galeano in a 10-round main event that will see the victor claim the New York State Middleweight Championship.

“It’s time. It’s time to go,” Cameron said after tipping the scales at 156.6 pounds, the same as Galeano. “All of the training is done. There is only one thing left to do, and that’s to execute.”

Coming off a fifth round knockout of Francisco Reza in July, Cameron will be fighting for the fourth time of 2015 when he meets Galeano, a fighter with whom he is fairly familiar since the two fought once before when they were coming up in the New York amateur program. Galeano got the win in that bout, but Cameron has always had an aggressive skillset that most considered to be tailor made for the professional game. However, he still had a very successful amateur career as well, winning the 2009 New York Golden Gloves at 152 pounds, while also reaching the finals of the 2009 New York Metros and quarterfinals of the 2010 National PAL Tournament.

“We’re putting on that strap tomorrow night,” said Don Saxby, Cameron’s head trainer. “I like Chris, I like his family. They’re good people. But tomorrow, it’s all business.”

Before Cameron ever laced up a pair of boxing gloves, he served two tours of duty for the U.S. Army in Iraq. The Brooklyn native served six years overall for the U.S. Army and was ranked as a Staff Sergeant when he completed his services in 2006.

“Cam is ready. He’s locked and loaded,” Saxby continued. “We prepared well and had very sufficient sparring, and we will be bringing more than one game plan with us. Fans should be looking forward to a good fight tomorrow night. Personally, I’m looking forward to Shawn ‘Killa’ Cameron becoming the New York State Middleweight Champion, and that’s it. After that, the saga continues.”

Galeano was an accomplished amateur fighter, winning the 2013 New York Golden Gloves and USA National Championships at 165 pounds. Next Friday night will mark his fifth bout of 2015.

Tickets for Broadway Boxing: Cameron vs. Galeano will be available at the Aviator Sports Complex box office on Friday, with pricing at $35, $70 and $100.

For all of the latest information on Shawn Cameron, make sure to visit his official website or follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
ABOUT SHAWN CAMERON
Cameron, who is trained by Don Saxby, turned professional just over three years ago. Before he ever laced up a pair of boxing gloves, he served two tours of duty for the U.S. Army in Iraq. The Brooklyn native served six years overall for the U.S. Army and was ranked as a Staff Sergeant when he completed his services in 2006. After his time in the U.S. Army, Cameron walked into the legendary Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn for the first time, and he never left. Despite not having any kind of formal boxing experience, the sport came naturally to him, and he had an incredible amount of success in his short four-year amateur career. He won the 2009 New York Golden Gloves at 152 pounds, also reaching the finals of the 2009 New York Metros and quarterfinals of the 2010 National PAL Tournament.




ALL FIGHTERS MAKE WEIGHT FOR “WSOF 25: 8-MAN LIGHTWEIGHT TOURNAMENT” TOMORROW, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20 LIVE ON NBCSN

Phoenix, Ariz. (November 19, 2015) – All eight lightweight (155 pounds) athletes competing in the inaugural World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) one-night, eight-man tournament made weight one day before the historic affair at Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, Friday, Nov. 20, live on NBCSN at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

Additionally, all eight other fighters on the “WSOF 25: 8-Man Lightweight Tournament” card, including co-main event opponents Jason “The Kansas City Bandit” High and Estevan “El Terrible” Payan, made weight. High tipped the scales at 155.7 pounds, while Payan clocked in at 155.2 pounds.

Brian Cobb and Benny Madrid, who had been slated for action in the tournament and a tournament reserve fight, respectively, were both rendered unable to compete in their scheduled commitments earlier today after becoming ill.

Originally slated to face LaRue Burley (6-1) in reserve fight action, Joe Condon (12-8) will replace Cobb in the tournament and square off with Cobb’s scheduled opponent, Mike Ricci (10-4), in the quarterfinal stage of the event.

Burley, meanwhile, will battle Ramil Mustapayev (3-1), who was originally slated to fight Madrid, in what will be the sole reserve bout of the night.

The winner of the tournament, who will have fought three times tomorrow, will be named the new number one contender in the World Series of Fighting lightweight division, and will challenge undefeated, reigning champion Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje (14-0) for his title.

The four-fight, live NBCSN telecast will include the two semifinal stage tournament bouts, the co-main event and the tournament’s championship round showdown.

The live telecast will be preceded by a seven-bout live stream on an embeddable video player on WSOF.com, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The stream will include all four quarterfinal stage tournament matchups as well as the tournament reserve bout and two non-tournament preliminary card bouts.

Priced from $29.99, tickets for “WSOF 25: 8-Man Lightweight Tournament” are on sale at the Comerica Theatre box office as well as online at Ticketmaster.com and WSOF.com.

Doors at Comerica Theatre open at 5 p.m. MT and the first preliminary bout will begin at 6 p.m.

COMPLETE “WSOF 25: 8-MAN LIGHTWEIGHT TOURNAMENT” WEIGH-IN RESULTS:

Live NBCSN Televised Bouts:

Lightweight Tournament Championship Bout:
Semifinal Bout Winner # 1 vs. Semifinal Bout Winner # 2

Lightweight Co-Main Event:
Jason High (155.7 lbs.) vs. Estevan Payan (155.2 lbs.)

Lightweight Tournament Semifinal Stage Bout # 2:
Quarterfinal Bout Winner # 3 vs. Quarterfinal Bout Winner # 4

Lightweight Tournament Semifinal Stage Bout # 1:
Quarterfinal Bout Winner # 1 vs. Quarterfinal Bout Winner # 2

Preliminary Card and Quarterfinal Stage Tournament Bouts (Streaming live on WSOF.com):

Bantamweight (135 pounds) Bout:
Joseph Barajas (135.7 lbs.) vs. Erik Villalobos (136 lbs.)

Catchweight (165 pounds) Bout:
Jimmy Scully (165.4 lbs.) vs. Roberto Yong (161.7 lbs.)

Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal Stage Bout # 4:
Luis Palomino (155.7 lbs.) vs. Rich Patishnock (155.7 lbs.)

Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal Stage Bout # 3:
Brian Foster (155.8 lbs.) vs. Joao Zeferino (156 lbs.)

Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal Stage Bout # 2:
Joe Condon (155.8 lbs.) vs. Mike Ricci (155.9 lbs.)

Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal Stage Bout # 1:
Islam Mamedov (155.6 lbs.) vs. Jorge Patino (154.9 lbs.)

Lightweight Tournament Reserve Bout:
LaRue Burley (155.5 lbs.) vs. Ramil Mustapayev (155.3 lbs.)

About “World Series of Fighting” (WSOF®)
“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. Follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and “World Series of Fighting” President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo. WSOF and World Series of Fighting are registered trademarks of MMAWC, LLC.




Weights from Philadelphia

Lule_DeAlba
Philadelphia , PA (November 19, 2015)–Weights for Friday night’s fights at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia

Frank De Alba 131 – Jesus Lule 129
Scott Keller 136.6 – Jack Grady 140
Antowyan Aikens 167.3 – Tahir Thomas 166.5
Daryl Bunting 169 – Ryan Bivins 165.8
Christopher Brooker 171 – Edgar Perez 175
Hafiz Montgomery 206.4 – Devon Mosley 206.7
Tyrell Colston 187.3 – Hector Perez 194.1
Ely Mendez 125.5 – Derrick Bivins 125.1
Corley Morley 284 – Brian Donahue 204

Venue: 2300 Arena
Promoter: King’s Promotions
1st Bell: 7:00 PM

Tickets can be purchased for $100, $75 and $50 by and be purchased by clicking

https://2300arena.showare.com/ordertickets.asp?p=43&backurl=default.asp




Video Alert: Countdown to Cotto vs. Canelo




With new promoter, Aikens looks for big win on Friday night to springboard into high profile fights in 2016

Philadelphia , PA (November 19, 2015)–This Friday night, November 20, King’s Promotions will present a big night of professional boxing at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia.

In the main event, Frank De Alba (16-1-2, 6 KO’s) of Reading, PA will take on Jesus Lule (7-14-1, 1 KO) of Fort Myers, FL in a 6-round Jr. Lightweight bout.

In the 6-round co-feature, undefeated Super Middleweight prospect, Antowyan Aikens of Atlantic City, NJ will take on fellow undefeated Tahir Thomas (4-0, 3 KO’s) of Salisbury, Maryland.

Aikens, who has had several occurrences of being inactive, will be making his first start under the King’s Promotions banner.

“This is a big opportunity to fight for King’s Promotions. I know I will keep active and in the next year I expect four to five fights and hopefully end up with a ShoBox kind of fight,” said 26 year-old Aikens.

“I look forward to a good fight on Friday as it will be my first in Philadelphia.”

Said King’s Promotions Marshall Kauffman, “Antowyan is a interesting prospect. He is tall and is already a good boxer. We feel that he will grow into his power and he has a chance to do a lot of great things in his career.”

A packed undercard of local talent has been assembled.

In 4-round Bouts:

Christopher Brooker (4-1, 4 KO’s) of Philadelphia, PA will fight Jade Ealy (1-2, 1 KO) of Atlanta, GA in a Super Middleweight bout.

Terrence Williams (4-0, 1 KO) of Harrisburg, PA will take on veteran Edgar Perez (6-16, 3 KO’s) of Chicago, IL in a Super Middleweight bout.

Ryan Bivins (0-1) of Philadelphia battles pro debuting Daryl Bunting of Vineland, NJ in a Super Middleweight bout.

Hafiz Montgomery (1-0) of Toms River, NJ will fight Devon Mosley (0-3-1) of Capitol Heights, Maryland in a Cruiserweight affair.

Tyrell Colston of Philadelphia will make his pro debut against Hector Perez (2-1, KO’) of Atlantic City, NJ in a Cruiserweight fight.

Ely Mendez (1-1) of Reading, PA will take on Derrick Bivins (1-3-2) of Philadelphia, PA in a Featherweight contest.

Corey Morley of Philadelphia will make his pro debut against Brian Donahue (3-13-2) of Philadelphia in a Heavyweight fight.

Scott Kelleher (2-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia will box Jack Grady (0-1-1) of Buffalo, NY in a Lightweight contest.

Tickets can be purchased for $100, $75 and $50 by and be purchased by clicking

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KONSTANTIN PONOMAREV FACES RAMSES AGATON TOMORROW!! WELTERWEIGHT CLASH ADDED TO COSMOPOLITAN CARD IN LAS VEGAS

Las Vegas, NV (November 19, 2015) World ranked and undefeated welterweight contender Konstantin “Talant” Ponomarev, (28-0, 13KOs), will battle Ramses Agaton, (17-2-3-, 9KOs) of Distrito Federal, Mexico in a scheduled ten round battle at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas tomorrow, Friday, November 20.

Presented by Top Rank and Ural Boxing Promotions, the Ponomarev/Agosto clash headlines the off-TV undercard to the Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez — Gevorg Khatchikian super middleweight title clash which will be telecast live on TheMetroPCS Friday Night Knockout on truTV at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Doors open at 4:00pm PT with the first bell at 4:30pm PT.

Fighting out of Miass, Russia, the 23-year-old Ponomarev is making his highly anticipated return to the ring following his career best victory, a dominant ten-round unanimous decision over Mikael Zewski on May 1, which was telecast on truTV from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. He is trained by the renowned Abel Sanchez at The Summit High Altitude Training Facility in Big Bear Lake, California.

Ponomarev is currently world ranked #5 by the WBC, #8 by the IBF and # 14 by the WBO.

Most recently the 25-year-old Agosto is coming off a second round knockout of Jhonny Navarrete on November 14 in Mexico. He has lost only once in his last 13 bouts and will be making his debut in the United States.

“I’m very thankful for this opportunity, Abel and I have been working very hard in Big Bear and I’m looking to capitalize on the momentum from my last victory over Zewski,” said Ponomarev. “I know how tough of a fighter Agosto is but I’ll be well prepared to win.”

Stated Eugene Vaynshteyn of Ural Boxing Promotions, “This is another step for Konstantin on his way to becoming a world champion. Boxing fans this Friday will truly see the future of the welterweight division.”

ABOUT URAL BOXING PROMOTIONS
Owned by Eugene Vaynshteyn and based in Ural, Russia, included among the world-class professional boxers in the Ural Boxing Promotions’ stable are cruiserweight Murat Gassiev, welterweight Konstantin Ponomarev, junior welterweight Anton Novikov and lightweights Denis Shafikov and Soslan Tedeev.




Tyson Fury urges British and Irish fans to bring the noise and watch him make history on November 28

Tyson Fury
LONDON (19 NOVEMBER) Number one heavyweight contender Tyson Fury has urged fans from Britain and Ireland to snap up remaining tickets to his highly-anticipated world heavyweight title clash with Wladimir Klitschko at the ESPRIT arena in Dusseldorf, Germany next Saturday (November 28), and to cheer him on to an explosive and historic knockout victory.

The 27-year-old Fury, unbeaten in 24 professional fights, already feels he has spooked Klitschko, and well and truly got under his skin, and now believes his legion of supporters can play their part when the two heavyweight giants collide next weekend.

“The German crowd don’t make much noise,” he said. “They like to politely clap at the end of a round, but that’s about it. The British and Irish supporters, though, are the noisiest and best in the world.

“When my supporters start making noise, Wlad won’t know what has hit him. He’ll never have experienced an atmosphere like it. He likes silence when he fights because it gives him time and room to think. He doesn’t like things to get chaotic or crazy.

“But, unfortunately for him, on November 28 he’ll be in for an almighty shock. Not only will my supporters out-sing his, I’ll also be making plenty of noise with my left and right fists and will be hitting Wlad more than he’s ever been hit before.”

Fury has had to wait patiently for his shot, having watched Klitschko withdraw from their initial October 24 date, but is all the better for the delay, he says, and currently in the best shape of his life. Now, with the bulk of training wrapped up, Tyson can’t wait to head to Dusseldorf and realise his dream of becoming world heavyweight champion, all the while conquering a legend.

“That means a lot to me,” said the former European, British, Commonwealth and Irish heavyweight champion. “It won’t make a bit of difference on the night – no amount of talking or statistics will – but it will be nice to think I will have made history when I flatten Klitschko. It’s an added bonus.

“This fight is about many things for me. It’s about fulfilling my goal of becoming world heavyweight champion, it’s about staying undefeated and winning just another fight, and it’s also about beating Wladimir Klitschko. He’s the best heavyweight in the world right now and has been for a long time. That’s exactly why I went after him and wanted to fight him. I didn’t want to just pick up a belt against some other champion. That was never my plan. I wanted to beat the best.”

Fury continued: “I know Klitschko wouldn’t be going anywhere near me if this fight hadn’t been mandated and forced upon him. I’m not somebody he wants to fight. I’m not hand-picked. He can’t control me. He knows my dangers.

“But he’s got me now. His nightmare has become a reality. And, on November 28, I’m doing what he was unable to do first time round – I’m turning up. I’ll then do what Wlad’s been unable to do his entire career – put on a show, entertain the fans and send them home happy. Mark my words: I will become heavyweight champion of the world on November 28.”

*** For tickets to the world heavyweight title clash between Wladimir Klitschko and Tyson Fury please visit www.eventim.co.uk or call 0844 249 1000 ***

*** Klitschko vs. Fury will be shown live and exclusively in the UK on Sky Sports Box Office. For further details, please visit http://www.skysports.com/klitschko-vs-fury/news/33470/10056597/klitschko-vs-fury-you-can-now-book-the-sky-sports-box-office-event-via-online-or-phone ***

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Golovkin To Be Ringside Watching Ramirez truTV Fight at Cosmopolitan

Gennady Golovkin
LAS VEGAS, NV (November 19, 2015) — Forget “Zurdo.” “Pressure” just became the new middle name for the “Mazatlan Mauler,” GILBERTO “Zurdo” RAMIREZ! Ramirez (32-0, 24 KOs), the No. 1 world-rated super middleweight contender from Mazatlan, Mexico with the matinee idol looks, will be risking his mandatory challenger position for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) world title when he defends his WBO International and NABF super middleweight titles against once-beaten GEVORG KHATCHIKIAN (23-1, 11 KOs), of the Netherlands, Friday night at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. As if that isn’t enough pressure, World Middleweight Champion and top-rated pound for pound fighter GENNADY GOLOVKIN will be sitting ringside on an advance scouting mission of Ramirez.

“Tom Loeffler and I have had several serious conversations about pitting these two undefeated warriors against each other next year,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “But it will only happen if Gilberto can win tomorrow night, thus preserving his mandatory challenge for the world title, and then beating WBO world champion Arthur Abraham. That’s a lot of pressure to put on most fighters’ shoulders but Gilberto seems to thrive on it. He has said all along that he only wants to fight the best, even if it means fighting Abraham and Golovkin back-to-back. That’s the same mindset great Mexican champions before him — the real Chavez, Morales, Barrera and Marquez — had and why they were, and are so popular.”

The Ramirez vs. Khatchikian 10-round super middleweight rumble will headline the Friday, November 20 edition of MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout on truTV, which will be televised live on truTV, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The telecast will open with unbeaten contender SAÚL “Kid Dynamite” RODRÍGUEZ (18-0-1, 13 KOs), of Riverside, Calif., in a 10-round lightweight battle against IVAN “Bam Bam” NAJERA (16-1, 8 KOs), of San Antonio, TX. The live boxing series is presented by truTV and Top Rank® and produced in association with HBO Sports®. Find truTV at: http://trutvishere.com/.

Promoted by Top Rank and Zapari Boxing Promotions, remaining tickets to the Ramirez-Khatchikian championship boxing event, priced at $100, $85, $75, $50 and $40, are available for purchase at www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com or through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 and www.ticketmaster.com.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo or www.twitter.com/truTV. Use the hashtag #truTVBoxing to join the conversation on Twitter.

For more information on The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, visit www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cosmopolitan_lv or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thecosmopolitan.




STATEMENT FROM FRANK WARREN

Frank Warren has been made aware of malicious and entirely false allegations made by Austin Trout in the course of legal proceedings in the US that have been reported in the media.

Should Mr. Trout repeat these statements outside the protection of the Courts, Mr. Warren will take immediate legal action against Mr Trout.

The reality is that Mr. Warren has a long and successful working relationship with the World Boxing Organisation whom he considers to be the best run of the governing bodies.

Mr. Trout’s allegations are ridiculous and totally without foundation and we challenge him to substantiate his claim publicly.




Breakdown of Cotto – Alvarez

By Alejandro Echevarria
pacquiao_cotto_weighin_91113_003a
Whether or not the WBC Middleweight Title is on the line this Saturday’s match between Miguel Cotto (40-4-0, 33Ko’s) and Saúl “Canelo” Alvarez (45-1-1, 32Ko’s) will decide who the lineal middleweight champion will be. If all the pieces fall in place, it will also decide who fights Gennady Golovkin for recognition as the best middleweight on the planet. That is one of the many aspects that make this fight interesting. The storied rivalry between Mexican and Puerto Rican boxers and the fact that both fighters are at (or close to) the peak of their popularity also adds to the significance of the bout.

With that being said, what makes this fight appealing to many boxing fans and insiders is that the match-up of styles suggests this will be a war. Both fighters are good boxers but both are fighters. They are usually willing to trade, they both have power and both have shown to have a fight instinct instead of the flight one.
Canelo brings more stopping power to the fight but Cotto’s recent displays as a middleweight suggest he can also hurt bigger fighters. Similarly, Canelo proved he can use his strength and aggression to overcome a more skilled boxer as he did against Lara. It is easy to imagine that Cotto’s edge in class is offset by Canelo’s youth and physical advantages leaving us with a very even playing field.

Even though odds makers have the young Mexican as a 3 to 1 favorite, boxing analysts see this as a much more even fight and I agree. I do believe that whoever wins the fight will probably do so in a convincing fashion but that will be more because of the way these fighters carry themselves in the ring than because there will be a significance difference between them as fighters. Both of them will leave everything in the ring and, as happens to most fighters who fight this way, when they lose they will do so in spectacular fashion.

Most agree that for Miguel to win he has to use his well timed jab, foot work and not a small amount of body work. Canelo should be looking to press the action. If he can impose his size and strength on Cotto, who has had problems with this in the past, he should be able to get a stoppage in the second half of the fight. This same fight plan could instead prove deadly for Saúl if Cotto is able to disrupt his momentum with jabs and footwork as this would eventually lead to openings for left hooks to the body.

Regardless of who is ahead on the scorecards after the sixth round, the manner in which these initial rounds are fought will probably determine the outcome of the fight. Canelo has to land some big shots. Otherwise he will succumb to frustration and be worn down by Cotto’s left hand. Cotto needs to avoid punishment and must conserve his energy. If he doesn’t, his 35 year-old, battle-ravaged body will not hold up for twelve rounds.

With Freddie Roach in his corner, the four-division Puerto Rican champion seems revitalized. Whether this is just a mirage or he has really regained part of the physical prowess that made him so dangerous early in his career is up for discussion but the fact that he believes it doesn’t seem to be. I expect to see a very confident Miguel Cotto use his timing and footwork to stop Canelo from putting combinations together. Alvarez will have his moments and will probably win some of these rounds but at too high a cost. Cotto’s jab will be there at all times zapping Canelo of the necessary confidence to press the action and if left hooks are landing, his stamina may very well be diminished before the twelfth round. It’s not impossible for Cotto to get a late stoppage but I don’t think it will happen. More likely we will see a Cotto, ahead on the score cards, do enough to win a unanimous. Canelo will prove too strong to go down.
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Quality of opponents – Within their last five fights, both fighters shared two opponents. They both lost against Floyd Mayweather while Alvarez defeated Austin Trout to whom Cotto lost. Against “Money” Mayweather, Cotto looked better and was more efficient but he was clearly beat by Trout whom Canelo knocked down en route to a unanimous decision victory.

Canelo looked impressive in his two stoppage victories against Alfredo Angulo and James Kirkland. Of these two, the Kirkland victory stands out because it was fought the way the “Mandingo Warrior” wanted, that is to say it was a slugfest, and still Canelo won with a “Knockout of the Year” candidate.

Regarding his split decision win against Erislandy Lara, many thought this fight could’ve gone either way. Canelo had trouble dealing with the lateral movements and angles Lara presented but nonetheless came out with a victory. In this fight, Canelo proved that he can press enough and has enough hand speed to deal with slicker boxers.
On his side, since losing consecutive fights against Mayweather and Trout, Cotto has stringed three stoppages in a row. He outclassed and out gunned an over matched Delvin Rodríguez then challenged linear middleweight champion Sergio Martínez. Martínez had gone down in his last three fights, was almost knocked out against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (after which he needed surgery on his knee) and squeaked by Martin Murray in a fight that could’ve gone either way. Still, Cotto looked sharp and powerful in his first fight as a middleweight.

Against Daniel Geale, a former middleweight beltholder, Cotto again looked impressive until Geale quit after going down twice in round four. It must be noted that Geale looked drained the day of the weigh-in where a catch weight of 155 pounds was set but not met by Geale.

These recent fights offer a bit of an insight into the fighter’s strengths and weaknesses. Cotto’s two losses came at the hands of slick boxers and before his switch to training with Freddie Roach. His three victories came against foes that were either not on his level or not in their prime. Canelo’s loss to Mayweather and struggles against Lara show that he also has issues with angles and speed. His victories against a diminished Angulo and a James Kirkland without Anne Wolfe in his corner were impressive but not unexpected.

If we look back at their entire records, Cotto’s is more impressive. He’s faced more undefeated fighters, more past and eventual champions and more A-level opponents. He’s also come up short on his two biggest matches (Mayweather and Pacquiao) but his experience will serve him well. Still, I believe Canelo has a slight edge based on his victories over Lara, where he edged an opponent with a wrong style for him, and Kirkland where he fought his opponent’s fight and still came out with the win. In a sport where the saying “what have you done for me lately?” is so important, Alvarez has made a statement with his three most recent victories.

Defense and Chin – Neither fighter is a defensive master. Cotto may hold a slight advantage because his footwork is more polished and effective than Canelo’s but Alvarez is definitely the stronger more resilient fighter. It helps Canelo that he is quite fresh despite having 47 fights under his belt and has not been through the wars Cotto has endured. Even though Cotto has not been cut or badly bruised in his last fights, he hasn’t been hit by a big puncher in some time.

Both fighters have been hurt by single punches in the past. Cotto against the likes of Ricardo Torres, “Chop Chop” Corley and Zab Judah and Canelo against Jose Cotto but those all seem to be in the distant past. If this becomes a give and take fight, Canelo will probably have more resilience down the stretch and that may prove to be the difference maker.

Skill an Technique – In terms of pure skill and boxing technique, it is Cotto who holds the upper hand. A decorated amateur and Olympic boxer, Cotto has proven he can outbox almost everybody (his victory over an almost prime Shane Mosley being the best example of this) when he is sharp. His well timed jab is a very disruptive weapon and carries enough pop to stun and stop the momentum for many fighters (he’s even floored several of his opponents with it).

Canelo has very good hand speed and when he feels comfortable in his stance, he can let those heavy hands go in good multi-punch combinations. Still, he has issues with moving targets and angles which Cotto could very well use to his advantage. If he freezes against Cotto, the Puerto Rican’s jab and left hook could prove deadly to whatever Canelo’s fight plan is.

At the end of the day, if Cotto could box for 12 rounds and avoid a give and take fight, he would probably come out on top.

Strength and Power – Here is another category where one of the boxers holds a clear advantage. Even though they both started at the welterweight limit, Canelo is the naturally bigger guy and seems to have a bit more pop in his punches. In his victories against Carlos Baldomir, Alfonso Gómez and most recently James Kirkland, The Mexican proved he can hurt opponents with single shots. Cotto usually needs to break down opponents before he can get his stoppages.

Both fighters can hurt each other but Canelo has a bigger opportunity of landing a single punch or combination that can determine the course of the fight. Cotto hasn’t been hurt by a single punch in some time but, has also not been hit by a big puncher in some time as well. Were they to trade punch for punch, Canelo would have a clear advantage.

Miscellaneous and Intangibles – As the name suggests, there are other aspects to consider. The last time Canelo was in a fight of this magnitude he lost and seemed frustrated by the end of the fight. Will the memories of the Mayweather fight haunt the young boxer and keep him from performing at his best? Is Cotto’s resurgence real or just the by-product of great matchmaking? Will Canelo’s lengthy training camp result in over training and drain him of the necessary explosiveness he will need to come out victorious? Can Cotto take the kind of shots that Canelo has landed on the likes of Angulo and Kirkland? And most important, are we in line to see a true classic? Out of all these questions, the one I would like most to be answered in the affirmative is the last one.




Zeuge ruled out of Gutknecht clash with illness

Illness has forced Tyron Zeuge (17-0, 10 KOs) to withdraw from his fight with Eduard Gutknecht (28-3-1, 11 KOs) on Saturday night at the TUI Arena in Hannover, Germany.

The super middleweights were scheduled to contest the IBF International and WBO Intercontinental titles, but as Zeuge’s coach Karsten Roewer reveals, the 23 year-old has contracted a viral infection that has left him unable compete.

‘’Tyron is currently in bed suffering from flu-like symptoms,’’ said Roewer. ‘’It would make no sense for me allow him to fight in this condition. Although it is unfortunate for the fighters and the fans, my boxer’s health must come first.’’

‘’It’s a real shame, as I know this was a fight the German boxing fans were looking forward to,’’ said Christian Meyer, CEO of Sauerland Event. ‘’But as Karsten says, the health of our boxers must be our first priority. We will endeavor to re-schedule the fight for the near future, and look to find Eduard a replacement opponent for Saturday night.’’

The Team Sauerland show on Saturday night will go ahead as planned with ‘King’ Arthur Abraham defending his WBO World Super Middleweight title against Britain’s Martin Murray. The main event will be shown live on SAT.1 in Germany and Sky Sports in the UK. Limited tickets are still available via www.tickethall.de and www.eventim.de.




ESPN & ESPN Deportes Experts Provide Their Cotto vs. Canelo Predictions

In anticipation of the upcoming fight, ESPN boxing experts share their forecast and analysis around the match between superstars Miguel Cotto and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

Julio Cesar Chavez, former boxing star and ESPN Deportes’ A Los Golpes analyst
As Mexican, logically I’m rooting for Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. I also lean towards him for his youth, strength and hunger for winning the fight.

Ivan “El Iron Boy” Calderon, former professional boxer and ESPN Deportes’ boxing coverage analyst
If Miguel follows his style of blocking a giving at the same time, he could surprise. But I as things are looking, I have to lean towards Canelo.

Joe Cortez, ex boxing referee
This is a fight that will please fans […]. It’s going to be very close, but I align myself with Cotto winning by divided decision.

The boxing legends will appear as special guests in Cotto vs. Canelo: a One Nación & A Los Golpes Special, airing Thursday, November 19 at 7:30 pm ET on ESPN Deportes, and Friday, Nov. 20 at 6:30 pm on ESPNEWS. The pre-show show is hosted by the Networks’ boxing experts Bernardo Osuna, Claudia Trejos and Marysol Castro.

Bernardo Osuna, lead commentator and reporter for ESPN and ESPN Deportes’ boxing coverage
Any time a Mexican and a Puerto Rican fighter step into the ring, special things happen and I expect the same when Cotto and Canelo fight on Saturday night, giving us a battle worthy of this great rivalry.

Claudia Trejos, ESPN’s Friday Night Fights host
Puerto Rico vs Mexico is the most exciting rivalry in boxing. I expect Cotto-Canelo to be one for the books

Marysol Castro, ESPN’s Premier Boxing Champions host
Both of these fighters are looking to take home a title that is legendary between Puerto Rico and Mexico. It will be a thriller for sure and with national bragging rights on the line, I am going to go with Miguel Cotto.

For more information on ESPN and ESPN Deportes’ extended coverage around the fight, see http://es.pn/1WZGFim




JENKINS: I’M FULLY FIT FOR NURSE REMATCH

Chris Jenkins believes the top-class sparring he’s had in training camp will be the difference in his rematch with Tyrone Nurse for the vacant British Super-Lightweight title on Saturday night at the Manchester Arena, live on Sky Sports.

The Welshman faced Nurse in July at the same venue, with a tense first fight ending in a majority draw – a result that disappointed the 28 year old, despite it following a spell of bad luck out of the ring that left him undercooked.

Jenkins’ British title tilts have been cursed with bad luck, after he had fights in December 2014 and January cancelled then was set to face Willie Limond for the belt in April before illness ruled him out.

‘Rok n’ Rolla’ has left no stone unturned to prepare for the return with the Huddersfield stylist, having travelled to Essex to spar with Tony Sims’ talented duo Martin J. Ward and Ohara Davies, and believes the fully fit Chris Jenkins that Nurse will meet this time will have too much.

“I have watched the fight back three times,” said Jenkins. “I know what I did wrong and we have worked on it in camp. That was me probably boxing at about 50 per cent and him boxing the best he has ever boxed. I will raise my game and bring what I’ve been doing in the gym into the ring and I won’t have any issue winning but I’m expecting a tough, hard 12-round fight.

“This camp has been second to none, I didn’t have this type of sparring last time round and we wanted it to be harder than what we anticipated the fight to be. I’ve sparred Ohara Davies and Martin J. Ward at the Matchroom Boxing gym in Essex and also Tamuka Mucha. The three of them are very talented kids, I’ve spent six weeks travelling so it has been tough being away from my family – but it will be worth it next Saturday when I lift that British title.

“I had had nine months out of the ring before the first fight, and in 15 months I had only boxed one round in the ring. It was a case of getting in there and push it for round one and I might of gone a bit too fast for the first eight and then after eight I was tiring a little bit and doing stupid things which I shouldn’t have done.

“What was working was working well but I got cut in round four and it was hard to see after that. I honestly thought that I had won the first, possibly six, rounds. I probably lost rounds eight, nine and ten and came back in 11 and 12 and I did think I had done enough to win the fight.

“I felt as though I had done enough to nick it but after the fight everybody was saying I would be happy with a draw, well I was rather peed off if I am honest. I thought I done enough to nick it. I was being professional and not saying stupid things or showing any bitterness, and people were saying I must be happy with the draw but it felt like a loss because I thought I had won.

“Tyrone is a good fighter, I was impressed with his movement and he’s the most awkward fighter in the country. He’s got the shoulder roll off to tee, which is why we picked Ohara, he has the low hand stance and utilities the shoulder roll very well too.

“I think the fight will be the same as the last one from Tyrone, he boxed at his best last time – but I was at my worst. There is another 20 per cent to come from me and I know what to expect from him.”

Jenkins and Nurse clash on a stacked bill in Manchester topped by the rematch between hometown favourite Anthony Crolla and Darleys Perez for the Colombian’s WBA World Lightweight title.

The vacant British title at Bantamweight is on the line between new Matchroom Boxing signing Ryan Burnett and two-weight British champion Jason Booth and there’s a pair of English title fights with talented former Team GB man defending his Flyweight title against Liverpool’s Phil Smith and Isaac Lowe defends his Featherweight strap against Manchester’s Ryan Doyle.

There’s also action for former World Bantamweight champion Stuart Hall, former World title challenger Brian Rose and unbeaten youngsters Marcus Morrison and Liam Taylor.

Tickets are on sale now priced £40, £60, £80 and £100 bracket from www.manchester-arena.com or by calling 0844 847 8000.

Tickets for November 21 are also available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ – StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing and Anthony Joshua MBE.