College Park, GA – February 17, 2023 – It is with great regret that BLK Prime announces the cancellation of the Adrien Broner vs Michael Williams Jr. fight scheduled to take place on February 25 at The Gateway Center @ College Park, GA.

The event was set to be broadcasted live on BLK Prime PPV, but unfortunately, Williams Jr. sustained an injury during sparring which has made it impossible for him to participate in the upcoming fight.

The fight will be postponed to a later date with a new opponent announced. We understand the disappointment this news may bring to the fans, and everyone involved in this event, but the safety of the fighters remains our top priority.

“I worked my ass off and I see what the bottom really looked like for the first time. I looked in the mirror and I told myself I am not that person and I got off my ass and went to work! These last four months I got in amazing shape and I’m in a great space in my life. I know this ain’t the WWF but right now I feel like Triple H cause I’m back healthy, happy, and HUNGRY!!! Sorry to all my fans but I will continue this journey SUPPORT ME AND I FIGHT FOR YOU” – Adrien Broner

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About BLK Prime:

BLK PRIME is a subscription video-on-demand company that offers multicultural content to a diverse audience worldwide. On social media follow #BLKPrime, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

Plant City, FL, February 17, 2023  – –  The fight card is loaded for ProBox TV’s “Future Stars on Wednesdays,” when four young fighters, each yet to taste defeat, will each fight their toughest competition to date. Vansiclen, Valsaint, Lopez and Valle will each lay their unadulterated records on the line Wednesday, February 22 at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida, live on ProBoxTV.com and the ProBox app.   

A ProBox TV subscription is only $1.99 per month!

Tickets, starting at $50, are available HERE

Doors Open at 6 pm, First Bell at the ProBox Events Center is at 7 pm and the live broadcast begins at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT.

The following are the fights that will be streamed live. Claudia Trejos, color commentator for ProBox TV, adds remarks.

10 Rounds Super Middleweights TV #4 (170lb)

Manuel “El Meno” Gallegos, 20-1, 16 KOs Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico

Richard Vansiclen, 13-0, 6 KOs, Seattle, Washington

Vansiclen made his ProBox TV debut on September 9, his most recent fight, and came away with a unanimous decision win against his toughest opponent to date, Hakim Lopez, who was unbeaten in thirteen fights. Gallegos will be fighting for the first time outside on Mexico.  He had won his first seventeen pro fights prior to a unanimous decision setback in 2020, and has since won two. 

6 Rounds Middleweights Future Stars TV #3

Darelle Valsaint, 6-0, 5 KOs, 2020 Tokyo Olympian, Orlando, Florida

Lucas de Abreu, 14-2, 11 KOs, Former Brazilian Champion, Sau Paulo, Brazil

Valsaint made it to the quarter-final in the 2020 Olympic games and has become a ProBox TV staple, having fought three of his six professional fights on the platform. His last three fights have been against tough competition – opponents with records of 12-1, 6-1, 23-2, a rarity for such a young fighter. De Abreu won the Brazilian super middleweight title in 2019. He most recently fought for the World Boxing Association Fedacaribe super middleweight title, losing a decision.

Said Claudia Trejos: “DARELLE VALSAINT is perhaps the best fighter at ProBox.  He is still a prospect and his (most recent fight and) win vs veteran Paul Mendez was a good measure of his No Fear attitude. He was not intimidated by Mendez’ extensive experience.”

6 Rounds Super Middleweights Future Stars TV # 1

Najee Lopez, 5-0, 5 KOs, Atlanta, GA

Cristian Rios, 23-16-3, 7 KOs, Buenos Aires, Argentina

The heavy-handed Lopez made his pro debut as heavyweight and has yet to be involved in a professional fight going to the scorecards. His fights have ended in rounds 1, 2, 2, 4 and 3. As an amateur, Lopez was 2015 National Junior Olympics Champion, 2018 Georgia State Golden Gloves Champion and 2018 National Golden Gloves runner-up. Lopez will have his hands full going up against the rugged and experienced Rios, the former Argentina Federation middleweight champion who successfully defended that title twice.

“NAJEE LOPEZ comes from the last Chance Tournament. After fighting at 186-190, he is now fighting at supermiddleweight.   I want to see how well he does at 168,” added Trejos.

6 Rounds Super Featherweights Future Stars TV #2

Marques Valle, 7-0, 6 KOs, Wesley Chapel, Fla

Jarrod Tennat, 8-1, 4 KOs. Los Angeles, California

Valle made his pro debut on September 4, 2020 with a first round knockout and has since fought every fight at ProBox Events Center on ProBox TV. In. his first six fights, only one made it past the first round (round 2). In his seventh fight, and most recent, the opponent was disqualified in round two for excessive holding.

“MARQUES VALLE is a big Puncher,” said Trejos’

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

PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY — February 17, 2023 — Abella Boxing Promotions is back, and in full force this boxing season with their third show, Bergen County Fight Night 3, set to go down Saturday evening April 1st, 2023 at The Terrace & Biagio’s Ristorante in Paramus, New Jersey. Let’s Get Ready To Rumble!

Headlining the main event, New Jersey’s very own, Nicky “The Bull” Vitone, of Pinebrook, NJ, faces an opponent to be named later in a super lightweight bout scheduled for six-rounds. 

Vitone, 26, stands 9-1-1, with a 63.6 knockout percentage. He made his Abella Boxing Promotions debut in their first show as the main event on April 2nd, 2022 at The Terrace. Vitone’s most recent bout occurred in September of last year in Atlantic City, NJ, on a ShoBox New Generation fight-card. 

“I’m very excited to be back fighting in my home state of New Jersey,” Vitone said. “I’m glad to be back with Abella Boxing Promotions.” 

“It was a true honor headlining the main event for their first show. Excited to show Jersey who I am, this is just the beginning.” 

Out of Jersey City, NJ, Mike “The Champ” Lee, leveling to a 9-2-0 record, with a 63.6 KO% takes on southpaw Adam Kipenga, (11-3-1), in a super welterweight bout anticipated for six-rounds. 

Last July, Lee made a name for himself among Abella Boxing fans in Bergen County Fight Night 2, displaying prolific versatility in the ring, ending the bout with a second-round TKO. 

Featured in a super bantamweight bout expected to go six-rounds, John “Bodyshot” Leonardo, (9-1-1, 36.3 KO%), of Englishtown, New Jersey, will battle an opponent to be named later. 

Remaining Six-Rounders: 

In a super featherweight bout, Raymond “The Scientist” Cuadrado, (5-0-0, 20 KO%), out of Ridgewood, Queens, New York, will go up against Usiel Hernandez, (2-1-0). 

Cuadrado, 26, impressed many last summer in Bergen County Fight Night 2, adding a win to his resume by unanimous decision. 

Terell Bostic, (7-1-0, 12.5 KO%), of Wyandanch, New York faces an opponent to be named later in a lightweight bout. 

Highlighting the slate of potential four-rounders: Jade “Poison” Ivery, (1-2-0), residing in Lodi, New Jersey, will go toe-to-toe with Kevin Spraags, (0-1-0) in a middleweight bout. Ivery, 33, is making his third appearance on an Abella Boxing Promotions fight-card. 

Out of New York, NY, 28-year-old Christian Otero, (4-3-0, 28.5 KO%), takes on Vinnie Denierio, (3-7-0), in a lightweight bout scheduled for four-rounds. 

Remaining Four-Rounders:

Kevin Hernandez, (0-0-1), of Bergenfield, New Jersey, goes up against Tyrell Cook, (0-3-0), in a welterweight bout. 

Dane Guerrero, (0-0-0), of Ridgefield Park, NJ, will make his pro-debut in a super middleweight bout against an opponent to be named later. 

Promoter of Abella Boxing, Scott Abella, returns with his third show in the span of 12 months, and is looking forward to the extraordinary slate headlined on Saturday evening, April 1st. 

“We debuted last April at The Terrace and we’re happy to be back where it all started,” Abella said. “Shows like this are the backbone of the sport. I want to give people in this county, and in this town, a great event, and an exciting night to go out and enjoy themselves.” 

He added, “We have tremendous boxing talent across the New Jersey and New York area that deserve an event to showcase their skills in the ring and this is it… Saturday April 1st, Bergen County Fight Night 3.”

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – BERGEN COUNTY FIGHT NIGHT 3

WHEN: Saturday Night April 1st, 2023

WHERE: The Terrace & Biagio’s Ristorante located on 293 Paramus Road, Paramus, NJ 07652

BOUTS: 5 Six-Round Bouts, 4 Four-Round Bouts (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

TICKETS AVAILABLE: $100 General Admission, $300 VIP

PPV/STREAMING: To Be Announced 

Follow on Instagram: @abellaboxing

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/AbellaBoxingPromotions

NEW YORK (FEBRUARY 17, 2023)–TONIGHT, Split-T Management’s undefeated junior middleweight Ardreal Holmes takes on Ismael Villareal in the headline bout of a SHOBOX: The New Generation card at The Stormont Vail Events Center in Topeka, Kansas.

The fight will be seen LIVE ON SHOWTIME at 9 PM ET/PT.

Holmes of Flint, Michigan is 12-0 with five knockouts, and the 28 year-old will be making his second SHOBOX appearance. Holmes has a win over Bryan Goldsby (4-1). In his last outing, which was televised on SHOBOX, Holmes won a 10-round unanimous decision over Vernon Brown (13-1-1) on March 11, 2022 in Deadwood, South Dakota.

Holmes is promoted by DiBella Entertainment.

Villareal of Bronx, New York is 12-0 with eight knockouts. The 25 year-old has wins over Kieran Hooks (3-0-1), Ezequiel Urena Santana (6-1) and Juan Medina (19-4). In his last outing, Villareal stopped previously undefeated LeShawn Rodriguez in six-rounds on July 30, 2022 in Brooklyn.

At Thursday’s weigh-in, Holmes and Villareal were both 152.6 lbs.

Saturday night in Pomona, California undefeated super bantamweight Asa Stevens takes on veteran Jenn Gonzalez in a four-round bout at The Fox Theater.

The 22 year-old Stevens is 3-0 with one knockout. Stevens is coming off a unanimous decision over Mychaquell Shields on October 29, 2022 in San Diego.

As an amateur Stevens was a National Golden Gloves champion and World Amateur champion.

Gonzalez of Nicaragua is 9-16-1 with five knockouts. The 25 year-old has wins over Alberto Rivero (1-0) and Ernesto Irias (14-2-1)

LONG BEACH, CA (February 17, 2023): The Walter Pyramid in Long Beach will host the “can’t miss” matchup featuring former world champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez (44-1, 30 KOs) of Mazatlán, Mexico and Philadelphia’s Gabriel “King” Rosado (26-16-1, 15 KOs). The tough, Mexico vs. Puerto Rico 12-round light heavyweight matchup is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 18 and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN beginning at 5:00 p.m. PST/ 8:00 p.m. EST. 

Tickets for Zurdo vs. Rosado go on sale Friday, February 17, at 10:00 a.m. PST and are priced at $150, $100, $80, $50 and $30 not including applicable service charges. Tickets will be available for purchase at LongBeachState.com/GoldenBoy and GoldenBoyPromotions.com

Returning for redemption after his loss against William Zepeda in October 2022, former world champion Joseph “JoJo” Diaz, Jr. (32-3-1, 15 KOs) will face former world title challenger Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (33-3-3, 17 KOs) as the co-main event. The two veterans will participate in a 12-round lightweight fight. 

“I am ready to come back and show fans that I still have what it takes to be at the top,” said Joseph “JoJo” Diaz, Jr. “Mercito Gesta is no easy foe, but I am sure we’re going to put on a great show on March 18. Thank you to Golden Boy and my manager, Rick Mirigian.”

“First of all, thank you to Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya, and my Manager Neil Macasadia for this opportunity to face Joseph Diaz, Jr., a true champion and warrior on March 18,” said Mercito Gesta. “I continue to train with my dad, Anecito Gesta, my coach, Marvin Somodio, and my team. I will be ready for the challenge. You will see two hungry warriors in the ring and we will put on a great show for the fans around the world. To all my countrymen and women in the Philippines and fans all around the world, I fight for you.  I can’t wait for the opening bell.”

Media interested in credentials can apply at https://emcevents.com/zurdo_rosado.html. Media applications are due EOD Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

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Zurdo vs. Rosado is a 12-round light heavyweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The fight night will take place on Saturday, March 18 and will be broadcast on DAZN worldwide.

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

Los Angeles, CA (February 16, 2023) Popular Ukrainian Super Welterweight Serhii ‘El Flaco’ Bohachuk, (22-1, 22 KOs), is now ranked #3 by the World Boxing Council, it was announced today by the boxing sanctioning body.

The popular and hard-hitting Bohachuk is coming off a trademark knockout victory over veteran Nathaniel Gallimore on January 27, 2023 in Los Angeles and broadcast as the main event on UFC FIGHT PASS. The stoppage in front of a sold-out Hollywood Fight Nights crowd came in the sixth round.

Now residing in Los Angeles, the native of Vinitza, Ukraine is promoted by Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions and trained in Southern California by the renowned Manny Robles.

“This is a great honor for me and another step towards reaching my lifelong dream of becoming a world champion,” said Bohachuk. “Many thanks to my promoter Tom Loeffler and trainer Manny Robles for their great work with my career.”

Said Loeffler, “This is a tremendous achievement for Serhii and validates his position as one of the best super welterweights in the world. We’re very happy to continue to build Serhii towards his goal of becoming a world champion.”

“Ever since Serhii returned to training from the war in Ukraine, he is even more determined to fight for his country and win a world championship for his people,” said Robles.

Details of Bohachuk’s return to action in April on UFC FIGHT PASS will be announced shortly.  

Photo Credit / 360 Promotions, Lina Baker

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TOPEKA, Kan. – February 16, 2023 – Exciting rising prospect Ardreal “Bossman” Holmes, Jr. (12-0, 5 KOs) and fellow undefeated Ismael “Maelo” Villarreal (12-0, 8 KOs) both made weight Thursday, a day ahead of their 10-round super welterweight main event on SHOBOX: The New Generation this Friday, February 17, live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT from Stormont Vail Events Center in Topeka, Kan.

In the co-main event, Misael Lopez (14-1, 5 KOs) of Denver, Colo., looks to win his fourth straight bout after suffering his first pro loss on SHOBOX^® when he takes on Edward “Kid” Vazquez (13-1, 3 KOs) of Fort Worth, Texas, in a 10-round featherweight bout. The telecast opener pits two unbeaten knockout artists in former NCAA Division I college football player Kurt Scoby (10-0, 8 KOs) facing Australia’s John “The Beast” Mannu (7-0-1, 4 KOs) with both fighters putting their unbeaten streaks to the test in an eight-round super lightweight bout.

The card is promoted by Lou DiBella’s DiBella Entertainment.

FINAL WEIGHTS

Super Welterweight 10-Round Bout

Ardreal Holmes, Jr. – 152.6 pounds

Ismael Villarreal – 152.6 pounds

Referee: Jacob Villa; Judges: Karen Holderfield (Ark.), Nick Berens (Kan.), David Sutherland (Okla.)

Featherweight 10-Round Bout

Misael Lopez – 124.4 pounds

Edward Vazquez – 125.2 pounds

Referee: Kevin Champion; Judges: Karen Holderfield (Ark.), Greg DiVilbiss (Kan.), David Sutherland (Okla.)

Super Lightweight Eight-Round Bout

Kurt Scoby – 139.8 pounds

John Mannu – 139.8 pounds

Referee: Jacob Villa; Judges: Nick Berens (Kan.), Greg DiVilbiss (Kan.), David Sutherland (Okla.)

FINAL QUOTES:

Ardreal Holmes, Jr.

“In my fight with Vernon Brown last March, I was just seeing where I was at after such a long layoff, just getting back into the rhythm and timing of things. I would give myself a C+ for that performance, maybe a C++ because of my strong finish.

“I don’t get frustrated with the layoffs because I just look at my son and I want a better future for him and that’s how I get through it every time. I just have to keep fighting and get through everyone to get where I need to go.

“I could have done everything better against Vernon, but when you’ve been out so long, you have to catch up on the timing and rhythm, but I put that win behind me and I’m trying to do better this time.

“My son is two, Ardreal III. I don’t think I want him to get into boxing. But we sit together and out of nowhere he playfully punches me and wow, he has some power in that little hand (laughs).

“My opponent looks strong, looks like he comes to fight, they all have to come to me. This is a high-stakes match, and then the next one is going to be the toughest of my career. All these fights are going to be the toughest I’ve faced, so I take everyone seriously.

“I still work in a rehab center and home and healthcare. How did I get into boxing? I had uncles that used to fight, they’re not much older than me, nine or 10 years older that I am. My coach used to train them and they used to come home with trophies so it’s a family thing. That got me into it.

“I think all fighters from Flint, Michigan are tough, through their upbringing, you have to learn how to fight after school, it’s just part of growing up out there.

“Two years from now I see myself in the Top 10 and gunning for one of those titles. I have my fingers crossed on at least three more fights this year, but if I get three total, that will be fine.”

Ismael Villarreal

“This is an amazing opportunity that I have here, starring in my first main event against an undefeated fighter. We’re both going to be risking our 0. 

“Life is full of surprises. I hope a win tomorrow opens more doors in my career. I didn’t think I would ever get to headline, so life is full of mysteries.

“I wouldn’t say my last fight was my toughest. LeShawn Rodriguez was a notable fighter but it’s not my toughest fight. The only way to find out whether this will be my toughest fight is to fight the fight.

“He has those attributes which make him dangerous – his height, his reach, he’s a southpaw. But I’m not concerned about his height. I’m used to guys being taller than me. I’m usually the shorter guy in my fights. I’m not worried about that. I use my boxing and my intelligence and my ring IQ to gain an advantage. I know I need to get closer and close the distance in this fight.

“It’s not a big deal for me to get on the inside. It’s 10 rounds so giving up one or two rounds isn’t going to affect me. It’s 10 rounds and anything can happen in boxing. Of course I’m going to be ready and I’m going to pressure him.

“I found boxing because my father was a boxer. So I was born into boxing because my dad was a pro fighter. Then he retired and became my coach. I was a kid who liked to fight, I never got into street fights but I just took to fighting when I came to the gym. I had that in me.

“After this fight, I want to get that exposure where hopefully people will realize I’m one of the top guys in the division and people will want to fight me.”

Misael Lopez

“Every fight is like a title fight for me at this point. I think this matchup is a perfect style for me and to show the things I’ve been working on. I definitely recognize that he has talent and is a hungry fighter. We have the same opportunity to jump into that contender level.

“My first pro defeat was the best thing that could ever happen to me, believe it or not. After that loss I had to regroup and learned a lot about myself and what I could do better.

“This is a 50-50 fight and there is no favorite, but that is what we’ve prepared for. To have an amazing coach like Manny Robles in my corner probably tips the scales a little in my favor.

“I see a hungry fighter in my opponent. I don’t know what to expect but I know he’s hungry so I’m not sleeping on him.

“This is the perfect fight for me to make it to the next level. It was a big learning experience to lose on SHOBOX, but I want to prove that I’m a contender and that I’m ready for the big names.”

Edward Vazquez

“With a win over Lopez it will get some guys to look my way. I know it’s a little high risk, low reward until I get a top 15 ranking.

“I see Lopez as one of the best 126 pounders in the world. He is a boxer, boxer-puncher. He’s a mover and will try to find combinations. I have an answer for everything. I know he had a great camp and has a new trainer in Manny Robles.

“I just think my heart, my will, my boxing IQ and the dog inside me is just going to overpower him.

“I’ve already fought this fight visually in my mind – like a million times. I see a fast start on my end, and a little hesitation on his side just because he has someone new in his corner.

“I’m the hardest worker in boxing and everything I do every day shows that. Not just my strength but my mindset. Some of these guys haven’t seen what I’ve seen or touched what I’ve touched.

“I won’t take any time off after this fight. I plan on running a half-marathon when I get back to Texas on Saturday.”

Kurt Scoby

“My style is to not get paid for overtime. But my trainer tells me to not go in there looking for the knockout. He says we go in there to beat the other guy up. So, we’ll see how long he lasts.

“I know my opponent is basically your typical southpaw. He’s undefeated so he doesn’t know how to lose yet. He’ll soon find out how.

“My faith is very important for me. Since I came into Muslim and Islam, I always know there’s a way out. It’s a platform for me.

“It was crazy doing what I did and buying an $11 airplane ticket and coming out to New York with nothing but my two fists. I literally didn’t have anything else.

“I’ve been through a lot – 14 foster homes and my mother passing away during my sophomore year in high school.

“I was recruited for football and played running back at Azusa-Pacific. I got to a point where I got too big-headed. I wasn’t in love with football. Now, I’m doing what I truly love.

“I’ve sparred with Regis Prograis and Devin Haney. What I learned from them was the speed of boxing. How you have to slow things down and see things before they happen.

“My dedication to this sport is what has brought me here. I’m always working out. I don’t want my coaches to chase me to the gym, but to chase me out of the gym.”

John Mannu

“The money’s not too good back in Australia and if a fighter wants to make boxing their career, you have to do it in the United States. We have to take these fights and we have to travel if we are going to make it. A good win in the States could really help my career.

“I’ve been in Miami for the past two weeks just to get used to the time change, but I’m based full-time in Melbourne.

“I’ve got natural power and people will see that. My opponent looks like a tough guy. I can see this fight going the distance, but I’m just going to try and break him down and go for the late-round stoppage.

“I admired guys like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson growing up. And Marvelous Marvin Hagler and James Toney. I just love their style and the way they fight – very defensive fighters.

“I’m a natural southpaw, but I switch a lot. I’d describe myself as a boxer-puncher. This could be the best of the three fights.

“My twin brother Michael is a professional MMA fighter. It’s a competition. The ego’s always there. Whenever he’s in the gym training, I want to be in there too.

“I’ve never been down as a pro or an amateur, and I don’t plan on being down Friday night.”

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International Boxing Hall of Famer Barry Tompkins will call all the blow-by-blow action for SHOBOX with fellow Hall of Famer Steve Farhood joining the team remotely as the unofficial scorer. Former junior middleweight world champion Raul Marquez and veteran combat sports reporter and MORNING KOMBAT co-host Brian Campbell will serve as ringside analysts. The executive producer of SHOBOX: The New Generation is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

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

About ShoBox: The New Generation

Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, SHOBOX: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The SHOBOX philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 88 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more. 

Las Vegas – UFC^® delivers another thrilling night of fights at UFC APEX, headlined by a light heavyweight contenders’ bout between No. 6 ranked Nikita Krylov and No. 8 Ryan Spann. Also,No. 11 ranked middleweight contender Andre Muniz battles Brendan Allen in a clash of Dana White’s Contender Series signees.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: KRYLOV vs. SPANN will take place Saturday, February 25 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire card will be available on ESPN+ in English and Spanish, with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT and the prelims at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

Krylov (29-9, fighting out of Donetsk, Ukraine) intends to start his 2023 season off with another memorable finish. Among the most exciting fighters at light heavyweight, he holds wins over former title challengers Volkan Oezdemir, Alexander Gustafsson and Ovince Saint Preux. Krylov now aims to stop Spann and set himself up for a shot at the division’s Top 5.

Spann (21-7, fighting out of Beaumont, Texas) looks to continue his ascent to the top of the 205-pound ladder with a statement victory. A submission specialist with KO power, he has secured impressive finishes against Dominick Reyes, Ion Cutelaba and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Spann now hopes to make the most of his second main event opportunity by taking out Krylov in impressive fashion.

Muniz (23-4, fighting out of Montes Claros, MG, Brazil) plans to continue his hot streak with another statement performance. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, he has earned memorable victories over Uriah Hall, Eryk Anders and Jacare Souza. Muniz now has his sights set on defending his spot in the rankings by securing his 10^th consecutive win.

Allen (20-5, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) looks to break into the middleweight Top 15 with a show-stealing finish. A talented grappler currently riding a three-fight win streak, he has turned heads with notable submission victories against Krzysztof Jotko, Sam Alvey and Kevin Holland. Allen now plans to halt Muniz’s momentum and establish himself as a middleweight title threat.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Augusto Sakai (15-5-1, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) locks horns with Don’Tale Mayes (10-4, fighting out of Louisville, Ken.) in a clash of hard-hitting heavyweights
• Undefeated Tatiana Suarez (9-0, fighting out of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) makes her long awaited return against Montana De La Rosa (12-7-1, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas) in a flyweight bout
• Dana White’s Contender Series signees collide when Mike Malott (8-1-1, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif. by way of Waterdown, Ontario, Canada) faces Yohan Lainesse (9-1, fighting out of St-Bruno, Quebec, Canada) at welterweight
• Unbeaten Trevor Peek (7-0 1NC, fighting out of Chattanooga, Tenn.) aims to turn heads in his UFC debut against returning Alex Reyes (13-3, fighting out of Victorville, Calif.) at lightweight
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Jasmine Jasudavicius (7-2, fighting out of Niagara, Ontario, Canada) faces debuting Gabriella Fernandes (7-1, fighting out of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil) in a flyweight bout
• Jordan Leavitt (10-2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) meets Victor Martinez (13-4, fighting out of Pharr, Texas) at lightweight
• Ode’ Osbourne (11-5 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Milwaukee, Wisc.) squares off with Charles Johnson (13-3, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) in a 130-pound catchweight bout
• Rafael Alves (20-11, fighting out of Miami, Fla. by way of Para, Brazil) takes on Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Nurullo Aliev (7-0, fighting out of Dushanbe, Tajikistan) in a lightweight bout
• UFC newcomer Hailey Cowan (7-2, fighting out of Robinson, Texas) meets Ailin Perez (7-2, fighting out of Buenos Aires, Argentina) in a bantamweight bout
• Dana White’s Contender Series contract winnerJose Johnson (15-7, fighting out of Copperas Cove, Texas by way of La Romana, Dominican Republic) debuts against Garrett Armfield (8-3, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla.) at bantamweight
• Erick Gonzalez (14-7, fighting out of Torrance, Calif.) faces undefeated Trevor Peek (7-0 1NC, fighting out of Chattanooga, TN) in a lightweight bout

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

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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

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Mexican super middleweight Manuel Gallegos takes on undefeated Richard Vansiclen on ProBox TV, on a night that features some of the networks hottest prospects.

Gallegos holds an impressive 19-1 record with 16 of his wins coming inside the scheduled distance. Vansiclen, 13-0, 6KOs upset the odds last time out, besting Hakim Lopez over 8 rounds to claim a unanimous decision victory. 

Boxing legend Paulie Malignaggi, who was present at Vansiclen’s last outing, gave his take on the fight. 

The Magic Man stated, “Vansiclen is a tough game fighter who really comes to fight. He has a great story behind him and he has a lot of heart. Vansiclen upset the odds last time out against Hakim Lopez, and he deserved that victory.

“I’ve watched Gallegos and he is an action fighter, which is what ProBox TV is all about. Guys that come to fight and Gallegos is one of them. It’s a close fight and I expect it to be an entertaining fight for the fans to enjoy.

The supporting cast of Future Stars on ProBox TV include the highly rated trio of Najee Lopez, Darrelle Valsaint and Marques Valle whom all have been deemed Future Stars by the ProBox TV hierarchy.

Brooklyn native Malignaggi, who descended to the stars himself in the boxing world, becoming a two-weight world champion gave his assessment of the trio.

Malignaggi said, “Darrelle Valsaint is coming off the Tokyo Olympics with a lot of momentum. I think Valsaint is a real talent, he’s the full package. Darrelle is an exciting, great combination puncher with excellent fundamentals.

“Najee Lopez has moved down in weight from cruiserweight and I believe we’re going to see a completely different animal. He was excellent at cruiser, but at 175 this kid really is something special.

“Marques Valle is a machine, a really strong fighter that is constant pressure with a massive punch output. They all have live opponents so these fights should all be great developmental fights and exciting to watch free on ProBox TV’s YouTube channel.” 

Watch ProBox TV Events FOR FREE (NO SIGN-UP REQUIRED) live on Facebook/YouTube in English and Spanish. You can watch ProBoxTV ad free on ProBoxTV.com for only $1.99/Month.

LONDON, ENGLAND – (February 16, 2022) – BOXXER has signed undefeated Central Area Super Middleweight champion Callum Simpson (10-0, 8 KO’s) to an exclusive long-term promotional agreement, it was announced today. 

The Yorkshire powerhouse will make his debut at the upcoming BOXXER event taking place Saturday, March 25th at the AO Arena Manchester in a bout which will air live in the UK on Sky Sports.

Fighting out of Barnsley, Simpson, 26, has scored eight of his ten wins inside the distance and secured the Central Area title in October last year with a stunning second-round stoppage which started with a lightning-fast flurry and ended with a fight-finishing right uppercut.

Simpson started training in amateur boxing at the age of 10 and turned professional in 2019, training for some time alongside former world champion Josh Warrington at Dicky’s Gym in Batley, Yorkshire.

“I’m incredibly excited to join the BOXXER stable. I was blown away when I visited the Smith vs Eubank event with my manager and ever since that night I’ve thought of nothing but walking out into an arena like that. It was incredible,” said Simpson. 

“I think the fans are really going to like my style. I’ve knocked out my last eight opponents and the last five haven’t gone past the second round – I like to get the job done quickly. 

“I’m the current Central Area champion and I’m looking to collect more belts this year. So everyone in the super-middleweight division, I’m putting you all on notice!”

BOXXER CEO and Founder Ben Shalom said Simpson was an obvious signing for the brand. “There’s been a lot of talk in British boxing about Callum Simpson. He’s a crowd-pleasing fighter with potential to go far. He has a big fanbase in his hometown of Barnsley and we think he’ll be a huge hit with fans across the UK and beyond. We’re looking forward to seeing what he can achieve, starting on March 25 at the AO Arena in Manchester.”

Tickets for BOXXER Fight Night on Saturday, March 25 go on sale at midday on Friday, February 17 via Boxxer.com.

LAS VEGAS – February 15, 2023 – Three high-stakes showdowns will put young stars and unbeaten contenders in the toughest tests of their careers to date, all as part of a jam-packed night leading up to the highly anticipated SHOWTIME PPV main event between super middleweight stars and former world champions David “El Bandera Roja’’ Benavídez and Caleb Plant taking place on Saturday, March 25 live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

In the co-main event, unbeaten rising stars Jesús “Mono” Ramos and Joey Spencer will go toe-to-toe in a 10-round super welterweight scuffle, as each fighter looks to make their claim as the future of the 154-pound division. The action will also see rising lightweights Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela meet in a 10-round duel, while unbeaten welterweight contender Cody Crowley faces the hard-hitting Abel Ramos in the telecast opener at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

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

“With such an intriguing fight in the main event, it was only right that the Benavidez vs. Plant pay-per-view undercard was also filled with evenly matched showdowns highlighted by future stars looking for signature victories,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Jesús Ramos vs. Joey Spencer will help determine who might be the next star at 154-pounds, while two more young stars also square off on the pay-per-view as Chris Colbert and Jose Valenzuela go toe-to-toe. With Cody Crowley putting his unbeaten record on the line against the upset-minded Abel Ramos in the telecast opener, this card lines up to be a can’t-miss event on March 25 in Las Vegas.”

A strong southpaw who at 21 has yet to come close to hitting his ceiling as a fighter, Ramos (19-0, 15 KOs) is the nephew of welterweight contender Abel Ramos but has forged his own path toward stardom since turning pro in 2018. Jesús Ramos added two victories to his ledger in 2022, blasting out Vladimir Hernandez in round six in February before dominating Luke Santamaria in May to earn a unanimous decision. A native of Casa Grande, Ariz., Ramos also owns back-to-back 10-round unanimous decisions over Brian Mendoza and Javier Molina in 2021. Overall, the youthful Ramos has gained recognition with highlight-reel KOs, stopping six of his last nine opponents, showcasing a desire to end his fights early. 

“I’ve been in the gym for months now getting ready for this opportunity and everything has been great,” said [Jesús] Ramos. “I’m expecting the best version of Joey Spencer on March 25. I know I have what it takes to beat him because of the preparation we’ve been putting in, my dedication, my skills and my will to win. I’m excited to be part of one of the biggest cards of the year thus far, and I know we will give the fans an exciting fight!”

The 22-year-old Spencer (16-0, 10 KOs) turned pro in February 2018 and immediately caught the eye of fans and pundits with his combination of speed, power and athleticism. Spencer’s most recent outing saw him earn a career-best triumph as he controlled the action throughout and scored a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Kevin Salgado in September 2022. The Linden, Mich., native has remained busy since debuting as a pro, including two knockouts out of three victories in his 2021 campaign. Prior to the Salgado fight, Spencer dispatched of Ravshan Hudaynazarov via unanimous decision in March 2022.

“It’s not that often that fans get to see fights between two undefeated rising fighters like [Jesús] Ramos and I’m thankful to be a part of it,” said Spencer. “This is the fight I asked for, and for it to take place on one of the biggest cards of the year is very special. I’m training to put the rest of the division on notice come fight night.”

Representing his native Brooklyn, N.Y., Colbert (16-1, 6 KOs) will look to impress in his lightweight debut after dropping a hard-fought contest to super featherweight world champion Hector Luis Garcia in February 2022. After a decorated amateur career, Colbert turned pro in 2015 and took out three undefeated fighters in his first eight bouts. Since then, he took care of a slew of former champions and contenders including Jezzrel Corrales, Jaime Arboleda and Tugstsogt Nyambayar to establish himself as a potential future world champion. He will now seek to reach that goal at 135-pounds.

“I’m happy to be back,” said Colbert. “Training camp is going amazingly for this fight. Like I’ve said before, there’s no pressure on me. I bring the pressure. It’s ‘Primetime’ on SHOWTIME^®! I’m back baby!”

The 23-year-old Valenzuela (12-1, 8 KOs) trains as a stablemate of unbeaten two-time world champion Benavidez and will look for a big bounce back victory after dropping a September 2022 contest to Edwin De Los Santos. Valenzuela, who turned pro in 2018, was sensational prior to the loss, including a first-round knockout of former world champion Francisco Vargas in April 2022. Born in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, Valenzuela rode a five-bout knockout streak before earning his first 10-round decision in a victory over Deiner Berrio in September 2021.

“I’m extremely motivated for this fight and have been training really hard,” said Valenzuela. “The difference with this camp is that I was in shape when camp started, so it’s giving me a head start on my preparation. My strength and conditioning are at a whole new level and I can’t wait to show everyone what I’m capable of in this fight.”

Representing his native Ontario, Canada, Crowley (21-0, 9 KOs) returns to the ring after a pair of impressive victories that have catapulted him up the 147-pound division. In December 2021, he took care of the previously unbeaten Kudratillo Abdukakhorov with a unanimous decision, and most recently he turned back the streaking Josesito Lopez with another unanimous decision in April 2022. The 29-year-old had previously defeated Josh Torres in September 2020 following a 2019 run that saw him win a Canadian super welterweight title with a 12-round decision over Stuart McLellan in February.

“After years of hard work and dedication, I’m thrilled to be fighting back on the big stage for this fight,” said Crowley. “I have succeeded in overcoming obstacles and adversity, and Abel Ramos will not be able to stop me from achieving my dream of becoming world champion. I’m dedicating this fight to my father’s memory and to all of those who have worked diligently to help me succeed against all odds.”

Ramos (27-5-2, 21 KOs) is part of a boxing family out of Casa Grande, Ariz., which includes his nephew, rising star Jesús Ramos, who he shares a card with for the fourth-straight time. The 31-year-old has built a reputation as a hardnosed boxer who doesn’t back down from a fight and gives as good as he gets. He turned the tables on Omar Figueroa, Jr., when he went toe-to-toe and forced Figueroa to quit on his stool in May 2021. He also owns a split-decision defeat over former welterweight world champion Yordenis Ugas, and has shown a flair for the dramatic when he scored a TKO victory over Bryant Perrella in the waning seconds of their fight in 2020. Ramos will look to bounce back from a decision loss against Luke Santamaria in his last fight in February.

“I’m having a great training camp and I can’t wait until it’s time to get into the ring,” said Ramos. “I’m prepared to take on Crowley and show off everything I’ve been working on in camp. I’m facing a strong opponent, but I believe that my experience in these big fights will get me the victory on March 25.”

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

Boston, MA (February 15, 2023) Boston Boxing Hero Danny O’Connor, (30-3, 11 KOs), will make his long-awaited return to the ring in a super welterweight clash against Luis ‘Vicious’ Garcia, (13-1-1, 9 KOs), of Richmond, CA on the Eve of St. Patrick’s Day, Thursday, March 16 at the Agganis Arena on the campus of Boston University. Presented in association with Murphys Boxing, the scheduled eight-rounder is featured on the heralded Hollywood Fight Nights – Boston: Walsh vs. Ruiz event presented by Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions and broadcast live globally on UFC FIGHT PASS (10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT).

“I’m excited to come back and fight in Boston, where I’ve fought so many times before,” said O’Connor. “I’m looking forward to being back in the ring and putting on a show for my hometown fans.”

Stated Ken Casey from Murphys Boxing, “We are happy to continue to support Danny in his career. This is a great opportunity for him to fight on a tremendous show at the Agganis Arena.”

Said Tom Loeffler, “We are excited to announce the addition of Danny O’Connor to the March 16th show at Agganis Arena. Danny has headlined many shows in Boston and he will be in a featured bout on UFC Fight Pass. His return will draw a wealth of fans and it’s great to be working together with Ken Casey of Murphys Boxing to present this fight.”

One of Boston’s most popular and exciting fighters and a staple of St. Patrick’s Day boxing events, O’Connor will be hitting the ring following a five-year absence punctuated by four dominant, consecutive victories. Currently working as a firefighter in Denver, CO, O’Connor’s highly anticipated return to Boston recalls his immense popularity with sports fans selling out venues including the TD Garden for his memorable fights. In his last outing on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2018, the hard-hitting southpaw won a ten-round unanimous decision over Steve Claggett in front of a huge crowd of supporters at the House of Blues in Boston.

Luis Garcia heads into the St. Patrick’s Day event fight against O’Connor riding a six-fight winning streak, the last four victories coming by knockout.

Hollywood Fight Nights – Boston: Walsh vs. Ruiz is headlined by a ten-round junior welterweight battle between Fast-Rising Irish Star ‘King’ Callum Walsh, (5-0, 4 KOs), of Cork, Ireland and Spain’s Leonardo Di Stefano Ruiz, (10-1, 9 KOs). Walsh is guided by Boston legend and Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.

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Hollywood Fight Nights – Boston: Walsh vs. Ruiz is set for St. Patrick’s Eve, Thursday, March 16 at the Agganis Arena (925 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215) on the campus of Boston University and broadcast live globally on UFC FIGHT PASS (10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT).

Advance tickets priced at $200, $150, $100, $50 and $40 for the live event are now on-sale and can be purchased at www.AgganisArena.com. Student tickets priced at $25 can be purchased at the Agganis Arena Box Office with valid student ID.

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TICKETS FOR THE Copper Box clash between heavyweight giants Joe Joyce and Zhilei Zhang on Saturday April 15 are on sale today available from ticketmaster.co.uk

The WBO Interim world heavyweight title – held by the unbeaten Briton – will be on the line when the pair collide, live on BT Sport, with the winner in line to take on the holder of the full title, which is currently Oleksandr Usyk.

“You can expect a lot of big bangs from myself and Zhilei!” predicted the Big Juggernaut. “It is going to be a great, great fight, you haven’t seen me against a tall southpaw yet and someone who can really hit and test my chin.

“You will see if I can knock him down and see how our styles gel. It will be explosive and I don’t think it is going the distance. I know what to do with southpaws, so it should be good.”

Also featuring at the Copper Box will be the return of Denzel Bentley with a defence of his British middleweight title against Scottish challenger Kieran Smith. Peacock Gym puncher Bentley is back fighting in London after his unsuccessful WBO world title tilt against Janibek Alimkhanuly in November.

Commonwealth super bantamweight champion Dennis McCann will make a first defence of the title he won via defeating Joe Ham last time out, with his Queensberry iBox Gym teammate Sam Noakes defending his WBC International Silver and Commonwealth lightweight titles.

Super lightweight Sonny Liston Ali will fight in a six-rounder with Dagenham super welterweight Joel Kodua fighting over four.

Further exciting additions to the card will be announced shortly.

Tickets for the showdown between Joyce and Zhang on 15 April at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday, 15 April are on sale now available from ticketmaster.co.uk.

MEDIA ACCREDITATION: Fill out this form to apply to cover Joyce vs Zhang.

Images are free to use, please credit Queensberry

(Feb 14, 2023) — Three light flyweight world titles will be on the line in a high-stakes unification fight on Saturday, April 8, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
 
WBC/WBA champion Kenshiro “The Amazing Boy” Teraji and WBO champ Jonathan “La Bomba” Gonzalez will collide in a 12-round battle that will put one man closer to becoming the division’s undisputed king.
 
The five-fight card will also feature Tenshin Nasukawa’s debut as a professional boxer. The former multi-division kickboxing world champion will face Yuki Yonaha in a six-round junior featherweight attraction.
 
Teraji-Gonzalez, Nasukawa-Yonaha and additional bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. in the early morning hours on ESPN+.
 
Teraji (20-1, 12 KOs) captured his first world title by defeating Ganigan Lopez for the WBC 108-pound strap. Teraji made eight defenses before losing the belt via 10th-round TKO to Masamichi Yabuki. The 31-year-old avenged the loss by stopping Yabuki in the third round of their rematch to regain the title. Teraji then notched his most impressive victory last November by stopping Hiroto Kyoguchi in the seventh round to unify the WBC and WBA championships.    
 
Gonzalez (27-3-1, 14 KOs) spent years fighting top opposition at flyweight, including a failed challenge for Kosei Tanaka’s WBO world title in 2019. The slick southpaw is unbeaten in five fights since moving down to light flyweight in 2020. In October 2021, Gonzalez upset Elwin Soto for the WBO title, which he defended last year against Mark Anthony Barriga and Shokichi Iwata. 
 
Nasukawa began his pro kickboxing career when he was only 15 and compiled an unbeaten record in more than 40 fights. Nasukawa also competed in mixed martial arts, but he has always maintained a strong interest in boxing. In 2018, the 24-year-old participated in a boxing exhibition against Floyd Mayweather Jr., but his April 8 fight will mark his first official professional outing. Yonaha (12-4-1, 8 KOs) is a nine-year veteran who is Japan’s fourth-ranked bantamweight. The 32-year-old is 5-1 in his last six fights.

In other scheduled action on the ESPN+ stream:

• Takuma Inoue (17-1, 4 KOs) vs. Liborio Solis (35-6-1, 16 KOs), 12 rounds, vacant WBA Bantamweight World Title—The younger brother of pound-for-pound phenom Naoya Inoue has won four straight fights since challenging Nordine Oubaali for the WBC crown. Solis, a former junior bantamweight world champion, will be making his fifth attempt at a bantamweight world title.
   
• Kiko Martinez (44-11-2, 31 KOs) vs. Reiya Abe (24-3-1, 10 KOs), 12 rounds, IBF Featherweight World Title Eliminator—Spanish warrior Martinez is a two-weight world champion who hopes to regain the IBF featherweight crown currently held by Top Rank’s Luis Alberto Lopez. He is coming off a stunning fourth-round stoppage over European champion Jordan Gill. Abe has won five straight fights and has never been knocked out in the paid ranks.
   
• Jin Sasaki (14-1-1, 13 KOs) vs. Keita Obara (26-4-1, 23 KOs), 12 rounds, Sasaki’s WBO Asia Pacific Welterweight Title.

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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). 

NEW YORK – February 14, 2023 – Unbeaten rising middleweight Joseph Hicks Jr. will make his 2023 debut as he faces fellow unbeaten Bilal Quintyne in a six-round showdown on Saturday, February 25 from the Motor City Casino in Detroit.

The 29-year-old Hicks (4-0, 4 KOs) fights out of the growing Salita Promotions stable and will return to the ring after turning pro in January 2022 with a TKO of Montrel James. Hicks followed up the impressive pro debut by adding KO’s in May, August and October to round out his year. A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, he’ll meet the 29-year-old Quintyne (4-0, 1 KO), who fights out of Marietta, Georgia, for each fighter’s fifth pro bout.

“In 2022, I was excited to get started with my professional career,” said Hicks. “I’ve been working with some of Michigan’s best boxers and they’ve all helped keep me on my toes. This year I’m looking to take the next step as a pro.”

“Joseph Hicks Jr. is one of the best blue-chip prospects in the U.S.,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “His elite amateur pedigree has helped him to seamlessly adjust to the pro ranks. Joe has the experience and the skills to be on the fast track to a world title. He’s another hidden, and soon to be seen, gem from the talent-rich state of Michigan.”

A standout amateur before entering the pro ranks, Hicks was set to captain the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2020 summer games, before the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the proceedings. By the time the games were back on, the IOC’s formula for picking fighters in his weight class left him on the outside looking in. Undeterred, Hicks has shined as a pro thus far and will look to cement his contender status with a big year ahead.

“When I face Quintyne, I plan to box, establish my jab and let the fight come to me,” added Hicks. “I’m training to fight six hard rounds and be the best me possible inside the ring on the 25^th.”

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ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS

Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including SHOWTIME, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.

Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action. 

London, 14 February 2023: Disrupt Promotions is a newly formed sports promotion company, focusing primarily within boxing and with ambitions to expand into other combat sports on a global basis. The company intends to be disruptive by revolutionising and modernising sports in order to enhance entertainment value and stakeholder worth.
 
Many popular spectator sports which have become stale or tangled up in politics and bureaucracy have successfully been re-engineered and commercialised to enhance entertainment value and engagement for spectators, while also attracting new audiences and creating additional value for stakeholders through sustainable income streams and brands.
 
The current and upcoming generations have an unsatisfiable thirst for media content and, in particular, a desire to be interactive with heightened engagement.  These are particular areas of focus in both the medium and long term for Disrupt Promotions while rolling up many of the traditional businesses in the sector and creating a brand that fighters, sponsors and media outlets want to be associated with.
 
The company has been formed by a group of prominent business leaders from the UK and South Africa who share the vision of disrupting, consolidating and modernising the boxing sector. The intention is to move the company into the public capital markets in the near future, once the first stage of consolidation of numerous key assets has been achieved. 
 
Disrupt Promotions is in advanced discussions with numerous acquisition targets, fighters, media outlets, strategically aligned businesses and sponsors in order to enable it to move at a rapid pace with its expansion plans.
 
The company will also have a long term strategy of developing fighters from grassroots level in under-developed regions such as Africa and Eastern Europe where the opportunities for fighters to grow and progress has traditionally been very limited, while also providing a platform from which athletes globally are able to develop and flourish. From this, we intend to cultivate a world class stable of fighters to contend for world titles in 2023, 2024 and beyond.
 
Disrupt Promotions Chairman, Nicolas Link, commented: “Coming from an international business and sporting background, I’m very excited to be part of building a world class team and a business that intends to revolutionise and professionalise one of the world’s most popular sports.
 
“It’s time for change in almost every aspect of boxing, which is more than just a sport to so many people. Boxing is entertainment at a time when the world craves content more than ever before. 
 
“Disrupt Promotions has huge aspirations and we look forward to working with some of the industry’s key figures in the near future as we set out to achieve our objectives.”
 
The company will be making a series of announcements over the coming months and year as the contracts with fighters, media, sponsors, key management and venues crystalise.
 
For further information on the company’s latest news, please visit disruptpromotions.com or follow us on social media via the following ways:
 
Facebook: @DisruptBoxing
Twitter: @DisruptBoxing
Instagram: @DisruptBoxing
Snapchat: @DisruptBoxing
TikTok: @DisruptBoxing

Leigh Wood has promised to meet Mauricio Lara “in the middle of the ring” and has boldly predicted that their highly anticipated WBA Featherweight World Title clash at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham this Saturday, shown live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Australia and New Zealand), won’t reach the halfway point.

Nottingham’s ‘Leigh-thal’ (26-2, 16 KOs) returns to the scene of his stunning 12^th round knockout win over Ireland’s Michael Conlan last March to put his WBA crown on the line for the second time against a man few have opted to face – Mexico City’s dangerous knockout artist Lara (25-2-1, 18 KOs).

‘Bronco’ arrives on these shores for the third time with a fearsome reputation, having famously wiped-out former IBF Featherweight World Champion Josh Warrington in nine rounds in a sensational upset behind closed doors in February 2021, ending the Leeds fighter’s unbeaten record.

Wood, who picked up multiple Fight of the Year awards for his sensational scrap with Conlan, has accused Lara of making things personal between them following his injury jibes, and the 34-year-old believes he can expose his opponent’s weaknesses on the biggest stage of all. 

“From the outside looking in he looks very dangerous,” admitted Wood. “He got that devastating win over Josh Warrington. There’s a lot of things he does well and he is dangerous, but in the same hand there’s a lot of things that he does very poorly. You can’t get away with that at this level with the right fighter.

“He doesn’t have to come looking for me, I’m going to be right in front of him. I’ll meet him in the middle of the ring. When he walks into the ring he’s going to be met with a very hostile crowd. No one is going to walk into Nottingham and walk through me – it’s not going to happen. I can’t see it reaching the halfway point, and I will win by knockout.

“There was never going to be another fight. It was always going to be Mauricio Lara next. He’s said a few things which made it quite personal. He said that I faked my injury and he said that all the English are running away scared.”

Victory on Saturday potentially sets up a dream World Title defence for Gedling’s Wood at the City Ground – home to his beloved Nottingham Forest Football Club. The chance to become the first ever fighter to headline at the famous old stadium gives Wood all of the extra motivation he needs.

“Over the years things change, you don’t always want what you wanted when you started. Some things do stay the same. It was winning the British Title, boxing for and hopefully winning a World Title and the third thing is to fight at the City Ground. Now I’ve just got one more thing to do – win this fight and I believe it’s done.

“The people down at the ground have really got behind me my past few fights. It’s going to be a special atmosphere this fight. It’s going to be even better. Last time it was split with the Nottingham lot and the Irish – this time it’s predominantly going to be the Nottingham fans. They’ll be singing and making lots of noise – it’s going to be lifting.”

Wood vs. Lara headlines Matchroom’s first show of the year in the UK, Sheffield star Dalton Smith (13-0, 10 KOs) makes the second defence of his British Super-Lightweight Title against Billy Allington (10-1-4), Irish Lightweight hope Gary Cully (15-0, 9 KOs) takes on the USA’s Wilfredo Flores (10-0-1, 5 KOs) for the vacant WBA Intercontinental Title, Gravesend Cruiserweight Cheavon Clarke (4-0, 4 KOs) fights late replacement Israel Duffus (20-8, 17 KOs), former European Super-Bantamweight Champion Gamal Yafai (19-2, 11 KOs) begins 2023 with a ten-rounder against Argentina’s Diego Alberto Ruiz (23-6-1, 12 KOs), Northampton’s Kieron Conway (18-3-1, 4 KOs) meets Portugal’s Jorge Silva (21-7, 12 KOs) over eight rounds at Super-Middleweight, Rotherham Super-Welterweight talent Junaid Bostan (4-0, 4 KOs) fights for the third time under the Matchroom banner, popular Mansfield Super-Bantamweight Nico Leivars (3-0-1) squares off against Spain’s Alberto Motos (2-0) over six rounds, Commonwealth Super-Lightweight Champion Sam Maxwell (16-1, 11 KOs) faces Shaun Cooper (13-4) over six rounds and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Aaron Bowen makes his professional debut at Middleweight against Mathieu Gomes (5-4, 5 KOs).

Limited remaining tickets for Wood vs. Lara can be purchased via Stage Front.

HANOVER, MARYLAND (February 14, 2022)–On Saturday night, February 18th, Jeter Promotions returns to the Hall at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland with a huge night of boxing that will be headlined by an eight-round bout featuring popular junior welterweight Greg Outlaw taking on Willie Shaw.

It is expected that Jeter Promotions will have their 10th consecutive capacity crowd at The Hall at Live!.

Outlaw of Bowie, Maryland is 11-1 with six knockouts. The 29 year-old Outlaw is a seven year professional who has defeated Kashon Hutchinson (2-0), Mack Allison IV (8-1), Edgar Torres (8-1), and Jonathan Montrel (12-0). Outlaw is coming off an explosive first-round stoppage over Wilfrido Buelvas on November 19th in Washington, D.C.

Shaw of Vallejo, California is 14-4 with 10 knockouts. The 30 year-old Shaw is a six-year veteran who has victories over Leonard Davis (1-0-2), Giovannie Gonzalez (4-1) and Antonio Flores (8-2). Shaw is coming off a loss to Andrew Rodgers on September 17, 2022 in Murraysville, PA.

Seeing action in a six-round bout, will be rising junior welterweight Joseph Veazey taking on Danny Murray for the ABF Mid-Atlantic Title.

Veazey, who has started to establish himself as one of the best prospects in the 140-lb. division, has a record of 8-0 with five knockouts. The 24 year-old from Baltimore is coming off an impressive outing as he took out Rashad Kilpatrick (5-1) in two rounds on October 15th at Live! Casino.

Murray of Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey is 6-6. The 31 year-old has wins over undefeated fighters Kenny Robles (2-0) and Valerio Nocera (3-0-1).. Murray is coming off a unanimous decision win over Michael Gibbons on August 28, 2022 in Camden, New Jersey.

A massive undercard featuring some of the best talent in the beltway has been assembled.

In Six-Round Bouts:

Jaqeem Hutcherson (6-1-1) of Capitol Heights, Maryland take on Prentice Canada (4-8-1, 2 KO) of Saint Louis, Missouri in a trilogy fight that will be contested for the ABF Atlantic featherweight title.

AJ Williams (6-2, 2 KOs) of Baltimore will fight Derrick Vann (3-6) of Philadelphia in a super middleweight fight.

Colby Madison (10-4-2, 6 KOs) of Baltimore fights Darryl Clark (2-2, 1 KO) of Houston, TX in a heavyweight battle.

Vitali Gubkin (5-3-1,4 KOs) of Alexandria, Virginia battles Christopher Brooker (16-12, 6 KOs) of Philadelphia in a super middleweight clash.

In Four-Round Bouts:

Vincent Mosca (1-0) of Nottingham, Maryland will take on Albert Talley of Gouverneur, New York in a light heavyweight contest.

Francis Oran (1-0, 1 KO) of Bethlehem, PA takes on Charles Johnson (2-6, 1 KO) 0f Upper Marlboro, Maryland in a heavyweight bout.

Jeffrey Yu (1-0, 1 KO) of Vienna, Virginia takes on debuting Cary Caprio in a super featherweight affair.

Francis Scarboto Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs) of Cheverly, Maryland will square off with debuting Jorge Osvaldo Bargallo Perez of Cape Coral, Florida in a super featherweight bout.

Ahmad Jones (3-0, 2 KOs) of Baltimore takes on Michael Crain (4-5-2, 1 KO) of Smyrna, Delaware in a super lightweight fight.

Michah Terrill of Landover, Maryland makes his pro debut against Kenyan Williams (0-3) of Winchester, Virginia in a light heavyweight bout.

Ervin Fuller of Fort Washington, Maryland will take on Alejandro Leon of Deerfield, Florida in a battle pro debuting super bantamweights/

Tickets for this great night of boxing are priced at $65-$250 and can be purchased HERE

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

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

POMONA, CA (February 14, 2023): The undercard for Nery vs. Hovhannisyan has been finalized to support a main event matchup with potential “fight of the year” contender status written all over it. Former two-division world champion Luis “Pantera” Nery (33-1, 25 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico and Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan (21-3, 17 KOs) of Los Angeles by way of Yerevan, Armenia will fight in a 12-round WBC Super Bantamweight Title Eliminator match to get one step closer to a coveted opportunity to fight for a world championship. The event, presented in association with Zanfer Boxing, is scheduled to take place at Fox Theater Pomona and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN beginning at 5:00 p.m. PST/ 8:00 p.m. EST. 

In the co-main event, Shane Mosley, Jr. (18-4, 10 KOs) will return to the ring after successfully defeating Gabe Rosado via majority decision last April 2022. Mosley, Jr. will fight in a 10-round super middleweight fight against Chihuahua, Mexico’s Mario “Aguila” Lozano (33-10, 24 KOs). Lozano is coming off of a long layoff after a valiant effort against Liam “Beefy” Smith in August 2019. 

Tickets for Nery vs. Hovhannisyan are on sale and are priced at $125, $75 and $50 plus applicable fees. Tickets can be purchased at GoldenBoyPromotions.com or FoxPomona.com. 

Also on the DAZN card, Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval (20-2, 15 KOs) of Rialto will participate in a 10-round flyweight bout against Jerson Ortiz (17-6, 8 KOs) of Managua, Nicaragua. Sandoval will be attempting to avenge his loss against David Jimenez last July 2022. Opening up the DAZN broadcast, Rowdy “Legend” Montgomery (8-4-1, 6 KOs) of Victorville will face Christian “Ruso” Olivas (22-8, 19 KOs) of San Ysidro in an eight-round super middleweight match. 

For the Nery vs. Hovhannisyan preliminary bouts, Asa “Ace” Stevens (3-0, 1 KO) of Waianae, Hawaii will fight Cesar Sustaita (3-6, 3 KOs) of Chihuahua, Mexico in a four-round super bantamweight match. His Hawaiian counterpart, Dalis Kaleiopu (3-0, 3 KOs), also of Waianae will face Erick Garcia (4-3, 1 KO) of Guadalajara, Mexico in a four-round lightweight fight. Opening up the night, Odessa, Ukraine’s Andrii Novytski will make his pro-debut against Gabriel Costa (1-3) of Woburn, Missouri in a four-round heavyweight scrap.

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Nery vs. Hovhannisyan is a 12-round WBC Super Bantamweight Eliminator Fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Zanfer Boxing. The fight night will take place on Saturday, February 18, live from Fox Theater Pomona and will be broadcast on DAZN worldwide.

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

LOS ANGELES, CA. (February 14, 2023) – One of boxing most highly decorated amateurs, 21-year-old Iyana Verduzco, known as “Right Hook Roxy”, will be making her professional boxing debut live on BLK Prime PPV from The Gateway Center @ College Park, GA. Verduzco will be campaigning at featherweight and will square off against Jessica Emerick (1-0-1, 1 KO) in a scheduled 4-round bout.

Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com, with prices ranging from $40 to $400. This event is promoted by Christy Martin Promotions and BLK Prime. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. ET with the first fight starting at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Broner vs. Williams Jr. will broadcast worldwide via digital Pay-Per-View on BLKPrime.com and PPV.com for $39.99. In addition, the PPV event will be distributed by Integrated Sports Media and be available throughout North America via cable and satellite PPV on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH, SHAW, and ROGERS. The PPV telecast will begin at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT. A live PPV preshow starts at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT.

Iyana, who was a 21-time national champion, stands at 5’3” and fights out of the southpaw stance. Her amateur record was an astonishing 101 wins with only 6 defeats. She was a 3-time International Gold Medalist. She has been honing her skills for years, training tirelessly to make her dream of becoming a professional boxer a reality. And now, the moment she has worked so hard for has finally arrived.

“I’m excited to finally be making my professional debut after many years in the amateurs,” said Verduzco, who is trained by her mom Gloria. “I have big dreams to become the face of women’s boxing and I know with hard work, that dream can become a reality. I’m thankful to BLK Prime for giving me this opportunity and I promise to bring an explosive fight for the fans.

Her opponent, Jessica Emerick, may have an undefeated record, but Iyana is ready to show what she’s made of. She is confident in her abilities and has been preparing tirelessly for this moment. With lightning-fast reflexes, technical prowess, and a heart of a champion, Iyana is poised to make a lasting impression on the world of boxing.

“Emerick is going to be a tough fight because I know she’s been training hard for this moment as well.” continued Verduzco. “I’m expecting this fight to be a war and I want all the fans watching to know we women can bring excitement to the ring as well. My goal is to make a statement in this fight by scoring a knockout.”

This is just the beginning for Iyana Verduzco. Her debut on February 25 will be the first step in what promises to be a long and illustrious career. She is an inspiration to young women everywhere, proving that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.

Don’t miss your chance to see “Right Hook Roxy” in action and be a part of the unforgettable moment when a young woman makes her mark on the sport of boxing.

ARLINGTON, TX (February 13, 2023): Undefeated knockout sensation Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (19-0, 19 KOs) of Grand Prairie, Texas has kicked opened the door to challenge for a world title as he is set to fight undefeated World Champion Eimantas Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs) of Kaunas, Lithuania for Stanionis’s WBA Regular Welterweight Title. 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. 

“I am beyond happy, knowing that we’re finally here, fighting for a world title,” said Vergil Ortiz, Jr. “The work that we’ve done inside and outside of the ring and the obstacles we’ve overcome has led to this moment. Stanionis is a great fighter with massive power and I know we are going to put on a good show for everyone. I want to thank my promoter, Golden Boy, the WBA, and my manager, Rick Mirigian for getting this across the finish line.” 

“Vergil asked for this fight, so here we are,” said Eimantas Stanionis. “I feel like this is going to be a special fight. We have mutual respect as competitors but make no mistake it’s going to be an absolute war.” 

“There will be war inside the ring on April 29 as these two dangerous fighters clash to be at the top of the welterweight division,” said Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya. “Ortiz and Stanionis are elite level fighters who will be unafraid to unleash treacherous power and pressure to be crowned World Champion.” 

“2023 is already developing into one of our best ever schedules with Ortiz and Zurdo all set to fight in the first four months of the year,” said Joseph Markowski, CEO North America, DAZN Group. “Vergil is a future World Champion and this will be his toughest test to date versus a very tough opponent in Stanionis. Watch this brilliant fight live and exclusive on DAZN.”

With a 100 percent knockout ratio, Vergil Ortiz, Jr. sits near the top of the stacked welterweight division. His most recent fight in August of 2022 was an entertaining scramble in front of a hometown Texan crowd against Michael McKinson that added rounds to his boxing portfolio and a seventh-round KO. The 24-year-old has had an exciting career since his 2016 debut, knocking out contenders like Antonio “Relentless” Orozco, Brad “King” Solomon, and Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker. Ortiz is currently ranked No. 1 by the WBA and WBO, No.2 by the WBA, and No. 3 by the IBF. This will be the first time he will be fighting for a world championship. 

Currently the WBA Regular Welterweight World Champion, Eimantas Stanionis secured his title belt with a split-decision victory against Radzhab Butaev in a toe-to-toe match-up last April 2022. The 28-year-old former Lithuanian Olympian turned pro in 2017 after an impressive amateur career that amassed a number of accolades, including representing his country at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. Since turning pro, the undefeated fighter quickly went from prospect to contender after beating the likes of Justin DeLoach, Janer Gonzalez, and Thomas Dulorme. 

Information on tickets and 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. 

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

ORANGE, CA. (February 13, 2023) – It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Thompson Boxing Promotions CEO, Ken Thompson, a beloved boxing promoter who dedicated 23 years of his life to promoting the sport in Southern California. Throughout his career, Kenny was known for his passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the sport of boxing, and his fighters.

Born in Lubbock, Texas, Kenny had a love for boxing from an early age. He started his boxing promotion career in the early 2000’s and quickly established himself as a leading figure in the industry. His ability to spot young talent and give them a platform to showcase their skills made him one of the most respected individuals in the sport. Ken was a true advocate for the boxers and always worked tirelessly to ensure that their careers were as successful as possible.

Kenny’s passion for boxing was contagious, and he inspired countless people to become involved in the sport, both as boxers and fans. He was known for his energetic and enthusiastic approach to promoting boxing events, and his shows always had a special energy that was palpable from the moment the first bell rang.

Throughout his career, Kenny was dedicated to giving back to the community. He was a strong supporter of local charities and was always looking for ways to help those in need. He will be remembered for his kindness, his generosity, and his unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.

Kenny’s impact on the sport of boxing in Southern California will never be forgotten. He will always be remembered as a champion of the sport, a true promoter of the art of boxing, and a shining example of what it means to be a true visionary. His legacy will live on, inspiring future generations of boxing enthusiasts to pursue their passions and make a difference in the world.

Rest in peace, Kenny Thompson, and thank you for all that you did to make the world of boxing a better place. Your memory will live on, and you will always be remembered as a true champion of the sport.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made in Kenny’s honor to the Wounded Warrior Project. https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Forthcoming information about a celebration of life event in memory of Kenny will be announced soon. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Kenny’s family during this difficult time.

Las Vegas – UFC^® today announced that former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver will be inducted into the 2023 Class of the UFC Hall of Fame as a Pioneer. The 2023 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Toyo Tires^®, will take place during the 11^th Annual UFC International Fight Week^Ô this summer in Las Vegas and will be streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“Jens Pulver is a pioneer of the sport who was not only the first lightweight champion in UFC history, but someone who delivered some of the sport’s most memorable moments,” said UFC President Dana White. “No one will ever forget his knockout of John Lewis or his win over BJ Penn in their first fight, and his fight against Urijah Faber in 2008 was the biggest fight in WEC history at the time. Jens could do it all in the Octagon, and it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.”

Pulver will enter the UFC Hall of Fame as the 18^th member of the Pioneer Era Wing. The Pioneers Era category includes athletes who turned professional before November 17, 2000 (when the unified rules of mixed martial arts were adopted), are a minimum age of 35, or who have been retired for one year or more.

A veteran of 47 fights during his 14-year professional MMA career, Pulver registered a record of 27-19-1 Draw (11-9-1, – UFC / PRIDE / Shooto / WEC), securing victories over UFC Hall of Famers BJ Penn and Cub Swanson, former Shooto lightweight champion Caol Uno, The Ultimate Fighter^® Season 2 tournament winner Joe Stevenson, and former WEC^® featherweight champion Cole Escovedo. 

Pulver made his professional MMA debut by competing as part of two Bas Rutten Invitationals on April 24 and June 1, 1999. Produced by UFC Hall of Famer Bas Rutten, the invitational was an MMA tournament, where Pulver recorded a 3-1 record over two events before joining UFC.

Jens made his UFC debut as part of UFC^® 22: ONLY ONE CAN BE CHAMPION, which took place on September 24, 1999, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Pulver faced Alfonso Alcarez, fighting to a draw. After his UFC debut, he would bounce back from his fight against Alcarez, winning five of his next six fights, which included a 2-0 record inside UFC.

Jens returned to the Octagon for his fourth UFC bout against John Lewis at UFC^® 28: HIGH STAKES, which took place on November 17, 2000. Pulver defeated Lewis via knockout 15 seconds into the first round and earned his first title shot at UFC 30. His quick knockout of Lewis ranks as the fifth fastest in the history of the lightweight division.

UFC^® 30: BATTLE ON THE BOARDWALK took place on February 23, 2001, in Atlantic City, New Jersey and served as the first UFC event under the Zuffa banner.

Jens faced Caol Uno in the co-main event with the inaugural UFC 155-pound (then called bantamweight) title on the line. Pulver would earn a unanimous decision victory over Uno and become the organization’s first bantamweight champion. After the event, the division was renamed to lightweight, making Jens UFC’s first lightweight champion. 

Pulver returned to the Octagon on September 28, 2001, in the co-main event of UFC^® 33: VICTORY IN VEGAS. This event would serve as the first UFC event sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Jens would defeat Dennis Hallman via unanimous decision and become the first UFC lightweight champion to defend their title.

His next title defense would take place on January 11, 2002, against future UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn in the main event of UFC^® 35: THROWDOWN. Still regarded as one of the most exciting fights in UFC history, Jens defeated Penn via majority decision in an event that would also make history as the first UFC event headlined by athletes competing in the lightweight division.

Pulver would vacate his title and leave UFC after this event. During his first tenure inside the Octagon (1999 – 2002), he set lightweight division records for total (482) and significant (222) strikes landed.

Jens would compete 13 times across a number of MMA promotions over the next four years, most notably PRIDE and Shooto, before returning to UFC to face Joe Lauzon at UFC^® 63: HUGHES vs. PENN 2. Pulver would lose his return bout against Lauzon and his next fight, a rematch against Penn as the main event of The Ultimate Fighter^® Season 5 Finale. He would leave UFC for a second and final time following this event.

During the final six years of his career, Pulver would continue to face the best of the best across numerous MMA promotions, such as WEC and Titan FC, before retiring on November 23, 2013.

A native of Sunnyside, Washington, Pulver joined a youth wrestling program in the sixth grade and competed through high school, earning two state titles as a member of Tahoma Senior High School in Maple Valley. He also began boxing during his time in high school.

Jens began his collegiate wrestling career at Highline Community College in Des Moines, Washington, where he became an NJCAA All-American. He then transferred to Boise State University, where he competed before an injury ended his collegiate wrestling career. Pulver would continue his education at Boise State and earn his degree in criminal justice.

Following his graduation, Jens transitioned from wrestling to mixed martial arts, training with various camps before joining UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich at the Miletich Fighting Systems Academy. He currently resides in Iowa with his wife and two kids.

Jens is also the full-time host of UFC’s official Twitch channel, where he streams live with fans three times per week, as well as joining Watch Alongs for every UFC event.

To view Pulver’s UFC FIGHT PASS collection please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/13234/jens-pulver-ufc-hall-of-fame.

To see a complete list of UFC athletes and fights enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame, as well as details regarding the UFC Hall of Fame format, please visit UFC.com/HOF. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.

It will be announced on tonight’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® telecast that Tim Tszyu, son of boxing legend Kostya Tszyu and an undefeated action fighter, will return to his birth place of Sydney, Australia to face former world champion Tony “Superbad” Harrison for the vacant Interim WBO 154-pound title in the main event of a SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL telecast live on Saturday, March 11 (Sunday, March 12 in Australia) on SHOWTIME^®.

Tonight’s SHOWTIME tripleheader kicks off at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features undefeated two-division champion Rey Vargas meeting top contender O’Shaquie Foster for the vacant WBC Super Featherweight World Championship in the main event from the Alamodome in San Antonio in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The winner of Tszyu-Harrison is in line for a prized shot at undisputed super welterweight king Jermell Charlo. Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) elected to face the veteran Harrison, a highly skilled, crafty fighter after Tszyu’s scheduled match with Charlo on January 28 was scratched when Charlo broke his hand in training. Harrison (29-3-1, 21 KOs) outboxed and edged Charlo in 2018 to capture a world title before he dropped their rematch a year later. In his last fight, Tszyu rose from a first-round knockdown to dominate former title challenger Terrell Gausha last March in his U.S. and SHOWTIME debut. Now Tszyu, 28, will face another prideful veteran as he tries to revisit his match with Charlo, while Detroit’s Harrison, 32, hopes to spoil Tszyu’s homeland return and gain a third fight with Charlo in a matchup that will be announced tonight.

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ–Emmanuel Rodriguez remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Sharone Carter that headlined a six-bout card at The Showboat Hotel Carousel Room.

Rodriguez of Newark, NJ won by scores of 78-74 twice and 77-75 and is now 13-0. Carter of Saint Louis, MO is 13-6.

Feargal McCrory remained undefeated with a 95 second knockout over Aeilo Mesquita in a scheduled eight-round lightweight bout.

McCrory dropped Mesquita with a right hand that sent him to the canvas for the 10-count.

McCrory of Northern Ireland is 13-0 with six knockouts. Mesquita of Brazil is 21-10-1.

Justin Figueroa remained undefeated by stopping Rahiem Davis Cooke at the end of round three of a scheduled four-round junior middleweight bout.

In round three, Figueroa dropped Cooke with a big combination that put Cooke on the canvas. Cooke’s corner stopped the fight after the round.

Figueroa of Atlantic City is 3-0 with three knockouts. Cooke of Philadelphia is 1-4.

Cali Box made a successful pro debut with a first-round stoppage over Davon Hall in a scheduled four-round cruiserweight bout.

Box hurt Hall several times with over hand rights during the round. Box landed a hard right that was followed by a left hook the ropes that forced a stoppage at 2:19.

Box, 184 1/2 lbs of Brick, NJ is 1-0 with one knockout. Hall 183.5 lbs of Wilmington, DE is 0-5.

In a spirited battle of pro debuting lightweights. Miguel Garcia won a four-round unanimous decision over Cristian Castro.

Garcia of Atlantic City won by scores 40-36 and 39-37 twice and is 1-0. Castro of Red Bank is 0-1.

John Vallejo remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Angelo Thompson in a junior middleweight bout.

In round three, Vallejo dropped Thompson with an overhand left.

Vallejo of Newark, NJ won by scores of 40-35 on all cards and is now 2-0. Thompson of Irvington, NJ is now 0-6.

O’Shaquie Foster won the WBC Super Featherweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Rey Vargas at The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

In round three, Vargas was bleeding over his left eye from a punch.

Foster, 129.4 lbs of Orange, TX won by scores of 119-109, 117-111 and 116-112 and is now 20-2. Vargas, 129.2 lbs of Mexico City is 36-1.

Mario Barrios stopped Jovanie Santiago in round eight of a scheduled 10-round welterweight bout.

In round eight, Barrios put Santiago on the canvas with a left hook to the body. Barrios continued to land heavy shots until the bout was stopped at 1:42.

Barrios, 146.8 lbs of San Antonio is 27-2 with 18 knockouts. Santiago, 145.8 lbs of Bayamon, PR is 14-3-1.

Lemier Pero stopped Viktor Faust in round eight of their 10-round heavyweight bout.

In round eight, Pero landed a body shot that had Faust turned his back in resignation. Pero landed four shots and the fight was stopped at 2:28.

Pero, 242.8 lbs of Miami is 9-0 with six knockouts. Faust, 234 lbs of Las Vegas is 11-1.

Claudio Marrero scored a fifth round stoppage over Gonzalo Fuenzalida in a lightweight fight.

Marrero, 135 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is 27-5 with 19 knockouts. Fuenzalida, 134.4 lbs of Las Vegas is 12-2.

Dainier Pero won a four-round unanimous decision over Daniel Zavala in a heavyweight bout.

Pero, 244.2 lbs of Miami won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 3-0. Zavala, 257.4 lbs of Del Rio, TX is 2-2-2.

David Whitmire stopped Keith Foreman in the opening round of a four-round super welterweight bout of debutants.

In round one, Whitmire dropped Foreman with a left hook. Another left hook dropped Foreman and the fight was stopped at 2:10

Whitmire, 148.8 lbs of Washington, DC is 1-0 with one knockout. Foreman, 149 lbs of Harlington, TX is 0-1.

London, England – 11th February 2023 –Adam Azim, the most exciting young prospect in world boxing today, dominated an experienced undefeated opponent in Santos Reyes to take a unanimous decision victory over 10 rounds.

Azim gave a mature, intelligent performance to move to 8-0 as a professional, controlling the entire fight and almost never giving Reyes the opportunity to land a single clean shot on him. Azim jabbed and moved throughout, not taking a single risk before he landed a knockdown in the second round, where he then did increase his offensive output.

The jab was the shot that everything was built on from Azim, consistently using it to hit Reyes without Reyes having a chance to respond, and building from it into his more powerful shots, with the lead left hook having notable success. 

Azim also targeted the body throughout the fight, finding and exploiting any gap in Reyes’s defense to perfection en route to a clear victory.

All three judges scored the contest 100-89, the shutout victory underlining how Azim looks utterly unstoppable at only 20 years old and destined for greatness in the coming years.

Adam Azim said to Sky Sports after the fight: “This was a tough fight, he was a really tough opponent. I thought he was finished in the second round, but those Latin Americans are tough fighters and he stuck it out.”

Ben Shalom, BOXXER CEO & Founder, stated: “For a 20-year-old to display that kind of maturity and intelligence in his first fight headlining a major British arena perfectly illustrates why Adam Azim is the brightest prospect in British boxing today and why he’s tipped for future greatness by so many insiders.”

Televised Card Results:

Adam Azim def. Santos Reyes – UD (100-89, 100-89, 100-89)

Zak Chelli def. Anthony Sims Jr – UD (98-92, 98-92, 99-92)

Viddal Riley def. Anees Taj – TKO Rd 4 (0:04)

Tyler Denny def. Brad Pauls – UD (97-93, 97-93, 98-93)

Caroline Dubois def. Feriche Mashaury – TKO Rd 3 (0:47)

Full Undercard Results

Zak Chelli def. Anthony Sims Jr – UD (98-92, 98-92, 99-92)

Former English Super Middleweight Champion Zak Chelli put on one of the best performances of his career to beat a highly regarded opponent in Anthony Sims Jr who many thought would be too much for Chelli. 

Chelli got the best of the opening rounds of the fight, although all were highly competitive. Chelli used his jab to great success to both the body and the head and timed closing the distance expertly, allowing him to land shots without taking many in return.

Sims Jr remained competitive throughout, and made Chelli miss on many occasions, but certain shots from Chelli found their mark on multiple occasions, those being a winging overhand right and a disciplined right uppercut, which both were crucial weapons for Chelli’s success.

The eighth round was a Sims Jr’s best of the fight, as Chelli started to slow down and Sims jr dominated the exchanges, forcing Chelli to back up and defend. However, Chelli showed great spirit to come back out for the ninth and confidently trade punches and win exchanges, stopping Sims Jr from building any late fight momentum and seeing out the last round to take a unanimous decision victory.

Zak Chelli said to Sky Sports after the fight: “I outboxed the boxer. A lot of people doubted me, but I never doubted myself, so I knew I could win here.I want bigger, better fights now.”

Ben Shalom, BOXXER CEO & Founder, said: “This was a really good performance. Zak Chelli stepped up another level. The belief he has, he will fight anyone, and we can go right to the top now.”

Viddal Riley def. Anees Taj – TKO Rd 4 (0:04)

Highly touted Cruiserweight Viddal Riley moved to 8-0 as a professional in a strong performance that proved the excitement around him is justified. Viddal handled a high-pressure, aggressive opponent in Anees Taj who came to fight, using strong boxing skills and deploying his power at the right moments to force the fight to be stopped from a cut.

Viddal established a cannon-like jab from the start of the fight, using it to land stiff shots on Taj in the first round without giving him a chance to respond. Taj adapted to this well in the second round, and gave Viddal a few problems as the fight went on, but Viddal did the greater damage, opening up a cut next to Taj’s eye in the third round which bled significantly and was deemed too severe to continue the fight at the start of the next round.

The sky seems to be the limit for the popular, talented Viddal, and he looks set to keep on rising for a long time.

Viddal Riley said to Sky Sports after the fight:“I want to be a dominant champion, so I need to be tested, I need to be challenged. So I’m glad to have fights like that.”

Ben Shalom, BOXXER CEO & Founder, said: “Viddal needs those fights. His skillset is seriously underestimated, he’s going to go all the way and we’re looking at fighting for titles by the end of the year.”

Tyler Denny def. Brad Pauls – UD (97-93, 97-93, 98-93)

Tyler Denny and Brad Pauls went to war for 10 rounds for the English Middleweight Championship, with Denny showing immaculate boxing skill to claim victory and retain his title against a game opponent in Brad Pauls who did everything he could to win the fight. Denny has now fought six undefeated opponents in succession and has earned the right to call himself a Champion.

The fight started tensely, with both fighters keeping discipline in the opening rounds. Pauls started to push forward more as the fight came out of the opening rounds, while Denny was counter-boxing and picking his shots highly successfully, broadly nullifying Pauls’s offense and landing some nicely timed counter-shots. 

Denny started to get the better of exchanges, and found greater confidence and success as the fight went on, despite every round being razor close. This pattern continued as the fight progressed, with Denny opening up and throwing more punches as he began to take control of the fight.

The English Middleweight Champion even came close to stopping the fight at times, clattering Pauls with hooks from both hands throughout the eighth rounds to devastating effect, but Pauls showed heart to respond to this onslaught with renewed offense of his own, seeing out the final two rounds with determination and undoubtedly gaining a lot of new fans despite the defeat.

Caroline Dubois def. Feriche Mashaury – TKO Rd 3 (0:47)

Former Tokyo 2020 Olympian Caroline Dubois showed once again why she is the most exciting prospect in women’s boxing with another stoppage victory in the sixth fight of her professional career. Dubois controlled the fight from the start, managing the distance and the pace of the fight, pushing Feriche Mashaury into the corner of the ring and peppering her with shots to the head and body.

Mashaury was a wiley opponent, using skill to survive the first two rounds, but was eventually overwhelmed by Dubois’s boxing ability and savage knockout power. 

Dubois stamped her presence in women’s boxing in 2022, waking people up to how talented she is, and 2023 looks set to be a continuation of her rapid ascent through the ranks. Nothing has slowed Caroline Dubois down yet in her quest for World Championships, and it doesn’t look like anything will soon.

Caroline Dubois said to Sky Sports after the fight: “She didn’t come to fight. It’s hard to stop someone who didn’t come in there to fight, but hopefully we can step up in future and start challenging for titles.”

Ben Shalom, BOXXER CEO & Founder, said: “Caroline is a phenomenal talent and she showed that again tonight. We’re looking to move her through the ranks fast and want her to fight five times in 2023.”

Jeamie TKV def. Harry Armstrong – PTS (77-75)

Heavyweight prospect Jeamie TKV showed grit, determination and power as he took a dominant points victory in the fourth fight of his professional career. Harry Armstrong came into this fight undefeated and didn’t give an inch, winning multiple rounds on the referee’s scorecard, but was outworked and outfought by a serious talent in Jeamie TKV. 

TKV consistently got the better of this barbaric slugging match, finding the opportunities to land clubbing hooks to Armstrong’s head and body in the clinch. This was a true heavyweight battle – the combined weight of both fighters being a staggering 519 lbs – and neither man looked interested in having the fight last the whole eight rounds. 

Neither man would give up either though, so the fight went the distance, with action from the first to the final bell as both men left everything in the ring. Jeamie TKV is yet to be in a dull fight in his career, and looks set to keep moving through the ranks, scoring knockouts and winning fans in future.

Jeamie TKV said to Sky Sports after the fight: “I’m glad I took another victory tonight but I feel I could have got a stoppage there if I’d fought smarter. I fight to get knockouts and I had him in trouble a couple of times in the fight, but we move on and keep improving.”

Jordan Reynolds def. Mohamed Benchadi – TKO Rd 6 (0:58)

Luton’s own Jordan Reynolds outclassed an experienced opponent in Mohamed Benchadi in front of a rapturous section of his fans and in only his fifth professional bout, scoring a knockdown in the second round and remorselessly wearing down Benchadi on the way to ending the fight in the sixth and final round.

Reynolds rode roughshod over his opponent, but didn’t take a single unnecessary risk on his way to the second stoppage victory of his professional career, and his greatest so far. 

Reynolds used his jab to perfection, finding his range and damaging Benchadi without letting him land anything in return. Benchadi used strong evasion to recover from his second round knockdown but was eventually overwhelmed by the skill and power of Reynolds.

Jordan Reynolds said to Sky Sports after the fight: “This is my year now, I’ve had setback after setback but now it’s my time. I put him under pressure, educated pressure, to force the end of the fight. I got complacent in the fifth round, so I had to be smart to end the fight.”

Stephen McKenna def. Brendon Denes – TKO Rd 5 (0:22)

Stephen McKenna took the 12th stoppage victory of his 13 fight professional career with a measured performance to stop a determined opponent in Brendon Denes. McKenna showed a world-class engine to box at a frenetic pace for four whole rounds that left his opponent battered and unwilling to contest the fifth round, ending the fight.

The Monaghan native used sharp footwork to manoeuvre his opponent into the corner of the ring multiple times across the fight, allowing him to unload volleys of offense that couldn’t be avoided, building damage until the end of the fight. McKenna is one of the most notable welterweight prospects in world boxing and looks set to be in huge fights in the near future.

McKenna said to Sky Sports after the fight: “I felt his power early in the fight and was confident I could end up the last man standing when we went to war. I could have boxed in that fight perfectly but I wanted to make a statement and get the stoppage victory, which I did successfully. I’m moving up in my career now and hungry to keep winning.”

Hassan Azim def. Abdallah Luanja – TKO Rd 2 (2:43)

Heavy handed older brother of one half of tonight’s main event, Hassan Azim, produced a consummate performance to dominate and destroy a veteran opponent in Abdallah Luanja. Azim pummelled his opponent from the first bell, working smartly off his jab to close the distance and fire off powerful left hooks to the head and body. 

Azim looked close to forcing the stoppage at almost every moment of the fight, but Luanja stayed standing after shots that would have knocked out lesser fighters before the referee ended the fight late in the second round.

Azim said to Sky Sports after the fight: “I just put the pressure on him because I knew if I put the pressure on him he wouldn’t last the distance. I’ve been fighting 10 or 12 rounds in the gym so I knew I could get him out of there if I wanted to.

“I want to keep progressing from here and keep fighting better opponents in future.”

Razor Ali def. Hector Lozano – TKO Rd 3 (1:26)

Undefeated young prospect Razor Ali made a serious statement on the biggest stage of his professional career so far by taking his first-ever stoppage victory against a tough opponent in Hector Lozano. 

Ali kept the pressure up from the first bell, constantly moving towards Lozano and finding gaps in his defence, and came close to stopping the fight in the very first round. Lozano held on against Ali’s barrage until half way through the third round when the referee was forced to step in.

Ali said to Sky Sports after the fight: “I was very happy to get the first stoppage of my career. I had the opportunity to show what I can do in front of my people, my supporters, and I think I did that well tonight.”

Full Card Results:

Adam Azim def. Santos Reyes – UD (100-89, 100-89, 100-89)

Zak Chelli def. Anthony Sims Jr – UD (98-92, 98-92, 99-92)

Viddal Riley def. Anees Taj – TKO Rd 4 (0:04)

Tyler Denny def. Brad Pauls – UD (97-93, 97-93, 98-93)

Caroline Dubois def. Feriche Mashaury – TKO Rd 3 (0:47)

Jeamie TKV def. Harry Armstrong – PTS (77-75)

Jordan Reynolds def. Mohamed Benchadi – TKO Rd 6 (0:58)

Stephen McKenna def. Brenden Denes – TKO Rd 5 (0:22)

Hassan Azim def. Abdallah Luanja – TKO Rd 2 (2:43)

Razor Ali def. Hector Lozano – TKO Rd 3 (1:26)