NATIONAL HARBOR, MD – August 7, 2023 – Three showdowns featuring a top rising prospect, an all-action contender and a former title challenger will highlight the SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN show this Saturday, August 12 from The Theater at MGM National Harbor in an event Presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

Action live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page will begin at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and is topped by top rising prospect Michael Angeletti dueling fellow unbeaten Jonathan Lopez in an eight-round bantamweight affair. The lineup will also see all-action contender Jose Benavidez Jr. facing Sladan Janjanin in a 10-round middleweight bout, plus former title challenger Damien Vazquez battles the Philippines’ Jeronil Borres in an eight-round bantamweight showdown. The live stream is hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show host Luke Thomas.

These fights precede a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® tripleheader headlined by former world champion Emmanuel Rodriguez take on streaking contender Melvin Lopez for the vacant IBF Bantamweight World Championship. The telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and also features undefeated rising star Gary Antuanne Russell taking on fellow unbeaten Kent Cruz in the 10-round super lightweight co-main event, plus sensational top prospect Travon Marshall duels unbeaten two-time Olympian Gabriel Maestre in the 10-round welterweight telecast opener.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through www.mgmnationalharbor.com/.

A highly skilled technician with blazing speed, Angeletti (8-0, 7 KOs) has upped his competition in recent outings, dominating the previously unbeaten Jeremy Adorno in October 2022 before stopping the experienced Michell Banquez in round eight of their May clash on SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN. Originally from New Orleans and now training in Spring, Texas, Angeletti carries a six-fight knockout streak into Saturday night. He faces Puerto Rico’s Lopez (8-0-2, 4 KOs), who will be fighting in the U.S. for the second time as a pro. The 26-year-old made his U.S. debut in February, fighting fellow unbeaten Eduardo Diogo to an entertaining majority draw.

Phoenix’s Benavídez (27-2-1, 18 KOs) is the older brother of unbeaten two-time world champion David Benavídez and is trained by his father Jose Sr. A long-established contender, Benavídez moved up to super welterweight after dropping a 2018 world title challenge to Terence Crawford and most recently lost a close decision to two-division champion Danny Garcia last July. He will take on the 32-year-old Janjanin (36-15, 26 KOs), who won his most recent outing via decision in April. A native of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Janjanin has fought in 14 different countries, often facing top contenders and rising prospects, including a point’s loss to former interim champion Martin Murray in 2019.

The 26-year-old southpaw Vázquez (16-3-1, 9 KOs) was born in Thornton, Col. and now fights out of Las Vegas. The younger brother of former two-time champion Israel Vázquez, he challenged Brandon Figueroa for a 122-pound world title in September 2020. After dropping an August 2021 showdown against former champion Rau’shee Warren, Vázquez returned to the ring in March by stopping Francisco Bonilla Zambrano in three rounds. He will be opposed by the 28-year-old Borres (12-8-2, 6 KOs), who has fought professionally since 2014. Representing Catarman, Camiguin, Philippines, Borres most recently dropped an April clash against unbeaten Abraham Perez.

The non-televised undercard lineup will feature Philadelphia’s Jesse Hart (28-3, 22 KOs) facing Argentina’s Elio Trosch (15-10-2, 7 KOs) in a 10-round light heavyweight clash, Washington, D.C.-born prospect David Whitmire (2-0, 1 KO) stepping in for a four-round super welterweight bout against Jordy Tientcheu (0-1) and unbeaten super middleweight Daniel Blancas (6-0, 4 KOs) battling New York’s Devaun Lee (11-9-1, 6 KOs) for six-rounds of action.

#         #         #

ABOUT RODRIGUEZ VS. LOPEZ

Rodriguez vs. Lopez will see former world champion Emmanuel Rodriguez take on streaking contender Melvin Lopez for the vacant IBF Bantamweight World Championship headlining action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, August 12 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Maryland. 

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will see undefeated rising star and Capitol Heights, Maryland-native Gary Antuanne Russell taking on fellow unbeaten Kent Cruz in the 10-round super lightweight co-main event, plus sensational top prospect and Landover, Maryland-native Travon Marshall duels unbeaten two-time Olympian Gabriel Maestre in the 10-round welterweight telecast opener.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #RodriguezLopez, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

QUINCY, Mass. (August 7, 2023) – Granite Chin Promotions (GCP) has announced the signings of unbeaten eastern Massachusetts prospects, super middleweight James “Pitbull” Perkins (12-0-1, 9 KOs) and junior middleweight Kenny “Lionheart” Larson (7-0, 5 KOs), to exclusive promotional contracts.

Perkins, of Lynn (MA), and Salem’s (MA) Larson both train at Broadway Boxing Club in Everett (MA) and are managed by Dennis Willcox.

“Both of these guys are awesome in and out of the ring,” GCP President Chris Traietti commented. “When their manager, Dennis Willcox, came to me about working with them, it was a no brainer. These guys want big fights, and I will deliver that. It is sincerely a pleasure and an honor to have these guys as part of the ever-growing Granite Chin family. Our roster continuously gets better and having these two continues that trend.”

(L) James “Pitbull” Perkins

A 30-year-old gravedigger, Perkins was a standout high school hockey player at St. Mary’s of Lynn. He is an entertaining, come forward brawler with lethal power in both hands. His next fight is August 19 in Worcester (MA) against Steve “The Savage” Sumpter (8-0, 7 KOs) in the eight-round “Pandemonium at The Palladium” main event for the vacant IBA Americas Super Middleweight Championship. (purchase tickets at www.ThePalladium.net.

“I’ve known Chris (Traietti) for a while now,” Perkins said. “I fought on one of his New Hampshire shows in my second pro fight. I signed with him because he’s a good guy and a good promoter. I think we can do some big things together. I’m looking forward to it.”

(R ) – Kenny “Lionheart” Larson

Larson, 33, is another fan-favorite with power in both fists, along with always being in an attack mode. He was a 2016 New England Golden Gloves (Novice) Champion. Larson is slated to be in action this Friday night (Aug. 12 rain date) versus Alfred Raymond in a six-round “stay busy” fight outdoors on the “Veterans Stadium Showcase” card at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy (MA). (purchase tickets at www.ThePalladium.net)

“I felt signing with Chris was the best choice for my career,” Larson remarked. “He will get me the best fights and further my career.”

“Pandemonium at The Palladium” and “Veterans Stadium Showcase” are both presented by Granite Chin Promotions.

INFORMATION:

Facebook.com/GraniteChin

Twitter: @Granite_Chin

Los Angeles, CA (August 7, 2023) The Fastest Rising Star in Boxing, ‘King’ Callum Walsh, (7-0, 6 KOs), of Cork, Ireland will now make the first defense of his WBC US Silver Super Welterweight Title against ‘El Pitbull’ Juan Jose Velasco, (24-4-0, 15 KOs), of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the scheduled ten-round main event on Saturday, August 26 at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, CA and broadcast globally on UFC FIGHT PASS.

Presented by Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions as part of their acclaimed Hollywood Fight Nights events, remaining tickets priced at $200, $150, $100, $80 and $60 can be purchased online through the 360 Promotions website. The Commerce Casino, ‘The World’s Largest Card Room and Site of the LA Poker Classic’, is located at 6131 Telegraph Road, Commerce, CA 90040. For more information and directions visit their website.

The original opponent for Walsh, Livan Navarro, suffered a training injury and had to withdraw from the title fight. The more experienced Velasco has battled numerous world champions and top contenders including Regis Prograis, Zachary Ochoa, Elvis Rodriguez and Mario Berrios. The upset minded Argentinian looks to return to the win column against the heralded Walsh following a hotly contested split decision loss against Flavius Blea on May 5, 2023 in Mioveni, Romania.

“While it was unfortunate that Livan Navarro was injured, Juan Jose Velasco presents another very tough challenge for Callum Walsh,” said Tom Loeffler. “We’ve got more exciting fights to announce this week for this outstanding card on August 26 at the Commerce Casino and broadcast on UFC FIGHT PASS. Tickets for this event are moving very fast and I strongly encourage fans to purchase well in advance to ensure entry on fight night.”

Trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach at the famed Wild Card Boxing Gym in Hollywood, CA, the 22-year-old southpaw Walsh earned the WBC US Silver Super Welterweight Title with a dominant performance and fourth round stoppage of world title challenger Carson Jones in front of a sold-out Commerce Casino crowd on June 9, 2023.

                                                ————————————————–

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Sheffield, England – 7 August 2023 – GBM Sports is delighted to announce that the all-action Doncaster boxing star Reece Mould will make the first defence of his WBA Continental Lightweight Championship on Friday 6th October in Sheffield.

Mould will headlines a double-title show that also features a fiery Commonwealth Super-Flyweight Championship showdown between rivals Emma Dolan and Nicola Hopewell, rising prospects Naphtali Nembhard, Adam Mohammed, Will Cawley and Nohmaan Hussain, with even more talent to be added show.

The venue for the show will be announced shortly. 

Bringing excitement every time he fights, Mould inflicted the first defeat to Bradford rival Hamed Ghaz in a pulsating fight in February this year.  Mould wobbled Ghaz twice in the second round and almost stopped him, but Ghaz recovered and fought back hard to take the fight to the judges’ scorecards.  Mould’s work-rate and better punch output saw him win on all three cards to claim not only the WBA Continental belt, but also the Vacant English title.

He was last in action June against against Christian Lopez Flores in a gritty fight that saw Mould floor Flores in the fourth round and receive a count but the hard Mexican got up and took the fight the eight round distance with Mould winning with a dominant point victory of 80-71.

With a World title challenge in his sights, Mould is eager to put on a scintillating display and show the fans’ that he’s the next big name to emerge on the British scene.

Mould said, “I’m raring to get out and fight and I can’t wait for October 6 in Sheffield.  It’s an important fight for me and a big win set me up for a big fights next year.  My team are looking at potential names now and I’ll be in a position to confirm soon who will be in the opposite corner.  I won the title with a good win over Ghaz and then faced a tough Mexican last time out, I’ll be ready for whoever is put in front of me.”

To compliment the top of the bill, GBM Sports have assembled a top quality undercard that will see a fiery East Midlands clash between fierce rivals Emma Dolan (5-0-0, 1 KO) and Nicola ‘Hurricane’ Hopewell (3-0-0, 1 KO) in the chief-support.  

Dolan from Newark created a small piece of history when she became the first ever holder of the female Commonwealth Super-Flyweight Championship by defeating tough Tanzanian Halima Vunjabei on the judges’ scorecards.

She makes the first defence of the title against Worksop’s unbeaten Hopewell with plenty of pride and ‘bragging rights’ at stake in the hot derby showdown that has got the trade and fans’ excited.

On the undercard two talented Sheffield prospect with fascinating stories will feature.

What can be billed as a ‘homecoming’ of sorts, Naphtali Nembhard, who was a former basketball player with the Sheffield Sharks will make his professional boxing debut in the middleweight division over four rounds.  The 27-year-old played as a small forward for the Sharks and makes the transition from the court to the ring where he will see if his fast hands can make the change from scoring hoops to knockouts.

One of the biggest compliments a boxer can receive is when fans says ‘they have the heart’.  For undefeated bantamweight prospect Nohmaan Hussain (3-0-0), it also has another meaning as he also has a career as an NHS cardiac intensive care practitioner.  The Sheffield University graduate works in an Intensive Therapy Unit ITU monitoring and caring for Level 3 patients who are severely poorly from both pre and post cardiac surgery.  Hussain aims for his fourth victory in his four round contest.

Also on the card will be the unbeaten Oldham Bantamweight Will Cawley (3-0-0, 1 KO), the latest protege under top trainer Ben Davison, and Birmingham Super-Featherweight talent Adam Mohammed will make his professional debut.

Promoter Izzy Asif, CEO of GMB Sports, is looking forward to seeing Mould back in the ring and heading an action-packed show.  He said, “It’s fantastic to have Mould headline the show in Sheffield on October 6 and defending his belt.  He brings excitement and action whenever he fights and the fans’ love to watch him so it will be another electric night for GBM Sports.  The chief support on the card between Dolan and Hopewell is also set to be a red-hot match with plenty of East Midlands pride at stake for the winner and loser.  With two of our popular and exciting up-and-coming Sheffield talents on the card in Naphtali and Nohmaan plus the additions of Will and Adam, the card is nicely shaping up at this points.  We’ll have an announcement on the venue very shortly and further fighters who will feature on the card.”

An announcement will be made in due course for the official press conference with further fights to be added to the card.

WORCESTER, Mass. (August 6, 2023) – History was made last night at Polar Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox Triple-A affiliate Worcester Red Sox (WooSox), which hosted its first boxing event, “Punch-Out at Polar Park,” under the stars at its award-winning minor league ballpark.

The “Punch-Out at Polar Park” Pro Am card was presented by Shearns Boxing Promotions (SBP) in conjunction with Kendrick Ball’s Camp Get Right.

“It certainly took a lot of hard work from a lot of good people, including my partner (Kendrick Ball, Sr.) and my family,” SBP president Chuck Shearns said. “It was a historical event and I hope everybody had a good time.”

(L) – Kendrick Ball, Jr. pitched a shutout at the venue that he helped build as a union construction worker

Hometown hero Kendrick “Peppa” Ball, Jr. (21-1-3, 12 KOs) sent the fans home happy, pitching a shutout in the main event versus Oscar “Moustro” Riojas (28-17-3, 16 KOs), winning by scores of 80-72 three times.

Ball had in a workmanlike strategy, out-boxing his Mexican opponent, and then breaking him down in the final two rounds. Riojas proved to be a crafty southpaw with invaluable experience having fought world champion Carlos Gongara, Irish Olympian Joseph Ward, and top contender Diego Pacheco.

“Leading up to the fight, that (fighting at home in the first boxing event at Polar Park) wasn’t my focus,” Ball, Jr. commented after the fight. “Now, it means a lot to me for me to accomplish what I wanted to and have my fans watch. I made some new fans, too.

“My opponent was getting tired (in the last 2 rounds), He’s very tough, I couldn’t get him out. He’s a lefty and I kept stepping on his foot.”

Quintin Sumpter (L) and Sean Bey (R)

In the co-featured event, heavyweight “Don’t Play” Sean Bey (8-0, 7 KOs) kept his undefeated record intact, albeit under controversial scoring against Quintin Sumpter (6-2, 4 KOs). In the fourth round, Sumpter lulled Bey in and caught him with a left-right combination that decked Bey for the first time in his pro career. Bey was penalized a point in the fifth round for pushing Sumpter.

A cancer survivor, Bey had never fought more than two rounds and Sumpter was more than happy to take his opponent into deep water. When the decision was announced after eight rounds, Bey was awarded a majority decision, which drew a chorus of boos from the non-partisan fans.

Brockton lightweight “King” Kevin Walsh (10-0, 4 KOs) improved to 10-0 with a hard fought six-round unanimous decision victory over Philip Davis (3-6-2, 0 KOs), who fights out of Worcester. The pace picked up dramatically in the second half of the fight and at times it looked like each fighter was on the edge of registering a knockout. Neither fighter went down on the canvas, though, and their aggressiveness had fans roaring down the stretch.

Norton police officer Melanie “Pitbull” Costa (2-0, 1 KO, a North (MA) police officer, stole the show in the Fight of the Night with her scintillating, non-stop performance against Brazilian super bantamweight Kalindra Walkiria De Carvalho Faria (1-1, 0 KOs), a standout mixed martial arts fighter. The much shorter Costa, who was a four-time National Golden Gloves champion as an amateur, fought inside effectively from start to finish, throwing punches in bunches, much to the delight of the aroused crowd.

Junior middleweight Josniel “TG” Castro (10-1, 8 KOs), a promising prospect from Boca Raton (FL), bounced back convincingly from his first loss as a pro this past January, blasting out Jorge “Tomatito” Martin (13-12-1, KOs) with a powerful right hook early in the third round.

Worcester police officer Neal Sullivan (1-0-1) had the hometown fans on their collective feet with a brutal knockout of light heavyweight Michael Medeiros (0-5) at the 54-seconds mark of round two.

Pro-debuting junior welterweight Tevin “The Hitman” Regis stopped journeyman Joshua Zimmerman (0-11) midway through the opening round.

In the opening bout of the evening, James Maner (4-0, 3 KOs), 2019 New England Golden Gloves Champion, remained undefeated, defeated veteran cruiserweight Saul “The Spider” Almedia (1-18-4 (1 KO) by way of a dominant four-round unanimous decision, winning each round on all three judges’ scorecards for a shutout.

The pro card followed three amateur matches in the inaugural Carlos Garcia Tournament. Garcia, who is inducted in the National Golden Gloves Hall of Fame, was honored (see the picture below) during the event for his 40 years of service heading the boxing program at the Worcester Boys and Girls Club.

“The Godfather of Worcester Boxing,” Carlos Carcia (second from the left)

Complete results below:

PRO RESULTS

MAIN EVENT – LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS

Kendrick Ball, Jr. (21-1-3, 12 KOs), Worcester, MA

WDEC8 (80-72, 80-72, 80-72)

Oscar Riojas (28-17-3, 16 KOs), Monterrey, Nuevo León, México

CO-FEATURE – HEAVYWEIGHTS

Sean Bey (8-0, 7 KOs), Stoughton, MA by way of Providence, RI

WDEC (76-74, 76-74, 75-75)

Quintin Sumpter (6-2, 4 KOs), Pittsfield, MA

CRUISERWEIGHTS

James Maner (4-0, 2 KOs), Johnston, RI

WDEC4 (40-46, 40-36, 40-36)

Saul Almeida (1-18-4, 1 KO), Framingham, MA

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS (4)

Neal Sullivan (1-0-1), Worcester, MA

WTKO2 (0::54)

Michael Medeiros (0-5), Nahant, MA by way of Brazil

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Josniel Castro (10-1, 8 KOs), Boca Raton, FL by way of Puerto Rico

WTKO3 (:43)

Jorge Martin Garcia (13-12-1, 3 KOs), General Lavalle, Buenos Aires, Argentina

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS

Tevin Regis (1-0, 1 KO), Dorchester, MA

WTKO1 (1:35)

Joshua Zimmerman (0-11), Baltimore, MD

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Kevin Walsh (10-0, 4 KOs), Brockton, MA

WDEC6 (60-54, 59-55, 59-55)

Philip Davis (3-6-2, 0 KOs), Worcester, MA

FEMALE SUPER BANTAMWEIGHTS

Melanie Costa (2-0, 1 KO), Norton, MA

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

Kalindra Walkiria De Carcalho Faria (1-0, 0 KOs), Taubate, Sao Paulo, Brazil

The inaugural Carlos Garcia Amateur Tournament

AMATEUR RESULTS

106 lbs.

Thomas Hardy (Black Belt Boxing)

Wabandoment2

Samuel Parseghian (Worcester Boys & Girls Club)

147 lbs.

George Alvis (Grealish Boxing)

WSDEC3

Justin LaPorte (Camp Get Right)

203 lbs.

Andreas Entzells (Camp Get Right)

WUDEC3

Daniel Nineve (Bernardo Boxing)

INFORMATION:

Website: polarpark.com. cgrboxing.com

Facebook: /ShearnsBoxingPromotions, /CampGetRightBoxing, /PolarParkWorcester

Twitter: @ShearnsBoxing, @PolarPark

Instagram: @ShearnsBoxingPromotions, @cgrboxing, @PolarParkWorcester

By Mario Ortega Jr. –

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – Sacramento’s popular junior middleweight Ruben Torres (5-2-1, 1 KO) of Sacramento was forced to a split decision draw by Christian Seals (4-2-2, 2 KOs) of Watts, California in the closing bout of a competitively-matched card at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel on Saturday night. 

Torres, 154, and Seals, 150 ½, traded on even terms for much of the four rounds. Neither fighter seemed to have the other in any serious trouble despite the many two-way flurries. 

After four rounds, none of the three judges (Brian Tsukamoto, Guilherme Faria De Souza and Michael Margado) found much in agreement. One card went to Torres, 39-37, one for Seals 40-36 and one even 38-38. 

In the co-main event, Jesus Haro (10-1, 1 KO) of Merced, California scored a fourth-round stoppage of Gabriel Ponce (5-4-1, 3 KOs) of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

In the first, the fast-punching Haro, 106, landed a right that had Ponce, 108, in trouble before the resulting flurry scored knockdown number one. Ponce got to his feet before Haro swooped in with another combination to force and second knockdown. After referee Michael Margado had Ponce prove his mobility, the bell sounded to end the opening round.

After Haro boxed through the second, Ponce rebounded to place some well-timed rights early in the third round. Haro stepped on the gas halfway through the round, to the point that the ringside physician wanted to take a look at Ponce before the fourth. 

Haro caught Ponce in the midst of an exchange early the fourth, rocking him for a near knockdown. When Haro moved in to seal the deal with combinations, referee Michael Margado swooped in to stop the contest at the 2:22 mark of round four.

In an action-packed cruiserweight bout, Mario Hernandez (1-1) of Sparks, Nevada pounded out a four-round unanimous decision over debuting Marco Ortiz (0-1) of Redding, California.

Hernandez, 175 ¼, fought off his back foot well as Ortiz, 180, pressed forward from bell-to-bell. Despite being the aggressor, Ortiz was never really able to get inside the longer-armed Hernandez’ punches the way he would have liked. 

Judge Michael Margado scored it 40-36, while judges Guilherme Faria De Souza and Brian Tsukamoto  had it 39-37, all for Hernandez. 

For the second time this summer, Mark Salgado (1-2-2, 1 KO) of San Jose, California and Christian Avalos (0-1-2) of Carson City, Nevada engaged in an all-out war for four rounds and for the second time they went home with a draw. 

Avalos, 135, and Salgado,134, picked up right where they left off in May, effectively making round one tonight round five of their overall battle. 

Each round featured exciting back-and-forth as neither fighter was willing to give up ground. Salgado landed the harder counter punches early, but Avalos finished strong with power shots in the fourth. 

After four rounds, judge Guilherme Faria De Souza had the bout 39-38 for Salgado. However, he was overruled by judges 

Brian Tsukamoto and Edward Collantes, scoring the bout even, 38-38 for the majority draw.

Avalos and Salgado had fought to a thrilling split decision draw in May in Oroville, California. 

In a bout far more competitive than the scores would leave one to believe, Tito Carlo (2-0, 1 KO) of Carson City remained unbeaten with a hard-fought four-round decision over Pedro Angel Cruz (3-3, 2 KOs) of San Jose.

Cruz,137, seemed to edge out the first round from ringside, landing the cleaner shots in the exchanges. Carlo, 136, improved as the fight wore on, landing several clean rights in the final two rounds especially. 

After four rounds, each fighter had claimed their pound of flesh from the other, with every round competitive. Still all three judges, Brian Tsukamoto, Guilherme Faria De Souza and Michael Margado, scored the shutout for Carlo, 40-36.

Terrell Glynn (2-0) of Sacramento edged out his second career decision victory over battle-tested veteran Jasper McCargo (4-5-2, 2 KOs) of Richmond.

Glynn, 185, seemed to edge a feeling out first round. McCargo, 179, effectively played the role of counter-puncher for much of the remainder of the bout. McCargo was successful in timing his overhand right to some effect in the second, before a two-way exchange closed the round. McCargo continued his effectiveness as the counter-puncher in the final two rounds, giving ground, but landing well-placed responses to Glynn’s aggression. 

However, the official judges ended up swayed by Glynn’s forward movement by majority scores. Judge Edward Collantes scored the bout even, 38-38, but was overruled by judges Guilherme Faria De Souza and Brian Tsukamoto, scoring the bout 39-37 for Glynn. 

Will Villa (7-0-1, 1 KO) of Sacramento scored a first-round stoppage over fellow Sacramento native Phillip Ramirez (0-2) to open the show. 

Villa, 125, a natural featherweight, was simply too big for the shorter Ramirez, 126. After a series of flurries, and with the size disadvantage apparent, referee Ed Collantes stopped the bout at 2:30 of the first round. 

Mario Ortega can be contacted at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com 

Jake Paul won a 10-round unanimous decision over Nate Diaz in an entertaining cruiserweight bout in front of a capacity crowd at The American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas.

In round one, Paul hurt Diaz with a left to the top of the head and had him reeling to ropes as he landed a hard flurry of punches. Diaz made a stand in round four as he landed some shots that drove Paul back. In round five, Paul dropped Diaz with a short left hook to the side of the head.

The second half of the fight saw Diaz be more competitive as he was able to get to Paul several times by landing short shots on the inside that snap the head of Paul. There were several toe-to-toe exchanges that thrilled the boisterous crowd at The American Airlines Arena. The battled it out until the final bell.

Paul landed 174 of 491 punches. Diaz was 143 of 392.

Paul, 185 lbs of Cleveland won by scores of 98-91 twice and 97-92 and is now 7-1. Diaz, 184.9 lbs of Stockton, CA was making his professional boxing debut.

Jake Paul Quotes

On his training camp for this fight: “I’m a new fighter. The new team we brought in, the new strength and conditioning—- everything was new and I worked harder this camp. It pushed me to my limits. There were moments in the gym where I thought, ‘Damn I don’t even know if I can do this,’ but I just kept on believing in myself and now my gas tank is crazy. I could have kept on going. I could have gone 12 rounds and we are just stepping up and up, and after doing it in three years- I’m happy with myself.”

On what it’s like to fight Nate: “It was fun and I knew he was trying to take breaks so I would pounce on him when he was doing that. We were talking to each other the whole fight.” 

“When you’re in there with another dog, you can sense it. It just makes the sport more fun and this fight was probably the most memorable yet.”

On his previous loss: “The loss was seriously the best thing. It set me on the path I was supposed to be on and you can’t cut corners in this sport. I was in the gym the day after the loss. I flew back from the Middle East and went to the gym every single day up until this fight.”

Nate Diaz Quotes:

On Jake Paul: He needed a takedown. He needed a choke. He did a good job. He’s a fucking athletic, strong dude and he hits hard and fast, but it ain’t nothing I hadn’t seen before, and I trained with people who were [like that]. These guys can throw down. It’s good shit. […] I should have been throwing punches, keeping him on the outside. I’m not trying to make an excuse, but about a month back I hurt my […] right arm, a bit. I think I should’ve kept to the outside and circled, and done better stuff. But it’s all good. There’s no way I [wouldn’t] show up for a fight because of something like that. You gotta go regardless, no matter what. 

[The chokehold was a] done deal. In a real fight, the fight’s over, and I would have secured the win, but we were participating in a boxing match, and it was a good time, and now I know… I’ve trained my whole career in boxing with pro boxers on the highest level, high as I could get, and I’ve done really well. I’ve never fought in a pro fight, so I thought I’d fuck up anybody. The guillotine… that was too easy. The takedown was too easy too – I got the punch, his whole weight was in my chest. In MMA they smash my head and fuck me up. 

I didn’t think I won. I knew he got the knockdown, but I figured I won a good amount of rounds. 

On his boxing debut: I would’ve liked to have trained like I do – when I’m smaller. I was kind of concerned with getting bigger. I didn’t think he was much bigger than me. 

On facing off with Jake Paul in MMA: Yeah, I think I would fight him. It’s easy to take him down. Two, three, four months [from now], I’m ready to rock. We’re going to talk. 

On returning to boxing: 100%. Talk about experience. […] I didn’t even get cut today. I get cut in every MMA fight I fight in. I have nobody’s [name] in mind right now, but […] next week, get back to me. I’m sure I’ll have a list full of motherfuckers’ asses to whip.

Serrano Defends Undisputed Title with Another Decision over Hardy

Amanda Serrano retained the Undisputed Featherweight Title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Heather Hardy in a rematch of a bout that had the same result in 2019.

Serrano battered and bloodied a tough-as-nails Hardy, who took many hard shots. She was able to get through all 10-rounds.

In round one, Serrano came out ripping hard shots to the body and head that made the nose of Hardy to start bleeding.

In round nine, Hard began to bleed from a big gash in her forehead from an accidental headbutt.

Serrano landed 278 of 739 punches. Hardy was 149 of 557.

Serrano, 124.6 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores of 100-90 twice and 99-91 and is now 45-2-1. Hardy, 125.8 lbs of Brooklyn is 24-3-1.

Amanda Serrano

On how tonight went: “It’s another day at the job. It feels good, I wanted to be on this card because I knew there would be a lot of people here wanting to see Jake vs Nate Diaz and that’s why we chose Heather. I just wanted to be here.” 

On Jake Paul: “He’s very on the job. When I was training down in Puerto Rico, I saw him training in the gym. I saw how much he improved. I saw it tonight, he went ten rounds —  he’s a real fighter now.

Chris Avila Decisions Jeremy Stephens

In a battle of former MMA fighters, Chris Avila pounded out an six-round unanimous decision over Jeremy Stephens in a super middleweight fight.

Avila landed 141 of 377 punches. Stephens was 81 of 267.

Avila, 170.3 lbs of Stockton, CA won by scores of 60-54 and 59-55 twice and is now 4-1. Stephens, 167 lbs of Chula Vista, CA is now 0-1-1.

Chris Avila

On the sold-out crowd and live audience energy: It was cool. It was motivating. And it was cool to see a bunch of people out there. And it made me feel good to go out there and show off. And yeah, it was fun.

And it shows you how much Nate brings to the fucking table. That was all Nate Diaz right there. This fan base is crazy. 

On getting ready for this fight with Nate as he got ready for a big fight: It was a long camp so we had a lot of boxing going on and a lot of high level boxing throughout the week. So it was a good camp and everyone got good work and everyone was leveled up. We’re on a good schedule. We’re locked for months. We’re always on the same schedule, but we were locked in. Everyone performed good tonight. It was a good camp.

Sylve Stops Silva with a Body Shot in Round 4

Ashton Sylve remained undefeated with a fourth round stoppage over William Silva in a lightweight contest.

At the end of round two, Sylve landed perfect left to the body tat put Silva on his back. In round four, Sylve landed another crushing left to the body, but this time Silva did not get up and the fight was over at 2:59.

Sylve,134.5 lbs of Long Beach, CA is 10-0 with nine knockouts. Silva, 134.6 of St. Petersburg, FL is 30-5.

H2O Sylve

On what he wants going forward: “I definitely want to be the best. I think that’s what the majority of the fighters want to be- a world champion.”

On fighting other top fighters in his weight class: “I definitely want to put my name out there. I think after this performance it makes sense, but at the same time I’ll see you when I see you. They are the top guys in the division, so they sort of have the shots now.”

On fighting at AAC in front of a sold out crowd: “It’s always a blessing to fight in front of a crowd and get myself out there and expose myself to a crowd like that. Being comfortable fighting in front of a crowd of, I think they said 20,000 people in attendance. It’s sort of destined for me to be on a big stage and everytime I’m under the lights like that my performance is high class.”

Shadasia Green Decisions Olivia Curry

Top-Ranked super middleweight contender Shadasia Green won a 10-round unanimous decision over Olivia Curry.

Curry had some success early by boxing and moving, but Green took over the second half of the fight as she landed some booming right hands that Curry took but marked up her face.

Green landed 179 of 385 punches. Curry was 99 of 495.

Green, 166.9 lbs of Paterson, NJ won by scores of 100-89, 100-90 and 99-91 and is now 13-0. Curry, 166.7 lbs of Chicago is 7-2.

Alan Sanchez Decisions Angel Beltran

Alan Sanchez scored an eight-round unanimous decision over Angel Beltran in a welterweight bout.

Sanchez landed 149 of 439 punches. Beltran landed 130 of 451.

Sanchez, 147 lbs of Fairfield, CA won by scores of 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75 and is now 23-5-1. Beltran, 144.4 lbs of Indio, CA is 17-2.

Kevin Newman II won a ight-round unanimous decision over Quilisto Madera in a super middleweight bout.

In round two, Madera began to swell under his left eye.

In round seven, Madera was deducted a point for hitting on the break.

Newman, 161.8 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 80-71 and 79-72 twice and is now 15-3-1. Madera, 164.9 lbs of Stockton, CA is 14-4.

Jose Aguayo won a four-round majority decision over Noel Cavazos in a welterweight bout.

In round three, Aguayo was cut over his left eye.

Aguayo, 148.6 lbs of Ventura, CA won by scores of 39-37 twice and 38-38 and is now 1-1. Cavazos, 149.4 lbs of San Ramon, CA is 2-2.

Luciiano Ramos won a four-round unanimous decision over Cee Jay Hamilton in a junior welterweight bout.

Ramos, 140 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG won by scores of 40-36 twice and 39-37 and is now 2-3. Hamilton, 136.9 lbs of Hartwell, GA was making his pro debut.

Alan Sanchez

On the crowd and energy: Yeah, it was great to see a lot of people support. A lot of people from Stockton too come over here and support us. It’s motivating to see a lot of people here.

On getting ready for this fight with Nate as he got ready for a big fight: Well, it’s great, you know, we have a great camp. Everybody’s trained hard. We trained with Robert Garcia, we have good sparring over there. It was a great camp.

August 5, 2023 – Today, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) informed Matchroom, the Association of Boxing Commissions and the British Boxing Board of Control that Dillian Whyte had returned adverse analytical findings as part of a random anti-doping protocol.
 
In light of this news, the fight will be cancelled, and a full investigation will be conducted.
 
Further information on the event will follow.

By Mario Ortega Jr.

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA — Local favorite junior middleweight Ruben Torres returns to his hometown for the second time this year on Saturday night as takes on Christian Seals in the closing bout of a competitively-matched card at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Sacramento. Fighters weighed-in Friday morning at the hotel.

Torres (5-2, 1 KO) of Sacramento ended a ten-month layoff with a four-round unanimous decision at the DoubleTree in April. Hoping to stall Torres’ career momentum will be Carson, California’s Seals. The Southern California native (4-2-1, 2 KOs) aims to end a two-fight skid by sending the local fans home unhappy on Saturday night. Torres weighed-in for the four-round main event at 154-pounds, while Seals scaled 150 ½.

In the six-round co-main event, Jesus Haro (9-1) of Merced, California will take on Gabriel Ponce (5-3-1, 3 KOs) of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico in a light flyweight bout. Haro, who claimed the WBC Youth 105-pound title in his last bout, will be making his United States debut as a professional. Haro came in at 106-pounds, while Ponce weighed 108.

Mario Hernandez (0-1) of Sparks, Nevada will meet debuting Marco Ortiz of Red Bluff, California in a four-round cruiserweight bout. Hernandez, who was impressive in defeat in his debut at a DoubleTree in April, made 175 ¼-pounds. Ortiz weighed-in at the contracted 180-pounds on his second attempt.

In a rematch, Mark Salgado (1-2-1, 1 KO) of San Jose, California and Christian Avalos (0-1-1) of Carson City, Nevada will pick up where they left off after an all-action four-round draw in May. Salgado weighed-in for the four-round bout at 134, while Avalos scaled 135-pounds.

Tito Carlo (1-0, 1 KO) of Carson City will take on Pedro Angel Cruz (3-2, 2 KOs) of San Jose in a four-round lightweight bout. Carlo, fighting for the first time since November 2021, scaled 136-pounds, while Cruz made 137.

Terrell Glynn (1-0) of Sacramento returns to the DoubleTree to take on battle-tested veteran Jasper McCargo (4-4-2, 2 KOs) of Richmond in a four-round cruiserweight bout. Glynn, coming off of a four-round war with Mario Hernandez, weighed-in at 185-pounds. McCargo, who has been matched against a series of unbeaten prospects, weighed-in at 179-pounds Friday.

In an all-Sacramento showdown, Will Villa (6-0-1) will open the show against Phillip Ramirez (0-1) in a four-round featherweight bout. Villa, coming off of a draw at the DoubleTree in May, weighed-in at 125-pounds. The much shorter Ramirez came in at 126-pounds.

Moises Marroquin (5-0, 2 KOs) of Sacramento was scheduled to make his U.S. debut against Evert Antonio Vallecillo Velasquez (0-1) of Richmond, California by way of Chinandega, Nicaragua in a four-round flyweight bout. However, even after an attempt to cut weight at the weigh-in, Marroquin was too far over the agreed upon number to keep the fight intact.

Quick Weigh-in Results:

Light middleweights, 4 rounds
Torres 154
Seals 150 1/2

Light flyweights, 6 Rounds
Haro 106
Ponce 108

Cruiserweights, 4 rounds
Hernandez 175 1/4
Ortiz 180 2nd

Lightweights, 4 rounds
Avalos 135
Salgado 134

Lightweights, 4 rounds
Carlo 136
Cruz 137

Cruiserweights, 4 rounds
Glynn 185
McCargo 179

Featherweights, 4 Rounds
Villa 125
Ramirez 126

Tickets for the event, promoted by Upper Cut Promotions, are available online at uppercutpro.com

In round seven, Scgramm was cut around the left eye from a headbutt

Julian Gonzalez remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Johnnie Spell in a junior lightweight bout.

In round two, Gonzalez landed hard shots that started to make the nose of bleed start to leak blood.

Gonzalez of Reading, PA won by scores of 79-73 and 78-74 twice and is now 11-0-1. Spell of Pittsburgh is 8-1.

On Saturday, August 12, live from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, three-division world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete puts his WBO junior lightweight world title on the line against former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez.  Richard Torrez Jr. will open with a special feature, a six-round heavyweight tilt against Willie Jake Jr.

The main card airs at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and simulcast on ESPN+, with the undercard at 6:45 p.m. ET/ 3:45 p.m. PT exclusively on ESPN+ (English and Spanish).

Ahead of their upcoming bouts, ESPN will air two original programs: The Gentleman Boxer: Richard Torrez Jr. and Hecho en Mexico: Navarrete vs. Valdez 

The Gentleman Boxer: Richard Torrez Jr. is a 30-minute candid look at the rising American heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr. (5-0, 5 KO) ahead of his upcoming special feature bout in Arizona. Fight fans will get to know the charismatic 24-year-old California native who took home a silver medal for the United States at the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Hecho en Mexico: Navarrete vs. Valdez is a 30-minute cinematic presentation of the two Mexican warriors who will go “mano a mano” in the Arizona desert. The show previews the marquee main event between three-division world champion and defending WBO junior lightweight world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (37-1, 31 KO) and the former Mexican Olympian and two-division world champion Oscar Valdez (31-1, 23 KO).

In addition to the air times below, both programs will be available for replay on-demand in the ESPN App and on ESPN.com and ESPN+.

(All times ET)

ESPN+, ESPN App Boxing Content: Live and Upcoming, On Demand, Studio Shows, Archives

• Top Rank: Real Time Go all-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night
• Boxing
• Top Rank
• State of Boxing

• Max on Boxing Max Kellerman hosts a 30-minute series weighing in on key boxing news and providing insights on the sport’s top fighters and upcoming events
• Who Do U Fight 4? Get to know the next generation of Top Rank stars and learn what drives them

Follow @ESPNRingside on social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter TikTok

About ESPN 

ESPN, the world’s leading multiplatform sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, the leading sports app, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, leading social and digital platforms, ESPN.com, ESPN Audio, 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. 

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the No. 1 sports streaming platform, serving fans in the U.S. with exclusive access to more than 27,000 live sports events each year, an unmatched library of on-demand replays and acclaimed original content, and premium written articles by the top reporters and analysts from ESPN.com. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). 

NEW YORK (August 4, 2023) – TONIGHT at The Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. three members of the Split-T Management roster will take part in the

Inaugural OTX show that will be streamed Live on DAZN at 8:30 PM ET,

In an eight-round bout, 2021 United States Olympic Bronze Medal winner Oshae Jones will take on Miranda Barber in a welterweight contest.

Jones is 3-0, and is coming off a six-round decision over Simone Da Silva on March 31st in Nassau, Bahamas.

Jones, 25 of Toledo, Ohio began boxing at the age of 12, spawning a magnificent amateur career that saw her amass a record of 60-9 whilst competing all over the world.

Oshae received the key to her hometown, and was honored with a parade upon coming home with her Olympic Bronze Medal.

She dominated and won many prestigious tournaments such as the 2020 Stramdja, 2020 Boxam International, 2017 Eastern Elite Qualifier, 2016, 2017 and 2018 Elite Nationals, as well as the 2016 Youth Open and 2014 National PAL.

Two of Oshae’s most significant victories came when she received the Gold Medal at the 2019 Pan Am Games and finished first at the 2020 United States Olympic Trials.

Jones is managed by Brian Cohen.

Barber of Boca Raton, Florida is 3-4 with one knockout. The 29 year-old Barber has two wins over undefeated fighters such as Ayanna Tramont (1-0) and her last bout was a four-round unanimous decision over Jenna Gaglioti on July 29, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Undefeated junior lightweight Haven Brady Jr. takes on Andre Rene Rodriguez in a six-round bout.

Brady of nearby Albany, Georgia is 9-0 with four knockouts. Still just 21 years-old Brady has already amassed wins over Roberto Negrete (3-0), Jose Argel (8-2), Eric Mondtagon (7-0-1) and his last fight when Brady took an eight-round unanimous decision from Ruben Cervera (13-3) on January 14th in Verona, New York.

Rodriguez of Phoenix is 9-0 with five knockouts. The 24 year-old Rodriguez is coming off a unanimous decision over Cesar Villarraga on November 18, 2022 in Phoenix.

In a four-round featherweight bout, Xavien Ramirez will take on Ricardo Lucio Galvan.

Ramirez of Morrill, Nebraska is 4-0 with three. The 22 year-old former amateur standout stopped Johnny Cheeseboro in one round on May 28th in Denver.

Galvan of Reno, Nevada is 4-0 with two knockouts. The 25 year-old has a win over undefeated Mobley Villegas (2-0). Galvan is coming off a unanimous decision over Omero Gallegos on September 15, 2022 in Yakima, Washington.

ELLIS ZORRO AND Willy Hutchinson will make first defences of their newly won title belts at London’s York Hall on Friday 15 September, live on TNT Sports.

Cruiserweight Zorro (16-0, 7 KOs) took ownership of the WBO European championship in May, applying a spectacular finish following a gruelling battle with former British light heavyweight champion Hosea Burton.

Light heavyweight Hutchinson (16-1, 12) parted Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna from his WBC International title in a brutal fashion, knocking down the Argentinean twice ahead of a fourth-round stoppage.

A third title fight of a Bethnal Green night will see undefeated featherweight Masood Abdulah (8-0, 5) fight for the vacant Commonwealth Silver championship, which will represent a maiden title shot for the Islington man.

Hutchinson, approaching 25, is excited to launch his title reign and make gains in the WBC world rankings.

“Oh, I am looking forward to it, of course I am,” said the former World Amateur Champion. “Obviously, with being a champion this time, it is good to defend and start pushing on. It is not so much different now, but it is all new to me, it is another experience in my life, and I am sure there will be plenty more of them.

“I can start getting up those rankings now and start chasing, start chasing the big names. That is the plan, I am 25 in a couple of days, and it is time to start pushing on now, isn’t it? It is time to start smashing these fellas.

“My last fight was all well and good, but you still haven’t seen the best of me, that is the truth. The best is yet to come. It was a step forward in my career and, step by step, I am getting better and better. In this next one I am going to get even better.”

Zorro, 30, for his part, is clearly delighted that his cruiserweight career is now sharply gathering momentum following his winning exploits in the short-form Boxxer tournament in mid-2022.

“I think this is the quickest turn-around I’ve had since I was fighting on small hall shows,” he reflected. “I think that is what I was looking forward to with winning a title and then defending it.

“I’ve gone from, trying to get on a card and sitting around after winning the Boxxer, to headlining and winning a title and now headlining again to defend it. I am over the moon, to be honest with you, I am happy it is at York Hall again and my last two have been good fights for the fans.

“I am looking forward to it, I am not being over-confident, I am just over the moon to be this active because I haven’t been since I was fighting journeymen. I am just really happy.”

Also featuring on the card will be Chatham light heavyweight Karol Itauma (10-1, 7), Northampton super welterweight Carl Fail (9-0, 3) and Streatham bantamweight Chris Bourke (12-1, 7) fighting over eight rounds.

Reading super welterweight Joshua Frankham (8-0, 2) and Maidstone welterweight Sean Noakes (5-0, 3) will be fighting over six, with Thamesmead cruiserweight Natty Ngwenya (2-0) and debut making middleweight Sam King from Luton in four-round fights.

Promoter Frank Warren added: “Once again this tremendous stage offers the opportunity for new champions to top up their experience at a higher level and for prospects to turn themselves into potential contenders.

“It is such a valuable platform for our young fighters to develop and it is delivering the results we intended, with both Ellis Zorro and Willy Hutchinson showing such promising signs of what is to come from them in years to come.

“Ellis and Willy were so impressive against strong opposition last time out and they made statements in the ring that got people talking and excited about future fights.

“At York Hall this time there is also a first title opportunity for the undefeated Masood Abdulah and I am also looking forward to seeing the progress made by the rest of the young fighters on the card who are closing in on title contention themselves.”

Tickets for the York Hall show on Friday 15 September are on sale now available from: ticketmaster.co.uk.

DALLAS – AUGUST 3, 2023: Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), Real Fight Inc. (RFI) and American Airlines Center have today announced that the highly-anticipated Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz pay-per-view on Saturday, August 5, 2023 will be the second highest recorded gate for a combat sports event at American Airlines Center in history. Surpassing all previously held combat sports events, Paul vs. Diaz will be only exceeded by UFC 277 on July 20, 2022, which marked the first post-pandemic UFC event in Dallas.

Most Valuable Promotions and Elevate have partnered once again to optimize ticket and premium sales and marketing strategy after previously working together on Paul’s previous three domestic fights. Following the May 5, 2023 on-sale, VIP Ringside Packages for “Ready 4 War” sold out in less than a week.  Ranging from $2,500, $3,500, and $5,000 per seat, VIP Ringside Packages for “Ready 4 War” include a signed glove from Jake Paul and Nate Diaz (Row A only), ringside drink service, VIP access to the all-inclusive American Airlines Center’s Old No. 7 Club, a post fight photo opportunity inside the ring with official Ring Card models, and more. 

Limited and remaining tickets starting at only $32 are available via Ticketmaster. The “Ready 4 War” bout is also available in the US and Canada on DAZN, PPV and all major cable and satellite pay-per-view providers and PPV.com. In the U.S., you can catch the highly-anticipated bout on ESPN+ in addition to DAZN PPV; and globally on DAZN PPV, FITE TV and other local market distributors.

Official “Ready 4 War” Fight festivities and events, free and open to the public, begin with open workouts on Wednesday, August 2 at 3 p.m. CT, followed by the official fight week press conference on Thursday, August 3 at 1 p.m. CT, each of which will be held at The Factory in Deep Ellum in Dallas. On Friday, August 4 at 5 p.m. CT, fighters will make their debut at the American Airlines Center for their ceremonial public weigh-ins ahead of the Saturday, August 5th fight. 

“It is remarkable to witness Jake Paul continue to break records. Jake had the highest combat sports gate at Amalie Arena in Tampa Florida, the second highest combat sports gate at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona and now the second highest gate ever at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, an arena that has hosted six UFC PPV events. With global icon Nate Diaz as his opponent, this event will be his biggest yet and we are already seeing it across the board from media attendance, social media engagement, sold out tickets and commercial pay-per-view buys,” said Nakisa Bidarian, Co-founder Most Valuable Promotions. “The sheer volume of these numbers speaks to Jake’s star power in what is just his eighth fight. Saturday night promises to be nothing short of spectacular.”

“We have headlined incredible shows including Madison Square Garden in front of the first sitting President to attend a UFC fight,”  said Zach Rosenfield, President of Real Fight, Inc. “As Nate makes his boxing debut, it is only appropriate that he does so in front of a sold out crowd in Dallas in front of an incredible fan base. Their support only furthers the excitement for this fight that continues to dominate engagement across social media, commercial PPV’s and more.”

“Elevate is proud to work alongside Most Valuable Promotions and Jake Paul to curate distinctive experiences for combat sport aficionados, and entertainment seekers,” said Flavil Hampsten, Elevate President.  “We look forward to Saturday’s record-breaking event.”

“The world will be watching as notorious fighters Jake Paul and Nate Diaz face off in Dallas,” says Dave Brown, Chief Operating Officer & General Manager of American Airlines Center. “The demand for this fight shows why American Airlines Center continues to be a top destination for premier sports competitions.” 

The Paul vs. Diaz full card will include:

1. In the main event, MVP’s Jake “The Problem Child” Paul faces off against Real Fight Inc’s Nate Diaz over 10 rounds contested at 185 lbs.    
2. In the co-main, undisputed featherweight world champion, Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano will put all her belts on the line against former WBO featherweight title holder Heather “The Heat” Hardy across 10 rounds contested at 126 lbs.
3. Chris Avila will be facing fellow MMA star Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens in an 6-round matchup contested at 168 lbs.
4. Undefeated top prospect lightweight H20 Sylve will face off with the much more experienced veteran lightweight William “Baby Face” Dos Santos Silva over 8 rounds contested at 135 lbs.
5. Shadasia Green, the mandatory challenger for the undisputed super middleweight title, will fight Olivia Curry, who boasts a decisive five-bout winning streak, over 10 rounds at 168 lbs.
6. Former WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Champion Alan Sanchez will take on 17-1 Angel Beltran Villa in an 8-round welterweight bout at 147 lbs.

About Most Valuable Promotions: 

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP has produced Jake Paul’s last four global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Fury match, which surpassed 800,000 Pay-per-view buys worldwide. The promotion company also signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head-to-head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About Elevate:

Elevate is a best-in-class sports and entertainment consulting firm, providing proven, innovative solutions to organizations across the international sports and entertainment landscape. With over 175 global clients, Elevate provides thoughtful insights that empower sports teams, leagues, brands, venues, events and properties with comprehensive, revenue-driving solutions. Elevate’s unparalleled combination of agency and operating experience, along with proprietary products and solutions, maximizes efficiencies in Partnership Sales and Consulting; Hospitality Sales and Strategy; Brand Representation; Creative Consultancy and Experiential Design; Feasibility and Revenue Consultation for New and Renovated Venues; Consumer Insights, Research, Strategy and Analytics and more. For more information, follow Elevate on Twitter (@ElevateSV) and LinkedIn.

About American Airlines Center: 

Designed by architectural wizard David M. Schwarz and Dallas based HKS, Inc., American Airlines Center is considered one of the nation’s top arenas. Since opening its doors in 2001, the Center has been setting the precedent for sporting and live entertainment events. Bringing in a wide variety of big name shows as well as being home of both the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars, American Airlines Center consistently displays its unique versatility. Billboard Magazine named American Airlines Center the 6th busiest arena in the world in 2022.

Philadelphia, PA (August 3, 2023)-Weights for Friday night’s RDR Promotions card at The Clarion Hotel

Johnny Gambarino 182.8 – Dejon Farrell Francis 183.8

Frankie Lynn 151 – DeAngelo Cunningham 153.1

David Calabro 124.5 – Nasir Mickens 125.7

Edwin Cortes 116.4 – Gorwar Karyah 118

Rashad Adams 131.8 – Braulio Avila 131

Jalique Holden 129.3 – Raekwon Butler 131

Tariq Green 164.8 – Terry Rascoe 160.1

Dante Selby 220.1 – Jonatan Wiles 218.1

Promoter: RDR Promotions

Venue: The Clarion Hotel (Essington, PA)

1st Bell: 7:00 PM

Stream: BXNGTV.com

WORCESTER, Mass. (August 3, 2023) – The “Punch-out at Polar Park” press conference was held today at Polar Park for this Saturday night’s Pro-Am boxing event at Polar Park in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Tickets are priced at $205.00 (Field VIP – rows 1-4, all padded seats), $155.00 (VIP), $75.00 (Home Plate Reserved – rows 5 and beyond, not padded seats) and $45.00 (Reserved), and available for purchase at Polar Park’s box office (508.500.8888), and online at www.polarpark.com/boxing

Doors open at 5 p.m. ET with the first amateur match starting at 6 p.m. ET, the pro card starts at 7 p.m. ET.

Fighters’ Weights Below:

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

MAIN EVENT – LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS (8)

(R) Kendrick Ball, Jr. (20-1-3, 12 KOs), Worcester, MA 175 lbs.

(L) Oscar Riojas (28-16-3, 16 KOs), Monterrey, Nuevo León, México 173 lbs.

CO-FEATURE – HEAVYWEIGHTS (8)

(R) Sean Bey (7-0, 7 KOs), Stoughton, MA by way of Providence, RI 232 ½ lbs.

(L) Quintin Sumpter (6-1, 4 KOs), Pittsfield, MA 227 ½ lbs.

SUPER FEATHERWEIGHTS (6)

Kevin Walsh (9-0, 4 KOs), Brockton, MA 135 lbs.

Philip Davis (3-5-2, 0 KOs), Worcester, MA 137 lbs.

FEMALE SUPER BANTAMWEIGHTS (4)

Melanie Costa (1-0, 1 KO), Norton, MA 123 ½ lbs.

Kalindra Walkiria De Carcalho Faria (1-0, 0 KOs), Taubate, Sao Paulo, Brazil 123 lbs.

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS (6)

Josniel Castro (9-1, 7 KOs), Boca Raton, FL by way of Puerto Rico) 154 ½ lbs.

Jorge Martin Garcia (13-11-1, 3 KOs), General Lavalle, Buenos Aires, Argentina 152 lbs.

WELTERWEIGHTS (6)

Robert Degaetano (pro debut), Douglas, MA 144 ½ lbs.

Michael Taylor (1-5, 0 KOs), Cortland, NY 145 lbs.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS (4)

Neal Sullivan (0-0-1), Worcester, MA 172 ½ lbs.

Michael Medeiros (0-4), Nahant, MA by way of Brazil 174 lbs.

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS (4)

Tevin Regis (pro debut), Dorchester, MA 134 lbs.

Joshua Zimmerman (0-10), Baltimore, MD 140 lbs.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS (4)

James Maner (3-0, 2 KOs), Johnston, RI 168 ½ lbs.

Saul Almeida (1-17-4, 1 KO), Framingham, MA 182 lbs.

(pro card subject to change)

The inaugural Carlos Garcia Amateur Tournament will precede the pro card

INFORMATION:

Website: polarpark.com. cgrboxing.com

Facebook: /ShearnsBoxingPromotions, /CampGetRightBoxing, /PolarParkWorcester

Twitter: @ShearnsBoxing, @PolarPark

Instagram: @ShearnsBoxingPromotions, @cgrboxing, @PolarParkWorcester

(Aug. 3, 2023) — Five months after Chinese southpaw Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang shook up the heavyweight division with a stunning knockout, he’ll look to do it again. Zhang’s rematch with British superstar Joe Joyce — Saturday, Sept. 23 at OVO Arena Wembley in London — will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.
 
Zhang-Joyce II, the return of two-time light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Yarde against Ricky Summers, and additional undercard action begins at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.
 
Zhang (25-1-1, 20 KOs), who at 6’6 and 275-plus pounds more than lives up to his nickname, captured an Olympic silver medal for his home country at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He turned pro in 2014 and compiled a 24-0-1 record before losing a controversial decision to Filip Hrgovic last August. Less than eight months later, he faced Joyce at London’s Copper Box Arena, peppering the Brit with lefts until the ringside physician stopped the fight in round six due to the swelling engulfing Joyce’s right eye. Zhang snatched Joyce’s WBO interim world title in the process.
 
Joyce (15-1, 14 KOs), a 2016 Olympic silver medalist, hopes to exact revenge in his hometown. Before the first Zhang fight, “The Juggernaut” was known as boxing’s immovable force, stopping top contenders Carlos Takam, Daniel Dubois, and Joseph Parker during a five-fight knockout streak. Joyce turned pro in October 2017 and won the Commonwealth title in his fourth outing.

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About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the No. 1 sports streaming platform, serving fans in the U.S. with exclusive access to more than 27,000 live sports events each year, an unmatched library of on-demand replays and acclaimed original content, and premium written articles by the top reporters and analysts from ESPN.com. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).  
 

LOS ANGELES, CA (August 3, 2023) – A knockout machine powered by endless battery life for the toughest of battles, San Mateo Atenco, Mexico’s William “El Camarón” Zepeda (28-0, 24 KOs) will defend his WBA Continental Americas Lightweight Title against the resilient Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (34-3-3, 17 KOs) of Mandaue City, Philippines in a 12-round fight that will generate fireworks for Mexican Independence Day. Zepeda was last seen headlining on April 29 in a spectacular second-round knockout of Jaime Arboleda. The two have defeated a common foe – Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. – as Gesta is returning after a major career win against him last March. The action will take place live from the Commerce Casino on September 16 and broadcast worldwide on DAZN. 

“I am very excited to be back in the ring in September, especially on such an important date for my country and for Mexican boxing,” said William Zepeda. “I know it will be another great fight for the Mexico vs. Philippines rivalry.”

“On September 16th, I can’t wait to get back in the ring against a tough fighter in William Zepeda,” said Mercito Gesta. “William is a rising star in our sport, and I’m honored to share the ring with him. The Mexico vs. Philippines rivalry will be action packed every round. To all my ‘No Mercy’ and boxing fans in the Philippines and around the world, don’t miss out on this great event. See you soon!”

“Mexican Independence Day weekend and boxing go hand-in-hand, and we’re excited to bring fans a show September 16,” said Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya. “Zepeda is a relentless fighting machine who will be looking to showcase his skills on the biggest weekend in boxing. But Mercito Gesta is coming off the best victory of his career over a former world champion and is hungry for more. There will be fireworks between these two warriors.”

In the co-main event, Vancouver’s Victor “El Tornado” Morales (18-0-1, 9 KOs) will defend his WBA Intercontinental Featherweight Title against Mexico City’s Edwin “Pupo” Palomares (18-4-2, 9 KOs) in a 10-round fight. Morales was last seen pulling off the upset of his career against Diego De La Hoya last April 29 in a sensational knockout that catapulted him in the rankings.

Media interested in applying for a media credential can submit their request at https://forms.gle/ftJEyQUyfYavLyDM8. Credentials are due EOD, September 12. 

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

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Zepeda vs. Gesta is a fight for the WBA Continental Americas Lightweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The event will be 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

London, England – (August 2, 2023) – A decade-long friendship will be put to one side on Saturday, October 21st when top light-heavyweights Joshua Buatsi (17-0, 13 KO’s) and ‘Super’ Dan Azeez (19-0, 13 KO’s) meet in storied London arena The O2 in an unbeaten all-domestic clash.

Airing live and exclusively on Sky Sports, the BOXXER: BUATSI VS AZEEZ – PATHS COLLIDE main event sees two friends turn rivals for a mouth-watering all-business clash between two top fighters in their prime and ready to lay it all in the line. 

Although both fighters started their journey in the same South London amateur boxing club, two very different paths have set them on a collision course next month.

Buatsi turned professional bathed in the glow of a bronze medal won for Team GB at the 2016 Olympics, while Azeez – having chosen to focus on first completing his finance degree – eventually entered the professional ranks at the bottom of small-hall cards. 

Azeez’s hard road to the top has made him a record-setter: he is the only light-heavyweight in British boxing history to have won every British Boxing Board of Control domestic title in the hierarchy, from area title through to national, British and Commonwealth.

Buatsi – himself a former British light-heavyweight championship holder – returned to the ring earlier this year to dominate the previously undefeated Pawel Stepien, while Azeez went on the road to defeat French champion Thomas Fauré in Paris for the European Light-Heavyweight Championship.

Also confirmed for the October 21st card today is a British cruiserweight championship clash as Mikael Lawal defends his title against Isaac Chamberlain. The rivalry between the two Londoners has simmered for some time but ignited at a press conference earlier this year and looks set to be settled in explosive fashion when they finally meet in the ring.

“This is a huge fight for British boxing and it has ‘Fight of the Year’ potential. Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez are standouts in a very deep division and they are two of the most talented and hungry fighters I’ve ever seen,” said Ben Shalom, BOXXER CEO. 

“Buatsi’s right to compete at this level has never been questioned but Azeez has had to fight every step of the way here and you have to give credit to Buatsi for taking a risk like this. It’s been an incredible journey and with both of them now potentially just one win away from challenging for the world title in a huge-money fight, I think we’re going to see something special in The 02 on October 21st. These are the fights British boxing fans want to see.”

“We’ve been friends for years but there’s too much on the line here for either of us to say no to this fight. We can be friends again afterwards but on October 21st it’s all business. I’m preparing to beat the best version of Dan Azeez and I’m doing everything I need to do to achieve that, whether that’s by decision or knockout,” said Buatsi.

Azeez said, “I’ve earned my way to get to this stage of my career and there’s still more to earn and prove. This fight is another step closer to the top and it means a lot to me so I’m preparing like I always do for everything and anything in order to be victorious come October 21st.”

BOXXER: BUATSI VS AZEEZ – PATHS COLLIDE takes place Saturday, October 21st at The O2, London and airs live and exclusively in the UK and Ireland on Sky Sports.

This event is presented in association with official partners Everlast, WOW HYDRATE and Village Hotels.

Terri Harper will clash with former world pound-for-pound No.1 Cecilia Braekhus for the WBA and WBO Super-Welterweight World Titles on the undercard of Leigh Wood’s WBA Featherweight World Title defence against Josh Warrington at the Utilita Arena Sheffield on Saturday October 7, live worldwide on DAZN.

The pair were originally slated to square off for Harper’s WBA crown on the historic Katie Taylor vs. Chantelle Cameron show at the 3Arena in Dublin earlier this year, but Braekhus was forced to withdraw from their fight on the morning of the event due to an illness. 

Former WBC and IBO Super-Featherweight World Champion Harper (13-1-1 6 KOs) won the WBA 154lbs World Title by widely outpointing Scotland’s Hannah Rankin at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham in September last year – her first fight up at Super-Welterweight.

Norway’s Braekhus (37-2, 9 KOs), a former undisputed ruler at 147lbs, is attempting to become a two-division World Champion. ‘First Lady’, a modern pioneer of women’s boxing, held the WBC and WBA World Titles at Welterweight from 2009 to 2020, also picking up the WBO Title in 2010 and the IBF Title in 2014.

Braekhus lost the titles by majority decision to Jessica McCaskill in August 2020 in Downtown Tulsa, USA and lost again to ‘CasKILLA’ in a rematch at the American Airlines Center in Dallas in March 2021. McCaskill is the only fighter to have beaten Braekhus as a professional.

“The fight went down really well with the fans the first time and it would’ve been a shame for it to have never happened,” said Harper. “I’m excited and grateful to everyone for making it happen again and it’ll be even more special this time with the opportunity of unifying the division. 

“When the fight fell through last time I sulked for the weekend but thanks to Matchroom and Eddie I was back in the gym the following Monday ready for another fight week. Looking back this experience has made me a stronger fighter with even more experience now gained. 

“Cecilia is an icon of the sport and has already done everything I want to achieve. That’s why me and my team were so keen to pursue this fight. I see this fight as a passing of the baton and another stepping stone towards my ultimate goal of becoming undisputed at the weight.

“It feels good to be back in front of my home crowd. From the beginning of my career I’ve had a great following and come fight night I’ll have thousands in there showing their support. Last time out in Sheffield didn’t go the way I planned but I’m excited to back to winning ways on home soil.

“I won my first World Title at Sheffield Arena and then lost them there, now it’s time to become unified World Champion at that same arena. It’s a huge night of boxing with a massive domestic fight headlining, I’m very lucky to be chief support and I will make sure I put on a good show. Not to jinx it but every time I’ve fought on Leigh’s undercard we’ve both had the desired outcome.”

“I’m delighted to announce the chief support bout for what will a monster night of World Title action on Saturday October 7,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “Two-weight World Champion Terri Harper gets the biggest fight of her life as she makes the first defence of her WBA Super-Welterweight World Title against former pound-for-pound No.1 and undisputed Welterweight ruler Cecilia Braekus, with the vacant WBO crown now also on the line.

“We were all gutted for Terri after Cecilia was forced to withdraw from their original fight on the historic Katie Taylor vs. Chantelle Cameron card in Dublin earlier this year due to illness, but now ‘Belter’ will be backed by thousands of her own supporters as she goes for the biggest win of her career. Roll on October 7 live worldwide on DAZN!”

Tickets for Wood vs. Warrington are priced £40, £60, £80, £100, £150, £200, £300 and £400 (VIP).

Matchroom Fight Pass members will be able to purchase tickets from 10am on Thursday August 3. Priority ticket info will be emailed directly to eligible members ahead of the on-sale time. 

General Sale tickets can be purchased via Stage Front and Utilita Arena Sheffield(utilitaarenasheffield.co.uk) from 10am on Friday August 4.

NEW YORK (AUGUST 2, 2023) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league in the world, today announced an exclusive partnership with Amanda Serrano which will see her fight exclusively in MMA for the new PFL PPV Super Fight Division. She is the undisputed featherweight boxing champion of the world, the first ever fighter from Puerto Rico to become an undisputed world champion, a seven division world champion and one of the most influential combat sports athletes across the globe.

Amanda Serrano has always demonstrated incredible strength and punching power in the ring, leading to a 44-2-1 record with a staggering 30 KO’s and no other boxer in history has achieved her level of success in MMA and Jiu Jitsu. She will now step back into the cage again, holding a 2-0-1 MMA record, winning both of her career fights by submission. She also holds a 5-0 record in No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu with 4 submissions, showing off her full range of skills to be an elite MMA champion. Serrano’s last MMA bout was in 2021, a victory over Valentina Garcia by submission.

Serrano joins Francis Ngannou, Jake Paul and Kayla Harrison in the PFL PPV Super Fight Division, which was launched to forge true economic partnerships with MMA’s top superstars to compete in global mega events. Her debut in the PFL SmartCage and opponent will be announced at a future date. DAZN is a partner of PFL’s Super Fight Division and will distribute events on its PPV platform in Europe and other priority international markets.

“I joined the PFL PPV Super Fight Division because of their revolutionary format that empowers fighters like never before. The PFL’s commitment to promoting high-profile, pay-per-view events with some of the biggest MMA stars in the world showcases an incredible opportunity to elevate my career to new heights and prove my ability beyond just the ring. I may be known for boxing, but I’ve always loved and trained in MMA and Jiu-Jitsu, knowing those skills would only add to my ability when going against any opponent,” said Amanda Serrano. “The league’s commitment to gender equality, providing equal opportunities and recognition of female fighters, is also a driving force behind my decision. I can’t wait to step back into the cage and deliver thrilling performances and unforgettable moments for fans around the world.”

“I’m thrilled to announce undisputed world boxing champion Amanda Serrano as the next global superstar to join the PFL PPV Super Fight Division,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “Our fighter-first culture has attracted the world’s top athletes and we’re looking forward to seeing Amanda take on the sport of MMA with the PFL.”

“Amanda Serrano’s decision to join the Professional Fighters League is a natural fit for one of the most accomplished combat sports stars in history,” said co-creators of the PFL PPV Super Fight Division, Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul. “The PFL’s innovative format, coupled with its commitment to equal fighter-pay and elevating female fighters, provides Amanda with an unparalleled opportunity to showcase her MMA skills to the world. She’s a knockout queen in the ring and has shown to be a submission artist in the cage. Her addition to the PPV Super Fight Division is a testament to the growth and appeal of the league, further solidifying the PFL as the premier destination for MMA stars across the globe.”

PFL is the #1 fastest growing company in MMA and the #2 MMA company on a worldwide basis. PFL is the only league in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year, making PFL a “win and advance” meritocracy like all other major sports. PFL fighter roster hails from over 20 countries and 25% of PFL fighters are independently ranked in the top 25 of their weight-class. The company leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage powering real-time betting and next-gen viewing experience.

About Professional Fighters League

Professional Fighters League (PFL) is the fastest growing and most innovative sports league. PFL is the #2 MMA company worldwide on all key metrics and the only with the sports-season format where individual fighters compete in Regular Season, Playoffs, and Championship. The Company has four global live fight franchises:  PFL League Season, PFL Challenger Series, PFL PPV Super Fights, and PFL Europe.

PFL airs live in the U.S on ESPN and ESPN+ and is broadcast and streamed to 140 countries with 25 international leading media partners, including DAZN, Stan Sport, Viacom18, RMC Sport, Globo, Star Times, FPT, CSM, DirectTV, ITV, and MBC.  PFL has dozens of major brand sponsors such as Anheuser-Busch, GEICO, Bose, US Marine Corps, and Celsius Energy Drink.

PFL is backed by blue-chip investors including Ares, Luxor Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, Knighthead, Legends, and numerous NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS team owners.

MMA is the growth sport of this decade, with over 600 million fans worldwide, the youngest audience demo of any sport, and true global revenue streams.

PFLmma.com; Instagram (@PFLmma); Twitter (@PFLMMA); Facebook (/PFLmma)

WHAT: Terence Crawford’s emphatic ninth-round TKO over Errol Spence Jr. on Saturday night on SHOWTIME PPV^®, in which Crawford became the first undisputed welterweight champion of the four-belt era, will premiere on SHOWTIME and will be available on streaming on the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan, this Saturday, August 5 at 9 p.m. ET/PT giving fans another opportunity to witness what the Wall Street Journal called a “masterful performance” from Crawford, who also became the first male fighter to win the undisputed title in two weight classes. Spence vs. Crawford will also be available on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME on day of premiere.

In a newly released clip from inside the ring during the immediate aftermath of the fight, Crawford approaches Spence and tells him, “I appreciate you. You know why? Because if it wasn’t for you, this would never have happened. So I appreciate you. You’re a hell of a fighter.” To watch the clip, go to: https://youtu.be/w9easTw4Ebk.

In addition, ALL ACCESS: SPENCE VS. CRAWFORD EPILOGUE will premiere immediately following the delayed telecast, capping a memorable buildup chronicled by the Emmy^® Award-winning series. As an indication of the historical significance and magnitude of Saturday’s event, Episode One of ALL ACCESS: SPENCE VS. CRAWFORD has garnered 2.2 million views, while Episode Two has 1.8 million views on the SHOWTIME SPORTS^® YouTube channel alone.

Below are some notable headlines from Saturday’s event, which many are calling the most significant boxing match in decades, and Crawford’s performance, which has cemented him as No. 1 on most pound-for-pound lists.

High-Profile Headlines

• Associated Press — Crawford unifies welterweight division with 9th-round TKO in dominant performance over Spence

“The fight, the most-anticipated boxing match in several years, made Crawford the first undisputed champion in the 147-pound division in the four-belt era that began in 2004.

• The Los Angeles Times — Terence Crawford dominates Errol Spence Jr., earns ninth-round TKO

“Terence “Bud” Crawford saved his best performance for the biggest stage and delivered a virtuoso performance.”

• The New York Times — Terence Crawford Knocks Out Errol Spence in One-Sided Bout

“The rare matchup of two of the best pound-for-pound boxers ended with Crawford dominating the whole fight.”

• CBS Sports – Terence Crawford delivers performance of a lifetime in thrashing Errol Spence, and he’s not close to finished

“The virtuoso showing was nearly incomparable to any other in sports.”

• Yahoo! Sports — In a fight for the ages, Terence Crawford delivers performance of a lifetime vs. Errol Spence Jr.

“This, without hyperbole, was one of the greatest weeks for the frequently maligned sport of boxing in the last 50 years, if not longer…And Terence Crawford’s ninth-round TKO victory Saturday over Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed welterweight title before 19,980 fortunate fans at T-Mobile Arena ranks among the greatest performances in a huge fight ever.”

• ESPN — Boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Terence Crawford or Naoya Inoue? And what about Errol Spence Jr.?

“His demolition of Errol Spence Jr. was more impressive in stamping his place (as No.1 pound-for-pound) than Mike Tyson’s 90-second dismissal of Michael Spinks in 1988.”

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About Paramount+

Paramount+, a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, combines live sports, breaking news and a Mountain of Entertainment™. The premium streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel. Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, the service’s cornerstone plan, is also home to SHOWTIME content including scripted hits, critically acclaimed nonfiction projects, SHOWTIME SPORTS^® (including industry-leading SHOWTIME Boxing) and films. This premium plan includes unmatched events and sports programming through the local live CBS stream, including golf to basketball and more, plus streaming access to CBS News Network for 24/7 news and CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis.  

(Aug. 1, 2023) — Two international fight cards will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. this Friday on ESPN+. 

The fistic fireworks begin at Falls Park in Belfast, as undefeated super middleweight Padraig McCrory takes on Steed Woodall in the 10-round main event. 

The action continues later that evening as Puerto Rican welterweight Derrieck Cuevas battles hometown hero Alberto Mosquera in a 10-rounder at Coliseo de Combates in Panama City, Panama.

McCrory-Woodall and undercard contests will stream live beginning at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.

Cuevas-Mosquera and undercard bouts will stream live starting at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. 

McCrory (17-0, 9 KOs) made his pro debut in June 2017 with a decision win over Jacob Lucas. He captured his first regional title four years later with a fifth-round TKO against Sergei Gorokhov. He defended it twice, including a fifth-round TKO victory against former world title challenger Marco Antonio Periban. In October 2022, the 35-year-old stopped then-unbeaten German contender Leon Bunn in six rounds, and he’s coming off a 10-round decision win over Diego Ramirez on the May undercard of the Luis Alberto Lopez-Michael Conlan featherweight title showdown in Belfast. Woodall (18-1-1, 11 KOs) is a nine-year pro who suffered an early-career defeat against Steve Rolls in 2015. He has not lost since. The 29-year-old is coming off an eight-round decision win over Boris Crighton in April.

In other streaming action from Belfast:

Sean McComb (16-1, 5 KOs) vs. Alejandro Moya (17-1, 10 KOs), 10 Rounds, WBO European Junior Welterweight Title 

Fearghus Quinn (6-0, 2 KOs) vs. Ramiro Blanco (19-25-3, 10 KOs), 8 Rounds, Middleweights

Kurt Walker (7-0, 1 KO) vs. Mike Jurik (6-7, 5 KOs), 8 Rounds, Featherweights

Lewis Crocker (16-0, 9 KOs) vs. Greyvin Mendoza (7-6-3, 5 KOs), 8 Rounds, Welterweights

Conor Quinn (6-0-1, 4 KOs) vs. Bryan Castro (2-6-1, 1 KO), 6 Rounds, Junior Bantamweights

Cuevas (25-1-1, 17 KOs), an eight-year pro from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, captured his first regional title in December 2016 with a decision win over Daniel Sostre. Since then, the 28-year-old has only suffered one setback, a six-round split decision loss to Damian Ezequiel Bonelli in December 2020. He bounced back with a TKO win against Esneiker Correa two years later and is coming off a second-round knockout victory against Damian Rodriguez in April. Mosquera (28-5-2, 16 KOs) unsuccessfully challenged for an interim title against unbeaten Brunet Zamora in October 2011. He’s since fought a who’s who of welterweight standouts, including Erick Bone, Sammy Vasquez and Rashidi Ellis. The 36-year-old veteran returns after a six-round decision win against Leonardo Espinal in February. 

In other streaming action from Panama:

Uwel Hernandez (15-1, 8 KOs) vs. Juan Juarez (21-8, 15 KOs), 12 Rounds, Super Middleweights

Azael Villar (19-2-3, 15 KOs) vs. Gerardo Zapata (14-1, 5 KOs), 10 Rounds, Light Flyweights

Yunior Menendez (7-0, 6 KOs) vs. Ricardo Hernandez (2-2-1, 2 KOs), 8 Rounds, Light Heavyweights

NEW YORK, NY, AND LOS ANGELES, CA—August 1, 2023—PPV.COM, the streaming pay-per-view (PPV) platform from iNDEMAND, will be the only non-subscription streaming service in the U.S. & Canada to carry the Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz “Ready 4 War” showdown this Saturday, August 5 at 8pm ET/5pm PT.

Fight fans can order “Ready 4 War” for $59.99 on PPV.COM, with no additional commitment or subscription. PPV.COM is also the only live-sports PPV streaming service that includes a live viewer chat throughout the card—hosted by leading combat sports experts—as well as other interactive features:

https://www.ppv.com/events/paul-vs-diaz

iNDEMAND will also offer Paul vs. Diaz via its network of all the top cable and telco operators in North America, including Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Fios, DISH Network, and Optimum in the U.S.; as well as Rogers, Bell, Shaw, SaskTel and TELUS in Canada. 

About iNDEMAND and PPV.COM

iNDEMAND is an innovative partnership between 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 80 million cable homes and has distribution deals with more than 150 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 to its existing cable PPV infrastructure, iNDEMAND has consolidated all forms of PPV distribution under one roof, making the company the only provider of turn-key PPV solutions for both industry partners and consumers. For more information, go to indemand.com.

Reading, PA (August 1, 2023)–King’s Promotions has signed bantamweight contender Brittany Sims to a promotional contract.

Sims, 33 years-old (She turns 33 today) of Salem, Oregon is the NABF and WBA Continental bantamweight champion and is currently ranked number-eight by the WBA.

Sims is 4-3 with two knockouts and is coming off a career best win when she won the aforementioned titles on may 20th with a majority decision over defending champion Mikenna Tansley.

“We are very happy to have Brittany with King’s Promotions. She has fought her last two bouts on our shows and has shown that she has what it takes to be a champion. Brittany also adds to our growing roster of quality fighters, and she will be defending her titles very soon,” said Marshall Kauffman of King’s Promotions.

“I am very excited about signing with Kings because my Dad and I were the only ones. I always wanted to get signed by a promoter. King’s was one that I wanted to sign with. I am blessed by this opportunity. I wasn’t expecting to sign with anyone. I was surprised that Marshall offered me the opportunity.  The next fight will be a big eye opener for me. Beating Mikenna boosted me up to become a world title contender,” said Sims.

Sims began boxing at the age of 21. Sims was a Track and Field athlete who ran the 400-hurdles at Marietta (OH) College and Eastern Oregon, switched over to combat sports when studying to be a corrections officer. Sims and her sister started training in MMA, for which Brittany is 2-0 as a professional MMA fighter. Brittany is 100% focused on boxing, but still does MMA training.

Sims has 15 amateur boxing fights, and also works in the registration in the Emergency Room at a hospital in Oregon.

Sims is managed and trained by her father Gay Sims Jr.

Sims is the latest high-quality fighter under the King’s Promotions banner. King’s Promotions led Alycia Baumgardner to the undisputed junior lightweight title. Sims joins Mikenna Tansley, Danielle Perkins, recent world title challenger Elhem Mekhaled, Amy Salinas and Alexis Mones as King’s Promotions fighters.

Philadelphia, PA (July 31, 2023)-This Friday night at The Clarion Hotel in Essington, PA.

John Gambarino of Philadelphia fights DeJon Farrell Francis of Elizabeth, NJ in a four-round cruiserweight fight.

Gambarino is a very popular MMA fighter, while Francis is a MMA and Kickboxer. They will be making their pro debuts.

Also, undefeated welterweight prospect Nimal Farmer (4-0, 4 KOs) of Lindenwold, NJ will take part against an opponent to be announced.

In four-round bouts:

David Calabro (1-0, 1 KO) of Aston, PA fights Nair Mickins (2-2, 1 KO) of Philadelphia in a bantamweight fight.

Tariq Green (3-2-1, 1 KO) of Philadelphia fights Terry Roscoe (2-17-1) of Albany, GA in a middleweight fight.

Dante Selby (2-4-2) of Philadelphia fights Jonathan Wiles (0-4) of Philadelphia in a heavyweight scuffle.

?Rashan Adams (4-0, 3 KOs) of Philadelphia battles Braulio Avila (3-15, 1 KO) of Mexico in a super featherweight fight.

Frankie Lynn (1-0, 1 KO) of Chester, PA will fight DeAngelo Cunningham (1-2) of Cleveland in a super welterweight battle.

In a fight between pro debuting light heavyweights, Nijay Brown of Baltimore fights Michael Jones of Philadelphia.

Jalique Holden (3-0, 2 KOs) of Wilmington, DE takes on Rawekwon Butler (5-5, 3 KOs) of Brooklyn, NY in a lightweight scrap.

Edwin Cortes (3-0) of Millville, NJ fights Gorwar Karyah (2-2, 2 KOs) of Philadelphia in a bantamweight fight.

Jeremy Adorno (7-1, 3 KOs) will take on Prentice Canada (6-11-1, 4 KOs) of Saint Louis in a featherweight bout.

Tickets are $175 for VIP w/a Drink, $100, $75 and $65 and can be purchased at rdrboxing@yahoo.com

Today, DAZN, the world’s ultimate sports entertainment platform, and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced a ground-breaking arrangement with ESPN and Top Rank, which will see the mega-fight between international superstar Jake “The Problem Child” Paul and combat sports icon Nate Diaz available for purchase on ESPN+ PPV in the United States, in addition to DAZN PPV.  The long-awaited Paul vs. Diaz showdown event will take place on Saturday, August 5, live at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas.  

ESPN+ subscribers can purchase the $59.99 PPV here, separate streaming subscription required.  New subscribers can sign up for ESPN+ here.  ESPN+ is available on ESPN.com and the ESPN App for mobile and connected TV devices.  

Over the last 18 months, Paul and Diaz have traded scathing public jabs about a potential fight, and now the world will finally see the duo go head-to-head to settle the score. Paul (6-1, 4KO’s) will be out for revenge as he prepares for his first fight since his split-decision defeat against Tommy Fury. Hungrier than ever to show the world his boxing prowess, the Cleveland native is pulling out all the stops to prepare for this fight, promising to silence the critics with a spectacular KO against the combat sport icon.  

Jake Paul’s attempt at redemption will be no easy feat, as he takes on the world-renowned MMA superstar and heart of the 209, Nate Diaz, who makes his highly anticipated boxing debut after being the most sought-after free agent in combat sports history. A proven fighter who regularly sparred undefeated Hall of Fame boxer Andre Ward during his career, Diaz has won 22-fights as a pro, including devastating Conor McGregor with a 1-2 that lead to the Irishman’s first loss in the UFC.  

“We are excited to offer fans this one-of-a-kind combat sports event on ESPN+ PPV, which is the result of incredible collaboration between ESPN, DAZN, MVP and Top Rank,” said Matt Kenny, vice president of programming and acquisitions. “We look forward to a great event on August 5.”

“This arrangement demonstrates DAZN’s, MVP’s, ESPN’s and Top Rank’s commitment to bring the fragmented combat PPV market together to deliver one of the biggest PPV events of the year to fight fans on August 5,” said Joseph?Markowski, CEO North America, DAZN Group.  “DAZN is committed to bringing the biggest and best fights to the widest possible audience. We will work with all broadcasters, platforms and promotional companies to deliver the most entertaining and anticipated matchups.”

“This is an unprecedented alliance between Most Valuable Promotions, DAZN, ESPN, and Top Rank that is driven by the partnership between MVP and Real Fight Inc to put together this massive cross-cultural event, and we could not be more excited to extend the Paul vs. Diaz PPV to ESPN+ fans on Saturday August 5th,” said MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian. “The magnitude of our pay-per-view collaboration speaks to the immense star power of Jake Paul and Nate Diaz and their command of PPV audiences. We are incredibly grateful for each of our allies’ commitments to make Paul vs. Diaz the biggest, best, and by far the most accessible pay-per-view fight of the year for fans in the United States and across the world.”

The Paul vs. Diaz full card will include:

1. In the main event, MVP’s Jake “The Problem Child” Paul faces off against Real Fight Inc’s Nate Diaz over 10 rounds contested at 185 lbs.      
2. In the co-main, undisputed featherweight world champion, Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano will put all her belts on the line against former WBO featherweight title holder Heather “The Heat” Hardy across 10 rounds contested at 126 lbs.   
3. Undefeated top prospect lightweight H20 Sylve faces off with the much more experienced veteran lightweight William “Baby Face” Dos Santos Silva over 8 rounds contested at 135 lbs.   
4. Chris Avila will be facing fellow MMA star Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens in an 8-round matchup contested at 168 lbs. 
5. Shadasia Green, the mandatory challenger for the undisputed super middleweight title, will fight Olivia Curry, who boasts a decisive five-bout winning streak, over 10 rounds at 168 lbs. 
6. Former WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Champion Alan Sanchez will take on 17-1 Angel Beltran Villa in an 8-round welterweight bout at 147 lbs. 

Watch “Get Ready for Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz” available on-demand on ESPN+.

Paul vs. Diaz Programming Schedule (All Times ET)

(July 31, 2023) – Japan’s unified WBC/WBA light flyweight world champion Kenshiro Teraji will defend his titles against South African two-division world champion Hekkie Budler on Monday, September 18, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
 
In the co-feature, undefeated Japanese southpaw Junto Nakatani makes the first defense of his WBO junior bantamweight world title against Mexican contender Argi Cortes.
 
Teraji-Budler, Nakatani-Cortes and additional undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. in the early morning hours on ESPN+.
 
Teraji (21-1, 13 KOs) earned his first world title by defeating Ganigan Lopez for the WBC 108-pound strap in May 2018. He made eight defenses before losing the belt via 10^th-round TKO against Masamichi Yabuki in September 2021. The 31-year-old avenged his lone defeat by stopping Yabuki in the third round of their March 2022 rematch to regain the title. Teraji then stopped Hiroto Kyoguchi last November in the seventh round to unify the WBC and WBA titles. He defended his unified championship with a ninth-round TKO against then-unbeaten contender Anthony Olascuaga in April. 
 
Budler (35-4, 11 KOs) captured the WBA minimumweight world title with a first-round knockout win against Karluis Diaz in March 2014. He made four defenses before losing the belt to Byron Rojas in March 2016. Two years later, he decisioned Ryoichi Taguchi to capture the WBA and IBF light flyweight titles. He vacated his IBF strap and lost the WBA title in his first defense, a 10^th-round TKO loss to Hiroto Kyguchi in December 2018. The 35-year-old veteran is 3-0 since losing his title, including a decision win over former WBO champ Elwin Soto.
 
Nakatani (25-0, 19 KOs) won the vacant WBO flyweight world title in November 2020 with an eighth-round knockout against Giemel Magramo. He defended it twice, defeating Angel Acosta in four rounds and knocking out Ryota Yamauchi in eight. He moved up to junior bantamweight and captured the WBO crown with a highlight-reel knockout against former WBA champ Andrew Moloney in May. Cortes (25-3-2, 10 KOs) is a nine-year pro who nearly upset Juan Francisco Estrada in a fiercely-contested September 2022 showdown. Cortes is coming off a 10-round majority decision win over Adolfo Castillo Gonzalez in March.

In other streaming action from Tokyo:

• Former multi-division kickboxing world champion Tenshin Nasukawa (1-0) will return in an eight-round Junior featherweight battle against undefeated Mexican Juan Flores Aceves (9-0, 7 KOs). Nasukawa made his pro boxing debut in April with a six-round decision win over Yuki Yonaha, while Aceves is coming off an eighth-round TKO against then-unbeaten  Adolfo Perez Lopez in June.
   
• Anthony Olascuaga (5-1, 3 KOs), from Los Angeles, looks to bounce back from his defeat to Teraji in an eight-round light flyweight battle against Filipino former world title challenger Giemel Magramo (28-3, 23 KOs).

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