Frank De Alba 130 – Jose Bustos 130
(UBF All Americas Jr. Lightweight title)
Juan Dominguez 123 – Carlos Santana 125
Christian Molina 141 – Stacey Anderson 141
Ivan Golub 159 1/2 – David Lopez 161
John Magda 168 – Jay Williams 163
Danny Kelly 247 – Kevin Franklin 236
Benjamin Burgos 125 – Robert Irizarry 126
Paul Koon 237 1/2 – Rex Harris 205
Christopher Booker 170 1/2 – Andrew Sosa 169

Promoter: King’s Promotions
Venue: Econo Lodge Grand Ball Room
1st Bell: 7 PM ET

The Econo Lodge is located at 1151 Bulldog Drive in Allentown, PA

Allentown, PA (February 21, 2015)–Over the past several years, heavyweight Paul Koon (2-0, 1 KO) has been rumored to turn professional on various cards in the Philadelphia area.

Each time he decided to sat participating in the World Series of Boxing.

Finally last October 4, Koon turned professional with a one stoppage over Hector Hodge and on November 20, Koon followed that up with a 4-round unanimous decision over Yohan Banks.

Those fights were in Connecticut and California respectively and tonight at the Econo Lodge in Allentown, he takes on Rex Harris(1-0-2) of Wilkes-Barre, PA in Koon’s first area appearance.

That 4-round bout will be part of a nine bout card promoted by King’s Promotions.

In the main event, Frank De Alba (14-1-2, 5 KO’s) of Reading, PA will take on Jose Bustos (7-2-3, 4 KO’s) of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico in a 8-round fight for the UBF All Americas Jr. Lightweight title.

Koon of Philadelphia has been working hard and is looking to put on a good performance.

“Everything is great. I been working in the gym, sparring and running,”said the 28 year-old.

“All I know about my opponent is that he has fought some MMA fights and he is undefeated (1-0-2) as a boxer.”

Koon is looking for a test as during his 4 year run in the World Series of Boxing, he took on the top fighters from around the world.

“I am used to fighting top level competition. I am not used to fighting the level of guys I have been fighting in my first couple of fights. In the World Series of Boxing, you fight only the elite fighters. There are no journeymen.”

To get to the type of competition that, Koon knows he has to continue to win and make sound decisions with his team.

“It is not one member of my team that decides the pace that I move at. Whatever they think is best. Sometimes you have to take it slow. Me, I like to rush but I know I am learning everything in the business. This is my first fight in the area in seven years and I am using it as a steppingstone to a fight in Philadelphia.”

In the co-feature, Juan Dominguez (17-0, 11 KO’s) of Brooklyn, NY will fight Carlos Rodriguez (19-16-4, 11 KO’s) of Los Mochis, MX in a Super Bantamweight bout.

In 6-round bouts:

Super Middleweight John Magda (8-0, 6 KO’s) of Rutherford, NJ will take on Jay Williams (3-4) of West Monroe, LA

Ivan Golub (5-0, 4 KO’s) of Brooklyn, NY will take on David Lopez (4-11-3, 1 KO) in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

Danny Kelly (6-1-1, 5 KO’s) of Washington, DC will take on Kevin Franklin (6-10, 3 KO’s) of in a Heavyweight bout.

In 4-round bouts:

Christian Molina (3-0, 2 KO’s) of Allentown, PA will fight debuting Stacey Harris of Washington, DC in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

Robert Irizarry (2-0-1) of Cherry Hill, NJ will battle Benjamin Burgos (2-10-1) of Mount Pocono, PA in a Featherweight bout. This bout is a rematch of a bout from May where Irizarry won a unanimous decision.

Christopher Booker of Philadelphia will make his pro debut against Andrew Sosa (0-4-1) of Farmers Branch, TX i in a Middleweight bout.

Tickets for this great night of boxing are $45 for General Admission and $60 for Ringside and can be purchased by clicking: www.kingsboxing.eventbrite.com or by calling 610 587 5950

The Econo Lodge is located at 1151 Building Drive in Allentown, PA

The following are some details and quotes according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I am glad my decision to meet with Manny and discuss making this fight happen helped get the deal done,” Mayweather said, referring to a chance Jan. 27 meeting with Pacquiao at a Miami Heat game followed by a private discussion after the game. “Giving the fans what they want to see is always my main focus. This will be the biggest event in the history of the sport.”

The networks resultingly will come together to produce and distribute a joint pay-per-view telecast, which is expected to cost a record-high $89.95 (and probably $10 more for high definition).

“I am very happy that Floyd Mayweather and I can give the fans the fight they have wanted for so many years,” Pacquiao said. “They have waited long enough and they deserve it. It is an honor to be part of this historic event. I dedicate this fight to all the fans who willed this fight to happen and, as always, to bring glory to the Philippines and my fellow Filipinos around the world.”

“Boxing fans and sports fans around the world will witness greatness on May 2,” Mayweather said. “I am the best ever, TBE, and this fight will be another opportunity to showcase my skills and do what I do best, which is win. Manny is going to try to do what 47 before him failed to do, but he won’t be successful. He will be number 48.”

On Friday afternoon, Top Rank was notified and Mayweather made the announcement about an hour later, though the deal had been done for a couple of days with both sides having signed the paperwork. Contracts were also signed by broadcasters HBO and Showtime, who will team for a historic joint pay-per-view.

“It’s hasn’t been easy,” Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told ESPN.com. “But I think in some strange way the inability to get the fight done before now enhances its value and this is one event that the public all over the world has been talking about and discussing for years. The interest in the fight will be absolutely red-hot. I’ve been promoting boxing for nearly 50 years and there is nothing that has come close to this because there has been nothing that has been so difficult to come to fruition. As interest is concerned, this is akin to the first (Muhammad) Ali-(Joe) Frazier fight.

“You have to be grateful that this is finally happening. You can’t bemoan the false starts and the inability to do this before. It’s here now.”

“Everyone involved, including Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, knows this fight simply had to happen,” said Stephen Espinoza, executive vice president and general manager of Showtime Sports. “All of us are thrilled to be able to deliver this event to boxing fans around the world.

“Now, for the second time under his current deal with Showtime Networks, Floyd Mayweather has agreed to fight an opponent that many people thought he’d never face. We set an all-time pay-per-view record with the first event back in September 2013 (with Alvarez) and we look forward to another record-breaking performance on May 2.”

Said HBO Sports president Ken Hershman: “Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have been the two most prominent fighters in the sport of boxing for the past decade, and fight fans around the world have been clamoring for them to face each other.

“And now, on May 2, in what everyone believes will be the biggest boxing event of all time, fight fans have been granted their wish. May 2 will be a signature moment for the sport of boxing and HBO Sports is thrilled to be a part of this spectacular event. I know the fighters and their teams will be primed to excel and we plan to work closely with everyone involved to deliver the same level of performance from a broadcast perspective.”

“The reason I like my guy’s chances so much is because of his speed, the tremendous number of punches he throws, the quality of his punches and the fact that he is left-handed,” Arum said. “Top Rank promoted Floyd Mayweather for 10½ years and we recognized that he had difficulty handling a speedy, left-handed fighter and that he and his father (and trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr.) were insistent that we not match Floyd with a southpaw. I remember two fights he had with southpaws who didn’t have the ability Mann has but who gave him trouble — (DeMarcus) ‘Chop Chop’ Corley, who buzzed him and had him in real trouble and Zab Judah.”

Said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s Hall of Fame trainer: “Floyd should enjoy being the A-Side while he can because on May 2 Manny is going to put him on his backside.”

Julian Erosa 145
Drew Brokenshire 145

Ben Fodor 170
Jason Novelli 170

Hector Lopez 128
Arjay Murphy 128.5

Aaron Martin 149.5
Jesse Hardenbrook 148

Paul Njoku 134
Sean Gee 135.5

Shane Sargent 144
Victor Barajas 151.5

Kina Peneueta 185.5
Trent Tyler 185.5

Bobby McIntyre 155.5
Will Hunt 153.5

Sammy Vasquez won a 10-round unanimous decision over Emmanuel Lartey in a Welterweight bout at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Vasquez, 146 1/4 lbs won by scores of 100-90 and 99-91 twice and is now 18-0. Lartey, 146 1/2 lbs is now 16-3-1.

Craig Baker scored a stunning 2nd round stoppage over world rated Light Heavyweight Humberto Savingne in a bout scheduled for 10 rounds.

Baker landed a big uppercut in the middle of a flurry that sent Savigne face-first to the canvas. Savigne got to his feet but staggered all over the ring and the bout was stopped at 1:51 of round two.

Baker, 174 lbs of Baytown, TX is now 16-0 with 12 knockouts. Savigne, 176 lbs of Guantanamo, CUB is 12-2-1.

Claudio Marrero win an 8-round unanimous decision over Orlando Rizo in a Featherweight bout.

Marrero dropped Rizo in round two from straight left. Marrero scored two knockdowns in round three from a combination and then again froma perfect left. Marrero dropped Rizo in round five from a straight left. Rizo’s right was cut in round eight.

Marrero, 126 1/4 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR won by scores of 80-68, 78-70 and 78-71 and is now 18-1. Rizo, 126 lbs of Managua, NIC is now 18-6.

NEW YORK (Feb. 20, 2015) — It’s a done deal! Undefeated Floyd Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs) will fight longtime rival Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) in a Welterweight World Championship Unification Bout live on Pay-Per-View on Saturday, May 2.

Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports, and Ken Hershman, President of HBO SPORTS, were made available to the media just minutes after the fight was officially announced by Mayweather via his Shots account.

Here are highlights from what Hershman and Espinoza had to say Friday:

KEN HERSHMAN, President HBO SPORTS

“This is the biggest boxing event of all time, we’re confident of that. We couldn’t be prouder to be a part of it and help craft it.
“We look forward to May 2. It’s going to be a spectacular night for this sport and for HBO and SHOWTIME as well.

“The Mike Tyson-Lennox Lewis joint pay-per-view fight was a great roadmap for this fight. It showed that this can be done successfully. There’s a lot of mechanics that go into this when two networks are working together, and those mechanics carry forward in terms of how things operate behind the scenes.

“The fight will be held on traditional pay-per-view, nothing out of the ordinary on that front. We’re looking forward to getting going, there’s a lot of hard work ahead of us.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President & General Manager SHOWTIME Sports

“We’re thrilled to be a part of what we expect to be a record-breaking event. This deal is a product of a lot of hard work with some blood, sweat and tears along the way.
“I took this job approximately three years ago; the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight has been a topic of conversation and a goal of not only ours, but of Floyd Mayweather’s since he came over to SHOWTIME a little less than three years ago.

“I believe that the direct line of communication between Floyd and Manny cleared up a lot of doubts on both of their minds and renewed their commitment to getting this fight done.

“We have had significant discussions as to who will make up the broadcast team; it will be an all-star team with a combination of talent from both networks.

“The meeting between Floyd and Manny at the Miami Heat game certainly greased the wheels in getting through the final stages of the process.

“One of the main reasons why this deal got done, as opposed to deals in the past, was because Leslie Moonves [President and CEO, CBS Corporation] was a part of the process. He was deeply committed to making this deal and was someone that all parties in this negotiation really respect. He was really the catalyst for seeing this through and refused to take no for an answer from any side.

“We believed this day would come, we worked hard to make it happen and we’re thrilled that it is here.”

Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports:
“Everyone involved, including Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, knows this fight simply had to happen. All of us are thrilled to be able to deliver this event to boxing fans around the world. Now, for the second time under his current deal with Showtime Networks, Floyd Mayweather has agreed to fight an opponent that many people thought he’d never face. We set an all-time pay-per-view record with the first event back in September 2013, and we look forward to another record-breaking performance on May 2.”

-Ken Hershman, President, HBO Sports:
“Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have been the two most prominent fighters in the sport of boxing for the past decade, and fight fans around the world have been clamoring for them to face each other. And now, on May 2nd, in what everyone believes will be the biggest boxing event of all-time, fight fans have been granted their wish. May 2nd will be a signature moment for the sport of boxing and HBO Sports is thrilled to be a part of this spectacular event. I know the fighters and their teams will be primed to excel and we plan to work closely with everyone involved to deliver the same level of performance from a broadcast perspective.”

Ontario, CA (February 20, 2015)– Tonight at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California, 2012 Olympic Bronze Medal winner and undefeated Welterweight Taras Shelestyuk will fight Francisco Reza in a scheduled 8-round bout on a card promoted by Thompson Boxing.

Shelestyuk of Sumy, Ukraine has a record of 10-0 with 7 knockouts is promoted by Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing.

Shelestyuk is coming off a 1st round stoppage over Antonio Chaves Fernandez on January 16.

Reza of Torreon, Mexico has a record of 13-11 with 10 knockouts is a battle tested fighter as he has faced Cecil McCalla (19-0), Erickson Lubin, Alex Saucedo (11-0), Artemio Reyes (20-2), Jose Perea (21-2), Luis Grajeda (13-1-1), Mario Lozano (23-3) and Alejandro Berrera (16-0).

“I have been told by my promoters Artie Pelullo of Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing as well as my manager Vadim Korniov that in April I will be fighting on ESPN live. It is a big opportunity for me to showcase myself and after this fight I will be awaiting my time!”, said Shelestyuk.

At Thursday’s weigh-in, Shelestyuk weighed 147.6 lbs while Reza weighed 146.9.

Arthur Abraham (41-4, 28 KOs) and Paul Smith (35-4, 20 KOs) both made weight today ahead of their WBO World Super Middleweight Championship rematch on Saturday night at the O2 World in Berlin, Germany. The fighters took to the scales in front of raucous crowd of close to thousand German and British fans at the capital’s famous Berlin Mall.

Full list of weights below:

WBO World Super Middleweight Championship:
Arthur Abraham: 76.1 kg
Paul Smith: 75.1 kg

WBA Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Championship:
Enrico Koelling: 78.9 kg
Mirco Ricci: 79.1 kg

Heavyweight – 10 Rounds:
David Price: 114.8 kg
Irineu Beato Costa Junior: 119.5 kg

Heavyweight – 6 Rounds:
Burak Sahin: 105.5 kg
Maksym Pediura: 107 kg

Super Middleweight – 6 Rounds:
Stefan Haertel: 76.2 kg
Baptiste Castegnaro: 75.5 kg

Cruiserweight – 8 Rounds:
Noel Gevor: 90.8 kg
Alejandro Emilio Valori: 90.8 kg

Featherweight – 6 Rounds:
Josh Warrington: 58 kg
Edwin Tellez: 56 kg

Judgement Day: Abraham vs. Smith II is available to watch live on Sat.1 in Germany and Sky Sports in the UK. Limited tickets are still available to buy via tickethall.de

Verona, NY (February 20, 2015)–Below are news links about tonight’s Boxcino heavyweight quarterfinal fights that will be aired live on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights from the Turning Stone Resort Casino.

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/12337497/jason-estrada-joines-boxcino-heavyweight-tournament

ESPN.com, Making The Rounds
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12335121

Fightnews.com,
http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/cojanu-hits-ny-joined-james-toney-279431

Cliff Rold, Boxingscene.com
http://www.boxingscene.com/boxcino-returns-heavyweights-take-center-stage–87594

Orange County Register
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/fight-651493-kos-mayweather.html

Ray Flores w/Razvan Cojanu, ESPN Chicago
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=12344909

Ray Flores w/Nate Heaven, ESPN Chicago
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=12344930&s=espn

Ray Flores w/Ed Fountain, ESPN Chicago
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=12344919

Ray Flores w/Brian Campbell, ESPN Chicago
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=12344959

Ray Flores w/Donovan Denns, ESPN Chicago
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=12344941

Ray Flores w/ Lenroy Thomas
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=12345123

Thomas Gerbasi, boxingscene.com
http://www.boxingscene.com/jason-estrada-views-boxcino-fresh-start-end–87639

Thesweetscience.com
http://www.thesweetscience.com/news/tss-press-releases/20301-qboxcinoq-has-heavyweights-on-friday-on-espn

Eric Duran, boxinginsider.com

ESPN Friday Night Fights Preview: Boxcino 2015 Continues with Heavyweight Tourney

Rick Guerrero, Behindthegloves.com
http://behindthegloves.com/news/boxcino-heavyweights-preview/

James Wyatt, Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/article/boxcino-2015-tournament-continues-with-two-major-changes

James Wyatt, sportofboxing.com
http://www.sportofboxing.com/espns-boxcino-2015-tournament-with-modifications/

The entire Boxcino tournament is promoted by Banner Promotions. This Friday’s fights will be televised live on ESPN’s Friday Night fights beginning at 9 PM ET.

There will be a post fight press conference immediately following the completion of the last bout in the Cypress Room.

Tickets for the February 20th ESPN Friday Night Fights at Turning Stone are on sale now at the Turning Stone box office, in person or by calling 315.361.7469, or online at Ticketmaster. Tickets are $60 for ringside seats, $35, $25, and are subject to additional fees.

Host of the February 20th bouts, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino continues to distinguish itself as a premier destination for professional sporting events, including nationally-televised boxing matches and PGA-level golf. February 20th fight will mark Turning Stone’s 14th nationally televised boxing event in less than two years, helping establish the resort as a mecca for knockout televised fights. Boxing legends Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have promoted televised fight cards at the resort within the last year and Turning Stone has hosted televised boxing events on ESPN, Showtime, HBO, and NBC in the last two years. Located in Upstate New York, the four-season resort offers world-class entertainment and gaming, prestigious restaurants, luxury spa facilities, and award-winning accommodations.Tickets for the February 20th ESPN Friday Night Fights at Turning Stone are on sale now at the Turning Stone box office, in person or by calling 315.361.7469, or online at Ticketmaster. Tickets are $60 for ringside seats, $35, $25, and are subject to additional fees. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The live ESPN telecast starts at 9pm.

Professional media requesting credentials for the February 20 fight must contact Kelly Abdo, Turning Stone Public Relations Manager at 315.366.9291 or kelly.abdo@turningstone.com.

About Turning Stone Resort Casino A premier four-season, destination resort in Upstate New York, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino is conveniently located about 30 miles east of Syracuse at NYS Thruway exit 33. Turning Stone was named “Most Excellent Golf Resort” in 2010 by Condé Nast Johansens. The Academy of Country Music named Turning Stone “Casino of the Year” in 2009. The resort offers world-class gaming, golf, entertainment, accommodations and spa facilities, and has earned AAA Four Diamond ratings for The Lodge, The Tower Hotel, and Wildflowers restaurant. For more information and reservations, call (315) 361-7711 or (800) 771-7711. Visit the web site at www.TurningStone.com..

Pittsburgh, PA (February 20, 2015)–Tonight at the CONSOL Energy Center, undefeated 18 year-old Jr. Welterweight, Milton “El Santo” Santiago returns to the ring when he takes on veteran Jose Valderama in a scheduled 6-round bout on the off-tv portion of a show that will be televised on Showtime’s, SHO BOX card.

Santiago of Philadelphia has a record of 8-0 with three knockouts and will be making his first appearance of 2015.

He was very active in 2014 as he turned pro and fought eight times with the latest being a 4-round unanimous decision over Travis Thompson on December 5 in Chester, PA

“Camp went good. I am on weight and in good shape,” said the Sr. at William Tennant High School.

In Valderama, he is fighting a guy who has a record of 4-8 with three knockouts but has faced 6 undefeated opponents and has a win over previously undefeated Chris Alexander.

“I know my opponent is taller and thin. He is coming up from 135 pounds. I am just going to use my jab and do what I have to do to win.”

Santiago, who was a heralded amateur believes that as he matures in age, that he will continue to grow and get better as a fighter.

“I am getting stronger. I am a learning a little with each fight and I am taking this step by step but I am in no hurry. My team which is my managers Moz Gonzalez and Eddie Woods plus my adviser Al Haymon will decide when I step up.”

Santiago was able to take three days off of school to fight tonight in Pittsburgh.

“I just want to thank everyone for their support and I hope everyone that comes out will enjoy the show.”

Santiago is managed by Battlestrong Boxing which is consisted of Moz Gonzalez & Eddie Woods.

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 20) – Golden Boy Promotions is pleased to announce the premiere event of LA FIGHT CLUB on Friday, March 6 at The Belasco Theater sold-out in only one week. Fight fans will still have the opportunity to watch the live telecast on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes (10:00 p.m, ET / 7:00 p.m. PT) and are welcome to join the fighters post fight at The Belasco Theater when it converts into a night club. Upcoming events for LA FIGHT CLUB are scheduled to take place the first Thursday of every month on April 2, May 7 and June 4.

“Golden Boy Promotions has long recognized that Los Angeles is ground zero for building the best fighters in the sport of boxing,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions. “The massive response to the return of LA Fight Club has proven that all Angelenos — from fight enthusiasts to casual sports fans — are eager to see the next great champions of the sport.”

LA FIGHT CLUB is featured as part of the popular FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes Golden Boy Live! series. The March 6 installment is headlined by undefeated super bantamweight prospect and 2012 U.S. Olympian Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz Jr. (14-0, 9 KOs) in a 10-round super bantamweight bout. Also featured on the televised card are rising stars Christian “Chimpa” Gonzalez (8-0, 8 KOs), Santiago “El Lobito” Guevara (8-0, 3 KOs) and Irish middleweight prospect Jason Quigley (3-0, 3 KOs) Los Angeles based prospects round out the card: Roy “Pitbull” Tapia (10-0-1, 5 KOs) of East Los Angeles, Jesus Delgado (3-0-1, 1 KOs), and Emilio Sanchez (6-0, 5 KOs) opens up the night. Plus, Las Vegas super lightweight prospect trained by former World Champion Fernando Vargas, Cesar “The Great” Quiñonez (1-0, 1 KOs) will fight for the second time as a professional.

LA FIGHT CLUB, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra, O’Reilly Auto Parts, 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 boxing series premiering March 6 and will take place on the first Thursday of each month, upcoming dates: April 2, 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.

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.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (February 20, 2015) — Gong xi fa cai! Good luck and prosperity in 2015! The Chinese New Year has begun. Tradition dictates that you bid farewell to the old year with graciousness and gratitude and welcome in the new year — this is the Year of the Sheep (or Ram or Goat, depending on whom you ask) — sharing time and celebrating with family and friends over sumptuous feasts.

Unless you are a Chinese icon named ZOU SHIMING who is 15 days away from the most important fight of his boxing career — challenging undefeated International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight world champion AMNAT RUENROENG.

“We are preparing for the Shiming Dynasty. There are no holidays in training camp when a world title is at stake,” said Hall of Fame trainer World-Famous Freddie Roach. “Shiming will have to sacrifice the traditional feasts celebrating the Year of the Sheep to focus on making the 112-pound weight limit and honing his boxing skills. Ewe could say that makes Zou Shiming a mutton for punishment.”

You say you want a resolution. Well, you know. We all want to change the world…champion. In a tip of the hat to the American tradition of making New Year’s resolutions, Zou Shiming offered his today:

· Become a World Champion and to develop the sport and business of Boxing in China. To become more of a fan of the sport rather than just a competitor.
· Take some time off to rest, travel and vacation with my family.
· Eat more Hot Pot (http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/02/how-to-make-chinese-hot-pot-at-home-guide.html). And to eat more, period!
· Put on some weight (See “Eat More Hot Pot” resolution!)
· Shop for new clothes that are not workout related! I have been in training camp so long I feel like a model for the Wild Card Boxing Club clothing line!

Two-time Chinese Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Amateur Champion Zou (6-0, 1 KO), from Guizhou, China, is training to become China’s first Olympic champion to win a world title in the professional ranks. Zou challenges Ruenroeng (14-0, 5 KOs), from Si Racha, Thailand, in the main event of The Showdown at Sands, Saturday, March 7, at The Venetian® Macao’s Cotai Arena. Promoted by Top Rank® and Sands China Ltd., in association with Tecate, SECA, Kreerin Promotions, Sampson Boxing and Foreman Boys Promotions, the Zou Shiming – Amnat Ruenroeng World Flyweight Championship fight will be televised via same-day delay on HBO2, beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET/PT. The HBO2 telecast will open with a 10-round NABO junior middleweight title tilt between GLEN TAPIA (22-1, 14 KOs), of Passaic, NJ, and one-time world title challenger DANIEL DAWSON (40-4-1, 26 KOs), of Perth, Australia. Veteran boxing blow-by-blow man and WNBC-TV’s lead sports anchor Bruce Beck and award-winning broadcaster and analyst Rich Marotta will be calling the action from ringside.

The undercard will feature JOSE FELIX, Jr. (28-1-1, 23 KOs), from Los Mochis, Mexico, battling RAYMOND SERMONA, (17-4-5, 8 KOs), of Manila, in an eight-round lightweight bout which will be televised via same-day delay on UniMás, and Top-10 contenders IK YANG (17-0, 12 KOs), of Dalian, China and PATOMSUK PATHOMPOTHONG (30-2-1, 18 KOs), of Kalasin, Thailand, squaring off in a 12-round IBF junior welterweight title elimination bout.

Making the Zou-Ruenroeng fight even more intriguing is the history these two warriors already have with each other. Their amateur trilogy began with Ruenroeng winning their first battle — as a late substitute called up by the Thailand amateur team — at the 2007 King’s Cup, which was also Ruenroeng’s first international competition. Zou won the next two times they fought, including a reverse in their semi-final of the 2010 Asian Games that could have gone either way — and did. Now that they are professionals, the stakes are much higher and their simmering rivalry is set to become a roiling boil.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the Hashtag #ShowdonAtSands to join the conversation on Twitter.

Saturday’s HBO Boxing telecast airs live at 5:45 p.m. (ET/PT).

The HBO telecast from the Salle des Etoiles venue in Monte Carlo is a special presentation featuring reigning world middleweight title-holder Gennady Golovkin, seeking his 13th successful middleweight title defense, against challenger Martin Murray.

Official Weights from Monte Carlo:

Gennady Golovkin: 158.9 lbs.
Martin Murray: 159.9 lbs.

Join the conversation on Twitter: #GolovkinMurray

HBO will air a replay of the fight Saturday evening at 10:15 p.m. (ET/PT).

LONDON (20 FEB) World middleweight title challenger Martin Murray has heard all about the reputation of Gennady Golovkin, his next opponent, and respects the fact he’s widely considered the hardest puncher in all of boxing right now. But that doesn’t mean the Briton is overawed or fearful of the imposing Kazakh.

In fact, rather than hide from the reality of the situation, Murray has instead confronted it head on and says he’s looking forward to sampling Golovkin’s power when the pair clash on Saturday (February 21) in Monte Carlo.

“I’ve been watching all his best bits,” said Murray, 29-1-1 (12 KOs). “I’ve not been looking at all the things he does wrong. Let’s be honest, he doesn’t do a lot wrong. What I’ve been focusing on are all the things he does well. I’ve been watching him at his absolute best. That then makes me more prepared, more nervous and more on my guard.

“His power is obviously something you have to look out for. He clearly hits hard. His general ring craft is very good as well. He’s very good at putting you in places he wants to put you.

“I think he does all things very well. He’s not just a big puncher – he seems to have the lot. But we’ve seen a couple of chinks in his armour and we feel there’s some stuff for us to work on during the fight. We’re confident it’s going to work. I’m looking forward to going in there on Saturday and trying them out.

“It doesn’t bother me that Golovkin hits hard. Don’t get me wrong, I’d prefer it if he hit a bit softer, but it doesn’t faze me knowing that I’m going to go in there with someone who knocks everybody out. I know he hits hard, I know it’s going to be a tough fight and I know I might get hurt. I’m ready and prepared for it, though.”

Murray is renowned for his ability to raise his game when necessary. A perennial underdog, the St. Helens man was desperately unlucky in his previous two world title fights, drawing with Felix Sturm in 2011 and then losing a controversial decision to Sergio Martinez in 2013. This time, however, he’s determined to make it third time lucky.

“This feels like the biggest fight of my career,” said the 32-year-old. “I’ve kind of been detached lately due to being based in South Africa, but now I’m in Monte Carlo and I can sense how big the fight is. This is it for me. There’s more riding on this fight than any other I’ve had, and I’m more determined and confident of winning this one than I was before the others.

“In fact, of all my world title fights, this is the one I’m most looking forward to. It feels like my biggest challenge, and it will be my toughest fight, but I’ve got confidence in my ability and know that in these situations I rise to the occasion and put on my best performances.

“I’m expecting a long, hard fight and I’m expecting to have to go through a lot of pain. But, no matter what it takes, and no matter what I have to go through, my hand is going to get raised at the end of that fight. I know this is a proper battle and I know it will have to be a war. I’m ready for it. I honestly can’t wait.”

*** Boxing superstar Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin defends his WBA Super world middleweight title against Britain’s Martin Murray on Saturday, February 21 in Monte Carlo, LIVE on Channel 5 (10PM) ***

FOLLOW US ON ON TWITTER @HENNESSYSPORTS
For more information on Channel 5, MaxNutrition, Golden Gloves, K2 Promotions, GGG Promotions and Hennessy Sports:

www.channel5.com
www.maxinutrition.com
www.hennessysports.com
www.goldengloves.co.za
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FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS VISIT WWW.HENNESSYSPORTS.COM

By Norm Frauenheim–

A nervous rash escalated to full-blown panic on social media Thursday when speculation about the Floyd Mayweather Jr.- Manny Pacquaio negotiations reached a new high. Or is that a low?

Whatever it was, the monster got fed, leaving the world atwitter with anxious expectations that at any minute, any second, Mayweather would announce the May 2 fight is a done deal.

As I write this late Thursday, I’m still waiting and wondering why I am. It’s a fool’s errand. But the endless speculation has become a show unto itself. It’s enough to wonder what will happen when it ends with either a real fight or just more futility. If the fight is on, opening bell might not be preceded by as much attention as the talks were.

The fight is five or six years too late. Still, it’s intriguing, still worth a look, although maybe not at a rumored pay-per-view price of $100. But the bout can’t ever live up to the negotiations. Mayweather played it for every tweet and mistaken headline it was worth. The bet here is that the fight would be a letdown.

Mayweather’s feet don’t move at the blinding rate they used to. Marcos Maidana, a wild puncher without precision, got to him repeatedly.

Those same punches from a better tactician would have hurt Mayweather more than they did throughout 24 rounds against Maidana. It’s just one sign that Mayweather would hold, clinch and shoulder-roll as often as possible against Pacquaio.

Then, there’s Pacquaio, whose punches from countless angles overwhelmed Oscar De La Hoya. Pacquiao’s power lifted Ricky Hatton into midair and dropped the Brit onto the canvas like a guy falling off a diving board.

But that fear factor and much of the power are gone. Pacquiao knocked down Chris Algieri six times. But he couldn’t knock him out. Brandon Rios is a sturdy brawler, but he’s no De La Hoya. Rios is hittable. Yet, Pacquiao couldn’t stop him, either. Without a resurrection of that old power, Pacquaio figures to practice caution against Mayweather.

It’s become increasingly evident that neither Mayweather nor Pacquiao is the fighter of five, six years ago. Nevertheless, social media has been ablaze, motivated by their celebrity and the memory of who they were instead who they are. In large part, that’s a pretty good reason to believe that the deal is done and that they’ll fight in May instead of a later date, say September.

If they chose to fight in the interim, there are a lot of emerging faces in a younger generation who might beat them. Against a Keith Thurman or an Amir Khan, they might lose a fight and their share of a total purse reported to be $250 million. If they don’t do it now, they risk throwing away a fortune.

Follow the money. It says the fight is likely, but it’s hard to imagine how it could ever be more exciting than the talks were.

Verona, NY (February 19, 2015)–Weights from Friday night’s Boxcino Heavyweight quarterfinal fights at the Turning Stone Resort Casino

Donovan Dennis 222 – Steve Vukosa 218

Andrey Fedosov 220 1/2 – Nate Heaven 227

Razvan Cojanu 265 – Ed Fountain 236 1/2

Jason Estrada 261 – Lenroy Thomas 237

Greg Jackson 150 – Paulo Souza 149
Jesus Alvarez Rodriguez 145 – Bryan Abraham 144
Guillermo Sanchez 132 – TBA

Promoter: Banner Promotions
Venue: Turning Stone Resort Casino
1st Bell: 7 PM (Boxcino quarterfinals begin at 9 PM ET on ESPN 2)

Photos by Shane Sims / Banner Promotions

The entire Boxcino tournament is promoted by Banner Promotions. This Friday’s fights will be televised live on ESPN’s Friday Night fights beginning at 9 PM ET.

There will be a post fight press conference immediately following the completion of the last bout in the Cypress Room.

Tickets for the February 20th ESPN Friday Night Fights at Turning Stone are on sale now at the Turning Stone box office, in person or by calling 315.361.7469, or online at Ticketmaster. Tickets are $60 for ringside seats, $35, $25, and are subject to additional fees.

Host of the February 20th bouts, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino continues to distinguish itself as a premier destination for professional sporting events, including nationally-televised boxing matches and PGA-level golf. February 20th fight will mark Turning Stone’s 14th nationally televised boxing event in less than two years, helping establish the resort as a mecca for knockout televised fights. Boxing legends Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have promoted televised fight cards at the resort within the last year and Turning Stone has hosted televised boxing events on ESPN, Showtime, HBO, and NBC in the last two years. Located in Upstate New York, the four-season resort offers world-class entertainment and gaming, prestigious restaurants, luxury spa facilities, and award-winning accommodations.Tickets for the February 20th ESPN Friday Night Fights at Turning Stone are on sale now at the Turning Stone box office, in person or by calling 315.361.7469, or online at Ticketmaster. Tickets are $60 for ringside seats, $35, $25, and are subject to additional fees. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The live ESPN telecast starts at 9pm.

Professional media requesting credentials for the February 20 fight must contact Kelly Abdo, Turning Stone Public Relations Manager at 315.366.9291 or kelly.abdo@turningstone.com.

About Turning Stone Resort Casino A premier four-season, destination resort in Upstate New York, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino is conveniently located about 30 miles east of Syracuse at NYS Thruway exit 33. Turning Stone was named “Most Excellent Golf Resort” in 2010 by Condé Nast Johansens. The Academy of Country Music named Turning Stone “Casino of the Year” in 2009. The resort offers world-class gaming, golf, entertainment, accommodations and spa facilities, and has earned AAA Four Diamond ratings for The Lodge, The Tower Hotel, and Wildflowers restaurant. For more information and reservations, call (315) 361-7711 or (800) 771-7711. Visit the web site at www.TurningStone.com..

AROMAS, CALIF. (Feb. 19, 2015) – Media in the Bay Area gathered Wednesday to watch Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero prepare for his headlining welterweight showdown with Keith “One Time” Thurman on the inaugural Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC taking place Saturday, March 7 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Tickets for the live event are priced at $400, $300, $100 and $50, not including applicable service charges and taxes, are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets are also available
at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Here is what Guerrero had to say heading into his historic bout with Thurman:

ROBERT GUERRERO, Former Four-Division World Champion

“I’m very happy that the fight is right around the corner. I’m looking forward to giving fans a great night in boxing. A lot of big shots are going to be thrown from my end.

“I know Keith Thurman is training hard and so am I. This fight is going to be a war and I’m looking forward to it.

“Training camp is wrapping up and my body feels great. This is one of the best camps I’ve had in a very long time and the fans can count on me being at peak performance on fight night.

“I can’t wait to show the world and everybody watching on NBC what I’m all about. March 7 can’t come soon enough. I’m ready to go!”

# # #

Premier Boxing Champions on NBC is promoted by Goossen Promotions and features Keith Thurman vs. Robert Guerrero and Adrien Broner vs. John Molina, Jr. in bouts that will air live on NBC (8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT). The Abner Mares vs. Arturo Santos Reyes bout will be televised live on the NBC show (8:30-11 p.m. ET) or on the NBCSN telecast (11 p.m. ET).

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.nbcsports.com/boxing and www.goossenpromotions.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @KeithFThurmanJr, @GhostBoxing, @AdrienBroner, @JohnMolinaJr135, @abnermares, @NBCSports and @MGMGrand and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and www.facebook.com/NBCSports.

ORANGE, Calif. (Feb. 16, 2015) – In the “Path to Glory” 8-round main event, undefeated junior welterweight Giovani Santillan (15-0, 8 KOs), one of Thompson Boxing Promotions most promising prospects, weighed in at 139.7 lbs., while challenger Eduardo Rivera (9-1-2 3 KOs) came in at 140 lbs.

Tickets for “Path to Glory” are available at general admission ($40) and ringside ($100) and can be purchased by calling (714) 935-0900.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m, and the first bell rings at 7:45 p.m. The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 N Vineyard Ave, Ontario, CA 91764 and can be reached at (909) 937-0900.

WEIGHTS

Giovani Santillan, 139.7 vs. Eduardo Rivera, 140 (8-rounds)
Isaac Zarate, 122 vs. Pedro Melo, 121 (8-rounds)
Taras Shelestyuk, 147.6 vs. Francisco Reza, 146.9 (8-rounds)
Cesar Villarraga, 134.4 vs. Jesus Angulo, 140 (6-rounds)
Francisco Javier Lapizco, 112.9 vs. Gilberto Mendoza, 113 (6-rounds)
LaRon Mitchell, 249 vs. Chad Davis, 229 (4-rounds)

“Path to Glory” is presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Lucas Oil, in association with LATV Networks.

For additional information please visit ThompsonBoxing.com. For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please check our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ThompsonBoxing. To follow the conversation on social media, please use hash tags #ThompsonBoxing & #PathtoGlory.

Las Vegas, Nev. – Just hours before UFC® 184, UFC will unveil its second season of action-packed live events at The Event Deck at L.A. LIVE. Twenty top UFC fighters will join UFC President Dana White for the Welcome to the Show launch event at 11 a.m. PT. The Welcome to the Show launch event is free and open to public.

The following athletes will attend this can’t-miss event next Saturday:

UFC® 185: PETTIS vs. DOS ANJOS
Saturday, March 14 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas
· Anthony “Showtime” Pettis – UFC lightweight champion

· Rafael dos Anjos – No. 1 lightweight contender

· Carla Esparza – UFC women’s strawweight champion

· Joanna Jedrzejczyk – No. 1 women’s strawweight contender

UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: MAIA vs. LAFLARE
Saturday, March 21 at Ginasio do Maracanazinho in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
· Demian Maia – No. 7 welterweight contender

· Ryan LaFlare – No. 15 welterweight contender

UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: MENDES vs. LAMAS
Saturday, April 4 at Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va.
· Chad Mendes – No. 2 featherweight contender

· Ricardo Lamas – No. 4 featherweight contender

UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: MACHIDA vs. ROCKHOLD
Saturday, April 18 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
· Lyoto Machida – former UFC light heavyweight champion and No. 3 middleweight contender

· Luke Rockhold – former STRIKEFORCE® middleweight champion and No. 5 middleweight contender

UFC® 186: DILLASHAW vs. BARAO 2
Saturday, April 25 at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
· TJ Dillashaw – UFC bantamweight champion

· Renan Barao – former UFC bantamweight champion and No. 1 bantamweight contender

· Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson – UFC flyweight champion

· Kyoji Horiguchi – No. 8 flyweight contender

UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: EDGAR vs. FABER
Saturday, May 16 at Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines
· Frankie Edgar – former UFC lightweight champion and No. 1 featherweight contender

· Urijah Faber – former WEC featherweight champion

UFC® 187: JONES vs. JOHNSON
Saturday, May 23 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
· Jon “Bones” Jones – UFC light heavyweight champion

· Anthony “Rumble” Johnson –No. 1 light heavyweight contender

· Chris Weidman – UFC middleweight champion

· Vitor Belfort – former UFC light heavyweight champion and No. 4 middleweight contender

Following the event, the UFC invites fans to the UFC Fan Village at STAPLES Center. The UFC Fan Village will be set up outside STAPLES Center on Chick Hearn Ct. and feature a Bud Light® beer garden, MetroPCS interactive display, Interactive fan photo stations, UFC merchandise, autograph sessions with UFC stars and much more. The event is free and open to the public beginning at noon and concluding at 4 p.m. to coincide with the first bout of UFC 184: ROUSEY vs. ZINGANO.

For more information or current fight news, visit ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

About UFC®

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.

###

RED CORNER BLUE CORNER

8 ROUNDS – JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS
Bryant Cruz vs. Jorge Pazos
Port Chester, NY Guamuchil, Sinaloa, Mexico
13-0, 7 KO’s 14-7-1, 8 KO’s
130 lbs. 128¼ lbs.

8 ROUNDS – JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Frank Galarza vs. Raul Munoz
Brooklyn, NY Topeka, KS
15-0-2, 9 KO’s 23-17-1, 16 KO’s
156 lbs. 154¾ lbs.

4 ROUNDS – CRUISERWEIGHTS
Alex Vanasse vs. Richard Ballard
Carmel, NY Los Angeles, CA
Pro Debut 0-1
195¾ lbs. 194 lbs.

6 ROUNDS – MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Chris Galeano vs. Javier Loya
Bronx, NY Phoenix, AZ
6-0 7-2, 6 KO’s
159½ lbs. 157½ lbs.

4 ROUNDS – WELTERWEIGHTS
Peter Dobson vs. Tyrell White
Bronx, NY Bronx, NY
2-0, 1 KO 0-2
148 lbs. 145½ lbs.

8 ROUNDS – SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Sergey Derevyanchenko vs. Vladine Biosse
Brooklyn, NY Providence, RI
3-0, 2 KO’s 15-5-2, 7 KO’s
166 lbs. 166¾ lbs.

8 ROUNDS – LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Cedric Agnew vs. Samuel Clarkson
Chicago, IL Cedar Hill, TX
27-1, 14 KO’s 12-3, 7 KO’s
177½ lbs. 178 lbs.

8 ROUNDS – MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Avtandil Khurtsidze vs. Philip Penson
Philadelphia, PA Orlando, FL
29-2-2, 18 KO’s 8-0-2, 2 KO’s
160 lbs. 159 lbs.

6 ROUNDS – JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS
Andrew Ruiz vs. Evincii Dixon
Oxnard, CA Lancaster, PA
7-0, 4 KO’s 4-4-1, 2 KO’s
138 lbs. 140 lbs.

4 ROUNDS – WELTERWEIGHTS
Ivan Baranchyk vs. David Thomas
Brooklyn, NY Los Angeles, CA
3-0, 2 KO’s 4-0, 1 KO
146¼ lbs. 146½ lbs.

Tickets are priced at $100, $60 and $40, and will be available for purchase at the door. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

The Hilton Westchester is located at 699 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573.

LAS VEGAS (February 19, 2015) – Heavyweight “Bronco” Billy Wright (46-4, 37 KOs) speaks on his amazing career as a 50-year heavyweight contender and his upcoming fight against Gilberto Matheus Domingos (22-2, 20 KOs) on March 13, 2015. The fight will take place at the We Ko Pa Casino in Fort McDowell, Arizona.

Tickets priced $20 general admission, $35 and $50, are on sale now and can be purchased by calling Bronco Billy Wright at (702) 524-3331.

The We Ko Pa Casino is located at 10424 North Fort McDowell Road, Fort McDowell, AZ 85264. Doors open at 6:00 P.M. first fight is at 7:00 P.M.

PITTSBURGH, PA. (Feb. 19, 2015) – Pittsburgh favorite and undefeated welterweight Sammy Vasquez tipped the scales at 147 ¼ pounds and Emmanuel Lartey measured 146 ½ pounds during Thursday’s official weigh-in for tomorrow’s ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader.

Vasquez (17-0, 13 KOs), who has knocked out nine straight opponents, and Lartey (17-2, 8 KOs, 1 NC), of Brooklyn, N.Y. by way of Ghana, who has never been knocked down, will meet in the 10-round welterweight main event, live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.

In the co-feature of the Goossen Promotions tripleheader, former longtime Cuban amateur star and current third-ranked WBC light heavyweight Humberto Savigne (12-1, 9 KOs, 1 NC), of Miami via Guantanamo, Cuba, will take on undefeated Craig Baker (15-0, 11 KOs), of Baytown, Texas, in a 10-round bout. Savigne measured 176 pounds and Baker weighed-in at 174 pounds.

In the opening bout of the telecast, talented southpaw and WBA No. 7 ranked featherweight Claudio Marrero (17-1, 13 KOs), of Miami by way of the Dominican Republic, will face southpaw Orlando Rizo (18-5, 11 KOs) of Managua, Nicaragua, in an eight-round match. Marrero stepped-in at 126 ¼ pounds while Rizo was at 126 pounds.

Advance tickets priced at $238, $100, $60, $40 and $25 for students and military with valid ID (Box Office Only), plus applicable fees, for “The Pride of Pittsburgh III” are on sale through the Dick’s Sporting Goods Box Office at CONSOL Energy Center, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets or charge by phone at 800-745-3000. Prices increase $5 on the day of the event. Doors will open on the night of the event at 6 p.m. with the first bell at 6:30 p.m.

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

SAMMY VASQUEZ
“This fight is definitely going to be exciting. I can’t talk trash about Emmanuel – he’s a tough guy who has faced two U.S. Olympians and never been dropped. So there’s not much I can say about him.

“I’m looking to open up some flaws. I’ve seen a couple of things I can do to maybe make him hit that canvas.

“I hope everybody tunes in. We’ve trained hard and this is just the beginning. It’s the start of 2015 and by the end of the year I hope to be a top contender or get a title shot. But I have to get past Emmanuel first and that won’t be easy.”

EMMANUEL LARTEY:
“He hasn’t faced the type of guys that I’ve faced; he hasn’t faced the opposition that I have. He’s going to be surprised when he steps in the ring with me.

“No, I’m not worried about fighting in his hometown. I can win with a decision, but I’m going to be looking for the knockout to make an impression and make a statement.

“He’s definitely underestimating me. Sammy has built up his record with cupcakes.

“This is going to be a good test for him and a good test for me. I’m going to be the one walking out with a W.”

HUMBERTO SAVIGNE:
“I don’t take any opponent lightly. I know Baker is going to try to break me, but I’ve trained very hard and, in all honestly, I’m better than he is. Don’t take me wrong, I’m not overlooking him. I’m just determined to win, and I will, either by decision or knockout.

“I know I’m fighting a tough guy, but I’ve trained hard and this is my year. I’m lucky to be surrounded by such of great team.

“I feel that 2015 is my year. I’m ranked third in the WBC, and that’s only because I had six months of inactivity, otherwise I’d be second. After Baker, I want [Adonis] Stevenson.

“I suggest fans to get ready, sit back and enjoy because I’m going to give them a real show. I’m going to make Baker see fireworks.”

CRAIG BAKER:
“This is the fight I’ve been waiting for. I’m finally getting an opportunity to make a statement and surprise some people. I know I’m the underdog, but that doesn’t bother me. I’m undefeated for a reason. He’s the one with a loss on his record.

“A win would do wonders for my career. It would open up the door to some great opportunities.

“It will be an interesting fight. I’ll play it by ear, but I’m ready to be the aggressor and I’m ready to go 10 rounds.”

CLAUDIO MARRERO:
“I’m not intimidated by Rizo’s amateur accomplishments. If he says he trained hard, well, I trained ever harder than him. I think he’s the one that doesn’t know what he’s in for. Trust me – this is not going to be a day in the park. This is going to be a war.

“I wish Orlando Rizo good luck. He’s going to need it not to get knocked down.

“I’m not a trash talker. It’s simply not my style. I do all the talking I need to do with my fists in the ring.”

ORLANDO RIZO:
“I know this is not going to be an easy fight. I know Claudio Marrero is tough, but I’m ready for him. I’ve been training very hard for him. He better be ready, because I know I am.

“I don’t think he has ever fought anybody like me. My amateur credentials are impeccable. I’m a four-time military boxing champion, three-time Central American champion and former Nicaraguan and FECARBOX Champion. I also got a Bronze Medal in the 2007 Pan-American games in Brazil. So he better be ready for a tough fight, because I’m not going to make it easy for him.

“Claudio Marrero better have his A-game on, because I’m coming to take him down.”

# # #

CONSOL Energy Center is located at 1001 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219. Further information can be located at their website, www.consolenergycenter.com

Social Media: Follow Goossen Promotions on Twitter @GoossenBoxing, Sammy Vasquez on Twitter @TeamSVasquez, Showtime Sports @SHOsports and CONSOL Energy Center @CONSOLEnergyCtr. Use hashtag #VasquezLartey to follow the discussion.

For more information on Goossen Promotions view their website at www.GoossenPromotions.com. For additional information on Showtime Sports visit www.Sho.com/sports.

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 58 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.