NEW YORK (December 29, 2022) – The New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF) has announced its 22-member Class of 2122. The 11th NYSBHOF induction dinner, sponsored by Ring 8, will be Sunday afternoon (12:30-5:30 p.m. ET), April 30, at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York.

Tickets are priced at $160.00 per adult, $60.00 for children (under 16), and includes a complete brunch and cocktail hour upon entry, starting at 12:30 p.m. ET, as well as a 7-course dinner (prime rib, fish, or poultry) and open bar throughout the event. Tickets are available to purchase by contacting NYSBHOF president Bob Duffy at 516.313.2304 or depcomish@aol.com. Ads for the NYSBHOF program are available, ranging from $80.00 to $200.00, by contacting Duffy. Go online at www.nyboxinghof.org or www.Ring8ny.com for additional information about the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.

Living boxers heading into the NYSBHOF are Brooklyn’s 2-division (welterweight & light welterweight), 6-time World Champion “Super” Zab Judah (44-10, 30 KOs), Brooklyn’s 2-divbision World Champion (welterweight and light welterweight) Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi (36-8, 7 KOs), Plainview’s World Super Lightweight Champion Kathy “Wildcat” Collins (14-2-4, 3 KOs), Troy welterweight Kevin “Mr. Excitement” Pompey (32-18-3, 12 KOs), and Brooklyn World Super Lightweight World title challenger Dmitry “Star of David” Salita (35-2-1, 18 KOs).  

Posthumous participants being inducted are Poughkeepsie’s world lightweight challenger Johnny Busso (36-12-1, 15 KOs), Bronx middleweight Eugene “Silent” Hairston (45-13-5, 24 KOs), New York City’s NYSAC Featherweight World Champion Tony “Jimmy Pell” Pellone (51-19-6, 10 KOs), Bronx featherweight Mike “The Bronx Spider” Belloise (91-28-12, 21 KOs), New York City’s World Colored Heavyweight Champion Harry “Black Panther” Wills (70-9-3, 56 KOs), and Hempstead’s World Light Heavyweight World title challenger Eddie “Wildcat” Davis (34-6-1, 20 KOs).  

Living non-participants heading into the NYSBHOF are Brooklyn trainer Hector Rocha, Brooklynn ring announcer Dave Diamante, Bronx commentator/producer/radio show host Tony Paige, Latham journalist Bob Mladinich, Brooklyn neurologist Barry Jordan, Brooklyn judge Robin Taylor, and Buffalo journalist Bob Caico.

Posthumous non-participant inductees are Brooklyn manager Izzy Zwerling, Manhattan manager Dave Wolf, Brooklyn trainer George Washington, and New York City manager/promoter Irving Cohen.

Each attending inductee (or direct descendant of) will receive a custom-designed belt signifying his or her induction into the NYSBHOF.

The 2022 inductees were selected by the NYSBHOF Nominating Committee members: Chairperson Jack Hirsch, Randy Gordon, Henry Hascup, Don Majeski, Ron McNair, Jim Monteverde, Neil Terens, Jose Corpas, Bobby Cassidy, and Bob Duffy.

All boxers needed to be inactive for at least three years to be eligible for NYSBHOF induction, and all inductees must have resided in New York State for a significant portion of their boxing careers or during the prime of their respective career.

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NYSBHOF

CLASS of 2012: Carmen Basilio, Mike McCallum, Mike Tyson, Jake LaMotta, Riddick Bowe, Carlos Ortiz, Vito Antuofermo, Emile Griffith, “Sugar” Ray Robinson, Gene Tunney, Benny Leonard, Tony Canzoneri, Harold Lederman, Steve Acunto, Jimmy Glenn, Gil Clancy, Ray Arcel, Nat Fleischer, Bill Gallo and Arthur Mercante, Sr.

CLASS of 2013: Jack Dempsey, Johnny Dundee, Sandy Saddler, Maxie Rosenbloom, Joey Archer, Iran Barkley, Mark Breland, Bobby Cassidy, Doug Jones, Junior Jones, James “Buddy” McGirt, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Bob Arum, Shelly Finkel, Tony Graziano, Larry Merchant, Teddy Brenner, Mike Jacobs, Tex Rickard and Don Dunphy.

CLASS OF 2014: Floyd Patterson, Tracy Harris Patterson, Billy Backus, Kevin Kelley, Juan LaPorte, Gerry Cooney, Mustafa Hamsho, Howard Davis, Jr., Lou Ambers, Jack Britton, Terry McGovern, Teddy Atlas, Lou DiBella, Steve Farhood, Gene Moore, Angelo Prospero, Whitey Bimstein, Cus D’Amato, William Muldoon and Tom O’Rourke.

CLASS OF 2015: Saoul Mamby, Joey Giamba, Johnny Persol, Harold Weston, Lonnie Bradley, Paul Berlenbach, Billy Graham, Frankie Genaro, Bob Miller, Tommy Ryan, Jimmy Slattery, Bob Duffy, Mike Katz, Tommy Gallagher, Bruce Silverglade, Charley Goldman, Jimmy Johnston, Cedric Kushner, Harry Markson, Damon Runyon, and Al Weill.

CLASS OF 2016: Aaron Davis, Charles Murray, Vilomar Fernandez, Edwin Viruet, Hector “Macho” Camacho, Rocky Graziano, Rocky Kansas, Joe Lynch, Joe Miceli, Ed Brophy, Joe DeGuardia, Randy Gordon, Dennis Rappaport, Howie Albert, Freddie Brown, Howard Cosell, Ruby Goldstein, and Jimmy Jacobs.

CLASS OF 2017: Gaspar Ortega, Renaldo “Mr.” Snipes, Doug Dewitt, “The Bronx Bomber” Alex Ramos, Dick Tiger, Jose Torres, “Nonpareil” Jack Dempsey, Don Majeski, Ron Katz, Stan Hoffman, Bobby Bartels, Hank Kaplan, Al Gavin, Arthur Donovan, and Dan Parker.

CLASS OF 2018: Lou Del Valle, Jake Rodriguez, Terrence Alli, Joe Mesi, Kid Chocolate, James J. “Gentleman Jim” Corbett, Jack McAuliffe, Billy Costello, Melio Bettina Ralph “Tiger” Jones, Charley Norkus, Dave Anderson, Pete Brodsky, Herb Goldman, Bobby Goodman, Melvina Lathan, Ron Scott Stevens, Johnnie Addie, Johnny Bos, Murray Goodman, Bert Randolph Sugar, and Sam Taub.

No class of 2019 due to COVID-19 restrictions

CLASS OF 2020: Jorge Ahumada, Alfredo Escalera, Freddie Liberatore, Dennis Milton; Lou Savarese and Merqui Sosa, Soldier Bartfield, Steve Belloise, Jimmy Goodrich, Tami Mauriello, Davey Moore, Freddie Welch, Don Ackerman, Bobby Cassidy, Jr., Rick Glaser, Jack Hirsch, Max Kellerman, Dr. William Lathan, Julie Lederman, Ron Lipton, Kevin Rooney, Dan Daniel, Bobby Gleason, Flash Gordan, A.J. Liebling, Tony Mazzarella, and manager Dan Morgan.

CLASS OF 2021:   Michael Bentt, Shannon Briggs, Verno Phillips, Donny Lalonde Johnny” Verderosa, Larry Barnes, Johnny Turner, Al Singer, Kid Norfolk, Patsy Giovanelli, Eddie Martin,  Battling Siki, Solly Krieger, Herbie Kronowitz, Tommy Paul, Lou Salica, Ron McNair, Don Elbaum, Ed Schuyler, Bill Verigan, Tom Hauser, Mike Silver, and Jill Diamond, Lou Stillman,  Bill Cayton, James Walker, John Condon, Irving Rudd, Richard K. Fox, and trainer Victor Valle. 

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ABOUT RING 8: Formed in 1954 by an ex-prizefighter, Jack Grebelsky, Ring 8 became the eighth subsidiary of what was then known as the National Veteran Boxers Association – hence, RING 8 – and today the organization’s motto remains: Boxers Helping Boxers.

RING 8 is fully committed to supporting less fortunate people in the boxing community who may require assistance in terms of paying rent, medical expenses, or whatever justifiable need.

Go online to www.Ring8ny.com for more information about RING 8, the largest group of its kind in the United States with more than 350 members. Annual membership dues are only $30.00, and each member is entitled to a buffet dinner at RING 8 monthly meetings, excluding July and August. All active boxers, amateur and professional, are entitled to a complimentary RING 8 yearly membership. Guests of Ring 8 members are welcome at a cost of only $7.00 per person.

INFORMATION:

www.nyboxinghof.org

www.Ring8ny.com

Uncasville, CT – With a new year comes fireworks, and CES Boxing is ready to light up the sky with an epic showcase next month at one of the world’s premier entertainment venues.

CES Boxing’s 2023 season opener, Winter Brawl, is scheduled for Saturday, January 21 at Mohegan Sun Arena and features a stacked lineup headlined by hard-hitting heavyweight “The Sicilian Nightmare” Juiseppe Cusumano facing “The Hungarian Hammer” Istvan Bernath in the 10-round main event.

Tickets are available online at CESFights.com, MoheganSun.com, or at the Mohegan Sun Arena box office.

Fresh off his knockout win over Dennis Ventura four months ago at Mohegan, Cusumano (21-4, 19 KOs) returns to face the 6-foot-4 Bernath (10-1, 8 KOs), a two-time silver medalist at the European Union Amateur Boxing Championships who was born in Budapest and now fights out of Miami.

The 10-round Cusumano-Bernath showdown is one of 11 fights at Winter Brawl, which also features the long-awaited return of Stamford, CT, light middleweight Chordale Booker (17-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-round showcase against 37-fight veteran Angel Hernandez (17-17-3, 11 KOs)plus a highly-anticipated six-round interstate battle between Michael Valentin (7-1-1, 1 KO) of Providence, RI and the undefeated Kevin Walsh (6-0, 4 KOs) of Brockton, MA.

Returning from a 13-month layoff, Worcester, MA, featherweight Irvin Gonzalez (15-3, 11 KOs) steps back into the ring in an eight-round bout against the dangerous Headley Scott (18-1, 12 KOs) of Jonesboro, GA, and super featherweight Alejandro Paulino (11-0, 9 KOs), one of the region’s fastest-rising prospects, puts his undefeated record on the line in a six-round bout against Ryizeemmion Ford (8-3, 6 KOs).

As an added bonus, the undercard also features a four-round cruiserweight bout between rising MMA star John Gotti III (1-0) of Oyster Bay, NY, and Alex Citrowske (1-1-1, 1 KO) of Saint Cloud, MN. A standout with CES Boxing’s sister division, CES MMA, Gotti boxes for the second time in three months after making his pro debut in October. In another potential showstopper, undefeated welterweight Josniel Castro (9-0, 7 KOs), a Boca Raton, FL, native who’s fought his entire pro career in New England from Massachusetts to New Hampshire, faces one of his toughest tests to date in a six-round showdown against Quebec native and Boston resident Mitch Louis Charles (6-3-2, 3 KOs).

Winter Brawl also marks the return of female welterweight Stevie Jane Coleman (3-1, 1 KO), who faces New Jersey’s Michaele Nogue (2-2) in a four-round bout, and Worcester super middleweight Kendrick Ball Jr. (19-1-2, 12 KOs) in a six-round bout against Argentinian and 22-fight vet Victor Hugo Exner.

In preliminary action, Brockton heavyweight Chad Leoncello (1-0-1, 1 KO), fresh off his first career victory in November, faces Boston’s Wallace Nass Silva (0-4) in a four-round bout and MMA standout Mike Kimbelof Watertown, CT, makes his professional boxing debut against Robert Banks (0-1) of Monroeville, NY, also in a four-round bout.

For more information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.

INFORMATION

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions in the northeast and one of the few to successfully promote both mixed martial arts and professional boxing. Launched in 1992 by longtime boxing judge Jimmy Burchfield Sr., the promotion is the only in professional boxing to boast two reigning WBC Youth world champions in lightweight Jamaine Ortiz and featherweight Irvin Gonzalez. CES Boxing recently teamed with UFC FIGHT PASS, the world’s No. 1 streaming platform for combat sports, to showcase its events to a worldwide audience, and worked as a promotional consultant for the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. pay-per-view event in November of 2020.

Mohegan Sun Arena is one of the busiest Arenas in the United States and is ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar and VenuesNow. Mohegan Sun Arena finished 2021 with its first “#1 Indoor Arena” ranking for its capacity in the world according to Pollstar and VenuesNow, ranked among the top 10 venues in the United States regardless of size based on ticket sales, and was named “2021 Innovator of the Year” by Celebrity Access for its ViacomCBS residency.  In recent years, the award-winning venue has also been the “#1 Casino Venue in the World,” “#1 Social Media Venue in the World” and a seven-time national award winner for “Casino of the Year – Arena” by the Academy of Country Music. For more information on concerts and other great events, visit MoheganSun.com. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711.

SAN ANTONIO, TX. – December 28, 2022 – Tickets are on sale now to see two-division world champion Rey Vargas and top contender O’Shaquie Foster battle for the vacant WBC Super Featherweight World Championship on Saturday, February 11 live on SHOWTIME from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas in a Premier Boxing Champions event.

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

After an extended run at 122 pounds, and following a dominant performance to become a 126-pound world champion in his last outing, Vargas will look to add his name next to the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and more on the list of Mexican champions to win titles in three divisions. He will get all he can handle from Foster, who has won nine-straight fights to put himself in position to fight for the title.

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

NEW YORK – December 27, 2022 – Two former Trainers of the Year will lead their young and undefeated fighters into the first SHOBOX: The New Generation card of 2023 as James “Buddy” McGirt’s promising super middleweight prospect Sean Hemphill faces off against Ronnie Shields-trained prodigy David Stevens in a tripleheader set for Friday, January 20 at 9 p.m. ET/PT live on SHOWTIME from Wind Creek Casino in Bethlehem, Pa.

The three undefeated matchups include fighters with a combined record of 61-0-1 and 43 knockouts. This marks the second consecutive year SHOBOX^® will open the new year featuring a tripleheader in which all six fighters enter fight night without a loss.

Four of the six fighters hail from the state of Pennsylvania with Hemphill (14-0, 8 KOs) of New Orleans, La., set to make his highly anticipated SHOBOX debut when he faces nearby Reading native, Stevens (11-0, 8 KOs), in an eight-round super middleweight bout. In the co-main event, Atif Oberlton (7-0, 6 KOs) of Philadelphia takes on Artem Brusov (12-0, 11 KOs) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in an eight-round light heavyweight bout. The telecast opener pits two up-and-coming Pennsylvania fighters as Reading’s Julian Gonzalez (8-0-1, 8 KOs) and Rosalindo Morales (9-0, 2 KOs), from Ellwood City, put their unbeaten streaks to the test in an eight-round super featherweight bout.

In 2002, McGirt – who worked the corner for such greats as Arturo Gatti, Antonio Tarver, Hasim Rahman and Sergey Kovalev – was named the Boxing Writers Association of America Trainer of the Year. A year later, in 2003, Shields – who has previously worked with such greats as Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield – was named Trainer of the Year by the World Boxing Hall of Fame.

The 27-year-old Hemphill was all set to make his SHOBOX debut last February against Joe George before suffering an injury in training forcing the cancelation of the fight. In October, the Hemphill-Stevens fight was called off as well during fight week because of injury.

The three-fight telecast is promoted by Marshall Kauffman’s Kings Promotions.

“We enter our 22^nd year of SHOBOX with a card that features six undefeated boxers who all had solid amateur backgrounds,” said Gordon Hall, executive producer for SHOBOX: The New Generation. “To have two young American standouts in our main event with Sean Hemphill and David Stevens facing each other this young in their careers just shows their yearning to take that step up. It’s the goal and desire of all these young fighters to turn from prospect to contender and we give them that chance and set the stage on SHOBOX.”

Here is more on each of the three bouts:

Hemphill vs. Stevens – Eight-Round Super Middleweight Main Event

Hemphill made his pro debut in 2019 and has already reeled off 14 consecutive wins after a standout amateur career. In his last bout nearly a year ago in January, Hemphill scored an eight-round unanimous decision over Jeyson Minda in front of his hometown New Orleans fans. The 27-year-old known as “Silky” fought three times in 2021, four times in 2020 and six times in 2019. Stevens will be the first undefeated opponent of Hemphill’s career with multiple wins. Hemphill is managed by Adam Glenn, son of the late Jimmy Glenn, who owned the beloved Jimmy’s Corner bar in Midtown Manhattan and was a well-known, iconic figure in boxing circles. Hemphill was a member of Team USA during a stellar amateur career (55-12) that saw him rise to become one of the top light heavyweights in the country. His nickname “Silky” is an amalgamation of his dad’s nickname from his kickboxing days (“Spyder”) and his smooth fighting style – spiders produce silk.

“I am excited for the opportunity to fight on a big platform like SHOWTIME,” Hemphill said. “I have envisioned this for a long time, and it’s unfortunate I wasn’t able to make my SHOBOX debut in 2022. I have been hungrier than ever to display my skills and talent. I don’t know much about Stevens, but I am focused on what I have to do and handling business. A win will elevate me in every way possible. It is going to open people’s eyes and open the door for bigger fights and opportunities.”

Stevens fought three times in 2022. His busy schedule includes a second-round stoppage of Loris Barberio on July 23 and a first-round TKO of veteran Colby Courter on May 28. The 22-year-old Stevens of Reading, Pa., has stopped four of his last five opponents, relying on a polished skillset and aggressive, hard-punching style. He started boxing when he was 11 and went 60-8 in the amateurs. Among his amateur highlights, he is a two-time Junior Olympic gold medalist, a Silver Gloves champion, Ringside champion, USA Boxing Youth national champion and a Youth World Championships qualifier. 

“I am excited and anxious and ready to fight and show my talent to the world. When the fight was cancelled, I was disappointed because we could not get another opponent on short notice. I think Hemphill is decent. He is not better than me. A win will elevate me and open more doors for other opportunities. Fighting on SHOBOX is very motivating and it makes me push harder in camp.”

Oberlton vs. Brusov – Eight-Round Light Heavyweight Bout

The 24-year-old Oberlton has picked up three wins in 2022, most recently a second-round TKO over Christian Thomas. An active amateur, Oberlton competed in approximately 100 amateur fights where he won many tournaments, including the U.S. National Junior Olympics and was a two-time National Golden Gloves champion. Oberlton placed second at the United States Olympic Trials and was a favorite to be part of the Olympic team in 2020 before deciding to turn pro instead.

“This is a great opportunity that I’ve been waiting for,” Oberlton said. “I am just ready to go in there and prove myself. This is more about what I do rather than what he can do. This will be my official launch to ascend into the light heavyweight division.”

The 31-year-old Brusov is a native of Russia currently training in South Florida. He made his United States debut in late 2021 making fast work of Courtney McCleave with a first-round TKO in Myrtle Beach, S.C. He had a 101-22 amateur record and received bronze, silver and gold medals in national and international competitions.

“I am excited, and this is a good fight and opportunity for me,” Brusov said. “I don’t know too much about my opponent. I know he is a tall southpaw, and I am ready to fight to show everyone what I can do in the ring. I know he was a good amateur, but so was I. I will win this fight. SHOBOX is a famous series, and this is a good chance for me to show people who I am.”

Gonzalez vs. Morales – Eight-Round Super Featherweight Bout

Gonzalez, from Reading, Pa., just over 40 miles from Bethlehem, will feel right at home on January 20. The 21-year-old has fought twice at Wind Creek Events Center, scoring first and second-round stoppages. All eight of the power-punching Gonzalez’s wins have come by way of knockout, and each stoppage has come inside of two rounds. Gonzalez fought five times in 2021, the year he turned pro, and most recently scored a second-round TKO over Eric Manriquez on December 10. The lone blemish on Gonzalez’s record is a six-round draw against Cuban prospect Ivan Jimenez. Going by the ring moniker “Gifted”, Gonzalez has sparred with Philadelphia’s unified 122-pound world champion Stephen Fulton Jr.

“This will be my first fight on national television, and I am thankful for this opportunity to showcase my skills to the world and show what I am all about,” Gonzalez said. “Morales is a tough fighter. He is a southpaw, awkward. I don’t think he is anything too special, but he is tough. A win will take me to the next level as people will see the type of skills that I have.”

The 29-year-old Morales was born in San Antonio but currently resides in Ellwood City, just outside of Pittsburgh, Pa. A crafty southpaw, Morales has relied mostly on his boxing ability to build his perfect 9-0 record but has shown off his power with recent back-to-back first-round KOs in March and June of this year. Morales stepped up to eight rounds for the first time in his most recent fight in October, a unanimous decision over 30-fight veteran Jesus Ramon Perez. Morales has two unanimous decision wins over previously undefeated fighters and will look to take another opponent’s ‘0’ on January 20. Morales, a former Marine, won the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves at 141 pounds in 2016 and turned pro the following year.

“This fight has been a long time coming,” said Morales. “I have worked very hard for this, and I look forward to showing off my complete skillset on January 20th. I don’t know much about Gonzalez, but I do know that I plan on taking it to him and getting this win. I have been working hard my whole life for an opportunity like this and getting a win on this platform would mean everything to me.”

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

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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 87 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more. 

VERONA, N.Y. (Dec. 27, 2022) — The matchups have changed, but a high-octane heavyweight doubleheader will still go down Saturday, Jan. 14, at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.
 
In the 10-round main event, Efe “The Silent Roller” Ajagba will now take on St. Louis native Stephan “Big Shot” Shaw. Oscar Rivas was originally slated to fight Ajagba but had to withdraw with an eye injury.
 
Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello, who was scheduled to fight Shaw in the co-feature, will now face the upset-minded Jonnie Rice in a 10-rounder.
 
Ajagba-Shaw and Vianello-Rice will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ and includes a 10-round junior lightweight tilt between Adam “BluNose” Lopez and Abraham “El Super” Nova.
 
“Stephan Shaw stepped up and has a tough task against one of the division’s biggest punchers in Efe Ajagba,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “We’re pleased that Guido will remain on the card against a formidable opponent in ­Jonnie Rice. This will be a fantastic heavyweight doubleheader at Turning Stone.”  
 
Shaw (18-0, 13 KOs) went 3-0 with two stoppages in 2022, including a shutout eight-round decision over Rydell Booker in November. Ajagba (16-1, 13 KOs) is one of the heavyweight division’s hardest punchers and is coming off a second-round stoppage over Jozsef Darmos in August.
 
Vianello (10-0-1, 9 KOs), a 2016 Italian Olympian from Rome, has won three fights since a 2020 draw to Kingsley Ibeh. Rice (15-6-1, 10 KOs) has faced a host of heavyweight hopefuls, including Ajagba and Shaw. Following back-to-back losses in 2020, Rice re-energized his career with a fifth-round TKO over then-unbeaten prospect Michael Coffie in July 2021. He repeated the deed on New Year’s Day, outlasting Coffie via a 10-round unanimous decision.
 
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment, tickets priced from $49 to $89 are on sale now and can be purchased at the Turning Stone Resort Casino Box Office, charge by phone by calling 800.771.7711 or online at Ticketmaster.com.

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About Turning Stone Resort Casino
Host of the January 14th event, Turning Stone Resort Casino is a Forbes Four-Star Award-winning destination resort, which continues to distinguish itself as a premier destination for major boxing events that are broadcast around the world. Boxing legends including Oscar De Lay Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Miguel Cotto, Mike Tyson, Laila Ali and many others, have all taken part in boxing events at Turning Stone over the years.
 
Turning Stone is the Official Resort Casino of the International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend, an international event celebrating boxing legends and current superstars in the sport. Throughout the year, Turning Stone and the Boxing Hall of Fame attract thousands of boxing fans, Hall of Famers and sports media to the region for a series of boxing events at Turning Stone that culminate with the International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend, annually the biggest and most star-studded weekend in all of boxing. This year’s International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend will take place from June 8 – 11.
 
Turning Stone features world-class amenities including The Lounge with Caesars Sports, a state-of-the-art sports book in partnership with Caesars Entertainment, five hotels, more than 20 signature dining options, two spas, a 125,000 square foot Las Vegas style gaming floor, multiple entertainment venues, five golf courses, and several bars and lounges offering live entertainment every weekend.

LAS VEGAS (December 26, 2022) – Fast rising, undefeated North American Boxing Association (NABA) Super Flyweight Champion John “Scrappy” Ramirez (10-0, 8 KOs) and veteran Thai boxer Sirichai Thaiyen (64-4, 42 KOs) have accepted offers from the World Boxing Association (WBA) to throwdown in a 2023 WBA Title Eliminator to determine the mandatory challenger for WBA Super Flyweight World Champion Joshua “El Profesor” Franco (18-1, 8 KOs).

The date, site and other details for the title eliminator are to be determined, Ramirez’ manager David Suh (3 Point Management “3 PM”) confirmed, after being informed of the title eliminator at the recent WBA Convention. Ramirez is rated No. 2 by the WBA, Thaiyen No. 3, and the No. 1 spot is unrated with the Ramirez-Thaiyen winner to be elevated into that position.

The entertaining Ramirez, 26, fights out of the mean streets of South Central, Los Angeles. He burst upon the boxing scene in his December 20^th pro debut, which he won by way of an opening-round knockout of Jose Otero Solis in Galveston, Texas. Despite limited opportunities for all boxers to fight during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ramirez was placed on the fast track by 3 PM, fighting seven times in 2021, twice this year.

“Everything is happening so fast that it’s hard to believe,” Ramirez said. “This is what I envisioned before I even started boxing at 20. I said I was going to be world champion. I’m living what I’ve envisioned and that’s so insane because it’s really happening, I’ve never doubted myself. I have the balls to say what I’ve envisioned and then I go out and do it. There’s only one guy in my way (of a world title fight) and no way he stops me on a mission. He may have all that experience, but he’s never faced anybody like me. I’m on a mission for the belt, so I’m taking him out of the way. I’m not overlooking him, though. I’m taking the steps to prepare for this fight because this is boxing, and anything can happen.

“He hasn’t fought anybody who thinks like me or with my physical tools. The last guy who knocked him out (Artem Dalakian) fights like me. My ring IQ is higher than his (Thaiyen) ring IQ; I’m more physical, more of a savage than him. He can walk towards me all he wants, until I get him and put him to sleep.”

In his most recent action, “Scrappy” captured the North American Boxing Association this past May 14^th in Ontario, California, with a Knockout of the Year-caliber performance against Jan Salvatierra (8-1), who lasted only 2:25 in the opening round, blasted through the ropes and out of the ring.

“I’ve preparing for this fight for a long time,” Ramirez added. “I was back in the gym 3 days after my last fight, and I’ve been preparing for this moment. It was no vacation. I’m better now. I was supposed to have 2 or 3 fights that fell through, but everything happens for a reason. I’m still developing. Six months is a long time, but I’ve been making a good investment in my craft. I only gave fans 2 minutes in my last fight, and now I want to showcase my skills to everybody.

“I put myself in a dark place in training, pushing more and I’ve embraced the pain. I’m getting quality sparring and you need to be uncomfortable to get comfortable in the ring. Even on my morning runs, if my knee hurt, I just went for more. That’s the way to get mentally strong.”

The 32-year-old Thaiyen, aka Yodmongkol CP Freshmart, is the reigning Asian Boxing Federation Super Flyweight Champion, as well as a former WBA Interim Flyweight World and WBC Youth World Light Flyweight titleholder.

He is riding a 14-fight win streak dating back to 2018. He lost his only world title fights against Dalakian (16-0) in 2018 for the WBA Flyweight World Championship by way of a seventh-round technical knockout, Juan Carlos Reveco (34-1) in 2014 by fifth-round TKO in 2014 for the same title. The two world title fight setbacks were his only pro fights outside of his native Thailand, respectively, in Ukraine and Venezuela.

“I’ll fight this guy anywhere,” Ramirez concluded. “I’d go around the world and back, it doesn’t matter, because it’s my skill against his. He’s getting stopped in the late rounds. I’m going to showcase my skills, season him, and then finish him in the seventh or eighth round…. unless I happen to catch him earlier. I’m going to take care of him!”

INFORMATION:

Facebook: /JohnRamirez

Instagram: @Scrappyboxing

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (December 26, 2022) — World Cup Boxing Series (WCBS) has signed arguably the leading Mexican prospect, undefeated super featherweight Oscar Alverez, Jr. (7-0, 7 KOs), to an exclusive promotional contract.

WCBS was launched in 2020 by CEO Terry Hollan and promoter/matchmaker Guy Taylor.

The 19-year-old Alvarez, physically speaking, is a boxing freak for a super featherweight, standing 6’ 3”with a 78” reach, which he has used to his advantage during his 15-month pro career, stopping each of his seven opponents.

“When do you ever see a 6’3” super featherweight,” Taylor asked. “It’s freakish to see somebody like that in front of you, and then you top it off with one-punch, knockout power, in addition to his accurate, precise combination punching, and surgical body-attack on the inside. That’s a handful for anyone to fight at any level.

“If I had to compare him to anyone right now it would be Sebastian Fundora (6’ 5” junior middleweight), solely on their similar physical attributes. If anything, I would say 6’ 3” at 130-pounds is a little more intimidating, given the average featherweight is 5’ 6”.

As an amateur, Alvarez Jr. started boxing at the age of 4 (see picture below), under the guidance of his father and current trainer, Oscar Alvarez, Sr. Alvarez’ amazing amateur career spanned more than 14 years, capped by back-to-back gold medals performances in the 2019 and 2020 Mexican National Championships, along with a Pan American Games bronze medalist in Cali, Colombia.

Alvarez, Jr. finished his amateur career in 2020 with an incredible 665-12 record. That’s right, he won 665 of 677 amateur matches.

“I have never seen an amateur record like this in my 20-plus years in boxing,” Taylor noted.

After capturing a bronze medal in the Pan American Games, Alvarez, Jr decided to turn pro rather than stay in the amateurs and pursue a spot on the 2024 Mexico Olympic Team.

“It was just time to turn pro,” he explained. “My style of an aggressive, intelligent counter-puncher is best suited for professional boxing.”

“Junior” selected one of fastest growing boxing promotional companies, WCBS, to direct him in the pro ranks.

“I am very excited to sign with World Cup Boxing Series,” he added. “I want to make my family proud and excite my fans every time I fight. I don’t care who I fight, I’ll be ready for anyone they put in front of me.”

Alvarez, Jr. made his professional debut on September 11, 2021, as a featherweight, scoring a first-round technical knockout over fellow debut fighter, Ivan Rabago, at Casino de Esperanza in Esperanza, Sonora, Mexico. Alvarez would make his hometown debut on a WCBS show on December 17, 2021, scoring another first-round TKO, and he was brought back just two months later in his hometown of Obregon, Sonora, Mexico on another WCBS show, where he scored another sensational opening-round TKO, grabbing the attention of Hollan and Taylor.

His toughest test came this past June 18th, when he made his USA debut at the Commerce Casino in Commerce, California versus fan-favorite Brandon Cruz (8-2) in a scheduled 6-round lightweight bout. Alvarez, who was supposed to be just an opponent, turned out to be anything but, trapping Cruz on the ropes for a fourth-round knockout that silenced the partisan Southern California crowd.

“We’re already working on Oscar’s next fight, which will take place in late January 2023, and then, if all goes well with no major lumps or bumps, he will be part of our next 4-Man Tournament slated to begin in March 2023. At only 19 there is no rush, but with more than 600 amateur wins, we’re not going to hold him back either.”

Alvarez, Jr. joins a strong, growing family of WCBS fighters from Mexico, including former NABF / Latino Welterweight Champion Santiago Dominguez (25-0, (19 KOs), super middleweight contender Manuel Gallegos (20-1, 17 KOs), WBC Latino Lightweight Champion Luis Torres (17-0, 10KOs), as well as two other promising, young prospects, super lightweight Jorge Lugo Cota (11-0, 8 KOs) and lightweight Marco Cota Moreno (8-1, 6 KOs).

ABOUT WORLD CUP BOXING SERIES (WCBS): World Cup Boxing Series is your passport to the best online fights you’ll ever see. WCBS is the only active tournament and team fight series in professional boxing. For years, its creator Guy Taylor has been tasked with creating tough, competitive matches for promoters eager to test their rising prospects and contenders. The same mindset has now been applied to his latest creation, World Cup Boxing Series. For more information, please visit https://www.worldcupboxingseries.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook: /WorldCupBoxingSeries

Instagram: @World_Cup_Boxing_Series

LAS VEGAS – December 24, 2022 – Undisputed Super Welterweight World Champion Jermell Charlo suffered a broken left hand in training and his much-anticipated, high-stakes defense against No. 1 contender Tim Tszyu, which was scheduled for January 28, has been postponed.

Charlo broke his left hand in two places – between the pinkie and ring finger and at the base of the thumb – after landing a punch in sparring at his gym in Houston on Tuesday. After visiting two doctors and a hand specialist in Houston, his hand has been placed in a cast. It will remain in a cast for two months and after it is removed, he will begin rehabilitation before resuming his training.

“I was sparring, and I threw this nice punch and as soon as it landed, I knew something was wrong. I felt my hand throbbing right away,’’ said Charlo. “I had two X-rays and an MRI to see what was wrong. It showed it was broken in two places. I hate this feeling. My hand will be in a cast for two months. I’m as disappointed as the fans, maybe more, because this was my first chance to defend the undisputed title.

“The way I am, I would have beaten Tim Tszyu with one hand, but the doctors and the boxing commission won’t allow that. It’s even more dangerous when a lion faces adversity and has to come back to defend the pride. I’ve been training since July, and I’ve been hitting harder than ever, and these are the things that happen when you push yourself to the limits. After my hand heals, I’m coming back stronger than ever to defend my legacy.’’

“This is not the news that anyone wants to hear because we’ve been anticipating this fight. But these things happen,’’ said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Jermell didn’t take the easy route to become the undisputed super welterweight champion, so he knows that nothing comes easy. Tszyu better be ready, because Jermell will be stronger and hungrier than ever when he comes back.’’

“Charlo vs. Tszyu for the undisputed super welterweight title is one of the biggest and most anticipated fights on the 2023 boxing schedule, so we, like boxing fans around the world, are obviously disappointed to hear of Jermell’s injury and the resulting postponement,” said Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports & Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. “We wish Jermell a speedy recovery, and we look forward to adding this important fight back to the SHOWTIME schedule as soon as reasonably possible. We know both Jermell and Tim are anxious to give boxing fans the all-action fight that we have all been anticipating.’’

“I’m very disappointed,” said Tszyu. “I felt like the stars aligned for undisputed…but we move on. I’m ready to take on the next mandatory challenger. I’ll be back for Charlo once he is ready and healed.”

Charlo vs. Tszyu remains one of the best matches of 2023, as it pairs two hard-hitting boxer-punchers in a high-stakes bout with Tszyu attempting to dethrone the best 154-pounder in the sport. Charlo earned his position as undisputed champion by stopping Brian Castaño in May and unifying all four titles. He will look to add another big name to his pound-for-pound resume against the Australian star Tszyu, who hopes to join his father Kostya Tszyu as an undisputed world champion.

There is currently no new date for the rescheduled match. A new date will be announced soon.

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Aaron Bowen has penned a multi-fight promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and will begin life in the professional ranks campaigning at Super-Middleweight in 2023. 

The popular 23-year-old from Coventry enjoyed a hugely successful amateur career, becoming a five-time national champion, picking up gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2017 and winning a bronze medal in the Light-Heavyweight division at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. 

“I feel like I’ve done all I can in my amateur career,” said Bowen. “I’ve boxed all around the country and all around the world against good opposition and picked up some great experience. I just feel like now is the right time to turn professional.

“Matchroom are the biggest promotional outfit in the world at the moment. They put on the biggest shows, promote the best fighters and I feel like they can really push my career and push me to where I want to be in the future. 

“I’ve boxed some good opposition, Olympians, National Champions, and I’ve sparred the likes of World Champions throughout my career. It will be a different transition but one that I’m ready for. I feel like I’ve picked up good experience to take into the pros.”

Training out of the Box Smart Elite Boxing Club in Walsall under the watchful eye of trainer Gurpreet Singh, Bowen has already amassed an impressive loyal following and the former Team GB standout believe his fan-friendly style will be well suited to the paid ranks. 

“I feel I’ve got a box-fighter style; I can fight and I can box,” said Bowen. “I do like to fight, and as a pro the fans want to see fights. I can take one to give two back. That can set me up well for the pros. I’ve got 75 fights under my belt and I’ve learnt in every single one.

“I’ve got massive support. I’ve got a big following from Coventry and the Midlands area. I come to win every time and I fight to the last bell. I think the people from Coventry love that. It’s a small city and they get behind their people so it’s good signing with Eddie.

“It’s a win-win for both of us, Eddie likes big followings and my fans want to come and watch me on the big shows. I think this will be a good recipe for success. I want to have massive nights, whether it be London or Coventry. I want to sell an arena out. I want a 12-round war as well. I like fighting, so I want to give the fans what they want to see.”

“I’m incredibly excited about the signing of Aaron Bowen,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “I was so impressed with his performances when I watched him at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. You can see the entertainment and the drama that Aaron is going to bring to the pro ranks. 

“I remember the huge support he had behind him and I believe that he has the potential to become a big star and a massive ticket seller in the Midlands area. His style is very easy on the eye and fans are going to love watching him fight.”

You can follow Bowen’s journey on Instagram: aaronbowenn and Twitter: @aaronbowenn

Heavyweight Oscar Rivas had to withdraw from his January 14th bout with Efe Ajagba due to an eye injury according to promoter Yvon Michel’s Twitter account.

Rivas and Ajagba were set to face off at The Turning Stone Resort Casino on ESPN+.

Richard Riakporhe will officially launch his quest for a world title shot in 2023 when he battles former two-time WBO cruiserweight world champion Krzysztof G?owacki on the Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith undercard at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday, 21 January.

The undefeated Londoner (15-0, 11 KOs) has bulldozed his way into contention to challenge for a coveted crown with three knockouts in his last three fights. 

Now Riakporhe, 32, will be out to claim a major scalp in the form of Poland’s Glowacki (32-3-0, 20 KOs), whose only defeats have come against Oleksandr Usyk, Maris Briedis and Lawrence Okolie.

Riakporhe said: “I’m really pleased that he took the fight. I can test the ‘Midnight Train’ once again and everybody can see how I fare up to the test of facing a former world champion.

“He won’t be a pushover and I have to be at the top of my A game. It is going to be fireworks, believe me.”

Joining the bumper BOXXER: Unleashed undercard – live and exclusively in the UK and Republic of Ireland on Sky Sports Box Office – is Manchester’s own Jack ‘One Smack’ Massey (20-1-0, 11 KOs) who collides with former WBO world heavyweight champion, Joseph Parker (30-3-0, 21 KOs).

The 30-year-old stablemate of heavyweight king Tyson Fury returns to Manchester, scene of his Fight of the Year candidate defeat by Joe Joyce back in September, intent on getting his own world title ambitions back on track.

But Cheshire-based Massey, whose only ever defeat was inflicted by Riakporhe in 2019, will be looking to cause a monster upset against the Kiwi warrior when he steps up to the heavyweight division for the first time.

Further huge fights for this blockbuster card will be announced in due course.

BOXXER CEO & Founder, Ben Shalom said: “We’re adding two major fights – with lots more to come – to what is already a blockbuster night of boxing.

“It’s a massive test and a huge step up for Richard Riakporhe against a former two-time world champion, whose only defeats are to Usyk, Breidis, and Okolie.

“Glowacki has had a long time to prepare for this and it’s a huge cruiserweight fight that could be a headline bout. In what is a very exciting division, it’s crunch time for Richard.

“Local lad Jack Massey has been pushing for a big fight and he has jumped at this test against Joseph Parker. He has got huge support in Manchester and now he’ll be fighting one of the biggest names in boxing.

“Parker is coming back after his Fight of the Year contender with Joe Joyce and will want to show exactly what he is all about. It will be very interesting to see how Parker reacts against a hometown favourite.”

The main event – in association with Wasserman Boxing – sees bitter middleweight enemies Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith face-off in what promises to be an epic domestic clash for the ages as both rivals bid to take a giant leap towards their desired world title pursuits. 

Tickets are on sale now at Boxxer.com. But hurry – less than 20% remain available. 

BOXXER proudly presents this event in association with Village Hotels. 

GLENDALE, Ariz. (Dec. 20, 2022) — A new junior lightweight king will be crowned in the desert.

Mexican star Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete and Australian contender Liam Wilson will fight for the vacant WBO junior lightweight world title Friday, Feb. 3, at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Navarrete, the reigning WBO featherweight world champion, hopes to become the 10th Mexican-born boxer to win world titles in three weight divisions.

Junior welterweight contenders collide in the 10-round co-feature as Arnold Barboza Jr. hopes to earn a career-best victory against Jose “Sniper” Pedraza, a former two-weight world champion from Cidra, Puerto Rico. 

Navarrete-Wilson, Pedraza-Barboza, and the return of U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. in a six-round heavyweight special feature will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $25 go on sale Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 11 a.m. PST / 12 p.m. MST and can be purchased via Ticketmaster.com.

Navarrete (36-1, 30 KOs), from San Juan Zitlaltepec, Mexico, won the WBO junior featherweight crown from Isaac Dogboe in December 2018 and made five defenses of that title in a nine-month span. He out-hustled Ruben Villa to win the vacant WBO featherweight strap in October 2020 and has since defended that title three times. Navarrete is one of the sport’s premier offensive fighters, an aggressor who wings punches from all angles. In his October 2021 title defense over Joet Gonzalez, he threw 979 punches over 12 rounds, including 104 in the 12th round. He returned to the ring in August, rebounding from a slow start to knock out countryman Eduardo Baez with a body shot in the sixth round. The Baez victory marked Navarrete’s 31st consecutive victory dating back to 2012.

“This is my opportunity to become a three-division world champion. I am going for that crown,” Navarrete said. “Liam Wilson is a good fighter, but this is my moment, and everyone will see a much more complete ‘Vaquero’ Navarrete that has a lot of thirst for victory. My ideal weight is 130 pounds, and that will be demonstrated on February 3rd when I become world champion for Mexico and San Juan Zitlaltepec. Wilson will not get in the way of my dream.”

Wilson (11-1, 7 KOs), from Caboolture, Australia, is the WBO No. 3 junior contender. He has never fought away from his home country, but he will take the nearly 8,000-mile journey hoping to spring a major upset. Wilson stepped up to fight Navarrete after Oscar Valdez suffered a training injury and enters the fight with momentum on his side. After a stunning fifth-round TKO loss to Filipino contender Joe Noynay in July 2021, Wilson gained revenge in March with a second-round knockout courtesy of his “left hook from hell.” He kept the momentum going in June with a 10-round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Matias Rueda.

Wilson said, “He’s a champion, a warrior, and a household name around the world, but now it’s my time. I’m coming to upset the parade. I’ve waited my entire life for this moment, and I won’t let it slip because it means more to me. I swore an oath to my father on his deathbed that I would one day win a world title for him. I’m looking forward to fulfilling this promise on February 3^rd.”

Barboza (27-0, 10 KOs), from South El Monte, California, is ranked in the top 10 by the WBC and WBO. The longtime contender turned pro in 2013 and has steadily climbed up the rankings with victories over Mike Alvarado, Alex Saucedo, and Antonio Moran. In July, Barboza returned from an 11-month layoff to snatch the ‘0’ from Danielito Zorrilla in a crowd-pleasing 10-round main event.

Barboza said, “It’s a big card, and there will be a lot of eyes on us. Pedraza is a formidable opponent. He’s my toughest to date and has only lost to the very best. I’m looking forward to the challenge. At this point, anyone I face is standing in the way of my goal, which is to win a world title. I am going to make a big statement on February 3rd.”

Pedraza (29-4-1, 14 KOs) ruled the junior lightweight and lightweight divisions before moving up to the junior welterweight ranks in 2019. He is 3-2-1 as a junior welterweight, having shared the ring with many of the division’s most notable names. In March, he pushed former unified champion Jose Ramirez 12 rounds before dropping a tight unanimous decision. Less than six months later, he battled former lightweight champion Richard Commey to a draw in a fight most observers believe Pedraza did enough to edge out. Pedraza had a Madison Square Garden main event against Teofimo Lopez scheduled for December 10th, but Pedraza withdrew with a non-COVID viral infection. The 33-year-old understands a victory over Barboza moves him closer to a world title opportunity.

Pedraza said, “I have recovered completely from the illness that obligated me to pull out of my fight with Teofimo Lopez. Right now, I feel 100 percent, and I know Arnold Barboza Jr. is one of the best fighters in the division. I’m sure this will be a great fight where I will reaffirm my level as an elite fighter at 140 pounds.”

Torrez (4-0, 4 KOs), from Tulare, California, captured an Olympic silver medal in Tokyo and turned pro under the Top Rank banner in March. A 6’2, 230-pound southpaw, Torrez has never been extended past the third round in his young career. In October, he shined at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, thrilling the New York City fans with a third-round stoppage over Ahmed Hefny. 

Undercard bouts — streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+ — include many of Top Rank’s burgeoning young talents.

Las Vegas product Andres “Savage” Cortes (18-0, 10 KOs) takes on Puerto Rican knockout puncher Luis Melendez (17-2, 13 KOs) in a crossroads junior lightweight tilt scheduled for 10 rounds. Cortes, a former U.S. amateur standout, notched a near-shutout over Abraham Montoya in his last outing.

Middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (7-0, 5 KOs), grandson of “The Greatest,” looks to make it 8-0 against Phoenix-based spoiler Eduardo Ayala (9-2-1, 3 KOs) in a six-rounder. This is the 2023 debut for Ali Walsh, who went 4-0 with three knockouts in 2022.

Lightweight sensation Emiliano Fernando Vargas (2-0, 2 KOs), son of former junior middleweight world champion Fernando Vargas, returns in a four-rounder against an opponent to be named. Vargas made his Top Rank debut in November and knocked out Julio Martinez in the second round with a highlight-reel left hook.

Sacramento native Xavier Martinez (18-1, 12 KOs) seeks his second straight ‘W’ in a 10-rounder at junior lightweight against an opponent to be named.

Junior welterweight Lindolfo Delgado (16-0, 13 KOs), a 2016 Mexican Olympian, steps up against Clarence Booth (21-6, 13 KOs) in an eight-rounder. In August, Delgado authored a career-best victory over then-unbeaten prospect Omar Aguilar. The eight-round shootout ranked among the year’s best action fights.

8 Rounds – Flyweights

Andy Dominguez, 113.8 lbs. (8-0, 6 KOs) from The Bronx, NY

Marvin Solano, 114 lbs. (24-7, 8 KOs) from Managua, Nicaragua

8 Rounds – Super Flyweights

Sulem Urbina, 114.8 lbs. (13-2-1, 2 KOs), born in Mexico now living in Phoenix, 

Indeya Smith, 113.4 lbs. (5-6, 1 KO) from Dallas, TX.

8 Rounds – Middleweights

Anthony “The Magician” Sims Jr., 158.4 lbs (22-1, 20 KOs), Los Angeles, CA

Anthony Todd, 159.2 lbs. (14-6, 8 KOs) from Atlanta, GA

8 Rounds – Super Middleweights

Nadim Salloum, 170.2 lbs. (9-1, 4 KOs) born in Jounieh, Lebanon, 

Decarlo “3mendo” Perez, 169.4 lbs. (19-6, 6 KOs), Atlantic City, NJ

8 Rounds – Middleweights

Alejandro Luis Silva 156.4 lbs. (19-0, 14 KOs) from Avellaneda. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Issa Samir, 156 lbs. (19-1, 16 KOs), Ghana

The Bronx’s undefeated Andy Dominguez will be the main event fighter for the first time in his young career in a fight card tabbed “Holiday Fight Night.” The event takes place Wednesday, December 21, just four days before Christmas, certainly the most wonderful time of the year, at Sony Hall, in Times Square, New York City. 

This will be BoxingInsider Promotions second fight card. Their first, on October 13, also at Sony Hall, had a raucous standing-room-only crowd.

Tickets for “Holiday Fight Night,” priced from $85 are available at Ticketmaster Here

ABOUT BOXING INSIDER

Established in 1997 as a premier boxing news and information destination, BoxingInsider has recently transitioned into the promotional business.  BoxingInsider has promoted one amateur boxing event and on October 13 had their first professional boxing promotion, at Sony Hall, Times Square, New York, NY.

New York, NY (December 19, 2022) – Women’s boxing star and former world title challenger Sulem Urbina (13-2-1, 2 KOs) will take her talents to New York for the first time in her career. This Wednesday, December 21, Sulem will be featured in a super flyweight bout scheduled for eight rounds against Indeya Smith, at Sony Hall, in the heart of Times Square, Manhattan.

“Sulem Urbina is not only a good fighter and championship contender, she’s one of the best people in boxing,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “She’s a great ambassador for women in the sport, using her social media and developing brand to elevate boxing and other fighters. She deserves to be treated like an ‘A-side’ fighter. I’m happy that Larry agreed with me and that she’ll be on the terrific Boxing Insider show on Wednesday.”

The Bronx’s undefeated Andy Dominguez will be the main event fighter for the first time in his young career in a fight card tabbed “Holiday Fight Night.” Also on the card will be Nadim Salloum, the first and only professional boxer born and raised in Lebanon, former WBA Intercontinental super middleweight champion Anthony Sims Jr., undefeated Argentinian Alejandro Luis Silva and Elon de Jesus.

This will be Boxing Insider Promotions’ second fight card. Their first, on October 13, also at Sony Hall, had a raucous standing-room-only crowd.

Tickets for “Holiday Fight Night” are available at Ticketmaster Here.

“I’m looking forward to coming to New York, as it has been a dream of mine to fight there,” said Urbina. “Indeya Smith is a good fighter. She’s fought great opposition and she’s rugged. I just know I am there to win and this will be my Christmas present.”

Born in Mexico now living in Phoenix, AZ, Urbina began her boxing life fighting at the Oxnard PAL as an amateur. She turned pro in 2016 and won her first 12 bouts (with one no contest mixed in). Her first loss, on October 30, 2020, came on points against Marlen Esparza, who is now the unified WBC/WBA flyweight world champion. On July 9, 2021, Sulem fought WBA flyweight champion Naoko Fujioka and lost a majority decision.

Andy Dominguez (8-0, 6 KOs) from The Bronx and born in Mexico, knocked out his last opponent in the first round in front of many of his family and friends. It was Andy’s fourth knockout win in a row. Andy turned pro in August 2020, in a bubble event during the pandemic peak. On Wednesday, Dominguez will face Nicaraguan Marvin Solano (24-7, 8 KOs) in an eight-round flyweight bout.

Nadim Salloum (9-1, 4 KOs) is the first and only professional boxer to be born and raised in Lebanon. Nadim now resides in Brooklyn and has a passionate following. The Lebanese faithful’s fandom did not go unnoticed at Nadim’s last fight on October 13 at Sony Hall. On Wednesday, Nadim will battle Decarlo Perez (19-6, 6 KOs) in an eight-round super middleweight bout.

Anthony “The Magician” Sims Jr. (22-1, 20 KOs), born in Indianapolis, IN, now residing in Los Angeles, CA, made his pro debut on April 9, 2014, following a stellar amateur career. He rolled through his first 20 bouts, which earned him a WBO Latino super middleweight title fight that he lost by split decision in 2020. He would rebound in his next fight, winning the WBA Intercontinental super middleweight title on August 13, 2021, with a ninth-round stoppage. On December 21, Sims Jr. will fight Anthony Todd (14-6, 8 KOs) from Atlanta, GA, in an eight-round middleweight bout.

Elon “El Leon” de Jesus (4-1, 3 KOs), from Dunkirk, NY, made his professional debut on December 18, 2020. Elon will fight in a six-round bantamweight bout against Jesus Arturo “Chucho” Guzman (8-10, 5 KOs).

Social Media

DiBella Entertainment

Instagram: @DiBellaEnt

Twitter: @LouDiBella, @DiBellaEnt

Facebook: @DiBellaEntertainment

December 19, 2022, New York, NY  – –  The Bronx’s undefeated Andy Dominguez will be the main event fighter for the first time in his young career in a fight card tabbed “Holiday Fight Night.” The event takes place Wednesday, December 21, just four days before Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year, at Sony Hall, in Times Square, New York City. 

Tickets for “Holiday Fight Night,” are available at Ticketmaster, click Here

Featured on the card will be Nadim Salloum, the first and only professional boxer to be born and raised in Lebanon, former WBA Intercontinental Super Middleweight Champion Anthony Sims Jr. making debut at middleweight, two-time world champion challenger Sulem Urbina and northwest New York native Elon de Jesus.

Nadim Salloum (9-1, 4 KOs) born in Jounieh, Lebanon, is the first and only professional boxer to be born and raised in Lebannon. Nadim now resides in Brooklyn and has a raucous following. The Lebanese faithful’s fandom did not go unnoticed at Nadim’s last fight at Sony Hall on October 13 at Sony Hall. On Wednesday, Nadim will battle Decarlo 3mendo” Perez (19-6, 6 KOs) in an eight-round super middleweight bout. 

“Since I have made it to the professional ranks, boxing has grown so much back in Lebanon,” said Nadim. “People know that it is doable at least now. Every time I go back home, I do an event just talking and showing them videos explaining to them how boxing really works and share my story at the same time – what happens behind the scenes for a Lebanese boxer. Last summer we gathered around 60 people and taught them more about the sport. Next summer I plan to do a training camp for kids in need with a Lebanese American NGO as well so keep them out of streets through boxing.

This will be BoxingInsider Promotions second fight card. Their first, on October 13, also at Sony Hall, had a raucous standing-room-only crowd.

Andy Dominguez (8-0, 6 KOs) from The Bronx and born in Mexico, knocked out his last opponent in the first round in front of a boisterous standing room only crowd gone wild that included many of his family and friends. 

Sulem Urbina (13-2-1, 2 KOs), born in Mexico now living in Phoenix, Arizona began her boxing life fighting at the Oxnard PAL as an amateur and has fought in two world champion fights in five years as a pro. 

Anthony “The Magician” Sims Jr. (22-1, 20 KOs) born in Indianapolis now residing in Los Angeles made his pro debut on April 9, 2014, following a stellar career. He rolled through his first twenty bouts which earned him a January 30, 2020, WBO Latino supermiddleweight title fight, which he lost by split decision.  He would rebound in his next fight, winning the WBA Intercontinental Super Middleweight title on August 13, 2021 with a ninth round stoppage. On December 21, Sims Jr will fight Anthony Todd (14-6, 8 KOs) from Atlanta, GA in an eight-round middleweight bout.

Alejandro Luis Silva (19-0, 14 KOs) from Avellaneda. Buenos Aires, Argentina, is a former Argentinean Welterweight Champion. He won that title, February 15, 2020 and successfully defended it five times. Silva will battle Ghana’s Issa Samir (19-1, 16 KOs) in an eight-round middleweight bout.

Elon “El Leon” de Jesus (4-1, 3 KOs) from Dunkirk, NY, made his professional debut on December 18, 2020.  Elon will fight in a six-round bantamweight bout against Jesus Arturo “Chucho” Guzman (8-10, 5 KOs).

ABOUT BOXING INSIDER

Established in 1997 as a premier boxing news and information destination, BoxingInsider has recently transitioned into the promotional business.  BoxingInsider has promoted one amateur boxing event and on October 13 had their first professional boxing promotion, at Sony Hall, Times Square, New York, NY.

In a highly anticipated battle of undefeated lightweights, Frank Martin coasted to a 12-round unanimous decision over Michel Rivera at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.

In round seven, Martin put Rivera on the canvas with a right hook.

Martin, 134.75 ls of Indianapolis, IN won by scores of 120-107, 118-109 and 117-110 and is now 17-0. Rivera, 134.5 lbs of Miami is 24-1.

Vladimir Shishkin remained undefeated with a 12-round unanimous decision over former world champion Jose Uzcategui in a super middleweight fight.

Shiskin outlanded Uzcategui 238 to 162.

Shishkin, 167.25 lbs of Russia won by scores of 117-111 twice and 115-113 and is now 14-0. Uzcategui, 167.5 lbs of El Vigla, VEN is 3205.

Vincent Astrolabio stopped Nikolai Potapov in round six of their 12-round bantamweight bout.

In round five, Astrolabio landed a body punch that put Potapov on a knee. In round six, another body shot sent Potapov down for the count at 1:26.

Astrolabio, 117.5 lbs of General Santos City, PHL is 18-2-1 with 13 knockouts. Potapov, 117 lbs of Posdoisk, RUS 23-3-1.

Omar Juarez was deducted three points for low blows but won a 10-round unanimous decision over Austin Dulay in a super lightweight bout.

In round three, Juarez was deducted two points for low blows. In round four, Juarez was once again deducted a point for a low blow.

Juarez, 141 lba of Brownsville, TX is 14-1. Dulay, 140 lbs of Nashville, TN is 15-4.

Elijah Garcia remained undefeated with a second round stoppage over Cruse Stewart in an eight-round middleweight bout.

In round two, Garcia dropped Stewart with a left hook. Stewart did not get up and the fight was waved off.

Garcia, 164 lbs of Phoenix, AZ is 13-0 with 11 knockouts. Stewart, 162.5 lbs of Maple Grove, MN is 8-2.

WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator – 12 Rounds

Michel Rivera – 134 ½ lbs.

Frank Martin – 134 ¾ lbs.

Referee: Kenny Bayless; Judges: Steve Weisfeld (N.J.), David Moretti (Nevada), Tim Cheatham (Nevada)

IBF Super Middleweight Title Eliminator – 12 Rounds

José Uzcátegui – 167 ½ lbs.

Vladimir Shishkin – 167 ¼ lbs.

Referee: Celestino Ruiz; Judges: Max De Luca (Calif.), Patricia Morse Jarman (Nevada), David Sutherland(Okla.)

IBF Bantamweight Title Eliminator – 12 Rounds

Vincent Astrolabio – 117 ½ lbs.

Nikolay Potapov – 117 lbs.

Referee: Robert Hoyle; Judges: Tim Cheatham (Nevada), Chris Migliore (Nevada), Steve Weisfeld (N.J.)

SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN PRELIMS

Stream Live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

on the SHOWTIME SPORTS^® YouTube Channel and the

SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook Page

Super Lightweight Bout – 10 Rounds

Omar Juarez – 141 lbs.

Austin Dulay – 140 ½ lbs.

Referee: Mike Ortega; Judges: Eric Cheek (Nevada), Max De Luca (Calif.), Patricia Morse Jarman (Nevada)

Note: Contracted weight is 141.

Middleweight Bout – 8 Rounds

Elijah Garcia – 164 lbs.

Cruse Stewart – 162 ½ lbs.

Referee: Robert Byrd; Judges: Chris Migliore (Nevada), David Moretti (Nevada), David Sutherland (Okla.)

Note: Contracted weight is 165.

Veteran sportscaster Brian Custer will host the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast while versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo will handle blow-by-blow action alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and three-division world champion Abner Mares. Two more Hall of Famers round out the telecast team – world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr. and boxing historian Steve Farhood as unofficial scorer. The executive producer is four-time Emmy award winner David Dinkins, Jr. with Ray Smaltz III producing and Chuck McKean directing. SHOBOX: The New Generation analyst Brian Campbell and his MORNING KOMBAT co-host Luke Thomas will call the action during the live-stream bouts.  

#          #          #

ABOUT RIVERA VS. MARTIN

Rivera vs. Martin will see rising undefeated lightweight contenders Michel “La Zarza Ali” Rivera and Frank “The Ghost” Martin clash in an intriguing 12-round WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator as they headline live on SHOWTIME Saturday, December 17 in a Premier Boxing Champions event at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and will also see former world champion José Uzcátegui return to action against unbeaten former amateur standout Vladimir Shishkin in a 12-round IBF Title Eliminator. Plus, bantamweight contenders face off as Vincent Astrolabio and Nikolai Potapov battle in a 12-round IBF Title Eliminator that kicks off the telecast.

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

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

Quilisto Madera (161 lbs.)  vs. Hector Zepeda (158.6 lbs.), 8 rounds, middleweights

Manuel Jaimes (134.8 lbs.) vs. Ricardo Lopez (134.2 lbs.), 8 rounds, lightweights 

Arturo Popoca (122.8 lbs.) vs. Alex De Luna (122.8), 6 rounds, featherweights 

Ector Madera (147 lbs.) vs. Alejandro Frias (146.2 lbs.), 6 rounds, welterweights

Giovannie Gonzalez (139.8 lbs.) vs. Marcos Cardenas (137 lbs.), 6 rounds, super lightweights

Irving Xilohua (125.2 lbs.) vs. Luis Montellano (124.8 lbs.), 4 rounds, super bantamweights

Kenneth Lopez (165 lbs.) vs. Bryan Martinez (164.6 lbs.), 4 rounds, super middleweights 

# # #

Madera vs. Zepeda is an eight-round middleweight fight presented by Toscano Boxing Promotions. The event will take place on Saturday, December 17 at the Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium in Stockton, California. The event will be streamed live on FightHype.

Tickets for Madera vs. Zepeda are on sale now and start at $50, excluding applicable services charges. Tickets are available for purchase at Ticketon.com or by clicking here.

About Toscano Boxing Promotions  

Toscano Boxing Promotions is a promotional company based out of Stockton, California that was founded by Jorge Toscano in 2018. The company has hosted events both in the United States and in Mexico, including the 2021 battle between Anderson Silva and Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. The Toscano Boxing stable includes rising stars Damian Sosa, Manuel Jaimes, Jose Alvarado, Jose Carrillo and more. 

Laval, Quebec - December 16, 2022 — DiBella Promotions in association with Groupe Yvon Michel and Jean Pascal Promotions in collaboration with Blanko Sports and SES Sports Events GmbH are organizing, at Place Bell in Laval, the SANS LIMITE event on February 9. while Quebec and two-time world champion Jean Pascal (36-6-1, 20 KOs) will face German Michael Eifert (11-1, 4 KOs) to determine the mandatory challenger to the IBF world title held by Artur Beterbiev (18-0-0, 18 KOs)

 

Tickets are on sale now from $40 in the stands to $500 on the floor. Tables for six people, wine and meals included are also available for $3500 or $4500 plus tax. Tickets can be purchased on evenko.ca or by email at info@groupeyvonmichel.ca

 

Pascal c. Eifert will be available in Canada à la carte on Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV, Fite.tv and GYMboxe.tv for $64.99. In the United States, the fight will be shown on ESPN+.

 

“Five years ago, most people in boxing put Jean Pascal on the sidelines. Since then, his only loss has been against Dmitrii Bivol. He beat Ahmed Elbiali, Marcus Browne, Badou Jack and Fanlong Meng, let's remember that Pascal was considered the underdog in each of those fights,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “There are still plenty of fights left for Jean Pascal, one of the great Canadian fighters of all time. He will prove it on February 9 against Michael Eifert, and will obtain another title to add to his illustrious career. he adds.

“Jean Pascal made his debut with us just a few months after the founding of GYM,” said GYM President Yvon Michel. “Since then, we have been involved in 36 of his 43 fights, including his last in Quebec in 2018. It is with great pride that we participate in this expected return to Quebec. According to a survey of Quebec boxing experts and fans, Champ Pascal was chosen as the greatest Quebec boxer of the 21st century. On February 9, another page in its history will be written.

 

Jean Pascal is an Athens Olympian in 2004. He was WBC light heavyweight champion from 2009 to 2011 as well as WBA 2019-2020. He delivered 12 world championship fights, the first in 2008, in England, against Carl Froch, and the last, 11 years later, in Atlanta, against Badou Jack. During this period, he met the best light heavyweights of his generation including Adrian Diaconu, Chad Dawson, Bernard Hopkins, Lucian Bute, Sergey Kovalev, Dmitrii Bivol and set numerous ticket sales and PPV records, with Lucian Bute at the Bell Center in 2014 where more than 21,000 spectators attended the event. In his last fight, last May, in Florida, he dominated undefeated IBF number one contender Fanlong Meng (17-0) to set up that championship playoff against Eifert.

 

Jean Pascal, at 40, is happy to be back home: “I am grateful to Lou DiBella, Yvon Michel and Greg Leon for making this confrontation possible. It's been a long time coming, but I'm finally where I want to be, back home performing in front of my people. My fans have always been a major motivator and their support helps me stay strong at 40. »

 

"It's very important to me to give you a great show and on February 9th and, that's exactly what I'm going to do. says Jean Pascal.

 

“Michael Eifert is a good, solid fighter and represents the final hurdle on my path to another championship. I respect him like all my opponents, but I intend to destroy him as soon as possible. »

 

"I don't want to fight away from home anymore. The best way to make sure I don't do it again is to get in the ring on February 9, here in Laval, the city where I grew up. concludes Pascal.

Greg Leon has confidence in his protege: “Jean Pascal has incredible confidence, a heart bigger than Montreal. Pascal is a true warrior who would have been successful at any time in light heavyweight history. As a manager, all you can hope for is that the athlete will give 100% once the bell rings and, in that regard, Jean Pascal never disappoints. »

 

“February 9 will be a special night for him. Five years away from home is a long time. Few fighters would have persevered down the road. It shows what kind of champion he is. Michael Eifert will soon learn just how much Jean wants to stay home, where he belongs. »

 

Michael Eifert, 24, lives in Magdeburg, Germany. A professional since 2018, he had his only majority decision loss in 2020 against Tom Dzemski (14-0-0), a loss he avenged the following year while winning the unified IBF and WBC junior world championship. In his last fight, he captured the IBF Inter-Continental light heavyweight title against Italian Adriano Sperandio (14-2, 2 KOs) which earned him a place in this championship playoff against Pascal.

LAS VEGAS – December 16, 2022 – A pair of action-packed bouts will highlight live streaming action on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page this Saturday, December 17 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

The SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN show, hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show hosts, Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell, starts at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will feature all action rising contender Omar “El Relámpago” Juarez battling veteran Austin Dulay in a 10-round super lightweight attraction, and unbeaten teenage prospect Elijah Garcia in an eight-round middleweight duel facing Cruse Stewart.

The live streaming presentation will precede a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT live on SHOWTIME headlined by rising undefeated lightweight contenders Michel “La Zarza Ali” Rivera and Frank “The Ghost” Martin clashing in an intriguing 12-round WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator.

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

The 23-year-old Juarez (13-1, 5 KOs) enters the ring propelled by momentum gained from his efforts inside and outside the ring. The only blemish on his record  came from a narrow majority decision loss to All Rivera in a thrilling bout in June 2021. Since then, the former standout amateur has won his last two fights, most recently earning a 10-round decision victory over Ryan Karl in February. A native of Brownsville, Texas, Juarez has achieved recognition in his community by uplifting the state’s youth through motivational speaking, receiving commendations from the Texas State Senate and the Texas House of Representatives for his altruism.

Dulay (15-3, 11 KOs) will also step into the ring having won his most previous outing, as he scored a first round TKO of Anthony Michael Linenfelser in April. The 27-year-old had lost two of his previous three bouts, dropping bouts against veteran contender Diego Magdaleno in February 2020 and rising lightweight Jose Valenzuela in December 2021. Fighting out of his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, Dulay won his first 11 pro bouts, with his only other letdown coming against super featherweight contender Chris Colbert.

Fighting out of Phoenix, Arizona, Garcia (12-0, 10 KOs) will look to close out 2022 with his fourth victory of the year, having most recently knocked out Edgar Valenzuela in October to establish himself as a prospect to keep an eye on. The 19-year-old has moved fast since turning pro in 2020, knocking out his first six opponents and four of his last five. He will face the 33-year-old Stewart (8-1, 6 KOs), who was born in Illinois but now resides in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Stewart steps back into the ring after dropping a decision against the unbeaten Hakim Lopez in his previous bout in June.

The non-televised undercard will also include Cuban bantamweight Joahnys Argilagos (8-1, 4 KOs) in a six-round bout against Mario Hernandez (10-3-1, 3 KOs) and welterweight Kenneth Sims Jr. dueling Los Angeles-native Rock Myrthil in an eight-round showdown.

Rounding out the lineup is the pro debut of super bantamweight prospect Ray Robinson against Los Angeles-native Victor Saravia (1-3-1, 1 KO) over four-rounds of action, plus unbeaten super welterweight Bakhram Murtazaliev (20-0, 15 KOs) facing Mexico’s Roberto Valenzuela Jr. (20-3, 19 KOs) in an eight-round scrap.

#         #         #

ABOUT RIVERA VS. MARTIN

Rivera vs. Martin will see rising undefeated lightweight contenders Michel “La Zarza Ali” Rivera and Frank “The Ghost” Martin clash in an intriguing 12-round WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator as they headline live on SHOWTIME Saturday, December 17 in a Premier Boxing Champions event at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and will also see former world champion José Uzcátegui return to action against unbeaten former amateur standout Vladimir Shishkin in a 12-round IBF Title Eliminator. Plus, bantamweight contenders face off as Vincent Astrolabio and Nikolai Potapov battle in a 12-round IBF Title Eliminator that kicks off the telecast.  

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

NEW YORK (December 16, 2022) — Tonight at Centre Gervais Arena in Shawnigan, Quebec, Canada, undefeated knockout artist Mary Spencer goes after her first world title when she takes on veteran former world champion Femke Hermans for the IBO Super Welterweight world title.

Spencer is managed by Split-T Management under Brian Cohen.

The fight can be seen live on ESPN+ at 7 PM ET.

Spencer of Montreal has accumulated an impressive record that reads 7-0 with five knockouts.

In Spencer’s last bout, she won the WBA International and WBC Silver Super Welterweight titles with an emphatic first-round destruction of former world title challenger Cynthia Lozano (9-1) on September 9th in Montreal.

Hermans of Belgium is 13-4 with five knockouts. Hermans is a former Belgium and WBF International champion. Hermans won the WBO Super Middleweight title on May 12, 2018 with a 10-round unanimous decision over Nikki Adler (16-1). Her only losses have come in world title bouts.

At Thursday’s weigh-in both fighters came in at a ready 152.8 lbs.

Spencer is promoted by Eye of the Tiger Management.

LAS VEGAS, NV (December 16, 2022) – Super lightweight, Omar Juarez (13-1, 5 KOs) from Brownsville, TX, is set to square off against Austin Dulay (15-3, 11 KOs) of Nashville, TN, this Saturday December 10 at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. The 10-round non-televised bout will be showcased on the undercard of Michel Rivera vs. Frank Martin who headline on SHOWTIME in a Premier Boxing Champions event.

Juarez, a top prospect, is looking to continue his winning ways as he’s riding a 2-fight winning streak after suffering his first loss as a professional, a close decision to Ali Rivera (22-5, 18 KOs) in June of 2021.

“I’m really looking forward to this fight against Austin Dulay,” Juarez said. “I know that he’s is going to bring his best game, but I’ll ready for anything he comes with. He’s a tough opponent but I’m confident in my skills to come out victorious. I’m ready to put on a show for the fans at the Cosmopolitan.”

Juarez has faced a number of tough opponents throughout his career and has consistently proven to be an exciting fighter in the ring. He is known for his impressive footwork and technical skills, as well as his ability to adapt to different styles and strategies.

“”I spent the last few weeks training in Las Vegas with some of the best fighters in the world,” Juarez said. “I’m well prepared and my body is rested. I always give it my all in the ring and this fight will be no different. I know a win against Dulay will lead to bigger fights. I’m going to leave it all in the ring and come out with my hand raised.”

Dulay is no stranger to the big stage as he’s proven to be a formidable opponent and is sure to give Juarez a tough fight.

(Dec. 15, 2022) — Two international fight cards will stream live and exclusively this weekend in the U.S. on ESPN+. The fight action starts Friday, as undefeated heavyweight wrecking ball Arslanbek Makhmudov defends his NABF and NABA straps against Germany’s Michael Wallisch in the 10-round main event from Centre Gervais Auto in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada.

The ESPN+ fight marathon continues Saturday from Parc des Expositions in Nantes, France, as super middleweight knockout artist Christian Mbilli steps up against American veteran Vaughn Alexander in a 10-rounder.

Makhmudov-Wallisch and undercard bouts will stream live starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

Mbilli-Alexander and undercard contests will stream live beginning at2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT.

The Russian-born Makhmudov (15-0, 14 KOs) has been based in Montreal since beginning his professional journey in December 2017. The 6’5, 260-plus pound behemoth knocked out his first 14 opponents, including 12 in three rounds or less. Makhmudov, who is promoted by Eye of the Tiger and Top Rank, opened his 2022 campaign with February’s sixth-round knockout over former world title challenger Mariusz Wach. In September, he was taken the distance by another former world title challenger, Carlos Takam, after hurting Takam in the opening round. Wallisch (23-5, 16 KOs) has fought the likes of Joe Joyce, Efe Ajagba and Tony Yoka throughout a pro career that has spanned more than 12 years. He scored a second-round stoppage over Toni Thes in May.

In other streaming action from Shawnigan:

Mary Spencer (7-0, 5 KOs) vs. Femke Hermans (13-5-1, 5 KOs), 10 Rounds, Junior Middleweights

Steven Butler (31-3-1, 26 KOs) vs. Joshua Conley (17-4-1, 11 KOs), 10 Rounds, Butler’s NABF Middleweight Title

Thomas Chabot (7-0, 7 KOs vs. Jonathan Carrillo Baranda (4-2-1), 6 Rounds, Featherweights

Leila Beaudoin (7-0, 1 KO) vs. Valgerdur Gudstensdottir (5-3, 1 KO), 6 Rounds, Junior Lightweights

Luis Santana (7-0, 2 KOs) vs. Jonathan Uribe Hernandez (4-0-2, 1 KO), 6 Rounds, Lightweights

Alexandre Gaumont (5-0, 3 KOs) vs. Piotr Bis (6-2-1, 2 KOs), 6 Rounds, Middleweights

Mbilli (22-0, 20 KOs), a 2016 French Olympian, won his first 13 professional bouts by stoppage. After a unanimous decision over Ronald Ellis in December 2021, he had a power surge in 2022. In March, he knocked out former world title challenger Nadjib Mohammedi in five rounds, and less than six months later, he iced DeAndre Ware in the second round. Mbilli returns home for the first time since 2019 and is expected to be tested by Alexander (17-6-1, 10 KOs), a St. Louis native who is 2-0-1 in his last three fights. Alexander has only one stoppage defeat and a pair of victories over undefeated prospects since resuming his career in 2016.

In a six-round junior welterweight special feature, “The Fresh Prince of Monaco,” Hugo Micallef (4-0) goes for his fourth win of 2022 against Mexican veteran Jose Angel Rosales Romero (6-5, 3 KOs). Micallef signed with Top Rank prior to his pro debut last year and is currently the only active boxer from the Principality of Monaco. French lightweight prospect Christ Esabe (12-0, 3 KOs) is scheduled to return in a six-rounder.

In other streaming action from Nantes:

Souleymane Cissokho (15-0, 9 KOs) vs. Tulani Mbenge (19-1, 12 KOs), 12 Rounds, Vacant WBC Silver Welterweight Title

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

MONTREAL, Quebec, Canada (December 14, 2022) — The “IRRESISTIBLEII” event featuring the World light flyweight unification championship between WBC champion Kim Clavel (16-0, 3 KOs) and WBA champion Yesica Nery Plata (28-2 , 3 KOs ), is confirmed and will take place on Friday, January 13, 2023, at Place Bell in Laval.

 

Clavel, fighting out of Montreal, is fully recovered from the flu and fever that knocked her down a few days before her originally scheduled fight December 1. She resumed training last week.

 

“We are now focusing on making this date of Friday January 13, a memorable evening when for the first time in the history of Quebec boxing,” Clavel noted, “someone from home will try to unify 2 major world titles!

 

“By January 13, I will have only one thing in mind, to produce the performance of my life to offer a unique gift to Quebecers who give me phenomenal support; only one champion with 2 belts.”

 

Coach Danielle Bouchard is confident, saying: “The storm has passed; the sky is turning blue again. Kim is gradually regaining her vivacity and the return to training is going well.”

 

Plata remains impassive and confident: “This unification fight is what I have dreamed of all my life,” she commented. “We continue our training with the same objective. Kim did well to think of

 

her health as the most precious thing to us. I wish Kim a full recovering and that she will have no excuses when I return home with her belt and mine”

 

Clavel, 32, will defend her WBC Light Flyweight World crown for the first time since her furious and frenzied fight that she and Yesenia Gomez (19-6-3, 6KO) fought at the Casino de Montreal last summer, when Clavel won by united decision to take the belt from Gomez.

 

The 28-year-old Plata was extremely impressive against the great Argentine champion and women's boxing legend, Yesica Bopp (37-3, 17KO), last March in Panama. She won by way of a split decision, dethroning the defending champion who held an impressive record of 28-0 in world championship fights. January 13 will also mark her first defense of her WBA title.

 

"Everything comes at the right time to whoever knows how to wait (Clément Marot), and the thousands of fans who carefully kept their tickets will be rewarded with a memorable evening, an exciting final and a sublime Kim," a confidant GYM President Yvon Michael remarked.

.

Tickets will be available on www.evenko.ca and for groups info@groupeyvonmichel.ca. An easy-to-make Christmas gift that will make everyone happy!

Tickets start at a modest $40, taxes included, or limited VIP tables on the floor for six people including a gourmet meal and wine, for $3,500 and $4,500 plus taxes, The event is accessible to all.

 

There are couple fight changes since the original card was announced with 5 of the finest Canadian boxers still slated to be in action. Undefeated 25-year-old Mazlum Akdeniz (17-0, 8 KOs) will defend his WBC Continental Americas super lightweight belt against tough 29-year-old Mexican Cristian Bielma (19-4-2, 7 KOs) in the co-featured event.

 

Popular welterweight Marie-Pier Houle (6-0-1, 2 K.O.), 32, is ranked No. 7 by the WBA. She will be in her first scheduled 8-round bout of her pro career against 28-year-old Marisol Moreno (6-3). of Mazatlan, Mexico. Talented southpaw prospect Derek Pomerleau (3-0, 2 KO's.) will fight in his first scheduled 6-rounder versus Gustavo Rodriguez (3-1-1, 1 KOs), of Guadalajara, Mexico. Gifted Canadian Olympian Caroline Veyre (1-0) will step into a pro ring for the second time as a professional after her extensive amateur career. Another important member of the Canadian National Team during the past few years, 24-year-old lightweight Eric Basran (2-0, 1 KO), will also be in a 6-round bout against 19-year-old Juan Carlos Garcia ( 4-2), of Mexico City.

 

#GroupeYM

#IRRESISTIBLEII

#ClavelPlata

Los Angeles, CA (December 14, 2022) Longtime Reigning Undisputed Welterweight World Champion, ‘The First Lady’ Cecilia Braekhus, (36-2, 9 KOs), of Bergen, Norway will return to battle this Saturday, December 17 against former world title challenger Marisa Joana ‘La Nena La Piba’ Portillo, (19-15-3, 4 KOs), of Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles.

Braekhus vs. Portillo is a special attraction junior middleweight contest as part of Golden Boy Fight Night: LA Edition and broadcast live internationally on DAZN beginning at 6:00 p.m. PT. Tickets for Golden Boy Fight Night: LA Edition are priced at $75, $50, and $30 not including applicable service charges and are available for purchase at GoldenBoyPromotions.com.  

Braekhus has spent most of 2022 being guided in boxing camps under the watchful eye of world-renowned trainer Johnathon Banks in Los Angeles, Detroit and Dubai.

“I’m very excited to return to the ring this Saturday night and especially fighting in Los Angeles for the third time,” said Braekhus. “This is a new weight class for me after spending my whole career at welterweight and I’m anxious to make my mark quickly towards world title fights.”

On May 5, 2018, Braekhus made her highly anticipated debut in Los Angeles, dominating in victory over world champion Kali Reis at the then Stubhub Center in Carson, CA. Fighting in front of a record setting crowd, Braekhus’ win was viewed by over 904,000 boxing fans on HBO World Championship Boxing. Truly a pioneer throughout her career, Braekhus’ win was the first women’s fight broadcast during HBO’s 45-year history of televising boxing.

Braekhus began her illustrious world title reign in March 2009 with her undisputed rule over the welterweight division starting in September 2014, the first female boxer to hold the iconic title of ‘Undisputed.’

Social Media / Cecilia Braekhus

Instagram: @CeciliaBraekhus

Twitter: @1LadyCecilia

Facebook: @CeciliaBraekhus

Sampson Lewkowicz proudly announces that Interim WBC World Super Middleweight Champion, David “El Bandera Roja” Benavidez has again renewed his exclusive multi-year promotional agreement with Sampson Boxing.

Already the youngest super middleweight world champion in boxing history, the now 25-year-old Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs), is currently a two-time champion and one of the most feared fighters on the planet.

The Phoenix-based slugger will face former champion Caleb ‘Sweethands’ Plant in a final WBC 168-lb title eliminator in March to decide the mandatory for world champion Canelo Alvarez. Currently deep in training for the match, Benavidez says he’s happy to continue his promotional relationship with Lewkowicz.

“I feel great re-signing with Sampson,” he said during a break. “I’m happy to continue with him and very appreciative for his help building my career from nearly the beginning.”

Father, co-manager and trainer Jose Benavidez says he’s thankful for the well-known promoter’s work on his son’s career. “He (Sampson) was the first to believe in David. Now, everyone wants to sign him. The reason we got those belts is because of the work he put in. We’re super exited to continue this journey and to be able to get these big fights.”

“The team that achieved the youngest super middleweight champ of all time is joined contractually and as a family,” said Benavidez’ co-manager David Garcia. “I’m looking forward to David achieving more than he ever has in the coming years.”

“I’m very happy to be able to continue this journey with ‘El Bandera Roja,’” said Sampson Lewkowicz. “David is in line for many big fights that will define his legacy as one of the greats and I’m very proud to be his promoter and for all he has already done and all he will do in the near future.”
About Sampson Boxing

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America. Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ESPN+, DAZN, VS., FOX, Fox Sports and several international networks. For more information, visit sampsonboxing.com.

THE WBA WORLD flyweight championship clash between the champion Artem Dalakian from Ukraine and Costa Rican challenger David Jiminez will take place in support of the forthcoming Artur Beterbiev-Anthony Yarde blockbuster at the OVO Arena, Wembley on January 28, live on BT Sport.

Ilford man Yarde challenges for the WBC, WBO and IBF world light heavyweight titles held by the undefeated Montreal resident, who holds a record of 18 wins with all 18 coming via a stoppage.

Dalakian, 35, won his world title belt in February 2018 with a points victory over Brian Viloria and has subsequently made five successful defences. He is unbeaten in 21 professional fights, with 15 of his wins coming via stoppage.

Jiminez, 30, has previously won the WBA Latino title and the WBA Gold world flyweight championship and is unbeaten in 12, with nine KOs.

Also on the bill and in title action against opponents to be confirmed shortly, light heavyweight star in the making Karol Itauma (9-0, 7 KOs) will fight for a first professional belt with the WBC International title being on the line and, also at light heavy, Willy Hutchinson (15-1, 11) will battle for the WBO Intercontinental championship.

A clutch of Queensberry’s top young prospects have secured a spot on the card.

The prospects on parade are 11-times National champion as an amateur, Charles Frankham, who was also a World Youth Championship bronze medallist and winner of gold at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships.

The 23-year-old Charles – known as ‘Boom Boom’ – is currently 6-0 in the professional ranks and making significant improvements under the guidance of new trainer Roger Lee.

Charles’ first cousin, Joshua Frankham, will also feature at Wembley, with the four-times National champion and former England international having his seventh professional fight after illness ruled him out of a November appearance at The O2.

Big-hitting cruiserweight Tommy Fletcher will have his fourth pro fight. The 20-year-old ‘Norfolk Nightmare’ has sent ripples through the division with three mighty knockouts to date, with two of them coming in the first round.

Last time out in November he poleaxed the Czech Jiri Krejci with a punishing left uppercut to close his show at The O2.

The 5-0 featherweight Umar Khan, 20, returns to action after impressing at York Hall in November with a shutout victory over Alexander Taylor, along with the hugely popular Brick Lane southpaw Khalid Ali.

The 4-0 ‘Bengal Tiger’ was last in the ring back in September when he outpointed Dario Borosa via a 60-54 margin at York Hall.

Another welterweight, Sean Noakes, will have his fourth fight as a professional after a successful first year of three four-rounders that resulted in two shutout victories and a second round stoppage for the Maidstone man.

Tickets for Beterbiev vs Yarde at the OVO Arena, Wembley on Saturday 28 January 2023 are on sale now from AXS.com.

LAS VEGAS – December 13, 2022 – Tickets are on sale now for the showdown between Undisputed Super Welterweight World Champion Jermell Charlo and undefeated No.1 contender Tim Tszyu taking place Saturday, January 28 from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas and live on SHOWTIME in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Lions Only Promotions, TGB Promotions,

No Limit Boxing and The Rose Brothers, are on sale now and can be purchased through AXS.com.

This scintillating style matchup will pit the hard-hitting Charlo, in the first defense of all four world titles, against the aggressive and unbeaten Tszyu, who will look to join his father Kostya Tszyu in the undisputed championship ranks. Charlo unified the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO titles in May on SHOWTIME with a decisive 10^th-round knockout in his rematch with Brian Castaño.

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