Top Rank Boxing on ESPN presented by AutoZone: Kholmatov vs. Ford will be presented live this Saturday, March 2, at approximately 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, exclusively on ESPN+. The event takes place at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

In the main event, Uzbek phenom Otabek Kholmatov will fight Raymond Ford for the vacant WBA featherweight world title. This duel of unbeaten southpaws will see the WBA’s No.1 and No. 2 contenders making their inaugural world title appearances. 

Kholmatov (12-0, 11 KOs), a former international amateur champion, debuted as a pro in August 2021 and secured nine impressive victories before the year ended. Last March, Kholmatov traveled to enemy territory to battle undefeated British contender Thomas Patrick Ward. The Uzbek powerhouse dropped Ward three times, forcing his corner to throw in the towel in the fifth round.

Ford (14-0-1, 7 KOs) was a two-time national Golden Gloves champion before entering the paid ranks in March 2019. In fifteen pro fights, he has only had one blemish, a draw against then-unbeaten Aaron Perez in March 2021. Since then, the 24-year-old native of Camden, New Jersey, has gone 6-0 with three knockouts, including wins over undefeated prospects Edward Vazquez and Richard Medina, as well as a victory over former world champion Jessie Magdaleno.

In the co-feature, Luis Alberto “Venado” Lopez defends his IBF world crown against Japanese contender Reiya Abe. 

Lopez (29-2, 16 KOs), the fighting pride of Mexicali, Mexico, captured the IBF strap by dethroning Josh Warrington in his hometown of Leeds, England, last December. In May, the 30-year-old traveled to Belfast and beat hometown hero Michael Conlan via fifth-round TKO. Lopez defended his title against division mainstay Joet Gonzalez, emerging victorious via unanimous decision after 12 hard-fought rounds in September. 

Abe (25-3-1, 10 KOs), the IBF No. 1 featherweight contender, suffered a few early-career setbacks before a breakout performance against then-undefeated Ren Sasaki in October 2020. The 30-year-old southpaw is unbeaten in five bouts since the Sasaki triumph. He is coming off a points victory in a world title eliminator against former two-division world champion Kiko Martinez. 

Undercard action, including the returns of Dominican Olympian Rohan Polanco (11-0, 7 KOs) and Nico Ali Walsh (9-1, 5 KOs), begins at 5:20 p.m. ET/ 2:20 p.m. PT. 

Calling the action will be ESPN’s Joe Tessitore, Hall of Famer Timothy Bradley, Jr., Mark Kriegel, and Bernardo Osuna. 

ESPN+: On Demand Shows, Archives & Premium Articles

• Top Rank: Real Time– All-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night. 
• Who Do U Fight 4?– Learn what drivesthe next generation of Top Rank stars. 
• State of Boxing– Post-show coverage of the biggest fights on ESPN and ESPN+. 
• Best of Boxing Spotlight – An archive of the all-time best Top Rank fights. 

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Kholmatov vs. Ford (All Times ET)

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Feb. 28, 2024) — Undefeated heavyweight phenom Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson is angling for another big knockout. The fighting pride of Toledo, Ohio, steps up in class to face Belgian contender Ryad Merhy on Saturday, April 13, in the 10-round main event at American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.

In the 10-round heavyweight co-feature, Nigerian puncher Efe Ajagba and Italian standout Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello will meet in a battle of 2016 Olympians.

The eight-round televised opener features three-time world title challenger Robson Conceicao, as he looks to keep his junior lightweight world title hopes alive against the upset-minded Jose Guardado.

Anderson-Merhy, Ajagba-Vianello and Conceição Guardado will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets go on sale Tuesday, March 5 at 10 a.m. CST via Ticketmaster.com.

“Jared Anderson is the most exciting young heavyweight in the world, and he’s stepping up against his toughest opponent to date. Corpus Christi is a great fight town, and I can’t wait for the fans there to have a front row seat for the future heavyweight champion,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Efe Ajagba is one of the division’s biggest punchers, but Guido Vianello is a skilled fighter who demanded a step up in competition. If you like heavyweights, this is a can’t-miss card.”

Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs) had a banner 2023 that saw him go 3-0 with a pair of knockouts. In April, he ended the unbeaten run of George Arias, stopping the Dominican slickster in only three rounds. Less than three months later, Anderson made his triumphant Toledo homecoming and faced former world champion Charles Martin in front of more than 7,000 adoring fans. Anderson earned a clear 10-round decision over Martin and carried that momentum to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in August, where he stopped Andriy Rudenko in five rounds.

“This is going to be the start of a big year, and I can’t wait to show out in front of the fans in Corpus Christi and everyone watching on ESPN,” Anderson said. “Merhy is a solid fighter, but he has never faced a heavyweight like me. He’ll see that in person on April 13.”

Merhy (32-2, 26 KOs) is an Ivory Coast native who was raised in Belgium, where most of his pro fights have taken place. He won a secondary cruiserweight world title in 2021 and then moved up in weight to pursue heavyweight glory. Merhy saw his seven-bout winning streak end when he dropped a 12-round decision to Kevin Lerena in Lerena’s home country of South Africa. Last December, he traveled to Paris for a bout with hometown hero and Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka. He upset Yoka by split decision to breathe new life into his heavyweight campaign.

“After ending 2023 with a great performance, I am looking for another great performance, this time on American soil against the ‘future heavyweight hope,’” Merhy said. “What I like about my current position is that I have nothing to prove. I accepted this fight because I don’t see Anderson as a big danger. It’s up to him to prove himself against a small heavyweight like me. I feel no pressure. See you on April 13, Jared.”

Ajagba (19-1, 14 KOs) reignited his career following his first defeat, an October 2021 decision against Frank Sanchez. He began his 2023 campaign in January with a 10-round decision over then-unbeaten Stephan Shaw and continued that momentum with a fourth-round disqualification victory over Zhan Kossobutskiy in August. Ajagba finished the year in grand fashion with November’s fourth-round stoppage over one-time amateur nemesis Joe Goodall.

“I remember Guido from the Rio Olympics, and he is a very skilled and powerful fighter,” Ajagba said. “My goal is to become heavyweight champion, and in order for me to accomplish my dream, I have to be at my best against Guido.” 

Vianello (12-1-1, 10 KOs) suffered a stroke of bad luck on the Ajagba-Shaw undercard, losing via sixth-round TKO to Jonnie Rice due to a cut eye caused by a punch. He was leading on the cards when the fight was stopped. Vianello bounced back nine months later, shutting out veteran Curtis Harper over eight rounds. He then returned to his knockout ways in February, blasting out Moses Johnson in one round on the O’Shaquie Foster-Abraham Nova undercard in New York City.

Vianello said, “This is a big opportunity for me to fight one of the top heavyweights in the world, and I did not hesitate when it was offered. I am ready to step up to the plate, and I look forward a great fight on April 13.”

Conceição (17-2-1, 8 KOs), Brazil’s first-ever Olympic boxing gold medalist, turned pro in November 2016. He dropped decisions in world title contests to Oscar Valdez and Shakur Stevenson, and in November 2023, he recovered from a pair of knockdowns to salvage a draw against three-weight world champion Emanuel Navarrete. Guardado (15-1-1, 5 KOs), from Ensenada, Mexico, has never fought outside of his home country and is coming off a second-round stoppage over Aramis Solis last November.

In scheduled undercard action, streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+:

• Puerto Rican junior lightweight southpaw Henry Lebron (19-0, 10 KOs), who is ranked in the top 10 by the WBO and IBF, will face Filipino contender Charly Suarez (16-0, 9 KOs) in a 10-rounder. Lebron turned away unbeaten prospect William Foster III by majority decision last November to continue his climb up the rankings.
   
• Corpus Christi-born welterweight prospect John Rincon (8-0, 2 KOs) looks to thrill the hometown fans in a six-rounder. Rincon fought at American Bank Center last September and tallied a six-round decision over Bryan Ismael Rodriguez Rivera.
   
• One of the sport’s fastest-rising stars, lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason (12-0, 10 KOs), returns in an eight-rounder against Ronal Ron (14-5, 11 KOs). Mason, a 19-year-old southpaw prodigy from Cleveland, Ohio, obliterated Benjamin Gurment with an overhand left in the second round on the Teofimo Lopez-Jamaine Ortiz undercard in Las Vegas.
   
• Featherweight contender Ruben Villa (21-1, 7 KOs) will fight Mexican veteran Cristian Cruz Chacon (22-6-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-rounder

Orlando, FL (February 28, 2024) – Junior lightweight contender Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz returns to the ring Saturday, March 2 to face once-beaten Headley Scott at the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The ten round super featherweight contest is for the WBA Continental Latin America championship and takes place on the undercard of undisputed featherweight champion Amanda Serrano’s title defense against Nina Meinke.

Action kicks off at 4:30 PM ET live on DAZN YouTube channel, with the main card kicking off at 7 pm on DAZN.

Living in Orlando and a native of Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, Diaz is 27-4 with 17 wins by knockout. The former two-time world title challenger is known for his fan-friendly style and is regarded among boxing’s most exciting fighters. He’ll return from a 22-month layoff and do so against a hungry opponent looking for a career-defining victory.

Born in Brooklyn, NY and residing in Jonesboro, GA, Scott’s an outstanding 18-1 with 12 KO’s. A pro since 2014, Scott scored most of his knockouts within two rounds.

Amaury Piedra of Boxlab Promotions said “we are thrilled to have Chris return to the ring after his time off. He had a medical issue to deal with, but the time off has been great for him. After so many tough fights against the likes of Navarrette and Dogboe he is feeling fresh and better than ever. This is just the first step in his journey towards once again challenging and winning a world title in the 130 pound division. The fact that we can showcase him in Puerto Rico in front of his many fans is great! We thank our partners at Most Valuable Promotions for this opportunity.”

The card is presented by Most Valuable Promotions. A limited number of tickets from $35 are available at Coliseodepuertorico.com/boxeoamamdaserrano/#series-buy. 

Wasserman Boxing is proud to confirm that Abass Baraou has signed a new deal with the company.

The world-rated super welterweight will continue to be promoted by Wasserman Boxing, under the guidance of Kalle and Nisse Sauerland, who have been by his side since he made his professional debut in 2018.

Baraou fights for the vacant EBU European Super Welterweight title on Friday night in Telford, against Sam Eggington, live and free-to-air on Channel 5 from 10pm.

The German is ranked at No7 with the World Boxing Association and the former European Amateur Championships gold medal winner, is ready to catapult his career to new heights this week by claiming the European crown.

Abass Baraou said: “I am happy to have signed a new deal with Wasserman Boxing and to carry on my mission to become world champion with Kalle and Nisse.  

“There is nobody better than Wasserman Boxing to deliver the big fights I want and that all starts on Friday night, with the European title. And with Jorge Rubio as my coach, I feel very confident in the future.

“I have some huge opportunities ahead of me on the international stage this year and my team and I have a good plan to achieve my dreams. On Friday night, I become the new European champion and officially put the world title holders on notice.”

Kalle Sauerland, Global Head of Boxing at Wasserman, said: “Everyone at Wasserman is delighted that Abass will continue to be part of Team Wass and we can’t wait to help guide the next stage of his career.

“Abass is one of the world’s best super welterweights and he begins a huge 2024 by challenging for the European Super Welterweight title in a brilliant fight with Sam Eggington on Friday night.  

“Abass is a sleeping giant at 154lbs and as he moves into his prime, he is ready for any and all-comers.  This year is going to be a big one for Abass as he proudly flies the flag for his country and bids to become Germany’s next world champion.”

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (February 26, 2024) – Heavyweight Kevin “Big Gulp” Nagle remained undefeated, improving his professional boxing record to 7-0 with seven knockouts, as he headlined for the first time on last Saturday night’s “Fight Night at the Vets Club” card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), in front of a packed house at cozy Bridgewater Veterans Club in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

GCP partnered with the Bridgewater-based charitable organization, Fire For Effect Foundation, which honors and empower veterans, first responders and their families by providing essential resources, support and community-building initiatives that foster resilience, restore hope, and strengthen the fabric of our community. Go to www.ffefinc.org for more information.

Fighting out of Scituate (MA), Nagle not only headlined for the first time, he also was in his first scheduled six-round fight, only a month after his previous bout. It was appropriate for a military veteran who was deployed overseas twice and works at the Brockton VA hospital in Brockton (MA) as a psychiatric nurse to shine at the Bridgewater Veterans Club.

Nagle immediately established his strength advantage, using his 287 ½ pound frame to punish his opponent, Mexican Alfred “Concho” Trevino (9-11-1, 1 KO), right from the opening bell. Trevino hit the canvas in the first round from a powerful right to the body and Nagle closed the show in the second round, stopping Trevino with a pair of right-handed punches that both landed on the button.

Nagle explained after the fight that he and his head trainer, Steve Vukosa, worked hard on being quicker in this fight, moving his feet along with his punching at a more accelerated pace than in his past fights. He even looked nimbler than before, cutting off the ring to consistently trap his opponent on the ropes and in the corner.

Marshfield welterweight prospect Joe Bush (2-0, 2 KOs), a silver medalist at the 2023 New England Golden Gloves Tournament, had the largest group of supporting fans in attendance. They stood and cheered as the 26-year-old Bush outclassed veteran Rakim Johnson (7-23-1, 5 KOs). Bush dropped the game Johnson four times, displaying accurate punching with good pop, until the fight ended in the third round after a double left-hook. 

In the Fight of the Night, Medford (MA) super middleweight Greg “Iron” Bono (2-1-1, 1 KO) and Brazilian Bruno Dias (1-13-1, 0 KOs) fought to a thrilling four-round majority draw in which Bono won on one judge’s scorecard (39-37). The other two judges scored the entertaining fight, 38-38, and the momentum went back and forth between the two fighters during the entire four rounds.

Former Massachusetts Middleweight Champion Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi (5-3, 1 KO) was in action again for the first time in more than a year, fighting off early rust against Brazilian Igor Pessoa (0-8) for an impressive second-round technical knockout, one year to the day after his first surgery. In his previous fight, Andreozzi shattered the tip of his fibula into pieces and completely severed a few ligaments when he attempted to walk it off. Tony had two surgeries and had a plate inserted, as well as five screws and a bolt that resulted in a bone infection.

New Hampshire middleweight Ricky Ford scored two wins in one fight. He looked sharp against Erick Alves (0-2), who was decked in the corner at the end of round one by an overhand right. He took a knee in the second round after getting hit by a wicked body shot and the end came in the following round, the result of a sweet left hook. After the fight, Ford dropped to a knee in the middle of the ring to propose marriage to his longtime girlfriend who happily accepted.

In the opening bout of the evening, relentless New Hampshire middleweight Ryan Clark (4-5, 2 KOs) pressured Jay Gregory (0-10-1) from start to finish in their rematch enroute to a shutout decision as he won all four rounds on each of here judges’ scorecard (40-36 X3). 

Bridgewater TV taped the entire show live for viewing this week.

Granite Chin returns March 23^rd in Worcester (MA) with “Pandemonium at The Palladium 3.”

____________________________________________________________________

Complete Results Below:

OFFICIAL RESULTS

MAIN EVENT — HEAVYWEIGHTS

Kevin Nagle (7-0, 7 KOs), Scituate, MA

WKO2 (0 :36)

Alfred Trevino (9-11-1, 1 KO), Aqua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS

Anthony Andreozzi (5-3, 2 KOs), Swansea, MA

WTKO2 (0:24)

Igor Pessoa (0-8), Woburn, MA by way of Brazil

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Greg Bono (2-1-1, 2 KOs), Medford, MA

MD4 (39-37, 38-38, 38-38)

Bruno Dias (1-13-1, 0 KOs), Woburn, MA by way of BraziL

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Ryan Clark (4-5, 2 KOs), Berwick, NH

WDEC4 (40-36, 40-36, 40-36)

Jay Gregory (0-10-1), Auburn, NY

Ricky Ford (5-1-2, 3 KOs), Claremont, NH

WTKO3 (2:01)

Erick Alves (0-2), Malden, MA.

WELTERWEIGHTS

Joe Bush (2-0, 2 KOs), Marshfield, MA

WTKO3 (1:49)

Rakim Johnson (7-23-1, 5 KOs), Indianapolis, IN

_______________________________________________________________ 

INFORMATION:  

Facebook.com/GraniteChin

Twitter: @Granite_Chin

Los Angeles, CA (February 23, 2024) Touted as an HBO Boxing After Dark level event, Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions delivered the goods on Friday night at the sold-out

Chumash Casino Resort and live on UFC Fight Pass with an outstanding six fight card loaded with world ranked contenders and rising stars.

Said Loeffler, “It was another great show at the beautiful Chumash Casino. This card top to bottom lived up to the billing. We want to thank the fans for coming out for another sold out show and everyone that tuned in to UFC Fight Pass. Congratulations to all of the winners and we are looking forward to building Chumash Casino as the destination for world class boxing.”

In the main event, Freddie Roach trained Gor Yeritsyan, (18-0, 14 KOs), defeated Quinton ‘Quickdraw’ Randall, (13-2-1, 3 KOs), in a fast paced and entertaining ten-round clash. Yeritsyan was able to overcome Randall’s switch-hitting style to effectively use his aggressiveness and take control of the fight in the second half. Earning the unanimous decision by scores of 100-90 twice and 99-91, Yeritsyan claimed the vacant WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Title. Staying very busy since signing with 360 Promotions, the victory was Yeritsyan’s fourth in an eight-month span.

Co-featured in scheduled ten-round super lightweight bout, knockout artist Cain Sandoval, (12-0, 11 KOs), proved he could go the distance against world class opposition, winning a unanimous decision over 2006 Olympian Javier Molina, (22-6, 9 KOs). The 21-year-old Sandoval displayed his full arsenal of skills against the valiant Molina throughout the fight. Scores at the end of the fight were 100 x 90, three times.

Fighting in a special attraction super flyweight bout, Daniel ‘Chucky’ Barrera, (5-0-1, 4 KOs), proved again that he is one to watch with a second round, show-stopping knockout over Filipino veteran, Jonathan Almacen, (7-10-3, 2 KOs). Displaying quick and aggressive hands, Barrera dropped Almacen twice in the second round leading to a popular victory with the action being halted by referee Jack Reiss at 2:35 of the stanza.

In a highly entertaining scrap on the undercard, Alfredo Castro Villafuerte, (10-0, 7 KOs), won an all-action six-round unanimous decision over Ezequiel Flores, (4-3, 3 KOs). Despite being cut over the left eye and dropped in the second round, the valiant Flores continued to withstand the hard-hitting Villafuerte’s attack while also scoring. With the crowd standing and cheering on the action throughout, the judge’s scorecards read 58-54, 58-55 and 57-55 for Villafuerte.

Junior middleweight Jorge Maravillo, (9-0, 8 KOs), kept his undefeated record intact by defeating Jesus Gonzalez, (7-2-1, 2 KOs), over six rounds. Maravillo took control of the fight in the second round against the tough as nails Gonzalez.

Opening the card, Osvel Caballero, (5-0, 4 KOs), impressed as the Manny Robles trained featherweight earned a fourth-round stoppage over Jason Buenaobra, (10-10-3, 4 KOs). Time of the stoppage was 2:22 of the round.

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Las Vegas – UFC^® today announced that the 12^th Annual UFC International Fight Week^™ will take place in Las Vegas from Monday, June 24, through Sunday, June 30, headlined by UFC^® 303 with numerous events taking place throughout the city at venues including T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas Convention Center, and Resorts World Las Vegas.

UFC International Fight Week, the organization’s week-long celebration of combat sports, will be highlighted by the 2024 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the two-day UFC X fan experience. The week will be anchored by UFC^® 303, which takes place on Saturday, June 29, at T-Mobile Arena.

The prestigious 2024 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held annually as part of International Fight Week, honors the contributors and athletes who helped shape UFC while leaving an indelible mark on the sport of mixed martial arts.

Spanning more than 200,000 square feet of the Las Vegas Convention Center’s entertainment activation space, UFC X, the organization’s fully immersive and easily accessible two-day fan experience, will feature larger brand and partner activations, live stage programming, athlete autograph sessions, and meet and greets, providing fans with unparalleled access to UFC champions, Hall of Famers, top-ranked contenders, and other UFC personalities.

UFC X will take place on Friday, June 28, and Saturday, June 29, at the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, one of the premier meeting and conference venues in Las Vegas. Fans who attend the two-day experience will have access to purchase exclusive merchandise at the UFC Store, while also participating in numerous interactive fan-favorite activities.

General admission tickets for UFC X start at $25 for one-day access and $45 for two-day access. All children ages 12 and under will receive free entry. Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. PT on Friday, March 1 via AXS.com.VIP packages will also be made available for UFC X through UFC’s Official VIP Experiences partner, On Location, at UFCVIP.com. UFC X will be produced by global full-service cultural marketing agency 160over90.

Fans from around the world who attend International Fight Week will also be able to enjoy the activities of a traditional Fight Week, including ceremonial weigh-ins and press conferences, leading to the schedule’s culminating event, UFC^® 303, on Saturday, June 29, at T-Mobile Arena.

UFC fans can also enter for their chance to win an unforgettable UFC Dream Week travel package for International Fight Week. One lucky winner and a guest will win a one-of-a-kind VIP experience that includes premium tickets to UFC^® 303, the UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and UFC X, as well as airfare and hotel accommodations. To learn more and enter, please visit DREAMWEEK.

Details regarding the fight card for UFC^® 303, as well as event locations and additional activities for UFC International Fight Week will be announced at a later date. For more information, please visit UFCFIGHTWEEK.COM.

Huntington, New York – (February 23, 2024) – Fans are still reveling from the unbelievable action that unfolded at last night’s “Rockin’ Fights 46,” promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing at The Paramount in Huntington, New York. Fans were on the edge of their seat with a total of 5 knockdowns across the 7 fight card.

In the 10-round WBC Continental America’s and NABA Gold Cruiserweight Championship Main Event, SIMONE “THE ITALIAN TANK” FEDERICI (now 20-3-1 8KOs) fought former IBO World Champion, BLAKE “IL CAPO” CAPARELLO (now 32-4-1 15KOs). Both fighters started slow trying to find their range. In the second round, Federici started to pick up the pace and pressure Caparello, however, Caparello’s experience and ring prowess stifled Federici’s aggression. As the fight continued, like a skilled matador, Caparello allowed Federici to bull his way in, only to swiftly pull away his red cape, waiting for the perfect time to strike. That time came in the 5th round. Federici bulldozed in once more, causing Caparello to make a small shoulder hitch, followed by a perfectly timed short left hook that blasted Federici perfectly on the chin, crumbling him to the canvas, ending the fight. With the massive victory, Blake Caparello returns to Australia as the new WBC Continental America and NABA Gold Cruiserweight Champion.

In the co-main event, DANNY “EL GALLO” GONZALEZ (now 21-4-17KOs) defeated KEANE “ICEMAN” MCMAHON (now 7-4 4KOs) by unanimous decision in a dominating 8-round bout. Keane started the fight off strong by keeping Gonzalez at range with a powerful jab. As the fight progressed fatigue seemed to creep in. By the third round, Gonzalez started to find ways around the jab and began to apply constant pressure while he attacked McMahon’s body. In quintessential Gonzalez fashion, his gas tank did not fail him as he continued to pressure McMahon and drown him in punches. At the close of the 8th and final round, Gonzalez was declared the winner by unanimous decision.

The undercard was electric from start to finish. In what was a scheduled 8-round super middleweight bout, KAMIL BEDNAREK (now 14-0 8KOs) succeeded with a vicious third-round stoppage against VICTOR HUGO EXNER (now 11-15-2 5KOs). Almost immediately from the opening bell Exner stunned Bednarek and had him on skates. Bednarek gathered himself and began to outbox Exner. Bednarek kept his distance while working his combinations and dropped Exner two times in the second round, both with the exact same punch. It was only a matter of time, as Bednarek landed a flush overhand left that jolted Exner’s head back and forced him to the canvas. Having seen enough referee Pat Sullivan stopped the bout at the 2:04 mark of the third round.

LOU “IL MARTELLO” MAIETTA (now 3-4-2) and TEVIN TERRANCE (now 1-1-1) quite literally brought the house down. The foundation of The Paramount shook as fans cheered for both men who were exchanging absolute bombs. Maietta started with good range and an effective jab. Terrance however persisted with impressive snapping left hooks that tested Maietta’s chin. A perfectly thrown left hook to the body by Terrance was coupled with a barrage of punches to snatch the first round for Terrance. Maietta, however, was unfazed and showed tremendous grit and determination as the fight progressed and seemed to have taken the second round. As the fight continued Terrance’s production slowed, and Maietta opened up, clearly taking rounds three and four. The exciting fan friendly scrap was scored a split draw, disappointing fans, ringside observers and commentators, all of whom felt the decision should’ve gone to Maietta.

“RUTHLESS” RONNY REYES (now 4-0 1KO) and MARKUS BOWES (now 2-4 2KOs ) put on an exciting display of wills, with Bowes unexpectedly bringing the fight to Reyes in the first round. However, in the second round, Reyes began to plant his feet and force Bowes to respect his power as he landed catapult right hands on Bowes’ chin. These bombs ultimately took their toll and slowed Bowes down, completely changing the pace of the fight. In the third round, Reyes begins to show why he is nicknamed “Ruthless.” Reyes dropped Bowes with a nasty body shot that could be heard from the far ends of the Paramount. Bowes managed to get up in time but the damage that shot did was noticeable for the rest of the fight. The fourth round showed significant heart from Bowes as he continued to stand no matter how hard Reyes hit him. While Bowes showed the heart of a warrior, Ronny Reyes would be declared the winner by unanimous decision.

In a 4-round super middleweight bout FRANKIE “MAGIC” MONACO (now 2-0) took on LEVAN LOUTSOUPITZE (now 0-3). While Levan had the height advantage, he didn’t capitalize on it, fighting mostly from the inside, allowing Monaco to dictate the action. Monaco took the advantage and managed to both outwork and frustrate Loutsoupitze, which ultimately led to Frankie “Magic” earning the unanimous decision victory.

Finally, in the opening bout of the evening, JOHN GJINI (now 11-0 10KOs) showed the crowd why he is yet to be defeated when he took on, MANUEL GUZMAN (now 8-10-1 5KOs) in their 6-round lightweight bout. Guzman caught Gjini off guard by coming out hard and fast in the first round. However, once Gjini got his footing, there was no turning back. Gjini started letting his hands off the leash and unloaded them into a worn-down Guzman forcing the referee to stop the fight in the 4th round as Gjini improved to 11-0.

Star Boxing CEO JOE DEGUARDIA had this to say about the night of fights, “Last night was a perfect snapshot of what we have built with the “Rockin’ Fights” series since 2011. A thrilling night of fights brought action, drama and excitement to all of those who were in attendance and watching live on StarBoxing.TV. With three more “Rockin’ Fights” in 2024, we can’t wait to see you back on May 11.”

Edgar Berlanga scored an impressive sixth round stoppage over Padraig McCrory in a 12-round super middleweight bout of undefeated fighters at the Caribe Royale

In round six, a little cut developed over the right eye of Berlanga. Late in the round, Berlanga landed two crushing right’s with the second being flush on the chin that put McCrory down and badly hurt. As McCrory tried to get up, his corner threw in the towel at 2:44.

Berlanga, 167.8 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is 22-0 with 17 knockouts. McCrory, 167.8 lbs of Belfast, NI is 18-1.

Andy Cruz Decisions Zamarripa

Ballyhooed prospect Andy Cruz won a 10-round unanimous decision over Brayan Zamarripa in a lightweight bout.

In round six, Zamarripa began to bleed around his left eye.

Cruz landed 240 of 611 punches. Zamarripa was 34 of 247.

Cruz, 135 lbs of Mantanzas, CUB won by scores of 100-90 on all cards and is now 3-0. Zamarripa, 135 lbs of Ensenada, MEX is 14-3.

Giyasov Defeats Cano By Technical Decision

Shakhram Giyasov defeated Pablo Cesar Cano via technical unanimous decision when Cano was injured after the 11th round of their 12-rund welterweight fight.

In round three, Giyasov dropped Cano with a vicious left hook to the body.

At the end of round 11, Giyasov dropped Cano after the bell. It was ruled no-knockdown, but Cano hurt his leg and could not continue. The fight went to the scorecards.

Giyasov landed 109 of 466 punches. Cano was 82 of 431.

The scorecards read 109-99 on all cards for Giyasov, 146.8 lbs of Uzbekistan and is now 15-0. Cano, 146.2 lbs of Mexico is 35-9-1.

Antonio Vargas Stops Jonathan Rodriguez in a War

Antonio Vargas stopped Jonathan in eight seven-packed round in a 12-round bantamweight fight.

In round one, Rodriguez connected with an overhand right to the chin that put Vargas on the canvas. In round two, the right eye of Rodriguez began to swell. Later in the round, Vargas began to land some hard combinations and was able to even up the fight sending Rodriguez to a knee. The score was short lived as Vargas hit Rodriguez while he was down and was deducted two points. In round four, a left hook by Rodriguez buckled Vargas.

At the end of round eight, Vargas unloaded a huge left hook that was followed by a right hand that put Rodriguez on the deck. Rodriguez got to his feet, went to the corner and the fight was wisely stopped.

Vargas, 117.6 lbs of Kissimmee, FL is 18-1 with 10 knockouts. Rodriguez, 118 lbs of Bethlehem, PA is 17-2-1.

Yankiel Rivera Decisions Andy Dominguez

In a fantastic bout of undefeated flyweights, Yankiel Rivera held on to win a 10-round unanimous decision over Andy Dominguez.

Rivera cut up and shut the right eye of Dominguez, but in round nine Dominguez made a furious rally and hurt Rivera on at least two occasions. Rivera was hanging on and was reeling back. Rivera was able to get out of the round and go the distance and win by 99-91 on all catds.

Rivera, 111.8 lbs of Toa Alta, PR is now 5-0. Dominguez, 111.6 lbs of Las Vegas is 10-1.

Joseph Fernandez won an eight-round unanimous decision over Aaron Aponte in a super lightweight fight.

In round seven, Fernandez was cut along the right eyebrow from a headbutt.

Fernandez, 140.4 lbs of Saint Petersburg, FL won by scores of 78-74 twice and 77-75 and is now 18-5-3. Aponte, 141 lbs of Hialeah, FL is 8-2-1.

Jay Harris remained undefeated with a highly contested unanimous decision over Connor Butler in a flyweight bout in Liverpool. England.

Harris

Ethan Brown stopped Kasey Bradnum in round two of their four-round super lightweight bout.

At the end of round one, Brown dropped Bradnum with a left in the corner. In round two, Brown dropped Bradnum with a right around the head and the bout was stopped at 1:55.

Brown is now 5-0 with one knockout. Bradnum is 1-17.

Hakeem Palmer remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Artjom Spatar in a middleweight bout.

Palmer, 162.5 lbs of Liverpool won by a 60-54 score and is now 5-0-1. Spatar, 161.5 lbs of Estonia is 4-6.

Kurt Wiggins won a decision in his pro debut over Nabil Ahmed super bantamweight bout.

Wiggins, 122.5 of Liverpool is 1-0. Ahmed, 123.3 lbs of 2-29-2.

HANOVER, MD (February 23, 2024) –Weights for Saturday night’s Jeter Promotions card at The HALL at Live!

Immanuwel Aleem 167.6 – Malcolm Jones 166.4

(WBC Fecarbox and UBO Continental Super Middleweight Titles)

Jaqeem Hutcherson 122 – Brandon Chambers 121

(UBO Continental Super Bantamweight Title)

Joseph Veazey 144.2 – Jose Bellosso 142,6

Ahmad Muhammad Jones 146 – Corey Campion 145.4

Vincent Mosca 179.2 – Zak Kelly 175

Ezri Turner 157.4 – Jeremiah Truhlar 160.6

Walter Sanders 163,8 – Ishmael Dixon 154.6

Tabish Faqiri 135.4 – Kenneth Agnew 138.2

Victor Williams 147.6 – Courtney Brown 152

Boris Nde 140.6 – Carlos Marrero 139.2

Promoter: Jeter Promotions

Venue: The HALL at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland

1st Bell 7 PM ET

The HALL at LIVE! is a 75,000-square-foot, three-story multi-use concert and event venue that features some of the nation’s best touring acts, comedians, championship boxing and other show-stopping entertainment. With a capacity of up to 4,800 persons, the state-of-the-art performance venue features three levels of seating: a main orchestra level, intimate loge-level boxes and a plush VIP Level with private bar, lounge and balcony. Each of these options afford spectacular views and immerse audiences in audio visual systems unparalleled in the region.

The $10 million state-of-the-art audio and visual system provides absolute acoustic perfection combined with stunning visual displays. The built-in performance stage, surrounded by massive, high resolution LED screens, is 60 feet wide by 40 feet deep and, from a technological standpoint, rivals the largest and most advanced performance venues anywhere. The HALL is the largest theater in any casino in the state of Maryland, as well as in Anne Arundel County. The HALL at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland is located at 7002 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, Maryland 21076.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Feb. 23, 2023) – A dangerous rivalry that has been brewing since their days in the amateur boxing scene has finally hit a fever pitch as undefeated, former undisputed lightweight champion and current WBC Super Lightweight Champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) will defend his title against international PPV star “King” Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs). The 12-round fight is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Haney Promotions, KingRy Promotions, and Matchroom Boxing. The mega-event will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday, April 20, exclusively live on DAZN PPV.

“Facing Ryan Garcia on April 20, 2024, is another step in my pursuit of greatness and cementing my legacy as one of the sport’s greatest champions,” said Devin Haney. “I don’t need to say much. My track record speaks to my ability in the ring to overcome any challenge thrown my way, and rise to the top. I’m committed to giving the fans what they want – the best fights in boxing. I’ve proven time and again that I am a formidable opponent, and it’s my skillset and the belief I have in my team that will ultimately lead me to victory. I’m happy Ryan’s team shares the same excitement in bringing the fans great boxing and we’re ready to bring you the best boxing event of the year in New York at Barclays Center.”

“I’m coming as if I was a roaring lion, coming back for blood,” said super lightweight world title contender Ryan Garcia. “I’m excited to bring another mega fight to boxing, that’s all I intend to do. I will place everything in the Lord’s hand. I pray that Devin comes out healthy and safe, and that everyone is entertained.”

“The Golden Boy mantra is the best fighting the best, and it’s hard to remember a better example of that than when Ryan Garcia and Devon Haney square off on April 20,” said Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “Championship gold, bragging rights over a long, intense rivalry and the status as the face of American boxing will all be on the line with no catchweight, rehydration clauses or other nonsense. This is a can’t miss fight that fans can’t afford to miss.”

“We are incredibly excited to be broadcasting this mega fight live on DAZN PPV,” said Jared Kass, SVP North America DAZN. “Devin and Ryan are two next superstars of US boxing but only one can be crowned come final bell on April 20. This stacked night of boxing joins an already packed spring schedule which sees Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou fight March 8, the Undisputed Heavyweight Title between Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk May 18 and countless domestic matchups all live and only on DAZN.”

Devin Haney, widely known as “The Dream,” is an undefeated and accomplished professional boxer with a perfect record of 31 wins and 0 losses who has taken the boxing world by storm. With his lightning-fast hands, exceptional boxing skills, and unyielding determination, Haney has emerged as one of the sport’s most exciting and promising talents today. The two-division champion left no doubt when he was elected Sports Illustrated 2023 ‘Fighter of the Year.’ In a remarkable feat, he has attained the title of the youngest undisputed world champion and the first undisputed lightweight world champion in the modern four-belt era by dethroning then-champion George Kambosos. Haney’s subsequent defense of his undisputed world title, including a successful rematch against Kambosos and a notable victory over 3-division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, further solidifies his place among boxing’s elite. He was last seen in December 2023 when he dethroned Regis Prograis via unanimous decision win to become the new WBC Super Lightweight Champion.

“King” Ryan Garcia has become one of the biggest names in boxing, and at only 25-years-old has broken into the mainstream. Garcia has proven that he is a supreme, pay-per-view attraction, having generated one of the top 5 best boxing gates in Nevada boxing history. One of the most dynamic and exciting boxers fighting today, his fast-paced style, killer left hook, and long roster of knockouts have impressed boxing fans for years, including his most recent dispatch of knockout artist and power puncher Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte last December 2023.

#

Haney vs. Garcia is a 12-round fight for the WBC Super Lightweight World Championship that is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Haney Promotions, KingRy Promotions, and Matchroom Boxing. The event will take place on Saturday, April 20 on DAZN PPV live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

The event will be available worldwide to all subscribers on DAZN, both live and on demand.

Magna Media will be handling credentials for this fight. Media interested in applying for a fight night credential must fill out an application by EOD Friday, April 5, 2024. Link to application can be found at https://bit.ly/HaneyGarciaFightNightCreds.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #HaneyGarcia

4 x 3 mins Heavyweight contest
 
Herich Ruiz (223.4lbs) vs.       Joshua Brice (N/A)
Isla de la Juventud, Cuba        Baltimore, Maryland 
 
Followed by
 
8 x 3 mins Super-Lightweight contest
 
Aaron Aponte (141lbs)           vs.       Joseph Fernandez (140.4lbs)
Hialeah, Florida                                   Saint Petersburg, Florida
 
LIVE ON DAZN FROM 7PM ET
 
12 x 3 mins WBA and WBC Continental Americas Flyweight titles
 
Yankiel Rivera (111.8lbs) vs. Andy Dominguez (111.6lbs)
Toa Alta, Puerto Rico              Las Vegas, Nevada
 
Followed by
 
12 x 3 mins eliminator for the WBA World Bantamweight title
 
Antonio Vargas (117.6lbs)     vs.        Jonathan Rodriguez (118lbs)
Kissimmee, Florida                             Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
 
Followed by
 
12 x 3 mins eliminator for the WBA World Welterweight title
 
Shakhram Giyasov (146.8lbs) vs.       Pablo Cesar Cano (146.2lbs)
Bukhara, Uzbekistan                           Tlalnepantla de Baz Edomex, Mexico
 
Followed by     
 
10 x 3 mins IBF International and WBA Continental Latin-American Lightweight titles.
 
Andy Cruz (135lbs)     vs.        Brayan Zamarripa (135lbs)
Mantanzas, Cuba        Ensenada, Mexico
 
Followed by
 
12 x 3 mins WBO NABO Super-Middleweight title
 
Edgar Berlanga (167.8lbs) vs. Padraig McCrory (167.8lbs) 
Brooklyn, New York                Belfast, Northern Ireland

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (February 23, 2024) – The official weigh-in for tomorrow night’s “Fight Night at the Vets Club” card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), was held today at the same venue as the show, Bridgewater Veterans Club, in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

GCP has partnered with the Bridgewater-based charitable organization, Fire For Effect Foundation, which honors and empower veterans, first responders and their families by providing essential resources, support and community-building initiatives that foster resilience, restore hope, and strengthen the fabric of our community. Go to www.ffefinc.org for more information.

Tickets are priced at $75.00 (VIP stage seating), $65.00 (floor seats), $45.00 (standing room only), and $400.00 for ringside tables of 4 are available for purchase at www.Granite-Chin-Promotions.ticketleap.com.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET, first bout at 7 p.m. ET.

Bridgewater TV is filming the event.

Fighters’ Weights Below:

____________________________________________________________________ 

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

MAIN EVENT — HEAVYWEIGHTS (6)

Kevin “BIg Gulp” Nagle (6-0, 6 KOs), Scituate, MA   287.5 lbs.

Alfred “ConcHo” Trevino (9-10-1, 1 KO), Aqua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico 229 lbs.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS (4)

Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi (4-3, 1 KO), Swansea, MA 177.5 lbs.

Igor Pessoa (0-7), Woburn, MA by way of Brazil 170.5 lbs.

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS (4)

Greg “Iron” Bono (2-1, 2 KOs), Medford, MA 164 lbs.

Bruno Dias (1-13, 0 KOs), Woburn, MA by way of Brazil 166 lbs

MIDDLEWEIGHTS (4)

Ryan Clark (3-5, 2 KOs), Berwick, NH 158 lbs.

Jay Gregory (0-9-1), Auburn, NY 159 lbs.

Ricky Ford (4-1-2, 2 KOs), Claremont, NH 158 lbs.

Erick Alves (0-1), Malden, MA 159 lbs.

WELTERWEIGHTS (4)

Joe Bush (1-0, 1 KO), Marshfield, MA 147.5 lbs.

Rakim Johnson (7-22-1, 5 KOs), Indianapolis, IN 151.5 lbs.

(card subject to change)

__________________________________________________________________ 

INFORMATION:  

Facebook.com/GraniteChin

Twitter: @Granite_Chin

NEW YORK (February 23, 2024) — PPV.COM, which does not require a subscription, returns to the ring, in its 2024 season debut, live streaming to boxing fans, in the U.S. and Canada, arguably the most intriguing fight in recent memory — the heavyweight battle between former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and MMA legend and newly minted World Boxing Council Top-10 heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou — Friday, March 8, beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT.  The Joshua-Ngannou heavyweight rumble will emanate from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  Priced at $69.99, the Joshua-Ngannou event can be ordered by clicking herePPV.COM | Joshua vs. Ngannou.    

The PPV.COM Joshua vs. Ngannou live stream will once again feature Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Lampley, who will be paired with award-winning combat sports journalist Kevin Iole, co-hosting an exclusive viewer chat in real time.  Jim will also be providing exclusive fight week commentary and reports for PPV.COM‘s website and social platforms.

“Joshua vs Ngannou is the fight which should tell us whether the surprising result of Fury vs Ngannou was more about surprisingly good Ngannou or surprisingly bad Fury,” Lampley said.  “If Fury’s inability to master a decided underdog was caused by negligent training, inattention to detail, taking an MMA-origin opponent lightly, then an alert, attentive, trained and ready Joshua should handle that opponent with relative ease, and re-establish that boxing is a different craft than the craft through which Ngannou earned his identity.  But if Ngannou is the rare ring competitor who can transfer MMA skills over to boxing, he should show it against Joshua, who is slightly smaller and less physically imposing than Fury.  My first guess is Ngannou’s showing against Fury has created an incentive which will re-light Joshua’s fire, just what he needs after two losses to the superior technician Oleksandr Usyk.  That doesn’t mean Ngannou won’t have his moments — he’s proven he’s a formidable competitor.  But it does mean that in most instances boxers fighting within boxing rules have the edge against MMA gladiators, and Joshua has enough left in his tank to gain a form of public relations victory over Fury by beating Ngannou.  I say that from a distance, and I reserve the right to modify that outlook when I have had a chance to see them up close.”

PPV.COM, which does not require a subscription, will offer Fury vs. Usyk in the U.S. and Canada.  iNDEMAND, the parent company of PPV.COM, will also be carrying the event through its network of cable and telco operators in the U.S. and Canada via providers including, Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Optimum, Fios, Rogers, Bell, SaskTel, and Telus, among others.

JIM LAMPLEY

Jim is a recipient of the Boxing Writers Association of America’s (BWAA) Sam Taub Award for Excellence in Broadcasting Journalism and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in its 2015 class.  He served as anchor and commentator for “HBO World Championship Boxing” for 30 years and has covered numerous Olympic Games during his long and distinguished career in sports broadcasting.      

KEVIN IOLE

Kevin is a recipient of the Nat Fleischer Award for Excellence in Boxing Journalism, the Boxing Writers Association of America’s highest honor.  He brings over 40 years of experience covering the sweet science and MMA for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Yahoo! Sports, and his new and hugely popular combat sports website Kevin Iole.com.

About iNDEMAND and PPV.COM

iNDEMAND is an innovative partnership among three of the leading cable companies in the U.S.– Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, and Cox Communications. iNDEMAND is a company of trusted content aggregators and licensing experts, with unparalleled technical expertise and long-standing relationships with MVPDs, major sports leagues, Hollywood studios, and other entertainment and sports companies across North America. iNDEMAND delivers great content to more than 60 million cable homes and has distribution deals with more than 90 companies.  In December 2021, iNDEMAND launched PPV.COM, an innovative streaming PPV service and the first of its kind to offer interactive fan engagement during live-action sports.  With the addition of PPV.COM, which does not require a subscription, to its existing cable PPV infrastructure, iNDEMAND has consolidated all forms of PPV distribution under one roof, making the company the only provider of turnkey PPV solutions for both industry partners and consumers.  For more information, go to indemand.com.

David Benavidez is moving up.

But not necessarily on.

Benavidez intends to move up the scale to light heavyweight, one division above the Canelo Alvarez-dominated super-middle division, for an interim 175-pound title against Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

“That’s the plan,’’ Benavidez father-and-trainer Jose Benavidez told 15 Rounds Thursday, confirming a social media announcement from World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman. “We came to an agreement yesterday (Wednesday).’’

Jose Benavidez did not eliminate the Canelo possibility. Speculation continues to swirl about Canelo’s projected May 4 date, the first of two this year. He’s also expected to fight on September 16. Benavidez continues to be a possibility for either date.

David Benavidez, who has been calling out Canelo for a couple of years, continues to be mentioned on a speculative list that spins faster than a dizzy roulette wheel. One day, it’s Jermall Charlo. The next day, Jaime Munguia. It could stop on Terence Crawford any day.

As of Thursday, it was still not clear what Canelo would do. Last week, the talk was that he’d fight Charlo. This week, it’s Munguia, the emerging Mexican who fought his way into the Canelo sweepstakes with a four-knockdown stoppage of John Ryder in Phoenix last month.

In a news conference a couple of weeks ago, Canelo teased that he’d be fighting an American in May. Charlo is American. So is Benavidez. Munguia is not. In any language, it’s chaos.

Translation: Who knows?

The ongoing uncertainty forces Benavidez, 27, to re-think his career, which has been defined by his pursuit of Canelo. He’d rather fight than wait. In 2024, that’s what he’ll do in an attempt to re-make himself on his own terms instead of Canelo’s.  When and where that begins, however, is still uncertain.

June is one possibility. June 15 has been mentioned. But so is May, Jose Benavidez said.

“if that other guy (Canelo) can’t decide on somebody for May, maybe we’ll move on to that date against Gvozdyk,’’ Jose Sr.  told 15 Rounds.

Whenever-wherever-whoever, it’s clear that Benavidez plans to fight at 175 pounds sometime over the next 10 months. His promoter/manager Sampson Lewkowicz confirmed as much Thursday on X, formerly Twitter.

“Boxing is unpredictable and can change multiple times in a day,’’ Lewkowicz posted. “Yes” PBC (Premier Boxing Champions) in coordination with Team Benavidez. …a guarantee of ($) 55 Million was offered to Team Canelo that would exceed 60 M by adding Azteca Sports PPV and more or We are moving to 175 Lbs.’’

That move has been inevitable since Benavidez lost the WBC title on the scale in August 2020. Then 23, he failed to make the 168-pound limit before blowing out Roamer Alexis Angulo. He hasn’t missed weight since, but it was clear then that light-heavyweight was just a matter of time.

Benavidez’ unfolding career is already notable. He’s a former, two-time super-middleweight champion, yet still unbeaten. He lost the WBC’s 168-pound belt for the first time because of a positive test for cocaine.

Now, he has a chance to become a current two-time, mandatory challenger. He’s already Canelo’s mandatory. However, it’s not clear what that means, especially in a bid to fight Canelo, the pay-per-view star who gets what he wants.

The WBC officially awarded Benavidez its super-middleweight mandatory in November, but the ruling body has yet to do anything to enforce it.

A victory over Gvozdyk would include an interim light-heavyweight title. Presumably, that would also include another mandatory, although Sulaiman’s post said only that the WBC would sanction the fight for the interim belt.

No mandatory mentioned for what could – should — be a shot at the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol winner of a fight for the undisputed 175-pound title on June 1 in Saudi Arabia.

NOTES: After Thursday’s news, Jose Benavidez left for Miami to train his son. David Benavidez, who began his boxing career in hometown Phoenix, recently bought a condo in Miami, his dad said. The Benavidez family, including older brother Jose Jr., have been living in Seattle. … Jose Benavidez Jr., a former junior welterweight and welterweight, is coming off a loss to middleweight Jermall Charlo, who blew off a contracted catch weight. Jose Jr. will continue to fight, his dad said.

Huntington, New York (February 22, 2024) – With only 24 hours before “Rockin’ Fights” 46 day, the entire seven fight card took to the scales at Title Boxing Gym Syosset for the official “Rockin’ Fights 46” weigh-in.

Tickets to tomorrow night’s fights are almost sold out and can be purchased HERE. If you cannot make it to the fights, you can tune in on StarBoxing.TV starting at 7PM ET via Roku, the Google Play Store (Android), IOS App Store (Apple), and the web. 

WBC Continental America’s Cruiserweight Championship – 10 Rounds

Simone “The Italian Tank” Federici (Champion) 198 lbs.

Blake “Il Capo” Caparello (Challenger) 195.8 lbs

Super Welterweight – 8 Rounds

Danny “El Gallo” Gonzalez 149.2 lbs.

Keane “The Iceman” McMahon 147.8 lbs.

Super Middleweight – 8 Rounds

Kamil Bednarek 170.2 lbs. 

Victor “El Estilista” Hugo Exner 170.8 lbs.

Super Featherweight – 6 Rounds

John “Warrior” Gjini 134.6 lbs 

Manuel Guzman 135.4 lbs

Super Middleweight – 4 Rounds

Frank “Magic” Monaco 166.6 lbs.

Levan “Karo” Loutsoupitze 166.4 lbs.

Super Featherweight – 4 Rounds

Ronny “Ruthless” Reyes 129.4 lbs.

Markus Bowes 132.6 lbs.

Light Heavyweight – 4 Rounds

Lous “Il Martello” Maietta 169.6 lbs 

Tevin Terrance 170 lbs

Unfortunately, due to visa issues, the Toussaint-Kalunga main event bout has been postponed. Federici-Caparello has been elevated to the main event, and the Gonzalez-McMahon bout has been elevated to the co-feature.

KINGSTON (JAM.) — United Boxing Promotions today announced it has signed two-time Caribbean Amateur Champion Jerone Ennis to a multi-year promotional contract.

Ennis, a product of Denham Town, Kingston, will campaign at light heavyweight and is expected to make his professional debut in Canada later this year.

“This is another step in our efforts to build Jamaican boxing, and sign the best Jamaican talent available,” said United Promotions president Tyler Buxton. “Jerone is an elite boxer, and joins a stable full of the best talent the country has to offer.”

The 24-year-old Ennis has big goals in the professional ranks, and hopes to follow in the footsteps of Jamaican stablemates Kemahl ‘The Hitman’ Russell and Ricardo ‘Big 12’ Brown.

“My goal is to rise through the ranks and hopefully in God’s favour one day become the number one light heavyweight boxer in the world,” said Ennis, who in addition to his Caribbean titles also won a Bronze medal at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games. “Kemahl Russell and Big 12 Brown have always inspired me to become great, and I am happy to now join the United family where we will all push each other to get better.”

Media Notes

Jerone Ennis was born Feb. 4, 2000 (24) in Jamaica…Represented his country at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, U.K., where he reached the quarter-final stage…Becomes the fifth Jamaican fighter on United’s roster, joining undefeated heavyweight Ricardo ‘Big 12’ Brown, powerful middleweight Kemahl ‘The Hitman’ Russell, undefeated super welterweight Joshua ‘HellRazor’ Frazer and talented super middleweight Shakeel ‘The Jamaican Juggernaut’ Phinn.

NEW YORK, NY – (February 22, 2024) — Sony Hall in Times Square has become the place to go for pro boxing in the greatest city in the world. BoxingInsider Promotions has been delivering at that location – eight times in their first 14 months, in fact – and they’re looking to do it again on Thursday, March 7 (with a 7:30 PM start time) streamed live on BoxingInsider.com.

There’s an action-packed show on tap at the intimate venue, with a lot of local flavor.

Larry Goldberg of BoxingInsider has committed himself to providing a launching pad for the next generation of great local fighters in a city that is famous for its boxing history. He is keeping boxing very much alive in Manhattan. And he has some intriguing match-ups lined up for the March 7th show.

* A Gleason’s Gym standout, featherweight Ariel Lopez (20-1-1), is fighting Gregorio Lebron (24-6) in what promises to be an action packed eight-round main event. Lopez, originally from Mexico and now fighting out of Brooklyn, won the WBC Latino title at 122 pounds in February 2022, winning a decision over Wilner Soto. Lebron, a native of the Dominican Republic, fought for the WBC world flyweight crown in 2018, traveling to Kiev (Ukraine) in an unsuccessful attempt against Artem Dalakian. Ariel Lopez will be defending his WBC Latin Continental title.

 * In a highly anticipated female co-feature, Brooklyn featherweight Chiara “Speedy” Dituri (7-0), who also trains at Gleason’s, takes on Jaica Pavilus (3-6-1) of Harlem. The well-traveled Pavilus, a rough-and-tumble southpaw, will be facing her sixth undefeated opponent in a seven-bout stretch. It should be noted that she has two wins and a draw against those unbeaten foes. So Dituri is in for a battle.

* Light heavyweight Emmet Brennan (2-0) hails from Dublin, where he represented Ireland in the Tokyo Olympics as a light heavyweight and former Celtic Champion. He’s making his US debut against Devaun Lee (11-10-1) of Queens in an eight-round match.

* Heavyweight Pryce Taylor (2-0) of Brooklyn, a two-time finalist in the US Championships as an amateur who has fought nine times in Team Combat League, will compete in front of hometown fans in a four-rounder against the 2-time veteran TCL veteran Kenyon Walker (1-0) of San Antonio, TX in a four-round match.

?More bouts will be added. Stay tuned for subsequent announcements.

Tickets are priced at $95, $150, $200 and $325, and are available at Ticketweb (https:// www.ticketweb.com/event/boxing-insider-live-professional-boxing-sony-hall-tickets/ 13430053). Sony Hall is located at 235 W 46th Street in Manhattan.

For those who can’t experience the event at Sony Hall, the March 7 show will be shown, free of charge, on BoxingInsider’s streaming platform (https:// videos.boxinginsider.com/).

INGLEWOOD, CA (February 22, 2024): There will be a clash of titans on Saturday, March 30, as WBA Cruiserweight Super World Champion Arsen “Feroz” Goulamirian (27-0, 19 KOs) of Yerevan, Armenia makes his U.S. fighting debut to defend his championship hardware against hungry former World Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (45-1, 30 KOs). Ramirez will be hoping to break records yet again to become the first Mexican to become a cruiserweight champion. The momentous, 12-round fight is presented in association with Y12 Boxing and will take place at YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Inglewood and broadcast live on DAZN.

“I am excited to fight for the first time in the United States, and of all places Los Angeles,” said Arsen Goulamirian. “There are no excuses now. I know Zurdo wants to be a world champion, but he’s going to have to go through me first. I will successfully defend my World Championship belt this March 30!”

“I’m back! And I’m ready to become the first Mexican cruiserweight champion. When I made the move to this division, I had my eyes set on Arsen and I can’t wait to showcase my skills in the ring,” said Zurdo Ramirez. “I feel extremely comfortable at this weight class and will look to become the undisputed champion. I want to thank DAZN, Golden Boy, the WBA, my team and family for all the support and I look forward to seeing everyone on the 30th.”

“There has never been a Mexican world champion in both the Super Middleweight and Cruiserweight divisions, but ‘Zurdo’ has always been special, and I fully expect him to walk away with the WBA belt on March 30,” said Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya. “On the heels of being the first Mexican Super Middleweight, Zurdo can now do the same in the cruiserweight division. With all of this motivation, I would expect a knockout — and a spectacular one.”

“We’re excited to welcome Golden Boy Boxing back to the YouTube Theater for the second time, solidifying our venue as a premier destination for world-class boxing in the heart of Inglewood.” said Adolfo Romero, vice president programming and booking, SoFi Stadium, YouTube Theater and Hollywood Park. “In what promises to be an exciting showdown, Arsen ‘Feroz’ Goulamirian will make his highly anticipated U.S. debut, facing off against Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez in what is sure to be one of YouTube Theater’s most competitive main events to date.”

More information on tickets and the complete undercard will be announced in the coming weeks.

Media interested in credentials can apply at https://forms.gle/Yz1fqk2kGN3hJh539. Media applications are due EOD Friday March 22, 2024.

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Goulamirian vs. Ramirez is a 12-round cruiserweight fight for the WBA Cruiserweight Super Middleweight Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The fight night will take place on Saturday, March 30, live from YouTube Theater in Inglewood, CA and will be broadcast on DAZN worldwide.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and www.DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #RochaYoung

About YouTube Theater

YouTube Theater is a 6,000-seat performance venue located at Hollywood Park, a near 300-acre sports and entertainment destination in Inglewood Calif., being developed by Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke. The state-of-the-art theater is a 227,000 square foot, three-story indoor venue situated under the same roof canopy as SoFi Stadium and American Airlines Plaza. The venue can be configured to house three different crowd capacities, including intimate settings with minimum capacities of 3,400 and 4,400. Equipped with premium finishes throughout, the venue ranked among the Top 10 venues in the world for top-grossing concert and live event ticket sales in 2023. Opened in August 2021, YouTube Theater is equipped to host a variety of events, including concerts, awards shows, boxing, esports competitions, community gatherings, conferences and more.

Las Vegas (February 22, 2024) – Two-division world champion and Hall of Famer Michael Spinks 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 a mega fight that will take place later that evening in Las Vegas, featuring boxing star Canelo Alvarez.

Spinks 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

Spinks will make his third appearance at this years’ Expo and will be signing gloves, photos, personal items and memorabilia. Spinks will also have merchandise on sale at his booth, and fans will also have an opportunity to take pictures with this boxing legend also known as “Jinx.”

Spinks joins 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 Michael Spinks

Spinks is a two-division world champion, having held the undisputed light heavyweight title from 1983 to 1985, and the lineal heavyweight title from 1985 to 1988. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994. As an amateur he won a gold medal in the middleweight division at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Spinks is the brother of former world heavyweight champion, the late Leon Spinks, and uncle of Cory Spinks, a former welterweight and light middleweight champion. Spinks went undefeated in his first 31 professional fights, beating such opponents as Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Marvin Johnson and Eddie Davis en route to becoming the undisputed light heavyweight champion. Following ten successful title defenses, Spinks moved up to heavyweight, and as an underdog defeated long-reigning IBF heavyweight champion Larry Holmes; in doing so, Spinks became the first reigning light heavyweight world champion to win the heavyweight title. Spinks only defeat in his professional career came to the hands of Mike Tyson on June 27, 1988. The International Boxing Research Organization and BoxRec rank Spinks among the ten greatest light heavyweights of all time.

?About Box Fan Expo

Box Fan Expo is the ultimate boxing fan experience event, which allows fans to meet the stars of boxing that represent the past, present and future of the sport. With hosted autograph signings, meet-and-greets with current and former boxing world champions, limited edition merchandise for sale, giveaways and more, this is the ultimate event for fans of the sport.

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 months 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 –

https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2024

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 – UFC^® returns to T-Mobile Arena for one of the biggest events in combat sports history, headlined by a light heavyweight championship bout that will see Alex Pereira go for his first title defense against former titleholder and No. 1 ranked contender Jamahal Hill. UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili defends against No. 1 contender Yan Xiaonan in the first ever all-Chinese UFC title bout. Also, Justin Gaethje puts his BMF belt on the line against former featherweight champion Max Holloway in a highly anticipated Fight of the Year candidate.

UFC^® 300: PEREIRA vs. HILL takes place Saturday, April 13 at T-Mobile Arena, with the main card available on ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The prelims will air on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The early prelims will be available on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN + and UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

UFC^® 300: PEREIRA vs. HILL tickets will go on sale Friday, February 23 at 10 a.m. PT and are available for purchase at axs.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, February 21 at 10 a.m. PT via www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, February 22 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Media members wishing to apply for UFC^® 300: PEREIRA vs. HILL fight week credentials may sign up here.

Pereira (9-2, fighting out of Danbury, Conn. by way of Sao Paulo, Brazil) aims to make a statement in his first light heavyweight title defense. A two-division UFC champion and decorated kickboxer, he holds exciting KO wins over former titleholders Israel Adesanya, Jiri Prochazka and Sean Strickland. Pereira now intends to earn another highlight-reel finish to send a message to the 205-pound division.

Former titleholder Hill (12-1 1NC, fighting out of Grand Rapids, Mich.) looks to reclaim the belt he vacated due to injury last year. A Dana White’s Contender Series signee, he has delivered thrilling victories against Glover Teixeira, Thiago Santos and Johnny Walker. Hill now aspires to dethrone Pereira to prove he is the best light heavyweight on the planet.

Zhang (24-3, fighting out of Beijing, China) is riding the momentum from her dominant title defense against Amanda Lemos in August. A versatile finisher, she holds impressive wins against Carla Esparza, Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Tecia Torres. Zhang plans to deliver another spectacular performance to further cement her spot atop the strawweight division.

Yan (17-3 1NC, fighting out of Beijing, China) strives to steal the show in her first UFC title opportunity. A talented striker, she has earned notable victories over Mackenzie Dern, Claudia Gadelha and Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Yan now hopes to achieve her dream of becoming the second Chinese-born UFC champion by dethroning Zhang.

Gaethje (25-4, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of Safford, Ariz.) took home the BMF belt with a thrilling KO victory over Dustin Poirier in July. A former interim lightweight champion, he has also secured legendary KO wins against Tony Ferguson, Donald Cerrone and Edson Barboza. Gaethje now has his sights set on defending his title by becoming the first fighter to knock out Holloway.

Holloway (25-7, fighting out of Waianae, Hawaii) moves up to 155 pounds, looking to add another belt to his already legendary resume. A perennial fan favorite, he has netted memorable finishes over Chan Sung Jung, Brian Ortega and Jose Aldo. Holloway now intends to utilize his relentless pace to stop Gaethje in emphatic fashion.

Current official bouts on the card include:

• Former UFC lightweight champion and current No. 1 ranked contender Charles Oliveira (34-9 1NC, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) squares off with No. 4 Arman Tsarukyan (21-3, fighting out of Yerevan, Armenia)
• Former UFC light heavyweight and No. 2 ranked contender Jiri Prochazka (29-4-1, fighting out of Brno, Czech Republic) faces No. 5 Aleksandar Rakic (14-3, fighting out of Vienna, Austria)
• No. 8 ranked featherweight contender Calvin Kattar (23-7, fighting out of Methuen, Mass.) welcomes former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (23-4, fighting out of Uniondale, N.Y.) to the 145-pound division
• Undefeated Bo Nickal (5-0, fighting out of State College, Penn.) takes on Dana White’s Contender Series veteran Cody Brundage (10-5, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) at middleweight
• Former UFC champions collide when No. 8 ranked bantamweight Deiveson Figueiredo (22-3-1, fighting out of Soure, Pará, Brazil) locks horns with Cody Garbrandt (14-5, fighting out of Uhrichsville, Ohio)
• Former women’s bantamweight champion and No. 5 ranked contender Holly Holm (15-6 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) looks to spoil the UFC debut of two-time Olympic gold medal winning judoka Kayla Harrison (16-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.)
• No. 12 ranked featherweight contender Sodiq Yusuff (13-3, fighting out of Bladensburg, Md. by way of Lagos, Nigeria) battles surging Diego Lopes (23-6, fighting out of Puebla, México by way of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil)
• Former strawweight champion and No. 4 ranked contender Jessica Andrade (25-12, fighting out of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) takes on No. 6 Marina Rodriguez (17-3-2, fighting out of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil)
• No. 14 ranked lightweight contender Bobby Green (31-15-1 1NC, fighting out of Fontana, Calif.) faces Jim Miller (37-17, fighting out of Sparta, N.J.) in a clash of fan favorites

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.

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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 900 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 T-Mobile Arena

T-Mobile Arena, the 20,000-seat venue located on the Las Vegas Strip between Park MGM and New York-New York, opened April 6, 2016. The arena hosts more than 100 events annually including major headline entertainment, awards shows, UFC, boxing, basketball and other sporting events, family shows and special events. T-Mobile Arena also is the home of the Vegas Golden Knights, a National Hockey League expansion team and the city’s first professional sports team, as well as UFC’s exclusive Las Vegas arena destination. The venue, named the No. 1 venue on Billboard Magazine’s 2018 Arena Power List as well as the “Best New Major Concert Venue” by Pollstar Magazine in 2016, features 50 luxury suites, more than two dozen private loge boxes, complete broadcast facilities, and other specially designed exclusive hospitality offerings and fan amenities destined to create a guest experience second to none. Toshiba Plaza, an adjacent two-acre outdoor entertainment space, features performance stages, a variety of video screens and other interactive content and display areas. Industry-leading architect Populous designed T-Mobile Arena to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s standards for LEED® Gold Certification. T-Mobile Arena is a privately funded joint venture between AEG and MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). For more information, visit T-MobileArena.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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.

INDIO, CALIF. (February 21, 2024) – After a career-defining performance in December 2023, WBC Super Bantamweight Continental Latino Titleholder Tito Sanchez (11-0, 7 KOs) of Cathedral City will return to perform in front of his hometown crowd in a 10-round fight against the tough Erik Ruiz (17-10-1) of Oxnard, California. The 10-round main event of Golden Boy Fight Night on DAZN will take place at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and is presented in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions. Doors to the Special Events Center open at 5:00 p.m. PT, the first fight will begin at 5:05 p.m. PT, and the worldwide broadcast on DAZN will begin at 6:00 p.m. PT.

“I want to thank Miguel Cotto Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions for giving me another opportunity to be fighting in my hometown on April 4,” said Tito Sanchez. “After the war I won back in December against Santibanes, I get to be the main event again against Erik Ruiz. I know that it will be another exciting fight, and I am inviting everyone to be there and to come and support. Don’t miss out and stay tuned.”

“I’m here to show that even though I was away from boxing for 5 years, I still have the ability to train hard and put on a great fight for the fans,” said Erik Ruiz. “I don’t know much about my opponent, but what I do know is that he is going to have a very tough fight in front of him. The fans can expect an exciting, action-packed fight from the first round until the final bell.”

Tickets for Golden Boy Fight Night on DAZN: Sanchez vs. Ruiz are on sale and are priced at $65, $55, $45, and $35 plus applicable fees. Tickets can be purchased at FantasySpringsResort.com or GoldenBoyPromotions.com.

Media interested in a credential for the fight must fill out a credential application by Monday, April 1. To apply, please visit https://forms.gle/4C3MPQfdUQRwGFwz8.

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Golden Boy Fight Night on DAZN is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions. The event is available worldwide to all subscribers on DAZN, both live and on demand.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #GBFightNight

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall for the first time since 2018 with a stacked event headlined by top ranked flyweights as No. 2 ranked contender Erin Blanchfield faces No. 3 Manon Fiorot with title aspirations on the line. Also, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman battles Bruno Silva.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: BLANCHFIELD vs. FIOROT will take place Saturday, March 30 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The entire card will stream on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, with the prelims also airing on ESPN2 beginning at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT followed by the main card on ESPN at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: BLANCHFIELD vs. FIOROT tickets will go on sale Friday, February 23 at 10 a.m. ET and are available for purchase at ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, February 21 at 10 a.m. ET via www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, February 22 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Media members wishing to apply for UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: BLANCHFIELD vs. FIOROT fight week credentials may sign up here.

No. 4 ranked women’s pound-for-pound fighter Blanchfield (12-1, fighting out of Elmwood Park, N.J.) looks to secure the biggest win of her MMA career in front of her home state fans. Still only 24 years old, she has cemented herself as one of the top prospects in the UFC with wins over Jessica Andrade, Taila Santos and Molly McCann. Blanchfield now plans to clinch her first title shot with a dominant performance.

French striker Fiorot (11-1, fighting out of Nice, France) intends to make a statement in her first UFC main event. A Karate black belt, Fiorot burst onto the UFC scene with highlight finishes of Victoria Leonardo and Tabatha Ricci before announcing herself as a top contender with her most recent win over former champion Rose Namajunas. She now aims to become the first to finish Blanchfield in the UFC and earn her spot as the top contender in the division.

Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman (15-7, fighting out of Baldwin, N.Y.) seeks to deliver a vintage performance. Considered among the greatest UFC middleweights of all time, Weidman holds historic wins over Anderson Silva (twice), Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort. He now has his sights set on adding to his record for most takedowns in UFC middleweight history with a commanding victory over Silva.

Always exciting Silva (23-10, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) hopes to add Weidman’s notable name to his resume with a signature knockout. Having finished 20 of his 23 wins via strikes, Silva has entertained fans with triumphs over Brad Tavares, Jordan Wright and Andrew Sanchez. He now looks to start his 2024 campaign off on a high note by stopping Weidman.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Welterweight strikers lock horns as No. 9 ranked Vicente Luque (22-9-1, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil) faces Joaquin Buckley (17-6, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.)
• No. 4 ranked strawweight Virna Jandiroba (19-3, fighting out of Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil) aims to defend her spot in the rankings against No. 10 Loopy Godinez (12-3, fighting out of Vancouver, B.C., Canada by way of Aguascalientes, Mexico)
• Nursultan Ruziboev (35-8-2 2NC, fighting out of Tashkent, Uzbekistan) aims to stay undefeated in the UFC as he takes on Dana White’s Contender Series signee Sedriques Dumas (9-1, fighting out of Pensacola, Fla.) at middleweight
• Julio Arce (18-6, fighting out of Bayside, N.Y.) locks horns with Herbert Burns (11-4, fighting out of Lantana, Fla. by way of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in an exciting featherweight bout
• All-action featherweights Pat Sabatini (18-5, fighting out of Bristol, Penn.) and Nate Landwehr (17-5, fighting out of Clarksville, Tenn.) aim to put on a show
• Bill Algeo (18-7, fighting out of King of Prussia, Penn.) and Kyle Nelson (15-5-1, fighting out of Huntsville, Ontario, Canada) meet in an all-action featherweight bout
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Ibo Aslan (12-1, fighting out of Istanbul, Turkey) looks to impress in his UFC debut again Anton Turkalj (8-3, fighting out of Gothenburg, Sweden) at light heavyweight
• Featherweights Dennis Buzukja (11-4, fighting out of Merrick, N.Y.) and Connor Matthews (7-1, fighting out of Fall River, Mass.) collide
• Angel Pacheco (7-2, fighting out of Rice, Minn.) and Caolan Loughran (8-1, fighting out of Anfield, England) vie for their first UFC wins in a bantamweight bout
• A battle of middleweight grapplers sees Andre Petroski (10-3, fighting out of Springfield, Penn.) go toe-to-toe with Jacob Malkoun (7-3, fighting out of Oran Park, NSW, Australia)
• Chidi Njokuani (22-10 1NC, fighting out of Saginaw, Texas) and Rhys McKee (13-5 1NC, fighting out of Ballymena, Northern Ireland) meet in an intriguing welterweight bout
• Flyweight contenders Viktoriia Dudakova (8-0, fighting out of Volgograd, Russia) and Melissa Gatto (8-2, fighting out of Parana, Brazil) aim for a statement win

Visit the UFC.com for information and content to support your UFC coverage. Please click here to apply for media credentials to the event.

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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 900 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 Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall

Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and the Atlantic City Convention Center are operated by OVG360 and owned and funded by the CRDA. OVG360, a division of Oak View Group, is a full-service venue management and hospitality company that helps client-partners reimagine the sports, live entertainment, and convention industries for the betterment of the venue, employees, artists, athletes, and surrounding communities. With a portfolio of more than 240 client-partners spanning arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and state fairs around the globe, OVG360 provides a set of services, resources and expertise designed to elevate every aspect of business that matters to venue operators. Service-oriented and driven by social responsibility, OVG360 helps facilities drive value through excellence and innovation in food services, booking and content development, sustainable operations, public health and public safety and more.

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 (February 20, 2024) – Two-Time Olympic, Three-Time Undisputed and Thirteen-Time world champion Claressa Shields has confirmed that she 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 a mega fight that will take place later that evening in Las Vegas, featuring boxing star Canelo Alvarez.

Shields will hold a Meet & Greet with her fans at her 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

Shields will make her second appearance at this years’ Expo and will be signing gloves, photos, personal items and memorabilia. Shields will also have merchandise to sell for fans to enjoy. Boxing Fans will also have an opportunity to take pictures with this boxing star also known as “The GWOAT”. www.claressathegwoat.com – @ClaressaShields

About Claressa Shields

Claressa Shields, is an American fighter from Flint, Michigan. Shields is a three-division world champion with an impressive undefeated record of 14-0. Shields became the first boxer — male or female — to become an undisputed champion in two weight classes in the four-belt era (junior middleweight and middleweight). Shields is a two-time Olympic gold medalist that represented the U.S in London, England in 2012, and then again in Rio, Brazil in 2016. Both medals came at the middleweight division. Shields won in 2023 the prestigious Espy award in the category for best boxer. Shields has also expanded her brand and talent by signing a new multi-year contract deal with the PFL, a popular MMA organization, where Shields will be featured as the first-ever female to compete in an MMA fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 24, 2024. 

About Box Fan Expo

Box Fan Expo is the ultimate boxing fan experience event, which allows fans to meet the stars of boxing that represent the past, present and future of the sport. With hosted autograph signings, meet-and-greets with current and former boxing world champions, limited edition merchandise for sale, giveaways and more, this is the ultimate event for fans of the sport.

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 months 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

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Two flyweight prospects will face off this Saturday at the Caribe Royale Hotel in Orlando for the World Boxing Association (WBA) Continental Americas title. The classic Mexico vs. Puerto Rico showdown will be represented in this Andy Dominguez vs. Yankiel Rivera fight, which will be one of the most interesting of the night. 

Dominguez debuted in 2020 and has made his entire career in the United States. The Mexico City native has been based in Las Vegas, where he has trained for every fight and now he will have a great opportunity in this event for the regional belt of the pioneer body. 

At 25 years old, Dominguez has faced experienced opponents and has proven himself on more than one occasion, but now he will have a different challenge.

Rivera was a member of the Puerto Rican national team and participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which closed his cycle in amateur boxing. He entered the professional arena with great expectations and has been winning good fights since his debut in 2022. 

The 26-year-old from Bayamon has been adapting his style to the professional boxing to dominate thanks to his boxing and intelligence. This bout will be a big test for him and he must overcome it if he wants to keep moving up in his career. 

Dominguez has 10 wins, no losses and 6 knockouts, while Rivera has 4 wins, 2 of them before the limit.

Cuban sensation Andy Cruz will defend his World Boxing Association (WBA) Continental Latin America crown against Mexican Bryan Zamarripa this Saturday at the Caribe Royale Hotel in Orlando, Florida. 

The 28-year-old lightweight fighter will be making his third professional fight and the first defense of his WBA regional belt. 

Cruz won the belt on December 9 when he defeated Jovanni Straffon by knockout in three rounds during their fight in San Francisco. After a short break, the Antillean is ready for his return and intends to keep the crown in his possession. 

His opponent this time will be Zamarripa, a tough Mexican who has good experience and has won 11 of his last 12 fights. The 26 year old fighter knocked out Giovanni De Jesus in his last fight held on December 16, in Baja California, so he is in good shape for this fight. 

Cruz has 2 wins, 1 via fast track, while Zamarripa has 14 wins and 2 losses.

Huntington, New York (February 20, 2024) – It’s officially “Rockin’ Fights” 46 FIGHT WEEK! Star Boxing takes over The Paramount in Huntington, New York, this Friday, February 23 with a championship doubleheader leads the charge in what is slated to be a thrilling night of fights.

There are less than 50 tickets remaining to “Rockin’ Fights” and a sellout is inevitable. Floor/Ringside seats have been sold out for over a week. Do not wait until fight night to try and get tickets at the door, as there will likely be none available.

For fans who cannot make it to fight night, Star Boxing will air the entire eight-fight “Rockin’ Fights” 46 fight card across the globe via www.StarBoxing.TV, starting at 7PM ET.

LONDON, UK (February 20, 2024) – Viddal Riley has signed a long-term contract extension to commit his future to BOXXER and Sky Sports.

The rising cruiserweight star joined BOXXER in 2021 and has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting talents in a thriving domestic division.

The 26-year-old captured the English Cruiserweight Title with a shut-out points victory over Nathan Quarless last September and is set to face his toughest career test as he steps up to face former British Champion Mikael Lawal as part of BOXXER’s bumper ‘Bad Blood’ bill on Sunday, March 31st at The O2 in London.

“My aim is to become world champion and with BOXXER and Sky Sports I know I’m in the right place to make that happen,” said Riley. “I’ve got a great team around me and a huge platform to showcase my skills.

“Winning the English Title is just the start. I want to work my way up to be British, European and then World champion. We’ve only just started and there’s an exciting road ahead. I can’t wait to continue my journey with BOXXER and Sky Sports.”

BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “We’re delighted that Viddal has signed a long-term contract extension. He is without a doubt one of the most talented and marketable fighters this country has produced. In the next 12 months, we are going to see him rise from English to World level. The sky’s the limit for Viddal and there’s nowhere better for him to be than with BOXXER on Sky Sports.”

An amateur standout, Riley was an eight-time national champion. He won silver at the 2013 European Junior Championship and represented Team GB at the 2014 Youth Olympic before turning pro with Mayweather Promotions in 2018.

Riley’s first fight under the BOXXER promotional banner was on the Amir Khan vs Kell Brook undercard on February 19th, 2022, where the Hackney-born fighter scored a unanimous points win against Willbeforce Shihepo.

Four stoppage victories followed as Riley continued to impress with wins over Jone Valau, Ross McGuigan and Anees Taj twice to set up his successful English Title challenge.

Riley has built a huge following online. His YouTube channel has over 1.2million subscribers. Outside of the ring, the multi-talented fighter releases his own mixtapes and music videos and has a clothing line dropping soon labelled ‘Livin’ Sports By RIL’.