?NEW YORK (June 7, 2023)-Split-T Management fighters Ardreal Holmes Jr. and Joseph Hicks Jr. remained undefeated with victories on Saturday night at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Holmes won a technical split decision over Wendy Toussaint in a bout that was stopped in round eight of a scheduled 10-round super welterweight bout.

In round four, Toussaint was deducted a point for hitting behind the head.

Holmes boxed well by using his height, while Toussaint was coming on late by pressuring the taller Holmes.

In round eight, the two clashed heads and the forehead of Toussaint immediately began to gush blood. The fight was allowed to continue, but only briefly as the blood continued to shoot out of the forehead and the fight went to the scorecards at 1:54.

Holmes, 153.4 lbs of Flint, MI won by scores of 77-74 and 76-75 while a third card went to Toussaint by a 77-74 tally.

Holmes is now 14-0. Toussaint, 149.8 lbs of Huntington, NY is 14-2.

“I was expecting a tough fight. Just wasn’t in the shape we wanted to be in, but no excuses. I got the job done,” said Holmes post-fight. “I felt like I didn’t catch my second wind until the seventh or eighth round. That’s when I felt like the fight was really changing. I felt like I took the earlier rounds and he started coming on late.”

Holmes said the fast pace Toussaint kept throughout the fight was unexpected. “He actually surprised me,” admitted Holmes. “Watching film, he usually slows in the fourth or fifth round. That’s what I thought he was going to do, but he shocked me. My plan was to come on halfway through the fight and I thought I was going to close it out at the end. I thought the decision was fair. It was four-four (in rounds), but the point (deduction) did it. He was out of gas the last quarter of the fight.”

Holmes is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Holden Productions.

Joseph Hicks Jr. remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Antonio Todd in a middleweight bout.

Hicks had Todd in trouble several times during the fight, and although he could not get the stoppage, he was dominant in winning the decision.

Hicks, 159.4 lbs of Grand Rapids, MI won by scores of 80-72 on all cards and is now 7-0. Todd, 158.2 lbs of Atlanta is 14-8.

“I didn’t expect Todd to be that awkward,” said Hicks afterwards. “I knew he was tough, but he was awkward. He did a lot of unorthodox things. He dropped his head after he jabbed. He switched back after his jab, and he got the counterpunch. I was trying to time him, but he was flinching back.”

“It means everything to be a part of this fight card and this event,” Hicks continued. “I’m very grateful to Claressa and Salita Promotions. The GWOAT, Claressa, she’s going to win tonight. I’m very grateful to her, because without her, this opportunity is not here for me. I’m ready for whoever they give me next. I’m going back to the drawing board. We’re going to fix a lot of things, get sharper and be better in my next fight.”

Hicks is promoted by Salita Promotions.

Both fights were streamed Live on DAZN.

Wasserman Boxing is delighted to announce the signing of the world class Lee McGregor to a long-term promotional contract. 

And the global promoter can reveal the unbeaten ‘Lightning’ will headline a major show in his hometown of Edinburgh on Friday, July 21, live-and-free-to-air on Channel 5. 

Delivered in association with Ladbrokes, Numan and Infinitum Entertainment, McGregor will box in front of his fans for the first time in five years, with his triumphant return set to be met with a frenzied atmosphere at the Meadowbank Sports Centre. 

The 26-year-old raced to British, Commonwealth and European bantamweight glory in only 10 fights but now has his sights set on conquering the super bantamweight division with the backing of Wasserman Boxing. 

“Listen, it’s going to be loud and it’s going to be unbelievable on July 21,” buzzed McGregor. 

“I’ve been waiting so long for this.  I have had so many big nights in Scotland, the most memorable being the British and Commonwealth unification fight with Kash Farooq, but that was in Glasgow, not in my hometown. 

“I’ve not fought in Edinburgh since my professional debut in 2017.  But in July, people will see how big a fan base I have.  It’s going to be loud and it’s going to be rowdy.” 

Kalle Sauerland, Global Head of Boxing at Wasserman Boxing, said: “Everyone at Wasserman Boxing is over the moon to add Lee to our brilliant stable of fighters. 

“He is, without any shadow of a doubt, a world class operator who showed, in his first 10 fights, just how special he is. But the best is yet to come from Lee. 

“He is destined to be a world champion and we start out on that road on July 21 in Edinburgh, his hometown, where we are braced for an atmosphere we have not experienced in a long time.  Lee promises us the place is going to be bouncing and we cannot wait!” 

McGregor added: “I have lots of things to look forward to and this is a new chapter for my career. 

“The goals are set; the plans are in place and I’m going to take over.  I am back to where I belong, in big fights on big nights. 

“I really like what Wasserman are doing with their fighters and it feels like they are going to give me what I deserve. 

“The plan is to come back and build me in Scotland and in my hometown.  

“I made my professional debut on Channel 5 and so it is a great platform to be back on. 

“Wasserman know what they are doing and the plans they have in place for me, I am more than happy about.  The future is bright.” 

FUTURE HEAVYWEIGHT SUPERSTAR Moses Itauma will have his fourth professional fight at the Telford International Centre on July 29, having been added to the card headlined by the four-title collision between Liam Davies and Jason Cunningham, live on BT Sport.

Itauma, just 18, who holds the lofty ambition of becoming the youngest ever world heavyweight champion, took part in his first six-rounder in mid-April, hearing the final bell for the first time at the conclusion of his comprehensive decision victory over the robust Ukrainian Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko, who maintained the distinction of never having been stopped.

Previously, the world and European champion as an amateur, marked his entry to the professional ranks with two first round stoppages over Marcel Bode and Ramon Ibarra respectively, that lasted less than a minute combined.

Itauma, who will be making a second trip to Telford, will be fighting over a six-round distance on the night.

FOUR MAJOR TITLES will be on the line when Liam Davies and Jason Cunningham collide at the Telford International Centre on Saturday 29th July, live on TNT Sports, the new name for BT Sport from 18th July.

The undefeated British, WBC International and European champion Davies (13-0, 5 KOs) takes on former Euro-king and now WBO International champion Cunningham (32-7, 7) in an all-British blockbuster in the atmospheric cauldron in the hometown of three-belt holder.

In supporting action is Northampton’s Eithan James (10-0), who will fight for his first pro title. While leading cruiserweight prospect Oronzo Birardi (6-0, 5) from Mainz in Germany will also be in action, with the 23-year-old featuring for a first time on a UK platform.

Worcester’s undefeated Midlands Area welterweight champion Owen Cooper (8-0, 2) will be in eight round action, along with Telford super lightweight Macaulay Owen (5-0,1) fighting over six, with Batley super lightweight Amaar Akbar (3-0) entering into his first six-rounder. Fighting over four rounds will be London heavyweight Boma Brown (1-0).

Tickets for the Telford blockbuster headlined by Liam Davies vs Jason Cunningham on Saturday, 29^th July at the Telford International Centre are on sale now from ticketmaster.co.uk.

The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee approved on Monday, June 5, 2023, that Marlon Tapales, WBA super bantamweight champion, will unify his belt against the winner of Naoya Inoue and Stephen Fulton. Meanwhile, Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Tomoki Kameda must meet in a final eliminator to determine the division’s mandatory challenger.

NEW YORK, NY (June 5, 2023) – DiBella Entertainment has inked a promotional agreement with rising featherweight contender Edward “Kid” Vazquez (14-1, 3 KOs), from Fort Worth, TX.

Vazquez hails from a fighting family. His grandfather and uncle were both fighters, along with several cousins. On his seventh birthday, Vazquez asked his father to take him to the local boxing gym in Fort Worth; a birthday present that would change the trajectory of his life. 

This trip to the gym would lead to an impressive amateur record of 82-8, including eight Fort Worth Golden Gloves gold medals, a Texas Golden Gloves gold medal, a win at the Ringside World Championships and a runner-up spot in the 2012 Junior Olympics in Mobile, AL. 

At 18, and fresh out of high school, Vazquez was transitioning to turn professional and traveled up the coast of California looking for sparring and inspiration. He found both, spending time training and sparring with Oscar Valdez and Ryan Garcia, among others. Vazquez made his professional debut in 2016, winning a unanimous decision versus Willie Miller. 

He has been with his current trainer, Ray Barrera, out of FHG Boxing Gym, in Fort Worth, ever since his third pro fight. Vazquez would go on to win 11 bouts before suffering his lone defeat at the hands of Raymond Ford in February 2022. It was a fight that would result in a highly controversial win for Ford, who is now rated in the top 10 by three of the major sanctioning bodies.

Vazquez rebounded from that split decision loss with two wins to close out the year.

In March 2020, Vazquez’s life would change dramatically with the birth of his daughter, Saylor. The pandemic was just getting underway, and becoming a father was both exhilarating and scary for the young fighter. 

“It forced me to level up,” Vazquez said. “I always knew I would make it happen with boxing, but now I have to because I have my daughter.”  

In December 2022, Vazquez would get the call to fight DiBella prospect Misael Lopez on Showtime’s “ShoBox” series. 

“I was hesitant to take the fight because I knew I would be coming in as the ‘B-side,’” said Vazquez. “I was robbed in my fight versus Raymond Ford, and didn’t want that to happen again, but I ultimately accepted the fight.

“It was a good, action-packed fight,” Vazquez continued. “He definitely tested my IQ. He was game, and wasn’t going to back down. He was coming to beat me and was 100% confident he was going to do so. I spoiled the plan.” 

Vazquez would earn a split decision win against Lopez after 10 rounds of action, on February 17, 2023, at the Stormont Vail Event Center, in Topeka, KS.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Edward Vazquez,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “He’s one of the best featherweights in the world and he proved that when he beat Raymond Ford, no matter what the scorecards read. Ford’s now #2 in the world and despite the zero on his record, Edward Vazquez beat him on international television. An interesting and well-spoken kid, Edward has the potential to be a world champion. He should be undefeated and highly world ranked right now. This was a no-brainer signing for DiBella Entertainment.”

“I’m so excited to be a part of DiBella Entertainment,” said Vazquez of the signing. “We’ve worked our entire lives to land a deal with someone as prominent as Lou DiBella. I’ve been fighting for almost 21 years. It’s been a grind. You’re not really sure if it’s going to pay off and it finally seems like it’s going to pay off. 

“Now, we finally have the platform to go after the top 10 featherweights, the top 20 guys,” Vazquez continued. “Lou is finally the guy that can get me in the door. I’m coming for them.” 

“We knew we had something special going into the fight with Lopez,” said DKO Boxing’s Dave Dubinsky, who manages Vazquez along with Jim Kurtz. “We’re thrilled that Lou sees what we do in Vazquez, and we’re looking forward to working with DiBella Entertainment to take Edward to the next level.” 

Sampson Lewkowicz, President of Sampson Boxing, proudly announces the signing of undefeated Mexican American welterweight prospect Freudis Rojas Jr. (10-0, 10 KOs) to an exclusive promotional contract.

The 24-year-old Rojas, also known as Freddy to his friends, was an accomplished amateur boxer for the United States on the international stage, winning a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships, as well as serving as a 2020 Olympic Alternate.

Standing 6? 2?, the powerful Vegas-based southpaw turned professional in January 2021 and hasn’t had to go more than four rounds while amassing his perfect record.

In his most recent outing, he knocked out durable veteran Gilbert Venegas in less than a round in February of this year. Despite having faced a long list of undefeated prospects and contenders, Venegas hadn’t been stopped in six years previous to facing the hammers in Rojas Jr.’s fists.

“I feel blessed for the opportunity and deal with Sampson Boxing,” said Rojas. “Me and my manager Marlon Johnson felt strongly that Sampson was the right fit to take my career to the next level. I will be the next superstar of boxing and a world champion. I want to fight the best and put on spectacular fights for the fans. I thank God for blessing my career.”

“Freddy is blessed with a very knowledgeable and strong team of Freudis Rojas Sr., Kay Karoma, Evins Tobler, and Kevin Smalls, and we all feel that signing with Sampson is a very strong career move,” added manager Johnson. “With Sampson, the sky is the limit. He is a great promoter with years of experience and boxing knowledge, and he has an innate ability for spotting and developing boxing talent. With Freddy’s hard work, dedication, faith in God and Sampson’s guidance. He will become the next star in boxing.”

Lewkowicz says signing Rojas Jr. will almost certainly add to the long list of world champions in his promotional stable.

“Freudis Rojas will be a future star in the welterweight division and more,” said a happy Lewkowicz. “This young Mexican American has the team and the experience, power and skills to move quickly up the ladder to a world championship, and I am proud to be able to help him get there. Welcome to the Sampson family.”

Rojas’ first ring appearance under the Sampson Boxing banner will be in July.

#

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.

QUINCY, Mass. (June 5, 2023) – Old-time boxing returns this Saturday night as Granite Chin Promotions (GCP) presents “Fight Night at the Vets Club” at the Bridgewater Veterans Club in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

Headlining the event is a six-round main event between New England rivals, Woburn’s (MA) Julien “Black Dragon” (4-3, 2 KOs) and Ryan Clark (2-3, 1 KO), of Berwick (NH), for the vacant United States Boxing Federation (USBF) Middleweight Championship.

A celebrated amateur boxer who was a 2020 USA Boxing Olympic Boxing Team alternate, as well as a 2020 USA Boxing Elite National and multiple New England Golden Gloves champion, Boston lightweight Arika Skoog (1-0-1, 1 KO), faces Sarah “Switch Kick” Click (1-4-1), of Orlando (FL), in a six-round bout,

Former New England Welterweight Champion Mike “Bad Man” Ohan, Jr. (17-2, 9 KOs), of Holbrook (MA), is in a stay-busy fight against Alaskan William Parra Smith (4-14-1, 3 KOs) in an eight-round match.

Unbeaten Lynn super middleweight James “Pitbull” Perkins (11-0-1, 8 KOs), a gravedigger from Lynn (MA), tangles with Texas veteran Larry “Slo Mo” Smith (13-52-2, 9 KOs) in a six-round.

Popular Scituate heavyweight Kevin Nagle (1-0, 1 KO) throws-down with  Reinaldo Souza (0-1) in a four-round match in the opener.

Card subject to change.

Tickets are priced at $60.00 (floor seats), $40.00 (standing room only), and $400.00 for ringside tables of 4 and available for purchase at https://granite-chin-promotions.ticketleap.com.

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

NEW YORK (June 3, 2023)-Tonight at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, two undefeated fighters and Michigan natives will be in action on a DAZN streamed card (9 PM ET).

In the co-feature bout, Ardreal Holmes will be featured against Wendy Toussaint in a 10-round USBA Super Welterweight championship fight.

Holmes of Flint is 13-0 with five knockouts. The 28 year-old Holmes is establishing himself in the 154-pound division with wins over Bryan Goldsby (4-1), Vernon Brown (13-1-1) and his last outing when Holmes defeated Ismael Villareal (12-0) on February 17th in Topeka, Kansas.

Toussaint of Huntington, New York, has an impressive mark of 14-1 with six knockouts. The 31 year-old Toussaint has wins over Anthony Gangemi (4-1), Courtmey Pennington (7-0-1), Sadiq Muhammad (4-1), Isiah Jones (9-2), Travis Gambardella (7-1-2) and his last bout when Toussaint won an eight-round unanimous decision over Asinia Byfield on June 18, 2022 in New York City.

Holmes, who is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Holden Productions, weighed 153.4 lbs. Toussaint was 149.8 lbs.

?In the DAZN opener, Joseph Hicks Jr. takes on Antonio Todd in an eight-round bout for the WBC Americas Silver Middleweight title.

Hicks of Grand Rapids is 6-0 with five knockouts. The 29 year-old Hicks has a big win over Bilal Quintyne (4-0). In his last bout, Hicks scored a second round stoppage over Noah Kidd on April 14th in Detroit.

Todd of Atlanta is 14-7 with eight knockouts. The 28 year-old Todd has a win over former world title challenger Hugo Centeno (28-3-1).

Hicks, who is promoted by Salita Promotions, weighed 159.4 lbs. Todd weighed 158.2 lbs.

Claressa Shields won a 10-round unanimous decision over Maricela Cornejo to retain the Undisputed Middleweight Title at The Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Shields dominated the fight and was very aggressive throughout the bout and landed several hard rights that stopped Cornejo in her tracks. Cornejo was not very aggressive and took a lot of shots in her defensive posture.

Shields landed 124 of 485 punches. Cornejo was 32 of 307.

Shields, 159.6 lbs of Flint, MI won by scores of 100-89 and 100-90 twice and is now 14-0. Cornejo, 155 lbs of Los Angeles is 16-5.

“I feel great,” said Shields post-victory. “I was landing my shots. I won every round like I knew I could. I went for the knockout how many times this fight? Maricela is tough. She did a great job. Height doesn’t matter and power doesn’t matter either. It’s all about the skills and will and heart, and I always have more than the other girls.”

“Stay smart and not get hit with her big right hand,” she said of her strategy. “Hit bigger to the body and check her to the head. I knew I could win. Straight right for the money. When I would hit her harder, she would take off. I led off with the right too many times, so I will work on that when we get back to the gym. Maricela is super tough. She was in shape and able to take the shots and able to get away from them. It was a great fight. I can’t wait to go home and watch it and see what I can work on.”

“I’m good. I felt fine,” Cornejo said. “Obviously there is so much more I could work on. I want to see the fight again and see the mistakes that I’ve done just to improve on. I think I held my ground and I know I caught her with some good shots and I just need to work on much more to be able to continue those rights I know I landed on her.

“I’m not happy with the loss, I’m just disappointed,” she continued. “I need to just watch it. It’s intense the way she comes forward. I would have done better being more assertive going forward and not going straight back. That’s something I’ve worked on a lot.”

Ardreal Holmes Wins Technical Split Decision over Toussaint

Ardreal Holmes won a technical split decision over Wendy Toussaint in a bout that was stopped in round eight of a scheduled 10-round super welterweight bout.

In round four, Toussaint was deducted a point for hitting behind the head.

Holmes boxed well by using his height, while Toussaint was coming on late by pressuring the taller Holmes.

In round eight, the two clashed heads and the forehead of Toussaint immediately began to gush blood. The fight was allowed to continue, but only briefly as the blood continued to shoot out of the forehead and the fight went to the scorecards at 1:54.

Holmes, 153.4 lbs if Flint, MI won by scores o 77-74 and 76-75 while a third card went to Toussaint by a 77-74 tally.

Holmes is now 14-0. Toussaint, 149.8 lbs of Huntington, NY is 14-2.

“I was expecting a tough fight. Just wasn’t in the shape we wanted to be in, but no excuses. I got the job done,” said Holmes post-fight. “I felt like I didn’t catch my second wind until the seventh or eighth round. That’s when I felt like the fight was really changing. I felt like I took the earlier rounds and he started coming on late.”

Holmes said the fast pace Toussaint kept throughout the fight was unexpected. “He actually surprised me,” admitted Holmes. “Watching film, he usually slows in the fourth or fifth round. That’s what I thought he was going to do, but he shocked me. My plan was to come on halfway through the fight and I thought I was going to close it out at the end. I thought the decision was fair. It was four-four (in rounds), but the point (deduction) did it. He was out of gas the last quarter of the fight.”

“I didn’t lose that fight,” said a disappointed Toussaint. “It was my plan to come out fast and outwork him and it worked. I had him hurt. I don’t agree with the point deduction, and the judges got it wrong.”

Hicks Decisions Todd

Joseph Hicks Jr. remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Antonio Todd in a middleweight bout.

Hicks had Todd in trouble several times during the fight, and although he could not get the stoppage, he was dominant in winning the decision.

Hicks, 159.4 lbs of Grand Rapids, MI won by scores of 80-72 on all cards and is now 7-0. Todd, 158.2 lbs of Atlanta is 14-8.

“I didn’t expect Todd to be that awkward,” said Hicks afterwards. “I knew he was tough, but he was awkward. He did a lot of unorthodox things. He dropped his head after he jabbed. He switched back after his jab, and he got the counterpunch. I was trying to time him, but he was flinching back.”

“It means everything to be a part of this fight card and this event,” Hicks continued. “I’m very grateful to Claressa and Salita Promotions. The GWOAT, Claressa, she’s going to win tonight. I’m very grateful to her, because without her, this opportunity is not here for me. I’m ready for whoever they give me next. I’m going back to the drawing board. We’re going to fix a lot of things, get sharper and be better in my next fight.”

“He was the better man tonight. Hicks is a good fighter. We knew that coming in. We knew he was a good fighter; captain of the USA Boxing Team. We knew he was a good fighter the whole time. Sometimes you come up short. I wasn’t hurt like I was about to go down, but he hit me in the back of the head a couple of times, headbutted a couple times, but nothing major. I’m okay.”

RIYADH, JUNE 3, 2023 – Current Unified WBA, IBF, WBO Heavyweight World Champion Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) has signed a multiflight deal with Saudi Arabian based promotional company, Skill Challenge Promotions (SCP) established by His Highness Prince Khaled bin AbdulAziz in 2023 after the astounding success of hosting some of biggest boxing events in The Kingdom.

Usyk recently fought in The Kingdom in August 2022 defeating Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision to retain his belts in their highly anticipated rematch labelled ‘Rage on the Red’ Sea hosted by Skill Challenge Entertainment and The Ministry of Sport.

“Skill Challenge Promotions takes pride in working with an elite champion such as Oleksandr Usyk who not only possesses technical greatness in the ring but greatness outside it as well as an ambassador for the sport” stated SCP Chairman Prince Khaled. “Our aim is to work with multi-dimensional champions who possess the mutual core values Oleksandr does as we appreciate those above everything else.”

The signing of Usyk to The Kingdom’s Skill Challenge Promotion’s draws significant parallels with Cristiano Ronaldo’s signing with the Saudi Football League demonstrating the influence and momentum the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is gathering in the sporting world aligned with Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s national reform programme, Vision 2030.

Director of Boxing Operations for the Promotion, Amer Abdallah stated, “Prince Khaled’s “mission” is to put on the best fights for the fighters and for the fans working in collaboration with all global promoters, management and networks collectively.”

There has been much talk around the anticipated December showdown with WBC Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury for a unification bout to declare an Undisputed Heavyweight Champion after numerous failed attempts to make the fight happen.

“It is obviously the fight most boxing fans want to see and in time we hope to be able to make an announcement regarding the direction we’ll take with the unification bout” Abdallah continued. “But the first order of business is his defence against Daniel Dubois in August 2023.”

“It is great honour and joy for me to return to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Oleksandr Usyk stated during the press announcement in Riyadh. “It’s an excellent opportunity to work with His Highness Prince Khaled and to reach our team’s goal to claim the WBC Heavyweight Champion title to become The Undisputed Champion. I haven’t got any big plans, like a samurai I have the way… the way I walk.”

“This is a chapter in the lifetime of Oleksandr and history in the making” Alex Krassyuk, Usyk’s Promoter and K2 founder stated.

“We want to thank Prince Khaled and the boxing world really needs a promotion like Skill Challenge Promotions and people like Prince Khaled who is so loved in the sport. It is an honour for me to bring one of my best fighters in Oleksandr Usyk to Skill Challenge Promotions.” stated long time Manager, Egis Klimas.

Skill Challenge Entertainment was founded by His Highness Prince Khaled bin AbdulAziz of Saudi Arabia, launching their inaugural event in 2019 featuring the rematch between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz dubbed “Clash on the Dunes”. After the global pandemic, Skill Challenge Entertainment hosted the rematch of Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua branded “Rage on the Red Sea” in August of 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The company’s most recent global event, “The Truth” featured global stars Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury and Badou Jack vs Illunga Makabu for the WBC Cruiserweight Title which took place in February 2023 and became the largest hybrid boxing event to ever take place.

Allentown, PA (June 2 2023)–Weights for Jeter Promotions card at The Parkview Inn in Allentown, PA

Jonathan Rodriquez 118 – Brian Cannady 118

WBC US silver Bantamweight title

?

Francis Oran 212 – Raphael Carolina 212

Joel Flores 133 -Hakim Smith 134

Thanjhae Teasley 147 vs Benjamin Lamptey 146

MINNEAPOLIS – June 2, 2023 – Hard-hitting Interim WBC Middleweight Champion Carlos Adames will 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 featured 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.

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.

“Saturday, June 24 will see three high-stakes matchups play out in the ring, topped by rising middleweight star Carlos Adames looking to take out  hungry former champion Julian Williams, who has his eyes set on championship gold in a second division,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “With Erickson Lubin and Luis Arias squaring off, the winner will be in prime position for a 154-pound title shot, while Fernando Martinez can send a message to the rest of the super flyweight division with a decisive victory against the undefeated Jade Bornea. This lineup shapes up to deliver another electric night at The Armory in Minneapolis.”

Adames (22-1, 17 KOs) has become a force in the middleweight division as he nears a chance to earn a world title opportunity at 160 pounds. Adames scored a career-best victory by overcoming top contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko in December 2021 and followed that up by knocking out Juan Macias Montiel in the third round to capture his interim belt last October. The 29-year-old Adames was born in Comendador, Dominican Republic and now lives in Washington Heights, New York. He established himself as a contender with a slew of victories over the likes of former champion Carlos Molina, Frank Galarza, Joshua Conley and Alejandro Barrera, with his only defeat coming by narrow decision in a 2019 154-pound title fight against Patrick Teixeira.

“I’ve trained hard for this fight and I’m ready to defend my interim WBC middleweight title against Julian Williams, who we all know is a very tough fighter,” said Adames. “I’ve worked tirelessly to earn my way in the sport and I’m ready to prove I belong at the top of the middleweight division. I’m grateful for the opportunity to showcase my skills on SHOWTIME, and I’m determined to put on a great performance for the fans. On June 24 The Armory in Minneapolis will be electrifying. I’m coming to win.”

Philadelphia’s Williams (29-3-1, 16 KOs) became a unified world champion at 154-pounds in May 2019 when he upset Jarrett Hurd in one of the year’s best fights, winning a close-quarters brawl by unanimous decision. The 33-year-old dropped the titles in his first defense, losing to Jeison Rosario in January 2020, before coming up on the short end of a narrow decision to Vladimir Hernandez in October 2021. He most recently returned to his winning ways last November, dominating Rolando Mansilla at The Armory  on his way to a unanimous decision.

“Training has been going great and I’m extremely well-prepared for this fight,” said Williams. “I’ve just been grinding and making the best of everything that I have. I haven’t seen that much of him, so I’m preparing for anything Adames can bring. A win on June 24 would mean everything. This is what I strive for. It’s been a little choppy, but I’m just looking forward to a tough fight in Minneapolis.”

The 27-year-old Lubin (24-2, 17 KOs) will return to the ring after going toe-to-toe in one of 2022’s best fights, which saw him trade knockdowns with fellow contender Sebastian Fundora on SHOWTIME in April 2022. Heading into the Fundora fight, Lubin had put together an impressive six-bout winning streak since a loss to unified 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo in 2017, a run that included triumphs over Jeison Rosario, Terrell Gausha and Ishe Smith.  A native of Orlando, Fla., Lubin turned pro at 18 years old in 2013 and became one of the youngest prospects to ever appear on the developmental series SHOBOX: The New Generation and soon after was named “Prospect Of The Year” by ESPN and Ring Magazine in 2016.

“I’m looking forward to making my return on SHOWTIME,” said Lubin. “Every fight is important and I treat them all the same. This one is no different because I’m coming in with a chip on my shoulder. I’m planning to dominate Luis Arias so I can get my rematches with Jermell Charlo and Sebastian Fundora. I want to avenge my defeats and that starts with a big performance on June 24. It’s ‘Hammer’ time on SHOWTIME.”

A native of Milwaukee who now trains out of Las Vegas, Mayweather Promotions’ Arias (20-3-1, 9 KOs) most recently dominated Jimmy Williams in May 2022 on his way to a unanimous decision. Arias had scored a career-best victory in June 2021, as he earned a decision over former unified champion Jarrett Hurd on the Mayweather vs. Paul SHOWTIME PPV undercard. Arias has also battled former champion Daniel Jacobs and owns a draw against veteran contender Gabriel Rosado.

“I’m back on the big stage and this time I’m staying here for the long haul,” said Arias. “I’m planning on bringing an all-out war as soon as the bell rings. June 24 has a great lineup, but this fight will definitely steal the show. I want to thank Floyd Mayweather and the Mayweather Promotions team for getting me this opportunity. I’m coming to make the most of it. War is coming!”

The unbeaten Martinez (15-0, 8 KOs) became the first world champion promoted by his countryman, former two-division world champion Marcos Maidana, with a scintillating victory over Ancajas on SHOWTIME in February 2022. The 31-year-old from Avellaneda, Argentina made the most of the opportunity, landing a division record 421 power shots of the 427 total punches landed to secure a unanimous decision victory over Ancajas. They rematched in October 2022, with Martinez putting on an even more convincing performance to retain his title via unanimous decision.

“This is going to be my first time fighting in Minneapolis and I hope the fans know that I’m coming to put on a show for them,” said Martinez. “My goal isn’t just to win, it’s to show that I’m getting better and that I’m on my way to my goal of unifying the titles.”

Fighting out of General Santos City in the Philippines, Bornea (18-0, 12 KOs) will fight in the U.S. for the second time on June 24 after earning a decision over Ernesto Delgadillo in their January 2020 clash. Since then the 27-year-old has added three victories, including a pair of 2022 triumphs that saw him best Mohammed Obbadi in January and Ivan Meneses in August. A pro since October 2014, Bornea is part of a boxing family as his twin brother Jake also fights professionally.

“I have been waiting for this opportunity ever since I turned pro,” said Bornea. “I have watched Martinez twice fight against my friend and countryman Jerwin Ancajas, so I know his style well. On June 24, I am going to win that title and bring it back to the Philippines where it belongs. I’m thankful to my whole team for this opportunity and I’m going to make the most of it.”

#         #         #

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.

QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA – June 2, 2023 – Undefeated Australian superstar Tim Tszyu will return to the ring and defend his Interim WBO 154-pound title against Mexican contender Carlos Ocampo headlining action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, June 17 (Sunday, June 18 in Australia) from the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia in a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and will also feature top super bantamweight contender Ra’eese Aleem taking on undefeated Australian Sam Goodman in an IBF 122-pound title eliminator in the co-main event.

Tszyu will make the first defense of his interim belt after capturing it in March on SHOWTIME with a career-best showing in stopping former champion Tony Harrison. He had originally been scheduled to face Undisputed Super Welterweight Champion Jermell Charlo in Las Vegas in January, before Charlo was forced to withdraw due to injury. With a victory on June 17 in his home country, Tszyu can lock in a date with Charlo later this year.

The event is promoted by No Limit Boxing and The Rose Brothers, in association with TGB Promotions.

“Tim Tszyu has solidified his place near the top of the super welterweight division and will once again bring his fan-friendly style to the ring for fans in the U.S. watching on SHOWTIME,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “An experienced and hungry Carlos Ocampo will be coming to Australia to upset Tszyu’s plans and disrupt his path toward a long-awaited showdown with the 154-pound division’s undisputed champion Jermell Charlo. Adding in top contender Ra’eese Aleem taking on the rising Australian Sam Goodman, and this shapes up to be a great doubleheader of action fights on Saturday, June 17.”

The 28-year-old Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) has quickly climbed the rankings in the 154-pound division with an all-action, aggressive style. The notable names on his resume include former welterweight champion Jeff Horn, whom Tszyu stopped in round eight, and Terrell Gausha, a top contender and member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. A native of Sydney, Australia, Tszyu made his U.S. and SHOWTIME debut against Gausha and showed his poise and toughness by rallying back from a first-round knockdown to win the fight via unanimous decision. Tszyu grew up playing soccer, but soon gravitated toward boxing. The decision led to him following in the legendary footsteps of his father, Kostya, who was an undisputed 140-pound champion and who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011.

“I was full training on Monday after the thing happened on Saturday,” said Tszyu to Australian press in reference to a dog bite on his right arm. “I’m not going to be limited at all…There’s a dog in me right now that’s about to come out.

“I’m a fighter. My job is to fight. I won’t sit on the couch and wait for [Jermell] Charlo’s hand to get better. I want to fight in the meantime,” added Tim Tszyu previously to the Australian media about his announcement for his title defense against Ocampo. “The fans deserve the fights…The Charlo fight is in the making, but I’m not underestimating Ocampo. I’ve got a hard task ahead of me.

“Technically, this fight is going to be much harder than my previous fights. The Mexican style will require something new in me and I expect it to be tough. Despite being Australian and on the other side of the globe, I’m headlining a fight on SHOWTIME for the third time. Is anyone else doing that? Everyone knows I’m coming to take over.”

The 27-year-old Ocampo (34-2, 22 KOs) rode a 12-fight winning streak into his last matchup, which saw him drop a decision to 154-pound contender Sebastian Fundora last October in a SHOWTIME main event. The 12 consecutive triumphs dated back to the only other loss of his career, which came to current unified welterweight champion Errol Spence, Jr. in a 2016 knockout defeat. During the 12-fight stretch, the Ensenda, Baja California, Mexico native scored nine of those victories by stoppage, including traveling to Mikael Zewski’s home country of Canada to stop the fan-favorite by ninth-round TKO.

“I’m looking forward to my fight against Tim Tszyu,” said Ocampo. “We are both warriors who go forward without fear. The fans will be the true winners that night, because I’m going after that title at all. Costs and it’s coming back to Mexico with me. He won’t want to hand it over to me, so I’ll just have to take it from him.”

Owning a top-10 ranking at 122-pounds from multiple sanctioning bodies, Aleem (20-0, 12 KOs) put on the most impressive performance of his career in January 2021, dominating in a battle of unbeatens by dropping Victor Pasillas four times before eventually stopping him in round 11. Raised in Michigan and training out of Las Vegas, the 32-year-old Aleem stopped seven-straight opponents before most recently earning decisions over Eduardo Baez in November 2021 and Mike Plania in September 2022. Aleem made his SHOWTIME debut in February of 2020 with a fourth-round stoppage of Adam Lopez on SHOBOX: The New Generation.

The 24-year-old Goodman (14-0, 7 KOs) scored a career-best victory in his last outing, announcing himself as a 122-pound contender with a dominant unanimous decision victory over former world champion T.J. Doheny in March. After an impressive amateur career that included four national championships and an appearance in the 2017 World Amateur Championships, the Australian from Albion Park, New South Wales turned pro in April 2018 and began compiling his unbeaten record.

The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL telecast is executive produced by four-time Emmy award winner David Dinkins, Jr., with Ray Smaltz III producing and Chuck McKean directing.

#         #         #

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.

NEW YORK – June 1, 2023 – Unbeaten light heavyweights Clay Waterman and Kenmon Evans will square off in a new SHOBOX: The New Generation eight-round telecast opener as the popular prospect series returns to Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y., during International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend on Friday, June 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT live on SHOWTIME.  

Waterman (10-0, 8 KOs) had a solid amateur career with a record of 140-20. A 2011 junior world champion, the Queensland, Australia native was a 2018 Commonwealth Games medalist and 2019 Asian Grand Slam champion. He is an eight-time Golden Gloves champion and 13-time state champion. Waterman is managed by Brendan Bourke.

Evans (10-0-1, 3 KOs) of Port Orange, Fla., is promoted by International Boxing Hall of Famer and former world champion Christy Martin and trained by Pete White. As an amateur, Evans suffered just one loss with 29 victories. He won the Florida Golden Gloves in 2013 and the Florida PAL tournament in 2012. One of 16 children, Evans served eight months in jail in 2014 on a charge that was eventually dropped. After his release, he decided to turn pro. He also teaches youth boxing classes at Pete White’s gym.

“Evans is a real success story,” said Martin. “He got out [of jail] and he’s going to stay out.”

Blue-chip prospect and top-10 ranked light heavyweight Ali Izmailov (10-0, 7 KOs) faces his toughest test to date when he takes on fellow unbeaten and highly decorated amateur Charles Foster (22-0, 12 KOs) in the 10-round SHOBOX^® main event. In the co-feature, highly regarded prospect Richard Vansiclen (13-0-1, 6 KOs) from Seattle, Wash., faces fellow unbeaten hard-hitting Colombian Juan Carrillo (10-0, 8 KOs) in a 10-round super middleweight matchup.

Ryan Martin (25-2, 15 KOs) was originally slated to take on former SHOBOX main-event winner and rising super lightweight prospect Mykquan Williams (19-0-1, 8 KOs) in a 10-round super lightweight bout before Martin pulled out due to personal reasons.

This marks the fourth time since 2013 that a SHOBOX card has taken place in conjunction with Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, which will occur June 8-11. SHOBOX has visited Turning Stone Resort Casino a total of seven times previously during its 21-year history. The three-fight telecast on June 9 is promoted by Dmitriy Salita’s Salita Promotions.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Turning Stone Box Office or online at Ticketmaster.

International Boxing Hall of Famer Barry Tompkins calls the blow-by-blow action for SHOBOX with fellow Hall of Famer Steve Farhood joining the team remotely as the unofficial scorer. Former world champion Raul Marquez and veteran combat sports reporter and MORNING KOMBAT co-host Brian Campbell will serve as ringside expert analysts. They will be accompanied by Hall of Famer and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® analyst Al Bernstein, as well as by Hall of Famer Jimmy Lennon, Jr., handling ring announcing duties. The executive producer of SHOBOX: The New Generation is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

 # # #

For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, #ShoBox, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports

About SHOBOX: The New Generation

Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 89 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more. 

TOLEDO, Ohio (June 1, 2023) — Two Ohio-born talents have joined the pre-Independence Day celebration as part of the ESPN+-streamed undercard to the heavyweight doubleheader featuring Toledo’s  Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson against Kazakhstan’s Zhan Kossobutskiy in a 10-round main event on Saturday, July 1 at Toledo’s Huntington Center. 
 
Cleveland native Abdullah Mason will make his third appearance of 2023 in a six-round lightweight fight against Tobias Green, while Toledo-born junior lightweight Tyler McCreary will face an opponent to be named in a six-rounder.
 
Anderson-Kossobutskiy and Arslanbek Makhmudov-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 Universum Boxing, tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.
 
Mason (8-0, 7 KOs) is a 19-year-old prodigy who was considered one of the brightest talents in U.S. amateur boxing before signing with Top Rank in October 2021. Mason debuted as a pro the following month with a second-round TKO over Jaylan Phillips. In 2022, Mason went 5-0 with four knockouts. The southpaw phenom plans to be just as dominant this year after a first-round knockout over Erick Garcia Benitez in April and a sixth-round TKO win over Desmond Lyons last month on the Devin Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko undercard. Green (10-3, 3 KOs) is a 27-year-old Floridian who returns after an eight-round decision win against Ryan Schwartzberg last October. 
 
McCreary (17-2-1, 8 KOs) is an almost nine-year pro who is on the comeback trail. Following his 2019 showdown against former two-division world champion Carl Frampton, the 30-year-old experienced a near-two-year layoff before losing to Manuel Rey Rojas in 2021. Last month, however, he overcame another layoff to score a first-round knockout against Jake Bornea in Toledo.

BIG DAVID ADELEYE is back in the ring in just over a week in a first defence of his WBO European heavyweight title when he takes on the big-hitting Serbian Emir Ahmatovic on Friday, 9 June at York Hall, live on BT Sport.

Also in title action is undefeated lightweight Mark Chamberlain (12-0, 8 KOs), who makes a second defence of his IBF European title against the champion of Italy Marvin Demollari (12-4, 2).

The WBC International Silver super lightweight champion, Henry Turner (10-0, 3), is all set for a domestic war against Tom Farrell (21-6, 5) in what will be a second defence of his belt.

Unbeaten heavy Adeleye (11-0, 10), who is closing in on a shot at the British title, takes on the Germany-based Ahmatovic (12-1, 9) with a sole reverse coming against forthcoming IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic in December 2021.

In his last fight, the man known as ‘Atomic’ seized the WBC Mediterranean title with a second round blitz of the then 11-1 Hueseyin Akdemir in Germany.

Waterlooville southpaw Chamberlain is blazing a trail in the lightweight ranks, with the 24-year-old coming into the fight off the back of a destructive fifth round defeat of the tough Italian Vairo Lenti in February.

Demollari, 28, became national champion in late 2022 with a decision win over the 13-0 Daniel Spada, before making a successful defence against the 11-1 Francesco Santacroce in May.

The skilful Showman Turner, just 22, is on a run of three stoppage wins out of four and was last in action in February with a statement victory over Zeus de Armas at York Hall.

His experienced opponent Farrell, 33, from Liverpool, was also last in action in Bethnal Green, where he dropped a decision against Harlem Eubank, having previously taken part in the Boxxer super lightweight tournament, where he was edged out in the final against Cori Gibbs, having defeated Ben Fields and Kane Gardner to reach the last two.

Also back on a busy York Hall card is the brilliant teenage super featherweight Royston Barney-Smith (5-0, 3), who will take on the redoubtable Christian Lopez Flores over six rounds. The 19-year-old’s last three fights have resulted in first round stoppages.

The eye-catching light heavyweight star of the future Ezra Taylor (5-0, 4) from Nottingham goes up against Khalid Graidia, who recently took Karol Itauma the full eight rounds and rising super welterweight Carl Fail (8-0, 2) from Northampton takes on Frank Madsen, with both fights taking place over eight rounds.

In six round action is Carl’s twin brother Ben Fail (2-0, 1), also at super welterweight, along with exciting Thetford cruiserweight Tommy Fletcher (4-0, 3) and Reading super welterweight Joshua Frankham (7-0, 2).

Tickets for the show at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Friday, 9 June are available now from: Ticketmaster.co.uk.

Baltimore, Maryland (May 31, 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 Patrick Ayi Ayree 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.

Ayree of Accra, Ghana is 22-2-2 with 13 knockouts. The 27 year-old is 10 year-pro. He has wins over Michael Pappoe (12-1), Isaac Dowuona (6-0), Abraham Bonsu (12-2-1). Ayree, who will be making his United States debut, is coming off a eight-round draw with Bright Ayala (16-1) on January 5th in Ghana.

A massive 12-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 four-round bouts, Deshawn Owens (2-0, 1 KO) of Baltimore, Maryland takes on debuting Alberto Boites Salazar of Hampton, Virginia in a welterweight bout.

Pro debuting Juan Pablo Guillen Arancibia of Arlington, Virginia takes on Jaden Webb in a featherweight bout.

Fighters seeing action in four-round bouts against opponents to be named are middleweight Walter Sanders (2-0, 1 KO) of Baltimore; super featherweight La’Vay Lawrence (2-0, 2 KOs) of Washington, DC; super featherweight Dravintay Speed Rawls (13-1-1, 8 KOs) of Glenarden, Maryland; debuting welterweight Anwar Wingate of District Heights, Maryland; heavyweight Isaiah Branch (1-0, 1 KO) of Baltimore, Maryland; featherweight Christopher Glenn (3-0) of Hagerstown, Maryland; debuting welterweight Ricky Sanabria of Salisbury, Maryland; featherweight Ervin Fuller III (3-0, 2 KOs) of Fort Washington, Maryland

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

SUNRISE, FL. – May 31, 2023 – The undercard is now set as a stacked lineup will lead up to undefeated boxing Hall of Famer Floyd “Money” Mayweather’s return to the ring on Sunday, June 11, in an exhibition showdown against professional fighter John Gotti III, the grandson of famous gangster John Gotti.

A unique crossover extravaganza and star-studded night featuring musical performances and more, “LAST NAMES MATTER” will be available through Zeus Network Pay-Per-View on Sunday, June 11, from FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, in partnership with renowned director and producer Deon Taylor. Be sure to catch the exciting fight week activities at The Fontainebleau Miami Beach, the official Fight Week home of Mayweather vs. Gotti.

Tickets for the live event are available through Ticketmaster by clicking HERE.

In the co-featured, eight-round exhibition, film and fighting star Ulysess “The Monster” Diaz will rematch popular UK-based fighting star Khalas “BabaYaga” Karim in the sequel to their all-out war from February that stole the show on another Mayweather topped Zeus Pay-Per-View undercard.

Incredibly, Cuban-born, Miami-based cruiserweight Ulysses “The Monster” Diaz didn’t start fighting professionally until he was 35 years old. The subject of a 2022 Urban Film Festival-winning documentary about his life, Diaz grew up with accomplished rapper and singer Pitbull and even traveled the world as his head of security. The now 42-year-old has a successful boxing career at 14-1, 13 KOs and is a breakout star at bareknuckle boxing, where he broke the record for the World’s Fastest Combat Sports KO, made official by Guinness World Records, by laying out Donelei Benedetto in three seconds. Diaz is engaged to WWE Diva Dana Brooke.

Popular “Wicked n’ Bad” light heavyweight champion and boxing prodigy Khalas Karim currently resides in the UK and is originally from Morocco via Denmark. Karim asserted himself as a force by going toe-to-toe with the formidable Diaz in their first clash, an exhibition slugfest for the ages. Despite the size and experience disadvantages, Karim showed refined technique against Diaz and was surging as the fight progressed.

In another high-profile four-round exhibition, world-class heavyweight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller will take on popular Vegas-based undefeated heavyweight Antonio Zepeda.

The undefeated Jarrell Miller was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, home to his idols and former greats Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe. An outspoken and entertaining slugger, Miller began boxing at the age of 16 and went 10-1 as an amateur. Now 34-years-old, the 6’ 4” Miller currently holds a professional record of 26-0-1, with 22 KOs and was last seen knocking out former champion Lucas Browne in six rounds in March of this year. Still considered a dangerous heavyweight, Miller is closing in on a career-defining fight against one of the current stars of the big man’s division.

An “against the odds” story of perseverance, Antonio Zepeda was raised in Phoenix group homes after his father, who was serving a life sentence for murder, died in prison in 2014, and his mother, who struggled and was on the streets, died a year earlier. The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Zepeda was a Phoenix Camelback High School All-Arizona football defensive end. He began his boxing training less than a year after his dreams of an NFL career ended at UNLV in 2017, when he suffered a broken tibia, torn MCL and meniscus. The 28-year-old Zepeda is currently 6-0, 6 KOs as a boxer and a 2-0, 2 KOs in MMA. Now residing in Las Vegas, Zepeda’s fighting style has drawn comparisons, stylistically, to former Polish heavyweight Andrew Golota.

Also scheduled for action is a four-round bareknuckle boxing match between MMA star Hector Lombard and Eric Turner.

Héctor Lombard is a Cuban and Australian professional mixed martial artist, bodybuilder, and former Olympic judoka who competes in the Light Heavyweight division of Eagle FC. Lombard is best known for his tenure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and has also fought in Deep, Pride, and Bellator where he was the inaugural Bellator Middleweight Champion. Born in Cuba Lombard represented his home nation at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in Judo.

In another four-round exhibition bout, J’Hon Ingram will battle Ryan “Stone” Allen.

Light welterweight prospect J’Hon Ingram (3-0, 3 KOs) has been touted as “The Next Floyd Mayweather,” by Mayweather himself. The undefeated Las Vegas resident had a short amateur career of just 12 bouts, as his impressive style was already better suited to the professional ranks. Originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Ingram was first introduced to Mayweather when the Hall of Famer was looking for a sparring partner for an upcoming exhibition fight. The first sparring session with Mayweather proved life changing for Ingram and gave him experiences money can’t buy. The 22-year-old Ingram most recently saw viral success online for knocking out world champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero in a sparring video.

The 30-year-old Ryan Allen (10-6-1, 5 KOs) currently resides in Las Vegas, but originally hails from Jackson, Michigan. A seven-year professional, Allen has faced a list of top contenders, including current world champion Robeisy Ramirez and has never been stopped. The deceptively capable Allen has never lost to a fighter with more than one loss on this record.

To open the action, Kamari “KB3” Burnside will fight three exhibition rounds against Brendan Jackson.

A Las Vegas resident, Burnside is a promising amateur boxer and sparring partner for fellow boxing prospect Nico Ali Walsh at Top Rank Gym. A Floyd Mayweather protegee, the 6’ Burnside was formerly a basketball standout guard at Desert Oasis High School in Las Vegas where he was named the Las Vegas League Defensive Player-of-the- Year; averaging 13 points per game, 4 assists per game, 3 rebounds per game, 2.8 steals per game, and breaking the Nevada high school record for steals in a season with 84.

In addition to Mayweather’s exhibition, the event will feature performances from superstar recording artist Ozuna and more. Ozuna has won multiple Latin Grammy Awards and Billboard Music Awards, in addition to his 2018 collaboration with DJ Snake, Cardi B and Selena Gomez on “Taki Taki” that went quadruple platinum.

The event is dedicated to the loving memory of Marikit “Kitchie” Laurico, Mayweather’s longtime assistant who passed away suddenly in April.

#         #         #

ABOUT ZEUS NETWORK

Founded by Lemuel Plummer (also serves as CEO), The Zeus Network, is the first subscription-on-demand streaming service created by millennials for millennials. Launched in July 2018, the network features exclusive, original scripted, unscripted comedy and drama series and other premium content. Zeus is available to subscribers for $5.99 monthly on mobile phones and desktop computers at The Zeus Network.com. The Zeus mobile and connected TV apps are available on the Apple App store, Google Play Store, Amazon App Store, Roku and more providing access to anywhere, anytime, any device. Follow Zeus on Instagram and Facebook under @TheZeusNetwork.

Ahead of the June 10 Junior Welterweight Championship live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY, ESPN will air Trash Talk: Taylor vs. Lopez, a 30-minute all-access preview into one of the most heated world title fights of the year.

Viewers will see both fighters sound off in a verbal war as the show goes inside the fight camps of undefeated WBO junior welterweight world champion Josh Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) and the former unified lightweight kingpin Teófimo Lopez (18-1, 13 KOs).

It’s “The Tartan Tornado” vs. “The Takeover.”  Taylor, the first British fighter to become undisputed champion in the four-belt era, proudly represents his native Scotland and is on the shortlist of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world today. Lopez, a native son of Brooklyn, New York, headlines for his third time at “The Mecca of Boxing,” where he seeks to become a two-division world champion and regain his place among the pound-for-pound elite.

In addition to the air times below, Trash Talk: Taylor vs. Lopez will also be available for replay on-demand in the ESPN App and on ESPN.com and ESPN+.

Trash Talk: Taylor vs. Lopez

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

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

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

Follow @ESPNRingside on social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter TikTok

About ESPN 

ESPN, the world’s leading 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.? 

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).   

LOS ANGELES (May 31, 2023) – Undefeated prospect Darius “DFG” Fulghum (4-0, 4 KOs) headlines a sold-out pro card event for the first time this Saturday night against Las Vegas-based light heavyweight Symari Alexander (2-1, 2 KOs) in the six-round main event at Galveston Island Convention Center in Galveston, Texas.

“Words can’t really express how I really feel about headlining this show (presented by El Tigre Promotions),” Fulghum said. “Not only am I headlining for the first time, but I’m fighting locally (Galveston is a 45-minute drive from Houston). It’s a blessing; great opportunity for me. I’m ready to put on a show!”

The 26-year-old Fulghum, who is a promotional free agent, and Alexander are familiar with each other, having fought twice in the amateurs in 2016.

“I beat him twice and there was a walkover too (technically 3-0),” Fulghum remembered. “But that was a long time ago and it doesn’t mean anything now. We’ll see how we’ve grown as fighters, both of us, how we’ve evolved. This is our trilogy fight.”

Fulghum is coming off an impressive victory this past April 29^th, when he destroyed the battle-tested, Jay Williams in the second round, finishing him off with a devastating left hook, right-hand combination. Darius hadn’t fought in eight months and now he’s fighting only five weeks later.

“I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do because my pro career started a little slow,” Fulghum remarked. “I was in shape, on weight, so I figured. why not take this fight? I want to keep rolling as soon as possible. My preparation literally doesn’t change. I’m in the gym working hard and that’s what works for me. Plus, I get to put on a show for my hometown crowd. Texas has always shown me great love and support and I hope to return the favor to my community in due time.”

A licensed nurse in Texas with a degree from Prairie View A & M University, Fulghum was a decorated amateur boxer, ranked No. 1 in the USA as a heavyweight, despite fighting as a light heavyweight/super middleweight as a pro, capturing top honors at the 2018 National Golden Gloves Tournament and 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, all accomplished as he attended college.

Fulghum is working with 3 Point Management (3 PM), a growing company based in Los Angeles that has a growing stable of gifted boxers including former world super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-1, 30 KOs), NABA super flyweight champion John “Scrappy” Ramirez (12-0, 8 KOs), light heavyweight Kareem Hackett (11-0, 5 KOs), super middleweight Cem “Champ” Kilic (17-1, 11 KOs), and heavyweight Zach Spiller (3-0, 2 KOs).

INFORMATION:

Instagram/Twitter/Linkedin: @DariusFulghum

May 30, 2023) — Undefeated super middleweight contender Erik Bazinyan returns in a 10-round main event against Mexico’s Jose de Jesus Macias this Thursday, June 1 at Casino de Montreal in Montreal, Canada.
 
Bazinyan-Macias and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Bazinyan (29-0, 21 KOs) is a 28-year-old native of Yerevan, Armenia who moved to Canada when he was 16. Following an amateur career of more than 100 fights, he debuted as a pro in 2013, four months after his 18th birthday. Bazinyan rose the rankings by defeating a host of seasoned veterans, including Alan Campa, Saul Roman, Scott Sigmon, and Marcelo Esteban Coceres. Bazinyan returns to the ring after defeating Alantez Fox in February and plans to turn his attention toward the top dogs of the division if successful on Thursday. Macias (28-11-4, 14 KOs) is a 12-year veteran who holds a win over Bazinyan’s stablemate and two-time title challenger Steven Butler. The 31-year-old heads into this clash following a decision loss to Pavel Silyagin last July.

In other streaming action from Montreal:

• Canada native Steve Claggett (34-7-2, 24 KOs) will face Puerto Rican former world champion Alberto Machado (23-3, 19 KOs) in a 10-round junior welterweight battle. Claggett has scored five consecutive knockout wins since losing to Mathieu Germain in 2021. In his last fight, he beat Rafael Guzman Lugo via seventh-round TKO in March. Machado is coming off an eighth-round stoppage win against Jose Angulo last December.
   
• In an eight-round junior lightweight bout, Avery Martin Duval (9-0-1, 5 KOs) takes on Mexico’s Andres Sanchez Ramirez (6-6-3, 2 KOs). Duval looks to extend his winning streak to six, while Ramirez returns after two wins in his native land.  
   
• Southpaw prospect Thomas Chabot (8-0, 7 KOs) makes his 2023 debut in a six-rounder against Luis Bolanos Lopez (4-2-1). 
   
• Middleweight standout Alexandre Gaumont (7-0, 5 KOs) looks to earn his fourth straight knockout in a six-round fight against Poland’s Piotr Bis (6-2-1, 2 KOs).

# # #

 
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). 

Dallas, Texas – May 30, 2023 – Fighters First Management Chief Executive Officer Adrian Clark announced today it has signed a management agreement with unified WBC/WBA/IBF World Welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr.

Spence and Clark, both Texas natives, have a personal friendship that dates to 2012 while Spence was preparing for the Olympics games. Prior to Fighters First Management, Clark independently negotiated deals for the hard-hitting southpaw with equipment and apparel giant, Everlast Worldwide.

“It is an honor to have Errol join the Fighters First family,” said Clark. “If you know Errol, you know how meticulous and calculated he is in business. In 11 years, he has only aligned himself with two companies (PBC and Everlast).

“For Fighters First to be the third company to represent Errol Spence Jr says a lot about who we are as a company,” noted Clark.

“I met with Fighters First months ago and I believe in their vision, not just for me but for the fighters,” said Spence Jr. “AC has been a part of my team for a while. He put Everlast and me together. I trust him to continue to put things together for me,” added Spence Jr.

Spence Jr. A Pound-For-Pound Fixture in Boxing

Errol Spence Jr. is a fixture on every significant pound-for-pound list and it is one of boxing’s top draws and biggest stars, making quick work of most of his opponents in his rise to becoming a unified 147-pound world champion. A U.S. Olympian in 2012, the unbeaten southpaw began boxing at age 15 under his father’s guidance in Dallas.

Spence Jr. packs plenty of power, inflicting early damage and then pouncing His record currently stands at 28-0, 22 KOs (78.57% knockout ratio). Among his notable victories: Yordenis Ugas, Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia, Mikey Garcia, Kell Brook, Lamont Peterson, and Chris Algieri.

The upcoming July 29 unification bout against WBO World Welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford is the single most anticipated and desirable fight in boxing today.

Biggest Fight in Boxing Ahead on July 29

The upcoming July 29 unification bout against WBO World Welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford is the single most anticipated and desirable fight in boxing today. 

 “I told everyone that I was going to get the third belt from Ugas, then I was coming to take Terence’s belt,” said Spence Jr., adding that “it was always my objective to get this fight with Crawford done.”

“Our fight will be the most anticipated and action-packed fight that boxing has seen in the past 30-40 years. This is definitely a legacy fight,” added Spence Jr.

?Read more about Errol Spence Jr.’s boxing career in his full biography.

Clark Marries Business Acumen With Boxing Industry Insight

With 12 years of experience in sports and entertainment, Clark created “Protect Yourself at All Times,” an educational initiative designed to educate amateur and professional boxers about the business of boxing and how to protect their financial well-being while pursuing athletic accomplishments. Clark witnessed firsthand as a boxing manager and Founder/CEO of AC Sports Management the dangers posed when athletes began earning significant money with little training on how to secure their assets from those who would prey on them. AC Sports Management was acquired by Ballengee Group in 2019.

About Fighters First Management

Automotive engineer David Basha created Fighters First Management in March 2023. His motivation stemmed from Basha reading Adrian Clark’s best-selling book, “Protect Yourself at All Times: A Guide for Professional Boxers.” Basha recruited Clark to build the company from the ground up. As CEO of Fighters First, Clark’s first move was hiring former Main Events matchmaker Jolene Mizzone as president. Since then, Clark has signed six athletes to Fighters First Management: Giovani Cabrera, Justin Figueroa, Sharahya-Taina-Moreu, Shawn McCalman, Brian Norman Jr., and Justin Pauldo.

Bournemouth, England – 27th May 2023 – Chris Billam-Smith took a majority decision victory (112-112, 116-107, 115-108) over Lawrence Okolie to become the WBO Cruiserweight World Champion in front of 15,000 hometown fans at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth and live on Sky Sports.

A sold-out Vitality Stadium were totally behind Chris Billam-Smith and provided an unparalleled atmosphere for all 36 minutes of the fight. With three knockdowns, a new world champion, and an electric atmosphere, this was a night of breathtaking boxing action that will never be forgotten.

Okolie looked confident from the first bell, despite the seriously hostile Bournemouth crowd, catching Billam-Smith with a solid right hand in the first round that stunned Billam-Smith a little bit and forced him to be more cautious.

The fight continued on a similar path, with Okolie throwing big rights and holding when necessary until Billam-Smith through a perfect looping counter-left hook to knock Okolie down in the 4th round, and unloading for the rest of the round hunting for a stoppage but failing to find it.

Points off in the 5th and 7th, and another knockdown by Billam-Smith in the 10th, meant Okolie went into the final two rounds hunting for a stoppage.

Okolie gave everything in the last two rounds to find that stoppage, opening himself up to another knockdown in the 11th. Billam-Smith then held on for those last three minutes of the 12th and final round to take the victory.

Billam-Smith said to Sky Sports after the fight: “I don’t know what just happened. My whole lifes come to this moment. It’s just perfect. In front of these fans, against a great champion in Lawrence Okolie, it doesn’t get better than this.”

Okolie said to Sky Sports after the fight: “I accept the decision. He did great work in there. He got a knockdown that changed the momentum of the fight and he did enough to win it. I can adapt to a loss and I’ll be back again.”

Televised Card Results:

Chris Billam-Smith def. Lawrence Okolie – MD (112-112, 116-107, 115-108)

Sam Eggington def. Joe Pigford – TKO, R5 (3:00)

Karriss Artingstall def. Jade Taylor – PTS (79-73)

Lee Cutler def. Stanley Stannard – PTS (97-95)

Michael McKinson def. Lebin Morales – TKO, R7 (1:25)

Full Undercard Results

Sam Eggington def. Joe Pigford – TKO, R5 (3:00)

Savage Sam Eggington showed his level of talent by totally dominating a 20-0 puncher that many people expected to knock Eggington out in Joe Pigford. Eggington outworked Pigford from the first bell, moving more and throwing a lot more punches with much greater speed.

Pigford did throw some shots with his trademark power, but Eggington looked on a higher level of boxing ability, and Pigford didn’t seem to have any answers to deal with Eggington’s speed and movement.

Eggington rocked Pigford in the final seconds of the fifth round with a lightning fast right hand, and followed it up with an inch-perfect left hook that sent Pigford reeling back into the ropes. Eggington took this opportunity to pounce on Pigford, unleashing a barbaric flurry of hooks that forced the referee to stop the fight in the rival final seconds of the round as Pigford’s corner also through the towel in.

Sam Eggington said to Sky Sports after the fight: “I think I had experience in the build up to the fight. I think the build up got him nervous, and that showed in the ring. I was just totally calm, whereas he had that jitteryness. I know I’ve been in the sport a long time, but I’m in my prime right now. I’m doing the best work of my career and I’m here to win belts.”

Karriss Artingstall def. Jade Taylor – PTS 79-73

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Bronze Medalist Karriss Artingstall commanded the ring for 8 rounds to take the 4th victory of her young professional career against an undefeated, highly-touted opponent in Jade Taylor. Artingstall outmanoeuvred Taylor from the southpaw position throughout the fight, using her long reach to fire off big straight left hands right through the centre of Taylor’s guard.

Taylor did find some success in the middle rounds of the fight, leaning away from Artingstall’s potentially devastating left hands and then throwing well-timed countershots, but Artingstall adapted to this intelligently, forcing Taylor back into the ropes with intelligent pressure so Taylor had no way to avoid Artingstall’s offense.

Karriss Artingstall is flying in the professional ranks, climbing at great speed and looks set to fight for World Championship glory in the fast-moving world of Women’s boxing very soon.

Karriss Artingstall said to Sky Sports after the fight: “I’m stepping up in quality every fight but my performance there was terrible, I was falling on my backhand a bit, I should have focused on my jab a bit more. I’ll have to watch it back, I know I was falling short, I’m a bit disappointed but I got the win.”

Lee Cutler def. Stanley Stannard – PTS (97-95)

Bournemouth’s own Lee Cutler put on a career-best performance in front of his hometown fans to take a comfortable points victory and move to 13-1 in his professional career against an undefeated opponent in Stanley Stannard, who came into the fight a slight favourite with the bookies, reflecting the magnitude of Cutler’s victory.

Cutler controlled the fight from the first round, managing the distance and the exchanges to perfection, going into the final rounds of the fight knowing he would comfortably take victory. The first few rounds had a relatively slow pace, as both men found their range and settled into the fight, but Cutler looked more confident by the second. The middle rounds were all Cutler as he consistently was able to win the exchanges with Stannard, despite picking up a few cuts.

Stannard did find more success later in the fight, and closed up the referee’s scorecard as a result, but without a stoppage it was clear that would not be enough. This was arguably the best win of Cutler’s career and he looks set to challenge some of the top names in the domestic scene at 154lbs very soon.

Lee Cutler said to Sky Sports after the fight: “I thought I won that fight easily, he didn’t really land a shot on me at all to be honest. This is no-one’s night but Chris Billam-Smith’s, I’m just fortunate to be able to fight on it.”

Michael McKinson def. Lebin Morales – TKO, R7 (1:25)

Top British Welterweight Michael McKinson made a huge statement with only the 4th stoppage victory of his 26 fight professional career. McKinson rode roughshot over Lebin Morales, knocking him down in the very first round, before ruthlessly breaking him down over the next 6.

Mckinson backed his opponent against the ropes across the fight, and this started the sequence in the 7th where he found the stoppage, pinning Morales against the side of the ring and launching off a flurry of savage hooks. Morales doggedly attempted to fire back, and pushed forward as he did so, but Mckinson smartly avoided that offense while brutalising Morales with more hooks of his own.

This assault left the referee with no choice but to end the fight, and gave McKinson a formiddable victory that sets him up for huge fights against other top Welterweights very soon.

Michael McKinson said to Sky Sports after the fight: “He was trying to catch me up, but as the rounds went on I was able to catch him more and the ref had to jump in. I believe I’m a lot better than the level I’ve been fighting at, I didn’t look out of place in Texas against Ortiz, I believe I belong at that level.”

Lewis Edmundson Def. Petar Nosic – TD (50-45)

Despite the fight ending a round earlier than scheduled due to a clash of heads, Lewis Edmundson showed serious talent to move to 7-0 as a professional against an opponent in Petar Nosic who had only tasted defeat once before in his 9 fight professional career.

Edmundson dominated every exchange and controlled the fight intelligently, winning every single round before the fight’s sudden ending.

Tommy Welch Def. Amine Boucetta – PTS (59-55)

Hard-hitting Heavyweight prospect Tommy Welch took a convincing points victory over an experienced opponent in Amine Boucetta on the biggest stage of his career so far.

Welch used all his attributes to control the fight at every distance, from trading jabs at range to dominating the clinch. With the referee scoring only a single round for Boucetta, Welch will be able to return down the coast to Brighton with a seriously increased profile.

Razor Ali Def. Jonatas Oliveira – PTS (58-55)

Popular young prospect Razor Ali showed Championship-level determination to overcome being knocked down in the 2nd round to take a points victory over 6 rounds against a game opponent in Jonatas Oliveira, winning every round other than the one he was knocked down in. Ali deployed impressive punch speed and smart footwork to totally outclass Oliveira.

Full Card Results: 

Chris Billam-Smith def. Lawrence Okolie – MD (112-112, 115-108, 116-107)

Sam Eggington def. Joe Pigford, TKO, R5 (3:00)

Karriss Artingstall def. Jade Taylor, PTS (79-73)

Lee Cutler def. Stanley Stannard, PTS (97-95)

Michael McKinson def. Lebin Morales, TKO R7 (1:25)

Lewis Edmundson Def. Peter Nosic, TD (50-45)

Razor Ali Def. Jonatas Oliveira, PTS (58-55)

Tommy Welsh Def. Amine Boucetta, PTS (59-55)

WBO number-one ranked welterweight Alexis Rocha stopped Anthony Young in round five of a scheduled 12-round bout at The Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, California.

In round five, Rocha dropped Young with a left. Young got to his feet, but was wobbly and the fight was stopped at 2:15.

Rocha, 146.6 lbs of Santa Ana, CA is 23-1 with 15 knockouts. Young, 146.4 lbs of Atlantic City, NJ is 24-3.

“I knew he was going to come in with the same energy he did when he fought Sadam Ali, and I was ready for that,” said Alexis Rocha. “I want the winner of the Spence-Crawford fight, and I am confident with the help of my amazing promoter, Golden Boy and Oscar De La Hoya, we’ll make it happen.”

Oscar Duarte stopped D’Angelo Keyes after round seven of their 10-round lightweight bout.

In round three, Duarte put Keyes down with a right hand along the ropes.

In round seven, Duarte scored another knockdown with a left hand to the forehead. Keyes showed toughness, but he took a lot of punches and the doctor stopped the bout after round seven.

Duarte, 135 lbs of Parral, MEX is now 26-1-1 with 21 knockouts. Keyes, 134.3 lbs of Houston, TX is 17-3.

“This was an amazing fight, with a great rival who was incredibly tough and very prepared,” said Oscar Duarte. “From the beginning, our plan was to break him down little by little. As I said in previous interviews, I wasn’t going to go looking for the knockout, I just knew it was going to happen naturally just based on how well I had prepared and how I have matured physically and mentally. I would love a fight against William Zepeda.”

Oscar Collazo won the WBO Minimumweight world title with a stoppage of Melvin Jerusalem after round seven.

Jerusalem started well, but Collazo came on and dropped Jerusalem with body shots in round seven. The fight was stopped in the corner following the round.

Collazo, 105 lbs of Villalba, PR is now 7-0 with five knockouts. Jerusalem, 104.6 lbs of Santos City, PHL is 20-3.

“We knew we had a solid challenge ahead of us, but thanks to my corner, they helped me stay calm throughout the fight,” said Oscar Collazo. “I knew I had to establish the pace with my jab, and by the fourth or fifth round we started to hit the body and he didn’t like it. We chopped the tree and we made history for Villalba. I will see you all in Puerto Rico in August, where I will make my first title defense.”

World ranked super flyweight John Ramirez had to eek out a 10-round split decision over Fernando Diaz.

Ramirez, 114.5 lbs of Los Angeles, CA won two cards 96-94, while Diaz took a card 96-94 and sis now 12-0.

Diaz, 114.8 lbs of Riverside, CA is 12-4-1.

Eric Priest remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Ricardo Villalba in a middleweight bout.

Priest, 159.8 lbs of Los Angeles, CA won by scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73 and is now 10-0. Villalba, 160 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 20-9-1.

In round five, Villaalba started to bleed from the bridge of his nose.

Johnny Canas made a successful pro debut with four-round unanimous decision over Jose Alvarado in a super lightweight bout.

Canas, 136.4 lbs of Santa Ana, CA won by scores of 40-36 and 39-37 twice and is now 1-0. Alvarado, 138 lbs of Puebla, MEX is 1-8.

Leonardo Sanchez stopped Uhlices Reyes in round two of their four-round super featherweight fight featuring undefeated boxers.

In round one, Sanchez dropped Reyes with a left to the body. In round two, Sanchez put Reyes down with a straight left hand. Sanchez landed a big left that sent Reyes backing up across the ring. He followed up with a flurry that sent Reyes down again and the fight was stopped at 1:01.

Sanchez, 130 lbs of Cathedral City, CA is 5-0 with four knockouts. Reyes, 129 lbs of Omaha, NEB is 1-1.

BELFAST (May 27, 2023) – He came. He saw. He conquered.

Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez (28-2, 16 KOs) defended his IBF featherweight world title with a fifth-round TKO over Michael “Mick” Conlan (18-2, 9 KOs) Saturday evening at The SSE Arena in Conlan’s hometown of Belfast.

Lopez made the first defense of his crown after beating Josh Warrington in enemy territory in Leeds, England. Once again, the 29-year-old native of Mexicali, Mexico, thrived on away soil.

Conlan, a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist making his second attempt at a world title, initiated the contest as expected, jabbing from a southpaw stance to establish distance. However, Lopez landed explosive left hooks and right hands to the body with surprising ease. Conlan ended the round with a series of left hands, but Lopez did not let the round end without landing some of his own.

In the following round, both men exchanged punches to the body. Lopez backed Conlan toward the ropes, but the 31-year-old Irishman returned the favor.

In the third stanza, Conlan relied more on head movement to avoid Lopez’s punches, dipping his head on the inside to avoid wild hooks. That backfired, as Lopez timed an uppercut that hurt Conlan and sent him reeling towards the ropes.

Conlan tried to regroup in the fourth, but by then, the damage had been done. In the fifth round, as Conlan ducked to avoid a wild hook, he ran into a right uppercut that immediately floored him, forcing his corner to throw in the towel.

Lopez said, “I hope all the world champions at the featherweight division are ready for ‘Venado’ Lopez. I’m coming for all of them. I want all their belts. One by one, I’m taking all their belts with me to Mexico.

“It was an excellent atmosphere to fight in. The energy was amazing. The boxing fans from Ireland have treated me very well, so I’m glad Mick and I could give them a great fight. I wish the best of luck to Conlan moving forward, and I hope he recovers and comes back very soon.”

Conlan said, “Lopez had my respect before the fight and still has my respect after the fight. He hits very hard. He just beat me. He travels well and is a great champion”

Featherweights: English contender Nick Ball (18-0, 11 KOs) defended his WBC Silver title with a 12th-round TKO win over South Africa’s Ludumo Lamati (21-1-1, 11 KOs). Lamati’s six-inch height advantage posed issues for Ball in the first two rounds of the fight, but by the third and fourth, Ball began closing the distance with ease. Once inside, the 26-year-old landed vicious combinations, and Lamati’s corner stopped the bout in the latter stages of the final round.

Junior Lightweights: Anthony Cacace (21-1, 7 KOs) scored a 12-round unanimous decision win against Polish contender Damian Wrzesinski (26-3-2, 7 KOs). Despite Wrzesinski’s aggression,Cacace’s reach and height advantages allowed him to land harder and more consistently from his southpaw stance. Cacace is now 6-0 since suffering his first loss in 2017 against Martin J Ward. Scores: 118-111, 117-111 and 116-112.

Junior Welterweights: Irish standout Pierce O’Leary (12-0, 7 KOs) defended his WBC International belt with a first-round stoppage over Florin Ciorceri (17-4, 7 KOs). O’Leary dropped Ciorceri with a left hook, then finished things up with a savage follow-up attack. Time of stoppage: 1:11.
# # #  

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).  

Leigh Wood reclaimed the WBA Featherweight World Title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Mauricio Lara at the AO Arena in Manchester, England.

Lara, who was the champion, lot the belt on the scales in Friday as 3.8 lbs of over the featherweight limit. This was a rematch of a fight that took place on February 18th when Lara knocked out Wood in the seventh round.

In round two, Wood put Lara on the canvas with a right uppercut. Wood suffered a cut over his left eye in round four.

Wood landed 150 of 429 punches; Lara was 76 of 314.

Wood, 125.9 lbs of Nottingham, ENG won by scores of 118-109 twice and 116-111 and is now 27-3. Lara, 129.8 lbs of Mexico City is 26-3-1.

Former world title challenger Jack Catterall won a 10-round unanimous decision over Darragh Foley in a junior welterweight contest.

In round seven, Catterall dropped Foley with a hard right hook. Early in round nine, it was another right that put Foley on the deck.

Catterall landed 170 of 374 punches; Foley was 81 of 414.

Catterall, 139.9 lbs of Chorley, IRE won by scores of 99-88, 98-89 and 97-90 and is now 27-1. Foley, 22-4-1 of Bondi, AUT is 22-5-1.

Terri Harper defended her WBA Super Welterweight World Title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Ivana Habazin.

Harper landed 75 of 209 punches; Habazin was 70 of 363.

Harper, 150.3 lbs of Denaby Main, ENG won by scores of 98-92 and 97-93 twice and is now 14-1-1. Habazin, 152.4 lbs of Zlatar, CRO is 21-5.

Aqib Fiaz barely remained undefeated with a eight-round decision over Costin Ion in a super featherweight bout.

In round six, Ion dropped Fiaz with a hard left hand.

Fiaz landed 92 of 260 punches; Ion was was 86 of 313.

Fiaz, 132.1 lbs of Oldham, ENG won by a 76-75 score and is now 12-0. Ion, Marvella, SPA is 10-4-2.

Dany Ball stopped Jami Robinson at the end of round eight of their scheduled 10-round welterweight bout.

In round two, Ball dropped Robinson with a short right on the inside. Ball jumped on Robinson and hit him with a barrage of punches that caused a bloody nose.

The bout was stopped in Robinson’s corner following the eighth round.

Ball, 146.1 lbs of Kingswinford, ENG is now 13-1-1 with six knockouts. Robinson, 146.8 lbs of Bolsaver, ENG is 15-6-2.

William Crolla made a successful pro debut with a four-round decision over Joe Hardy in a super welterweight bout.

In round three, Hardy landed a right hand that put Crolla on the canvas. In round four, Hardy’s nose was bloodied.

Crolla, 156.6 lbs of Manchester, ENG is the brother of former lightweight champion Anthony Crolla and is now 1-0. Hardy, 158.3 lbs of Leeds, ENG is 2-10.

Campbell Hatton remained undefeated with a fifth round stoppage over Michal Bulik in a scheduled eight-round super lightweight bout.

In round five, Hatton landed a hard right that was followed by a left that wobbled Bulik across the ring, and the bout was stopped at 38 seconds.

Hatton, 141.3 lbs of Hyde, ENG is 12-0 with five knockouts. Bulik, 138.6 lbs of Oplae, POL is 6-3.

Aaron Bowen took a six-round decision from Aljaz Venko in a middleweight bout.

Bowen, 163.6 lbs of Coventry, ENG won by a 60-55 score and is now 2-0. Venko, 161.1 lbs of Slovenska Bistrica, SLO is 5-4-1.

6 x 3 mins International Middleweight contest
AARON BOWEN 163.6 lbs v ALJAZ VENKO 161.1 lbs
(Coventry, England)               (Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenia)

followed by

8 x 3 mins International Super-Lightweight contest
CAMPBELL HATTON 141.9 lbs v MICHAL BULIK 138.6 lbs
(Hyde, England)                             (Opale, Poland)

followed by

4 x 3 mins Super-Welterweight contest
WILLIAM CROLLA156.6 lbsv JOE HARDY 158.3 lbs
(Manchester, England)              (Leeds, England)

19:00 LIVE ON DAZN

followed by

10 x 3 mins vacant English Welterweight Title
DANNY BALL 146.1 lbs v JAMIE ROBINSON 146.8 lbs
(Kingswinford, England)  (Bolsover, England)

followed by

8 x 3 mins International Super-Featherweight contest
AQIB FIAZ 132.1 lbsv COSTIN ION 132.2 lbs
(Oldham, England)      (Marbella, Spain)

followed by

10 x 2 mins WBA Super-Welterweight World Title
TERRI HARPER150.3 lbsv IVANA HABAZIN 152.4 lbs
(Denaby Main, England)      (Zlatar, Croatia)

followed by

10 x 3 mins vacant WBA Intercontinental Super-Lightweight Title
JACK CATTERALL139.9 lbsv DARRAGH FOLEY 139.5 lbs
(Chorley, Ireland)                       (Bondi, Australia)  

followed by

12 x 3 mins WBA Featherweight World Title
MAURICIO LARA 129.8 lbsv LEIGH WOOD 125.9 lbs
(Mexico City, Mexico)             (Nottingham, England)  

Newtown, PA (May 26, 2023)-Weights for Saturday night’s Pro-Am at he Newtown Sports and Event Center in Newtown, PA.

Photo By Marc Abrams / RDR Promotions

Paul Kroll 153.6 – Eduardo Rafael Reyes 157.9

Samuel Teah 138.9 – Andrew Rodgers 137.9

Isaiah Johnson 143.5 – Marquis Hawthorne 143.1

Erron Peterson 160.9 – Nissan Anderson 159.8

Nimal Farmer 154.4 – Rah’Quand McDaniel 160.7

Tariq Green 164.7 – Courtney Williams 163.3

David Calabro 119.6 – Michael Turner 123.5

Promoter: RDR Promotions

Venue: Newtown Sports and Events Center

1st Bell: 7:15 PM —Amateur will start at 3 PM

Stream: BXNGTV.com

Eduardo ‘Rocky’ Hernandez has signed a long-term promotional deal with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom.
 
Hernandez (33-1 30 KOs) is ranked #1 in the WBC rankings at 130lbs and the Mexican banger is closing in on a World title shot. The 25 year old KO artist had an explosive 2022, starting with a thunderous to record a stunning first round stoppage win over Jorge Castaneda in June and then in Hermosillo in September he stopped Jorge Cuellar in five rounds.
 
Hernandez’s first fight under the Matchroom banner will take place in July and will be announced shortly, and Hernandez will look to display his credentials to land that coveted title shot. 
 
“I’m really happy and excited,” said Hernandez. “I feel blessed for getting this opportunity, they brought me in as a B-side and seen that I’m capable of great things, it’s an honor for me and my team to be part of Matchroom.
 
“I’m one step away from fulfilling my dream of becoming a World champion. It’s all I have in my head, the World title, and I know Matchroom will make it happen.”
 
“I’m delighted to welcome Rocky to the team,” said Hearn. “Rocky is such a dangerman for the 130 pound division and he’s right on the edge of landing a World title fight. That’s what we are looking to deliver for him, and once he gets that shot, Rocky could reign at the top level for a long time and carry that power up the weights.”