“Punch-Out at Polar Park” TICKETS ON SALE

WORCESTER, Mass. (June 22, 2023) –Tickets are now on sale for the August 4th (Aug. 5 rain date) “Punch-Out at Polar Park”, presented by Shearns Boxing Promotions (SBP) in conjunction with Kenrick Ball’s Camp Get Right Boxing, at Polar Park in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Tickets are priced at $205.00 (Field VIP), $155.00 (VIP), $75.00 (Home Plate Reserved) and $45.00 (Reserved), and available for purchase at Polar Park’s box office (508.500.8888), and online at polarpark.com/boxing.

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PRO CARD

Main Event – Light Heavyweights (8)

Kendrick “Peppa” Ball, Jr. (20-1-3, 12 KOs), Worcester, MA

Oscar “Moustro” Riojas (28-16-3, 16 KOs), Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

Co-Feature – Heavyweights (8)

Sean Bey (7-0, 7 KOs), Providence, RI

Quinton Sumpter (6-1, 4 KOs), Pittsfield, MA

Super Featherweights (6)

“King” Kevin Walsh (9-0, 4 KOs), Brockton, MA

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

Welterweights (6)

Josniel “TG” Castro (9-1, 7 KOs), Boca Raton, FL by way of Puerto Rico

TBA

Light Heavyweights (4)

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

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

Welterweights (4)

Robert Degaetano (pro debut), Douglas, MA

Micheal “Titan” Taylor (1-5, 0 KOs), Cortland, NY

Female Super Bantamweights (4)

Melanie “Pitbull” Costa (1-0, 1 KO), Norton, MA

Sarah “Switch Kick” Cluck (1-5-1, 0 KOs), Orlando, FL

(card subject to change)

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The pro card will start after amateur boxers from throughout New England compete in the inaugural Carlos Garcia Tournament, named after the National Golden Gloves Hall of Fame trainer who founded and operated the highly successful boxing program at the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester for four decades.

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

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please email all inquiries for details to  ShearnsBoxingPromotions@gmail.com.

INFORMATION:

Website: polarpark.com. cgrboxing.com

Facebook: /ShearnsBoxingPromotions, /CampGetRightBoxing, /PolarParkWorcester

Twitter: @ShearnsBoxing, @PolarPark

Instagram: @ShearnsBoxingPromotions, @cgrboxing, @PolarParkWorcester




KIRIA TAPIA, FORMER PUERTO RICAN OLYMPIC TEAM MEMBER, ADDED TO JULY 26 KISSIMMEE CARD

June 21, 2023, Plant City, FL. — Kiria Tapia, who as an amateur, won Gold at the Pan American Games, Gold at the Central American and Caribbean Games, and was a member of the Puerto Rican Olympic Team, has been added to the ProBox TV card on July 26 at the Kissimmee Civic Center in Kissimmee, FL.

The July 26 main event will be a classic Puerto Rico vs. Mexico battle between Puerto Rico’s Orlando Gonzalez and Mexico’s Ramiro Cesena in a ten-round super featherweight bout.

Tickets, price from $25-$75, are available HERE

Kiria’s amateur career also includes wins over ultimate professional world champions Mikaela Meyer, Erika Cruz and Adriana dos Santos.

On July 26, Kiria will fight at lightweight in a bout scheduled for six rounds. This will be her second professional fight as she made her pro debut January 20 and won by unanimous decision, also in Kissimmee.

“I am looking forward to my second pro fight on July 26,” said Tapa. “I am very excited to be fighting in Kissimmee again and feeling the support of the Puerto Rican fans. I want to thank ProBox for giving me the opportunity to fight on this show and can’t wait for July 26.”

She is now trained by former world champion and Island icon Ivan Calderon and managed by 2022 BWAA Manager of the Year, Peter Kahn.

“I first met Kiria when she was twelve or thirteen and we sparred,” said Calderon. “She hit me with an uppercut and messed my jaw up. It didn’t break but that had never happened to me before and I’ll obviously never forget that. Fast forward to recently, as Kiria was making up to $2400 per month from sponsors fighting amateur bouts in Puerto Rico, she decided turn pro. Lady boxers like Amanda Serrano have paved the way for women to make more money professionally, so she thought now was the time. Kiria’s husband told her ‘if you want to be successful, you have to go to Ivan, so you will be technically prepared.’ So here we are.”

Orlando “Capu” Gonzalez (20-2, 12 KOs) was born and raised in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The twenty-seven-year-old made his pro debut in 2016, has a two-fight win streak, and recently fought for the NABF title against current world champion Robelsy Ramirez.

Ramiro “Demon” Cesena (16-1-1, 13 KOs) from Loreto, Mexico is twenty-three-years-old and has been fighting professionally since 2018. Cesena looks to rebound from his sole loss when he fought for the WBC Continental Americas title in April. Prior to that fight Prior to that bout he was on a 4 knockout win streak.

A ProBox TV subscription is $1.99 per month

How to Watch ‘Wednesday Night Fights”:

1. ProBoxTV.com

2. The ProBoxTV app available on all app stores

3. Available on Roku TV, Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV

About ProBoxTV: ProBox TV is a digital subscription service which gives fans exclusive access to ProBox TV Content including live streaming of fights and on-demand videos. You can also watch daily talk shows with Juan Manuel Marquez, Paulie Malignaggi, Chris Algieri and our host Claudia Trejos. ProBox TV can be accessed using your favorite streaming devices, including mobile devices, or any personal computer. ProBox TV is a global product and available in all countries.

Fact: Kissimmee, located in Central Florida has the largest Puerto Rican population of any region in Florida and the fastest-growing Puerto Rican population in the country.

Follow ProBox TV

https://twitter.com/ProBox_TV and https://www.youtube.com/c/ProBoxTV

For more ProBox TV info click here https://proboxtv.com/what-is-probox-tv/en




OTX Announces Dozens of Fighters Participating in August Series

BROOKLYN, NY (June 22, 2023) – OTX (Overtime Boxing) announced today the signings of more than 30 fighters that will be competing in the property’s inaugural summer series in August at OTE Arena in Atlanta. The list includes top next generation fighters in the sport across various weight classes. The remaining fighters and match-ups will be announced in the weeks leading up to the events.

“I was hoping that I’d be a part of it [OTX]. I knew this was a platform that could introduce me to the world and ultimately that’s what I’ve been needing,” said Elijah Pierce, who fights out of Atlanta. “I’ve been patient. I’ve fought my way back. It’s been a long hard journey and now it’s my turn.”

“I watch their videos on Tik Tok of basketball, Rob Dillingham and the twins. I was like, Overtime boxing? That would be fire for me,” said middleweight fighter Lorenzo “Truck” Simpson. “I’m young like those guys.,  exciting. And it’s an amazing opportunity.”

In August, OTX will host a summer series with four Friday night match cards featuring the sport’s next stars at OTE Arena. DAZN will serve as OTX’s exclusive media rights partner in Year 1 and Nutrabolt, owner of the C4 Energy® brand, an industry leader in mental and performance energy, has signed on as an inaugural sponsor.

FIGHT NIGHTS:

Dates                                                      Location                                 Time

Friday, August 4, 2023                        OTE Arena – Atlanta, GA     7:30pm

Friday, August 11, 2023                      OTE Arena – Atlanta, GA     7:30pm

Friday, August 18, 2023                      OTE Arena – Atlanta, GA     7:30pm

Friday, August 25, 2023                      OTE Arena – Atlanta, GA     7:30pm

FIGHTERS:

Name                                                     Residence                                              W/L Record

Elijah Pierce                                          Midwest City, OK                                 17- 2

Mike Plania                                           General Santos City,  Philippines      28 -2

Lorenzo “Truck” Simpson                   Baltimore, MD                                      13-0

Vlad Hernandez                                   Stockton, CA                                         13-5

Narciso Carmona                                 Seville, Spain                                        12-0-1

Sanny Duversonne                               Avon Park, CA                                       12-5-2

Luis Garcia                                             Richmond, CA                                       13-2-1

Haven Brady Jr.                                     Albany, GA                                             9-0

Edwin Rodriguez                                  Juana Diaz, PR                                      11-6-2

Gabriel Muratalla                                Fontana, CA                                          9-0

Xavian Ramirez                                     Morrill, NE                                             4-0

Ricardo Galvan                                     Reno, NV                                               4-0

Raul Salomon                                       Long Beach, CA                                    12-1

Tyler Howard                                        Crossville, TN                                        19-1

David Navarro                                       Hemet, CA                                             5-1

D’Angelo Fuentes                                 Coconut Creek, FL                                8-1

Giovanni Marquez                               Houston, TX                                          5-0

Nicky Vitone                                         Pine Brook, NJ                                      9-2-1

Money Powell                                      Fort Mitchell, AL                                  13-1

Javon Campbell                                    Raleigh, NC                                           12-1

Leanna Cruz                                          Allentown, PA                                       5-0

Javier Zamarron                                   Sheboygan, WI                                     3-0

Andreas Katzourakis                            Los Angeles, CA                                    10-0

Raphael Igbokwe                                 Houston, TX                                          16-4

Luis Acosta                                            Houston, TX                                          13-1

Christian Barreto                                  Arecibo, PR                                           9-0

Abel Gonzalez                                       Hialeah, FL                                            5-0

Robert Magee                                      Saint Louis, MI                                      8-0-2

Paola Torres                                          San Antonio, TX                                    13-8-1

Matches will be held at OTE Arena in Atlanta featuring both male and female pro boxers. All fights will be streamed on DAZN with additional content distributed over Overtime’s social channels. Fans will have access to year-round content of next gen boxers as they prepare and train, as well as out of the ring storytelling fueling fandom and building the boxer’s personal brands. Overtime’s core mission is about empowering young people to chase their dreams and OTX is about providing fighters the platform to do so.

For more information please visit: https://otboxing.com/

About Overtime

Overtime builds disruptive new sports leagues aimed globally at the next generation sports fan and athlete. Overtime owns and operates, OTE in basketball and OT7 in football, and leverages digital-first content across its network of accounts engaging its community of over 90 million fans and followers. Overtime’s business model is driven by sponsorships, brand relationships, e-commerce, licensing and media rights.

Overtime is funded by top VC firms, industry leaders, and athletes, including Liberty Media Corporation, Andreessen Horowitz, Counterpoint Global (Morgan Stanley), Sapphire Sport, Winslow Capital, Bezos Expeditions, Spark Capital, Micromanagement Ventures (the family of the late David Stern), Black Capital, Blackstone Strategic Partners, Alexis Ohanian, Drake, Quavo and 40+ NBA and NFL stars including Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and Trae Young. Over 6% of active NBA players have invested in Overtime. The company is led by CEO and Co-Founder Dan Porter, an innovative thought leader with 30+ years of experience in mobile gaming, education, media and marketplaces.




Reyes Boxing’s “Down and Dirty 6” Postponed

Marblehead, MA (June 22, 2023) – Due to unforeseen circumstances, Reyes Boxing Promotions’ “Down and Dirty 6” card scheduled for Saturday evening at the Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, MA has been postponed until further notice.

All ticketholders can receive a full refund from the original point of sale.

A new date will be announced shortly.

For more information on Reyes Boxing Promotions, visit Reyesboxingclub.com.




FORMER WORLD CHAMPIONS AND TOP PROSPECT HIGHLIGHT THREE-FIGHT SHOWTIME BOXING® COUNTDOWN SHOW THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 24 AT 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT

MINNEAPOLIS – June 21, 2023 – Three showdowns featuring the return of two former world champions and an exciting rising prospect will highlight the SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN live streaming presentation this Saturday, June 24 from The Armory in Minneapolis in a Premier Boxing Champions event.

Action live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT and is topped by former world champion Caleb “Golden” Truax taking on Burley Brooks in a 10-round light heavyweight clash. The lineup will also see former world champion Jerwin Ancajas duel Colombia’s Wilner Soto in an eight-round super bantamweight attraction, and all-action super lightweight prospect Mickel Spencer facing Lyle McFarlane in a four-round bout. The live stream is hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show hosts Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell.

These fights precede a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader headlined by top middleweight Carlos Adames defending his Interim WBC Middleweight Title against former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams in a telecast beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster. Lubin vs. Arias is co-promoted with Mayweather Promotions.

A native of Osseo, Minn., Truax (31-5-2, 19 KOs) will return to fight at The Armory for the third time on Saturday night, as he looks to thrill his hometown fans in his first action since dropping a January 2021 world title fight to Caleb Plant by decision. Truax captured a 168-pound world title in December 2017, traveling to the U.K. to upset James DeGale and bring the belt back to The Gopher State. He will be opposed by the 27-year-old Brooks (6-2-1, 5 KOs), a Dallas-native who is guided by award-winning trainer Derrick James. Brooks began his career with six victories before losing narrow decisions to Marco Delgado and Cameron Sevilla Rivera. Most recently, Brooks fought Rivera to a split-draw in August 2021.

The 31-year-old Ancajas (33-3-2, 22 KOs) steps back into action after dropping a pair of decisions in world title fights against Fernando Martinez February and October of 2022. Fighting out of Panabo City, Davao Del Norte, Philippines, Ancajas won the 115-pound title in a lopsided unanimous decision victory over McJoe Arroyo in 2016 where he dropped his opponent in the eighth round and cruised to victory. Ancajas would go on to make nine successful defenses of the title before running into Martinez. He will take on the 32-year-old Soto (22-12,12 KOs), who most recently lost a decision to Jonathan Rodriguez in March. A native of Canalete, Colombia, Soto has faced a slew of top fighters throughout his career, including former unified 122-pound champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev.

Spencer (3-0, 2 KOs) is the younger brother of exciting super welterweight Joey Spencer and turned pro in August 2021 with a unanimous decision victory over Eliseo Villalobos. The 19-year-old from Linden, Mich., most recently wowed the crowd at The Armory in February with a sensational first-round stoppage of Margarito Hernandez. He faces the 26-year-old McFarlane, who fights out of Tulsa, Okla., and enters this fight having won back-to-back contests.

The non-televised undercard will feature super middleweight Shawn McCalman (12-0, 6 KOs) in an eight-round fight taking on Bo Gibbs Jr. (23-3, 9 KOs), super featherweight prospect Robert Meriwether III (3-0, 2 KOs) battling Ezra Rabin (1-1, 1 KO) in a four-round attraction, and Cincinnati’s Ray Robinson (1-0) dueling Ryan Raglin (3-9-1, 3 KOs) in a four-round featherweight showdown.

#         #         #

ABOUT ADAMES VS. WILLIAMS

Adames vs. Williams will see hard-hitting Interim WBC Middleweight Champion Carlos Adames battle former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams in the 12-round main event of action live on SHOWTIME® Saturday, June 24 from The Armory in Minneapolis in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features top super welterweight contenders Erickson “Hammer” Lubin and Luis “Cuba” Arias squaring off in the 10-round co-main event. Super flyweight world champion Fernando “Pumita” Martinez will put his IBF title on the line against unbeaten Filipino contender Jade Bornea in the telecast opener.

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




“THE RECONQUEST” EVELIN BERMUDEZ vs. KIM CLAVEL UNIFIED IBF/WBO JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP October 7 at Place Bell in Laval, Canada

MONTREAL (June 21, 2023) — Groupe Yvon Michel, in association with O.R. Promotions, is happy to confirm that Montreal junior flyweight Kim Clavel (17-0-1, 3 KOs) is finally returning to fight in another world championship.

The former World Boxing Council (WBC) world middleweight champion will try to conquer Argentinian Evelin “The Little Princess” Nazarena Bermudez (18-1-1, 6 KOs), the reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Light Flyweight on October 7 at Place Bell in Laval, Canada. This will be the third world title fight for the 32-year-old Clavel (1-1), and the 10th (7-1-1) for Bermudez, 26.

Clavel’s third fight in 2023, coming off her May 12th victory over Naomi Arellano Reyes (9-3, 5 KOs) in another breathtaking performance. Fans remember the incredible confrontation this past January 13th with World Boxing Association (WBA) world junior flyweight champion Yesica Nery Plata (29-2-0, 3 KOs), when Clavel lost a decision as well as her WBC crown.

October 7 is the real RECONQUEST for Clavel, who gets a second chance to be crowned as a world champion by two different sanctioning bodies. She is ranked as the No. 1 contender by both the WBO and the IBF.

“My journey has not been easy, I have never taken detours, but I have shaped myself and now nothing can stop me,” Clavel said. “I want to thank champion Evelin Bermudez for giving me this opportunity to win her titles. I know that she is a great champion and that she is confident in her abilities. I’m going to need all of Quebec behind me, I trust that with my team, my perseverance and all of you, that on October 7th I will be world champion again. Thank you for your eternal support.”

“I am extremely motivated with my team to guide Kim towards the conquest of two world titles,” said Kim’s coach, Danielle Bouchard. “The task will be difficult since Bermudez is an excellent boxer. Kim, however, has the determination, perseverance, and doggedness to win those belts. Her greatest desire: to become world champion again. Together and with everyone’s support, we will succeed! »

Bermudez, fighting out of Santa Fe, Argentina, started her career in 2016 as a 19-year-old. She won her first world title fight in 2018 by dethroning Mexican Maria Guadalupe Bautista (21-11-2, 4 KOs) at her home in Argentina for the IBF light flyweight title. She added the WBO crown in 2022 with a brutal knockout of Debora Rengifo (19-11-1, 11 KOs), of Caracas, Venezuela. After seven successive IBF and one WBO title defenses, she lost by majority decision to Costa Rican Yokasta Valle (28-2, 9KO), who is also IBF / WBO world champion of the minimum division (105 pounds), in Carson, California. The latter immediately abandoned her two new junior flyweight titles (108 pounds) which allows Bermudez to win them back, this past March in Buenos Aires against previously undefeated Mexican Tania Enriquez (20-0, 9 KOs).

Now world champion once again, Bermudez is confident of retaining her crowns: “I have always said that champions must face the best and Kim Clavel is part of this group,” she commented. “She may have the advantage of fighting at home, but I am a proud and racy Argentina. I’ll give you a good show and return home with my belts.”

“To be the best, you have to beat the best,” added O.R. Promotions CEO Georgina Rivero. “Evelin is ripe for proving her eminence and a win over Clavel is the best way to prove it.”

“It is with great enthusiasm and confidence that we offer this challenge to Kim and this gift to her many supporters,” GYM President Yvon Michel remarked. “We remember the great intense and passionate fight between the two champions last January. Moreover, this one is still in the running for the 2023 Fight of the Year. The 4,000 spectators at Place Bell are still shaking. Next October 7th, the task promises to be difficult but, supported by a passionate and noisy crowd, we will have a new champion in Quebec!”

Tickets go on sale in July and will be available to purchase on line at www.ticketmaster.ca  and directly at GYM at info@groupeyvonmichel.ca. Details will be published shortly.

“LA RECONQUÊTE” is presented by Mise-O-Jeu, in collaboration with Bell Media.

Clavel won her WBC crown on July 29, 2022, in Montreal, beating defending champion Yesenia Gomez (19-5-3) by 10-round unanimous decision at the Montreal Casino, in a dazzling performance that unanimously delighted the people of Quebec.

At the height of the COVID19 pandemic, Clavel returned to nursing to help the elderly of Montreal. On the international scene, his courage and generosity have been recognized. She received the prestigious 2020 Pat Tillman Award at that year’s ESPY ceremony on ESPN, Time Magazine recognized her as a “Next Generation Leader” and the WBC presented her with the “Humanitarian Award.”

Other Oct. 7th fights will be announced in the coming days.

Quebec promotional tour: Kim Clavel has expressed an interest in meeting Quebec boxing fans at home during the summer. Groupe Yvon Michel has reserved August 8, 9 and 10 to set up a caravan and travel to Chicoutimi, Quebec, Rimouski, Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke, Saint-Hyacinthe, and Gatineau. Kim Clavel will be accompanied by her coaches Danielle Bouchard and Stéphane Larouche. The president of GYM, Yvon Michel, will be on the tour as well as several boxers concerned in the gala on October 7th. More details will be communicated after the GYM boxing gala on July 27 at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal.

#GroupeYM #LARECONQUÊTE #ClavelBermudez

ABOUT YVON MICHEL GROUP (GYM):  Groupe Yvon Michel is a professional boxing promotion organization, founded in 2004 by Yvon Michel, Alexandra Croft and Bernard Barré, who are still active in the company, the most prolific in the history of professional boxing in Canada. Since its foundation GYM has set up 167 galas in Quebec, all broadcast in Quebec on RDS, TVA Sports or Radio-Canada, and participated in 37 international galas outside Quebec. Eight boxers have become world champions, Joachim Alcine, Jean Pascal, Adonis Stevenson, Artur Beterbiev, Eleider Alvarez, Marie-Eve Dicaire (twice), Oscar Rivas and Kim Clavel. 19 boxers from the organization have delivered 56 world championship fights maintaining an excellent record of 30 wins, 24 losses and 2 draws. During this period, the major American television networks were more active than ever in coming to Quebec to broadcast the most important events of the organization.




July 1: Charles Martin to Fight Jared Anderson in High-Octane Heavyweight Main Event at Toledo’s Huntington Center LIVE on ESPN

TOLEDO, Ohio (June 21, 2023) — The homecoming for heavyweight sensation Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson is still on, but the man in the opposing corner has changed. After undefeated Kazakh contender Zhan Kossobutskiy was forced to withdraw due to a delay in obtaining his visa, former world champion “Prince” Charles Martin has stepped up to face Anderson on Saturday, July 1 at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.
 
Anderson-Martin and a 10-round heavyweight co-feature between unbeaten punchers Arslanbek Makhmudov and Nigeria’s Raphael Akpejiori will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
 
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Warriors Boxing, tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.
 
“We weren’t going to let anything spoil the Toledo party,” Anderson said. “I have a new opponent, but it will be the same outcome.”
 
Martin said, “I’ve always said I will fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. If I have to fight on less than two weeks’ notice to get a big opportunity, so be it. I’m ready. And since I can’t get the best guys from my generation to fight me, I’ll fight the best guy from the new generation. My goal is to become a two-time heavyweight champion. I have to beat Jared Anderson to accomplish my goal.”
 
Anderson (14-0, 14 KOs) has only been extended past three rounds twice in a career that began with a first-round stoppage in October 2019. From April 2021 to December 2022, he notched five consecutive second-round knockouts, including one over the normally durable Jerry Forrest. Anderson began his 2023 campaign in April with a third-round stoppage over the previously undefeated George Arias. Martin (29-3-1, 26 KOs), a 37-year-old St. Louis native, captured the IBF heavyweight world title in January 2016 with a third-round TKO over Vyacheslav Glazkov. Martin lost his title to Anthony Joshua less than three months later, but he has remained a force on the heavyweight scene. He is 6–2 since the Joshua setback, including a highlight-reel stoppage over Gerald Washington in 2020. Martin is coming off a fourth-round knockout against Devin Vargas last September in Los Angeles.




IT’S NUMBER 1 vs NUMBER 2 WHEN JOSHUA BUATSI AND DAN AZEEZ BATTLE IN WBA LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT FINAL ELIMINATOR

U.K. June 21, 2023. — The World Boxing Association (WBA) has made it official that the WBA No. 1 world ranked light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi will face the WBA No. 2 world ranked light heavyweight Dan “Super” Azeez in the “WBA Light Heavyweight Final Eliminator.”

Buatsi and Azeez have been ranked No. 1 & No. 2 since November 2022.

Boxxer, the promoter of both fighters, will promote the bout set to take place in England, on August 19, 2023.

The winner will become mandatory challenger to the WBA Super Champion Dmitry Bivol.

Buatsi (17-0, 13 KOs), who was born in Accra, Ghana, now resides in Croydon, London. He entered contender status after scoring ten consecutive wins by knockout. Buatsi followed that steak with a big unanimous decision win over former world title challenger and then WBA No. 10 ranked Craig Richards on May 21, 2022. In Buatsi’s most recent bout on May 6, he dominated against former Polish Champion and IBF Inter Continental Champion and undefeated Pawel Stepien, winning by unanimous decision.

Azeez (19-0, 13 KOs) from Lewisham, London made his way up the WBA rankings with big wins in the past year. On March 26, 2022, a knockout win over once beaten Reece Cartwright earned Azeez a top ten ranking at No. 6. By his next fight, September 3, 2022 against Shaken Pitters, Azeez was ranked No. 4. He beat Pitters handily which vaulted him to his current ranking of No. 2.

For more info on BOXXER, click HERE




COMBAT SPORTS VETERANS CHRIS AVILA AND JEREMY STEPHENS TO FACE OFF ON JAKE PAUL VS. NATE DIAZ UNDERCARD ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 5TH AT THE AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER IN DALLAS, TEXAS

DALLAS – June 21, 2023 – Today, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Real Fight Inc. (Real Fight) announced the dynamic matchup between two combat sports mainstays Chris Avila (3-1) vs. Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens (0-0-1). The bout is set to take place on the Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz pay-per-view card live from the American Airlines Center on August 5th in Dallas, TX.

Avila, fresh off a dominating unanimous decision victory over 5-2 professional boxer Paul Bamba will look to keep it going against Stephens, an exciting fighter with knockout power, who is coming off an impressive majority draw against Hall of Famer Jose Aldo in his boxing debut. The seasoned combat sports veterans will take the ring in an eight-round matchup contested at 168 lbs. The Paul vs. Diaz pay-per-view will be distributed globally by DAZN PPV. In the US and Canada in addition to DAZN PPV, Paul vs. Diaz will be available on all major cable and satellite pay-per-view providers.

All tickets can be purchased at https://www.ticketmaster.com/mvp-jake-paul-v-nate-diaz-dallas-texas-08-05-2023/event/0C005EA581B12549

A veteran of both the UFC and Bellator, Chris Avila (3-1) has made the walk for 18 professional fights and has never been stopped or hurt during his time in the cage and ring. Fighting under the Real Fight, Inc. banner, Avila is a staple at the iconic Nick Diaz Academy in Stockton, CA and a regular training partner of Ready4War headliner, Nate Diaz.   After making the full time transition to boxing, Avila beat Anthony Taylor in a super middleweight boxing match in December 2021 and boasted clean sweeps against “Dr. Mike” Varshavski last October and Paul Bamba this past April. With a reputation as an aggressive fighter, Avila’s calling card is an overhand right, which landed him two first round KOs in 2021 in MMA fights as part of his five fight winning streak in combat sports.

“My last three fights I have settled the score with Taylor, and beat up a doctor and a dork,”  said Avila. “I’m looking for the best fights and the toughest fights. Jeremy has been around a long time and fought everyone in MMA. But he hasn’t fought me so let’s see what’s up over 8 rounds on August 5th in Dallas.”

“Chris is the first fighter signed under the Real Fight, Inc. banner and his career in combat sports speaks to what the brand represents,” said Zach Rosenfield, President of Real Fight, Inc.  “Jeremy has built a career on explosive fights that the fans love and matches up with Chris’s desire to fight an accomplished opponent who is willing to stand in the center of the ring and fight him.”

Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens is an American professional mixed martial artist and boxer who has competed in the UFC and PFL’s lightweight division and recently made his professional boxing debut against UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo. Known as an exciting fighter with an “out of the box” style, Stephens is a 3x UFC Knockout of the Night, 6x Fight of the Night, and 1x Performance of the Night winner and has the second most knockdowns in UFC history.

“I am super excited to be in these times of MMA mixing with boxing – it is a huge opportunity,” said Jeremy Stephens. “And to have all the eyes in the world on this card, I plan on stealing the fucking show and giving the fans the ‘too hot for TV’ type performance that I always bring. I have a game opponent, and I’m going to highlight and leave people in memory of my performance. Knowing the world is watching me being my authentic self gets me pumped and I love it!!! This is life right now, LFG. War!”

Most Valuable Promotions, founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, and Real Fight, Inc., founded by Diaz, are partnering to bring Paul vs. Diaz to global audiences. The strategic partnership will combine the star power and international reach of both fighters to promote the year’s biggest fight. The event will be distributed globally by DAZN PPV. In the US and Canada in addition to DAZN PPV, Paul vs. Diaz will be available on all major cable and satellite pay-per-view providers.

For more information, follow on Twitter via @MostVPromotions, @LilHeathenMMA, @chrisavila209, and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @LilHeathenMMA, @chrisavila209, @MostValuablePromotions, and @DAZNBoxing.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP 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 Real Fight, Inc.

Founded by mixed martial arts legend Nate Diaz, in 2022, Real Fight Inc. promotes exactly what the name suggests — the fights people want to see, featuring the realest fighters from all over the world. Since his departure from the UFC, Diaz is extending his business empire with a true all-around combat experience that will focus on boxing, MMA, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The inaugural event under the Real Fight, Inc. banner is set to take place on August 5, 2023, when Diaz makes his long-awaited professional boxing debut against Jake Paul at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.  The card will also feature RFI fighters, Chris Avila, Alan Sanchez, Jose Aguayo and Luciano Ramos

About DAZN:

DAZN is a leading digital sports platform in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, Canada, US and the UK.? Its wide range of exclusive content includes top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, La Liga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world – Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC.?

DAZN is the NFL’s global partner and, from the 2023 season, will be the only place for fans around the world to watch every NFL match through the NFL Game Pass International add-on subscription. DAZN is a global home for boxing and combat sports through its partnerships with Matchroom Boxing the Professional Fighters League, and a global home for Women’s Football with UEFA Women’s Champions League and Finetwork Liga F.? DAZN is adding more and more sport to its platform to create a destination for sports fans.?

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DAZN is reimagining the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, bet, play, share, socialize, and buy tickets, NFTs and merchandise. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN.?

DAZN is available on most connected devices including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles, ensuring that fans have access to a ground-breaking rights catalog and slate of incredible content. In the UK and globally, DAZN can be accessed on Samsung, LG, Sony and Panasonic Smart TVs and on Games Consoles including PlayStation and Xbox. Subscribers also have access to DAZN on their Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and Apple TV and can find the app on their iPhone, iPad, and android mobile devices. DAZN is available as an Amazon Channel on Amazon Prime TV and can be viewed on Channel 429 on Sky in the UK and Ireland.  

DAZN is a global, privately-owned company with employees in over 25 countries. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit?www.dazngroup.com.??

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.




SATURDAY: Slawa Spomer-Felice Moncelli Junior Middleweight Showdown to Stream LIVE and Exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+

(June 21, 2023) — Undefeated German contender Slawa Spomer will defend his WBO Global junior middleweight title against Italy’s Felice Moncelli in the 10-round main event this Saturday, June 24 at the Eisstadion in Spomer’s hometown of Heilbronn, Germany. 

Spomer-Moncelli and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT. 

Spomer (17-0, 8 KOs) started his pro career in 2018 with a first-round knockout win against Robizoni Omsarashvili. In 2020, he dropped down to junior middleweight to defeat Philipp Wiesenhofer for a German title and has since made his mark in the division with wins over then-unbeaten Jose Gregorio Suero in November 2021 and a first-round stoppage against Victor Ionascu in June 2022. Last December, the 30-year-old defeated Egzon Maliqaj via 10-round unanimous decision. Ranked No. 10 by the WBO, Spomer looks to inch closer to a world title opportunity. Moncelli (24-7-1, 6 KOs) is an 11-year veteran who returns after a seventh-round TKO victory in a rematch against previously undefeated contender Ahmad Ali last September. 

In other streaming action from Heilbronn, Germany:

  • Former world title challenger Vincent Feigenbutz (35-3, 31 KOs) makes his 2023 debut in an eight-round middleweight fight against hard-hitting Argentinean Marcos Jesus Cornejo (19-7, 18 KOs). Feigenbutz is 4-0 with three knockouts since challenging Caleb Plant for the IBF super middleweight world title in February 2020. 
     
  • Undefeated Russian-born prospect Hamsat Shadalov (5-0, 1 KO) will face South Africa’s David Rajuili (13-10-1, 3 KOs) in a six-round lightweight tilt. Shadalov, who represented Germany at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, will make his third appearance of 2023 after decision wins over Claudio Lionel Baldomir in March and Khvicha Gigolashvili in May. 
     
  • Junior welterweight phenom Hugo “The Fresh Prince of Monaco” Micallef (6-0) will battle Poland’s Michal Bulik (6-3, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder. Micallef, the only active professional boxer from Monaco, signed with Top Rank in 2021 following an extensive international amateur career. 
     
  • In a clash between two undefeated junior middleweights, Germany’s Paul Wall (4-0, 2 KOs) and Moroccan standout Sifeddine El Moussamih (2-0, 1 KO) will collide in a six-rounder.

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About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. 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).  




SAMPSON BOXING AND PROBOXTV JOINING FORCES TO LIVESTREAM MONTHLY ACTION-PACKED BOXING EVENTS FEATURING SOUTH AMERICA’S BEST NEW TALENT

Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing, a legend in the sport for his ability to recognize emerging talent, is proud to announce he is joining forces with boxing-media visionary and livestreaming broadcast pioneer Garry Jonas, CEO of ProBoxTV, to present a year-long monthly series of world-class boxing events, emanating from South America and featuring the continent’s brightest young fighting stars. The first event, scheduled for Saturday, July 22 at the majestic Radisson Victoria Plaza Hotel in Montevideo, Uruguay, will feature once-beaten middleweight prospect Amilcar Vidal (16-1, 12 KOs) of Montevideo, taking on Cumana, Venezuela’s Domicio Rondon (17-5, 11 KOs) in the 10 round main event. The 10-round co-featured bout will pit proven power punchers against each other, as undefeated featherweight prospect and former Olympian Mirco Cuello (11-0, 10 KOs) of Santa Fe, Argentina, takes on capable Venezuelan slugger Antonio Guzman (23-3, 19 KOs) for the South American Featherweight Championship. Having recently celebrated their first year in operation, ProBoxTV has become an overnight sensation to fans of the outstanding action and elite-level production quality of their Wednesday Night Fights bi-weekly series and compelling original programming. The addition of the South American shows will give the upstart platform a third monthly outlet to present outstanding live boxing action. “We are pleased and proud to announce this outstanding broadcast partnership,” said Garry Jonas. “Sampson Boxing is a very accomplished brand in the sport and, just like ProBoxTV, Sampson is known for putting many of the world’s best young fighters in their most exciting fights. We look forward to a long and prosperous partnership. This development demonstrates our commitment to growing the channel by offering even more consistent-quality boxing content to our current and future viewers.” “I see a great future for this partnership and for ProBoxTV,” said Sampson Lewkowicz. “Garry Jonas is a true fan of the sport with the vision to set the standard for boxing broadcasting in the new century. Don’t miss any of these shows, as they will feature the top stars of the future from South America.” $1.99 paid monthly subscribers to the ProBoxTV app (no commercial breaks) and viewers on ProBoxTV’s free YouTube channel (with commercials) in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia can catch all the action starting at 8 pm EST on fight nights. UFC legend and “The Golden Voice of Combat Sports” Mike Goldberg will join outspoken former world champions Paulie Malignaggi and Chris Algieri to deliver all the calls in English, while hall-of-fame great Juan Manuel Marquez, women’s boxing legend Claudia Trejos and Emmy-winning broadcaster Ricardo Celes will convey the action to Spanish viewers.   ProBoxTV is available to anyone with internet access at ProBoxTV.com, in all app stores on all devices, and also available on digital TV via Roku, Apple TV, Amazon’s Fire TV and Google TV. Future dates and times of the remaining 11 shows will be announced shortly. #         #         #
About Sampson Boxing Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America. Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ESPN+, DAZN, VS., FOX, Fox Sports and several international networks. For more information, visit sampsonboxing.com.



David Morrell Jr., Delivers a Pitch-Perfect Moment at Minnesota Twins vs. Boston Red Sox Game

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (June 20, 2023) – Last night, WBA Super Middleweight Regular Champion, David Morrell Jr. (9-0, 8 KOs), displayed his talent outside the boxing ring as he took center stage at the highly anticipated matchup between the Minnesota Twins and the Boston Red Sox. Morrell Jr. captivated the audience at Target Field when he stepped onto the pitcher’s mound to throw out the first pitch.

Fans cheered and applauded the arrival of David Morrell Jr., who has become a rising star in the world of professional boxing. Known for his devastating knockout power and charisma, Morrell Jr. has dominated the super middleweight division since he turned professional in 2019. His presence on the mound was that of a Cuban superstar.  With the spotlight firmly fixed on him, Morrell Jr. flawlessly executed the ceremonial first pitch with accuracy.

“It was an incredible honor to throw out the first pitch at such an iconic sporting event,” said David Morrell Jr. “Boxing has been my passion for as long as I can remember, but it’s always exciting to try something new and showcase my abilities beyond the ring. I want to thank the Minnesota Twins, along with The Armory and Warriors Boxing for this unforgettable opportunity.”

David Morrell Jr.’s appearance at the game also provided an opportunity for fans to interact with the champion and gain insight into his remarkable journey. Following the ceremonial pitch, Morrell Jr. took part in an exclusive meet-and-greet session, signing autographs and engaging with fans who have supported him throughout his boxing career.




UFC® RETURNS TO NASHVILLE WITH EXCITING BANTAMWEIGHT CONTENDERS’ BOUT BETWEEN (#4) CORY SANDHAGEN AND (#11) UMAR NURMAGOMEDOV

Las Vegas – UFC® returns to Nashville with an intriguing bantamweight contenders’ bout that will see No. 4 ranked Cory Sandhagen take on undefeated No. 11 Umar Nurmagomedov. Also, former strawweight champion and No. 5 ranked contender Jessica Andrade plans to take out unbeaten No. 10 Tatiana Suarez.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: SANDHAGEN vs. NURMAGOMEDOV will take place at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday, Aug. 5. The main card airing on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ (English and Spanish) starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. The prelims will be available on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ beginning at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.

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

Sandhagen (16-4, fighting out of Aurora, Colo.) plans to keep his momentum going by securing his third consecutive victory. A dynamic striker, he has secured highlight-reel KO wins over Frankie Edgar, Marlon Moraes and Iuri Alcantara. Sandhagen now intends to defend his spot in the rankings by handing Nurmagomedov his first professional loss.

Nurmagomedov (16-0, fighting out of Kizilyurt, Russia) looks to steal the show in his first UFC main event opportunity. A decorated Sambo fighter, he has secured memorable finishes against Raoni Barcelos, Brian Kelleher and Sergey Morozov. Nurmagomedov now has his sights set on cracking the bantamweight Top 5 with a statement performance.

Andrade (24-11, fighting out of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) vies to make another run towards UFC gold by stopping Suarez in emphatic fashion. A powerful striker and grappler, Andrade holds notable finishes over Rose Namajunas, Amanda Lemos and Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Andrade now plans to become the first fighter to defeat Suarez and remind the world she’s among the strawweight elite.

Suarez (10-0, fighting out of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) returns to the strawweight division following a dominant flyweight win against Montana De La Rosa in February. A decorated grappler, she has also delivered spectacular victories over Nina Nunes, Carla Esparza and Alexa Grasso. Suarez now looks to continue her ascent up the 115-pound ladder by stopping Andrade in impressive fashion.

Other bouts on the card include:

  • Tanner Boser (20-10-1, fighting out of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) locks horns with Aleksa Camur (6-2, fighting out of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina) at light heavyweight
  • Ignacio Bahamondes (14-4, fighting out of Chicago, Ill. by way of Santiago, Chile) squares off with Ludovit Klein (19-4-1, fighting out of Nove Zamky, Slovakia) at lightweight
  • No. 15 ranked light heavyweight contender Dustin Jacoby (18-7-1, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) squares off with rising Kennedy Nzechukwu (12-3, fighting out of Dallas, Texas)
  • Exciting featherweights collide when Billy Quarantillo (17-5, fighting out of Tampa, Fla.) meets Damon Jackson (22-5-1 1NC, fighting out of Dallas, Texas)
  • Tennessee’s own Ovince Saint Preux (26-17, fighting out of Knoxville, Tenn.) plans to steal the show against hard-hitting Ion Cutelaba (17-9-1 1NC, fighting out of Chisinau, Republic of Moldova) at light heavyweight
  • No. 12 ranked flyweight contender Tagir Ulanbekov (14-2, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) squares off with surging Jake Hadley (10-1, fighting out of Oldbury, Sandwell, England)
  • Said Nurmagomedov (17-3, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia) faces Kyler Phillips (10-2, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.) in an intriguing bantamweight tilt
  • Ode’ Osbourne (12-5 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Milwaukee, Wisc.) looks to spoil the UFC debut of Assu Almabayev (17-2, fighting out of Almaty, Kazakhstan) in a flyweight bout
  • Jeremiah Wells (12-2-1, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) meets Carlston Harris (18-5, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by way of Skeldon, Guyana) in a clash of welterweight prospects
  • Sean Woodson (9-1-1, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) battles Steve Garcia (14-5, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) at featherweight

Media members wishing to apply for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: SANDHAGEN vs. NURMAGOMEDOV credentials may sign up here.

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

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About UFC®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 233 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to over 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s active fighter roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global sports and entertainment company Endeavor and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About Bridgestone Arena:

Serving as the home for numerous national and international events, Bridgestone Arena has the distinction of being one of the busiest venues in the United States since the doors first opened in 1996, hosting more than 27 million guests during that time. The NHL’s Nashville Predators have been the primary tenants of Bridgestone Arena since 1998 and boast one of the most unique game atmospheres in the NHL. The list of acts that have called the 2021 Pollstar Arena of the Decade nominee home is lengthy and includes the Country Music Association Awards, the Country Music Television Awards and the SEC Basketball Tournament through 2035. Bridgestone Arena has 15 consecutive and 18 overall nominations for the Pollstar Magazine Arena Year of the Award, winning the award in 2014, 2017 and 2023. To view a full Bridgestone Arena event schedule, visit BridgestoneArena.com.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. 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).

About ESPN

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




Former World Champion Tevin Farmer Takes on Avery Sparrow This Saturday Night at The 2300 Arena in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (June 20, 2023- THIS SATURDAY NIGHT, Former IBF Junior Lightweight World Champion Tevin Farmer returns to action when he takes on Avery Sparrow in a mouth watering 10-round lightweight bout at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.

The card is promoted by Hard Hitting Promotions.

Farmer of Philadelphia, 30-5-1 with six knockouts, will be making his first appearance in nearly three and a half years. The 32-y ear-old won the IBF Junior Lightweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Billy Dib on August 3, 2018 in New South Wales, Australia. Farmer made four successful defenses of the crown with wins over James Tennyson (22-2), Francisco Fonesca (22-1-1), Jono Carrol (16-0-1) Guillaume Frenois (46-1-1). Farmer dropped the belt to Joseph Diaz Jr. on January 30, 2020 in Miami. Farmer also has wins over Angelo Ward (1-0), Tim Witherspoon Jr. (6-1-1), Tyrone Luckey (4-1-1), Camilo Perez (9-0), Noel Echevarria (11-1), Emanuel Gonzalez (14-0), Viktor Chernous (15-1-1), Angelo Luna (10-0-1), Daulis Prexott (30-2), former world champion Gamaliel Diaz, Ivan Redkach (19-1), and Darden Zenunaj (12-2).

Sparrow of Philadelphia is 11-4 with four knockouts. The tough 29 year-old who will fight anybody at any time has wins over Anthony Burgin (10-2), Israel Henriquez (6-0), Joey Laviolette (6-0), Jose Lopez (19-1-1), former world title challenger Hank Lundy (29-7-1) and Matt Conway (20-2). Sparrow dropped his last bout to William Foster III on July 23, 2022 in Philadelphia.

On the undercard in six-round bouts, Dezmond Lucas (6-1, 3KOs) of Bronx, NY fights Elijah Vines (5-0, 5 KOs) of Philadelphia in a super welterweight bout.

Romuel Cruz (8-0-1, 3 KOs) of Philadelphia fights Jenn Gonzalez (9-19-1, 5 KOs) of Santa Teraza, Nicaragua in a featherweight contest.

Derrick Webster (29-4, 14 KOs) of Glassboro, NJ fights an opponent to be named in a super middleweight contest.

In four-round bouts:

Gustavo Morales (1-0, 1 KO) of Allentown, PA battles Najee Belcher (0-2) of Las Vegas in a welterweight contest.

Luis Gonzalez Colon (5-1, 4 KOs) of Aibomito, Puerto Rico faces off against Efrain Cruz (4-6-1, 1 KO) of Viequez, Puerto Rico in a super lightweight bout.

Trinidad Vargas (2-0, 1 KO) of Grand Prairie, Texas boxes Artimus Sartor (4-3, 1 KO) of Cincinnati, Ohio in a bantamweight fight.

Ticket prices are. $200 VIP, $100 ringside, $75 preferred and $60 GA and can be purchased at the following Link:

https://2300arena.showare.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=97




MCCANN VS BALUTA SET FOR 18 AUGUST

DENNIS MCCANN WILL bid to add the vacant WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight title to his growing collection of belts when he steps up to take on Ionut Baluta at York Hall on Friday August 18, live on TNT Sports.

The gifted and precocious McCann (14-0, 8 KOs), just 22, has in his last three fights won the WBO Youth title (super bantam), the WBC International Silver (featherweight) and the Commonwealth title (super bantam), against Charles Tondo, James Beech Jr and Joe Ham respectively.

Now he goes up against the tough and rugged Baluta (16-4, 3), who clinched his WBC International Silver belt last time out in March following a disputed decision victory over Andrew Cain in a captivating Telford shootout.

Tickets for McCann vs Baluta go on sale at 11am on Wednesday, 21 June from ticketmaster.co.uk.

Also on what should be a thrilling card in Bethnal Green, the British and Commonwealth featherweight champion Nathaniel Collins (12-0, 6) will defend his titles against Raza Hamza (17-1-1, 7). The Scot from Bearsden won his title double by defeating James Beech Jr in March.

The vacant WBC International super featherweight title will be on the line when Southampton star Ryan Garner (13-0, 7) steps in for his maiden championship challenge following his thrilling second round stoppage of Eduardo Valverde in May.

The Queen of Queensberry, Raven Chapman (6-0, 2) will make a defence of her WBC International featherweight title ahead of a proposed challenge for an interim world title next time out.

Featherweight Umar Khan (6-0), super welterweight Khalid Ali (5-0, 3), welterweight Sonny Liston Ali (6-0) and super welterweight Joel Kodua (2-0) complete the card.

“This has got all the makings of a true York Hall cracker,” said promoter Frank Warren. “For Dennis McCann, this could be a real coming-of-age fight against Ionut Baluta, who has fought and beat numerous top-level opponents.

“It will be a fourth title fight on the bounce for Dennis and, if he overcomes Baluta, he will quickly close in on world title contention.

“I am looking forward to the Queensberry debut of Nathaniel Collins and he is in a tough double title defence against the skilful Raza Hamza with Nathaniel’s British and Commonwealth featherweight belts at stake.

“Raven Chapman is on the cusp of a very big fight, so she will need to be at her best in a defence of her WBC belt and not look too far ahead.

“I am also thrilled to deliver a first major title shot for Ryan Garner, who has been with us right from the start when he was 18 and is now set to fight for the vacant WBC International super featherweight title, where victory will establish him in the world rankings.

“This will be a York Hall night not to be missed and probably the strongest card of 50-50 action staged at the famous old venue for many years.”

Tickets for McCann vs Baluta go on sale at 11am on Wednesday, 21 June from ticketmaster.co.uk.

From 18th July, TNT Sports will be the new name for BT Sport




UNDEFEATED JEFFERS SEIZES CHANCE TO FACE CHELLI FOR A COMMONWEALTH STRAP, WHITTAKER TURNS THE HEAT UP IN MANCHESTER ON SATURDAY, JULY 1st

Manchester, England – (June 20, 2023) – Two guaranteed crowd-pleasers were today confirmed for the BOXXER: Crews-Dezurn vs Marshall card, with highly-rated Manchester area super-middleweight Mark Jeffers seizing a huge opportunity to replace the injured Mark Heffron in a Commonwealth Silver title clash with Zak Chelli and the sensational Ben Whittaker stepping up another level in Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday July 1st, live on Sky Sports.

Heffron had been due to defend his Commonwealth Super-Middleweight Championship against Chelli (13-1-1, 6 KO’s) next weekend but was forced to withdraw last week due to an injury sustained in training. The undefeated and hotly-tipped Jeffers (15-0, 4 KO’s) saw an opportunity to step in and take a big scalp in a clash which now has the vacant Commonwealth Silver Super-Middleweight Championship on the line. 

Fighting out of the Manchester satellite town of Chorley – also home to Jack Catteral – the rising Jeffers is trained by Michael Jennings, whose own standout professional career took him all the way to the USA to lock horns with all-time great Miguel Cotto in New York’s legendary Madison Square Garden. 

Jennings has declared his Jeffers to be “twice as good as I was at the same age” and is confident of his fighter’s ability to step in on short notice and upset the surging Chelli, who carries career-best form into the bout as he comes off his dominant win over former WBA Intercontinental champion Anthony ‘The Magician’ Sims Jr in February.

Whittaker (3-0, 2 KO’s) won a silver medal for Great Britain at the 2020 Olympic Games and has won a legion of fans since entering the professional ranks last year, his supremely confident showboating style harking back to his idol ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed and proving a huge hit with fight fans.

The Wolverhampton wonderkid has made no secret of his ambitions to fast-track himself to the bigtime: he went immediately into six-round fights after turning professional, skipping any four-round experience, and is now stepping up for an eight-round bout in what is only his fourth professional fight.

In Manchester he will take on Ireland-based light-heavyweight Vladimir Belujsky (13-6, 9 KO’s), a durable campaigner who has three times as many KO wins on his record as Whittaker has bouts. 

The heavy-handed Slovakian’s last UK visit saw him take Karol Itauma almost to the final bell of their eight-rounder, having earlier that year taken Jack Cullen eight rounds in the same Manchester arena he will now face Whittaker in. 

“Mark Jeffers is dangerous and talented. He will be stepping up to a huge opportunity to fight Zak Chelli after Mark Heffron pulled out via injury. I’m delighted to turn around such a great fight – possibly fight of the night – in a matter of days. Credit has to go to both guys for taking on such a big challenge,” said Ben Shalom, BOXXER founder and CEO.

“Zak Chelli is on a mission to prove himself the best super-middleweight in the country and he’s fearless in taking on anyone along the way. Chelli is a throwback fighter, he has that ‘anyone, anytime’ mentality and Jeffers is ready to meet him head-on, so I give full credit to both of them. They both know this is going to be a tough fight

“Ben Whittaker’s last performance got him on the radar of every sports fan in the country. He’s a once-in-a-lifetime type of talent and he’s said himself that he wants to be fighting at the top level as soon as possible. This will be his first fight over eight rounds. Vladimir Belujsky is tough, he’s tricky, but I think we’re going to see something special from Ben Whittaker once again in Manchester.”

BOXXER: Crews-Dezurn vs Marshall takes place Saturday, July 1st at the AO Arena Manchester and airs live and exclusively in the UK and Ireland on Sky Sports. 

The headline bout sees former world middleweight champion Savannah Marshall return to super-middleweight to challenge reigning champion Franchon ‘FCD’ Crews-Dezurn for the undisputed world championship in a clash which will be closely watched by FCD’s friend and Marshall’s bitter rival Claressa Shields.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE and Village Hotels.




GIANT HEAVYWEIGHT MATTY HARRIS ADDED TO LEE MCGREGOR WORLD TITLE UNDERCARD  

The UK’s most fearsome heavyweight prospect Matty Harris has been added to the undercard of Lee McGregor’s huge world title homecoming. 

Harris, the 6’8” destroyer looks to become the first man to stop Kostyantin Dovbyshchenko, when they collide at the Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh on Friday July 21, live and free-to-air on Channel 5. 

The Wasserman Boxing event, delivered in association with Ladbrokes, Numan and Infinitum Entertainment, sees McGregor face the dangerous Mexican Erik Robles for the vacant IBO world super bantamweight title. 

And the first fight confirmed for the undercard next month, is the heavyweight battle between Harris and Dovbyshchenko. 

Harris has halted his last four opponents and the 23-year-old delivered a shuddering statement of intent in front of the Channel 5 cameras in March, when he took less than 30 seconds to wipe the floor with Milos Veletic. 

Many expect Ukraine’s Dovbyshchenko, who took the highly touted Moses Itauma the six round distance earlier this year, to test Harris but the man known as ‘Magic’ has other ideas. 

“I don’t think I will have any trouble getting him out of there,” declared the 5-0 Harris. 

“I’m 19st and with these 10oz gloves on, I hit people very hard. These gloves are unforgiving, especially when you are as explosive as I am. 

“If he gets past the first round, then I’m getting him in the second.” 
 TICKETS FOR MCGREGOR VS ROBLES ARE ON SALE NOW




NATASHA JONAS TAKES AIM AT BECOMING TWO-WEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION IN MANCHESTER ON SATURDAY JULY 1st

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – (July 19th, 2023) – Natasha Jonas (13-2-1, 8 KO’s) has the chance to become a two-weight world champion on Saturday, July 1st as she faces three-time world title challenger Kandi Wyatt (11-4, 3 KOs) for the IBF World Welterweight Championship on the BOXXER: Crews-Dezurn vs Marshall card taking place at the AO Arena Manchester and airing live and exclusively on Sky Sports.

For Jonas – the first woman to box for Great Britain at an Olympic Games – it’s another chance to make history and follows a blistering 2022 run which saw her capture three world titles in an unprecedented nine months to become unified world super-welterweight champion, a feat which led to her being declared the 2022 Fighter Of The Year by the British Boxing Board of Control.

Wyatt is a three-time welterweight world title challenger and the current WBA Intercontinental champion. She won that title on a visit to the UK in March this year and is confident of carrying that same championship-winning form into her clash with Jonas next month.

The Canadian is no stranger to big challenges: in December 2021 she made a spirited attempt to seize the four world title belts held by undisputed welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill, and the drop in weight places Jonas on a potential collision course with the American.

“Every time I think I’ve done enough in the sport, another opportunity presents itself to step things up. If there’s one thing that I always try and impress upon my daughter and on young people in general it’s to keep going, work hard and try your best,” said Jonas.

“Every camp I am improving, I’m evolving, I’m learning new skills and reaching new levels, so to me it would be foolish to stop now. The best-ever version of Natasha Jonas will be stepping into that ring on July 1.”

Ben Shalom, BOXXER’s founder and CEO, said, “I’m very excited to see Natasha Jonas compete at the top of the welterweight division, closer to her natural weight. When you look at what she’s achieved in the last year alone – three world titles and the Fighter Of The Year 2022 award from the British Boxing Board of Control – you know you’re looking at an extra-special fighter. 

“Becoming a two-weight world champion, holding belts in two weight classes at the same time, is an incredibly difficult thing to accomplish, but it’s exactly the kind of challenge which brings out the best in Natasha Jonas. She’s inspired a lot of Britain’s female boxers – not least her fellow Olympian and BOXXER welterweight Lauren Price – and I’m looking forward to watching her write another chapter of her incredible story in Manchester on July 1st.”

BOXXER: Crews-Dezurn vs Marshall takes place Saturday, July 1st at the AO Arena Manchester and airs live and exclusively in the UK and Ireland on Sky Sports. 

The headline bout sees former world middleweight champion Savannah Marshall return to super-middleweight to challenge reigning champion Franchon ‘FCD’ Crews-Dezurn for the undisputed world championship in a clash which will be closely watched by FCD’s friend and Marshall’s bitter rival Claressa Shields.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE and Village Hotels.




“Punch-Out at Polar Park” Showcasing Local Boxing Talent Under the Stars

WORCESTER, Mass. (June 19, 2023) –“Punch-Out at Polar Park”, presented by Shearns Boxing Promotions (SBP) in conjunction with Kenrick Ball’s Camp Get Right Boxing, will be the first boxing event held at Polar Park in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The centerpiece of a revitalized City of Worcester, the state-of-the-art Polar Park will host a Pro-Am boxing event on Friday, August 4 (Aug.. 5 rain date), showcasing New England professional and amateur boxers. It is the home of the Boston Red Sox Triple-A affiliate Worcester Red Sox (WooSox) and its officials are fully committed to the local community. A share of the proceeds from what is believed to be the first outdoor boxing show in Worcester history will be donated to local charities.

“I am really pleased with this card has come together,” promoter Chuck Shearns said. “We certainly have some fighters stepping up against each other. There is a great mix of competition and varying reasons for cheering on these athletes. No doubt the fighters will feel the energy of the crowd at Polar Park.”

Worcester light heavyweight Kendrick “Peppa” Ball, Jr. (20-1-3, 12 KOs), a former New England middleweight and WBC USA Silver super middleweight champion, will headline “Punch-Out at Polar Park” against Mexican southpaw Oscar “Moustro” Riojas (28-16-3, 16 KOs) in the  eight-round main event. Ball is a fixture at Polar Park having worked there during its construction, in addition to throwing out a ceremonial first-pitch at a WooSox game.

“Fans should be incredibly excited about the fighters and fights lined up for our event,” noted Ball’s father/trainer Ken Ball, Sr., “coupled with the amazing atmosphere in Polar Park. The fighters and fights offer the potential for memorable performances and intense rivalries, in addition to the thrill of witnessing skilled athletes pushing their limits in pursuit of victory. From seasoned champions to rising stars, this event will showcase some of the best fighters in New England. out of New England.” 

The eight-round co-featured event promises to provide fireworks as undefeated Sean Bey (7-0, 7 KOs), of Providence, takes on Pittsfield’s (MA) Quintin Sumpter (6-1, 4 KOs) in a battle of heavy-handed heavyweights.

Brockton’s undefeated super featherweight “King” Kevin Walsh (9-0, 4 KOs) is the latest boxer from the City of Champions that was home to Hall of Famers Rocky Marciano and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Walsh faces Philip Davis (3-5-2), of Worcester, in a six-round bout.

Puerto Rican welterweight prospect Josniel “TG” Castro (9-1, 7 KOs), who has lived in New England, returns to fight an opponent to be determined in an eight-rounder.

In a pair of four-round fights, Worcester police officer Neal Sullivan (0-0-1) faces Brazilian light heavyweight Michael Medeiros (0-1), while Native American Robert Degaetano, of Douglas (MA), makes his pro-debut versus welterweight Michael “Titan” Taylor (1-5).

Another highly decorated amateur boxer, super bantamweight Melanie “Pitbull” Costa (1-0, 1 KO), will be in a four-round bout against Sarah “Switch Kick” Click (1-5-1). A 2017 National Golden Gloves champion, Costa is a police officer in Norton (MA). 

The pro card will commence after amateur boxers from throughout New England compete in the inaugural Carlos Garcia Tournament, named after the National Golden Gloves Hall of Fame trainer who founded and operated the highly successful boxing program at the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester for four decades.

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

Tickets will soon be released and available to purchase from competing fighters, Polar Park’s box office, and online at polarpark.com/boxing.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please email all inquiries for details to  ShearnsBoxingPromotions@gmail.com.

INFORMATION:

Website: polarpark.com. cgrboxing.com

Facebook: /ShearnsBoxingPromotions, /CampGetRightBoxing, /PolarParkWorcester

Twitter: @ShearnsBoxing, @PolarPark

Instagram: @ShearnsBoxingPromotions, @cgrboxing, @PolarParkWorcester




Dominic Valle Remains Undefeated With Last Second Stoppage over Carlos Rosario

NEW YORK (JUNE 19, 2023) – Last Wednesday night in Plant City, Florida, Split-T Management super featherweight Dominic Valle remained undefeated with a sixth and final round stoppage over tough and upset-minded Carlos Rosario at The Probox Event Center.

It was a close fight early as Rosario was able to get in a few uppercuts in the opening frame. From there on, Valle began to land hard shots and slowly break down Rosario. In round Six, Rosario turned up the heat and landed a big flurry of punches that had Rosario reeling. Valle baked Rosario into the ropes and landed another barrage of punches and the fight was stopped with just one second remaining at 2:59.

Valle of Lutz, Florida is now 6-0 with five knockouts. Rosario of Winter Haven, Florida is 6-2.

Valle is promoted by Probox Promotions.




Card Shaping Up for Ponytail Promotions and CNC Promotions Presents World Class Boxing on Saturday, June 24th at The Patapsco Arena in Baltimore

Baltimore, Maryland (June 19th, 2023)–World class boxing returns to Baltimore on Saturday, June 24th as Ponytail Promotions and CNC Entertainment presents a big night at The Patapsco Arena.

In the featured contest, Mack Allison IV takes on an opponent to be named in a eight-round super featherweight bout.

Allison of Baltimore is 16-3-1 with 11 knockouts. The 25 year-old is a seven-year pro who is coming off a fourth round stoppage over Lonnie Jackson Jr. on April 22nd in Baltimore.

An 11-bout card has been assembled and it will include an eight-round super middleweight bout between Tyrell Boyd (8-, 8 KOs) of Baltimore and Derrick Vann (4-7) of Philadelphia.

In a six-round bout, Dravontay Speed Rawls (13-1-1, 8 KOs) of Glenarden, MD fights Jose Rodriguez (6-2, 2 KOs) of Puerto Rico in a super featherweight bout.

In four-round bouts, Deshawn Chase (2-0, 1 KO) of Baltimore, Maryland takes on debuting Alberto Boites Salazar of Hampton, Virginia in a welterweight bout.

Walter Sanders (2-0, 2 KOs) of Baltimore takes on an opponent to be named in a middleweight bout.

La’Vay Lawrence (2-0, 2 KOs) of Washington, DC fights an opponent to be named in a super featherweight bout.

In a battle of pro debuting welterweights, Anwar Wingate of District Heights, MD fights Shawn Randolph of San Antonio, Texas.

Isiah Branch (1-0, 1 KO) of Baltimore takes on debuting Robert Hough of Houston in a heavyweight contest.

Christopher Glenn (3-0) of Hagerstown, MD takes on an opponent to be named in a featherweight bout.

Ricky Sanabria of Salisbury, MD makes his pro debut against Christopher Dixon of San Antonio, TX in a welterweight bout.

Pro debuters Juan Pablo Guillen Arancibia of Annandale, VA and Jaden Webb will square off in a featherweight bout.

Tickets can be purchased at ponytail-promotions.eventbrite.com or call 410-499-5361




EARLY RESULTS FROM ATLANTIC CITY

Pierre Dibombe stopped Derrick Findley in round four.

Joe Dawejko dropped Dennis Vance Jr. four-times in the opening round en-route to a first round stoppage in a six-round heavyweight bout.

Dawejko sent Vance down each time with wicked lefts to the body and the fight was stopped upon the fourth knockdown at 2:01.

Daeejko of Philadelphia is 25-10-4 with 14 knockouts. Vance is 4-10.

Leandro da Silva and Victor Darocha fought to a six-round majority draw in an entertaining light heavyweight bout.

In round seven, da Silva began to bleed from his nose.

da Silva took a card 59-55, while two others were even at 57-57. da Silva is now 3-7-1. Darocha is 11-6-2.

Edward Donovan remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Nelson Morales in a welterweight bout.

Donovan of Limerick, Ireland won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 7-0. Morales of Scranton, PA is 3-7.




Prograis Decisions Zorrilla To Retain Super-Lightweight Title

Regis Prograis defended the WBC Super Lightweight title with a 12-round split-decision over Danielito Zorrilla at the Smoothie King Center in New Orlenas.

In round one, it looked like Zorrilla scored a knockdown when he landed a left hand that sent Prograis to the canvas, but was ruled a slip. That was the difference in the fight as in round three, Prograis landed a quick left that put Zorrilla down.

Prograis, 139 lbs of New Orleans won by scores of 118-109 and 117-110, while Zorrilla took a 114-113 card.

Prograis is 29-1. Zorrilla, 139 lbs of Toa Boja, PR is 17-2.

Shakhram Giyasov remained undefeated with a 12-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Harold Calderon in a welterweight bout.

In round 10, Calderon was cut over his right eye.

Giyasov, 146.1 lbs of Bukhara, KAZ won by scores of 120-108, 118-110 and 116-112 and is now 14-0. Calderon, 146.2 lbs of Miami, FL is 27-1.

Julissa Guzman knocked out previously undefeated Ramla Ali in round eight of their 10-round super bantamweight fight.

In round five, Guzman dropped Ali with a perfect overhand right on the jaw. In round eight, Guzman landed a perfect left hook to the chin that put Ali flat on her back for the 10-count at 42 seconds.

Guzman, 121.1 lbs of Sonora, MEX is 13-2-2 with seven knockouts. Ali, 122 lbs of London, ENG is 7-1.

Jeremy Hill stopped Mark Davis in round four of their eight-round lightweight bout.

In round four, Hill landed a perfect right to the chin that hurt Davis. Hill followed up with three hard shots that blasted Davis into the ropes and down to the canvas, and the fight was stopped at 1:29.

Hill, 135.6 lbs of New Orleans is 19-3 with 12 knockouts. Davis, 135.6 lbs of Baton Rouge, LA is 19-2.

Ginny Fuchs remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Indeya Rodriguez in a super flyweight fight.

Fuchs, 113.4 lbs of Houston, TX won by scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73 and is now 3-0. Rodriguez, 113.2 lbs of New Orleans is 6-8-2.

In round three, Fuchs was cut over her left eye from an accidental headbutt.

Xavier Madrid upset previously undefeated Aaron Aponte by winning an eight-round split decision in a super-lightweight fight.

Madrid, 138.5 lbs of Albuquerque, NM won two cards by 76-75 scores. Aponte took a card 78-73.

Madrid is now 5-2. APonte, 140 lbs of Hialeah, FL is 7-1-1.

Criztec Bazaidula won a four-round unanimous decision over Elroy Fruto in a lightweight bout.

Bazaidula, 136.4 lbs of Los Angeles won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 2-0. Fruto, 135.6 lbs of British Columbia, Canada is 1-2.




TIM TSZYU VS. CARLOS OCAMPO WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® TONIGHT

June 17, 2023 – Undefeated hometown favorite Tim Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) and veteran contender Carlos Ocampo (34-2, 22 KOs) both made weight yesterday ahead of their highly anticipated matchup on SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL tonight, live on SHOWTIME at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT for Tszyu’s WBO Junior Middleweight Interim Title from the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia in a Premier Boxing Champions event. The Weigh-in yesterday took place at the picturesque Pacific Fair Shopping Centre in Broadbeach, next door to the venue.

The fighters in the co-main event, Sam Goodman (14-0, 7 KOs) of Australia and Las Vegan Ra’eese Aleem (20-0, 12 KOs) also safely made weight for their 12-round IBF 122-pound title eliminator.

WBO JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT INTERIM TITLE FIGHT – 12 Rounds

Tim Tszyu – 153.2 lbs.

Carlos Ocampo – 153.7 lbs.

Referee: Danrex Tapdasan; Judges: Daniel Sandoval (USA), Masakazu Murase (JPN), Christopher Condon (AUS)

IBF SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR – 12 Rounds

Sam Goodman – 121.7 lbs.

Ra’eese Aleem – 121.6 lbs.

Referee: Kats Nakamura; Judges: Daniel Sandoval (USA), Masakazu Murase (JPN), Adam Height (AUS)

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




WEIGHTS, RUNNING ORDER FOR PROGRAIS VS. ZORRILLA

4 x 3 mins Lightweight contest
 
Criztec Bazaldua (136.4lbs)      vs.     Elroy Fruto (135.6lbs)
Los Angeles, California             British Columbia, Canada 
 
Followed by
 
8 x 3 mins Super-Lightweight contest
 
Aaron Aponte (140lbs)   vs.     Xavier Madrid (138.5lbs)
Hialeah, Florida                       Albuquerque, New Mexico
 
Followed by
 
8 x 2 mins Flyweight contest
 
Ginny Fuchs (113.4lbs)   vs.     Indeya Rodriguez (113.2lbs)
Houston, Texas                        New Orleans, Louisiana
 
Live worldwide on DAZN from 7pm CT
 
8 x 3 mins Lightweight contest
 
Jeremy Hill (135.6lbs)     vs.     Mark Davis (135.6lbs)
New Orleans, Louisiana            Baton Rouge, Louisiana
 
Followed by
 
10 x 2 mins IBF Intercontinental and WBA Continental Americas Super-Bantamweight titles
 
Ramla Ali (122lbs) vs.     Julissa Guzman (121.1lbs)
London, England            Sonora, Mexico
 
Followed by
 
12 x 3 mins Eliminator for the WBA World Welterweight title
 
Shakhram Giyasov (146.1lbs)   vs.     Harold Calderon (146.2lbs)
Bukhara, Uzbekistan                                   Miami, Florida

Followed by 

12 x 3 mins WBC World Super-Lightweight title 
 
Regis Prograis (139lbs)   vs.     Danielito Zorrilla (139lbs)
New Orleans, Louisiana            Toa Baja, Puerto Rico




Weights from Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY (June 16, 2023)–Weights for Saturday Night’s Champions Sports and Entertainment card at Ballys Atlantic City.

Dimash Niyazov 139.8 – Larry Fryers 139.9

(WBB Super Lightweight Title)

Pierre Hubert Dibombe 167.1 – Derrick Findley 169

Joey Dawejko 266.6 – Dennis Vance 277

Victor Darocha 179.3 – Leandro Da Silva 180.5

Edward Donovan 146.5 – Nelson Morales 146

Promoter: Champions Sports and Entertainment

Venue: Ballys Atlantic City

1st Bell: 7:30 PM ET

Stream: BXNGTV.com (Marc Abrams, Randy Gordon and Gerry Cooney on the Call)

Saturday, June 17th

1 PM C & H Yard Party Book Signing with Gerry Cooney at The Yard At Ballys

6:30 PM ET Doors open for Fight Night

7:30 PM ET 1st Bell

Tickets for this great night of boxing are $65, $95, and $175 and can be purchased at www.cseboxing.com

For more Information, click www.cseboxing.com or email cseboxing@gmail.com




TOP LIGHTWEIGHT CONTENDER FRANK MARTIN DUELS UNBEATEN OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALIST ARTEM HARUTYUNYAN IN WBC TITLE ELIMINATOR SATURDAY, JULY 15 LIVE ON SHOWTIME® IN PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS EVENT FROM THE COSMOPOLITAN OF LAS VEGAS

LAS VEGAS – June 16, 2023 – Undefeated top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin will take on undefeated Olympic bronze medalist Artem Harutyunyan in a WBC Lightweight Title Eliminator topping action live on SHOWTIME from The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and will see future Hall of Famer and Filipino star Nonito Donaire battle Mexican contender Alexandro Santiago for the vacant WBC Bantamweight World Championship in the co-main event, plus top super lightweight contender Elvis Rodriguez meets former world champion Viktor Postol in a 10-round showdown opening the telecast.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Man Down Promotions and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and available for purchase through Ticketmaster.com.

“Every time Frank Martin gets in the ring, he shows why he’s a future world champion and one of the most talented fighters in the sport,” said unified welterweight world champion Errol Spence Jr., Martin’s promoter. “I’ve been seeing him up close day after day in the gym, and I know he’s gonna look spectacular on July 15. Don’t miss this one, because you’re going to be seeing a special fighter at the top of his game.”

“Frank Martin has established himself in the top-tier of fighters in the star-studded lightweight division and can take another big step toward earning his world title shot against the tough Olympic bronze medalist Artem Harutyunyan on July 15 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “With a world championship on the line between all-time great Nonito Donaire and Mexico’s Alexandro Santiago in the co-main event, and a high-level crossroads fight between Elvis Rodriguez and Viktor Postol in the telecast opener, this card sets up to deliver memorable clashes throughout the night.”

The 28-year-old Martin (17-0, 12 KOs) stamped his status as one of the elite 135-pounders in the sport last December at The Cosmopolitan as he dropped the previously unbeaten Michel Rivera on his way to a dominant unanimous decision . Martin’s initial ascent at 135-pounds saw him begin by stopping then unbeaten Jerry Perez in April 2021 before dispatching of tough contenders Jackson Marinez, Romero Duno and Ryan Kielczweski. Originally from Indianapolis, Ind., Martin now trains in the Dallas-area under the guidance of highly renowned trainer Derrick James and alongside his promoter and unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr.

“Anyone who doesn’t know about me, I want to wake them up to who I am with a great performance on July 15,” said Martin. “I’m locked in and I have a lot of momentum on my side. There’s a great energy in our gym and I’m ready to show everybody what I’ve been working on. I know he’s undefeated too and coming in there to try and upset me, but we’ll be prepared for whatever he brings. I’m ready to make a statement. I’m definitely not looking past Harutyunyan, but I’m ready for the best fighters and this performance will show everyone how ready I am.”

Harutyunyan (12-0, 7 KOs) earned a Bronze medal representing Germany at the 2016 Olympics before turning pro in late 2017. Born in Armenia and now fighting out of Hamburg, Germany, Harutyunyan scored a career-best victory by knocking out then unbeaten Samuel Molina in five rounds in September 2021 and most recently defeated Humberto Galindo by unanimous decision last June. The 32-year-old will make his U.S. debut on July 15 after fighting in Germany for his first 12 outings.

“I respect all of my opponents, but Frank Martin is just my next step toward reaching my dream of becoming world champion,” said Harutyunyan. “I’m very happy to be making my U.S. debut in Las Vegas and I know that the crowd is going to love me. I’ve been training in Germany and working hard for months now. All of this is going to lead to an extraordinary win over Frank Martin.”

One of the sport’s most accomplished active fighters, Donaire (42-7, 28 KOs) has captured titles at flyweight, bantamweight, super bantamweight and featherweight. He will look to make another run at bantamweight after capturing the title with a May 2021 knockout of Nordine Oubaali and eventually a defeat to Naoya Inoue in their June 2022 rematch. Representing his native Talibon, Bohol, Philippines, Donaire’s previous campaign at bantamweight began in 2018 by upsetting then unbeaten champion Ryan Burnett in his hometown to capture a title once again, before eventually dropping the belt in the 2019 Fight of the Year in his first matchup against Inoue.

“I’m coming to the ring on July 15 to take that belt home and there’s no second option for me,” said Donaire. “I’m thankful to my team for this opportunity and I’ve been training hard to make the most of it. I’ve brought in some really fast fighters who have helped me prepare, and my team has really focused on giving me some defensive pointers. I’m ahead of schedule right now and I can’t wait to get in there.”

A native of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, Santiago (27-3-5, 14 KOs) will compete for a bantamweight crown for the first time in his career on July 15, as he enters this fight on a three-bout winning streak since a majority decision loss to Gary Antonio Russell in November 2021. The 27-year-old had previously fought for a 115-pound championship in September 2018, battling Jerwin Ancajas to a split-draw. Santiago most recently avenged one of the draws on his record, as he stopped Antonio Nieves in seven rounds last October.

“I would like to thank my whole team for this amazing opportunity,” said Santiago. “It has been a long time coming. I have been waiting for another world title opportunity since my draw with Ancajas. Camp has been great and I’m working extremely hard. It is also a great honor to be able to share the ring with one of the greatest of my generation, Nonito Donaire. However, this is my time to shine.”

Rodríguez (14-1-1, 12 KOs) has bounced back from his first career defeat, a majority decision loss to Kenneth Sims Jr., to defeat three-straight opponents. His most recent fight came in February on SHOWTIME as he defeated Joseph Adorno by decision to follow up stoppages of Juan Pablo Romero and Juan Jose Velasco. The 27-year-old burst onto the scene with knockout victories in 10 of his first 11 fights and totaled an impressive five wins in 2020. Originally from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Rodríguez now lives and trains in Los Angeles, Calif.

“I’m very motivated to be back in the ring,” said Rodriguez. “Viktor Postol is a great fighter and warrior and has fought the best in this division. This will be an action-packed fight that no one should miss. I’m coming to prove that I deserve a title shot after this fight. Beating Postol in spectacular fashion is a statement that earns me that shot. I have a duty to myself, my family and my country to win on July 15. This is the most important fight of my career.“

A feared contender in the 140-pound division, Postol (31-4, 12 KOs) returns to the ring after a defeat to top contender Gary Antuanne Russell at The Cosmo in February 2022. Fighting out of California and originally from Ukraine, Postol, knocked out Lucas Matthysse in 2015 to capture a super lightweight world title before losing a unification showdown against Terence Crawford. Postol had won three of his previous five fights before facing Russell, with the only defeats in that stretch coming against the then-unified champion Jose Ramirez and the former undisputed champion Josh Taylor, both by decision.

“I’m very happy to be back in the ring fighting in the U.S. against a strong contender,” said Postol. “I know my opponent very well. We’ve both trained in the same with Freddie Roach and we’ve sparred together. Now we get to fight for real and prove who is better on July 15.”

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




UNBEATEN WELTERWEIGHT STAR JARON “BOOTS” ENNIS DEFENDS INTERIM TITLE AGAINST ALL-ACTION ROIMAN VILLA HEADLINING LIVE ON SHOWTIME® SATURDAY, JULY 8 IN PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS EVENT FROM JIM WHELAN BOARDWALK HALL IN ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.

ATLANTIC CITY – June 16, 2023 – Undefeated rising star Jaron “Boots” Ennis will defend his Interim IBF Welterweight Title against the biggest puncher he has faced in all-action contender Roiman Villa headlining action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, July 8 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT and will also feature rising Cuban sensation Yoelvis Gómez taking on middleweight contender Marquis Taylor in the 10-round co-main event, plus hard-hitting lightweight knockout artist Edwin De Los Santos faces former amateur superstar Joseph Adorno in the explosive 10-round telecast opener.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, go on sale Monday, June 19 at 10 a.m. ET and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com. The Ennis vs. Villa fight is promoted in association with D&D Boxing and Sampson Boxing.

“Saturday, July 8 in Atlantic City will feature three exciting clashes that all have the ingredients to deliver action-packed bouts and memorable knockouts,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Jaron Ennis has shown his ability to be a future star of the sport, but he’ll be up against his most difficult opponent so far in Roiman Villa, who will look to pick up his second major upset of the year. Make sure you tune into SHOWTIME or get into your seat early, because all these fights have the ability to end at any moment.”

Ennis (30-0, 27 KOs) is the latest in the pantheon of outstanding Philadelphia fighters, combining top boxing skills with natural power in both hands to vault up the welterweight division and establish himself as amongst the 147-pound elite. After two appearances on SHOBOX: The New Generation®, the 25-year-old Ennis graduated to headlining his first SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast in April 2021, as he became the first fighter to stop former world champion Sergey Lipinets. Heading into his most recent bout, Ennis had scored 19 KOs in his last 20 fights, before showing his ability to go the 12-round distance for the first time as he shut out Karen Chukhadzhian on his way to a unanimous decision in January.

“I’m excited to be fighting in the main event and I can’t wait to get in the ring,” said Ennis. “I know Villa is a straightforward fighter and that’s tailor-made for me. I’m going to win because I’ve been putting in the work, day in and day out. All my hard work will show on fight night. I’m ready to shine and make a big statement on July 8. My time is now!”

A native of Rosario, Venezuela, Villa (26-1, 24 KOs) delivered one of 2023’s biggest upsets in January as he eked out a majority decision victory over the previously undefeated top contender Rashidi Ellis. In an exciting toe-to-toe bout, Villa broke through in the 12th and final round as he dropped Ellis twice to clinch the career-changing win. The 30-year-old made a memorable U.S. debut last September as he dropped the previously unbeaten Janelson Bocachica on his way to a unanimous decision. The only blemish on his resume came via a 2019 split-decision in Mexico against Marcos Vilasana.

“I’m very thankful to my team for this life-changing opportunity,” said Villa. “Rashidi Ellis underestimated me before our last fight, so I knew I was going to win and go on to face Ennis. In order to be the best, you have to fight the best fighters. On July 8, I’m going to score another upset and ruin another undefeated record.”

The 25-year-old Gómez (6-0, 5 KOs) made a big statement in his U.S. debut on Christmas Day 2021, blasting out the typically durable Clay Collard in the first round of their showdown. Born in Havana, Cuba and now training in Los Angeles, the southpaw showed power in both hands and relentless finishing skills, immediately making him a rising contender in the talent-laden super welterweight division. He most recently stepped up his competition again, cruising to a shutout unanimous decision against hard-hitting veteran Jorge Cota in May 2022 on SHOWTIME.

“The wait is over and I’m excited to return to the ring,” said Gómez. “I’m very thankful to my whole team for bringing me back on the big stage. I had a great camp in L.A. with my trainer Joe Goossen, who has polished my style. I feel like a hungry lion and I’m ready to eat. My plan is to get the knockout and prove why I am the new boogeyman in the division. Taylor is going down and the fans are going to see me at my best.”

Representing his native Houston, Taylor (14-1-2, 1 KO) is unbeaten since dropping a four-round decision to Ladarius Miller in just his fourth pro fight back in 2015. Since then, the 29-year-old has worked his way up the ladder, including scoring victories over then-unbeaten fighters Sanjarbek Rakhmanov, Marlon Harrington and Jimmy Williams. Taylor has also fought tough contenders Paul Kroll and Luke Santamaria to draws and most recently defeated Oscar Chacin in February of this year.

“This is a great matchup and I’m excited about the opportunity,” said Taylor. “We’re two really good fighters and it will be a great matchup for the fans. Yoelvis Gómez is a young, strong fighter and he’s aggressive with a lot of power. A win should put me in a position to compete for a world title. Everyone is gonna see that I’m a big contender when I win on July 8.”

De Los Santos (15-1, 14 KOs) has scored emphatic knockout victories over previously undefeated opponents in his last two outings to stamp himself as a young fighter to watch. Last September the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic-native stepped in on short notice and dramatically stopped Jose Valenzuela in three rounds to punctuate a firefight that saw both men hit the canvas. Previously, De Los Santos blasted out Luis Acosta in two rounds in March 2022. The 23-year-old power-puncher has ended all but one of his victories by knockout since turning pro in 2018

“I’m planning to show the world that I am an uncrowned world champion by scoring another sensational knockout on July 8,” said De Los Santos, who suffered his only defeat in January 2022 against another undefeated fighter on SHOWTIME. “I want to thank my team for giving me another opportunity to show off my skills and for believing in me after my defeat. I’m more motivated now than ever. I’m too close to my dream for anyone to be able to stop me.”

Adorno (17-2-2, 14 KOs) will look to get back in the win column after losing a narrow decision to 140-pound contender Elvis Rodriguez in February. Prior to that defeat, Adorno had won three-straight bouts, including a unanimous decision victory over previously unbeaten Hugo Alberto Roldan in September 2022. The 24-year-old was born in Union City, N.J., and now resides in Allentown, Pa., and is trained by respected coach Raul “Chino” Rivas. Adorno turned pro in 2016 at the age of 17 after a standout amateur career where he amassed a 178-22 record and beat two-division champion Shakur Stevenson twice in the unpaid ranks.

“For this fight, I’ve had a full training camp, so there are no excuses and I’m ready to perform,” said Adorno. “I expect De Los Santos to come ready and be strong. We know he has power in both hands and we’re gonna be ready for what he’s bringing. My boxing skills will be the difference and get me the victory on July 8.”

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

Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and the Atlantic City Convention Center are operated by OVG360 and owned and funded by the CRDA.

About OVG360

OVG360, a division of Oak View Group, is a full-service venue management and hospitality company that helps client-partners reimagine the sports, live entertainment, and convention industries for the betterment of the venue, employees, artists, athletes, and surrounding communities. With a portfolio of more than 200 client-partners spanning arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and state fairs around the globe, OVG360 provides a set of services, resources and expertise designed to elevate every aspect of business that matters to venue operators. Service-oriented and driven by social responsibility, OVG360 helps facilities drive value through excellence and innovation in food services, booking and content development, sustainable operations, public health, and public safety and more.

About the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA)

The only agency of its kind nationwide, the CRDA has used Atlantic City casino reinvestments as a catalyst for meaningful, positive improvement in the lives of New Jersey residents since 1984. Under the 2011 Tourism District Act, the Authority’s mission evolved from statewide projects to becoming the state’s key economic development agency for Atlantic City. CRDA’s expanded responsibilities now include land use regulation, tourism marketing and clean and safe initiatives. The CRDA also oversees Historic Boardwalk Hall (the leading entertainment venue of its size in the country) and the Atlantic City Convention Center. In total, CRDA has invested nearly $2 billion in more than 400 projects statewide, of which $1.8 billion has been invested in Atlantic City, spurring business investments and expansions, and creating permanent jobs in the process. For more information about CRDA and our projects, visit www.njcrda.com. Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/njcrda, and Twitter at www.twitter.com/njcrda.

For complete Atlantic City tourism information, visit www.atlanticcitynj.com, and follow us on facebook.com/DoAtlanticCity, on Twitter at twitter.com/VisitAC, on Instagram at instagram.com/doac, and YouTube at youtube.com/doac.




“WEDNESDAY NIGHT FIGHTS” RETURNS TO KISSIMMEE JULY 26! IT’S PUERTO RICO vs MEXICO IN THE MAIN EVENT AT THE KISSIMMEE CIVIC CENTER

June 16, 2023, Plant City, FL. — ProBox TV returns to Kissimmee, Florida with a classic Puerto Rico vs. Mexico battle. Puerto Rico’s Orlando Gonzalez and Mexico’s Ramiro Cesena will mêlée in a ten round super featherweight bout in the main event at the Kissimmee Civic Center on Wednesday, July 29. The card will be streamed live on ProBox TV.

Tickets, price from $25-$75, are available HERE

Orlando “Capu” Gonzalez (20-2, 12 KOs) was born and raised in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The twenty-seven-year-old made his pro debut in 2016, has a two-fight win streak, and recently fought for the NABF title against current world champion Robelsy Ramirez.

Ramiro “Demon” Cesena (16-1-1, 13 KOs) from Loreto, Mexico is twenty-three-years-old and has been fighting professionally since 2018. Cesena looks to rebound from his sole loss when he fought for the WBC Continental Americas title in April. Prior to that fight Prior to that bout he was on a 4 knockout win streak.

A ProBox TV subscription is $1.99 per month

How to Watch ‘Wednesday Night Fights”:

1. ProBoxTV.com

2. The ProBoxTV app available on all app stores

3. Available on Roku TV, Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV

About ProBoxTV: ProBox TV is a digital subscription service which gives fans exclusive access to ProBox TV Content including live streaming of fights and on-demand videos. You can also watch daily talk shows with Juan Manuel Marquez, Paulie Malignaggi, Chris Algieri and our host Claudia Trejos. ProBox TV can be accessed using your favorite streaming devices, including mobile devices, or any personal computer. ProBox TV is a global product and available in all countries.

Fact: Kissimmee, located in Central Florida has the largest Puerto Rican population of any region in Florida and the fastest-growing Puerto Rican population in the country.

Follow ProBox TV

https://twitter.com/ProBox_TV and https://www.youtube.com/c/ProBoxTV

For more ProBox TV info click here https://proboxtv.com/what-is-probox-tv/en




LEE MCGREGOR LANDS IBO WORLD TITLE SHOT FOR JULY 21 HOMECOMING  

The vacant IBO world super bantamweight title will be on the line when Lee McGregor makes a hero’s return to Edinburgh next month. 

‘Lightning’ faces the dangerous Mexican Erik Robles at the Meadowbank Sports Centre on Friday, July 21, live-and-free-to-air on Channel 5. 

Excitement levels were already through the roof for McGregor’s homecoming, but the stakes have been raised with today’s news that the Hearts supporter will be fighting for the IBO belt. 

Tickets for the 26-year-old’s shot at world glory go on sale at 12pm today and are expected to sell out quickly. 

The Wasserman Boxing event, delivered in association with Ladbrokes, Numan and Infinitum Entertainment, will be McGregor’s first since signing with the global promoter and he has described the fight as potentially “life changing”. 

But the former bantamweight king knows that Mexico’s Robles is a “very risky” opponent to face and is predicting a bruising battle in front of a full house.

Lee McGregor said: “It’s a big fight, it’s a life changing fight for me.

“I didn’t think it would be possible to go straight back into a big title fight like this, and so when it got put forward, it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. 

“It’s going to get the fans buzzing, get people talking about me again and so I need to go in and put on a performance to pick up this belt and add it to my collection. 

“But it is very, very risky with these fights. We’ve seen time and time again with Mexicans coming over to the UK and upsetting people, so I need to be switched on.” 

Erik Robles, the hard-hitting southpaw who has stopped four of his last five opponents, said: “On July 21, in Edinburgh, I will add my name to the long list of world champions from Mexico. 

“Everyone expects McGregor to win this fight, he is the favourite and he has his home fans on his side, but he has never faced a Mexican fighter before. Next month, he will learn all about the Mexican fighting spirit.” 

Kalle Sauerland, Global Head of Boxing at Wasserman Boxing, said: “We had an incredible reaction when we revealed Lee would be fighting back in Edinburgh, so today’s news that he will also be fighting for the IBO world title, is going to send his fans wild. 

“Everyone at Wasserman Boxing is delighted to deliver this opportunity for Lee and we know, with the backing of his amazing fans, he is going to grab it with both hands, in what promises to be an exceptional fight on a memorable night.”