PARKER ADMITS BEING CHAMPION WEIGHED HEAVY

JOSEPH PARKER HAS revealed that, at his most successful point, he was living out his boxing career for the benefit of others.

The now 30-year-old, who takes on Joe Joyce in a huge Manchester blockbuster on September 24, became WBO world heavyweight champion in December 2016 by defeating Andy Ruiz on home soil in Auckland and winning the title vacated by Tyson Fury via a tight points decision.

It has now been declared that Joyce-Parker will be fighting for the status of becoming WBO Interim world heavyweight champion at the AO Arena. The ‘Nowhere to Run’ blockbuster on 24 September is being shown exclusively live on BT Sport Box Office and is promoted by Frank Warren for Queensberry Promotions in association with BOXXER.

In what should have been a period of great fulfillment six years ago, there was something missing for Parker that he struggled with at the time. He can now put this void down to chasing dreams that weren’t his own.

Becoming a parent for the first time to Elizabeth made Parker understand his own discontent at a time when he should have been embracing national hero status in his native New Zealand.

“When I wasn’t a father I was doing boxing for myself because I enjoyed it, but mostly for others,” explained Parker on the Unibet Lowdown. “I’m not sure how this sounds, but I was doing it more for my dad because it was his dream and I was doing it more for my coach Kevin (Barry), who wanted to have a heavyweight world champion.

“When I achieved it I sort of wasn’t the happiest, maybe because it was for them. Now that I have my wife and my kids, in boxing I am a lot more motivated because I want to do it for myself and my immediate family.”

If the tale sounds familiar, it is because Parker’s great friend and training partner Tyson experienced similar emotions on becoming unified champion and subsequently spiralled into a mire of serious mental health issues that he recovered from in a most remarkable way.

“I think I went through exactly the same thing, but I didn’t look at it as mental health at the time. Now I have had more discussions about it, maybe I did go through the same thing, I just didn’t realise.

“I was still training and fighting, but wasn’t enjoying it. I didn’t want to associate with people and didn’t want to talk, I was out there doing this and that. I was still fighting but wasn’t training properly. I wasn’t doing anything right because I didn’t want to do it. But I was still doing it and doing it with no purpose.

“Now I have a purpose. Now I am motivated. Now I am driven. I have my wife and my kids at home who I have left and I have missed a lot of special occasions because of this goal that I have.”

Parker has set out clear goals for the remaining chapters of his boxing story and, while returning to the heavyweight top table features strongly, he is more about the here and now and taking as much as he can from each single experience.

“I don’t write them down but I do have them in my head. I should write them down, that would be a good thing to do. My goal, further out there, is to be heavyweight champion of the world. I think it would be amazing to have a fighter from New Zealand and Samoa be a two-time world champion.

“The goal is to appreciate each fight, appreciate the moment, to live in the moment and be present. If I think about stuff way down there I am not going to enjoy the process. I want to enjoy the training, the food, everything that is involved with the camp.

“I want to enjoy going home and seeing my family after a camp but, for now, I am in camp and I am going to enjoy every single moment of it.

“Now it is about the journey, the destination will take care of itself.”

As well as the huge Joyce vs Parker clash, Amanda Serrano will be bidding to win four world title belts at featherweight when the Puerto Rican superstar makes her UK debut and battles the unbeaten Dane Sarah Mahfoud.

Queensberry fighters Anthony Cacace, Ekow Essuman, Nathan Heaney, Raven Chapman and Mark Heffron all feature in the supporting cast of the 24 September ‘Nowhere to Run’ blockbuster at the AO Arena, Manchester, a fight night not-to-be-missed.

Tickets for ‘Nowhere to Run’ – the heavyweight clash between Joe Joyce and Joe Parker on 24 September at the AO Arena, Manchester being shown exclusively live on BT Sport Box Office – are priced from £40 and are on sale now exclusively from Ticketmaster.co.uk.

Images are free to use, please credit Queensberry Promotions where possible.

MEDIA ACCREDITATION: If you wish to apply to cover the ‘Nowhere to Run’ fight night, please complete the form here.




Undefeated Mexican lightweight prospect Marco Cota to be showcased Sept. 16th on “Canela Boxeo” card

LOS ANGELES (August 31, 2022) – Another rising Mexican lightweight prospect, Marco Cota (8-0, 6 KOs), will be fighting in his first scheduled 8-round bout on September 16 in the next installment of the entertaining “Canela Boxeo” series, presented by CANELA BOXEO.

World Cup Boxing Series (WCBS), led by CEO Terry Hollan and promoter/matchmaker Guy Taylor, and De La O Promotions are co-promoting the event.

“We are working on my cardio,” Cota noted about additional work to be prepared to fight 8 rounds. “We are focused on a lot of cardio and strength conditioning to get to where I can fight 8 rounds at a good pace.

“I feel that fighting on ‘Canela Boxeo’ is a very good platform and many people will watch my fight. It will project my future career a lot and many people from other parts of the world will begin to know me.”

“Canela Boxeo” is streamed live and for FREE on the third Friday night of every month, now starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, from various venues in Mexico. The Sept. 16th card will emanate from Expo Palenque in Ciudad Obregon, not too far from Cota’s home in Empalme, Sonora.

“I’ve been in this business for more than 20 years,” Taylor said, “and Marco Cota is one of the best prospects I’ve ever seen. On September 16th, fans are going to see a real battle in every sense of the word. Cota versus Piedrahita can only be seen LIVE and FREE on CANELA.TV. All that’s needed to watch is to download the FREE APP.”

Cota is matched against Kevin Piedrahita (5-1, 5 KOs), of Colombia, in the Featured Bout.

“The little I know is that he is very good,” Cota said about his opponent. “He is a strong fighter who likes to clash and exchange blows toe-to-toe.”

A 5-time Sonora State Champion, Cota was 146-4 as an amateur, highlighted by his bronze-medal performance at the 2015 National Tournament. Cota’s dream was to represent Mexico in the Olympics, but the opportunity never came.

“The truth is that they never took me into account,” Cota explained. “It was a dream for me to represent Mexico in the Olympic Games. I had a great amateur career and always stood out at the National level. In Mexico, though, the best are not always selected. It’s a complicated process.”

A self-described complete fighter, Cota has a fan-friendly style, effectively boxing from both long and short distances, adapting well in the ring when needed, and possessing solid power in both hands. His short-term goal is the become the No.1 rated lightweight in Mexico, eventually developing into a world champion.

He is a proud member of the WCBS family. “I feel very good,” Cota remarked about his promoter. “I have the necessary activity for my career and that motivates me a lot. I know that I’m on the best team in Mexico. The treatment WCBS gives its fighters is very special.”

Cota grew up admiring Julio Cesar Chavez, Sr. and Juan Marquez. Today, his favorites are Gervonta Davis and Vasiliy Lomachenko.

Cota, of course, predicts victory against Piedrahita, saying: “I expect a brawl. My team has studied my opponent and the best thing is to box him by hitting bottom-to-top with my distance. Let’s see. It is going to be a very competitive fight and we are going to come out with our hands up.”

The Sept. 16th headliner is another undefeated 20-year-old Mexican prospect, Luis “Koreano” Torres (16-0, 10 KOs), who will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight title at home Ciudad Obregon, versus an opponent to be determined in the 10-round main event. Torres is a former WBC Youth Silver Champion who won his WBC Latino lightweight belt in his last fight by way of a 10-round unanimous decision from Diego Andrade Chavez (14-6-2).

Also fighting on the card is super lightweight Misael “Pichon” Urias (12-1, 9 KOs), 23, in an 8-rounder vs. TBA.

“Canela Boxeo” on CANELA.TV – LIVE, EXCLUSIVE and FREE stream — Friday, September 16th from Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico, starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, throughout the United States, Mexico, and Latin America.

Canela.TV is available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, as well as through linear channels on Samsung TV Plus, LG, Vizio, Plex, Distro TV and available through iTunes and Google Play. Users can find a wide variety of content, including soap operas, news, movies, television series, cooking shows, among others, through the Hispanic lens. For additional information on Canela.TV please visit: https://www.canela.tv/

“Canela Boxeo” was created by CANELA MEDIA, a leading, minority-owned technology driven company committed to redefining digital media experiences for the Hispanic Community, and World Cup Boxing Series (WCBS), led by its creators CEO Terry Holland and promoter/matchmaker Guy Taylor.

ABOUT CANELA MEDIA: Canela Media is the leading, minority-owned technology driven company offering brands a complete ecosystem to connect with multicultural audiences starting with its free streaming platform service, Canela.TV which enriches the new generation of U.S. Latinos with free access to unique, culturally relevant content. In addition to TV content, Canela Music features a unique blend of Latin music programming, featuring various genres from Latin Pop, Regional Mexican, Classics, Romantic, and more.

Canela Media reaches more than 50 million unique Hispanics across its 180+ premium Spanish-language sites. Combined with the company’s proprietary data, Canela Media possesses in-depth knowledge and understanding of how to establish meaningful and culturally relevant connections with the new mainstream- U.S. and Latin America Hispanics.

Headquartered in New York, Canela Media is ranked as the third largest Hispanic ad-focused company and the only female-and minority-owned certified digital company. For more information please visit: https://canelamedia.com/

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

INFORMATION:

Website: www.worldcupboxingseries.com, www.canela.tv

Facebook: /WorldCupBoxingSeries

Instagram: @World_Cup_Boxing_Series




CAMERON CLASHES WITH MCCASKILL FOR UNDISPUTED SUPER-LIGHTWEIGHT CROWN IN ABU DHABI

Chantelle Cameron and Jessica McCaskill will clash for the undisputed Super-Lightweight World Title on the undercard of Dmitry Bivol vs. Gilberto Zurdo Ramirez at the at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Saturday November 5, live to subscribers worldwide on DAZN (excluding South Korea and MENA).

Northampton’s Cameron (16-0, 8 KOs) captured the famous green and gold WBC 140lbs World Title by widely outpointing Brazil’s Adriana dos Santos Arauja behind closed doors at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes back in October 2020.

‘Il Capo’ looked sensational as she stopped Puerto Rico’s Melissa Hernandez in five rounds during the first defence of her crown the following year in her US debut at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.

The 31-year-old added the IBF and inaugural Ring Magazine World Titles to her collection by decisioning Indiana’s Mary McGee in an all-action main event at The O2 in London in October 2021 before defending her titles with another unanimous decision points win over Victoria Noelia Bustos in May this year.

Undisputed Welterweight World Champion McCaskill (12-2, 5 KOs) drops down in weight to enhance her pound-for-pound credentials after dethroning long-reigning champion Cecilia Braekhus in Downtown Tulsa Streets back in August 2020.

A former WBC and WBA World Champion at Super-Lightweight, ‘CasKILLA’ returns to 140lbs for the first time since October 2019 following three successful defences of her IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO Welterweight World Titles.

“This fight means everything to me, for me it’s all or nothing,” said Cameron. “It’s a career-defining moment for me – this is what every boxer sets out to achieve when they turn professional. As soon as I became a World Champion, I said that the main goal was to become undisputed. To become undisputed would be my dream come true. It’s what I want to achieve in boxing.

“Jessica is a very dangerous fighter and obviously undisputed at 147lbs. She’s been there and she’s done it. She’s got that crown at 147lbs so it’s definitely going to be my toughest fight to date. I’m expecting her to come out all guns blazing. She’s going to stick in on my chest, but I’ve got a game plan A, game plan B and game plan C.

“I’ll make sure that I box how I want to box and not get caught up in a slugfest. As long as I stay switched on and do what I know I can do then this won’t be a messy fight. It’s going to be a good hard fight, but I know I’m a better all-round fighter.”

“I want to take on the biggest and best fights,” said McCaskill. “I want to dominate in multiple weight classes. It’s too easy to stay in one weight class and play it safe. Now I want to prove myself as the best Super-Lightweight on the planet.”

“This is a career-defining moment for Britain’s Chantelle Cameron – a chance to write her name into the history books and become the undisputed Super-Lightweight World Champion,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “Chantelle hasn’t put a foot wrong so far in her career but she knows she faces her toughest test to date against Chicago’s brilliant undisputed Welterweight ruler Jessica McCaskill who returns to 140lbs for another shot at greatness. What a card we’re building for November 5 – watch it live around the world on DAZN.”

“Jessica McCaskill has proven she belongs in the Hall of Fame,” said Rick Ramos. “This victory will solidify that. I’m excited for this fight.”

An announcement on tickets will follow in due course. Sign up HERE for Bivol vs. Ramirez bulletins and ticket updates.




CORDINA MAKES MAIDEN DEFENCE OF IBF WORLD TITLE AGAINST MANDATORY CHALLENGER RAKHIMOV IN ABU DHABI ON NOVEMBER 5

Joe Cordina will make the maiden defence of his IBF Super-Featherweight World Title against Mandatory Challenger ShavkatdzhonRakhimov at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Saturday November 5, live to subscribers worldwide on DAZN (excluding South Korea and MENA).

Cordina vs. Rakhimov lands on the undercard of the huge WBA Light-Heavyweight World Title clash between undefeated rivals Dmitry Bivol and Gilberto Zurdo Ramirez – Matchroom’s first ever show in the United Arab Emirates.

‘The Welsh Wizard’ (15-0, 9 KOs) captured the famous red and gold belt with a stunning one-punch knockout of Japan’s Kenichi Ogawa on a memorable night at the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff earlier this year in June to become the latest Welsh World Champion.

Tajikistan’s Rakhimov (16-0-1, 13 KOs) challenged for the vacant IBF belt against an overweight Joseph Diaz at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio last year – pushing the American all the way in a majority draw for the title that only he could win. 

‘Shere Khan’ was presented with a second opportunity to fight for the IBF 140lbs World Title against Ogawa – but was forced to withdraw from the scheduled bout due to injury. The 27-year-old is currently the highest ranked contender with the IBF.

“I know it’s going to be a tough fight so I’m going to be prepared for 12 hard rounds,” said Cordina. “I know I’m going to have to bite down on my gumshield and dig my toes in. It’s going to get tough in there but I’m going to be prepared for that.

“Nothing has really changed since I won the World Title back in June. My mentality is still the same, I still want to be the best in the world – I want to win more titles. I’ve reached my goal of becoming World Champion but now I’ve set new goals which include becoming a unified and undisputed World Champion.

“It’s great to be a part of the first show in Abu Dhabi. I’ve been a part of some big nights in boxing – the Joshua vs. Klitschko show in front of a sold-out Wembley Stadium, Bramall Lane Stadium with Kell Brook against Errol Spence and two Joshua fights at the Principality Stadium. To be a part of another historic show is unbelievable and another one ticked off my list.”

“We have a huge night of World Championship boxing planned for Abu Dhabi on November 5 and Joe Cordina vs. Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov is the first addition to an all-action undercard,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “The Welsh Wizard landed the IBF Super-Featherweight World Title with an epic one-punch knockout win in his home city earlier this year but that’s just the start of the journey for Welsh boxing’s latest star. Joe has ambitions of becoming undisputed at 130lbs but first he needs to get past an incredibly tough first defence in the shape of IBF number one Rakhimov who has already challenged for the IBF crown.”

An announcement on tickets will follow in due course. Sign up HERE for Bivol vs. Ramirez bulletins and ticket updates.




NEW, TELL-ALL BOXXER DOCUMENTARY UNCOVERS EXTRAORDINARY, DECADE-LONG RIVALRY BETWEEN SHIELDS AND MARSHALL

London, England – (August 31st, 2022) – Savannah Marshall and Claressa Shields’ extraordinary, bitter rivalry has been unraveled in a revealing, tell-all documentary.

Produced by BOXXER, the fascinating feature piece uncovers the makings of both world champions and what is driving them in their bid to become the world’s undisputed best, less than a week before the most anticipated female female of all-time.

Including exclusive interviews and previously unseen material, the film – now live on YouTube – hears from both fighters, their camps and learns all about how their incredible, decade-long feud began, with predictions from both on how it will end at The O2 in London on Saturday, 10th September.

Hear their contrasting tales as Hartlepool-born Savannah Marshall details how she combated her timidness as a youngster to being crowned WBO world middleweight champion.

And American two-time Olympic gold medalist and reigning WBC, IBF and WBA world champion Claressa Shields discusses her harrowing upbringing as a child which drove her to global superstardom.

PLUS, hear from the likes of BOXXER CEO and Founder Ben Shalom, Peter Fury, Savage Dan, Spencer Oliver and more as they deliver their verdicts ahead of this titanic all-Atlantic tussle which takes place in the capital in just over a week’s time.

To use any material featured in the documentary, please credit BOXXER with a link to watch the film in full. This can be found here.

For any further details or materials, please contact the BOXXER PR and Media team.

Below, you can find a sample of selected quotes from the documentary:

Savannah Marshall 

On starting boxing, aged 12: “I was very sporty growing up. I played football, netball… but [aged 12] I walked into a boxing gym because one of my friends had a little plastic trophy, which I saw glisten in the sun. And I thought, I want one of them. Curiosity took a hold of me. I was more curious than anything. I remember walking up the steps in the gym, hearing music blasting and bags being punched. I was stood at the door looking through the glass, thinking I want to go in. Looking back now, and considering our painfully shy I was at that age, I can’t believe I done that.”

On Claressa Shields proclaiming to be the G.W.O.A.T (Greatest Woman of All-Time): “Claressa’s quite comical. There’s nothing she can do or say that will effect me.”

On discovering her renowned hard-hitting punching power: “I remember when I was younger, one month my mum got a discount on some steaks. And that was all we ate: steak and chips, steak pie, steak stew, steak and dumplings… you name it, we had it. So that must be why.”

On breaking away from being ‘shy’: “Everyone’s talking about the evolution of Savannah Marshall. I’ve gone from being a relative mute to being the not-so ‘Silent Assassin’.”

On working with Peter Fury: “I always knew I could dig. But when I got to train with Peter, he showed me how to punch properly.”

Claressa Shields

On losing to Savannah Marshall as an amateur – her only, ever defeat: “It was a whirlwind getting there but I never quit. After I lost to Savannah Marshall I was very angry about it.”

On her harrowing upbringing – and what has driven her to success in Boxing: “I didn’t talk a lot growing up. I didn’t talk until I was 5. And then, at the age of 11, I started boxing. I look at where I come from, and I come from the bottom – and I don’t think what people realise what the bottom is. I won the Olympics. But before I left home, I didn’t even have a bed to sleep in.”

“I went through some things growing up. I got sexually abused when I was 5. That made me really angry and confused towards people. I didn’t have a bed until after the Olympics – and that was at 17. From 14-17, and even before then, I was sleeping on floors. People wonder why I’m so hungry, it’s because it’s what I have to do for myself. If I didn’t, me and my family would have been poor forever. With the skills I have, I was never going to settle for that. I knew I was going to do something with them. I had to win the Olympics. I had to win world championships. I don’t hate these girls, but they have to understand how much I have to win. They just don’t get it.” 

Ben Shalom

“Look at the difference now in Savannah in her professional days. She’s gone from being in the middle of cards to headlining events and selling out arenas, including her home city of Newcastle, which she could have only dreamt. I think this is the biggest women’s fight of all-time. But this is definitely the biggest rivalry in women’s boxing history.”

Spencer Oliver

“When I first met Savannah it was in 2010 when she was boxing for England and we saw her in Sheffield. It was myself, Johnny Nelson and Adam Smith. We all went up there to see Savannah because she was a girl with unbelievable talent – but she didn’t believe in herself. Confidence was a massive issue. If you don’t believe in yourself in boxing, you’re in trouble. You need that self-belief. But she has discovered it – and she did that by teaming up with Peter Fury. It’s an incredible journey from where she has come from to where she is now. She is arguably the best female fighter in the world – and we’re going to find that out.”

Peter Fury

“She’s the perfect student. She’s strictly business. Be diets, training regimes… whatever you throw at her, she does. You couldn’t ask for a better person to be with and to train with. She’s a no-nonsense type of person.”

Shields vs Marshall, for the undisputed world title, headlines BOXXER: ’Legacy’ – a historic all-female night of boxing – on Saturday, September 10th at The O2 in London, live and exclusive on Sky Sports. For tickets visit Boxxer.com




HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHTER JOEY DAWEJKO THE BUSINESS OWNER AND BOXER RETURNS TO PARX CASINO ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

Joey Dawejko (21-10-4, 12 KOs), of Philadelphia, PA, will be headlining an eight-round heavyweight contest against Mike Marshall (6-3-1, 4 KOs), of Danbury, CT, at Parx Casino on Thursday, Sept 1.

Dawejko was at a crossroads in his career and contemplated retirement. He was trying to figure out the next phase of his life after boxing. Dawejko worked as a roofer back in the day, but decided it was time for him to be on the other side of the business and own his own roofing company. That led to him opening Tank’s Knockout Roofing, which has been a great success since starting earlier this year.

Tickets to the seven-bout card at Parx® are on sale now at:

https://www.axs.com/events/441129/xcite-fight-night-8-tickets?skin=parxcasino,

Hold My Ticket Call Center at (1-877-466-3404) or by calling 215-364-9000. Must be 21 or older to attend.

This card will be streamed by FloSports via the web, the FloSports mobile app (iOS and Android), or connected TV platforms such as AppleTV, Roku, FireTV, Vizio and others – for as little as $12.50 per month. Fight fans can subscribe with a monthly or annual membership today at https://www.flocombat.com/ to be ready for a full schedule of FIGHTNIGHT LIVE events in 2022.

One would think that owning your own company would be harder than having a day job, but Dawejko would disagree. “So early in my career, I was a roofer and I was working for somebody, and being out on the roof working 8-12 hours a day was a rough one. Now that I own my own company, it is a little different being able to rely on someone else to get the work done and stuff like that and me being able to train is a lot different. Having my own company and being able to do that is great.” Dawejko said.

This upcoming fight at Parx Casino on Thursday, Sept 1 will be a big fight for Dawejko. “This upcoming fight honestly, I’m trying to prove to myself that I am still worth it and I still have what it takes to go out and perform to my abilities and my expectations. Really this is a fight for me where I know that I am still hungry, and I know I still want to do this and that is what I want to prove to myself.” Daweijko still has the hunger and wants to see if he still has what it takes to make one more push to become a contender.

Dawejko has fought all over the world but there is nothing like fighting in Philadelphia in front of his hometown fans. He enjoyed the experience of fighting in countries like Russia and Germany, but hearing screaming fans that are there to see him gives him more motivation.

“You walk out, and your song starts playing and you just have this like tunnel vision walking to the ring. It is a great feeling. It’s something else and not everyone can experience that. “

ADDITIONAL Q&A

What pushed you to start a roofing company?

“So honestly I was ready to retire from boxing and then Russell Peltz called me and worked it out where we would fight at home and back in front of my friends and family. I was looking for the next phase of my life after boxing because boxing has been my life full time for the past eight years. It was the right time for me financially and I wasn’t really worried about anything else. After talking to Russell, it got me back into boxing.”

How has becoming a roofer affected your boxing career?

“Back then it was tough because I was working so much and I wasn’t able to make it to the gym, but a few months ago my trainer, Mike Weaver, called and said listen we got this gym up here and why don’t you start coming in to stay loose. I decided to try it out. He was a fighter back in the day and he’s a little older than me but I kind of grew up with him but it could help me out and help him out with me being in the gym. I said I am going to go into the gym but not treat it as a fight that’s kind of where my motivation was to get to the gym. If I was treating this as a fight I would have felt like I had enough of this. So now it’s different I was just going in working out and now that a possibility for a fight coming it worked out perfectly. I was already in good enough shape where I can work out and get ready for the fight so it was perfect timing for me because I was going to the gym and stuff like that”

Highlighted on Joe Hand Promotions’ Labor Day Weekend Fight Card:

In a four-round middleweight bout, Soslan Alborov (0-1), of Philadelphia, PA, will take on Brendan O’Callaghan (2-1, 1 KO), also from Philadelphia, PA.

Lightweight fighter Bryce Mills (8-1, 4 KOs), of Liverpool, NY, returns to Philadelphia to face Carlos Marrero (3-7-3), of Bridgeport, CT, in a four-round super lightweight bout.

Daiyaan Butt (10-2, 5 KOs), of Philadelphia, PA, will be competing against Tyrone Luckey (15-17-4, 11 KOs), of Galloway, NJ, in a six-round super lightweight bout.

Devin Gantt of Sicklerville, NJ will make his pro debut in a four-round lightweight bout against Taijiro Arakawa of New York, NY who is also making his pro debut.

Also making his debut is Tyler Zwicharowski of Philadelphia, PA competing in a four-round middleweight fight against Andre Hinmon (0-1) of Philadelphia, PA.

Derrick Vann (2-4) of Philadelphia, PA will face Everlon Still (1-2) of Voorhees, NJ in a four-round super middleweight bout.

Christopher Burgos (3-5-2, 1 KO) of Philadelphia, Pa will square off against Nelson Morales (2-1) of Scranton, PA in a six-round super lightweight bout.

Tickets at $50, $75, and $125 are on sale at https://tickets.parxcasino.com/tickets/390007, Hold My Ticket Call Center at (1-877-466-3404) or by calling 215-364-9000. Must be 21 or older to attend.




DEONTAY WILDER VS. ROBERT HELENIUS & CALEB PLANT VS. ANTHONY DIRRELL  PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

BROOKLYN – August 30, 2022 – Former WBC Heavyweight World Champion and boxing superstar Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder and top-rated Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius previewed their upcoming WBC Heavyweight Title Eliminator during a press conference, appearing via satellite, before they meet on Saturday, October 15 topping a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The press conference also featured former IBF Super Middleweight Champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant and two-time WBC Super Middleweight Champion Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell meeting face to face as the 168-pound rivals prepare for a WBC Super Middleweight Title Eliminator in the co-main event.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by BombZquad Promotions and TGB Promotions,  are on sale now and can be purchased through seatgeek.com and barclayscenter.com. Tickets are also available for purchase in-person at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center.

Here is what the press conference participants had to say Tuesday from Barclays Center:

DEONTAY WILDER

“We’ve put in over 400 rounds so far and training camp has been great. I’m trying to do something different with adding Don House to the team working in Las Vegas. We wanted to change up some things, go more rounds and see what happened.

“This training sounds like it could be a lot on your body, but when you’re in shape physically and mentally, nothing is impossible.

“I’ve had a great career and now I’m back again for my second reign. It’s amazing to reminisce about all the years and about how I got to where I am now. It’s been an honor. We had a gameplan and we executed that game plan.

“I’m looking forward to October 15 and sharing the ring with Robert. I highly respect Robert and his team. We’ve always had a connection, but unfortunately in this business, you have to go against each other sometimes. But make no mistake, just because we know each other, it doesn’t mean this fight won’t be interesting.

“Every time I fight, you’re on the edge of your seat, because I’m going in there 110%. I’m looking forward to this fight and coming back to Barclays Center, where some of my most exciting knockouts have occurred. I have remarkable memories there and I can’t wait to display my talent.

“I know what Helenius is capable of doing and I know what kind of heart he has. He’s coming to bring his best and I always bring mine. This is a serious fight between two warriors in the heavyweight division. We’re coming to put it all on the line.

“Getting a statue in my hometown let me know that there was more work to do. I have to continue to fight and motivate and inspire. This reign is going to be a special one, because it’s going to be dedicated to the people.

“Over these years everyone has seen what I’m capable of doing and what my mindset is when I step in there. Everyone knows what I’m coming with on the 15th and what we’re going to give. Whether it’s for our family, our country or our fans, there’s one night and one fight, it’s going to be fireworks.”

ROBERT HELENIUS

“I’m feeling really good and training camp is going great. I’ve fought a lot of good opponents and had a long career so far. This is of course a big fight for me. I have respect for Deontay, but when I come to America, I’m going to give everything that I have.

“I’m ready to do everything in my power to win. I only took two weeks off after my last fight and I’ve been training since then. I know what it takes to win at this level.

“I’ve promised my fans in Finland that I would bring the world title back home and sometimes you have to go through a lot to get there. But I’m going to do everything I can. We’re doing all the extra work that we need to.

“This is a huge deal. All I’ve ever wanted is to get the chance at the world heavyweight title. That’s why I’ve continued to fight. If I didn’t see myself becoming a world champion, I would have stopped and found a much easier job to do.

“I’m thankful to Deontay for his nice words, but on October 15 I’m going to bring the Viking spirit into the ring.”

CALEB PLANT

“I’m feeling good and I’m thankful to my team. It feels good to be back and I’m excited for my first time fighting in New York. I’m looking to be impressive on October 15.

“Dirrell has a lot to say about me and says that I hate him, and that’s a strong word, but it’s true. I guess it irks him and it irks me. I don’t hold hands with guys in my division. He doesn’t even know me though. October 15 there are definitely going to be fireworks.

“When I beat him, it will be because I’m better than him. But he already knows that and that’s why he hates me.

“You saw what Uzcategui did to his brother and what I did to him. I always knew he was a possibility. He couldn’t even hold onto his title long enough for us to unify and now he’s big mad.

“I try to approach every fight the same and treat every fight the same. I’m all in. I’m focused and motivated. I have a great team and we’re putting together a great plan. I just can’t wait until October 15.

“I’m looking to put on a great performance and get my hand raised. I’m here to make a big statement. I want to clear out the rest of the division.

“I’m in a blessed position to be in a title eliminator, but it doesn’t add to how focused and disciplined I am. It doesn’t matter if it was a four round fight. I’m training hard and I’ve got a lot of momentum.

“I’ve been doing my job and staying focused. I always keep boxing first in my life whether I have a fight coming up or not. I still feel like I’m hunting. There are a lot of things that I want to accomplish in this sport, but first things first and that’s handling business on October 15.”

ANTHONY DIRRELL

“I’m ready to fight and beat some ass. He’s running. He’s been running from me. Can you name somebody that likes him? Nobody likes him. Canelo Alvarez smacked you, remember that. I wouldn’t ever let another man smack me.

“He fought tomato cans and cab drivers. I give him respect for Jose Uzcategui. But he was supposed to fight me before Canelo and he backed out of it.

“I’ve fought the best, who’s he fought? He’s fought nobody. He knows it. Forget my experience, I’m beating him down.

“This is just another fight. I’m preparing like it’s any other fight. When it comes down to it on October 15, he’ll see.

“I’m just looking to be me and put on a great performance. Everyone knows I’m the dog and that’s what I’m going to show once again.

“I always do what needs to be done outside of the ring. I’ve kept my body where it needs to be. If you take care of your body, your body will take care of you.”

# # #

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepageand www.foxdeportes.com, follow #WilderHelenius, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.




BIVOL DEFENDS WBA LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT CROWN AGAINST RAMIREZ

Dmitry Bivol will defend his WBA Light-Heavyweight World Title against Mandatory Challenger Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Saturday November 5, live to subscribers worldwide on DAZN (excluding South Korea and MENA).

Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) is coming off a huge upset win over Mexican pound-for-pound superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in May, where he retained his 175lbs World Title via a unanimous decision to make it 20 wins from 20 fights.

The 31-year-old handed Alvarez only the second loss of his career, nine years on from his first at the hands of modern great Floyd Mayweather, and in doing so further cemented himself as one of the very best Light-Heavyweights on the planet.

Ramirez (44-0, 30 KOs) is a former WBO Super-Middleweight World Champion who has won all five of his fights at Light-Heavyweight inside the distance in impressive fashion since moving up in weight in 2019.

The heavy-handed Mexican southpaw emerged as the Mandatory Challenger to long-reigning champion Bivol, after a fourth-round knockout of Dominic Boesel in their May 14 title eliminator in Ontario, California.

“The fight with Zurdo has been brewing for some time, many things have been said,” said Bivol. “Now we have the chance to take care of things with our actions in the ring, and not our words outside of the ring.”

“I’m happy that the fight is finally happening despite all the challenges,” said Ramirez. “It’s been a long time coming and I look forward to a great night come November 5. I would fight Bivol anywhere – including Mars, but I know we’ll put on a great show in Abu Dhabi. I’m happy overall and very thankful to the WBA, Mr. Gilberto Mendoza and the Golden Boy family for being on this journey with me.”

“Dmitry Bivol has now secured himself with pound-for-pound status after his victory over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in May and looks to make a hugely important defence against Mandatory Challenger and former World Champion Gilberto Ramirez. The card will be stacked with World Championship fights and is set to be one of the biggest nights of boxing in 2022,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “I’m delighted to bring this huge World Title fight to Abu Dhabi and would like to thank Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi for all of their help in making this world-class event become a reality. Roll on November 5 for a huge night of World Championship boxing live on DAZN.”

“With this fight finally materialising we look forward to a great night of boxing to remember and another exceptional performance by Dmitry Bivol,” said Bivol’s manager Vadim Kornilov. “We are very excited to be in Abu Dhabi, which is on the way to be the modern top sports attraction of the world.”

“Dmitry Bivol vs. Gilberto Ramirez will be a great fight, many fans have been waiting for this fight to happen and it will finally materialise,” added President of World of Boxing, Andrei Ryabinskiy.

“We are headed to Abu Dhabi and Zurdo will prove he is the best Light-Heavyweight when he fights Bivol on November 5,” said Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya.

“We are thrilled to host this spectacular boxing event in Abu Dhabi – partnering with reputable partner Matchroom Boxing adds yet another dimension to our exciting calendar,” said HE Saleh Mohamed Saleh Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism, at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi,  “Once again, the eyes of the world will be on Abu Dhabi on November 5 as we continue to strengthen our position as a top destination for world-class sport. As the host city, we are eager to share our warm Emirati hospitality to visiting fans and offer them memorable, exciting experiences to enjoy at their own pace.”

“Thank you to our brilliant partners Matchroom Boxing and Golden Boy for delivering another blockbuster fight to the platform,” said Joseph Markowski, EVP, DAZN Group. “We can’t wait to see Dmitry Bivol back in the ring after he pulled off the upset of the year against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in May, and in the unbeaten Zurdo Ramirez, he will face one of his toughest opponents yet. We have a potential classic on our hands. Watch it live and worldwide on DAZN.”

An announcement on tickets will follow in due course. Sign up HERE for Bivol vs. Ramirez bulletins and ticket updates.




BRANDON GLANTON BATTLES MARIO AGUILAR FOR WBO GLOBAL CRUIERWEIGHT TITLE IN SEPTEMBER 9 MAIN EVENT IN PLANT CITY, FLORIDA STREAMED LIVE ON PROBOX TV

PLANT CITY, Florida (August 30, 2022):  Undefeated Brandon “Bulletproof” Glanton will battle Mario “El Ruso” Aguilar in the ProBox TV main event on Friday, September 9, for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Global Cruiserweight Title..  The two heavy-handed bangers will fight in a schedule ten-round bout at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida and the card will be streamed live worldwide at PROBOXTV.comand the ProBox TV app.  

Due to Juan Huertas illness, his WBO Latino lightweight title fight against Miguel Madueno – the original September 9 main event – has moved to October 26 in San Juan to be a ProBox TV featured event at the WBO Convention.

A ProBox TV monthly subscription is $1.99.

Tickets, starting at $50, are available for purchase at EventBrite.com click here

Brandon “Bulletproof” Glanton (16-0, 13 KOs) from Riverside, California via Atlanta, GA is ranked No. 15 by the World Boxing Organization. The thirty-year-old Glanton is coming off a fifth-round TKO win on July 9, a fight that can be seen on-demand at ProBox TV.  Glanton made his professional debut on May 6, 2017, at heavyweight and won by first-round stoppage. After hovering right at 200-pounds or above for his first six fights, “Bulletproof” dropped below that threshold to fight at cruiserweight and found much success. 

Mario “El Ruso” Aguilar (22-7, 18 KOs) from San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, México, is coming off a two-fight win streak, by a third-round TKO and a sixth-round DQ. The 31-year-old Aguilar made his pro debut in 2014 and his fights have ranged from the light heavyweight division to the heavyweight division and weights as low as 159 lbs. to as high as 233 lbs. – with successes at all levels.

ProBox TV was founded by Roy Jones Jr., Juan Manuel Marquez, Antonio Tarver, Paulie Malignaggi and Garry Jonas. Miguel Cotto recently joined the team.  As always, the ‘Big 4’ will be calling the action from ringside. 

The ProBox TV bi-monthly schedule for the remainder of 2022 is as follows: September 9, September 23, October 7, October 26, November 4, November 18, December 2, December 9. There is also weekly original content produced by the founders including, podcasts, talk shows and in the gym content, plus monthly documentaries and behind the scenes content. All for the nominal fee of $1.99 per month. In 2023 there will be one live boxing event per month from USA, Puerto Rico and Mexico – that’s three live boxing events per month.

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

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




Janibek: “The Middleweight Nightmare Is Here to Stay!”

(Aug. 30, 2022) — The middleweight division’s boogeyman is now a champion.

Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly (12-0, 8 KOs) was officially named WBO middleweight world champion after the organization’s previous champion, Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, elected to ghost the division rather than make a mandatory defense against Janibek. A 2016 Olympian from Zhilandy, Kazakhstan, Janibek will make the first defense of his world title later this year on a Top Rank on ESPN card.

Janibek (12-0, 8 KOs) made his Top Rank debut as a 2-0 prospect in 2018 and quickly moved up the ranks with victories over the likes of Vaughn Alexander, Steven Martinez, and Albert Onolunose. He broke through in 2021 with one-sided knockouts over former world champions Rob Brant and Hassan N’Dam.

In May, Janibek fought Danny Dignum for the interim WBO middleweight title after multiple prospective opponents turned down the opportunity. Janibek knocked out Dignum in the second round. He is now a world champion dealing with the same issue that plagued him as a contender. Who is ready, willing, and able to try and solve the “Qazaq Style” puzzle?

“I would pick Janibek over any middleweight in the world,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “He is a southpaw with tremendous power and will reign over the division for a very long time.”

This is what the new WBO middleweight world champion had to say.

“I am honored to be the first WBO world champion from Kazakhstan. As middleweight champion, I will represent my nation with great pride.”

“Demetrius Andrade had no interest in fighting me. I wanted to fight him because I know I would knock him out. He ran away to super middleweight to avoid fighting me. But don’t worry, Demetrius. After I unify the belts at middleweight, we can fight.”

“The middleweight nightmare is here to stay! Now that I am a world champion, I will continue to show that ‘Qazaq Style’ is the best style.”

“I’d have no issue fighting Jermall Charlo for his WBC title. We are both champions, so let’s unify the belts. Charlo would be easy work for me, and he knows that. Champions should fight other champions. It’s too bad the other so-called ‘champions’ do not feel that way.”




Jeremiah Milton Riding High After Another Sensational Knockout 

LAS VEGAS, NV (August 30, 2022) – This past Saturday heavyweight slugger, Jeremiah “Dreamland” Milton (6-0, 5 KOs), scored another impressive knockout in his hometown of Tulsa, OK, when he crushed Nick Jones (9-5, 6 KOs) with a vicious right uppercut to the head in the second round. 

Milton, a Tulsa, Oklahoma native promoted by Holden Productions, was letting his hands fly when the opening bell rang. Both fighters landed some good shots in round one, but it was Milton who was doing more damage. 

Toward the end of round two, Milton landed a powerful right uppercut and knocked out Jones at the 2:49 mark.

“I went into this fight knowing I wanted to showcase something different, my coach had me working on the uppercut in the locker room as a warmup and I think we all liked the way it was landing on the pads,” Milton stated. “Subconsciously I think I knew that would be the shot for me. I let it develop and delivered. It sent him to the Upside Down for sure.”

“Tulsa, Oklahoma should be proud of Jeremiah as he’s becoming a household name nationally, notably in the world of boxing,” said Mike Leanardi, Milton’s manager. “We are very grateful to Top Rank for putting us on ESPN+, especially in Tulsa, Milton’s hometown. His fanbase is rapidly growing and we have big plans to close out the year.”

Milton vs. Jones, a scheduled 6-round bout, took place at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, an event promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment and Holden Productions. 




Ernesto “Tito” Mercado Victorious Starts Career Off with Seven Straight Knockouts

POMONA, CA (August 29, 2022) – Rising lightweight star, Ernesto “Tito” Mercado (7-0, 7 KOs), kept his knockout streak intact last Thursday at The Hangar in Costa Mesa, CA, when he stopped Alfredo Rodolfo Blanco (22-11, 11 KOs) in the second round. Mercado vs. Blanco, an 8-round co-main event bout, was promoted by Roy Englebrecht Promotions.

Mercado was all action from the opening bell as he established his dominance, landing hard punches to the head and body. In the early part of round two, Mercado landed a powerful left hook to the temple, sending Blanco to the canvas. On wobbly legs, Blanco got up and continued fighting before being stopped by a combination flurry that Mercado unleashed. Time was 0:45 of round two.

“This was my first eight rounder and I was hoping to get to the second half of the fight, but I got him hurt and had to take him out,” Mercado said. “I like to consider myself as a true closer, one who, once I have my opponent hurt, will always look to close the show with a knockout. After the first knockdown, I knew it was just a matter of time before I got him out of there.”

Mercado has started his career off with seven straight knockouts and is rapidly becoming one of the most dangerous punchers in the lightweight division. He’s got the amateur pedigree to go along with his incredible punching power, which makes him a rare professional boxer.

“I was born with power in both hands, and I can take you out with a variety of punches,” continued Tito. “I know as my opponents get tougher, adjusting to different styles will be key when I go to the later rounds. Going the distance is something I know I’ll have to handle at some point in my career, but right now I’m enjoying ending fights early.” 

“I like to think of my son as a boxer puncher, but lately he’s been taking guys out early,” said Ernesto Mercado Sr., who trains and manages his son. “I was expecting this fight to go more rounds, but Tito hurt Blanco with a nice shot, and he couldn’t recover. We are looking to fight three more times before the end of the year.” 




Tahmir Smalls Remains Undefeated with First Round Stoppage over Joel Guevara in R&B Promotions Inaugural Fight Card Aboard The Battleship New Jersey in Camden

Camden, New Jersey (August 29, 2022)–Tahmir Smalls capped off a successful maiden voyage for R&B Promotions as he stopped Joel Guevara in the opening round of their scheduled six-round bout aboard the Battleship New Jersey in Camden.

The fight capped off a eight-bout card in front of a capacity crowd on the famed ship.

Smalls, 23 years-old of Philadelphia, dropped Guevara four-times en-route the dominating victory to raise his record to 9-0 with six knockouts.

Guevara of Charleston, West Virginia falls to 4-8-1.

Danny Murray dropped Michael Gibbons in round four on his way to a six-round unanimous decision over Michael Gibbons in a junior welterweight fight.

Scores were 59-54 across the board for Murray of Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey, who is now evened up at 6-6. Gibbons of Atlanta, Georgia is 0-1-1.

Elezer Olmeda won a four-round split decision over previously undefeated Aaron Newmones in a welterweight bout,

Olemda of Camden, New Jersey won two cards by 40-36 and 39-37 tallies, while Newmones took a card by a 39-37 score.

Olmeda is 2-2. Newmones of Atlantic City, New Jersey is 1-1.

Timothy Tyler stopped Davon Hall at the end of round three of their scheduled four-round super middleweight bout.

Tyler of Philadelphia is 1-3 with one knockout. Hall of Wilmington, Delaware is 0-4.

Tyrone Arzeno stopped Eder Clervoix at the end of round two of their four-round featherweight contest.

Arzeno of Philadelphia is 1-1. Clervoix of Montreal, Quebec, Canada is 1-2.

Anthony Dill stopped Ramese Brown at the end of round three of their junior middleweight fight.

Dill of Hatboro, PA was making his professional boxing debut (Has MMA and Kickboxing) experience. Brown of Bellmawr, New Jersey was also making his pro debut.

Tunde Fatiregun took a four-round split decision from Greg Hackett in a cruiserweight bout.

Fatiregun of Queens, New York took cards by 40-36 and 39-37 scores. Hackett took a card by 39-37.

Fatiregun is 1-2. Hackett of Philadelphia is 3-21-1.

Drew Aguilar dropped Carlos Nunez in the opening 20 seconds of their lightweight bout, and that proved to be the difference in Aguilar’s four-round unanimous decision.

Scores were 39-36 and 38-37 twice for Aguilar of Cherry Hill, New Jersey who is now 2-0. Nunez of Westchester, New York is 0-1-1.

R&B Promotions is back on Saturday, October 29th at The Showboat in Atlantic City. Full details will be announced shortly




“WBA” World Boxing Association Confirmed for Sixth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 17, in Las Vegas

Las Vegas (August 29, 2022) – “WBA” World Boxing Association has confirmed that they will participate at the Sixth Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday, September 17, 2022, at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Expo will also coincide with the mega trilogy fight between Canelo Alvarez vs Gennady Golovkin, that will take place later that evening at the T-Mobile Arena.

WBA will hold a Meet & Greet for the fans at their booth during the fan event held over the Mexican Independence Day 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, and Canelo vs. Jacobs. 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/BOXFANEXPO22

WBA will have merchandise to sell and memorabilia to showcase for fans to enjoy. Boxing fans will also have a great opportunity to take pictures with fighters and boxing celebrities who will appear as guests at their booth. Fans will also be greeted with surprises by the WBA at this years’ Expo.

WBA joins Teofimo Lopez, Juan Manuel Marquez, Michael Spinks, Franchón Crews-Dezurn, Marco Antonio Barrera, Rolando Romero, Jose Ramírez, David Benavidez, Shawn Porter, Jessie Vargas and Erik Morales as an early commitment to this year’s Box Fan Expo, with more Boxing stars to be announced.

About World Boxing Association (WBA)

WBA is an international boxing organization that sanctions official matches and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. Founded in the United States in 1921 by thirteen state representatives as the National Boxing Association, in 1962, the organization changed their name in recognition of boxing’s growing popularity worldwide and began to gain other nations as members. Gilberto Mendoza from Venezuela was the President of the WBA since 1982 until his death in 2016, after which his son Gilberto Jesús Mendoza took over as president. For more info go to: http://wbaboxing.com/

About Box Fan Expo

Box Fan Expo is the ultimate boxing fan experience event, which allows fans to meet the stars of boxing that represent the past, present and future of the sport. With hosted autograph signings, meet-and-greets with current and former boxing world champions, limited edition merchandise for sale, giveaways and more, this is the ultimate event for fans of the sport.

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, Andre Ward, Mikey Garcia, Marcos Maidana, Devin Haney, David Benavidez, Errol Spence Jr, Sergio Martinez, Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Tim Bradley, Deontay Wilder, Amir Khan, Shawn Porter, Fernando Vargas, Abner Mares, James Toney, Jessie Vargas, Vinny Paz, Mia St.John, Leo Santa Cruz, Badou Jack, Terry Norris, Riddick Bowe, Earnie Shavers, Michael & Leon Spinks, Danny Jacobs, Claressa Shields, Teofimo Lopez, Brandon Rios, Jorge Linares, 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 several 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/BOXFANEXPO2022

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




Split-T Management’s Tiger Johnson and Dante Benjamin Jr. Remain Undefeated With Wins in Tulsa

NEW YORK (August 29, 2022)–This past Saturday night, junior welterweight Tiger Johnson and light heavyweight Dante Benjamin remained undefeated with victories on a Top Rank promoted card at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Johnson and Benjamin are managed by Split-T Management.

2021 United States Olympian, Tiger Johnson stopped Harry Gigliotti in round five of their six-round junior welterweight bout.

In round two, Johnson opened up a cut under the left eye of Gigliotti with a hard right hand. Johnson battered and bloodied Gigliotti, and in round five, Johnson landed a hard combination that was punctuated by a left hook that made Gigliotti turn and the fight was stopped at 2:17.

Johnson, 141.8 lbs. of Cleveland, OH is 5-0 with four knockouts. Gigliotti, 140.6 lbs. of Lowell, MA is 8-4.

20 year-old Dante Benjamin Jr. remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Leandro Silva in a light heavyweight bout.

Benjamin, 174.2 lbs. of Cleveland, OH won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 4-0. Silva, 175 lbs. of Sao Paulo, BRA is 3-7.

The fights were streamed live on ESPN +.

Johnson and Benjamin are promoted by Top Rank.




HOT PROSPECT DANIEL ‘CHUCKY’ BARRERA RETURNS NOVEMBER 3 AT HOLLYWOOD FIGHT NIGHTS!

Los Angeles, CA (August 29, 2022) Hot prospect Daniel ‘Chucky’ Barrera, (1-0, 1 KO), will make his return to action on Thursday, November 3 on the next Hollywood Fight Nights event at the Quiet Cannon / Montebello Country Club, broadcast live internationally on UFC FIGHT PASS. The scheduled four-round super flyweight bout will come against an opponent to be announced shortly.

The 20-year-old Barrera of Eastvale, CA stunned boxing fans in his victorious pro debut on July 28, 2022 dropping veteran Jesus Godinez three times before the third-round stoppage. The highly anticipated launch of his pro career took place in front of a massive crowd of supporters at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, CA.

“I was a little bit nervous walking to the ring but once the fight started and we landed on each other that all went away. I can’t wait to fight again on November 3 and keep rolling as a professional,” said the 20-year-old Barrera.

Barrera was an acclaimed amateur compiling a record of 64-5 including first place finishes at the Junior Golden Gloves, Western Elites and Silver Gloves Nationals. Prior to his pro debut, Barrera trained with boxing legend Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez.

“I learned so much from training with ‘Chocolatito’, how he works and prepares for a fight. We sparred 48 four-minute rounds and the learning experience of being in the ring with him was amazing.”

Said Tom Loeffler of 360 Promotions, “’Chucky’ is one of the most exciting young stars in the sport and we’re very excited to announce his addition to our November 3 event.”

Barrera is managed by Ray Chaparro and trained by Al Franco out of the Warzone Boxing Club in Rialto, CA.

Headlining Hollywood Fight Nights on Thursday, November 3 is the return of fast-rising Irish star ‘King’ Callum Walsh, (4-0, 3 KOs), in a scheduled eight-round super middleweight bout.

Advance tickets priced at $200 (First Row), $150 (Second Row),  $100 (Premium Reserved Seating) and $80 (Reserved Seating) are Now On-Sale and can be purchased online at 360Promotions.us. The Quiet Cannon / Montebello Country Club is located at 901 via San Clemente, Montebello, CA 90640. Doors will open on the night of the event at 5:00 p.m.

Hollywood Fight Nights is sponsored by Howler Head Whiskey, Hustler Casino, WPT Global, Storage Blue Sports, and Jaxon Boxing Equipment.

Social Media / Daniel ‘Chucky’ Barrera

Instagram: @ChuckyBarrera1

Twitter: @ChuckyBarrera1

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Nathan Rodriguez Scores First-Round Knockout Win over Moises Flores in MarvNation Promotions Main Event in Hometown of Pico Rivera, Calif.

PICO RIVERA, Calif. (Aug. 28, 2022): Undefeated featherweight prospect Nathan Rodriguez (9-0, 8 KOs) scored an explosive first-round knockout victory over Moises Flores (25-7-1, 17 KOs) in the main event of a MarvNation Promotions card Saturday evening at Smith Park in Pico Rivera, California. The fight was streamed live on FITE TV Pay-Per-View.

Rodriguez, who had spent his first eight fights fighting in Costa Rica and Mexico, recently turned 18, which allowed him to finally compete in front of a hometown audience. The rising prospect exceeded expectations and finished Flores at 2:11 of the opening round.

“I want to thank MarvNation Promotions and everyone who came out tonight,” said Nathan Rodriguez. “None of this would be possible without you, so I want to thank all of you for coming out. I hope you enjoyed the fights, and I appreciate the continued support.”

In the co-main event, Alejandro “Pin Pon” Reyes (9-0, 5 KOs) of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico passed the toughest test of his career with a unanimous decision win over Raymundo Rios Cardiel (4-9-2, 3 KOs) of Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. Reyes, a super lightweight prospect who trains out of the Westside Boxing Club in Los Angeles with trainers Jose and Nacho Saucedo, worked from a calm jab before landing hard right hands and counter left hooks to his opponent. After dominating each round, Reyes won with scores of 59-55, 60-54 and 60-54.

Keith Carson (1-6-1) of Pomona, Calif. scored an upset split decision win over previously undefeated Chinese prospect Hongke Zeng (1-1, 1 KO). Carson used his experience to overwhelm Zeng across four rounds of welterweight action. One judge had it 38-37 for Zeng, while two others had 38-37 for Carson. 

Jacob Macalolooy (3-0, 2 KOs) of San Diego, California defeated Salvadoran prospect Josue Zamora (1-1, 1 KO) via unanimous decision in a four-round welterweight clash. Macalolooy won with scores of 40-35, 39-36 and 39-36.

Scott Alexander (17-5-2, 8 KOs) of Los Angeles, California scored a stoppage win over Jaime Solorio (12-5-2, 9 KOs) of Ensenada, Baja California in a heavyweight bout initially slated for eight rounds. After taking many hard shots, the referee ended the fight at the end of the third round.

# # # 

Rodriguez vs. Flores was an eight-round lightweight fight presented by MarvNation Promotions. The event took place on Saturday, Aug. 27 at Smith Park in Pico Rivera, Calif. The event was streamed live on FITE TV Pay-Per-View.

About MarvNation Promotions

MarvNation Promotions was founded in 2014 by Marvin Rodriguez and was created with a vision to not only create concerts or boxing events, but to also create experiences for the fans. In 2018, after noticing a lack of support for many young and hungry prospects without an extensive Olympic and amateur background, MarvNation involved itself in the sport of boxing with a mission to make a way for these young prospects and develop them into top contenders and champions in the sport. Established both on a national and international level, MarvNation is here to bring you the best of boxing and live entertainment. 

For more information, visit www.MarvNation.com. Follow on Instagram and on Twitter @Marvnation_.




Weights from Camden, New Jersey

Camden, New Jersey (August 27, 2022)–Weights for Sunday Night’s R&B promotions card on board the Battleship New Jersey in Camden.

Photo By Marc Abrams R&B Promotions

Tahmir Smalls 162 – Joel Guevara 155.6

Danny Murray 140.1 – Michael Gibbons 139.7

Eliezer Olmeda 147.9 – Aaron Newmones 148.4

Timothy Tyler 168.8 – Davon Hall 171.4

Tyrone Arzeno 119.8 – Eder Clervoix 120

Anthony Dil 152.7 – Ramses Brown 150.5

Greg Hackett 199.6 – Tunde Fatiregun 190.3

Drew Aguilar 136.5 – Carlos Nunez 138.3

Promoter: R&B Promotions

Venue: Battleship New Jersey

1st Bell: 5 PM ET

Stream: www.bxngtv.com

Tickets are $100 and $50 and can be purchased at The Following Link https://randbpromo.ticketleap.com/pro/




Damian Sosa Shines with Decision Victory against Ronald Cruz in Main Event of Toscano Boxing Promotions Card in Stockton, Calif.

STOCKTON, Calif. (Aug. 28, 2022): Rising 154-pound Mexican contender Damian “Samurai” Sosa (21-1, 11 KOs) scored a unanimous decision victory over Ronald “Diablo” Cruz (18-2-1, 12 KOs) in the 10-round main event of a Toscano Boxing Promotions card Friday evening.

The fight took place at San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, California and headlined a card that was streamed live in English on FightHype and in Spanish via TV Boxeo. 

Sosa was quicker, stronger and more effective with his combinations throughout fight. The native of Mexico City, Mexico who lives in Tijuana and represents both cities won with scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 97-93.

“I knew that Ronald Cruz would be very strong,” said Damian Sosa. “I knew he was going to come after me. But I appreciate him because you can’t have a fight without an opponent, and I feel he was a great challenge. It was a tough fight, but I had the boxing skills to win round by round and come out with the victory.”

In the co-main event, Giovannie Gonzalez (15-6-1, 12 KOs) of Stockton California defeated Arturo Cortez (7-1-2, 6 KOs) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico via unanimous decision in an eight-rounder in the lightweight division. Gonzalez won with scores of 79-73, 77-75 and 77-75.

Hector Madera (10-0, 6 KOs) of Stockton, California scored a four-round technical decision win over Timothy Parks (3-3, 2 KOs) in a welterweight battle. An accidental headbutt that took place in the third round eventually forced the action to be stopped at the very beginning of the fourth round. Madera won with three scores of 40-35.

Victor Torres (8-10-1, 5 KOs) of Modesto, California scored a second-round knockout victory over Israel Luna (2-2, 1 KO) of Fontana, California in a bantamweight battle initially slated for four rounds. Torres pummeled Luna easily, and due to the severity of the beatdown, the referee halted the action at 2:22 of the second round. 

Super bantamweight prospect Irving Xilohua (3-0, 2 KOs) of Stockton, California scored a four-round unanimous decision against Rodolfo Medina (0-1) of Antioch, California. Xilohua managed to score an impressive knockdown in the third round, which helped him win the bout with three scores of 40-35.

Damon Cato Cain (7-0, 6 KOs) of Oakland, California defeated Christian Aguirre (8-11, 4 KOS) of Salt Lake City, Utah in a super welterweight fight originally scheduled for four rounds. Cain dominated each round, but the fight was stopped by Aguirre’s corner at the end of round two.

Arturo Cardenas (4-0-1, 4 KOs) of Riverside, California scored a stoppage victory over James Mulder (0-1) of Antioch, California in a scheduled four-rounder in the super bantamweight division. After several rounds of action, the referee deemed Mulder unable to continue at :01 of fourth round.

# # #

Sosa vs. Cruz was a 10-round junior middleweight fight presented by Toscano Boxing Promotions. The event took place on Friday, Aug. 26 at San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, California. The event was streamed live in English on FightHype and in Spanish via TV Boxeo.

About Toscano Boxing Promotions  

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




Weigh-In Results & Photos: Nathan Rodriguez vs. Moises Flores 

·       Nathan Rodriguez (130.6 lbs.) vs. Moises Flores (135 lbs.), 8 rounds, lightweights

·       Alejandro Reyes (142.4 lbs.) vs. Raymundo Rios Cardiel (141.8 lbs.), 6 rounds, welterweights

·      

Hongke Zeng (145.6 lbs.) vs. Keith Carson (142.6 lbs.), 4 rounds, welterweights

·       Raquel Miller (167.2 lbs.) vs. Irais Hernandez (167 lbs.), 6 rounds, super middleweights

·       Daniel Cruz (142.8 lbs.) vs. Antonio Wattell (147.6 lbs.), 4 rounds, welterweights

·      Jacob Macalolooy (147 lbs.) vs. Josue Zamora (144.4 lbs.), 4 rounds, welterweights

·       Scott Alexander (218.6 lbs) vs. Jaime Solorio (233.4 lbs.), 8 rounds, heavyweights

# # #

About MarvNation Promotions

MarvNation Promotions was founded in 2014 by Marvin Rodriguez and was created with a vision to not only create concerts or boxing events, but to also create experiences for the fans. In 2018, after noticing a lack of support for many young and hungry prospects without an extensive Olympic and amateur background, MarvNation involved itself in the sport of boxing with a mission to make a way for these young prospects and develop them into top contenders and champions in the sport. Established both on a national and international level, MarvNation is here to bring you the best of boxing and live entertainment. 

For more information, visit www.MarvNation.com. Follow on Instagram and on Twitter @Marvnation_.




Tiger Johnson, and Dante Benjamin Jr. in action on Saturday Night

NEW YORK (August 22, 2022)–Saturday night, two Split-T Management fighters will look to stay undefeated in at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Undefeated junior welterweight Tiger Johnson and light heavyweight Dante Benjamin Jr. will all see action on a card that will be streamed live on ESPN+ at 7 PM ET..

Johnson of Cleveland, Ohio will take on Harry Gigliotti in a six-round bout.

Johnson is 4-0 with three knockouts. The 2021 United States Olympian will be making his fifth start in nine months and already has defeated undefeated Xavier Madrid (3-0), In his last outing, Johnson stopped Agustin Gerbaldo Kucharski on may 21st in Las Vegas.

Johnson began boxing at the age of seven as he had uncles and cousins who were professional boxers, including former light heavyweights Darrel Johnson (11-3-1, 8 KOs) and Ronald Johnson (17-1, 4 KOs).

Tiger Johnson had a highly decorated amateur career finishing with a record of 188-17, and saw him win a Gold Medal in the 2016 Youth World Championships; a Bronze Medal at the 2019 Pan Am Games; a 2019 Last Chance Qualifier Championship; Four 2017 Elite National Championships; a 2016 Elite National Championship; a 2015 Youth National Championship; and a 2014 National Junior Olympic Championship.

Johnson made it to the quarterfinals of the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo before losing to the eventual Gold Medal winner, Cuban Roniel Iglesias.

Gigliotti of Harvhill, Massachusetts, has a record of 8-3 with three knockouts.

The 27 year-old is a three professional, and has a win over Brandon Higgins (7-1). he is coming off a split-decision loss to Antonio Williams (14-0-1) on September 10, 2021 in Delray Beach, Florida.

Johnson Weighed 141.3 lbs; Gigliotti was 140.6

Benjamin of Cleveland is 3-0 with two knockouts, and will battle Leandro Silva in a four-round contest.. All of the 20 year-old Benjamin’s wins are over undefeated fighters such as Herman Rendon (2-0), Kevin Johnson (2-0) and Corey Thompson (4-0).

Benjamin amassed over 100 wins as an amateur, and was a seven-time national champion as he was a 2016 and 2017 Junior National Champion, 2017 Eastern Regional Champion, and a 2018 Youth National champion. He also took first place in the Emil Jechev International tournament in Botevgrad, Bulgaria.

In 2017, he was named the Under Armour Fighter of the Year.

As an amateur, Benjamin competed in the 176-pound division, but he will begin his professional career fighting the super middleweight division.

Silva of Woburn, Massachusetts is 3-6 with two knockouts.

Benjamin weighed 174.2 lbs. Silva was 175 lbs.




Weigh-In Results: Jose Pedraza vs. Richard Commey

•  Jose Pedraza 139.8 vs. Richard Commey 138.8
(Junior Welterweight — 10 Rounds)

•   Jared Anderson 241.4 lbs vs. Miljan Rovcanin 230.6 lbs 
(Heavyweight — 8 Rounds)

•   Richard Torrez Jr. 225.4 lbs vs. Marco Antonio
Canedo 215.8 lbs 

(Heavyweight — 6 Rounds)

(ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT)

   •   Tiger Johnson 141.8 lbs vs. Harry Gigliotti 140.6 lbs
 
(Junior Welterweight — 6 Rounds)

   •  Efe Ajagba 232.2 lbs vs. Jozsef Darmos 239.2 lbs
 
(Heavyweight — 8 Rounds)

   •   Jeremiah Milton 245.6 lbs vs. Nick Jones 217.2 lbs
 
(Heavyweight — 6 Rounds)

•  Kelvin Davis 141 lbs vs. Sebastian Gabriel
Chaves 142.6 lbs
 
(Junior Welterweight — 6 Rounds)

•  Frevian Gonzalez 135.8 lbs vs. Gerardo Esquivel 135.6 lbs
 
(Lightweight— 6 Rounds)

•  Abdullah Mason 135.2 lbs vs. Angel Rebollar 133.6 lbs
 
(Lightweight— 4 Rounds)

•  Dante Benjamin Jr. 174.2 lbs vs. Leandro Silva 175 lbs
 
(Light Heavyweight — 4 Rounds)

* The Haven Brady Jr.-Manuel Guzman fight was called off after Brady missed the 128-pound contract weight by three pounds




ISMAEL “MAELO” VILLARREAL UNDEFEATED SUPER WELTERWEIGHT SIGNS MULTI-FIGHT DEAL WITH MAIN EVENTS

Totowa, NJ, August 26, 2022 – Ismael “Maelo” Villarreal (12-0, 8 KOs) coming off the biggest win of his professional career, has re-upped on a new promotional deal with Main Events.

The Bronx native’s most recent bout, on July 30 at Barclay’s Center on the undercard of Garcia vs Benavidez Jr., was against fellow undefeated super welterweight LeShawn Rodriguez (13-1, 10 KOS).  “Maelo” knocked Rodriguez down twice, once in round two and again in round six, when the bout was stopped just twenty-six seconds in (TKO-6).  It was Villarreal’s fifth consecutive stoppage.

The two-time New York Golden Gloves Champion’s original Main Events deal began with his 2017 pro debut and lasted till January 31, 2020.  He was promoted by Main Events again for the Rodriguez fight. (There were three non-Main Events fights in that gap). Following his impressive win, they move forward with the new multi-fight deal.

“The entire Ismael “Maelo” Villarreal team is very happy to be back with Main Events for more than one reason,” said Ismael’s manager José Santiago. “First of all, we feel great appreciation and respect for Main Events. We also know that they have the experience and the best intention of taking Ismael to places that many still cannot imagine. As Ismael’s manager and boxing lover that I have been all my life, I understand that this 25 years old humble young man from the Bronx, who also has a Bachelor’s degree from Lehman College, has the potential to be not only a world champion at 154 and 160 pounds, but that he can do it while becoming one of the best fighters of this era. This might seem premature, but with the discipline, the self-confidence, the desire to keep learning the game and the hunger with which “Maelo” approaches his career, the chances of him reaching the top are immense. The entire 154-pound division needs to start paying some attention to “Maelo”. We come to fight!”

“We pushed Ismael Villarreal throughout his career until the pandemic hit,” said Joseph Rotonda, the New Jersey-based company’s director of operations. “We know what he’s capable of and we really believe he’s going to be a 154-pound champion. He has power in both hands, a granite chin, and an aggressive, straight-forward fighting style. Ismael has never turned down a fight – we know he will fight anyone, anytime, anywhere.” 

“One of the best parts of having a fighter like Ismael in your stable is that he treats every fight like it’s a title fight, and you know he’ll be in phenomenal shape,” said Main Events CEO Kathy Duva. “He’s a true professional with an old school work ethic and excellent mental strength that will take him places in this sport. It won’t be long before he moves up the rankings and starts to build some enthusiasm in the Super Welterweight division,” she concluded.

About Main Events Boxing

Main Events entire fight library can be seen at www.watchboxing.tv – Main Events is  recognized as one of the top boxing promotional firms in the world, Main Events has promoted the careers of boxing legends Evander Holyfield, Arturo Gatti, Lennox Lewis, Pernell Whitaker and many more. Founded in 1978 by Hall-of-Fame promoter Dan Duva, who passed away in 1996, Main Events is now helmed by his widow, Kathy Duva, who in June was also inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.




September 23: Keyshawn Davis-Omar Tienda Lightweight Co-Feature Confirmed for Shakur Stevenson-Robson Conceição Card at Newark’s Prudential Center LIVE on ESPN

NEWARK, N.J. (Aug. 26, 2022) — Norfolk’s Olympic silver medal star, Keyshawn Davis, now has an opponent for his long-awaited ring return. Davis, who shined for Team USA last summer in Tokyo, will fight Mexican veteran Omar Tienda in an eight-round lightweight showdown Friday, Sept. 23, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
 
Davis-Tienda will be the co-feature to WBC/WBO junior lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson’s hometown title defense against Brazilian Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição.
 
Stevenson-Conceição and Davis-Tienda will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
 
The undercard — streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+ at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT— features an eight-round junior lightweight bout between unbeaten prospect Henry “Moncho” Lebron and Andy “El Tiburon” Vences.
 
Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $50 are available at Ticketmaster.com.
 
Davis (5-0, 4 KOs) is back following April’s sixth-round TKO over Esteban Sanchez on the Oscar Valdez-Stevenson card. His proposed July bout against Jair Valtierra was postponed, but with a clean bill of health, Davis seeks to make waves once again before Stevenson takes center stage. Tienda (25-5, 18 KOs), from Guadalupe, Mexico, has won seven straight fights — all by knockout — since a 2017 decision loss to Dennis Galarza. His only stoppage defeat came in his seventh pro fight back in 2013.
 
Lebron (16-0, 10 KOs), from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, ranks among his island nation’s top prospects, but he’s looking to notch a signature victory. In his last outing, he won a clear eight-round unanimous decision over Luis Lebron (no relation). Vences (23-3-1, 12 KOs) is a 10-year pro from San Jose, California, who has battled a slew of top-rated fighters. His July 2020 split decision defeat to Luis Alberto Lopez — now the IBF No. 1 featherweight contender — ranked among the year’s best action fights. He makes his comeback little more than one year removed from a majority decision loss to former world title challenger Jono Carroll.
 
In other undercard action, Shakur Stevenson protégé Antoine Cobb (1-0-1, 1 KO) will fight an immediate rematch against Jaylan Phillips (1-2-1, 1 KO) in a four-rounder at welterweight. Cobb and Phillips fought to a crowd-pleasing draw April 30 on the Valdez-Stevenson undercard.
 
The undercard is also scheduled to include the following bouts:
 
Jahi Tucker (8-0, 5 KOs) vs. Jose Luis Sanchez (11-2-1, 4 KOs), 8 rounds, welterweight
 
Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (4-0, 3 KOs) vs. Jose Argel (9-4, 3 KOs), 6 rounds, featherweight
 
Armani Almestica (6-0, 6 KOs) vs. Omar Urieta (3-1-1, 2 KOs), 6 rounds, lightweight
 
Pablo Valdez (6-0, 5 KOs) vs. Noe Alejandro Lopez (11-5-1, 4 KOs), 6 rounds, welterweight
 
Orlando Gonzalez (18-1, 11 KOs) vs. Misael Lopez (13-1, 5 KOs), 8 rounds, featherweight
 
Floyd “Cashflow” Diaz (6-0, 2 KOs) vs. Eduardo Diogo (3-0, 2 KOs), 6 rounds, junior featherweight




MONTANA LOVE HEADLINES AT HOME IN CLEVELAND AGAINST STEVIE SPARK ON NOVEMBER 12

Montana Love will headline at home in Cleveland, Ohio for the first time in his career as he defends his IBF North American Super-Lightweight title against Stevie Spark at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Saturday, November 12, live worldwide on DAZN.
 
Ticket pre-sale begins Tuesday, August 30 at 10 a.m. with public on-sale beginning on Wednesday, August 31 at 10 a.m. at RocketMortgageFieldHouse.com.
 
Love (18-0-1 9 KOs) boxes in his backyard for the fourth time in his career but first time as the star attraction and does so making the first defense of the strap he landed in his last outing, outpointing Gabriel Valenzuela in Las Vegas on May 7, on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez’s clash with Dmitry Bivol.
 
The 27 year old is ranked at #7 in the IBF and will be looking to put on a statement performance ahead of the vacant IBF World title being claimed by either Jeremiah Ponce or Subriel Matias this fall – and the man Love will need to impress against is Australian puncher Spark, who has plenty at stake himself.
 
‘The Viking’ (15-2 14 KOs) penned a promotional pact with Matchroom and Eddie Hearn, and his first bout under the deal sees him straight into the Lion’s den on his US debut.
 
The 25 year old from Toowoomba in Queensland has ended 14 of his 15 wins inside the distance, and the former IBF and WBC Australasia Champion will be out to ruin Love’s homecoming and leap into World title contention.
 
“From neighborhood hero to superstar – Cleveland we did it baby!” said Love. “I am happy to announce I will be defending my title here in my hometown.
 
“This is something I dreamed of as a kid. I’m looking forward to putting on a superstar performance. I need everybody in my city to come out – let’s defend the land!”
 
“I’ve been working very hard for a lot of years for this moment,” said Spark. “I have the best team in the world who I can’t thank enough for making this possible. I’m looking forward to exploding into the international boxing scene with a spectacular win. The American boxing fans are in for a treat, as I believe they will love my all-action style. 
 
“We respect the fighter Montana Love is, he is highly credentialed but that’s why we took this fight. We are coming prepared, and we are coming to win. Come November 12, there will be no Love!”
 
“This is the stage and moment that Montana has been waiting for – and now he needs to take it with both hands,” said Hearn. “The chance to headline at home in a fight that can lead to World title action makes this the biggest night of his life, and with the Cleveland’s fans behind him, this is the moment to prove he belongs in the elite.
 
“But Stevie has other ideas. Australia is one of the fastest growing markets for boxing, and we’re looking to build stars Down Under. If ‘The Viking’ can pack his punch power and bring it to Ohio, he could become a major player at 140lbs overnight.”
 
Early undercard news will be released soon.




BOXXER PARTNERS WITH ENGLAND BOXING AHEAD OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED FEMALE FIGHT OF ALL TIME 

London, England – (August 26th, 2022) – BOXXER, the next generation boxing promotion founded by Ben Shalom, has today announced an exciting partnership to invite England Boxing members to the most anticipated female fight of all-time. 

On Saturday, September 10th, Savannah Marshall will fight bitter enemy Claressa Shields for the undisputed world middleweight titles on what will be a historic night of legacy for the sport. 

With the groundbreaking event expected to be a sell-out at The O2 in London, BOXXER has held back a number of tickets exclusively for England Boxing members to be seated together. And for every ticket purchased by an England Boxing member, BOXXER is pledging to donate £5 back to England Boxing to be invested in gyms across the country. 

To help inspire the next generation, BOXXER feels it is important to remove barriers for the amateur boxing community to attend these huge events and have access to moments of such historic nature in order to. This ‘Legacy’ show, screened live and exclusively on Sky Sports, is just the beginning of that. 

England Boxing is the National Governing Body for the sport of Boxing in England. Its vision, supported by BOXXER, is to ‘Inspire and transform lives through boxing’. It currently oversees more than 980 affiliated clubs, 24,000 members and 100,000 recreational boxers across the country. 

This generous contribution from BOXXER will benefit England Boxing members enormously, enabling gyms to invest the donation towards much-needed kit and equipment. 

Fundamentally, it will help to inspire the next generation to participate in grassroots Boxing – particularly among young female amateurs, where there is a real opportunity for the sport to grow. 

WBO world middleweight champion Savannah Marshall said: “It’s a brilliant, groundbreaking initiative that I think a lot of young aspiring female boxers will benefit from. 

“For them to know they have this kind of support and encouragement, will mean a lot. Because in recent times, the sport has come a long way in celebrating its female participants. 

“And this move here with England Boxing is a way to continue that positive movement and lay the foundations for future amateurs, pros and world champions.” 

Ben Shalom, BOXXER Founder and CEO, said: “We are proud to support England Boxing. Every professional fighter will tell you just how important their amateur story is to them. So it is important for today’s amateur boxers to have access to moments of such historic nature. 

“September 10th will be a historic night for boxing. The fighters will leave a lasting legacy for the sport, one that will inspire the next generation. It will be an event not to be missed.” 

Tickets for BOXXER: Shields vs Marshall can be purchased at Boxxer.com 




Hector Luis Garcia to Tank “Come fight the real Garcia and not the Tik Tok star Ryan

The 2016 Olympian burst onto the scene in February when he defeated the then unbeaten Chris Colbert in dominant fashion in Las Vegas.  He was listed as high as a 50-1 underdog by some sportsbooks.

He followed up that performance with another impressive outing on August 20th against veteran world champion Roger Gutierrez in Hollywood, Florida. With the victory he captured the WBA super featherweight title.

Garcia is very proud of his accomplishments but will not rest on his laurels.  He has sights set firmly on three-division champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis and he is willing to fight him at either 130 or 135 pounds.

“I wanted to keep aiming for the top and after beating Colbert and Gutierrez I want the biggest challenge out there, Tank Davis,” said Garcia.  “I don’t care what weight we fight at.  I will move up to 135 to fight for his title or we can meet at 130 and fight for my title and his title and make it an even bigger fight.”

Davis successfully defended his WBA lightweight world title in May with a crushing knockout of Rolando Romero.

Garcia understands the danger that Davis presents and looks forward to rising to the challenge. Davis has mentioned potentially fighting Ryan Garcia but at this point in his career, Ryan is more proven as a social media star than as a boxer. 

“Ryan Garcia is soft as butter. He couldn’t walk down the street in my neighborhood in the Dominican Republic. Tank, you should want to fight a real man who is like yourself, a street dog. I’m right here. Come see the real Garcia who’s a real man and not just some Tik Tok star,” said Garcia. 

“Tank is a dangerous fighter but I welcome the challenge.  I have a good frame for 130 pounds and I think I will be just as good at 135. I want to fight the best.  I have beaten two of the top guys at 130 now I want the big names at 135 and who is bigger Davis?”
 




MARKU MAKES TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO ALBANIA, CAPTURES WBC SILVER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Tirana, Albania – (August 25th, 2022) – Florian Marku (12-0-1, 7 KO’s) made a triumphant return to his Albanian homeland on Thursday night, with over 12,000 fans packing the Tirana Air AlbaniaStadium to see him win a unanimous decision in the main event.

It was a gruelling war with Mexican opponent Miguel Parra, who had travelled to Albania intent on shattering Marku’s dreams and the crowd’s hopes. He very nearly accomplished that in the eighth round, putting Marku down with a left hook, only for the Albanian to shrug it off and return to the fray.

Marku scored a knockdown of his own in the fourth round only to suffer a cut moments later as the two boxers clashed heads. Unfazed, Marku battered Parra with hooks which sent his gumshield flying and made the fourth round one of the most dynamic of the fight.

Still undefeated, Marku’s record now stands at 13-0-1 and he now adds the Silver Welterweight Championship to his collection.

“[Fighting in Albania] was unbelievable. I want to thank everyone who is supporting me. The crowd is amazing, I wanted to perform much better than this, but I didn’t want an easy opponent for here,” he said afterwards.

“It was a good fight, I made some mistakes and made it harder than it was. I traded with him without reason and Mexicans come to fight. The cut was a problem because I couldn’t really see from my left eye. I started really good and the cut affected me a lot.”

As for his next opponent, Marku said he is open to all challenges.

“I don’t care – I will fight whoever they bring me,” he said.

Marku is part of the BOXXER stable, with BOXXER holding exclusive promotional rights for the explosive Albanian.




Tulsa Time: Jose Pedraza & Richard Commey Motivated to Shine in Saturday’s Junior Welterweight Main Event

TULSA, OK. (Aug. 25, 2022) —Two former world champions, a heavyweight knockout artist, and a US. Olympic silver medalist take the spotlight Saturday night at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.

In the 10-round main event, Puerto Rico’s former two-weight world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza (29-4, 14 KOs) will battle former lightweight champion Richard “RC” Commey (30-4, 27 KOs). The heavyweight co-feature — scheduled for eight rounds (or far less) — features the long-awaited return of Toledo native Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson (11-0, 11 KOs) against Serbian veteran Miljan Rovcanin (24-2, 16 KOs). 

Heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr. (2-0, 2 KOs), who captured a silver medal last summer in Tokyo, looks to make it three knockouts in a row versus Marco Antonio Canedo (4-2, 2 KOs).

Pedraza-Commey, Anderson-Rovcanin and Torrez-Canedo will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.

Undercard action — streaming exclusively on ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT — includes the return of heavyweight destroyer Efe Ajagba (15-1, 12 KOs), junior welterweight prospect and U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson (4-0, 3 KOs), Cleveland-born lightweight sensation Abdullah Mason (3-0, 3 KOs), rising junior welterweight Kelvin Davis (5-0, 4 KOs), light heavyweight puncher Dante Benjamin Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs), featherweight prospect Haven Brady Jr. (7-0, 4 KOs), and Tulsa-born heavyweight Jeremiah Milton (5-0, 4 KOs).
At Thursday’s press conference, this is what the fighters had to say. 

Jose Pedraza

“Same as Richard, I’m coming off a loss. I’m looking for a big win and to stay among the top names in the division.”

On his recent loss to Jose Ramirez

“I believe I need to be more active, to be more offensive in this fight.”

“A big win on Saturday against a great fighter like Richard Commey will put me a step closer to a world title opportunity. That’s what we’re looking for.”

“He has a strong right hand. He’s a strong fighter that punches hard with both hands, and we have that in the game plan, so we’re going to be working on that. I’m expecting a tough fight against a strong fighter.” 

Richard Commey

“It’s very important because I lost my last fight in December. It’s an opportunity to get back to winning ways, and this is my first fight at 140. I just want to announce myself.”

On his loss to Vasiliy Lomachenko

“I wasn’t very active going into that fight. I stayed away for too long, and I feel like I was rusty. It is what it is. It happened. We share the same opponent twice {Lomachenko and Ray Beltran}. It’s a good fight and I’m looking forward to it.”

“This is what I do. I fight, so it doesn’t really matter. God knows best, and he knows this is the right time for me.”

“I’ve been back in the gym since I got back from Ghana in March. I always train hard and work on myself because I know boxing is not an easy sport. You have to be ready before you get in the ring, so I always make sure I’m 100 percent ready. 

Jared Anderson

“I’ve been enjoying it, just happy to be here. A blessing to be here. Hopefully, I can take everyone with me along for the ride.”

On changing to southpaw in his last bout

“It was really to switch some things. We had been trying things in the gym. I thought it would knock him off his confidence and give him a different look, which it did. It confused him, and then when we switched back in the second round, he didn’t know what to do and it ended in a knockout.”

On Rovcanin potentially being is his toughest foe to date

“No, I have not been able to get a lot of footage {on Rovcanin}. And, also, I don’t know. He could be. It’s possible. I guess I won’t know until I get in there because I only really had one fight to watch. I’ve definitely had some tough opponents in my career so far. I think Rodney Hernandez was real tough. Also, Kingsley Ibeh was real tough. I think they took some pretty hard shots before going down, so we’ll see.”

On sparring with Tyson Fury

“In all honesty, he’s a real good dude. I enjoyed my camp. I guess I’m over the learning experience now. It’s time to become the teacher now, I guess. I’m happy he showed me everything he did, but he said he’s finished with his career. Like I said, it’s time to be the teacher now.”

Miljan Rovcanin

“I appreciate Top Rank and ESPN for this opportunity. My whole life, I’ve been hoping for this chance, to fight in the United States, and we are expecting a fair fight. We are going for the win. We are expecting to win.”

Richard Torrez Jr.

On his pro journey thus far

“Honestly, it’s the people I meet. I have made brothers along the way. Guys like Jared, guys like Tiger, all these guy I’ve met along the way and have been able to share this journey with.”

On his father/trainer/manager Richard Torrez Sr. 

“My dad is a man of many hats. He wears the dad hat, he wears the coach hat, and he wears the boss hat. So, it’s really good to be able to have this entire journey with him. I’m a firm believer that you need an omnipotent {figure} in your corner. And to have my dad there, if he tells me to drop my hands and quack like a duck, I’m going to. To be able to have him in the corner and have full trust in my corner, I feel it’s like a cheat code.” 

“Hopefully, I get rounds in, but at the end of the day, I hope that shows the amount of hard work I did in preparation. I’ve been grinding at the Olympic Training Center and back home in Tulare. There’s been a lot of work and hard work to go into those one-round and two-round {fights}.”

Jeremiah Milton

“It’s always a beautiful thing to come home. A lot of professional boxers never get an opportunity to fight in their hometowns. I got my momma here, I got my people. It’s a lot of love. I’m on a big stage. Of course, there are a lot of heavyweights on this card. So, it’s all action, baby, and I love it.”

“Just turning pro has helped my game a lot, moving off to Vegas, getting a lot of different opportunities, sparring with a lot of the top guys, being seasoned as a pro, actually living the pro lifestyle. I just keep climbing and growing.”
 Saturday, August 27
 ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ (10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT)
 
Jose Pedraza vs. Richard Commey, 10 rounds, junior welterweight
 
Jared Anderson vs. Miljan Rovcanin, 8 rounds, heavyweight

Richard Torrez Jr. vs. Marco Antonio Canedo, 6 rounds heavyweight
 
 ESPN+ (6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT)

Tiger Johnson vs. Harry Gigliotti, 6 rounds, junior welterweight
 
Efe Ajagba vs. Jozsef Darmos, 8 rounds, heavyweight

Haven Brady Jr. vs. Manuel Guzman, 6 rounds, featherweight

Jeremiah Milton vs. Nick Jones, 6 rounds, heavyweight

Kelvin Davis vs. Sebastian Gabriel Chaves, 6 rounds, junior welterweight

Frevian Gonzalez vs. Gerardo Esquivel, 6 rounds, lightweight

Abdullah Mason vs. Angel Rebollar, 4 rounds, lightweight

Dante Benjamin Jr. vs. Leandro Silva, 4 rounds, light heavyweight




Former Heavyweight World Champion Charles Martin Returns to Battle Devin Vargas In Non-Televised Undercard Showdown September 4 in PBC Action on Labor Day Weekend from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES – August 25, 2022 – Former heavyweight world champion Charles Martin will highlight non-televised undercard action when he takes on former U.S. Olympian Devin Vargas in an eight-round attraction on September 4 in PBC action during Labor Day Weekend from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The event is topped by a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT featuring former unified heavyweight world champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz Jr. battling top contender Luis “King Kong “ Ortiz in a WBC Heavyweight Title Eliminator in the main event.

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

The non-televised lineup will also include unbeaten Mexican flyweight Juan García (10-0-2, 7 KOs) in a four-round bout taking on Gilberto Mendoza (19-13-3, 19 KOs), plus a battle of unbeaten lightweights as Los Angeles’ Anthony Cuba (4-0-1, 3 KOs) faces Houston’s Óscar Pérez (5-0, 4 KOs) in a six-round attraction.

Rounding out the card is San Francisco’s Anthony Garnica (9-0-1, 5 KOs) in a six-round super bantamweight matchup against Anthony Casillas (8-2, 4 KOs), super lightweight Jesús Carrillo (10-7-2, 4 KOs) in an eight-round attraction and lightweight prospect Kel Spencer (1-0), the younger brother of rising super welterweight Joey Spencer, stepping into the ring for a four-round duel.

Martin (28-3-1, 25 KOs) became heavyweight champion in January 2016 when he won by TKO against then unbeaten Vyacheslav Glazkov. After losing his title to Anthony Joshua, Martin won five of six fights, with all of those wins coming inside the distance. Originally from St. Louis, now living in Las Vegas and currently training in Southern California with Manny Robles, Martin most recently challenged Luis Ortiz in a New Year’s Day showdown that saw him send Ortiz to the canvas twice before eventually losing in round six.

A 2004 U.S. Olympian, Vargas (22-7, 9 KOs) has fought professionally since 2004 and was a two-time National Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion as an amateur. Originally from Toledo, Ohio, Vargas last fought in November 2020, dropping a contest to unbeaten Zhilei Zhang. Throughout his career, Vargas has challenged champions and top prospects and contenders including Andy Ruiz Jr., Dominic Breazeale and Junior Fa.

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ABOUT RUIZ VS. ORTIZ

Ruiz vs. Ortiz will see former unified heavyweight champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz Jr. and top contender Luis “King Kong” Ortiz meet in a 12-round WBC Heavyweight Title Eliminator headlining a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View on September 4 in a Labor Day Weekend clash from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The pay-per-view telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and feature a stacked lineup of rising and accomplished stars in high-stakes matchups. In the co-main event, hard-hitting Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz will step in to take on fellow Mexican and veteran contender Eduardo Ramírez in a 12-round WBC Lightweight Title Eliminator in the co-main event. 

The action will also see the return of popular three-division champion Abner Mares in his first action in three years as he battles former title challenger Miguel Flores in a 10-round super featherweight attraction, plus exciting rising star José Valenzuela duels former world champion Jezreel Corrales in the 10-round lightweight pay-per-view opener.

Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.