Patrick Nielsen (23-1, 11 KOs) and his opponent George Tahdooahnippah (34-1-2, 24 KOs) both made weight today ahead of their ‘Clash of the Clans’ WBA International Super Middleweight Championship fight tomorrow night at the Ballerup Super Arena in Copenhagen.

WBA International Super Middleweight Championship:
Patrick Nielsen: 76 kg
George Tahdooahnippah: 75.5 kg

An action packed undercard features a further seven fights showcasing the very best in Scandinavian boxing. A full list of weights can be found below.

Featherweight – 10 Rounds:
Dennis Ceylan: 56.7 kg
Dmitry Kirillov: 56.3 kg

Heavyweight – 8 Rounds:
Otto Wallin: 77.5 kg
David Gegeshidze: 77.8 kg

Super Middleweight – 8 Rounds:
Oscar Ahlin: 77.5 kg
Alvaro Gaona: 77.8 kg

Cruiserweight – 4 Rounds:
Kai Robin Havnaa: 89.5 kg
Patrick Linkert: 88.4 kg

Super Middleweight – 10 Rounds:
Tim-Robin Lihaug: 76 kg
Slavisa Simeunovic: 75.4 kg

Middleweight – 6 Rounds:
Abdul Khattab: 72.5 kg
Mikheil Khutsishvili: 71.2 kg

Cruiserweight – 6 Rounds:
Kevin Larena: 94.4 kg
Igor Pylypenko: TBA

All the action will be broadcast live in Denmark on TV3 Sport 2 from 19.00 and TV3+ from 21.00. Limited tickets available via billetlugen.dk.

Saturday’s HBO World Championship Boxing tripleheader telecast begins at 9:45 p.m. (ET/PT).

The HBO telecast kicks off live from Montreal’s Bell Centre when Isaac Chilemba takes on Vasily Lepikhin in a scheduled 12-round light heavyweight contest.

In the co-feature, heavyweights Vyacheslav Glazkov and Steve Cunningham square off for 12 rounds.

The main event of the evening, a 12-round light heavyweight championship bout, features knockout artist Sergey Kovalev defending his titles against Jean Pascal in his hometown.

Official Weights from Montreal:

Sergey Kovalev: 174.3 lbs.
Jean Pascal: 175 lbs.

Vyacheslav Glazkov: 218.4 lbs.
Steve Cunningham: 209.6 lbs.

Join the conversation on Twitter: #KovalevPascal

13 March 2015 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization with a 90% market share, ONE Championship™ (ONE), kicked off 2015 with a spectacular show at the Stadium Putra in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Fans were treated to another night of world-class mixed martial arts action with ONE: AGE OF CHAMPIONS. In the main event, Adriano Moraes defeated a tenacious Riku Shibuya by Unanimous Decision to retain the ONE Flyweight World Championship belt.

Visit the official ONE: AGE OF CHAMPIONS photo gallery by clicking: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ogw4tb66e3467d5/AABAVUM5CDb9aMVF3VZN7O0Da?dl=0

ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes and challenger Riku Shibuya entertained the crowd with a showcase of striking and grappling exchanges in the main event. In the first round, Shibuya came out looking to take the fight to Moraes as the Brazilian worked to get Shibuya to the ground. On the mat, Moraes controlled the action by advancing position multiple times to Shibuya’s back although Shibuya exhibited exceptional defense. In the second, Shibuya did a better job of keeping the fight on the feet as he continued to stalk Moraes across the cage. Rounds three to five saw much of the same action with Shibuya continuing to press as Moraes dominated the ground game. In the end, Moraes’ various takedowns and submission attempts earned him a hard-fought decision.

In a highly anticipated lightweight bout, Malaysia’s Peter Davis went to work against Rajinder Singh Meena of India, notching a vicious stoppage win in just under three minutes of the first round. Davis attacked Meena from the beginning of the fight, dragging his opponent to the ground and gaining full mount. Davis then punished Meena with a non-stop attack from top position, forcing the referee to call a halt to the contest.

Ann Osman made quick work of Walaa Abbas, submitting her Egyptian opponent just minutes into their women’s flyweight bout. Abbas came out striking furiously and landed some good shots against Osman, but once Osman pressed Abbas against the cage she quickly worked on a takedown, securing a Rear Naked Choke in the process. With Osman digging the hooks in deep, Abbas had no choice but to tap out.

In an intense striking battle, the Philippines’ Cary Bullos and Ev Ting put on a great show for fans in attendance. In the first round, Bullos tagged Ting with various sharp counters as the Malaysian looked to initiate the exchanges. In the second round, Ting turned up the pressure, catching Bullos against the cage with underhooks. After impressively sweeping Bullos to the ground, Ting latched on a Guillotine Choke that forced Bullos to tap out.

Malaysia’s Gianni Subba got the packed Stadium Putra audience to their feet with a showstopping knockout victory over Thanh Vu seconds into the first round of their flyweight bout. Subba caught Vu with a stiff left hook and followed it up with a powerful kick that landed clean, prompting the referee to step in and stop the bout just twenty seconds into the contest.

Kirstie Gannaway dug deep against a game opponent in Team Lakay’s April Osenio to gut out a submission victory in two rounds. In the first round, Gannaway made her grappling advantage clear with a few near submissions, but Osenio defended well. Osenio then landed a couple of good kicks as the two got back to their feet. In the second round, Osenio tried her best to keep the fight standing with a few solid strikes but once the fight hit the mat again, Gannaway was able to secure the Rear Naked Choke.

Chan Rothana overcame two spinning back kick attempts from Filipino Ramon Gonzales to take a TKO victory late in the first round. After starting off on the feet, the two fighters found themselves on the mat when Gonzales missed wildly with a kick. Rothana was then able to sneak into full mount, raining down a series of punches to end the contest.

Agilan Thani kicked off ONE: AGE OF CHAMPIONS with a spectacular first round TKO over his Indonesian opponent Reant Fabriza Rainir. After a quick scramble, Thani found himself in mount and took advantage of the situation. Thani made quick work of Reant, finishing his opponent by ground and pound just slightly over a minute into the fight.

Official results for ONE: AGE OF CHAMPIONS
ONE Flyweight World Championship bout: Adriano Moraes defeats Riku Shibuya by Unanimous Decision
Lightweight bout: Peter Davis defeats Rajinder Singh Meena by TKO (Strikes) at 2:41 minutes of round 1
Women’s Flyweight bout: Ann Osman defeats Walaa Abbas by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:23 minutes of round 1
Featherweight bout: Ev Ting defeats Cary Bullos by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 1:05 minutes of round 2
Flyweight bout: Gianni Subba defeats Thanh Vu by Knockout at 0:20 minutes of round 1
Women’s Atomweight bout: Kirstie Gannaway defeats April Osenio by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:50 minutes of round 2
Bantamweight bout: Chan Rothana defeats Ramon Gonzales by TKO (Strikes) at 4:48 minutes of round 1
Catchweight bout (82kg): Agilan Thani defeats Reant Fabriza Rainir by TKO (Strikes) at 1:21 minutes of round 1

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

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

About ONE Championship™
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.

Las Vegas, Nev. – The UFC® today confirmed a new partnership with Monster Energy®, to be the official energy drink of the UFC. This new exclusive deal – which excludes Brazil – continues UFC’s approach of partnering with industry-leading companies that share the same values and vision to further maximize and expand branding opportunities worldwide.

“The UFC® is excited to partner with a category leader like Monster Energy and introduce them to our fans who embody the same enthusiasm and passion synonymous with their brand,” UFC Executive Vice President of Global Marketing Partnerships Michael Mossholder said. “This new multi-year deal will bring new and exciting experiential opportunities and unique in-market retail promotions.”

“We are excited to partner with the world’s leading mixed martial arts organization as the official energy drink of UFC as we expand our commitment into the MMA category,” said Sam Pontrelli, Monster Energy Senior Vice President of Marketing. “Through this partnership we will build a stronger brand position and expand our reach globally, thereby gaining exposure to a new audience while supporting the sport’s premiere athletes. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

Monster Energy will also be sponsoring select athletes including UFC women’s bantamweight champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey, as well as UFC® lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis and former UFC welterweight champion and current No.1 welterweight contender Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks, both of whom are competing at UFC® 185 in Dallas this coming Saturday.

Additional UFC athletes will be announced at a later date.

As part of this partnership, the Monster Energy logo has center placement on the canvas, as first witnessed at UFC® 184: Rousey vs. Zingano in Los Angeles. Monster Energy will also be promoted on various UFC® entities inside and outside the Octagon® and together with UFC they will execute distinctive retail promotions and contest opportunities such as:

· “Belt the Champ”: a promotion to give one lucky fan the opportunity to attend a title fight and step inside the Octagon to present the championship belt.

· The “Monster Experience”: an opportunity for fans to gain unparalleled access during a UFC fight week, including access to open workouts, the weigh-in, press conferences, and the chance to sit with UFC President Dana White at the live event.

For more information on UFC or current fight news, visit ufc.com. For more information on Monster Energy visit monsterenergy.com.

###

About the UFC®
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, the UFC® is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 129 countries and territories to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide in 28 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.

About Monster
Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer and distributor of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it’s the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at www.monsterenergy.com.

Bektemirov 184 lbs – Johnson 186 lbs

HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 13, 2015) – Russian power puncher, Medzhidm “B-52” Bektemirov (14-0, 11 KOs) and his opponent James Johnson (28-44-4, 17 KOs) make weight for their upcoming 6-round bout on the “Battle on the Mainland” card taking place at the Charles Doyle Convention Center in Texas City, TX on March 13, 2015. Bektemirov tipped the scale at 184 lbs. while Johnson weighed in at 186 lbs. Gary Shaw Productions and Savarese Promotions co-promote B-52.

“Battle of the Mainland” tickets priced $35 (general admission), $75 (Table seats) and $100 (Ringside) are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (713) 658-0229 or online at www.SavaresePromotions.com. The Charles Doyle Conventions Center is located at 2010 5th Ave N, Texas City, TX, 77590.
184 – 186

It’s movie night for Patrick Nielsen (23-1, 11 KOs) and Joey Gamache! The Danish boxer and his star coach have taken time out of their busy training schedule to conduct some invaluable research on Nielsen’s next opponent, the ferocious Comanche warrior, George Tahdooahnippah (34-1-2, 24 KOs).

After a final training session, Nielsen was summoned to Gamache’s Copenhagen flat, where the American coach sat in wait with a bowl of chips and a copy of the 1956 John Wayne western, ‘The Searchers’.

‘’This is an important research assignment,’’ said Gamache. ‘’We must learn the way of the Comanche, if we are to defeat them.’’

In ‘The Searchers’, Wayne plays a civil war veteran battling the Comanche tribe in an attempt to rescue his niece. On Saturday night, Nielsen will face a similar struggle when he takes on a real-life Comanche at the Ballerup Super Arena in Copenhagen.

‘’When I used to watch the old cowboy movies I would always cheer for the Indians,’’ reveals the 23 year-old southpaw. ‘’But not this time, on March 14, I’m the cowboy, I’m John Wayne, I will defeat the Comanche!’’

The movie night offers a moment of light relief from the serious training. Gamache reveals it is a welcome break from the hours he spends analysing footage of Nielsen’s opponent Tahdooahnippah.

‘’I couldn’t even tell you how many hours I’ve spent watching tapes of Tahdooahnippah,’’ said the former two-time world champion. ‘’A lot of work goes in to studying an opponent and seeing what they are all about. This is a big fight for us so you’ve got to invest a lot of time.

‘’I look out for patterns so I know what’s going to happen in the ring. You watch the tapes over and over until a see a move or a tell. They could move to the left or move to the right before throwing a certain shot. It’s all about the patterns. Then you use this information to give your fighter the advantage.”

Nielsen faces Tahdooahnippah for the WBA International Super Middleweight title on March 14 at the Ballerup Super Arena in Copenhagen. All the action will be broadcast live on TV3 Sport 2 from 19.00 and TV3+ from 21.00. Tickets are available via billetlugen.dk.

Antoine Douglas 159.8 – Thomas Lamanna 157.8

Ismael Barroso 134 – Issouf Kinda 133.6
(NABA & NABO Lightweight championship)

Jerry Odom 168 – Andrew Hernandez 167.8

Adam Lopez 120.4 – Pablo Cruz 120.8

Tommy Rainone 151 – Allen Litzau 151
Patty Alcivar 112.8 – Peggy Maerz 111.4
Dave Meloni 130 – Richard Bonds 133
Rich Neves 156 – Joshua Marks 151.2

Here’s what the fighters had to say before Thursday’s weigh-in:

Antoine Douglas:

“The key is that I learn from my past experiences. Everything is a lesson. It’s only considered a loss if you don’t learn from it.

“I’m a disciplined fighter so once I enter the ring, the switch is on. That’s my comfort zone.

“If you look at my story, you see I’ve been through adversity all my life. Being in the ring is just another step for something I’m fighting for. I have people to fight for, burdens to get off my shoulder, my life is a fight. Once I step in the ring, it’s go time, I handle all my business there.

“I know what I worked on and what I prepared myself to do, so I don’t go in the ring expecting anything. If you go in expecting something, you may end up on the other side of that expectation, so I just do what I came to do, fight hard and win. If you go in expecting things, you’re going on a one-way path.

“Any man you get in the ring with, no matter how big or small, has the capability to do damage. I take on every fight with the same intensity and thought process; I can’t worry about anything else.”

Thomas LaManna:

“People try to underestimate me based on my appearance but once they get hit, it’s another story. I know Douglas is taking me seriously since he knows me from the amateurs. It’s in his best interest to take me seriously.

“I know I’m good at what I do, and that’s boxing. During my first fights, if I got hit, everything went out the window and I was ready to rumble. My new trainer helped me control my mental strength while really using my reach, but the key is to stick to the game plan.

“This opportunity to fight on SHOWTIME was too good to pass up. I want everyone to see that I’m the real deal. The press has said a lot of positive things about me and I want to live up to that. The risk and reward factor about this fight is getting out and being seen. I know what I can do but not everyone has seen it yet.

“I love the fact you have two 23-year-old young undefeated fighters getting in the ring. As a boxing fan, I think that makes for a great fight. I’m fortunate to be a part of a card with two legit young fighters. We’re both where we’re at for a reason.

“I believe in my shots and power. Any shot I throw, I believe in it. My skills, talent and hard work are what brought me here.”

Ismael Barroso:

“I want the U.S. fans to think of me as a great fighter who comes to go to war. I come to knock people out.

“In Cuba in 2001, I sparred someone on the Cuban National Team and laid him out cold.. As I kept training, I developed more power.

I’m in great shape. I trained for four months for this fight and I’m ready. I could go 12 rounds if I had to.

“He [Kinda] is just another fighter. This fight is mine. I will knock him out or get a decision. We took this guy because nobody wants to fight him. He [Kinda] has never been knocked out, but look at who he has fought.”

Issouf Kinda

“I have never been knocked down. I have never been hurt. And I don’t think that’s going to change now.

“This guy has never fought anybody like me. He thinks he can knock everybody out, but I’m not just another guy. I’m tougher than everybody he has ever fought. He’s not going to knock me down.

“I know how to fight a southpaw. I’m experienced. I can box. He better be ready.

“I’m going to show him he is fighting a man. If he punches me, I’m going to punch him back.”

Jerry Odom:

“I don’t think he wants to fight me. He’s just doing it because he has to. I’m not going to say I regret what I did to Hernandez in our first fight because I was just trying to get the win, so I went for the kill.

“Before I even saw fighting on TV or even started boxing, I knew how to fight. Where I come from, I was used to adversity so my instinct was to fight no matter what.

“When I changed trainers, it was for the better. We had a mutual understanding so there were no hard feelings. Instead of going to train in different places, my workouts feel more professional. I get everything I need in one session. I’ve been able to break down my old habits in order to show my real talent.”

Andrew Hernandez:

“He fought dirty the first time around. He hit me with a blow and I took a knee and while I was down, he punched me again.

“He’s definitely overrated. He’s fought a lot of tomato cans. I’m going to expose him. I’m sharper and better than him in all aspects, no question.

“I took the rematch because that’s not the victory I wanted. I wanted a knockout. I’ll get it this time around. I’m going for it with all I have.

“I heard some people questioning my punching power. I boxed Odom with an injured hand and I outboxed him. I’m healthy and in great shape now. I’m going to knock him out. You better be watching.”

Adam Lopez:

“Cruz is my countryman. I’ve seen him fight. I even sparred with him a while back and I can say with certainty that I outboxed him.

“This is the first time I’m going eight rounds, but I’m not concerned about it. I trained very well. I’m in the best shape I have ever been.

“Fighting on this card is a great opportunity for me. I’ve been under the radar most of my career, but now I have the opportunity to be on SHOWTIME, national television. I feel so blessed.”

Pablo Cruz

“It took me over nine years to get here. I worked hard, really hard and I’m not going to let this opportunity slip away.

“This is a huge fight for me, perhaps the biggest one of my career. I will go at him with everything I got.

“I’m not taking him lightly. I respect him as a fighter, but I’m hungry. I’m very hungry and I’ll do what it takes to get the job done. Tomorrow is my time and I’ll shine.”

ORANGE, Calif. (Mar. 12, 2015) – Training camps have ended, the boxers have weighed in, so all that’s left to do for Josesito “Riverside Rocky” Lopez and Andre “The Beast” Berto is to meet inside the ring for their highly anticipated 12-round fight Friday night from the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif.

Lopez (33-6, 19 KOs), who will have the home field advantage as his hometown of Riverside is about 30 minutes from the arena, weighed in at 146.3 lbs., while Berto (29-3, 22 KOs) measured 146 even.

The 12-round fight is televised live on Spike TV beginning at 6 P.M. PT / 9 P.M. ET (Premier Boxing Champions).

Lopez is co-promoted by Goossen Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions.

For more information, please visit ThompsonBoxing.com.

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

LITTLE ROCK – March 12, 2015 – In its second ever boxing event, M&N Promotions of Little Rock, Arkansas, raises the bar and takes another step further in fulfilling its commitment to showcasing the best talent that Arkansas has to offer on a worldwide platform. This Saturday, M&N partners with JAMM 7 Multimedia, Desert Adrenaline Multimedia and the American Boxing Association to offer a high-definition, internet live stream of the professional boxing event, featuring commentary by veteran play-by-play announcer Jim Grieshaber and analysis from Hall of Fame Referee Richard Steele.

In the main event, Kiun “The Boss” Evans (9-0-1, 5KO) faces fellow undefeated fighter Eric “No Excuses” Anton (4-0, 1KO) in an 8-round ABA Featherweight Title eliminator bout. Anton is no stranger to tough opposition. His previous opponents’ combined records are 18-0-1, and he spoiled three undefeated records with decision wins in 2014. His opponent, former Arkansas Golden Gloves Champion Evans, brings experience to the table, along with a sense of commitment born of his relationship with his 94 year old grandmother. “She’s the reason I’m fighting,” says Evans. “Boxing saved my life. I don’t know what I’d be doing if not for boxing.”

Promoter Lendrick Nelson is looking forward to giving fighters in Arkansas opportunities they may not have otherwise had. “We want to give Arkansas fighters a stage and an avenue to make it to the next level. M&N Promotions is a breath of fresh air for boxers in the state.” Nelson has been involved with boxing since childhood. His father, Ozell Nelson, was the coach of World Champion fighter Jermain Taylor, and is currently coaching main event fighter Evans.

For his part, Referee Richard Steele is excited to be a part of the telecast. “The event is something that I’m hoping will be the first of many more to come. I’m very excited about being here in Little rock because there is some unseen heroes that we have in this part of the country that need to be looked at more closely, and need to be promoted more so they can rise to the top and be someone like Floyd Mayweather,” said Steele of the event.

“I want these promotions to keep going and stay alive so that we can really promote boxing. I think boxing needs this shot in the arm that we’re about to do and I think it’s going to be better for everyone,” said Steele of broadcasting the event live and free at ababoxing.us.

Also on the card, Jorge “Travieso” Gonzales faces Yon “Hitman” Harvison, Rogelio “El Loco” Casarez faces Ronald “Salvaje” Rivas, Randy Johnson faces Marcus Rhode, Erasmo “The Reckoning” Garcia faces Joe Bradshaw, and Anthony Woods meets Deartie Tucker.

Mayhem in the Rock II takes place this Saturday, March 14th at 7 p.m. at Clear Channel Metroplex in Little Rock, Arkansas. It streams live and free at www.ababoxing.us at 7 p.m. on fight night. Tickets are priced $25 and $50 and are available by calling 501-993-6669.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Roberto Garcia missed weight and will not fight Shawn Porter tonight in Ontario, California.

“It was more than 4 pounds. That is what I was told by the promoter,” said California Commissioner Andy Foster. “I was told that he had to cut too much weight and he couldn’t do it.”

Porter will now fight Eric Bone

Jersey City, NJ (March 12, 2015)-The full card has been set for the inaugural card promoted by Nick Jayme’s LGM Promotions that will take place this Saturday night at the Jersey City Armory.

The card will have something for everyone as fighters from Ireland, Puerto Rico and China will make up an international lineup. Additionally, there will be two of Jersey City’s own in separate bouts.

In the main event, John Franklin will take on Josh Crespo in an eight-round jr. featherweight bout.

Franklin of Kansas City, Missouri has a perfect record of 9-0 with four knockouts and has a win over previously undefeated Joshua Reyes (4-0). Franklin is coming off a six-round majority decision over Andre Wilson on November 29, 2014 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Crespo of New Haven, Connecticut has a record of 3-2-2 with one knockout will look to get back in the win column after suffering an eight-round split decision to Jorge Abiague on January 17 in Uncasville, Connecticut.

In a six-round co-feature, Steve Quinn will battle Stephon McIntyre in a bout for the WBU Youth Jr. Featherweight title.

Quinn of Newtownards, Northern Ireland will be representing his homeland on St. Patrick’s Day weekend and will look to thrill the crowd in his American debut.

Quinn has a record of 6-2 with one knockout and will look to get back on track after dropping a four-round unanimous decision to Daniel Moreno on August 23, 2014 in Panama City, Panama,

McIntyre of Jonesboro, Georgia has fought four consecutive undefeated fighters and has a draw with previously unblemished Marcus Bates. McIntyre is coming off a third-round stoppage defeat to Kevin Rivers Jr. on January 17 in Washington, D.C.

Two very special bouts have been added as good looking Chinese prospects in heavyweight Zhang Zhelei and jr. welterweight Wang Zhimin will see action in six and four round bouts respectively.

Both Zhelei and Zhimin are promoted by Roc Nation Sports.

Zhelei (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Zhoukou, China will take on Eric George (2-8) of Niagara Falls, New York while Zhimin (1-0) of China will battle Jesus Lule (7-10, 1 KO) of Fort Myers, Florida.

In four-round bouts:

Tyrell Wright (6-0-1, 4 KO’s) of Jersey City, NJ will fight Alando Pugh (1-3-1, 1 KO) of Washington, D.C. in a heavyweight bout.

In a middleweight bout, Hakim Bryant (2-0, 1 KO) of Asbury Park, NJ will fight Jesus Sosa Pegan (0-2) of Puerto Rico.

Jr. Lightweight Jose Ortiz (3-2-1, 1 KO) of Jersey City, NJ will fight Tyrone Luckey (5-4-1, 5 KO’s) of Middletown, NJ.

In a battle of pro debuting light heavyweights, Darren Goodall will take on Portland Pringle.

Brayon Rendon will make his pro debut against Frank Jordan (0-3) in a welterweight bout.

Local businessman Nick Jayme is bringing boxing back to Jersey City in a big way and he gave away 300 tickets to local Boys & Girls clubs as well County Recreation Centers in a grass roots attempt to get young people involved in or become new fans of boxing.. The crowd on Saturday night is expected to be a sell-out crowd of over 1500.

“I believe it is important for young people to attend these local shows. Giving back to the community in the form of complimentary tickets coupled with fair ticket and concession pricing is a major part of who we are and where we want to be as a company. We believe our business model will help create new fans,” said Jayme.

Tickets start at just $35

The Jersey City Armory is located at 678 Montgomery Street

Kimmell picture by Randy Holmes…Duval pictures by Chris Farina / Top Rank

(On his departure from Bellator): “I think I got a little complacent with Bellator. Fourteen fights. I was there for four years so, unfortunately, things happen. This is the fight game. I got picked up by Titan right afterward and now have an opportunity to fight for CES. Being a local company, it’s very excited. In a way, it’s kind of like a new beginning, kind of refreshing my career.”

(On whether or not he was surprised to get cut): “In some ways. I wasn’t really expecting to get cut. I had the most fights in the company, I had the most wins, or I was tied for first at least, so in the back of my mind, though, having lost two in a row, and with the direction they’re going now, I don’t really fit that profile they’re looking for. It was kind of expected.”

(On his motivation for stepping back into the cage): “When I first got into it, I was only getting into it to kind of satisfy my own thoughts on, ‘Could I do it or not?’ It was something I wanted to do since I was little. My judo career was over so I said, ‘I’ll try it. I’ll see how I do.’ Part of the reason I got into it, too, was because I could make money doing something I trained my whole life, which I didn’t make money at, so I think the biggest motivation was it’s a good-paying job for the most part. It’s my full-time job now, so I think that is the main reason why anyone works, especially in a job like this. It pays the bills, but it’s also like playing, too, and I get rewarded for it, so it’s a lot of fun.”

(On his experience as a Judo Olympian helping him in professional MMA): “I’ve had some high-pressure situations with the judo and the same with Bellator. A couple of title fights, main events on big stages, so it definitely helped. Headlining a fight again is something I’m kind of used to now. The more you do it, the more you get used to it.”

_____

DEREK LOFFER

(On his mindset heading into a nationally-televised main event): “My mindset is the same as it’s been since I first heard about the fight. I’m ready to go. I’m super excited about the fight. Stylistically, it brings a good matchup. Good fights, good fans, great main event. I feel positive. I feel confident. I’m really happy about it. Good mood, good vibes going on. Everything is feeling good. It’s on the upswing.”

(On whether or not he considers himself the hungrier fighter): “I do think I’m the hungrier fighter. You can’t ever try to take money from another person. I don’t think anyone likes money being taken from them. I do expect it to be a dogfight. A war. At the very least, I expected to punched in the face, but I’ll tell you what, I’m the hungrier fighter. I’ve been hungry since I first started. I would say I’m old, but I guess a lot of people look at him as the old one. I’ve got a lot left to do. I’ve got a lot of things I need to pay for, so my son’s counting on me and my family’s counting on me. I’m definitely the hungrier fighter looking to go out there and lay my road down.”

(On what’s at stake tomorrow night): “I do feel like I’ve got a lot on the line, whether it be this fight or the fights I’ve had in the past. I’ve always got a lot to lose. Me, personally, being a competitor my whole life, I don’t like to lose. Even if there’s no money on the table and we’re playing rock, paper, scissors, I don’t like to lose. It’s that simple. I feel like this fight brings a style that is right up my alley and I know I’m better at that style. Losing’s just not an option to me. I’ve got a lot of things I’ve got to do with this fight and the turnout and a lot of things I need to accomplish and prove. Losing’s just not an option.”

______

LUIS FELIX

(On getting used to the idea of fighting on national television): “I know it’s there. I don’t necessarily put more pressure on myself or anything. I just love this spotlight. I love to fight on the big stage. The fact it is on national TV, nobody wants to be embarrassed and lose in front of their fans, never mind the entire nation.”

(On whether or not he’s noticed a difference in how people have approached him since his network TV debut): “Absolutely. It’s definitely changed a whole lot. People randomly hitting me up, even friends that live in different parts of the country that are now able to watch my fights live and I get to be in contact with them over the weekend now after they see my fights and talk to them about it, so the exposure has definitely picked up tremendously. It’s great that we get to reach such a wide audience.”

(On adjusting to a last-minute change of opponent): “For me, personally, I’m really not much of a game-plan person. I don’t sit spending an entire training game-planning for a specific style. You definitely are aware of what the person is better at and you go over things that may tend to that person, but I still go about my same training routine. I may add a couple things here and there for that specific person, but with this opponent change I’m still going to go out there and put in my game plan, which is mix it up, use my boxing, use my wrestling and keep him surprised. Just implement my will in the fight.”

_____

REGGIE MERRIWEATHER

(On nerves being a factor fighting on national television): “A little bit. But once the bell rings and someone gets hit the nerves go away pretty easily.”

(On why he took the fight on short notice): “I just really wanted a fight, you know? I just wanted to do things I did back when I was an amateur. When I was an amateur I would take like 10 to 20 fights in a year. I just want to stay busy. Every fight is a learning experience either about me or myself, what I need to work, what I need to improve. They’re all learning experiences.”

(On how he got started in MMA): “I got into it from a boxing gym, actually. I was actually just going to box but there were no boxers and there were a whole bunch of MMA guys so I figured I’d try it out. The first day, I got beat up. I wanted to give it another try. I had my first fight and went on from there.”

(On his thoughts on his opponent and his approach to the fight): Pretty good, well-rounded fighter. Good standup, good wrestling. A little bit of everything. I take it to people. Some people say I just do what I can to win. Take it to them.”

_____

ANDRE SOUKHAMTHATH

(On preparing for his television debut): “I honestly feel like this has been the best I’ve ever felt right now, today, and in camp. I got to work with some new tools. At the Blackzilians camp, they’ve got ice baths and some Jacuzzis, so I made sure I took advantage of that and used them everyday, which kept my body healthy. No aches, no pains. I got to push it hard everyday.”

(On blocking out the distractions when he returns to Rhode Island from Florida to fight at home): “It’s always like that. I have so many friends here at home that want to see me and I wanted to see them, too, but this time I feel like I’m getting closer and closer to the next level that I need to start looking at these trips as a business. Come, fight and leave, rather than fighting and saying, ‘Hey guys, I’m coming home!’ They come support me anyway. They all come to my fights. They understand. I hope they understand. Even my family, they say, ‘Why is your stay so short?’ I’ve got to go back home and handle business. I like it like that. It feels good now.”

(On his success validating his move to Florida): “I definitely feel like it was the right move. I’m still the same fighter I was when I started since Day 1. I still have the same passion. I still have the heart. The only difference is the tools in the box are different. All my training partners, they’re all high level. I’m not a big fish in a small pond anymore. I’m a small fish in a very big ocean and that can be good and bad, but I’m learning how to swim and I feel I’m becoming one of the big dogs there, too. Slowly, but surely, my time will come.”

LINCOLN, R.I. (March 12th, 2015) – Listed below are the final weights for all of the participants from “CES MMA XXVIII,” scheduled for Friday, March 13th, 2015, live from Twin River Casino on AXS TV.

Doors open at 6 p.m. EST. The first preliminary bout begins at 7 and the televised main card begins at 9.

RICK HAWN
Dracut, Mass.
19-4, 11 KOs
160

DEREK LOFFER
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
9-2, 7 KOs
164 ½

LUIS FELIX
Cranston, R.I.
12-8, 4 KOs
156 ½

REGGIE MERRIWEATHER
Cincinnati, Ohio
6-5, 3 KOs
160

ANDRE SOUKHAMTHATH
Woonsocket, R.I. (Boca Raton, Fla.)
8-2, 4 KOs
135

BRIAN KELLEHER
Selden, N.Y.
11-7, 5 KOs
138

TODD CHATTELLE
Pawtucket, R.I.
12-11, 9 KOs
186

ROGER CARROLL
Claremont, N.C.
15-11, 14 submissions
184 ½

TYLER KING
Norwood, Mass.
8-2, 3 KOs
223

MIKE MUCITELLI
Syracuse, N.Y.
7-1, 1 KO
223

JOEY GOMEZ
Hollis, N.H.
5-0, 5 KOs
136

KIN MOY
Cambridge, Mass.
6-1, 2 KOs
136

KYLE BOCHNIAK
Boston, Mass.
4-0, 1 KO
145

DOMINIC WARR
Alston, Mass.
5-4, 1 KO
144

LEWIS CORAPI
Medford, Mass.
6-1, 3 KOs
155

JAY BAKANOWSKI
Northborough, Mass.
2-1, 1 KO
156

JAMES GRANT MURRIN
Boston, Mass.
2-2, 2 KOs
145

LIONEL YOUNG
Brockton, Mass.
6-14, 6 submissions
145

SARAH PAYANT
West Springfield, Mass.
Pro debut
132

JANICE MEYER
Cortland, N.Y.
Pro debut
133

JESSE GUTIERREZ
Norwood, Mass.
Pro debut
126

CHAD KELLY
Winchendon, Mass.
3-1, 1 KO
126

– CES –

The local media gathered at the Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers fighter press conference in Copenhagen, Denmark for the upcoming WBA International Super Middleweight Championship showdown between Patrick Nielsen (23-1) and ‘Comanche Boy’ George Tahdooahnippah (34-1). The two fighters are scheduled for a 12 round bout this Saturday, March 14, 2015 at the Ballerup Super Arena in Copenhagen Denmark. The fighters spoke about their upcoming fight and answered questions to the media.

Schedule of Events:

Weigh-In
–Friday March 13th

The official weigh-in for the event will be 4PM Friday, March 13th at the Ballerup Centret in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Fight
— Saturday March 14th

Tahdooahnippah will battle Patrick Nielsen in a twelve round WBA International Super Middleweight Championship main event during the ‘Clash of the Clans’ at the Ballerup Super Arena promoted by Sauerland Promotions in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov
Thank you everybody for coming. Thank you for this opportunity. Thank you to my promoter Kathy Duva and Main Events. Thank you to my manager, Egis Klimas, and HBO. I am ready to fight and I will show a good fight on Saturday night.

Steve “USS” Cunningham
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Steve “USS” Cunningham
I would like to thank everyone: my sponsors, my team at Concrete Jungle and the beautiful ladies at Main Events. This is my first time in Canada and I have fought all over the world but this is my first time fighting here. I want to thank the Heavenly Father, the God Almighty. I have a mission to complete on Saturday night, like when I was in the Navy. Come Saturday it is time to go to work. The preparation is done; it is fight time.

Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba
First of all I want to thank God. I want to thank everyone who is here today. I want to thank HBO, Main Events, Interbox, my opponent, Vasily Lepikhin, and his team, my manager, Jodi Solomon, and my trainer, Buddy McGirt; I appreciate all of the support. I want to thank HBO. I am so happy to be back on HBO. I am looking forward to it. We worked hard and had a good camp. Lepikhin is a good fighter. A challenge like this is what I live for. You won’t be disappointed with this show on Saturday night.

Vasily “The Professor” Lepikhin
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Vasily “The Professor” Lepikhin
Thanks everybody for coming here. It is a pleasure to be boxing here for the first time. Thanks to HBO, my promoters, Kathy Duva and German Titov, and my manager, Egis Klimas, for this opportunity. This is big show and I am happy to open this big event on HBO. It was great preparation and training in California. I have good feeling and am very happy. Thank you to Isaac Chilemba for taking this fight. Thank you to my father, Andrey Lepikhin, who is also my trainer for helping me get here. My brother is coming today; he is my cut man. We are ready to fight.

Kathy Duva and Jean Bedard
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events
Thank you. This is the sixth time that Sergey Kovalev has fought on HBO. It seems like yesterday he had his first fight on HBO. This is going to be the first fight (on HBO) for these three gentlemen and second for Isaac Chilemba. It is a packed card from top to bottom. These men are going to entertain you on Saturday night. They have worked hard to get to this point in their careers where they are finally fighting on HBO. This puts a lot of pressure on them to perform well on Saturday night. Also I want to wish congratulations to our matchmaker, Jolene Mizzone, for putting together this amazing card. I think every one of these fights is 50-50 match-up. I know everyone will enjoy these fights. The trainers for these fights are some of the top trainers in the world. The former world champion, Buddy McGirt, is training Isaac Chilemba. Andrey Lepikhin is here training his son, Vasily Lepikhin, and Dmitry Mikhaylenko. Abel Sanchez, the great trainer who works with middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin, will be here training Nadjib Mohammedi. Lee Campbell is working with the great Don Turner because his own trainer couldn’t make it here. Victor Petrochenko is training Czar Glazkov. And another legendary trainer, the great Naazim Richardson, is working with Steve Cunningham. We will have great match-ups in the ring and great match-ups in the corners. I want to thank HBO for giving these gentlemen this opportunity. In addition to Egis Klimas, I want to thank the two other great managers who helped to make these fights happen. First the manager of Steve Cunningham, his spectacular wife, Livvy Cunningham, and Jodi Solomon, who manages Isaac Chilemba.

Chilemba and Lepikhin
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Jean Bedard, President of Interbox
We will please ask that the boxers not wear their hats during the face-to-face (laughing). Thank you very much to all of the boxers that will be participating in this great event on Saturday. We will have a great event and a great crowd at the Centre Bell.

Egis Klimas
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Egis Klimas, Manager of Czar Glazkov, Vasily Lepikhin and Dmitry Mikhaylenko
Thank you. This is a really good town. I am really glad to be here. This is going to be a great night of boxing on Saturday. I can’t remember when three televised HBO fights had three Russian and Eastern European fighters. When I started in this business a long time ago with my friend, Don Turner, I could not get my Russian fighters on television. I was begging everyone to put my fighters on their cards. Sergey Kovalev was boxing in basements. Me and Don Turner would sit in the car and drive around the country to put them in fights. No network would recognize their talents. All of our hard work has finally paid off. Saturday night we have three Russian and Ukrainian fighters fighting on HBO. If anyone told me this would happen one day, I would never have believed it. All of these bouts are very competitive. Lepikhin versus Chilemba is a 50-50 fight and Glazkov versus Cunningham is 50-50 as well. This is an eliminator fight which means that the winner will face Klitschko. One of these guys has the opportunity to become a world champion. I want to thank Kathy Duva for doing such a great job with these guys. I want to thank Interbox for organizing this event; it has been a lot of work getting us all here. I want to thank HBO for this opportunity. Most of all I want to thank my boxers, my fighters, without them I wouldn’t be here. Thank you for doing such a good job. Thank you to media, photographers and everybody else for being here today.

German Titov
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

German Titov, Co-Promoter of Vasily Lepikhin and Dmitry Mikhaylenko
I would like to thank Kathy Duva. We are working with Main Events to promote Dmitry Mikhaylenko and Vasily Lepikhin for the last six months. In those short six months, this will be the third bout for each fighter. Both were already featured on NBCSN and in six months she was able to get Lepikhin on HBO. This is a great results for HBO. I want to thank HBO for this opportunity and our partners at Interbox.

Dierry Jean
It been 30 days of abstinence for me; I have an alcohol problem. I had a great camp and am in top form. I worked really hard in camp. I saw a couple of his [Reyes’s] fights. He is a brawler but I am able to adapt to anything. I don’t think this fight is going last the distance.

Antoine and Ulysse
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Carlos Manuel Reyes
I am a brawler. It is going to be an epic fight. I will do the very best I can to have a great fight.

Yves Ulysse Junior
I was there for the [Jean] Pascal-[Lucien] Bute fight and now I am here for [Sergey] Kovalev-[Jean] Pascal. Wow, this is great. I am so proud and happy to be working with Interbox. I love boxing.

Miguel Antoine
This is a good opportunity for me. I was out of the ring for a few years but now I am back. It is so beautiful here and I am going to put on a good show on Saturday.

Mikhaylenko and De La Paz
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Dmitry “The Mechanic” Mikhaylenko
Thank you. This is going to be a good fight. Thank you to everybody. I want to thank my promoters for giving me this opportunity and my trainer, Andrey Lepikhin. This is a great country and I happy to be here. I am happy to be on this card with my countryman Sergey Kovalev. I will show a good fight on Saturday.

Felipe De La Paz
(declined)

David Theroux
I want to thank Interbox. It will be great on Saturday.

About Kovalev vs. Pascal
Kovalev vs. Pascal is a 12-round fight for the WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship Titles. The fight will be televised as part of a live triple header on HBO World Championship Boxing® Saturday, March 14 from the Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Tickets are on sale now at the Centre Bell ticket office, at www.evenko.ca, by telephone at 1-855-310-2525 or through Club de Boxe Champion 514-376-0980. This event is a co-promotion of Main Events and InterBox, presented by Vidéotron in association with Mise-O-Jeu.

Joe’s Rants: Sergey Kovalev vs. Jean Pascal
Joe’s Rants: Sergey Kovalev vs. Jean Pascal

Isaac Chilemba vs Vasily Lepikhin March 14th HBO
Isaac Chilemba vs Vasily Lepikhin March 14th HBO

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Undefeated Super Middleweight Jesse Hart of Philadelphia has been added to the off-tv portion of the May 2 mega showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao card in Las Vegas according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“My eyes got big and I was like, ‘For real?’ I originally had a fight on April 10 and he said it was canceled. ‘You’re fighting on May 2,'” Hart told ESPN.com on Thursday when hearing the news from his promoter Bob Arum. “I only knew of one other card on May 2. He said, ‘Yup, you’re on the card, your first 10-round fight.’

“As I was talking to him, my eyes were watering up. This was a for real moment.”
“You got to look at the opportunity and just be grateful,” Hart said. “It’s a big deal to be on a card like this. I love Bob Arum. He’s not only my promoter. We talk often and not just about boxing. He gives me advice on my family life and things I should do raising my daughter. I have a father but Bob is also a father figure to me. He gives me advice on things I don’t know.

“I have genuine love for Bob Arum and Top Rank. And my matchmaker at Top Rank, Brad Goodman, is the best in the business. They have treated me so good. I am excited to be on the biggest card in the history of boxing. I come from North Philly, a very rough area. To make it out there to be on a card of this magnitude, it’s a big deal.”

“He’s one of my favorites,” Arum said. “I really, really like the kid. I pulled seniority. It’s my company and I made the call. No secret agenda other than I really like the kid and I think he has a bright future.

“He’s such a gentleman. I love the kid. Every fight he has he calls me up and he thanks me. Who does that? And I am a great admirer of his father. So to be able to do this, to put the kid on this big show, it makes me feel good. I said to [others at Top Rank], ‘That’s my spot. I’m picking Jesse.'”

“It’s not necessarily pressure but I’m so excited that he recognizes my talent,” Hart said. “If the boss of the company calls and says, ‘You’re on the card,’ it’s my opportunity to become a superstar. He helped make Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd into superstars and you can go back to Muhammad Ali to see what he has done. Bob Arum makes guys into superstars, and that’s what I want to be.”

“I was in the gym and I’m thinking, ‘I’m on the biggest card in the world.’ My dad and everyone is happy,” Hart said. “After this they’re gonna know who I am. It makes me train even harder. My dad had to pull me back but I’m still getting up at 5 in the morning and running six miles, five days a week. Go to the gym at 3 in the afternoon and train. At night I go swimming.

“We are training hard for this fight like we’re fighting for a world title, doing six-minute rounds in sparring.”

“Bob said being on this card should inspire you to be in the main event, and it does,” Hart said. “After boxing, Bob will still be a friend of my family. I can’t explain how much he has done for my life. Things I can’t talk to my dad about I can go to him. He’s like the angel on my shoulder.”

MIAMI (March 12, 2015) – During the course of his nine-year pro boxing career, veteran middleweight Marcus “Arillius” Upshaw (17-13-4, 1 NC, 8 KOs) has been called a spoiler, gatekeeper, professional opponent, journeyman and road warrior.

Upshaw has been all of the above, granted, but more than anything he’s been an honest fighter willing to take on anybody, anytime. He’s fought all comers from world champions to top contenders and promising prospects.

All he wants now, though, is a fight against a world-class opponent, hoping a victory could propel him into an often dreamed about world title fight.

If draws, split and/or close decision losses, especially if resulting from fights in an opponent’s backyard, are generally considered “wins” in boxing, Upshaw’s record could be a much different 27-8 today and the 34-year-old Floridian would have been fighting in major fights on major cable networks.

Upshaw’s official record is a direct result of him taking fights as a late replacement, on the road in hostile and biased markets, against protected fighters and sons of famous boxers, occasionally in a higher weight class than his natural 160-pound division.

His most recent fight last week in Dallas ended in typical fashion, as Upshaw fought to an eight-round draw (76-74, 74-76, 75-75) with hometown favorite Anthony Mack (12-1-1), in which Upshaw hurt his opponent several times, winning seven rounds according to his new head trainer, Orlando Cuellar, longtime manager Si Stern, and just about every person in attendance.

“The boxing world is crazy,” Upshaw said. “I’ve now had draws in back-to-back fights (the other against Aaron Pryor Jr.). I won’t let it get to me, though. I guess it says a lot about me that I can go into a fighter’s backyard, after training hard, and come out with a draw in fights that really should have been wins. Now, I know I have to get knockouts to win and that was my intention going into the last fight because I fought a Texas guy in Texas. I wobbled him three different times and won every round but one.”

The height of Upshaw’s career was in 2010 when he traveled to Quebec City and shocked 21-1-1 local hero Renan St. Juste, winning a 10-round decision to elevate Upshaw in world middleweight rankings (IBF #6, WBO #9 and WBC #11). Prior to the St. Juste fight, Upshaw derailed the career of the then 19-1 James McGirt, son of famed world champion/elite trainer James “Buddy” McGirt, with a controversial 10-round majority draw. Two fights later, he stopped 10-0 prospect Ashandi Gibbs (10-0) in the fourth-round for the Florida State middleweight championship.

Upshaw has displayed his vast talents by going the complete distance in rounds, albeit in losses, with the likes of Mario Antonio Rubio, David Lemieux, Gilberto Ramirez Sanchez, Edwin Rodriguez, Patrick Majewski and Tarvis Simms. The latter opponent was another prime example of the injustice Upshaw has faced too many times. Simms was 24-0-1 in 2009 when he fought Upshaw at Mohegan Sun, which is a short drive from his home in nearby Norwalk. Simms won an eight-round split decision (77-74 X 2, 75-76).

L-R- Upshaw & Cuellar
Cuellar, best known for guiding the original road warrior, Glen Johnson, to a world title, added, “Marcus has always been in tough, he’s another road warrior, fighting more experienced, protected fighters including some who were super middleweights. He came close to putting this last guy away a few different times. He won seven of eight rounds and the ref even took a point away, without a warning, when Marcus’ poorly fitting mouthpiece fell out. It certainly didn’t happen because he was in trouble.

“We only had five weeks working together. We want Marcus to use his 6′ 3 ½” height to his advantage. He has to fight at a distance, using his reach from the outside. He can control a fight with a double jab, followed by a right, just like he did against Mack. I was impressed by the way he trained in the gym and even more now I’ve been with him in a fight. I think he can give anybody trouble if he fights on the outside. He gets in top shape, fights smart, and now we can plan a strategy in advance because we know each other. He has to knockout opponents to win. I train my fighters to drop and stop, which is what Marcus will be doing.”

Upshaw believes Cuellar is the missing link he’s needed to get back to the top. “I’ve already learned a lot from Orlando,” Upshaw explained, “but most of all I’ve learned that I can do anything in the ring. He doesn’t just tell a fighter to do this or that; Orlando gives a fighter the tools, the armor to go into battle, to be your best. He is like an old-school trainer. The hard part with him is training, not the fight. He’s put life into my career.

“I’ve been in with the best and also learned from those fights. My problem has not being focused the entire fight. I know I’m faster and stronger than my opponent, but I get bored sometimes and stop throwing punches. I don’t know why I do that but it’s been my mindset. Orlando has taught me that I need to stay focused and alert throughout an entire fight.”

With his size and rich athletic bloodlines – his uncle, the late Gene Upshaw, was an NFL Hall of Fame offensive guard for the Oakland Raiders – Upshaw clearly hasn’t reached his full potential, at least not yet.

“I am delighted Marcus is now training with Orlando,” manager Stern remarked. “Marcus is tall, strong and smart in the ring. I have great hope for him in the immediate future.”

INFORMATION:

www.facebook.com/pages/Marcus-Upshaw/260365894066319

LAS VEGAS (March 12, 2015) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) has signed costumed crime fighter and undefeated Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) star Phoenix Jones aka Ben “Flattop” Fodor, who was the subject of a recent, in-depth feature story on ESPN SportsCenter, to a multi-fight contract.

The 26-year-old Fodor (5-0-1), who has gained widespread attention for his exploits as a superhero-like protector of the Seattle, Wash. streets where he resides, will make his debut for the world championship MMA promotion against an opponent to be determined at WSOF 20: Branch vs. Markes at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. on Friday, April 10, live on NBCSN.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ben Fodor, who has not only been making waves as an unbeaten professional in our great sport, but who has also shown himself to be an incredibly courageous and selfless human being by risking his safety in the streets of Seattle to help and inspire others,” said WSOF President, six-time world champion and two-time Hall of Famer Ray Sefo.

Fodor, the brother of fellow MMA standout Caros Fodor, made national headlines as Phoenix Jones for the first time in 2011 after thwarting a number of street crimes, including burglary and assault, while clad from head to toe in a black and gold body suit.

That year, Fodor also launched the now-defunct Rain City Superhero Movement, a self-described crime fighting brigade consisting of over a dozen costumed activists dedicated to curbing crime in Seattle.

In the cage, Fodor, a protégé of retired MMA star and famed trainer Matt Hume, has become a ferocious force to be reckoned with, going unbeaten in his first 6 professional starts after amassing a stellar 15-2 amateur career record.

In his last effort on Feb. 21, Fodor submitted Jason Novelli with a rear-naked choke in the third round (3:06) of their matchup in Tacoma, Wash.

Priced from $39.99, tickets for WSOF 20: Branch vs. Markes at Foxwoods Resort Casino are on sale at Ticketmaster.com. The event will be headlined by the second matchup – David Branch (15-3) vs. Ronny Markes (15-3) – in the multi-event tournament that will crown its winner the inaugural WSOF world light heavyweight (205 pounds) champion.

The live NBCSN telecast of WSOF 20 begins at 9:00 p.m. EST/6:00 p.m. PST on Friday, April 10.

About “World Series of Fighting” (WSOF)
“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF) is a world wide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and “World Series of Fighting” President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.

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

TORONTO | NEW YORK (March 12, 2015) – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents the return of ONE Championship live this Friday, March 13 at 8 a.m. ET, as ONE Championship: Age of Champions emanates from Stadium Putra in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Airing live exclusively in Canada, the main event features a ONE FC flyweight championship clash pitting incumbent champion Adriano Moraes against Japanese stalwart Asuku “Riku Shibuya” Mikami.

In other featured bouts, Malaysian superstars Peter Davis and Ann Osman take on Rajinder Singh Meena and Walaa Abbas, respectively. Plus Thanh Vu moves down to flyweight to take on Malaysia’s Gianni Subba, Ev Ting battles Cary Bullos and Chan Rothana faces Ramon Gonzalez.

The live action continues on Saturday, March 14 at 4:30 p.m. ET, as Enfusion Live 25 invades Turnhout, Belgium for an exciting professional kickboxing card, featuring Hicham El Gaoui vs. Karapet Karapetyan for the -80 kg world title, plus Nordin Ben Moh vs. William Diender, Harut Grigorian vs. Marco Pique and Robbie Hageman vs. Engin Kutuk..

Fight Network’s live Enfusion broadcast at 4:30 p.m. ET will air on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and in Turkey on D-Smart.

Then at 7 p.m. ET, Fight Network will present its UFC 185 Pre-Show Live at7 p.m. ET, featuring previews, predictions and analysis ahead of UFC 185: Pettis vs. Dos Anjos on pay-per-view. Immediately following the main card, Fight Network will also televise the live post-fight press conference from Dallas, Texas.

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

Post-fight coverage continues on Monday’s edition of 5 Rounds on Fight Network, which debuts at 7 p.m. ET and features a comprehensive breakdown of Saturday’s event.

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.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (March 12, 2015) – Bellator MMA remains committed to developing the top women’s featherweight division in mixed martial arts, and the latest additions to the company’s roster include Roberta “Crusher” Paim (4-0), Alexis “Sneaky Zebra” Dufresne (5-2) and Iony Razafiarison (2-0).

Debut dates and opponents will be announced for all three fighters in the near future.

Paim, Dufresne and Razafiarison join Arlene “Angerfist” Blencowe (5-4), Julia “The Jewell” Budd (7-2), Marloes “Rumina” Coenen (22-6), Holly “Lil Bear” Lawson (0-1) and Talita “Treta” Nogueira (6-0) on the Bellator MMA women’s featherweight roster.

“We’re proud to be bringing these three talented athletes to our women’s featherweight division,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “I see several potential matchups that would make for some great fights. We will continue to build and support the premiere women’s featherweight division in MMA.”

A native of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, the 5-foot-6 Paim is undefeated through the first four contests of her professional career. While comfortable in the submission game, the powerful Paim has used a strong striking game to end fights, as well. Fighting exclusively in her native country thus far, Paim has yet to find a single opponent capable of lasting past the opening round, as she has taken home first-round finishes in each of her appearances to date.

The 24-year-old Dufresne is a Team Quest fighter and five-time International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation world champion. Dufresne turned her attention to mixed martial arts in 2012 and rattled off five consecutive wins to start her career – all five results coming in the opening round and averaging just under 77 seconds in length. More recently, Dufresne dropped a pair of hard-fought decisions while making a run at 135 pounds but now returns to her more natural weight class of 145 pounds for her Bellator MMA debut.

Razafiarison is a French export who has notched victories in her first two professional contests. The 30-year-old Razafiarison, a grappling specialist who has trained in camps all over the world, fought most recently in January, when she earned a decision win over Sandra Ameziane. In her professional debut, Razafiarison scored a first-round submission.

About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 400 million homes worldwide in over 120 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike 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.

LOS ANGELES (March 12) – Following the successful debut of Golden Boy Promotions’ new series LA FIGHT CLUB, Golden Boy is proud to announce that East Los Angeles native and boxing legacy Julian “El Camarón” Ramirez (13-0, 8 KOs) will face the seasoned fighter Raul “Bule” Hidalgo (23-12, 17 KOs) of Casas Grandes, Mexico in a 10-round featherweight bout headlining the April 2 event live from The Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles and televised on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes.

“LA FIGHT CLUB was developed as the platform for up-and-coming fighters on the West Coast to display their talents, and Julian Ramirez is exactly the kind of exciting prospect that fans will see month in and month out at The Belasco Theater,” said Golden Boy Promotions Founder and President Oscar De La Hoya.

“I am excited to be part of the new Los Angeles series LA FIGHT CLUB and to headline the April 2 event,” said Julian Ramirez. “I promise all the LA fans that they are going to have an exciting night. I want to put on a great show for my fans. I’ll be more than ready to give them an exciting fight.”

In the co-main event, Glendora, California’s Joet Gonzalez (8-0, 3 KOs), who recently signed with Golden Boy Promotions, will be featured in a six-round featherweight bout. Opening up the telecast, two-time Brazilian Olympic team member Everton Lopes (1-0) will make his second professional appearance after his unanimous decision win over Evan Woolsey on Feb. 27. Plus, Melsik Baghdasaryan will make his professional debut in a four-round welterweight non-televised bout. All will face opponents yet to be announced. LA FIGHT CLUB made a spectacular premiere on March 6 before a sold-out crowd at The Belasco Theater, demonstrating the hunger for live boxing match ups in Los Angeles.

The undefeated East Los Angeles native, Julian “El Camarón” Ramirez, has boxing in his blood. His late uncle was the former WBA and WBC Super Featherweight World Champion Genaro “El Chicanito” Hernandez. Ramirez has been on the fast track since turning professional in 2012. A dynamic fighter who has the skills to succeed, Ramirez is coming off of a fourth win of 2014 when he faced Pedro Melo. Ramirez is looking to keep his undefeated status when he faces Hidalgo at The Belasco Theater.

A seasoned fighter, Raul “Bule” Hidalgo of Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico began his career as a professional boxer in 2010. Since then the fighter has consistently fought in both Mexico and the U.S. 2014 was a busy year for Hidalgo as he took on 6 fights all with some of the top prospects in the sport including, Jose Lopez, Gonzalo Garcia, Joseph Diaz Jr. He is coming off of a third round knockout victory over Jorge Luis Babuca on December. Hidalgo is looking to continue his winning streak when he faces Ramirez on April 2.

Rising featherweight prospect Joet Gonzalez of Glendora, California has been steadily climbing the professional ranks since his debut in 2012. Most recently, Gonzalez faced Jaime Gutierrez and David Clark quickly defeating both fighters via technical knockout before the fourth round. On April 2, Gonzalez will look to add another win to his resume.

A two-time Olympian for his home country of Brazil, Everton Lopes won 240 bouts as an amateur, earning gold at the 2013 Pan American Games as well. On Feb. 27, the talented 26-year-old southpaw made his professional debut in a super lightweight bout against Evan Woolsey winning by unanimous decision.

Tickets for the April 2 LA FIGHT CLUB will go on sale tomorrow, Friday, March 6 at 12:00 p.m. PT and start at $20. Tickets 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.

The Knockout Experience VIP package is also available for an additional $25 upgrade and includes VIP entrance, access to an exclusive lounge offering food and beverages for purchase; a meet and greet opportunity with fighters and celebrities attending the event; an automatic entry into the LA FIGHT CLUB grand prize drawing, which can include but is not limited to: autograph gloves, picture in the ring, backstage access, tour of locker rooms, fighter ring walk, tickets to upcoming boxing events and additional merchandise and prizes.

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 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.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada: On Saturday March 14, Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (26-0-1, 23 KOs) will defend his WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Titles against Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) at the Centre Belle in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Kovalev is known for his knockout power, but he is travelling to the lion’s den to face Pascal on his home turf. Pascal, a former world champion, is known for his great chin – he’s never been knocked down. Below is the scouting report for this explosive match-up:

Category
Sergey “The Krusher” Kovalev
Jean Pascal
Age
31
32
Record
26-0-1 (23 KOs)
29-2-1 (17 KOs)
Strength
Kovalev possesses knockout power in both hands; he has the ability to end a fight with any punch he throws. He is able to physically break his opponents down throughout the bout. He cuts the ring off very well.
Pascal is quick when he puts his punches together and has power in both hands. Having never been knocked down, he has a really good chin. He has been competing against the division’s top fighters since 2008, before Sergey even made his pro debut.
Weakness
Kovalev tends to leave openings in his guard allowing himself to be hit. He has been knocked down before but not hurt.
Pascal has only fought two rounds in the last 14 months, which may cause him to experience some ring rust. He has a tendency to tire out late in fights, so he could run into a problem if he does not conserve his energy properly. He has a tendency to let his opponents get into his head. In his second fight with Hopkins, he was noticeably rattled when Bernard started doing push-ups in the ring prior to the seventh round.
Experience
Kovalev may be at a slight disadvantage here since Pascal has fought more top-level opposition.
Pascal has been in seven major title fights, and holds victories over Chad Dawson and Lucian Bute.
Power
Kovalev has unbelievable power in both hands, he throws every punch with bad intentions, and puts together effective combinations.
Although he has power when he puts his punches together, he will be at a disadvantage here when paired up against Kovalev’s power.
Speed
Kovalev has average speed that picks up once he smells blood in the water and goes for the knockout.
Pascal’s speed becomes more noticeable during his flurries of punches; he really turns it on when he knows he has his opponent hurt and can possibly finish the fight.
Endurance
Sergey proved he could go the distance when he went 12 rounds for the first time in his most recent bout against the legendary Bernard Hopkins.
Pascal may have the advantage here as he has gone 12 rounds on eight different occasions.
Accuracy
Sergey demonstrated great accuracy with his one punch knockouts. He also throws very accurate and powerful body shots.
Pascal will be at a disadvantage here. He does not utilize his jab at times and tends to get wild when unloading flurries of punches.
Defense
Sergey’s main focus is his offense; there are times when his offense is so effective that it becomes his best defense.
Pascal does not move around the ring well. He likes to stand in front of his opponents and let his aggressiveness overwhelm them, which sometimes may be his best defense.
Chin
Kovalev has been knocked down twice in his career, but he has risen to the occasion both times and come back with the victory.
Jean has a really good chin and is willing to stand and trade with the division’s best and most powerful punchers. He has never been knocked down.
Style
Kovalev is an offensive fighter who likes to walk his opponents down and go in for the finish.
Pascal is an athletic, aggressive fighter that will not hesitate to go for the finish if given the opportunity.
Intangibles
Rather than take some more time off or settle for a tune-up bout after his title unification win over Bernard Hopkins, Sergey is taking on the division’s number one contender who has never been stopped and that held the light heavyweight crown from 2009-2011. Bernard Hopkins tried in vain to get into Sergey’s head but the Krusher was immune to his head games.
After his last bout ended in a controversial no contest midway into the 2nd round, Pascal has decided to waste no time at all and challenge the division’s scariest puncher and current WBO, WBA, and IBF titleholder Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev.

Crowd Support
Kovalev will be at a disadvantage here since he is fighting in Jean Pascal’s backyard.
Pascal will have an advantage here as he will be fighting in front of his home crowd where he has fought in his previous 11 bouts.
The Match-up
Will Pascal be able to take Kovalev’s power?
Will Kovalev be able to cut off the ring from the awkward Pascal?
Will Pascal’s ring rust be a factor in this fight?
Sergey went 12 rounds for the first time in his career in his last fight against Bernard Hopkins. Will that be a factor in this fight?
Was their scuffle at the final press conference on Wednesday an indication that one of them is winning the mental fight? If so, which one?

About Kovalev vs. Pascal
Kovalev vs. Pascal is a 12-round fight for the WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship Titles. The fight will be televised as part of a live triple header on HBO World Championship Boxing® Saturday, March 14 from the Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Tickets are on sale now at the Centre Bell ticket office, at www.evenko.ca, by telephone at 1-855-310-2525 or through Club de Boxe Champion 514-376-0980. This event is a co-promotion of Main Events and InterBox, presented by Vidéotron in association with Mise-O-Jeu.

The official weigh-in for Friday, March 13’s live professional boxing event at The Space at Westbury, presented by GH3 Promotions and Greg Cohen Promotions in association with David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions and sponsored by Foxwoods Resort Casino & Westbury Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram Dealership & Maxim Group, will be held on Today!!!, March 12, at 4:00 pm in the lounge of The Space at Westbury (located at 250 Post Avenue in Westbury, New York).

The official weigh-in is open to the public and all fighters and event promoters will be available for interviews, autographs and photo opportunities.

Boxing at The Space at Westbury will feature a live four-fight broadcast of ShoBox: The New Generation (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) headlined by a 10-round middleweight main event between Washington, D.C.’s Undefeated middleweight Antoine Douglas (16-0-1, 10 KOs) and fellow unbeaten Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (16-0, 7 KOs) of Millville, New Jersey, for the WBA-FEDELATIN Middleweight Championship, as well as The SHOWTIME debut of unbeaten southpaw Ismael Barroso (16-0-2, 15 KOs), of El Tigre, Venezuela, taking on Issouf “Volcano” Kinda (17-2, 7 KOs), of Bronx, New York, in a 10-round battle for the NABO Lightweight Championship.

In other televised action, Jerry “The King’s Son” Odom (12-1, 1 NC, 11 KOs), of Washington D.C., will attempt to avenge his only career loss when he takes on undefeated Andrew “Hurricane” Hernandez (8-0-1, 1 ND, 1 KO) of Phoenix, Arizona, in an eight-round super middleweight rematch. In the opening bout, Adam Lopez (9-0, 4 KOs), of San Antonio, and Houston’s Pablo Cruz (11-0, 3 KOs) clash in an eight-round battle of Lone Star State super bantamweights.

Local favorite Tommy “Razor” Rainone will face Saint Paul, Minnesota, veteran Allen Litzau (14-8, 7 KOs) in a six-round welterweight battle to headline the undercard.

Advance tickets for the event promoted by GH3 Promotions and Greg Cohen Promotions in association with David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions, are priced at $150, $125, and $60 for general admission. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, thespacewestbury.com, The Space at Westbury Box Office at 516.283.5566 or by calling the GCP Office at 212.851.6425.

The event is sponsored by Foxwoods Resort Casino & Westbury Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram Dealership & Maxim Group.

Two of the world’s top light heavyweights face off in a highly anticipated title showdown when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: SERGEY KOVALEV VS. JEAN PASCAL, VYACHESLAV GLAZKOV VS. STEVE CUNNINGHAM AND ISAAC CHILEMBA VS. VASILY LEPIKHIN is seen SATURDAY, MARCH 14 at 9:45 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from the Montréal Bell Centre in Montréal, Canada, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will call the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: March 15 (9:30 a.m.) and 16 (midnight)

HBO2 playdate: March 17 (11:00 p.m.)

In the main event, undefeated Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (26-0-1, 23 KOs) of Kopeysk, Russia, now living in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., takes on Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) originally from Port-au-Prince Haiti, now living in Laval, Quebec, Canada in a 12-round light heavyweight title contest. The fast-rising, hard-hitting Kovalev has taken the division by storm with an 85% knockout ratio, and solidified his standing with a 12-round unanimous decision in a title unification bout against future hall of famer Bernard Hopkins last November. One of the sport’s top attractions thanks to his fan-friendly style, Kovalev enjoyed a banner year in 2014, earning fighter of the year honors from a host of boxing news organizations. The fight marks his sixth HBO appearance.

Also known for his rugged style and never-back-down approach, Pascal was last seen on HBO in Jan. 2014 when he defeated Lucian Bute. He’ll draw support from a partisan hometown crowd in this showdown.

In the co-feature, Vyacheslav Glazkov (19-0-1, 12 KOs) from Lugansk, Ukraine, now living in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., takes on Steve Cunningham (28-6, 13 KOs) of Philadelphia in a scheduled 12-round heavyweight title elimination fight. The winner will be a contender for a heavyweight title bout with Wladimir Klitschko.

Glazkov was a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist for Ukraine. Cunningham, a former two-time cruiserweight titleholder, has drawn inspiration from his nine-year-old daughter Kennedy, who has triumphed over a heart defect and survived a heart transplant. Both fighters are making their HBO debuts.

In the opening bout, Isaac Chilemba (23-2-2, 10 KOs), originally from Blantyre, Malawi, now living in Johannesburg, South Africa, takes on undefeated Vasily Lepikhin (17-0, 9 KOs) from Gelendzhik, Russia, in a scheduled 12-round light heavyweight contest. Rising steadily in the ranks of the light heavyweight division, Chilemba has a 4-0-1 record against undefeated opponents. In his third North American appearance, Lepikhin will look to make a major move in the rankings.

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Dave Harmon; director, Johnathan Evans.

® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

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