Roy Jones Jr. to corner Shady Gamhour against Steve Rolls in Toronto!
TORONTO – On July 21, Toronto will be home to another great event by Lee Baxter Promotions. In May of this year, Lee Baxter Promotions held the first Canadian Boxing event to be broadcasted on the global sports entertainment platform, DAZN. A great success, as Bryan Acosta headlined the event and won the WBC Continental Americas Featherweight Title in an action-packed show. Lee Baxter Promotions are now back with another great card full of 50/50 fights and exciting prospects.
A brilliant co-feature sees a great 10-round matchup between Toronto’s Steve Rolls (21-2 12KO’s) and the undefeated Shady Gamhour (13-0 9KO’s). The fight was planned pre-pandemic, but unfortunately it didn’t go ahead. Now, the match is on – and we can’t wait to deliver to the fans in Toronto. Last time out Rolls took on the hard-hitting Edgar Berlanga, in his own city in front of a packed Madison Square Garden. A brilliant performance by Rolls lands him another huge fight. Shady Gamhour has stopped 9 of his 13 opponents as a professional, the other 4 he won on points – expect fireworks.Legendary Roy Jones Jr. will attend REBEL Entertainment Complex as he corners Shady Gamhour. Gamhour will look to use the experience that the Hall of Fame boxer brings to his corner. Jones Jr also trains former IBO Super Middleweight World Champion, Chris Eubank Jr.The main event on the evening will have the WBC Jr NABF Light Heavyweight Title up for grabs! Fan favourite Nick Fantuazzi (11-0 5KO’s) takes on Michal Loniewski (3-3 1KO) as they battle it out for the WBC title. Fantuazzi’s last performance against Darren Fletcher was a dominant and convincing win, Fantuazzi will look for a similar performance again to take the belt home with him. Fantuazzi was originally boxing for the Canadian Title but due to injury his opponent had to pull of the show. Loniewki’s last two fights were both in the UK against two British prospects. A treat for the fans as the two men put it all on the line for the title.
Also featuring on the card will be Amanda Galle (6-0), the Canadian Super Bantamweight Champion, as she takes on Jaqueline Mucio Munoz (7-10) in an interesting matchup that could leave either boxer with the win. A professional debut for James Hughes, as the former Canada National Team member shows what he has to offer in the professional ranks. Hughes takes on Toronto’s Mikhail Miller (3-6-1). Last up, welterweight prospect Joshuah Lupia (5-0 5KOs) is back in the ring after a long absence due to a tragic incident that nearly cost Lupia his leg. It’s great to see that Lupia has recovered and we all look forward to seeing him back in action.
REBEL Entertainment Complex is located at 11 Polson Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 1A4. On the night of the event doors will open at 6:30 pm ET, with the first bell at 7:00 pm ET.
COPPER BOX 16 JULY WEIGH-IN RESULTS
All the weights and photos from today’s weigh-in at BT Studios ahead of tomorrow’s fight night.
WBC Silver Middleweight Championship – 12×3 Rounds @ 160 lbs Hamzah Sheeraz – 11 stone 5 lbs 4oz Francisco Torres – 11 stone 5 lbs 4oz
The British, Commonwealth & IBF Intercontinental Super-middleweight Championship – 12 X 3 Minute Rounds @ 168 lbs Lennox Clarke – 11 stone 13 lbs 10oz Mark Heffron – 11 stone 12 lbs 12oz
The WBC Silver Featherweight Championship -12 X 3 Minute Rounds @ 126 lbs Nick Ball – 8 stone 13 lbs 12 oz Nathanael Kakololo – 8 stone 12lbs 10oz
The Vacant WBC International Silver Featherweight Championship 10 X 3 Minute Rounds @ 124 lbs (Max) Dennis McCann – 8 stone 11 lbs 4oz James Beech Jnr – 8 Stone 11 Lbs 10 oz
8 X 3 Minute Rounds International Super-Featherweight Contest Ryan Garner – 9 Stone 6 lbs Christian Lopez Torres – 9 Stone 7lbs 6oz
8 X 3 Minute Rounds International Super-Lightweight Contest Pierce O’Leary – 10 stone 1 lbs Robin Zamora – 10 stone 1 lbs
6 X 3 Minute Rounds International Light-Heavyweight Contest Karol Itauma – 12 stone 9 lbs Michal Gazdik – 12 stone 7 lbs
8 X 3 Minute Rounds International Featherweight Contest Masood Abdulah – 8 stone 9 lbs Tinko Banabakov – 8 stone 12 lbs
6 X 3 Minute Rounds International Featherweight Contest Umar Khan – 8 stone 13 lbs Engel Gomez – 9 stone 2 lbs
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Welterweight Contest Khalid Ali – 10 stone 10 lbs Des Newton – 11 stone
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Lightweight Contest Sonny Liston Ali – 10 stone 2 lbs Chris Adaway – 10 stone 2 lbs
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Welterweight Contest Sean Noakes – 10 stone 6 lbs MJ Hall – 10 stone 8lbs
Sampson Boxing Signs Argentinean Olympian and Undefeated Professional Featherweight Puncher Mirco Cuello to a Promotional Contract
Sampson Boxing proudly announces the signing of undefeated featherweight prospect and former Olympian Mirco Cuello of Santa Fe, Argentina, to a promotional contract.
The most decorated Argentinean amateur boxer of his generation, 21-year-old Cuello, won countless international elite championships during his 105-fight career in the unpaid ranks, before turning professional shortly after competing at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
As a professional, the power-punching Cuello (8-0, 7 KOs) was last seen picking up the WBA International Featherweight Championship last June by dropping and stopping Venezuela’s Leonardo Padilla in two rounds at the WBAKODrugs event.
“It’s a pleasure for me and my team to sign with Sampson Lewkowicz, a recognized promoter who can help me better develop my boxing and be the next world champion for Argentina,” said a happy Cuello after signing.
Cuello’s team consists of his father, Darío Cuello, as well as Mariano Carrera and Physical Trainer Ruperto Ruiz. He is managed by well-known boxing figure Gardner Payne of Payne Boxing.
“I thank Sampson Boxing for giving us the opportunity to work together for the present and future of Mirco Cuello,” added trainer Carrera. “ I have accompanied him since the beginning of his amateur career and I have no doubt that his time is now coming.”
“We are very excited that Mirco has signed with Sampson Boxing,” said Gardner Payne, President of Payne Boxing, LLC. “Last week, our mutual fighter, Alberto Palmetta, was scheduled to fight on Showtime in San Antonio, Texas, despite a severe back injury. Alberto wanted to proceed, however, Sampson canceled the fight, putting the health and well-being of the boxer over self-interest. It was for this that Payne Boxing encouraged Mirco to sign with Sampson. Sampson will help lead Mirco to a world title while always putting his health and safety first.”
New promoter Lewkowicz says he’s happy to be joining forces again with Gardner Payne and Team Cuello.
“Mirco Cuello will be a great champion from Argentina,” said Lewkowicz. “He has the right schooling in the amateurs to become a contender very quickly. The fans are going to love his punching power and the excitement it brings. I am excited to be joining this great team in guiding the career of the young phenom, Mirco Cuello.”
Lewkowicz says Cuello’s first appearance under the Sampson banner will be announced shortly.
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About Sampson Boxing
Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America. Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ESPN+, DAZN, VS., FOX, Fox Sports and several international networks. For more information, visit sampsonboxing.com.
Split-T Management’s Undefeated Heavyweight Stephan Shaw Battles Bernardo Marquez TONIGHT in Temecula, California
NEW YORK (July 15, 2022)–TONIGHT at The Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California, undefeated heavyweight Stephan Shaw will be back in action as he takes on Bernardo Marquez in a bout scheduled for eight-rounds.
Shaw, 29 years-old of Saint Louis, Missouri boasts an impressive mark of 16-0 with 12 knockouts.
Shaw, who is managed by Split-T Management is a nine-year professional who has wins over Danny Kelly (9-2-1), Jonny Rice (4-1-1), Donovan Dennis (12-3), Willie Jake Jr. (8-2-1), Gregory Corbin (15-2), Lyubomyr Pinchuk (12-1-1) and his bout when Shaw stopped former amateur champion Joey Dawejko in eight-rounds on January 29th in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Marquez of Imperial Valley, California has a very respectable record of 14-4-1 with 10 knockouts.
Marquez, 28, is a seven year pro, has wins over Oswaldo Ortega (1-0) & Daniel Arambuka (3-0). Marquez has won six-straight fights. In his latest outing, Marquez stopped Ernesto Zamora in the second round on October 2, 2021 in Sonora, Mexico.
The fight will be streamed live on ESPN+ at 7PM ET
Shaw, who is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Top Rank, weighed 236.6 lbs. Marquez was 231.2 lbs.
RANCES BARTHELEMY TRAINING CAMP QUOTES
MIAMI – July 15, 2022 – Former two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy discussed his upcoming showdown against unbeaten rising star Gary Antuanne Russell before they meet in the telecast opener live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, July 30 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and is headlined by two-division champion Danny “Swift” Garcia making his 154-pound debut against exciting contender Jose Benavidez Jr.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and DSG Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through seatgeek.com and barclayscenter.com. Tickets are also available for purchase at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center.
Barthelemy began training camp in Las Vegas before finishing up in Miami, where he’s currently located. A world champion at 130 and 135 pounds, Barthelemy can move one step closer toward making history with a signature victory on July 30, as he sets his sights on becoming the first Cuban fighter to become a three-division world champion.
Here is what Barthelemy had to say about training camp, Russell and more:
On his recent training camp:
“I started camp in Las Vegas and got in great shape before I made the move to Miami where I reunited with my original coach Orlando Cuellar. For the last several weeks I’ve been training with Cuellar, putting in the proper work to get ready for my fight with Gary Antuanne Russell. I felt I needed to get back to my roots when I first turned pro, so I brought back my first coach, and everything has been great since Cuellar and I got back together. This training camp has been incredible, and I’ll be at my absolute best on fight night.”
On his upcoming fight with Gary Antuanne Russell:
“It’s no secret that I’ll be in the most dangerous fight of my career when I step in the ring with Gary Antuanne Russell. He’s knocked out every opponent he’s faced, so I’m well aware of his power. I believe the work I’ve put in with Cuellar is going to be the difference in me winning this fight. I’m sitting on my punches more and he will have to be wary of my power. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, don’t be surprised if I knock him out.”
On what a win will do for his career:
“This is a pivotal point in my career where if I win, I’ll be back in the running for another world title. Everything is riding on this fight, so the fans can expect to see me leave everything in the ring. This is a must win for me and major doors will open with a victory.”
On fighting in Brooklyn on SHOWTIME:
“I’m grateful to my team and SHOWTIME for giving me another opportunity to fight on the national stage. Barclays Center in Brooklyn has had some amazing fight crowds over the years and I just want to carry the momentum of putting on another electrifying fight.”
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ABOUT GARCIA VS. BENAVIDEZ
Garcia vs. Benavidez will see two-division world champion and Brooklyn fan-favorite Danny “Swift” Garcia making his super welterweight debut against exciting contender Jose Benavidez Jr. in a 12-round showdown that headlines a stacked tripleheader Saturday, July 30 live on SHOWTIME from Barclays Center in Brooklyn in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will also see Polish star and Brooklyn’s all-action Adam Kownacki returning to the ring to take on Turkish Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen in a 10-round heavyweight attraction, while unbeaten rising star Gary Antuanne Russell faces former two-division champion Rances Barthelemy in a 10-round showdown to kick off the telecast.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #GarciaBenavidez, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @BrooklynBoxing, and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.
DONNIE NIETES EYES NEW WORLD TITLE BID AFTER ‘FRUSTRATING’ KAZUTO IOKA DEFEAT
LOS ANGELES, JULY 15 – Donnie Nietes will shake off the disappointment of his world title defeat to Kazuto Ioka and rebuild towards another shot at the super flyweight crown.
Nietes was trying to reclaim the WBO world junior bantamweight title in Tokyo on Wednesday night but was defeated on the scorecards, with all three ringside judges awarding the fight to Ioka.
Ioka was given the win with scores of 120-108, 118-110 and 117-111 after 12 rounds at the Ota-City Gymnasium, in what was a rematch of 2018’s clash between the pair, which was won by Nietes.
The Filipino hero, 40, says he could have no complaints about the result but was left frustrated that Ioka, who had promised to be ‘aggressive’, was not prepared to stand and trade punches more often.
Nietes, a former four-weight world champion, still has plenty left in the tank and plans to work his back into title contention as soon as possible to add another chapter to his storied career.
“I lost the fight on points, and I felt that Ioka did not want to try and deliver a knockout win for his fans and was just happy to win the fight on the scorecards,”Nietes told Probellum.com
“I was not able to put as much pressure on Ioka as I would have liked. I was waiting for Ioka to move in and throw his shots, so that I could hit him with my big counters, but it didn’t happen often enough.
“I was defeated but, without question, I can still fight for word titles again.”
Nietes was not only bidding to win back the WBO title he vacated but also to join an exclusive list of fighters who have won world titles in their 40s.
Against Ioka, the man known as ‘Ahas’ showed flashes of the quality that has seen him win titles at four weights, and despite the set-back he still believes he can become world champion again.
“There is no doubt in my mind that I can challenge once again, and I see myself probably having one or two more fights at world level before I hang up my gloves inside the ring,” Nietes added.
To keep up to date with the latest news on Nietes’ comeback plans, sign up to our newsletter?or follow Probellum on?Instagram,?Twitter?and?Facebook.????
You can also follow our official news, results, and information account, Probellum News, on Twitter. ??
About Probellum??? Launched in September 2021, Probellum is a global boxing promoter, and the fastest-growing brand in the sport.
Following the success of the opening two shows in December 2021, Probellum held back-to-back world championship nights in Dubai, as well as a packed card in Newcastle.
Probellum’s elite stable of fighters also includes Nonito Donaire, Regis Prograis, Estelle Mossely, Sunny Edwards, Eimantas Stanionis, Donnie Nietes and Dina Thorslund.
But the company has also recruited the next generation of stars with Peter McGrail, Mark Dickinson and Pat and Luke McCormack, Shabaz Masoud and Spencer Wilcox among the young talents under the Probellum umbrella.
Since launching, Probellum has signed co-promotional partnerships with some of the biggest promoters globally, including DiBella Entertainment (US), Wasserman (Germany), Universum (Germany), GYM (Canada), Maravilla Box (Spain), Team Ellis (Australia), Titov Boxing Promotions (Russia), Volcano Boxing (El Salvador), BXSTRS Promotions (Mexico), PR Best (Puerto Rico) Glozier Boxing (New Zealand), Box Office Sports (Ghana) and LNK Boxing (Latvia).????
TROY WILLIAMSON URGES JOSH KELLY TO AGREE TO ‘HUGE’ BRITISH TITLE FIGHT
LONDON, JULY 15 – Troy Williamson has told Josh Kelly to agree to a mouth-watering British title showdown instead of chasing “easy” fights like his rivals have.
The British Boxing Board of Control have ordered Williamson to defend his super welterweight crown against Kelly, after James Metcalf pulled out of a fight with the champion.
Bids to promote the fight must be submitted by August 10.
Williamson, from Darlington, and Sunderland’s Kelly could now clash in a “huge” fight for the North East of England and ‘Trojan’ – one of British’s boxing most exciting fighters – hopes his rival doesn’t try and avoid him.
“It’s a great fight, especially for the North East,” Williamson told Probellum.com.
“I’ve known Josh since our amateur days and we are friends outside of the ring, but that will have to be put to one side if we fight.
“He’s got all the talent in the world and a big following, so this would be a huge occasion. I posted on social media after hearing the news and everybody is already getting excited for this fight.
“I just hope Josh takes the fight and isn’t like all the others who just want easy fights.”
But Williamson has already warned Kelly about what lies in store for him if the fight happens.
“I’m a proven 12 round fighter who is strong at the weight,” said the British champ.
“And as everyone has seen, I get stronger as the fight goes on. I am a lot stronger and fitter than Josh and that will tell over the distance.”
“He’s said that fighting me for the British title is a backwards step but I don’t blame Eddie Hearn [his promoter] for not wanting to put him in with me, I’ve already stopped his other super welterweight fighter, Ted Cheeseman, and I would have done the same to Metcalf.”
To keep up to date with the latest news on Williamson’s potential fight with Kelly, sign up to our newsletter?or follow Probellum on?Instagram,?Twitter?and?Facebook.???? You can also follow our official news, results, and information account, Probellum News, on Twitter.??
About Probellum??? Launched in September 2021, Probellum is a global boxing promoter, and the fastest-growing brand in the sport.
Following the success of the opening two shows in December 2021, Probellum held back-to-back world championship nights in Dubai, as well as a packed card in Newcastle.
Probellum’s elite stable of fighters also includes Nonito Donaire, Regis Prograis, Estelle Mossely, Sunny Edwards, Eimantas Stanionis, Donnie Nietes and Dina Thorslund.
But the company has also recruited the next generation of stars with Peter McGrail, Mark Dickinson and Pat and Luke McCormack, Shabaz Masoud and Spencer Wilcox among the young talents under the Probellum umbrella.
Since launching, Probellum has signed co-promotional partnerships with some of the biggest promoters globally, including DiBella Entertainment (US), Wasserman (Germany), Universum (Germany), GYM (Canada), Maravilla Box (Spain), Team Ellis (Australia), Titov Boxing Promotions (Russia), Volcano Boxing (El Salvador), BXSTRS Promotions (Mexico), PR Best (Puerto Rico) Glozier Boxing (New Zealand), Box Office Sports (Ghana) and LNK Boxing (Latvia).???? ?
3-Time World Champion Jessie Vargas Confirmed for Sixth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 17, in Las Vegas
Las Vegas (July 14, 2022) – Three-time world champion Jessie Vargas has confirmed that he will appear 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.
Vargas will hold a Meet & Greet with his fans at the Box Fan Expo Store 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
Vargas will make his sixth appearance at this years’ Expo and will be signing gloves, photos, and personal items. Boxing enthusiasts will have an opportunity to also take pictures with this fan friendly Boxing Star.
About Jessie Vargas
Vargas is a Mexican American professional boxer who is a former two-weight division and three-time world champion, having held the WBA (Regular) and IBO super lightweight titles in 2014 and the WBO welterweight title in 2016. Some of his most noticeable fights came against Manny Pacquiao, Mikey Garcia, Adrien Broner, Tim Bradley, Josesito Lopez and Humberto Soto to name a few.
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 few months 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
• Arnold Barboza Jr. 139.6 vs. Danielito Zorrilla 139.6 (Vacant WBO Intercontinental Junior Welterweight Title — 10 Rounds)
• Raymond Muratalla 136 lbs vs. Jair Valtierra 137 lbs (Lightweight — 8 Rounds)
• Richard Torrez Jr. 224 lbs vs. Roberto Zavala Jr. 255.2 lbs (Heavyweight — 6 Rounds)
(ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT)
• Austin Brooks 125.2 lbs vs. Victor Saravia 125.2 lbs (Featherweight— 4 Rounds)
• Stephan Shaw 236.6 lbs vs. Bernardo Marquez 231.2 lbs (Heavyweight — 8 Rounds)
• Floyd Diaz 121.6 lbs vs. Pedro Salome 121.4 lbs (Junior Featherweight — 6 Rounds)
• Jorge Marron Jr. 143.2 lbs vs. Adrian Yung 142.6 lbs (Junior Welterweight — 6 Rounds)
August 27: Jose Pedraza-Richard Commey, Junior Welterweight Main Event & Jared Anderson-Miljan Rovcanin Heavyweight Co-Feature Set for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa LIVE on ESPN
TULSA, OK (July 14, 2022) — Two former world champions are set for an Oklahoma showdown, as Jose “Sniper” Pedraza will battle Richard “RC” Commey in the 10-round junior welterweight main event Saturday, Aug. 27, at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.
In the 10-round heavyweight co-feature, the fighting pride of Toledo, Ohio, undefeated puncher Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson, returns to action against veteran Miljan Rovcanin.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment, Pedraza-Commey and Anderson-Rovcanin will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.
“The junior welterweight division is talent-rich, and the winner of Pedraza-Commey is in line for a massive fight,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “We are thrilled to see Jared Anderson back in action. He is the world’s best young heavyweight, and fans will have another opportunity to see a future superstar.”
Pedraza (29-4, 14 KOs), from Cidra, Puerto Rico, is a two-weight world champion who has fought many of this generation’s top fighters since capturing the IBF junior lightweight crown in June 2015. He moved up to the junior welterweight ranks in 2019, rebounding from a loss to Jose Zepeda to author victories over Mikkel LesPierre, 2008 U.S. Olympian Javier Molina, and the previously unbeaten Julian Rodriguez. Pedraza’s momentum was halted in March when he dropped a tightly contested decision to former unified world champion Jose Ramirez.
Pedraza said, “August 27 will definitely be a high-stakes battle between two world-class fighters. We are both coming to get back on the winning path. That’s the perfect recipe for a great fight. I know that a convincing victory against an opponent of Commey’s caliber will put me back in contention to capture that coveted world title opportunity. Despite what happened in my last fight, I still have my sights set on being crowned world champion at 140 pounds. I’m still chasing my goal of becoming a three-division world champion.”
Commey (30-4, 27 KOs), one of Ghana’s most accomplished fighters, captured the IBF lightweight world title in February 2019 with a second-round stoppage over Isa Chaniev. Since losing his title to Teofimo Lopez that December, Commey knocked out Jackson Marinez in six rounds and lost a decision to pound-for-pound legend Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko. After 34 fights campaigning as a lightweight, Commey now moves up to 140 pounds in hopes of winning a second world title.
“I am grateful to DiBella Entertainment and Top Rank to be fighting on ESPN as I begin my quest to become a two-weight world champion,” Commey said. “Pedraza is a gentleman and a great champion, and I will have to be at my best to earn the victory.”
Anderson (11-0, 11 KOs) had a breakthrough 2021, securing four devastating knockouts culminating in December’s second-round blitzing of Oleksandr Teslenko. He suffered a hand injury in training, which postponed his 2022 debut. Anderson, a 6’4, 240-pound former U.S. amateur champion, hopes to continue his knockout momentum against Rovcanin (24-2, 16 KOs). The Serbian veteran has won five consecutive bouts since a stoppage loss to undefeated contender Agit Kabayel.
Anderson said, “I am 100 percent healthy and more than ready to get back in the ring. I’m creating a legacy for my last name and growing as a fighter with every fight. Tune in on August 27 because ‘The Real Big Baby’ is back!”
The undercard — streaming exclusively on ESPN+ — is scheduled to include the return of heavyweight puncher Efe Ajagba (15-1, 12 KOs) in an eight-rounder against Hungary’s Jozsef Darmos (14-4-3, 10 KOs). Ajagba, a 2016 Nigerian Olympian, has not fought since last October’s defeat to Cuban star Frank Sanchez on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III undercard. Injuries delayed Ajagba’s return, and he’s looking to reclaim his status as one of the division’s rising talents.
In other undercard action:
Tokyo 2020 U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson (4-0, 3 KOs), from Cleveland, Ohio, steps up in class against Harry Gigliotti (8-3, 3 KOs) in a six-round junior welterweight scrap. Johnson, at 23 years old, is one of the sport’s brightest young talents. He fought at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa in January and shut out the previously undefeated Xavier Madrid.
Tulsa native Trey Lippe Morrison (18-1, 17 KOs), who lost his undefeated record in his last bout, is scheduled to return in an eight-round heavyweight fight.
Standout junior welterweight prospect Kelvin Davis (5-0, 4 KOs) steps up in a six-rounder against Sebastian Gabriel Chaves (5-4, 2 KOs).
Frevian Gonzalez (5-1, 1 KO), who trains with Pedraza, will see action in a six-round lightweight bout against Gerardo Esquivel (3-2-1, 1 KO).
SHEERAZ VS TORRES PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
THE PRESS CONFERENCE for Saturday night’s bumper show at the Copper Box Arena took place this afternoon at the BT Sport studios, just a stone’s throw from the venue, and the headline fighters joined promoter Frank Warren to exchange some final messages ahead of the weigh-in on Friday.
Frank was flanked by top of the bill fighters Hamzah Sheeraz and Francisco Torres, who fight for the WBC Silver middleweight title, plus Lennox Clark and Mark Heffron, who are set to do battle for the British, Commonwealth and IBF Intercontinental titles.
Earlier, Frank introduced new signing Pierce O’Leary, along with Dennis McCann and James Beech jr, who fight for the vacant WBC International Silver featherweight title, plus WBC Silver featherweight champion Nick Ball, who defends against Nathanael Kakololo.
A selection of quotes from the media event can be found below:
Frank Warren “Lennox against Mark will be a war and they are two fighters who, when they get in the ring, they give it their all, they really do. I think this is going to be a bit of a cracker. It is one of those fights where the winner will go on, it won’t be the end for the loser, but the winner will move on quickly. It is about making a statement on the night, they have both got great win-rates and, with the experience they have got between them, this is going to be something a little bit special. It will be a real cracker.
“The boxing writers say Hamzah is the best young boxer of the year and now in this fight he can move from being a prospect to another level. In Francisco he has got a tough Argentinean and they are tough guys who come to fight. I think we will get a good yardstick to see how far he’s come in his career. For me he has done everything absolutely right, he is a credit to boxing and the sport and he is a consummate professional. He invests in himself and his future and I genuinely feel he is one of the best young prospects in the country and I hope, after this weekend, that everybody looks at him as a guy who can win a world title. I believe he is capable of doing it.”
Hamzah Sheeraz “I am feeling great, camp has been great and I am in good spirits fighting at 160, my second fight at it and we have got a good opponent in front of us and we are ready to go. Me and my team got back in the gym after the Bradley Skeete fight and went back to basics. Then we made it happen and made it happen quite easily in my next fight against Jez Smith, but that is all past me now. I’ve got Francisco on Saturday night and I am looking forward to getting in there with somebody who will ask me a few questions and test me in certain ways. There is nothing we are not prepared for. He can do whatever he wants, he can come forward, box on the back foot, he can fly for all I care. Me and my team have prepared to the best of my ability and done everything in my power to make sure that on Saturday night I put on a performance, not just for myself, but because of me headlining for the first time. I’ve definitely got to come and put on a show.”
Francisco Torres “I am very happy to be here and I am very ready for this fight. I am a boxer and this is my shot at the title, so that is why I accepted the fight. I am convinced that I won the fight against Jose Benevidez that the judges scored a draw, so now we have to dance for something new. Hamzah is a very good fighter and I am very happy to have him as an opponent.”
Mark Heffron “I’d like to say a massive thank you to Frank for this massive opportunity and I am really looking forward to it. I’ve said it time and time again, I think Lennox is a very good fighter and, coming from his background as an unlicensed fighter, he has done really good to win the British and Commonwealth. I rank him right up with Denzel Bentley and Liam Williams and I think he is a big, strong fighter. He will bring the best out of me. It is definitely now or never but I feel like I am more than ready for this opportunity and on Saturday night we will see. Joe Gallagher has been working me extra hard and has got me 110% ready with big, strong sparring partners brought in. When I land I will definitely hurt him.”
Lennox Clarke “I’ve been out, unluckily, with injury but I am back now fit and ready to go. I’ve prepared very well and very hard for 12 rounds and I am looking forward to Saturday night. I am coming into this fight as a challenger to relaunch myself and get right back in there. Mark is a good, tough fighter and I believe our fight has got the makings of a fight of the year. I’ve got the beating of him, I am fit, I’m strong and I am starving for success and want to get back on track. I am going to give it my all and I believe me at 110% smokes Mark Heffron. You are touching down there on Joe Gallagher, but he has had more coaches than anyone in boxing so there is going to be no gain there.”
Dennis McCann “Listen, I am ready to rock. Give me a couple of packets of Haribos and I will fight right now. I’ve been training very hard for the last 16 weeks and rounds is not an issue for me at all. I’ve done 200 rounds of sparring against world champions, European champions and I have been putting all my sparring partners over. Not even on purpose and with 14-16oz gloves on. Saturday night will be the best you have ever seen Dennis McCann. I am very, very confident that I will put him over on Saturday. There are levels to this game and I believe I will definitely be a future world champion and he is in my way right now. He has won a few Area titles, but if he brings them with him on Saturday I will call the police and get him arrested. He can’t be bringing them out.”
James Beech jr “I’ve just got to be better than I was against Brad Foster and Chris Bourke and then just do what I do. Dennis is a good lad, I don’t think he is as good as the hype he’s had around him, but I’ve just got to do what I do. For this one I have trained harder than ever before and I’ve got the experience from those two fights that I will be taking into this one. This is Dennis’ step up and he has never done the 10 rounds before so I’ve got to take him into the deep waters. I don’t think the hype around him is justified, not after his last two or three fights. He has got a big step up this Saturday and I think he will be found out. I’ve got to bully the bully and that is what I’ll be doing. I will hit him back for a start, I ain’t no flyweight who is coming up and fat, I am coming down in weight and I will be bigger than him.”
Nick Ball “I am feeling good and thanks to Frank for getting me back out so soon. I am ready to go now and can’t wait. It has all been good and I’ve been getting a load of attention and new supporters, but life hasn’t changed for me and I will stay with the hard work and being focused. I will push on for bigger and better things now. I don’t want to look at him on YouTube, I want to look at him in real life and I will find out everything about him on Saturday night. I’ve got nothing really to say to him. No talking and all action, as always.”
Nathanael Kakololo “I am feeling good and I am feeling at home. I used to see him fight and I have seen him struggling but, for me, he is a good customer for me. He is a small boy and I just want to tell him that every champion was once a contender. I hung up my WBA African belt at home and I have come to challenge for the WBC. I am here to win and become WBC champion. Champions stay ready and I am ready for him. I am ready for anything at any time.”
Pierce O’Leary “I am feeling great, this is a massive opportunity for me so I am taking it all in. It is fantastic to see all the cameras here and this is something I have never done before. I am really loving it. My knockouts before haven’t been on BT Sport so nobody has seen them, but on Saturday night everyone will be able to see it all around the world. I am a nine-times national champion who has fought all over Europe and I am here to win titles and it is only a matter of time now. I do believe I will become a world champion in multiple weight classes.”
“Canela Box Nights” to launch July 22nd in Mexico 16-0 flyweight Sergio Mendoza headlines at home
LOS ANGELES (July 14, 2022) — CANELA MEDIA, in association with promoter World Cup Boxing Series, will launch a new professional boxing series, “Canela Box Nights,” on Friday night, July 22nd, from Sonora Arena in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
CANELA MEDIA is a leading, minority-owned technology driven company committed to redefining digital media experiences for the Hispanic Community. WCBS was created and is led by CEO Terry Holland and promoter/matchmaker Guy Taylor.
“Canela Box Nights” will stream live and free the 3rd Friday of every month, starting July 22nd at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, throughout the United States, Mexico, and Latin America.
Undefeated hometown favorite Sergio “Yoreme” Mendoza (16-0, 15 KOs) headlines against veteran Francisco “Charrito” Gomez (14-8, 11 KOs), who has fought three world champions during his 8-year pro career, in the 10-round main event.
“Candela TV and its new Free boxing series, ‘Canela Box Nights,’ is going to be huge,” Taylor said, “not just for Mexico but for all of Latin America. Sergio Mendoza is going to lead off the series and set the standard of what fight fans can expect to see on Canela TV every month.”
In the 8-round co-featured event, popular super bantamweight Jesus “Koreano” Ramirez (21-1-3, 13 KOs) and Anthony “Boy” Jimenez Salas (17-3-1, 5 KOs) throw down in a potentially bitter rivalry fight. They are from the Mexico’s states of Sonora and Sinaloa, respectively, which are arch-rivals like Mexico and Puerto Rico in boxing.
Promising lightweight prospect Marco Cota Moreno (7-0, 5 KOs), 20, puts his perfect pro record on the line versus18-year-old “Bam Bam” Brandon Orozco (4-2, 3 KOs) in a 6-round fight. Moreno is a 5-time Sonora State amateur champion who compiled a remarkable 146-4 record.
Lightweights Brayan Zamarripa (11-1, 3 KOs) and Jesus “Viboro” Arevalo (27-6-1, 15 KOs) square off in an 8-rounder. Zamarripa is riding a 8-fight win streak, while Arevalo is a former WBC Latino featherweight and Interim WBC FECOMBOX title holder.
The opening bout of the evening is a 6-round female junior flyweight confrontation between Yadira Bustillos (4-0), of Las Vegas, and America “Keka” Bayori (2-0).
The July 22nd “Canela Box Nights” is presented by WCBS and De La O Promotions.
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/
THE 14-0 CRUISERWEIGHT star and Boxxer Tournament winner Ellis Zorro has signed a promotional agreement with Frank Warren and Queensberry.
The 29-year-old is trained and managed by Martin Bowers from the Peacock Gym in Epping alongside now promotional teammates Denzel Bentley, Chris Bourke and Louie Lynn.
A jeweller by trade, Zorro entered the tournament staged in May up in Manchester and cruised to success, beating James Farrell, Jamie Smith and Ricky Reeves via unanimous decisions.
He now becomes the most experienced member of the Queensberry cruiserweights, which includes Arnold Obodai, Aloys Junior and Natty Ngwenya.
Zorro believes his tournament triumph paved the way for a union with the Hall of Fame promoter.
“That is the benefit of these tournaments,” Zorro considered. “Sky were hosting it but, going forward, Frank is going to be taking care of my career anyway. It is all good.
“I went in to see Frank and he congratulated me on my performance in the tournament and offered me a contract going forward. Frank will be handling my career and I am over the moon with that.
“When I came here to the Peacock at 9-0 it was what I wanted to happen kind of straight away but obviously you’ve got to, not so much prove yourself to Frank, but now I have got something he can sell. I will always be the Boxxer tournament winner, I am now 14-0, No.10 on Boxrec and I will be fighting for international titles moving forward.
“I believe I have got a WBC Silver title shot in September, so it is all good.”
The punching jeweller Zorro was fittingly fitted out in a golden robe after winning the final and it was a competition he was convinced all along he would emerge victorious.
“I was super, super confident. I knew that with the sparring I had been getting with the likes of Dan Azeez who, even though he is a light heavyweight, is really, really strong. I had Craig Richards, I had Denzel for his experience, even though he is a bit lighter. Then I had sparring against heavyweights, so I just feel I ticked every box.
“At the time I was 11-0 and I didn’t have a contract with anybody. I wasn’t stagnant, but I’d just had two fights with Martin since being at the Peacock and one of them was a rematch against Ossie Jervier.
“I was kind of struggling with some direction but now, in the space of one weekend, it accelerated everything for me.
“It feels like it was meant to be and, as Martin is always saying, everybody gets a chance in boxing, you just have to be patient and be ready. When the call came, we were ready.”
Frank Warren added on his cruiserweight recruit: “I am delighted to sign Ellis and he was clearly the class act of the tournament. We have known about him for some time now through our strong relationship with Martin and this is perfect timing, with Ellis having increased his stock with three strong performances.
“There won’t be any delays now, we will put Ellis straight into title contention and really get his career firing on all cylinders.”
Press Conference Notes: Unbeaten Junior Welterweight Contenders Arnold Barboza Jr. & Danielito Zorrilla Face Off
Temecula, Calif. (July 13, 2022) — Two undefeated junior welterweight contenders look to take a giant step forward Friday evening at Pechanga Resort Casino. Arnold Barboza Jr. (26-0, 10 KOs), from South El Monte, California, will battle Puerto Rican standout Danielito Zorrilla (16-0, 12 KOs) in the 10-round main event for the vacant WBO Intercontinental belt.
In the eight-round lightweight co-feature, Southern California’s Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (14-0, 12 KOs) steps up in class against Mexican veteran Jair Valtierra (16-1, 8 KOs). The televised opener will see the return of U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (1-0, 1 KO) against Roberto Zavala Jr. (2-1-1, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder at heavyweight.
Barboza Jr.-Zorrilla, Muratalla-Valtierra and Torrez Jr.-Zavala Jr. will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.Undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m PT) and includes junior featherweight prospect Floyd “Cashflow” Diaz (5-0, 1 KO) and rising heavyweight Stephan “Big Shot” Shaw (16-0, 12 KOs).
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Ringside Ticket Inc., tickets starting at $29 are on sale now and can be purchased at Pechanga.com.
At Wednesday’s press conference, this is what the fighters had to say.
Arnold Barboza Jr.
“I think this fight has all the makings of being another great war between Mexico and Puerto Rico. I’m Mexican American and he is Puerto Rican. This one will be a great battle. Everyone knows my style, and he also likes to come forward. I can’t wait for Friday night.”
“All the hard work is paying off. I began my career fighting on the small UniMás shows and now I’m the main event on ESPN, but we are not satisfied. We want more!”
“It’s exciting to fight in front of friends and family in California. It has been a while since I fought in Cali, but now we are here, and we have a great matchup. We have a tough and hungry fighter in front of us.”
Danielito Zorrilla
“I feel happy and thankful for this opportunity. I’m well-prepared physically and mentally. Everyone will see on Friday night. I expect a lot from Barboza. He is a great fighter and one of the best in the division. This will be a very competitive fight. This will be a war!”
“Now I have former world champion, Rocky Martinez, in my corner. He is a man that has a lot of experience. He is a three-time world champion and knows what it takes to become a champion. He has added a lot to my team. I think this combination will benefit my career.”
“We are working hard to represent Puerto Rico. If the opportunity presents itself for me to become the next big Puerto Rican star, we will be ready for that and will take it. That is what we are working for.”
Raymond Muratalla
“I love opportunities like this. I’m ready and can’t wait for Friday night. Working at Robert Garcia’s Boxing Academy is great. All the talent there is crazy. We have great sparring sessions, and because of that, I know I’m ready. I feel like I’m ready for the next step. I know I’m ready!”
Jair Valtierra
“I had a great training camp, and I know I’m ready to come out victorious. I know he is a strong fighter, but we have a great strategy, and we are going to follow the game plan.”
“I feel very excited about this opportunity. This is my first fight in the United States. Now people around the world will know about me. I hope to put on a great show for all the fans.”
Richard Torrez Jr.
“I think that my professional debut put me through a lot of things that I needed to learn as a pro. I had a cut and there was also a mix-up with the referee. There were a lot of different things going on that will help me in my future fights.”
“For this training camp, my team and I added a nutritionist. We felt like that was missing. We added them to the team and now I look and feel great. Right now, I’m here! I’m ready! We are prepared for this fight! I’m ready for Friday night!”
Friday, July 15
ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT)
Arnold Barboza Jr. vs. Danielito Zorrilla, 10 rounds, Vacant WBO Intercontinental Junior Welterweight Title
Raymond Muratalla vs. Jair Valtierra, 8 rounds, lightweight
Richard Torrez Jr. vs. Roberto Zavala Jr., 6 rounds, heavyweight
ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT)
Austin Brooks vs. Victor Saravia, 4 rounds, featherweight
Stephan Shaw vs. Bernardo Marquez, 8 rounds, heavyweight
Floyd Diaz vs. Pedro Salome, 6 rounds, junior featherweight
Jorge Marron Jr. vs. Adrian Yung, 6 rounds, welterweight
ADAM KOWNACKI AND SERGIY DEREVYANCHENKO MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
BROOKLYN – July 13, 2022 – Polish star and Brooklyn’s all-action Adam Kownacki and top middleweight contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko showed off their skills at a media workout in Brooklyn Wednesday before their respective showdowns on Saturday, July 30 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
Kownacki will return to fight at Barclays Center for the 11th time in his career, as he takes on Turkish Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen in the co-main event live on SHOWTIME. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader is headlined by two-division champion Danny “Swift” Garcia making his 154-pound debut against exciting contender Jose Benavidez Jr.
Derevyanchenko, who trains in Brooklyn, will meet Joshua Conley in a 10-round bout that highlights a stacked undercard lineup.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and DSG Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through seatgeek.com and barclayscenter.com. Tickets are also available for purchase at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday from world famous Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn:
ADAM KOWNACKI
“It’s amazing to be back at Barclays Center. I can’t wait to be back in there. I’m ready to get back in line for a championship fight.
“I just have had to work on my footwork and keeping my hands up. I have to be smart. One shot can change everything. It was some bad luck getting caught in each fight. I tried to make the best out of it and leave everything in the ring. It was a life lesson.
“I’m coming back stronger. I’ve been sparring with no issues to the broken orbital bone. I’m feeling great and I can’t wait to return.
“I want to be active again. I’m focused on this win, and then we can talk about getting back in the ring early next year. It’s tunnel-vision on July 30.
“I really appreciate the fans who have been there to support me. Barclays Center is going to be red and white. I’m excited to feel that atmosphere. Those fans keep me motivated mentally.
“Right now I’m just focused on Demirezen. That’s the man in front of me. I have to tear down that wall that’s in front of me. That’s all I’m focused on.
“I’m facing a strong Olympian who’s got good size, so I’m expecting a great fight. It’s going to be a good test for me, but I’m looking to ace it and move on to better things. Right now, Demirezen has all of my attention.”
SERGIY DEREVYANCHENKO
“I want to fight any of the champions at middleweight. Jaime Munguia would be a great fight. There’s a lot of strong fighters in the division and I want to face any of them.
“I still feel strong at middleweight. I’m going to keep working and facing the best challengers I can get so that I’m back in title contention.
“I want to come back stronger and I’m ready to show it. I’m always fighting for Ukraine. I represent my country every time I step into the ring.
“It’s always fun to fight at Barclays Center. It’s a big arena and they have amazing crowds. I can’t wait to be back in the ring.
“I feel strong physically. I still have the desire mentally and my body is still responding and able to perform. That’s all I can ask for.
“Everyone will see my improvements on fight night. I’m facing an opponent who can jab and move. He’s not going to be very busy in there, but I know that I have to be ready for his counters.
“This is a big event and I’m excited to be a part of it. I’m very happy to be a part of it and motivated to deliver for the fans.”
# # #
ABOUT GARCIA VS. BENAVIDEZ
Garcia vs. Benavidez will see two-division world champion and Brooklyn fan-favorite Danny “Swift” Garcia making his super welterweight debut against exciting contender Jose Benavidez Jr. in a 12-round showdown that headlines a stacked tripleheader Saturday, July 30 live on SHOWTIME from Barclays Center in Brooklyn in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will also see Polish star and Brooklyn’s all-action Adam Kownacki returning to the ring to take on Turkish Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen in a 10-round heavyweight attraction, while unbeaten rising star Gary Antuanne Russell faces former two-division champion Rances Barthelemy in a 10-round showdown to kick off the telecast.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #GarciaBenavidez, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @BrooklynBoxing, and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.
Newly-acquired Chaney, hard-hitting Cusumano headline CES Boxing’s long-awaited return to Mohegan Sun Arena August 20 at Summer Heat
Uncasville, CT – CES Boxing returns to Mohegan Sun Arena for the first time in nearly seven years Saturday, August 20 with Summer Heat, the latest installment of its 2022 Fight Series featuring two of the sport’s hardest-hitting heavyweight prospects.
CES’ newest acquisition, 6-foot-6 right-hander Cassius Chaney of New London, CT, and 6-4 Carini, Sicily, native Juiseppe Cusumano headline Summer Heat in separate bouts. The two CES stablemates have combined for 41 wins and 32 knockouts in nearly two decades as pros and find themselves firmly entrenched among the nation’s top 20 heavyweights with an opportunity to inch closer to the dream of competing for a world title.
Summer Heat kicks off at 7 pm ET. Tickets are available online at cesfights.com or through the Mohegan Sun box office. August 20 marks CES’ first show at Mohegan Sun Arena since October of 2015, renewing a long-standing partnership between the region’s top combat sports promotion and one of the world’s foremost entertainment venues.
In addition to the highly-anticipated heavyweight showcase, Summer Heat features the long-awaited return of New London female featherweight icon Shelly Vincent, undefeated Irish super middleweight Francis Hogan of Weymouth, MA; and fast-rising bantamweight prospect Angel Gonzalez of Hartford, CT.
Hogan (11-0, 10 KOs), another recent addition to the CES roster and a member of the Iron Workers Local 7 union, returns after cruising to a unanimous decision win over Rodrigo Lopes Rodrigues in June. The undefeated Gonzalez (10-0, 6 KOs) aims for his fourth win of the year in as many tries, which includes a hard-fought victory over Ira Terry at CES’ April 2 showcase in Connecticut. Stay tuned for additional fight announcements.
Chaney (21-1, 14 KOs) returns to his home state August 20 after signing a promotional agreement with New England’s top promotion, joining forces with promoter Jimmy Burchfield Sr. Born in Baltimore, Chaney relocated to Connecticut as a youth and initially put his talents to use on the basketball court at the University of New Haven.
Working with renowned trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards, Chaney climbed the ladder quickly among heavyweights after making his pro debut at the age of 28, winning his first 21 fights. In 2019, he made headlines on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights with a sensational win over Joel Caudle, knocking his opponent out of the ring in the first round of their scheduled eight-round showdown. Later that year, he captured the vacant WBC USNBC Silver heavyweight title with a knockout win over Nick Jones.
With the burning desire to win a world title, Chaney kept busy during the pandemic, too, scoring two more knockouts in 2020 and opening 2021 with a knockout win over 18-fight veteran Shawndell Terell Winters in Worcester. In his most recent fight in December, Chaney fought 10 hard rounds with fellow unbeaten heavyweight George Arias in New York City.
His new teammate, Cusumano (20-4, 18 KOs), is on a similar path. The heavy-handed Sicilian bounced back in June with a first-round knockout win over Irineu Costa Junior in Rhode Island, earning career win No. 20 and his 10th overall under CES’ guidance since signing with Burchfield in 2017. Cusumano has stopped his opponent in each of his last 14 wins dating back to 2014 and remains on the sport’s hardest punchers in the heavyweight division.
Vincent’s return to the ring brings additional star power to Summer Heat. The 43-year-old trailblazer and former world-title contender boasts a 27-2 record, two nationally-televised showdowns against rival Heather Hardy, and a UBF world super bantamweight championship. A fixture on the regional circuit for more than a decade, Vincent is unbeaten with CES in 17 fights, including her most recent win in November over veteran Shelly Barnett.
Additional details for Summer Heat are available online. For more information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.
INFORMATION
CES Boxing is one of the top promotions in the northeast and one of the few to successfully promote both mixed martial arts and professional boxing. Launched in 1992 by longtime boxing judge Jimmy Burchfield Sr., the promotion is the only in professional boxing to boast two reigning WBC Youth world champions in lightweight Jamaine Ortiz and featherweight Irvin Gonzalez. CES Boxing recently teamed with UFC FIGHT PASS, the world’s No. 1 streaming platform for combat sports, to showcase its events to a worldwide audience, and worked as a promotional consultant for the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. pay-per-view event in November of 2020.
Mohegan Sun Arena is one of the busiest Arenas in the United States and is ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar and VenuesNow. Mohegan Sun Arena finished 2021 with its first “#1 Indoor Arena” ranking for its capacity in the world according to Pollstar and VenuesNow, ranked among the top 10 venues in the United States regardless of size based on ticket sales, and was named “2021 Innovator of the Year” by Celebrity Access for its ViacomCBS residency. In recent years, the award-winning venue has also been the “#1 Casino Venue in the World,” “#1 Social Media Venue in the World” and a seven-time national award winner for “Casino of the Year – Arena” by the Academy of Country Music. For more information on concerts and other great events, visit MoheganSun.com. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711.
RJJ Boxing Weights from Washington
TOPPENISH, Wash. (July 13, 2022) – The official weight in for tomorrow night’s RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT PASS was held today at Yakama Legends Casino, in Toppenish, Washington.
The action will be streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, boxing starts at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. To sign up for UFC FIGHT PASS, please visit www.ufcfightpass.com
ABOUT ROY JONES JR (RJJ) BOXING PROMOTIONS: Co-founded in 2013 by 10-time world champion Roy Jones, Jr. and Keith Veltre, Roy Jones, Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions is on its way to reinventing boxing. RJJ has already made a huge impact in the boxing community in a few short years. Creating exhilarating content for UFC Fight Pass, CBS Sports, Showtime, ESPN and beIN Sports in some of the finest venues across the country, RJJ has proven it is conquering the sweet science of the sport.
ABOUT UFC FIGHT PASS®: UFC FIGHT PASS® is the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports. Since launching in 2013, UFC FIGHT PASS is now available in more than 200 countries and territories. UFC FIGHT PASS provides its members with unlimited access to live UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims; live mixed martial arts and combat sports from around the world; original series and historical programming; special features; behind-the-scenes content; in-depth interviews; and up-to-the minute reports on the world of combat sports. UFC FIGHT PASS subscribers also have 24/7 access to the world’s largest fight library, featuring more than 20,000 bouts from dozens of combat sports organizations, as well as every fight in UFC history. Fight fans can access UFC FIGHT PASS on personal computers, iOS and Android mobile devices, Apple TV, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and Sony TVs with Android TV. For more information, please visitwww.ufcfightpass.com.
NICK LOOKS BACK ON DEMOLITION BALL
NICK BALL WON plenty of plaudits when he returned home to Liverpool after announcing himself on the big stage last time out in April.
After all, the pint-sized featherweight delivered a big contender for performance of the night at Wembley Stadium in front of tens of thousands of people and probably millions watching around the world.
The far more seasoned Isaac Lowe was brutally assaulted by the Scouse scrapper and was finally spared any further punishment in round six after being dumped to the canvas in the second.
The win took Ball’s record to 15-0 and, more importantly, saw him win a first major belt with the WBC Silver title now a prized possession in the Ball household.
On Saturday he now makes a first defence of his title against the Namibian Nathanael Kakololo, live on BT Sport.
He was originally scheduled to challenge for the vacant British title against the also unbeaten Nathaniel Collins before the Scottish talent ruled himself out with a hand injury.
There is no more basking in his Wembley glory for Ball.
“In the first couple of weeks everyone was on me,” he recalled. “Everyone was made up for me but then it does die down and you are back to normal.
“Nothing has changed for me though, it has just made me train even harder, to be honest, and focus more because I have got something to lose now with the title and I don’t want to lose that.
“Everyone does seem to know who I am now. I’ve enjoyed it and it’s been alright but you can’t switch off and you’ve got to stay focused. I’ve appreciated all the support.
“It will take some topping and you’re not getting any bigger than that. Anfield would be good for a world title but Wembley will take some beating.”
Should he overcome Kakololo, whether the British title shot against Collins comes next remains to be seen, but Ball himself questioned the desire of the unbeaten Commonwealth champion to share a ring with him.
“I don’t know anything about it at the moment and I will fight whoever is put in front of me. He had his chance to fight and he pulled out with a sore hand. If that was me, I would get in the ring with one hand working and I have done. There are no excuses, if you’ve got a fight you get in and fight, especially for the British title.
“He didn’t want the fight with me and he hopes I will be moving on after this. I will fight for it if Frank wants me to and having the British title would be great. I would make him fight me for it.”
HAMZAH SHEERAZ DEFENDS fights for the vacant WBC Silver middleweight title against Francisco Emanuel Torres on July 2 at London’s Copper Box Arena. The British, Commonwealth and IBF European super middleweight titles will be on the line when Lennox Clarke and Mark Heffron meet in what should be a blockbuster battle between two big punchers. A recent star at Wembley Stadium, Nick Ball will make a defence of his WBC Silver featherweight title against the Namibian Nathanael Kakololo, while Dennis McCann fights for the vacant WBC International Silver featherweight title against James Beech jr.
New Frank Warren signing Pierce O’Leary will fight for the vacant WBC International super lightweight championship, with other fights on a bumper card featuring super featherweight Ryan Garner, light heavyweight Karol Itauma, super bantamweights Masood Abdulah and Umar Khan, welterweights Khalid Ali and Sean Noakes and super lightweight Sonny Liston Ali.
Tickets for the show at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday, 16 July are on sale priced from £55 and are availible from SeeTickets.com.
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It’s Fight Week for the Hamzah Sheeraz vs Francisco Emmanuel Torres headlined show at the Copper Box Arena, London, on Saturday, 16 July, live on BT Sport.
Saturday: Michael Eifert-Adriano Sperandio Light Heavyweight Battle & The Return of Undefeated Junior Welterweight Prospect Hugo Micallef to Stream LIVE on ESPN+
(July 13, 2022) — Light heavyweight contenders Michael Eifert and Adriano Sperandio will face off for the vacant IBF Intercontinental strap this Saturday, July 16, in the 10-round main event at the Maritim Hotel in Magdeburg, Germany. Undefeated Top Rank-signed junior welterweight prospect Hugo Micallef, “The Fresh Prince of Monaco,” returns in a six-rounder versus Mauro Loli.
Eifert-Sperandio, Micallef-Loli, and additional fight action will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT.
Eifert (10-1, 4 KOs), a 24-year-old German, turned pro in 2018 and won the first six fights of his career before dropping a majority decision to Tom Dzemski in August 2020. Nearly one year later, he turned the tables, edging Dzemski by majority decision to win the WBC and IBF youth titles. Eifert has won two fights by knockout since then, including a third-round stoppage over the previously undefeated Nils Schmidt. Sperandio (14-1, 2 KOs), from Rome, Italy, has won three straight fights since the lone loss on his ledger.
Micallef (2-0) signed with Top Rank last year and is currently the only active boxer from the Principality of Monaco. The Monte Carlo-born Micallef is one of his nation’s most popular homegrown athletes and has the support of many of Monaco’s luminaries, including F1 star Charles Leclerc. Micallef has won bouts in France and Spain since turning pro and steps up against Loli (7-3, 3 KOs), an Italian veteran who has never been stopped as a pro.
In other streaming action on ESPN+:
German heavyweight Albon Pervizaj (17-1, 13 KOs) will face Spanish journeyman Alvaro Terrero (5-16-2, 3 KOs).
Junior middleweight prospect Paul Wall (2-0, 1 KO) looks for win number three in a four-rounder against Nikolas Dzurnak (2-1-2, 2 KOs).
About ESPN+ ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 22.3 million subscribers. ?? Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $6.99 a month (or $69.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads). Subscribers to Hulu + Live TV also receive ESPN+ at no additional cost.
WILLIAMS AND CONWAY CLASH ON CANELO-GGG III CARD
Austin Williams will face Kieron Conway for the vacant WBA International Middleweight title on the undercard of the blockbuster trilogy clash between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Gennadiy ‘GGG’ Golovkin at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday September 17. The event, presented by Matchroom, Canelo Promotions and GGG Promotions, will broadcast live on DAZN Pay-Per-View in the U.S. and Canada as well as around the world on DAZN (excluding Mexico, Latin America, and Kazakhstan).
Williams (11-0 9 KOs) has enjoyed two standout wins in the first half of 2022 after a welcome return to action, stopping former World title challenger Javier Maciel in six rounds in London in February, before blasting away unbeaten Chordale Booker inside the opening session of their clash for the Continental Americas title at Madison Square Garden in New York at the end of April.
‘Ammo’ stepped back through the ropes in December in Las Vegas with a second round stoppage victory over Quatavious Cash ending a nine month absence from action, and his run of three impressive KO victories sees the Houston talent sit handily at #7 in the WBA rankings ahead of his second paid outing in Sin City.
Conway (17-2-1 3 KOs) fights in Vegas for the first time in the paid ranks but is no stranger to big Canelo fight nights having faced Souleymane Cissokho in May 2021 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. ‘Too Class’ was on the wrong end of a split decision in a close run clash with the Frenchman, but the Northampton man bounced back with victory in James Metcalfe’s Liverpool backyard five months later.
“It is my honor and a dream come true to open up the Canelo vs. GGG III Pay-Per-View telecast,” said Williams. “I will deliver an unforgettable experience and capture my second consecutive title in the most sophisticated way imaginable.”
“Last time out in the USA I made some mistakes, I won’t make the same mistakes twice and I’m going there to catapult my career in the right direction on one of the biggest shows of the year I can’t wait,” said Conway. “I was made for the big stage and I’m going to show it.
“Williams is a decent fighter and won’t be underestimated but he’s just another opponent to me and I’m coming to get a job done.”
“This is a cracking fight for September 17 and a tough one to call,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Ammo has come back with a bang and is looking spiteful and powerful as he moves up the WBA rankings, but Kieron came back well in his last outing in Liverpool and he won’t take a backwards step on a massive night for the Brit.”
Williams and Conway become the second bout added to the undercard on September 17 after the announcement that Super-Flyweight sensation Jesse Rodriguez will defend his WBC World title against Israel Gonzalez will be the co-main fight leading into the third installment of the classic modern rivalry between Canelo and Golovkin, with the Mexican king putting his undisputed Super-Middleweight crown on the line against Kazakhstan’s reigning WBA and IBF Middleweight ruler in the most anticipated match up of 2022.
JAKE PAUL AND HASIM RAHMAN JR. FACE OFF, TRADE VERBAL PUNCHES AT KICKOFF PRESS CONFERENCE AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN BEFORE THEY CLASH ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 6 ON SHOWTIME PPV®
New York – July 13, 2022 – Jake “The Problem Child” Paul and Hasim Rahman Jr. didn’t waste any time expressing their dislike for each other during a heated and at times frenzied press conference on Tuesday, vowing to knock the other out ahead of their cruiserweight clash scheduled for eight rounds on Saturday, August 6live on SHOWTIME PPV (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from Madison Square Garden in New York City. Tickets went on sale at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday and can be purchased at www.msg.com. The press conference was streamed live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and Jake Paul’s YouTube channel.
For the first time in his colorful and storied career, Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) will take on a full-fledged boxer in Rahman Jr., who is 12-1 with six knockouts, had around 100 amateur fights and has been trained by such greats as Emanuel Steward, Calvin Ford and now Yoel Judah.
Just four months after her epic match with Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden, Brooklyn’s seven-divisionworld champion Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano will return to the same venue and to her natural weight to defend her Featherweight World Titles against the hard-hitting Argentine Brenda “La Pumita” Carabajal co-headlining the event on August 6.
Serrano was on hand on Tuesday and said she was looking forward to fighting at 126 pounds after she fought Taylor in April at 135. Rounding out the SHOWTIME PPV undercard are separate bouts involving two of the sport’s most exciting prospects — unbeaten knockout artist Brandun Lee (25-0, 22 KOs) and quick-fisted Ashton Sylve (7-0, 7 KOs).
The press conference was hosted by the combat sports expert Ariel Helwani, who guided the heated back-and-forth discussion between Paul and Rahman Jr. Their animosity stems from sparring sessions they held before Paul’s first two fights in 2020 and who got the upper hand in that action. Rahman claims he only used one hand in the sparring in an effort to work with him. Paul referenced leaked footage of their sparring in which Paul appears to land a number of heavy blows to demonstrate the action was heated and not at all controlled. Rahman Jr. claims the footage was edited to make Paul look good.
The subject of Paul’s boxing resume also came up with Rahman stating that Paul built his career off of pummeling former MMA and NBA athletes. “That’s why your next on the list,” Paul responded. “That’s why I’m fighting you.” Hasim Jr. was flanked on the dais by his famous father, the former two-time heavyweight champion, Hasim Sr., who rose to prominence knocking out Lennox Lewis in 2001 in South Africa to become the unified titleholder. Paul referenced Rahman Sr., saying he wouldn’t be able to fight his son’s battle on August 6.
“You’re not in the ring sir,” Paul said. “And that’s what your son doesn’t understand. He thinks he’s you and that’s his biggest mistake and on August 6 I’m ending the legacy that your whole family has.”
Here’s a sampling of what the participants had to say at Tuesday’s press conference:
Jake Paul
“He’s going to get beat up by a singer, a musician, a seashell collector, an amateur, a Disney boy, a YouTuber, I’m all of these things.”
“I beat him in sparring and he knows that too. We have the footage.”
“You’re probably a little nervous about what happened (when we sparred). But under the lights with 10-ounce gloves is going to be different. That’s why I do this sport. I don’t do this sport to spar, I do this sport to fight and when he gets under the lights at Madison Square Garden in front of 20,000 fans, you’ll see what the result is.”
“It’s bring-your-kid-to-work day.”
“We know he’s going to come out southpaw so it’s me fighting a southpaw for the first time. But other than that, nothing really changes in my preparation. I spar professional fighters in the gym all the time, two to three times a week for the past three years, guys way better than him, so nothing really changes. We’re prepared for this.”
“You got beat (in sparring) and you know it.”
“This is 100 percent a tougher fight (than facing Tommy Fury). This is what I do. I take hard challenges and challenge myself more and more and increase the level of opposition and give the fans what they want. People say fight a real boxer – here we go. This guy is bigger than me, he has more experience. There’s no reason that I should win this but I’m proving to the world and proving to the kids out there that if you truly put your mind to something and you’re dedicated, then you will win.”
Hasim Rahman Jr.
“This is such a huge opportunity for me. I never once second-guessed or even doubted the outcome of this fight.”
“I’m the one giving you credibility. None of your other opponents gave you any credibility.”
“I’m here to end this façade that he’s calling a career so we’re going to see on August 6th Jake Paul fall. You’re definitely going to see that.”
“They put the footage that they want to put out. Did you put out footage where you turn around and ran away from me in the ring? You turned your back and ran. You’re going to see on August 6th.”
“Who have you fought? You haven’t fought anybody. You fought champions in the NBA and MMA but no boxers.”
“I will be using both hands on August 6. I only used one hand when I sparred him. He can’t even spar anyone with one hand. He’s not even on my level. I boxed this man with one hand behind my back and I promise you he turned his back and ran from me. I was trying to help you. He’s definitely barking up the wrong tree. I’m going to mess you up.”
“I think that I haven’t reached my full potential yet and that I can definitely have performed better in all of my fights, so on August 6 we’re going to come fully prepared.”
“I’m not worried about the weight. I was just in camp for a fight and then I got right back into the gym. The weight is not a factor. I’ve fought at 200 pounds for years in the amateurs, so losing the weight is exciting for me. It will open some doors for me in the boxing ring.”
Amanda Serrano
“I’m truly honored to have such a fast turnaround. The fight with Katie Taylor was a huge event, not just for females but for boxing in general. I’m super happy to be back at MSG with my manager Jake Paul and we get to show the world that we’re fighters and he gets to take off his promoter turtleneck and put on his boxing boots to show that he’s a fighter as well.”
“These (featherweight belts) are my babies. I work super hard for these belts. I went up to 135 my last two fights to get this fight with Katie Taylor. I’m not a legitimate 135-pounder. I’m a featherweight and that’s why I need to defend these titles and after this one it’s onto the next one against the other champions.”
“Jake Paul is fighting Hasim Rahman Jr. for a reason. We’re so much alike in the game of boxing, and I know he has all the heart and courage to go out there and do it. He’s training as if he’s fighting for a world title, so I have all the faith in his work ethic and he has that hammer and that hammer can neutralize any opponent.”
Hasim Rahman Sr.
“I’m excited like everyone else. I just don’t know how I’m going to feel when Jake’s 100 million fans hate my son (when he beats him). They’re going to hate him.”
“I think he’s been disrespectful (looking past my son) because – Jake is a real fighter and we respect that. I just think that he’s moving too quick. I think he picked the wrong guy at the wrong time.”
Stephen Espinoza, President of SHOWTIME SPORTS
“Jake could have taken an easier touch. But that’s not him. After Tommy Fury pulled out of the fight, Jake went looking for an even bigger challenge and they found a tougher challenge than they probably should have taken, someone who’s bigger than Jake, more experienced as an amateur, more experienced as a pro. Why take a fight that almost everyone around you is telling you not to take? Well, there’s one reason, Jake Paul is on a mission to prove himself as a credible professional boxer. And what he’s doing is unprecedented.”
“Strip away his celebrity status and his success as a content creator and what he’s striving for is no different than any other professional boxer. It’s no different from what Hasim Rahman is striving for – for credibility and respect, working to improve his skills and to put it all on the line on one night in front of a massive crowd here at The Garden.”
“Vasiliy Lomachenko did something similar, he headlined the Garden in his sixth professional fight at 5-1. But Jake’s doing it one fight sooner, headlining a Pay-Per-View event, and doing it without the benefit of 400 amateur fights and two gold medals. What Jake is doing is remarkable. But more importantly, you can’t call what he’s doing a hobby or a fad or a stunt. This is a full-time profession for Jake, a full commitment, boxing is now his calling card and No. 1 pursuit.”
“Jake clearly moves the needle like no one else and we at SHOWTIME are proud to be in business with him and he’s clearly bringing the sport to a new audience. The same can be said of Amanda Serrano, who inspires multitudes of young girls every time she fights. We’re proud to have Amanda back on SHOWTIME. We’re proud of our history with women’s boxing and proud to have Amanda back for a fifth time.”
Joel Fisher, Executive Vice President at MSG
“We here at The Garden are incredibly honored to host this fight between Jake Paul and Hasim Rahman Jr. Jake is an incredibly great partner. He’s really into the business of boxing and he’s a real supporter of women’s boxing, but we also know that Jake is into boxing himself and he’s really passionate about it, and I’m sure he’s in tremendous shape.”
“I want to welcome Hasim here and I want to personally thank you for stepping up quicky and stepping down in weight and we appreciate everything that you’re doing.”
“You’re following in your father’s footsteps who fought here and won in 2004.”
“The promotion we had with Amanda and Katie a few months ago was tremendous. It was historic. It was one of the greatest nights of boxing that we’ve ever had here at The Garden. Amanda is one of the best people, boxers, that I’ve ever worked with. She’s just been tremendous and we know that she’ll be ready.”
# # #
The Paul vs. Rahman and Serrano vs. Carabajal event is co-produced by SHOWTIME PPV and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), a company founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian. Holden Boxing will be the licensed promoter of the event, and Paul and Bidarian will serve as executive producers for the event. The pay-per-view telecast is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV.
SHOWTIME will bring fans inside the ropes and behind the scenes with its Emmy- award-winning series ALL-ACCESS: PAUL vs. RAHMAN, which will premiere on July 30. An ALL-ACCESS Epilogue will follow on August 13.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostVpromotions on Instagram via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostValuablePromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.
Full Card Set For Price Promotions Featuring Dylan Price vs Drew Correll for NBA World Bantamweight Title This Saturday, July 16th at Elevation Event Center in Chester, PA
CHESTER, PA (July 12, 2022)–A full six-bout card is set as Price Promotions LLC is set for a big night of boxing that will take place THIS Saturday July 16, 2022 at Elevation Event Center (51 E 9th Street in Chester Pa).
In the 10-round main event will be for the vacant NBA Bantamweight World Title featuring Dylan Price (14-0, 19 KOs) of Sicklerville NJ taking on Drew Correll (10-2, 8 KOs) of Danville, Virginia by way of Glassboro, New Jersey.
The undercard will consist of four-round bouts:
Frankie Lynn of Chester, PA will make his pro debut against pro debuting Prince Francis of New York in a middleweight bout.
Erron Peterson of Philadelphia makes his pro debut against Jeremiah Kendrick (1-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia in a middleweight bout.
Jalique Holden of Delaware makes his pro debut against fellow debutant Tarique Gerald of New York in a lightweight fight.
Tariq Green (1-0) of Philadelphia takes on Ablombola Osundairo (1-0) of Chicago in a super middleweight fight.
In a battle of pro debuting welterweights, Jamir Anderson of Philadelphia fights Aaron Newmose of Atlantic City,
The July event will be live streamed with information to follow, and rebroadcasting on our newly developed social media, live streaming, original programming app called “PROFETS”.
Vazquez Pounds Out Unanimous Decision over Argel in Philly
PHILADELPHIA (JULY 12, 2022)–Featherweight contender Edward Vazquez pounded out a eight-round unanimous over tough Jose Argel in the main event that topped a seven bout card at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.
The event was promoted by RDR Promotions.
Vazquez of Fort Worth, Texas was able to figure out Argel’s come-forward style early in the contest as the Texan started slowing down Argel with body shots with both hands. Vazquez was equally effective with the uppercut. Argel continued to attempt to press but that was to his detriment as he ate shots to his flank and face from the pinpoint Vazquez.
Vazquez, 128.8 lbs won by scores of 80-72 on all cards to raise his mark to 12-1. Argel, 127.2 lbs of Carolina, Puerto Rico via Chile is now 8-3.
The exciting co-feature produced a toe-to-toe war that saw Oscar Barajas upset Damon Allen Jr. via six-round majority decision in a lightweight contest.
The bout was thrilling as Allen boxed very well behind a nice jab. Barajas started getting through with left hands and that forced Allen to return with some solid counter rights. The fight really picked up over the final three rounds, with some furious exchanges that each fighter held on at various times in the fights.
Two judges preferred Barajas work as he the visitor took two cards by 58-56 tallies, while a third card read even at 57-57.
Barajas of Mexico won his second straight fight over a Philadelphia-based fighter at the 2300 Arena and is now 18-8-1. Allen of Philadelphia is 16-2-1.
Good looking 19 year-old prospect Isaiah Johnson notched his fifth consecutive stoppage as he took out veteran Rondale Hubbert in the opening round of their four-round junior welterweight bout.
Johnson registered three knockdowns and the bout was stopped at 1:57.
Johnson of Sicklerville, New Jersey is 5-0 with five knockouts. Hubbert of Duluth, Minnesota is 14-23-3.
DeAndre Pettus won a four-round unanimous decision over Chukka Willis in a middleweight contest.
Pettus, 160.5 lbs of Columbia, South Carolina won by shutout tallies of 40-36 on all cards and is now 7-1. Willis, 163 lbs of Emporia, Kansas is 4-17.
Former New York Golden Gloves champion Famous Wilson made a successful pro debut by winning a four-round unanimous decision over Vincent Randall in a middleweight tussle.
Wilson, 162.7 lbs of Deer Park, New York won by scores of 40-36 twice and 39-37 and is now 1-0. Randall, 157.9 lbs of Valparaiso, Indiana is 0-2.
Boimah Karmo won a four-round unanimous decision over Daniel Jiles in a junior middleweight bout.
Karmo, 152.7 lbs of Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, won by scores of 40-36 and 39-37 twice and is now 3-0-1. Jiles, 151 lbs of Philadelphia is 0-2.
Najeem Johns needed just 16 seconds to win his pro debut over Darryl Chamberlain in a junior welterweight fight.
Johns of Philadelphia landed a right hook that put Chamberlain down face-first and the bout was over.
Johns, 141 lbs is 1-0 with one knockout. Chamberlain, 134.2 lbs of Baltimore, Maryland is 0-1.
DONNIE NIETES EYES ‘GREATEST VICTORY’ AND FIVE MORE YEARS IN BOXING
LOS ANGELES, JULY 12 – Donnie Nietes says he could still be fighting at the age of 45 as he goes in search of his ‘greatest ever victory’.
The former four-weight world champion bids to reclaim the WBO world junior bantamweight title in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday night, when he takes in Kazuto Ioka.
Nietes, 40, made his professional debut in 2003 and has built a legendary career but the Filipino hero has no intention of stepping away anytime soon and hopes a WBO title win leads to super flyweight unification contests.
“I think I could box for another three to five years,” Nietes told Probellum.com.
The future Hall of Famer soon vacated the belt but believes that winning it back, on Ioka’s home turf, will ranked as his finest hour.
“I think this win would rank as the greatest victory of my career because the fight is taking place in his hometown,” Nietes added.
“I am really excited for this rematch with Ioka and I plan to use the same tactics as in 2018 because I don’t believe he has changed much since our first fight.”
To keep up to date with the latest news on Ioka vs Nietes, sign up to our newsletter?or follow Probellum on?Instagram,?Twitter?and?Facebook.???
You can also follow our official news, results, and information account, Probellum News, on Twitter.??
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About Probellum??? Launched in September 2021, Probellum is a global boxing promoter, and the fastest-growing brand in the sport.
Following the success of the opening two shows in December 2021, Probellum has already held back-to-back world championship nights in Dubai, as well as a packed card in Newcastle.
Probellum’s elite stable of fighters also includes Nonito Donaire, Regis Prograis, Estelle Mossely, Sunny Edwards, Eimantas Stanionis, Donnie Nietes and Dina Thorslund.
But the company has also recruited the next generation of stars with Peter McGrail, Mark Dickinson and Pat and Luke McCormack, Shabaz Masoud and Spencer Wilcox among the young talents under the Probellum umbrella.
Since launching, Probellum has signed co-promotional partnerships with some of the biggest promoters globally, including DiBella Entertainment (US), Wasserman (Germany), Universum (Germany), GYM (Canada), Maravilla Box (Spain), Team Ellis (Australia), Titov Boxing Promotions (Russia), Volcano Boxing (El Salvador), BXSTRS Promotions (Mexico), PR Best (Puerto Rico) Glozier Boxing (New Zealand), Box Office Sports (Ghana) and LNK Boxing (Latvia).????
Marques and Dominic Valle Continue Knockout Streaks with Stoppage Wins in Plant City, Florida
NEW YORK (July 11, 2022)–Brothers, Marques and Dominic Valle continued their winning ways with stoppage victories this past Saturday night in Plant City, Florida.
Marques took out Jorge Rodrigo Sosa in the second round of their six-round super welterweight bout.
In round one, Valle scored a knockdown when he landed two hard shots to the head that was followed up by a left to the body. Valle continued the assault he was landing at will and scored a second knockdown with a body. Valle was relentless with his attack, and Sosa was fortunate to get out of the opening frame. The fight did not last much longer as in round two, Valle landed a perfect counter right that put Sosa down again. Sosa got to his feet, but he walked around the ring, and the fight was stopped at 2:38.
Valle of Lutz, Florida saw the second round for the first time and is now 5-0 with five knockouts. Sosa of Paraguay is 3-5.Dominick stopped Manuel Guzman in the third round of their scheduled six-round featherweight bout,
In round three, Valle landed some vicious body shots that he followed with a combination to the head that put Guzman down and the fight was stopped at 2:39.
Valle of Lutz, Florida is 5-0 with five knockouts. Guzman of Managua, Nicaragua is 8-6-1.
Dominick stopped Manuel Guzman in the third round of their scheduled six-round featherweight bout,
In round three, Valle featured a body attack that he followed with a combination to the head that put Guzman down and the fight was stopped at 2:39.
Valle of Lutz, Florida is 4-0 with four knockouts. Guzman of Managua, Nicaragua is 8-6-1.
The Valle brothers are promoted by ProBox Promotions.
2-time World champion Rances Barthelemy reunited with trainer Orlando Cuellar for July 30th showdown with Gary Antuanne Russell
MIAMI (July 12, 2022) – Two-time lightweight World Champion Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (29-1-1, 15 KOs) has reunited with his original head trainer when he turned pro in 2009, Orlando Cuellar, for his July 30th fight airing on Showtime against undefeated 2016 US Olympian Gary Antuanne Russell (15-0, 15 KOs) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
A celebrated Cuban amateur boxer who relocated to Miami, Barthelemy had Cuellar in his corner for his first 14 pro fights (14-0) until he moved to Las Vegas. Barthelemy is back in southern Florida, and he recently met with Cuellar to discuss their reunion.
(L-R) Rances Barthelemy, Glen Johnson, Orlando Cuellar (background), Luis Franco and Ricardo Cordoba from circa 2009
“He knew that he’d have an advantage with us working together again because I know him well and we’ve always had chemistry and success,” Cuellar explained. “I trained him for the first half of his pro career and helped him turn pro. When I first started training him, he was a pure boxer. I showed him how to work the middle and inside distances, using fast combinations to the head, and get in big body shots. We did a lot of body work. I remember things came very naturally to him when I showed him what we needed. I wanted his ring name to be ‘The Natural’ but he would become ‘Kid Blast,’ which also fits him very well.
“Through the years, he’s acquired a high-level ring IQ at top level success using his counterpunching with speed and power. Training is going as good as expected and we’re bringing his A game!”
Cuba native Cuellar, a Florida Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, will be returning home to his roots in New York City, where he started his career as a boxing trainer. The veteran trainer is best known for his work with world champions Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver.
LISA WHITESIDE HAS COMEBACK FIGHT CONFIRMED
LONDON, JULY 12 – Lisa Whiteside’s long-awaited comeback fight has been confirmed.
The former Great Britain amateur star ends a near three-year spell away from the ring when she boxes on July 30, in Newcastle on a Wasserman Boxing promotion.
Whiteside, 3-0 as a professional, last boxed in September 2019 but took time away from the sport to focus on having her first child before injury issues delayed her return further.
But the 36-year-old is fully fit, has been firing in the gym and is ready to relaunch her career in Newcastle later this month.
“I can’t wait, I am absolutely made up to be on this show and to make my Probellum debut, on such a good card, is brilliant,”buzzed Whiteside.
“I am going to embrace every second of my comeback fight and enjoy it – I am just so happy to be back fighting and be back in the mix!”
The 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist plans to use her Newcastle return to catapult her into the super bantamweight world title reckoning.
“I want to be fast-tracked and to quickly be in position to fight for titles,” Whiteside, who is known as the ‘Lionheart’, declared.
“I may only be 3-0 as a pro but I’ve got masses and masses of experience from the amateurs so I don’t want to be messing around. I want to get on with my career and push on towards the big fights.”
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About Probellum??? Launched in September 2021, Probellum is a global boxing promoter, and the fastest-growing brand in the sport.
Following the success of the opening two shows in December 2021, Probellum has already held back-to-back world championship nights in Dubai, as well as a packed card in Newcastle.
Probellum’s elite stable of fighters also includes Nonito Donaire, Regis Prograis, Estelle Mossely, Sunny Edwards, Eimantas Stanionis, Donnie Nietes and Dina Thorslund.
But the company has also recruited the next generation of stars with Peter McGrail, Mark Dickinson and Pat and Luke McCormack, Shabaz Masoud and Spencer Wilcox among the young talents under the Probellum umbrella.
Since launching, Probellum has signed co-promotional partnerships with some of the biggest promoters globally, including DiBella Entertainment (US), Wasserman (Germany), Universum (Germany), GYM (Canada), Maravilla Box (Spain), Team Ellis (Australia), Titov Boxing Promotions (Russia), Volcano Boxing (El Salvador), BXSTRS Promotions (Mexico), PR Best (Puerto Rico) Glozier Boxing (New Zealand), Box Office Sports (Ghana) and LNK Boxing (Latvia).????
WBO INTERNATIONAL TITLE CONFIRMED FOR KELLY VS. BASTIDA
Josh Kelly (11-1-1, 7 KOs) will be counting on the support of the North East to get him over the line when he competes against Lucas Bastida (18-1-1, 10 KOs) for the WBO International Super Welterweight Championship on Saturday July 30 at the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle, free-to-air and live on Channel 5.
This is an unbelievable chance for one of these fighters to break into the world rankings with the WBO. After a dominant performance against Peter Kramer, Kelly will look to carry that confidence to cement himself into the world rankings.
Alongside the reward of a world ranking also comes big fights. With the division being held up by undisputed champion Jermell Charlo, Kelly will be looking to reintroduce himself dramatically onto the global scene of the super welterweight division.
Now Kelly not only has the thrill of fighting in front of his own, but a title on the line certainly adds any final elements of motivation needed. Having been given the news, Kelly was elated and confident that this was only the start of big things to come.
“I’m buzzing, and I’m ready. There’s no reason to sugar-coat the fact that my opponent will be putting even more into training to come and try to cause an upset,” said Kelly. “We are covering all bases in camp, and when you have world title aspirations you make sure you’re preparing like a world champion.”
He continues, “The WBO belt adds that additional spice to things, and it’s about me going out there and being Josh Kelly that will see it leaving the arena with me in front of my friends and family. We are the North East, and we don’t do things in half-measures. On fight night, i’ll be there to push the pace and show why this will be the first belt of many.”
Bastida will be providing a very real threat to the title aspirations of Sunderland’s ‘PBK’. At 25-years-old the Argentine has had additional rounds, but holds a similar record to Kelly in only having one loss and one draw on his record. The narrow margins between the fighters guarantee a technical and excellent battle between two men looking to give it all to claim the belt and move on to endless possibilities in their next fight.
After two hugely successful terrestrial television shows, the announcement of a title promises to entertain all those in attendance at the Vertu Motors Arena as well as the Channel 5 audience. Wasserman’s Head of Global Boxing, Kalle Sauerland, expressed his delight for Kelly and the doors it could open to get the North East boy back where he belongs.
“Josh Kelly fighting for titles feels like one of the most natural things in boxing,” said Sauerland. “His pedigree and his ability rightfully have him fighting for the WBO International belt when we blow the roof off the Vertu Motors Arena. This will stick Josh’s name exactly where it belongs and sets up an exciting future where massive fights can be made for our former Olympian. Newcastle, be ready!”
The North East takeover is coming as Josh Kelly (11-1-1, 7 KOs) vs. Lucas Bastida (18-1-1, 10 KOs) headline on an electric fight night. Olympic hero Pat McCormack (1-0, 1 KO) also stars, alongside Harlem Eubank (14-0, 6 KOs) as he continues his title charge against Tom ‘Fazza’ Farrell (21-5, 5 KOs). Heavyweights Hosea Stewart (2-0) and Franklin Ignatius (3-0, 1 KO) guaranteed to produce fireworks amongst top local talent such as Mark Dickinson (3-0, 1 KO), ‘Drago’ Steve Robinson (4-1, 3 KOs), Kai Richmond (1-0), Ben Marksby (4-0), Lisa Whiteside (3-0, 1KO) and Jordan Barker-Porter (3-1) on an unforgettable night in the North East. Wasserman Boxing heads to the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle for a massive night of free-to-air boxing on Saturday July 30, live on Channel 5 in association with William Hill, Numan and Infinitum Entertainment.
Tickets priced £40, £80, £100 and £200 are on sale now and available via www.wassermanboxing.com
SUPER-FLY SENSATION RODRIGUEZ DEFENDS WORLD CROWN AGAINST GONZALEZ ON CANELO-GGG III CARD
Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez will defend his WBC World Super-Flyweight title against Israel Gonzalez as the co-main event on the undercard of the trilogy clash between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Gennadiy ‘GGG’ Golovkin at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday September 17. The event, presented by Matchroom, Canelo Promotions and GGG Promotions, will broadcast live on DAZN Pay-Per-View in the U.S. and Canada as well as around the world on DAZN (excluding Mexico, Latin America, and Kazakhstan).
Rodriguez (16-0 11 KOs) is in red-hot form after a sensational stoppage win over Thai star Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on his San Antonio home turf in June, his eighth round triumph coming in the first defense of the title he won after stepping in late to meet Carlos Cuadras for the vacant strap in February in Phoenix.
‘Bam’ extended his promotional pact with Eddie Hearn following the win over Rungivisai, and he looks to strengthen his fighter of the year claims with another strong showing as he puts the green and gold strap on the line against Mexican Gonzalez (28-4-1 11 KOs).
The 25 year old challenges for World honors for the fourth time having previously faced Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez, Kal Yafai and Jerwin Ancajas for belts at 115lbs, and the Mexican will lay it all on the line with huge support from the crowd on Mexican Independence Day weekend in Sin City.
“September 17, we are back,” said Rodriguez. “It’s an honor to be a part of this card and I want to thank Matchroom and Teiken for giving me this opportunity. Having the chance to fight on Mexican Independence Day weekend, as the co-main to Canelo-GGG is truly special and I plan on putting on another spectacular performance and continuing to build my legacy.
“Each fight now is more important than the last. It’s not about just winning; it’s how you win. That’s mine and my coach Robert Garcia’s job now; to look sensational each and every time we step in the ring and continue to show the world that I am one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.”
“I want to thank Matchroom but most I want to thank the champ Jesse Rodriguez for the opportunity,” said Gonzalez. “I know I’ll take full advantage of this and make my dream come true of becoming a World champion on September 17.
“Fighting on Canelo-GGG III card is a dream come true for Bam to showcase his talent to the whole world,” said Rodriguez’s trainer and manager Robert Garcia. “Thanks to Matchroom and Teiken for this huge opportunity. We will take this chance to show the boxing world that Bam is one of the most talented fighters in the world.”
“I am delighted to make Jesse the first fighter on the undercard of a spectacular night on September 17,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Jesse is the hottest property in the sport right now after his electric performances in the first half of 2022, and he’s looking to build on that on the biggest possible platform.
“Israel is sure to give it everything he has got on Mexican Independence Day weekend, but I believe you are going to see another special performance from a seriously talented young fighter in Jesse.”
Jesse Rodriguez’s clash with Israel Gonzalez is the first bout announced for the undercard of the third installment of the classic modern rivalry between Canelo and Golovkin, with the Mexican king putting his undisputed Super-Middleweight crown on the line against Kazakhstan’s reigning WBA and IBF Middleweight ruler in the most anticipated match up of 2022.
Dee Lee Promotions, LLC in association with Family Legacy Finest Presents PORTUGAL’S FINEST vs USA’s FINEST
Wilmington, DE – Dee Lee Promotions, LLC in association with Family Legacy Finest and Matchmaker Nick Tiberi presents an Evening of Professional Boxing featuring Portugal’s Finest fighter’s vs the USA’s finest fighter’s, Saturday night September 17th, 2022 at CHASE FIELDHOUSE, 401 Garasches Lane, Wilmington, DE. This unique boxing event marks the return of ‘Delaware’s First Lady of Boxing’, Diane Lee Fischer Cristiano to both Delaware and ‘The Square Ring’ following her year-long battle with cancer. She is joining Joe Richmond (The Delaware Blue Coats Ambassador of Basketball) and brother Mike Richmond (YWait Sports
Management), two well-known sports figures in Wilmington and the surrounding Tri-State area and their new joint venture, Family Legacy Finest, to present this exciting event.
Delaware’s own Nick Tiberi will match a fine contingent of Portuguese fighters against a strong group of young American sluggers in what promises to be a memorable evening in Delaware and tri state boxing fans won’t soon forget! This… ‘DON’T MISS’… action packed event, will also include (Delaware Blue Coats) The Philadelphia 76er’s G League Affiliate (Ambassador of Basketball), Joe Richmond. So, Mark it on your calendar, boxing fans… Saturday, September 17th, 2022… the place to be is Chase Fieldhouse, Wilmington, DE.. Portugal vs USA!
TICKET INFO: $30.00 GA can be purchased online via Eventbrite, Sponsorship Ticket/Table Sales can be purchased by contacting Joe Richmond 302.509.5059. For more info contact: Promoter Diane Fischer 609.868.4243 or 856.692.1206 and Matchmaker Nick Tiberi 302.540.7203.
About Dee Lee Promotions, LLC.
Dee Lee Promotions, LLC. is owned and operated by New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame promoter Diane Fischer of Vineland, NJ. Fischer has earned a reputation not only as a premier matchmaker who has presented some of the most memorable and entertaining boxing contests In the country, but as woman who has been Innovative and overcome gender barriers In an industry dominated by men, Her industry awards and distinctions include: New Jersey Promoter of The Year; Undercard Fight of the Year; Best Girl Fight of The Year; The First Time Six World Title Belts [Pay Per View] appeared on one card (Atlantic City); The First All Girl Fight on the East Coast; The first woman ever to promote an all girl fight card in Baton Rouge Louisiana; The first woman promoter ever to promote a World Title Fight in Panama City; The first male or female promoter to present a title fight In Delaware; The first woman promoter to promote/co-promote a Heavyweight Championship Fight on HBO, Ray Mercer, and Wiadimir Klitschko on June 29, 2002; the fight also was aired on PPV in Germany and was the first Heavyweight Championship promoted by a female in that country. To contact Dee Lee Promotions LLC., call 856.692.1206.