Lerrone Richards will no longer be fighting at York Hall on Friday night after his opponent was forced out through injury.
Richards was due to take on Steed Woodall for the WBO Intercontinental Super Middleweight title.
The Wasserman Boxing show is headlined by Charlie Edwards as he launches his bid to become a two-weight world champion, live and free on Channel 5 at 10pm.
Edwards faces former European title holder Georges Ory for the WBC International Silver Bantamweight title over 10 rounds and plans on making a statement in front of a huge national television audience.
Edwards’ highly anticipated return is supported by the latest contest for Tom Welland, one of British boxing’s hottest prospects, as well as a Southern Area title fight between Obi Egbunike and Jordan Dujon.
Jesse Brandon has a first fight of 2024 while Oliver Zaren faces a test of his potential, when he faces John Harding Jnr.
The popular Christian Fetti makes his professional debut, Brighton’s Harvey Dykes is back in action, along with Robert Lloyd-Taylor Jnr and Elliot Whale.

Eddie Hearn and Matchroom have won the race to sign one of boxing’s hottest properties, as Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis has signed a multi-fight promotional deal in partnership with Boots Promotions.

Ennis (31-0 28 KOs) is slated to make his much-anticipated return to the ring in the summer where he will make the first defense of his IBF World Welterweight title.

Last time out in July, Ennis successfully defended the interim title belt when he knocked out Roiman Villa in stunning fashion in the 10th round of their clash in in Atlantic City. Ennis landed the interim strap in January 2023 when the American defeated Karen Chukhadzhian in Washington D.C, before his win over Colombian Villa extended his unbeaten record in the paid ranks to 31 fights, with that KO a scary 28th from the slick and powerful champion.

The 26 year old was later promoted to champion in November after former undisputed welterweight ruler Terence Crawford was forced to relinquish the title, and Ennis is now a man on a mission to prove he belongs at the very top of the sport and is looking forward to returning to the biggest nights on the grandest stage, teaming up with the biggest promoter in the world on the undisputed global platform for boxing.

“I’m excited for this partnership with Eddie Hearn, Matchroom and DAZN,” said Ennis. “I can’t wait to continue making my mark and becoming undisputed World champion. I’ve been out of the ring for a year, and I cannot wait to get back in and do what I do best; entertain the fans and put on clinics. There are blockbuster fights on the horizon for me, and I am ready to deliver them.”

Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn revealed his delight at securing the highly sought-after signature of Ennis, backing the undefeated superstar to rule the world for many years to come.

“Wow – What a signing!” said Hearn. “I’ve watched this young man for many years, and I always believed he would become a pound-for-pound great, and I have no doubt he is already the greatest fighter in the division. To win the race to sign Jaron is a massive coup for Matchroom Boxing and DAZN.

“Holding the IBF title in one of boxing’s glamour divisions places Jaron front and center for some of the biggest fights out there in the sport, and we plan to deliver them for him.

“Jaron has everything needed to become a household name both in the sport and in the sporting hotbed of his Philadelphia hometown, where we are committed to building him. Fight fans can get excited for his return in the summer as he looks to hunt down the biggest fights that will elevate him to the pound-for-pound list.”

A further announcement on Ennis’ first defense of his World championship will be made soon.

Top Rank Boxing on ESPN presented by AutoZone: Anderson vs. Merhy and Ajagba vs. Vianello will be presented live Saturday, April 13, at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+. The event takes place at American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas.

In the 10-round heavyweight main event, unbeaten knockout artist Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson takes onBelgian contender Ryad Merhy.

Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs) is coming off an impressive 2023, where he notched three victories with two knockouts. In April, he brought George Arias’ undefeated run to an end. Less than three months later, he celebrated his triumphant return to Toledo, squaring off against former world titleholder Charles Martin and earning a 10-round unanimous decision. Anderson then dispatched Andriy Rudenko in five rounds in August. 

Merhy (32-2, 26 KOs) makes his U.S. debut following his best win yet, a December victory over hometown hero and Olympic gold medalist, Tony Yoka in Paris.

In the 10-round heavyweight co-feature, Nigerian puncher Efe Ajagba (19-1, 14 KOs) and Italian standout Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello (12-1-1, 10 KOs) will collide in a duel of 2016 Olympians.

The eight-round televised opener features three-time world title challenger Robson Conceicao (17-2-1, 8 KOs), as he looks to keep his junior lightweight world title hopes alive against the upset-minded Jose Guardado (15-1-1, 5 KOs).

Undercard action begins at 5:50 p.m. ET/ 2:50 p.m. PT exclusively on ESPN+.

Calling the action will be ESPN’s Joe Tessitore, Hall of Famer, Timothy Bradley, Jr., Mark Kriegel, and Bernardo Osuna. 

ESPN+: On Demand Shows, Archives & Premium Articles

• Top Rank: Real Time– All-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night. 
• Who Do U Fight 4?– Learn what drivesthe next generation of Top Rank stars. 
• State of Boxing– Post-show coverage of the biggest fights on ESPN and ESPN+. 
• Best of Boxing Spotlight – An archive of the all-time best Top Rank fights. 

Follow @ESPNRingside: Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok

Anderson vs. Merhy (All Times ET)

Las Vegas (April 9, 2024) – Hall of Famer, Boxing Legend and the last Undisputed Heavyweight World Champion Lennox Lewis has confirmed that he will appear at the Seventh Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday May 4, 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Expo will also coincide with the mega fight between Canelo Alvarez vs Jaime Munguia, that will take place later that evening at the T-Mobile Arena.

Lewis will hold a Meet & Greet with his fans at his League of Champions Foundation “LOCF” booth, during the fan event held over the Cinco De Mayo weekend. 

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

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

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

Lewis will make his first appearance at this years’ Expo and will be signing gloves, photos, personal items and memorabilia. Lewis will also have merchandise to sell for fans to enjoy at his League of Champions Foundation “LOCF” booth. Boxing fans will also have an opportunity to take pictures with this Boxing Legend also known as the “The Lion”.

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

About Lennox Lewis

Lennox Lewis has accomplished more in one boxing career than most people can imagine. He won Gold in the 1988 Olympics which today still stands as the last Olympic Gold for Canada. Lewis retired with an impressive record of 41 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw with 32 wins by knockout. In 2009, in his first year of eligibility, Lewis was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He reigned the heavyweight division for almost 12 consecutive years as the defending, lineal, undisputed, universally recognized and ONLY heavyweight champion of the world. Twenty years into retirement, he remains the last undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. 

Lewis adopted home of Canada awarded him a CM- Member of the Order of Canada, that recognized his lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. His birth country of England honored him with a CBE – Commander in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire awarded by Queen Elizabeth II. He received an Honorary Degree at the Wilfrid Laurier University 100-year convocation. In 2016, he was honored by the WBC with his picture image permanently embedded on the WBC heavyweight championship belt joining the permanent embedded picture of Muhammad Ali.

About LOCF

Co-founded by Lennox Lewis, (LOCF) League of Champions Foundation, is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit dedicated to using sport to support charitable initiatives in Jamaica, UK, Canada and the USA. LOCF is a beacon of hope and opportunity for at-risk youth facing barriers to accessing after-school activities and summer enrichment programs. Recognizing the critical need for safe and engaging opportunities for youth, LOCF is dedicated to addressing the global problem of limited access to structured and supervised programs through its innovative behavioral change approach. At the heart of LOCF’s mission are the FREE summer boxing INTENSIVE camps, FREE summer sports camps, and FREE after-school programs designed to provide at-risk youth with a safe and nurturing environment for learning and growth. These programs are meticulously crafted to deliver comprehensive experiences that not only inspire awe, foster discipline, but promote personal development in the areas of conflict resolution skills and critical thinking. 

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

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

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

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite –

https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2024

To request information on exhibiting and sponsorship at the Expo:

For media credentials:

Contact us:

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

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

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

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

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

Jordan Gill is aiming to make it two big away day wins in a row when he takes on Manchester’s former World Title challenger Zelfa Barrett in a must-win Super-Featherweight showdown at the famous AO Arena this Saturday April 13, live worldwide on DAZN. 

Chatteris’ Gill, a former European and Commonwealth Champion at Featherweight, stunned Irish hero Michael Conlan with a seventh-round stoppage win on away territory at the SSE Arena Belfast in December and immediately called for a World Title shot in his post-fight interview.

‘The Thrill’ had been written off by many ahead of his last chance saloon clash with Conlan, but the 29-year-old, who is trained by Barry Smith out of the Ben Davison Performance Centre in Harlow, produced the performance of his career to catapult his name into the World Title conversation in the 130 pounds division.

“Heading into the Conlan fight in December it was just laughable because everyone tipped him,” said Gill. “I knew how good I am. I knew what I’m capable of. I knew that I had to upset people. I knew I had to have something to prove. I proved people wrong and it was more pleasurable for me to do that.

“I knew the fight was mine from the first round. I rocked him heavy in the first round, dropped him in the second. From that point you know you have to be patient. Once you hurt someone once you know you’re going to do it again. It’s more about taking your time, tucking up a little bit, letting them burn themselves out and then going to town. That was the plan; it worked a treat.”

Gill came face-to-face with former European Super-Featherweight Champion Barrett earlier today at Manchester Hall as the pair kicked off fight week proceedings ahead of Saturday’s stacked card that features two World Title fights in Ellie Scotney vs. Segolene Lefebvre and Rhiannon Dixon vs. Karen Elizabeth Carabjal. 

‘Brown Flash’ has further World Title aspirations of his own having come up short against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov for the IBF title in Abu Dhabi back in November 2022, but Gill insists that his time is now and another big win this weekend will put him at the front of the line for a shot at gold. 

“I feel the best that I’ve ever felt,” said Gill. “I feel so strong. I feel rejuvenated. I’m not killing myself to make weight. I feel happy. I feel prepared; well prepared. I’m looking forward to a fantastic fight. I think it’s going to be mouth-watering; it’s one that everyone is talking about. I’m just dead excited. This is the chapter now where we’re going to make it all count.

“He looks well prepared. He looks ready. He looks like he’s got the bit between his teeth. He looks like he wants to hurt me. We’ve got to go in and do our job. I think there’s no way that this fight isn’t an exciting fight. I think I win this fight by knockout. This is what I’ve worked for; this is what I’ve dreamed of since I’ve been a kid.

“I just like upsetting people and I think I get a kick out of people telling me that I can’t win fights. Everyone expected me to lose the Conlan fight, and going in there and pulling it off – for me that’s exciting and that’s what boxing is all about. It’s all about the good fights and this is a really good fight. I’m ready to go to the well.

“For me, all of the pressure is on Zelfa. Everyone is expecting me to lose this fight. I’m coming to the lion’s den again. Everyone is making me the underdog again. No problem, just put all of that pressure on him and we’ll turn up, do what we need to do and come away victorious. 

“To be the best you have to beat the best. So, to have a claim to a World Title you have to go through these fights. Zelfa is a very good fighter, he wants a World Title shot and he’s probably at the front of the queue, so I have to beat him to leapfrog him. That’s why we’re here.”

Gill vs. Barrett tops a huge night of boxing in Manchester, Catford’s Ellie Scotney (8-0) aims to unify the Super-Bantamweight division when she puts her IBF World Title on the line against France’s WBO World Champion Segolene Lefebvre (18-0, 1 KO), Warrington’s Rhiannon Dixon (9-0, 1 KO) looks to win her first World Title when she takes on Argentina’s KarenElizabeth Carabajal (21-1, 3 KOs) for the vacant WBO 140lbs crown, Manchester’s Michael Gomez Jr (20-1, 5 KOs) defends his English Super-Featherweight Title against Birmingham’s Kane Baker (19-10-2, 1 KO), Liverpool Middleweight prospect Ste Clarke (1-0, 1 KO) meets Swindon’s Jensen Irving (4-9) over four rounds, Oxford Lightweight JordanFlynn (9-0-1, 1 KO) fights Tanzania’s Tampela Maharusi (10-4-4, 5 KOs) over 8 rounds, Liverpool Super-Flyweight Jack Turner (5-0, 5 KOs) goes for another knockout against Abdul Kesi Ngaoma (7-5-1, 6 KOs), Brentwood Middleweight Jimmy Sains (3-0, 3 KOs) has his fourth pro fight against Mateusz Kalecki (2-1, 1 KO), Manchester Super-Welterweight William Crolla (3-0, 2 KOs) faces Italy’s Fabio Cascone (4-9, 1 KO) over six rounds and Swansea Super-Bantamweight Brandon Scott (6-0, 1 KO) returns for his first fight since last August when he takes on Rodrigo Matias Areco (5-5-2) over six rounds. 

NEW YORK (April 9, 2024) — PPV.COM, which does not require a subscription, returns to the ring when it live streams to boxing fans, in the U.S. and Canada, an action-packed  five-bout card, featuring the highly anticipated 12-round super lightweight world title tilt between undefeated WBC super lightweight world champion Devon “The Dream” Haney (31-0, 15 KOs), from Las Vegas, Nevada, and the internationally popular “King Ry” Ryan  Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs), from Los Angeles, Saturday, April 20, beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. Haney and Garcia, who were 3-3 against each other in the amateurs, will finally get their “Game 7” to not only settle a score but to determine the top dog in their heated rivalry.  The Haney-Garcia world championship event will emanate live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.  Priced at $79.99, it can be ordered by clicking here PPV.COM | Haney vs. Garcia.  

 “Haney versus Garcia is a fight which will turn out to have been competition — if ‘King Ry’ is actually more real than his legions of critics want to believe — or cosmetic, if in fact his critics are on target,” said Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Lampley, who will be co-hosting the exclusive viewer chat, in real time, during the PPV.COM Haney-Garcia world championship event live stream.  “Haney’s conquest of the great Vasyl Lomachenko is sufficient to prove his skill level.  Ryan’s skills have so far been more evident on social media.  But it might only take one on-target left hook to upend the odds, and that’s what Garcia must hunt for.”       

Joining Lampley on the live viewer chat will be award-winning journalist Lance Pugmire, and “Inside Boxing Live” podcast hosts Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri.  They will also be providing exclusive fight week commentary and reports from Brooklyn for PPV.COM‘s website and social platforms.

Canobbioand Algieri have moved their popular Inside Boxing Livepodcast to PPV.COM, where they produce two fresh episodes weekly, provide onsite coverage during major pay-per-view fight weeks, host their own weekly live chat every Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET, and join fight night live viewer chats.  For the latest episodes of Inside Boxing Live presented by PPV.COM, click hereInside Boxing Live – YouTube.

PPV.COM, which does not require a subscription, will offer Haney vs. Garcia to viewers in the U.S. and Canada.  iNDEMAND, the parent company of PPV.COM, will also be carrying the event through its network of cable and telco operators in the U.S. and Canada via providers including: Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Optimum, Fios, Rogers, Bell, SaskTel, and Telus, among others.

JIM LAMPLEY

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

LANCE PUGMIRE

Lance is a recipient of the Nat Fleischer Award for Excellence in Boxing Journalism, the BWAA’s highest honor.  He brings over 30 years of experience covering the sweet science for the Los Angeles Times, The Athletic, and USA Today.  He currently serves as senior U.S. writer for BoxingScene.com.

About iNDEMAND and PPV.COM

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

LAS VEGAS – April 9, 2024 – Three high-stakes matchups featuring some of the sport’s most exciting fighters will round out a stacked pay-per-view lineup as Canelo Promotions presents a Cinco de Mayo weekend blockbuster featuring pound-for-pound great Canelo Álvarez putting his undisputed super middleweight world title on the line against unbeaten all-action former world champion Jaime Munguía headlining a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video on Saturday, May 4 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

In the co-main event, former world champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios will defend his Interim WBC Welterweight Title against Argentine power-puncher Fabián “TNT” Maidana, while hard-hitting former world champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa puts his Interim WBC Featherweight Title on the line against former world champion Jessie Magdaleno in pay-per-view action. Kicking off the pay-per-view at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT is undefeated WBA Welterweight Champion Eimantas Stanionis battling the unbeaten two-time Olympian Gabriel Maestre.

In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to purchase the PPV via DAZN.com. On top of those options, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets, including PPV.com.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now at AXS.com. The event is promoted by Canelo Promotions and TGB Promotions, in association with Golden Boy Promotions and Zanfer Boxing Promotions.

“Saturday, May 4 will deliver a worthy pay-per-view undercard of toe-to-toe clashes leading up to the all-Mexico headlining clash between Canelo Álvarez and Jaime Munguia,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Cinco de Mayo weekend is a crown jewel in the boxing calendar, and with this jam-packed lineup of action fighters entering the ring at T-Mobile Arena, fans are in for non-stop entertainment once again on this PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video.”

**MARIO BARRIOS VS. FABIAN MAIDANA**

The 12-round co-main event will see Mario “El Azteca” Barrios make the first defense of his Interim WBC Welterweight Title against Argentina’s Fabián “TNT” Maidana, the younger brother of legendary action fighter Marcos who will look to add to his family legacy in his first world title opportunity.

A former world champion at 140-pounds, Barrios (28-2, 18 KOs) earned a career-best victory in his last outing and stamped his place as a top 147-pounder by dropping Yordenis Ugas twice last September on his way to a unanimous decision. The 28-year-old hails from San Antonio, Texas and now trains in Las Vegas under the guidance of top trainer Bob Santos. He won a 140-pound world championship in September 2019, using his aggressive style to edge out Batyr Akhmedov and earn a unanimous decision. Barrios lost the super lightweight title in another action packed, highly competitive bout, as he was defeated by three-division and five-time world champion Gervonta Davis in June 2021.

“I’m thrilled to be back in the ring for the co-main event of the biggest Mexican fight in history and during Cinco de Mayo weekend,” said Barrios. “Fabián Maidana is a tough warrior like me, so the fans are definitely in for an exciting fight. Defending my title is priority number one, and I’m going to do it with intelligence and bad intentions. Everyone knows that when I step into the ring, I leave it all in there. This will be no different. On May 4, the fans can expect a Mexico vs. Argentina war.”

The 31-year-old Maidana (22-2, 16 KOs) enters this fight on a four-bout winning streak, including three 2023 triumphs highlighted by a unanimous decision victory over Israel Lopez in November. A native of Margarita, Santa Fe, Argentina, Maidana hopes to follow in the footsteps of his older brother and former two-division champion Marcos. He’s fought professionally since 2014, following up a strong amateur career by winning his first 16 pro fights. He will return to fight stateside for the first time since 2019, after spending much of his early career fighting in the U.S., including a 2018 knockout of former title challenger Andrey Klimov.

“I’m very happy to be fighting on this card against a great champion like Mario Barrios,” said Maidana. “We come to win and give our best to the mecca of boxing, Las Vegas. The world knows my brother beat Floyd Mayweather on Cinco de Mayo, and I plan to do the same against Barrios. I’m fighting for my people in Argentina, and I’m coming to win.”

**BRANDON FIGUEROA VS. JESSIE MAGDALENO**

The pay-per-view lineup will also feature the return of former world champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa as he defends his Interim WBC Featherweight Title in a 12-round bout against the former 122-pound world champion Jessie Magdaleno.

The 27-year-old Figueroa (24-1-1, 18 KOs) most recently picked up his interim title in his last bout, beating former world champion Mark Magsayo via unanimous decision in a Fight of the Year candidate in March 2023. It was his second fight since a 2021 Fight of the Year against Stephen Fulton Jr., which some observers thought ended in controversy after the majority decision loss for Figueroa. A native of Weslaco, Texas, Figueroa’s relentless pressure and youthful enthusiasm helped him become the first person to defeat former division champion Luis Nery in their championship clash prior to the Fulton fight. Figueroa added to his family’s legacy by capturing the WBC 122-pound world title against Nery, joining his brother Omar Figueroa Jr., who previously held the WBC Lightweight World Championship.

“I’ve been staying ready, just patiently waiting for my opportunity, and now I can’t wait to get back in the ring on May 4,” said Figueroa. “Magdaleno is a great fighter and he’s a former world champion for a reason. I know I have to be at my best. I’m just hungry to get back into the ring and keep boxing exciting with my fights and my fighting style.”

A Las Vegas-native, Magdaleno (29-2, 18 KOs) will look to rebound from a decision defeat in his last fight against current featherweight titlist Raymond Ford. Prior to the defeat, Magdaleno had put together four-straight victories since moving up to featherweight in 2019. The 32-year-old became a world champion in 2016 with a dominant unanimous decision victory over future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire, and successfully defended the title with a 2017 knockout of Adeilson Dos Santos. Magdaleno also comes from a boxing family, as his older brother Diego was a longtime contender, while his younger brother Marco also fought professionally.  

“This fight is everything for me,” said Magdaleno. “There are people who think I’m an underdog against Figueroa. But I’d remind those people of one thing…I was an underdog when I became world champion for the first time, and I’m ready to do it again. On May 4 you will hear ‘and the new!’”

**EIMANTAS STANIONIS VS. GABRIEL MAESTRE**

A come-forward technician, the undefeated Eimantas Stanionis will make the first defense of his WBA Welterweight Title when he takes on fellow unbeaten Gabriel Maestre in a 12-round showdown that opens up the pay-per-view card.

Representing his native Kaunas, Lithuania, Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs) has made the most of the promise he showed when turning pro after fighting for his country at the 2016 Olympic games. The 29-year-old captured his interim belt in his most recent outing, defeating the previously unbeaten Radzhab Butaev via a hard-fought decision in April 2022. Stanionis blasted through a slew of veteran welterweights on his way up the ladder, including a knockout of Justin DeLoach and a 12-round unanimous decision over Thomas Dulorme.

“I’m so excited to get back in the ring, I feel like a kid in a candy store who gets to choose any kind of candy he wants,” said Stanionis. “This is especially exciting for me because I am a big fan of Canelo Álvarez. I love watching his fights and as a kid, I dreamed of fighting on Cinco de Mayo in front of all those great Mexican fans. It motivates me even more to give them a great fight. I know that Gabriel Maestre is tough and has power. We fought in the amateurs and I know it’s a great matchup of styles. I’m going to bring the action and so will he. You can definitely expect fireworks on May 4.”

A two-time Olympian for his home country of Venezuela, Maestre (6-0-1, 5 KOs) delivered a dominant display last August as he blasted out the then-unbeaten rising prospect Travon Marshall in round two. His pro career has followed an extensive amateur run that included victories over Brian Castano, Carlos Adames, Alexander Besputin, Oscar Molina and Brian Ceballo. He made his U.S. debut with a controversial decision victory over Mykal Fox in August 2021 before fighting fellow unbeaten Taras Shelestyuk to a draw in March 2022 and defeating former two-division champion Devon Alexander in April 2023.

“I’ve wanted to fight Stanionis for years and get revenge from our amateur match,” said Maestre. “It was a tough close fight and I’m ready to face him again for another war. We are ready for a great fight and to leave the ring with my hand raised. May 4 will be a historic day for me and Venezuela.”

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For more information visit www.Amazon.com/PBC, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #CaneloMunguia, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions

(April 9, 2024) – Ukrainian featherweight contender Arnold Khegai has signed a multi-fight promotional agreement with Top Rank.
 
Khegai (21-1-1, 13 KOs), who is ranked No. 1 by the WBO and No. 3 by the IBF, is expected to return in the summer. 
 
“Arnold Khegai is one of the very best featherweights in the world, and he deserves an opportunity to prove himself at the championship level,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. 
 
Khegai said, “Signing with Top Rank is a huge milestone in my career, and I’m grateful to Bob Arum for this opportunity. I’m ready to fight for any of the belts at featherweight. I want to show the world who I am.”
 
“Arnold is an incredibly dedicated and talented fighter,” said Sam Katkovski, Khegai’s manager. “He will be the next world champion from Ukraine, following in the footsteps of Usyk and Lomachenko. Thank you to Top Rank for giving us the opportunity.”
 
Khegai, who was born to Korean parents in Lymanske, Ukraine, turned to combat sports as a teenager to support his family. He was a two-time world champion in Thai boxing before an amateur boxing stint that saw him become a national champion. He debuted in the paid ranks in 2015 as a junior featherweight, contesting his first 12 bouts in Russia. He suffered his first blemish during this run, fighting to a split draw against then-unbeaten Yerzhan Zalilov in April 2016. Two years later, he made his U.S. debut by vanquishing Adam Lopez via eight-round unanimous decision. He tallied four more wins before a decision loss to eventual unified champion Stephen Fulton. Khegai then moved up to featherweight, where he is 5-0 with 3 KOs, including a points triumph against former world title challenger Eduardo Baez.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (April 9, 2024) —Heavyweight prospect Richard Torrez Jr., the U.S. Olympic silver medalist who has knocked out every man he’s faced, hopes to extend his streak of fallen foes. Torrez steps up against fellow unbeaten Brandon Moore on Saturday, May 18 at Pechanga Arena San Diego.

The eight-round televised opener joins a loaded bill headlined by the vacant WBO lightweight world title showdown between Mexican three-weight world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete and Ukraine’s Denys Berinchyk. The 12-round welterweight co-feature, a match of undefeated contenders, will see San Diego native Giovani Santillan fight Brian Norman Jr.

Navarrete-Berinchyk, Santillan-Norman and Torrez-Moore will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

“Richard Torrez Jr. is one of the most explosive and powerful young heavyweights I’ve seen, and he’s in for a big test against Brandon Moore,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “These are two unbeaten, skilled big men and a great addition to an already loaded card at Pechanga Arena San Diego.”

Torrez (9-0, 9 KOs), from the Central Valley town of Tulare, California, has been a whirlwind during his two-plus years as a pro. He has five first-round knockouts on his ledger, including a first-round TKO over Don Haynesworth last month in Glendale, Arizona. The high school valedictorian who can complete a Rubik’s cube in minutes hopes to solve his most difficult professional puzzle. Moore (14-0, 8 KOs), a 6-foot-6 boxer-puncher from Lakeland, Florida, signed with Top Rank last year. He has since won a pair of eight-round shutouts, turning away Robert Simms last November and overcoming a hard-charging Helaman Olguin in March.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are on sale now via AXS.com.

LOS ANGELES (April 8, 2024) – Arizona heavyweight Dante Stone (15-1, 10 KOs) will be riding a 15-fight win streak into his first scheduled 10-round fight this Friday night (April 12) at Blue Sports Stable in Superior, Colorado.

The 29-year-old Stone will face Matthew “El Matador” McKinney (16-7-3, 12 KOs) in the main event on a show presented by Airtight Boxing in association with Toro Promotions.

Stone is coming off his best performance to date, in which he won a unanimous eight-round decision over his Toro Promotions stablemate Alexander “The Great” Flores (18-3-1, 17 KOs) last January 4^th at Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington. Stone dropped Flores, whose previous three career losses were all to world champions, in the eighth round.

Stone was introduced to boxing at the age of 10 by his father as a way to hang out together. His father, Damien Stone, who boxed and played football in his younger days. Stone went on to become a solid amateur boxer and, as he explained, because he turned out to be good at it, but like Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins, he also lost his pro debut.

“My opponent is a little older and taller than me,” Stone said, “but I’m going into this fight seriously like I do every fight. My loss was a wake-up call. I was out of shape and tired. I have the support of my coaches and that will never happen again.” 

Stone is part of Toro Promotions’ growing stable of promising heavyweights that also includes 2016 Ukraine Olympian Tsotne Rogova (6-0, 6 KOs), who is fighting in the April 12^th co-featured event, Flores (19-4-1, 17 KOs), and Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh (12-2-1, 10 KOs), the cousin of infamously retired heavyweight contender Ike Ibeabuchi (20-0, 15 KOs).

“The more the merrier,” Stone added. “I like it that my promoter (Toro Promotions) has a lot of good heavyweights because I’ll have a lot of sparring partners. I always do my best and Toro has been helping me do that.

“In my current state, I’m taking it one fight at a time, but, if I’m offered a big shot this year, I’ll take it.”

First, though, he has to get past McKinney, who has won three fights in a row. 

Rogava meets Jesse Bryan (21-8-2, 16 KOs) in the eight-round co-featured event. Not only has Rogava won all six of his pro fights, but he’s also knocked out each of his opponents, needing only a total of eight rounds.

Born in Georgia, Rogava lived for several years in Ukraine until moving last year to Marina del Rei, California. The 6’ 5”, 270-pound Rogava successfully transitioned to boxing from his world class Muay Thai and kickboxing career, highlighted by his three-time IFMA World title-winning performances in Muay Thai as an amateur, along with an ACB kickboxing crown.

Toro has one other fighter on the April 12^th card, 2016 Armenia Olympian Aram “Warrior” Avagyan (10-1-2, 4 KOs), who has been idle since his only loss on July 23, 2021, to 10-0 Martino Jules by way of an eight-round decision. Avagyan takes on 44-fight veteran Juan Santiago in a four-round bout.

INFORMATION:

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X (formerly Twitter): @ToroPromotions

TikTok: @ToroPromo

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. (April 5, 2024): Former undisputed lightweight champion and current WBC Super Lightweight Champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) hosted a Los Angeles Media Workout to promote his upcoming title defense against “King” Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs). The fight night is presented in association with Haney Promotions, KingRy Promotions, and Matchroom Boxing. The mega-event will take place on Saturday, April 20, exclusively live on DAZN around the world and DAZN PPV in the US.
DEVIN HANEY, CURRENT WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION:
“Camp has been amazing. I’m in the zone – always. I’m obviously getting more adjusted to this new weight class – I am getting stronger, my mind is clear, I’m in the best shape physically, and I am just ready to go.”

“Not having to go down the extra five pounds has been a tremendous help for me. I had been at 135 for a long time. At 140, it just feels so different. My performance against Regis Prograis showed that.”

“At the end of the day, Ryan Garcia is going to say what he is going to say. No matter what, I am going to do my job to be the very best Devin Haney I can be. Whichever version of Ryan shows up on April 20, I will be ready for him. Ryan Garcia is just another opponent to me. I am in competition with greatness. That is why I train so hard, that is why I stay so disciplined.”

#

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

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

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

10 Rounds

Richie Rivera 172.5 lbs

Devaun Lee 172 lbs

8 Rounds

Rajon Chance 122 lbs

Travon Lawson 121.5 lbs

4 Rounds

Louis Maietta 170 lbs

Erick Alves 170 lbs

6 Rounds

Demek Edmonds 211.25 lbs

Luis Miguel Valera 225 lbs

4 Rounds

Jacob Marrero 140.25 lbs

Ryan Venable 140.5 lbs

4 Rounds

Sharif Rahman 167 lbs

Kijonti Davis 164 lbs

6 x 3 mins Welterweight contest
Harley Mederos (134.6lbs) vs Pedro Vicente (134.8lbs)
Brooklyn, New York            Mayaguez, Puerto Rico

Followed by
6 x 3 mins Super-Flyweight contest
Steven Navarro (115.6lbs) vs Jose Lopez (114.8lbs)
Los Angeles, California       Puebla, Mexico/Ridgewood, New York

LIVE ON DAZN FROM 5PM PT

10 x 3 mins WBC Continental Americas Super-Featherweight title
Marc Castro (130lbs) vs Abraham Montoya (129lbs)
Fresno, California                Baja California, Mexico

Followed by
10 x 2 mins WBC World Featherweight title
Skye Nicolson (125.6lbs) vs Sarah Mahfoud (125lbs)
Queensland, Australia           Hilleroed, Denmark

Followed by 
10 x 3 mins WBC International Flyweight title
Galal Yafai (111.6lbs) vs Agustin Gauto (111.2lbs)
Birmingham, England         Buenos Aires, Argentina

Followed by
10 x 3 mins WBO International & USWBC Super-Middleweight titles
Diego Pacheco (167.4lbs) vs Shawn McCalman (167.6lbs)
South Central LA, California              Aurora, Colorado

Followed by
12 x 3 mins IBF Jr. Welterweight World title eliminator
Richardson Hitchins (139.8lbs) vs Gustavo Lemos (138.4lbs)
Brooklyn, New York                          Buenos Aires, Argentina

Richardson Hitchins says he would jump at the chance to meet IBF king Subriel Matias as he prepares to hit the scales ahead of his final eliminator with Gustavo Lemos for the IBF World Jr. Welterweight title at Bleaulive at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Saturday April 6, live worldwide on DAZN.

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Hitchins (17-0 7 KOs) can take a giant step towards landing a World title shot with victory over Lemos (29-0 19 KOs) in Sin City, and the Brooklyn ace is determined to show fans and rivals alike that he is here to stay as an elite-level headliner.

The 26 year old meets the unbeaten Argentine for the honor of being next in line to meet IBF king Subriel Matias, with the Puerto Rican monster defending his title against Australian Liam Paro in a homecoming defense on June 15, live worldwide on DAZN.

Hitchins has designs on sitting ringside at the Coliseo Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu in Manati knowing that he’ll be next for the winner, and although the IBF 10 pounds check-weigh is always a consideration with the IBF and a showdown with WBC king Devin Haney also whets his appetite, the Brooklyn star would gladly tackle Matias for the belt to prove he’s ready to dominate a division that is rapidly becoming the most exciting in the sport.

“I am not going to lie, I do prefer the WBC route – but if the opportunity presents itself for the World title, and on Saturday I feel good, why not the IBF?’ said Hitchins. “It’s a big fight with me and Subriel Matias, everyone would be interested in that, so let’s see what comes to the table.

“I have a fight to focus on, Devin has a fight to focus on, I’ve got a tough Argentinian in front of me and things that I have to go out and do. I want to show on Saturday what I’ve always been showing; that I am a great fighter, a dominant fighter. I’ve shown that time and again, it’s the same old story. People say that it’s going to be a tough fight for me, they’ll be surprised if I can make it look easy, but then I go out there and do that again and again. 

“If I am in a tough fight with someone that’s never been in with anyone of the calibre of me, imagine what type of fight it’s going to be for the guy fighting me. Boxing is all about distance and timing, knowing what shots to pick, where to be, it’s a sweet science and I think I am one of the young masters of it.

“Everybody had a lot of shit to talk about my last fight against Jose Zepeda so no-one should miss this one because the fans have made me put on not a dominant performance, because I’ve already done that, but a punishing dominant performance. I can’t let Lemos get away with any mistakes, any mistakes he makes, he’s got to pay. I feel like this is going to be another performance like John Bauza, it’s going to show that you put a guy in front of me that isn’t at the top of the sport, period, I’ll show his levels.

“I don’t know much about him so I can’t say if this is the toughest test of my life. I’ve been at the high level for a long, long time, since the amateurs and moved in the pro ranks where I’ve had to prove myself early. Zepeda talked about experience before our fight, but I told him, I have experience. People were building up the fight because he’d fought for the World title three times, but I had already beaten a World champion, a guy that had done what Zepeda was trying to do. 

“So when people were saying that it was going to be a tough test, when I got in there on September 23, he was one of the easiest fights of my career that I can remember, from pro debut to now. That’s a testimony to how much I’ve grown as a professional and a fighter, I made that fight clearly  easy, so we’ll see what happens with Lemos, he’s a guy that hasn’t fought anyone with any craft or skills, so when he gets in there with me, it’s going to be a whole different ballgame because he’s not just that he’s going up in levels, he’s fighting one of the best young boxers in the sport – period. 

“When you get in the ring with me it’s way different from standing in front of anyone else, and he’ll see that. He’s tough, he’s Argentinian, he’s going to try have his way but it’s my job to neutralize that. I can be anything I need to be to be victorious on the night.”

Hitchins’ clash with Lemos is part of a big night of action in Las Vegas as fellow rising contender Diego Pacheco defends his USWBC and WBO International Super-Middleweight titles against Shawn McCalman.

World title action on the card comes in the form of unbeaten Australian Skye Nicolson looking to claim a World crown at the first attempt as she meets Sarah Mahfoud for the vacant WBC Featherweight strap, while British Olympic gold medal man Galal Yafai defends his WBC International Flyweight title against Agustin Mauro Gauto.

Marc Castro gets a first title bout in his 12^th pro outing, taking on Abraham Montoya for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super-Featherweight title, Harley Mederos is in action for the sixth time in the paid ranks over six rounds against Pedro Vicente and there’s a pro debut for former Team USA talent Steven Navarro over six rounds at Super-Flyweight against Jose Lopez.

Diego Pacheco says his god-given talent makes him stand out as the future king of the Super-Middleweights, as he prepares for the defense of his USWBC and WBO International Super-Middleweight titles against Shawn McCalman on Saturday night at BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, live worldwide on DAZN.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW VIA TICKETMASTER

Pacheco (20-0 17 KOs) is as soft-spoken outside the ring as he is hard-hitting inside it, but as the 23 year old continues his unstoppable rise up the 168lb rankings, his name is increasingly mentioned alongside his fellow contenders.

The new father has always let his fists do the talking, but sitting as he does in the top five of three of the governing bodies, Pacheco knows that there are major names and fights on the horizon, providing he can see off McCalman (15-0 7 KOs) on Saturday.

“I’m one of one,” said Pacheco. “God gave me an amazing talent, amazing reach and height, abilities to move in the ring, abilities that other fighters are lacking, so my time is coming.

“Everything is at stake on Saturday. He’s a tough, undefeated opponent but I feel amazing, I’m getting better and stronger with every fight, smarter, and I’m confident in the work we’ve put into this camp. I’m excited to be back and ready to put on a great show against another undefeated opponent and showcase why I belong here and keep doing what I have been doing which is shining, putting on great performances and showing my dominance in the ring.

“Right now, I am top five in the world so anyone in the top ten that would get me closer to the World title, that’s who I want to fight. There’s a big fight there with Edgar Berlanga, Christian Mbilli is another good fighter in the top ten, there’s Erik Bazinyan – I’d like the chance to share the ring with any of them, they’re all great fighters and that’s the only way to get to the World championships, I know that, my team knows that, and that’s what we’re ready for. I have people around me that know the business more and are experts in grooming World champions, so my job is to prepare as much as I can and hopefully these fights get made and I get to show the world what I am made of.

“He’s a good fighter, I’ve seen a few of his fights, he has some skills and some power. But I’ve seen thousands of guys like him and I just feel I’m on a way different level than he is and I’ll show that on Saturday.

“I’ve been a power puncher since I was 12 or 13, I was always dropping guys to the body and to the head. I used to love going to the body and you guys have seen that now. I was putting on these highlight reel KOs since I was a teenager, and now I am 23 it just comes to me, I’m not forcing the knockout; I’m patient, boxing and using my distance and the knockouts just come. I frustrate my opponents by outboxing them, make them jump in or make silly mistakes and I catch onto them and make them pay.

“Every fight gets more challenging, but I’ve stepped up and shown why I belong here. It’s because I put in the work and god gifted me a talent and I do my part, the rest is up to him, and that’s what you have been seeing, the hard work and the outcome is there.

“Shout out to Raymond Ford, that was a great fight he put on for the World championship, extremely proud and happy for him and I’m looking forward to doing the same thing. I’m very close to it, I can feel it, that next year or the year after, I will be a World champion.”

Pacheco’s clash with McCalman is part of a huge night of action, with Richardson Hitchins takes on Gustavo Lemos in a final eliminator for the IBF World Jr. Welterweight title.

Skye Nicolson provides the World title action on the card, looking to claim a World crown at the first attempt as she meets Sarah Mahfoud for the vacant WBC Featherweight strap and British Olympic gold medal man Galal Yafai defends his WBC International Flyweight title against Agustin Mauro Gauto.

Marc Castro gets a first title bout in his 12th pro outing, taking on Abraham Montoya for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super-Featherweight title, Harley Mederos is in action for the sixth time in the paid ranks over six rounds against Pedro Vicente and there’s a pro debut for former Team USA talent Steven Navarro over six rounds at Super-Flyweight against Jose Lopez.

Skye Nicolson says she is open to facing Amanda Serrano over 12 three minute rounds if that gets the fight on – and the Australian is targeting a comprehensive win on Saturday night over Serrano’s old Sarah Mahfoud for the vacant WBC Featherweight belt at Bleaulive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN to stake her claim for the mega showdown.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW VIA TICKETMASTER

Nicolson (9-0 1 KO) is fighting Mahfoud (14-1 3 KOs) for the WBC strap that Serrano vacated in December, a move Nicolson has previously stated was due to the seven-weight champion not wanting to face her, and not down to wanting to fight over the 12 three-minute round distance.

The Australian star has landed the World title fight she’s been craving, albeit against tough Dane Mahfoud instead of the Puerto Rican, with that duo previously meeting for undisputed in September 2022, with Serrano prevailing on points.

Although Nicolson has put the Serrano fight to one side to focus on the task at hand, the 28 year old can’t help that it’s a fight that she’s asked about all the time – and aims to deal with Mahfoud in better fashion than Serrano to prove she’s ready to take on the living legend.

“I can only fight who they put in front of me,” said Nicolson. “Serrano is the dream fight, and to have been boxing for undisputed in my tenth fight would have been legendary, but it didn’t happen. It is what it is, I’m not looking past Sarah. I’ve got a good opponent in front of me and it’s for the best belt in boxing in my opinion, so I am fully focused on the job in front of me and we’ll see what’s next after that.

I hope the Serrano fight happens, I am ready and waiting. I want the best; I feel like I am constantly saying it but it’s true. I wanted the Serrano fight in my eighth and ninth fights, I have Sarah for my tenth fight, so maybe it’s Serrano in my 11th fight, who knows? I want the belts, so I am going to keep pushing for that.

“12 x 3s suits my style. I’m a patient fighter, I love the longer rounds so for me it makes sense. For women’s boxing, I personally don’t agree with 12 x 3s; I think the depth of women’s boxing, 10 x 2s has been really good for the growth. It’s kept it exciting, and you’ve seen the women’s fights steal the show time and again and I think that’s down to the two-minute rounds. So, for me, I love three-minute rounds, but for women’s boxing, not so much – but if the only way to fight Serrano is over three minutes, sign me up.

“The Serrano fight for Sarah was 97-93, 97-93 and 99-92. That’s not happening, that’s all I will say. The way I am boxing right now, I don’t see the fight going the distance. If it does happen to go the distance, it’s 100-90.”

Nicolson’s clash with Mahfoud is part of a big night of action in Las Vegas, led by a double-header with two of America’s brightest stars as Richardson Hitchins takes on Gustavo Lemos in a final eliminator for the IBF World Jr. Welterweight title and Diego Pacheco defends his USWBC and WBO International Super-Middleweight titles against Shawn McCalman.

British Olympic gold medal man Galal Yafai defends his WBC International Flyweight title against Agustin Mauro Gauto. Marc Castro gets a first title bout in his 12th pro outing, taking on Abraham Montoya for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super-Featherweight title, Harley Mederos is in action for the sixth time in the paid ranks over six rounds against Pedro Vicente and there’s a pro debut for former Team USA talent Steven Navarro over six rounds at Super-Flyweight against Jose Lopez.

NEW YORK, NY – April 5, 2024 – Today, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced the full card for Most Valuable Prospects VI, the second installment of the Most Valuable Prospects 2024 series, taking place on Friday, April 26 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL available globally on DAZN subscription with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter. Most Valuable Prospects VI, presented by CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, will feature thirteen undefeated rising stars and will feature ten fights total with a total combined record of 97-4-2 with 59 KOs. The event will be headlined by top-ranked super welterweight Yoenis Tellez (7-0, 6 KOs) vs. Joseph Jackson (19-0, 15 KOs) for the WBA Latin America Continental Championship. Cuban Olympian Danier Pero (6-0, 4 KOs) will make his second appearance on Most Valuable Prospects, appearing on the main card alongside co-main event Benigno Aguilar (11-0-1, 4 KOs) vs. Alexander Rios (8-1, 3 KOs) in their hotly-anticipated Most Valuable Prospects rematch, and Jan Paul Rivera (8-0, 5 KOs) vs. David Perez (9-0, 2 KOs). Across the preliminary rounds will be a series of top prospect faceoffs, including former USA Junior Olympics national champion David Garcia (5-0, 2 KOs) vs. fellow undefeated heavyweight Henry Richard (4-0, 3 KOs) and 15x US national amateur champion Natalie Dove (1-0) vs. Cleveland’s 3x Golden Gloves champion Alyssia Lopez as Lopez makes her professional debut. Amanda Serrano’s newest signee, the 3x US national champion and high fashion model Alexis Chaparro will also make his professional debut on the card. Tickets for Most Valuable Prospects VI are available now on Ticketmaster.com. 

Heavyweight Danier Pero (6-0, 4 KOs), the 24-year-old 6’5” Cuban talent, will return to Most Valuable Prospects following his decisive second-round KO win over Joe Jones at Most Valuable Prospects V in February 2024. The Olympian comes to the ring from Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Camaguey, Cuba. Pero will challenge a to-be-announced opponent in a 6-round heavyweight battle. With his formidable size, Pero will present a difficult challenge on Friday, April 26th, as the heavy-hitter seeks to continue his undefeated streak. Pero and his opponent will face off on the main card of Most Valuable Prospects VI alongside lightweights and local favorites Aguilar vs. Rios and featherweights Rivera vs. Perez ahead of the main event showdown between world-class super welterweight Yoenis Tellez vs. Joseph Jackson for the WBA Latin America Continental Championship.

In the preliminary rounds, MVP will host a series of star young prospects as they battle for victory on Friday, April 26th. Joining the foray of must-watch bouts will be Amanda Serrano’s newest signee, Alexis Chaparro, who will make his professional debut on the card in a four-round middleweight fight. The 23-year-old Chaparro, born in Puerto Rico and raised in Ridgewood, New York, is a three-time national boxing champion who competed at both the 2020 and 2024 USA Boxing Olympic trials. The gifted athlete is also a high fashion model, having worked for Versace, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani, and Polo Ralph Lauren, among others. Chaparro joins Serrano’s growing roster of Puerto Rican talents including the young undefeated sensation Krystal Rosado (3-0, 1 KO) and WBO junior flyweight world champion Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez (28-3-1, 14 KOs).

Adding to the well-decorated and exciting array of undefeated top prospects on Friday, April 26th will be a 6-round heavyweight battle between 24-year-old David Garcia (5-0, 2 KOs) vs. Henry Richard (4-0, 3 KOs). Garcia, from Crescent City, FL is a 2016 Junior Olympics national champion, who will seek to hand Richard his first professional loss. Competing alongside them will be the highly-talented 22-year-old prospect Natalie Dove (1-0), the 15x US national amateur champion fighting out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dove will face off with Alyssia Lopez in an 4-round flyweight bout as the Cleveland native and 3x Golden Gloves champion Lopez makes her professional debut. Super featherweight DeMichael Harris (10-0-1, 9 KOs) will face a to-be-announced opponent in a 6-round fight as the Decatur, Georgia fighter looks to continue his undefeated streak after his three latest victories over opponents with winning records. Rounding out the card, the four-time US national champion and 20-year-old Texas native Xavier Bocanegra (3-0, 2 KOs) will face Carlos Andre Dos Santos Rocha (3-3, 2 KOs) of São Paulo, Brazil in a four-round featherweight fight, and Tampa, Florida’s Ariel Perez (2-0, 1 KO) will face Stephen Motley (1-0, 1 KO) in a four-round light heavyweight bout. 

“Ahead of our groundbreaking marquee event in July featuring Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, we are thrilled to be returning to Orlando to present the most decorated Most Valuable Prospects card to date on Friday, April 26,” said MVP co-founders Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul. “The vast majority of the young stars on this card boast undefeated records, championship amateur backgrounds, or both, with a staggering 97-4-2 professional record between them with 59 KOs. This end-to-end roster of some of the best up-and-coming fighters in boxing will be a must-watch event for fans. We look forward to each of these incredible matchups, and are proud to feature Amanda Serrano’s newest signee, Alexis Chaparro, as he makes his pro debut on Most Valuable Prospects VI. Thank you to DAZN, CELSIUS, BoxLab Promotions, and Caribe Royale for their ongoing partnership and commitment with MVP to elevate and amplify boxing’s young stars.”

“Caribe Royale and Boxlab Promotions are pleased to once again partner with Most Valuable Promotions on high quality, championship boxing cards to Central Florida and the entire world via DAZN,” said Amaury Piedra, Managing Director of Caribe Royale Resort and President of Boxlab Promotions. “We continue to feature the hottest young fighters in the world on our shows and Prospects VI is no different. Tellez, Pero, and the entire card will allow fans to see the future of boxing in various weight classes. To see the continued development of these talented prospects as they advance their careers has been inspirational to everyone involved. We’re very excited for what we believe to be the best show yet and building momentum for the next event in July.”

The Most Valuable Prospects series is produced and marketed by MVP with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter and is distributed globally by DAZN. The sixth event in the series will continue the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. All events within Most Valuable Prospects will take place on Friday nights in 2024. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drink, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of Most Valuable Promotions and the Most Valuable Prospects series. 

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @DAZNBoxing.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

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

About DAZN

DAZN is a leading digital sports platform in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, Canada, US and the UK.? Its wide range of exclusive content includes top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, LaLiga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world – Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC.? 

DAZN is the NFL’s global partner and, from the 2023 season, will be the only place for fans around the world to watch every NFL match through the NFL Game Pass International add-on subscription. DAZN is a global home for boxing and combat sports through its partnerships with Matchroom Boxing the Professional Fighters League, and a global home for Women’s Football with UEFA Women’s Champions League and Finetwork Liga F.? DAZN is adding more and more sport to its platform to create a destination for sports fans.?

DAZN is reimagining the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, bet, play, share, socialize, and buy tickets, NFTs and merchandise. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN.?

DAZN is available on most connected devices including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles, ensuring that fans have access to a ground-breaking rights catalog and slate of incredible content. In the UK and globally, DAZN can be accessed on Samsung, LG, Sony and Panasonic Smart TVs and on Games Consoles including PlayStation and Xbox. Subscribers also have access to DAZN on their Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and Apple TV and can find the app on their iPhone, iPad, and android mobile devices. DAZN is available as an Amazon Channel on Amazon Prime TV and can be viewed on Channel 429 on Sky in the UK and Ireland.   

DAZN is a global, privately-owned company with employees in over 25 countries. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit?www.dazngroup.com.??

About Caribe Royale Orlando Resort

Located just minutes from the Walt Disney World® Resort in the nation’s number one convention and tourist destination, Caribe Royale Orlando is the only AAA Four Diamond all-suite meetings resort in Orlando. A TripAdvisor 2022 Travelers’ Choice Award winner – among just 10 percent of hotels worldwide to receive the distinction – the upscale Caribe Royale is emerging from a $140 million renovation that includes fully remodeling all of its one-bedroom suites, an all-new 50,000-square-foot grand ballroom (bringing the total meeting space to 220,000 square feet), and an inviting new lobby. Being privately-owned, Caribe Royale offers meeting planners faster approval cycles and more flexibility to create stand-out events. To learn more or to book a visit, event or meeting, visit www.cariberoyale.com. Follow the all-suite convention hotel on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(@cariberoyale), LinkedIn and Pinterest. #cariberoyaleorlando

LONDON, UK (April 5, 2024) – BOXXER is delighted to announce the extension of its media rights partnership with BeTV in Belgium and Luxembourg, allowing fans across the territories to continue watching BOXXER events exclusively on the pay television operator’s platforms.

BeTV, formerly Canal+ Belgique, was launched in 2004 by Daniel Weekers and is headquartered in Brussels. BeTV’s diverse and premium programming offering includes the very latest and best in world cinema, exclusive series, documentaries, and world-class LIVE sport. LIVE broadcasts of BOXXER shows will air on BeTV’s VOOsport World channels, in the French language.

BOXXER shows air LIVE and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, and NBC Sports in the USA; and the promotion is home to a world-class stable of fighters including Joshua Buatsi, Richard Riakporhe, Chris Billam-Smith, Natasha Jonas, Ben Whittaker, Adam Azim, Caroline Dubois, and many more.

Commenting on the extension, BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “We’re delighted to renew our partnership with BeTV in Belgium and Luxembourg. As our run of shows so far this year has demonstrated, this is set to be our biggest and best year yet at BOXXER, and we’re looking forward to building on our collaboration with BeTV, who are perfectly positioned in the market to showcase our shows and fighters to audiences across the region. The BeTV talent team know the sport inside out and they are a pleasure to work with.”

Chistian Loiseau, Director at BeTV said: “BeTV is delighted to continue its collaboration with BOXXER, enabling us to offer our subscribers the best in premium boxing events throughout the year. The quality of the programs we broadcast is our priority towards our subscribers, and BOXXER is a major partner in the achievement of this objective. We look forward to continuing our partnership with them.”

BOXXER’s next show will take place on 11th May in Cardiff, Wales, as Jessica McCaskill (USA) and Lauren Price (UK) clash for the unified WBA, IBO & Ring Magazine Welterweight World Championship. A fascinating match-up sees the highly-experienced, former undisputed world champion McCaskill take on home favourite Price – who has raced to 6-0 as a professional, having won Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European gold as an amateur.

Richardson Hitchins
 
This is my fourth fight with Matchroom and second headlining, my life has changed tremendously since that guy that was sat at the table going back and forth with Montana Love at that first time. I was saying that I was the best fighter on that card and that I should be headlining, and I have worked hard and spoken that into fruition. 
 
At this point I can say that I have been here already, even before I was signed with Matchroom, I’ve said it numerous times before – I’ve beat former World champions, guys that were big punchers, guys that were undefeated; he has never been here. This is a whole different level. He’s never been punched in his face; I’ve been punched in my shit hard coming up. Everybody he’s fought had terrible records, it’s different when you get in with me, it’s a different type of game. Power isn’t going to win him this fight, being aggressive and trying to go to the body, that’s not going to win you this fight. It’s going to take him having that mind, experience and skill set to try to compete with me. 
 
I expect Saturday night to be a whitewash, and for me to show that I’m on a whole different level. The only thing that can save him in this fight is his heart and if he can take a punch, and I’ve seen him hurt with bums. I’ve never been down in my career and never been hurt, thank god, but we’ll see what happens on Saturday but I just feel that I’m on a whole different level, up there with the Devin Haney’s, Subriel Matias’, Shakur Stevenson’s, the top level guys; I’m the cream of the crop type of talent and you have to start talking that like because I go out there over and over and prove it, I dominate. 
 
If this guy comes out the way he’s been coming out in his last fights, like the way he fought Lee Selby, it’s not going to go good for him. Lee hurt him in the third round, and I ain’t Lee Selby – he was 35 years old and coming up from 126lbs. This guy has never fought anyone, I’m going to step on him on Saturday and I won’t lie Eddie, I’m robbing you, this is free money, it’s easy, you are just making my bank account look bigger. 
 
I don’t just come up here and talk shit to amuse the fans, I’ve proved myself already. It’s time to get to that world stage. I’ve proved myself with the Jose Zepeda’s, Argenis Mendis’, John Bauza’s – I’ve proved myself and I’m going to keep proving myself every time I go out there.
 
I will beat whoever you put in front of me. Subriel Matias, Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez, Pitbull; whoever you put in front of me, I will get the job done. When you get in there with me, fighters don’t look the same. I’m not one of the guys Lemos has fought, Devin has fought; I’m not going to just receive punches or just be there; there’s going to be some shit coming back at you, there’s going to be a lot of thinking that you are going to have to do in there. My focus is on Gustavo Lemos, not Devin Haney, we’ve got to get past Saturday night just like I’ve had to get past all the other fights I’ve had.
 
Gustavo Lemos
 
We’ve had some great support from Argentina, and we’re fully prepared for this big fight and great opportunity. 
 
Hitchins is in front of me and in the way of my path at the moment, so we hope we can get through this, and we hope that the public and fans enjoy the show on Saturday.
 
We have come to win, and I do my talking inside the ring. It feels like my opponent likes to do a lot of talking outside the ring but let’s see if he’s still speaking inside the ring, that would be beautiful if he’s still speaking inside the ring.
 
Diego Pacheco
 
I want to thank God, my team, Matchroom, DAZN, and everyone for this amazing opportunity to be here once again in front of all you guys, it’s a blessing. I’m super confident in the work that I’ve put in for this camp, I’m getting better, I feel the sharpest I’ve ever been right now, I’m just ready to go on Saturday night. I’m 20-0 and ranked in the top ten in every sanctioning body, so I am just ready and excited for everything that is to come. I’ve got a tough opponent in front of me on Saturday night, I’ve prepared for that and I’m ready for it.
 
I’m locked in on the guy in front of me. I have to get past him before I can think about the future fights and that’s what I’m focused on and what I’ve been working for. I’m extremely motivated and excited for this fight and to be able to showcase my talent again in Las Vegas, it’s an amazing opportunity and to have a lot of talent on the undercard too, I’m so happy to be here and ready to put on a great show for everyone.
 
Shawn McCalman
 
I can say me and my team we walk into this very confidently, we accepted the fight with no doubts and we’re just continuing to present ourselves that way; confident and calm and we’ll go into the fight the same way.
 
It’s a big fight and opportunity, one that I believe I’m ready for and will capitalize on come Saturday night. 
 
Galal Yafai 
 
It’s good to be here in Las Vegas, you’ve put me on some great shows like New York and now Las Vegas, this is another box ticked, but it’s all about winning, looking good and that’s all I care about.
 
I’m sick of my opponents because they are all tough! But I just have to do what I do. He’s tough, he’s good, he’s got a big fan base, but I don’t care about any of that. I’ve got to go out and do what I do.
 
I always look at the other fights. Sunny Edwards is a good fighter. I dont want to try and mention his name this week to try and get some clout because I know what he’s like. Let me get through this fight and then I can think about them fights after.
 
Agustin Mauro Gauto 
 
I have to thank my promotional team and Matchroom as well for the opportunity. It’s true that I’m a very experienced fighter but I also know that he’s very experienced in terms of the amateur field, so we’re very prepared for this fight.
 
On Saturday you are going to see a surprise result, but what I will say is it will be a great fight without doubt.
 
I want to thank all the Argentinian fans, I’m really delighted and grateful for the support, but now it’s about becoming known in America and making a name for myself here.
 
Skye Nicolson
 
As soon as Serrano wasn’t going to be the person I was going to be fighting for this belt, Mahfoud was obviously the next option, the next best, and we want to fight the best, and beat the best to show that I am the best. So I am very excited for this fight.
 
It’s a great privilege to be fighting for this belt, my amateur career was my amateur career, but I want my pro career to be its own and I’m really ready for this.
 
I’m turning around Australian boxing this weekend 100 per cent.
 
Sarah Mahfoud
 
I’m going all the way on Saturday and I’m really looking forward to this fight with Skye. 
 
I don’t know if it was success against Armando Serrano, I lost the fight, but I am here to become World champion again. I learned a lot from the Serrano fight, and I am coming back stronger, and I’ve worked hard to be here.
 
I’m so happy to be here in Las Vegas, it’s the biggest experience of all, everything is so big, and the fight is going to be big too. 
 
Marc Castro
 
I feel good and I’m thankful to be here. We’re looking to get the win over Abraham on Saturday.
 
We’re moving as a unit, Eddie Hearn, Keith Connolly, my dad, and we’re ready to go capture my first belt. 
 
I expect him to be ready, he always comes ready, so I’m prepared for it.
 
Abraham Montoya
 
You can expect the best version of me – I’m come for another victory in my career. 
 
The win over Lopez was an opportunity that I got to fight in my home city and one we took on with full gusto, as I will for this fight. We’ve prepared really well and we’re ready for whatever comes in the ring.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – April 4, 2024 — Weights for Friday night’s King’s Promotions card at The Wind Creek Event Center

Thanjahe Teasley 146.8 – Javier Mayoral 147

Johnnie Spell 133.8 – James Bernadin 131.7

Julian Gonzalez 129.6 – Osvaldo Morales 128.5

Stephanie Han 135.1 – Wendellin Cruz 132.7

Angel Chavez 173.6 – Khainell Weeler 174.8

Conellio Phipps 121 – Fernando Valdez 122.5

Adam Atiyeh 214.9 – Joseph Bond 228.3

Promoter: King’s Promotions Venue: Wind Creek Event Center 1st Bell: 7 PM ET Stream: BXNGTV.com (Marc Abrams and Travis Kauffman on the call)

Tickets are $50, $75, $100 and $150 and can be purchased BY CLICKING HERE

LONG BEACH, CA (April 4, 2024) – Boxing fans are in for a treat as FOX Deportes announces the replay of CBN Promotions’ thrilling “New Blood Boxing” card, which took place last Saturday, March 30, 2024, at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, CA. The action-packed event will be rebroadcasted tomorrow, Friday, April 5, 2024, at 7:00 pm PT, bringing the excitement of the ring to the FOX Deportes viewers.

The main event of the evening featured a highly competitive 8-round welterweight clash between Louie Lopez and Jesus Resendiz. In this intense battle, both fighters showcased their skills and grit, delivering memorable action for fight fans.

Additionally, the co-main event showcased a grueling 6-round super welterweight bout between Nelson Oliva and Franyerson Puerta. The matchup was filled with back-and-forth action, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats until the final bell.

Adding to the excitement, the preliminary fights included a stellar 6-round super featherweight showdown between Eric Mondragon and Jenel Lausa, providing a glimpse into the future stars of the sport.

This event is sponsored by HUSTLER Casino – LA’s only luxury Casino. Tequila Mandala – 100% Agave Azul, Shoe Palace – Community comes first, and Northgate Market – a family-owned supermarket chain.

QUINCY, Mass. (April 4, 2024)  – Undefeated Irish boxer Thomas “The Kid” O’Toole (9-0, 6 KOs) will take on dangerous Russell Kimber (2-1, 1 KO) in a six-round bout on May 4^th for the vacant Massachusetts Light Heavyweight title as part of a stacked “Rumble At The Rink” regional card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), at Quincy Youth Arena in Quincy, Massachusetts.

“What a compliment this fight is to our inaugural ‘Granite Chin Box Off’’,” GCP president Chris Traietti commented. “The plan with this show from the start was to stack it from the opening fight to the final of the tournament with fighters people want to see in fights people want to see them in, and this fight is the epitome of that. Thomas has been a fixture the last few years in the local boxing scene, and he is taking on a guy in Kimber who is no slouch. Kimber is the type of guy that if you take him lightly you are in for a bad night. Thomas comes from a solid amateur background and a great gym, so I don’t think he is going to make that error, but everyone in the building would be foolish to sleep on Russell Kimber. This is going to be a great co-feature!”

Now fighting out of Boston suburb Braintree (MA), the 26-year-old native of Galway (IRE) has been fighting in his second home of Boston for the past year, capturing the USBF Atlantic light heavyweight title last August, also in Quincy on a GCP card, with an opening round stoppage of Scott Lampert.

A celebrated Irish amateur boxer, who was the 2019 Irish National, is coming off a homecoming victory this past March 16^th in Galway, in which he won all eight rounds against Hussein Itaba (16-7-3, 11 KOs).

“I want to add this Massachusetts title and keep pushing,” the stylish southpaw said. “The plan is to have two big fights after this fight. He (Kimber) doesn’t have too many fights, but he has sparred with some of my mates. He’s pretty game and will fight coming forward, and that’s good for me.

“My fight in Galway was amazing, the best of my life, because it was my homecoming. But the Irish here have come out to support me and Boston is my second home. I had a great coach and good boxers in Galway, but I knew I needed to make a bit of a change. You can’t get good sparring there like I can here. So, I moved.”

O’Toole is grateful that he hooked up with his head trainer, Mark “Bazooka” DeLuca, who has a 30-4 (18 KOs) pro record as middleweight.

“I’m so happy I made the link with Mark DeLuca,” O’Toole noted. “I don’t think a lot of people know how good a coach he is. I have more of a pro style than I had before he started training me. He has shown me how to use range and stay composed. Mark has really developed me to control the ring and improve my ringmanship.”

Kimber (2-1, 1 KO), fighting out of Peabody (MA), has fighting in his blood. His father, Dick and uncle Tommy, respectively, were three and five-time world kickboxing champions. Russ owns Kimber Fitness, which was in Peabody and is relocating soon to nearby Salem (MA).

Kimber made his pro debut in 2017, taking a decision from Nathan Schulte, but he’s only fought twice since then, due to COVID-19 restrictions and several fights that failed to materialize.  

“I’m always training but I couldn’t get any fights,” Kimber explained. “I kept my weight down and took a fight last April in Florida against an undefeated local fighter (3-0 Mike Misa). After the fight, my opponent even said that the fight shouldn’t have been stopped, because I was blocking his punches. I really shouldn’t have lost that fight, but it was in Florida against a local fighter.”

“Fighting for the Massachusetts title is great. I don’t think he (O’Toole) fully understands what’s coming. I think a win will open up doors for me because I’ll be 3-1 and have a title. I’ve seen a few Granite Chin fighters with only six or seven fights getting the opportunity to fight at places like Madison Square Garden. I took this fight, and we’ll see what happens.”

The headliner is an innovative one-night tournament, “Granite Chin Box Off,” featuring a quartet of New England super middleweight fighters – Lynn’s (MA) James “Pitbull” Perkins (13-1-1, 9 KOs), Swansea’s (MA) Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi (5-3, 2 KOs), Dorchester’s (MA) Bernard Joseph (6-1, 4 KOs), and Barrington’s (ME) Ryan Clark (4-5, 2 KOs) – who will  be matched (in a blind draw at the weigh in) in three-round bouts (4^th round of sudden death if needed in case of a draw) early in the evening with the two winners advancing to the five-round main event (6^th round of sudden death in the event of a draw) to determine the inaugural champion.

 Additional matches will soon be announced.

Card subject to change.

Tickets are on sale to purchase at www.granite-chin-promotions.ticketleap.com.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. ET, first bout at 7 p.m. ET.

INFORMATION:  

Facebook.com/GraniteChin

HOUSTON, Texas (April 4, 2024) — Unbeaten heavyweight phenom Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson is gearing up to deliver another spectacle. 

Anderson, the fighting pride of Toledo, Ohio, will step up in class to face Belgian contender Ryad Merhy on Saturday, April 13, at American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.

In the 10-round heavyweight co-feature, Nigerian puncher Efe Ajagba (19-1, 14 KOs) and Italian standout Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello (12-1-1, 10 KOs) will collide in a duel of 2016 Olympians.

The eight-round televised opener features three-time world title challenger Robson Conceicao (17-2-1, 8 KOs) against the upset-minded Jose Guardado (15-1-1, 5 KOs). 

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com. 

Anderson-Merhy, Ajagba-Vianello, and Conceição-Guardado will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs) is coming off an impressive 2023, where he notched three victories with two knockouts. In April, he brought George Arias’ undefeated run to an end, dismantling the slick Dominican in only three rounds. Less than three months later, Anderson celebrated his triumphant return to Toledo, squaring off against former world titleholder Charles Martin in front of over 7,000 hometown fans and earning a 10-round unanimous decision. The 24-year-old carried that momentum into Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he dispatched Andriy Rudenko in five rounds in August. Merhy (32-2, 26 KOs) makes his U.S. debut following his best win yet, a December victory over hometown hero and Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka in Paris.

Following a recent training session in Houston, this is what Anderson had to say:

“I feel like my career is going in the right direction. The only way is up. But I’m still working like it’s my first day. We’re on the job, so make sure you all stay with the journey. Stay with me.”

“I have a better IQ than Merhy. You have to have a high IQ to do this. I have one of the best IQs in the heavyweight division. So, make sure you watch the little things. Make sure you watch for the details.”

“He’s got a beating coming. I always come to entertain. Don’t miss it.”

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to St. Louis, Mo. for the first time since 2018 with a thrilling heavyweight showdown as fan favorite and No. 12 ranked heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis faces No. 15 Rodrigo Nascimento. Also on the card, No. 12 ranked light heavyweight contender Alonzo Menifield takes on Carlos Ulberg.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: LEWIS vs NASCIMENTO will take place Saturday, May 11 at Enterprise Center. The entire event will simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN and ESPN+ starting with the prelims at 4 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. PT, followed by the main card at 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: LEWIS vs NASCIMENTO tickets will go on sale Friday, April 5 at 10 a.m. CT and are available for purchase at ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, April 3 at 10 a.m. CT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, April 4 starting at 10 a.m. CT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that can feature premium seating, VIP access to weigh-ins, all-inclusive hospitality, meet-and-greets with UFC fighters and more. For more information, visit UFCVIP.com to view package details.

UFC knockout king Lewis (27-12, fighting out of Houston, Texas) plans to add to his impressive record number of 14 knockouts in the promotion with another vintage performance. Among the most popular athletes on the roster, Lewis has entertained fans with highlight-reel finishes of Curtis Blaydes, Alexander Volkov and Marcos Rogerio de Lima. He now intends to add a win over Nascimento to his resume and break back into the Top 10.

Nascimento (11-1, fighting out of Belo Horizonte, Brazil) aims to make the most of the biggest opportunity of his MMA career. A signee from season three of Dana White’s Contender Series, he is currently riding a three-fight win streak, which consists of victories over Tanner Boser, Ilir Latifi and Don’Tale Mayes. Nascimento now seeks to start off his 2024 campaign with a career-defining showcase over Lewis.

Menifield (15-3-1, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) has his sights set on securing another dramatic victory. He is currently on a five-fight unbeaten streak, the longest of his UFC career, which includes wins over Dustin Jacoby, Jimmy Crute and Misha Cirkunov. Menifield now plans to defend his spot in the rankings against Ulberg and turn his attention towards a Top 10 matchup.

Ulberg (10-1, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) looks to make a statement in his first UFC co-main event. The record holder for the most strikes landed per minute in UFC light heavyweight history, Ulberg has finished his last four victories in a row, including those over Da-un Jung, Ihor Potieria and Nicolae Negumereanu. The former professional kickboxer now plans on delivering another bonus-earning performance.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Terrance McKinney (15-6, fighting out of Spokane, Wash.) and Esteban Ribovics (12-1, fighting out of Cordoba, Argentina) meet in an exciting lightweight matchup
• No. 11 ranked strawweight Tabatha Ricci (9-2, fighting out of Ventura, Calif.) faces off with veteran Tecia Pennington (13-6, fighting out of Colorado Springs, Colo.)
• An intriguing featherweight bout matches No. 15 ranked Alex Caceres (21-14 1NC, fighting out of Miami, Fla.) against Sean Woodson (11-1-1, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.)
• Chase Hooper (13-3-1, fighting out of Enumclaw, Wash.) battles Viacheslav Borshchev (7-3-1, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) in a classic grappler versus striker matchup
• Waldo Cortes Acosta (11-1, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz. by way of Fundacion, Barahona, Dominican Republic) looks to derail compelling heavyweight prospect Robelis Despaigne (5-0, fighting out of Orlando, Fla. by way of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba)
• Welterweights Billy Goff (9-2, fighting out of Groton, Conn.) and Trey Waters (8-1, fighting out of Jacksonville, Fla.) vie to remain undefeated in the UFC
• Charles Johnson (14-6, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) and Jake Hadley (10-2, fighting out of Oldbury, England) lock horns in a flyweight bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks
• Jared Gooden (23-9, fighting out of Duluth, Ga.) faces Kevin Jousset (10-2, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) in a welterweight bout
• Flyweights JJ Aldrich (13-6, fighting out of Westminster, Colo.) and Veronica Hardy (8-4-1, fighting out of Nottingham, England by way of Caracas, Venezuela) go toe-to-toe

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

###

About UFC^®

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

About Enterprise Center

Enterprise Center is a contemporary, 12-story glass and concrete structure located in the heart of downtown St. Louis.  The home of the St. Louis Blues Hockey Club, Enterprise Center also features a full range of arena programming, including concerts, comedy shows, family shows and other professional and college sporting events. 

About ESPN+  

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 4, 2024) – Rising super middleweight Angle Chavez (9-0, 7 KOs), hailing from Salinas, CA, and currently honing his skills under the guidance of respected boxing coach Bob Santos in Las Vegas, is poised for his most significant challenge yet as he prepares to step into the ring tomorrow night for his first 8-round bout.

Chavez’s upcoming bout on April 5, 2024, will see him face off against Khainell Wheeler (7-4, 6 KOs) of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in what promises to be a thrilling showdown at the Wind Creek Events Center in Wheeler’s hometown, on event promoted by King’s Promotions

Despite the prospect of fighting in enemy territory, Chavez remains undaunted, stating, “I don’t mind going into Wheeler’s backyard. I’m ready to put on a show for the fans, and I’m confident in my abilities to come out victorious. I’m a throwback fighter who will fight anyone, anywhere. I’m looking forward to giving this man and “L” in front of his people, and I say that respectfully.”

Coach Bob Santos, renowned for his ability to nurture boxing talents, expressed his belief in Chavez’s potential, envisioning him as the next big star in the super middleweight division.

“Angle Chavez has all the makings of a future champion,” Santos remarked. “He has a big frame for a Mexican, which is rare in this sport, and his dedication, skill set, and determination set him apart. He has the potential to follow in the footsteps of current greats like David Benavidez and David Morrell Jr.“

Chavez’s journey to stardom continues to gain momentum, with each bout serving as a steppingstone towards his ultimate goal of becoming a world champion. With the guidance of Coach Santos, and the support from his promoter Amaury Piedra, of Boxlab Promotions, Chavez is prepared to make a significant impact in the super middleweight division.

“I have an incredible team that is making all the right moves in my career,” concluded Chavez. “I’m very thankful to Mr. Piedra, my promoter, for keeping me busy, and I have the best trainer in the world. I couldn’t be happier with the direction I’m being guided.”

CARDIFF, UK (April 4, 2024) – Lauren Price MBE’s World Welterweight Title fight against Jessica McCaskill will be free and available to all viewers in Wales following a rights deal between BOXXER, Sky Sports and BBC Wales.

Price challenges American champion McCaskill for the WBA, IBO and Ring Magazine World Welterweight Titles on Saturday, May 11th at the Utilita Arena Cardiff as part of a huge night of boxing in the Welsh capital.

Viewers in Wales will now be able to watch all the action live and free-to-air on BBC Wales as part of a simulcast agreement with Sky Sports, the UK’s biggest live sport platform, who will be broadcasting throughout the UK and Ireland.

History maker Price, the first Welsh boxer to win Olympic gold, has the chance to write her name in the record books again by becoming the country’s first female world champion.

The 29-year-old from Ystrad Mynach is yet to lose a round in the professional ranks but will face her toughest career test when she attempts to dethrone current welterweight ruler McCaskill.

McCaskill is a two-weight world champion, who unified the WBA and WBC World Super Lightweight Titles before moving up in weight to end Cecilia Brækhus’ decade long reign at the top of the welterweight division.

Lauren Price MBE said: “I think it’s incredible to have the support and backing of BBC Wales and Sky Sports together. When I boxed over in Tokyo for the Olympic Games, the pinnacle of my amateur career, it was covered by the BBC, and now at the pinnacle of my professional career, they’ll be covering my world title fight too, which is brilliant. I’d like to just say a huge thank you to BOXXER, Sky Sports and BBC Wales for coming together and backing me during my journey to become world champion.”

Carolyn Hitt, BBC Wales’ Head of Sport, said: “Wales has a long and proud boxing history and Lauren is already an icon, achieving every accolade – including Olympic gold – as an amateur. Now as a professional, she can hopefully make history again in Cardiff in May. We are extremely proud to be able to bring viewers in Wales the opportunity to witness this huge fight free-to-air, in partnership with BOXXER and Sky Sports.”

Ben Shalom, Founder and CEO of BOXXER, said: “We’re delighted that together with Sky Sports we are able to partner with BBC Wales for this historic event. Lauren Price is already a star in the sport and one of the most talented and decorated athletes Wales has ever produced. At BOXXER we are committed to growing boxing to new audiences and making it more accessible. We’re excited that everyone in Wales will now have the opportunity to watch Lauren’s crowning moment.”

Rob Selmes, Sky Sports Director of Rights, said: “Sky Sports are committed to bringing the biggest sporting moments to sports fans and understand the connection that people feel towards their homegrown talent. That’s why we’re pleased to join forces with BOXXER and BBC Wales to make sure that people in Wales can get behind Lauren Price MBE in her landmark World Title fight against Jessica McCaskill and witness potential history in the making for their local girl.”

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

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

Tickets are on sale now and available via BOXXER.com

Galal Yafai believes that he’s banking the experience needed to rip the World titles from the champions, and that continues on Saturday when he defends his WBC International Flyweight title against Agustin Mauro Gauto at BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, live worldwide on DAZN.

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Yafai (6-0 4 KOs) won the title he puts on the line in Sin City on his professional debut in February 2022 in London, six months after winning Olympic gold for Britain at the Tokyo games.

The Birmingham man has cruised to 6-0 in the paid ranks and successfully defended his International strap four times to date. Those wins have led the 31 year old to be handily positioned at #7 in the WBC rankings, the same spot he occupies with the WBO and IBF.

Jesse Rodriguez has vacated the world titles with the latter two organizations, piquing the interest of those contenders that are well placed in the rankings, and that means that Yafai has yet more incentive to perform to his best against Gauto (21-1 15 KOs) as he looks to perfectly time honing his ring craft for when his World title shot arrives.

“The pro game is different, longer rounds and the gloves are smaller, but it’s boxing to me,” said Yafai. “I’ve just got to get through them all and get to the top as quickly as I can because people aren’t patient, and I’m a bit impatient too.

“Rankings don’t really matter to me in the long run. No-one is going to say to me ‘Galal, you were ranked top five in the WBC’ when I finish my career. It’s either I am going to be a World champion or I’m not, that’s the main thing to me. It’s nice to be ranked high though and people want me to fight the top guys.

“I’ve had five fights, and I could jump in now with the top boys, but I don’t want to do that and not have the experience. People will say ‘he should be fighting him, him and this guy’, but people say anything, I just have to do what I am doing and get to the top and beat them.

“I need experience. On my day I can beat the top boys, but I want to give myself the best chance, I don’t want to go in there and fight them too soon and just be too short. But saying that, I’m still good enough to beat them.”

Yafai’s clash with Gauto is part of a huge night of action, led by a double-header featuring two of America’s best young talents as Richardson Hitchins takes on Gustavo Lemos in a final eliminator for the IBF World Jr. Welterweight title and Diego Pacheco defends his USWBC and WBO International Super-Middleweight titles against Shawn McCalman

Skye Nicolson provides the World title action on the card, looking to claim a World crown at the first attempt as she meets Sarah Mahfoud for the vacant WBC Featherweight strap, Marc Castro gets a first title bout in his 12th pro outing, taking on Abraham Montoya for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super-Featherweight title, Harley Mederos is in action for the sixth time in the paid ranks over six rounds against Pedro Vicente and there’s a pro debut for former Team USA talent Steven Navarro over six rounds at Super-Flyweight against Jose Lopez.