TORONTO (Nov. 13, 2014) — Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents another live Cage Warriors Fighting Championship doubleheader this Saturday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. ET, as Cage Warriors 74 emanates from the iconic Copper Box Arena in the Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park in London, England.

Fight Network’s live broadcast 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 globally in over 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

In the main event, reigning champion Nicolas Dalby will defend his Cage Warriors welterweight title against Mohsen Bahari.

In addition to Dalby’s long awaited inaugural title defense, history will also be made on the night when undefeated Swede Pannie Kianzad battles once-beaten Finnish standout Eeva Siiskonen with the inaugural Cage Warrior’s women’s bantamweight title on the line.

The doubleheader will feature a pair of two-hour main cards and also includes a showdown between Irish lightweight Joseph Duffy and France’s Julien Boussuge, a lightweight tussle between English pair Saul Rogers and Mick Sinclair, the debut of undefeated British prospect Tom Breese against 22-year-old Frenchman Thibaud Larchet, a middleweight clash pitting London’s own Bola Omoyele against red-hot Estonian Andy Manzolo, plus a lightweight matchup featuring five-fight UFC veteran John Maguire versus surging countryman Brad Wheeler.

The card for Cage Warriors 74 currently includes:
Nicolas Dalby vs. Mohsen Bahari – CWFC welterweight title
Pannie Kianzad vs. Eeva Siiskonen – inaugural CWFC women’s bantamweight title
Julien Boussuge vs. Joseph Duffy
Saul Rogers vs. Mick Sinclair
Tom Breese vs. Thibaud Larchet
Andrei Manzolo vs. Bola Omoyele
John Maguire vs. Brad Wheeler
Sean Carter vs. Tim Wilde
Pelu Adetola vs. Darren Stewart
Paul Marin vs. Scott Pooley
James Hurrell vs. Carl Kinslow
Emma Delaney vs. Anna Elmose

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.

Pittsburgh, PA (November 13, 2014) Amidst a town engulfed with boxing fever over the best local fight card in decades, Iron Mike Productions has announced a stacked undercard for this Friday night’s, “The Pride of Pittsburgh II” event at CONSOL Energy Center.

‘The fans in Pittsburgh are passionate, loyal boxing fans and they’ve been very supportive of our events”, said Boxing Legend MIKE TYSON, head of Iron Mike Productions of the card which features “Sensational” SAMMY VASQUEZ JR., 16-0-0 (12KO’s), against world ranked contender ALBERTO “Metralleta” MOSQUERA, 21-1-2 (14KO’s) in the main event and cross-town rivals MONTY MEZA CLAY, 36-3-0 (22KO’s), and “Lightning” ROD SALKA, 19-4-0 (3KO’s) in the co-main.

“Our last event in August was a rousing success and Friday night’s will be even bigger and better,” continued Tyson.

In a special attraction eight round junior middleweight bout, ERICKSON ‘The Hammer” LUBIN, 7-0-0 (6KO’s), will battle NORBERTO “Demonio” GONZALEZ, 20-5-0 (13KO’s).

Headlining the undercard on Friday night is an 8-round middleweight clash between undefeated Motor City prospect DOMONIQUE “3D” DOLTON, 14-0-0 (8KO’s), a disciple of the late Emanuel Steward, and Dominican veteran JONATHAN BATISTA, 14-4-0 (7KO’s).

The 24-year-old Dolton will be looking to jumpstart his career following a hand injury that his him making his first start of 2014. Among the wins on his ledger are highly regarded veterans Donatas Bondorovas, Richard Gutierrez and Marcos Primera.

Upset minded Batista will be looking to derail Dolton’s plans using his vast experience against numerous top names including a 10-round battle with former world champion Kermit Cintron in 2013.

Junior featherweights will see action in a eight round scrap as undefeated Cleveland based prospect ANTONIO “Carita” NIEVES, 8-0-0 (4KO’s), will battle JIOVANY “El Cepillo” FUENTES, 5-5-0 (4KO’s), of Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Nieves will be fighting for the fourth time in 2014, most recently winning a six round unanimous decision over Justin Lopez on August 15th in Toledo, Ohio.

The 24-year-old Fuentes has fought numerous world-class prospects over the last four years including Rau’shee Warren, Joseph Diaz, Vic Pasillas and McWilliams Arroyo.

Brooklyn’s DENNIS GALARZA, 5-1-0 (3KO’s), will return to the Pittsburgh ring in a scheduled six round featherweight bout against Puerto Rico’s MIGUEL “Mikito” SOTO, 12-4-0 (12KO’s).

Just 22-years-old, Galarza will be looking to bounce back strongly following his first career loss, a hard fought six round unanimous decision to fellow undefeated prospect Vincent Jennings on August 8th at CONSOL Energy Center.

The hard-hitting Soto makes a quick return following an epic brawl with former world title challenger Roberto Marroquin in Mesquite, Texas on September 26th, a fight stopped in the fourth stanza and awarded to the hometown favorite.

Highly touted light heavyweight prospect LEO “Young Bam” HALL, 3-0-0 (3KO’s), of Detroit, Michigan, will clash with Fort Worth, Texas veteran, KENTRELL CLAIBORNE, 4-9-0 (3KO’s) in a four round tilt.

With power belying his youth as a 19-year-old, Hall will be fighting for the fourth time this year with two of his stoppages coming in the first round.

Claiborne has vast experience in the division having faced Seanie Monaghan, Thomas Williams Jr. and Marcus Browne over his five years as a pro.

In the opening bout of the evening in a four round super middleweight bout, former Russian amateur standout VIACHESLAV BARSUKOV, now fighting out of Brooklyn, New York, will make his pro debut against RAMIRO ARREOLA-GARCIA, 0-1-0, of Brownville, Texas.

Advance tickets for “The Pride of Pittsburgh II”, starting at $42 are available 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. Doors will open on the night of the event at 6:00 p.m. with the first bell at 7:00 p.m.

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

For additional information on Iron Mike Productions visit www.IronMikeProductions, follow on Twitter at @IronMikeProd and on Facebook at IronMikeProductionsOfficial.

Philadelphia, PA—Undefeated Jesse “Hard Work” Hart gets his first featured role in his hometown when he takes on hard-hitting Samuel Miller, of Arboletes, Colombia, in an eight-round super middleweight contest Saturday evening, Dec. 13, at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia.

The Hart-Miller bout along with an eight-round lightweight contest featuring Felix Verdejo, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, against Karim El Ouazghari, of Barcelona, Spain, will be televised as part of Top Rank’s Solo Boxeo Tecate series on UniMas. The delayed telecast will begin at 11pm (EST). First of seven prelims begins at 6.45pm.
The 25-year-old Hart is 15-0, 12 K0s. His father, Eugene “Cyclone” Hart, was one of the hardest-hitting middleweights of his time, compiling a 30-9-1 record with 28 K0s from 1969 to 1981.
A big gate attraction because of his fearsome punching power, the elder Hart engaged in some of Philadelphia’s most talked-about ring battles against legends like Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Bennie Briscoe, Vito Antuofermo, Kitten Hayward, Willie “The Worm” Monroe and Bobby “Boogaloo” Watts.
“It feels beyond good, beyond tremendous,” the younger Hart said. “It feels wonderful to be able to perform in front of my hometown fans. My dad had a lot of his big fights at the old Arena in West Philadelphia and now I’m in a main fight at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia. It’s just wonderful for this to be happening for me.”
Miller, 35, turned pro in 2003 in Colombia, but now fights out of La Habra, CA. His 28-9 record includes 25K0s. He was the first to defeat Isaac Rodriguez, of Brazil, who was 17-0 when Miller outpointed him in 2010 in Verona, NY.
Other victims include Jason Naugler, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Steve Walker, of Hannibal, MO. Miller also has boxed Brian Vera, of Fort Worth, TX, and Marco Antonio Rubio, of Torreon, Mexico, losing each time by decision.
“We are looking forward to Jesse fighting in front of a sold out hometown crowd,” said Carl Moretti, Vice President of Boxing Operations at Top Rank. “Jesse and Felix Verdejo are two of Top Rank’s best prospects and, hopefully, this show will catapult both guys into bigger fights in 2015.”

ABOUT DECEMBER 13

The Verdejo-Ouazghari and Hart-Miller fights top an eight-bout card at the 2300 Arena. First fight is 6.45 pm. Tickets priced at $50 and $75 are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and at Wanamaker’s Tickets (215-568-2400). They also can be purchased on line at www.peltzboxing.com and at www.wanatix.com. UniMas will televise the Verdejo-Ouazhari and Hart-Miller fights as part of Top Rank’s Solo Boxeo Tecate series. The delayed telecast begins at 11pm (EST). The card is being promoted by Top Rank, Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., and BAM Boxing. The 2300 Arena, formerly known as the New Alhambra, has hosted consistent professional boxing from 2004 thru 2012 when it was later known as the Asylum Arena. Boxing cards there have been televised by ESPN 2, CN8, Univision and the NBC Sports Network. Fighters who have boxed there include Danny Garcia, Bronco McKart, Omar Sheika, Demetrius Hopkins, Mike Jones, Teon Kennedy, Bryant Jennings, Gabriel Rosado, Jesus Soto-Karass, Ronald Cruz, Israel “Pito” Cardona, Derek Ennis, Steve Cunningham and Edner Cherry.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (Nov. 13, 2014) – AirAsia, voted the World’s Best Low Cost Carrier for six straight years by Skytrax World Airline Awards from 2009 to 2014, announced that it will be the official airline for People’s Champ and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao.

Representative Pacquiao, boxing’s biggest attraction, is set to take his act on the road again on November 22, when he defends his WBO welterweight title against Chris Algieri at the Cotai Arena in The Venetian Macao (live on pay-per-view in the U.S.)

As the official airline of Team Pacquiao, AirAsia has unveiled an exclusive aircraft livery featuring the boxing sensation. The livery design was unveiled today in a press launch in General Santos City, Philippines attended by AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes and AirAsia Philippines CEO Joy Cañeba.

Tony Fernandes, AirAsia Group CEO said, “It’s a great honor for AirAsia to be chosen as the official airline of team Pacman. Congressman Manny’s story is an inspiration not only for Filipinos but to all of us who dared to dream the seemingly impossible. AirAsia’s commitment in the Philippines is anchored on the same dream, to make flying more affordable, more accessible and to provide the best quality service that every Filipino deserves.”

For his part, Representative Pacquiao said, “I am delighted to be part of AirAsia’s mission in promoting the Philippines, our Filipino talents, sports and tourism wonders to the global stage. Let’s celebrate the Filipino spirit and my team is looking forward to your support in my upcoming match in Macau in November.”

To celebrate the partnership, AirAsia is offering promo seats for as low as P199 base fare only for direct flights to/from Manila-Macau via AirAsia Philippines including promo seats for flights from Malaysia, Thailand and other destinations in the AirAsia group. Promo seats are available for booking today at www.airasia.com for immediate travel in November until 9th June 2015.

Pacman’s fans can look forward to spotting the special Manny Pacquiao branded Airbus A320 which carries the colors of the Philippine flag and Pacquiao’s logo painting the skies red soon from AirAsia hubs not only in Manila, Cebu, Kalibo to domestic destinations of Puerto Princesa (Palawan), Tagbilaran (Bohol), Tacloban and to international points in Malaysia, China and South Korea but all over AirAsia’s 88 destinations across Asean countries and extending as far as China, India, Australia and more!

Joy Cañeba, AirAsia Philippines CEO said, “We are honored and humbled that the People’s Champ, the Filipino pride, Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao has chosen AirAsia as his official airline partner. AirAsia Philippines will shake up the aviation industry and this partnership is just one of the examples on how we will take this game to a higher level. AirAsia will promote the Philippines to the world and bring the world closer to every Filipino via our massive network.”

In honor of Manny Pacquiao, AirAsia is opening Manila – GenSan route with attractive introductory fares to be announced very soon.

AirAsia Philippines is also offering a P0.01 seat sale for all domestic and international destinations. Promo seats are available for booking today at www.airasia.com until 16th November 2014, for the travel period from 10th June 2015 – 17th Jan 2016.

All-in promo seats (with airport tax, fuel surcharge and other applicable fees) from Manila to Kalibo (Boracay), Tagbilaran (Bohol), Puerto Princesa (Palawan), Cebu, Tacloban* and Cebu to Davao**, Cagayan de Oro** are available from as low as P353.81, one way while international flights from Manila, Cebu, Clark, Kalibo to South Korea (Incheon/Seoul and Busan), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu), China (Macau and Shanghai) and many more start from as low as P750.00, all-in, one way only.

AirAsia Group is also offering 3 Million promo seats to various domestic & international destinations such as Langkawi, Yogyakarta, Krabi, Siem Reap, Kalibo (gateway to Boracay), Da Nang, Surat Thani (gateway to Koh Samui), Chengdu, Perth and many more destinations from Kuala Lumpur; along with other exciting destinations from AirAsia’s other hubs in Penang, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.

With AirAsia’s enhanced list of ‘Fly-Thru’ city pairs, guests are able to enjoy seamless connectivity from Manila, Clark and Cebu to Australia, Jeddah, India, Brunei, China and to top tourist destinations in ASEAN region. There are currently 858 Fly-Thru city pairs which AirAsia & AirAsia X guests can choose from.

The P0.01 promotion is available online at www.airasia.com and also via AirAsia’s mobile apps on iPhone and Android devices, and also AirAsia’s mobile site at mobile.airasia.com.. Just search AirAsia on the respective app stores to download and start booking!

AirAsiaGo, the holiday division of the world’s best low cost airline, will also be offering special deals for travellers during this promo. AirAsiaGo is presenting great savings up to 60% when promo seats are booked together with hotel accommodation. Prices are from as low as RM149 (P1,939) for both flight and accommodation (per person). For those looking for accommodation only, grab it from as low as RM59 (P767) per night. For more information and to book, visit its website at www.AirAsiaGo.com. The same promo booking period and travel period applies.

Be a BIG Shot under the AirAsia BIG Loyalty Programme and earn BIG Points to redeem free AirAsia flights! BIG Shots can also opt for BIG Points & cash redemption to redeem flights, with only a minimum of 500 BIG Points. For more information, please visit www.airasiaBIG.com.

Keep updated with AirAsia’s latest promotions and activities via Twitter (twitter.com/AirAsiaPH)and Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsiaPhilippines).

*starts December 3
**starts December 12

# # #

About the AirAsia Group

AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, services the most extensive network with 88 destinations. Within 12 years of operations, AirAsia has carried over 230 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to over 170. The airline today is proud to be a truly Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and India, servicing a network stretching across all Asean countries as well as China, India and Australia. AirAsia was named the World’s Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax for six consecutive years from 2009 – 2014.

Warriors Boxing Promotions will follow up on the smash success of its “Homecoming” event on November 1 to present “Holiday Boxing Bash”, a night of world-class professional boxing on Friday, December 12, 2014, at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.

Headlining the 14-fight “Holiday Boxing Bash” will be a quartet of undefeated local and international prospects.

In the night’s main event, undefeated former amateur star Rau’shee Warren (12-0, 3 KOs) will go 10 rounds in the bantamweight division.

Featured in separate showcase bouts will be wildly popular Chicago up-and-comer Jose F. Quezada (4-0, 3 KOs) in a lightweight six-rounder; Warsaw, Poland’s Patryk Szymanski (11-0, 6 KOs) in a junior middleweight eight-rounder; and Aurora, Illinois super lightweight Eddie Ramírez (6-0, 4 KOs) in a six-rounder.

Tickets start at $31 and are available at Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com or call: 1-800-745-3000, the Warriors Offices: 312-622-7668 or the UIC Pavilion Box Office: 312-413-5740, or visit the UIC Box Office (Thursday or Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM). They can also be purchased the night of the event.

27-year-old Rau’shee Warren was the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Champion in the flyweight division. He is also a 2004 and 2008 Olympian and USA Boxing’s 2006 Co-Athlete of the Year. From Cincinnati, Ohio, Warren has been boxing since the age of six. Warren turned professional in 2012 and has barely lost a round in his first 12 fights.

Lightweight Jose Felix Quezada, 19, is an enormous fan-favorite locally and a three-time State Silver Gloves Champion, three-time Chicago City-Wide Champion, two-time Regional Silver Gloves Champion and the 2009 National Junior Golden Gloves Champion. As a professional, the talented Quezada has stopped three of his four opponents.

Welterweight Eddie Ramirez, 22, of Aurora, Ill., was a 2013 Chicago Golden Gloves Champion who was voted Best Boxer for the entire tournament. He was also a 2013 National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions finalist. As a professional, Ramirez has beaten his first six opponents, including 5-0 Manny Brown (KO 3), 4-1 Alexis Del Bosque (UD 4) and 3-1-1 DeMarcus Rogers (KO 1).

21-year-old Patryk Szymanski had over250 amateur fights and spent seven years on the Polish national team before turning professional in 2012. Szymanski recently relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he lives and trains with well-regarded Chico Rivas. Despite having just 11 professional fights, the talented Szymanski has already won the WBO Youth Welterweight, World Boxing Foundation International Light Middleweight and Republic of Poland International Light Middleweight Championships.

Opponents for all will be announced shortly, as will the participants of the other nine bouts scheduled. On fight night, doors open at 5:30 PM and the first fight is at 6:00 PM. The UIC Pavilion is located at 525 S Racine Avenue in Chicago. For more information and updates, visit www.warriorsboxing.com.

LONDON (13 NOV) Hennessy Sports and Team Sauerland are pleased to announce that the IBF World Cruiserweight Championship showdown between Yoan Pablo Hernandez (29-1, 14 KOs) and Ola Afolabi (21-3-4, 10 KOs) will be broadcast LIVE on Channel 5 (8.30-10.30pm).

British boxing fans will now have the chance to follow London-born Afolabi as he attempts to dethrone the Cuban cruiserweight king on Saturday, December 6 at the EWE Arena in Oldenburg, Germany.

“We’re delighted to be working in collaboration with Mick Hennessy to bring UK fans this exciting cruiserweight clash,” said promoter Nisse Sauerland. ‘‘Channel 5 is a fantastic platform for boxing and fitting home for this world championship fight. Hernandez and Afolabi are two of the division’s top talents and will guarantee an explosive encounter on December 6.”

“This is a great opportunity for British boxing fans to again watch a genuine world title fight involving a British fighter on free-to-air television,” said promoter Mick Hennessy. “In the space of six weeks Channel 5 have delivered the IBF world bantamweight title fight between Stuart Hall and Randy Caballero and now the IBF world cruiserweight title fight between Yoan Pablo Hernandez and Ola Afolabi.

“Channel 5 are really delivering for boxing fans in this country and it’s great to be able to give fans free-to-air boxing on a regular basis.

“Finally, I’m thrilled to be working with Team Sauerland on this show and together we’ll be announcing an exciting British line-up very soon.”

END
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13 November 2014 – Manila: Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization with a 90% market share, ONE Fighting Championship™ (ONE FC), has added three bouts to the latest blockbuster event, ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY. Eduard Folayang returns to action to take on the streaking Timofey Nastyukhin, who is riding a nine-fight winning streak. Former WBO and IBA boxing champion Ana Julaton will also see action on the card as she faces Egypt’s Walaa Abas. The event will also see a clash of striking styles as Wushu world champion Rene Catalan goes up against Muay Thai world champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke. ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY is set to take place at the state-of-the-art MOA Arena in Manila on 5 December.

CEO of ONE Fighting Championship™, Victor Cui, stated, “ONE Fighting Championship has taken over Asia this year with blockbuster shows all over the continent! ONE FC will return to Manila with one of our most stacked cards to date and the night will feature three martial arts champions from the Philippines. The MOA Arena will be packed to the rafters as fans from all over the world will tune in to catch world-class mixed martial arts action. This will be a night of non-stop adrenaline-pumping action that you do not want to miss!”

Eduard Folayang is one of the most popular sports figures in the Philippines. A Wushu practitioner, the former school teacher transitioned to mixed martial arts and has an impressive record of 14 wins and four losses so far in his career. He has proven his caliber in two recent wins, defeating highly touted star Vincent Latoel and the former ONE FC Lightweight World Champion, Kotetsu Boku.

Timofey Nastyukhin is a Russian lightweight with a professional mixed martial arts record of seven wins and one loss. Nastyukhin is an aggressive mixed martial artist who has won all seven of his bouts by first-round finishes. Nastyukhin has developed a reputation as a deadly finisher and will look to continue his string of finishes as he makes his ONE FC debut against Eduard Folayang.

Ana Julaton is a former WBO and IBA Super Bantamweight champion who is now pursuing success in the world of mixed martial arts. Julaton made her professional mixed martial arts debut in Manila in May and will once again look to emerge victorious in front of thousands of Filipino fans cheering her on.

Walaa Abbas is a national Egyptian kickboxing champion who has notched up two wins in a row in her recent bouts. She has proven to have the striking prowess to end fights early, finishing both victories on her record with punches. Julaton defeated Abas’ teammate Aya Saied Saber in Manila earlier this year and Abas will be out for revenge in this bout.
Rene Catalan is a former SEA Games and Asian Games gold medalist in Wushu. He has been out of action for more than a year after his bout last year was overturned to a No-Contest. Catalan is raring to go and will be eager to impress in the Philippines as he prepares to compete in mixed martial arts action in his home country for the first time.

Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke is a Muay Thai World Champion who has excited mixed martial arts fans all over the world with his non-stop style of striking excellence. He also showed his improved grappling skills by finishing his last two wins by submission. Sor Amnuaysirichoke will now face his toughest test to date as he takes on a world champion in a clash of two Asian martial arts.

Jujeath Nagaowa is a former WBC Asia Atomweight Champion will be making the transition from boxing with an impressive resume that features 12 professional victories. Nagaowa has nifty footwork that she uses to get out of her opponents’ punches and knockout power in both hands. She made her ONE FC debut with a stoppage victory over India’s Jeet Toshi in Manila earlier this year and will look to replicate the same result in her upcoming contest.

Tharoth Sam is a Kun Khmer fighter with an undefeated professional mixed martial arts record. She is a pioneer for the sport in her home country in Cambodia and a win on foreign soil will enhance the reputation in the kingdom. In her ONE FC debut, she defeated fellow Cambodian debutant Vy Srey Chai with an armbar.

Tickets for ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY on 5 December in Manila are on sale now at SM Tickets (http://www.smtickets.com). Ticket categories begin with the full Red Carpet and cageside experience for VIPs at PHP 6,360 followed by Patron PHP 3,180, Lower Box PHP 1,280, Upper Box PHP 640 and General Admission PHP 220. Prices include ticketing fee. Pre-sale packages are currently available.

Fans around Asia can catch all the action live on FOX Sports 1. Check your local listings. Also, fans from around the world can witness the action online via live streaming at http://www.onefc.com/livestream. The event will be available for purchase at just US$9.99.

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

About One Fighting Championship
With a 90%+ market share in Asia, ONE Fighting 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 Fighting 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.

CHICAGO — November 12, 2014 — Fres Oquendo’s wife and newborn were in the hospital when he boarded a plane to Grozny, Russia in July to take on Ruslan Chagaev for the WBA Heavyweight title – a fight that was slated to take place just 36 hours after his arrival. For his troubles, Oquendo was guaranteed a purse of $1 million dollars and a rematch within 120 days in the event that he lost.

“The only reason I even left my wife and newborn child was because [Chechnyan] President Ramzan Kadyrov and Andre Rabinsky both personally called and guaranteed my safety, a rematch and the $1,000,000 to take care of my family,” said Oquendo. “They literally begged me to go even though I had no sleep, had not worked out in 2 weeks and literally got there an hour before the weigh in.” Rabinsky guaranteed an additional $100,000, per the promoter, when travel plans didn’t go as expected.

Oquendo did indeed lose the fight, in a controversial majority decision, and has since not been paid the purse he agreed to with Rabinsky and Kadyrov – a purse that was secured by the fight contract. Hitz Boxing and Square Ring Promotions have also not been paid the agreed upon promotional fee. “We’ve seen reports this week that Chagaev is looking for an opponent,” said Bobby Hitz, founder and promoter of Hitz Boxing. He’s got an opponent. His opponent is Fres Oquendo. The WBA should make sure this fight happens. It is what both guys agreed to before the fight. The WBA needs to help make sure that Fres gets paid, and that he gets his rematch.”

There were a number of irregularities during the match that Hitz feels the WBA needs to address. “We filed a protest with the WBA in August. What was the Chechnyan President doing climbing up on the apron between rounds to coach Chagaev? That’s blatantly against WBA rules. Rounds were cut short. There was no commission. The whole thing was a farce,” said Hitz.

Hitz continued, “All of this is on paper. We’ve got a lawsuit ready to be filed in the Southern District of New York, naming the WBA, Chagaev’s promoter, Timur Dugazaev, and Malte Mueller-Michaelis, who orchestrated the bout, unless all of this gets resolved. The lawsuit against Dugazaev, Mueller-Michaelis and the WBA will include several charges, including breach of contract and tortuous interference. These parties have employed various delay tactics. We’ve heard excuses ranging from religious holidays, to vacations, to the political climate and everything in between. Enough is enough. We can no longer leave this unresolved, especially since it appears that they are trying to overlook us for the rematch that we’re entitled to, and they are contractually bound to provide.”

CHESTER, PA (November 12, 2014)- This Friday night, Jr. Welterweight contender Raymond Serrano (18-2, 8 KO’s) returns to action when he competes in a six round bout against Wilfredo Acuna (15-15, 12 KO’s) in the co-feature bout at Harrahs Philadelphia in Chester, PA.

The show is promoted by Joey Eye Boxing , XFE and King’s Promotions.

Serrano of Philadelphia was one of the top prospects in the United States as he won his first 18 fights as he became a staple on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights.

He had quality wins over Ashantie Hendrickson (1-0), Jay Krupp (12-1), Ronnie Warrior Jr. (13-2-1) & Ayi Bruce (15-2).

He is looking ti get back in the win column after losing to Emanuel Taylor on January 25, 2013.

“I can’t wait to get back in their and I am ready to go,” said Serrano when asked about the 21-month lay off.on the 30-fight veteran Acuna.

“Training has been good. I have been dropping weight and training real hard and putting in work with my new trainer Chino Rivas.

“I don’t know much on Acuna except that he is a southpaw.”

This will be Serrano’s first appearance in his home state since stopping Corey Alacorn in five rounds on April 1, 2011.

“I am excited to be fighting in my hometown. After the layoff, it is good to have family and friends there to support me.”

The fight will be Serrano’s first under new manager Mark Cipparone and Club 1957 Management.

“I am excited to put on a good performance and get back on the winning track. This will start to get me back in line for the big fights I know I will be in and win.”

Acuna of Managua, Nicaragua has quality wins over Freddy Oprta (5-1), Matias Garcia (11-1), Douglas Lira (6-1) and has been in the ring with top prospects and contenders such as Orlando Cruz, Luis Cruz, Felix Diaz , Jonathan Maicelo, current world champion Chris Algieri. He is coming off an 8-round unanimous decision defeat to Dusty Hernandez Harrison (22-0) on July 26 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Serrano is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

In the ëight-round main event, Joey Dawejko (12-3-2, 5 KO’s) will face Rayford Johnson (10-15, 6 KO’s) of Longview, TX in a Heavyweight bout.

In Six round Bouts:
Immanuel Aleem (10-0, 6 KO’s) of Richmond, VA will take on Angel Antonio Martinez (6-8-3, 1 KO) in a Middleweight bout

In four round bouts:

Alex Barbosa (4-1-1, 1 KO) of Philadelphia will take on Benjamin Burgos (1-9-1) of Mount Pocono, PA in a Super Bantamweight bout.

Nathaniel Rivas (5-0, 2 KO’s) of Berlin, NJ will take on an opponent to be named in a Welterweight bout.

Randy Easton (2-4-1, 2 KO’s) of Williamsport, PA will fight Dan Bolden (2-3, 1 KO) of Louisiana in a Heavyweight bout.

David Grayton (9-0, 8 KO’s) of Washington, DC will take on Donald Ward (7-5, 3 KO’s) of Memphis, TN in a Welterweight bout.

Tickets are now on sale for $100 (VIP); $75 (Ringside) and $50 (General Admission) and can be purchased at the Harrahs Philadelphia Gift Shop; By calling Joey Eye (267-304-9399); David Feldman (610-291-0806); Peltz Boxing (215) 765 0922; 800-480-8020 or on www.webtix.net

MONTREAL (Nov. 12, 2014) – InterBox held a press conference today in Montreal to announce that fans at the Bell Centre on December 6 will be able to watch three major fights: light heavyweights Lucian Bute (31-2, 24 KOs) vs. Roberto Bolonti (35-3, 24 KOs) and Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) vs. Donovan George (26-4-2, 22 KOs), as well as the NABF middleweight title fight between David Lemieux (32-2, 20 KOs) vs. Gabriel Rosado (21-8, 13 KOs) on big screens live from Brooklyn, New York.

“We have a former IBF champion in Lucian, a former WBC champion and Ring champion in Pascal and one of the most exciting middleweights in the World in David Lemieux – all on the same night,” InterBox president Jean Bedard commented. “It’s the type of card the fans deserve and get excited to see.”

Lucian in the Philippines: A different style of training

Under the watchful eyes of multiple-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach, who is training multi-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, Lucian is refining his tools ahead of his Dec. 6 bout. Lucian may be halfway around the world in the Philippines but he quickly got comfortable with such prestigious company. “It is an honor to train with these two legends,” Bute said from the Philippines. “There are so many good people here who stop by and watch us. It feels great. It’s like I am training for the public every day.” Bute will stay at Pacquiao’s camp until Manny and Roach leave for Pacquaio’s Nov. 22 fight vs. Chris Algieri in Macau, China. Bute will return to Montreal at the end of November.

Pascal: Waiting for offers

WBC Diamond and NABF light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal is in an excellent position. As he stated to the media, Jean is currently the mandatory contender for WBC champion Adonis Stevenson and Jean will meticulously study all fight possibilities during the next few months. Pascal’s coach, Marc Ramsey, will be accompanying Lemieux to Brooklyn to work his corner Dec. 6. Pascal, who immediately agreed for Ramsey to work with Lemieux, will have Russ Anber and Roy Jones, Jr in his corner against George. Pascal also decided to set up training camp on Montreal instead of at Big Bear in California.

PPV in North America

The Canadian light heavyweight doubleheader card is also being distributed in the United Statesby Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 8:00 p.m. ET – 5:00 p.m. PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DirecTV, DISH, and Vubiquity for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

The Dec. 6 card in Montreal, featuring Bute and Pascal in co-main events, will be available on a pay-per-view basis in Canada on Indigo and Bell in French and English, as well as via Rogers, Shaw and Sask-Tel in English only.

Neither PPV will include Lemieux vs. Rosado.

For additional information please visit www.IntegratedSportsnet.com or www.InterBox.ca, follow on Twitter @IntegratedPPV @InterBoxCA @InterBoxBute @JeanPascalChamp.
ABOUT INTEGRATED SPORTS MEDIA: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Gennady Golovkin, Carl Froch, Erik Morales, Vitali Klitschko, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Tomasz Adamek, Paulie Malignaggi, Ivan Calderon, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Khan, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr., Brian Viloria, Giovani Segura and Ruslan Chagaev, as well as World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Mirko Filipovic, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson and Roy Nelson, in addition to In addition, Integrated Sports Media has distributed numerous International soccer matches featuring teams like Real Madrid, Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com or follow on Twitter @IntegratedPPV.

ABOUT INTERBOX: InterBox was founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1997 and acquired by Groupe Sportscene in 2004. InterBox is internationally recognized as one of the most respected boxing organizations in Quebec and throughout the World. InterBox’s main objective is to organize top quality events, both locally and internationally. InterBox’s success is due in large part to a growing pool of elite athletes and top quality trainers to support them and their ascension to the elite. InterBox promotes, produces and presents first quality events on a regular basis thanks to the very important corporate sponsors Videotron, the Cage-aux-Sports restaurant chain, Coors Light and Mise-O-Jeau.

Washington, DC (November 12, 2014)–Tomorrow night at The Washington Hilton, undefeated Middleweight Antoine “Action” Douglas will take on Don Mouton (14-8-1, 12 KO’s) as part of the 25th annual Fight for Children charity event.

Douglas is promoted by GH3 Promotions.

Douglas of Burke, Virginia has a record of 15-0-1 with 10 knockoutsand has been one of the most talked about Middleweight prospects in the United States. The 22-year old has quality wins over undefeated Colby Courter (4-undefeat0) and Marquis Davis (8-0-2). Douglas was impressive in scoring a sensational 2nd round stoppage over former world title challenger Luca Messi (37-9-1) on April 4 in Parsippany, New Jersey.

Douglas and former world title challenger Michel Soro (23-1) fought at highly contested draw in a bout that Douglas dominated over the first half of the bout.

That bout headlined the 200th episode of the highly acclaimed ShoBox: The New Generation series on July 25 at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York.

In his last bout, Douglas was very impressive in breaking down and eventully stopping the durable Jose Medina on October 24 in Somerset, NJ.

“I had a beautiful training camp for Medina. I corrected my punches from the Soro fight and he was there to get hit by them”, said Douglas about the well deserved stoppage win.
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“Everything is good. I got to training camp right off of my last fight and I am ready to keep pushing forward,”said Douglas. “I only took two days off and went right back into camp”

Mouton of Houston, Texas is known as a rugged puncher who has many signature wins on his docket such as wins over Josiah Judah (9-0-1), Richard Pierson (8-1), Walid Smichet (19-4-3), Jerson Ravelo (19-3), Jesse Lara (16-2-1), Samuel Clarkson (6-0). Mouton is on a two-fight knockout streak which includes a 1st round stoppage over Larry Smith on July 26 in Humble, Texas.

“I know Mouton has power and is strong and he has eight losses.”

Douglas will not only be fighting just minutes from his Burke, Virginia home but will be fighting on this special show that will raises millions of dollars for children.

“I means a lot to be able to fight on this show. I know this organization well and am happy to support them. It makes even more special that I can do this in my hometown of Washington.”finished Douglas.

The Douglas – Mouton bout will be part of a three fight card that will feature two title bouts when Carlos Cuadras fights Marvin Mabait for the WBC Super Flyweight title. Ava Knight battle Guadlupe Martinez for the WBC International Female Flyweight title.

Toronto – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents another exciting edition of Golden Boy Live! this Thursday, Nov. 13 at 10 p.m. ET, featuring three undefeated Mexican warriors headed to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in India, Calif.

Fight Network’s broadcast will air live exclusively in Canada.

Joseph Diaz Jr., Julian Ramirez and Diego De la Hoya square off against Roberto Castaneda, Pedro Melo and Ali Gonzalez, respectively, who are looking to add losses to the records of the undefeated trio of boxing’s most promising rising stars.

Meanwhile, seven-foot Chinese sensation Taishan will open up the televised portion of the card against Michael Lane.

In Thursday’s main event, unbeaten former U.S. Olympian Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. (12-0, 8 KOs) will square off with Mexicali veteran Roberto Castaneda (21-7-1, 15 KOs) who will look to test the resolve and experience of Diaz Jr. in their 10-round featherweight bout. One of the most experienced 23-year-olds in the sport,Castaneda has been keeping busy in the ring since his professional debut in 2009 and while he has had his ups and downs over the last year, a win over Diaz Jr. will get him back on track as 2014 comes to a close.?

Facing East Los Angeles’ Julian “El Camaron” Ramirez (12-0, 7 KOs) in the eight-round featherweight co-feature event, Tijuana’s Pedro Melo (11-5-2, 2 KOs) is a 26-year-old brawler who is looking to get back to the same form that resulted in a 2012 knockout over respected prospect Juan Jimenez. On Nov. 13, Melo hopes to walk away with a similar win over Ramirez.

Scheduled for six rounds in the featherweight division, Diego “The Golden Kid” De La Hoya (7-0, 5 KOs) will take on Tijuana’s Ali Gonzalez (6-3, 1 KO) who looks to spoil De La Hoya’s perfect record. After winning three of his last four bouts, the 27-year-old southpaw, Gonzalez, is more confident than ever that he has what it takes to pull off the upset at Fantasy Springs next month.

In the televised opener, the seven-foot heavyweight power-puncher Taishan (1-0, 1 KO) will enter the ring for his highly anticipated second professional fight. Taishan will be taking on Michael Lane (0-3) in a four-round bout. Widely considered one of the most interesting fighters in the sweet science today, fight fans are in for a rare glimpse Taishan in action when he laces up the gloves to face the hard luck Lane. The rugged Lane has seen each of his three losses go to the judges’ scorecards, proving he can exchange blows and go the distance. However, Taishan hopes to take this one out of the judges’ hands by walking away with his second professional knockout.

The Nov. 13 edition of Golden Boy Live! is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and the Fight Network broadcast airs live at 10 p.m. ET.

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.

We bring you Chris Algieri today live from his training camp at the Venetian Las Vegas and joining him today is his trainer Tim Lane and his promoter Joe DeGuardia. Chris Algieri is the undefeated champion and the only world champion representing New York right now and a renaissance man by any definition.. After sparring session on Wednesday, he will depart for Macau that evening. To tell us more about Chris and the promotion, here is Hall of Fame Promoter Bob Arum.

BOB ARUM: What do you mean he is the only champion that New York has? The Jets just beat the Steelers over the weekend! I’m glad to be on this call and we are all getting ready to go across the world to Macau and our hosts, The Venetian. Everybody is really looking forward to this event. It is building up tremendously. All of these great fighters leaving who will be participating on the card and we are thrilled to have Chris Algieri with us today because he has really stirred the pot. People are paying tremendous attention to this fight and I think everyone should watch “Under the Lights” this weekend on HBO because it is a true analysis of the fight. Tim Bradley did a great job with Virgil Hunter analyzing the fight so without further ado, I know Tim Lane is here and Joe DeGuardia, but I would like to now turn the call over to Chris Algieri.

CHRIS ALGIERI: Thank you, Bob. I am glad to be here and it’s great to be involved with this promotion and have the opportunity for this fight.

Before we get started I would just like to take a moment to pay tribute to the real warriors that are out there on this Veterans Day and give them the honor and tribute that they deserve for going above and beyond in fighting for our country and our freedom.

With that being said, I am happy to be here and training camp has gone fantastic and it has been a tremendous lead-up going into fight week and Team Algieri is very excited about our trip to Macau. All of our work is done here and now we are ready to travel across the world and shock the world.

TIM LANE: Thanks to everyone for joining in and thanks to Top Rank and Star Boxing for allowing us to be in a show like this. Training has been wonderful. Chris is in shape. He is mentally and physically ready to go and we are ready for our road trip.

JOE DeGUARDIA: It is a pleasure to be on this call. So much has been said about Chris already. He has been a great ambassador for the sport. I am proud of our relationship and it has been a great promotion going from Stony Brook to Wall Street to Shangahi and Macau. It’s going to be a great fight and we are looking forward to taking on Manny Pacquiao on November 22nd. .

BOB ARUM: You forgot to mention Joe that because we stopped at AT&T Park in San Francisco a lot of people are crediting Manny and Chris for bringing good luck to the San Francisco Giants, who went from Wild Card to World Champions.

How is Chris handling the pressure?

TIM LANE: Chris has been handling the pressure like there is no pressure. There is a lot of relaxation and meditation and ice baths after workouts. This is the Chris Algieri Show, like I said before, this is what he had visualized for years and now he has the situation the way he has always dreamt about having it. This is a dream come true so there is no pressure. There is great energy and Chris is feeding off all of it and he is stronger than ever.

Is Medical School still in your future?

CHRIS ALGIERI: Medical School is the next step in my career. There is no doubt about that. My mind is still hungry and I want to continue my education. But that is on hold right now. Now I am focusing full time on my boxing career. We are at the elite level right now and it takes 100% focus.

Where do you wish to go to Medical School?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I had always planned to go to a New York institution because I love New York and had a great experience in college back on Long Island. Stony Brook is my Alma Mater from undergrad and they have a fantastic, competitive medical school and that would be a great place to look into. But there are other great schools in New York and we’ll see what’s available when the time comes. In terms of what I want to study, I have a lot of friends that have gone through the process and often times you don’t know what your expertise will be until you go through your rotations to experience it first-hand. My background is health and fitness and cardiovascular interests me. A lot of the issues we are having in the country right now are directly related to a lack of good fitness and nutrition and since I have a background in that already it does make logical sense. There is also Sports Medicine, so we’ll see. There are a lot of options when it comes to medicine and health care.

Since Manny is in the Philippines and you are in the USA, how has it been for you to carry this entire promotion?

CHRIS ALGIERI: It’s been fantastic. It’s the kind of stuff that you want as a fighter coming up. I am now a champion and fighting at the elite level and you want this kind of exposure. A lot of guys say this, but when it comes they really don’t want it. I’m not that kind of guy. This stuff gets me up. My open workouts are like fight day. I’ve got a lot of pressure on me and I ride it to the top. I am enjoying my time here and my time under the microscope and I believe that has helped out whole team step up to perform that much better.

Do you feel as though you are being taken advantage of because you are here doing all of the interviews and Pacquiao is all by himself?

CHRIS ALGIERI: See, this is actually the first time I am fighting when I am not working as well. I have been a full-time boxer for this camp, so all of this other stuff I have been doing is kind of in par with stuff I have been doing anyway. I am a guy that does a million other things in addition to boxing. I have a lot of other stuff that I have been into my entire career and I have put all of that on hold now I am doing more stuff involving the actual promotion of the fight like doing interviews and making appearances. So for me I am no busier than I have ever been – I have always been a busy guy.

If Chris Algieri wins, what do you think that does for the sport?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I would hope that it would attract a more mainstream audience and have a crossover appeal – we need to get more people watching boxing. I love this sport and anything we can do to help it is great. The more attention that is drawn to any of the fighters, especially in a positive way, is good for the sport. And if it’s elevating my career, what the hell, let’s do it.

When you hear a Freddie Roach talking smack, do you feel a need to go back at him or just sit quietly by?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I am not going to change just to promote a fight. My stance is to not go back-and-forth and I am not fighting Freddie. That’s not the man I have to box with so I am not going to go back-and-forth firing darts at each other. You don’t see Pacquiao doing that. That’s Freddie’s prerogative and that’s what he likes to do. That’s not me, even if it helps the promotion of the fight, that’s not my style. It is what it is. If he wants to say that, that’s fine by me. What matters is fight night and myself and Pacquiao.

If Algieri beats Pacquiao, is he in line to fight Mayweather?

BOB ARUM: How can I talk for Mayweather? As far as the Pacquiao fight is concerned with Mayweather, as much as a lot of people surrounding it would want it to happen, myself included and Manny included, Floyd is reluctant to fight Manny Pacquiao, period. If people don’t see that by now, they are never going to see it. In as far as if Chris Algieri wins the fight against Manny Pacquiao, then there is a provision in the contract for a rematch. If he beats Pacquiao then beats Manny in a rematch and Floyd wants to fight him, that’s not my business – that’s up to Joe DeGuardia and it’s up to the Mayweather camp.

How do you feel about putting Long Island back on the map? This is the most anyone has talked about boxing on Long Island in a very long time – since Buddy McGirt was champion.

CHRIS ALGIERI: Boxing on Long Island – there is history there. It’s been a while since Buddy McGirt and Gerry Cooney, but you know, we are in kind of a resurgence now. We are putting our show there constantly – Star Boxing shows at the Paramount have drawn big crowds over the years and there is a lot of up and coming talent there now. You see more and more gyms with competitive professional fighters. It’s really come up and it’s great. When I was a kid, I did martial arts because boxing wasn’t really available on Long Island. I think now kids are able to begin boxing earlier. So it’s great and whatever can promote the sport on a whole is a good thing. And if we can do it on Long Island, where I am from, it’s a beautiful thing.

Do you ever it back and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I got to this point in my career this quickly?’

CHRIS ALGIERI: It’s zero to one hundred and that is just the nature of the game. I told my mother a joke the other day and she said ‘Chris, it’s just the way you said it would happen.’ It’s nothing then boom! it is a full on sprint. It’s the nature of the business and I’m not surprised by it. I’ve been watching this sports for years and I have seen it with other fighters. I knew my time would come I just had to stay focused and disciplined and if you work hard good things happen. I am right where I am supposed to be.

How does preparing for Pacquiao differ from preparing for Provodnikov?

CHRIS ALGIERI: Let me touch on Provodnikov’s style. He is a lot better than people think. Every fight he has lost has been a very close fight. He really brought it and he is a great champion. On top of being an exciting fighter the guy is good. And to tell you the truth the Ruslan I fought was the best Ruslan I have ever seen. They guy was cutting off the ring and his technique was very sharp and he was faster than usual. I made a mistake early and we all know how that went. I don’t want to downplay Ruslan’s power at all. He’s a fantastic fighter but in terms of his style and Manny’s they are completely different and the preparations for each are completely different but that is no different for me because I am always fighting guys with different styles. I have not been one of those champions that have been fed perfect guys to make me look great. I have had to fight every single style coming up on my way to get here I wasn’t fed anyone in any point of my career. I fought every style you could think of – righty, lefty, tall, short, power-puncher, fast guys, counter guys, so for me it is the norm – training for guys with different styles. Provodnikov has a totally different style than Manny Pacquiao and that’s what training camp is all about and that’s why I stay in shape year round, so I can work on strategy in camp instead of getting in shape.

Is your size an advantage?

CHRIS ALGIERI: It’s genetic. I’m tall for the weight class. I am built to go in and stand in front of the man and trade bombs – why would I do that? I’ve got length, I’ve got reach, I’ve got speed; I’ve got footwork and defense, but that’s not what’s going to be the difference in this fight. It’s not a tall guy versus a short guy – It’s Chris Algieri versus Manny Pacquiao. It’s what I bring to the table versus what he brings to the table. I think a lot of it has to do with my mental preparation and mind going into this fight as well as what we know from Manny. We know Manny is a living legend and a hall of famer for sure. He’s one of the greatest fighters that has ever lived. For me, I have to go out there and be myself. I have the talent and the tools to win this fight – I just have to go out there and perform.

How do you feel about the WBO wanting to take the belt away?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I am just focused on what’s in front of me. I really can’t worry about or complain about the WBO situation at this point. I am just focused on winning another WBO title on November 22nd. It’s one of those things that can’t matter to me. I’ve got other things to focus on and I’ve always been good at that. If it doesn’t make a difference right now, I can’t worry about it.

BOB ARUM: That decision from the WBO is now on hold. Paco [Valcarcel] will be over in Macau and you will be too. You can talk to him there. Obviously if Chris beats many all of this is moot, so a decision will be made after the fight. But you will have the opportunity to question Paco in Macau because I think he will be arriving on Tuesday or Wednesday of fight week.

How do you feel about Freddie trying to intimidate you with the comments he is making?

CHRIS ALGIERI: For one, he is wasting his time because I don’t even read those reports. So that’s the first thing. Secondly, I hear about them from other people around me and it doesn’t make a difference to me. It seems kind of odd for him to be coming out so much and saying so many different things and every day it’s a new thing. But like I said, I don’t read them and I don’t care about them and it doesn’t make a difference come fight night. I would imagine it is some kind of strategy, a kind of mental game or whatnot. Freddie’s been around a long time and maybe this has worked for him in the past but it’s not going to work on me.

Some would compare you to the San Francisco Giantsm with you both being the Wild Cards…

CHRIS ALGIERI: It’s not just this fight. It has been like that for many of my fights in my career, especially this year, and people seem to think I came out of nowhere. I was given an opportunity as a Wild Card and I ran with it and I think I’ve done that. So yes, I think that’s a fair association.

Do you think, since most of the fans will be Pacquiao backers, you will need a knockout to win?

CHRIS ALGIERI: No, I don’t think so. The judges are much closer to the action than the fans are. Fans sure can sway the way a fight looks. I am confident in the ability of the judges and if I do what I need to do and things go the way that we plan, we will come out with the victory regardless of the fan support.

BOB ARUM: Also, I wanted to say, you have to understand, if a fighter was fighting in America, and he was Mexican, would you say that the American judges would favor him because they come from the same continent? And the answer is ‘no.’ Manny Pacquiao is a Filipino and most of the people at the fight will be Chinese, whether they are from Hong Kong or mainland China. To think that someone would favor a Filipino over a US guy is to not understand the geo-political nature of different countries. The Chinese have as much affinity for a Filipino as they would an American, just as Americans would not necessarily favor a Mexican who is fighting over here. We can’t get into the narrow thinking that an Asian is an Asian. That’s silly – that just isn’t the case. Thai’s, Indonesians, Chinese, Filipinos – various groups and they are not always particularly friendly to each other.

Do you feel as though you are carrying the Argentinean torch?

CHRIS ALGIERI: It’s great to see part of my culture doing so well in the sport that I’m involved in, a sport that I have a passion for. I grew up hearing about a lot of Argentine fighters, the great Carlos Monzon and even the fighters on ESPN lime Omar Vaez; and now guys like Marcos Maidana and Sergio Martinez. More often you see Argentine fighters doing big things on a major stage. To be associated with those guys is really an honor and it’s great to see so many people from my culture do big things in the sport.

You drink the mate-tea made from the Argentinean yerba mate plant?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I drink mate every day during training camp, and just in general. It’s packed full of vitamins and nutrients and a lot of B vitamins that you would normally get from meat. The caffeine in there affects me less and it’s more like a stimulant. I can drink more of it and it’s hydrating as well. It’s one of my favorite drinks, especially on a cold morning. It gives me just enough of a pep after a workout. It helps also with fat loss and staying lean. It really is an overall incredible health drink and on top of it it’s part of the culture. It’s something my whole family and does and what we have always done. It’s warm and soothing for the belly and it helps you digest as well. I drink it all the way up until fight day. It’s a part of my routine.

CHRIS ALGIERI: I feel like I fight an aggressive style – smart / aggressive. I would have been more aggressive in the Ruslan fight if not because of my eye early in the fight. I had to protect that eye and be even smarter than I normally would. Don’t be confused with my style just from that one fight, because I know a lot of you have only seen that one fight. I am an aggressive style boxer and I will be in there to mix it up, but it’s going to be in a smart way.

How does you medical / nutritional background help you in training?

CHRIS ALGIERI: If I can think of anything, but nothing specific that I have learned, is the time management and discipline and stay focused. Mentally focused to be aware. Our training sessions are mentally packed. We work on very specific game plans and strategies. So I have been dealing with those types of complicated things and my scholastic background, so I think that helps me – my nutrition and my understanding of the human body, and the processes for recovery and proper dietary restrictions.

CHRIS ALGIERI: Stony Brook is a great school scholastically and I enjoyed my time there. It taught me a lot about life and about the future that I am living now. It is an honor to have graduated from there and to be recognized as an alumnus.

Coach Tony Walters?

CHRIS ALGIERI: Tony was one of the first international world-class athlete I had ever dealt with and I was lucky enough to have him as a coach and he taught me a lot about the mental aspects of training and competition. It was great to be around him – he was like a father figure to me especially in my athletic background. That is a person I will never forget and share in all of my victories since I left there until I am done.

What type of work did you do recently?

CHRIS ALGIERI: Well, I was a full time student either at Stony Brook or NYU getting my masters degree. After I graduated with my masters I was working as a nutritionist and a personal trainer. So I have always had other business or other things going on while training for a fight.

Were you training people prior to the Provodnikov fight?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I was training people on Tuesday of fight week.

Did they get in shape when you trained them?

CHRIS ALGIERI: Absolutely, I had some very fit people. I worked with a lot of athletes helping them, especially combat athletes, MMA fighters, Bermudez, Weidman, and guys on the lower levels – boxers and MMA fighters. Then also moms, middle aged mothers that want to get back in shape after pregnancy or just being home and not training. I had a very varied client list.

You’ve never been in a big fight such as this, so do you think you are doing the right things to be mentally prepared? Guys have always said they know they are ready then they get in the ring and they realize they are not ready. Why do you think you will be different?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I guess you won’t know until November 22nd. But that being said, there are tell tales on the way up. At press conferences, and everything leading up to this fight has been kind of like a dress rehearsal for the big show. All the attention and being under a microscope for the past five months I think has prepared me well. But like you said, I guess we won’t know until that night.

Do you try to entertain as you box?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I box but I have never heard anyone say that I was a boring fighter or that they didn’t really like watching my style. I use a lot of the sweet science as they say but that sort of stuff is exciting to watch. I throw a lot of punches. I am an active fighter. All of my fights have been exciting, even the lopsided ones. I am not concerned about taking a conscious approach to making my style more exciting. I think I go out there and fight in the manner that works best for me getting a win and it just so happens that it’s good to watch.

Would you compare your style to Floyd Mayweather?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I throw a lot more punches than Floyd. He’s very efficient with his punches and when he throws he lands a very high percentage but he’s not exceptionally busy every round. I think I bring a lot of energy and combinations and punches every single round. Even when I’m not throwing I am moving my upper body, I’m moving my feet, I’m moving my head, I am changing levels – all those things are important and they count and they are a part of boxing. It’s kind of a lost art because it is difficult to teach and unless you are an educated fan or a trainer or a fighter you don’t even see those kinds of things. Bringing some of the finer elements of the sport to the ring.

CHRIS ALGIERI: Bernard Hopkins’ style is the way…everything he does is for a reason – little head feints, little hand movements, little shoulder rolls and gestures are all finer points of the sweet science. Before contemporary times everyone did that kind of stuff. I have seen videos of Sugar Ray Robinson and Willie Pep who did a million other things than just punch, to set up a perfect shot or to offset their opponents’ rhythm. Boxing is incredibly complicated. It’s not Rock’em Sock’em Robots.

When you had the competition with Manny on the press tour, what did you play?

CHRIS ALGIERI: We played pool, we bowled then we had batting practice then we went to ESPN Deportes they had a basketball shooting game Pop-a-Shot.

Did you win all the games?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I did, yes.

In Closing…

BOB ARUM: I just want to say that this has been a fantastic conference call. The promotion is really interesting. You have promotions where guys just trash-talk each other and that to me is boring. This has been a very intelligent kind of promotion with both fighters. I think everybody should watch on Saturday night, HBO’s “Under The Lights” because the different styles of the fighters are discussed extraordinarily intelligently by Max Kellerman, Tim Bradley and Virgil Hunter. It’s a program that I recommend that everybody watch because a lot of questions that you have just might be answered by watching that program.

BOB ARUM: I want to say something else…this promotion and this event has been like a real-life Rocky story. Now we know that Rocky came from the streets of Philadelphia and was uneducated, and we have a Rocky here that is highly educated and very articulate, but this is truly a Rocky story nevertheless. If I had scripted this and sent the script in to HBO, it would have been rejected because of being unrealistic. But here we are; it’s real, it’s real life, and Chris Algieri is the modern day Rocky. And this should be a tremendous event and fight on November 22nd and I want to thank everybody for participating in this conference call.

CHRIS ALGIERI: Thanks for all of the kind words. This has been a tremendous promotion and I have enjoyed every moment of it. I hope I was able to answer your questions today, and I will see you all on the other side of the world when it’s fight week. Team Algieri is very excited and very much looking forward to this fight. We are done with the hard work and we are ready to rock.

* * Chris will be sparring on Wednesday then heading to the LAX to depart for Macau.

Promoted by Top Rank® and Sands China Ltd., in association with MP Promotions, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, Banner Promotions and Tecate, the Pacquiao-Algieri world welterweight championship event will take place Saturday, November 22, at The Venetian® Macao’s Cotai Arena, and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

An all-new special “Under the Lights: Pacquiao-Algieri” debuts This Saturday! November 15 at 11:45 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO.

Replays of “24/7 Pacquiao/Algieri,” will air on HBO during the following days and times: November 13 (2:30 p.m.), 18 (8:45 a.m.), 19 (6:00 p.m.), 21 (1:00 p.m. & 3:00 a.m.), and 22 (9:45 a.m.). It is also available on the HBO On Demand® service, HBO GO® and at www.hbo.com/boxing.

HBO2 playdates for 24/7: 19 (8:00 p.m.) and 21 (4:15 p.m. & 11:30 p.m.).

HBO Signature playdates for 24/7: November 22 (5:30 p.m.).

All times are ET/PT.

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 #PacAlgieri to join the conversation on Twitter.

Las Vegas, Nev. – History will be made when Swedish superstar and No. 1 ranked light heavyweight contender Alexander “The Mauler” Gustafsson meets No. 3 ranked knockout artist Anthony “Rumble” Johnson on Saturday, Jan. 24 in Stockholm, Sweden to determine the next UFC® light heavyweight title challenger.

The bout will take place in front of more than 30,000 fans at the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm, marking just the second major stadium event in UFC history and the first in Europe. The previous stadium event was the record-breaking UFC® 129 held at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, as more than 55,000 fans watched Georges St-Pierre defeat Jake Shields.

Gustafsson narrowly lost his title bid to reigning champion Jon “Bones” Jones in the greatest light heavyweight title fight of all time in Sept. 2013. Now, the rejuvenated 27-year-old will look to draw off the support of a massive hometown crowd when he meets Johnson, a winner of eight straight, including a devastating knockout win over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in his last bout.

“This is going to be an epic event,” Gustafsson, who defeated Jimi Manuwa in his last bout in March, said. “I want more than 30,000 fans to come and witness me win on January 24. Then I’m going to go and get the title! My journey back to the top starts now. ”

“This fight might be on his home turf, but I’m ready to go over to Sweden and prove that I’m the next in the line for the UFC light heavyweight title,” Johnson said. “I’m not intimidated by fighting in front of Alex’s hometown fans. I’m going to go in there and look for the knockout like I do in all of my fights. I can’t wait for this!”

Tickets for the historic UFC FIGHT NIGHT™: GUSTAFSSON vs. JOHNSON event will be available to the general public on Friday, Nov. 28 via AXS.com/UFC. Guarantee your seat by booking an Official UFC VIP Experience starting this Friday, Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. GMT via UFC VIP or Tailor Events.
VIP Experience packages includes the opportunity to step inside the Octagon™ and raise the UFC championship belt, coveted floor seats, hospitality and an official event poster signed by the fighters.

UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 10 a.m. GMT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Nov. 27 starting at 10 a.m. GMT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

The event will be broadcast live on FOX at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, with Prelims starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT on FOX Sports 1.

All bouts are subject to final approval from the Swedish MMA Federation. All bouts live and subject to change.

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (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, Beijing, 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 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.The UFC has a variety of multi-year broadcast agreements with some of the biggest networks throughout Europe, including BT Sport, TV12, C More, Abu Dhabi Media, Setanta and Kombet Sport.

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.

LONDON (12 NOV) Morden’s newly-crowned EU champion Lenny Daws has been made official challenger for the European (EBU) light-welterweight title and hopes to tempt the champion, Michele Di Rocco, into a rematch at some point in 2015.

Daws lost a disputed and controversial 12-round decision to Di Rocco in June 2013 and has been eager for a return ever since. Now, thanks to his mandatory position with the EBU, the exciting 35-year-old could be on track to become European champion next year.

“This is what I want and it’s something I’ve wanted for a while now,” he said. “I’m just delighted to now be next in line for a shot at the European title.

“In an ideal world, I’ll fight Di Rocco for the belt next year. But he’s just had his mandatory defence and may be entitled to a voluntary defence next. Whatever happens, though, I know I’ll get my shot.

“Fighting for the vacant title would be great, but fighting Di Rocco again would be even better. I want to set the record straight and I want to avenge that bad decision I suffered in Italy.

“I have my doubts he’ll stick around and do the rematch. He’s up there in the world rankings now and he may decide to vacate the title and move on. I wouldn’t blame him. If he fights me and I beat him, his world title dream goes up in smoke.”

Daws received his shot at the European title following Saturday night’s emphatic tenth round stoppage victory over the awkward and dangerous Frenchman Chaquib Fadli.

“He was a tricky customer,” said Daws, 29-3-2 (11 KOs). “I didn’t get to see much footage of him beforehand and I just had to suss him out round by round.

“He wanted to dance around and swing those wild uppercuts and hooks, but I stayed focused on slowly breaking him down. I didn’t let his antics bother me. It was only a matter of time.

“In the end, he was lucky in round ten when he got a long count after I heavily put him down. After that, I knew I was going to finish him. All I focused on was not rushing in and getting caught with something silly. I took my time and landed enough shots for the referee to stop the fight.”

END
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Los Angeles, CA:
Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (26-0-1, 23 KOs) returned home late Monday evening to his family after he added the WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship belts to his collection, which already included the WBO Light Heavyweight World Championship belt, when he held his newborn son, Aleksandr Kovalev, for the first time.

Because the Baby Krusher was born on October 20 in Los Angeles after Sergey had already left California for training camp in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on October 12, this was the first time father and son got to meet face-to-face. Sergey was able to Skype with his wife, Natalia, and the baby just after she gave birth but Krusher could not take time away from training camp with John David Jackson to fly back to Los Angeles. Doctors had told the Kovalevs that the baby was due on October 18 so they were hoping Natalia would give birth before Sergey left Big Bear Lake to go to Florida; unfortunately, the baby arrived two days late.

Krusher Models Custom-Made
Baby Krusher Robe & Trunks
When he was finally able to hold his son in his arms he said, “I was waiting for this moment for such a long time. The first night I met my son was sleepless but I didn’t think about that because I am just finally enjoying time with my family. My newborn son is healthy and that is most important thing to me. I am with my family now for the very first time.”

These last several weeks have been action-packed for the 31-year old champ from Chelyabinsk, Russia. In addition to his three title unification and the birth of his first child, he was also named the WBO Fighter of the Year. Sergey explained, “I didn’t know at the beginning of the year that I would get three belts by the end of the year. I would have been happy with the two and I am so happy I got three belts.”

After his win on Saturday night Kovalev said, “I was too excited to sleep.” He left the press conference a little after 2:00 AM ET to call his wife and son as the newly crowned unified champ. He spent all day Sunday wandering alone on the boardwalk just basking in his win.

Monday morning, however, before catching a late flight back home to his family, he travelled to Connecticut to visit his dear friend Magomed Abdusalamov. Mago suffered grave neurological injuries following his fight with Mike Perez earlier this year. After his last title defense against Blake Caparello in August, Sergey auctioned off memorabilia from the fight on eBay and donated the proceeds to help the Abdusalamov family with his medical bills.

Krusher and Mago Pose with WBO Belt
Along with Amin Suleymanov
His manager, Egis Klimas, travelled back with Sergey to Los Angeles and said, “Now Sergey is the happiest person on earth. Finally he met his son, finally he has three belts but he is not done yet. He is looking forward for more sons and more belts.”

Sergey’s wife, Natalia, has been patiently waiting for her husband to return home to her and her son. “I was waiting for my husband to come home whether with victory or no victory but of course knowing him he brought his newborn son a victory,” explained Natalia. “Now we work together to raise our son and we are very, very happy.”

Sergey & Natalia Kovalev
Photo Credits:
Rich Graessle/Main Events

Donations can be made to the Abdusalamov family at:

Ring10NY

SAN ANTONIO, TX (November 12, 2014) — Undefeated No. 2-world-rated super middleweight contender GILBERTO “Zurdo” RAMIREZ and two-time Mexican Olympian and undefeated featherweight knockout artist ÓSCAR VALDEZ will headline an exciting boxing card, Saturday, November 15, at San Antonio’s Alamodome.

Ramirez , of Mazatlan, Mexico, will be defending his NABF and WBO International super middleweight titles in a 10-round battle against four-time world title challenger FULGENCIO ZUNIGA of Barranquilla, Colombia. Valdez, of Nogales, Mexico, will battle one-time world title challenger ALBERTO GARZA of Mexico City in an eight-round featherweight rumble. Both fights will be televised live on HBO Latino, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT

The non-televised undercard will feature undefeated Texans IVAN NAJERA of San Antonio and CASEY RAMOS of Austin, in separate eight-round lightweight bouts, and 2012 Russian Olympic gold medalist EGOR MEKHONTSEV of Asbest, Russia, in an eight-round light heavyweight fight.

The event is promoted by Top Rank®, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Zapari Boxing Promotions, in association with Foreman Boys Promotions and Tecate.

Ramirez (29-0, 23 KOs), of Mazatlan, Mexico, is world-rated No. 2 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the World Boxing Organization (WBO), No. 3 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and No. 4 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF). A sensational young contender, Ramirez, 23, has won all three of his 2014 bouts by knockout. In his last outing, on July 19, he successfully defended his NABF and WBO International super middleweight titles via a second-round knockout of world-rated contender Junior Talipeau Ramirez will once again be putting his titles on the line, this time against four-time world title challenger Zuniga (27-9-1, 24 KOs), of Barranquilla, Colombia. Zuniga, whose resume boasts victories over Jose Zertuche and Antwun Echols, also went the distance when he challenged WBO junior middleweight champion Daniel Santos, WBO super middleweight champion Denis Inkin and IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud. His last three victories have been by knockout.

Valdez (13-0, 11 KOs), who represented Mexico in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, is considered one of the bright lights of the featherweight division. On the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley welterweight championship rematch last April, he captured the NABF super featherweight title, knocking out Adrian Perez in the fourth round. Valdez successfully defended that title one month later, again by knockout, stopping Noel Echevarria in the sixth round. Garza (26-8-1, 21 KOs), of Mexico City, looks to be the toughest opponent Valdez has faced. A former WBC Continental Americas featherweight champion and a former WBC Silver featherweight champion, he unsuccessfully challenged WBA featherweight champion Nicolas Walters in 2013. Fifteen of Garza’s last 17 victories have been by knockout.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, facebook.com/hboboxing or facebook.com/hbolatino, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, twitter.com/hboboxing or twitter.com/hbolatino.

LONDON (12 Nov) – As a prelude to the eagerly anticipated showdown next Saturday night between WBO welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao and fast-rising challenger Chris Algieri, BoxNation are airing “24/7 Pacquiao/Algieri”, an action-packed one episode, 30-minute special examining the 147-pound title showdown.

The “24/7 Pacquiao/Algieri” special will premiere tonight at 7pm, free-to-air to customers on the Sky TV platform.

The all-new documentary-styled presentation will explore the intriguing storylines connected to the November 22nd fight: one of the world’s most popular and famous athletes defending his crown versus a remarkably confident, poised and undefeated world light-welterweight champion from New York, whose journey to the highest-profile stage in the sport is unparalleled and reads like a Hollywood script.

The quintessential underdog versus superstar storyline will be explored with “24/7? cameras visiting Algieri at home on Long Island and in camp in Las Vegas as well as travelling to the Philippines to visit with Manny Pacquiao as he trains for the fight.

The bout taking place in Macau will be aired live and exclusive on British television on the number one home of boxing, BoxNation, with ‘The Channel of Champions’ enjoying a monster month which will culminate in Dereck Chisora’s heavyweight clash with Tyson Fury.

To subscribe to BoxNation (Sky437/490HD, Virgin 546 & TalkTalk 525) for just £12 a month please visit www.boxnation.com.

-Ends-

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

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

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

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.525), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android. BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

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

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

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

Saturday night December 6th on the paradise island of Sint Maarten, nestled nicely in the Caribbean, two titles will be on the line as Bobby Ottley’s Bose Promotions presents a big night of professional boxing titled “This is it-War.” The twelve round main event of the Bose Promotions promoted card will also be in association with Elton Dharry Promotions, as Elton Dharry (16-5-1, 10KOs) of Brooklyn, New York, by way of Guyana, battles it out with Nicaraguan bantamweight champion Jose Rios (13-1-1, 6KOs) for the coveted IBF Inter-continental bantamweight title.

Dharry, who is known as quick boxer who adjusts quickly when in the ring to the various styles of his opponents as shown in his victories over Dexter Marques (8-1,3KOs), Rudolph Hedge (7-0-3, 2KOs) and Eilon Kedem (11-3-1, 7KOs).

In his last fight Elton Dharry only needed one round to stop thirty-five fight veteran Lashaun Blair.

He will face his toughest opponent to date on December 6th at the L.B. Scott Auditorium in Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten when he takes on Nicaraguan bantamweight champion Jose Rios (12-1-1, 5KOs).

It will be the first fight out of Nicaragua for the dangerous Nicaraguan champion Jose Rios, who has six knockouts in his twelve victories.

He captured the Nicaraguan bantamweight title in June of 2013 with a ten round unanimous decision victory over Carlos Osorio (10-3, 5KOs). In his last bout, October 24th, he successfully defended the Nicaraguan title with ten round unanimous decision over Frederick Castro (8-3-2,1KO) and he should be primed and ready come December 6th.

The co-feature of the loaded international card will be a war to settle the score perfectly fits the card title “This is it-War” as Carlette “The Truth” Ewell (15-7-1, 9KOs) battles it out with top rated Sonya Lamonakis (9-1-2, 1KO) over ten rounds for the IBO female Heavyweight title.

It will be a rematch of a hotly contested draw back in January 2012 at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. The stakes have been raised this time as the vacant IBO Female Heavyweight title is on the line.

The top ranked Lamonakis knows a win will avenge the draw on her record and put her in the driver’s seat of the heavyweight division. In her last bout she avenged the only other previous draw with a solid eight round unanimous decision victory over Tanzee Daniels.

The more experienced Carlette Ewell, nicknamed the truth pulls no punches and says that she felt she won the first battle, but that the bout was declared a draw in the hometown area of Lamonakis. Now she promises a knockout or a lot of pain for Lamonakis if she has to go the distance to secure the victory. If she is to do this, there must be two years of ring rust to be shaken off. Carlette isn’t worried, proclaiming that she has been in the gym, but several fights fell through.

Team Sauerland is delighted to announce the signing of Kai Robin Havnaa. The Norwegian amateur star has signed a long-term promotional contract with Europe’s leading boxing promoter and will make his professional debut on November 29 at the Falconer Hall at the Radisson Blu in Copenhagen.

‘’It’s a great feeling to become a Sauerland boxer,’’ said Havnaa. ‘’It’s a dream come true and I’m looking forward to an exciting journey ahead. The plan is to win titles and become the best in the world.

‘’I’ve had a short but successful amateur career, and at 25 years old, I feel the time is right for me to turn pro. I’m absolutely positive I’ve made the right decision. I can’t wait to begin my journey to the top.’’

The 25 year-old is the son of Magne Havnaa, the former WBO World Cruiserweight Champion and to do this day the only male boxer from Norway to have held a world title.

‘’My Dad was the best in the world, and a great inspiration to me,’’ said Havnaa. ‘’But I have to create my own name. I will not win fights because I’m the son of Magne, I will win fights because I’m Kai Robin.’’

Havnaa will have the chance to claim his first professional victory on November 29 when he joins fellow Norwegian talents Cecilia Brækhus, Tim-Robin Lihaug and Alexander Hagen in action at the Falconer Hall in Copenhagen.

‘’I can’t wait to get in the ring and get my pro career started,’’ said Havnaa. ‘’I feel confident and I’m ready to impress. It’s going to be a huge night for Norwegian boxing and I’m really excited to be a part of it!’’

Said promoter Nisse Sauerland: ‘’Kai Robin is the future of Norwegian boxing. He has all the ingredients to become a super star and we fully expect him to follow in his father’s footsteps and conquer the world. The journey begins on November 29 in Copenhagen!’’

Tickets for the Nordic Fight Night on November 29 in Copenhagen are available via billetnet.dk.

Moscow, Russia / Philadelphia (November 12, 2014)–On Friday November 28, former world champions will collide when “The Siberian Rocky” Ruslan Provodnikov squares off with Jose Luis Castillo in a 12-round Welterweight bout at the Luzhniki GCKZ “Russia” Arena in Moscow,

The fight is promoted by Artie Pelullo’s Banner Promotions and World of Boxing LLC

“I’m happy to be fighting at home! It’s been three years, and I’m ready for war with Castillo! Hope to see all my fans in Moscow on Nov. 28th!” said Provodnikov

Provodnikov will be making a homecoming as it will be his first fight in his native Russia since December 5, 2011.

Provodnikov of Beryozovo, Russia has a record of 23-3 with 16 knockouts and is the former WBO Jr. Welterweight world champion.

He is considered the most exciting fighter in the sport due to his crowd-pleasing style.

Provodnikov won his first seventeen bouts as he defeated many quality opponents.
.
On March 16, 2013, Provodnikov took on undefeated WBO Welterweight world champion Timothy Bradley at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

Provodnikov beat and battered Bradley to the point where Bradley suffered a concussion and was sent to the canvas in the final seconds of the bout

The fight made Ruslan a one of boxing’s “Cant Miss” stars. Unfortunately, Bradley won a debated split decision in what was the 2013 Fight of the Year.

Since that bout, there has been a major push for the rematch, but Provodnikov has been turned down several times by Bradley. Bradley has stated on more then one occasion that he will never get into the ring with Provodnikov again.

Provodnikov would not be denied as in his very next bout he won the WBO Jr. Welterweight title with an emphatic 10th round stoppage over Mike Alvarado in Alvardo’s hometown of Broomfield, Colorado.

Provodnikov dropped Alvarado twice in round eight, which were the first two times in Alvarado’s career that he ever tasted the canvas. Provodnikov continued to batter Alvarado until he could no longer take any more punishment and he quit on the stool in the bout which took place on October 19, 2013.

Provodnikov is coming off a controversial split decision defeat to undefeated Chris Algieri, in a bout that saw Ruslan drop Algieri twice in round one and badly closed Algieri’s eye. Most ringside observers and the audience watching on HBO thought the verdict should have gone to Provodnikov.

Castillo of Mexicali, Mexico is a two-time WBC Lightweight world champion who has made five total defenses and has been in several memorable bouts.

He has a record of 66-12-1 with 57 knockouts,

He captured the WBC Lightweight title on June 17, 2000 with a 12-round majority decision over Stevie Johnston (30-1). He defended the title with a draw with Johnston and then he scored a 6-round stoppage over Cesar Bezan & Seung-Ho Yuh (13-1).

In April 20, 2002, Castillo was denied a victory that most believed he deserved when he pushed Floyd Mayweather to the limit before being on the wrong end of a unanimous decision. Eight months later, Castillo fought a rematch with Mayweather and lost another unanimous decision in a bout where the scores were even closer than their first encounter.

On June 5, 2004, Castillo regained the WBC Lightweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Juan Lazcano. He defended the title with a 12-round split decision over Joel Casamayor and a 10th round stoppage over Julio Diaz.

On May 7, 2005, Castillo and Diego Corrales engaged in what most think is one of the greatest fights of all time. They fought an epic battle that saw Corrales and Castillo wage an inside battle for the ages. In the memorable 10th round, Castillo sent Corrales to the canvas twice. Only to see, Corrales, with his left eye closed, comeback and landed a barrage of punches on the ropes before referee Tony Weeks stopped the fight.

Castillo got even in the rematch by stopping Corrales in the 4th round of the rematch.

Castillo has continued to fight and defeat top opposition and is on a two-fight winning streak and in his last bout, he defeated Jose Luis Payan (12-1-1) via 5th round stoppage on May 30 in Nogales, Mexico.

“I am very excited to have Ruslan fight back in Moscow. Ruslan is one of the biggest stars in the sport of boxing. He will be fighting in front of his countrymen in a sold-out arena against a great former world champion in Jose Luis Castillo. I want to thank Andrey Rybinski for all his help and it has been a pleasure to work with him and his staff,”said Banner Promotions President Artie Pelullo.

An American television outlet will be announced shortly.

Congratulations. Your recent tournament in Monte Carlo delivered high-quality match-ups. Presumably your partners in Monaco were very satisfied?
I would hope so. The objective is gaining publicity for the principality, encouraging tourism, that sort of thing. It was very well received internationally.
The reality is we have been moving towards Gennady Golovkin against Martin Murray, which will be a mega-event.

You are now promoting Martin Murray and have co-promoted a number of Gennady Golovkin’s fights in Monaco. How difficult was it to put together Murray versus Golovkin for next February?
It was relatively easy. It was a very unique situation: both Golovkin and Murray are thorough gentlemen and [K2 Promotions’] Tom Loeffler, on Golovkin’s side, is one of the most honourable guys I’ve had the pleasure of dealing with. Andrew Mikhail, Murray’s advisor, is of the same ilk. They understand the logistics. Outside of a Miguel Cotto or Canelo Alvarez fight, Murray against Golovkin was an obvious choice for international television and a great fans’ fight.

Are you torn? It is well-known that you have an excellent relationship with each.
Yes, it’s very difficult. Golovkin has done a helluva lot for Golden Gloves. It has been a privilege promoting him and it’s fair to say part of his stature has grown from his past fights in Monte Carlo.
And we promote Murray. As I said when it was announced, this is a very hard fight for me . . . both guys are very dear to me. As long as it’s a good, competitive fight, neither fighter truly “loses”. I can assure you Murray is not going to be another Marco Antonio Rubio.

What qualities do they each bring to the fight and what do you think will be critical in determining a winner?
The jury is still out to some extent on GGG’s super status. He hasn’t fought the superstars as yet. From what I’ve seen, all of his opponents, perhaps with the exception of Curtis Stevens, were defeated before they stepped foot in the ring.
Murray, though, comes from a tough background. I will venture to say that he will be the first challenger who won’t be overwhelmed. He has true boxing skills and will also be the biggest middleweight Golovkin will have fought.
Remember, Murray is probably a two-time uncrowned champion who gave a peak Sergio Martinez a very good fight.
One of the reasons I give Murray a chance is that Golden Gloves has been involved in some of the biggest upsets in recent years – Hasim Rahman beating Lennox Lewis, Corrie Sanders knocking out Wladimir Klitschko, Harry Simon beating Winky Wright and Vuyani Bungu handling Kennedy McKinney. The list is uncanny.

What has the appetite been from the international broadcast community for February’s big fight?
Outstanding. There has been much competition in various countries for the rights because it is seen as a proper fight. HBO in the US, Channel 5 in the UK, Chinese television and SuperSport across Africa will all be taking the fight, plus many more regions.

The venue in Monte Carlo is a small, intimate one. Given the scale of the fight, how do you plan on satisfying the fans, media, dignitaries and VIP’s?
It’s great because the demand will exceed the supply 100-fold. It’s virtually sold out already. The pressure for tickets doubles the value for television.
The truth is we can’t ensure everyone who wants a ticket will get one. We have to be very selective, it’s one of those things. When we ventured into Monte Carlo, this is what we knew.

Golden Gloves has been around a long time and promoted many big names, among them Shane Mosley, Lennox Lewis, Gennady Golovkin, Corrie Sanders and Brian Mitchell. You have made big headway in Europe and are planning to promote in the UK. Tell us more about your business model and ambitions.
I’m a front man. I have a lot of support from top drawer partners, from our driver to the matchmaker, who are all a part of Golden Gloves’ success.
The reason for our success is we run on corporate lines and don’t let emotions get in the way. We are fortunate that SuperSport Television in South Africa were very much part of our success, as was [hotel group] Sun International and more latterly Peermont.
We have also been blessed with very good fighters. We are probably getting stronger and stronger promotionally. We are getting requests from a lot of international boxers to join us. We will soon promote in England and have been approached by another country in Europe.
My one ambition, probably unattainable, is to promote a black world heavyweight champion born and bred in South Africa.

You have a tremendous little fighter in the shape of WBA and IBO minimumweight champion Hekkie Budler, fresh off a win against former WBC champion Xiong Zhao Zhong. What are your plans with him?
I’m hoping Hekkie won’t be deprived of his true greatness. Zhong refused to fight him when he was WBC champion, and Hekkie beat him convincingly last month.
[WBC champion] Oswaldo Novoa similarly rejected an offer to fight him in a unification. It’s extremely difficult to make those fights.
I’m almost certain that we will soon feature him on a K2 Promotions undercard in the United States where Hekkie can become just as marketable as guys like Chiquita Gonzalez and Michael Carbajal. That’s what we’re aiming for.

Unbeaten Tommy Oosthuizen also makes his return after a year’s layoff against Denis Grachev this weekend. He’s had a few issues with indiscipline in the past. What does the future hold for Tommy?
Tommy is the captain of his own soul. He has unlimited ability, but it’s up to him. There are opportunities if he satisfies us and knuckles down. Depending how he goes against Grachev, I will push for him at the WBC convention to get suitable recognition in the light-heavyweight division.

There was the recent death of a female boxer in a South African ring and there have been tremendous issues with Boxing South Africa. What is your view on the state of SA boxing?
I would rather not comment.

We bring you Chris Algieri today live from his training camp at the Venetian Las Vegas and joining him today is his trainer Tim Lane and his promoter Joe DeGuardia. Chris Algieri is the undefeated champion and the only world champion representing New York right now and a renaissance man by any definition.. After sparring session on Wednesday, he will depart for Macau that evening. To tell us more about Chris and the promotion, here is Hall of Fame Promoter Bob Arum.

BOB ARUM: What do you mean he is the only champion that New York has? The Jets just beat the Steelers over the weekend! I’m glad to be on this call and we are all getting ready to go across the world to Macau and our hosts, The Venetian. Everybody is really looking forward to this event. It is building up tremendously. All of these great fighters leaving who will be participating on the card and we are thrilled to have Chris Algieri with us today because he has really stirred the pot. People are paying tremendous attention to this fight and I think everyone should watch “Under the Lights” this weekend on HBO because it is a true analysis of the fight. Tim Bradley did a great job with Virgil Hunter analyzing the fight so without further ado, I know Tim Lane is here and Joe DeGuardia, but I would like to now turn the call over to Chris Algieri.

CHRIS ALGIERI: Thank you, Bob. I am glad to be here and it’s great to be involved with this promotion and have the opportunity for this fight.

Before we get started I would just like to take a moment to pay tribute to the real warriors that are out there on this Veterans Day and give them the honor and tribute that they deserve for going above and beyond in fighting for our country and our freedom.

With that being said, I am happy to be here and training camp has gone fantastic and it has been a tremendous lead-up going into fight week and Team Algieri is very excited about our trip to Macau. All of our work is done here and now we are ready to travel across the world and shock the world.

TIM LANE: Thanks to everyone for joining in and thanks to Top Rank and Star Boxing for allowing us to be in a show like this. Training has been wonderful. Chris is in shape. He is mentally and physically ready to go and we are ready for our road trip.

JOE DeGUARDIA: It is a pleasure to be on this call. So much has been said about Chris already. He has been a great ambassador for the sport. I am proud of our relationship and it has been a great promotion going from Stony Brook to Wall Street to Shangahi and Macau. It’s going to be a great fight and we are looking forward to taking on Manny Pacquiao on November 22nd. .

BOB ARUM: You forgot to mention Joe that because we stopped at AT&T Park in San Francisco a lot of people are crediting Manny and Chris for bringing good luck to the San Francisco Giants, who went from Wild Card to World Champions.

How is Chris handling the pressure?

TIM LANE: Chris has been handling the pressure like there is no pressure. There is a lot of relaxation and meditation and ice baths after workouts. This is the Chris Algieri Show, like I said before, this is what he had visualized for years and now he has the situation the way he has always dreamt about having it. This is a dream come true so there is no pressure. There is great energy and Chris is feeding off all of it and he is stronger than ever.

Is Medical School still in your future?

CHRIS ALGIERI: Medical School is the next step in my career. There is no doubt about that. My mind is still hungry and I want to continue my education. But that is on hold right now. Now I am focusing full time on my boxing career. We are at the elite level right now and it takes 100% focus.

Where do you wish to go to Medical School?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I had always planned to go to a New York institution because I love New York and had a great experience in college back on Long Island. Stony Brook is my Alma Mater from undergrad and they have a fantastic, competitive medical school and that would be a great place to look into. But there are other great schools in New York and we’ll see what’s available when the time comes. In terms of what I want to study, I have a lot of friends that have gone through the process and often times you don’t know what your expertise will be until you go through your rotations to experience it first-hand. My background is health and fitness and cardiovascular interests me. A lot of the issues we are having in the country right now are directly related to a lack of good fitness and nutrition and since I have a background in that already it does make logical sense. There is also Sports Medicine, so we’ll see. There are a lot of options when it comes to medicine and health care.

Since Manny is in the Philippines and you are in the USA, how has it been for you to carry this entire promotion?

CHRIS ALGIERI: It’s been fantastic. It’s the kind of stuff that you want as a fighter coming up. I am now a champion and fighting at the elite level and you want this kind of exposure. A lot of guys say this, but when it comes they really don’t want it. I’m not that kind of guy. This stuff gets me up. My open workouts are like fight day. I’ve got a lot of pressure on me and I ride it to the top. I am enjoying my time here and my time under the microscope and I believe that has helped out whole team step up to perform that much better.

Do you feel as though you are being taken advantage of because you are here doing all of the interviews and Pacquiao is all by himself?

CHRIS ALGIERI: See, this is actually the first time I am fighting when I am not working as well. I have been a full-time boxer for this camp, so all of this other stuff I have been doing is kind of in par with stuff I have been doing anyway. I am a guy that does a million other things in addition to boxing. I have a lot of other stuff that I have been into my entire career and I have put all of that on hold now I am doing more stuff involving the actual promotion of the fight like doing interviews and making appearances. So for me I am no busier than I have ever been – I have always been a busy guy.

If Chris Algieri wins, what do you think that does for the sport?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I would hope that it would attract a more mainstream audience and have a crossover appeal – we need to get more people watching boxing. I love this sport and anything we can do to help it is great. The more attention that is drawn to any of the fighters, especially in a positive way, is good for the sport. And if it’s elevating my career, what the hell, let’s do it.

When you hear a Freddie Roach talking smack, do you feel a need to go back at him or just sit quietly by?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I am not going to change just to promote a fight. My stance is to not go back-and-forth and I am not fighting Freddie. That’s not the man I have to box with so I am not going to go back-and-forth firing darts at each other. You don’t see Pacquiao doing that. That’s Freddie’s prerogative and that’s what he likes to do. That’s not me, even if it helps the promotion of the fight, that’s not my style. It is what it is. If he wants to say that, that’s fine by me. What matters is fight night and myself and Pacquiao.

If Algieri beats Pacquiao, is he in line to fight Mayweather?

BOB ARUM: How can I talk for Mayweather? As far as the Pacquiao fight is concerned with Mayweather, as much as a lot of people surrounding it would want it to happen, myself included and Manny included, Floyd is reluctant to fight Manny Pacquiao, period. If people don’t see that by now, they are never going to see it. In as far as if Chris Algieri wins the fight against Manny Pacquiao, then there is a provision in the contract for a rematch. If he beats Pacquiao then beats Manny in a rematch and Floyd wants to fight him, that’s not my business – that’s up to Joe DeGuardia and it’s up to the Mayweather camp.

How do you feel about putting Long Island back on the map? This is the most anyone has talked about boxing on Long Island in a very long time – since Buddy McGirt was champion.

CHRIS ALGIERI: Boxing on Long Island – there is history there. It’s been a while since Buddy McGirt and Gerry Cooney, but you know, we are in kind of a resurgence now. We are putting our show there constantly – Star Boxing shows at the Paramount have drawn big crowds over the years and there is a lot of up and coming talent there now. You see more and more gyms with competitive professional fighters. It’s really come up and it’s great. When I was a kid, I did martial arts because boxing wasn’t really available on Long Island. I think now kids are able to begin boxing earlier. So it’s great and whatever can promote the sport on a whole is a good thing. And if we can do it on Long Island, where I am from, it’s a beautiful thing.

Do you ever it back and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I got to this point in my career this quickly?’

CHRIS ALGIERI: It’s zero to one hundred and that is just the nature of the game. I told my mother a joke the other day and she said ‘Chris, it’s just the way you said it would happen.’ It’s nothing then boom! it is a full on sprint. It’s the nature of the business and I’m not surprised by it. I’ve been watching this sports for years and I have seen it with other fighters. I knew my time would come I just had to stay focused and disciplined and if you work hard good things happen. I am right where I am supposed to be.

How does preparing for Pacquiao differ from preparing for Provodnikov?

CHRIS ALGIERI: Let me touch on Provodnikov’s style. He is a lot better than people think. Every fight he has lost has been a very close fight. He really brought it and he is a great champion. On top of being an exciting fighter the guy is good. And to tell you the truth the Ruslan I fought was the best Ruslan I have ever seen. They guy was cutting off the ring and his technique was very sharp and he was faster than usual. I made a mistake early and we all know how that went. I don’t want to downplay Ruslan’s power at all. He’s a fantastic fighter but in terms of his style and Manny’s they are completely different and the preparations for each are completely different but that is no different for me because I am always fighting guys with different styles. I have not been one of those champions that have been fed perfect guys to make me look great. I have had to fight every single style coming up on my way to get here I wasn’t fed anyone in any point of my career. I fought every style you could think of – righty, lefty, tall, short, power-puncher, fast guys, counter guys, so for me it is the norm – training for guys with different styles. Provodnikov has a totally different style than Manny Pacquiao and that’s what training camp is all about and that’s why I stay in shape year round, so I can work on strategy in camp instead of getting in shape.

Is your size an advantage?

CHRIS ALGIERI: It’s genetic. I’m tall for the weight class. I am built to go in and stand in front of the man and trade bombs – why would I do that? I’ve got length, I’ve got reach, I’ve got speed; I’ve got footwork and defense, but that’s not what’s going to be the difference in this fight. It’s not a tall guy versus a short guy – It’s Chris Algieri versus Manny Pacquiao. It’s what I bring to the table versus what he brings to the table. I think a lot of it has to do with my mental preparation and mind going into this fight as well as what we know from Manny. We know Manny is a living legend and a hall of famer for sure. He’s one of the greatest fighters that has ever lived. For me, I have to go out there and be myself. I have the talent and the tools to win this fight – I just have to go out there and perform.

How do you feel about the WBO wanting to take the belt away?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I am just focused on what’s in front of me. I really can’t worry about or complain about the WBO situation at this point. I am just focused on winning another WBO title on November 22nd. It’s one of those things that can’t matter to me. I’ve got other things to focus on and I’ve always been good at that. If it doesn’t make a difference right now, I can’t worry about it.

BOB ARUM: That decision from the WBO is now on hold. Paco [Valcarcel] will be over in Macau and you will be too. You can talk to him there. Obviously if Chris beats many all of this is moot, so a decision will be made after the fight. But you will have the opportunity to question Paco in Macau because I think he will be arriving on Tuesday or Wednesday of fight week.

How do you feel about Freddie trying to intimidate you with the comments he is making?

CHRIS ALGIERI: For one, he is wasting his time because I don’t even read those reports. So that’s the first thing. Secondly, I hear about them from other people around me and it doesn’t make a difference to me. It seems kind of odd for him to be coming out so much and saying so many different things and every day it’s a new thing. But like I said, I don’t read them and I don’t care about them and it doesn’t make a difference come fight night. I would imagine it is some kind of strategy, a kind of mental game or whatnot. Freddie’s been around a long time and maybe this has worked for him in the past but it’s not going to work on me.

Some would compare you to the San Francisco Giantsm with you both being the Wild Cards…

CHRIS ALGIERI: It’s not just this fight. It has been like that for many of my fights in my career, especially this year, and people seem to think I came out of nowhere. I was given an opportunity as a Wild Card and I ran with it and I think I’ve done that. So yes, I think that’s a fair association.

Do you think, since most of the fans will be Pacquiao backers, you will need a knockout to win?

CHRIS ALGIERI: No, I don’t think so. The judges are much closer to the action than the fans are. Fans sure can sway the way a fight looks. I am confident in the ability of the judges and if I do what I need to do and things go the way that we plan, we will come out with the victory regardless of the fan support.

BOB ARUM: Also, I wanted to say, you have to understand, if a fighter was fighting in America, and he was Mexican, would you say that the American judges would favor him because they come from the same continent? And the answer is ‘no.’ Manny Pacquiao is a Filipino and most of the people at the fight will be Chinese, whether they are from Hong Kong or mainland China. To think that someone would favor a Filipino over a US guy is to not understand the geo-political nature of different countries. The Chinese have as much affinity for a Filipino as they would an American, just as Americans would not necessarily favor a Mexican who is fighting over here. We can’t get into the narrow thinking that an Asian is an Asian. That’s silly – that just isn’t the case. Thai’s, Indonesians, Chinese, Filipinos – various groups and they are not always particularly friendly to each other.

Do you feel as though you are carrying the Argentinean torch?

CHRIS ALGIERI: It’s great to see part of my culture doing so well in the sport that I’m involved in, a sport that I have a passion for. I grew up hearing about a lot of Argentine fighters, the great Carlos Monzon and even the fighters on ESPN lime Omar Vaez; and now guys like Marcos Maidana and Sergio Martinez. More often you see Argentine fighters doing big things on a major stage. To be associated with those guys is really an honor and it’s great to see so many people from my culture do big things in the sport.

You drink the mate-tea made from the Argentinean yerba mate plant?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I drink mate every day during training camp, and just in general. It’s packed full of vitamins and nutrients and a lot of B vitamins that you would normally get from meat. The caffeine in there affects me less and it’s more like a stimulant. I can drink more of it and it’s hydrating as well. It’s one of my favorite drinks, especially on a cold morning. It gives me just enough of a pep after a workout. It helps also with fat loss and staying lean. It really is an overall incredible health drink and on top of it it’s part of the culture. It’s something my whole family and does and what we have always done. It’s warm and soothing for the belly and it helps you digest as well. I drink it all the way up until fight day. It’s a part of my routine.

CHRIS ALGIERI: I feel like I fight an aggressive style – smart / aggressive. I would have been more aggressive in the Ruslan fight if not because of my eye early in the fight. I had to protect that eye and be even smarter than I normally would. Don’t be confused with my style just from that one fight, because I know a lot of you have only seen that one fight. I am an aggressive style boxer and I will be in there to mix it up, but it’s going to be in a smart way.

How does you medical / nutritional background help you in training?

CHRIS ALGIERI: If I can think of anything, but nothing specific that I have learned, is the time management and discipline and stay focused. Mentally focused to be aware. Our training sessions are mentally packed. We work on very specific game plans and strategies. So I have been dealing with those types of complicated things and my scholastic background, so I think that helps me – my nutrition and my understanding of the human body, and the processes for recovery and proper dietary restrictions.

CHRIS ALGIERI: Stony Brook is a great school scholastically and I enjoyed my time there. It taught me a lot about life and about the future that I am living now. It is an honor to have graduated from there and to be recognized as an alumnus.

Coach Tony Walters?

CHRIS ALGIERI: Tony was one of the first international world-class athlete I had ever dealt with and I was lucky enough to have him as a coach and he taught me a lot about the mental aspects of training and competition. It was great to be around him – he was like a father figure to me especially in my athletic background. That is a person I will never forget and share in all of my victories since I left there until I am done.

What type of work did you do recently?

CHRIS ALGIERI: Well, I was a full time student either at Stony Brook or NYU getting my masters degree. After I graduated with my masters I was working as a nutritionist and a personal trainer. So I have always had other business or other things going on while training for a fight.

Were you training people prior to the Provodnikov fight?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I was training people on Tuesday of fight week.

Did they get in shape when you trained them?

CHRIS ALGIERI: Absolutely, I had some very fit people. I worked with a lot of athletes helping them, especially combat athletes, MMA fighters, Bermudez, Weidman, and guys on the lower levels – boxers and MMA fighters. Then also moms, middle aged mothers that want to get back in shape after pregnancy or just being home and not training. I had a very varied client list.

You’ve never been in a big fight such as this, so do you think you are doing the right things to be mentally prepared? Guys have always said they know they are ready then they get in the ring and they realize they are not ready. Why do you think you will be different?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I guess you won’t know until November 22nd. But that being said, there are tell tales on the way up. At press conferences, and everything leading up to this fight has been kind of like a dress rehearsal for the big show. All the attention and being under a microscope for the past five months I think has prepared me well. But like you said, I guess we won’t know until that night.

Do you try to entertain as you box?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I box but I have never heard anyone say that I was a boring fighter or that they didn’t really like watching my style. I use a lot of the sweet science as they say but that sort of stuff is exciting to watch. I throw a lot of punches. I am an active fighter. All of my fights have been exciting, even the lopsided ones. I am not concerned about taking a conscious approach to making my style more exciting. I think I go out there and fight in the manner that works best for me getting a win and it just so happens that it’s good to watch.

Would you compare your style to Floyd Mayweather?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I throw a lot more punches than Floyd. He’s very efficient with his punches and when he throws he lands a very high percentage but he’s not exceptionally busy every round. I think I bring a lot of energy and combinations and punches every single round. Even when I’m not throwing I am moving my upper body, I’m moving my feet, I’m moving my head, I am changing levels – all those things are important and they count and they are a part of boxing. It’s kind of a lost art because it is difficult to teach and unless you are an educated fan or a trainer or a fighter you don’t even see those kinds of things. Bringing some of the finer elements of the sport to the ring.

CHRIS ALGIERI: Bernard Hopkins’ style is the way…everything he does is for a reason – little head feints, little hand movements, little shoulder rolls and gestures are all finer points of the sweet science. Before contemporary times everyone did that kind of stuff. I have seen videos of Sugar Ray Robinson and Willie Pep who did a million other things than just punch, to set up a perfect shot or to offset their opponents’ rhythm. Boxing is incredibly complicated. It’s not Rock’em Sock’em Robots.

When you had the competition with Manny on the press tour, what did you play?

CHRIS ALGIERI: We played pool, we bowled then we had batting practice then we went to ESPN Deportes they had a basketball shooting game Pop-a-Shot.

Did you win all the games?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I did, yes.

In Closing…

BOB ARUM: I just want to say that this has been a fantastic conference call. The promotion is really interesting. You have promotions where guys just trash-talk each other and that to me is boring. This has been a very intelligent kind of promotion with both fighters. I think everybody should watch on Saturday night, HBO’s “Under The Lights” because the different styles of the fighters are discussed extraordinarily intelligently by Max Kellerman, Tim Bradley and Virgil Hunter. It’s a program that I recommend that everybody watch because a lot of questions that you have just might be answered by watching that program.

BOB ARUM: I want to say something else…this promotion and this event has been like a real-life Rocky story. Now we know that Rocky came from the streets of Philadelphia and was uneducated, and we have a Rocky here that is highly educated and very articulate, but this is truly a Rocky story nevertheless. If I had scripted this and sent the script in to HBO, it would have been rejected because of being unrealistic. But here we are; it’s real, it’s real life, and Chris Algieri is the modern day Rocky. And this should be a tremendous event and fight on November 22nd and I want to thank everybody for participating in this conference call.

CHRIS ALGIERI: Thanks for all of the kind words. This has been a tremendous promotion and I have enjoyed every moment of it. I hope I was able to answer your questions today, and I will see you all on the other side of the world when it’s fight week. Team Algieri is very excited and very much looking forward to this fight. We are done with the hard work and we are ready to rock.

* * Chris will be sparring on Wednesday then heading to the LAX to depart for Macau.

Promoted by Top Rank® and Sands China Ltd., in association with MP Promotions, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, Banner Promotions and Tecate, the Pacquiao-Algieri world welterweight championship event will take place Saturday, November 22, at The Venetian® Macao’s Cotai Arena, and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

An all-new special “Under the Lights: Pacquiao-Algieri” debuts This Saturday! November 15 at 11:45 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO.

Replays of “24/7 Pacquiao/Algieri,” will air on HBO during the following days and times: November 13 (2:30 p.m.), 18 (8:45 a.m.), 19 (6:00 p.m.), 21 (1:00 p.m. & 3:00 a.m.), and 22 (9:45 a.m.). It is also available on the HBO On Demand® service, HBO GO® and at www.hbo.com/boxing.

HBO2 playdates for 24/7: 19 (8:00 p.m.) and 21 (4:15 p.m. & 11:30 p.m.).

HBO Signature playdates for 24/7: November 22 (5:30 p.m.).

All times are ET/PT.

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 #PacAlgieri to join the conversation on Twitter.

(San Diego) – It is hard to believe that undefeated San Diego featherweight Prince “Tiger” Smalls has only been seriously boxing for five years. Despite his father and now trainer Priest Smalls, a member of the California state boxing hall of fame, enjoying a fourteen year and thirty-five bout career, Smalls who fights in his first six rounder of his career against Tijuana tough guy Jose Iñiguez, didn’t seriously lace up the gloves until he was a teenager.

Smalls Attacking his Opponent Photo by Paul Gallegos
“When I decided this is what I want to do I was around sixteen years of age, I started training and I started fighting when I was seventeen,” Smalls said some weeks ago after his media day workout. “I wasn’t living with my dad when he was active, when he finished boxing and retired I moved back to California and started getting back into the gym and got serious.”

While his dad battled it out in the ring, Smalls lived in six different states with his aunt but finally made it back to California to join his father and embark on his boxing journey. A road the elder Smalls wasn’t all that enthusiastic in going down. “I didn’t want him in the game; he decided all this on his own. I didn’t want him to be a fighter. To this day I don’t want him to be a fighter. It’s stressful being a fighter seeing your son in there and you knowing what can happen. It’s kind of stressful but he chose to do this so I have to support him.”

To read more, Please click HERE

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Filippi’s Pizza Grotto, DGS Construction and Car Czar. Doors open at 6:30pm with the first punch thrown at 7:30pm. For more info, please dial (619) 420-8866 or visit BobbyDPresents.net.

Regular WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev has started training camp for the first defense of his second title reign which is supposed to take place in early 2015 in Hamburg. After his mandatory challenger Luis Ortiz disqualified himself with a positive doping test team Chagaev is currently looking for an opponent. “Ruslan is ready to go but now that Ortiz is out we will have to see who is available”, says promoter Timur Dugazaev. “And of course, we need to coordinate the exact date and challenger with the WBA. We will announce the fight once the contracts are signed.”

This week Chagaev and his team will take a close look at the action that will take place in their adapted home town Hamburg. The regular WBA champion will be ringside when “Super Champion” Wladimir Klitschko defends his titles against Kubrat Pulev. “I still want my rematch with Wladimir and I know that I will get it”, says Chagaev. “I didn’t have any time to prepare for our first fight in summer 2009 because they brought me in as last minute replacement. I didn’t want to pass on the chance but I am not happy with the circumstances. I know that it will be a different fight when I have the chance to get ready. To take on Wladimir I have to be in the best possible physical shape and I also need the right mindset.”

After winning the WBA championship for the second time the 36-year-old Uzbek started training with champion coach Fritz Sdunek. They have known each other for a long time as they were both signed to promotional powerhouse Universum Box-Promotion but they never really worked with each other until Chagaev beat Fres Oquendo this summer in Grozny. Sdunek was at the show as head coach of former world champion Juan Carlos Gomez and helped his former assistant Artur Grigorian as cutman in Chagaev’s corner. When Chagaev suffered a cut early in the fight Sdunek took charge and led him to the victory and to regaining “his” world title.

After that Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrow who had helped putting the fight against Oquendo together in Grozny as Chagaev’s friend and supporter urged promoter Timur Dugazaev to sign Sdunek as new head coach. “Fritz is definitely the best trainer in Germany”, states Dugazaev. “He is doing a tremendous job with Ruslan.”

Says Chagaev, “I think with Fritz Sdunek as head coach, Artur Grigorian as his assistant, Timur Dugazaev as promoter and, of course, Ramzan Kadyrow as supporter in my corner I cannot go wrong and I am ready to take on every possible challenge.” Asked about his relationship with the Chechen President, the WBA champion adds: “He is like a brother to me and I have the utmost respect for his gigantic work ethic and discipline. He is working really hard for his people and I am very grateful for all his help. He is surely a great man.”

New York, N.Y. (Tuesday, November 11, 2014) – This Friday night at the Five Star Banquet Hall in Long Island City, Queens, Ronson Frank’s Uprising Promotions, in association with Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, will be returning to action with a loaded card of top prospects. Leading the way on the show will be undefeated Uprising Promotions stablemates Angel “El Gato” Luna (9-0, 6 KOs) and Wesley “El Bongocero” Ferrer (5-0, 4 KOs), who will be looking to better their perfect professional records.

“We are happy to be back in Long Island City, Queens,” Uprising Promotions President Ronson Frank remarked. “The Five Star Banquet Hall is a familiar spot and a familiar location. We always have a great crowd and a great atmosphere there. We were fortunate to put together a really strong lineup with some young upcoming fighters who look to take the next step in their careers. I am expecting a great night of boxing on Friday night. This venue is always live and full of energy. It’s fun to watch these fighters, especially our guys Angel and Wesley, taking another step towards their ultimate goal of a world title.”

Luna returns to the ring on Friday night for the first time since a second round TKO of Joey Arroyo at the Five Star Banquet Hall in May, a bout that marked his American debut under the Uprising Promotions banner. Standing opposite him this Friday evening will be battle-tested Victor Serrano (4-7, 1 KO), a gritty Mexican super featherweight who owns a deceiving record. Including the bout with Luna, Serrano has faced nine undefeated fighters in his last 10 fights.

Also back in action this Friday night is Ferrer, who made short work of Shiwone Gortman in his last bout this past September, finishing him with a liver shot in the first round. Trained by his father, Mateo De La Cruz (who also trains Luna), Ferrer had a very accomplished amateur career, winning his first NY Daily News Golden Gloves Championship in 2009 when he was just 17-years-old before turning professional in September of 2013. In five professional contests, the hard-hitting Brooklyn native has stopped four of his opponents in the first round. He finds his latest test this Friday night in the form of Will Walters (2-5, 1 KO), a Sacramento native making his first appearance outside of California.

In addition to those two bouts, this card features an additional set of intriguing match-ups.

In six-round affairs, Brooklyn lightweight Scott Burrell (8-2, 6 KOs) faces tough opposition in Joe Gbolo (3-1-2, 1 KO) of Albany, while New York welterweight Daniel Gonzalez (6-0-1, 3 KOs) put his unbeaten record on the line against gritty Newark resident Malik Jackson (1-3-4). Also slated for action is New York middleweight Orland Ortiz (1-0, 1 KO), who will be facing an opponent to be announced.

In a four-frame bout, popular Brooklyn middleweight Akil Auguste (4-1, 4 KOs) will meet Florida native Marlon Farr (4-7, 0 KOs), who has already fought such prospects as Jesse Hart and Junior Younan during his young career. In a sure-to-entertain four-round scrap, Brooklyn junior welterweights Glenford Nickey (3-1, 1 KO) and Italy Martinez (1-2-1, 1 KO) will face off, while New York bantamweight Jordan Rodriguez will be making his professional debut against Daniel Hernandez (0-1-1).

Five Star Banquet Hall is located at 13-05 43rd Avenue in Long Island City, Queens, New York. Tickets for this card are priced at $60 for general admission and $100 for ringside seating. There is also a table option with dinner, beer/wine and seating with a celebrity fighter. For pricing on those tables, call (516) 451-6773.

Additionally, Uprising Promotions is pleased to announce that a fundraiser will be taking place on Friday night to benefit children with autism, and proceeds from the night will be donated to The School For Language and Communication Development in Glen Cove, New York.

This show is being sponsored by Brooklyn Brothers, Bill4Time, Belaire Rosé Champagne, Alamo Restaurant, Charlie’s Auto Collision in Long Island City and Resolution Sports. All bouts are subject to change.

For more information on Uprising Promotions and to keep up with all of the latest news, make sure to check out www.UprisingPromotions.com and follow on social media @UprisingNYC.

LOS ANGELES (NOV. 11, 2014) – Local rising stars Joseph Diaz Jr., Julian Ramirez, Diego De La Hoya and Roy Tapia, as well as seven-foot tall international sensation Taishan, held a media workout at Ponce De Leon Boxing Club in Montebello, Calif. in advance of their bouts at Fantasy Spring Resort Casino this Thursday night on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes.

Here is what each of the fighters had to say about their respective bouts:

JOSEPH DIAZ JR., Undefeated Featherweight Rising Star

“I’m very excited to be on this great card on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes as the main event. The whole card features future stars, so I’m excited to be back at Fantasy Springs.

“I know that my opponent is very tough, but that’s what I want to show everyone; that I’m fighting tough opponents. I’m going to be aggressive on Thursday because that’s what fight fans want to see.

“Thanks to Golden Boy Promotions I’ve been staying busy and active throughout 2014. In 2015, I would like six or seven fights and to continue fighting tough opponents.”

JULIAN RAMIREZ, Undefeated Featherweight Rising Star

“I’m ready for Thursday. Hopefully the knockout comes, but I won’t force anything, if it comes it comes. I’m going to give it my all Thursday. I just want to please the crowd and give everyone a great show.

“All I know about Pedro Melo is that he’s good. He’s a boxer and has a good jab, so I’m ready for that and for anything he brings.

“It’s been a good year for me, it’s my fourth fight, so I’m staying active and getting the wins. I’m fighting at 10-rounds now and winning.

On his weight class: “I think Guillermo Rigondeux is the best and most skilled in my weight-class. Lomachenko is also one of my favorites, but he needs to be more aggressive in my opinion. I also look up to Jhonny Gonzalez, Abner Mares and Leo Santa Cruz. I want to be up there with all of them.”

DIEGO DE LA HOYA, Undefeated Featherweight Prospect

“I’m well prepared. Training camp has gone great and the most important thing is that I’ve got a winning mentality. I’m just waiting for Thursday to come.

“I’m very happy about this year because I’ve kept very busy. Golden Boy Promotions has done a good job at getting me fights often, so I’m staying active.

“I’m very excited to fight at Fantasy Springs again, especially because my fans and family from Mexicali will be there to cheer me on.”

ROY TAPIA, Junior Featherweight Prospect

“On Thursday my plan is to work the body as much as I can. This camp has been the best one yet. I’ve been at 100 percent because I started when Jesus Cuellar and Juan Manuel Lopez were in camp, so I was able to spar with Cuellar. I’m on weight for Thursday and ready to go.

“On Thursday expect a lot of head movement and aggressiveness. I’ll be working the body a lot. Like a pit bull, once I got them I won’t let them go.

“I’m very grateful to Golden Boy Promotions. I hope they and the fans love my crazy style and that I work my way up to fighting on TV.”

TAISHAN, Undefeated Heavyweight Prospect

“Training has gone very well. I feel confident with my new coach, Buddy McGirt, and I feel confident with myself.

“I’m very excited about my second professional boxing fight. I’m well prepared and I’m looking forward to it.

“Because of my height and size I hope to bring something different for boxing fans.

On choosing boxing over MMA or wrestling:”I loved boxing and always watched matches in China. But I never had the chance to learn about boxing and become a true student of the sport until I came to the U.S.”

# # #

“Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Roberto Castaneda,” a 10-round featherweight bout, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Golden Ram Group and Mexico – Live It To Believe It!. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and the first bell rings at 5:15 p.m. The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT. In the co-main event, Julian Ramirez will face Pedro Melo in an eight-round featherweight bout. Diego De La Hoya vs. Ali Gonzalez in a six-round featherweight contest. In the opening televised fight, Taishan will face Tommy Washington in a four-round heavyweight bout.

Also, don’t miss a double header of activities at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino with the Randy Caballero Celebration Victory Party on Wednesday night from 6:00-8:00 p.m. PT at the LIT Lounge at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and former World Champion Fernando “Ferocious” Vargas will host a meet and greet with fans in attendance at Thursday’s fight night at the Special Events Center from 6:00-7:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets, priced at $25, $35 and $45, are on sale now at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.FOXSports.com/FOXSports1, www.FOXDeportes.com, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @FOXSports1, @FOXDeportes and follow the conversation using #GoldenBoyLive, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing. For more information on FOX Sports 1 visit www.FOXSports.com/watch/FOXSports1 and become a follower on @FOXSports.

Former UFC Middleweight and Light Heavyweight title contender Chael Sonnen has joined ESPN in a multi-fight agreement as a studio and on-site analyst, providing expert pre- and post-fight insight on SportsCenter’s coverage of major UFC pay-per-view events. Sonnen will make his debut on Friday, Nov. 14, prior to UFC 180, appearing throughout the weekend on SportsCenter and various ESPN platforms.

“Chael is a tremendous analyst and we are excited to have him join ESPN,” said Glenn Jacobs, ESPN senior coordinating producer. “Along with our established UFC analyst Gilbert Melendez, Chael allows us to provide unparalleled UFC coverage. We feel his insights from years in the octagon and his outgoing personality will enhance SportsCenter’s place as a destination for UFC fans.”

Sonnen said, “The industry leader in sports…and ESPN have finally joined forces. You’re welcome, wait! These mics hot? The biggest thing to happen to ESPN since…well nothing really comes close. In all seriousness, to ESPN, to Disney, to the Hearst Corporation and to all the viewers…you’re welcome. From one industry leader to another, I look forward to the opportunity of bringing my stories, insight and unique perspective of mixed martial arts to the network.”

Sonnen — who fought for the UFC world title three times at two different weight classes, against former UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva (twice) and UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones — retired with a professional MMA record of 29-14-1. He has served as a UFC analyst for FOX Sports and was a coach on “The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen,” which aired on FX, and “The Ultimate Fighter Brazil: Team Wanderlei vs. Team Sonnen,” which aired on UFC Fight Pass, the organization’s digital subscription service. In addition, he made several guest appearances as an analyst on ESPN’s MMA Live in 2010. He currently hosts “You’re Welcome with Chael Sonnen,” a weekly podcast featuring MMA insight, analysis and interviews on PodcastOne. Sonnen, an Oregon native, attended the University of Oregon, where he was an NCAA All-American wrestler.

CHESTER, PA (November 11, 2014)- This Friday night, rising Heavyweight Joey Dawejko will look for his fifth consecutive win when he takes on Rayford Johnson in the 8-round main event at Harrahs Philadelphia in Chester, PA.

The show is promoted by Joey Eye Boxing and XFE.

Dawejko of Philadelphia has a record of 12-3-2 with 5 knockouts and in his four bout winning streak, the last two have ended in explosive first round stoppages.

The 24 year-old Dawejko was a former world junior amateur champion which was part of a 56-12 record in the non-paid ranks.

He turned professional in 2009 with a 6-round unanimous decision over Royphy Solieau. He won his first six bouts (and was 7-0-1 in his first eight) which included knockout wins over undefeated fighters Ricardo Johnson and John Lennox.

“I don’t know much about Johnson other than he is tough and has been the distance with a lot og good fighters,” said Dawejko.

Dawejko is coming in off two consecutive first round knockouts for which he registered three knockdowns in each fight for a total of six knockdowns in just his last three minutes and twenty-two seconds worth of work.

“I always had power but I was always saving energy to go the distance. I am now in shape to knock these guys. I have proved I can got the distance with top class fighters before. I now know that I am in the right position to knock these guys out now.”

Johnson wasn’t the first choice of opponents but Dawejko is looking for big named opponents with a win this Friday.

“We offered the fight to a lot of guys and they all turned it down. In 2015, I want to make my move and step up the competition. The guy I would really like to fight is Amir Mansour.”

Johnson of Longview, Texas has a record of 10-15 with six knockouts.

He is a good foe for Dawejko as despite his record, he is very capable with quality wins over Terrrence Woods (7-0), Arman Mrkanovic (4-1), former world title challenger Will Mcintyre (40-5-1). In his last two bouts, Johnson has two great wins over Ernesy Reyma (4-0) and his last bout which was a 6th round stoppage over Vincent Miranda (16-1) on August 15 in Saratoga Springs, NY.

In the six-round co-feature, Raymond Serrano (18-2, 8 KO’s) will be back in action when the Philadelphia native takes on Wilfredo Acuna (15-15, 12 KO’s) of Managua, Nicaragua in a Jr. Welterweight bout

In Six round Bouts:
Immanuel Aleem (10-0, 6 KO’s) of Richmond, VA will take on Angel Antonio Martinez (6-8-3, 1 KO) in a Middleweight bout

In four round bouts:

Alex Barbosa (4-1-1, 1 KO) of Philadelphia will take on Benjamin Burgos (1-9-1) of Mount Pocono, PA in a Super Bantamweight bout.

Nathaniel Rivas (5-0, 2 KO’s) of Berlin, NJ will take on an opponent to be named in a Welterweight bout.

Randy Easton (2-4-1, 2 KO’s) of Williamsport, PA will fight Dan Bolden (2-3, 1 KO) of Louisiana in a Heavyweight bout.

David Grayton (9-0, 8 KO’s) of Washington, DC will take on Donald Ward (7-5, 3 KO’s) of Memphis, TN in a Welterweight bout.

Tickets are now on sale for $100 (VIP); $75 (Ringside) and $50 (General Admission) and can be purchased at the Harrahs Philadelphia Gift Shop; By calling Joey Eye (267-304-9399); David Feldman (610-291-0806); Peltz Boxing (215) 765 0922; 800-480-8020 or on www.webtix.net

Venice, CA (November 11, 2014) Former multiple world title challenger OLA “Kryptonite” AFOLABI left Southern California last week in final preparations for his International Boxing Federation (‘IBF’) Cruiserweight World Title clash with champion YOAN PABLO HERNANDEZ set for Saturday, December 6th in Oldenburg, Germany.

“I had been training for the last few weeks in Los Angeles but for the best sparring I came to Kiev, Ukraine to work with OLEKSANDR USYK in his camp” said the London born Afolabi who has compiled a record of 21-3-4 (10KO’s) during his distinguished career that began with no amateur bouts.

With a record of 5-0 with five knockouts, Usyk is a very highly regarded cruiserweight prospect, the southpaw having won the 2012 Olympic Gold Medal at heavyweight for Ukraine.

“I’ve watched Usyk fight before and he is clearly very strong and talented. He is a tall southpaw who will help me prepare for Hernandez, if I can do well with him I will beat Hernandez.”

Having challenged current WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Marco Huck three times, Afolabi is excited at the challenge of facing Hernandez, 29-1-0 (14KO’s).

“I’m done with Huck, three fights is plenty and it’s time for a change. I’ve been studying Hernandez for the last few months and know what will work against him” said Afolabi.

Continued TOM LOEFFLER of K2 Promotions; “This is a great opportunity for Ola. He had the three very close bouts with Huck but has now fought his way back into another world title fight. His perseverance throughout his career has served Ola well and I am confident sparring with Usyk is the right move and will have him well prepared to beat Hernandez.”

Afolabi will be fighting for the eighth time in Germany and is therefore undeterred about hometown scoring for Hernandez. “I just focus on winning the fight, as many rounds as possible to leave no doubt.”

Fighting under K2 Promotional banner, Afolabi has the full support of the most popular boxer in Germany, Unified Heavyweight World Champion Wladimir Klitschko.

Afolabi has fought his last two bouts at Madison Square Garden, The Mecca of Boxing, including a 12-round unanimous decision over Lukasz Janik on November 2, 2013, winning the International Boxing Organization Cruiserweight Title.

He followed that with a third round stoppage of Anthony Caputo Smith on July 26th on the undercard of the Gennady Golovkin/Daniel Geale World Middleweight Championship.