BROOKLYN, NY (April 18, 2024): Former undisputed lightweight champion and current WBC Super Lightweight Champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) and super lightweight world title contender and international PPV star “King” Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) hosted a press conference at Barclays Center in Brooklyn to promote their 12-round super lightweight world championship clash. In addition, they were joined by the televised PPV undercard.

In chief support undefeated, top super lightweight world title contender Arnold Barboza Jr. (29-0, 11 KOs) of El Monte, Calif. will fight for a 10-round WBO Intercontinental Super Lightweight Title against Belfast, Ireland’s Sean “The Public Nuisance” McComb (18-1, 5 KOs).

Also on the DAZN PPV telecast, Bektemir “Bek” Melikuziev (13-1, 10 KOs) of Sholmbek, Uzbekistan will defend his WBA Intercontinental Super Middleweight Title in a 10-round fight against Pierre Dibombe (22-0-1, 12 KOs) of Nantes, France. In a fight for the WBA Interim Super Flyweight World Championship, John “Scrappy” Ramirez (13-0, 9 KOs) will challenge Cartago, Costa Rica’s David “Medallita” Jimenez (15-1, 11 KOs).

Opening the DAZN PPV, former Team USA member and No.1-WBC ranked Charles “Bad News” Conwell (18-0, 13 KOs) will make his Golden Boy debut after being formally signed this past February. He will battle it out against Nathaniel Gallimore (22-7-1, 17 KOs) of Des Plaines, Illinois in a 10-round super welterweight contest.

Haney vs. Garcia is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Haney Promotions, KingRy Promotions, and Matchroom Boxing. The mega-event will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday, April 20, exclusively live on DAZN PPV.

DEVIN “THE DREAM” HANEY, WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION:
“The time is very close. It’s been a long time coming. The talking is almost done. This not an easy fight but it’s a fight that ill make look easy. I have tunnel vision and all his antics will betray him com Saturday night.”

“KING” RYAN GARCIA, SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CONTENDER:
“I have said everything. I don’t know what else I can add. What do you want me to do? I’ve already done it all and now I’m just ready to kick ass in the ring. I’m on fire. I’m strong.”

ARNOLD BARBOZA, JR., SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CONTENDER:
“I want to thank Oscar, Bernard and the whole Golden Boy team for putting on a great show. For doing the promoting, doing all the hard work. Next is for me. I’m excited for the opportunity to be on the card. The biggest card of the year. I think all eyes are going to be on me for our fight. Since I was 5 and a half years old just a kid from El Monte. I have a saying. I’m forever grateful but never satisfied. I want it to say instead of Haney vs. Garcia to say Barboza vs. Everybody.”

BEKTEMIR “BEK” MELIKUZIEV, WBA INTERCONTINENTAL TITLEHOLDER:
“Hello everyone. Thank you so much for being here. I want to thank Oscar for this opportunity, thank Bernard for this opportunity and it’s a huge show. I’m glad to be a part of it and you know when I’m in the ring it’s Bully Time. Let’s go Saturday!”

JOHN “SCRAPPY” RAMIREZ, FLYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE CONTENDER:
“That’s when opportunity meets preparation. I have been boxing for 7 years. My main mission was to become a world champion. I didn’t care about the amateurs. I had to do it and I did it. But no, I’m here. I’ve been consistent and persistent chasing the dream. I sacrificed a lot. I haven’t cut corners; I’ve been disciplined, and this is the life that I chose.”

CHARLES “BAD NEWS” CONWELL, SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CONTENDER:
I’m excited. I’m back in the ring after a long layoff. I prepared very and someone has to pay for that. I’m just excited to be here and let’s make it happen.

#

Haney vs. Garcia is a 12-round fight for the WBC Super Lightweight World Championship that is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Haney Promotions, KingRy Promotions, and Matchroom Boxing. The event will take place on Saturday, April 20 on DAZN PPV live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Magna Media will be handling credentials for this fight. Media interested in applying for a fight night credential must fill out an application by EOD Friday, April 5, 2024. Link to application can be found at https://bit.ly/HaneyGarciaFightNightCreds.

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

HOUSTON, Texas – April 18, 2024 – Red Owl Boxing will return with its next installment of the BOX FEST series when it presents a special Cinco de Mayo edition on Friday, May 3, streaming live on DAZN globally in more than 200 territories and regions from the state-of-the-art “Owl’s Nest” in Houston.

BOX FEST IX will be headlined by two exciting matchups in the junior lightweight division including a main event, eight-round fight between Edward Vazquez (15-2-3, 3 KOs) against Daniel Bailey (11-1, 5 KOs). The co-main event features Eridson Garcia (17-1, 11 KOs) squaring off with Maliek Montgomery (17-0, 16 KOs) in an eight-round fight.

VIP experience packages and general admission tickets are now available.

Also on the main card on DAZN, undefeated junior featherweight Emanuel Moreno (6-0, 1 KO) will take on the dangerous Luis Alberto Lopez (6-1, 3 KOs) in a six-round fight at 122 pounds. A pair of fighters will return to the ring for the first time since their pro debuts when Troy Nash (1-0) takes on Roman Reyes (5-0, 4 KO) in a four-round fight at 126 lbs. and Richard Fernandez (1-0, 1 KO) faces Oscar Arroyo (3-2, 2 KOs) in a six-round fight at 115 lbs. to open the evening’s event. 

Red Owl Boxing owns and operates the state-of-the-art sports performance facility which features seating for more than 1,500 with a modern flare that includes VIP experiences and unique ringside seating. The “Owl’s Nest” is a full-service hospitality venue with high-end sound, lighting and screens for a premier in-arena experience. The venue is outfitted with cutting-edge production for seamless streaming and television presentations. 

BOX FEST IX Main Card on DAZN at 9 p.m EST/8 p.m. CST

Edward Vazquez (15-2-3, 3 KOs) vs. Daniel Bailey (11-1, 5 KOs)

8-Round Main Event – 135 lbs.

Eridson Garcia (17-1, 11 KOs) vs. Maliek Montgomery (17-0, 16 KOs)

8-Round Co-Main Event – 135 lbs. 

Emanuel Moreno (6-0, 1 KO) vs. Luis Alberto Lopez (6-1, 3 KOs)

6-Round Fight – 122 lbs. 

Troy Nash (1-0)  vs. Roman Reyes (5-0, 4 KO)

4-Round Fight – 126 lbs. 

Richard Fernandez (1-0, 1 KO vs. Oscar Arroyo (3-2, 2 KOs) 

6-Round Fight – 115 lbs. 

For more information on Red Owl Boxing and to purchase tickets, visit www.redowlboxing.com. Fans can follow Red Owl Boxing on X, Instagram and YouTube. 

On April 20, fans in the Houston area can come out to the Owl’s Nest on fight night to watch the DAZN PPV presentation of Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia. Click here for tickets. 

ABOUT RED OWL BOXING 

Red Owl Boxing is a media company that specializes in delivering world-class events from its state-of-the-art sports facilities in the United States and Canada. Red Owl Boxing aims to bring structure to boxing’s middle class by highlighting tomorrow’s future stars and contenders in action-packed fights. Red Owl Boxing launched in 2021 by Canada-based entrepreneur Gabriel Fanous who owns and operates cutting-edge event spaces in Houston, Texas, and Brampton, Ontario, both of which provide premier event experiences and hospitality packages. 

Click here if you’re interested in learning more about being featured on the BOX FEST series. 

Philadelphia (April 18, 2024)–Former world title challenger, Brandon Adams weighed in for his OTX Junior Middleweight tournament bout against Ismael Villareal that will take place tomorrow night at the OTX Arena and live on DAZN.

Adams (23-3, 15 KOs) of Los Angeles checked in at 153.6 lbs while Villareal was 154 pounds.

Adams who is promoted by Banner Promotions and managed by Mark Habibi’s Wise Owl Boxing, will be competing in the tournament that will be streamed on DAZN beginning at 8 PM ET.

Villareal of The Bronx, New York is 13-2 with nine knockouts.

MAIN EVENT

Kurt Scoby – 144.8 lbs

Dakota Linger 144.6 lbs

OTX TOURNAMENT ROUND 1

Brandon Adams – 153.6 lbs

Ismael Villarreal – 153.4 lbs

OTX TOURNAMENT ROUND 1

Francisco Veron – 154 lbs

Angel Ruiz – 154 lbs

UNDERCARD

David Lopez -142 lbs

Anthony Mora – 141.2 lbs

UNDERCARD

Nathan Lugo – 168.4 lbs

Robert Lartigue – 166.8 lbs

UNDERCARD

Morgan Griggie – 151.6 lbs

Luis Gerardo Caraballo – 153.4 lbs

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Newark, N.J. with another stellar card, headlined by UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and No. 4 ranked contender Dustin Poirier. Also, an action packed five-round co-main event sees No. 1 middleweight contender Sean Strickland square off with No. 7 ranked Paulo Costa.

UFC^® 302: MAKHACHEV vs. POIRIER takes place Saturday, June 1 at Prudential Center, with the main card available on ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The prelims will be airing on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. The early prelims will be available for viewing exclusively on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

UFC^®returns to Prudential Center after setting the venue’s live sporting event gate record in 2023 with UFC^® 288 headlined by Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo. UFC^® 302: MAKHACHEV vs. POIRIERwill mark the tenth UFC event at the famed arena dating back to 2007.

UFC^® 302: MAKHACHEV vs. POIRIER tickets will go on sale this Friday, April 19 at 10 a.m. ET and are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, April 18 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com/newark.

Makhachev (25-1, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) looks to defend his UFC lightweight championship after his commanding knockout victory over former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. The No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world seeks his fourteenth straight victory and a win over another future hall of famer. The world class grappler also holds wins against Charles Oliveira, Bobby Green and Dan Hooker.

Poirier (30-8 1NC, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Lafayette, La.) returns to action seeking championship gold after a thrilling knockout victory against rising contender Benoit Saint Denis. An Octagon veteran, the former Interim UFC lightweight champion holds wins over elite competition such as Conor McGregor (twice), Michael Chandler, and Dan Hooker. Poirier looks to cement his legacy by claiming the undisputed UFC lightweight championship.

Former UFC middleweight champion Strickland (28-6, fighting out of Corona, Calif.) looks to position himself for another title shot with a win in New Jersey. The relentless striker holds victories over Israel Adesanya, Jack Hermansson, Uriah Hall and Brendan Allen. Strickland now intends to get back in the win column with a victory over fan favorite Paulo Costa.

Costa (14-3, fighting out of Contagem, Minas Gerais, Brazil) returns to action seeking a statement performance. The explosive Brazilian fighter looks to ascend back up the middleweight rankings with a win over the former champion. “The Eraser” has notable wins over Luke Rockhold, Yoel Romero and Uriah Hall.

Current bouts also on the card include:

• No. 7 ranked heavyweight contenderJailton Almeida (20-3, fighting out of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil) squares off against Alexander Romanov (17-2, fighting out of Comrat, Moldova) scheduled for three five minute rounds
• Octagon veteran Randy Brown (18-5, fighting out of Queens, N.Y.) clashes with Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (24-7, fighting out of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil) in a welterweight bout
• HyunSung Park (9-0, fighting out of Phuket, Thailand) and Dana White’s Contender Series alum Andre Lima (8-0, fighting out of Guarulhos, Sao Paulo, Brazil) square off in a battle between undefeated flyweights. 
• Niko Price (15-7, fighting out of Cape Coral, Fla.) battles Alex Morono (24-9, fighting out of Houston, Texas) in a welterweight tilt
• Pivotal matchup scheduled for the middleweight division as No. 9 ranked contender Roman Dolidze (12-3, fighting out of Batumi, Georgia)and No. 12 Anthony Hernandez (12-2 1NC, fighting out of Dunnigan, Calif.) go to battle
• Dana White’s Contender Series alum Cesar Almeida (5-0, fighting out of São Paulo, Brazil) collides with Roman Kopylov (12-3, fighting out of Novosibirsk, Russia) in a middleweight bout
• Looking to put to their rivalry to rest, bantamweights Ailin Perez (9-2, fighting out of Buenos Aires, Argentina)and Joselyne Edwards (13-5, fighting out of Panama City, Panama) square off
• Sumudaerji (16-6, fighting out of Aba, Sichuan, China) looks to stop “The Fearless” Joshua Van (10-1, fighting out of Houston, Texas) in a flyweight bout 
• An action packed bout is set for the 155-pound division as Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Grant Dawson (20-2-1, fighting out of Coconut, Creek, Fla.) locks horns withJoe Solecki (13-4, fighting out of Wilmington, N.C.)
• Well-rounded welterweights Phil Rowe (10-4, fighting out of Orlando, Fla.) and Jake Matthews (19-7, fighting out of Epping Victoria, Australia) slated for three five minute rounds
• New Jersey’s own Mickey Gall (7-5, fighting out of Green Brook, N.J.) makes his return to the Octagon to take on Bassil Hafez (8-4-1, fighting out of Denver, Colo.) at welterweight

For the latest information on bout announcements and additional information for this event, please visit UFC.com/newark. All bouts are subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event. 

###

About UFC^®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About Prudential Center

Prudential Center is the world-class sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Opened in October 2007, the state-of-the-art arena is the home of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall University’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball program, and more than 210 concerts, family shows and special events each year. Ranked in the Top 5 worldwide by Pollstar, Billboard and Venues Today, Prudential Center is recognized as one of the premier venues in the United States, and hosts over 2 million guests annually. For more information about Prudential Center, visit https://www.prucenter.com/ and follow the arena on Facebook, X and Instagram @PruCenter. Prudential Center is a HBSE property.

About ESPN+?? ??

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

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

Las Vegas (April 18, 2024) – Two-division world champion Oscar Valdez has confirmed that he will appear at the Seventh Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday May 4, 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Expo will also coincide with the mega fight between Canelo Alvarez vs Jaime Munguia, that will take place later that evening at the T-Mobile Arena.

Valdez will hold a Meet & Greet with his fans at his booth during the fan event held over the Cinco De Mayo weekend.

The Box Fan Expo is an annual fan event that coincides with some of the sports’ legendary, classic fights in Las Vegas, including Mayweather vs. Maidana II, Mayweather vs. Berto, Canelo vs. Chavez Jr., Canelo vs. GGG II, Canelo vs. Jacobs and Canelo vs. GGG III. 

Centered in boxing’s longtime home – Las Vegas – this year’s Expo is a must-do for fight fans coming in for this legendary weekend, with dozens of professional fighters, promoters, and companies involved in the boxing industry. The Expo is the largest and only Boxing Fan Expo held in the United States. http://boxfanexpo.com – @BoxFanExpo

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite –https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2024

Valdez will make his first appearance at this years’ Expo and will be signing gloves, photos, personal items and memorabilia. Valdez will also have merchandise to sell for fans to enjoy. Boxing fans will also have an opportunity to take pictures with this boxing star, born in Nogales, Mexico. For more info go to: https://oscarvaldezstore.com/ 

Valdez joins, Teofimo Lopez, Lennox Lewis, Devin Haney Mia St. John, Edgar Berlanga, Franchón Crews-Dezurn, Roy Jones Jr., Erik Morales, Shawn Porter, Fernando Vargas, Juan Manuel Marquez, Michael Spinks, Claressa Shields and Marco Antonio Barrera as an early commitment to this year’s Box Fan Expo, with more Boxing stars to be announced.

About Oscar Valdez

Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) is a two-time Mexican Olympian who captured the WBO featherweight title in 2016 by knocking out Matias Rueda. In February of 2021, and after six successful defenses of his title, Valdez moved up to the junior lightweight division, to challenge Miguel Berchelt who was considered at the time one of the top fighters in the sport. In spectacular fashion, Valdez knocked out Berchelt, thus earning him the WBC world championship title. On September 10, 2021 Valdez successfully retained his championship belt in a competitive fight against Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição. In a highly anticipated and unification belt showdown, Valdez suffered his first pro loss in a valiant effort against Shakur Stevenson in April 2022. The fighting pride of Nogales bounced back with a unanimous decision win, in a rematch against Adam Lopez in May 2023. In a warrior type match up, Valdez suffered a decision loss against world champion Emanuel Navarrete last August. Known for his resilient mentality, Valdez came back stronger by winning the interim WBO super featherweight title versus Australian puncher Liam Wilson, which took place on March 29 at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, in front of a pact audience that came out to support Valdez

Past boxing stars that have participated include: Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Julio Cesar Chavez, Juan Manuel Marquez, Tommy Hearns, Roy Jones Jr, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, David Benavidez, Teofimo Lopez, Andre Ward, Ryan Garcia, Marcos Maidana, Devin Haney, Mikey Garcia, Errol Spence Jr, Fernando Vargas, Rolando Romero, Sergio Martinez, Tim Bradley, Jose Ramirez, Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Deontay Wilder, Amir Khan, Abner Mares, James Toney, Jessie Vargas, Floyd Mayweather sr., Claressa Shields, Vinny Paz, Mia St.John, Franchón Crews-Dezurn, Seniesa Estrada, Jorge Linares, Leo Santa Cruz, Badou Jack, Terry Norris, Riddick Bowe, Earnie Shavers, Michael & Leon Spinks, Brandon Rios, Anthony Dirrell, Danny Jacobs, and many more.

Exhibitors include boxing promoters, gear, apparel, equipment, energy drinks, supplement products, broadcasting media, sanctioning bodies, and other companies who showcase their brand to fans and the boxing industry as a whole.

Throughout the next few weeks leading up to the Event, there will be weekly updates on the many stars that will commit their appearance at the Boxing Expo.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite –

To request information on exhibiting and sponsorship at the Expo:

For media credentials:

Contact us:

Telephone number: (702) 997-1927 or (514) 572-7222

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on Box Fan Expo visit: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

Follow Box Fan Expo on Twitter and Instagram at: @BoxFanExpo

Follow Box Fan Expo on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

MIAMI – April 18, 2024 – Combat sports superstars Nate Diaz and Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal continued “THE BADDEST TOUR” on Wednesday night with an open to the public event in Masvidal’s hometown of Miami before they meet in the ring on Saturday, June 1 headlining “LAST MAN STANDING” presented by Fanmio PPV from The Kia Forum in Los Angeles.

Two of sports and entertainment’s biggest personalities, Diaz and Masvidal will square off in a 10-round professional boxing light heavyweight showdown marking the first time two true MMA stars will go toe-to-toe in a boxing ring.

Tickets for the live event go on sale today at 10 a.m. PT, with reserved tickets available starting at only $60 plus applicable fees through Ticketmaster.com.

Diaz vs. Masvidal headlines a PPV available for purchase at Fanmio.com/PPV and Fanmio.com/DiazVsMasvidal. Fanmio will present “LAST MAN STANDING” in association with Diaz’s Real Fight Inc. and Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing Promotions.

Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday from Pier 5 at Bayside Marketplace:

NATE DIAZ

“If the last fight would of continued and gone to the end, this would be my city.

“He won the first fight, but I’m back for more. So that’s what’s popping. This is a new fight and I’m here to win.

“I expect him to do what he’s gotta do in there. He’s got a good coach and he’s doing what he’s supposed to do training, but I’ve been doing this a long time. We’ll see how it goes for him.

“I’m preparing for a way tougher fight from Jorge than I had against Jake Paul. 100%. Jorge is as experienced as it comes, so I’m ready for what he’s bringing. But having those rounds helped for sure.

“All I know is that we’ve been trying to make this rematch happen for a long time. He was the biggest opportunity in the game.”

JORGE MASVIDAL

“I respect what Nate’s done in his career, but that goes away when we step in that ring. I only have one thing on my mind. I’m gonna put an end to this rivalry.  

“I owe it to this city more than anything to go out with a W, and several of them. I’m in a really good place now and have to come back and get those W’s for this place right here. Do or die.

“I want to take the judges and referees and doctors out of it and leave it up to my hands and get him out of there Kimbo Slice style. Dade County style. These people here want that violence.

“It’s a badge of honor to face someone who’s willing to put it all on the line. That being said, I’m gonna end this guy on June 1.

“This BMF belt shows that if you get after it, you can get it done. It doesn’t matter who you are, you just gotta put aside the nonsense.”

#         #         #

Follow the conversation leading up to this unique boxing duel on all social media platforms with the hashtag #DiazMasvidal and through @Fanmio, @NateDiaz209 and @GamebredFighter on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) to stay tuned for more exciting announcements leading up to June 1.

LAS VEGAS, April 17, 2024 – UFC^®, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), today announced that UFC 300: PEREIRA vs. HILL, held on Saturday, April 13, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, was one of the most successful and highest-grossing events in UFC history.

Among the highlights:

GATE

• $16.5 million, the third highest-grossing UFC event ever

ATTENDANCE

• 20,067,a new record for a UFC event at T-Mobile Arena
• UFC’s sixth consecutive sellout in 2024 and the eleventh straight sellout dating back to October 2023

VIEWERSHIP

• Most-watched UFC Pay Per View Prelims ever across ESPN platforms (ESPN+, Hulu SVOD, ESPN & ESPN Deportes combined)
• Most-watched UFC Pay Per View Prelims ever on ESPN, with 1.86 million total viewers
• Viewership on ESPN grew every 30 minutes from 8:00p – 10:00p ET, peaking with 2.49 million total viewers at 9:48p ET leading into the main card Pay-Per-View on ESPN+ at 10:00p ET
• Most-viewed sports event of Saturday during primetime (8:00p – 10:00p ET) on cable and network television among total viewers and key demographics, including P18-34, P18-49, P25-54, M18-34, M18-49, M25-54, F18-34, F18-49, and F25-54

MERCHANDISE

• #1 all-time merchandise sales ever for a UFC arena event (*not including stadium shows)
• #2 all-time merchandise sales for any UFC event (*behind only UFC 193: ROUSEY vs. HOLM at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne in 2015)

GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS

• Highest-grossing sponsorship sales for an event in UFC history
• All available inventory sold out

COMMERCIAL PAY PER VIEW IN US, CANADA, AND AUSTRALIA

• U.S.: Highest result since July 2021 (UFC 264)
• Canada: Highest result since March 2020 (UFC 248)
• Australia: Highest result since January 2021 (UFC 257)
• Movie theaters in the U.S. set a record for a UFC event with the highest number of participating locations

SOCIAL: 

• Best performing event on social media in UFC history, breaking records for cross platform video views, impressions, and interactions. Throughout fight week (April 8 – 13), UFC social media amassed more than 1.1 billion video views, with 213 million views coming from Max Holloway’s knockout of Justin Gaethje, which was posted across several platforms.  

# # #

About UFC®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 260 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

NEW YORK (April 17, 2024) – Junior middleweight phenom Xander Zayas is poised to kick off Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend by facing his stiffest challenge yet.
 
Zayas will take on Brazilian former world champion Patrick Teixeira in a 10-round clash on Saturday, June 8 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Zayas will look to secure his 19th pro win 19 years after Top Rank initiated its parade weekend tradition when Miguel Cotto defended his junior welterweight crown against Muhammad Abdullaev.
 
In the 10-round featherweight co-feature, Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington, the latest fistic prodigy from Brownsville, Brooklyn, aims to extend his knockout streak against Mexico’s Jose Enrique Vivas.
 
Zayas-Teixeira and Carrington-Vivas will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

Sky Sports will broadcast the event in the UK & Ireland.
 
Promoted by Top Rank, tickets go on sale Wednesday, April 24 at 12 p.m. ET via Ticketmaster.com.
 
“This is a great New York City card featuring two young men, Xander Zayas and Bruce Carrington, who are poised to become two of the sport’s biggest stars,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Our Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend cards are always special, and I can’t wait for another raucous atmosphere.”
 
Zayas (18-0, 12 KOs) has been on the path to stardom after signing with Top Rank at 16 and debuting as a pro in October 2019. He captured his first regional title with a TKO win against Elias Espadas in August 2022 and followed up with an eight-round decision against Alexis Salazar that December. In 2023, he decisioned Ronald Cruz during Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend and stopped Roberto Valenzuela Jr. in September. The 21-year-old concluded the year in December with a scintillating fifth-round TKO against Spanish contender Jorge Fortea as the co-feature to the Robeisy Ramirez-Rafael Espinoza main event.

Zayas said, “Representing Puerto Rico on a date in which Boricua culture is celebrated and honored represents a sacred commitment that I have with my people. On June 8, I won’t just be fighting for myself. I’ll be fighting for each and every Puerto Rican who always perseveres when the going gets tough. This is my first main event and my first fight against a former world champion. And I plan on carrying my flag and making it shine on one of the world’s biggest stages, ‘The Mecca of Boxing.’”
 
Teixeira (34-4, 25 KOs) stunned the boxing world by upsetting Carlos Adames to capture the interim WBO junior middleweight world title in November 2019. After being elevated to full champion, the 33-year-old southpaw faced multiple setbacks, losing the title to Argentine powerhouse Brian Castaño in February 2021. In his subsequent bouts, he was controversially disqualified against Paul Valenzuela in April 2022 and suffered a decision loss against then-unbeaten Russian Magomed Kurbanov that July. Undeterred, Teixeira bounced back with a first-round knockout win against Adrian Perez in November 2022, a second-round stoppage over Carlos Rivero last August and a fourth-round TKO against Edisson Saltarin in March.

Teixeira said, “It took longer than expected, but this fight is finally here. I can’t wait to get in the ring and put the division on notice. I did it once before when I won my world title against Adames on a Top Rank show, and I’m going to do it again with one of their rising stars. Zayas is a great talent, and everyone there will be supporting him during that important weekend. But my experience will make the difference, and I’ll show that on June 8.”
 
Carrington (11-0, 7 KOs), a 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials champion, has rapidly ascended the ranks since turning pro in October 2021. The 27-year-old secured five victories in 2023, including a second-round TKO against former world title challenger Jason Sanchez. In his last outing, he blasted out Bernard Torres with a right hook at The Theater in February. The stoppage went viral and was a SportsCenter Top 10 highlight.
 
Carrington said, “Vivas should be my toughest opponent to date, but as I do every time I fight in Shu York City, I’m going to put on a crowd-pleasing performance. It’s special to fight in front of the great Puerto Rican fans. I can’t wait for June 8.”
 
Vivas (23-3, 12 KOs), a tenacious 29-year-old Mexican, enjoyed an undefeated 17-0 run before encountering his first pro defeat at the hands of Ruben Villa in September 2019. He bounced back with a four-fight winning spree, including a 10-round decision over then-unbeaten Carlos Jackson in July 2020 and an eight-round triumph against Louie Coria the following May. Despite a majority points loss to eventual title challenger Eduardo Baez in March 2022, Vivas rebounded with a win over Edy Valencia before losing to Joet Gonzalez last April. In February, he scored a first-round TKO against Jonathan Aguilar.
 
The ESPN+-streamed undercard will showcase a selection of some of the best rising talents from the East Coast.
 
Junior middleweight Jahi Tucker (10-1-1, 5 KOs), from Deer Park, New York, looks to respond following a string of setbacks in an eight-rounder versus Quincy LaVallais (17-4-1, 12 KOs). Tucker overcame a tough out in Nikoloz Sekhniashvili last April, dropped a decision to Nicklaus Flaz in July, and fought to a majority draw against Francisco Daniel Veron in December.
 
U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson (12-0, 6 KOs) will see action in an eight-rounder against once-beaten Tarik Zaina (13-1-1, 8 KOs). After going 4-0 in 2023, the Cleveland native made his 2024 debut with a first-round stoppage victory against Paulo Galdino in February. 
 
Unbeaten welterweight Elijah Flores (8-0, 3 KOs) will lock horns against Derrick Whitley Jr. (7-4-1) in a six-rounder. Flores, a Bronx native, returns following a fourth-round TKO against Alejandro Munera in March.
 
Junior lightweight prospect Ofacio Falcon (10-0, 6 KOs) heads to The Theater for a third time to take on Antonio Dunton El Jr. (5-2-2, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder. Falcon, also a Bronx native, decisioned Edward Ceballos in February.
 
Team USA heavyweight hopeful Ali Feliz (1-0, 1 KO), from Danbury, Connecticut, makes his second appearance in the paid ranks in a four-round tilt versus Lemir Isom-Riley (4-2, 2 KOs). Feliz dispatched Anthony Woodson III in only two rounds last Saturday in Corpus Christi, Texas. Isom-Riley last fought on the Teofimo Lopez-Jamaine Ortiz bill in February, stopping Antonio Zepeda in three rounds.
 
Nisa Rodriguez (1-0), a Golden Gloves champion and NYPD officer, will square off against Jordanne Garcia ( 4-3-3) in a four-round middleweight fight.

Rising flyweight Andy Dominguez (10-1, 6 KOs), who was born in Mexico and raised in The Bronx, will face Cristopher Rios (10-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-rounder.
 

PHILADELPHIA, PA (April 17, 2024) – Boxing royalty will be in the house at the 2300 Arena tomorrow night when former undisputed Heavyweight World Champion Lennox Lewis attends DiBella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing debut in Philadelphia.

Tickets for Broadway Boxing can be purchased via www.2300arena.com (click HERE) or by calling (267) 273-0945. Tickets are priced at $150.00 for VIP Ringside, $125.00 Premium Ringside, $100 Ringside, and $60 for General Admission seating. The 2300 Arena is located at 2300 S Swanson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148. Doors will open on the night of the event at 6:00 PM ET, with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 PM ET.

Lewis will be in Philadelphia to cheer on his super welterweight protégé Kestna Davis (5-0), whom he advises. Davis will take on fellow undefeated Abdalla Nagy (1-0) in a four-round bout.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Davis moved to the U.S. in 2018. He has been mentored by the former world champion since they met in July 2016 through the Lennox Lewis League of Champions Foundation. Nagy, born in Egypt and now based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, made his pro debut last December, earning a four-round unanimous decision against Kijonti Davis.

Junior featherweight Romuel “Cuco” Cruz (10-0-1, 4 KOs) will take on Robin Ellis (6-3, 5 KOs), of Las Vegas, Nevada, in a six-round bout.

Cruz, 30, was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, but moved to Philadelphia, PA, as a toddler. He began boxing as a teenager and has been under the tutelage of world championship trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards since his pro debut in December 2017. He is promoted by Hard Hitting Promotions.

Edwards will also be in the corner of six-foot-tall middleweight southpaw Erron “JYD” Peterson (5-0-1, 4 KOs). The 28-year-old Peterson will take on Raheem Davis (1-2), of Morgantown, West Virginia, in a four-round bout.

Peterson was an All-City linebacker in high school before turning his full attention to boxing at the age of 21. Following a brief-but-successful amateur campaign, Peterson, managed by his father Salah, turned pro in July 2022.

Heavyweight contender “Gentleman” George Arias (18-1, 7 KOs), of Bronx, New York, headlines Broadway Boxing facing the unbeaten Skylar Lacy (8-0-1, 6 KOs), of Indianapolis, Indiana, in an eight-round bout.

The 32-year-old Arias has already defeated seven previously unbeaten opponents, including world-ranked Cassius Chaney and Alante Green. Arias suffered his lone blemish at the hands of highly regarded Jared Anderson on April 8, 2023, in Newark, New Jersey.

Lacy, 29, fought to a spirited draw with former National amateur champion, six-foot-nine Antonio Mireles. In his last outing, Lacy stopped Hector Conrado in two rounds on March 16, in Mexico.

The card will also feature a high-powered heavyweight clash between Cleveland’s Roney Hines and Johnson City, Tennessee, native Robert Hall Jr., scheduled for eight rounds. The fight is a step-up for Hines (13-0-1, 8 KOs), who trains with veteran trainer Eric Brown in Los Angeles and is co-managed by Robert Diaz and Sheer Sports. He is coming off of a unanimous decision win against Jonathan Gruber last November. The 28-year-old Hines had an extensive amateur career that included over 90 fights and a win at the National Golden Gloves, before making his professional debut in July 2018. Hall Jr. (14-2, 11 KOs), a former WBC USNBC titlist, last entered the ring in September when he faced contender Jerry Forrest, losing a unanimous decision over eight rounds.

CARDIFF, WALES (April 17, 2024) – Lauren Price MBE tops a huge night of boxing in the Welsh capital as she challenges Jessica McCaskill for the WBA, IBO and Ring Magazine World Welterweight Titles on Saturday, May 11th,  live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, BBC Wales in Wales, and Peacock in the USA.

History maker Price, the first Welsh boxer to win Olympic gold, has the opportunity to write her name in the record books again by becoming Wales’ first female world champion when she meets McCaskill at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena.

Price’s homecoming will also provide a platform for the future stars of Welsh boxing, giving some of the country’s hottest home-grown prospects the chance to showcase their skills. 

Undefeated featherweight Rhys Edwards (15-0, 4 KOs) will look to extend his unbeaten run and move into title contention as he steps up in class to face former British champion and WBA #1 contender Thomas Patrick Ward (34-1-1, 5 KOs).

Edwards, from Penygraig, returns to action following a points victory over Brad Foster in Wolverhampton in November and will be boxing in Wales for the first time since a shut-out six-round win over Ruslan Berchuk on the Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Williams undercard in Cardiff in February 2022.

Englishman Ward, from County Durham, has had twice as many paid bouts as his Welsh rival. Having suffered his first career defeat in a WBA World Featherweight Title eliminator against Otabek Kholmatibv in 2023, the 29-year-old got back to winning ways with a points victory over Amani Bariki last month.

Edwards is one of three boxers from Gary Lockett’s gym fighting on Price’s undercard with Newport super middleweight Kyran Jones (9-0, 1 KO) and Cardiff super featherweight Kane Shepherd (4-0, 1 KO) also set for action.

26-year-old southpaw Jones will take on fellow unbeaten Welshman Lewis Howell (3-0), also from Newport, and Shepherd, a former ten-time ABA Welsh Champion, will test his skills against Birmingham’s Ishmael Ellis (14-8).

Joining Lockett’s unbeaten trio is Swansea giant Moses Jolly (8-0, 6 KOs), who will look to announce himself on the big stage as he continues his quest to become Wales’ first ever heavyweight world champion.

Plus, undefeated English Super Middleweight Champion Mark Jeffers (17-0, 4 KOs), who is proving to be a dangerman in the 168lbs division having claimed the English title versus current British champion Zak Chelli last July before defending the belt with a convincing points win over Germaine Browne in January.

Lauren Price MBE challenges Jessica McCaskill for the WBA, IBO and Ring Magazine World Welterweight Titles on Saturday, May 11th at the Utilita Arena Cardiff. All the action is available to watch live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, BBC Wales in Wales and Peacock in the USA.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast and Integritas Property Group.

Tickets are on sale now and available via BOXXER.com

NEW YORK – April 16, 2024 – Combat sports superstars Nate Diaz and Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal continued “THE BADDEST TOUR” on Tuesday night as they went face-to-face at an open to the public event in New York City before they meet in the ring on Saturday, June 1 headlining “LAST MAN STANDING” presented by Fanmio PPV from The Kia Forum in Los Angeles.

Two of sports and entertainment’s biggest personalities, Diaz and Masvidal will square off in a 10-round professional boxing light heavyweight showdown marking the first time two true MMA stars will go toe-to-toe in a boxing ring. They kicked off their four-city press tour last Friday night in Las Vegas, with stops ahead in Miami tomorrow night and Los Angeles on Friday night.

Thousands over the past week have joined the presale to be there to witness this mega event live. General reserved seating and a limited number of VIP Ringside packages featuring unprecedented fighter access and all-inclusive hospitality will be available for purchase via presale. To secure your chance to purchase the best seats, sign-up for the presale now at Fanmio.com/Fight. Presale tickets will be available tomorrow, Wednesday, April 17 beginning at 10 a.m. PT through Ticketmaster.com.

The general public on sale begins Thursday, April 18 at 10 a.m. PT, with reserved tickets available starting at only $60 plus applicable fees through Ticketmaster.com.

Diaz vs. Masvidal headlines a PPV available for purchase at Fanmio.com/PPV and Fanmio.com/DiazVsMasvidal. Fanmio will present “LAST MAN STANDING” in association with Diaz’s Real Fight Inc. and Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing Promotions.

Here is what the fighters had to say Tuesday from Palladium Times Square:

NATE DIAZ

“This is part one really because we’re boxing now. We’re working to go in there and whoop his ass in the boxing ring.

“I knew I’d end up back here and that the time would come. I got right back to doing what I had to do after our first fight. I still feel like I’m the real BMF. I’m gonna continue on until the end of time.

“I take every fight seriously. I had too long of a camp for Jake Paul, but this time we’re starting closer. Regardless of who it is, we’re taking every fight seriously.

“I’m not going in there trying to get hit. My plan is to hit and not get hit. I’m coming to win. That’s what it’s all about.

“I’ll fight anyone in any combat sport. We got a fight to fight and we have to figure this all out on June 1.”

JORGE MASVIDAL

“I’m thankful that I’m blessed that I don’t have to compete for the money. It’s more for legacy at this point than anything else. There was some small speculation that our first fight got stopped early, so cool, let’s find out.

“I’m gonna go in there and do my job, get my hand raised and take his ass out. It’s nothing personal right here. I signed up for one thing, to be as brutal as I can.

“I’m fast and explosive. We’re boxing, and I’ve got these hands that are explosive. He’s getting the whole buffet.

“He called me a coward and quitter, which didn’t sit well with me. Tell me one time I’ve quit? I’ve never quit or tapped. Anyone else with 50 fights who never tapped?

“Usually the guy who won the last fight gets to decide a lot of things in negotiations. But I don’t care at the end of the day, because I wanted this fight. I’m a fighter.

“I’m a bigger dog. I have more heart than anyone in front of me. In boxing I have more hand speed, better head movement and I’m more explosive. It’s gonna come down to my speed and power.”

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with a thrilling clash of featherweight contenders that will see legendary KO artist and No. 12 ranked Edson Barboza take on undefeated Lerone Murphy. Also, No. 9 ranked flyweight Tim Elliott aims to become the first fighter to beat No. 13 Tatsuro Taira.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: BARBOZA vs. MURPHY takes place Saturday, May 18 in Las Vegas and will be available on ESPN+ in English and Spanish. The main card will begin at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, with the prelims kicking off at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

UFC APEX VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that includes premium seating, all-inclusive hospitality, in-seat beverage service, meet-and-greets with UFC octagon girls and more. Visit UFCVIP.com for more information.

Barboza (24-11, fighting out of Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) has proven himself among the most devastating strikers in MMA history. Throughout his impressive career, he has delivered spectacular KO victories over Beneil Dariush, Billy Quarantillo and Terry Etim. Barboza now has his sights set on earning his third consecutive win by handing Murphy his first loss.

Murphy (13-0-1, fighting out of Manchester, England) intends to secure the biggest victory of his career. A talented striker with seven knockouts under his belt, he has earned notable wins against Makwan Amirkhani, Douglas Silva de Andrade and Ricardo Ramos. Murphy now hopes to make the most of his first UFC main event by stopping Barboza in emphatic fashion.

Elliott (21-13-1, fighting out of Kansas City, Mo.) looks to utilize his unorthodox style and veteran savvy to turn away another rising contender. A former UFC flyweight title challenger, he holds memorable victories over Sumudaerji, Tagir Ulanbekov and Louis Smolka. Elliott now plans to defend his spot in the rankings and halt Taira’s momentum.

Taira (15-0, fighting out of Okinawa, Japan) has wasted no time climbing the flyweight ladder since joining the roster in 2022. Among the youngest competitors in the UFC at 24 years old, he has netted impressive finishes against Carlos Hernandez, Jesús Santos Aguilar and CJ Vergara. Taira now intends to add a decorated veteran to his resume and continue his undefeated run.

Additional bouts on the card include: 

• Adrian Yanez (16-5, fighting out of Houston, Texas) meets Vinicius Salvador (14-6, fighting out of Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil) in an entertaining bantamweight tilt
• Unbeaten Oumar Sy (9-0, fighting out of Paris, France) debuts agains Rodolfo Bellato (12-2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at light heavyweight
• Victor Martinez (12-5, fighting out of Pharr, Texas) squares off with Tom Nolan (8-1, fighting out of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) in a lightweight bout
• Themba Gorimbo (12-4, fighting out of Johannesburg, South Africa) goes for his third straight win when he takes on Ramiz Brahimaj (10-4, fighting out of Dallas, Texas by way of the Bronx, N.Y.) at welterweight
• Abus Magomedov (25-6-1, fighting out of Düsseldorf, Germany) locks horns with Warlley Alves (15-7, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in a middleweight tilt
• Khaos Williams (14-3, fighting out of Detroit, Mich.) meets Carlston Harris (19-5, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by way of Skeldon, Guyana) in an intriguing welterweight matchup
• No. 9 ranked women’s strawweight contender Luana Pinheiro (11-2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) clashes with No. 12 Angela Hill (16-13, fighting out of San Diego, Calif. by way of Clinton, Md.)
• Vanessa Demopoulos (10-5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) faces Emily Ducote (13-8, fighting out of Oklahoma City, Okla.) at strawweight
• Hailey Cowan (7-3, fighting out of Robinson, Texas) meets Tamires Vidal (7-2, fighting out of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in a bantamweight bout
• Piera Rodriguez (9-1, fighting out of Maracaibo, Venezuela) squares off with Ariane Carnelossi (14-3, fighting out of Presidente Prudente, Sao Paulo, Brazil) at strawweight

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

### 

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN 

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

Las Vegas (April 16, 2024) – WBO Super Lightweight Champion Teofimo Lopez has confirmed that he will appear at the Seventh Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday May 4, 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Expo will also coincide with the mega fight between Canelo Alvarez vs Jaime Munguia, that will take place later that evening at the T-Mobile Arena.

Lopez will hold a Meet & Greet with his fans at his booth during the fan event held over the Cinco De Mayo weekend.

The Box Fan Expo is an annual fan event that coincides with some of the sports’ legendary, classic fights in Las Vegas, including Mayweather vs. Maidana II, Mayweather vs. Berto, Canelo vs. Chavez Jr., Canelo vs. GGG II, Canelo vs. Jacobs and Canelo vs. GGG III. 

Centered in boxing’s longtime home – Las Vegas – this year’s Expo is a must-do for fight fans coming in for this legendary weekend, with dozens of professional fighters, promoters, and companies involved in the boxing industry. The Expo is the largest and only Boxing Fan Expo held in the United States. http://boxfanexpo.com – @BoxFanExpo

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite –https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2024

Lopez will make his third appearance at this years’ Expo and will be signing gloves, photos, personal items and memorabilia. Lopez will also have merchandise to sell for fans to enjoy at his TakeOver Promotions booth. Boxing fans will also have an opportunity to take pictures with this boxing star also known as the “The TakeOver”. 

Lopez joins, Lennox Lewis, Devin Haney Mia St. John, Edgar Berlanga, Franchón Crews-Dezurn, Roy Jones Jr., Erik Morales, Shawn Porter, Fernando Vargas, Juan Manuel Marquez, Michael Spinks, Claressa Shields and Marco Antonio Barrera as an early commitment to this year’s Box Fan Expo, with more Boxing stars to be announced.

About Teofimo Lopez

Lopez is an American professional boxer and a two-division world champion. He represented as an amateur, his parent’s native country of Honduras at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Lopez is the former Undisputed Lightweight world champion. He held the IBF title from December 2019 to November 2021. Lopez defeated pound for pound great Vasyl Lomachenko on October 17, 2020 to become the WBA (Super), WBO, WBC Franchise and Ring magazine belt champion. This monumental victory over Lomachenko, alongside winning two lineal titles by the age of 25, propelled Lopez into a true boxing star, as well as being the youngest four-belt champion in boxing history. Lopez recently moved up in weight at the Super Lightweight division and defeated Pedro Campa on August 13th, 2022 in Las Vergas. On April 8, 2023, it was officially announced that Lopez would attempt to become a two-division world champion by challenging pound for pound great, undefeated WBO and The Ring Magazine Super Lightweight champion Josh Taylor. The anticipated showdown took place on June 10 at the Hulu Theater in New York City. Lopez dominated the fight and won by spectacular fashion, to become a two-division world champion. This incredible achievement, was followed by Lopez retaining his world championship title, versus top contender Jamaine Ortis on February 8, 2024 in Las Vegas

Past boxing stars that have participated include: Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Julio Cesar Chavez, Juan Manuel Marquez, Tommy Hearns, Roy Jones Jr, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, David Benavidez, Teofimo Lopez, Andre Ward, Ryan Garcia, Marcos Maidana, Devin Haney, Mikey Garcia, Errol Spence Jr, Fernando Vargas, Rolando Romero, Sergio Martinez, Tim Bradley, Jose Ramirez, Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Deontay Wilder, Amir Khan, Abner Mares, James Toney, Jessie Vargas, Floyd Mayweather sr., Claressa Shields, Vinny Paz, Mia St.John, Franchón Crews-Dezurn, Seniesa Estrada, Jorge Linares, Leo Santa Cruz, Badou Jack, Terry Norris, Riddick Bowe, Earnie Shavers, Michael & Leon Spinks, Brandon Rios, Anthony Dirrell, Danny Jacobs, and many more.

Exhibitors include boxing promoters, gear, apparel, equipment, energy drinks, supplement products, broadcasting media, sanctioning bodies, and other companies who showcase their brand to fans and the boxing industry as a whole.

Throughout the next few weeks leading up to the Event, there will be weekly updates on the many stars that will commit their appearance at the Boxing Expo.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite –

https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2024

To request information on exhibiting and sponsorship at the Expo:

For media credentials:

Contact us:

Telephone number: (702) 997-1927 or (514) 572-7222

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on Box Fan Expo visit: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

Follow Box Fan Expo on Twitter and Instagram at: @BoxFanExpo

Follow Box Fan Expo on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced that after two years, Matchroom’s undisputed super lightweight world champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs), will step back in the ring for the most anticipated rematch in women’s boxing history against boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs). Taylor vs. Serrano 2 will stream live globally, exclusively on Netflix on Saturday, July 20, 2024 from the 80,000-seat capacity AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. 

Taylor vs. Serrano 2 will be the co-main event to the recently announced heavyweight match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson as part of Netflix and MVP’s first-ever partnership. This will mark Taylor and Serrano’s long-awaited rematch following their historic bout at Madison Square Garden in 2022, where they made history as the first ever women fighters to headline an event in the iconic venue’s history. The bout ended in a narrow split decision in favor of Taylor and garnered global acclaim for both fighters earning Sports Illustrated’s Fight of the Year and The Ring’s Event of the Year for 2022. Taylor vs. Serrano was also nominated for Sports Business Journal’s Event of the Year, a testament to the global reach and power of the event. The rematch between the ESPN-ranked pound-for-pound powerhouses, #2 Taylor and #3 Serrano, will be contested for the undisputed super lightweight championship marking a jump of three weight classes from Serrano’s normal featherweight division as Taylor puts all her super lightweight belts on the line. The women’s undisputed megafight will be contested across 10, two-minute rounds, Serrano’s only break from fighting 12×3, the men’s championship standard, for the remainder of her career. Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2 is anticipated to be the biggest boxing event in modern history, and fans can sign up for presale ticket access at mostvaluablepromotions.com. 

Irish sensation Katie Taylor once again reaches for greatness as she meets Amanda Serrano in a rematch – with Taylor looking to add another remarkable chapter to her incredible boxing career as she defends her undisputed Super-Lightweight title. Taylor defeated Serrano at a sold-out Madison Square Garden in April 2022 in a stunning fight of the year contest that saw Taylor successfully defend the undisputed Lightweight title that she won in the same arena in June 2019 against Belgian Delfina Persoon. Taylor became a two-weight undisputed champion in her last outing in November, overcoming Chantelle Cameron in a rematch of their closely fought battle in April, with both fights taking place at a sold-out 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. She first got her hands on world honors in her seventh pro fight, claiming the vacant WBA Lightweight title in Cardiff against Anahi Sanchez in October 2017, and has been in 17 straight world title contests since that night en-route to becoming a two-weight undisputed ruler.

“This is the rematch the world has wanted to see and I’m delighted that it’s finally happening,” said Katie Taylor. “The first fight in New York was obviously an epic occasion and it more than lived up to the billing, and I’m sure the rematch will be no different. I want to thank Matchroom and DAZN for their help in making the fight possible and I’m looking forward to defending my titles as Undisputed World Champion in Dallas on Saturday, July 20.”

Amanda Serrano, the first-ever Puerto Rican undisputed world champion and seven-division world champion, started her current featherweight title reign by defeating Heather Hardy in a brutal 10-round fight in 2019 to win the WBO belt, and has since defended her WBO belt six times. Serrano offered Hardy a chance at redemption in August 2023, but successfully defended her undisputed featherweight world champion title for the first time in a decisive 10 round unanimous decision victory. Serrano also won a blood-soaked war against WBA featherweight champion Erika Cruz in February 2023, which made her the undisputed featherweight champion. Serrano’s decisive win against Cruz followed her previous win over Sarah Mahfoud in Manchester, England that added the Dane’s IBF title to her WBO, WBC, and IBO featherweight belts. Most recently, Serrano took home a unanimous decision victory against her mandatory WBO challenger Danila Ramos, making history in the first-ever women’s unified world championship to be fought over 12, three-minute rounds, equal to any men’s championship fight, and marking the first time a women’s fight has gone the full 12×3. Serrano threw a career high 1,103 punches in the bout. In a true commitment to change for women’s boxing, Serrano recently vacated her WBC title, as the sanctioning body does not support women’s choice for 12×3. Serrano, whose natural weight is 126 pounds, now steps up to super lightweight to face Taylor for the second time, aiming to add the Irish fighter’s belts to her current featherweight hardware in what would be a championship in her eighth weight class.  

“I promised my fans they would see this rematch after we made history at MSG and it feels like a dream come true to know that Katie and I are finally making it happen on the biggest stage possible to show the world what elite women’s boxing is all about,” said Amanda Serrano. “While my focus continues to be on giving women the choice to fight with the same rules as men, I’ve always said that this is the one fight I’d go back to 10×2 for if that’s what Katie wanted. I’m coming for her belts, she wants 10×2, so that’s what we will do. I believe I won our first fight, but I didn’t get the decision, so this time I’m not leaving it to the judges. I am honored to share this iconic MVP card in the biggest stadium, on the biggest streaming platform in the world. Thank you Nakisa, Jake, Mike and Netflix for making this happen. And to all the young girls and women watching, I want you to know that anything is possible. Keep dreaming, keep working hard, and never let anyone tell you otherwise. It took me 15 years of blood, sweat and tears to get here, but it’s all worth it because I’m living my dreams.”

Taylor vs. Serrano 2 marks the latest in MVP’s series of significant women’s championship fights as the company works to establish equity across the sport. The event follows Amanda Serrano’s first-ever 12×3 unified championship fight vs. challenger Danila Ramos in October and the Paul vs. August special championship feature of MVP’s Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green vs. Franchón Crews-Dezurn for the WBC and WBA super middleweight world titles.

“When we announced Paul vs. Tyson, we stated that this would be the most-watched boxing event in modern boxing history and we’re here to deliver on a card worthy of that greatness,” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor have proven they are two of the biggest names in the sport, male or female and their rematch is one of the biggest fights in boxing, so it’s only fitting for them to be a part of this massive global event. Anyone who witnessed their first battle knows the unforgettable atmosphere and performance Amanda and Katie bring when they step into the ring together,and this is sure to be a fight of the year contender again. Bringing attention to women’s boxing has always been a priority for MVP and we are thrilled to give the world’s most-anticipated women’s boxing fight ever a crowning moment on Netflix. Thank you to Matchroom and DAZN for working with MVP and Netflix to make this historic fight come to fruition.”

“Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano are two of the best boxers in the world,” said Mike Tyson. “I know they can both put on an incredible show, and I’m thrilled to have them join this card. These remarkable athletes will undoubtedly elevate the event with their global appeal and fan bases. Adding one of the greatest fights in women’s boxing history to this unforgettable event is a true gift to fans. Saturday, July 20 can’t get here soon enough.”

Netflix is the premier home for great sports entertainment with hits like Emmy-nominated Untold that featured Jake Paul the Problem Child episode last year, along with Formula 1: Drive To Survive, Full Swing, Beckham, NASCAR: Full Speed, Quarterback, Tour de France: Unchained, Under Pressure: The U.S. Women’s World Cup Team and Six Nations: Full Contact. And beginning in 2025, Netflix will become the new home of WWE Raw. Paul vs. Tyson and Serrano vs. Taylor II will be Netflix’s third live sports event, following The Netflix Cup and The Netflix Slam. 

“Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano captivated  the sports world during their first fight two years ago, and fans have been clamoring to see them in the ring together again ever since,” said Gabe Spitzer, Vice President, Nonfiction Sports, Netflix. “We are thrilled to partner with MVP to bring this epic rematch to Netflix subscribers all over the world on Saturday, July 20th, in what will be an unforgettable night alongside Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson.”

Additional information, including the additional undercard bouts, will be announced at a later date. For the opportunity to sign up for presale tickets, click here.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP have produced Jake Paul’s last five global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Diaz match. The promotion company also signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About Netflix

Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services with over 260 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

About AT&T Stadium

AT&T Stadium is the largest, most technologically advanced entertainment venue in the world. Designed by HKS and built by Manhattan Construction, the $1.2 billion stadium features two monumental arches, the world’s largest HDTV video board cluster, an expansive retractable roof and the largest retractable end zone doors in the world. Features of the stadium include seating for 80,000 and expandability for up to 100,000, over 300 luxury suites, club seating on multiple levels and the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop, open to the public year-round. Outside the stadium, the Miller Lite® House is a branded destination that boasts a 70-yard Cowboys turf field featuring field games, four video boards and over 60 television screens, two fantasy football screen walls and over 87,000 outdoor square-footage for event day experiences. The space also features two beer gardens and a walk-in beer cooler. The stadium is also home to a world-class collection of contemporary art, made up of over 92 works of art by 62 established and emerging artists displayed on the walls and in the grand public spaces of the venue. In addition to being the home of the Dallas Cowboys since opening in 2009, the stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLV, the 2010 NBA All Star Game, the annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the 2014 NCAA Men’s Final Four, the 2015 inaugural College Football Playoff Championship Game, the 2015 50th Anniversary Academy of Country Music Awards show and WrestleMania 32 & 38. The venue has also played host to high school and college football, concerts, championship fights, international soccer matches and other special events. For more information, go to attstadium.com.

LONDON (April 15, 2024) — WBO/WBC/IBF unified champion Artur Beterbiev and WBA ruler Dmitry Bivol met face-to-face at today’s kickoff presser in London ahead of their undisputed light heavyweight showdown on Saturday, June 1 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

This battle of 175-pound titans will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. as a special one-fight broadcast.

Beterbiev-Bivol will be promoted by Top Rank, Queensberry Promotions, Matchroom Boxing, World of Boxing Promotions and Sela.

Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs), boxing’s only current world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio, stopped Enrico Koelling in his 12th pro fight to win the IBF world title. He added the WBC championship to his collection in 2019 with a 10th-round TKO over Oleksandr Gvozdyk and captured the WBO strap in 2022 by stopping Joe Smith Jr. in two rounds. He returns after vanquishing former world champion Callum Smith in seven rounds in January.

Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) is a 10-year pro who captured the WBA interim title with a decision victory over Felix Valera in 2016. The following year, he was elevated to full champion and has since made 11 defenses with victories over the likes of Jean Pascal, Smith Jr., Sullivan Barrera and Canelo Alvarez. Last December, Bivol fought on the historic “Day of Reckoning” card in Riyadh, shutting out British challenger Lyndon Arthur.

At Monday’s press conference, this is what the fighters had to say.

Artur Beterbiev

“I just see another belt. I’m collecting belts, and I need one more.”

“I don’t know why {it’s taken so long to make this fight}. He knows better. Ask him.”

“We’ll see {if this is the biggest challenge}. I’m not thinking about it. I’m preparing for it. I will prepare and try to be at 100 percent.”

Dmitry Bivol

“When I signed a contract to be a pro boxer, I had a goal to become undisputed. Everything that I have gone through has been for that. I did it to achieve my goal. Even the fight against Canelo. It was my ticket for big fights. And now I’m happy that I will have this fight on June 1 for all the belts.”

“For every training camp, I think my opponent is the most dangerous opponent in the world. This helps me to be focused and serious in my training. Of course, he’s one of my most dangerous opponents. You see his record and his fights. He is powerful. It makes me more excited to fight against him because I love challenges. I love to be tested. This fight is a huge test for me.”

“Every person is different. Not only me. I have good skills. I just believe in my skills. I have been in boxing for 28 years. I’ve been in boxing ever since I can remember. I love this sport, and I think my experience will help me. And my mentality, skills, and camp. I believe I can be undisputed.”

Todd duBoef (Top Rank President)

“I’ve always been a fan of destruction. And this guy is destruction. Every time you turn on the television, my phone would ring and friends from all over the world would call me and say, ‘Who is this monster?’ And, I think he gets better with each fight.”

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (April 15, 2024) — An undisputed light heavyweight king will soon be crowned in The Kingdom. WBO/WBC/IBF unified champion Artur Beterbiev will battle WBA ruler Dmitry Bivol on Saturday, June 1 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The victor will become the division’s first undisputed champion since Roy Jones Jr. defeated Reggie Johnson in 1999. 

This battle of 175-pound titans will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. as a special one-fight broadcast.

Beterbiev-Bivol will be promoted by Top Rank, Queensberry Promotions, Matchroom Boxing, World of Boxing Promotions and Sela.

“This a dream matchup between two of the best light heavyweights we’ve ever seen,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “The beautiful city of Riyadh will play host to this legacy-defining fight. Thank you to His Excellency Turki Alalshikh for his vision and determination in bringing boxing fans the fights they want to see.”

Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) is boxing’s only current world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio, a human wrecking ball who entered the pro ranks in 2013 following Olympic berths in 2008 and 2012. Beterbiev wasted little time establishing his pro credentials, knocking out former world champion Tavoris Cloud in his sixth fight and stopping Enrico Koelling in his 12th outing to capture the IBF world title. Beterbiev picked up the WBC strap with a 10th-round TKO over Oleksandr Gvozdyk in 2019 and added the WBO title in June 2022 with a second-round TKO of Joe Smith Jr. He made his eighth title defense on January 13 in Quebec City, Canada, knocking out former super middleweight world champion Callum Smith in seven rounds.

Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) is a 10-year pro with 11 consecutive world title defenses, tied for third most in light heavyweight history. A decorated amateur who tallied more than 250 victories, he picked up his first regional title in his fourth pro fight. Following two defenses of the WBA interim title, Bivol was elevated to full champion in 2017 and began his reign of dominance. He notched wins over Jean Pascal, Joe Smith Jr., and Sullivan Barrera, among others, before a career-defining triumph that vaulted him up the pound-for-pound rankings. In May 2022, Bivol neutralized living legend Canelo Alvarez en route to a unanimous decision win. Six months later, he bested former super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. Last December, Bivol fought on the historic “Day of Reckoning” card in Riyadh, shutting out British challenger Lyndon Arthur.

Helmand Alekozai will face Digari Mahesh from India on April 19, manager Trifon Petrov confirmed this morning. The eight-round bout will be for the vacant WBC Middle East title. 

The fight will take place in La Perle, Dubai, United Arab Emirates as part of a big event promoted by Rahul Suri. 

Alekozai (12-0, 5 knockouts) who resides in Toronto, Canada, last fought on January 27th in Dubai, defeating Ibrahim Makubi (10-1-2, 6 knockouts) via 5th round stoppage. In December of 2023, Alekozai knocked out previously unbeaten Alonso Ceja (12-0, 4 knockouts) in the 3rd round of their 8-round scheduled contest. 

Helmand Alekozai is building momentum after a near fatal car accident he suffered in November of 2021. He won 5 fights over the last 12 months since his comeback to boxing.

“I can’t wait to show the world on April 19th that I’m one of the best fighters in my weight class. Winning a WBC Regional title would allow me to enter the world ratings and put me another step closer to achieving my dream of becoming a World Champion,” said Alekozai.

Alekozai is what you call a true road warrior, having fought in 4 different continents and 6 different countries in his 12 fight career.  

NEW YORK (April 15, 2024) –Undefeated Irishman Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (13-0, 10 KOs), the reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) Continental Welterweight Champion, is fully focusing on his next opponent, former British lightweight champion Lewis “Sandman” Ritson (23-3, 13 KOs), and not his rumored showdown later this year with Northern Ireland’s Lewis “The Croc” Crocker (19-0, 11 KOs).

Donovan vs. Ritson is the 10-round co-featured event May 25^th on a Matchroom Boxing card, headlined by a domestic clash between UK super lightweights Josh Taylor (19-1) and Jack Catterall (28-1), to be streamed on DAZN live from First Direct Arena in Leeds, United Kingdom.

The 25-year-old Donovan, who is now ranked No. 11 in the world by the World Boxing Association (WBA), will defend his title belt for the second time after a TKO win over William Andres Herrera (15-2) in his last fight this past January 27.

Donovan vs. Crocker has been percolating and if both fighters continue winning it will be one of the most anticipated 2024 fights in Ireland and the UK. The key is for both fighters to continue winning without a hiccup. Donovan understands that he needs to avoid any distractions as he prepares to fight Ritson, especially with the possibility of a future fight against Crocker as it continues to build exponentially into an epic super-fight.

“I do not look past any opponent,” Donovan said. “I know Lewis Ritson is a really good opponent for me at this stage of my career. I’m really excited to be ranked No. 11 in the world and I’m checking all the boxes in training to be ready for any fighter, Lewis first, and then we can move on to beating whoever my managers and promoter put in front of me. Ritson is a very good opponent for me. This is the fight I need, the challenge that will prepare me for bigger fights, especially against Crocker, or anyone else. For me, it doesn’t matter who the opponent is, I will be ready mentally and physically, and just be me.

“This is the biggest test of my career, every fight from now is like my world title fight. I believe he will throw caution to the wind early in the fight, but I will match him for everything he does, and I’m going into the ring to win every battle, every moment, every round, and every fight.”

Ritson, also a former WBA Inter-Continental Super Lightweight Champion, lost his last fight on March 4^th, stopped by a body shot from Ohara Davies (24-2) in the ninth round. Donovan has finished-off his last two opponents with crushing liver punches.

“Under the trusted eye of trainer and co-manager, Andy Lee, I am confident Paddy will be primed and ready to showcase his boxing skills and punching power on May 25^th,” commented NYC-based attorney Keith Sullivan, Donovan’s co-manager. “This is Paddy’s breakout year. I don’t envy anyone we match him against, because he’s on a mission to fight for a world title. He’s hungry, and he’s earned it, but first he has to handle business in the ring with a very formidable Ritson.”

Ideally, Paddy Donovan would like to put “Sandman” Ritson to sleep, then and only then, look toward Crocker, or whomever else stands in his path to a world title.

INFORMATION:

X (formerly Twitter): @PaddyDonovan23

Instagram: @paddy_realdeal_donovan

Facebook: /PaddyRealDealDonovan

Sunny Edwards and Adrian Curiel will clash in a 12-round Flyweight battle as the chief support bout for the blockbuster World title clash between Juan Francisco Estrada and Jesse Rodriguez at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday June 29, live worldwide on DAZN.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW AT TICKETMASTER.COM

Both men will be looking to bounce back to winning ways and get back to World champion status, and for Edwards (20-1 4 KOs), it’s an immediate return to the state where he met headline star Rodriguez in a unification clash in December.

The Briton faced ‘Bam’ in Glendale with his IBF title on the line against the WBO king, but was stopped in the ninth round of a thrilling battle, leaving the states with a first career defeat. The 28 year old, who also penned a new deal with Matchroom today, will be looking to regain the IBF belt after Bam vacated it to face Estrada, a title that he took from Moruti Mthalane in London in April 2021 and successfully defended four times before facing Rodriguez.

Curiel (24-5-1 5 KOs) moves up in weight after two dramatic World title clashes with Sivenathi Nontshinga. The Mexican challenged the South African in Monte Carlo for the IBF World Light-Flyweight title in November and stunned the champion with a KO of the year contending right hand in the second round to rip the crown away. The pair met again in a rematch in February in Oaxaca, Mexico, but this time it was the former champion that exacted revenge in a thrilling battle with a 10th round stoppage.

“I’m really excited to get the next chapter of my career underway,” said Edwards. “Agreeing another deal with Matchroom which confirms my future here for the foreseeable future.

“With the belief I’ve got in me from the promotional team and the events I’ve been involved in, I know I’m in the right place.

“Me vs Curiel is a hell of a fight. He is a former World Champion, like myself, and we’re both fighting to get back into World title contention.

“I’m going to Arizona again and fighting in front of an even bigger crowd this time, filled with passionate Mexican and American boxing fans. 29 June, I’m looking forward to being back.”

“I have a brand-new opportunity for my career,” said Curiel. “When you lose, you learn, and I will prove it against Edwards on June 29. 

“If they want to make it 112lbs we will take it even though this is not my weight, all because I am thirsty for revenge. Viva Mexico!!”

“This is a great fight between two men desperate to get back to the top,” said Hearn. “Sunny was a World champion for a long time and when that feeling goes, you want to get it back as soon as possible, while Adrian only just tasted that for himself for a short time, so both men know that this is a must-win fight to get back into the mix, and comes as the chief support to one of the biggest fights of the year.”

Las Vegas ­– UFC^® today announced that the classic 2010 fight between middleweights Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s ‘Fight Wing’ as a part of the class of 2024. The 2024 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place as part of the 12^th Annual UFC International Fight Week^Ô, on Thursday, June 27, at T-Mobile Arena, and will be streamed live exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“The first fight between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen was incredible,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White. “This is the fight that made Anderson a star and showed the world that Chael could compete with anyone in the division. This incredible dogfight had everything you want in a five-round title fight, and it will be an honor to induct this fight into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.

As the main event of UFC^® 117: SILVA vs. SONNEN, which took place on August 7, 2010, at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., both Silva and Sonnen entered the event on winning streaks of 12 and three, respectively.

Silva entered the Octagon as UFC middleweight champion with a 28-4 record (11-0 UFC) that included wins over future UFC Hall of Famers Forrest Griffin, Rich Franklin, and Dan Henderson (fight wing); former UFC welterweight champion Carlos Newton; former WEC^® middleweight champion Chris Leben; former WEC heavyweight champion James Irvin; former Strikeforce^® welterweight champion Nate Marquardt; and former Shooto^® welterweight champion Hayato Sakurai.

Sonnen entered the match as the top-ranked middleweight contender with a 26-10-1 record (7-4 UFC / WEC) and previous wins over former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Renato Sobral, former WEC light heavyweight champion Jason Lambert, former WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho, and former Strikeforce^® welterweight champion Nate Marquardt.   

Both athletes met at the center of the Octagon, exchanging punches and kicks to begin the first round. 52 seconds into the round, Sonnen landed a straight left, stunning the champion and knocking him back to the cage. Sonnen began to pressure Silva, landing several additional punches and takedowns to control the pace of the fight. With 3:23 left in the first, Sonnen took Silva down and mounted him, controlling the action in half guard and landing punches from the top position. Sonnen would move into full guard with 1:45 remaining, staying on top of the champion through the end of the round. Sonnen secured 31 significant strikes in the round, more than any previous opponent landed against Silva in a full UFC fight.

Silva came out firing for the second round, landing several punches and kicks before being taken down by Sonnen. Sonnen controlled the pace of the second round from the full mounted position, landing punches and elbows with Silva responding with shots from his back periodically. With 15 seconds left in the second, Silva would attempt a Kimura on the fence, with Sonnen countering from top position.

Both athletes raced to the center of the Octagon for round three, with Silva immediately landing an overhand right. Sonnen would advance and take Silva down 20 seconds into the round, continuing his dominance on the canvas. Sonnen would continue his ground assault on Silva, landing punches and elbows from the top position.

Silva opened the fourth round by taking control and landing a series of punches, kicks, and an elbow that stunned Sonnen. The two traded punches before Silva took Sonnen down 30 seconds into the round. Sonnen used his wrestling background to secure a reversal and take control via top position with four minutes remaining. Sonnen would control the fourth round via top control, consistently landing punches and elbows.

The fifth round opened with both athletes in the center of the Octagon, measuring each other up until Sonnen landed an overhand left that knocked Silva down. Sonnen secured the top position and attempted to submit Silva via side choke 45 seconds into the round, but Silva evaded the effort. Sonnen continued to control the fight from the ground, consistently landing punches with Silva evading from the ground.

With 2:05 remaining in the fight, Silva began to land several punches from his back and slipped Sonnen into a triangle armbar, submitting Sonnen via TKO with 1:50 seconds remaining to retain the UFC middleweight title. Silva’s triangle armbar submission was only the second in UFC history, and in terms of time elapsed, was the second latest at that time. Silva’s submission came with a -60 significant strike differential and remains the greatest statistical comeback finish in UFC championship history.

Sonnen’s 320 strikes landed against Silva set a UFC record that ranks fourth today. Silva had only absorbed 166 total strikes in his previous 11 fights combined.

Silva’s win earned him his 12^th consecutive UFC victory, breaking Royce Gracie’s UFC record for longest winning streak. The fight also won Fight of the Year honors during the Fighters Only World MMA Awards.

Silva and Sonnen would each win their next two respective fights before meeting in a rematch in the main event of UFC^® 148: SILVA vs. SONNEN II. Silva would win their second meeting via second-round TKO.

To view this fight on UFC FIGHT PASS, please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/20542

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

LAS VEGAS – April 13, 2024 – Combat sports superstars Nate Diaz and Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal kicked off “THE BADDEST TOUR” on Friday night as they went face-to-face at an open to the public event in Las Vegas and predicted fireworks for when they meet in the ring on Saturday, June 1 headlining “LAST MAN STANDING” presented by Fanmio PPV from The Kia Forum in Los Angeles.

Two of sports and entertainment’s biggest personalities, Diaz and Masvidal will square off in a 10-round professional boxing light heavyweight showdown marking the first time two true MMA stars will go toe-to-toe in a boxing ring. They kicked off their four-city press tour Friday night in Las Vegas, with stops ahead in New York, Miami and Los Angeles.

The press event also featured the announcement of two undercard showdowns, as MMA legend Anthony “Showtime” Pettis will take on Diaz’s teammate and all-action brawler Chris Avila in a six-round light heavyweight fight, while unbeaten prospects Sean Garcia, the younger brother of boxing star Ryan Garcia, and Amado Vargas, the son of former longtime boxing champion Fernando Vargas, will battle in an eight-round lightweight attraction.

Thousands over the past week have joined the presale to be there to witness this mega event live. General reserved seating and a limited number of VIP Ringside packages featuring unprecedented fighter access and all-inclusive hospitality will be available for purchase via presale. To secure your chance to purchase the best seats, sign-up for the presale now at Fanmio.com/Fight. Presale tickets will be available on Wednesday, April 17 beginning at 10 a.m. PT through Ticketmaster.com.

The general public on sale begins Thursday, April 18 at 10 a.m. PT, with reserved tickets available starting at only $60 plus applicable fees through Ticketmaster.com.

Diaz vs. Masvidal headlines a PPV available for purchase at Fanmio.com/PPV and Fanmio.com/DiazVsMasvidal. Fanmio will present “LAST MAN STANDING” in association with Diaz’s Real Fight Inc. and Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing Promotions.

Here is what the fighters had to say Friday from Zouk Nightclub inside Resorts World Las Vegas:

NATE DIAZ

“The first fight is what it is. I’m better, I lost and it was how it was. It got stopped, those were the rules. I’ll fight to the end of time. There’s no stopping me ever. The tank is full now and it was full then.

“I’m training hard as always and staying ready for the next big move. I’m getting ready to rock.

“My tank’s full. I’m gonna try to beat his ass the best I can in this sport and go from there.  

“We’re boxing this time, so it’s a whole other sport. It’s a whole new fight we’re getting into.”

JORGE MASVIDAL

“Y’all know what you’re gonna get June 1. Nothing but violence. That’s what I’m gonna deliver.

“I was busy chasing world titles after our first fight, so here we are now in boxing and I can’t wait to get in there and do my thing.

“I don’t think Nate really trained for Jake Paul and I don’t blame him. I don’t think it was his best performance. You know you better get in shape for this one. I’m a good athlete who’s mean. I’m coming to take your head off every time.

“I always felt I was the best boxer to come out of UFC and Nate’s bread and butter is his boxing. So it’s time to roll, I love it.

ANTHONY PETTIS

“Avila is on a winning streak and I’m always down to fight anyone, anytime, anywhere. This is nothing new for me.

“He comes to bang. He’s not afraid to exchange. I’m gonna go out there and bite on my mouth piece, so you know it’s gonna be a good one.

“I come from a great training camp with Jorge Capetillo and we’ve trained together for a long time. I’m ready for this next chapter of my career.”

CHRIS AVILA

“Boxing is something that’s natural for me. I’ve got an opportunity in this sport and I’ve been killing it. I’m looking forward to getting in the ring with Anthony.

“This is a really good opportunity. I’m gonna take advantage as much as I can and do what I have to do to get my hand raised.

“I know he’ll be good. He’s got a lot of experience as a former UFC champion. I’m focused on what I showcase in the ring. I’ll be ready for June 1.”

AMADO VARGAS

“We’re here on the big stage and I can’t wait. I know Garcia well from fighting in the amateurs, but it’s a whole new ball game in the pros. I can’t wait for June 1.

“He’s a clown and he has no power. I’m gonna stop him in the later rounds. I have more pro experience and I’m gonna stop him just like how his brother got stopped. His family are quitters.”

SEAN GARCIA

“We’re 1-1 against each other in the amateurs, but he knows I’m 10 times better than him. Deep down inside he knows. I’m gonna knock him out on June 1. His whole family knows that I’m better than him.”

#         #         #

Follow the conversation leading up to this unique boxing duel on all social media platforms with the hashtag #DiazMasvidal and through @Fanmio, @NateDiaz209 and @GamebredFighter on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) to stay tuned for more exciting announcements leading up to June 1.

SUPERIOR, Colo. (April 13,  2024) – Toro Promotions, Inc. went three-for-three again last night on a pro boxing card, presented by Airtight Boxing in association with Toro Promotions, at Blue Sport Stable in Superior, Colorado.

Arizona heavyweight Dante Stone (16-1, 11 KOs) extended his win streak to 16 in his first scheduled 10-round fight versus Matthew “El Matador” McKinney (16-8-3, 12 KOs) in the main event.

A southpaw who lost his pro debut and hasn’t suffered defeat since, battered McKinney from the opening bell, blasting him with a barrage of punishing punches and dropping McKinney with a left uppercut to the head. Stone used his superior speed, picking his opponent apart with a stiff jab, until the fight was dropped and stopped at the end of the opening round when Stone unloaded on a hurt and trapped McKinney, flooring him with a body shot that signaled the end.

The beat continued for 2016 Ukraine Olympian Tsotne Rogava (7-0, 7 KOs), who needed only 36-seconds to put Jesse Bryan (21-9-2, 16 KOs) in the  co-featured event. An overwhelming overhand right closed the show, decking Bryan who was unable to beat the count.

In his continued march upwards in the heavyweight division, Rogava has fought a total of only nine rounds in seven pro fights, stopping his last four opponents in the opening rounds. The 30-year-old native of Georgia, who now lives and trains in southern California, is on an accelerated course to potential greatness.

2016 Armenia Olympian Aram “Warrior” Avagyan (11-1-2, 5 KOs), who had been idle since his only loss on July 23, 2021,was the third member of Team Toro who was victorious last night in a lightweight match.

Avagyan took on veteran Juan “Chago” Santiago (17-25-3, 10 KOs) in a bout that the Armenian controlled with his boxing skills, pounding Santiago with crisp combinations until Santiago was unable to answer the bell for round four.

Toro Fighter Results Below:

_______________________________________________________________________ 

OFFICIAL RESULTS

MAIN EVENT — HEAVYWEIGHTS

Dante Stone (16-1, 11 KOs), Chandler, AZ

WTKO1 (2:54)

Matthew McKinney (16-8-3, 12 KOs), Escondido, CA

CO-FEATURE — HEAVYWEIGHTS

Tsotne Rogava (7-0, 7 KOs), Marina del Rey, California by way of Ukraine and Georgia

WKO1 (0:36)

Jesse Bryan (21-9-2, 16 KOs), Jefferson City, MO

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Aram Avagyan (11-1-2, 5 KOs), Burbank, CA by way of Armenia

WTKO4 (0:01)

Juan Santiago (17-25-3, 10 KOs), Denver, CO

 ______________________________________________________________________

INFORMATION:

Instagram: @ToroPromotionsInc

Facebook: /ToroPromotionsInc

You Tube: @ToroPromotionsINC

X (formerly Twitter): @ToroPromotions

TikTok: @ToroPromo

Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Lampley will once again be co-hosting his popular and exclusive live viewer chat, in real time, during PPV.COM‘s live stream of next Saturday’s, April 20 (8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT) world championship boxing event headlined by the Devin Haney – Ryan Garcia WBC super lightweight world title fight.  The crystal-clear HD live stream, available to viewers in the U.S. and Canada, priced at $79.99, can be ordered by clicking here PPV.COM | Haney vs. Garcia.  Jim will also be providing fight week commentary and reports from Brooklyn forPPV.COM‘s website and platforms. Below, is his analysis of Haney vs. Garcia.  PPV.COM does not require a subscription.

JIM LAMPLEY’S HANEY vs. GARCIA PREVIEW ANALYSIS

“In the last four and a half years Devin Haney achieved dominant control of boxing’s 135-pound weight level, en route to becoming the undisputed World Lightweight Champion, with an impressive series of performances, in clear victories, over Yuriorkis Gamboa, Jorge Linares, Joseph Diaz, George Kambosos (twice) and Vasyl Lomachenko.  Every single one of those opponents can, through one filter or another, be seen to have a more meaningful background in the ring than Ryan Garcia, especially Lomachenko, who as both an amateur and a pro, was one of the landmark boxing craft talents of the past few decades.  In comparison to Garcia, Haney has the more stable lifestyle, the far more impressive boxing resume, the greater proven focus, and the more visible motivation to work hard toward a lofty goal. 

“Ryan Garcia?  He is the livelier and more exotic social media figure, has the prettier face, and may possibly possess more one-punch power, particularly with his left hook.  Since the time when these two split six amateur fights 3-3, Haney, who last December moved up in weight to dethrone WBC super lightweight champion Regis Prograis, has gotten steadily better and steadily more focused, and Garcia has amassed huge numbers of social media followers and raised logical questions regarding his level of mental health.  What else do you need to know?  The logical choice is Haney by quality unanimous decision.  It won’t be at all shocking if Haney wins 10, 11 or all 12 rounds.  It WILL be shocking, to this observer, if Haney finds a way to lose.”     

***************************

JIM LAMPLEY

Jim is a recipient of the Boxing Writers Association of America’s (BWAA) Sam Taub Award for Excellence in Broadcasting Journalism and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in its 2015 class.  He served as anchor and commentator for “HBO World Championship Boxing” for 30 years and has covered numerous Olympic Games during his long and distinguished career in sports broadcasting.      

About iNDEMAND and PPV.COM

iNDEMAND is an innovative partnership among three of the leading cable companies in the U.S.– Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, and Cox Communications. iNDEMAND is a company of trusted content aggregators and licensing experts, with unparalleled technical expertise and long-standing relationships with MVPDs, major sports leagues, Hollywood studios, and other entertainment and sports companies across North America. iNDEMAND delivers great content to more than 60 million cable homes and has distribution deals with more than 90 companies.  In December 2021, iNDEMAND launched PPV.COM, an innovative streaming PPV service and the first of its kind to offer interactive fan engagement during live-action sports.  With the addition of PPV.COM, which does not require a subscription, to its existing cable PPV infrastructure, iNDEMAND has consolidated all forms of PPV distribution under one roof, making the company the only provider of turn-key PPV solutions for both industry partners and consumers.  For more information, go to indemand.com.

LOS ANGELES – April 12, 2024 – Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, April 18 for the hotly-anticipated showdown between combat sports superstars Nate Diaz and Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal as they renew their epic rivalry in a professional boxing clash Saturday, June 1 from The Kia Forum in Inglewood headlining “LAST MAN STANDING” presented by Fanmio PPV.

Thousands over the past week have joined the presale to be there to witness the showdown live. General reserved seating and a limited number of VIP Ringside packages featuring unprecedented fighter access and all-inclusive hospitality will be available for purchase via the presale. To secure your chance to purchase the best seats, sign-up for the presale now at Fanmio.com/Fight. Presale tickets will be available on Wednesday, April 17 beginning at 10 a.m. PT through Ticketmaster.com.

The general public on sale begins Thursday, April 18 at 10 a.m. PT, with reserved tickets available starting at only $60 plus applicable fees through Ticketmaster.com.

The June 1 main event will mark the first time two true MMA stars will go toe-to-toe in a boxing ring as they square off in a 10-round light heavyweight bout. Diaz and Masvidal will look to close their rivalry in emphatic fashion after their UFC clash ended with a cut over Diaz’s eyebrow resulting in a TKO for Masvidal.

This mega event will include a loaded undercard and shoulder programming bringing fans inside the fighters’ camps (details to be announced).

Follow the conversation leading up to this unique boxing duel on all social media platforms with the hashtag #DiazMasvidal and through @Fanmio, @NateDiaz209 and @GamebredFighter on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) to stay tuned for more exciting announcements leading up to June 1.

   •  Jared Anderson 250.9 lbs. vs. Ryad Merhy 235.6 lbs
(Anderson’s WBO International and WBC USA Heavyweight Titles – 10 Rounds)

   •  Efe Ajagba 241.2 lbs vs. Guido Vianello 244.5 lbs
(Ajagba’s WBC Silver Heavyweight Title — 10 Rounds)

•  Robson Conceição 131.6 lbs vs. Jose Guardado 131.5 lbs
 (Junior Lightweight — 8 Rounds)

(ESPN+, 5:50 p.m. ET/2:50 p.m. PT)

•  Julian Delgado 159.3 lbs vs. Juan Tamez 159 lbs
 (Middleweight— 4 Rounds)

•  Ruben Villa 125.6 lbs vs. Cristian Cruz 125.1 lbs
 (Vacant WBC Silver Featherweight Title — 10 Rounds)

•   John Rincon 143 lbs vs. Yainel Alvarez 143.5 lbs
 (Welterweight — 6 Rounds)

•   Abdullah Mason 134.6 lbs vs. Ronal Ron 134.7 lbs
 (Lightweight — 8 Rounds)

•   Charly Suarez 131.8 lbs vs. Louie Coria 131.7 lbs
 (Junior Lightweight — 8 Rounds)

•   Jalen Walker 131.2 lbs vs. Alejandro Guerrero 131.8 lbs
 (Junior Lightweight — 8 Rounds)

•   Ali Feliz 219.1 lbs vs. Anthony Woodson III 280.2 lbs
 (Heavyweight — 4 Rounds)