LAS VEGAS (July 15, 2015) –World championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today that it has expanded its roster again with the signing of two new athletes – red-hot featherweight (145 pounds) Adam Ward and battle-tested, light heavyweight (205 pounds) finisher Andreas “Sweet Swede” Spang– to exclusive, multi-fight agreements.

“We are thrilled to welcome Adam and Andreas – two aggressive and exciting competitors whose respective careers are on the upswing – to the rapidly expanding WSOF roster of world-class talent,” said WSOF President Ray Sefo.

Ward’s and Spang’s WSOF debuts will be announced soon.

The 29-year-old Ward (15-6) of Chicago, Ill. is a versatile and prolific competitor who is in the midst of a six-fight winning streak dating back to Sept. 27, 2013 when the Gilbert Grappling team member made quick work of Pedro Velasco, submitting Velasco with a rear-naked choke in just 46 seconds.

In his last start, Ward earned a unanimous decision over Strikeforce veteran Rey “The Warrior” Trujillo.

Spang (9-3) is a 36-year-old native of Sweden who resides in Las Vegas and trains under “One Kick” Nick Blomgren. A former amateur boxer who amassed a career record of 15-5, Spang also dabbled in professional kickboxing where he went 1-0 for the once great Japanese kickboxing promotion, K-1.

To date, Spang’s best conquest is perhaps his second round (3:34) KO (punch) of Brian “The Professional Predator” Rogers on April 20, 2012. When he enters the WSOF cage for the first time, Spang will be looking to notch his second straight win after earning a unanimous decision over J.A. Dudley on Dec. 5, 2014.

About “World Series of Fighting” (WSOF)
“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF) is a world wide 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.

LAS VEGAS, NV (July 15, 2015) — Marco Antonio Barrera, a fierce competitor whose nickname of ‘The Baby Faced Assassin’ defined his fighting style, confirmed that he will attend the third Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s induction ceremony, Saturday, August 8, at Caesars Palace. He will be among the other notable boxers who have confirmed their attendance, including Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Felix Trinidad, Roger Mayweather and Eddie Mustafa Muhammad.

Remaining tickets for the induction ceremony are $300, $175 and $75 and are fully tax deductible as the NVBHOF is an IRS 501 (c)3 charity. They can be purchased online at the Hall’s website, nvbhof.com.

“I am very, very happy because I will be the second Mexican boxer going into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame,” Barrera said. “It is an honor to be inducted just after Julio Cesar Chavez. I lived the Chavez Era and it is an honor to be a part of this, especially because I didn’t expect it. This is very meaningful for me and I will really have something to show off to my kids.”

Though Barrera is best known for his stirring trilogy with Erik Morales, all of which were fought in Las Vegas, he met most of the major stars of the day. He turned professional at the tender age of 15 and fought for 22 years, compiling a 67-7 record with 44 knockouts.

He scored notable victories over Morales, Prince Naseem Hamed, Johnny Tapia, Paulie Ayala, Kennedy McKinney and Rocky Juarez. He also was in the ring with Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez and Amir Khan, among many others.

Barrera was a slick boxer who could work behind the jab and use the ring, but he had the heart and competitiveness of a slugger. So, as often as not, he’d meet his opponent in the middle of the ring and trade.

His three bouts with Morales, on Feb. 19, 2000 at Mandalay Bay; on June 22, 2002 at the MGM Grand; and Nov. 27, 2004, at the MGM Grand, were all contenders for Fight of the Year. The Boxing Writers Association of America voted Barrera-Morales III as its Fight of the Year.

Barrera’s victory over McKinney, a one-time star on the U.S. Olympic team, christened HBO’s popular “Boxing After Dark” series.

The Hall was founded by noted boxing broadcaster Rich Marotta. Its chief operating officer is Michelle Corrales-Lewis, whose late husband, Diego Corrales, was an inaugural inductee into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

Actions speak louder than words – at least that was the motto at today’s final press conference ahead of the ‘Final Showdown’ between WBO World Super Middleweight Champion Arthur Abraham (42-4, 28 KOs) and Robert Stieglitz (47-4-1, 27 KOs) on Saturday night at the Gerry Weber Stadium in Halle, Germany.

Summarising the fighter’s fourth world championship contest, promoter Kalle Sauerland put it aptly. ‘’This is not a fight that needs to be hyped,’’ said Sauerland. ‘’You need only look at the first three fights between Arthur and Robert to know what we have in store for Saturday night. I’m expecting another entertaining battle and a fitting end to their epic rivalry.’’

Following their three previous encounters, Abraham holds the advantage, with two wins to one defeat. As the fourth fight approaches, the defending champion made clear his intention to claim a conclusive third victory. ‘’This is the end,’’ said the 35 year-old. ‘’There will be no fifth fight. I’ve trained extremely hard and I’m ready for whatever Robert has to offer. After Saturday, there will be no questions remaining. I will prove once and for all that I’m the better boxer.’’

The challenger from Magdeburg remained unfazed by his opponent’s comments instead renewing his promise to regain the WBO crown. ‘’I know how to beat Arthur and I’m ready to settle the score,’’ said Stieglitz. ‘’In my opinion the verdict from our last fight was unjust, but it’s not about the past. It’s about the here and now, and on Saturday I will become world champion again!’’

Arthur Abraham’s WBO World Super Middleweight title defence against Robert Stieglitz takes place on Saturday, July 18 at the Gerry Weber Stadium in Halle. Tickets are available by calling the Gerry Weber Ticket Centre on (+49) 5201 81 80 or online via http://www.gerryweber-world.de and http://www.tickethall.de. All the action will be shown live on SAT.1 in Germany and Sky Sports in the UK.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (July 15, 2015) – Melvin “The Young Assassin” Guillard’s (32-14-2 2 NC) first bout under the Bellator MMA banner will come in lightweight action against Brandon “Cold Roll” Girtz (11-4) on Friday, Aug. 28 at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif.

The contest serves as the headlining bout of “Bellator MMA: Guillard vs. Girtz,” which airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET. Additional bouts will be announced shortly.

Tickets for Bellator 141, which start at just $50, go on sale this Friday at Pechanga.com and the Pechanga Resort & Casino box office. Doors for the event open at 4 p.m. PT local time, and the first contest takes place one hour later.

“Since signing Melvin [Guillard] in May, we have been anxious to get him inside the Bellator cage,” Bellator MMA President Scott Coker said. “Brandon Girtz has performed well for us and will face his stiffest competition to date when he meets the 50-fight veteran. I’m really looking forward to the event, as well as returning to one of our favorite venues in Pechanga Resort and Casino.”
At only 32 years of age, “The Young Assassin” has amassed 50 professional bouts in a career that dates back to 2002. With 21 victories coming by KO, Guillard has generated a large fan base with his exciting fighting style.

Born in New Orleans, the knockout artist has honed his skills at some of the top MMA gyms in the world including: Jackson’s MMA, Blackzilians, Grudge Training Center and American Top Team, where he currently trains. During his 22-fight stint with Ultimate Fighting Championship, Guillard broke MMA great BJ Penn’s record for most KO’s in the lightweight division with eight, an accolade that he still holds to this day.

An NCAA Division II All-American at Minnesota State University, Girtz has competed for Bellator MMA since 2012, accruing a record of 4-2. It’s safe to say that the Northway Martial Arts-product is a “submission specialist,” with seven of his 11 professional victories coming by way of making his opponent tap out.

“Cold Roll” was officially cleared to return to active competition in May after suffering an ACL injury during training. This return bout will be Girtz’s first appearance in 2015, and will also serve as his first time in a headlining role.

About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About Spike:
Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

BROOKLYN, NY (July 15, 2015) – World-renowned boxer Dmitriy Salita and his Brooklyn Brawl series will heat up Coney Island on Tuesday, Aug. 25, as the former IBF, WBA and NABA International Junior Welterweight Champion brings “Boxing At The Beach” back to MCU Park, the home of baseball’s Brooklyn Cyclones. Salita Promotions will open a year’s worth of events with a professional fight card at the New York Mets’ minor league venue on that evening, giving New York City and area sports fans a chance to catch rising stars and contenders as they rumble at the boardwalk.

Gates open at 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7 p.m. as “Brooklyn Brawl: Boxing At The Beach” brings pro bouts to the Coney Island boardwalk for the first time in 14 years. The last professional boxing event at the Brooklyn Cyclones’ venue occurred on July 8, 2001, when Hector Camacho Jr. defeated Jesse James Leija via a controversial, referee-halted TKO.

“I am very excited to bring the Brooklyn Brawl series to the home of the Brooklyn Cyclones in Coney Island,” said Salita, who fought out of Flatbush, Brooklyn, as a professional. “Coney Island is a world-famous gathering place and a hub in New York City, where people come to get rest and relaxation and fabulous entertainment. August 25 will be a historic event that will feature world-class boxing in a festive atmosphere. I encourage everyone to ‘punch up’ their summer plans and join us!

Tickets begin as low as $15 and are available starting on Thursday, July 16 at 11 a.m., by calling 718-507-TIXX (718-507-8499). Tickets can be purchased online at Brooklyncyclones.com

Headlining the Aug. 25 Brooklyn Brawl in Coney Island will be Alex Miskartachian (25-3-1), a world-rated former world title challenger and two-time European champion from Armenia. Miskartachian will take on former NABO champion Cornelius Lock(22-7-2) in a main event featherweight clash. Lock, who was born in Detroit, Mich., now calls Flatbush, Brooklyn, his home.

Undefeated lightweight contender Dimash Niyazov, of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, will face his sternest test as a pro, when he meets former New York State champion and Jamaica, Queens, native Ariel Duran, in a Kings vs. Queens County crossroads NYC clash.

Junior welterweight prospect Treysean “Trigger” Wiggins (6-1, 5 KOs) has signed on for the Brooklyn Brawl fight card, itching to count another knockout among his burgeoning total, and add to his reputation as the fighting pride of Newburgh, N.Y. Wiggins will face the toughest test of his career as he takes on former top ten world-rated junior welterweight contender and always upset minded Francisco “El Gato” Figueroa (20-7) of the Bronx.

Fighting out of Kazakhstan and now residing in Brooklyn, Bakhtiyar Eubov (6-0, 6 KOs) looks to impress his new hometown fans with another knockout performance. The amateur standout is now living and training out of Marine Park, and each of his six wins have come via stoppage.

Fighting out of Jamaica, Queens, Giorgi Gelashvili, a junior welterweight making his professional debut, is a former three-time Georgian national champion looking forward to impressing at the famed summertime hot-spot, with several more fighters and matchups to be added to the Aug. 25 card at the beach.

Broadcast information will be announced at a later date. Interested corporate partners should contact Mark Fratto at mfratto@linacremedia.com

For ticket information and updates on “Brooklyn Brawl: Boxing At The Beach,” please log on to BrooklynCyclones.com and SalitaPromotions.com. Follow all the action via social media leading up to the event – and on fight night – at @BrooklynBrawlNY on Twitter and at @BrooklynBrawl on Instagram, or by accessing the tags #BrooklynBrawl and #BoxingAtTheBeach.

(15 JULY) By Peter Fury: So it’s on – Tyson Fury vs. Wladimir Klitschko, for the heavyweight championship of the world. It’s nice to be so far out from the fight, with all the politics and business side of it behind us, and know exactly where we stand. We’re absolutely delighted.

The business side of making fights like this is the worst part of boxing, so it’s great to get it all out of the way and put it to the back of our minds; both camps know what they’ve got to do and they can just concentrate now on the boxing side of it.

As for Tyson, he’s totally motivated for this fight. No surprises there. This is his fourth week in, his weight is coming off nicely and we’re very happy with him. I just can’t wait for it to come round now. It’s a massive occasion and it makes us all determined to go that extra mile.

Some have asked me if there’s a danger of Tyson overtraining for this fight – starting too early, peaking too soon. Nonsense. We’re very professional at what we do, otherwise we wouldn’t be here; we wouldn’t be in the position we’re in. Only amateurs overtrain and people who don’t know what they’re doing.

I liaise with the best strength and conditioners around the world. We’ve got the best knowledge and it’s all science-based. We know when to push, when not to push and the type of body fat he needs to have at each stage of the preparation. It’s very, very complex, but it’s your job to know all of that. That’s why you’re a trainer and manager looking after a fighter. You’ve got to do everything – food, conditioning, boxing and so on. It’s a round-the-clock job. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you shouldn’t be doing it. There’s a lot of people doing it that don’t know what they’re doing and that’s why they fail.

In my opinion, this is 100% the best time to have the fight. Let’s look at reality here: Tyson is never going to get beaten up by a smaller guy. He’s too big, and now he’s using his boxing like he should be using them and he’s almost playing with smaller opponents. It’s too easy for him.

The only people out there who could give Tyson a fight – a genuine fight – are Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder. Apart from those two, nobody else can. He’d play with all the other heavyweights. That’s not because he’s supremely talented, it’s simply because they’re either too inexperienced and not ready for him or he’s just too big.

There’s nobody else in the division, aside from Klitschko and Wilder, who can even test Tyson at this stage. Fights against Klitschko and Wilder, though, are proper 50/50 fights. They can go either way. These are the fights we get our teeth into. We can keep beating six-foot-two heavyweights until the cows come home, but what’s the point?

Wilder is 34-0, so has officially had more fights than Tyson, but I only see him as having had two proper fights. The first was against Bermane Stiverne and the second was against Eric Molina, which was a fight that ended up being a struggle for him. Those are the only two times he’s faced decent heavyweights who gave him a fight.

Wilder is improving all the time and he’ll get better with the type of fights he’s now having. He wasn’t really prepared for a world title shot when he faced Stiverne, even though he won. Stiverne was just the right opponent at the right time. He was also very poor that night.

Wilder, though, isn’t what you’d call ‘world championship ready’. He’s not good enough or seasoned enough yet to hold that title and look at the rest of the division and think, I’ve got the beating of all of you. There are plenty of fighters out there who could trouble him at this stage.

But, with each fight, he keeps getting better and he learns more and more. He can box, he’s athletic and he’s a talented kid. In many ways, Wilder has been a victim of his own punch power – he’s been winning fights and creating a long, unbeaten run, but he’s learnt absolutely nothing in the process.

Tyson, on the other hand, has learnt plenty along the way – he’s had tough fights, easy fights, he’s faced big guys, small guys and he’s dragged himself off the floor to win. He’s more than ready to take the world heavyweight title from Wladimir Klitschko on October 24.

*** Tickets for Blackwell vs. Jones & Fury vs. Arias can be purchased from the Derby Arena Box Office on 01332 255800 or by visiting www.derbylive.co.uk ***

*** Blackwell vs. Jones will be televised live on Channel 5 on July 25, while the supporting undercard will be televised live earlier in the evening on Spike ***

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15 July 2015 – Yangon, Myanmar: Asia’s largest and the world’s most exciting mixed martial arts organization, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has announced the full line-up for ONE: KINGDOM OF WARRIORS — the first ever event in Yangon, Myanmar. Russian fighter Elena Pashnina will make her MMA debut in the ONE cage against Taiwanese fighter Jenny Huang in a female atomweight bout. The event will see a clash of Burmese lightweights as they vie to be crowned champion of the inaugural Myanmar Lightweight Tournament. The card will also feature local Burmese featherweights as they compete to be crowned champion of the Myanmar Featherweight Tournament. In addition, there will also be a special Lethwei bout between top Burmese Lethwei fighters, Soe Htet Oo and Phyan Tway.

The event is headlined by reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion, Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes, as he takes on challenger Toni Tauru. With such a great line-up, ONE: KINGDOM OF WARRIORS is set to ignite Thuwanna Stadium, Yangon, for the first time on 18 July.

CEO of ONE Championship™, Victor Cui, stated, “We had a successful press conference in Yangon just recently to announce ONE: KINGDOM OF WARRIORS, graced by the top media representatives in the country as well as all our partners in Myanmar such as Z Corp, Sky Net, and the Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Federation. The enthusiastic support shown by local media and various partners is highly encouraging. We look forward to hosting a memorable world-class event here in Yangon with a blend of the best local Burmese talent and top international fighters.”

Russian fighter Elena Pashnina is based in Chengdu, China and holds a black belt in Sanda. Pashnina boasts well-rounded stand up skills, incorporating wrestling and various mixed martial arts components into her solid striking game. The young 20-year-old will be making her ONE Championship debut this 18 July against a more experienced opponent Jenny Huang.

Jenny Huang is a Taiwanese female fighter with a 1-0 MMA record having emerged victorious by decision in her last fight in another promotion. She is The Philippines Asia Open white belt Gi & No-Gi champion, and holds a white belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a black belt in Judo. Looking to make her mark in the ONE Championship female atomweight division, Jenny will bring her best to the cage to improve her record against Russia’s Elena Pashnina.

In the ONE Championship Myanmar Lightweight Tournament, Saw Ba Oo will face Dawna Aung while Thway Thit Aung will challenge Saw Thae Oo. In the Myanmar Lightweight Tournament Alternate Bout, Saw L Lay will face Saw Hla Doe.

Burmese fighter, Dawna Aung started learning Lethwei when he was nine years old after seeing some fights and deciding he wanted to try it himself. In 2006 he became a national Lethwei Champion and now he is determined to showcase his skills to fight fans outside of Myanmar by being successful in MMA. His opponent, Saw Ba Oo, has been training Lethwei since 2012. He is a long time MMA fan who will be fulfilling a lifetime dream by fighting for ONE Championship.

Thway Thit Aung comes from a rural agricultural background but has literally fought his way out of poverty as a Lethwei star. He has been training since childhood and is a Golden Belt Champion who is known for his devastating knees. Saw Thae Oo began training Lethwei in 2011 and is a full time fighter known for his powerful punches.

Lightweight fighter, Saw L Lay began training in 2011 after seeing his Dad compete in organized fights. Although his full time job involves computers, Saw L Lay has already won a few notable Lethwei fights against foreign fighters but is currently focused in training full time for his ONE Championship debut. His upcoming opponent, Saw Hla Toe is a Lethwei veteran who was inspired to take up martial arts by his grandfather and has been learning since childhood. He likes the respect and discipline which combat sports teaches and has won both local and regional titles as a Lethwei fighter. This 18 July, he is looking forward to being recognised as a bonafide MMA fighter.

In the ONE Championship Myanmar Featherweight Tournament, Min Htet Zaw is up against Myo Man Thit while Hlit Hlit Lay battles Tha Pyay Nyo for the chance to be crowned champion. The Myanmar Featherweight Tournament Alternate Bout will see a clash between Burmese fighters, Phoe Thaw and Kyal Sin Htoo.

Min Htet Zaw began training Lethwei in 2013 having previously been a promising footballer. The biggest win of his Lethwei career came in 2014 when he beat A Mae Thar in Thingyan. He is now set to pursue MMA in hopes of making his country and family proud. Going up against Min Htet Zaw for the Featherweight Tournament Champion Title is Myo Man Thit. Just like his opponent, he was extremely competitive in football previously and has taken this ‘win at all cost’ attitude into his fighting career.

Hlit Hlit Lay started training Lethwei at the age of 12 because his uncle was a fighter. He is the oldest of eight brothers and is known for his knees. Tha Pyay Nyo began training in Lethwei at the age of 16 for self-defense. He is one of six siblings and three of them are also fighters. His favourite memory from his Lethwei career is winning the Golden Belt Tournament.

The Alternate Bout features Phoe Thaw, a security guard at the Japanese embassy who began training martial arts in 2009 because he wanted to sharpen both his body and mind. He has also trained in Taekwondo, Karate and Aikido and describes himself as self-confident and strong-minded. Challenging Phoe Thaw is Kyal Sin, a farmer who started training at 19 to develop strength and stamina.

Tickets for ONE: KINGDOM OF WARRIORS on 18 July in Yangon are on sale now at Yangon Hotline 1876. Ticket categories begin with the cageside experience for VIPs at 200,000 Kyat, followed by Gold 50,000 Kyats, Silver 25,000 Kyats, and Bronze 10,000 Kyats.

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

About ONE Championship (ONE)
ONE Championship is Asia’s largest Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organization. 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.

LOS ANGELES (July 14, 2015) – Mexican boxing stars Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KOs) and Abner Mares (29-1-1, 15 KOs) met today at Plaza Mexico to officially announce their Saturday, August 29 Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN showdown taking place at STAPLES Center.

The fighters hosted an open-to-the-public press conference and fan rally to discuss their upcoming bout with media members and met with fans to sign autographs and take pictures.

Hundreds of fans attended the event at Plaza Mexico in Linwood and the fighters stayed to sign autographs for over two hours afterwards.

Here’s what the two fighters and their trainers had to say:

LEO SANTA CRUZ

“I want to thank all of the fans who are here and I appreciate the support. We always train 100 percent like we’re fighting for a championship.

“I think the fans are the ones who are going to win on August 29th. They are going to get a great fight out there. It’s going to be a war.

“I don’t care what he said about my competition. I’ve wanted to fight him for a long time, this going to be a great fight.

“He likes to talk about different things. I’m not going to talk as much. I’m going to be prepared on August 29th and I’m going to be victorious.

“No one wants to lose and may the best man win.”

ABNER MARES

“I want to thank everybody who made this fight possible.

“Leo Santa Cruz is a fighter who has fought nothing but C-level fighters. Now he’s fighting an A-level fighter. I’m going to show him what an A-level fighter does and that’s win.

“I pushed for this fight, he never really wanted to face me. I’ve wanted to fight him for a while. We fought on the same card at Stapes Center and I’ve wanted to fight him since then.

“We sparred a while back, about 30 rounds, but I don’t put much into the sparring. We’re both different fighters now.

“This is a great fight for the fans and I look forward to the whole world being able to watch.

“I’m going to beat Leo Santa Cruz come August 29th, don’t miss the fight.”

JOSE SANTA CRUZ, Santa Cruz’s Father & Trainer

“Team Santa Cruz doesn’t speak much. Mares and his team can talk and say all that they want but we’re going to demonstrate our talent on Saturday, August 29th at the Staples Center.”

CLEMENTE MEDINA, Mares Trainer

“I’m so glad everyone could be out here to support these fighters. This is a fight that has been discussed for two years and we are ready.

“I appreciate Leo Santa Cruz taking this fight. We’re going to be prepared, we’re focused. On Saturday, August 29th, team Mares is going out for the victory.”

TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions
“Leo and Abner are two of boxing’s toughest warriors. They’re both Southern California based and having watched both of them since they turned pro it is an honor to promote this Southern California matchup.”

The 12-round featherweight bout will take place Saturday, August 29 live in primetime on ESPN from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Televised coverage for the highly-anticipate event begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $25, $50, $75, $150 and $200, not including applicable fees and service charges, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at AXS.com, by phone at 888-929-7849 or at the STAPLES Center.

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.staplescenter.com and www.TGBPromotions.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @LeoSantaCruz2 @AbnerMares, @ESPNBoxing, @STAPLESCenter, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/STAPLESCenter and www.facebook.com/ESPN. Follow the conversation using #PBConESPN.

The debut of ESPN’s new Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN presented by Corona Extra (PBC on ESPN) series—featuring Keith “One-Time” Thurman vs. Luis Collazo and Willie Nelson vs. Tony Harrison—on Saturday, July 11, peaked with nearly 1.2 million viewers according to Nielsen. The main event (10:15-11 p.m. ET) delivered an average of nearly one million viewers.

The two-hour telecast (9-11 p.m.), the most-watched boxing telecast across any ESPN network in 2015, was seen by an average of nearly 800,000 viewers—up 110 percent from 2015’s Friday Night Fights telecasts, which averaged 381,000 viewers.

Upcoming PBC on ESPN Schedule:

Date

Time (ET)

Featured Bouts

Location

Networks

Sat, Aug. 1

9 p.m.

Danny Garcia (30-0, 17 KOs) vs. Paulie Malignaggi (33-6, 7 KOs)—12 rounds, Welterweight

Daniel Jacobs (29-1, 26 KOs) vs. Sergio Mora (28-3-2, 9 KOs)—12 rounds, Middleweight

Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.

ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Sat, Aug 29

10 p.m.

Leo Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KOs) vs. Abner Mares (29-1-1, 15 KOs)

Staples Center, Los Angeles

ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

MONTRÉAL (July 14, 2015) – Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), in association with InterBox, is happy to announce the return to the ring of former IBF world super middleweight champion Lucian Bute, August 15 at Bell Centre, as part of Premier Boxing Champions series, airing live on NBC Sports. His opponent will be European super middleweight champion, Andrea Di Luisa, of Italy.

“I’m ready and looking forward to being back in the ring. I have not lost my passion and I train six days a week, twice a day,” said Bute (31-2, 24 KOs), who will be in his first fight since meeting Jean Pascal in front of a sellout crowd, January 18, 2014 at Bell Centre.

In his last bout, Di Luisa (17-2, 13 KOs) defeated his compatriot, Roberto Cocco, by 11th round technical knockout to capture the EBU-EU Europe title. Di Luisa has won his last four fights.

“I’m very happy about this opportunity,” Di Luisa commented. “I know Bute because I fought him in the amateurs. He is very good and I respect him. But I don’t fear him.”

“We are delighted that Lucian can finally return to the ring. This fight is very important for the rest of his career,” said InterBox president Jean Bedard.

“We are very proud to present the first event of the Premier Boxing Champions series in Montreal. This will also be the first time that NBC Sports will be present in Montreal to broadcast a boxing event,” added GYM President Yvon Michel. “I am also very happy to support the return of Lucian Bute and I thank InterBox for allowing us to participate.”

Serious test for Alvarez

In addition to Lucian Bute, fans will see unbeaten Colombian Olympians Eleider Alvarez and Oscar Rivas, in action. They will both face the biggest challenge of their young career.

Alvarez (17-0, 10 KOs) will face an undefeated, WBO #6 rated Paraguayan-born slugger Isidro “El Guerrero” Prieto (24-0-3, 20 KOs). The Argentina-based boxer is trained by none other than the mentor and first coach of former world champion Sergio Martinez, Raul Paniagua.

“Prieto is a very serious opponent, undefeated and world-ranked, ” head trainer Marc Ramsey analyzed. “He beat everyone in South America, often by KO. He has a strong right hand, in addition to being young and hungry. He will try to use Eleider as a stepping stone to the big leagues.”

Rivas (17-0, 12 KOs) will lace his gloves against an opponent yet to be determined.

Alvarez and Rivas have both been impressive in their last outing this past June in the United States. They respectively knocked out Anatoliy Dudchenko and Jason Pettaway.

Other fighters on the card

In addition to the three aforementioned featured fights, five other bouts will be presented.

Russian super bantamweight Vislan Dalkhaev (2-0, 0 KOs), Romanian heavyweight Bogdan Dinu (12-0, 8 KOs), Montreal super lightweight Yves Ulysse (8-0, 5 KOs), Sorel-Tracy super lightweight David Theroux (6-1, 4 KOs) and Laval light heavyweight Erik Bazinyan (8-0, 5 KOs) are all scheduled to be in action.

Dalkhaev, a friend of fellow boxer Artur Beterbiev, will attempt to add a third win in the pro ranks. In his last outing, the Chechen-born pugilist defeated Frenchman Adel Hadjouis by unanimous decision on April 4, in Quebec City.

Dinu, a compatriot of Bute, will fight for the first time in 2015. His last encounter occurred December 6, 2014, when he stopped Frenchman Mickael Vieira in the first round.

Ulysse, a former member of the Canadian National Amateur Boxing Team, recorded the easiest win of his career on June 20 at Bell Centre, when Frenchman Renald Garrido was disqualified before the start of the confrontation. This time, though, Ulysse is likely to have a rival who really wants to fight.

Theroux, the pride of Sorel-Tracy, fought in a fierce battle against former Spanish champion Ignacio Mendoza, on June 17 in Sorel-Tracy. Even if the result was not the one hoped for, the 21-year-old boxer in no quitter and he wants to redeem himself in front of his Montreal fans.

As for Armenian-born Bazinyan, he is trained and managed by the Grant brothers. The 20-year-old fighter will jump into the ring for the second time in 2015. On March 27 at Olympia Theatre, he stopped Frenchman Morgan Le Gal in the fifth round.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, July 15 at 10:00 a.m. ET, at the Bell Centre box office, on www.evenko.ca, at GYM (514) 383-0666, at InterBox (450) 645-1077 or at Champion boxing club (514) 376-0980. Ticket prices range from $25 to $250 on the floor.

WBC Female World Super Middleweight Champion Nikki Adler is back in action after a ten month layoff to defend her crown against Szilvia Szabados from Hungary this Friday (July 17th) at MHP Arena in Ludwigsburg, Germany. The unbeaten 28-year-old (13 fights, 13 wins) was originally scheduled to fight on a small club show on July 4th but her fight was canceled in the last minute. For a moment Adler thought that she had spent three months in training camp for nothing but then the Champ got a call from Z!-Promotion offering her a spot on the undercard of the European Heavyweight Championship between Erkan Teper and David Price which will be broadcasted live on Sky.

Her challenger Szilvia Szabados will definitely do her best to take the prestigious green and gold belt back home to Hungary. The 24-year-old has won six of her eight pro-fights and knows how to win on the road. Szabados just recently traveled to Slovakia to score a six-round unanimous decision win over previously unbeaten Eva Kolos on July 1st.

Bethlehem, PA (July 14, 2015)–Fight week is here for Friday Night’s big ShoBox: The New Generation card at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

Promoted by GH3 Promotions in association with King’s Promotions, Greg Cohen Promotions and Main Events, the event will feature three title bouts with a total of four titles on the line.

In the main event, Antoine “Action” Douglas (17-0-1, 11 KO’s) of Burke, VA. takes on Istvan Szili (18-0-2, 8 KO’s) of Basel, Switzerland for the vacant IBO Intercontinental Middleweight title.

Derrick Webster (19-0, 10 KO’s) of Glassboro, NJ battles Arif Magomedov (15-0, 9 KO’s) of Chekhov, Russia for the vacant NABO Middleweight title scheduled for 10 rounds.

Adam Lopez (12-0, 6 KO’s) of San Antonio, TX takes on Eliecer Aquino (17-0-1, 11 KO’s) of Higuey, DR for the WBA FEDELATIN and WBC Latino Super Bantaweight titles in a fight scheduled for 10-rounds.

Opening up the telecast will be an 8 -round Super Middleweight clash between Jerry “The Kings Son” Odom (13-1, 12 KO’s) and Samuel Clarkson (14-3, 8 KO’s) of Cedar Hill, TX.

The off-television card will be stacked with future contenders.

In 6-round bouts:

Lavarn Harvell (14-1, 7 KO’s) of Atlantic City, NJ will take on an opponent to be named in a Light Heavyweight bout.

Rob Brant (15-0, 9 KO’s) of Minnesota will battle Ernesto Berrospe ((10-7, 5 KO’s) in a Middleweight bout.

In 4-round Bouts:

Christopher Brooker (3-0, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia, PA will fight Botirsher Obidov (1-0-1) of Florida in a Super Middleweight battle.

Ricky Nuno (1-0) of Bethlehem, PA will fight pro debuting Tim Kunkel of PA in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

Manny Folly (4-0, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia, PA will battle Jose Garcia (0-2) of Puerto Rico in a Super Bantamweight fight.

Samuel Teah (5-1, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia, PA will take on Raymond Velez (3-7) of Albany, NY in a Lightweight bout.

Oscar Bonilla (3-1-2, 2 KO’s) of New Haven, CT will box Bienvenidio Diaz (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Paterson, NJ in a Lightweight bout.

Below is the fight week schedule for the July 17th televised Quadruple header form the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and will be televised live on Showtime’s ShoBox: The New Generation.

Thursday, July 16th

5:00 PM—Weigh in — at the Vision Bar at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem (On scales at 6 PM)

Friday, July 17th

6:00 Doors Open
7:00 1st Bout
10:00 Showtime Broadcast begins

Tickets are priced at $100, $75 and $50 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster and www.ticketmaster.com

GH3 Promotions features undefeated Middleweight Antoine Douglas, Super Middleweight’s Jerry Odom & Derrick Webster, undefeated Super Bantamweight Adam Lopez as well as Boxcino 2015 Jr. Middleweight Champion John Thompson, Jr., undefeated Welterweight Jerrell Harris,undefeated Super Bantamweight Qa’id Muhammad, lightweight Oscar Bonilla, Heavyweight Natu Visinia, Light Heavyweight Lavarn Harvell and Jr. Lightweight O’Shanique Foster to the GH3 Promotions stable.

Joe DeGuardia’s Rockin’ Fights 20 ( scheduled for Friday July 17th) featuring Joe Smith has been postponed due to an injury to Joe Smith.

Joe will be ready to return to the ring on the new Rockin Fights 20 date of September 11th, 2015.

Refunds on all tickets for the July 17th match are now available at points of purchase (Ticketmaster, Star Boxing or The Paramount Box Office).

Tickets for Rockin’ Fights 20 on September 11th will go on-sale Tuesday, July 14th @ 12 NOON on Ticketmaster and at The Paramount Box Office.
For additional questions or concerns, please contact The Paramount at 631-673-7300 or Star Boxing at 718-823-2000.

Toronto – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, will air extensive live programming for UFC Fight Night™: Mir vs. Duffee this Wednesday, July 15 from Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif.

Fight Network will air the live prelims exclusively in Canada from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET. The main card will be televised on TSN4 and TSN5.

In the featured prelim, Washington native Sam Sicilia (14-5) battles Californian Yaotzin Meza (20-10, 1NC) in featherweight action. In a pivotal women’s bantamweight bout, Brazil’s No. 13-ranked Jessica Andrade (12-4) faces Canada’s Sarah Moras (4-2), Brazilian submission ace Rani Yahya (20-8, 1NC) tangles with Japan’s Masanori Kanehara (24-11-5) in a bantamweight showcase, plus well-travelled Brazilian welterweight Igor Araujo (25-7, 1NC) clashes with California’s Sean “Tarzan” Strickland (15-1).

Live pre-fight coverage will lead into the prelims on Saturday with Fight Network’s UFC® Pre-Show Live at 7:30 p.m. ET, featuring previews, predictions and analysis.

In addition to all the live pre and post-fight coverage, Fight Network is the destination for UFC library content, specials and series, including UFC Unleashed, UFC Now, UFC Ultimate Insider and classic UFC PPV events. All airings are listed at tv.fightnetwork.com.

The full card for UFC Fight Night™: Mir vs. Duffee includes:

Main Card (Live on TSN4/TSN5, 10 p.m. ET):
-Frank Mir (17-9) vs. Todd Duffee (9-2)
-Josh Thomson (20-7, 1NC) vs. Tony Ferguson (19-3)
-Holly Holm (8-0) vs. Marion Reneau (6-1)
-Scott Jorgensen (15-10) vs. Manny Gamburyan (17-9, 1NC)
-Kevin Lee (10-1) vs. James Moontasri (8-2)
-Alan Jouban (11-3) vs. Matt Dwyer (8-2)

Preliminary Card (Live on Fight Network, 8 p.m. ET):
-Sam Sicilia (14-5) vs. Yaotzin Meza (20-10, 1NC)
-Jessica Andrade (12-4) vs. Sarah Moras (4-2)
-Rani Yahya (20-8, 1NC) vs. Masanori Kanehara (24-11-5)
-Igor Araujo (25-7, 1NC) vs. Sean Strickland (15-1)

Preliminary Card (Live on UFC Fight Pass, 7 p.m. ET):
-Kevin Casey (9-3) vs. Ildemar Alcantara (21-7)
-Andrew Craig (9-3) vs. Lyman Good (18-3, 1NC)

For a full listing of Fight Network’s broadcast schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com, follow us on Twitter @fightnet, become a fan on Facebook and visit us on Instagram @fightnet.

Brooklyn, N.Y. (Tuesday, July 14, 2015) – Ronson Frank’s Uprising Promotions will be returning to action on Friday, July 24th, bringing another loaded fight card to the Brooklyn Masonic Temple. With many local prospects and rising stars, Ring of Fire will most certainly continue the tradition of Uprising Promotions to bring competitive and entertaining fights to boxing fans.

“We are excited to be back in the Brooklyn Masonic Temple. It is a great venue for boxing,” said Ronson Frank, President of Uprising Promotions. “We have a deep lineup for this show. We have been faced with some tough decisions when putting together this card because it has been generating a lot of interest. As always, the card will have a lot of action fighters, and it will be a great night.”

Scheduled to headline the July 24th show is a featherweight scrap between two aggressive fighters, with Dominican fighter Yenifel Vicente (26-3, 18 KOs) facing Manuel de los Reyes Herrera (21-16-1, 15 KOs) of Colombia. With 33 knockouts between the duo, sparks will definitely fly in this bout.

One fighter who no one will want to miss on this card is the New York debut of cruiserweight Alvin Varmall, Jr. (6-0, 6 KOs), a power-punching Louisiana native who has seen just two of his six professional victims make it to the second round. All six of his pro bouts have ended via knockout, so fans will want to make sure they are in their seats when the opening bell rings to start a scheduled contest opposite Lamont Capers.

Also slated for action on the card is lightweight Scott Burrell (9-2, 6 KOs), who will be fighting on his second consecutive Uprising Promotions show when he steps into the ring to meet California native Moris Rodriguez. Also returning for his second straight appearance on an Uprising Promotions card will be Villi Bello (2-1), a converted mixed martial artist who will square off against Francisco Cruz on July 24th.

Another key participant on the card is hard-hitting Queens native Joseph Williams (6-0, 5 KOs), who welcomes southpaw Michael Wilmer to New York in light heavyweight action. Also, New York native Jeff Laguree (1-0, 1 KO) will fight in front of his home crowd for the first time when he battles 28-bout veteran David Johnson of Los Angeles in a heavyweight tilt.

Three significant professional debuts are on tap for July 24th, with must-see pro entrances by middleweight Nikita Miroshnichenko, welterweight Carlos Adams, heavyweight Romarick Ngoula and junior middleweight Matthew Armstrong (facing Anton Williamson).

Additional fighters are also scheduled to appear on the July 24th card against opponents to be named. Those combatants are middleweight Akil Auguste (7-1, 6 KOs), welterweight Julian Sosa (1-0-1), super featherweight Frank Trader (10-2-1, 2 KOs) and flyweight Timmy Ramos.

“If you are a boxing fan, you do not want to miss this show,” Frank confirmed. “With Uprising Promotions, you know you can always count on seeing competitive and entertaining fights between guys who are looking to make a name for themselves. These fighters always give their all, and the Brooklyn Masonic Temple is always a great atmosphere for boxing.”

The Brooklyn Masonic Temple is located at 317 Clermont Ave #4 in Brooklyn. The intimate setting ensures that there is not a bad seat in the house, and tickets are priced at $60 for general admission and $100 for ringside seating. There is also a table option with dinner, beer/wine and seating with a celebrity fighter. For pricing on those tables, call (516) 451-6773.

This show, titled Ring of Fire, will continue the initiative of Uprising Promotions to KO Autism, with proceeds from the night getting donated to The School For Language and Communication Development (SLCD) in Glen Cove, New York. This card is being sponsored by Charlie’s Auto Collision in Long Island City, Sleep Inn, Ronson Frank Fitness and Resolution Sports.

For more information on Uprising Promotions and to keep up with all of our latest news, make sure to check out www.UprisingPromotions.com and follow us on social media: @UprisingNYC
UPRISING PROMOTIONS MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to grow interest in the sport of boxing in New York City by showcasing entertaining and evenly matched fights. We are focused on providing opportunities to local New York City area fighters.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBO Middleweight champion Andy Lee will defend his crown against Billy Joe Saunders on September 19 in Limerick, Ireland.

“I’ve dreamed of fighting here,” Lee said. “As soon as I won the world title, I wanted to defend it here. This is a global event, and I’m proud to put Limerick on that stage, and to bring an event like this to my city is an honor and goes some way to repay the people who have supported me.”

“I’m fighting one of the best middleweights in the world,” Lee said of Saunders. “He’s the British, Commonwealth and European champion. He’s undefeated, he’s waited his time, and he will come in with a spirited challenge. But I’ve got to hold on to my belt.

“I’m looking forward to putting on a great show at Thomond Park. I take my hat off to Saunders for coming to Ireland, my home, as I know what it’s like to fight away from home for years, and this is going to be a very special night for me.”

Greg Cohen Promotions proudly announces the signing of lightweight “Rock Hard Mighty” Mason Menard to a promotional contract.

Menard (29-1, 21 KOs) from Rayne, Louisiana, started boxing at the age of eight and had 82 amateur fights. He took a Bronze Medal in the 2007 U.S. Nationals and participated in the 2008 Olympic Trials at 132 pounds before turning professional in 2007.

In the paid ranks, Menard has already captured the Louisiana State Lightweight Title, the All American UBO Lightweight Title, and the UBO World Lightweight Title.

“I believe I’ll be able to receive big opportunities because GCP does televised fights and that’s exactly what I need, for someone to get me seen nationwide/worldwide,” said a happy Menard about the deal. “I am very fortunate to have signed with GCP, it will give me the outlet I need to be seen, to become a boxing superstar. It was all in God’s timing!”

Cohen, who also handles murderous punching Ismael Barroso, Australian buzz saw Josh King, Ghana’s undefeated Rafael Mensah and Canadian sensation Tony Luis, says Menard will make a welcome addition to his stable of world-class lightweights.

“I like what I see in Mason Menard,” said Cohen. “I’m looking forward to working with him and his manager, Chad Broussard. So far in his career, Mason has been sensational fighting in his home state. We are going to introduce him to the rest of the world and help him become a world champion.”

Menard’s first fight under the GCP banner will be announced shortly.

About Greg Cohen Promotions

One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.

Founder and CEO Greg Cohen has been involved with professional boxing in various capacities since the late 1980s, honing his craft and establishing himself as a shrewd international boxing businessman.

Distinguished by his ability to spot and develop raw talent, Cohen made headlines for his expert guidance of, among many others, former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout, who Cohen helped guide from unknown New Mexico prospect to elite pay-per-view level superstar.

In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman (50-8-2, 41 KOs); and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney (74-7-3, 45 KOs).

Current world-rated contenders in the GCP roster include Arash Usmanee, universally recognized as a top-10 super featherweight; former WBA International Middleweight Champion and world-rated middleweight contender Jarrod Fletcher; top-rated featherweight Joel Brunker; cruiserweight Lateef Kayode; Canadian lightweight and TV action hero Tony Luis, and WBA and five-time Irish National Amateur Champion, Dennis Hogan; and Rising Welterweight sensation Cecil McCalla.

Greg Cohen Promotions has hosted world-class boxing events in the finest venues throughout the United States and the world and has also proudly provided talent and/or content for several television networks including HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC Sports Network, CBS Sports Network, MSG and FOX Sports Net.

For more information, visit gcpboxing.com. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GCPBoxing. Twitter: @GCPBoxing.

AUSTRALIA’S Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne has relinquished his Commonwealth heavyweight title with immediate effect.

Browne became the first fighter from Down Under to hold the crown in 122 years when he stopped Canada’s Eric Bahoeli in April 2014.

But he has now decided to give it up in order to pursue other titles.

“Holding the Commonwealth title was a huge honour for me and I do not relinquish the belt easily,” Browne said.

“However, I’m currently the mandatory challenger to Ruslan Chagaev’s WBA heavyweight title and that is now my focus.

“I am on the verge of becoming Australia’s first ever heavyweight world champion and I cannot wait to win that in the near future”.

Browne’s manager Matt Clark continued: “Lucas has accomplished something that will go down in Australian boxing folklore. We are relinquishing the title to keep it active and allow

“Big Daddy” to focus on securing the world title.

“We didn’t want to hold up the Commonwealth belt and Lucas is relinquishing it to allow for activity. We sincerely thank the Commonwealth Boxing Council for all their support”.

LONDON (14 JULY) Busy British middleweight champion Nick ‘Bang Bang’ Blackwell is intending to cut challenger Damon Jones down to size on July 25 in Derby and then swiftly book a well-deserved holiday.

The talented 24-year-old won the coveted Lonsdale title at the end of May – stopping the favoured John Ryder inside seven rounds at a sold-out O2 Arena – and is now all set to make his first defence just eight weeks later.

“I want to have the fight, retain my title and then look at having a holiday for a couple of weeks,” he said. “I haven’t had a holiday for six years now.

“I’ve literally been in the gym all the time – I’ll either be preparing for a fight that happens or preparing for a fight that never ended up happening. I had a couple of holidays booked but then had to cancel them when I was offered fight dates.

“I want to go somewhere that’s hot and has lots of stuff to do.”

Before he can dream of sunnier climes, Blackwell must first remain focused and do a professional job on the unbeaten Jones, a challenger who brings a tall, rangy southpaw style and an extensive amateur career.

“I’ve been sparring southpaws since November, so nothing’s changed really,” said Blackwell. “I’ve got a couple of tall southpaws in at the moment who are heavier than me. Everything has gone perfectly.

“I’m coming off the John Ryder fight and I was fit for that, so I’ve just got fitter and stronger in recent weeks. I don’t feel like I’ve overtrained, either. I feel even better now than what I did for the John Ryder fight. I’ve also been able to spend a little bit more time with Gary Lockett, which is important.”

Blackwell added: “I didn’t really know a lot about Jones at first. He’s been fighting on small hall shows and has flown under the radar a bit. But you can’t read too much into stuff like that. You can’t underestimate him based on that.”

Blackwell’s headline title defence at Derby Arena signals a sudden breakthrough moment in the Trowbridge man’s six-year pro career. Gone, it seems, are the days of short-notice fights against the promoter’s favourite.

“It’s mental,” said Nick. “When I signed with (promoter) Mick Hennessy, it was massive for me. I thought, great, I’m fighting on Channel 5. But now, less than a year later, I’m headlining an event on Channel 5. It’s crazy. It’s all happened so quickly.

“I’ve had a few knock-backs in my career but I’ve persevered and now I’m finally here. Now I don’t want to do something stupid and lose that title. That’s why I’m training harder than ever and why I’m hungrier than ever.”

*** Tickets for Blackwell vs. Jones can be purchased from the Derby Arena Box Office on 01332 255800 or by visiting www.derbylive.co.uk ***

*** Blackwell vs. Jones will be televised live on Channel 5 on July 25, while the supporting undercard will be televised live earlier in the evening on Spike ***

FOLLOW US ON ON TWITTER @HENNESSYSPORTS
For more information on Channel 5, MaxiNutrition and Hennessy Sports:

www.channel5.com
www.maxinutrition.com
www.hennessysports.com

FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS VISIT WWW.HENNESSYSPORTS.COM

Former Super Middleweight champion Carl Froch announced his retirement according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I’m incredibly proud of what I have achieved in boxing, but now is the right moment to hang up my gloves,” Froch said. “I have nothing left to prove, and my legacy speaks for itself.”

“Carl Froch should be remembered for the fighter that he is, someone that never ducked anyone, that gave the paying public value for money every single day of the week,” said Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who promoted the final 11 fights of Froch’s career. “I’ve learned a lot being around him. He’s an inspirational guy, and he’s not someone that has come from the Olympic background and been given a platform to start on. He’s grafted for every single penny he’s earned and every bit of success he’s had, and for that you have to give him ultimate respect.”

In announcing his retirement, Froch, nicknamed “The Cobra,” also announced he would join Britain’s Sky Sports as an analyst. A subscriptions network in the United Kingdom, Sky Sports televises many of the sport’s biggest fights through its exclusive contract with Matchroom Boxing. Froch fought his biggest fights on Sky Sports or its pay-per-view arm, Sky Box Office.

“Sky Sports is the home of boxing and has followed me throughout my career,” Froch said. “I can’t wait to join the team and help bring fans the best fighters, the best contests and the best analysis. Nothing can replace the thrill of stepping into the ring, but with Sky Sports I’ll be doing the next best thing.”

Said Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, “Carl retires as a legend of British boxing, a true champion, and we are delighted that he will be joining Sky Sports. As the home of boxing in the U.K. and Ireland, we can’t wait for Carl to provide viewers with his insight and expertise and help take our coverage to the next level.”

“He has a lot to offer the sport,” Hearn said of Froch. “He has been a wonderful ambassador for British boxing all over the world, and he should be celebrated for that. He’s never conducted himself in a bad way. He’s always been a positive role model, and I feel he can give back a lot to boxing, and he’s given a lot already.”

WBA Super Middleweight champion Fedor Chudinov suffered a broken nose and his July 24 title defense with Frank Buglioni has been postponed according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“This is a real gutter, and I’m bitterly disappointed,” Buglioni said. “It’s frustrating to know that I have to wait a little longer until I get to Chudinov, but the main thing is I will get him. I would question, though, how Chudinov broke his nose if he was wearing the correct head protection with bars to protect his nose. My training has been perfect up to now and so is the weight, so it’s such a shame this has happened now.”

“It’s a real shame that Fedor has suffered this injury with only two weeks to go until the fight, but this is boxing, and injuries happen,” Warren said. “It doesn’t make it any easier on Frank, who has been training his heart out in Ireland, but he will still fight on the show against a new opponent, and Fedor is locked in to fight Frank next.”

Said Vlad Hrunov, Chudinov’s promoter, “Fedor is devastated to have suffered this injury so close to the fight, as he was looking forward to coming to England and defending his world title for the first time. When Fedor has recovered, we will come to England and honor our obligation and fight Buglioni.”

LOS ANGELES (July 13) – The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Boxing Team presents the inaugural Brawl At City Hall 2015, on Saturday, July 18, a fun and exciting charity boxing event to benefit the Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation. In the past, charity boxing events presented by the LAPD Boxing club in association with other law enforcement clubs throughout California have been a tremendous success with outstanding officers giving their best performance.

Shutting down Los Angeles City Hall in the 200 block of North Spring Street, the live charity boxing event will feature live music, a meet and greet with Golden Boy Promotions fighters, a beer garden hosted by the LA Brewing Company, trendy LA catering trucks, family friendly activities, and more. LAPD boxing team members will face off against officers and firemen from the Pasadena Police Department, West Covina Police Department, US Marshall’s Office – San Diego, Big Bear Fire Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a 10-fight stacked card to support this wonderful event.

The Memorial Foundation has played a vital role in assisting the families of LAPD officers who have experienced catastrophic circumstances resulting from injury or death. Since its inception in 1972, the Foundation has granted more than $14.5 million for medical, funeral and educational expenses.

The LAPD Boxing Team is extremely honored to receive support on this event with the assistance of Los Angeles City Council Member Jose Huizar, District 14 and the support of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.

Tickets for the event are priced at $25 and will be available at the gate, and all proceeds will benefit the Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation. Gates open at 2:00 p.m. and the first bout begins at 4:00 p.m.

We are truly hoping supporters of the Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation and members of the Los Angeles Boxing fans will attend and support our efforts.

# # #

ORANGE, Calif. (July 13, 2015) – WBA Lightweight Champion Darleys Perez (32-1, 20 KOs) arrived in England over the weekend giving himself roughly one week to settle into a new country before defending his world championship against Anthony Crolla (29-4-2, 11 KOs) in Crolla’s hometown of Manchester this Saturday, July 18.

Since losing a close decision to Yuriorkis Gamboa two years ago, Perez has won four in a row. During that span, Perez, who is from Colombia, won the interim title against Argenis Lopez last June. He followed up that win with two successful title defenses, the most recent coming in January against Jonathan Maicelo.

With WBA belt holder Richar Abril not able to fight, Perez now holds the full title, while Abril is the champion in recess.

The Thompson Boxing team caught up with the Colombian native and got his thoughts on his upcoming world title defense.

As you prepare to defend your title, what has been the most difficult aspect of this training camp?

“I think getting adjusted to the different time zones has probably been the most difficult part of this fight. I trained in Los Angeles and now I’m in England, so just getting used to the time change and getting the required amount of rest before fight night is what I’m focused on.

Any concerns over fighting Anthony Crolla in his hometown?

“He’ll have everyone in the arena rooting for him. He’ll have the full support of the crowd, but none of that bothers me. I know what I have to do to win and there’s no way I’m going back to Colombia without my world title.”

What are your strengths as a boxer?

“My mental and physical fortitude. I don’t get rattled. I don’t waste rounds. I find my rhythm early and try to win every round.

Why did you pick up boxing?

I started really young. It wasn’t really a hobby or a sport that I thought I would make a career out of. I started boxing to defend myself. It was that simple for me. Where I’m from (Uraba, Colombia), you need to know how to fight.

Perez is co-promoted by Thompson Boxing Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions.

For more information, please visit ThompsonBoxing.com.

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

Colombian Darleys Perez fights Anthony Crolla in Crolla’s hometown of Manchester

Perez sparring at his Los Angeles training camp

Perez (32-1, 20 KOs) vs. Crolla (29-4-2, 11 KOs) Manchester Arena, England, Saturday, July 18

LAS VEGAS, July 10, 2015 — Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions, in continuing its commitment to becoming a leading force in the boxing industry, and bringing fans the hottest fight cards, featuring a new generation of world class fighters, announced today that it has joined forces with Arizona-based Iron Boy Promotions to present top-quality boxing events in Arizona, beginning with the Battle of the Unknown, August 15th at We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center. This is the latest expansion of the RJJ juggernaut in its quest to take the promotional company to the next level. RJJ Boxing and Iron Boy Promotions have agreed to a one-fight deal that will deliver more of the pulse-pounding, heart-stopping knockouts that RJJ Boxing and Iron Boy Boxing have become known for by a burgeoning fan base, and amongst the broader boxing community.

“Both Roy and I feel that Iron Boy has built a great foundation for boxing in Phoenix. We are excited to team up with Iron Boy Promotions to expand in that market,” said Keith Veltre, CEO of RJJ Boxing.

“The Iron Boy Boxing team is very optimistic about forging this partnership with Roy Jones Jr. Promotions,” said a spokesperson for Iron Boy Promotions. “Keith and his team have been great to work with so far, and I think it’s a positive thing that while promoters are competing against each other, we are working together to bring a great show and great value to boxing fans in Arizona. We’re excited to welcome Roy Jones, Jr. Promotions to the Iron Boy family, and we are looking forward to undertaking our first event together.”

This partnership between RJJ and Iron Boy Boxing comes just in time for a planned August 15th event in Scottsdale, Arizona, where Junior NABF Middleweight Champion, Louis “The Unknown” Rose (12-2, 4KO), will return to the very ring in which he experienced the biggest professional victory of his career, knocking out his opponent in the sixth round of their eight round bout at RJJ Boxing’s debut Arizona event in March. Rose will square off against “The Fighting Pride of Phoenix,” Andrew “Hurricane” Hernandez (9-1, 1KO). It promises to be another of the “no quarter asked, no quarter given” warrior-style matches for which RJJ Boxing is becoming so rapidly known.

The exhilarating, high-caliber boxing event will take place at the We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center, which is located at 10438 N. Fort McDowell Road in Scottsdale, Arizona. Tickets for “Battle of the Unknown” are priced at $75 ringside, $50 reserved, and $30 general admission, and can be purchased at tickets.ticketforce.com or by calling 877-840-0457.

Las Vegas (July 13, 2015) – Former WBC, WBO and Ring Champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez and Brooklyn FitBoxing has confirmed that they will appear and have a booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the second annual Box Fan Expo that will take place Saturday Sept. 12, 2015. The Boxing Expo will coincide with Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s last fight and Mexican Independence weekend.

Martinez is an Argentine retired professional boxer. He is the former Lineal, The Ring, WBO and WBC middleweight champion, and his 50-month reign as Lineal middleweight champion ranks as one of the longest in the division’s history. Martinez was previously in the light-middleweight division, where he held the WBC light-middleweight title (interim then elevated to full-status champion).

Martínez was formerly rated as the number three pound-for-pound best boxer in the world — behind Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao — by most sporting news and boxing websites, including Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, and The Ring. In 2010, he received The Ring and BWAA “Fighter of the Year” and The Ring “Knockout of the Year” awards. In 2010 and 2012, he received the World Boxing Council “Boxer of the Year” award. Martinez holds notable victories over former world champions Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams, Sergiy Dzinziruk, Darren Barker and Julio César Chávez Jr.

Outside the ring, Martínez has been an active spokesperson in the fight against bullying and domestic violence against women. He is the author of the book Corazón de Rey (“Heart of a King”).

Martinez is also part owner of a health and fitness gym company named Brooklyn FitBoxing, headquartered in Madrid, Spain.

Martinez joins “Showtime” Shawn Porter, Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, Ruslan “Siberian Rocky” Provodnikov, Terrible” Terry Norris, Joel “El Cepillo” Casamayor, Mia “The Knockout” St. John and “El Feroz” Fernando Vargas among early commitments to this year’s Box Fan Expo.

This unique fan experience event, which allowed fans to meet and greet boxing legends, past and current champions and other celebrities of the sport, debuted last September to large, enthusiastic crowds. This year the Expo will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and once again, allow fans a chance to collect autographs, take photos and purchase merchandise and memorabilia.

Exhibitors such as boxing gear, apparel, broadcasting media and other brand companies who wish to participate will have a chance to showcase their products to fans and the whole boxing industry.

Last year’s inaugural Box Fan Expo featured some of the most popular fighters and boxing celebrities in recent history. Fans were treated to visits with Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr, Sergio Martinez, Amir Khan, Zab Judah, Mikey Garcia, James Toney, Riddick Bowe, Leon Spinks Terry Norris, Shawn Porter, Chris Byrd, Jesse James Leija, Lamon Brewster, Ray Mercer, Earnie Shavers, Mia St-John, Erislandy Lara, Peter Quillin, Jean Pascal and Austin Trout. Also appearing were current WBC Champion Deontay Wilder, the charismatic Vinny Pazienza, Paul Williams, noted commentator Al Bernstein and top trainer Roger Mayweather of Mayweather Promotions.

The roster of attendees for this year’s Box Fan Expo will be announced throughout the next several months and weeks leading up to the event.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online at: http://www.boxfanexpo.eventbrite.com

View the official promo video of Box Fan Expo here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/video-2/

View Promo Flyer here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/promo-flyer/

View Photos Gallery 2014 here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/photos/

For anyone in the boxing industry or brand companies who wish to be involved and reserve a booth as an exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Box Fan Expo at:

U.S.A telephone number: (702) 997-1927 or (514) 572-7222

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on the Box Fan Expo is available at: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

To watch Sergio Martinez video about Box Fan Expo go to: http://goo.gl/awkJ6t

You can follow Box Fan Expo on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/BoxFanExpo and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (July 13, 2015) – Connecticut’s own “Irish” Brennan Ward (10-3) will compete against a new opponent at “Bellator: Lima vs. Koreshkov,” which takes place this Friday, July 17 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. Roger “The Leprechaun” Carroll (16-11) has agreed to face the dangerous welterweight on seven days’ notice, in the place of Gavin Sterritt, who withdrew from the contest and was subsequently cut from the promotional roster.

“Bellator: Lima vs. Koreshkov” features five world-class 170-pound bouts including world champion Douglas Lima (26-5) and Andrey Koreshkov (17-1), Chris Honeycutt (6-0) vs. Paul Bradley (22-6), Michael “Venom” Page (7-0) taking on Rudy Bears (16-13), and knockout artist Paul “Semtex” Daley (36-13-2) challenging Dennis Olson (14-8).

The main card airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while the announced preliminary bouts stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET. Limited tickets for “Bellator MMA: Lima vs. Koreshkov,” which start at just $25, remain on sale now at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office or Ticketmaster.com.

Having won Bellator’s Season 9 Middleweight tournament, Ward decided to test himself in the welterweight division, and shined in his 170-pound debut with a first-round rear-naked choke submission victory over Curtis Millender at “Bellator: The British Invasion” this past February.

The Waterford, Conn. native has an affinity for the finish, having ended nine of his ten professional tilts before reaching the judges’ scorecards. With his hometown a mere ten miles away from the venue, “Irish” is sure to have a strong home cage advantage over his short notice opponent.

Carroll rides into Connecticut in the midst of a three-fight winning streak. The Claremont, N.C. resident has spent most of his seven year mixed martial arts career competing at 185-pounds, but will make the move to welterweight for his Bellator MMA debut.

“The Leprechaun” fits the description of a “submission specialist,” with 15 of his 16 wins as a professional coming by way of making his opponent quit. One half of Carroll Brothers BJJ, Roger also doubles as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor alongside his brother Joseph at Superior Martial Arts Academy in North Carolina.

Main Card (9 P.M. EST)

Bellator Welterweight Title Fight: Douglas Lima (26-5) vs. Andrey Koreshkov (17-1)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Chris Honeycutt (6-0) vs. Paul Bradley (22-6)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Michael Page (7-0) vs. Rudy Bears (16-13)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Brennan Ward (10-3) vs. Roger Carroll (16-11)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Paul Daley (36-13-2) vs. Dennis Olson (14-8)

Preliminary Card (7 P.M. EST)

Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: Blair Tugman (7-5) vs. Kin Moy (6-2)
Bellator Welterweight Prelim Fight: Ilya Kotau (debut) vs. Nicolas Sergiacomi (1-0)
Bellator Heavyweight Prelim Fight: Parker Porter (5-4) vs. Eric Bedard (6-5)
Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: Billy Giovanella (8-3) vs. Remo Cardarelli (4-2)
Bellator Lightweight Prelim Fight: Dean Hancock (1-0) vs. Alex Dunworth (2-1, 1 NC)
Bellator Flyweight Prelim Fight: Kaline Medeiros (4-4) vs. Sarah Payant (1-0)
Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Waylon Lowe (15-6, 1 NC) vs. Ryan Quinn (10-5, 1 NC)

About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 400 million homes worldwide in over 120 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About Spike:
Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

CORK, Ireland (July 13, 2015) – Irishman Gary Hyde, the manager of unified super bantamweight (122 lbs.) world champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KOs), has accepted in principal the offer made by Egis Klimas, manager of World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight (126 lbs.) champion Vasyl “Hi-Tech” Lomachenko (4-1, 2 KOs), for a Super Fight.

Rigondeaux is the reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) Super, WBO and The Ring magazine’s super bantamweight champion.

Cuban-native Rigondeaux, who now lives in Miami, and Ukrainian-born Lomachenko are both two-time Olympic gold medalists.

“‘Rigo’ will fight Lomachenko at a catchweight of 124 pounds, which should be no problem for Lomachenko because he weighed 125 pounds for one of his professional fights, Hyde said. “‘Rigo’ is a small 122-pounder who could make 118 without much trouble, but he would be giving away size and weight advantages to face Lomachenko.

“We would insist on a rehydration clause of 135 pounds for fight night. If Klimas agrees to this, then, we have a fight. Lomachenko is a masterful fighter like ‘Rigo’ and this match- up will be a classic. We have a pair of two-time Olympic gold medalists and current world champions going at it. I believe ‘Rigo’ is the more ferocious of the two fighters and I firmly believe ‘Rigo’ will dominate Lomachenko. Klimas, you know what you must do to make the fight, just pick up the phone and call me. ‘Rigo’ is ready!”

Follow Hyde on Twitter at @NoWhere2Hyde and friend him at www.facebook.com/gary.hyde.50?fref=ts.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (July 13, 2015) – Bellator MMA and Spike have named veteran sports announcer and the current voice of the Boston Celtics, Sean Grande, as its new play-by-play announcer. Grande will team up with color analyst Jimmy Smith beginning this Friday, July 17 for “Bellator 140” at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Fans can tune in to hear Grande and Smith call the action for the first time at “Bellator 140,” which airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT. The event features five action-packed welterweight fights, headlined by Bellator Welterweight Champion Douglas Lima, who defends his belt against Andrey Koreshkov, plus the return of hometown favorite Brennan Ward.

“Sean Grande is an incredibly talented and well-accomplished sports announcer with a passion for mixed martial arts,” said Scott Coker, President, Bellator MMA. “He has been behind the microphone for many championship events and we look forward to him bringing his enthusiasm and energy to Bellator as our league continues to grow.”

“I’m proud to have called games for some amazing organizations, ABC Sports, CBS, the Celtics, the Red Sox, Westwood One,” said Grande. “But I’ve simply been blown away by the people at Spike TV and Bellator, and the product they want to present. I’m legitimately honored to join both of these teams, and make some great sports television.

“I absolutely love what Scott (Coker) has done for Bellator and l’m thrilled to start calling the fights alongside Jimmy Smith Friday night on Spike. I’m going to have the best seat in the house, watching Douglas Lima and some of the best welterweights in the world. Hard to imagine a better way to kick things off, and it’s all taking place just a short drive from Boston.

“I understand why I’m a story today. But what I’m really excited about, is being able to tell the stories of amazing champions like Patricio Pitbull, Will Brooks, Douglas Lima and Liam McGeary as they rise to the top of the sport.”

More on Grande (@SeanGrandePBP):
Recently completing his 18th season in the NBA and 15th as the voice of the Boston Celtics, Grande’s epic account of the two-month run to the 2008 World Championship cemented his status as one of the nation’s elite play-callers. He’s joined by analyst Cedric Maxwell for all Boston Celtics games. Since shortly after their 2001 pairing, “Grande and Max” have become one of Boston’s most popular and iconic on-air combinations, and the soundtrack of the Celtics “New Big Three Era”.

On May 20, 2013, Grande made his Major League Baseball debut, after being named the alternate play-by-play voice of the World Champion Boston Red Sox. It completed his cycle of broadcasting major pro sports (NBA, NFL, NHL, WNBA and MLS). In January, he returned to his television roots, calling college basketball on CBS Sports Network.

Grande’s reached several milestones over the last few years. Only the legendary Johnny Most and current television voice Mike Gorman have now called more Celtics games. In 2009, he called his 1000th NBA Game, joining Marv Albert and Ian Eagle as the only three to reach that plateau before the age of 40. Grande and Max were honored pre-game at TD Garden for their 1000th game together on February 3, 2012.

Voted by the readers of Boston Sports Media Watch as the best play-by-play announcer in Boston, Sean was recruited back to town in 2001 after serving three years as the television voice of the Minnesota Timberwolves. When he signed in 1998, he was the youngest announcer in the NBA. The versatile Grande’s play-by-play credits also include two seasons as part of ABC Sports College Football broadcast team, joining the likes of Keith Jackson and Brent Musburger.

Grande’s first stint in Boston began at Boston University where he spent seven seasons calling Terrier hockey, football and basketball on both television and radio. On the television side, Grande was the original voice of the Hockey East Game of the Week on Fox Sports Net. His college hockey work for Fox and the NCAA Tournament garnered him three New England Emmy nominations including the 1999 Emmy for best Play-by-Play. He’s served six years as the television voice of the NCAA East Regional. And this past April in Philadelphia, his twelfth year as “Voice of the Frozen Four” on CBS Radio, Grande called his record fifteenth NCAA Championship Game.

His broadcast career included a seven-year stint at WEEI (1991-1998), the final three as Sports Director. His wide-ranging play-by-play career has seen him call NFL Football for Westwood One, WNBA basketball for the Minnesota Lynx (1999-2001) and Connecticut Sun (2006-2007), MFS Pro Tennis, Providence Bruins hockey, Harvard basketball and even Major League Soccer. He served three years as host of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on NHL radio and co-hosted the NCAA Hockey Selection show on ESPN2.

About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About Spike:
Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.