NEW YORK (March 27, 2015) – SHOWTIME Sports® offers viewers exclusive access to Floyd “Money” Mayweather and the most anticipated event of the year with “INSIDE MAYWEATHER vs. PACQUIAO,” an intimate four-part documentary series chronicling the life of the perennial pound-for-pound champion as he navigates his collision course with Manny Pacquiao. Episode 1 premieres on Saturday, April 18 immediately following the live SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® doubleheader featuring Mexican superstar Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

INSIDE MAYWEATHER vs. PACQUIAO delivers a unique perspective of the compelling and popular Mayweather in the weeks leading up to the biggest prizefight of this generation. In the fourth installment, Epilogue, SHOWTIME Sports focuses the distinct and Sports Emmy Award-winning spotlight on the unpredictable drama of fight week, takes viewers inside the ropes on fight night, and into the mind of the fighter in the aftermath of the bout.

“SHOWTIME has set itself apart with its coverage of the biggest fights in boxing and our viewers have come to expect the unique access we provide,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “INSIDE MAYWEATHER vs. PACQUIAO will not only welcome viewers into Mayweather’s camp before the fight, but also give viewers a window into those dramatic and often poignant moments immediately before and after this historic fight.”

SHOWTIME cameras are entrenched in Mayweather’s camp in the shadow of the bright lights of Las Vegas. This unparalleled access allows INSIDE MAYWEATHER vs. PACQUIAO to peel back the curtain on Mayweather’s opulent public persona while revealing the unrelenting pursuit of perfection that propels the undefeated, undisputed champion.

From the red carpet spectacle of the kickoff press conference in Los Angeles and the rigors of training camp to the intensity of the weigh-in and the calm dressing room after the final bell, INSIDE MAYWEATHER vs. PACQUIAO offers an inside-out look at an event that has no rival.

Forty-seven fighters have stepped into the ring with Mayweather and all 47 have come away empty. With complete access to Mayweather and the vast entourage that surrounds and supports him, viewers of INSIDE MAYWEATHER vs. PACQUIAO come to understand what makes “Money” tick.

INSIDE MAYWEATHER vs. PACQUIAO episodes premiere on SHOWTIME with multiple encore presentations, including the cable television premiere on CBS SPORTS NETWORK. All episodes of the series will be available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, SHOWTIME ANYTIME® and online at SHO.com/Sports.

Ø Episode 1 premieres Saturday, April 18 on SHOWTIME, immediately following SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Chavez vs. Fonfara (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).

Ø Episode 2 premieres Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME

Ø Episode 3 premieres Wednesday, April 29 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME.

Ø Epilogue premieres Saturday, May 9 on SHOWTIME

# # #

About Showtime Networks Inc.:

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

LOS ANGELES (March 27) – LA FIGHT CLUB headliner Julian “El Camaron” Ramirez (13-0, 8 KOs) hosted a special Los Angeles media workout on Thursday, March 26 in anticipation of his April 2 bout against Casas Grandes, Mexico’s Raul “Bule” Hidalgo (23-12, 17 KOs). The second installment of LA FIGHT CLUB is featured as part of Golden Boy Live! series on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes and will include guest commentator andEXTRA Host Mario Lopez. The live telecast will begin at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT from The Belasco Theater in Los Angeles.

Also featured at the media workout were two-time Brazilian Olympian Everton Lopes (1-0) who will be making his second professional appearance at LA FIGHT CLUB April 2, and Los Angeles fan-favorite Nick Arce (2-0, 2 KOs), who brought his friend Los Angeles radio personality Piolin to join and Julian Ramirez in the ring. Click here for the video of their boxing encounter.
Tickets for the April 2 LA FIGHT CLUB are on sale now and selling quickly. Prices start at $20 and can be purchased online by clicking HERE and at www.goldenboypromotions.com or by visiting the Golden Boy Promotions Facebook page. For ticket information, email us at LAFightClub@goldenboypromotions.com. Upcoming events for LA FIGHT CLUB are scheduled to take place the first Thursday of every month on May 7 and June 4.

Below is what the fighters had to say during the media workout at West Side Boxing Club in Los Angeles:

JULIAN “EL CAMARON” RAMIREZ, Featherweight Prospect:

“On April 2 I will give fans a good fight. I will go out there and try to perform. I have trained hard, and I will be ready for Hidalgo. This will be an aggressive fight; fans want an aggressive style, and I will give them that.

“I want to fight the best, and when I am ready for a title fight I will take on any champion. I am ready for the challenge.”

EVERTON LOPES. Lightweight Prospect:

“We are training very hard. I am sparring and trying to improve everything. We have focused on fighting on the inside so I can be a strong fighter on April 2.

“Boxing was not popular in Brazil but now boxing is coming back. We are bringing back boxing to Brazil because they have world champions and Olympians to watch out for in professional boxing.”

NICK ARCE, Featherweight Prospect:

“My training camp has included a lot of running and a lot of speed drills. I want to be 100 percent at everything and make sure my defense and my speed will be in top form on fight night.
“I am excited because we are 10 minutes away from the Belasco Theater; it’s here in Los Angeles, right at home. I feel like I have the support of all my fans here. Without them this wouldn’t be possible.”
LA FIGHT CLUB: Ramirez vs. Hidalgo is a 10-round featherweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra and Mexico – Live It To Believe It!. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., and the first bout begins at 5:30 p.m. The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT.

The LA FIGHT CLUB is a monthly boxingseries that takes place on the first Thursday of each month on May 7 and June 4. It showcases the brightest stars in the sport and presents these exciting matchups in a nightclub atmosphere with an original setup. The boxing ring is set on the main floor of the Belasco Theater with on-camera standing room for fans in front of the ring similar to a concert pit, as well as reserved balcony and floor seats. Los Angeles’ own DJ Ray of Big Boy’s Neighborhood spins music during the fights, and fans are able to dance and mingle with the fighters when the venue converts into a night club, in a VIP experience not matched by any promoter in the industry.

Media interested in attending the April 2 installment of LA FIGHT CLUB must be pre-approved for credentials. Credential applications are available by clicking HERE. Completed credential applications should be sent to credentials@goldenboypromotions.com by 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 26. Media will not be credentialed on-site, no exceptions.
For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.belascous.com, www.FOXSports.com/FOXSports1, www.FOXDeportes.com, follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @FoxSports, @FoxSports1, @FoxDeportes, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/TheBelascoLA, www.facebook.com/FOXDeportes, visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing and @belascola and follow the conversation using #LAFIGHTCLUB.

March 27, 2015 – HBO Sports® debuts an all-new installment of “2 Days” when the feature segment returns Monday, April 6 at 10:15 p.m. (ET/PT) with a behind-the-scenes look at undefeated sensation Terence Crawford, one of boxing’s fastest rising stars.

“2 Days” is a revealing and intimate look at a 48-hour span in the life of a boxer in the lead-up to one of his fights and the next edition will focus on Omaha native Terence Crawford. HBO cameras followed the 2014 BWAA “Fighter of the Year” last November when he defeated Ray Beltran on Thanksgiving Weekend in front of the hometown fans. The win was Crawford’s 25th consecutive triumph as a pro and his last at 135 pounds where he was the premier lightweight performer. His upcoming fight will see the 27-year-old make his debut at 140 pounds.

HBO air times include: April 6 (10:15 p.m.), 9 (5:30 p.m. & 12:35 a.m.), 12 (1:15 p.m.), 13 (8:15 a.m.), 15 (1:45 p.m. & 10:15 p.m.), 17 (2:00 a.m. & 7:15 p.m.) and 18 (8:45 a.m.).

HBO2 air times include: April 8 (11:50 a.m. & 8:00 p.m.), 10 (2:40 a.m. & 4:30 p.m.), 11 (10:05 a.m.), 14 (3:30 p.m.), 17 (11:00 p.m.) and 18 (4:30 p.m.).

HBO Latino air times include: April 6 (10:15 p.m.), 9 (5:30 p.m.), 12 (1:15 p.m.), 13 (8:15 a.m.), 15 (1:45 p.m. & 9:45 p.m.), 17 (2:25 a.m.) and 18 (8:45 a.m.).

All times are ET/PT.

Crawford is slated to return to the ring on Saturday, April 18 when he meets the formidable Thomas Dulorme from the College Park Center at the University of Texas Arlington on HBO Boxing After Dark. The event will be part of terrific split site doubleheader on HBO starting at 9:45 p.m. (ET/PT).

“2 Days” will also be available on the HBO On Demand® service, HBO GO® and at www.hbo.com/boxing as well as various other new media platforms that distribute the series.

MONTREAL (March 27, 2015) – The concretization of the The Ring, WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO light heavyweight unification fight between Adonis “Superman” Stevenson and Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev has taken another important step. The World Boxing Council (WBC) has ordered a purse bid to take place April 17 in order to determine the promoter of this major event.

Initially requested by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) to insure the required time to prepare for a major event like this super fight, the WBC agreed to host the purse bid on Apr. 17 in Mexico.

The winner of this purse bid will have an advantage over the other promoter in terms of determining the date, place and television network for the light heavyweight showdown. Each group will split the bid equally on a 50-50 basis.

Before the Stevenson (25-1, 21 KOs) vs. Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) rumble can happen, though, both fighters must win their next bout. Stevenson, the Haitian-born Quebecer, has to successfully defend his WBC and The Ring crowns April 4 in Quebec City against Cameroon native Sakio Bika (32-6-3, 21 KOs), while Kovalev has 90 days to execute a mandatory defense of his IBF belt against Frenchman Nadjib Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) at a place to be determined.

Stevenson’s promoter, GYM president Yvon Michel, is excited by the possibility of promoting what could be the biggest light heavyweight brawl of all-time. “We went ahead because Adonis and his team (adviser Al Haymon and head trainer Jevan Sugar Hill) wanted this awesome fight to happen,” Michel explained. “My boxer (Stevenson) wants to give his fans, not only from Quebec but from around the entire world, the fight they really want.

“Adonis was unfairly accused of ducking Kovalev last summer but his ultimate goal has always been to prove he is the King of the Light Heavyweights.”

“Everybody talks to me about Sergey Kovalev,” WBC, The Ring and lineal world light heavyweight champion Stevenson added. “I am fully focussed on Sakio Bika right now, but I really want to unify the titles. I am the king of my division and ready to prove it.”

The 37-year-old southpaw, fully confident of winning all the major world title belts, also noted, “In fact, the two titles (WBA and IBF) that Bernard Hopkins lost to Kovalev were supposed to be mine, but Hopkins ran away to HBO rather than fight me.”

With the help of the WBC

Sanctioning bodies rarely allow champions of other organizations to be part in its rankings. In this case, however, the WBC made an exception and stated that, at its 52th annual convention last December in Las Vegas, the Kovalev vs. Jean Pascal bout winner would be the mandatory challenger for Stevenson’s title.

The importance and magnitude of a fight with all the titles of a single division at stake influenced the WBC Board of Governors to make that decision.

“That was an excellent strategy by Kathy Duva (president of Main Events and Kovalev’s promoter),” Michel commented. “Adonis is now obligated to face Kovalev in a unification bout, guaranteeing a simple process without long, unnecessary bargaining. Our champion won’t back down, the countdown has just started.”

Oneida Nation Homelands (March 27, 2015) – When the Saturday, April 18 fight between Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse and “The Siberian Rocky” Ruslan Provodnikov at Turning Stone Resort Casino was announced, the boxing world erupted – and ticket sales mimicked the enthusiasm. Due to the unprecedented demand to see this sure-fire “Fight of the Year” candidate, ringside seats sold out in only 15 minutes – and the entire event is now near sellout with Turning Stone releasing the last group of tickets. Limited $35 and $25 seats are still available for this epic fight.

Former World Champions Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse and “The Siberian Rocky” Ruslan Provodnikov, two of boxing’s hardest punchers, will take the stage on April 18 at Turning Stone Resort in a 12-round junior welterweight showdown which will be televised as part of a split site doubleheader live on HBO Boxing After Dark®. The clash of these two fearsome fighters will generate what is sure to be an all-action battle to remember.

The host of this legendary event, the Oneida Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino, continues to be nationally recognized as a leading venue for blockbuster boxing matches. In fact, boxing legend Mike Tyson selected Turning Stone Resort as the venue for his world debut as a promoter, Muhammad Ali’s daughter Laila Ali made her boxing debut at Turning Stone, and many boxing hall-of-famers have promoted fight cards or fought at the resort in recent years, and now Turning Stone has landed a “Fight of the Year” contender over arenas in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Miami. The April 18 fight will mark Turning Stone’s 15th televised boxing event in less than two years, cementing the resort as a mecca for knockout nationally-televised fights.

A truly stunning 3,400 acre destination resort, Turning Stone Resort also offers four award-winning hotels, an eclectic mix of more than 20 fine- and casual-dining restaurants, world-class amenities, including two luxury spas, five professional-level golf courses, an indoor tennis and golf dome, vast entertainment options, multiple nightlife venues and a 120,000 square foot Vegas-style gaming floor. Turning Stone Resort recently received several prestigious awards, including three AAA Four Diamond awards, accolades granted to less than four percent of AAA’s approved properties, distinguishing Turning Stone as the only resort in the entire Northeast with three Four Diamond venues at one property.

Matthysse vs. Provodnikov is a 12-round junior welterweight bout presented by Banner Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions in association with Arano Box Promotions and is sponsored by Corona Extra, Mexico, Live it To Believe It! and Khortytsa Vodka. Doors are currently scheduled to open at 6:00 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and the HBO Boxing After Dark® telecast will being at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

Limited seats are still available by calling the Turning Stone Resort Box Office at 315-361-7469 or online at Ticketmaster.

Professional media requesting credentials for the April 18th fight must contact Kelly Abdo, Turning Stone Resort Casino Public Relations Manager at 315.366.9291 or kelly.abdo@turningstone.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.banner-promotions.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.turningstone.com follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @BannerBoxing, @HBOBoxing, @RuslanProvod, @ TurningStone and become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/BannerPromotions, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/TurningStoneResort and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @ bannerboxing, @ turningstone and @ruslanprovod.

LONDON (March 27) – BoxNation are delighted to announce they will be screening undisputed heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko’s April 25th fight with leading contender Bryant Jennings live and exclusive.

The Ukrainian superstar has enjoyed a 10-year title reign at the top of boxing’s glamour division but will now put his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts on the line against the undefeated Jennings at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York.

Klitschko will return to fight on US soil for the first time since February 2008, with the bout set to have high British interest with Manchester heavyweight Tyson Fury mandated to fight the winner later this year.

Overcoming Jennings will be no easy task for 39-year-old Klitschko, with the Philadelphian, who has a three-inch reach advantage, hoping to become the first unified American heavyweight champion in more than 13 years.

After building up an unbeaten record of 19 straight wins, 10 coming by way of knockout, Jennings is confident that he can finally become the man to dethrone Klitschko, who has won 63 fights, 53 by knockout, with only 3 losses – the last coming over a decade ago.

“I do have great respect for Bryant Jennings and his achievements. He has good movement in the ring and good technique. I know this will be a tough challenge,” said Klitschko.

“I am extremely happy to fight in New York City again. I had my first unification fight there and a lot of great heavyweight matches have taken place at Madison Square Garden. It will definitely be a great fight night and I will do everything for it from my side,” he added.

Jennings has been in equally buoyant mood ahead of the fight and said: “On April 25th history will definitely be made and it will be made by me. One of us has to lose and it isn’t going to be me. Enough of the talking, I’m ready to fight.”

Jim McMunn, Managing Director of BoxNation, stated: “We are extremely pleased to be able to bring BoxNation subscribers this enthralling fight. There is always something special about the heavyweights and given the British interest in this fight, with Tyson Fury up next for the winner, it will be a very intriguing and exciting match-up. Wladimir Klitschko has been pound-for-pound one of the very best for so long but in Bryant Jennings he faces an undefeated and highly-skilled contender that is coming to win.”

‘The Champion Returns’ bill will also see one of boxing’s emerging stars in the unbeaten Sadam Ali take on the quick handed Francisco Santana as the co-feature in a 10-round welterweight clash.

BoxNation offers real value-for-money for fight fans, at just £12 a month, with a number of high-profile bouts coming up live and exclusive on the channel with light-welterweight kingpins Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson facing-off plus Andy Lee vs Peter Quillin on April 11th, followed by a night to remember on April 18th with three back-to-back live fights.

Those include Liverpool lightweight Derry Matthews challenging Richard Abril for the WBA world title, with rising star Terence Crawford looking to become a two-weight champion against Thomas Dulorme, before hard-hitters Lucas Matthysse and Ruslan Provodnikov exchange blows.

That night is followed by Klitschko vs Jennings on April 25th, before a huge battle in front of 40,000 fans at the iconic Minute Maid Park baseball ground takes place between Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez and formidable puncher James Kirkland on May 9th.

To subscribe to BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546 and TalkTalk 525) for only £12 a month visit boxnation.com.

-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.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

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.525), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android. 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.

Mike Gavronski 162.5
Maurice Louishomme 159

Jeremy McCleary 126.5
Marcello Gallardo 127

Marcelino Pineda 147
Paul Mpendo 145.5

Jason Davis 151
Daryl Gardner 152.5

*Andres Reyes 136
Ricardo Maldonado 134

Sean Gee 143
*Omar Avelar 150

Andres Reyes and Omar Avelar weighed heavy. Camps came to an undisclosed financial agreement.

LAS VEGAS (March 26, 2015) – Two days before their important fights live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT), this Saturday, March 28, hard-hitting WBC Featherweight World Champion Jhonny Gonzalez, 2008 U.S. Olympian and former world title challenger Gary Russell Jr., undefeated super welterweight Jermell Charlo and once-beaten super welterweight Vanes Martirosyan participated in the final press conference at The Pearl Theater at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
In the second half of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® doubleheader, the hard-hitting Gonzalez (57-8, 48 KOs), of Mexico City, will defend his WBC Featherweight World Title against talented once-beaten Russell (25-1, 14 KOs), of Capitol Heights, Md.

The telecast opener will match undefeated rising star Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (25-0, 11 KOs), of Houston, against the battle-tested Martirosyan (35-1-1, 21 KOs), of Glendale, Calif., in a 10-rounder for the WBO Intercontinental 154-pound championship.

Earlier on Saturday, SHOWTIME Sports® will present the Sky Sports telecast of the IBF Welterweight World Championship between defending champion and hometown favorite Kell Brook and No. 1 challenger Jo Jo Dan live on SHOWTIME at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT from the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England. Sky Sports’ Jim Watt and Nick Halling will call the action from ringside.

Tickets for this Saturday’s stacked DiBella Entertainment fight card are priced at $200, $100, $75, $50, and $25, plus applicable fees are on sale. Tickets may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or by clicking HERE. Tickets are also available online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Here’s what the boxers and the other participants said Thursday at Palms Resort Casino Lounge.

JHONNY GONZALEZ, WBC Featherweight World Champion

“I am well aware of the history of the prestigious WBC featherweight title and the many great Mexican fighters before me who held it. It is an honor and a privilege and actually very exciting for me to be mentioned with those names.

“I definitely know that more people have been watching me since I knocked out Abner Mares. Knowing that more people are paying attention keeps me motivated, keeps me going strong.

“I feel I am getting better with every fight. Every victory only makes me work that much harder.

“I am very excited about fighting Gary Russell. He is a great fighter and this is going to be a great fight. I am totally prepared for anything. Everyone says it is my power against his speed, but anything can happen in a fight.

“The media thinks I’m done. They say Russell is too fast for me. I’m an underdog in this fight. While I don’t let any of the talk bother me, it does give me more motivation to prove to the people that I am for real and that I am a good fighter fight in and fight out.

“I enjoy being champion, putting in all the hard work and proving people wrong. I had a great training camp and prepared myself well in Mexico City for this fight. I’m known for knockouts but I never go into a fight looking for knockouts. I am ready to fight 12 hard rounds. If the knockout comes, it comes.

“I want to win and take the belt home to Mexico. You’ll see on Saturday what I have in store. You can see my strategy then. I hope to see you all there.

“I want to thank everyone for helping make this fight possible.’’

GARY RUSSELL JR., 2008 U.S. Olympian and former world title challenger

“I’m ready and in shape. In the ring I’m omnipresent. I’m going to change all those pictures on that belt.

“I feel the same going into this fight as I always do, and I expect the outcome to be the same as always, that I will come out on top.

“I respect Jhonny Gonzalez like I respect all my opponents. He worked hard to win the title. I have studied tape of him. I know he is going to come right after me. Gonzalez is a puncher. But I’m a good puncher too. He’s been knocked out before, maybe he’ll get knocked out again.

“I can do a lot of things in the ring. Of course, my youth and speed will be keys but I have other attributes, too, like boxing acumen, ring generalship and what I call controlled chaos. I can move and punch and I’m thinking all the time in there.

“Gonzalez and Lomachenko are totally different fighters with completely different styles. Lomachenko may be a bit better overall, but Gonzalez is more of a pure puncher with power. I know Gonzalez has a dangerous left hook. But I’m totally prepared for that and everything else.

“In my fight with Lomachenko I was flat. A lot of things went wrong in camp before that fight. I allowed my conditioning coach at that time to change up all sorts of little things with me, and they wound up working against me.

“For this camp, we went back to basics with the same people I’ve always had. It was a great camp. You know, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it and that’s the philosophy all of us have again.

“I never dreamed growing up of being a world champion. My goal was to become a U.S. Olympian and win a gold medal. When I didn’t, I felt I let so many people down. It was then I started dreaming of becoming a world champion.

“I get another chance on Saturday. I’m ready for it.’’

JERMELL CHARLO, Undefeated Super Welterweight Contender

“It’s been an awesome camp, we enjoyed it. It’s been an awesome six or seven weeks. One thing you can never forget is — being a Charlo, being a lion — we stay on our game for weeks. Always training, always in shape.

“We know who is around us in the division, and which fighters to pay attention to. We know how far up we are. Vanes is a great fighter – I grew up with him a little bit. We trained with him back in ’08. His father is great. His father knows my father. We made it to a level where we both carried ourselves to the top. Carried ourselves to rank No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 … and when you’re in that position you fight the best.

“Of course, I’m not going out without a fight. I know neither is Vanes. You guys are going to get a fight Saturday night. As simple as this — I come to roar, I come to take over, I come to show guys that you can’t figure us out.

“There’s so many different things that have been said … ‘you’re basic,’ ‘you’re a boy vs. a man.’ Impossible. I wouldn’t be here if I was a boy. So, Saturday you all will see. I’m going to work.

“There are several weaknesses that I plan on exploiting. He’s got 35 wins but you have to look at who he fought. I would argue some of those guys don’t have the resume of the guys I have fought.

“I’ve fought tougher fighters than Vanes, stronger guys. A lot of people avoid Charlie Ota because it’s a rugged fight, but I’ll take those fights. You have to get in there and adjust, which is something I do.

“Vanes has a good right hand that you have to watch out for. There are certain punches that we have to throw to neutralize it.

“This can open up bigger doors for fights with top guys at 154 and even some other guys we can make catch-weight fights with. I consider myself and my brother (Jermall) both top five fighters in the division.”

VANES MARTIROSYAN, World-Ranked 154-pound Contender

“I’ve been here before. I love the lights.

“To all the fighters, I wish them the best. We’re ready to go. There’s not much to say right now. I do all the talking in the ring. I’ll let my fists do the talking.

“We’re 100 percent ready. I want to thank my trainers Roma, Coach D, my brother, my father. We’re ready to go. On Saturday I guarantee a victory by knockout. I promise that.

“It’s been a great two month camp, but we’re always ready. I’m always doing something athletic even if I don’t have a fight.

“Jermell is a good fighter, a good boxer. I would say he’s basic and I really do believe that. You can’t change a fighter overnight — that takes time. We’ll see what he brings to the table and be ready for anything.

“I’ve been in situations before where I knew even bigger fights were ahead of me and I got kind of used to the lights. I know what to do now and I’m ready. After this fight there are bigger things to come but to get to those bigger things you have to focus on this task.

“I don’t look at myself as the B-side, I think he is. I’ve been in this situation before and I’ve fought a lot of big names. Maybe there’s hype around him that makes him the A-side but it is all hype. I’ve been in there with guys who have a lot of experience so I’ll be ready.’’

NACHO BERISTRAIN, Gonzalez’ Hall Of Fame Trainer

“I expect a very difficult fight against southpaw who is very fast. Gary Russell is a great fighter, I like him.

“Jhonny knows what he has to do. He has to throw punches, maintain constant pressure and cut off the ring. That’s the way to help overcome Russell’s speed.

“Since beating Mares, Jhonny has definitely become stronger and more confident and more ambitious. It’s not about money, however, he just wants to prove to all the people that he is a good champion.

“Jhonny was always dedicated but now he is even more dedicated. We expect a victory by a big margin on points, but if the knockout comes, it comes.’’

GARY RUSSELL SR., Russell’s Trainer/Father

“Gary’s speed is going to be the difference. Speed kills.

“After the camp we’ve had, we expect Gary to come out and do what he knows how to do. They talk a lot about Gonzalez’ punching power, but Gary can whack too, along with his overall hand- and foot-speed and overall ability.

“We went back to our old routine in training and I can tell you Gary feels a whole lot better now. He’s primed for a big effort on Saturday. We all are.’’

RON RIZZO, Vice President of DiBella Entertainment

“Seems to be that this fight has been lost a little been in the shuffle recently. I’m not sure why. We have a lot of big things happening within the boxing industry — just as the University of Kentucky is dominating with their undefeated season, there’s a lot of other great matchups that are involved in boxing, and this is one of them.

“This is one I’m really excited about, and all the matchmakers I’ve been talking to are excited as well.

“I think this is a bout that’s really going to stand out. I don’t want people to miss it. This is a really good fight. There’s also another good fight with Charlo vs. Martirosyan as well.

“I really feel the main event is an unbelievable fight that just got lost in the shuffle of big fights that are happening on network television. For me, all the matchmakers that I’m talking to… it’s just one of those perfect kind of style bouts that are very intriguing. Of course Jhonny Gonzalez always makes for exciting bouts. Gary Russell is another guy who wants that title. He’s ready to take it this time.”

JAIME QUINTANA, Promociones Del Pueblo

“On behalf of Promociones Del Pueblo who represents Jhonny Gonzalez, the World Champion, we would like to let you know that we are happy to be here in Las Vegas defending the title.

“Jhonny Gonzalez has put up pretty good fights before – you all know. You have followed the steps in his career. We appreciate that. Thanks to the media, it’s them that makes a great fighter a great champion.”

BILLY CONN, Vice President of Entertainment and Special Events for The Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort

“On behalf of everyone here at the Palms Casino and our 2,000 employees, we appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to cover this great event.

“We’re excited to work again with SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and DiBella Entertainment. Our crew at The Pearl has been working feverishly to make this intimate venue for everybody.

“You’ll really enjoy seeing fights here. Tickets are still available here at the Pearl Box Office, Ticketmaster, on our website, etc. Tickets start at $25. We look forward to hosting everybody here.”

BOB BENNETT, Executive Director of Nevada State Athletic Commission

“I feel privileged for the Nevada State Athletic Commission to go ahead and regulate this great Championship fight. We want to thank DiBella Entertainment and Goossen Promotions for bringing this fight to the fight capital of the world and to SHOWTIME for broadcasting the fight. Last but not least, and most importantly, I want to thank the fighters. Without the fighters, none of us would be here.”

# # #

“Gonzalez vs. Russell Jr.”, a 12-round world championship bout for Gonzalez’s WBC Featherweight World Title, is promoted by DiBella Entertainment. In the co-feature, Jermell Charlo takes on Vanes Martirosyan in super welterweight action. The event will take place at The Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas and will air on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT). The telecast will also be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).

For more information, visit www.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter at @SHOSports, @jhonnygbox, @mrgaryrusselljr, @TwinCharlo, @LouDiBella and @PearlAtPalms, follow the conversation using #GonzalezRussell, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing or visit the SHOWTIME Boxing Blog at http://theboxingblog.sho.com.

THACKERVILLE. Okla. – March 26, 2015 – Fighters took to the scales and successfully hit their targeted weights Thursday afternoon at the WinStar World Casino & Resort, the site of tomorrow’s highly anticipated “Bellator: Warren vs. Galvao” event, which airs LIVE and FREE on Spike at 9 p.m. ET.

“Bellator: Warren vs. Galvao” is headlined by a rematch of a controversial fight between Bellator Bantamweight World Champion Joe Warren (12-3) and Marcos Galvao (16-6-1). Many people felt that the Brazillian Galvao was robbed in their first match up, and now Warren looks to win in convincing fashion tomorrow night.

The event also features a bantamweight co-main event between L.C. Davis (22-6) and Japanese mainstay Hideo Tokoro (32-27-2).

Joe Warren (134.4 lbs.) vs. Marcos Galvao (134.6 lbs.)

LC Davis (135.4 lbs.) vs. Hideo Tokoro (135.6 lbs.)

Francis Carmont (204.8 lbs.) vs. Guilherme Viana (205.6lbs.)

Ryan Couture (156 lbs.) vs. Dakota Cochrane (205.6 lbs.)

George “Geo” Pacurariu (135.8 lbs.) vs. J.P. Cole (134.4 lbs.)
Klayton Mai (126 lbs.) vs. Xavier Siller (126 lbs.)
Brad Mitchell (145.4 lbs.) vs. Stephen Banaszak (146.8 lbs.)
Emmanuel Sanchez (145.4 lbs.) vs. Alejandro Villalobos (145.2 lbs.)
Logan Nail (184.8 lbs.) vs. Neil Ewing (184.6 lbs.)
Sean Holden (169.6 lbs.) vs. Tim Roman (170.8 lbs.)
Rashad Coulter (229.8 lbs.) vs. Jeremiah O’Neal (242.4 lbs.)

Additional fighter photos / Credit Bellator/Eric Coleman
PRE-FIGHT QUOTES:

Joe Warren:
“It’s an honor to be fighting again at WinStar Casino. I’ve been here three or four times and my fans show up and we sell out the venue. It’s really exciting to have the opportunity to beat up another Brazilian tomorrow.

“I always perform better in the bigger events in front of my fans. I rise to that level, it’s from my Olympic background.

“I’m not worried about anything that Marcos Galvao does, he’s just a body in front of me to punish. I have a focus and game plan. If I keep moving forward, no one can stop me.

“I am 100 percent looking for the knockout. I am trying to be the champion everybody wants me to.

“If it’s a five round fight, I am ready for that. This is a championship fight and MMA is the most unpredictable sport. Of course I would like to finish every single opponent in the first minute of the first round, but if that doesn’t happen and I am ready for good long fight.

“I am ready for whoever they put in front of me. Whoever is in that cage with me, I am going to punish. I want to keep this belt for as long as I can.”

Marcos Galvao:
“I have never felt better going into a fight. I had the best training camp I have ever had, I am ready for tomorrow.

“I am well prepared for wherever the fight goes. I am better than him in all aspects of MMA, including wrestling.

“It is a dream come true to be fighting on SPIKE. Everybody back home in Brazil is very excited to watch me fight. They all have their big screens up in their house and are ready to cheer me on.”

“Bellator: Warren vs. Galvao” – Friday, March 27, WinStar World Casino, Thackerville, Okla.

Main Card (9 p.m. ET)
Bellator Bantamweight Title Fight: Champ Joe Warren (12-3) vs. Marcos Galvao (16-6-1)
Bellator Bantamweight Feature Fight: L.C. Davis (22-6) vs. Hideo Tokoro (32-27)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Francis Carmont (22-10) vs. Guilherme Viana (6-1)
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Ryan Couture (9-3) vs. Dakota Cochrane (18-7)

Preliminary Card (6:30 p.m. ET)
Bellator Welterweight Prelim Fight: Sean Holden (2-1) vs. Tim Roman (2-1)
Bellator Middleweight Prelim Fight: Neal Ewing (5-0) vs. Logan Nail (1-0)
Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Emmanuel Sanchez (9-1) vs. Alejandro Villalobos (17-3)
Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Stephen Banaszak (3-4) vs. Brad Mitchell (4-1)
Bellator Flyweight Prelim Fight: Klayton Mai (6-1) vs. Xavier Siller (5-3)
Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: J.P. Cole (2-2) vs. Geo Pacurariu (8-4)

Swing Bout
Bellator Heavyweight Prelim Fight: Rashad Coulter (4-1) vs. Jeremiah O’Neal (13-24)

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 TV:
Spike TV 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 TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’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.

Tacoma Washington (March 26, 2015) After more than 18 years of showcasing the best up and coming boxing talent the West Coast has to offer along with many televised fights including 11 world title fights, Battle at the Boat’s 100th show is set to kick off this Saturday, March 28th, live from the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, with the first contest scheduled for 7:00PM.

Headlining this historic night of fights will be the highly anticipated bout between Tacoma’s own Mike “Imagine Me” Gavronski (16-1-1 10KO’s) and Maurice Louishomme (8-1-1 4,KO’s) of Colorado Springs, Colorado in a 10-round main event. Gavronski has been on a roll as of late, winning dominant decision victories in each of his last two contests. Louishomme has made a mark in his early boxing career with a crowd pleasing style along with the courage to take on any challenger that comes his way with his only loss coming against 2011 Gold Medalist at the World Championships, Ievgen Khytrov.

In the co-main event of the evening, Buckley, Washington’s undefeated sensation Jeremy McCleary (6-0) looks to keep his perfect professional record alive in a 5-round bout versus talented Oregonian Marcello Gallardo (4-1-2 1KO’s). McCleary is no stranger to the Battle at the Boat ring, with all of his professional contests taking place in the I-5 showroom. Gallardo poses as the toughest opponent McCleary has fought to date.

Also featured on the card will be heavy-handed Toppenish, Washington native Marcelino Pineda (4-1, 4KO’s). The talented knockout artist will be looking to add another knockout victory to his record when he takes on veteran Paul Mpendo (8-12-4 4KO’s) of Portland in another 5 round bout.

From top to bottom, the Battle at the Boat 100 card is stacked with exciting fights that will make this historic evening one to remember. The 4 round undercard bouts are as follows:

Jason Davis (12-10-1, 3KO’s) vs. Daryl Gardner (2-5, 2KO’s)
Sean Gee (debut) vs. Omar Avelar (3-12, 3KO’s)
Andres Reyes (2-0) vs. Ricardo Maldonado (4-2)

Halquist Productions has also planned for a very special intermission where past Battle at the Boat stars and other contributors of the West Coast’s leading boxing promotion step into the ring one more time. Those guests include: Kenny Ellis, Emmit Linton, Tom Mustin, Stan Naccaroto, and many more!

Tickets for Battle at the Boat 100 are on sale now at the Emerald Queen Casino box office as well as all Ticketmaster locations and start at only $25. Doors open at 6:00PM with the first bout scheduled for 7:00PM. Battle at the Boat is brought to you by Brian Halquist Productions. For more info, please visit www.halquistproductions.com as well as the Battle at the Boat Facebook page.
For Interviews or credential requests, please contact:

Washington D.C. (March 26, 2015) – A little more than two weeks in advance of his highly anticipated bout at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Lamont Peterson (33-2-1, 17 KOs) hosted media at the Bald Eagle Recreation Center in Washington, D.C. Lamont, his brother Anthony and Lamont’s trainer, Barry Hunter, took some time out of their training schedule to discuss Lamont’s Premier Boxing Champions showdown against Danny “Swift” Garcia (29-0, 17 KOs) on April 11.

Below please find notable quotes from the event, which was attended by print, broadcast and online media outlets from around the region:

Lamont Peterson, Super Lightweight World Champion

“The plan might be to just go out there and fight him. Regardless of how I choose to fight, I feel like I can win. I do have quicker feet, but I can use them to do other things too. I can go forward. I don’t always have to be going backwards. I will stick to the game plan, but we don’t know what the game plan is right now.

“My mentality always shows in the ring, especially in the late rounds. You ask a lot of your body in that ring and a lot of times it goes to what it knows. So your personality definitely comes out, and I think that’s where I shine more than other fighters. The later rounds are when I normally take over the fight. A lot of the time I wish we could go more rounds.

“The fans wanted to see this fight so I wanted to make sure that it happened. I never really call out names or talk about who I want next. I leave it up to the fans and to the media because there are lots of fights that the fans want to see that never happen. At the end of the day, I’m fighting for the fans and the media so why not fight who they want me to fight?

“I’m just looking to take the things I do well and execute, and then I’m looking to take away the things Garcia does well and force him to do the things he doesn’t do well more often. I don’t look at any one previous fight of his and think ours is going to go that way.

“I’m a better fighter. He’s definitely a counter-puncher and we’re looking to make sure that we don’t get countered the way some others have been.

“There have been ups and downs in the camp. Sometimes it’s time to pull back and relax, but sometimes it’s time to work hard. Overall I feel great. A lot of people say this, but this has been my best training camp ever and I’m happy where I’m at right now. I’m ready to fight.

“This is the biggest fight for me. After this there’s nothing left to do in the weight class. I’d like to move up after this next fight.”

Barry Hunter, Peterson’s Trainer

“Lamont is a very versatile fighter. He’s been in the ring hundreds of times. He can box. He can fight both inside and outside. He can strategize, but he can also be very aggressive.

“Danny is a solid fighter. He doesn’t do one or two things great, but he does a lot of things well. There are some things though that we’ve seen in him that we think we can exploit and we’re going to go out there with the intent to do so. Overall I think Lamont is a better fighter.

“There’s only a few big names left at 140, everyone else has moved up to 147. So Lamont’s way of thinking was that the only way this fight made sense at 140 was if he could face Danny Garcia. This was more about giving the fans what they want to see. This is going to give fans a great free fight again on national TV.

“NBC is a true sports network. They have NBA, WNBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS and the only sport that was missing was boxing. Boxing used to be on every network and they had legendary fights with legendary fighters. It wasn’t always about a belt either. Then things changed, but this gives us a chance to bring boxing back to the true fans.”

Anthony Peterson

“I’m not nervous about watching this fight. I’m just going to sit back and watch. Lamont’s so ready.

“Danny is an extraordinary fighter. It’s in his DNA, but Lamont is so focused I’m confident he’s going to win.

“Lamont learned to fight protecting me on the streets.”

# # #

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $300, $200, $150, $100, $80 and $50, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com and at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com www.nbcsports.com/boxing,www.BarclaysCenter.com and www.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @LouDiBella, @DannySwift, @KingPete26, @KidChocolate, @AndyLeeBoxing, @RealLuisCollazo, @NBCSports and @BarclaysCenter and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions,www.facebook.com/NBCSports and www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment. Follow the conversation using #PremierBoxingChampions and #BKBoxing.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (March 26, 2015) – M-1 Global has announced a special five-round, heavyweight Super Fight on May 2 as unbeaten M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Marcin “Tybur” Tybura takes on M-1 Challenge light heavyweight titlist Stephan “T-800″ Puetz, headlining M-1 Challenge 57: Clash of Champions, in Orenburg, Russia.

The historic M-1 Challenge 57 will be streamed live in high definition on www.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all of the action on their computers, as well as on Andriod and Apple smart phones and tablets.

The 29-year-old Tybura (12-0-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 SUB) captured the coveted M-1 Challenge heavyweight title last August 15 at M-1 Challenge 50: Battle on Neva, locking-in a choke hold on defending champion Damian Grabowski (19-1-0) in the first-round for the Submission of the Night.

The 6’3”, 248-pound native of Poland made his first title defense last November in Beijing, China, by way of another opening-round submission of previously undefeated Denis Smoldarev (9-0-0) via a choke hold. Tybura is unbeaten in six M-1 Global fights.

“I think this fight is the best option for me at the moment,” Tybura said. “I’m always looking for a challenge. I know Stephan weighs around 110 kilograms (242 lbs.), normally, and that he’s a great fighter. All of that gives me motivation. Fights are never easy; I always expect them to be hard and to go the full distance. We’re both champions, proving we know how to win title fights, and that makes it a great matchup.”

Tybura chokes ot Smoldarev
Puetz (12-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 4 SUB), 27, is 3-0-0 in M-1 Global fights, all in M-1 Challenge light heavyweight championship matches. The 6′ 5″ German is stepping up to fight as a heavyweight this one time against Tybura.

A decorated fighter in Germany before signing with M-1 Global, Puetz won the crown March 14, 2014 at M-1 Challenge 46, taking a five-round split decision from veteran Viktor Nemkov (19-4-0). Puetz has had successful title defenses against Luis Fernando Miranda (12-1-0) last August at M-1 Challenge 50 by second-round choke submission, and this past December at M-1 Challenge 54, in which he punched his way to a second round knockout of previously undefeated Valery Myasnikov (8-0-0).

“It was an easy decision for me to take this fight (at heavyweight) because I consider Tybura one of the best fighters out there and I love any sort of challenge,” Puetz explained his decision. “My motivation is to be the best and I have to beat the best in order to achieve that. I still consider this fight a “one-off” as my long term future is in the light heavyweight division. I usually walk around between 106-110 kilograms (233-242 lbs.), but I might even come into this fight a little lighter in order to work on my quickness. I will be in great shape for sure. This fight is the biggest fight M-1 can put out! It´s also a historical fight with the light heavyweight champion meeting the heavyweight champion. We are both known as fighters who constantly move forward and are willing to take a risk in order to finish our opponents. This fight won´t be any different. You better be prepared for a real WAR between MAN vs. Machine!”

Puetz (R) strikes Nemkov

All fights and fighters are subject to change. Additional fights to soon be announced.

Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 57 live on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., as well as nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in more than 30 countries throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

UPCOMING EVENTS: M-1 Challenge 56, April 10, 2015 in Moscow, Russia.

Information

www.mixfight.ru

www.wmmaa.org

www.M1Global.tv

Twitter & Instagram:

@M1Global

@VFinkelchtein

@M1GlobalNews

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/pages/M-1-Global/145250878842244
ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL: Founded in 1997, M-1 Global has established itself in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the premier entity for discovering and developing the world’s next-generation of superstar fighters. With its office in St Petersburg, Russia, the M-1 brand has staged more than 160 events worldwide, including M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge, M-1 Global and M-1 Global HWGP events, in addition to co-promoting Strikeforce events and M-1 Global on the U.S. network, Showtime. Captivating live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups, M-1 Global events have featured some of the sport’s top names, including legendary heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Sergei Kharitonov, Aleksander Emelianenko, Roman Zentsov, Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Chalid Arrab and Stephan Struve. 2015 promises to be another sensational year of world-class competition with a full calendar of Challenge events fueled by a talent-rich contention system ranking M-1 Global Champions among the greatest fighters in the sport.

ABOUT M-1GLOBAL.TV: Enjoy MMA action now in high definition brought to you by M-1Global.tv, offering only the best fights from M-1 Global and other MMA organizations. M-1Global.tv is a great platform developed specifically to bring together the most exhaustive fight video database. It also provides an easy and intuitive interface, helping everyone to start using the platform in no time while avoiding any spoilers. Besides watching the past fights on demand at any time convenient to the customer, viewers are able to enjoy the action LIVE, all available to M-1Global.tv users through a low-priced month to month digital subscription. Your world of action. Anytime!

BROOKLYN (March 26, 2015) – Superstars of the present and future will be well represented on Saturday, April 11 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn as a full undercard of Olympians, prospects and future stars hit the ring looking to impress the Brooklyn crowd.

The exciting undercard features Olympic Gold Medalist for the Dominican Republic Felix Diaz battling Brooklyn-born Gabriel “Tito” Bracero in a 10-round super lightweight contest. Plus, the return of Brooklyn’s own Luis Collazo, who will compete in welterweight action.

Also fighting at Barclays Center are a pair of 2012 U.S. Olympians, as undefeated prospect “Sir” Marcus Browne takes on the experienced Aaron Pryor Jr. and Browne’s Olympic teammate Errol Spence Jr. makes his Brooklyn debut against once-beaten Samuel Vargas.

Additionally on the stacked undercard is the highly regarded Viktor Postol, plus undefeated prospect Prichard “Digget” Colon battles Jonathan Batista and undefeated prospect Heather “The Heat” Hardy” takes on Renata Domsodi in a super bantamweight bout.

“It’s an honor for me to be fighting in New York for the first time and at Barclays Center. I know the Dominican fans are going to come out in full force to support me,” said Diaz. “Bracero is a tough fighter, but I have world championship dreams and he is standing in my way.”

“This is a dream come true for me,” said Bracero. “I live in Sunset Park, right down the block from Barclays Center and I am grateful for this opportunity to fight in front of my hometown fans. I’ve been through hell in life, but I’ve never given up on my dream. If you believe in yourself, anything is possible. This is my destiny and I am ready.”

“I’m very excited to be fighting at Barclays Center again. I’ve experienced some of the most incredible moments of my career there,” said Collazo. “This will be my fourth fight at Barclays Center and I plan on giving my hometown fans a lot to be excited about on April 11.”

“I’m happy and excited to fight at Barclays Center for the eighth time,” said Browne. “My friends and family are going to come out and support me like they always do, but I am even more excited to be on a card with so many guys I consider great fighters and my friends like Kid Chocolate and Lamont Peterson.”

“Fighting at Barclays Center for the first time is a great opportunity and I plan on making the most of it,” said Spence Jr. “I’m going to work hard in camp to put on a great show for the fans in Brooklyn.”

“I was born and raised in Brooklyn and it is an honor to be invited back to fight in my hometown at Barclays Center,” said Hardy. “I’m looking forward to putting on a great show for the fans on April 11.”

“I’m very excited about this card and all the locals on the undercard. Collazo is a great fighter and one that the fans love to watch,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment, promoter of the event. “Felix Diaz versus Gabriel Bracero is a New York showdown, with a Dominican Olympic gold medalist from the Bronx facing a “Nuyorican” from Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Also, the first Brooklyn appearance of 2012 Olympian Errol Spence will be a real treat for the fans. Add rising stars like Staten Island’s Marcus Browne and Brooklyn’s own Heather Hardy, the first lady of DBE and you have the makings of an electric, nonstop night of action.”

“The heart of boxing at Barclays Center is the great local boxers that fight in our ring,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Barclays Center. “Our April 11 card not only delivers major primetime matchups, but gives many of my favorite fighters, including Luis Collazo and Marcus Browne, the opportunity to showcase their skills in their hometown. This is going to be an exciting night for Brooklyn Boxing.”

This exciting roster of undercard bouts will complement the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC primetime main event bouts featuring undefeated superstar Danny “Swift” Garcia (29-0, 17 KOs) facing Lamont Peterson (33-2-1, 17 KOs) and the middleweight championship bout between “Irish” Andy Lee (34-2, 24 KOs) and undefeated Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (31-0, 22 KOs). The second installment of PBC on NBC begins at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $300, $200, $150, $100, $80 and $50, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now.Tickets are available at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com and at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

A two-time Olympian representing the Dominican Republic, Diaz (16-0, 8 KOs) won a gold medal at his second Olympic games in 2008 in Beijing. Now fighting out of the Bronx, the 31-year-old looks to remain undefeated when he takes on Bracero on April 11. This fight will mark his first time fighting in New York and he no doubt wants to impress the fans in his adopted home city.

The Brooklyn-born Bracero (23-1, 4 KOs) has worked his way to becoming a contender in the junior welterweight division. His only loss came in 2012 to DeMarcus Corley, but he has rebounded to win his last five fights, including his most recent victory over former title contender Dmitriy Salita. Now, he prepares to make another statement against Felix Diaz in his Barclays Center debut.

One of Brooklyn’s most respected fighters today, Collazo (35-6, 18 KOs) will be aiming to get back on track when he enters the ring on April 11. In May of 2015 Collazo faced Amir Khan in a hard fought 12-round unanimous decision loss, snapping a four-fight win streak. Never having suffered consecutive losses, the gritty Collazo believes that his hometown crowd will give him the boost he needs to get a win.

As he approaches his record eighth appearance at Barclays Center, the 2012 U.S. Olympian Browne (13-0, 10 KOs) is becoming synonymous with boxing’s newest Mecca. Unbeaten as a professional, with five knockouts in Barclays Center ring, the Staten Island native has shown how much he loves fighting in his backyard. Browne faces the 36-year-old Pryor Jr. (19-7, 12 KOs) from Cincinnati in a light heavyweight bout.

A 2012 U.S. Olympian who had a highly decorated amateur career, Spence Jr. (15-0, 12 KOs) from Desoto, Texas, is looking to remain undefeated and continue to make a name for himself in the sport. The 25-year-old will battle Columbian-born Vargas (20-1, 10 KOs) fighting out of Ontario, Canada.

A 31-year-old out of Kiev, Ukraine Postol (26-0, 11 KOs) has made a name for himself as one of the most feared men in the super lightweight division. Having only fought twice in the USA before, April 11 is a great opportunity for Postol to make a statement on American soil. After a thrilling victory over Selcuk Aydin in May 2014, Postol is primed for a big 2015.

Fighting out of Puerto Rico, the fast-rising Colon (13-0, 10 KOs) makes his second appearance at Barclays Center on April 11 after dominating Lenwood Dozier in Brooklyn en route to a six-round decision in August 2014. The 22-year-old will face the 30-year-old Batista (14-5, 7 KOs) out of the Dominican Republic in super welterweight action.

Already the winner of the first-ever professional female boxing match at Barclays Center, Hardy (12-0, 2 KOs) returns on April 11 looking to keep her perfect record intact. Her previous victory at Barclays Center came in June 2014 when she won a split decision over Jackie Trivilino. Most recently, she won a dominant unanimous decision against Elizabeth Anderson in December 2014. She looks to keep that momentum going on April 11 when she faces the Renata Domsodi (12-6, 5 KO’s) out of Budapest, Hungary in a super bantamweight contest.

# # #

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com www.nbcsports.com/boxing,www.BarclaysCenter.com and www.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @LouDiBella, @DannySwift, @KingPete26, @KidChocolate, @AndyLeeBoxing, @RealLuisCollazo, @NBCSports and @BarclaysCenter and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions,www.facebook.com/NBCSports and www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment. Follow the conversation using #PremierBoxingChampions and #BKBoxing.

Toronto – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, today announced a live broadcast of World Series of Fighting 19: Gaethje vs. Palomino this Saturday, March 28 at 9 p.m. ET exclusively in Canada.

WSOF 19: Gaethje vs. Palomino will be headlined by a world lightweight championship showdown between undefeated, reigning kingpin Justin Gaethje (13-0) of Stafford, Ariz., and aggressive-minded, hard-hitting challenger Luis “Baboon” Palomino (23-9) of Miami, Fla.

In co-main event action, the WSOF multi-event, four-man light heavyweight tournament will kick off with a rematch between superstar Thiago Silva (16-3) of Sao Paulo, Brazil and inspirational fighter Matt “The Hammer” Hamill (11-5) of Loveland, Ohio.

In a tournament reserve bout, American Top Team’s Jake “The Honey Bear” Heun (7-3) battles knockout artist Teddy Holder (8-1), and kicking off the televised card, Dagestani standout Timur “Lucky” Valiev (8-1) faces gritty bantamweight veteran Ed “Wild” West (18-9).

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

New York, NY, March 26, 2015-Lion Heart Boxing Productions’ gallant effort to resuscitate professional boxing in Zimbabwe may have been dealt a fatal blow. The Zimbabwe Boxing Board’s unexplained failure to act on a request by the company for permission to stage a boxing tournament in Harare may be the final straw that broke the camel’s back on the company’s “Zim Project.

In December of 2014, Lion Heart’s Board of Directors met and resolved to have one final go developing Boxing in Zimbabwe by exploring the possibility of promoting a quarterly boxing series in Harare starting in April 2015. As a result, the company decided to send its CFO, Edward Mendy, to Zimbabwe tasked with only one objective-investigate the feasibility of hosting a boxing tournament in Harare to be held on April 16 or April 23, 2015 in conjunction with Zim’s 35th Independence Day celebration, or other date as feasible. Ancillary to same, Mendy was tasked with the following: (1) confirm a date, (2) secure a venue, (3) book Zim boxers to feature in the Main Event, and/or co-main event, and (4) secure board permission to host the event.

The Main Event of the proposed May 2015 inaugural event was slated to feature Former Two Time British Champion and Two Time Commonwealth Champion Danny Williams (46-18) taking on Bulawayo’s own Thamsanqa Dube (12-3), a former WBA Pan-African Champion. In the Co-Main Event, Namibian and former World Champion Harry Simon (30-0) was selected to take on an opponent to be announced. The Undercard was to be highlighted by a special feature bout–WBC Africa Welterweight Charles Manyuchi (15-2) was to defend his title on home soil for the first time ever or just do a rating fight (subject to the approval of his Zambian Promoter Chris Malunga and his partners). Manyuchi is currently the most internationally recognized Zimbabwean Boxer and has been plying his trade in neighboring Zambia since 2012 for lack of options at home. The event would have been broadcasted live on ZTV and streamed live worldwide on the Internet. Further, the event would have been rebroadcasted on a delayed basis via regional sports channels in the USA, which reach over 165 Million American cable homes (over 100 Million unique homes) using Lion Heart Boxing Productions’ established contractual relationships. Additionally, the event was slated to be syndicated regionally and in other markets, worldwide as feasible.

In furtherance of the company’s Zimbabwe ambitions, Mendy left New York for Harare on February 26, 2015 on exploratory mission. He was received warmly by Zimbabweans of walks of life and spent a very enjoyable and productive ten days in Zimbabwe, visiting various cities and meeting with people. Lion Heart was able to achieve all of the stated goals except the last one, secure ZBB support for the proposed event, even though the first meeting scheduled on Mendy’s agenda was the Board. Unfortunately, not only did the Zimbabwe Boxing Board not provide the requisite nod, it would not even convene an official meeting of the Board to receive Mendy or table Lion Heart’s plans. To date, and three weeks later, Lion Heart has not received any correspondence from the Board on its application to host an event in May. The only information it has received relative to the event is from media reports, to the effect that the Board needs more time to deliberate.

Due to the ZBB’s non-responsiveness, Lion Heart regrettably has decided to put its Zim Project on hold indefinitely. Says Lion Heart Event Coodinator Sporty Smith, “We have no choice but to put our Zim Project on hold since the ZBB has failed to afford us the smallest of professional courtesy. We can understand a Board’s refusal to sanction an event it does not like it. A failure by a Board to reply, meet deadlines it proposed and otherwise fail to communcate, however, is unheard of. Not only was the board frosty in its welcome of Edward Mendy, it would not even convene a meeting of the board even though advance arrangements were made with it. Further, the Board would not even give us the courtesy of a response despite numerous follow-up inquiries. What is most shocking about the whole thing, the ZBB’s action (or inactions), is that it is not like the ZBB has sanctioned any real boxing events in its current term, a three-year term that expires in December, or have any boxing events scheduled on its calendar. Neither are any promoters other than Lion Heart knocking on the Board’s doors or trying to promote boxing events in Zimbabwe. Thus, we are truly perplexed given the extremely warm welcome and unabashed enthusiasm our project otherwise received from boxers, trainers, other members of the boxing community, the media, tourism and other government officials as well as ordinary Zimbabweans. Basically we have a Boxing Board that has seen no boxing events in its current term, yet it is not acting on the only real boxing event tabled before it, and a proposed major tournament with internationally recognized start at that.”

Lion Heart’s efforts to help develop the sport of Boxing in Zimbabwe, the “Zim Project,” has spanned over a decade. In addition to sponsoring various tournaments in Zimbabwe over the last decade, Lion Heart Boxing Productions and its owners have attempted to help advance the careers of numerous Zimbabwean boxers, including then undefeated Thamsanqa Dube and Ishmael Kuckocha, by sponsoring them to further their training and careers in the USA. However, despite what it believes to be its best efforts, Lion Heart Boxing Productions has had very limited success with its Zim Project and has little or nothing to show for its Herculean efforts to help progress Boxing in Zimbabwe.

Boxing tournaments in Zimbabwe that Lion Heart sponsored did not achieve the desired financial results. Further, various local promoters and Zimbabwean partners (other than Gilbert Munetsi) that Lion Heart Boxing Productions had contracted with over the years had turned out to be unreliable and unproductive. Many of local promoters and partners promised much and delivered little. Further, the Zimbabwe Boxing Board would not approve the signing of any of the fighters that Lion Heart had interest in the 2000’s. Most recently, Lion Heart agreed to help a small local promoter, Delta Force Promotions, with an event he planned by securing the event’s purse money and depositing same with the Boxing Board. The local Promoter, however, was unable to organize the event to the Board’s satisfaction. After that experience, Lion Heart finally resolved in 2014 to give up on its Zim Project. However, Lion Heart was convinced by Chit Town based writer and former ZBB Board Member Gilbert Munetsi to persist in its Zim endeavors and keep on working on the Zim Project.

Says company CFO Edward Mendy, “To be honest, equal credit for our perseverance on the Zim Project should go to Gilbert Munetsi and I. But for our continued pleading and my obstinacy in the face of adversity, Lion Heart would have long terminated its foray into Zimbabwe Boxing.”

Added Mendy, “After over ten years of working without success on our Zim Project, our lack of success in trying to sign various Zim boxers to bring to the USA in 2004-2005, the fiasco with Cox Chigwana in 2013 and our more recent unsuccessful efforts to help Clyde Musonda and his Delta Boxing Productions get their event of the grounds in 2013-14, we simply have to face the reality Zimbabwe may not be for us. Our trials and tribulations in Zimbabwe are well-documented, covered in great part by the Zim media and well-known to members of the current Board. While I am not one to give up easily, I learnt a long time ago that there is really no sound business reason for force a promotion in a jurisdiction with an unfriendly board. This is very unfortunate considering the scale of the proposed May event, its potential to jumpstart Boxing in Zimbabwe and serve as a vehicle for sustainable Sports Tourism, the enthusiasm of other stakeholders and the great amount of work already put in the Zim Project.”

About Lion Heart Boxing Promotions (the Promoter)
Lion Heart Boxing Productions is global Boxing Promoter and Sports Entertainment Company based in the U.S. The company was set up in 2001 for the sole purpose of providing top quality events with highest entertainment value and has promoted boxing events on four continents. The Company quickly earned a reputation as a producer of high quality fights and is well respected for its fair treatment of fighters and commitment to fighters’ rights.

Lion Heart Boxing Productions has had as one of its pillars for corporate responsibility a special interest in helping to develop the sport of boxing in Africa. This interest led it to promote boxing in Zimbabwe and a half a dozen African countries, all with varying degrees of success.

LOS ANGELES (March 26) – Two hard-nosed Mexican warriors will battle it out at Domo Dos Aguas in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico on Saturday, March 28, as Buenavista, Mexico’s Javier “Implacable” Prieto faces Tijuana, Baja California’s Jorge “Pantera” Silva in a 10-round welterweight matchup to be televised live on FOX Deportes and Claro Sports.

In the televised co-feature, Mexico City’s Gilberto “Flaco” Gonzalez meets Oaxaca, Mexico’s David “Nene” Rangel in a 10-round super lightweight division bout. Opening up the televised action rising star Roberto “Tito” Manzanarez of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, will square off against Edgar “Lupillo” Ramirez of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico in a 10-round super lightweight contest.

Prieto vs. Silva is10-round welterweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Cancun Boxing de Pepe Gomez. The FOX Deportes broadcast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT and the Claro Sports broadcast airs at 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT.

Eager to get back to his winning ways after two hard-fought draws with Ivan Cano and a December loss to Jorge Linares, 27-year-old Javier “Implecable” Prieto (24-8-2, 18 KOs) is wasting no time getting back into the ring against a worthy opponent in Jorge Silva. A nine-year professional, Prieto has been showing top-notch form with a 10-fight unbeaten streak only being snapped by Linares. On March 28, Prieto will be firing on all cylinders as he looks to start a new winning streak.

Looking to add a win to his resume, Tijuana, Baja California’s exciting prospect Jorge “Pantera” Silva (20-7-2, 16 KOs). Just 23 years old, “Pantera” has had tough bouts against Pablo Cesar Cano, Alan Sanchez, Alfredo Angulo and Yoshihiro Kamegai. He is ready to show that he has what it takes to compete with the best in the ring on March 28.

A crushing puncher who has scored knockouts in 19 of his 23 wins, Gilberto “Flaco” Gonzalez (23-3, 19 KOs) will attempt to extend his five-fight winning (and knockout) streak on March 28. Fresh from a fifth-round knockout of unbeaten Jeffrey Fontanez last August, “Flaco” will try to keep the momentum going in his promising career against Oaxaca’s David Rangel.

A professional since 2012, David “Nene” Rangel (10-1) has quickly amassed an impressive record with the only blemish against Junior Ramirez for the WBC Youth Silver Super Lightweight title. Rangel is looking to start a new winning streak when he faces Gilberto Gonzalez on March 28.

Unbeaten in eight fights since 2013, 20-year-old phenom Roberto “Tito” Manzanarez (29-1, 24 KOs) makes his first appearance of 2015 this Saturday and he expects this year to be his biggest one yet. In his last two bouts, Manzanarez defeated seasoned veterans Ricardo Castillo and Hector Velasquez and will be looking for more high-profile wins in the coming months.

Edgar “Lupillo” Ramirez (14-9, 11 KOs) is looking start off 2015 strong in his first fight of the year against Manzanarez. A professional since 2008, Ramirez had an impressive two year, 9-fight winning streak all via knockout. His most recent bouts include face offs against Robinson Castellanos, Leopoldo Nunez, Jesus and Angel Rodriguez.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.quequi.com.mx and www.FOXDeportes.com, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @PeriodicoQuequi and @FOXDeportes and visit on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/periodicoquequi and www.facebook.com/FOXDeportes and visit us on Instagram and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing.

Nutley, NJ(March 26, 2015)– On March 13, Vito Mielnicki’s GH3 Promotions had a stellar night as three of the promotional company’s top fighters, undefeated middleweight Antoine Douglas, super middleweight Jerry Odom and undefeated super bantamweight Adam Lopez all scored knockout victories on ShoBox: The New Generation in Westbury, New York.

That night was a by-product of lots of hard work put in by Mielnicki and his building stable.

One man that made it all possible was Kay Koroma.

Koroma is a boxing man from the Washington, D.C. area who Mielnicki credits as being a visionary for his company.

“I started my company, GH3 Promotions when I signed Antoine Douglas & John Thompson in Atlantic City. Kay is Antoine’s adviser and from that point on we got to talking and setting a plan in motion on how to build a company of great young fighters. Because of our relationship, he helped with us signing Jerry Odom,” said Mielnicki.

Between Douglas and Thompson, they fought eighteen times in the first year under the GH3 Promotional banner.

“I believed in him and we have respect for one another and trusted each other. He is gifted and driven like myself.”

“Our vision was to build a stable of thoroughbred fighters with great amateur pedigrees”

Mielnicki and Koroma are now taking the next step in developing the fighters from prospects to world champions.

“Kay is building a camp in Northern Virginia. It will give our fighters a great foundation with housing and all the needs for a fighter to have the best preperation for a fight. This will be a complete camp atmosphere.”

Besides being Douglas adviser, Koroma is training John Thompson for his April 10 bout with undefeated Stanyslav Skorokhod that will be a semifinal bout in the Boxcino 2015 jr. middleweight tournament in Bethlehem, PA that will be shown on ESPN 2.

“Kay doesn’t seek the limelight or credit but he has been a great partner with GH3. Because of his vision we are working with top amateurs Shakur Stevenson, Kavon Roberson, Troy Isley and Danny Gonzalez & Hans Perez. These are the next generation and with Kay’s help, they will be able to go to camp and hopefully it will give them the best opportunities to become Olympians. Kay is going to be the next top trainer in the business. He is a quiet before the storm. We have deep connections in the amateur ranks all around the country.”

“We have a top amateur and pro stable and we are getting ready to sign some new top talent and we will be able to feature them on the CBS Sports Network series that we have partnered with Greg Cohen Promotions on. We think we have the outlet like nobody else to showcase our talent and move the fighters at the pace that we have moved Antoine, Jerry and John Thompson. They fight often and it shows in their performances.”

Mielnicki believes that this is the year that his fighters will go from prospects to contenders and his younger prospects become stars of the future.

“2015 will be a big breakout year for us. I want to thank Kay, Dennis Porter and Ronald Simms from the Alexandria, Virginia boxing gym for believing in our young company that is growing at a fast pace.”

Oscar Bonilla will make his GH3 debut on April 2 in Connecticut; John Thompson returns April 10 in the Boxcino 2015 jr. middleweight tournament on ESPN 2; Adam Lopez returns to the ring on April 17 as part of a CBS Sports Network card and expect Antoine Douglas and Jerry Odom to return in May.

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

Mickey Bey will defend his IBF Lightweight title against Denis Shafikov in Las Vegas just two nights before the mega showdown between Floyd Mayweather – Manny Pacquiao card according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

The fight will take place at the Palms Casino and will be televised by ESPN 2.

“We’re not making Pacquiao-Mayweather again, we were making Bey-Shafikov,” Top Rank’s Carl Moretti said of working with Mayweather Promotions. “They have the champion, they have the date (on ESPN2). We were professional, we made a deal and we move forward to the fight, and it’s a good fight, especially during fight week (for Mayweather-Pacquiao).

“It’s classic style match. Shafikov is an aggressive kind of fighter who walks you down while Bey is a slick counter puncher. Whoever can impose their style on the other guy will win. It’s almost a miniature version of what’s probably going to happen on May 2.”

26 March 2015 – Manila, Philippines: Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization with a 90% market share, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has finalized the fight card for ONE: VALOR OF CHAMPIONS with three additional fights. Top featherweights are set to clash as Shannon Wiratchai takes on Amir Khan. An all-Filipino clash is also set to take place at the event when the undefeated Jimmy Yabo takes on Edward Kelly. China’s Wang Ya Wei is also set to return to the ONE Championship cage against Indonesia’s Sunoto.

Tickets for ONE: VALOR OF CHAMPIONS are on sale now at www.smtickets.com. Ticket categories begin with the full Red Carpet and cageside experience at PHP5380. Tickets priced at PHP3180, PHP1280, PHP640 and PHP220 are also available. Prices include ticketing fee.

CEO OF ONE Championship™, Victor Cui, stated, “ONE: VALOR OF CHAMPIONS is set to be the biggest night of mixed martial arts action in the Philippines! The main event will feature two of the top welterweights in the world battling for supremacy when the best wrestler in mixed martial arts, Ben Askren, takes on 61-win veteran Luis Santos. Get ready for a night of adrenaline-pumping, heart-stopping mixed martial arts action as ONE: VALOR OF CHAMPIONS goes live around the world!“

Amir Khan is a Singaporean mixed martial artist with an undefeated amateur record who has competed in the United States. He is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Blue Belt under Relson Gracie, and also has competitive wrestling and Muay Thai experience. With more than seven years of combat sports experience under his belt, Khan now takes on Shannon Wiratchai after being victorious in his first two ONE Championship bouts.

Shannon Wiratchai is the top featherweight to emerge from Thailand. He has showcased an aggressive, brawling style every time he steps into the ONE Championship cage, making him a favourite among fans. Wiratchai is a practitioner of the Chinese martial art Baguazhang, and will once again look to exhibit the martial art in mixed martial arts action.

Edward Kelly is the younger brother of ONE Championship standout Edward Kelly. One of the brightest featherweight talents to emerge from the Philippines, Kelly looks to get his ONE Championship career back on track with an impressive victory over Jimmy Yabo in his home country.

Jimmy Yabo is an undefeated Filipino mixed martial artist. He boasts the best knockout percentage in the division, having finished all four of his opponents by knockout. He will now test himself against Asia’s best, beginning with an all-Filipino bout against Edward Kelly.

Wang Ya Wei is a wrestler originally from Hubei province. Considered one of the top wrestlers in the country, he then moved to Thailand where he trained in Muay Thai for an extended period of time. He performed impressively in the ONE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS Beijing Featherweight Tournament, advancing to the final with a TKO victory over Li Gen.

Sunoto is a kickboxing champion from Indonesia. He is also undefeated in mixed martial arts, having won two prior bouts in his native Indonesia. Sunoto will look to keep his undefeated streak alive when he takes on Wang Ya Wei in an exciting featherweight bout.

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™
With a 90%+ market share in Asia, 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.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Robert Alfonso 241 vs. Raymundo Lopez 252.6
Antonio Tarver Jr. 154.4 vs. Bruce Lutchmedial 156
Ahmed Elbiali 175.2 vs. Michael Stafford 173.4
Michael Seals 175.2 vs. Carlos Reyes 183.2
Daquan Arnett 156.4 vs. Travis Hartman 153.2
Yasmany Consuegra 229.6 vs. Taurus Sykes 251.2
Wilky Campfort 152.8 vs. Devon Moncrieff 155
Kamil Laszczyk 128.6 vs. Jose Luis Araiza 129
Patryk Szymanski 165.6 vs. Yoryi Estrella 168.2
Rances Barthelemy 137.4 vs. Angino Pérez 137.6
Breidis Prescott 146.2 vs. Fredrick Lawson 146.2

Promoter: Warriors Boxing
Venue: Hialeah Park, Hialeah, Florida
Tickets: Tickets for ESPN’s Thursday Night Fights, also billed as “Noche De Combates,” are on sale now through Ticket Force (www.myticketforce.com), www.hialeahpark.com, and at the Hialeah Park Casino cage.

MIAMI, FLORIDA (March 25, 2015) – Former IBF Super-Featherweight Champion Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (21-0, 12 KOs), has vacated his title in pursuit of bigger fights at Lightweight. Barthelemy’s first fight at 135 lbs. will take place tomorrow night at the Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida, against Angino Perez (18-4, 16 KOs). Barthelemy vs. Perez, a 10-round bout, will air live on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights”.

Standing 5’11, Rances Barthelemy has the height and reach to be successful while moving up in weight class. Barthelemy, a Cuban national amateur champion, has developed into a terrific professional fighter, winning his first would title against Argenis Mendez (22-3-1, 12 KOs) back in July of 2014. His sole title defense was a unanimous decision against Fernando David Saucedo (54-6-3, 8 KOs) last October.

“I feel confident with the move up to Lightweight,” said Rances Barthelemy. “I know I have the skills to win another title at 135 pounds. I’m looking for the biggest fights in the division but first I must get past Perez. This will be my first fight at this weight class. I feel strong and the extra weight will add power to my punches.”

Rances Barthelemy is advised by Al Haymon. The oppertunities are endless for Barthelemy if he can continue to shine on national television.

“If the right fights present themselves then I’ll be ready to fight anyone,” Rances continued. “I’m even willing to go up to Jr. Welterweight (140 lbs.) if the fight makes sense. I’m taking all comers from 135lbs. to 140lbs. My mission is to stay busy and keep winning. With Al Haymon advising me, I’m ready to take my career to new levels. It starts tomorrow night aginst Perez.”

Pennsauken, NJ (March 25, 2015)–On Saturday night, April 18 at the GPG Event Center (Formerly the Woodbine Inn) in Pennsauken, New Jersey. In the main event, heavyweight contender Chazz Witherpsoon will be in action.

The show is promoted by Witherspoon’s Silver Spoon Promotions.

Witherspoon (32-3, 24 KO’s) of nearby Paulsboro, New Jersey established himself as one of the top American Heavyweights as the St. Joseph’s University graduate won his first twenty-three bouts with wins over the likes of Michael Alexander (11-0), Talmadge Griffis (24-6-3), Jonathan Haggler (18-1) before suffering his 1st defeat to future two-time world title challenger Chris Arreola via controversial disqualification.

Witherspoon went on to win three win a row which was highlighted by an entertaining 8th round stoppage over Adam “The Swamp Donkey” Richards (21-1). That fight was voted Ring Magazine’s 2008 Heavyweight Fight of the Year. Witherspoon then dropped a fight to future two-time world title challenger Tony Thompson.

Witherspoon went on to score 4-consecutive knockouts which included a devastating 3rd-round destruction over Tyson Cobb (14-2).

Witherspoon then took on undefeated prospect Seth Mitchell on April 28, 2012 in a bout where Witherspoon had Mitchell badly hurt in several occasions before Mitchell came away with the victory.

In has last bout, Witherspoon stopped Cory Phelps in two rounds at the GPC Event on January 24.

Appearing on the undercard in 4-round bouts will be:

Vidal Rivera (1-0, 1 KO) of Camden, NJ takes on Tyron Stewart (0-1) in a super bantamweight clash.

Obafemi Bakari (2-0) of Staten Island, NY will fight pro debuting Andrew Osborne in a jr. middleweight fight.

Matthew Gonzalez (2-0) of Vineland,NJ will take on Joseph McDonald (0-1) of Concord, NC in a jr. middleweight fight.

Courtney Blocker (4-0, 4 KO’s) of Pensacola, FL will take on an opponent to be named in a jr. welterweight bout.

Paris Chisholm of Baltimore will be making his pro debut in a welterweight bout.

Erick Kitt (5-0, 2 KO’s) of Pensacola, FL will see action in a jr. middleweight bout.

Malik Hawkins (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Baltimore, MD will take part in a jr. welterweight bout.

Andrew Pureifoy of Philadelphia will fight in a cruiserweight fight.

Antoine Aikens (9-0, 1 KO) of Atlantic City, NJ will take part in a super middleweight bout.

Rocco Salimbene of Pennsauken, NJ will make his pro debut in a lightweight fight

Tickets for the great evening of championship boxing $80 for Ringside, $60 for select and $40 for General Admission and can be purchased by calling 856 472 0443 or 609 938 1755 or by email at info@silverspoonpromotions.com

There will be an after party at the GPG Event Center.

The GPG Event Center is located at 1443 Route 73 in Pennsauken.

LOS ANGELES (March 25) – The March 6 debut of LA FIGHT CLUB brought an exhilarating night of boxing back to downtown Los Angeles. The next installment for LA FIGHT CLUB on April 2 will showcase an impressive card featuring the best rising talent and future world champions that is sure to bring the same electrifying atmosphere back to The Belasco Theater. In anticipation of next Thursday night’s fight, we caught up with some of the fighters in camp to ask them about their pre-fight routines, what songs get them amped up in training, who their ideal opponent to take on in the ring would be, their motivations to clinch a victory, and more. Some of their answers surprised us. Here is what they had to say:

JULIAN “EL CAMARON” RAMIREZ, Featherweight Prospect:

What’s on your training playlist right now?
“I have all kinds of genres on my playlist. It all depends on what I’m feeling at the moment, hip-hop, rap, Banda, oldies, even rock.”

What’s your favorite place to eat in downtown Los Angeles?
“My favorite place to eat in downtown Los Angeles is Tommy’s Burgers on Rampart.”

What’s your routine on fight day?
“I like to sleep all day as much as I can and have a small meal, eat my Skittles and drink my 7UP.”

What athlete from another sport do you think would make a good boxer?
“NBA Oklahoma City Thunder player Kevin Durant.”

If you could be a professional athlete in another sport, what would it be?
“Formula 1 because a car speeding gives you a rush that’s unexplainable.”

YAMAGUCHI FALCAO, Middleweight Prospect:

What’s your favorite place to eat in downtown Los Angeles?
“A Brazilian restaurant [Falcao is from São Paulo, Brazil] and Subway.”

What’s your motivation to fight?
“My motivation is to be world champion with Golden Boy Promotions.”

What fighter did or do you look up to?
“I admire athletes Roy Jones Jr. and Oscar De La Hoya.”

What athlete from another sport do you think would make a good boxer?
“José Aldo, a Brazilian UFC, would be a good boxer”

If you could fight anyone in the ring today, who would it be?
“Today if I could choose to fight anyone in the ring it would be Miguel Cotto.”

EVERTON LOPES, Lightweight Prospect:

What’s your favorite food to eat in Los Angeles?
“I am currently obsessed with tacos.”

What’s your motivation to fight?
“My motivation is to keep fighting is my family. I want to make them proud.”

What does fight day look like to you? What’s your routine?
“My fight day routine is to relax. I want to make sure I am mentally prepared for the fight.”

What fighter do you look up to?
“I look up to Floyd Mayweather.”

What athlete in another sport do you admire?
“I am big fan of soccer, and my favorite player is Brazilian star Ronaldinho.”

NICK ARCE, Featherweight Prospect:

What fighter did or do you look up to?
“The fighter I look up to the most is the successful Oscar De La Hoya.”

What athlete in another sport do you think would make a good boxer?
“I think Kobe Bryant would make a good boxer because he has the attitude to be a good boxer.”

What athlete from another sport do you compare yourself to?
“Usain Bolt from Jamaica because he’s humble and effective.”

What’s your motivation to fight?
“My motivation to fight is to provide a better life for my family.”

JOET GONZALEZ, Featherweight Prospect:

What does fight day look like to you? What’s your routine?
“Fight day to me is just another normal relaxing day. I have a good breakfast in the morning, then relax by watching some TV or listen to music, sleep a little more, and have another meal before heading out to fight.”

What’s one surprising thing that people may not know about you?
“One surprising thing that people may not know about me is that I come from a fighting family. My dad used to box, and my two younger brothers and sister also box.”

What fighter did or do you look up to?
“One fighter that I look up to is Oscar De La Hoya because he is one of the reasons I started boxing. Ever since he fought Fernando Vargas, I fell more in love with the sport.”

If you could fight anyone in the ring today, who would it be?
“If I could fight anybody today it would have to be Floyd Mayweather because he is considered the best P4P, so to be the best you have to go up against the best.”

MELSIK BAGHDASARYAN, Welterweight Prospect:

What’s on your training playlist right now?
“I like to train to Armenian music.”

What’s your favorite place to eat in Los Angeles?
“Any Korean BBQ place in Korea Town.”

What athlete from another sport do you think would make a good boxer?
“My training partner, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, would make a great boxer.”

If you could be a professional athlete in another sport, what would it be?
“I am also a professional athlete in Muay Thai/Kickboxing.”

If you could fight anyone in the ring today, who would it be?
“It would be an honor of mine to fight the great Gennady Golovkin.”

LA FIGHT CLUB: Ramirez vs. Hidalgo is a 10-round featherweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra and Mexico – Live It To Believe It!. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., and the first bout begins at 5:30 p.m. The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT.

The LA FIGHT CLUB is a monthly boxingseries that takes place on the first Thursday of each month with the next fights in the series set for May 7 and June 4. It will showcase the brightest stars in the sport and present these exciting matchups in a nightclub atmosphere with an original setup. The boxing ring will be set on the main floor of the Belasco Theater with on-camera standing room for fans in front of the ring similar to a concert pit, as well as reserved balcony and floor seats. Los Angeles’ own DJ Ray of Big Boy’s Neighborhood will spin music during the fights and fans will be able to dance and mingle with the fighters when the venue converts into a night club, in a VIP experience not matched by any promoter in the industry.

Media interested in attending the April 2 installment of LA FIGHT CLUB must be pre-approved for credentials. Credential applications are available by clicking HERE. Completed credential applications should be sent to credentials@goldenboypromotions.com by 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 26. Media will not be credentialed on-site, no exceptions.
For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.belascous.com, www.FOXSports.com/FOXSports1, www.FOXDeportes.com, follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @FoxSports, @FoxSports1, @FoxDeportes, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/TheBelascoLA, www.facebook.com/FOXDeportes, visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing and @belascola and follow the conversation using #LAFIGHTCLUB.

LINCOLN, R.I. (March 25th, 2015) — “The Revival” is just 10 days away and the official countdown has begun in anticipation of what could be the biggest fight of the year in women’s boxing.

Undefeated Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) world super bantamweight champion Shelly Vincent (13-0, 1 KO) of Providence, R.I., puts her title — and her perfect record — on the line Friday, April 3rd, 2015 at Twin River Casino against three-time world-title challenger Christina Ruiz (7-7-3, 4 KOs) of San Antonio in the 10-round main event. As an added bonus, the vacant International Boxing Association (IBA) 122-pound world title will also be on the line.

Tickets are priced at $40.00, $100.00 and $125.00 and available for purchase online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, by phone at 401-724-2253/2254 or at the Twin River Players Club. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

The card features seven bouts, including the six-round co-feature between undefeated Providence super middleweight Angel Camacho Jr. (13-0, 4 KOs) and well-traveled Jersey City vet Chris Chatman (12-4-1, 5 KOs), a fan-favorite at Twin River since his Rhode Island debut six yeas ago against former Olympian Demetrius Andrade.

This will be Chatman’s fifth fight at Twin River, where he’s 3-1 lifetime with wins over Rahman Yusubov, Thomas Falowo and Grady Brewer. Camacho is on his second comeback, which began in November with a unanimous decision win over veteran Paul Gonsalves, his first fight in three years.

Regional standouts Joe Wilson Jr. (3-1) of Hartford, Conn., and unbeaten Nick DeLomba (6-0) of Cranston, R.I., square off in a six-round super welterweight special attraction, a fight dubbed as “Fists of Fury” via social media. Wilson Jr. returns to Twin River for the first time since beating Saul Almeida in his professional debut in 2013 while DeLomba hopes to keep his unbeaten record intact in his first fight of 2015 and fifth in the last 13 months.

“The Revival” also features two new additions to the undercard as New Haven, Conn., middleweight Greg McCoy (3-4-1, 1 KO) and Providence super welterweight Luis Felix (0-4) look to upend two unbeaten New England prospects in separate four-round bouts. McCoy battles Khiary Gray-Pitts (5-0, 3 KOs) of Worcester, Mass., while Felix faces New Bedford, Mass., up-and-comer Ray Oliveira Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs) in a four-rounder.

McCoy rose to prominence in 2010 with upset wins over Keith Kozlin and Reynaldo Rodriguez and returned to the ring in October for the first time in three years while Felix is searching for his first win under popular Rhode Island-based boxing coach Victor Fagnant, who is also DeLomba’s head trainer.

Cruiserweight Jean Pierre Augustin (4-0, 2 KOs) of Lawrence, Mass., makes his CES and Twin River debut in a four-round bout against veteran Solomon Maye (1-4, 1 KO) of New Haven. Augustin is fighting under the guidance of his new trainer, five-time world champ Vinny Paz, whom he met last year during filming of the Chad Verdi-produced Paz biopic Bleed For This. Verdi also manages Augustin, who plays Gilbert Dele in the upcoming film. The undercard of “The Revival” also features a four-round junior welterweight bout between unbeaten Worcester, Mass., native Freddy Sanchez (3-0, 2 KOs) and Briam Granado (1-0, 1 KO) of New Bedford, Mass.

Vincent-Ruiz promises to be a Fight of the Year candidate, similar to Vincent’s back-and-forth win over Jackie Trivilino in November. The 29-year-old, 5-foot-3 Ruiz has stood toe-to-toe with elite competition in several weight classes, including current UBF bantamweight champion Tyrieshia Douglas, International Boxing Federation (IBF) title-challenger Jennifer Han, former World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight world champion Kaliesha West and 33-fight veteran Alicia Ashley, a former World Boxing Council (WBC) title-holder in the super bantamweight division.

Two years after challenging Ashley for the then-vacant WBC 122-pound world title, Ruiz defeated Christina Fuentes by unanimous decision to capture the vacant International Female Boxers Association (IFBA) world super bantamweight title, her first victory in three title bouts. She’s faced six undefeated fighters over the span of four and a half years with two notable wins during that stretch, including a knockout victory over previously unbeaten Emily Klinefelter in 2011 and a unanimous decision win over Jennifer Scott in 2010.

Ruiz also fought WBC No. 7 ranked super bantamweight Celina Salazar twice, earning a draw in their rematch in 2010, and faced former WBO lightweight champ Amanda Serrano, now ranked No. 2 in the world, in just her second pro fight.

“The Revival” features 16 fighters representing three New England states and eight different cities. For more information visit www.cesboxing.com, follow @CESBOXING on Twitter and Instagram and “like” the official CES Boxing Facebook fan page.

Kelly Swanson
Thank you, operator. Thanks, everyone, for calling in. We have a great call this morning and this afternoon actually here on the East Coast to talk about the March 28 SHOWTIME show, CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Show, featuring Jhonny Gonzalez, Gary Russell, Jr. and Jermell Charlo against Vanes Martirosyan. We have all the fighters joining us today on the call. We will start with Jermell and Vanes. But, before we get to the fighters, I’d like to introduce Chris DeBlasio, Vice President of Communications for SHOWTIME Sports to fill you in a little bit about the fight. Chris?

Chris DeBlasio
Thanks so much, Kelly. I just want to take a quick moment to thank the fighters for being on this call, thank the press for being here, and just say on behalf of Stephen Espinoza, the EVP and General Manager for SHOWTIME Sports, and all of us at SHOWTIME, we’re really excited to get back into it with a nice live SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING event this Saturday. As you may have seen in the boxing press, it was about two weeks ago that we announced the addition of a new platform called SHOWTIME Boxing International. The first fight will be this Saturday, March 28; it’s an international fight on the SHOWTIME network live to our subscribers. So, the first instance is a nice way to kick off our Saturday March 28 boxing coverage, and that’s gonna be the Kell Brook versus Jo Jo Dan IBF Welterweight World Championship fight that’s taking place in Sheffield, England. SHOWTIME is going to carry that fight live at 6:15 Eastern, 3:15 Pacific. And then, we will take a break during the afternoon hours and then go live at 10 p.m ET./7 p.m. PT SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING event with Jermell Charlo, Vanes Martirosyan, Jhonny Gonzalez and Gary Russell. So, it’s sort of a two- part platform on Saturday with three live fights coming to you, which we’re really excited about. And we appreciate the opportunity to be in business with the guys on the phone here today. So, without anything further, let’s get it started. We welcome you guys.

Kelly Swanson
Okay. And one quick note — or rather, media, one quick note — we have just sent out the Fight Week Media Schedule, so please look for that in your inboxes, and it will give you the details of what is going on this week for the fight. Thank you. Okay, let’s go ahead and open it up. Actually, let me go ahead and introduce the two guys that are on the call right now. They want to say a couple words. First, we have Vanes Martirosyan. He’s a world-ranked 154 pound contender. Vanes, you want to say a couple words, tell us how training is going and how you’re getting ready for the fight?

Vanes Martirosyan
Training is going great, everything is going good. We can’t wait to fight. You know, I’m sure everybody says that before they fight, but we really are ready to go. We just can’t wait to go.

Kelly Swanson
Okay, great. Thanks so much. And where are you training?

V. Martirosyan
I’m training here in California at Main Event Sports Club. There’s been a couple of locations we’ve been training, but the major has been Main Event Sports Club, which the media will be at today.

K. Swanson
Now, I’m going to move to Jermell Charlo. He’s an undefeated super welterweight contender. Jermell why don’t you tell us a little bit about what’s happening in your training camp and how you’re feeling heading into the fight.

Jermell Charlo
Training’s been great. Every time I step in the ring, every time I get ready for a fight, I feel like just there’s never been a time where I repeat myself or do something the same. I’ve been learning from all my past mistakes. Every win I’m still learning from. So, training camp has been good. Trainer Ronnie Shields, Danny Arnold. I opened my own gym, so I get a little late night extra hours in when I want to. And, I want to fight with my twin brother. We’re pushing to fight. I can’t wait to fight. Just like Vanes, he’s hungry, he’s ready. I’m I’m ready.

Q
Given both of your positions, as considered as top 10 contenders in the 154 pound weight class, in your mind, do you consider this an elimination fight? Vanes, what are your thoughts about that?

V. Martirosyan
I think every fight right now at this point in my career and Jermell’s career should be considered a title fight. It is — I think it is — an eliminator fight. I’m looking at this as a championship fight. Jermell is tougher than any of the champions, so to me, this is a championship fight, and that’s what we got ready for. And it should be an eliminator fight. I don’t know if it is or not, but that’s how we’re taking it as, and we’re taking this as a world title fight.

Q
Jermell, your thoughts on that – is it an official eliminator or a de facto one?

J. Charlo
Same thing with me. I feel that this is a tough fight. Every fight is a fight for my life. And I step in the ring and make sure that I fight with that on the back of my mind. Vanes is a great fighter — grew up with him. I know what I bring to the table. And this fight is a fight for manhood, it’s a fight to show who the real tycoon of the sport is in the 154 pound weight division. There’s a lot at stake, so it’s more than a title fight to me.

Q
Jermell, did you say that you grew up with him a little bit?

J. Charlo
Yeah, I grew up with him, at least two or three years with Vanes, you know, and his family, his people, you know? So, I know — we know each other well.

Q
Have you guys ever sparred with each other?

J. Charlo
Yeah, we’ve sparred with each other several times.

Q
How often, would you say? And how long ago?

J. Charlo
I can’t really say how often. I know it was back when we were a little bit younger. I was younger, still a little boy growing up into a man. So, right now, I don’t even think about how it was, what it was about, or how training was when we were training together. Wasn’t even 19 — I was 17, 16, 17, 18, I mean, those ages. Here, we face each other because we’re both at the top, and that’s what happens when you’re in the same division. Never had anything personal or different to say about him. It’s just work.

Q
Vanes, you feel the same way about your times in the ring with him?

V. Martirosyan
Yeah, I remember when we used to train. It was good training. We were always in competition — me, him and his brother. We used to go running at Memorial Park every day, and we’d try to see who’d finish the lap first. It was always competition between us — running and training or what-not. But it was nothing but love and I respect him, his father, and his trainer, Ronnie Shields. They’ve been good people to me. But Saturday night, he’s going to be my enemy in the ring. For now, outside the ring, I respect everybody. Once we step in the ring, it’s a totally different story.

Q
Your fight that took place in October was a big win for you against Willie Nelson. You harnessed a lot of the emotion going into that fight because it had taken place just after your promoter Dan Goossen had passed away and you had his brother Joe in your corner. It was a lot of heavy emotion that night, and you really came through in a big way that night. Is it gonna be difficult in any way to sort of get that same emotion behind you?

V. Martirosyan
No, because at that fight, we had to forget about a lot of things. Dan passed away. We were all sad, and we didn’t know what to do. And we actually thought — ‘should we fight’ or I don’t know if Joe (Goossen’s) going to be there. I didn’t know what was going on. There was too much emotion going into that fight. We kind of got away from the fight a little bit. But we used it as motivation for our fight. This fight to me is big. When I lost to Andrade, I didn’t step into the ring 100 percent, and when I came home — when you come home a loser, it’s a bad feeling. I can’t look at my wife, my kids. I feel like I let them down. So, right now, I’m just in that mode where I’d rather die than see that again.

Q
If you were to win this fight, obviously, you’d be in position for a major world title fight. Are you comfortable with waiting for one of those, figuring those fighters only fight maybe twice a year, or would you want to stay active and take more fights between them?

J. Charlo
You know, winning this fight to me — a world title would be ideal. A world title is important. I want to fight for a world title. I want the world title. That’s every boxer’s dream and envision whenever they’re young. Fighting for the world title matters and all this extra stuff, but if I’m here building my name and building my brand, that’s just as important. Being a household name throughout the World Boxing Council, everything. That matters to me.

V. Martirosyan
The fight, this fight — I’d say like a lot of the champions that are champions right now in our weight class, most of them just run their mouth, starting with Andrade. A fight like this for me and Jermell, it’s such a big fight for me, you know, but it’s not only for us. I mean, it’s for the fans. The fans are in, and it’s great. I mean, you rarely get to see contenders like me and Jermell wanting to step up and fight each other. You know, usually, people will get up to the rankings like we are, they just want to just talk a lot of bad stuff about the champions to get the world title fight. But, you know, you rarely get to see contenders like that, you know, No. 1 and No. 2 fighting each other when, you know they really want to fight each other and they both said yes to the fight. So, it’s a big fight, but I feel like, you know, we’re all gonna be — we’re gonna do our best, and I feel like the fans are gonna be the winners for this fight.

K Swanson
Okay, great. You guys, I think that was your last question, and so we appreciate you taking the time out of your training. And Vanes, we look forward to seeing you later for your open workout. And, Jermell, we will see you in Las Vegas later this week.

J. Charlo
No problem. See you, guys.

V. Martirosyan – Thank you. Take care.

Kelly Swanson
We’re going to switch the call over to Gary Russell, Jr.

K. Swanson
Gary Russell, Jr. will be facing Jhonny Gonzalez for Gonzalez’s 126 pound title, the WBC Featherweight World Championship. Gary, if you want to tell us a little bit about how training is going, your anticipation to be fighting Jhonny Gonzalez for this world title and what you think about the whole fight in general?

Gary Russell Jr.
We had a great training camp. Everything has been perfect, no excuses, no cutting corners. We’re 120 percent ready for this fight. We can’t wait be able to call ourself the new WBC World Champion.

K. Swanson
Are you doing anything in camp in preparation for this that’s different from your other fights?

G. Russell Jr.
No, we’re not doing anything that’s different in preparation for any of the fights. I think the only difference is, depending on the fight, you want to prepare depending on the opponent that you’re competing against. So, I think the only difference is the difference in sparring. You want to bring in guys that have a similar style to who it is you’re gonna be competing against etc. That’s the only change that we’ve made so far. Besides that — basic fundamentals, ring generalship, hand speed, punching power, strength and conditioning, all of that stuff is the same.

Q
Gary, were you surprised to get another shot at the title?

G. Russell, Jr.
No, I’m not surprised. I got the same Al Haymon Promotions, just Al Haymon in general when it comes to that. He’s my manager, and we know that he did everything in his power to try to make things happen for us, and give us another shot at a world title. I’m extremely grateful and thankful for this opportunity.

Q
When you fought the fight against Lomachenko for one of the titles, do you take anything out of that defeat? Whether it’s the experience, or being on that level of the stage that you bring towards this next championship opportunity?

G. Russell Jr.
Of course. One of the main things that we took out of it is, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. In that particular fight with Lomachenko, we did a lot of things completely different in that fight that we normally wouldn’t do. We brought other people in. We let other people take the reigns and be in control of our conditioning. We’ve seen the outcome of that and the side effects of it. We don’t take losses easy, by far. So we’re back on pace. We have the same team around us that have been here from the beginning of my career all the way up until now. We had the same team way back in motion. We’re ready, we’re focused, we’re determined, we’re driven and we’re just looking to give a good show.

Q
Do you see Gonzalez as a much better fighter than Lomachenko, or perhaps a bit of a more vulnerable fighter than Lomachenko or similar? How do you stack up the two title holders?

G. Russell Jr.
They’re two very different fighters. Lomachenko has a little bit more hand speed than Jhonny Gonzalez. Gonzalez is more of a puncher. Jhonny Gonzalez is more of a dangerous fighter than Lomachenko just because of his punching ability and just him being a seasoned professional, being able to get all these rounds in as a professional. Lomachenko definitely is a good fighter. We take every fight serious. You take no one for granted. We definitely said, oh, this is a dangerous fight taking with Jhonny Gonzalez, but we feel as though what we bring to the table will be superior in the end.

Q
What specifically did you do differently to prepare for Lomachenko that you wish you hadn’t?

G. Russell, Jr.
We brought someone in for our strength and conditioning. We’ve known our strength and conditioning was completely different. Even when it came to the way that we cut weight, it was different. Leading up to the fight, we were in a sauna for the past two, maybe three days leading all the way up into the fight. That’s what my strength and conditioning coach wanted me to do.
Anyone that’s seen that fight, whether it was Lomachenko or anyone else, they’ve seen the difference in my punching ability, my endurance, my speed, just me as a person. People knew that that wasn’t the Gary Russell, Jr. that they’d seen the previous 24 fights. And that was some of the things that came up in the Lomachenko fight. I was completely tired and fatigued in the first round, you know?

Q
About Jhonny Gonzalez — he obviously is a guy who is a volume puncher, he’s not afraid to stand in and trade. How does this fight work to your advantage if he does fight a typical Gonzalez fight in your mind?

G. Russell, Jr.
I don’t think that he’s going to be able to deal with, once again, my speed. I think we’ll be able to do it with my speed. He’s always been slow in the speed. Even though he’s been a puncher, a lot of punchers have to really sit to actually apply these punches efficiently. I think he lacks the ring generalship as far as the footwork goes that he would need — the foot quickness. And a lot of his shots are a little wide. So, I’ll be about to outpunch him and be able to punch him between his shots.

Q
What did you think of the decision in the Lomachenko fight?

G. Russell Jr.
I didn’t think anything of it. The only thing that registered in my mind was the fact that I didn’t have the ability to perform the way that I normally would have. I never really looked at a decision. I never looked at how the referee was going about the fight or any of these things. The only thing that came to my mind was the fact that I just lost my first professional fight, and I sort of saw the reason why I lost — it was because I wasn’t able to do what it was that I normally do.

Q
So, you feel that you lost the fight then?

G. Russell Jr.
Certainly. I’d definitely say that I lost the fight.

Q
You touched on Al Haymon earlier. Can you explain what his impact is in your career? And we’ve all seen the moves that he’s been making. How is that gonna help you moving forward?

G. Russell, Jr.
I feel as though the fire is under these managers and promoters. There’s a team effort. You’ll be able to tell your manager or your promoter, ’Hey, this is my game plan, this is what it is that I want to accomplish this year.’ I wanted to at least be able to contend for a world title. I want to have maybe four fights this year, maybe six fights this year, etc. Your manager and promoter, where they come in at, they should be able to meet you halfway with their game plan. If you want to have six fights within a year, etc., your manager and promoter should be able to get it done for you. We feel as though that Al Haymon is very efficient in doing exactly what it is that we want from him. It’s about who you know, I guess.

Q
Heading into this fight, do you feel like you have to give a certain quality of fight to really make fans relate to you and make you a household name? Now that there’s so many platforms for boxing, do you feel like there’s added pressure to put on an exciting fight, or do you feel like you can still just, methodically box and gain fans from that?

G. Russell Jr.
I honestly don’t feel as though that we have to do anything out of the ordinary. You’re going to see the typical Gary Russell, Jr. that you’ve seen the previous 24 fights — hand speed, punching ability, ring generalship and etc. ,A lot of fighters get caught up in the hype, and they feel as though they have to do things a little more to win the fans over, etc. That’s never one of my things. I’m always to be exciting without being reckless. And I’m going to do what it is that I’m comfortable doing.

K. Swanson
Okay, Gary, thank you so much for being available to answer those questions, and we appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day, and we look forward to seeing you fight this Saturday, March 28, at the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas and live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. Thanks, Gary.

* * *

Tickets for the live event are priced at $200, $100, $75, $50, and $25, plus applicable
fees are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or by clicking HERE. Tickets are also available online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Gonzalez vs. Russell takes place at The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas and will air on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT). In the co-main event, Jermell Charlo takes on Vanes Martirosyan in super welterweight action. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will also be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).

For more information, visit www.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter at @SHOSports, @jhonnygbox, @mrgaryrusselljr, @TwinCharlo, @LouDiBella and @PearlAtPalms, follow the conversation using #GonzalezRussell, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing or visit the SHOWTIME Boxing Blog at http://theboxingblog.sho.com.

Egyptian light heavyweight slugger Ahmed Elbiali (9-0, 9 KOs) will return to familiar ground this Thursday, March 26: fighting in an ESPN Friday Night Fights-televised undercard bout, this time, a six-rounder against England’s Mike Stafford (13-2, 3 KOs).

The special Thursday night edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights, presented by Corona Extra and ESPN Deportes’ Noche de Combates presentado por Corona Extra at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, will be headlined by a 10-rounder featuring undefeated welterweight Fredrick “General Okunka” Lawson (23-0, 20 KOs) taking on hard-punching Miami transplant Breidis Prescott (27-6, 20 KOs).

In the 10-round lightweight co-feature, undefeated former IBF Super Featherweight Champion Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (21-0, 1 ND, 12 KOs) will take on Angino Perez (18-6, 16 KOs).

Tickets for “Noche De Combates,” are on sale now through Ticket Force (www.myticketforce.com), www.hialeahpark.com, and at the Hialeah Park Casino cage.

This will be the fourth ESPN appearance for Elbiali, and he’s made the most of them, scoring devastating knockouts in all four. A former Egyptian champion now residing in Miami, Elbiali says he’s not going coming into this fight with delivering a KO as the foremost thought in his mind.

You’ve had some big knockouts on ESPN air, are you planning to deliver another one this Thursday?

I’m just going to try to do what I do best and that’s go out and get the win. If the KO comes, that’s no surprise because that’s what I train for.

Talk to me about the opportunities you’ve had to shine on FNF. You’ve become sort of their go to for a knockout on the televised undercard.

Yes! It’s been an amazing opportunity and privilege to be able to showcase my talent on ESPN. As a professional, I understood that it is also about entertaining an audience and the fans. Boxing is a beautiful sport and a business. When I’m up on the stage I’m a performer.

When did you realize you hit harder than most fighters?

Believe it or not, I never thought I hit hard and I still don’t think that at all. My main focus during camp is to train my body to hit harder and not get hit. When it’s time to fight, I just think about letting my hands go and getting the job done.

How soon until you graduate to FNF main event level?

I’m hoping, realistically, by next year. Of course I need to get through every fight and look outstanding in each of them. I don’t like to get over my head. All this is already a dream that I’m living and I’m going to take it step by step.

Lastly tell me what you know about this guy you’re fighting, Mike Stafford.

I know that he’s a British fighter that’s coming with more pro experience. I’m just going to go in and do what I do best and that’s BOX.

# # #

About Warriors Boxing

Launched in 2003, Warriors Boxing operates under a simple philosophy-bring the best boxers in the world to fight fans, match them in competitive bouts, and in doing so help re-establish the sport of boxing for a new generation.

With a series of successful Pay-Per-View shows and packed houses to its credit, the Warriors business model is working wonders in a sport that was sorely in need of the innovation and energy that the company brings to the table.

When it comes down to it though, a promotional company is only as good as the fighters and fights it promotes. Warriors Boxing has delivered on all fronts, with outstanding bouts such as Lara-Molina, Cayo-Peterson, Abraham-Miranda I and II, Miranda-Pavlik, Miranda-Green, Ibragimov-Briggs, Ibragimov-Klitschko, Urango-Hatton, Urango-Bailey, Cayo-Maidana and Ibragimov-Holyfield.

For more information on Warriors Boxing, visit their website at www.WarriorsBoxing.com.

LONDON (March 25) – The explosive May 9th megaclash between Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Texas titan James ‘Mandingo Warrior’ Kirkland will be shown live and exclusive in the UK on BoxNation.

The highly-anticipated showdown will see two of the world’s premier light-middleweights share the ring in front of an anticipated 40,000 fans at the iconic Minute Maid Park in Houston Texas, joining a stacked value-for-money lineup on ‘The Channel of Champions’.

BoxNation subscribers will enjoy a monster month in April, all for just £12, with a host of leading bills with Danny Garcia against Lamont Peterson, Andy Lee versus Peter Quillin and Lucas Matthysse taking on Ruslan Provodnikov, before the mouth-watering May 9th battle.

The jam-packed schedule will also see lightweight star Derry Matthews fight for his first world title on April 18th when he takes on WBA king Richard Abril, with rising ace Terence Crawford out to become a two-weight champion against Thomas Dulorme that same night.

The thrilling addition of Canelo-Kirkland will get the juices flowing as one of boxing’s modern day icons, in the Mexican tearaway, sees him take on the ferocious and hard-hitting Kirkland, who has lost only once in 33 fights, having knocked out 28 of his foes.

It will be a night to remember when the pair lock horns in a match-up that is certain to produce fireworks, with the all-action duo ready for what is in store on BoxNation on May 9th.

“This is the first time that I am anxious to fight in Texas and I am looking forward to fighting Kirkland,” said Canelo. “He is coming to fight. He is dangerous and powerful. I am also powerful and aggressive and I can guarantee you, this is going to be an explosive fight.”

“This is the fight I’ve been waiting for,” said Kirkland. “Canelo is the opponent I get asked about more than any other fighter. I’m ready to show my skills to the world and shut down the people who doubt me. Come fight night you will see a great fight between two warriors and I know at the end of the night my hand will be raised in victory.”

Boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions, believes that fans will be in for a real treat as they witness the fight of the year.

“Canelo has faced all the top guys at this age. Why? Because he wants to be the very best and to be the very best you have to fight the very best. We have to pair the best styles to create the best fight.

“No questions asked, this is going to be the fight of the year. We have all seen what Kirkland can do. He is a tough fighter. But, these are the types of fights that Canelo loves, the fights for the fans,” said De La Hoya.

Fight fans can enjoy BoxNation’s unrivalled and value-for-money upcoming live coverage through a number of platforms including Sky, Virgin, TalkTalk and online.

To subscribe to BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546 and TalkTalk 525) for only £12 a month visit boxnation.com.

Sheffield, United Kingdom (3/25/15) – When Jo Jo Dan (34-2, 18KO’s) steps into the ring this Saturday against defending IBF welterweight champion and hometown hero Kell Brook (33-0, 22KO’s), Dan will be entering into hostile confines. The 10-thousand-seat Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, Yorkshire, United Kingdom, will be sold out. Other than a small Dan entourage of roughly 10 of his closest friends and family members, all in attendance will be screaming for the local star Brook. While this might make your ordinary boxer uncomfortable to say the least, Dan is not just your ordinary fighter.

“You can call me the Road Warrior I guess,” said Dan. “This is nothing new to me. It doesn’t bother me one way or the other. If you think about it, all the pressure is now on Brook to perform. I am fully aware that he has the home advantage with the fans behind him, but I plan to make them my fans with my performance. Inside the ring, it is just us and the referee. When they cheer for him, it pushes me to do better. I had a nine-week training camp for this fight, by far my best one ever. I am well prepared. On March 28th, I will be 100% ready for this challenge.”

The 33-year-old Romanian has been living and training in Montreal since 2002, two years prior to making his professional debut. Dan officially made his debut on April 21, 2004, scoring a second-round TKO over Jeff Hill. Over the next six years, Dan continued to rack up win after win, running his record to a perfect 26-0, before earning a shot to challenge for the vacant WBC Silver welterweight title against fellow undefeated contender Selcuk Aydin. Aydin was a feared puncher, having scored 15 stoppages in 19 victories, even earning the nickname “Mini Tyson” along the way. To earn the title, Dan was not only going to have to withstand the hard-charging, heavy-handed Aydin, but he was going to have to do so in his opponent’s backyard of Turkey.

After 12 rounds, Dan looked as though he had done everything he needed to do to earn the victory, as he dominated the Turkish-native in every aspect of the bout. BoxingScene.com scored the bout 117-111, with one judge having it a bit closer in Dan’s favor at 116-111. Unfortunately, the other two judges scored the bout for Aydin with scores of 114-113, giving the hometown favorite the split decision victory, in what was called one of the worst decisions in all of 2010.

Not to be deterred, Dan was quickly back in the ring, picking up three consecutive victories, and setting up another shot at Aydin; once again, in Aydin’s home country of Turkey. Despite badly breaking his jaw in the second round, Dan battled bravely the rest of the way to hear the final bell. However, after 12 hard rounds, Dan would drop another close decision to Aydin.

“After I lost the first fight, it took them a year to call for a rematch. I decided to go back because I was sure of beating him again in his hometown. Unfortunately, I got caught with a good shot in the second round and my whole fight plan went out the window. I had to go to war with him because I knew the doctor or my corner would stop the fight if they knew of my broken jaw. I refused to let m y corner take out my mouthpiece from the second round on, because I knew if they took it out, I wouldn’t be able to get it back in, and the fight would be stopped. I almost stopped him in the 11th round, but I went down for a count while off balance and they gave him that round 10-8 instead of me winning it 10-9. At the end, two judges gave him the fight by one point; the third judge was way off. Had I won the 11th round, instead of the slip being counted as a knockdown, then I would have won a split decision even with that broken jaw. It was the hardest thing that I have ever had to deal with in my life. I was pushing my jawbone with my tongue all fight long just so I could breathe. After the fight, the doctor couldn’t believe how badly my jaw had been broken, or that I was able to fight on for nearly the entire bout. I had to have two major surgeries to repair it and take a year off from boxing, but thank God I was able to make a full recovery.”

Following the second loss and ensuing layoff from the surgeries, Dan signed with powerful US promoter Lou DiBella, of DiBella Entertainment, and picked up two quick victories, setting up an IBF welterweight title eliminator for the number two ranking. His opponent was the highly regarded fast-rising welterweight contender Kevin Bizier, with the fight staged in Bizier’s backyard of Quebec. In what was named Canada’s 2013 ‘Fight of the Year’, Dan won a 12-round split decision in an absolute war.

Almost a year to the date from their first matchup, Dan and Bizier would meet again, at the same venue, this time with the winner earning the right to challenge the champion Brook. Aired on Showtime, Dan turned in yet another spectacular performance, and once again walked away with a 12-round split decision victory over the hometown hero Bizier, earning his shot against Brook this Saturday night.

“Brook is a very good fighter, it is not a mistake that he has become a world champion. I expect him to come out early and try to add me to his knockout list. I won’t be running though. We will find out very early if he can take as well as he can give,” stated Dan.

When asked if he believes that he needs a knockout to win based on past experiences, Dan answered calmly and with full confidence, “No.”

“I don’t train for knockouts. If the knockout comes, then it’s a bonus. I train to win every round. This fight is going to be watched around the world by millions of people. I have full confidence that it will be judged properly and the fighter who deserves the victory will be announced the winner. I am more experienced and better prepared than the previous times I challenged for the world title. I worked very hard to earn this mandatory position and I will not let this opportunity pass me by. On March 28th, I will become the IBF welterweight champion of the world.”

A win on Saturday will cap an amazing couple of weeks for Dan. This past week, Dan received his Canadian Citizenship and his wife is expected to give birth to their first baby daughter any day now.

To follow Jo Jo Dan on Twitter or Instagram, visit @JoJoDan1. You can also find him on Facebook at facebook.com/boxerJoJoDan.

The bout on Saturday night will be televised live by SKY Sports in the United Kingdom, as well as Stateside on Showtime®. Showtime will provide live coverage beginning at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 pm. PT. The bout is promoted by Matchroom Boxing and DiBella Entertainment.