GILROY, CA (April 22, 2024) – Undefeated super featherweight, Robert Guerrero III, son of former multi-division world champion, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, captivated the crowd at the Auditorio Municipal de Tijuana this past Friday with a stunning victory in his second professional fight. Guerrero III (2-0, 1 KO) faced off against Cristian Velazquez of Tijuana, MX, in a scheduled 4-round bout. The fight, promoted by Bxstrs Promotions, aired live on ESPN Deportes / “ESPN Knockout”.

Guerrero III, age 17, sealed the win with a first-round knockout, delivering a powerful left hook-straight right combo to the body of Velazquez that sent him to the canvas. The referee promptly stopped the bout, solidifying Guerrero III’s dominance in the ring.

“Scoring my first knockout of my career feels incredible,” said Guerrero who by the nickname “El Pistolero”. “I put in a lot of hard work and dedication into my training, and this knockout victory is a moment I’ll never forget.”

Looking ahead, Guerrero III is eager to maintain his momentum and stay active in the boxing world throughout the rest of the year. “I’m already planning my next steps to get back in the ring as soon as possible. I want to stay busy, keep improving, and show the world what I’m capable of. This is just the beginning for me, and I’m ready to make my mark.”

“I very pleased with my son’s performance over the weekend,” said Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero. “He showed he has the power to take out a fighter, and it’s clear that he has a bright future ahead of him in the world of boxing. As his father and mentor, I’ll continue to support him every step of the way.”

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (April 22, 2024) – Boxing Insider Promotions is bringing old school club boxing back to Atlantic City on Saturday night, May 11, at the Tropicana Atlantic City Showroom. Tickets are on sale and may be purchased at Ticketmaster.com and at the Tropicana Box Office. 

Bouts begin at 7:30 pm ET, doors open at 6:30 pm ET. This exciting event will be streamed live and free of charge at BoxingInsider.com.

Boxing Insider Promotions to showcase local favorites and promising prospects on its May 11 card on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City

There was a time when Atlantic City was the center of the boxing universe, and the Tropicana was one of the real hot spots along the Boardwalk. 

Those days are about to come back!

On Saturday, May 11, Boxing Insider Promotions brings professional boxing back to the Tropicana Showroom for the first time in seven years, and this show has a local flavor.

Larry Goldberg, CEO of Boxing Insider, is an Atlantic City native, so he knows those glory days as a boxing mecca quite well. He’s been honing his promotional craft in Manhattan’s Times Square district with regular shows at the legendary Sony Hall. Those cards brought some of the best young talent in the New York City area together. 

“For our first show in Atlantic City,” promoter Larry Goldberg said, “it was important to keep tickets reasonably priced, starting at $60.00. We have a full slate of top prospects from New Jersey and New York in a throwback to club fight cards from the past generation. I hope everyone in the area who enjoys watching live fights will be at The Tropicana on May 11^th to support the next generation of fighters.”

Atlantic City junior middleweight Justin Figueroa (8-0, 6 KOs) is in one of the featured bouts. Local fans may remember Figueroa’s days as a football star at Holy Spirit High School, and he also proved himself to be the best in South Jersey as an amateur. Beaming with confidence, he recently returned from San Antonio, where he registered his eighth straight pro win, a decision over Christian Aguirre, and as usual, he celebrated by dancing “The Worm” across the ring.

The charismatic Figueroa, who’s also put in several years as a lifeguard, is a local boy through and through. He says his mission is to “put Atlantic City on my back” and he can take another step toward that objective on May 11.

Junior featherweight John Leonardo (10-1-1, 4 KOs) is in an eight-round bout and he brings a healthy contingent of fans with him. Hailing from nearby Manalapan Township in the Garden State, he’s a former New Jersey Golden Gloves champ who goes by the nickname “Bodyshot.” 

Leonardo went eight rounds in his last fight, winning a decision over Dominique Griffin. But that was back in August, so he’s hungry to get back into the ring again. He’ll do so against Frank Gonzalez (12-5, 6 KOs), of Tampa, who has gone eight rounds in each of his last two fights. 

Brooklynite Pryce Taylor (3-0, 2 KOs), an intriguing heavyweight prospect, will also be in action on this show in a four-rounder. Taylor is one of the participants on this card who has also competed on the Boxing Insider shows at Sony Hall, winning a decision over Antonio Torres on March 7.

Another May 18 contestant who’s been at Sony Hall is middleweight Jacob Solis, who debuted there back in December, and is now 3-0 with all the victories coming by knockout.

There are other great prospects in action. Junior welterweight Dwyke Flemmings (6-0, 6 KOs) is a powder keg out of Paterson, NJ, who has recorded four one-round knockouts and will be in a scheduled six-rounder; middleweight Famous Wilson (4-0, 2 KOs) is a former New York Golden Gloves champ who is in a four-rounder. Other four-round contestants include super middleweight Joel Telles (2-0, 2 KOs), of Brooklyn, and lightweight Koby Williams, also of Brooklyn, a NY Golden Gloves and Metro champ who will make his professional debut.

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TICKETS ON SALE

Tickets are priced at $60, $100, $150 and $200, and are available to purchase through Ticketmaster: https://www.ticketmaster.com/boxing-insider-live-professional-boxing-atlantic-city-new-jersey-05-11-2024/event/02006076BA7B700C) and at the Tropicana Box Office. 

MIAMI, FL (April 19, 2024)—With several injuries forcing cancellations of several of the title fights planned for Don King’s “Quest for the Best” fight card slated for next Saturday, April 27^th at Casino Miami Jai-Alai, the fight card has been postponed to a future date.

“Injuries are part of this game,” said King. “It’s unfortunate, but we’ll aim to get these championship fights together again to bring boxing fans another exciting night of boxing. Ian Green and Ahmed Elbiali will return to defend their respective titles. We appreciate Dan Licciardi and all our friends at Casino Miam Jai-Alai for their friendship and support and look forward to working again with them in the future.”

Fans who purchased tickets for the April 27^th fight card can obtain refunds at the Casino Miami Jai-Alai box office.

BROOKLYN, NY–Ryan Garcia scored the biggest win of his career as he sent Devin Haney to the canvas three times en-route to a 12-round split decision at Barclays Center.

Round one saw Garcia get off to a fast start as he landed some hard left hooks and backed Haney up. One particular left hook buckled Haney. Haney had a solid round three as he was good with the jab and landed a left hook that sent Garcia back.

The fight turned in round seven when Garcia landed a left hook that deposited Haney on the canvas. Garcia was deduced a point for hitting on the break. Garcia was relentless and hurt Haney several more times in what was a tumultuous round for Haney. In round 10, Garcia dropped Haney for a second time when he lanced a perfect three punch combination in the corner. Later in the round, Garcia hurt Haney again with a perfect left hook to the head. Garcia dropped Haney for a third time with another perfect left hook to the chin.

Garcia landed 106 of 285 punches. Haney was 87 of 214.

Garcia, 143.4 lbs of Victorville, CA won by scores of 115-109 and 114-110. Once card was even at 112-112.

Garcia is now 25-1. Haney, 140 lbs of Las Vegas is 31-1.

“I shouldn’t have put too much pressure on myself to stop him, because every time I hurt him, I went crazy and I couldn’t stop him,” said Ryan Garcia. “I think the ref should’ve stopped the fight. He (Haney) was really hurt. I felt bad, I even looked at Bill to stop the fight. [Regarding the point being deducted in seventh round] The guy was holding me for dear life, and I felt the opportunity to keep swinging while my hands were free. I should’ve knocked him out that seventh round. They stole that from me. I’m surprised he has so much heart and recovery. He got wobbled bad in the first round. I thought it was over. He even hurt me with a hook. At the end of the day, I’m going to fight him, win or lose.” 

“Ryan just shocked the world and proved once and for all that he is the face of boxing and a pound-for-pound athlete in our sport,” said Golden Boy Promotions Chairman Oscar De La Hoya. “Despite all of the talk from armchair psychologists and so-called boxing pundits, Ryan clearly had a plan and executed it.” 

Barboza Decisions McComb

Arnold Barboza Jr. remained undefeated with a 10-round split decision over Sean McComb in a super lightweight bout.

Barboza landed 99 of 443 punches. McComb was 107 of 488.

Barboza, 139.4 lbs of Los Angeles won by scores of 96-94 and 97-93 while McComb took a card 98-92.

Barboza is now 30-0. McComb, 139.4 lbs of Belfast, IRE is 19-2.

“I felt good. It was a very tricky fight,” said Arnold Barboza Jr., “He was a lefty, tall and he moved a lot. He gave me a lot of trouble, but it was a learning experience. I’ll be back better. We’re going to talk to Oscar and see what’s next.” 

Melikuziev wins Technical Decision over Dibombe

Bektemir Melikuziev won a technical decision over previously undefeated Pierre Dimbombe when cuts from both fighters forced a stoppage.

In round two, Dibombe was cut badly over his right eye from an accidental headbutt. In round five, Melikuziev dropped Dibombe with a straight left. Later in the round , another headbutt caused a nasty cut on Melikeziev’s left eyelid.

The bout was stopped in round eight due to the cut on Dibombe’s right eye.

Melikuziev was 80 of 276 punches. Dibombe was 58 if 237.

Melikuziev, 167.8 lbs of Uzbekistan won by scores of 79-73 twice and 78-74 and is now 14-1. Dibombe, 166.6 lbs of Nantes, FRA is 22-1-1.

“He was a good opponent. Unfortunately, the fight was stopped,” said Bektemir Melikuziev. “During the fight he kept coming forward with his head. There was nothing I could do. I just needed another minute or two in the ring to finish the fight. I slowed down a bit because I felt that my opponent was getting tired.” 

Daniel Jimenez Decisions John Ramirez

Daniel Jimenez upset John Ramirez via 12-round unanimous decision in a super flyweight bout.

In round 12, Ramirez was bleeding over his right eye.

Jimenez landed 191 of 722 pages. Ramirez was 142 of 531.

Jimenez, 114.8 lbs of Catagro, CR won by scores of 117-111 twice and 116-112 and is now 16-1. Ramirez, 114.2 lbs was ranked number-one by the WBA and had a title shot lined up for later in the summer, but that seems to have gone by the wayside and is now 13-1.

“I am very happy to become a champion again. I want to thank Golden Boy for the opportunity,” said David Jimenez. “I am ready to plan for what’s next. I felt great in the ring, and I felt like I was controlling the fight from the second round. Scrappy has a good punch and is a good boxer. Like all fighters, I want to become undisputed.”

Conwell Stops Gallimore in 6

World-Ranked Charles Conwell stopped Nathaniel Gallimore in round six of scheduled 10-round super welterweight bout.

In round five, Conwell opened up a huge flurry that backed Gallimore up. Conwell continued to batter Gallimore until the fight was stopped at 56 seconds.

Conwell, 153 lbs of Cleveland is 19-0 with 14 knockouts. Gallimore, 153 lbs of Des Plaines, IL is 22-8-1.

“I feel good,” said Charles Conwell. “It was the coming back party. I thought he was a tough-game fighter. He came with a lot of experience, but I did what no other fighter has done. I stopped him in the sixth round. I don’t think any other fighter has beat him as bad as I did. He was a tough fighter and I appreciate him for taking the fight. We’re looking to get back in the ring asap, sometime in July or August. I’m back in the gym getting better. The ring rust is off. We’re ready for what’s next.” 

Former three-time world title challenger Sergiy Dereyvyanchenko won a 10-round unanimous decision over Vaughn Alexander in a super middleweight bout.

Derevyancenko dropped Alexander with a body shot in round eight.

Derevyanchenko, 167.4 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores of 100-89 on all cards and is now 15-5. Alexander, 167.4 lbs of Saint Louis is 18-11-1.

Darius Fulgham stopped Cristian Olivas in round four of a scheduled eight-round super middleweight fight.

The time of the stoppage was 50 seconds of round four for Fulgham, 167.4 lbs of Houston, TX is 11-0 with 10 knockouts. Olivas,

Jonathan Canas won a four-round unanimous decision over Markus Bowes in a super lightweight bout.

Canas, 137.6 lbs of Santa Ana, CA won by 40-36 sores on all cards and is now 4-0. Bowes, 140 lbs of Roxboro, NC is 2-6.

Amari Jones stopped Armei Mbumba-Yassa om round six of a scheduled eight-round super lightweight bout.

Jones dropped Mbumna-Yassa in rounds one and six. Jones ended the fight with a flurry and the bout was stopped at 39 seconds.

Jones, 159.2 lbs of Las Vegas is 12-0 with 11 knockouts. Mbumba-Yassa, 160.4 lbs Remscheild, GER is 10-2.

Kevin Newman II scored a fourth round stoppage over Eric Robles in a scheduled eight-round cruiserweight bout.

Newman dropped Robles in round four and the bout was stopped at 1:53.

Newman, 173.4 lbs of Las Vegas is now 16-3-1. Robles, 177.8 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 9-4.

Pedro Bogarro drooped Shamar Canal in the second round en-route to a six-round unanimous decision in a super lightweight bout.

Bogaro, 135.8 lbs of Sonora, MEX won by scores of 60-53 on all cards ans is now 8-1. Canal. 135 lbs of Albany, NY is 7-1.

Francisco Veron won a 10-round unanimous decision over Angel Ruiz in the opening bout of the OTX Super welterweight tournament.

Veron, 154 lbs of Argentina won by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 96-94 and is now 14-0-1. Ruiz is 18-3-1.

David Lopez took out Anthony Mora in the opening round of their six-round super lightweight bout.

Lopez landed a perfect left to the face that sent Mora down over the bottom rope. Mora almost beat the 10-count bit couldn’t and the fight was stopped at 2:38.

Lopez, 142 lbs of Oakland is 5-0 with four knockouts. Mora, 141 1/2 lbs of New Brittan, CT is 3-2-1.

Nathan Lugo showed concussive power in taking out Richard Lartigue inside of a round in their four-round super-middleweight bout.

Lugo dropped Lartigue with a hard left hook. Lugo would not rest on his laurels as he dumped Lartigue with a hard right hand and the fight was stopped at 1:33.

Lugo, 168,4 lbs of Atlanta is 1-0 with one knockout. Lartigue, 166.8 lbs of San Diego is 1-2.

BROOKLYN, NY (April 19, 2024):

“Ryan has weighed-in over his contractual weight. He will honor the handshake made at the final press conference yesterday. We have a fight.” – Golden Boy

GILROY, CA (April 1, 2024) – Robert Guerrero III, son of the former multiple division world champion, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, is gearing up for his second professional bout in Tijuana, MX. Following a victorious debut, Guerrero III (1-0) is eager to step back into the ring and continue his journey in the world of professional boxing. Guerrero III will square off against Cristian Velazquez Rizo.

The fight, which will air on ESPN Deportes / “ESPN Knockout”, takes place at Auditorio Municipal de Tijuana tonight Friday, April 19, 2024. This marks another big step in Guerrero III’s promising career. Stepping out of his father’s shadow, Guerrero III is determined to carve his own path in the sport and make a name for himself.

“I am thrilled to be returning to the ring for my second professional fight,” said Guerrero III, who goes by the nickname “El Pistolero”. The support from my family, friends, and fans has been incredible, and I can’t wait to showcase my skills once again.”

Building his name in Mexico, a country with a rich boxing tradition, holds special significance for Guerrero III. Embracing his Mexican heritage, Guerrero III aims to honor his roots and connect with boxing fans across the border.

“I am proud to represent my Mexican heritage in the ring,” Guerrero III continued. “Mexico has produced some of the greatest fighters in history, and I am determined to add my name to that legacy. Fighting in Tijuana is an opportunity for me to pay homage to my roots and build a connection with the passionate boxing community here.”

Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, a seasoned veteran in the sport and proud father, expressed his support for his son’s journey in professional boxing.

“I am incredibly proud of Robert III and the dedication he has shown to his craft,” said Robert Guerrero. “As he continues to pave his own path in the sport, I have no doubt that he will make a name for himself and carry on the Guerrero legacy with honor.”

NEW YORK (April 18, 2024)–Amateur sensation Nathan Lugo will make his anticipated pro debut when he takes on Robert Lartigue in a super middleweight bout scheduled for four rounds.

Lugo of Atlanta has signed with Split-T Management and comes into the pro ranks after an amazing amateur career that saw him win 23 National Amateur titles. The 19 year-compiled a record of 223-19.

Lugo won the 2022 Elite National title which made him the youngest fighter ever to qualify for the Olympic Trials. Lugo also captured many International Gold medals.

Lugo is considered to have next level power, which was evidenced by having over 40 stoppage victories.

In 2021, Nathan, then 16 and his brother Elijah, 14 will featured in Sports Illustrated prestigious Faces in the Crowd sections https://www.si.com/faces-in-the-crowd/video/2021/01/07/nathan-lugo-elijah-lugo-boxing-prodigy-brothers

Nathan Lugo has been on our radar for a long time now. He is a dynamic puncher with thunderous power that will immediately

translate to the pros. Quite simply, he is one of those special talents that does not come around often. I can not wait to be part of his journey toward stardom in the sport,” said David McWater of Split-T Management.

Lartigie of Pecos, Texas is 1-1 with one knockouts.

Lugo was 168.4 lbs. Lartigue weighed 168.8.

The fight will be part of an Overtime Boxing card and will be streamed live on DAZN at 8 PM ET.

HOUSTON, Texas – April 18, 2024 – Red Owl Boxing will return with its next installment of the BOX FEST series when it presents a special Cinco de Mayo edition on Friday, May 3, streaming live on DAZN globally in more than 200 territories and regions from the state-of-the-art “Owl’s Nest” in Houston.

BOX FEST IX will be headlined by two exciting matchups in the junior lightweight division including a main event, eight-round fight between Edward Vazquez (15-2-3, 3 KOs) against Daniel Bailey (11-1, 5 KOs). The co-main event features Eridson Garcia (17-1, 11 KOs) squaring off with Maliek Montgomery (17-0, 16 KOs) in an eight-round fight.

VIP experience packages and general admission tickets are now available.

Also on the main card on DAZN, undefeated junior featherweight Emanuel Moreno (6-0, 1 KO) will take on the dangerous Luis Alberto Lopez (6-1, 3 KOs) in a six-round fight at 122 pounds. A pair of fighters will return to the ring for the first time since their pro debuts when Troy Nash (1-0) takes on Roman Reyes (5-0, 4 KO) in a four-round fight at 126 lbs. and Richard Fernandez (1-0, 1 KO) faces Oscar Arroyo (3-2, 2 KOs) in a six-round fight at 115 lbs. to open the evening’s event. 

Red Owl Boxing owns and operates the state-of-the-art sports performance facility which features seating for more than 1,500 with a modern flare that includes VIP experiences and unique ringside seating. The “Owl’s Nest” is a full-service hospitality venue with high-end sound, lighting and screens for a premier in-arena experience. The venue is outfitted with cutting-edge production for seamless streaming and television presentations. 

BOX FEST IX Main Card on DAZN at 9 p.m EST/8 p.m. CST

Edward Vazquez (15-2-3, 3 KOs) vs. Daniel Bailey (11-1, 5 KOs)

8-Round Main Event – 135 lbs.

Eridson Garcia (17-1, 11 KOs) vs. Maliek Montgomery (17-0, 16 KOs)

8-Round Co-Main Event – 135 lbs. 

Emanuel Moreno (6-0, 1 KO) vs. Luis Alberto Lopez (6-1, 3 KOs)

6-Round Fight – 122 lbs. 

Troy Nash (1-0)  vs. Roman Reyes (5-0, 4 KO)

4-Round Fight – 126 lbs. 

Richard Fernandez (1-0, 1 KO vs. Oscar Arroyo (3-2, 2 KOs) 

6-Round Fight – 115 lbs. 

For more information on Red Owl Boxing and to purchase tickets, visit www.redowlboxing.com. Fans can follow Red Owl Boxing on X, Instagram and YouTube. 

On April 20, fans in the Houston area can come out to the Owl’s Nest on fight night to watch the DAZN PPV presentation of Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia. Click here for tickets. 

ABOUT RED OWL BOXING 

Red Owl Boxing is a media company that specializes in delivering world-class events from its state-of-the-art sports facilities in the United States and Canada. Red Owl Boxing aims to bring structure to boxing’s middle class by highlighting tomorrow’s future stars and contenders in action-packed fights. Red Owl Boxing launched in 2021 by Canada-based entrepreneur Gabriel Fanous who owns and operates cutting-edge event spaces in Houston, Texas, and Brampton, Ontario, both of which provide premier event experiences and hospitality packages. 

Click here if you’re interested in learning more about being featured on the BOX FEST series. 

Philadelphia (April 18, 2024)–Former world title challenger, Brandon Adams weighed in for his OTX Junior Middleweight tournament bout against Ismael Villareal that will take place tomorrow night at the OTX Arena and live on DAZN.

Adams (23-3, 15 KOs) of Los Angeles checked in at 153.6 lbs while Villareal was 154 pounds.

Adams who is promoted by Banner Promotions and managed by Mark Habibi’s Wise Owl Boxing, will be competing in the tournament that will be streamed on DAZN beginning at 8 PM ET.

Villareal of The Bronx, New York is 13-2 with nine knockouts.

MAIN EVENT

Kurt Scoby – 144.8 lbs

Dakota Linger 144.6 lbs

OTX TOURNAMENT ROUND 1

Brandon Adams – 153.6 lbs

Ismael Villarreal – 153.4 lbs

OTX TOURNAMENT ROUND 1

Francisco Veron – 154 lbs

Angel Ruiz – 154 lbs

UNDERCARD

David Lopez -142 lbs

Anthony Mora – 141.2 lbs

UNDERCARD

Nathan Lugo – 168.4 lbs

Robert Lartigue – 166.8 lbs

UNDERCARD

Morgan Griggie – 151.6 lbs

Luis Gerardo Caraballo – 153.4 lbs

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Newark, N.J. with another stellar card, headlined by UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and No. 4 ranked contender Dustin Poirier. Also, an action packed five-round co-main event sees No. 1 middleweight contender Sean Strickland square off with No. 7 ranked Paulo Costa.

UFC^® 302: MAKHACHEV vs. POIRIER takes place Saturday, June 1 at Prudential Center, with the main card available on ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The prelims will be airing on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. The early prelims will be available for viewing exclusively on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

UFC^®returns to Prudential Center after setting the venue’s live sporting event gate record in 2023 with UFC^® 288 headlined by Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo. UFC^® 302: MAKHACHEV vs. POIRIERwill mark the tenth UFC event at the famed arena dating back to 2007.

UFC^® 302: MAKHACHEV vs. POIRIER tickets will go on sale this Friday, April 19 at 10 a.m. ET and are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, April 18 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com/newark.

Makhachev (25-1, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) looks to defend his UFC lightweight championship after his commanding knockout victory over former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. The No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world seeks his fourteenth straight victory and a win over another future hall of famer. The world class grappler also holds wins against Charles Oliveira, Bobby Green and Dan Hooker.

Poirier (30-8 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Lafayette, La.) returns to action seeking championship gold after a thrilling knockout victory against rising contender Benoit Saint Denis. An Octagon veteran, the former Interim UFC lightweight champion holds wins over elite competition such as Conor McGregor (twice), Michael Chandler, and Dan Hooker. Poirier looks to cement his legacy by claiming the undisputed UFC lightweight championship.

Former UFC middleweight champion Strickland (28-6, fighting out of Corona, Calif.) looks to position himself for another title shot with a win in New Jersey. The relentless striker holds victories over Israel Adesanya, Jack Hermansson, Uriah Hall and Brendan Allen. Strickland now intends to get back in the win column with a victory over fan favorite Paulo Costa.

Costa (14-3, fighting out of Contagem, Minas Gerais, Brazil) returns to action seeking a statement performance. The explosive Brazilian fighter looks to ascend back up the middleweight rankings with a win over the former champion. “The Eraser” has notable wins over Luke Rockhold, Yoel Romero and Uriah Hall.

Current bouts also on the card include:

• No. 7 ranked heavyweight contenderJailton Almeida (20-3, fighting out of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil) squares off against Alexander Romanov (17-2, fighting out of Comrat, Moldova) scheduled for three five minute rounds
• Octagon veteran Randy Brown (18-5, fighting out of Queens, N.Y.) clashes with Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (24-7, fighting out of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil) in a welterweight bout
• HyunSung Park (9-0, fighting out of Phuket, Thailand) and Dana White’s Contender Series alum Andre Lima (8-0, fighting out of Guarulhos, Sao Paulo, Brazil) square off in a battle between undefeated flyweights. 
• Niko Price (15-7, fighting out of Cape Coral, Fla.) battles Alex Morono (24-9, fighting out of Houston, Texas) in a welterweight tilt
• Pivotal matchup scheduled for the middleweight division as No. 9 ranked contender Roman Dolidze (12-3, fighting out of Batumi, Georgia)and No. 12 Anthony Hernandez (12-2 1NC, fighting out of Dunnigan, Calif.) go to battle
• Dana White’s Contender Series alum Cesar Almeida (5-0, fighting out of São Paulo, Brazil) collides with Roman Kopylov (12-3, fighting out of Novosibirsk, Russia) in a middleweight bout
• Looking to put to their rivalry to rest, bantamweights Ailin Perez (9-2, fighting out of Buenos Aires, Argentina)and Joselyne Edwards (13-5, fighting out of Panama City, Panama) square off
• Sumudaerji (16-6, fighting out of Aba, Sichuan, China) looks to stop “The Fearless” Joshua Van (10-1, fighting out of Houston, Texas) in a flyweight bout 
• An action packed bout is set for the 155-pound division as Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Grant Dawson (20-2-1, fighting out of Coconut, Creek, Fla.) locks horns withJoe Solecki (13-4, fighting out of Wilmington, N.C.)
• Well-rounded welterweights Phil Rowe (10-4, fighting out of Orlando, Fla.) and Jake Matthews (19-7, fighting out of Epping Victoria, Australia) slated for three five minute rounds
• New Jersey’s own Mickey Gall (7-5, fighting out of Green Brook, N.J.) makes his return to the Octagon to take on Bassil Hafez (8-4-1, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) at welterweight

For the latest information on bout announcements and additional information for this event, please visit UFC.com/newark. All bouts are subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event. 

###

About UFC^®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About Prudential Center

Prudential Center is the world-class sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Opened in October 2007, the state-of-the-art arena is the home of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall University’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball program, and more than 210 concerts, family shows and special events each year. Ranked in the Top 5 worldwide by Pollstar, Billboard and Venues Today, Prudential Center is recognized as one of the premier venues in the United States, and hosts over 2 million guests annually. For more information about Prudential Center, visit https://www.prucenter.com/ and follow the arena on Facebook, X and Instagram @PruCenter. Prudential Center is a HBSE property.

About ESPN+?? ??

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.?ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst. 

Las Vegas (April 18, 2024) – Two-division world champion Oscar Valdez has confirmed that he will appear at the Seventh Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday May 4, 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Expo will also coincide with the mega fight between Canelo Alvarez vs Jaime Munguia, that will take place later that evening at the T-Mobile Arena.

Valdez will hold a Meet & Greet with his fans at his booth during the fan event held over the Cinco De Mayo weekend.

The Box Fan Expo is an annual fan event that coincides with some of the sports’ legendary, classic fights in Las Vegas, including Mayweather vs. Maidana II, Mayweather vs. Berto, Canelo vs. Chavez Jr., Canelo vs. GGG II, Canelo vs. Jacobs and Canelo vs. GGG III. 

Centered in boxing’s longtime home – Las Vegas – this year’s Expo is a must-do for fight fans coming in for this legendary weekend, with dozens of professional fighters, promoters, and companies involved in the boxing industry. The Expo is the largest and only Boxing Fan Expo held in the United States. http://boxfanexpo.com – @BoxFanExpo

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite –https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2024

Valdez will make his first appearance at this years’ Expo and will be signing gloves, photos, personal items and memorabilia. Valdez will also have merchandise to sell for fans to enjoy. Boxing fans will also have an opportunity to take pictures with this boxing star, born in Nogales, Mexico. For more info go to: https://oscarvaldezstore.com/ 

Valdez joins, Teofimo Lopez, Lennox Lewis, Devin Haney Mia St. John, Edgar Berlanga, Franchón Crews-Dezurn, Roy Jones Jr., Erik Morales, Shawn Porter, Fernando Vargas, Juan Manuel Marquez, Michael Spinks, Claressa Shields and Marco Antonio Barrera as an early commitment to this year’s Box Fan Expo, with more Boxing stars to be announced.

About Oscar Valdez

Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) is a two-time Mexican Olympian who captured the WBO featherweight title in 2016 by knocking out Matias Rueda. In February of 2021, and after six successful defenses of his title, Valdez moved up to the junior lightweight division, to challenge Miguel Berchelt who was considered at the time one of the top fighters in the sport. In spectacular fashion, Valdez knocked out Berchelt, thus earning him the WBC world championship title. On September 10, 2021 Valdez successfully retained his championship belt in a competitive fight against Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição. In a highly anticipated and unification belt showdown, Valdez suffered his first pro loss in a valiant effort against Shakur Stevenson in April 2022. The fighting pride of Nogales bounced back with a unanimous decision win, in a rematch against Adam Lopez in May 2023. In a warrior type match up, Valdez suffered a decision loss against world champion Emanuel Navarrete last August. Known for his resilient mentality, Valdez came back stronger by winning the interim WBO super featherweight title versus Australian puncher Liam Wilson, which took place on March 29 at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, in front of a pact audience that came out to support Valdez

Past boxing stars that have participated include: Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Julio Cesar Chavez, Juan Manuel Marquez, Tommy Hearns, Roy Jones Jr, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, David Benavidez, Teofimo Lopez, Andre Ward, Ryan Garcia, Marcos Maidana, Devin Haney, Mikey Garcia, Errol Spence Jr, Fernando Vargas, Rolando Romero, Sergio Martinez, Tim Bradley, Jose Ramirez, Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Deontay Wilder, Amir Khan, Abner Mares, James Toney, Jessie Vargas, Floyd Mayweather sr., Claressa Shields, Vinny Paz, Mia St.John, Franchón Crews-Dezurn, Seniesa Estrada, Jorge Linares, Leo Santa Cruz, Badou Jack, Terry Norris, Riddick Bowe, Earnie Shavers, Michael & Leon Spinks, Brandon Rios, Anthony Dirrell, Danny Jacobs, and many more.

Exhibitors include boxing promoters, gear, apparel, equipment, energy drinks, supplement products, broadcasting media, sanctioning bodies, and other companies who showcase their brand to fans and the boxing industry as a whole.

Throughout the next few weeks leading up to the Event, there will be weekly updates on the many stars that will commit their appearance at the Boxing Expo.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite –

To request information on exhibiting and sponsorship at the Expo:

For media credentials:

Contact us:

Telephone number: (702) 997-1927 or (514) 572-7222

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on Box Fan Expo visit: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

Follow Box Fan Expo on Twitter and Instagram at: @BoxFanExpo

Follow Box Fan Expo on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

LAS VEGAS, April 17, 2024 – UFC^®, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), today announced that UFC 300: PEREIRA vs. HILL, held on Saturday, April 13, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, was one of the most successful and highest-grossing events in UFC history.

Among the highlights:

GATE

• $16.5 million, the third highest-grossing UFC event ever

ATTENDANCE

• 20,067,a new record for a UFC event at T-Mobile Arena
• UFC’s sixth consecutive sellout in 2024 and the eleventh straight sellout dating back to October 2023

VIEWERSHIP

• Most-watched UFC Pay Per View Prelims ever across ESPN platforms (ESPN+, Hulu SVOD, ESPN & ESPN Deportes combined)
• Most-watched UFC Pay Per View Prelims ever on ESPN, with 1.86 million total viewers
• Viewership on ESPN grew every 30 minutes from 8:00p – 10:00p ET, peaking with 2.49 million total viewers at 9:48p ET leading into the main card Pay-Per-View on ESPN+ at 10:00p ET
• Most-viewed sports event of Saturday during primetime (8:00p – 10:00p ET) on cable and network television among total viewers and key demographics, including P18-34, P18-49, P25-54, M18-34, M18-49, M25-54, F18-34, F18-49, and F25-54

MERCHANDISE

• #1 all-time merchandise sales ever for a UFC arena event (*not including stadium shows)
• #2 all-time merchandise sales for any UFC event (*behind only UFC 193: ROUSEY vs. HOLM at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne in 2015)

GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS

• Highest-grossing sponsorship sales for an event in UFC history
• All available inventory sold out

COMMERCIAL PAY PER VIEW IN US, CANADA, AND AUSTRALIA

• U.S.: Highest result since July 2021 (UFC 264)
• Canada: Highest result since March 2020 (UFC 248)
• Australia: Highest result since January 2021 (UFC 257)
• Movie theaters in the U.S. set a record for a UFC event with the highest number of participating locations

SOCIAL: 

• Best performing event on social media in UFC history, breaking records for cross platform video views, impressions, and interactions. Throughout fight week (April 8 – 13), UFC social media amassed more than 1.1 billion video views, with 213 million views coming from Max Holloway’s knockout of Justin Gaethje, which was posted across several platforms.  

# # #

About UFC®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 260 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

NEW YORK (April 17, 2024) – Junior middleweight phenom Xander Zayas is poised to kick off Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend by facing his stiffest challenge yet.
 
Zayas will take on Brazilian former world champion Patrick Teixeira in a 10-round clash on Saturday, June 8 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Zayas will look to secure his 19th pro win 19 years after Top Rank initiated its parade weekend tradition when Miguel Cotto defended his junior welterweight crown against Muhammad Abdullaev.
 
In the 10-round featherweight co-feature, Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington, the latest fistic prodigy from Brownsville, Brooklyn, aims to extend his knockout streak against Mexico’s Jose Enrique Vivas.
 
Zayas-Teixeira and Carrington-Vivas will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

Sky Sports will broadcast the event in the UK & Ireland.
 
Promoted by Top Rank, tickets go on sale Wednesday, April 24 at 12 p.m. ET via Ticketmaster.com.
 
“This is a great New York City card featuring two young men, Xander Zayas and Bruce Carrington, who are poised to become two of the sport’s biggest stars,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Our Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend cards are always special, and I can’t wait for another raucous atmosphere.”
 
Zayas (18-0, 12 KOs) has been on the path to stardom after signing with Top Rank at 16 and debuting as a pro in October 2019. He captured his first regional title with a TKO win against Elias Espadas in August 2022 and followed up with an eight-round decision against Alexis Salazar that December. In 2023, he decisioned Ronald Cruz during Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend and stopped Roberto Valenzuela Jr. in September. The 21-year-old concluded the year in December with a scintillating fifth-round TKO against Spanish contender Jorge Fortea as the co-feature to the Robeisy Ramirez-Rafael Espinoza main event.

Zayas said, “Representing Puerto Rico on a date in which Boricua culture is celebrated and honored represents a sacred commitment that I have with my people. On June 8, I won’t just be fighting for myself. I’ll be fighting for each and every Puerto Rican who always perseveres when the going gets tough. This is my first main event and my first fight against a former world champion. And I plan on carrying my flag and making it shine on one of the world’s biggest stages, ‘The Mecca of Boxing.’”
 
Teixeira (34-4, 25 KOs) stunned the boxing world by upsetting Carlos Adames to capture the interim WBO junior middleweight world title in November 2019. After being elevated to full champion, the 33-year-old southpaw faced multiple setbacks, losing the title to Argentine powerhouse Brian Castaño in February 2021. In his subsequent bouts, he was controversially disqualified against Paul Valenzuela in April 2022 and suffered a decision loss against then-unbeaten Russian Magomed Kurbanov that July. Undeterred, Teixeira bounced back with a first-round knockout win against Adrian Perez in November 2022, a second-round stoppage over Carlos Rivero last August and a fourth-round TKO against Edisson Saltarin in March.

Teixeira said, “It took longer than expected, but this fight is finally here. I can’t wait to get in the ring and put the division on notice. I did it once before when I won my world title against Adames on a Top Rank show, and I’m going to do it again with one of their rising stars. Zayas is a great talent, and everyone there will be supporting him during that important weekend. But my experience will make the difference, and I’ll show that on June 8.”
 
Carrington (11-0, 7 KOs), a 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials champion, has rapidly ascended the ranks since turning pro in October 2021. The 27-year-old secured five victories in 2023, including a second-round TKO against former world title challenger Jason Sanchez. In his last outing, he blasted out Bernard Torres with a right hook at The Theater in February. The stoppage went viral and was a SportsCenter Top 10 highlight.
 
Carrington said, “Vivas should be my toughest opponent to date, but as I do every time I fight in Shu York City, I’m going to put on a crowd-pleasing performance. It’s special to fight in front of the great Puerto Rican fans. I can’t wait for June 8.”
 
Vivas (23-3, 12 KOs), a tenacious 29-year-old Mexican, enjoyed an undefeated 17-0 run before encountering his first pro defeat at the hands of Ruben Villa in September 2019. He bounced back with a four-fight winning spree, including a 10-round decision over then-unbeaten Carlos Jackson in July 2020 and an eight-round triumph against Louie Coria the following May. Despite a majority points loss to eventual title challenger Eduardo Baez in March 2022, Vivas rebounded with a win over Edy Valencia before losing to Joet Gonzalez last April. In February, he scored a first-round TKO against Jonathan Aguilar.
 
The ESPN+-streamed undercard will showcase a selection of some of the best rising talents from the East Coast.
 
Junior middleweight Jahi Tucker (10-1-1, 5 KOs), from Deer Park, New York, looks to respond following a string of setbacks in an eight-rounder versus Quincy LaVallais (17-4-1, 12 KOs). Tucker overcame a tough out in Nikoloz Sekhniashvili last April, dropped a decision to Nicklaus Flaz in July, and fought to a majority draw against Francisco Daniel Veron in December.
 
U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson (12-0, 6 KOs) will see action in an eight-rounder against once-beaten Tarik Zaina (13-1-1, 8 KOs). After going 4-0 in 2023, the Cleveland native made his 2024 debut with a first-round stoppage victory against Paulo Galdino in February. 
 
Unbeaten welterweight Elijah Flores (8-0, 3 KOs) will lock horns against Derrick Whitley Jr. (7-4-1) in a six-rounder. Flores, a Bronx native, returns following a fourth-round TKO against Alejandro Munera in March.
 
Junior lightweight prospect Ofacio Falcon (10-0, 6 KOs) heads to The Theater for a third time to take on Antonio Dunton El Jr. (5-2-2, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder. Falcon, also a Bronx native, decisioned Edward Ceballos in February.
 
Team USA heavyweight hopeful Ali Feliz (1-0, 1 KO), from Danbury, Connecticut, makes his second appearance in the paid ranks in a four-round tilt versus Lemir Isom-Riley (4-2, 2 KOs). Feliz dispatched Anthony Woodson III in only two rounds last Saturday in Corpus Christi, Texas. Isom-Riley last fought on the Teofimo Lopez-Jamaine Ortiz bill in February, stopping Antonio Zepeda in three rounds.
 
Nisa Rodriguez (1-0), a Golden Gloves champion and NYPD officer, will square off against Jordanne Garcia ( 4-3-3) in a four-round middleweight fight.

Rising flyweight Andy Dominguez (10-1, 6 KOs), who was born in Mexico and raised in The Bronx, will face Cristopher Rios (10-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-rounder.
 

PHILADELPHIA, PA (April 17, 2024) – Boxing royalty will be in the house at the 2300 Arena tomorrow night when former undisputed Heavyweight World Champion Lennox Lewis attends DiBella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing debut in Philadelphia.

Tickets for Broadway Boxing can be purchased via www.2300arena.com (click HERE) or by calling (267) 273-0945. Tickets are priced at $150.00 for VIP Ringside, $125.00 Premium Ringside, $100 Ringside, and $60 for General Admission seating. The 2300 Arena is located at 2300 S Swanson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148. Doors will open on the night of the event at 6:00 PM ET, with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 PM ET.

Lewis will be in Philadelphia to cheer on his super welterweight protégé Kestna Davis (5-0), whom he advises. Davis will take on fellow undefeated Abdalla Nagy (1-0) in a four-round bout.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Davis moved to the U.S. in 2018. He has been mentored by the former world champion since they met in July 2016 through the Lennox Lewis League of Champions Foundation. Nagy, born in Egypt and now based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, made his pro debut last December, earning a four-round unanimous decision against Kijonti Davis.

Junior featherweight Romuel “Cuco” Cruz (10-0-1, 4 KOs) will take on Robin Ellis (6-3, 5 KOs), of Las Vegas, Nevada, in a six-round bout.

Cruz, 30, was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, but moved to Philadelphia, PA, as a toddler. He began boxing as a teenager and has been under the tutelage of world championship trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards since his pro debut in December 2017. He is promoted by Hard Hitting Promotions.

Edwards will also be in the corner of six-foot-tall middleweight southpaw Erron “JYD” Peterson (5-0-1, 4 KOs). The 28-year-old Peterson will take on Raheem Davis (1-2), of Morgantown, West Virginia, in a four-round bout.

Peterson was an All-City linebacker in high school before turning his full attention to boxing at the age of 21. Following a brief-but-successful amateur campaign, Peterson, managed by his father Salah, turned pro in July 2022.

Heavyweight contender “Gentleman” George Arias (18-1, 7 KOs), of Bronx, New York, headlines Broadway Boxing facing the unbeaten Skylar Lacy (8-0-1, 6 KOs), of Indianapolis, Indiana, in an eight-round bout.

The 32-year-old Arias has already defeated seven previously unbeaten opponents, including world-ranked Cassius Chaney and Alante Green. Arias suffered his lone blemish at the hands of highly regarded Jared Anderson on April 8, 2023, in Newark, New Jersey.

Lacy, 29, fought to a spirited draw with former National amateur champion, six-foot-nine Antonio Mireles. In his last outing, Lacy stopped Hector Conrado in two rounds on March 16, in Mexico.

The card will also feature a high-powered heavyweight clash between Cleveland’s Roney Hines and Johnson City, Tennessee, native Robert Hall Jr., scheduled for eight rounds. The fight is a step-up for Hines (13-0-1, 8 KOs), who trains with veteran trainer Eric Brown in Los Angeles and is co-managed by Robert Diaz and Sheer Sports. He is coming off of a unanimous decision win against Jonathan Gruber last November. The 28-year-old Hines had an extensive amateur career that included over 90 fights and a win at the National Golden Gloves, before making his professional debut in July 2018. Hall Jr. (14-2, 11 KOs), a former WBC USNBC titlist, last entered the ring in September when he faced contender Jerry Forrest, losing a unanimous decision over eight rounds.

CARDIFF, WALES (April 17, 2024) – Lauren Price MBE tops a huge night of boxing in the Welsh capital as she challenges Jessica McCaskill for the WBA, IBO and Ring Magazine World Welterweight Titles on Saturday, May 11th,  live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, BBC Wales in Wales, and Peacock in the USA.

History maker Price, the first Welsh boxer to win Olympic gold, has the opportunity to write her name in the record books again by becoming Wales’ first female world champion when she meets McCaskill at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena.

Price’s homecoming will also provide a platform for the future stars of Welsh boxing, giving some of the country’s hottest home-grown prospects the chance to showcase their skills. 

Undefeated featherweight Rhys Edwards (15-0, 4 KOs) will look to extend his unbeaten run and move into title contention as he steps up in class to face former British champion and WBA #1 contender Thomas Patrick Ward (34-1-1, 5 KOs).

Edwards, from Penygraig, returns to action following a points victory over Brad Foster in Wolverhampton in November and will be boxing in Wales for the first time since a shut-out six-round win over Ruslan Berchuk on the Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Williams undercard in Cardiff in February 2022.

Englishman Ward, from County Durham, has had twice as many paid bouts as his Welsh rival. Having suffered his first career defeat in a WBA World Featherweight Title eliminator against Otabek Kholmatibv in 2023, the 29-year-old got back to winning ways with a points victory over Amani Bariki last month.

Edwards is one of three boxers from Gary Lockett’s gym fighting on Price’s undercard with Newport super middleweight Kyran Jones (9-0, 1 KO) and Cardiff super featherweight Kane Shepherd (4-0, 1 KO) also set for action.

26-year-old southpaw Jones will take on fellow unbeaten Welshman Lewis Howell (3-0), also from Newport, and Shepherd, a former ten-time ABA Welsh Champion, will test his skills against Birmingham’s Ishmael Ellis (14-8).

Joining Lockett’s unbeaten trio is Swansea giant Moses Jolly (8-0, 6 KOs), who will look to announce himself on the big stage as he continues his quest to become Wales’ first ever heavyweight world champion.

Plus, undefeated English Super Middleweight Champion Mark Jeffers (17-0, 4 KOs), who is proving to be a dangerman in the 168lbs division having claimed the English title versus current British champion Zak Chelli last July before defending the belt with a convincing points win over Germaine Browne in January.

Lauren Price MBE challenges Jessica McCaskill for the WBA, IBO and Ring Magazine World Welterweight Titles on Saturday, May 11th at the Utilita Arena Cardiff. All the action is available to watch live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, BBC Wales in Wales and Peacock in the USA.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast and Integritas Property Group.

Tickets are on sale now and available via BOXXER.com

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with a thrilling clash of featherweight contenders that will see legendary KO artist and No. 12 ranked Edson Barboza take on undefeated Lerone Murphy. Also, No. 9 ranked flyweight Tim Elliott aims to become the first fighter to beat No. 13 Tatsuro Taira.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: BARBOZA vs. MURPHY takes place Saturday, May 18 in Las Vegas and will be available on ESPN+ in English and Spanish. The main card will begin at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, with the prelims kicking off at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

UFC APEX VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that includes premium seating, all-inclusive hospitality, in-seat beverage service, meet-and-greets with UFC octagon girls and more. Visit UFCVIP.com for more information.

Barboza (24-11, fighting out of Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) has proven himself among the most devastating strikers in MMA history. Throughout his impressive career, he has delivered spectacular KO victories over Beneil Dariush, Billy Quarantillo and Terry Etim. Barboza now has his sights set on earning his third consecutive win by handing Murphy his first loss.

Murphy (13-0-1, fighting out of Manchester, England) intends to secure the biggest victory of his career. A talented striker with seven knockouts under his belt, he has earned notable wins against Makwan Amirkhani, Douglas Silva de Andrade and Ricardo Ramos. Murphy now hopes to make the most of his first UFC main event by stopping Barboza in emphatic fashion.

Elliott (21-13-1, fighting out of Kansas City, Mo.) looks to utilize his unorthodox style and veteran savvy to turn away another rising contender. A former UFC flyweight title challenger, he holds memorable victories over Sumudaerji, Tagir Ulanbekov and Louis Smolka. Elliott now plans to defend his spot in the rankings and halt Taira’s momentum.

Taira (15-0, fighting out of Okinawa, Japan) has wasted no time climbing the flyweight ladder since joining the roster in 2022. Among the youngest competitors in the UFC at 24 years old, he has netted impressive finishes against Carlos Hernandez, Jesús Santos Aguilar and CJ Vergara. Taira now intends to add a decorated veteran to his resume and continue his undefeated run.

Additional bouts on the card include: 

• Adrian Yanez (16-5, fighting out of Houston, Texas) meets Vinicius Salvador (14-6, fighting out of Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil) in an entertaining bantamweight tilt
• Unbeaten Oumar Sy (9-0, fighting out of Paris, France) debuts agains Rodolfo Bellato (12-2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at light heavyweight
• Victor Martinez (12-5, fighting out of Pharr, Texas) squares off with Tom Nolan (8-1, fighting out of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) in a lightweight bout
• Themba Gorimbo (12-4, fighting out of Johannesburg, South Africa) goes for his third straight win when he takes on Ramiz Brahimaj (10-4, fighting out of Dallas, Texas by way of the Bronx, N.Y.) at welterweight
• Abus Magomedov (25-6-1, fighting out of Düsseldorf, Germany) locks horns with Warlley Alves (15-7, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in a middleweight tilt
• Khaos Williams (14-3, fighting out of Detroit, Mich.) meets Carlston Harris (19-5, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by way of Skeldon, Guyana) in an intriguing welterweight matchup
• No. 9 ranked women’s strawweight contender Luana Pinheiro (11-2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) clashes with No. 12 Angela Hill (16-13, fighting out of San Diego, Calif. by way of Clinton, Md.)
• Vanessa Demopoulos (10-5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) faces Emily Ducote (13-8, fighting out of Oklahoma City, Okla.) at strawweight
• Hailey Cowan (7-3, fighting out of Robinson, Texas) meets Tamires Vidal (7-2, fighting out of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in a bantamweight bout
• Piera Rodriguez (9-1, fighting out of Maracaibo, Venezuela) squares off with Ariane Carnelossi (14-3, fighting out of Presidente Prudente, Sao Paulo, Brazil) at strawweight

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event. 

### 

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN 

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.?ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst. 

Las Vegas (April 16, 2024) – WBO Super Lightweight Champion Teofimo Lopez has confirmed that he will appear at the Seventh Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday May 4, 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Expo will also coincide with the mega fight between Canelo Alvarez vs Jaime Munguia, that will take place later that evening at the T-Mobile Arena.

Lopez will hold a Meet & Greet with his fans at his booth during the fan event held over the Cinco De Mayo weekend.

The Box Fan Expo is an annual fan event that coincides with some of the sports’ legendary, classic fights in Las Vegas, including Mayweather vs. Maidana II, Mayweather vs. Berto, Canelo vs. Chavez Jr., Canelo vs. GGG II, Canelo vs. Jacobs and Canelo vs. GGG III. 

Centered in boxing’s longtime home – Las Vegas – this year’s Expo is a must-do for fight fans coming in for this legendary weekend, with dozens of professional fighters, promoters, and companies involved in the boxing industry. The Expo is the largest and only Boxing Fan Expo held in the United States. http://boxfanexpo.com – @BoxFanExpo

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite –https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2024

Lopez will make his third appearance at this years’ Expo and will be signing gloves, photos, personal items and memorabilia. Lopez will also have merchandise to sell for fans to enjoy at his TakeOver Promotions booth. Boxing fans will also have an opportunity to take pictures with this boxing star also known as the “The TakeOver”. 

Lopez joins, Lennox Lewis, Devin Haney Mia St. John, Edgar Berlanga, Franchón Crews-Dezurn, Roy Jones Jr., Erik Morales, Shawn Porter, Fernando Vargas, Juan Manuel Marquez, Michael Spinks, Claressa Shields and Marco Antonio Barrera as an early commitment to this year’s Box Fan Expo, with more Boxing stars to be announced.

About Teofimo Lopez

Lopez is an American professional boxer and a two-division world champion. He represented as an amateur, his parent’s native country of Honduras at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Lopez is the former Undisputed Lightweight world champion. He held the IBF title from December 2019 to November 2021. Lopez defeated pound for pound great Vasyl Lomachenko on October 17, 2020 to become the WBA (Super), WBO, WBC Franchise and Ring magazine belt champion. This monumental victory over Lomachenko, alongside winning two lineal titles by the age of 25, propelled Lopez into a true boxing star, as well as being the youngest four-belt champion in boxing history. Lopez recently moved up in weight at the Super Lightweight division and defeated Pedro Campa on August 13th, 2022 in Las Vergas. On April 8, 2023, it was officially announced that Lopez would attempt to become a two-division world champion by challenging pound for pound great, undefeated WBO and The Ring Magazine Super Lightweight champion Josh Taylor. The anticipated showdown took place on June 10 at the Hulu Theater in New York City. Lopez dominated the fight and won by spectacular fashion, to become a two-division world champion. This incredible achievement, was followed by Lopez retaining his world championship title, versus top contender Jamaine Ortis on February 8, 2024 in Las Vegas

Past boxing stars that have participated include: Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Julio Cesar Chavez, Juan Manuel Marquez, Tommy Hearns, Roy Jones Jr, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, David Benavidez, Teofimo Lopez, Andre Ward, Ryan Garcia, Marcos Maidana, Devin Haney, Mikey Garcia, Errol Spence Jr, Fernando Vargas, Rolando Romero, Sergio Martinez, Tim Bradley, Jose Ramirez, Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Deontay Wilder, Amir Khan, Abner Mares, James Toney, Jessie Vargas, Floyd Mayweather sr., Claressa Shields, Vinny Paz, Mia St.John, Franchón Crews-Dezurn, Seniesa Estrada, Jorge Linares, Leo Santa Cruz, Badou Jack, Terry Norris, Riddick Bowe, Earnie Shavers, Michael & Leon Spinks, Brandon Rios, Anthony Dirrell, Danny Jacobs, and many more.

Exhibitors include boxing promoters, gear, apparel, equipment, energy drinks, supplement products, broadcasting media, sanctioning bodies, and other companies who showcase their brand to fans and the boxing industry as a whole.

Throughout the next few weeks leading up to the Event, there will be weekly updates on the many stars that will commit their appearance at the Boxing Expo.

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Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced that after two years, Matchroom’s undisputed super lightweight world champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs), will step back in the ring for the most anticipated rematch in women’s boxing history against boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs). Taylor vs. Serrano 2 will stream live globally, exclusively on Netflix on Saturday, July 20, 2024 from the 80,000-seat capacity AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. 

Taylor vs. Serrano 2 will be the co-main event to the recently announced heavyweight match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson as part of Netflix and MVP’s first-ever partnership. This will mark Taylor and Serrano’s long-awaited rematch following their historic bout at Madison Square Garden in 2022, where they made history as the first ever women fighters to headline an event in the iconic venue’s history. The bout ended in a narrow split decision in favor of Taylor and garnered global acclaim for both fighters earning Sports Illustrated’s Fight of the Year and The Ring’s Event of the Year for 2022. Taylor vs. Serrano was also nominated for Sports Business Journal’s Event of the Year, a testament to the global reach and power of the event. The rematch between the ESPN-ranked pound-for-pound powerhouses, #2 Taylor and #3 Serrano, will be contested for the undisputed super lightweight championship marking a jump of three weight classes from Serrano’s normal featherweight division as Taylor puts all her super lightweight belts on the line. The women’s undisputed megafight will be contested across 10, two-minute rounds, Serrano’s only break from fighting 12×3, the men’s championship standard, for the remainder of her career. Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2 is anticipated to be the biggest boxing event in modern history, and fans can sign up for presale ticket access at mostvaluablepromotions.com. 

Irish sensation Katie Taylor once again reaches for greatness as she meets Amanda Serrano in a rematch – with Taylor looking to add another remarkable chapter to her incredible boxing career as she defends her undisputed Super-Lightweight title. Taylor defeated Serrano at a sold-out Madison Square Garden in April 2022 in a stunning fight of the year contest that saw Taylor successfully defend the undisputed Lightweight title that she won in the same arena in June 2019 against Belgian Delfina Persoon. Taylor became a two-weight undisputed champion in her last outing in November, overcoming Chantelle Cameron in a rematch of their closely fought battle in April, with both fights taking place at a sold-out 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. She first got her hands on world honors in her seventh pro fight, claiming the vacant WBA Lightweight title in Cardiff against Anahi Sanchez in October 2017, and has been in 17 straight world title contests since that night en-route to becoming a two-weight undisputed ruler.

“This is the rematch the world has wanted to see and I’m delighted that it’s finally happening,” said Katie Taylor. “The first fight in New York was obviously an epic occasion and it more than lived up to the billing, and I’m sure the rematch will be no different. I want to thank Matchroom and DAZN for their help in making the fight possible and I’m looking forward to defending my titles as Undisputed World Champion in Dallas on Saturday, July 20.”

Amanda Serrano, the first-ever Puerto Rican undisputed world champion and seven-division world champion, started her current featherweight title reign by defeating Heather Hardy in a brutal 10-round fight in 2019 to win the WBO belt, and has since defended her WBO belt six times. Serrano offered Hardy a chance at redemption in August 2023, but successfully defended her undisputed featherweight world champion title for the first time in a decisive 10 round unanimous decision victory. Serrano also won a blood-soaked war against WBA featherweight champion Erika Cruz in February 2023, which made her the undisputed featherweight champion. Serrano’s decisive win against Cruz followed her previous win over Sarah Mahfoud in Manchester, England that added the Dane’s IBF title to her WBO, WBC, and IBO featherweight belts. Most recently, Serrano took home a unanimous decision victory against her mandatory WBO challenger Danila Ramos, making history in the first-ever women’s unified world championship to be fought over 12, three-minute rounds, equal to any men’s championship fight, and marking the first time a women’s fight has gone the full 12×3. Serrano threw a career high 1,103 punches in the bout. In a true commitment to change for women’s boxing, Serrano recently vacated her WBC title, as the sanctioning body does not support women’s choice for 12×3. Serrano, whose natural weight is 126 pounds, now steps up to super lightweight to face Taylor for the second time, aiming to add the Irish fighter’s belts to her current featherweight hardware in what would be a championship in her eighth weight class.  

“I promised my fans they would see this rematch after we made history at MSG and it feels like a dream come true to know that Katie and I are finally making it happen on the biggest stage possible to show the world what elite women’s boxing is all about,” said Amanda Serrano. “While my focus continues to be on giving women the choice to fight with the same rules as men, I’ve always said that this is the one fight I’d go back to 10×2 for if that’s what Katie wanted. I’m coming for her belts, she wants 10×2, so that’s what we will do. I believe I won our first fight, but I didn’t get the decision, so this time I’m not leaving it to the judges. I am honored to share this iconic MVP card in the biggest stadium, on the biggest streaming platform in the world. Thank you Nakisa, Jake, Mike and Netflix for making this happen. And to all the young girls and women watching, I want you to know that anything is possible. Keep dreaming, keep working hard, and never let anyone tell you otherwise. It took me 15 years of blood, sweat and tears to get here, but it’s all worth it because I’m living my dreams.”

Taylor vs. Serrano 2 marks the latest in MVP’s series of significant women’s championship fights as the company works to establish equity across the sport. The event follows Amanda Serrano’s first-ever 12×3 unified championship fight vs. challenger Danila Ramos in October and the Paul vs. August special championship feature of MVP’s Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green vs. Franchón Crews-Dezurn for the WBC and WBA super middleweight world titles.

“When we announced Paul vs. Tyson, we stated that this would be the most-watched boxing event in modern boxing history and we’re here to deliver on a card worthy of that greatness,” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor have proven they are two of the biggest names in the sport, male or female and their rematch is one of the biggest fights in boxing, so it’s only fitting for them to be a part of this massive global event. Anyone who witnessed their first battle knows the unforgettable atmosphere and performance Amanda and Katie bring when they step into the ring together,and this is sure to be a fight of the year contender again. Bringing attention to women’s boxing has always been a priority for MVP and we are thrilled to give the world’s most-anticipated women’s boxing fight ever a crowning moment on Netflix. Thank you to Matchroom and DAZN for working with MVP and Netflix to make this historic fight come to fruition.”

“Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano are two of the best boxers in the world,” said Mike Tyson. “I know they can both put on an incredible show, and I’m thrilled to have them join this card. These remarkable athletes will undoubtedly elevate the event with their global appeal and fan bases. Adding one of the greatest fights in women’s boxing history to this unforgettable event is a true gift to fans. Saturday, July 20 can’t get here soon enough.”

Netflix is the premier home for great sports entertainment with hits like Emmy-nominated Untold that featured Jake Paul the Problem Child episode last year, along with Formula 1: Drive To Survive, Full Swing, Beckham, NASCAR: Full Speed, Quarterback, Tour de France: Unchained, Under Pressure: The U.S. Women’s World Cup Team and Six Nations: Full Contact. And beginning in 2025, Netflix will become the new home of WWE Raw. Paul vs. Tyson and Serrano vs. Taylor II will be Netflix’s third live sports event, following The Netflix Cup and The Netflix Slam. 

“Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano captivated  the sports world during their first fight two years ago, and fans have been clamoring to see them in the ring together again ever since,” said Gabe Spitzer, Vice President, Nonfiction Sports, Netflix. “We are thrilled to partner with MVP to bring this epic rematch to Netflix subscribers all over the world on Saturday, July 20th, in what will be an unforgettable night alongside Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson.”

Additional information, including the additional undercard bouts, will be announced at a later date. For the opportunity to sign up for presale tickets, click here.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP have produced Jake Paul’s last five global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Diaz match. The promotion company also signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About Netflix

Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services with over 260 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

About AT&T Stadium

AT&T Stadium is the largest, most technologically advanced entertainment venue in the world. Designed by HKS and built by Manhattan Construction, the $1.2 billion stadium features two monumental arches, the world’s largest HDTV video board cluster, an expansive retractable roof and the largest retractable end zone doors in the world. Features of the stadium include seating for 80,000 and expandability for up to 100,000, over 300 luxury suites, club seating on multiple levels and the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop, open to the public year-round. Outside the stadium, the Miller Lite® House is a branded destination that boasts a 70-yard Cowboys turf field featuring field games, four video boards and over 60 television screens, two fantasy football screen walls and over 87,000 outdoor square-footage for event day experiences. The space also features two beer gardens and a walk-in beer cooler. The stadium is also home to a world-class collection of contemporary art, made up of over 92 works of art by 62 established and emerging artists displayed on the walls and in the grand public spaces of the venue. In addition to being the home of the Dallas Cowboys since opening in 2009, the stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLV, the 2010 NBA All Star Game, the annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the 2014 NCAA Men’s Final Four, the 2015 inaugural College Football Playoff Championship Game, the 2015 50th Anniversary Academy of Country Music Awards show and WrestleMania 32 & 38. The venue has also played host to high school and college football, concerts, championship fights, international soccer matches and other special events. For more information, go to attstadium.com.

LONDON (April 15, 2024) — WBO/WBC/IBF unified champion Artur Beterbiev and WBA ruler Dmitry Bivol met face-to-face at today’s kickoff presser in London ahead of their undisputed light heavyweight showdown on Saturday, June 1 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

This battle of 175-pound titans will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. as a special one-fight broadcast.

Beterbiev-Bivol will be promoted by Top Rank, Queensberry Promotions, Matchroom Boxing, World of Boxing Promotions and Sela.

Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs), boxing’s only current world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio, stopped Enrico Koelling in his 12th pro fight to win the IBF world title. He added the WBC championship to his collection in 2019 with a 10th-round TKO over Oleksandr Gvozdyk and captured the WBO strap in 2022 by stopping Joe Smith Jr. in two rounds. He returns after vanquishing former world champion Callum Smith in seven rounds in January.

Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) is a 10-year pro who captured the WBA interim title with a decision victory over Felix Valera in 2016. The following year, he was elevated to full champion and has since made 11 defenses with victories over the likes of Jean Pascal, Smith Jr., Sullivan Barrera and Canelo Alvarez. Last December, Bivol fought on the historic “Day of Reckoning” card in Riyadh, shutting out British challenger Lyndon Arthur.

At Monday’s press conference, this is what the fighters had to say.

Artur Beterbiev

“I just see another belt. I’m collecting belts, and I need one more.”

“I don’t know why {it’s taken so long to make this fight}. He knows better. Ask him.”

“We’ll see {if this is the biggest challenge}. I’m not thinking about it. I’m preparing for it. I will prepare and try to be at 100 percent.”

Dmitry Bivol

“When I signed a contract to be a pro boxer, I had a goal to become undisputed. Everything that I have gone through has been for that. I did it to achieve my goal. Even the fight against Canelo. It was my ticket for big fights. And now I’m happy that I will have this fight on June 1 for all the belts.”

“For every training camp, I think my opponent is the most dangerous opponent in the world. This helps me to be focused and serious in my training. Of course, he’s one of my most dangerous opponents. You see his record and his fights. He is powerful. It makes me more excited to fight against him because I love challenges. I love to be tested. This fight is a huge test for me.”

“Every person is different. Not only me. I have good skills. I just believe in my skills. I have been in boxing for 28 years. I’ve been in boxing ever since I can remember. I love this sport, and I think my experience will help me. And my mentality, skills, and camp. I believe I can be undisputed.”

Todd duBoef (Top Rank President)

“I’ve always been a fan of destruction. And this guy is destruction. Every time you turn on the television, my phone would ring and friends from all over the world would call me and say, ‘Who is this monster?’ And, I think he gets better with each fight.”

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (April 15, 2024) — An undisputed light heavyweight king will soon be crowned in The Kingdom. WBO/WBC/IBF unified champion Artur Beterbiev will battle WBA ruler Dmitry Bivol on Saturday, June 1 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The victor will become the division’s first undisputed champion since Roy Jones Jr. defeated Reggie Johnson in 1999. 

This battle of 175-pound titans will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. as a special one-fight broadcast.

Beterbiev-Bivol will be promoted by Top Rank, Queensberry Promotions, Matchroom Boxing, World of Boxing Promotions and Sela.

“This a dream matchup between two of the best light heavyweights we’ve ever seen,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “The beautiful city of Riyadh will play host to this legacy-defining fight. Thank you to His Excellency Turki Alalshikh for his vision and determination in bringing boxing fans the fights they want to see.”

Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) is boxing’s only current world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio, a human wrecking ball who entered the pro ranks in 2013 following Olympic berths in 2008 and 2012. Beterbiev wasted little time establishing his pro credentials, knocking out former world champion Tavoris Cloud in his sixth fight and stopping Enrico Koelling in his 12th outing to capture the IBF world title. Beterbiev picked up the WBC strap with a 10th-round TKO over Oleksandr Gvozdyk in 2019 and added the WBO title in June 2022 with a second-round TKO of Joe Smith Jr. He made his eighth title defense on January 13 in Quebec City, Canada, knocking out former super middleweight world champion Callum Smith in seven rounds.

Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) is a 10-year pro with 11 consecutive world title defenses, tied for third most in light heavyweight history. A decorated amateur who tallied more than 250 victories, he picked up his first regional title in his fourth pro fight. Following two defenses of the WBA interim title, Bivol was elevated to full champion in 2017 and began his reign of dominance. He notched wins over Jean Pascal, Joe Smith Jr., and Sullivan Barrera, among others, before a career-defining triumph that vaulted him up the pound-for-pound rankings. In May 2022, Bivol neutralized living legend Canelo Alvarez en route to a unanimous decision win. Six months later, he bested former super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. Last December, Bivol fought on the historic “Day of Reckoning” card in Riyadh, shutting out British challenger Lyndon Arthur.

Helmand Alekozai will face Digari Mahesh from India on April 19, manager Trifon Petrov confirmed this morning. The eight-round bout will be for the vacant WBC Middle East title. 

The fight will take place in La Perle, Dubai, United Arab Emirates as part of a big event promoted by Rahul Suri. 

Alekozai (12-0, 5 knockouts) who resides in Toronto, Canada, last fought on January 27th in Dubai, defeating Ibrahim Makubi (10-1-2, 6 knockouts) via 5th round stoppage. In December of 2023, Alekozai knocked out previously unbeaten Alonso Ceja (12-0, 4 knockouts) in the 3rd round of their 8-round scheduled contest. 

Helmand Alekozai is building momentum after a near fatal car accident he suffered in November of 2021. He won 5 fights over the last 12 months since his comeback to boxing.

“I can’t wait to show the world on April 19th that I’m one of the best fighters in my weight class. Winning a WBC Regional title would allow me to enter the world ratings and put me another step closer to achieving my dream of becoming a World Champion,” said Alekozai.

Alekozai is what you call a true road warrior, having fought in 4 different continents and 6 different countries in his 12 fight career.  

Sunny Edwards and Adrian Curiel will clash in a 12-round Flyweight battle as the chief support bout for the blockbuster World title clash between Juan Francisco Estrada and Jesse Rodriguez at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday June 29, live worldwide on DAZN.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW AT TICKETMASTER.COM

Both men will be looking to bounce back to winning ways and get back to World champion status, and for Edwards (20-1 4 KOs), it’s an immediate return to the state where he met headline star Rodriguez in a unification clash in December.

The Briton faced ‘Bam’ in Glendale with his IBF title on the line against the WBO king, but was stopped in the ninth round of a thrilling battle, leaving the states with a first career defeat. The 28 year old, who also penned a new deal with Matchroom today, will be looking to regain the IBF belt after Bam vacated it to face Estrada, a title that he took from Moruti Mthalane in London in April 2021 and successfully defended four times before facing Rodriguez.

Curiel (24-5-1 5 KOs) moves up in weight after two dramatic World title clashes with Sivenathi Nontshinga. The Mexican challenged the South African in Monte Carlo for the IBF World Light-Flyweight title in November and stunned the champion with a KO of the year contending right hand in the second round to rip the crown away. The pair met again in a rematch in February in Oaxaca, Mexico, but this time it was the former champion that exacted revenge in a thrilling battle with a 10th round stoppage.

“I’m really excited to get the next chapter of my career underway,” said Edwards. “Agreeing another deal with Matchroom which confirms my future here for the foreseeable future.

“With the belief I’ve got in me from the promotional team and the events I’ve been involved in, I know I’m in the right place.

“Me vs Curiel is a hell of a fight. He is a former World Champion, like myself, and we’re both fighting to get back into World title contention.

“I’m going to Arizona again and fighting in front of an even bigger crowd this time, filled with passionate Mexican and American boxing fans. 29 June, I’m looking forward to being back.”

“I have a brand-new opportunity for my career,” said Curiel. “When you lose, you learn, and I will prove it against Edwards on June 29. 

“If they want to make it 112lbs we will take it even though this is not my weight, all because I am thirsty for revenge. Viva Mexico!!”

“This is a great fight between two men desperate to get back to the top,” said Hearn. “Sunny was a World champion for a long time and when that feeling goes, you want to get it back as soon as possible, while Adrian only just tasted that for himself for a short time, so both men know that this is a must-win fight to get back into the mix, and comes as the chief support to one of the biggest fights of the year.”

Las Vegas ­– UFC^® today announced that the classic 2010 fight between middleweights Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s ‘Fight Wing’ as a part of the class of 2024. The 2024 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place as part of the 12^th Annual UFC International Fight Week^Ô, on Thursday, June 27, at T-Mobile Arena, and will be streamed live exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“The first fight between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen was incredible,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White. “This is the fight that made Anderson a star and showed the world that Chael could compete with anyone in the division. This incredible dogfight had everything you want in a five-round title fight, and it will be an honor to induct this fight into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.

As the main event of UFC^® 117: SILVA vs. SONNEN, which took place on August 7, 2010, at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., both Silva and Sonnen entered the event on winning streaks of 12 and three, respectively.

Silva entered the Octagon as UFC middleweight champion with a 28-4 record (11-0 UFC) that included wins over future UFC Hall of Famers Forrest Griffin, Rich Franklin, and Dan Henderson (fight wing); former UFC welterweight champion Carlos Newton; former WEC^® middleweight champion Chris Leben; former WEC heavyweight champion James Irvin; former Strikeforce^® welterweight champion Nate Marquardt; and former Shooto^® welterweight champion Hayato Sakurai.

Sonnen entered the match as the top-ranked middleweight contender with a 26-10-1 record (7-4 UFC / WEC) and previous wins over former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Renato Sobral, former WEC light heavyweight champion Jason Lambert, former WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho, and former Strikeforce^® welterweight champion Nate Marquardt.   

Both athletes met at the center of the Octagon, exchanging punches and kicks to begin the first round. 52 seconds into the round, Sonnen landed a straight left, stunning the champion and knocking him back to the cage. Sonnen began to pressure Silva, landing several additional punches and takedowns to control the pace of the fight. With 3:23 left in the first, Sonnen took Silva down and mounted him, controlling the action in half guard and landing punches from the top position. Sonnen would move into full guard with 1:45 remaining, staying on top of the champion through the end of the round. Sonnen secured 31 significant strikes in the round, more than any previous opponent landed against Silva in a full UFC fight.

Silva came out firing for the second round, landing several punches and kicks before being taken down by Sonnen. Sonnen controlled the pace of the second round from the full mounted position, landing punches and elbows with Silva responding with shots from his back periodically. With 15 seconds left in the second, Silva would attempt a Kimura on the fence, with Sonnen countering from top position.

Both athletes raced to the center of the Octagon for round three, with Silva immediately landing an overhand right. Sonnen would advance and take Silva down 20 seconds into the round, continuing his dominance on the canvas. Sonnen would continue his ground assault on Silva, landing punches and elbows from the top position.

Silva opened the fourth round by taking control and landing a series of punches, kicks, and an elbow that stunned Sonnen. The two traded punches before Silva took Sonnen down 30 seconds into the round. Sonnen used his wrestling background to secure a reversal and take control via top position with four minutes remaining. Sonnen would control the fourth round via top control, consistently landing punches and elbows.

The fifth round opened with both athletes in the center of the Octagon, measuring each other up until Sonnen landed an overhand left that knocked Silva down. Sonnen secured the top position and attempted to submit Silva via side choke 45 seconds into the round, but Silva evaded the effort. Sonnen continued to control the fight from the ground, consistently landing punches with Silva evading from the ground.

With 2:05 remaining in the fight, Silva began to land several punches from his back and slipped Sonnen into a triangle armbar, submitting Sonnen via TKO with 1:50 seconds remaining to retain the UFC middleweight title. Silva’s triangle armbar submission was only the second in UFC history, and in terms of time elapsed, was the second latest at that time. Silva’s submission came with a -60 significant strike differential and remains the greatest statistical comeback finish in UFC championship history.

Sonnen’s 320 strikes landed against Silva set a UFC record that ranks fourth today. Silva had only absorbed 166 total strikes in his previous 11 fights combined.

Silva’s win earned him his 12^th consecutive UFC victory, breaking Royce Gracie’s UFC record for longest winning streak. The fight also won Fight of the Year honors during the Fighters Only World MMA Awards.

Silva and Sonnen would each win their next two respective fights before meeting in a rematch in the main event of UFC^® 148: SILVA vs. SONNEN II. Silva would win their second meeting via second-round TKO.

To view this fight on UFC FIGHT PASS, please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/20542

To see a complete list of UFC athletes and fights enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame, as well as details regarding the UFC Hall of Fame format, please visit UFCHOF. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.

Jared Anderson won a 10-round unanimous decision over former cruiserweight world champion Ryad Merhy in a listless heavyweight bout at the American Bank center in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The bout lacked action as it seemed that Merhy was happy staying out of close range and eating jabs and right hands all fight from Anderson.

Anderson landed 128 of 662 punches. Merhy was a putrid 34 of 144. Merhy threw the third lowest amount of punches in the history of Compubox for a 10-round bout.

Anderson, 250.9 lbs of Toledo, OH won by scores of 100-90 twice and 99-91 and is now 17-0. Merhy, 235.6 lbs of Brussels, BEL is 32-3.

Anderson said, “Another day, another night in the office. I wanted to give the fans a better show, but what can you do when they show up to fight like him. It’s just another day in the office. We’re going to continue working.

“I stayed sharp for 10 rounds. That’s the biggest takeaway. I got to make some changes. I made some mistakes. I got hit with a few punches. I shouldn’t have gotten hit at all because he didn’t even come here to fight.

“I want all of the names. If I’m ranked with you and your name is near mine, then we can get it crackin’. We’re coming to knock everybody off.”

Ajagba Wins Split Decision over Vianello

Efe Ajagba won a 10-round split-decision over Guido Vianello in a heavyweight bput.

In round two, Vianello hurt Ajagba badly when he landed a hard right to the head. Ajagba got it together and took the middle rounds by boxing and showing off his skills. Vianello made a late push but it feel just short as Ajagba won by scores of 96-94 on two cards and a third card was 96-94 in favor of Vianello.

Ajagba landed 186 of 583. Vianello was 177 of 622.

Ajagba, 241.2 lbs of Ughello, NIG is 20-1. Vianello, 244.5 lbs of Rome, ITA is 12-2-1.

Conceicao Stops Guardado in 7

Former two-time world title challenger Robson Conceicao stopped Jose Guardado in a scheduled eight-round junior lightweight bout.

In round nine, Conceicao dropped Guardado with a hard left to the body. Guardado was hurt badly and eat a barrage of punches until the fight was stopped when he was sent to the canvas for a second time at 2:27.

Conceicao, 131.6 lbs of Bahia, BRA is now 18-2-1 with nine knockouts. Guadardo, 131.5 lbs of Ensanada, MEX is 15-2-1.

Julian Delgado made a successful pro debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Juan Tamez in a middleweight fight.

Delgado, 159.3 lbs of Corpus Christi, TX won by scores of 40-36 twice and 39-37 and is 1-0. Raez, 159 lbs of Laredo, TX is 1-1.

Ruben Villa IV won a 10-round unanimous decision over Cristian Cruz in a featherweight bout.

Villa, 125.6 lbs of Salinas, CA won by scores of 98-92 twice and 97-93 and is now 22-1. Cruz, 125.1 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 22-7-1.

John Rincon remained undefeated with a six-round majority decision over Yainel Alvarez in a welterweight bout.

Rincon, 143 lbs of Corpus Christi, TX won by scores of 59-55, 58-56 and 57-57 and is now 9-0. Alvarez, 143.5 lbs of Ciego de Avila, CUB is now 3-4-2.

Abdullah Mason remained undefeated with a fourth round stoppage over Ronal Ron in a scheduled eight-round lightweight bout.

In round one, Mason landed a perfect left that put Ron on the canvas. In round three, Mason dropped Ron with a hard body shot and then a left to the head. In round four, Mason landed a vicious barrage of head and body shots that forced referee Laurence Cole to stop the bout at 1:02.

Mason, 134.6 lbs of Cleveland, OH is 13-0 with 11 knockouts. Ron, 134.7 lbs of Guarico, VEN is 14-6.

Charly Suarez remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Louie Coria in a junior lightweight fight.

In round eight, Coria landed a left that put Suarez backed into the ropes that was ruled a knockdown. That was not enough as Suarez dominated with boxing ability through just about the whole fight.

Suarez, 131.8 lbs of San Isidro, PHL won by scores of 7-74 twice and 76-75 and is now 17-0. Coria, 131.7 lbs of Moreno Valley, CA is 15-7.

Alejandro Guerrero scored an upset by stopping previously undefeated Jalen Walker in round seven of an eight-round lightweight bout.

In round two, Guerrero dropped Walker with a straight left hand. In round four, Guerrero scored another knockdown when Guerrero landed a right to Walker’s body.

In round six, Walker was credited with a knockdown after he landed a combination that bent Guerrero over that was ruled a count. In round seven, Guerrero landed a hard uppercut that hurt Walker on the ropes and the towel was thrown in by Walker’s corner after a follow up flurry had Walker defenseless at 1:36.

Ali Feliz made a successful pro debut with a second round stoppage of Anthony Woodson III in a scheduled four-round heavyweight bout.

In round two, Feliz dropped Woodson with a hard left and right to the chin and the fight was stopped at

Feliz, 219.1 lbs of Danbury, CT is 1-0 with one knockout. Woodson, 280.2 lbs of Gary, IN 1-2.

Zelfa Barrett boxed very well and then scored a 10th round stoppage over Jordan Gill in a 12-round WBA International Super Featherweight title bout at The AO Arena in Manchester, England.

Barrett used a pinpoint jabs that set up body shots. In round 10, Barrett landed a hard body shot that put Gill to the canvas. Gill was hurt, and Barrett landed hard combinations that forced a referee stoppage at 2:44.

Barrett, 129.6 lbs of Manchester. ENG is 31-2 with 17 knockouts. Gill, 129.5 lbs of Chatteris, ENG is 29-3-1.

Scotney Defeats Lefbvre to become Unified Super Bantamweight Champion

Ellie Scotney retained her IBF and won the WBO Super Bantamweight Title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Segolene Lefbvre.

Scotney, 121.8 lbs of Carford, ENG won by scores of 99-91, 97-93 and 96-94 and is now 9-0. Lefbvre, 119.3 lbs of Douai, FRA is 18-1.

Dixon Decisions Carabajal; Wins Lightweight Title

Rhiannon Dixon won the WBO Lightweight championship with a 10-round unanimous decision over Karen Elizabeth Carabajal.

In round three, Dixon dropped Carabajal with a left hand. Later in the round, Dixon was cut over her right eye due to an accidental clash of heads. Carabajal was cut over her right eye.

Dixon, 134.5 lbs of Warrington, ENG won by scores of 98-91, 97-92 and 96-93 and is now 10-0. Carabajal, 134.5 lbs of Buenos Airies, ARG

Flynn Decisions Maharusi

Jordan Flynn won a six-round decision over Tampela Maharusi in a lightweight bout.

In round three, Maharusi was docked a point for holding.

Flynn, 134.3 lbs of Oxford, ENG won by a 59-54 score and is now 10-0-1. Maharusi, 134.5 lbs of Dar-Es-Salaam, TAN is 10-5-4.

The win by Flynn sets up a showdown with Cameron Vuong. Flynn shoved Vuong in the ring after the fight, and promoter Eddie Hearn said that fight will take place in June.

Gomez Jr. Stops Baker in 6

In a high contact fight, Michael Gomez Jr. stopped Kane Baker in round six of a scheduled 10-round super featherweight bout.

In round three, Baker was cut ever the right eye which looked to be caused by a head clash.

In round six, Gomez dropped Baker with a right hand. With Baker hurt, Gomez landed a hard right that put Baker on his back and the fight was stopped at 36 seconds.

Gomez, 129.1 lbs of Manchester, ENG is 21-1 with six knockouts. Baker, 129.4 lbs of Birmingham, ENG is 19-11-2.

Jack Turner stopped Abdul Kesi Ngaoma in round one of their six-round super flyweight bout.

In round round one, Turner landed a perfect right to the jaw that put Ngaoma on his back and the fight was stopped at 1:14.

Turner, 117.6 lbs of Liverpool, ENG is 6-0 with six first round knockouts. Ngaoma, 116.1 lbs of Dar-Es-Salaam, TAN is 7-6-1.

Jimmy Sains remained perfect with a fourth round stoppage over Mateusz Kalecki in a six-round middleweight contest.

In round one, Kalecki was cut under his rigt eye. A cut then opened up over his left eye.

In round four, Sains was battering a bloodies Kalecki and the fight was stopped after a perfect right from Sains at

Sains, 162.3 lbs of Brentwood, ENG is 4-0 with four knockouts. Kalecki, 161.6 lbs of Brezno, POL is 2-2.

William Crolla remained undefeated with a first-round stoppage over Fabio Cascone in a six-round super welterweight contest.

In round one, Crolla dropped Cascone with a left to body that was followed up by a left to the head and he did not beat the count at 1:11.

Crolla, 154.1 lbs of Manchester, ENG is 4-0 with three knockouts. Cascone, 152.9 lbs of Latina, ITA is 4-10.

Brandon Scott won a six-round decision over Rodrigo Matias Areco in a bantamweight contest.

Scott, 135 lbs of Swansea, ENG won by a 58-56 score and is 7-0. Areco, 125.8 lbs of Buenos Aires, ARG is 5-6-2.

Ste Clarke won a four-round decision over Jensen Irving in a middleweight contest.

In round two, Clarke dropped Irving with a left to the body.

Clarke, 161.5 lbs of Liverpool won by a 40-35 score and is 2-0. Irving, 163.1 lbs of Swindon is 4-10.