Isaiah Johnson Remains Undefeated With Unanimous Decision over Antonio Sanchez in Newtown, PA

NEWTOWN PA (March 6.2023)–Rising prospect Isaiah Johnson remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over veteran upset-specialist Antonio Sanchez in a junior welterweight bout that headlined an entertaining eight-bout card at The Newtown Athletic Club.

The show was promoted by RDR Promotions.

Johnson of New Jersey boxed very well, and had Sanchez in trouble on several different occasions, but the experienced Sanchez was able to hold off the fast and energetic Johnson. Johnson was bever challenged and cruised home with the win by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55.

Johnson is now 7-0. Sanchez of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico is 7-16-3.

Oscar Barajas scored a six-round majority decision over Roberto Gomez in a battle of “Philly-Spoiler’s” in a junior welterweight contest.

Barajas of Zamora, Mexico won by scores of 58-56 twice and 57-57 and is now 19-8-3. Gomez of Mexico City is 5-2.

Erron Peterson and Tariq Green battled to a six-round split draw in a middleweight bout.

Peterson came out strong and took the first half of the fight. Green made a late rally, and was able to salvage the draw.

Scores were 58-56 for each fighter, and a third card was even at 57-57.

Peterson of Philadelphia is 3-0-1. Green of Philadelphia is 2-2-1.

Nimal Farmer scored a vicious second round stoppage over Brois Nde in a scheduled four-round junior welterweight bout.

In round two, Farmer landed a perfect uppercut to the jaw of Farmer that sent him down hard on his back. Nde was down for several minutes, but was able to leave the ring on his strength. The time was 39 seconds.

Farmer of Lindenwold, New Jersey is 3-0 with three knockouts. Nde of Harrisburg, PA is 4-2.

Najeem Johns stopped Raekwon Butler in the opening round of their four-round junior welterweight bout.

Johns caught Butler with a hard left on the ropes and the set off a flurry that forced a referee stoppage.

Johns of Darby, PA is 3-0 with three knockouts. Butler of Brooklyn, NY is 5-5.

Dominique Mayfield won a four-round unanimous decision over Jerome Aiken in a heavyweight bout.

Mayfield of Philadelphia won by scores of 40-36 twice and 39-37 and is now 3-1. Aiken of Annapolis, MD is 1-7-1.

Ali Ellis made a successful pro debut with a third round stoppage over Jonathan Wiles in a heavyweight tussle.

Ellis started breaking down Wiles as Wiles was deducted a point in round three for holding. Later in the round Ellis dropped Wiles and the fight was over.

Ellis of Philadelphia is 1-0 with one knockout. Wiles of Philadelphia is 0-3.

In what was a sure fire Fight of the Year candidate, Brendan O’Callaghan outlasted Soslan Alborov via fourth and final round stoppage in their junior middleweight rematch.

The action was hot, heavy and furious from the opening bell. Alborov got on the board first by dropping O’Callaghan just moments into the contest. Then moments later, both guys landed simultaneously that sent both fighters to the canvas for the rare double knockdown. Alborov and O’Callaghan continued to pound away at each other, and in the final frame, O’Callaghan dropped Alborov with a perfect left hook. With Alborov hurt, O’Callaghan jumped on his opponent and the fight was stopped at 2:05.

O’Callaghan of Philadelphia is 5-1-1 with two knockouts. Alborov of Philadelphia is 1-2-1.

Photo by Darryl Cobb Jr.

RDR PROMOTIONS RETURNS THE NEWTOWN ATHLETIC CLUB ON SATURDAY, APRIL 1ST




Card Set for This Friday Night for King’s Promotions Card at The Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, PA

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – March 6, 2023 —THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, March 10th, King’s Promotions will be back at The Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with a huge night of boxing that will be headlined by a terrific eight-round welterweight bout between Julian “Hammer Hands” Rodriguez and Kashon Hutchinson.

Rodriguez of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey has a record of 21-1 with 14 knockouts. The 28 year-old Rodriguez is a 10-year professional was a former amateur standout who has wins over Neyeine Muang (1-0-2), Angel Figueroa (3-0-1), King Daluz (12-2-2), Darlo Feman (14-2), Anthony Laureano (13-0) and Jose Lopez (29-7-2). In his last bout, Rodriguez suffered his only defeat when he lost to two-division world champion Jose Pedraza on June 12, 2021 in Las Vegas.

Hutchinson of Reading, PA is 10-5 with two knockouts. The record does not tell the story with Hutchinson as he has won seven bouts in a row. The 29 year-old Hutchinson is a seven year pro who has wins over James Martin (4-0), Edgar Torres (8-0-1), and his last bout when he took a six-round unanimous decision over Rasheed Johnson on October 1, 2022 in Philadelphia.

A terrific undercard is assembled and tabbed for March 10th will be:

In an eight-round bout, Mikenna Tansley (6-2, 2 KOs) of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada battles Amy Salinas (4-3) for the WBC Continental Americas and NABF Bantamweight titles.

Tansley of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada will be looking for her second consecutive win after destroying Alisha Martinez Gonzalez in 47 seconds on February 10th in the Dominican Republic. Tansley also has a win over previously undefeated Danielle Bennett (2-0).

Salinas of Las Cruces, New Mexico started her pro career over undefeated Leanna Martinez (4-0). Salinas is coming off a loss to undefeated Christina Cruz on January 20th in Kissimmee, Florida.

Six-Round Bouts:

Jonathan Rodriguez (13-1-1, 5 KOs) of Bethlehem, PA takes on a opponent to be named in a bantamweight fight.

Thanjhae Teasley (5-0, 2 KOs) of Bethlehem, PA takes on Emmanuel Tennison (3-4, 2 KOs) of Fort Worth, Texas in a welterweight contest.

Johnny Spell (7-0, 4 KOs) of Pittsburgh fights Antonio Dunton El Jr. (3-1-2, 2 KO) of Baltimore, MD lightweight contest.

In Four-Round Bouts:

Francis Oran (1-0, 1 KO) of Bethlehem, PA fights Joseph Bond (0-4) of Orlando, Florida in a heavyweight contest. Oran is co-promoted with Jeter Promotions.

Devon Young (3-0, 2 KOs) of Aiken, SC fights Lamir Riley (2-0, 1 KO) of New Cumberland, PA in a heavyweight battle.

Tickets are on Sale now for $150, $100, $75 and $50 and can be purchased by CLICKING HERE




SUPER WELTERWEIGHT SENSATION SEBASTIAN FUNDORA DUELS RISING CONTENDER BRIAN MENDOZA LIVE ON SHOWTIME® SATURDAY, APRIL 8 HEADLINING PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS EVENT FROM DIGNITY HEALTH SPORTS PARK IN CARSON, CALIF.

CARSON, CALIF. – March 6, 2023 – Undefeated super welterweight sensation Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora will defend his Interim WBC Super Welterweight Title against rising contender Brian Mendoza on Saturday, April 8 live on SHOWTIME from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and will feature undefeated super lightweight contender Brandun Lee taking on Mexico’s Pedro Campa in the 10-round co-main event, plus undefeated featherweights Luis “The Twist” Núñez and Christian Olivo square off in the 10-round telecast opener.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing, go on sale tomorrow, Tuesday, March 7 at 12 p.m. PT and can be purchased at axs.com.

“Sebastian Fundora has established himself as one of boxing’s must-see attractions, as he brings an all-action demeanor every time he steps into the ring, combined with an ability to end a fight at any time,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Coming off a career-best win, Brian Mendoza will be highly motivated to slow down Fundora’s momentum, which should make for great action at the always electric Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. Adding in another action-fighter in Brandun Lee taking on Pedro Campa, and a pair of unbeaten featherweights in the TV opener, and April 8 lines up to be another memorable night on SHOWTIME.”

Fundora (20-0-1, 13 KOs) has rocketed to the top of the super welterweight division with a fan-friendly style and bruising toughness in the ring. At 6-foot-6, the unbeaten 25-year-old southpaw from Coachella, Calif., towers over his opponents, but has displayed an appetite for toe-to-toe combat from short range. Fundora showed his mettle in April 2022, battling the hard-hitting Erickson Lubin in an instant 2022 Fight of the Year contender. Despite both men hitting the canvas, Fundora stood tall in the end, prompting Lubin’s corner to stop the fight at the end of the ninth round. Fundora returned last October at Dignity Health Sports Park, dominating the streaking Carlos Ocampo to win a wide unanimous decision.

“I’m well-prepared for this matchup,” said Fundora. “I’m training hard, as usual, and I’m ready to put on a great show for the fans in Carson all over again. We expect a great fight from Mendoza. I hope he brings his best so that we can give the fans their money’s worth. Every single fight is important, so we’re going in there to win and get to where I want to be, and that’s world champion of the 154-pound division.”

Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mendoza (21-2, 15 KOs) now fights out of Las Vegas and will return to 154 pounds after knocking out former unified champion Jeison Rosario in the fifth-round of their middleweight clash in November. The 29-year-old, who trains under the tutelage of renowned trainer Ismael Salas, has won back-to-back fights after taking highly touted knockout artist Jesus Ramos the 10-round distance in a losing decision in September 2021. Mendoza also owns a 10-round unanimous decision triumph over Thomas LaManna in August 2020 and began his career with eighteen consecutive victories.

“I have another big opportunity in front of me on April 8,” said Mendoza. “Just like in my last fight, I’m embracing the role of underdog so I can shock the world. I’m not satisfied with just fighting for a world title, I’m going to keep working day after day until I walk out of the ring with that belt wrapped around my waist. Sleep on me at your own risk, because I’m coming for everything.”

La Quinta, California’s Lee (27-0, 23 KOs) has stopped 16 of his last 18 opponents, including a four-round destruction of Diego Luque in January. The 23-year-old has also shown his boxing acumen in winning a pair of 10-round decisions in 2022, besting Zachary Ochoa in April and Will Madera in August. Trained by his father Bobby, Lee was also an accomplished amateur, going an estimated 195 amateur fights with only five losses and capturing gold at the prestigious 2015 U.S. Junior National Championships at 145 pounds.

“This is my first co-main event, so it’s important for me to go and show the boxing world who Brandun Lee is and where I belong in the division,” said Lee. “Pedro Campa is a true Mexican veteran who can take a punch but also give one, so I have to be alert at all times. The fans can expect an explosive performance from me. I’m looking forward to performing in front of my family and friends but most importantly, I’m looking forward to being under those bright lights on April 8.”

The 31-year-old Campa (34-2-1, 23 KOs) had an eight-fight unbeaten streak snapped in his last outing, as he dropped an August 2022 showdown against former world champion Teofimo Lopez. A native of Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, Campa stopped eight of his first nine opponents after turning pro in 2011 and owns an impressive stateside win over Aaron Herrera in 2015. Campa stopped previously unbeaten fighters Abimel Bautista and Carlos Valadez in back-to-back contests to earn the fight against Lopez.

“I’m very motivated to be on a great card like this,” said Campa. “I’ve seen a little bit of Brandun Lee and I have a good idea of what I need to do to win this fight. I’m ready to face the best version of Lee and show that I have the experience and strength to come out victorious. My plan is to have my hand raised on April 8 and give the people in my hometown of Guaymas something to celebrate.”

After piling up an 85-5 amateur record, Núñez (18-0, 13 KOs) turned pro in 2018 and has shown impressive skill in amassing his unbeaten pro resume. Fighting out of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Núñez made his U.S. debut in September 2021 by winning a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Jayvon Garnett on SHOBOX: The New Generation® and followed up that performance by taking down another undefeated fighter, as he stopped Carlos Arrieta in the 10th round of their January showdown, also on SHOBOX®. Núñez made it three unbeatens in a row in May 2022, as he won a unanimous decision over Jonathan Fierro, before most recently stopping Renson Robles last December.

“I’m very thankful to be back for another opportunity on SHOWTIME,” said Núñez. “I’m coming to represent my people of the Dominican Republic as a proud warrior. Olivo is an excellent fighter and this will be a tough fight, but my experience, my strength and my skills will twist things my way.”

A native of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, Olivo (20-0-1, 7 KOs) will be making his U.S. debut when he steps into the ring on April 8. The 24-year-old turned pro as a teenager in December 2017 and has steadily racked up wins since a split-draw in his sixth pro fight. Olivo added two wins to his ledger in 2022, sweeping a pair of fights on all three judges’ scorecards each time out. His most recent triumph saw him earn a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Carlos Jaquez last September.

“I’m thrilled to be making my U.S. debut on such a big stage,” said Olivo. “I’m thankful to my team for giving me this chance. I believe that our styles will make a great fight and that in the end, the fans will be the winners. I’m going to give everything I have in the ring to make the public remember my name. I’m going up against a great fighter, but I’m ready for this challenge.”

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




Ian “Dynamite” Garcia fighting at home this Saturday in “Springfield Championship Boxing 2”

QUINCY, Mass. (March 6, 2023) – Granite Chin Promotions’ (GCP) latest signee, welterweight prospect Ian “Dynamite” Garcia, is excited to be fighting once again at home this Saturday night in front of fans, friends and family on the “Springfield Championship Boxing 2” card, at MassMutural Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.

“Springfield Championship Boxing 2”, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), will be streamed live on BXNGTV.com.

Unbeaten Massachusetts State Welterweight Champion Denzel “Double Impact” Whitley (10-0, 6 KOs) will make his first title defense in the 8-round main event against undefeated challenger Kenny “Lionheart” Larson (6-0, 5 -0 KOs), of Salem, Massachusetts

Springfield lightweight Isaiah “Baby Warrior” Cruz (5-0, 3 KOs) will face Akeem “Action Action” Jackson (6-5, 5 KOs) in the 6-round co-featured event. Cruz’ older brother, super lightweight Calixto (1-0) is also slated to be in action.

Undefeated Russian light heavyweight prospect Ali Izmailov (9-0, 6 KOs), fighting out of Detroit, has been added to the card for an 8-round fight versus Ariel “El Fenomena” Armando Basconcel (13-4-1, 12 KOs), of Argentina. .

The 24-year-old Garcia (2-0-1, 1 KO), a native of Puerto Rico, moved to Springfield in 2000 and today he’s a key part of a Western Mass. boxing rebirth. During the pandemic, Garcia traveled to Tijuana, Mexico, to make his pro debut, which resulted in a 4-round majority draw against a local opponent. “ Dynamite” has won his last two fights though in impressive fashion, and Saturday he meets “The Outlaw” Ryan Venable (3-16) in a 4-round bout.

“It’s always a great experience to be fighting in your hometown,” Garcia said. “I want to thank my promoter, Chris Traietti, for this opportunity. The fans of other Western Mass. fighters on this card will be my fans, too. Over the years, we’ve supported each other, and more fans get to see me fight here at home in Springfield than if I’m fighting on the road. My fans will go where I go, but if I’m fighting on the road, they have to get there and pay for a hotel, food and tickets. It’s a lot easier for them to watch me fight in Springfield.”

Garcia’s opponent used to train Springfield and the two have sparred on several occasions.

“He doesn’t have anything that will surprise me,” Garcia added. “I know what he’s bringing to the table; I’ll be ready!”

“This is a great step-up fight for Ian,” Traietti commented. “Venable is a scrappy guy who tests a tone of young prospects, but I was very impressed with Ian in his last fight. It is clear he puts in the work and is getting better and better, which is what you want to see in a young fighter. This is just one more step in many for him in what will be an exciting career.”

Dominican welterweight Carlos Castillo (6-0, 4 KOs), a potential star out of Holyoke (MA), faces Alfred Keenan Raymond (1-5-1, 0 KOs) in a 6-rounder.

Also fighting on the undercard in 4-round bouts are Springfield super featherweight Carlos Gonzalez (4-0, 4 KOs) vs. Richard “Hit To Hard” Barnard (1-10-1); Springfield super lightweight Calixto Cruz (1-0) vs. TBA and Springfield super lightweight Liz Humphries (0-1-1) vs. Sarah “Switch Kick” Click (0-2-1).

Card subject to change.

Tickets range between $203.00 and $48.00 and are available to purchase online at https://www.massmutualcenter.com/events/detail/springfield-championship-boxing-2  or from any of the participating boxers.

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




May 7: Stephen Fulton-Naoya Inoue Junior Featherweight Title Showdown to Stream LIVE on ESPN+

YOKOHAMA, Japan (March 6, 2023) — Naoya “Monster” Inoue conquered the bantamweight division. He’s now moving up in weight to capture the biggest fish at 122 pounds.

Philadelphia’s WBC & WBO junior featherweight world champion, Stephen Fulton, will defend his titles against Japan’s pound-for-pound king Sunday, May 7, at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. The showdown pits two of the world’s top fighters, as Inoue aims to become only the fifth Asian boxer to win world titles in four weight classes.

Fulton-Inoue and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ in a special early-morning presentation.

Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs) is 19-0 with 17 knockouts in world title fights, a championship run that started in 2014 when he knocked out Adrian Hernandez for the WBC light flyweight world title. He went on to rule the junior bantamweight division with seven title defenses, including a second-round stoppage over Omar Narvaez. At bantamweight, Inoue became the division’s first undisputed champion in a half-century, stopping Emmanuel Rodriguez in two rounds to win the IBF strap, outlasting Nonito Donaire in the 2019 Fight of the Year to add the WBA belt, starching Donaire in the second round of their June 2022 rematch to snatch the WBC title, and stopping then-WBO champion Paul Butler in the 11th round. Inoue vacated all four bantamweight titles to move up four pounds for a shot at “Cool Boy Steph.”

Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs) turned pro in 2014 and defeated five undefeated prospects in his first 12 bouts. In January 2021, he defeated Angelo Leo to capture the WBO junior featherweight world title. Ten months later, he added the WBC belt to his collection with a majority decision over then-unbeaten Brandon Figueroa in one of the year’s most action-packed championship showdowns. Fulton defended both titles last June with a one-sided unanimous decision over former unified world champion Daniel Roman. Fulton will enter the Inoue bout, his first away from American soil, coming off an 11-month layoff. The 28-year-old Fulton, however, is the naturally bigger man, holding advantages in height and reach.

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About ESPN+ 
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.9 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).




STAR BOXING BRINGS A SPECIAL NIGHT OF ENTERTAINMENT TO JERSEY CITY

Jersey City, NJ (March 5, 2023) — On Saturday night, fans packed White Eagle Hall for the thrilling debut of Star Boxing’s “Jersey City Fight Night.” The event was a unique thriller with fight action from start to finish combined with a unique melting pot atmosphere, live DJ entertainment and Star Boxing distinctiveness, all of which had fans buzzing from the start of the event through the end of the night.  

In the main event, RAJON “PICASSO” CHANCE had the crowd in an uproar as he put on an artistic masterpiece against veteran MARTIN DIAZ of Nicaragua. From the opening bell, Chance was in command, and eventually put Martin down with snapping right hand. Martin beat the count, but Chance’s offensive prowess proved to be too quick and powerful. Chance dropped Martin again after an onslaught late in the first round causing Martin’s corner to call off the fight. Chance improved to 8-0-1 6KO’s after an emphatic victory in his Star Boxing banner debut.

In the co-feature, undefeated super welterweight JAHAYAE “GOLDEN CHILD” BROWN, and DENIS “BILLABONG” OKOTH, took home fight of the night honors in a thrilling, back-and-forth battle. Brown had the faster hands, but for what Okoth lacked in speed, he made up for it with heart, determination and mechanics, consistently answering Brown’s offensive exertions with his own. The sixth was pure madness punctuated by a perfectly timed Okoth right hand that buzzed Brown. In sensational action, Brown responded with an uppercut that had Okoth falling backward on unsteady legs. While the game Okoth had many moments, Brown continued to get the best of the exchanges. Brown improved to 13-0 9KO’s with a unanimous decision victory (80-72, 79-73, 78-74).

Paterson heavyweight, NORMAN NEELY wasted no time getting back in the win column with an evident strategy from the opening bell – seek and destroy. Neely barely allowed Bedwell to step foot in the ring before he pounced. Bedwell, tried to weather the storm, looking to land one big overhand right, but it never came. Neely dropped Bedwell twice before Bedwell’s corner stopped the fight. Neely improved to 14-1 9KO’s with the first round TKO victory.

In the opening bout of the evening, LOUIS “IL MARTELLO” MAIETTA and LEVAN LOUTSOUPITZE put on an exciting performance for the crowd. Maietta, a NYC Fireman, had perhaps his best performance to date as he fought effectively using his jab and working the body well in the winning effort. Maietta improved to 2-3-1 with a unanimous decision victory (40-36 x2, 39-37).

Star Boxing CEO, JOE DEGUARDIA had this to say about Jersey City Fight Night, “We are pleased that the fans enjoyed and embraced our lively and unique boxing experience at White Eagle Hall. The fights were entertaining and the fans gave us wonderful and positive feedback about the event experience. Rajon Chance looked sharp in his victory and Jahyae Brown was entertaining in a thrilling fight. We look forward to returning to Jersey City as we continue to grow our relationship with White Eagle Hall and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment.”




CONOR McGREGOR AND MICHAEL CHANDLER TO COACH VETERANS AND PROSPECTS DURING   THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER® SEASON 31

 

Las Vegas – The 31st season of The Ultimate Fighter®could be the biggest in the show’s history, as former UFC® featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor and No. 5 ranked lightweight contender Michael Chandler go head-to-head as coaches. Following the series, which exclusively debuts Tuesday, May 30 on ESPN, the two coaches will prepare to square off at a date that will be determined in the near future. 

The Ultimate Fighter Season 31: Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler will feature a dynamic cast consisting of both returning veterans and up and coming prospects in the men’s bantamweight (135 lbs.) and lightweight (155 lbs.) divisions, who have put everything else in their lives aside for the chance to pursue their UFC dreams.

The entire 12-episode season of TUF 31 will be available exclusively on ESPN, with one episode dropping each Tuesday beginning May 30at 10pm ET/7pm PT. Episodes will be available to stream on demand on ESPN+ at 11 p.m. ET, following the conclusion of their network debut. In addition, UFC fans can re-watch all 30 previous seasons of TUF on ESPN+.

Produced by Lionsgate’s Pilgrim Media Group, The Ultimate Fighter is the iconic reality television series that has introduced millions of new and die-hard fans to future UFC champions and top contenders. Those whose careers have been shaped by their participation in The Ultimate Fighter include: Julianna Peña, Kamaru Usman, Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Rose Namajunas, Michael Bisping, Robert Whittaker, Nate Diaz, Tony Ferguson, T.J. Dillashaw, Amanda Nunes, Matt Serra, Michael Chiesa, Al Iaquinta, Kelvin Gastelum, Uriah Hall and many others.

Former UFC double champion McGregor (22-6, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland), considered by many the sport’s biggest star, returns to The Ultimate Fighter after previously serving as a coach on TUF 22. He will look to impart the skills and experience that have earned him victories over former UFC champions Eddie Alvarez, Jose Aldo and Max Holloway. McGregor now has his sights set on beating Chandler as a coach and building momentum towards their inevitable match later this year.

Chandler (23-8, fighting out of Nashville, Tenn. ) is a favorite amongst fight fans for his dynamicfighting style and captivating personality. No stranger to a highlight reel finish, Chandler stunned fans with spectacular stoppages over Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson. He now plans on adding a successful TUF coaching season to his resume on the way to defeating McGregor.  

Below is a full list of competitors scheduled to compete in The Ultimate Fighter 31: Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler (name, age, professional record and fighting out of):

MEN’S BATAMWEIGHT (135)

Mando Gutierrez | 26 | 8-2 | East Lansing, Mich.

Trevor Wells | 27 | 8-3 | Temecula, Calif.

Carlos Vera | 35 | 12-3 | Falls Church, Vir.

Rico DiSciullo | 36 | 11-2 | Somerville, Mass.

Cody Gibson | 35 | 19-8 | San Luis Obispo County, Calif.

Timur Valiev | 32 | 18-3 | Moscow, Russia

Hunter Azure | 30 | 10-3 | Phoenix, Ariz.

Brad Katona | 31 | 12-2 | Dublin, Ireland

MEN’S LIGHTWEIGHT (155)

Landon Quiñones | 27 | 7-1-1 | Sunrise, Fla.

Aaron McKenzie | 26 | 11-2-1 | Oklahoma City, Okla.

Nate Jennerman | 30 | 16-5 | Sheboygan, Wis.

Lee Hammond | 26 | 5-0 | Dublin, Ireland

Austin Hubbard | 31 | 15-6 | Denver, Colo.

Roosevelt Roberts | 29 | 12-3 | Lathrop, Calif.

Kurt Holobaugh | 36 | 19-7 | Franklinton, La.

Jason Knight | 30 | 22-7 | Lucedale, Miss.

*All athletes are subject to change

Visit UFC.com for additional information and content to support your UFC coverage.

About UFC®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 228 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to over 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About 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 24.9 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). ??

About ESPN

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

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Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) encompasses world-class motion picture and television studio operations aligned with the STARZ premium global subscription platform to bring a unique and varied portfolio of entertainment to consumers around the world. The Company’s film, television, subscription and location-based entertainment businesses are backed by an 18,000-title library and a valuable collection of iconic film and television franchises. A digital age company driven by its entrepreneurial culture and commitment to innovation, the Lionsgate brand is synonymous with bold, original, relatable entertainment for audiences worldwide.




Figueroa Decisions Magsayo to win Interim Featherweight Title

Brandon Figueroa won the WBC Interim Featherweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Mark Magsayo at The Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.

In round four, Figueroa was cut over his right eye from an accidental headbutt.

In round eight, Magsayo was deducted a point for holding. In round 10, Figueroa was cut over his left eye due to another accidental headbutt. In round 11, he was deducted another point for holding.

Figueroa, 125.8 lbs of Weslaco, TX won by scores of 118-108 and 117-109 twice and is now 24-1-1. Magsayo, 126 lbs of the Philippines is 24-2.

Resendiz Stops Hurd in 10th

Armando Resnediz stopped former unified junior middleweight champion Jarrett Hurd in the 10th and final round of their middleweight bout.

The fight was a high-volume, high-contact fight that was stopped five seconds into the final round when Hurd’s lip was severely cut.

Resendiz, 162 lbs of Mexico is 13-1 with 10 knockouts. Hurd, 159.2 lbs of Accokeek, MD is 24-3.

Elijah Garcia Stops Vidal in Four

19 year-old Elijah Garcia stopped Amilcar Vidal in round four of their 10-round middleweight bout.

In round four, Garcia landed a huge flurry that started by a right hook on the ropes that sent off 13 unanswered punch that put Vidal down, and the bout was stopped at 2:17.

Garcia, 158.6 lbs of Phoenix, AZ is 14-0 with 12 knockouts. Vidal, 159 lbs of Uruguay is 16-1.

Former world title challenger Terrell Gausha stopped Brandon Lynch in round nine of their 10-round super welterweight bout.

In round nine, Gausha dropped Lynch with a short right. Seconds later, it was another right that put Lynch down again. Gausha finished off lynch with a series of overhand rights that put Lynch down for a third and final time, and the fight was stopped at 50 seconds.

Gausha, 156.6 lbs of Encino, CA is 23-3-1 with 10 knockouts. Lynch, 155.6 lbs of Los Angeles, CA is 12-2-1.

Travon Marshall remained undefeated with a third round stoppage over Justin DeLoach Dock in a scheduled eight-round welterweight fight.

In round three, Marshall dropped Dock with a hard right hand. Dock got to his feet, but the fight was called at 2:07.

Marshall, 145.6 lbs of Capitol Heights, MD is now 8-0 with seven knockouts. Dock, 147 lbs of Augusta, GA is 19-6.

In round one, Dock began to bleed from the nose.

Samuel Teah won a eight-round unanimous decision over Enriko Gogokhia in a junior welterweight bout.

In round one, Teah scored a knockdown when Gogokhia was off balance and Teah landed a right hand that that put Gogokhia on the canvas.

In round six, Teah started to swell under his left eye.

Teah, 141.6 lbs of Philadephia won by scores of 79-72 and 78-73 twice and is now 19-6-1. Gogokhia, 143 lbs of Woodland Hills, CA is 13-1-2.

Daniel Blancas remained undefeated with a first round stoppage over Kynndale Prather in a scheduled four-round super middleweight bout.

In round one, Blancas dropped Prather with a hard combination in the corner. Prather dropped Prather again in the round with another flurry and the bout was stopped.

Blancas, 168.2 lbs of Milwaukee, WI is 5-0 with three knockouts Prather, 165.4 lbs of Kansas City, KS is 3-16.




Fierro Stops Estela in seven

Angel Fierro stopped Eduardo Estela in round seven of their scheduled 10-round lightweight bout in Culiacan, Mexico

In round two, Fierro was deducted a point. In round four, Fierro dropped Estela with a hard right hand. At the end of the round, Fierro dropped Estela again with another right that rolled Estela under the bottom rope.

In round seven, Fierro landed a big flurry that was finished up by a couple of hard left hooks that put Estela down and out at 2:59

Fierro, 134 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 21-1-2 with 17 knockouts. Estela, 134.2 lbs of Montevideo, URU is 14-2.

Eduardo Nunez scored a vicious second round stoppage over Martin Ceyca in a 10-round super featherweight bout.

In round two, Nunez landed a booming right hand that drilled the jaw of Ceyca and put him flat on his back and the fight was over at 2:14.

Nunez, 130.6 lbs of Los Mochis, MEX is 24-1 with all 24 by knockout. Ceyca, 128.8 lbs of Culiacan, MEX is 17-1.

Misael Lopez remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Aaron Guerrero in a middleweight fight.

Rodriguez, 162.6 lbs of Chihuahua, MEX won by scores of 78-76 and 77-76 twice and is now 13-0. Guerrero, 161.2 lbs of Culiacan, MEX is 16-2-1.

Francisco Pina won an eight-round unanimous decision over Alejandro Young in a battle of undefeated featherweights.

Pina, 125.8 lbs of Mexico City won by scores of 78-75, 77-75 and 77-76 and is now 6-0. Young, 127.2 lbs of Los Mochis, MX is 9-1.

Criztec Bazaldua made a successful pro debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Jose Bustamante in a lightweight contest.

Bazaldua, 136.4 lbs of Los Angeles won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is 1-0. Bustamante, 135.4 lbs of Mexico City is 1-1.




IT IS FIGHT NIGHT! “JERSEY CITY FIGHT NIGHT” GOES DOWN TONIGHT (3/4) AT WHITE EAGLE HALL IN JERSEY CITY

Jersey City, NJ (March 4, 2023) – It’s officially FIGHT NIGHT! Tonight (3/4), from White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, NJ, Star Boxing presents “Jersey City Fight Night!” Doors open at 6:30 PM and tickets can be purchased online by clicking here, or at the White Eagle Hall box office. If you can’t make it to the fights, be sure to tune in at StarBoxing.TV starting at 7:30 PM ET.

“Elite Town” stage VIP tickets sold out early last week, but to accommodate the demand and requests, Star Boxing is adding another 12 seats on the stage that are now available via the ticket link as “Elite Town” VIP 2. Don’t wait as these seats wont last!

The melting pot mingle “Chill Town” floor area will have a live music by Jersey City’s own, DJ Anthony Vera, a silent sports memorabilia auction and a free-flowing networking atmosphere that will allow you to not just be ringside, but mere feet away from the ring next to special guests including current professional boxers and other notables. Balcony “Up Town” seated and “Up Town” GA over looks “Chill Town” giving fans the feeling of being in the ring with the fighters as the action unfolds. See you tonight at the fights!

JERSEY CITY FIGHT NIGHT is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and is set to take place at White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, New Jersey on Saturday, March 4. This distinctive boxing experience will have a networking atmosphere with a free-flowing cocktail party layout. Tickets will be exclusive and limited, giving those in attendance the unique opportunity to mingle with local businesses, representatives, athletes, and other notables. Doors to the event open at 6:30PM. Tickets to “Jersey City Fight Night” are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting whiteeaglehalljc.com or www.StarBoxing.com.

JERSEY CITY FIGHT NIGHT TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Tickets Start at $50. Fight Night: March 4, 2023 at White Eagle Hall




Coyle to headline April 29 in St. Petersburg, FL

Tampa, FL (March 4, 2023) – NABA middleweight champion Connor “The Kid” Coyle will defend his title in the main event of Reyes Fire Fist Boxing’s “Fire on the Bay” Saturday, April 29 at the Hilton Carillon in St. Petersburg, FL.

Tickets are on sale at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fire-on-the-bay-tickets-556587025777. Doors open at 6 pm and the opening bell is scheduled for 7 pm. The card will also be broadcast live on Reyesboxingtv.com.

Hailing from Derry, Northern Ireland and fighting out of Pinellas Park, FL, Coyle is 18-0 with 8 knockouts. In his most recent bout, the 32-year-old stopped Sladan Janjanin in seven rounds.

Coyle, the WBA’s #4 rated middleweight, faces an opponent to be named in a ten round contest.

In the co-featured bout, lightweight contender Willian “Babyface” Silva will appear in an eight rounder against an opponent to be determined. On October 29, Silva stopped Carlos Gaston Suarez in two rounds. Silva, 29-4 (15 KO’s), fights out of Florida and is a native of Sao Paolo, Brazil.

The undercard features Joseph Fernandez, Imran Haddabah, Rodrigo Coria, Gabriel Morales, Luke Iannuccilli, Khiry Todd, Marqus Bates, Mike Misa, and Harry Gigliotti appearing in separate contests.

“This is the first of three we’re promoting this year in St. Pete,” said Jody Caliguire of Reyes Fire Fist Boxing. “Fire on the Bay” features Connor defending his title, and a world class boxer in Willian Silva. We’re pleased to feature other local favorites such as Imran Haddabah and Joseph Fernandez, along with some really talented fighters from the New England area fighting here for the first time. Mike Reyes and I have worked hard to put together this event and the fans will definitely enjoy a great evening of boxing April 29.”




Weights from Newtown, PA

NEWTOWN PA (March 3, 2023)–Weights for Saturday night’s RDR Promotions card at The Newtown Athletic Club

Isaiah Johnson 144.5 – Antonio Sanchez 144.5

Oscar Barajas 137.8 – Roberto Gomez 144.5

Nimal Farmer 145.3 – Boris Nde 141.2

Dominique Mayfield 265.6 – Jerome Aiken 227.8

Erron Peterson 160.4 – Tariq Green 159.4

Najeem Johns 139 – Raekwon Butler 138.5

Soslon Alborov 154 – Brendan O’Callaghan 155.4

Jonathan Wiles 229.8 – Ali Ellis 211.4

Promoter: RDR Promotions

Venue: Newtown Athletic Club

Stream: BXNGTV.com

1st Bell: 6:30 PM ET

The Newtown Athletic Club is located at 120 Pheasant, Newtown PA 18940

Tickets are $200, $100, $75 and $50 and can be purchased at The Following Link

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS




FIGUEROA VS. MAGSAYO OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND COMMISSION OFFICIALS

WBC Featherweight Title (Interim) – 12 Rounds

Brandon Figueroa – 125.8 lbs.

Mark Magsayo – 126 lbs.

Referee: Thomas Taylor; Judges: Gary Ritter (Okla.), Fernando Villarreal (Calif.), Zachary Young (Calif.)

Middleweight Bout – 10 Rounds

Jarrett Hurd – 159.2 lbs.

Armando Reséndiz – 161 lbs.

Referee: Ray Corona; Judges: Rudy Barragan (Calif.), Edward Hernandez, Sr. (Calif.), Dr. Lou Moret (Calif.) 

Note: Contracted weight is 162 lbs.

Middleweight Bout – 10 Rounds

Amilcar Vidal – 159 lbs.

Elijah Garcia – 158.6 lbs.

Referee: Jack Reiss; Judges: Dr. Lou Moret (Calif.), Fernando Villarreal (Calif.), Zachary Young (Calif.)

SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN

Stream Live at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT

on the SHOWTIME SPORTS® YouTube Channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page

Super Welterweight Bout – 10 Rounds

Terrell Gausha – 156.6 lbs.

Brandyn Lynch – 155.6 lbs.

Note: Contracted weight is 157 lbs.

Referee: Jerry Cantu; Judges: Rudy Barragan (Calif.), Edward Hernandez, Sr. (Calif.), Gary Ritter (Okla.)

Welterweight Bout – Eight Rounds

Travon Marshall – 145.6 lbs.

Justin DeLoach Dock – 147 lbs.

Referee: Thomas Taylor; Judges: Dr. Lou Moret (Calif.), Fernando Villarreal (Calif.), Zachary Young (Calif.)

Super Lightweight Bout – 8/10 Rounds

Enriko Gogokhia – 143 lbs.

Samuel Teah – 141.6 lbs.

Note: Contracted weight is 143 lbs.

Referee: Ray Corona; Judges: Rudy Barragan (Calif.), Ivan Guillermo (Calif.), Zachary Young (Calif.)

Veteran sportscaster Brian Custer will host the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast while versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo will handle blow-by-blow action alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and three-division world champion Abner Mares. Three Hall of Famers round out the telecast team – Emmy® award winning reporter Jim Gray, world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr., and boxing historian Steve Farhood as unofficial scorer. The executive producer is four-time Emmy award winner David Dinkins, Jr. with Bob Dunphy, son of Hall of Fame boxing announcer Don Dunphy, directing. Sportscaster Alejandro Luna will call the action in Spanish on Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) with former world champion and SHOBOX: The New Generation® commentator Raúl “El Diamante” Marquez serving as the expert analyst. 

The SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN show is hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show hosts Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell, who also serves as an analyst alongside Marquez on SHOBOX.

# # #

ABOUT FIGUEROA VS. MAGSAYO

Figueroa vs. Magsayo will see a matchup of all-action, high-powered former world champions, as hard-hitting star Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa meets Filipino sensation Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo for the vacant Interim WBC Featherweight Title on Saturday, March 4 live on SHOWTIME from Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif., topping a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will also feature the return of former unified world champion “Swift” Jarrett Hurd as he takes on the power-punching Armando Reséndiz in the 10-round middleweight co-main event. Kicking off the telecast is an intriguing clash of unbeaten young middleweights as Amilcar Vidal and Elijah García meet in a 10-round attraction.

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




OFFICIAL WEIGH IN RESULTS FROM WHITE EAGLE HALL

Jersey City, NJ (March 3, 2023) – Jersey City Fight Night will take place tomorrow night (3/4) at White Eagle Hall, in Jersey City New Jersey. Today, the fighters took to the scale for the official weigh in.

OFFICIAL JERSEY CITY FIGHT NIGHT WEIGH IN RESULTS
8 Round Super Bantamweight BoutRAJON “PICASSO” CHANCE: 122 lbsMARTIN “EL GATO” DIAZ: 121.5 lbs
8 Round Super Welterweight BoutJAHYAE “GOLDEN CHILD” BROWN: 153 lbsDENIS “BILABONG” OKOTH: 151.5 lbs
8 Round Heavyweight BoutNORMAN “NO NONSENSE” NEELY: 235 lbsNATHAN BEDWELL: 225.5 lbs
4 Round Light Heavyweight Bout:LOUIS “IL MARTELLO” MAIETTA: 171.5 lbsLEVAN LOUTSOUPITZE: 163 lbs.

Doors at White Eagle Hall will open at 6:30PM ET, and the event will begin at 7:30 PM ET. Fists will fly shortly thereafter. If you cannot make it to Jersey City Fight Night, you can tune in LIVE on StarBoxing.TV starting at 7:30 PM ET.

Rajon Chance (L) vs Martin Diaz (R)Jahaye Brown (L) vs Denis Okoth (R)
Norman Neely (L) vs Nathan Bedwell(R)Louis Maietta (L) vs Levan Loutsoupitze (R)
Photos Credit: @TheFightPhotos/Instagram
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JERSEY CITY FIGHT NIGHT TICKETS ON SALE NOW!Tickets Start at $50. Fight Night: March 4, 2023 at White Eagle HallBUY TICKETS HERE



WEIGHTS, RUNNING ORDER FROM FIERRO VS. ESTELA WEIGH-IN

4 x 3 mins Lightweight contest
Criztec Bazaldua (136.4lbs)  vs.     Jose Bustamante (135.4lbs)
Los Angeles, California          Mexico City, Mexico
 
Followed by
 
8 x 3 mins Featherweight contest
Alejandro Young (127.2lbs)  vs.     Francisco Piña (125.8lbs)
Los Mochis, Mexico                        Mexico City, Mexico
 
Followed by
 
8 x 3 mins Middleweight contest
Misael Rodriguez (162.6lbs) vs.     Aaron Guerrero (161.2lbs)
Chihuahua, Mexico                         Culiacan, Mexico
 
Followed by

10 x 3 mins Super-Featherweight contest
Eduardo Núñez (130.6lbs)    vs.     Martin Ceyca (128.8lbs)
Los Mochis, Mexico                        Culiacan, Mexico
 
Followed by

10 x 3 mins WBO NABO Lightweight title
Angel Fierro (134.4lbs)         vs.     Eduardo Estela (134.2lbs)
Tijuana, Mexico                     Montevideo, Uruguay




“LA GUERRA CIVIL” IN A CUIDAD OBREGON TURF WAR UNBEATEN LUIS TORRES FACES ONCE BEATEN MISAEL CABRERA MARCH 8 STREAMED LIVE ON PROBOX TV

Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, México, March 3, 2023 – – Luis “Koreano” Torres and Misael “Pichón” Cabrera, both born and raised in Obregon, will meet in the ring for the right to declare being the best lightweight in town. The Torres-Cabrera ten-round lightweight bout will be the main event on March 8, at Palenque De La Expo, in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, and will be streamed live at ProBoxTV.com and the ProBox TV app.

The event is being promoted by Marquez Promotions, Chiquita Gonzalez Promotions and ProBox Promotions.

Luis “Koreano” Torres (17-0, 10 KOs) born and raised in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, México, made his professional debut in 2017. Luis won the World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth Silver lightweight title on August 25, 2020 and won the WBC Latino lightweight title on June 2, 2022.

Miguel “Pichón” Cabrera (13-1, 10 KOs) born and raised in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, México, made his professional debut as a lightweight in 2016. Pichon won his first twelve bouts prior to fighting outside of Mexico for the first time in 2022, in Canada, where he succumbed via close unanimous decision. Cabrera returned to the homeland for his next bout, in Acapulco, and won the WBC Fecarbox lightweight title by fifth round knockout.

“This is a high-level fight that fans have wanted to see it for a long time, so we prepare like never before and we are ready for war,” said Luis “Koreano” Torres.  “This has been the best camp of my career.  We have been training hard for eight weeks at the New Body Gym in Obregón and I feel better than I ever have. Cabrera is the toughest opponent of my career.  We know each other very well since we’re both from Obregón and the fight fans have wanted to see this fight for years!” 

“It’s going to be a war, of that I am sure. This will be a real fight that you cannot miss,” said Misael “Pichón” Cabrera. “Camp has been great. I am in the best shape of my life, and we expect a very tough fight on March 8th. I have known Torres for a long time, and I expect him to be a great shape for this fight. He is strong and fast, but even that won’t be enough to beat me!” 

There will be three fights total on the March 8 ProBox live stream, which begins at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT. The opener will be unbeaten Oscar Alvarez (8-0, 7 KOs) fighting in a eight-round featherweight bout against Diego Lopez (3-1-1, 2 KOs). Leading into the main event will be a ten-round lightweight bout between once beaten, big puncher Miguel Madueno (28-1, 26 KOs) against Willmak Canonico (12-2-2, 10 KOs).

Follow ProBox TV at https://twitter.com/ProBox_TV and https://www.youtube.com/c/ProBoxTV

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




EUBANK- URUZQUIETA FIGHT CARD COMFIRMED FOR MARCH 31 AT YORK HALL

Fans can look forward to an unbelievable night of action when Harlem Eubank (16-0, 6 KOs) returns to London’s iconic York Hall on Friday March 31 as the Brighton man looks to continue his climb up the Super Lightweight rankings against Mexico’s Christian Uruzquieta (21-5, 8 KOs), live and free on Channel 5 in association with Infinitum Entertainment.

A stacked undercard at the legendary East End venue features a fifty-fifty English Cruiserweight Title bout, a highlight reel heavyweight, two huge German names plus a host of local talent.

Former Southern Area Cruiserweight Champion, ‘Nightmare’ Nick Parpa (10-1, 6 KOs) will take on Middlesbrough’s undefeated Michael Webster (7-0, 5 KOs) in an eagerly anticipated English Cruiserweight Championship clash.

Parpa will be looking to pick up where he left off with a win after ending things in the first round against Nicolas Holcapfel in May 2023. Webster set up his British Title opportunity by putting Erdogan Kadrija down twice in the third round to claim a stoppage win in a one-sided contest at the Newcastle Arena.  

Rising Heavyweight star Matty Harris (4-0, 3 KOs) returns to face Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Milos Veletic (2-2, 1 KO). 23-year-old Harris will look to build off the back of his three consecutive first-round finishes in his last three outings, with his most recent win coming against Jiri Surmaj on the undercard of Eubank Jr vs. Smith on January 21 in Manchester.

The IBO Continental Super Welterweight champion Abass Baraou (12-1, 8 KOs) will hope to make his York Hall debut, and second fight in Britain, a memorable one as he returns having been out of the ring since March 2022. A statement win could see one of Germany’s hottest prospects continue to close the gap between himself and the top ten Super Welterweights.  

Another exciting German fighter joins the card in the form of undefeated featherweight Sophie Alisch (8-0, 1 KO), who will have to look for maturity beyond her 21 years as she faces the hugely experienced Bec Connolly over six rounds. Alisch will be eager to stamp her authority against a fighter like Connolly, who has shared the ring with the likes of Natasha Jonas and Ebanie Bridges.

Jesse Brandon (1-0) will be hoping to bring a similar jubilant crowd that supported him at York Hall in his last Super Lightweight outing in another four- round fight at the historic venue. Hoping to follow in the footsteps of Brandon will be Codie Smith, who makes his professional debut at Featherweight against Italy’s Luca Genovese (4-19-5) in a four-round contest.

The historic York Hall hosts an unbelievable night of free-to-air action, headlined by Harlem Eubank as he faces off against Christian Uruzquieta on Friday March 31 live on Channel 5, in association with Infinitum Entertainment.
 

Tickets are on sale now and available via WassermanBoxing.com.




RAMLA ALI NAMED TO TIME’S 2023 WOMEN OF THE YEAR LIST RECOGNIZING EXTRAORDINARY LEADERS FIGHTING FOR A MORE EQUAL WORLD

TIME named Ramla Ali to the 2023 TIME Women of the Year list, recognizing 12 extraordinary leaders fighting for a more equal world. The full list and related tributes appear in the March 13 / March 20 issue of TIME, available on newsstands on Friday, March 10, and now at time.com/women-of-the-year. 

Ali, a UNICEF ambassador, began the Sisters Club in 2018 a nonprofit that offers boxing lessons to women who don’t usually enjoy access to the sport: those from ethnic or religious minority backgrounds, as well as survivors of domestic abuse. There are four locations in London, and having opened in Los Angeles, Ali will add a second American location in Fort Worth, Texas soon.

Ali is flying inside the ring too, with TIME interviewing the Somali Olympian in the build-up to her last action where Ali comfortably outpointed Avril Mathie to land her first pro title, the IBF Inter-Continental Super-Bantamweight strap.

READ MORE AT TIME.COM ON RAMLA ALI HERE




“JERSEY CITY FIGHT NIGHT” A NEW BOXING EXPERIENCE TAKES JERSEY CITY BY STORM THIS SATURDAY NIGHT (3/4) 

Jersey City, NJ (March 2, 2023) – Star Boxing’s inaugural “Jersey City Fight Night” is just days away, set to take place at White Eagle Hall on Saturday night (March 4), in Jersey City, New Jersey. The unique venue calls for a unique fight night, which includes live music from Jersey City’s own, DJ Anthony Vera, a silent sports memorabilia auction and the chance to socialize with former and current professional boxers, athletes, celebrities and local businesses.

Doors to White Eagle Hall will open at 6:30 PM ET with action starting at 7:30 PM ET and fists flying soon thereafter. The live stream of the event will take place on the newly launched StarBoxing.TV at 7:30 PM ET.

In an 8-round bout, New Jersey born and raised super bantamweight, RAJON “PICASSO” CHANCE (E. Orange, NJ, 7-0-1 5KO’s) will fight MARTIN “EL GATO” DIAZ (Managua, Nicaragua, 18-14-2 8KO’S). Chance was a standout amateur, amassing a record of 135-15, with three national championships to his name. Chance returns to his home state of NJ for the second time, facing Diaz, who is a former WBA Fedecentro Bantamweight Champion. Diaz is a tough challenge for Chance having faced an opponent record of 68-8-3 in his last six fights.

Also, in an 8-round bout, undefeated super welterweight, JAHYAE “THE GOLDEN CHILD” BROWN (Schenectady, NY, 13-0 9KO’s) will take on, DENIS “BILLABONG” OKOTH, who has made a habit of defeating Star Boxing prospects. Brown, who took his training camp to Las Vegas for the first time, is preparing for a pivotal 2023 that begins at “Jersey City Fight Night.” Born in Kenya, now residing in Silver Springs, Maryland, Okoth (4-5-1 2KO’s) has defeated former Star Boxing prospects Ronnie Austion, and the formally undefeated, Dylan Moran, by emphatic TKO. As Brown looks to transition from prospect to contender, he will need to bite down and avoid the fury of Denis Okoth.

In an 8-round bout, hometown heavyweight NORMAN “NO NONSENSE” NEELY (Paterson, NJ, 13-1 8KO’S) returns with vengeance on his mind, to face off with Lexington, Tennessee heavyweight, NATHAN BEDWELL. Neely, formerly the #1 rated US amateur, and five-time national champion, was on an undefeated warpath before getting stunned in his last bout, by an early first round right hand courtesy of veteran Rydell Booker. With the past behind him, Neely looks to get back to his winning ways when he meets Nathan Bedwell (7-19-1 6KO’s) at Jersey City Fight Night.

In a 4-round light heavyweight bout LOUIS “IL MARTELLO” MAIETTA (1-3-1) will make his way from the Bronx to Jersey City to fight LEVAN LOUTSOUPITZE (New York, NY, pro debut) in what is slated to be an exciting opening contest.

Star Boxing CEO JOE DEGUARDIA had this to say about the card, “With Jersey City Fight Night we will be presenting not just a fight card, but a melting pot mixer from the moment doors open until the final bell of the last fight. From music, to mingling, to silent auctions, this event will blend a fun night out coupled with professional boxing action.”

JERSEY CITY FIGHT NIGHT is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing. Tickets to “Jersey City Fight Night” are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting whiteeaglehall.com or www.starboxing.com. White Eagle Hall is located at 337 Newark Ave., Jersey City, New Jersey 07302.

MEDIA CREDENTIALS:

Apply for “Jersey City Fight Night” media credentials: CLICK HERE!

*Only for accredited media members

NOTE: The scheduled 8-round super lightweight showdown between Ryan O’Rourke and Deshaun Johns has been cancelled due to O’Rourke coming down with an illness. Likewise, the previously scheduled 6-round super middleweight bout between Harley Burke and Joe Aguilar has been called off after Aguilar suffered a torn bicep late in camp.

All bouts are subject to change;

For more information visit: whiteeaglehalljc.com and StarBoxing.com

Guests can purchase tickets for all upcoming shows by visiting whiteeaglehalljc.com.

For the most up-to-date news on event announcements, follow:

White Eagle Hall on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Star Boxing on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

JERSEY CITY FIGHT NIGHT TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Tickets Start at $50. Fight Night: March 4, 2023 at White Eagle Hall




INJURY FORCES SMITH OUT OF STEPIEN CLASH; MARCH 11

An injury has forced Callum Smith out of his Light-Heavyweight clash with Pawel Stepien at the M&S Bank Arena Liverpool on Saturday March 11.
 
The event will go ahead, shown live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Australia and New Zealand), with Diego Pacheco’s WBO International Super-Middleweight Title showdown with Jack Cullen and Robbie Davies Jr’s Super-Lightweight fight with Darragh Foley now co-headlining.
 
Pacheco (17-0, 14 KOs), one of the hottest prospects in American boxing, looks to impress on his first appearance in the UK, stepping-up against Little Lever’s Cullen (21-3-1, 9 KOs) in what promises to be an all-action battle.
 
Davies Jr (23-3, 15 KOs) was set to square off with Australia’s Liam Paro but will now face late stand-in opponent Foley (21-4-1, 9 KOs) over ten rounds, and the Australia-based Irishman arrives in Liverpool brimming with confidence following four straight wins.
 
Romford Heavyweight sensation Johnny Fisher (7-0, 6 KOs) takes ‘The Romford Bull’ Army to Liverpool for the first time as he faces Italy’s Alfonso Damiani (6-2, 2 KOs) over eight rounds and decorated amateur star turned Super-Bantamweight prospect Peter McGrail (6-0, 5 KOs) makes his highly anticipated Matchroom debut.
 
Warrington Lightweight talent Rhiannon Dixon (7-0) squares off with Wombourne’s Vicky Wilkinson (5-0-1) for the Commonwealth Title, Oldham’s Aqib Fiaz (10-0) takes on Yeovil’s Dean Dodge (9-2-1, 3 KOs) over eight rounds at Super-Featherweight, plus there’s for Hyde’s Campbell Hatton (9-0, 3 KOs), Chester Middleweight Paddy Lacey (7-0, 1 KO) and Billericay Middleweight George Liddard (1-0, 1 KO).
 
Refunds for tickets purchased for the March 11 event are available from the original point of purchase.




Reyes Fire Fist Boxing and Conlan Boxing to co-promote in Ireland

Tampa, FL (March 2, 2023) – Reyes Fire Fist Boxing Promotions and Conlan Boxing are pleased to announce they’ll co-promote three shows in Ireland.

The first fight card features a significant super middleweight bout between NABA Gold champion Yamaguchi “The Problem” Falcao and Padraig “The Hammer” McCrory.

Born and raised in Brazil but now residing in Florida, Falcao’s an excellent 24-1-1 with 10 wins by knockout. In his most recent bout, the 2012 Olympic bronze medalist scored a seventh round stoppage over Ernest Amuzu. Ranked #6 by the WBA and seventh by the WBC, Falcao would move closer to a world title opportunity if victorious, but defeating McCrory is a tall task.

Fighting out of Belfast, Northern Ireland, McCrory’s unbeaten at 16-0 with 9 KO’s. McCrory had a breakout 2022, stopping Marco Antonio Periban (26-5-1) in five rounds, Leon Bunn (18-0) in six and defeating Dmytro Fedas (8-0-2) by decision. Currently, “The Hammer” is ranked #4 in the world by the WBA and sixth by the WBC.

Falcao-McCrory is scheduled for ten rounds.

“This is a great partnership. Both of our stables can grow in Ireland and the US, said Jamie Conlan of Conlan Boxing, “There are excellent benefits to working together with Reyes Fire Fist Boxing.”

“We are really excited to be working with Jamie Conlan and Conlan Boxing,” said Jody Caliguire of Reyes Fire Fist Boxing. “Our vision aligned well and there’s a lot of opportunities for both our fighters. We promote Yama and Conlan is the promoter for McCrory. Both guys want to fight for a world title but have been passed over, so matching these two hungry fighters was a natural fit. Big things are on the horizon and we’ll have updates in the near future.”

NABA middleweight champion Connor “The Kid” Coyle,18-0 (8 KO’s), will fight in Ireland for the first time in six years when he battles an opponent to be named in a ten round contest. The Derry native, who is the WBA’s fourth ranked middleweight, will first defend his title April 29 in St. Petersburg, FL.

Additional information including venue and fight dates will be announced shortly.




11TH ANNUAL UFC INTERNATIONAL FIGHT WEEK™ TAKES OVER LAS VEGAS FROM JULY 3 – 9   

Las Vegas – UFC® today announced that the 11th Annual UFC International Fight Week™ will take place in Las Vegas from Monday, July 3, through Sunday, July 9, with several events taking place at marquee venues including the Las Vegas Convention Center, T-Mobile Arena, and Resorts World Las Vegas. As one of the tentpole events of UFC’s 30th anniversary celebration, UFC International Fight Week will be highlighted by the prestigious UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the fully immersive and interactive two-day UFC X. The week-long celebration will be anchored by UFC® 290, which takes place on Saturday, July 8, at T-Mobile Arena.

Spanning more than 200,000 square feet of the Las Vegas Convention Center’s entertainment activation space, UFC X, the organization’s fully immersive and easily accessible two-day fan experience, will be enhanced for UFC’s 30th anniversary to include larger brand and partner activations, live stage programming, expanded autograph sessions, and increased athlete participation, providing fans with unparalleled access to UFC champions and Hall of Famers, top-ranked contenders, and other UFC personalities.

UFC X will take place on Friday, July 7, and Saturday, July 8, at the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, one of the premier meeting and conference venues in Las Vegas. Fans who attend UFC X will also have access to purchase exclusive merchandise at the UFC Store, while also having the opportunity to participate in numerous activities with brand partners. General admission tickets for UFC X start at $25 for one-day access and $45 for two-day access. All children ages 12 and under will receive free entry. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Friday, March 3 at 10 a.m. PT via AXS.com. The first 3,000 fans who purchase UFC X tickets will receive a complimentary 30th anniversary gift. VIP packages will also be made available for UFC X at a later date through UFC’s Official VIP Experiences partner, On Location, at UFCVIP.com. UFC X will be produced by global full-service cultural marketing agency 160over90.

Fans from around the world who converge on Las Vegas for International Fight Week will also be able to enjoy ceremonial weigh-ins, press conferences and live entertainment of a traditional Fight Week leading to the schedule’s culminating event, UFC® 290, on Saturday, July 8, at T-Mobile Arena. Details regarding the bout card for UFC® 290, as well as event locations and additional activities for UFC International Fight Week, will be announced at a later date. For more information, please visit UFCFIGHTWEEK.COM.




LOADED THREE-BOUT SHOWTIME® BOXING COUNTDOWN SHOW TO STREAM LIVE THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 4 AT 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT

ONTARIO, CALIF. – March 2, 2023 – A jam-packed lineup featuring a former title challenger and U.S. Olympian, a top prospect in his toughest test to date and an emerging unbeaten super lightweight will highlight the SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN live streaming presentation this Saturday, March 4 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif.

Super welterweight contender Terrell Gausha will top the action in a 10-round showdown against once-beaten Brandyn Lynch that streams live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page. The lineup kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT and is hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show hosts Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell.

Also featured in the ring will be sensational rising prospect Travon Marshall stepping up in competition to face the veteran Justin DeLoach Dock in an eight-round welterweight clash, plus unbeaten super lightweight Enriko Gogogkhia duels Samuel Teah in the 8/10-round opener.

The live streaming fights will precede the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT headlined by all-action former world champions Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa and Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo meeting for the vacant Interim WBC Featherweight Title.

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

A member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, Gausha (22-3-1, 11 KOs) was born in Cleveland, Ohio but now fights out of Encino, Calif. The 35-year-old has faced tough competition throughout his career, having fought former champion Austin Trout to a draw in 2019 in addition to decision losses against former champion Erislandy Lara and top contender Erickson Lubin. Following a KO of Jamontay Clark in March 2021, Gausha most recently lost a decision to Tim Tszyu last year after dropping Tszyu in round one. He will take on the 31-year-old Lynch (12-1-1, 9 KOs), a native of New Jersey who now resides in Los Angeles. Lynch is unbeaten since after his third pro fight, having avenged his only other blemish by winning a unanimous decision over Marcos Hernandez in May 2022 following a draw in their first matchup.

At just 22-years-old, Marshall (7-0, 6 KOs) has quickly shown the skill, power and poise to become a highly regarded prospect in just seven fights. Born in Landover, Md., and now fighting out of Capitol Heights, Md., Marshall is trained by former contender Andrew Council and made a strong 2023 debut in January by stopping Shawn West in one round. He will be opposed by Augusta, Georgia’s DeLoach Dock (19-5, 10 KOs), a veteran who appeared on SHOBOX® and owns victories over previously unbeaten fighters Domonique Dolton, Livan Navarro, Junior Castillo and Dillon Cook. He’s faced top competition at 154 and 147 pounds, having battled former unified champion Jeison Rosario and most recently welterweight contender Eimantas Stanionis in November 2020.

Gogokhia (13-0-2, 8 KOs) will return to the ring after two 2022 clashes against fellow unbeaten Kent Cruz that both ended in draws. A 31-year-old former kickboxing pro, Gogokhia originally hails from Zigdidi, Georgia and now resides stateside in Woodland Hills, Calif. He takes on Liberia’s Teah (18-4-1, 8 KOs), who most recently scored a first-round knockout of Larry Fryers in September 2019. Now residing in Philadelphia, Teah, who has competed on SHOBOX, owns victories over current 130-pound world champion O’Shaquie Foster and super lightweight contender Kenneth Sims Jr.

The non-televised undercard will also include Dallas-native Miguel Hernandez (6-0, 6 KOs) in a six-round middleweight fight taking on Dario Guerrero (1-3-1) and unbeaten featherweight Albert Gonzalez (3-0, 1 KO) facing Joseph Cruz (3-5, 1 KO) in a six-round showdown.

Rounding out the action is undefeated lightweight prospect Anthony Cuba in a six-round lightweight duel against Florida’s Darel Harris and unbeaten super middleweight prospect Daniel Blancas battling Kansas’ Kynndale Prather in a four-round attraction.

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ABOUT FIGUEROA VS. MAGSAYO

Figueroa vs. Magsayo will see a matchup of all-action, high-powered former world champions, as hard-hitting star Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa meets Filipino sensation Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo for the vacant Interim WBC Featherweight Title on Saturday, March 4 live on SHOWTIME from Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif., topping a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will also feature the return of former unified world champion “Swift” Jarrett Hurd as he takes on the power-punching Armando Reséndiz in the 10-round middleweight co-main event. Kicking off the telecast is an intriguing clash of unbeaten young middleweights as Amilcar Vidal and Elijah García meet in a 10-round attraction.

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




TICKETS FOR STANIONIS VS. ORTIZ, JR. TO GO ON-SALE FRIDAY, MARCH 3! 

RLINGTON, TX (March 2, 2023): Tickets for the highly anticipated clash for the WBA Regular Welterweight Title between undefeated knockout artist Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (19-0, 19 KOs) of Grand Prairie, Texas and current undefeated World Champion Eimantas Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs) will go on sale Friday, March 3. The 12-round championship showdown is set to take place on Saturday, April 29 at College Park Center at The University of Texas at Arlington campus. The exclusive fight night will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN. 

Tickets for Stanionis vs. Ortiz, Jr. will go on-sale at 10:00 am CT/ 8:00 a.m. PT and are priced at $250, $150, $100, $75 and $50 not including applicable service charges. Tickets will be available for purchase at UTATickets.com, AXS.com or GoldenBoyPromotions.com. 

Information on the undercard will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

Media interested in applying for a credential can apply at https://emcevents.com/ortizjr_stanionis.html. Media credential applications are due by EOD April 17. 

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Stanionis vs. Ortiz, Jr. is a 12-round fight for the WBA Regular Welterweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The event is sponsored by “BetOnline – Your Online Sportsbook Experts.” The fight will take place on Saturday, April 29 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas and will be streamed live worldwide on DAZN.

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




UNBEATEN SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CONTENDER TIM TSZYU BATTLES FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON LIVE ON SHOWTIME® ON SATURDAY, MARCH 11 FROM SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – March 1, 2023 – Undefeated Australian superstar Tim Tszyu will return to fight in front of his hometown fans when he takes on former world champion Tony “Superbad” Harrison for the vacant Interim WBO 154-pound title headlining action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, March 11 (Sunday, March 12 in Australia) from Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney in a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL telecast  begins at 10:45 p.m. ET/7:45 p.m. PT and features Tszyu, the son of former unified champion Kostya Tszyu, as he looks for a career-best victory against the veteran former champion Harrison. Undisputed Super Welterweight World Champion Jermell Charlo will join host Brian Custer, Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and three-division world champion Abner Mares at the CBS Studios in New York City as a special guest. Hall of Famer Steve Farhood serves as unofficial scorer.

Tszyu had originally been scheduled to face Charlo in a January clash before Charlo was forced to withdraw due to injury. Harrison, who arrived in Australia this week, has his own history with Charlo, having won his world title by defeating Charlo in 2018, before dropping their rematch. Now, the winner on March 11 will put themselves in prime position to not only face Charlo, but to become an undisputed world champion. The event is promoted by No Limit Boxing and The Rose Brothers, in association with TGB Promotions.

“Tim Tszyu and Tony Harrison have both sought out the biggest challenges in the stacked 154-pound division and that continues on March 11 live on SHOWTIME from Australia,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Wildly popular in his home country, Tszyu will have the home crowd edge, but this is precisely the kind of challenge that brings out the best in a fighter like Harrison. The 154-pound division has delivered classic fight, after classic fight, and March 11 certainly shapes up to be the next chapter in that story.”

The 28-year-old Tszyu (21-0, 15 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 US. 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 can’t underestimate Tony Harrison, but with the way I’ve been training, I’m extremely confident that I’m going to give my fans a big KO victory,” said Tszyu. “Full credit to him for taking the challenge and coming to Australia, but he’s going home empty-handed. It’s exciting that my fans in the U.S. will be able to watch this matchup on SHOWTIME and I hope they’re ready to see a great atmosphere and a thrilling fight.”

The fighting pride of Detroit, Mich., Harrison (29-3-1, 21 KOs) spent his early boxing career under the tutelage of the late Emanuel Steward in the legendary Kronk Gym. As a professional, the 32-year-old is still considered one of the most skilled fighters in the sport. Despite coming up short in his first two attempts at a world title, the third time was the charm for Harrison, who shocked the boxing world in December 2018 by outpointing Jermell Charlo to earn the WBC title. Their rematch one year later ranks among the best fights of 2019. Harrison and Charlo fought on even terms until Charlo stopped him in the eleventh round to regain the belt. Harrison returned to the ring for the first time since that fight in April 2021, fighting Bryant Perrella to a draw and most recently, dominated Sergio Garcia on his way to a unanimous decision victory in April 2022.

“I’m here on a mission,” said Harrison. “My only focus is on Tim Tszyu. I’m extremely confident in my abilities and in my training, but I know Tim is going to be tough competition. I can’t wait to see the crowd all out there to support him, because I’m going to give them no choice but to love me too. I hope he’s ready for 12 grueling rounds, because I’m ready to go as long as he can last.” 

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.

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




GOLDEN BOY SIGNS MEXICAN BANTAMWEIGHT PROSPECT GAEL CABRERA

LOS ANGELES, CA (March 1, 2023): Golden Boy Promotions announced today the signing of 18-year-old Mexican bantamweight prospect Gael Cabrera. 

“I would like to express to Oscar De La Hoya and Eric Gomez my sincerest gratitude for making my dream come true,” said Gael Cabrera. “Every fighter’s dream is to sign with the best promoter. I have done so with Golden Boy Promotions. They will guide me, they will polish me, and most importantly, they will be by my side to lead me to become one of Mexico’s next great fighters. I promise to work hard. I promise to be committed, and I promise to deliver a world title to my family when the opportunity presents itself.” 

“Gael Cabrera has the amateur pedigree and the heart of a champion that we look for in top prospects,” said Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “He has been battle-tested amongst the best in his division in the amateurs and has the discipline to continue to improve his craft. We are excited to launch his professional career under our coveted promotional banner.” 

Hailing from Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico, the pugilist is an eight-time State Champion, three-time Mexican National Champion, two-time Mexican National Bronze Champion, and the 2022 IBA Junior World Championship Silver Medalist. With more than 200 amateur fights under his belt, the naturally ambidextrous boxer-puncher has the solid foundation for a bright professional career. 

Cabrera began boxing at age 4 where the love for boxing was instantaneous. He developed his passion for the sport by watching his older brother, Misael, train at the gym. Misael, along with his trainers Gabriel Lopez and Gabriel Escarsega, have been an integral part of Gael’s development since day one. Gael trains at a small, humble gym next door to his home in Mexico that his father, his brother, and he have constructed. 

With his sights set to be recognized in Mexico as one of the best young prospects in his division once he makes his professional debut, he hopes to get closer to becoming a world champion within the next five years.

Gael Cabrera’s Instagram: @terrorcabrera__




UFC® RETURNS TO KANSAS CITY WITH CRUCIAL FEATHERWEIGHT CONTENDERS’ BOUT BETWEEN (#2) MAX HOLLOWAY AND (#4) ARNOLD ALLEN

Las Vegas – UFC® returns to Kansas City, Mo. for the first time in almost four years with a star-studded lineup as former UFC featherweight champion and No. 2 ranked contender Max Holloway faces No. 4 Arnold Allen in a crucial matchup with title implications. Also, in another featherweight clash sure to produce fireworks, No. 14 ranked Edson Barboza battles Billy Quarantillo.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: HOLLOWAY vs. ALLEN will take place Saturday, April 15 at T-Mobile Center. The main card will be available on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, as well as simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+, starting at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT. The prelims will kick off streaming exclusively on ESPN+ at 5:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. PT.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: HOLLOWAY vs. ALLEN tickets will go on sale Friday, March 3 at 10 a.m. CT and are available for purchase at AXS.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, March 1 at 10 a.m. CT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, March 2 starting at 10 a.m. CT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

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

Fan favorite Holloway (23-7, fighting out of Waianae, Hawaii) aims to make his first Octagon appearance of 2023 a dominant one. Among the greatest featherweights to ever compete in the UFC, Holloway holds the divisional records for most wins (18), most finishes (10), longest win streak (13), and total strikes landed (2,872). He now plans to earn his way back into the title picture by taking out a fellow top contender.

Allen (19-1, fighting out of Trimley St. Martin, Suffolk, England) intends on delivering his best performance yet in the biggest opportunity of his MMA career. Undefeated in the UFC since joining in 2015, he has worked his way to the Top 5 rankings with notable wins over Calvin Kattar, Dan Hooker and Gilbert Melendez. Allen now looks to leave no doubt against Holloway and stake his claim for a title shot.

Barboza (22-11, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) returns to action aiming to add another spectacular highlight to his resume. An explosive striker, Barboza has delighted fans with finishes over Shane Burgos, Dan Hooker and Terry Etim. He now has his sights set on becoming the first person to KO Quarantillo in the UFC. 

Rising contender Quarantillo (17-4, fighting out of Tampa, Fla.) seeks to break into the Top 15 for the first time. Known for his relentless cardio and pace, he owns thrilling victories over Alexander Hernandez, Gabriel Benitez and Kyle Nelson. Quarantillo now plans to secure his second Performance of the Night bonus in a row and begin his run toward title contention.

Additional bouts on the card include:

  • No. 15 ranked light heavyweight contender Azamat Murzakanov (12-0, fighting out of Nalchik, Russia) defends his undefeated record against Dustin Jacoby (18-6-1, fighting out of Springfield, Ill.)
  • Tanner Boser (20-9-1, fighting out of Alberta, Canada) makes his light heavyweight debut against Ion Cutelaba (16-9-1 1NC, fighting out of Chisinau, Moldova)
  • In a battle of Top 15 bantamweights, No. 9 ranked Pedro Munhoz (19-7 2NC, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) faces No. 12 Chris Gutierrez (19-3-2, fighting out of Littleton, Colo.)
  • Featherweights Bill Algeo (16-7, fighting out of King of Prussia, Penn.) and TJ Brown (17-9, fighting out of Little Rock, Ark.) collide in a Fight of the Night contender
  • Kansas City’s own Zak Cummings (24-7, fighting out of Kansas City, Mo.) matches up with fellow veteran Ed Herman (27-15 1NC, fighting out of Portland, Ore.) at light heavyweight
  • UFC Hall of Famer Clay Guida (38-19, fighting out of Johnsburg, Ill.) returns against Rafa Garcia (15-3, fighting out of Imperial, Calif.) at lightweight
  • The record holder for most finishes in UFC women’s flyweight history, Gillian Robertson (11-7, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada) aims for another signature stoppage against Piera Rodriguez (9-0, fighting out of Maracaibo, Venezuela)
  • Top 5 flyweights lock horns as No. 4 Brandon Royval (14-6, fighting out of Lakewood, Colo.) meets No. 5 Matheus Nicolau (19-3-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
  • Dana White’s Contender Series alums Bruna Brasil (8-2-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Denise Gomes (6-2, fighting out of Niteroi, Brazil) clash in a strawweight tilt
  • Bantamweights Aaron Phillips (12-4, fighting out of Lafayette, La.) and Gaston Bolanos (6-3, fighting out of Dublin, Calif.) vie to secure their first UFC wins
  • Lando Vannata (12-6-2, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) and Daniel Zellhuber (12-1, fighting out of Estado de Mexico, Mexico) battle in a striker’s delight at lightweight
  • Joselyne Edwards (12-4, fighting out of Panama City, Panama) and Lucie Pudilova (9-6, fighting out of Pribram, Czech Republic) kick off the event at bantamweight

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

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About UFC®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 228 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to over 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About T-Mobile Center

T-Mobile Center is Kansas City’s home for live entertainment and sporting events. Anchor to more than $8 billion of reinvestment in a revitalized downtown Kansas City, the award-winning venue operated by ASM Global has welcomed more than 12 million guests and transformed the live entertainment experience in the Midwest. For additional information or to join the conversation, follow T-Mobile Center on social media via Facebook: @TMobileCenter; Twitter: @TMobileCenter & Instagram: @TMobileCenter.

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 24.9 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).

About ESPN

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




RYAN CLASHES WITH HOULE FOR WBO WELTERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE IN CARDIFF

Sandy Ryan will clash with Marie-Pier Houle for the vacant WBO Welterweight Title on the undercard of ShavkatdzhonRakhimov vs. Joe Cordina at the Cardiff International Arena on Saturday April 22, live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Australia and New Zealand).

Derby’s Ryan (5-1, 2 KOs) was last in action at Wembley’s OVO Arena last November, outpointing Argentina’s Anahi Ester Sanchez over ten rounds in the first defence of her WBC International Super-Lightweight Title.

The former Team GB star, who avenged her one and only loss to former World Champion Erica Anabella Farias at the Sheffield Arena last summer, steps up to 147lbs as she bids to become Britain’s latest World Champion.

Canada’s Houle (8-0-1, 2 KOs) has yet to taste defeat since joining the professional ranks back in June 2019, contesting all but one of her nine pro fights in her homeland, and the 32-year-old from Quebec is promising to inflict Ryan’s second defeat in the pros. 

“I’m absolutely delighted to be challenging for a World Title in my next fight,” said Ryan. “The level of opponents I’ve faced since my debut proved how serious I am about becoming a big star in this sport.
 
“We respect Marie-Pier for accepting the fight when many didn’t and I’m ready to become a World Champion on April 22 in Cardiff. I want to give a shout to my team, Matchroom, my trainer Clifton and my manager Paul Ready for working hard on this.”
 
“This fight represents the culmination of my hard work since the beginning of my career,” said Houle. “It’s a huge opportunity for me to demonstrate the strength of character and perseverance that I have acquired over the years.
 
“I have a lot of respect for Sandy Ryan and I’m aware that it will be a tough fight, but I thrive on challenges, and I have no intention of leaving empty-handed. I would like to thank my promoter, Groupe Yvon Michel, for his trust in me.”
 
“I would like to thank Matchroom for this opportunity,” said Yvon Michel. “Marie-Pier Houle is ready to deliver an epic fight against Sandy Ryan on April 22 in Cardiff. We are proud to represent her and have full confidence in her abilities to conquer the WBO Welterweight World Championship Title. We will be there to support her every step of the way and we are convinced that she will give it her all in the ring to secure the victory.”

Ryan vs. Houle is part of a huge night of World Title action in Cardiff, Tajikistan’s Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (17-0-1, 14 KOs) defends his IBF Super-Featherweight World Title against Welshman Joe Cordina (15-0, 9 KOs) in the main event, Welsh rivals Gavin Gwynne (15-2-1, 3 KOs) and Craig Woodruff (12-6-1, 4 KOs) rematch for the British Lightweight Title following their thrilling draw at the Bolton Whites Hotel last September, World Title challenger Zelfa Barrett (28-2, 16 KOs) faces Alex Dilmaghani (20-2-1, 7 KOs) for the vacant WBA Continental Super-Featherweight Title, Manchester Cruiserweight Jordan Thompson (14-0, 11 KOs) puts his IBF European Title on the line against Swindon’s Luke Watkins (16-2, 11 KOs), plus there’s action for Swansea Featherweight Brandon Scott (4-0, 1 KO) and Swansea Light-Heavyweight Sammy Lee (1-0).

Tickets for Rakhimov vs. Cordina are priced £40, £60, £100, £150 and £300 (VIP).

General Sale tickets can be purchased via Stage Front and the Cardiff International Arena (cardiffinternationalarena.co.uk) NOW.




STACKED UNDERCARD ANNOUNCED FOR ARTHUR-SUAREZ WORLD TITLE CLASH ON MARCH 24 IN BOLTON

Top local talent and rising stars are confirmed to feature on Wasserman Boxing’s first free-to-air show of 2023, live on Channel 5 from the University of Bolton Arena on Friday March 24 in association with Infinitum Entertainment.

Manchester boxer Lyndon Arthur (21-1, 15 KOs) tops an action-packed event as he faces Argentina’s Braian Nahuel Suarez (18-1, 17 KOs) for the IBO World Light Heavyweight Championship.

An electric undercard will see Wigan’s James Moorcroft (18-2, 6 KOs) and Liverpool’s Nathan Bennett (12-3, 2 KOs) put it all on the line in an epic Final Eliminator for the English Welterweight Title over 10 Rounds.

After three impressive wins in his beloved Merseyside, Bennett will be looking to pick up from his flawless wins against the likes of Mykhailo Sovtus, Rustem Fatkhullin and Lee Connelly to edge out an incredible eliminator matchup against his domestic foe.

Moorcroft will also be looking to build on the foundations of familiar surroundings when he returns for his third consecutive fight in Bolton. After a TKO win against Olaide Fijabi in September 2022, Moorcroft produced a dominant points win over Serge Ambomo to set up this tantalising bout.

Rickey Hatton’s Flyweight protégé, and former Team GB star, Chloe Watson (4-0) will be returning to take on Carolina Ornella Ferrari (3-2-2) at Flyweight. With the six-rounder confirmed, Watson will look to keep her undefeated record going following a dominant points victory over Minerva Gutierrez in November 2022 at York Hall.

Watson has not only impressed the likes of Hatton as she shows fantastic signs of improvement in each fight, the 23-year-old is showing maturity beyond her years as she continues to bank valuable rounds in her quest to become the next poster girl of British boxing.  

In another mouth-watering domestic match up, Wolverhampton’s Conah Walker (11-1-1, 3 KOs) takes on Manchester’s Kane Gardner (15-2, 7 KOs) in an eight-round Super Lightweight contest. “Sugar Kane” had an untouchable 2022 as he remained unbeaten in his three fights during the calendar year. With two victories coming by way of unanimous points wins, the highlight for Gardner came in his bout against Samuel Opaogun as he twice put the Nigerian down on the way to a fourth-round stoppage win.

Walker bounced back from a narrow English Welterweight Title loss to dominate Iliyan Markov in his backyard of Wolverhampton in May of last year. Walker has shown he is a class above in the professional ranks after a statement points win to claim the Midlands Area Welterweight Championship against Levi Ferguson to get his first taste of titles. In a clash that could swing either way, there could be a potential domestic title shot waiting in the wings for the man who makes it to the other side with their hand raised.

Another Mancunian features on the card at Cruiserweight, as Ashley Marron makes his professional debut against the experienced Daryl Pearce. Traie Duberry also makes his professional debut as he lines up a Cruiserweight clash over 4 rounds. The undefeated Nial Brown looks to build on his seven wins as he goes toe-to-toe with fellow Middleweight Bahadur Karami over 6 rounds.

Lyndon Arthur faces Braian Nahuel Suarez for the IBO World Light Heavyweight Championship on Friday March 24 at the University of Bolton Stadium, live and free on Channel 5, promoted by Wasserman Boxing in association with Infinitum Entertainment.

Tickets are on sale now and available via WassermanBoxing.com.




Marques Valle, Otha Jones III and Joseph Hicks All Get Victories

NEW YORK (FEBRUARY 27, 2023)–Three Split-T Management fighters came home with victories over the past five days.

It all started on Wednesday night as junior middleweight Marques Valle remained undefeated by winning a six-round unanimous decision over Jarrod Tennant in Plant City, Florida.

Valle of Wesley Chapel, Florida won by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55 to keep his unblemished mark at 8-0. Tennant of Los Angeles falls to 8-2.

Valle is promoted by Pro Box Promotions

Saturday night in Orlando, Florida, Otha Jones III won a six-round unanimous decision over 63-fight veteran Raymond Chacon.

The bout, which took place at The Caribe Royale Resort saw Jones win by scores of 60-54 on all cards to raise his record to 6-1-1.

Jones is promoted by GH3 Promotions.

Also on Saturday. Joseph Hicks Jr. remained undefeated with a tough six-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Bilal Quintyne in a super middleweight contest.

Hicks was sent to the canvas at the end of the opening frame. Hicks showed heat by shaking off the first round and coming back to get the better of the next five rounds in the crowd pleasing fight.

Hicks of Grand Rapids, Michigan won by scores of 57-55 and 57-56 twice to raise his record to 5-0. Quintyne is now 4-1.

Hicks is promoted by Salita Promotions.