BOSTON (February 24, 2022) –- U.S. Army veteran Daniel “The Dedication” Bailey, Jr. (10-0, 5 KOs) will get his first title shot March 12th, when he takes on 18-year-old Mexican knockout artist Jonathan “Diamante Zurdo” Javier Fierro (12-0, 11 KOs) for the vacant North American Boxing Association (NABA) Featherweight Championship.

The 10-round bout will take place at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Washington. The winner will earn a WBA top 15 rating.

Bailey, managed by Ryan Roach’s Fighter Locker, was born in Miami and fights out of Tampa. The cousin of 2-division World champion Randall Bailey, Daniel was honorably discharged from the military after serving a 6-year stint. He was a 4-time U.S. Army champion, rated as high as No. 1 in the country as an amateur boxer. He was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs (CO), where Daniel was enrolled in the special soldier-athlete program there, World Class Athlete Program (WCAP).

“I’m super grateful for this opportunity,” the 25-year-old Bailey spoke about his NABA title shot. “I feel like all of my hard work has paid off and this will be my opportunity to show a glance of my greatness. I won’t disappoint. I’m not thinking about where this fight is going to take me. I’m just focused on getting a win.”

“This fight is very special for Team Bailey,” Roach commented. “We started building together from the ground up. To fight for a top 15 WBA world ranking in just 11 fights shows what we can do if the fighter stays ready and I do my job as a manager.

“I truly love this match-up for us because I think he has the perfect style for Daniel to showcase his skills. We have a game plan as a team. We have brought in some great sparring for Daniel. I am very excited for this opportunity, and it makes all the travel away from family, hard work and sleepless nights worth it.”

Fierro has stopped 11 of his 12 opponents as a professional, including 23-11 Victor Ruiz in the opening round of his last fight, back on November 13th in Phoenix.

“My opponent is from Mexico and he’s strong,” Bailey added, “but he signed on to fight the wrong fighter. I’m clicking! It’s a bad deal for anyone who signs on to fight me. I’m getting better every day.”

INFORMATION:

WEBSITE: fighterlocker.com, punch4parkinsons.com

FACEBOOK: /fighterlocker

TWITTER: @RoachRyan, @DanielBaileyJr

INSTAGRAM: @RyanRoach82

ABOUT FIGHTER LOCKER: Established in 2019, Fighter Locker is a comprehensive sports agency that manages professional boxers. Fighter Locker also helps to brand boxers by finding their voice with a 100-percent customized service. Fighter Locker does not really believe in working models. It believes in partnership optimization models in motion.

Fighter Locker uses four creative steps because it believes in “the foundation is everything”: 1. wisely conceived, 2. creatively restrained, 3. Proudly judged, 4. sharply targeted.

New York (February 24, 2022) – TONIGHT at Live! Casino & Hotel in Philadelphia, undefeated heavyweight Sonny Conto returns to action when he takes on Mike Marshall in a six-round bout just a few blocks from his Philadelphia residence as headlines in a bout scheduled for six-rounds.

Conto, who turned 26 on February 12th, has a record of 8-0 with seven knockouts, will be making the 6th start in his hometown, and is coming off a 3rd round stoppage over Joel Caudle on November 18th in the same Live! Casino ring.

Conto, who is managed by Split-T Management, is promoted by Top Rank.

Marshall of Danbury, Connecticut is 6-2-1 with four knockouts. The 33 year-old Marshall has a win over Justin Rolfe (4-1-1). The seven year-pro is coming off a defeat to Victor Faust on October 9, 2021 in Las Vegas.

Conto weighed 226.1 lbs. Marshall was 248.8 lbs.

The bout can be seen on flocombat.com

PHILADELPHIA (February 24, 2022)–Veteran Silverio Ortiz will replace Cleotis Pendarvis in the main event to take on welterweight contender Ray Robinson the six-round main event that will take place this Saturday, February 26th at the 2300 Arena.

The show is promoted by RDR Promotions.

Robinson of Philadelphia, has a record of 24-3-2 with 12 knockouts. The 36 year-old Robinson will be shaking off a two-and-a-half-year layoff as he is coming off of back-to-back draws with world title challenger Egidijust Kavaliauskas (21-0) and former British Olympian Josh Kelly (9-0). In both of those fights, most observers believe that Robinson should have had his hand raised in victory. Robinson has wins over Roberto Acevedo (2-0-1), Darnell Jiles Jr. (8-0-1), Former U.S. Olympian Terrance Cauthen (36-7-1), Ray Narh (26-2), Aslanbek Kozoev (25-0-1) and Sherzodbek Almjanov (22-2).

Ortiz of Merida, Mexico has a record of 37-28 with 18 knockouts. At 39 years-old, Ortiz is a 22 year veteran of the ring and has faced no less than nine world champions and a plethora of title challengers, contenders and prospects. He has wins over Juan Carlos Chan (9-1-1), Ricardo Dominguez (13-0-2), former world title challenger Daniel Seda (20-1-1), Elvis Perez (18-4-3), Mahonri Montes (25-0-1), Armando Robles (24-1-2), Jesus Gurrola (19-4-3), Jorge Silva (20-4-2), Ivan Pereya (19-2), Felipe De La Paz Teniente (11-2-1), Mian Hussein (16-0), Ramzan Baysarov (7-0). Ortiz is coming off a loss to Chrodale Booker on September 24, 2021 in Hartford, Connecticut.

A packed undercard will feature a plethora of Philly-Favorites and undefeated prospects.

In six-round bouts:

Muhsin Cason (9-0, 6 KOs) of Las Vegas battles Steven Lyons (5-7-2, 2 KOs) of Larose, Louisiana in a cruiserweight matchup

Jerome Conquest (11-6, 1 KO) of Philadelphia fights Oscar Barajas (16-8-1, 8 KOs) of Mexico in a lightweight battle.

Robert Sabbagh (3-0, 2 KOs) of Brooklyn squabbles with Joel Caudle (8-6-2, 5 KOs) of North Carolina in a heavyweight scrap.

In four-round fights

Isaiah Johnson (3-0, 3 KOs) of Philadelphia will fight Diemerci Nzau (11-15, 8 KOs) of Silver Spring, Maryland in a junior welterweight fight.

Dominique Mayfield (0-1) of Philadelphia takes on Daryl Clark (1-1, 1 KO) of Houston in a heavyweight fight.

Jabril Noble (2-0, 2 KOs) of Philadelphia will take on Joseph Santana (0-4) of Providence, RI in a super featherweight bout.

Edward Cortes (1-0) of Millville, NJ takes on Jerrod Miner (2-13-2, 1 KO) of Philadelphia in a bantamweight affair

Tickets are $75, $100 and $150 and can be purchased at

Heavyweights Robert Simms and Moses “ThunderHands” Johnson, both say it will be nothing personal when they go to war in the 10-round main event of Salita Promotions’ latest Detroit Brawl, on Saturday, March 5, 2022, in the Lincoln Ballroom of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, Michigan.

Saginaw, Michigan’s Simms (11-3, 3 KOs) a proven upset specialist and undefeated, but comparatively untested Johnson (8-0, 7 KOs) of New York, will headline a night of exciting matchups that also features Detroit’s own Winfred “Hot Boy” Harris Jr. (21-1-1, 10 KOs) taking on another veteran known for pulling off surprises, former NABA-US Super Middleweight Champion Dashon “Fly Boy” Johnson of Riverside, California, and unbeaten WBC #10- and IBF #12-ranked super middleweight Vladimir Shishkin (12-0, 7 KOs) looking to stay sharp against Ecuadorian trialhorse Jeyson “Verdugo” Minda (14-6-1, 8 KOs), in a bout scheduled for eight rounds.

Tickets for “Detroit Brawl” start at $35 and can be purchased by clicking HERE or by calling or visit the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center Box Office (313.943.2354) at 15801 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn during Box Office hours: Thursday and Friday from 11 am to 4 pm and 5 pm to 8:30 pm on the day of the event.

“Things went pretty good,” said Simms of his preparations for the big fight. “We’ve been working out three times a day, sparring and stuff like that. Some strength training and working out later at night to get used to it. I’ll be ready.”

Simms, who beat 8-1-1 Aaron Quintana in his last outing in March of last year, has also beaten 8-0-2 Colby Madison, 15-1 Joe Cusumano, and forced top heavyweight prospect George Arias to settle for a close majority decision victory in the past three years.

“I have too much experience for him,” added Simms about why he will win the old-school showdown against Johnson. “I’ve already beaten some undefeated fighters and guys with every style you will ever see. I don’t think he will have anything new for me. He’s got a lot of knockouts, but he hasn’t had a lot of tough opposition. I’m not saying he’s not a good fighter, but he hasn’t been through a war yet to show what he really has. The way I can move and box and hit without getting his throws a lot of heavyweights off. You can’t really prepare for what I do. It’s hard to find a 5’ 11” guy who can move like I do and almost impossible to get a sparring partner to do the same thing. The movement and having to punch down is what gives me the advantage against bigger guys. We are both doing a job. It’s not personal, but that night, I’m going to school him.”

Also not feeling a grudge match scenario, Johnson says he’s looking forward to answering questions about himself against the tricky veteran Simms.

“It’s nothing personal, but somebody has to win and it’s going to be me,’ he said. “I’m going there to put the work in and continue my winning streak, but I wish him the best after that.

Johnson, who spends time working with young amateur boxers in his spare time, says he wants it too badly to lose on March 5. “I have too much heart and determination for him. Boxing is my life. It’s not something I do part time. I eat, sleep and breathe boxing.”

“Johnson vs Simms is a bonafide top-level crossroads fight between an upcoming undefeated contender and a proven world-class upset artist in Robert Simms,” said an excited Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions. “This is a great fight, which tops off a sensational card featuring some of the best prospects and contenders in boxing from Michigan, US and abroad. Detroit is on its way to being one of the hubs for world-class professional boxing.”

Also seeing action that night will be undefeated middleweight terror Marlon Harrington (6-0, 5 KOs) stepping up in class to face Montevideo, Uruguay’s Andres Viera (11-4, 8 KOs) in a six-round brawl.

Featured in separate four-rounders will be popular Grand Rapids, Michigan-based former amateur stars Joseph “Sug” Hicks Jr. (1-0, 1 KO) taking on Justin Baesman (0-2) of Herlong, California, and Joshua Pagan (1-0, 1 KO) taking on Italy’s Christian Danilo Guido (8-22, 6 KOs).

Making their Detroit Brawl debuts will be Dearborn’s own 19-year-old undefeated southpaw Husam Al Mashhadi (2-0, 2 KOs) in a super welterweight four-rounder against Texas veteran Leslie Michael Klekotta (3-8, 2 KOs); and Detroit’s Vernon Webber making his heavyweight pro debut against also debuting Michigander Luke Sills.

Rounding out the action will be undefeated Gordie Russ II, who will hope to keep his record perfect (currently 3-0, 3 KOs) against Minnesota’s Salome Flores Torres (1-5).

PLEASE NOTE: Tickets ordered online will be mailed up to one week prior to event date. Tickets ordered within a week of event will be placed in will call at the box office for pick-up. A limited quantity of VIP tickets is also available by calling Rhyan Neco: 313.765.7698.

The Ford Community & Performing Arts Center is located at 15801 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. On fight night, doors open at 6:30 pm and the action starts at 7:00 pm.
ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS:

Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including Showtime, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.

Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action.

SAM NOAKES HAS vowed to shed the self-imposed shackles and return to his explosive, swashbuckling self when he returns to the ring at the OVO Arena, Wembley on March 19.

The lightweight force of nature stepped up the rounds and moved into the business of winning titles last time out in December at the Copper Box where he defeated Shaun Cooper in nine rounds with the WBC International Silver title at stake.

The stoppage win took him to 8-0 with all of his wins coming via KO, but this one lasted four rounds longer than his previous longest stay of five rounds in the ring. Going beyond five took him into uncharted territory.

“Yeah I had never been past six before that,” reflected Sam, who takes on Vincenzo Finiello in a first defence of his title at Wembley. “It was alright, I think I was more focused on the rounds than before because normally you would do a six then jump up to an eight and I went straight into a 10.

“So it was in my head but, obviously in this next one, I know I have got them in the bank. It stands me in good stead.”

Sam, 24, concedes that his focus was more on pacing himself than his customary freestyling that has so much caught the eye since he made his debut in September 2019.

“Er, yeah I would have said so. Obviously with the first time making championship weight as well, you don’t know how your body is going to react. I felt good, but mentally and physically is a completely different thing.

“You know what, it isn’t much difference to making 62.5kg, it is just another day of sh*t really and I made it relatively easy anyway. It is always nicer putting weight on than losing it though.

“The whole camp leading up felt a bit more meaningful with the title and that. It is mad to see how quickly I got there really, especially with the lockdown as well, so I am very happy with that.”

Turning a critical eye on himself, Noakes says his principal takeaway from the fight is not to stray from what has marked him out as one to watch.

“If I was being critical, I wasn’t my normal aggressive self, I would say. It was just the jump from six to 10 and not knowing how you will react. I didn’t want to go in all guns blazing and then get to six and think ‘I am a little bit tired here’.

“It was a good learning fight and exactly what it needed to be really.

“I would say I was a bit too cautious and I might have overthought it a little bit. I got through it in the end and I will learn from it. I will put on an explosive performance on this next show and put myself back in good stead.

“It will be the old me! It is nice to be able to do a bit of both, but you can’t change your identity and I’ve got to be what got me to being a pro in the first place.

“It is about going all out and, now I’ve got those rounds in the bank, I will just go back to that.

“You’ve got to be yourself and there is nobody better at being you than you!”

Tickets for an incredible night of Championship boxing at the OVO Arena are on sale now available at AXS.com. 

EUROPEAN WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION David Avanesyan returns to the ring on March 19 at the OVO Arena, Wembley with a defence of his title on a night of multiple championship clashes at the historic London venue. Avanesyan takes on the unbeaten Finn Oskari Metz, 15-0, in what will be a fifth defence of his EBU belt.

In four-round action, Khalid Ali (1-0, 1 KO) will look to double his win tally against Kris Pilkington (2-10-1). Finally, Frank Warren gets to unleash his latest young star onto the professional ranks, with two-time European championship gold medallist Royston Barney-Smith making his pro debut, having turned 18 in January.

Tickets for an incredible night of Championship boxing at the OVO Arena are on sale now available at AXS.com. 

Hanover, MD (February 23, 2022) — This past Saturday night, surging super featherweight Jordan White won his 9th consecutive fight with a 10-round split-decision over late-replacement Brandon Valdes to capture the WBC USNBC title in front of yet another capacity crowd at The HALL inside Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover, Maryland.

The exciting card was the 7th consecutive top-notch card promoted by Jeter Promotions at Live! Casino.

In round five, White dropped Valdes with a left hook to the head. The action was nip and tuck throughout the fight with Valdes trying to make a slugfest out of it. White came home with the victory by taking two cards by scores of 97-92 and 96-93. Valdes won a scorecard by a 95-94 tally.

White is now 13-1. Valdes falls to 14-3.

In the co-feature, super middleweight Demond Nicholson took out Gabriel Pham in round five of their scheduled 10-round super middleweight bout.

Nicholson dropped Pham with a left hook in round one. Nicholson continued his domination, and in round five, put Pham on the canvas for the count that was courtesy of a hard right hand.

Nicholson is now 25-4-1 with 21 knockouts. Pham of Atlantic City is 15-3.

Brandon Chambers won the ABF USA Super Bantamweight title with a dubious opening round stoppage over Paul Carroll.

Carroll seemed to take a misstep that caused an injury to his leg. With Carroll limping around, the fight was stopped 62 seconds into the contest.

Chambers is now 7-0-1 with four knockouts. Carroll is 4-3.

Colby Madison took a six-round unanimous decision over Antonio Robertson in a heavyweight bout.

Madison won on all cards by shutout margins of 60-54 and is now 10-3-2. Robertson is 4-8-1.

AJ Williams won the ABF Atlantic Super Middleweight decision with a close six-round split decision over Brent Oren.

Williams, a Penn State graduate, won by scores of 59-55 and 58-56. Oren took a card 58-56.

Williams is now 6-1. Oren falls to 4-8.

Mansaborie Conde needed just 28 seconds to destroy debuting Malcom Phillips in their four-round super middleweight contest.

Conde jumped all over Phillips and dropped him. The fight was stopped quickly after a count started.

Conde is 5-0 with four knockouts.

Jaqeem Hutcherson won a four-round unanimous decision over Jalan Woodmore in a foul-infested super bantamweight fight.

There was a lot of holding, shoving and illegal tactics until Hutcherson was deducted a point in round in the final round, but he had done enough to take every round and won by scores of 39-36 on all cards to move to 4-1. Woodmore is 0-2.

Thyler Williams of Philadelphia stayed undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Maurice Anthony in a welterweight fight.

Williams took all cards by 60-54, 59-55 and 58-56 scores and is now 6-0. Anthony is 3-4.

Joseph Veazey won a four-round unanimous decision over Corey Champion.

Veazey took two cards by 40-36 and third read 39-37 to stay perfect at 6-0. Champion is 2-4.

Ahmad Muhammad Jones stopped Tyree Arnold in the fourth and final round of their welterweight fight.

The time of the stoppage was 2:02 for Jones, who is now 2-0 with two knockouts. Arnold is 1-4.

tomorrow night’s first 2020 installment of RJJ Boxing Promotions on UFC FIGHT PASS® tomorrow night at Palenque de la Expo in Obregón, Sonora, Mexico.

All the action, including the semifinals of the World Boxing Cup Series’ “4-Man Lightweight Tournament,” will be streamed live and exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, boxing starts at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. To sign up for UFC FIGHT PASS, please visit www.ufcfightpass.com

Fighters’ weight below:

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

MAIN EVENT – WCBS 4-MAN LIGHTWEIGHT TOURNAMENT – SEMIFINALS (8)

Luis Torres (14-0, 9 KOs), Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico 135 lbs.

Rodolfo Flores (14-5, 6 KOs), Los Mochis, Nuevo Leon, México 135 lbs.

CO-FEATURE – VACANT WBC USNBC SILVER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (10)

Quinton Randall (8-0, 2 KOs), Houston, Texas, USA 147 lbs.

Ivan “Zurdo” Alvarez (31-13-1, 21 KOs), Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, México 147 lbs.

WCBS 4-MAN LIGHTWEIGHT TOURNAMENT – SEMIFINALS (8)

Isai Hernandez (11-2-1, 7 KOs), La Paz, Baja California, México 135 lbs.

Irving Castillo (9-2, 6 KOs), Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, México 135 lbs.

LIGHTWEIGHTS (8)

Fradimil Macayo (15-1, 13 KOs), Carúpano, Venezuela135 lbs.

Armando Ramirez Almanza (5-0-1, 2 KOs), Celaya, Guanajuato, México 135 lbs.

LIGHTWEIGHTS (6)

Jorge Lugo Cota (6-0, 4 KOs), Los Mochis, Sinaloa, México 135 lbs.

Rene de Leon Mazariegos (7-3, 4 KOs), Celaya, Guanajuato, México 135 lbs.

(card subject to change)

WHEN: Thursday, February 24, 2022

PROMOTERS: RJJ Boxing Promotions, De La O Promotions and World Cup Boxing Series

BROADCASTERS: James “Smitty” Smith (blow-by-blow) and Amber Dixon (color commentator)

RING ANNOUNCER: Michael Vale

INFORMATION:

Websites: http://www.RoyJonesJrBoxing.com, www.ufcfightpass.com

Facebook: /UFCFightPass, /WorldCupBoxingSeries

Twitter: @UFCFightPass, @RoyjonesJRfa @RoyJonesJrOfficial

Instagram: @UFCFightPass, @WorldCup_Boxing_Series, @RoyJonesJrBoxing

ABOUT ROY JONES JR, BOXING PROMOTIONS: Co-founded in 2013 by 10-time world champion Roy Jones, Jr. and Keith Veltre, Roy Jones, Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions is on its way to reinventing boxing. RJJ has already made a huge impact in the boxing community in a few short years. Creating exhilarating content for UFC Fight Pass, CBS Sports, Showtime, ESPN and beIN Sports in some of the finest venues across the country, RJJ has proven it is conquering the sweet science of the sport.

ABOUT UFC FIGHT PASS®: UFC FIGHT PASS® is the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports. Since launching in 2013, UFC FIGHT PASS is now available in more than 200 countries and territories. UFC FIGHT PASS provides its members with unlimited access to live UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims; live mixed martial arts and combat sports from around the world; original series and historical programming; special features; behind-the-scenes content; in-depth interviews; and up-to-the minute reports on the world of combat sports. UFC FIGHT PASS subscribers also have 24/7 access to the world’s largest fight library, featuring more than 20,000 bouts from dozens of combat sports organizations, as well as every fight in UFC history. Fight fans can access UFC FIGHT PASS on personal computers, iOS and Android mobile devices, Apple TV, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and Sony TVs with Android TV. For more information, please visit www.ufcfightpass.com.

February 23, 2022–Weights for Thursday Night’s Joe Hand Promotions fight card at Live Casino & Hotel Philadelphia

Sonny Conto 226.1 – Mike Marshall 248.8
Daiyaan Butt 143.1 – Bryce Mills 141.9
Christopher Burgos 139.6 – Carlos Marrero 136.2
D’Angelo Fuentes 123.8 – Justice Bland 126
Eslih Owusu 155 – Evencii Dixon 155.2
Jordon Murphy 128.8 – Nasir Mickens 129.4
Quadeer Jenkins 159.5 – Rahiem Cooke 158.3

Promoter: Joe Hand Promotions
Venue: Live! Casino & Hotel Casino Promotions
1st Bell: 7 PM ET

LAS VEGAS (February 23, 2022) – Celebrities and professional athletes have expressed their support for unbeaten rising star Chris “Primetime” Colbert as they look forward to his upcoming matchup against undefeated Dominican Olympian Hector Garcia which headlines live on SHOWTIME this Saturday, February 26 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Colbert vs. Garcia tops a stacked SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT as the undefeated fighters match up in a WBA Super Featherweight Title Eliminator.

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

High profile stars Deion Sanders, Tracy Morgan, Danny Garcia, Maino, Le’Veon Bell, Tony Harrison, Frank Gore, Gillie Da Kid, YXNG K.A., Tru Life and Jonathan Casillas all showed Colbert love in the days leading up to his ring return.

Check out what they had to say in this compilation video HERE.

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ABOUT COLBERT VS. GARCÍA
Colbert vs. García will see undefeated rising star Chris “Primetime” Colbert square off against unbeaten Dominican Olympian Hector García in a 12-round WBA Super Featherweight World Title Eliminator headlining live on SHOWTIME Saturday, February 26 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast kicks off at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and will feature another unbeaten young phenom in the co-main event. Gary Antuanne Russell, a 2016 U.S. Olympian, faces former world champion Viktor Postol in a 10-round super lightweight bout, while IBF Junior Bantamweight World Champion Jerwin Ancajas defends his title against unbeaten Argentine Fernando Martinez in the televised opener of the loaded tripleheader.

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

FLORIDA (February 23, 2022) – Cruiserweight Najee Lopez (2-0, 2 KOs) and middleweight Tommy Wu (pro debut), both managed by one of boxing’s hottest young managers, Tim VanNewhouse, will be in action this Friday, February 25, 2022, at Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida, on a card promoted by Garry Jonas of Pro Box Promotions.

In only his third pro fight, Lopez will face Alex Theran (23-6, 15 KOs), a fighter with close to 30 pro bouts. Lopez, who was a standout at the Last Chance Qualifiers in Oxnard, California, for the Olympic Trials in 2019, is eager to make his 2022 debut.

“I’m going into my 2022 debut with a lot of confidence and I’m fighting an opponent that has nearly 30 pro fights with a good record,” said Najee Lopez as he eagerly awaits fight night this Friday. Not many fighters can say they did that at this point in their career. He just fought Anthony Yarde, and a few fights prior he fought Yunieski Gonzalez. I want to show the world that I am already at that level with this type of opponent.”

Tommy “The Infamous” Wu will be making his pro debut against Anthony Curtiss (3-14, 2 KOs). He’s used to fighting in-front of large crowds as an amateur and will be fully prepared for his opponent.

“I am excited to show-out in this opportunity and put my talents on full display,” said Wu, who has over 1 Million TikTok followers. “I am going to show people what all the excitement is about. I am not just a goof fighter as I have special interests that a lot of boxers don’t have. I’ll be an ambassador to this sport to the likes of one we haven’t seen before.”

“Lopez has the potential to be a once-in-a-generation type cruiserweight and future heavyweight. He’s an extremely gifted talent and our team see’s him being on a fast track compared to most young pros. He’s in a big step up fight on Friday that we all know he’s ready for.. “Wu is the type of fighter every manager and promoter hopes for. He’s a tremendous athlete and markets himself with a strong following. He has a vision for his own career. We just have to collaborate to achieve the goals he has already set.”

GLASGOW, Scotland (Feb. 23, 2022) — After Josh Taylor won the undisputed junior welterweight title last May, he wanted to defend all four belts, and do it in front of the Scottish faithful.

He will get that homecoming opportunity Saturday against WBO No.1 contender Jack Catterall at a sold-out OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland (ESPN+, 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT).

Fight week festivities kicked off Wednesday in Glasgow, as Taylor, Catterall, and many of the undercard fighters participated in the open workout at St. Enoch Centre.

This is what the main event fighters had to say three days before fight night.

Josh Taylor

“I’m sharp, I’m fast, I’m quick. I can’t wait to get in there and dismantle him in every single department of the game. I can’t wait to get in there and put on a real top performance Saturday. A real homecoming, first time I’ve been here in a couple of years now. I’m back home. The fans have been starving for a big night for a couple of years, and I’m determined to put on a good show, keep the belts here, and keep bringing big boxing back to Scotland.”

“Glasgow, the people of Glasgow, the people of Scotland, it’s been my home since the Commonwealth Games. I get a great reception every time I’m here. The belts are staying here. There’s no defeating me at the Hydro on Saturday.”

Jack Catterall

“I’d be disappointed if I didn’t get booed on Saturday. If Josh were coming to Chorley, he’d certainly be getting booed, so I expect the same thing coming up here. You know what, I’m all for it. This is his town. This is his people. Support your man. I’m coming up here as the enemy. It is what it is.”

“I’m preparing for a hard fight, a long fight, a tough fight. I can’t go into detail on the specifics of what we’re planning on doing in the fight, but I’ve certainly prepared for anything and everything.”

“I’ve got to go above and beyond for this fight. Everything I’ve done in all my previous fights mean nothing. I’ve got to go and put on a career-best performance to beat Josh on Saturday. Josh is at the top of his game — he’s got all the belts — so I’ve got to fight with everything on Saturday. Believe me when I say I’m prepared to go to the darkest places possible to come home with that victory.

CLICK HERE to watch Episode 1 of Real Time: Taylor vs. Catterall. Please visit Top Rank’s YouTube channel for additional Taylor vs. Catterall fight week content.

SATURDAY, Feb. 26
LIVE & Exclusively on ESPN+ (United States)
2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT

Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall, 12 rounds, Taylor’s Undisputed Junior Welterweight Championship

Robeisy Ramirez vs. Eric Donovan, 10 rounds, featherweight

Nick Campbell vs. Jay McFarlane, 10 rounds, Vacant Scottish Heavyweight Title

Ebonie Jones vs. Effy Kathopouli, 6 rounds, junior featherweight

John Docherty vs. Mike McGoldrick, 8 rounds, super middleweight

LIVE on Top Rank’s YouTube Channel (United States)
12:30 p.m ET/9:30 a.m. PT

Kieran Molloy vs.Damian Esquisabel, 4 rounds, junior middleweight

Paddy Donovan vs. Miroslav Serban, 6 rounds, welterweight

Kurt Walker vs. Jaroslav Hriadel, 4 rounds, featherweight

WHAT: “Showcase” pro boxing event

WHO:                          MAIN EVENT – JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS (8)

Israel “Filipino Tigre” Rojas (14-25, 5 KOs), Aqua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico

vs.

Jeffrey Torres (9-1, 5 KOs), New Haven, CT by way of Puerto Rico

CO-FEATURE – WELTERWEIGHTS (6)

Alfred “Keenan” Raymond (1-0) Warwick, RI

vs.

Denzel “Double Impact” Whitley (7-0, 5 KOs), Holyoke, MA

WELTERWEIGHTS (6)

Josniel “TG” Castro (8-0, 6 KOs), Boca Raton, FL

vs.

Juan Jesus Rivera Garces (18-27, 12 KOs), Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS (4)

Scott “Scotty Bombs” Lampert (2-3, 2 KOs), Dover, NY

vs.

Stephen “Clubber” Langlais (3-1, 2 KOs), Acushnet, MA

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS (4)

Laurent Humes (3-0, 3 KOs), Enfield, CT

vs.

Juan Celin Zapata (6-20-2, 4 KOs), Bronx, NY by way of Honduras

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS (6)

Carlos Castillo (4-0, 3 KOs), Holyoke, MA

vs.

Antonio Chaves Fernandez (9-41-4, 3 KOs), Brockton, MA by way of Cape Verde

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS (4)

David Rohn (0-11-1), Moline, IL

vs.

Steve Sumpter (3-0, 3 KOs), Pittsfield, MA

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS (4)

Jamer Jones (2-0, 2 KOs), Pittsfield, MA)

vs.

Maycon Oller (0-3), Concord, NH by way of Brazil

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS (4)

Kevin “Lucky” Lewis (pro debut), Framingham, MA

vs.

Saul “The Spider” Almeida (0-14-4), Framingham, MA by way of Brazil

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS (4)

Robert Bricks (0-8), New York, NY

vs.

Antony Andreozzi (0-1), Swansea, MA

JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS (4)

Ronny Arana (0-4), New York, NY by way of Ecuador

vs.

Felix Parrilla (3-0, 3 KOs), New Haven, CT

PRELIMINARY FIGHTS

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS (4)

Rynell Griffen (8-50-2, 2 KOs), Las Vegas, NVL

vs.

Eric Tudor (1-0), Fort Lauderdale, FL

MIDDLEWEIGHTS (10)

Manny “Shake Em’ Up” Woods (17-15-1, 6 KOs), Saint Petersburg, FL

vs.

Larry “Slo Mo” Smith (12-50-4 (8 KOs), Dallas, TX

(card subject to change)

__________________________________________________________________________

WHERE:       Sheraton Hotel in Framingham, Massachusetts

WHEN:         Saturday, February 26, 2022

PROMOTER: Granite Chin Promotions

RING ANNOUNCER: John Vena

HOW TO WATCH: Streaming live on bxngtv.com for $19.99

TICKETS: Only general admission tickets ($50) are still available to purchase at www.TicketRiver.com (Search: SHOWCASE). Limited tickets will be on sale fight night while they last.

OTHER: Doors open at 7 pm. ET with the first bout at 7:30 p.m. ET.

INFORMATION:  

Facebook.com/GraniteChin

Twitter: @Granite_Chin

PHILADELPHIA (February 23, 2022)–Two undefeated fighters will make their Philadelphia debut as part of a big night of boxing that will take place tomorrow night at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia.

D’Angelo Fuentes and Jordon Murphy, who are managed by Philadelphia native Jereme Cohen, will look to stay undefeated as the battle tough foes on February 24th.

Fuentes of Deerfield Beach, Florida is 6-0 four knockouts. He will be taking on Justice Bland (5-1, 2 KOs) in a six-round junior lightweight fight.

The 23 year-old Fuentes began boxing at the age of 14 as he was getting into trouble, and then he found the local PAL.

His amateur career was brief but productive as he went 21-4 as he won the Ringside World title.

He and Murphy are best friends, and the train under Steve Collazo

He hooked up with Cohen, who just happened to be Murphy’s uncle to manage his career.

“Jereme will point and lead me in the right direction, and I can’t wait to see where he takes Jordon and I,” said Fuentes.

“I fight in the aggressive-Mexican Style. I watch Roberto Duran, and am amazed how he just walked through everything. That is the style that I try use. I am Puerto Rican, but fight like a Mexican.

“I can’t wait to fight on the same card as Jordon, who is like a brother to me.”

On Bland, Fuentes knows he is in with someone who will test him, “I know he is tall, lanky and skilled. He is a good opponent for me, and I can’t wait to get to Philadelphia and get things cracking.”

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Murphy of Deerfield Beach, Florida, was born in Philadelphia has deep Philly roots and is pumped to perform in front of a large contingent of family and friends.

“Just about all of my family is from here. Even though I moved to Florida, I still have a huge fan base in Philly. My father is from South Philadelphia. Ironically he lives there, I will be the home fighter. He will feel that on fight night,” said Murphy.

Murphy, 22 years-old is 1-0 with one knockout.

Born in Philadelphia, Murphy moved to Florida at three years-old

Murphy began fighting at age eight as his older brother and father were big fans of The Rocky films. His brother began to box, and after watching his older sibling, Jordon wanted to box when he turned eight years-old.

Jordon had a distinguished amateur career that saw him register a 97-9 record and he won The Junior Golden Gloves, Ringside World and National Silver Gloves championships.

He turned professional with a 2nd round stoppage over Steven Merrill on August 21, 2021 in Hallandale, Florida.

Murphy has been managed by Cohen, who just happens to be his uncle. Jordon’s father and uncle were big boxing fans, with Cohen wanting to get involved and manage a fighter. Cohen did not have to look far as he had a budding star in his own family, and then took over the career of his nephew.

“My father just wanted to keep me on the right path. My uncle knows how to communicate and so far it’s been great.”

Murphy describes his style as fast, flashy and unpredictable.

On his fight with Mickens, Jordon said, “It seems like he is a big talker. I am a humble guy. I do not talk trash. Let him do that. I do all of my talking in the ring.”

Jordan Gill is hoping to put a frustrating 2021 behind him when he clashes with European Featherweight Champion Karim Guerfi on the undercard of Lawrence Okolie’s WBO Cruiserweight World Title defence against Michael Cieslak at The O2 in London this Sunday February 27, live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

‘The Thrill’ (26-1-1, 7 KOs) was originally scheduled to face Frenchman Guerfi on the undercard of Conor Benn vs. Chris Algieri at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on December 11, but the two-weight European Champion was forced to withdraw from their Merseyside showdown due to an illness.

Gill suffered a horrific cut in the third round of his eight rounder with late stand in opponent Alan Luques Castillo – the 27-year-old was forced to accept a technical draw after the gruesome head clash. The Chatteris man is aiming to kickstart his World Title push by dethroning 34-year-old Guerfi in his first fight for 2022. 

“I remember laying on the bed and getting stitches afterwards,” said Gill. “It was one of those things that could have happened to anyone at any time. It’s unfortunate that it happened to me. It was a nasty head clash – there was no way the fight was going to continue. When they stitched my head up, they stitched around the artery – it was that deep! It’s lucky that it was on my head and not my face, otherwise it would have been a plastic surgery job. It’s good in one way, bad in another. 

“I had a week off and then I was straight back in the gym, keeping fit and keeping my mind active. I knew I was always going to be Mandatory for the European Title. It wasn’t a fight lost because of the technical draw. All in all it was a frustrating 2021 but that’s behind us now and we look forward. 2022 is our year, I’m looking forward to this fight and pushing on to bigger and better things. 

“He’s a very good fighter, you can’t take that away from him. I fully respect him – he’s the champion. He did it against the odds, he’s been to the champion’s backyard and won the Title. He’s very experienced and he’s coming to the latter stages of his career. He’s had some big fights, I think he’s a four or five time European Champion. He’s established and he’s a very good pro. I’m looking forward to mixing it with him.

“As the fight gets nearer, I’m thinking of new ways to beat him. I’m thinking of new things to add to my game. We’re not so much preparing for Guerfi, but we’re preparing myself for the best that I can be. I’m looking forward to the fight. I feel like it has been a long time coming. This is my life. I dedicate my life to boxing. I take myself away from my family. I’m here in Rotherham, working every day. This European Title fight means everything to me, my family and the area that I’m representing. 

“I think I’m going to put on an absolute masterclass and stop Guerfi mid to late rounds and I’m going to push on, beat up that dosser Isaac Lowe and get a World Title shot. Guerfi is ranked 10^th or 11^th with the WBC. We’ve just got a new WBC Featherweight Champion. I know he’s got to fight his Mandatory for his first defence but after that I can get the winner.”

Gill vs. Guerfi is part of a huge night of Title action, Hackney’s WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Lawrence Okolie (17-0, 14 KOs) makes the second defence of his crown against Poland’s former World Title challenge Michal Cieslak (21-1, 15 KOs), Tokyo Olympic Champion Galal Yafai makes his highly anticipated professional debut in a ten round fight for the vacant WBC International Flyweight Title against Mexico’s Carlos Vado Bautista (10-4-1, 3 KOs) Liverpool Middleweight Anthony Fowler (15-2, 12 KOs) faces Poland’s Lukasz Maciec (27-3-1, 5 KOs) over ten rounds, unbeaten Ipswich Heavyweight Fabio Wardley (12-0, 11 KOs) takes on the USA’s Daniel Martz (20-9-1, 17 KOs) over ten rounds, Tokyo Olympian Cheavon Clarke makes his professional debut at Cruiserweight against Croatia’s Toni Visic (20-29-2, 5 KOs), Lightweight prospect Campbell Hatton (5-0, 1 KO) clashes with Joe Ducker (9-8-2, 2 KOs) over six rounds, Takeley Light-Heavyweight John Hedges (4-0) meets Aleksander Nagolski (2-1, 1 KO) over six rounds and Australian Heavyweight contender Demsey McKean (20-0, 13 KOs) takes on Argentina’s Ariel Esteban Bracamonte (11-6, 6 KOs) over eight rounds. 

BOSTON, MA, February 23, 2022 – Middleweight Contender Mark “The Bazooka” DeLuca 28-2, 16 KOs has signed an exclusive managerial agreement with Waymaker Management.

Boxing is in DeLuca’s blood as he has been training since the young age of three years old. He went on to win three national championships as an amateur boxer before turning pro in 2007. After quickly compiling six wins, he joined the United States Marine Corps in 2008. DeLuca’s boxing career was put on pause while he was serving his country and deployed to Afghanistan in 2011.

In 2014 DeLuca returned to the ring and improved his record to 21-0, 13 KO capturing the IBA World Title and the NABA Title. The first blemish on his record was a controversial split decision loss to “The Contender” Season 2 Star, Walter Wright 16-4, 8 KOs in 2018. DeLuca avenged that defeat winning the rematch by a clear cut unanimous decision. After that, DeLuca went on to dominate Jimmy Williams 16-1-1, 5 KOs and Brandon Brewer 20-1-1, 11 KOs. In 2020, DeLuca earned a shot against former IBF World Champion Kell Brook 38-2, 26 KOs in the United Kingdom. Although DeLuca came up short in the Brook fight he subsequently obtained four straight victories. DeLuca is currently rated in the top 10 in the US and is looking to make a big statement this year by challenging one of the top names in boxing.

Waymaker Management’s Founder, Artie DePinho said, “We are excited to have the opportunity to work with Mark. He is one of the biggest names in New England and we are ready to show the world what he is capable of. We are looking forward to some tremendous opportunities on the horizon.”

DeLuca said, “Teaming up with a manager that I can trust is what I needed at this stage of my career. I’ve known Artie for a long time and have seen how he operates. Artie has proven that he is capable of getting boxers to the next level. I am looking forward to working with Waymaker Management.”

Artie DePinho said, “Mark is the type of person that we want to align our company with inside and outside of the ring. He has all of the tools to compete at the highest level in boxing. He is a US Marine Corps Veteran and an active member of his community.” Deluca joins Super Welterweight World Title Challenger, Greg “The Villain” Vendetti 23-4-1, 12 KOs and Super Middleweight Prospect Kendrick “Peppa” Ball Jr. 17-2-2, 11 KOs on Waymaker Management’s roster.

ABOUT WAYMAKER MANAGEMENT

Formed in 2021, Artie DePinho’s Boston based Waymaker Management is a full service management company with a focus on professional boxing. The management team specializes in career development, contract negotiation, and public relations. Waymaker Management paves the way for boxers to recognize and achieve their full potential. Waymaker Management’s roster includes Super Welterweight World Title Challenger, Greg Vendetti 23-4-1, 12 KOs, Middleweight Contender Mark DeLuca 28-2, 16 KOs and Super Middleweight Prospect Kendrick Ball Jr. 17-2-2, 11 KOs. For more information visit out website at waymakermanagement.com or follow us on social media at www.facebook.com/WaymakerManagement and
www.instagram.com/WaymakerManagement.

Abass Baraou (11-1, 7 KOs) will headline an action-packed event at the Tempodrom in Berlin on Saturday March 19 as the rising Super Welterweight star takes on Argentinian southpaw Brian Damian Chaves (14-1, 5 KOs).

Boxing returns to the Tempodrom for the first time in 18 years as Wasserman Boxing and Probellum continue their partnership with another exciting event following the success of their first co-promotion on December 3 in Ilsenburg.

Baraou, fighting in his adopted hometown for the first time in his paid career, will follow in the footsteps of German greats Markus Beyer, Sebastian Sylvester and Oktay Urjkal who have all previously topped the bill at the famous Berlin venue.

Oktay Urkal challenged ‘Vicious’ Vivian Harris for the WBA World Super Lightweight Title at the Tempodrom in October 2004, while Markus Beyer defended his WBC Super Middleweight crown against Italy’s Alberto Colajanni in January 2006, and future IBF World Champion Sebastian Sylvester fought Francois Bastient for the EBU European Middleweight Title in January 2008.

Baraou, who won Gold at the European Championships and Bronze at the World Championships in 2017, hopes victory over the former WBA Fedebol Champion will enable him to realise his own World Title ambitions.

“I am excited to face an interesting opponent like Chaves at the Tempodrom,” said Baraou. “This is another important step forward for me as I move closer to being able to fight for World Titles. I know it will be a challenge that requires intense preparation. This gives me even more motivation for the next few weeks. I look forward to putting on a great fight for all my fans in Berlin.”

Baraou’s opponent Chaves intends to spoil the party for the former German and WBC International Super Welterweight Champion with the South American confidently predicting he will end the fight in the first five rounds.

“On March 19, I am going to announce myself to the world,” said Chaves, the 29-year-old from Buenos Aires. “I will defeat Abass Baraou by KO within five rounds. I am not going to let this opportunity pass me by. I have plenty of quality and I will be bringing the victory back to Argentina, VAMOS!”

“We’ve promoted three fantastic events at the Tempodrom in the past,” said promoter Kalle Sauerland. “We’re delighted to return with Abass Baraou, who can become one of Germany’s next boxing superstars. Following the success of our first event in Ilsenburg, we’re thrilled to be working once again with our partners Probellum. Spectators will be allowed at the Tempodrom, and I am sure that fans will come in large numbers to experience boxing live in this fantastic setting.”

Richard Schaefer, President of Probellum, adds: “We’re excited to continue our partnership with Wasserman Boxing. This is the second in a series of high-quality boxing events that we will be promoting together this year in Germany. I look forward to seeing Abass Baraou in action as well as the other fights that will be announced in the coming days. Our partnership now continues to gather momentum as we look forward to many more great nights together with Wasserman Boxing!”

Sign up for ticket alerts for Abass Baraou vs. Brian Damian Chaves on March 19 at the Tempodrom in Berlin here: http://eepurl.com/hVwg2z

Nathan Gorman (18-1, 12 KOs) is back in action as he looks to kick-start his promising career with a statement win against Scott Alexander (16-4-2, 8 KOs) on April 2 at the Utilita Arena Newcastle.
 
Having signed promotional terms with Wasserman Boxing, the Nantwich Heavyweight will return to the ring for the first time in over a year following a TKO win over Pavel Sour at London’s Copper Box Arena on March 27, 2021.
 
The 25-year-old is now looking forward to a period of activity as he targets domestic titles and world rankings, starting with a tough test in the North East against 32-year-old LA-native Alexander, who has previously gone the distance with Heavyweight contenders Carlos Negron and Travis Kaufmann.
 
“I’ve been out of the ring for a year so I can’t wait to get back out under the lights,” said Gorman. “It’s an exciting time for me. I’ve got a big brand backing me in Wasserman and I’m fighting on a huge platform with Sky Sports. This is a new adventure for me and I can’t wait to get started.
 
“Scott Alexander is a decent opponent. He’s been in there with some good names, and he’s never been stopped. If I give a good performance and get the stoppage that will send a statement to the Heavyweight division.”
 
“I’m focused, ready, and excited to fight in the UK, they have great fans and an amazing atmosphere,” said Alexander. “I’m grateful for the opportunity and I’m looking forward to showcasing my skills to the boxing world and demonstrating that I belong in there with the best in the Heavyweight division.”
 
Gorman will be fighting as part of an action-packed event in Newcastle co-promoted by Wasserman Boxing and Boxxer and shown live on Sky Sports.
 
Savannah Marshall tops the bill with a defence of her WBO World Female Middleweight Title against former World Champion Femke Hermans. Also confirmed for Newcastle is Florian Marku in a key domestic encounter with former British and Commonwealth Champion Chris Jenkins. Plus, Tyneside legend Aaron Chalmers, who will be making his professional debut.
 
Kalle Sauerland, Head of Global Boxing at Wasserman, said: “Nathan Gorman is a fantastic addition to what promises to be a stacked card at the Utilita Arena Newcastle on April 2. Nathan is without a doubt one the most exciting British Heavyweight talents out there, and at just 25 years of age, he has a massive future ahead of him. Fighting on Sky Sports will provide him with the perfect platform to showcase his skills against a tough opponent like Scott Alexander. Expect fireworks when these two Heavyweights meet in the ring!”
 
Adam Smith, Head of Boxing Development at Sky Sports, said, “We are thrilled to be returning to the North East where there is such a passionate and growing  fan base for Savannah Marshall…..as she aims to successfully defend her WBO Middleweight crown against former World champion Femke Hermans.  Can Sav keep the mega match with arch rival Claressa Shields on track?!  After THE GWOAT’s excellent display and those fireworks ringside in Cardiff  – that unification is HUGE! No doubt Claressa will be back in the UK to see Savannah in April!  Add to that the hugely popular Florian Marku in a real test against Chris Jenkins and we will have a night to remember on Sky Sports in Newcastle!  Excellent to have heavyweight action on the big show – as Britain’s Nathan Gorman tackles America’s Scott Alexander. At just 25 and with 18 of 19 wins – this is a key night for Nathan!”
 
Ben Shalom, BOXXER founder and CEO, commented, “We can’t wait to return to the Utilita Arena on April 2 and feel the incredible atmosphere and buzz of the Newcastle fans. This is a crucial fight for Marshall – she has to beat the dangerous Femke to secure the ultimate showdown with Claressa Shields. Last time it was a really special night with Marshall’s incredible win.  When the Utilita became available we knew that we wanted Savannah to headline a big arena on a big show and we’re returning with a great card featuring Marku in his first outing on his new contract in a tough fight against Chris Jenkins, plus the immensely popular Chalmers and many more to be announced soon.  We’re looking forward to another massive night in Newcastle.”

Melrose, MA (February 22, 2022) – Fire Fist Boxing Promotions’ Yamaguchi Falcao and Connor “The Kid” Coyle both scored knockouts Saturday, February 19 at Memorial Hall in Melrose, MA.

Headlining a card promoted by Reyes Boxing Promotions, Falcao captured the WBC Latino Super Middleweight title via second round knockout of Fernando Ezequiel Farias.

Fighting out of his signature southpaw stance, Falcao was aggressive from the opening bell. The 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist found a home early for his jab, hook and left cross. A minute into the second, Falcao hurt Farias with a crisp left uppercut that sent him reeling towards the ropes. Moments later, Falcao put Farias down for the count with a hard left hook.

Time of stoppage was 1:21.

Falcao, who is from Brazil and currently resides in Florida, improves to 20-1-1 with 9 KO’s. Farias slips to 11-2-2 (4 KO’s).

In the co-featured bout of the evening, undefeated middleweight Connor “The Kid” Coyle of Derry, Northern Ireland kept his perfect record intact by stopping Rodrigo Rodrigues after five rounds.

Coyle, who had a significant height and reach advantage, backed Rodrigues up with many of his punches. Rodrigues looked to counter with left hooks and did land a few decent shots but it was mostly one way traffic. Coyle broke down Rodrigues with jabs and quick multi-punch combinations that shook the Brazilian up. Following a dominant fifth round where Rodrigues was battered and bloodied, his corner threw in the towel.

Coyle is now 15-0 with 7 KO’s and retained his ABF Continental Americas Middleweight title. Rodrigues slips to 8-2 (7 KO’s).

“I am very pleased with Yama and Connor’s performances,” said Jody Caliguire of Fire Fist Boxing Promotions. “Yama fought much more aggressively than in the past and that is something he was working on in camp. He’s a dangerous opponent for anybody in the 168 pound division. Connor did a great job of breaking his opponent down and fighting smart. We believe this is the year he’ll become top 15 middleweight in the world.”

Falcao returns to action March 26 at the Caribe Royal Resort in Orlando, FL. Coyle’s next bout will be announced shortly.

LAS VEGAS, NV (February 22, 2022) – Super bantamweight prospect,
Darren “The Gift” Cunningham (14-1, 7 KOs), is wrapping up his training camp in anticipation for his 2022 debut against Ernesto Guerrero (33-32, 19 KOs). Cunningham vs. Guerrero, an 8-round main event will be taking place this Friday February 25th at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix, Arizona, on a card promoted by Ironboy Combat Sports.

Here is what Cunningham had to say about his upcoming fight with Guerrero, his training camp and more.

On his recent training camp.

“Training camp is great, I have been sparring all of the best fighters at 122 pounds that train in Las Vegas. Working with my new coach Rafael Ramos been the missing piece I needed, and we have great chemistry. The amount rounds I’ve sparred with world class fighters has been incredible. I’ll be ready for anything Guerrero brings to the ring.”

On his upcoming matchup with Ernesto Guerrero.

“Guerrero has a lot of experience, he has fought a lot of people, and has won his last nine fights, but I have plans to stop him. He doesn’t have the tools I have or the ability, this is going to be a hard night for him. When I show up at my best, he literally can’t do anything to stop me. So, I might as well make it a short night for him as well.”

On making his 2022 debut.

“I’m very please with my management team for keeping me busy. My goal is to kick off 2022 with a big knockout. I want to fight six times this year and work my up the rankings by winning a regional title. The first thing I must do is make my debut in 2022 count with a spectacular performance. From this point on each training camp has to be elite since I have visions of going to the top of the super bantamweight division.”

On what a win will do for his career.

“A nice win against Guerrero will be beneficial to my career because it will get me closer to the twenty-win mark, which is when I believe I’ll have the experience to step up to the contender level. I’m getting better with my new coach and I think after this year I’ll be ready to fight for a world title.”

CIDRA, Puerto Rico (Feb. 22, 2022) —Jose “Sniper” Pedraza has reached boxing’s pinnacle twice before. A former junior lightweight and lightweight world champion, Pedraza (29-3, 14 KOs) hopes to join an elite list of Puerto Rican fighters to win world titles in three weight classes.

He can take a giant leap towards that goal when he battles former unified world champion Jose Ramirez in a 12-round junior welterweight main event Friday, March 4 at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. The winner will be positioned to fight for a world title later this year.

The entire Ramirez-Pedraza card will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+.

This is what Pedraza had to say after a recent training session in Puerto Rico.

“We have the title in our sights, and at this point, only the best are left standing on the road to the world championship. March 4 against Ramírez will be a very important fight, since the winner will be ready to challenge for a world title. That’s why I feel like this is a world title match. March 4 against Ramírez, this is all or nothing.”

“Facing a Mexican warrior like Ramírez and being part of the historic rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico is something very important and a great responsibility. At the same time, it’s a great thrill to give the fans a legendary match that they will remember forever. I want to put up a great fight. I want to give the fans a war.”

“My goal since moving up to 140 pounds has been to win a world title to add myself to the select group of Puerto Rican champions in three weight divisions. I want to be in that group along with ‘Tito’, Cotto, Gomez, Camacho, and Vázquez, among others. I already feel that my body is acclimated to the division, and now I am ready to achieve my goal.”

“Representing Puerto Rico means a lot to me. Since the beginning of my boxing career, I have always felt the support of my Island, and that is why every single time I get in the ring, I have my people in my heart. I always feel the good wishes and good vibes of my people, and that is why I always dedicate my fights to my island.”

Ramirez vs. Pedraza headlines a stacked card that includes featherweight contender Joet Gonzalez (24-2, 14 KOs) against Jeo Santisima (21-3, 18 KOs) in a 10-rounder, the six-round heavyweight professional debut of U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr., Gabriel Flores Jr. (20-1, 7 KOs) coming back in a 10-round junior lightweight matchup against Abraham Montoya (20-2-1, 14 KOs), rising junior lightweight Karlos Balderas (11-1, 10 KOs) in an eight-rounder, lightweight prospect Charlie Sheehy (1-0, 1 KO) in a four-rounder, 6’9 heavyweight Antonio “El Gigante” Mireles (2-0, 2 KOs) in a four-rounder, and middleweight prospect Javier “Milwaukee Made” Martinez (5-0, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder.About ESPN+? 
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 21.3?million subscribers. 

Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $6.99 a month (or $69.99 per year) at?ESPN.com,?ESPNplus.com?or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).

GLASGOW, Scotland (Feb. 22, 2022) —Undisputed junior welterweight world champion Josh “The Tartan Tornado” Taylor has already made history. The first British undisputed champion in the four-belt era, Scotland’s Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) will defend his titles against Jack “El Gato” Catterall (26-0, 13 KOs) this Saturday, Feb. 26, in front of a sold-out OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.

Taylor-Catterall and a loaded undercard, including featherweight contender Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez against Eric Donovan in a 10-rounder, will stream live andexclusively on ESPN+ in the United States (2 p.m. ET).

Before fight night, go behind the scenes with Top Rank Presents: The Tartan Tornado, a documentary-style look at Taylor from his blue-collar upbringing in Prestonpans, Scotland, to his ascension to pound-for-pound elite. Once a youngster with a decorated taekwondo career, Taylor eventually set his sights on the sweet science. Taylor represented Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics and won the Commonwealth junior welterweight title in his seventh professional fight.

Taylor cemented his legacy as a Scottish sporting hero last May when he toppled Jose Ramirez in a unification showdown, becoming only the second Scottish undisputed champion in boxing history (joining Ken Buchanan). Taylor now turns the page to Catterall, the WBO No. 1 contender from Chorley, England, who won the British title in 2017.

Be sure to visit Top Rank’s YouTube Channel for more fight week coverage.About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 21.3 million subscribers. 
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Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $6.99 a month (or $69.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).

PLANT CITY, Florida (Feb. 22, 2022): Hard-hitting welterweight sensation Mark Reyes Jr. (14-1, 12 KOs) looks to bounce back from his only defeat in a 10-round fight on the undercard of Islam vs. Kelly. Reyes’ fight is part of a 12-bout card taking place this Friday, Feb. 25 at Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida.

Streaming details for the event will be announced shortly.

Reyes is a 25-year-old native of Tampa, Florida who most recently faced Janelson Bocachica on ShoBox. The all-action fighter lost via majority decision, but many felt that Reyes Jr. deserved the nod.

Reyes was originally slated to face a tough challenge in Kendo Castañeda, but the native of San Antonio, Texas was forced to pull out due to illness. Reyes will nevertheless make his return to the ring this Friday, and his opponent will be announced in due course.

As previously announced, Mexican warrior Jose Miguel Borrego (19-3, 16 KOs) faces undefeated “Pistol” Pete Dobson (14-0, 9 KOs) of the Bronx, New York in the co-main event. The bout is scheduled for 10 rounds in the super welterweight division.

The rest of the undercard features local favorites and members of the ProBox stable:

Najee Lopez (2-0, 2 KOs), a cruiserweight standout of Puerto Rican nationality who represents Ellwood, Georgia, has plans to rise quickly up the division. On Feb. 25, Lopez meets the rugged and experienced veteran Alex “El Principe” Theran (23-6, 15 KOs) in his first fight scheduled for six rounds.

Theran has faced the likes of Anthony Yarde and Yunieski Gonzalez, so this is a considerable step-up for Lopez.

Light heavyweight Matthew Tinker (7-0, 6 KOs), a UK-born prospect who calls the United States his home, will take on Brandon Maddox (8-4-1, 6 KOs) of Detroit, Michigan in a six-round clash.

The night will also feature a pair of brothers making heavy noise on the Florida boxing scene. Dominic Valle (2-0, 2 KOs) takes on Nelson Colon Torres (4-6, 3 KOs) of Aibonito, Puerto Rico in a four-rounder in the super featherweight division. Big brother Marques Valle (3-0, 3 KOs) battles Marklin Bailey (7-7, 4 KOs) of Durham, North Carolina in a six-round welterweight battle.

California welterweight Tommy Wu fights as a professional for the first time in a scheduled four-rounder against Anthony Curtiss (3-14, 2 KOs) of Butte, Montana.

Rising Puerto Rican knockout artist Julio Solis (5-0, 5 KOs) battles Trenton Gibson (1-0) of San Antonio, Texas in a lightweight battle scheduled for four rounds.

Casey Dixon of Atlanta, George will make his pro debut against Arsenio Hall (3-5) of Chester, South Carolina in a four-round super middleweight clash.

Imran Haddabah (3-0, 3 KOs) of Saint Petersburg, Florida puts his undefeated record on the line against Dominique Wiltz (0-2) of Houston, Texas in a four-round light heavyweight bout.

Jusiyah Shirley (1-0) of Orlando, Florida returns in a four-round super lightweight fight against a soon-to-be-announced opponent.

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Islam vs. Kelly is a 10-round fight presented by ProBox Promotions for the WBO Global Middleweight Championship. The event will take place on Friday, Feb. 25 at Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida. Streaming details for the event will be announced shortly.

Tickets for Islam vs. Kelly are on sale now and are priced at $60, $75, $100, $150, $200 and $250, excluding applicable services charges. Tickets are available for purchase at www.EventBrite.com or by clicking here.

About ProBox Promotions
ProBox Promotions is a Florida-based company founded by entrepreneur Garry Jonas out of a desire to incorporate his love of boxing and business marketing to develop a revolutionary way to promote the sport. The company boasts an impressive stable of fighters that includes Erickson Lubin, Mark Reyes Jr., Jose Miguel Borrego and more.

ONTARIO, CA (February 21, 2022) – This past Friday at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA, Thompson Boxing Promotions kicked off 2022 with a bang, selling out their “New Blood” event with 1,427 fans in attendance.

In the 8-round main event, Ruben “Ace” Torres (18-0, 15 KOs) remained undefeated with a stellar performance, stopping Cristian Mino (20-5-2, 17 KOs), by way of a sixth-round knockout. With the victory, Torres captured the WBC USNBC title, his first regional belt of his career.

Torres was magnificent throughout the entire fight as he tamed the aggressive approach that Mino was bringing by using his height and reach advantage to perfection, keeping Mino at bay with his superior jab. Mino did his best to get inside but was running into hard shots as Torres’ timing was flawless. After dominating the first five rounds, Torres dropped Mino twice in round six, the first was with vicious uppercut to the head in the early part of the round. Torres then finished Mino off with a picture-perfect left hook to the body, ending the bout at the 1:37 mark of round six.

“I felt my performance against Mino was one of my best to date,” said Torres. “I was really relaxed in this fight and that’s a credit to all the hard work my team and I put in during training camp. Winning the WBC USNBC title will now get me one step closer to a world title fight. I’m hoping I’ll be ranked in the top 15 when the new WBC ratings come out.”

In the 8-round featherweight co-feature, Horacio Garcia (35-4-1, 25 KOs) defeated Isaac “Dinamita” Zarate (16-6-4, 2 KOs) with a majority decision victory. Garcia kept the pressure on Zarate from the opening bell and landed the harder shots throughout the fight. Zarate showed a lot of heart but was outworked by Garcia, who was walking through all his punches. Scorecards read 80-72, 79-72 and 76-76.

“I was in great shape going into this fight and it showed with my performance, as I felt I dominated this fight,” said Garcia. “Not sure why one judge had it even, but that is expected when fighting close to someone’s hometown. I’m hoping this victory will lead to a big fight in the future.”

In the fourth bout of the evening, welterweight Loui Lopez (10-1-1, 4 KOs) survived being dropped twice in round one, winning a majority decision against Cristian Dominguez (11-4, 6 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada. In the opening round, Dominguez sent Lopez to the canvas with left hook to the head. Lopez got up and got caught again with an overhand right to the temple at the end of the round. After that, Lopez outworked Dominguez for the rest of their scheduled six round bout, as he was in superior shape. Scorecards read 57-55 twice and 56-56.

“After I got caught twice in round one, I got my composure back and made the proper adjustments.” said the local fan favorite Lopez, who resides in nearby Corona, CA. “My will to win and being in outstanding shape carried me through this fight. I was also feeding of the energy of my hometown fans.”

In a scheduled 6-round featherweight bout, Japhethlee Llamido (11-0, 7 KOs) of Norwalk, Calif., cruised to a unanimous decision victory against Eric Barrios Santos (3-2, 3 KOs), of San Marcos Calif. Llamido used a lot of lateral movement from the southpaw stance to get into position to lands his punches. Santos showed a lot of toughness but was outboxed for most of the fight, which was the third bout on the card. Scorecards read 59-54 twice, 58-55 across the board

“My opponent was throwing a lot of wild punches, so I had to use my feet and counter his attack,” said Llamido. “I’m still learning, and I know with more experience I’ll be ready for all the top contenders in the featherweight division.”

In the second bout of the night, a battle of unbeaten super bantamweights commenced as Sean Brewer (2-0, 1 KO), of Las Vegas, NV, defeated Ivan Zarate of San Pedro, Calif (3-1, 1KO) by way of a first of a round knockout. After a few heated exchanges, Brewer hurt Zarate with a powerful straight right hand, then later landed a devastating right hook that put Zarate on the deck. Zarate was hurt bad, and the fight was stopped at the 2:50 mark of round one.

“It felt good to get my first knockout as a pro, especially against another undefeated fighter,” said Brewer. “I knew when I had him hurt the first time that it was a matter of time before I landed a big shot.”

Heavyweight Oscar Torrez (8-0, 4 KOs), of Rialto, Calif., won a unanimous decision against Daniel Najera (9-5-1, 4 KOs) of Monterey, Mexico, in the opening bout of the night. Although, Najera put of a valiant effort, he was dominated over four rounds. Scorecards read 40-36 across the board, all in favor of Torrez.

“I was trying to hard to get the knockout, and got out of my game a little bit,” said Torrez. “I was still able to dominate the fight and get some good rounds in. I have a long way to go, but I’m getting more experience, and that’s a good thing.”

This event was sponsored by Thompson Building Materials, transforming spaces in beautiful places; Omega Products International, the leading stucco manufacturer in the United States; Henry / Fortifiber, moisture system control as easy as 1,2,3, and Makita, rule the outdoors.

For more information, regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please visit ThompsonBoxing.com. Fans can also watch all Thompson Boxing fights, weigh-ins, and behind-the-scenes content, via their new Mobile App downloadable on Apple and Google. To follow the conversation on social media, please use #ThompsonBoxing.

Please check our Facebook Page, watch our YouTube channel on Thompson
Boxing TV, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @ThompsonBoxing.

DUBLIN – BELLATOR’s explosive return to the Irish capital for BELLATOR 275: Mousasi vs Vanderford, sees one of the most dominant middleweight fighters of all time and current world champion Gegard Mousasi (48-7, 2 NC)defend his crown against undefeated American Top Team standout Austin Vanderford (11-0). The co-main event sees Northern Ireland’s Leah McCourt (6-1) and Ireland’s most-recent title challenger Sinead Kavanagh (7-5) in what is set to be the biggest Irish female fight ever.

BELLATOR 275 will sport a five-fight main card, including two great featherweight features between Ciaran Clarke (4-0) and Abou Tounkara (7-2), as well as Khasan Magomedsharipov (6-0) versus Jose Sanchez (11-1), plus a bantamweight bout between home favorite Brian Moore (14-8), and No. 9 ranked Jornel Lugo (7-0) to kick things off.

The event will air live on SHOWTIME this Friday, Feb. 25, at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT, while the stacked eight-fight preliminary card airs live on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV beginning at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. Limited tickets for the event remain and are on sale now and can be purchased online from Ticketmaster.ie and Bellator.com.

Please find the updated card for BELLATOR 275: Mousasi vs Vanderford below:

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BELLATOR 275: MOUSASI VS. VANDERFORD MAIN CARD:

SHOWTIME (US) / BBC iPlayer (UK) / Virgin Media Two & Virgin Media Sport (IRELAND)

Friday, Feb. 25 – 9 p.m. GMT/4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT

Middleweight World Title Main Event: #C-Gegard Mousasi (48-7, 2 NC) vs. #1-Austin Vanderford (11-0)

Women’s Featherweight Bout: #5-Sinead Kavanagh (7-5)vs. #4–Leah McCourt (6-1)

Featherweight Bout: Ciaran Clarke (4-0) vs. Abou Tounkara (7-2)

Featherweight Bout: Khasan Magomedsharipov (6-0)vs. Jose Sanchez (11-1)

Bantamweight Bout: Brian Moore (14-8) vs. #9-Jornel Lugo (7-0)

BELLATOR 275: MOUSASI VS. VANDERFORD PRELIMINARY CARD:

BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel | Pluto TV (US)

BBC iPlayer (UK) | Virgin Media Two & Virgin Media Sport (IRELAND)

6 p.m. GMT/1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT

Bantamweight Bout: Brett Johns (17-3) vs. Khurshed Kakhorov (8-0)

Lightweight Bout: Charlie Leary (17-11-1) vs. Davy Gallon (19-7-2)

Strawweight Bout: Danni McCormack (5-0) vs. Stephanie Page (5-3)

Lightweight Bout: Darragh Kelly (Pro Debut) vs. Junior Morgan (3-0)

Lightweight Bout: Vladimir Tokov (7-1) vs. Daniele Scatizzi (11-5)

Heavyweight Bout: Gokhan Saricam (6-1) vs. Kirill Sidelnikov (13-6)

Featherweight Bout: Nathan Kelly (Pro Debut) vs. Scott Pedersen (1-2)

Featherweight Bout: Lee Hammond (1-0) vs. Jamie Hay (2-0)

*Card subject to change.

Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.

Apply for BELLATOR media credentials

RSVP for BELLATOR virtual media availabilities

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Updated schedule of BELLATOR events

Fri. Feb. 25 // BELLATOR 275: Mousasi vs. Vanderford // 3Arena // Dublin, Ireland

Fri. Mar. 12 // BELLATOR 276: Borics vs. Burnell // The Family Arena // St. Louis, Mo.

Fri. Apr. 15 // BELLATOR 277: McKee vs. Pitbull 2/Nemkov vs. Anderson // SAP Center // San Jose, Calif.

Fri. May 6 // BELLATOR PARIS: Bader vs. Kongo 2 // Accor Arena // Paris, FRA

Fri. May 13 // BELLATOR LONDON: Amosov vs. MVP // The OVO Arena Wembley // London

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About BELLATOR

BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, BELLATOR events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, BELLATOR can be seen on SHOWTIME. BELLATOR is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. BELLATOR is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

Christopher Burgos (3-4-1, 1 KO), of North Philadelphia, will fight Carlos Marrero (2-6-3), of Bridgeport, CT, in a six-round Super Lightweight bout at Live! Casino and Hotel in South Philadelphia, on Thursday, February 24.

Here is a Q&A with Christopher Burgos for your consideration in previewing the bout.

What got you into boxing?

“As a kid, I just wanted to learn how to fight and I guess build my self-esteem up because I had low self-esteem as a kid. So then I got into boxing, and I got good at it. I did it for a while, but then I got sucked into a dumb life and gave it up. But years later, I came back and took it seriously.”

What do you enjoy the most about boxing/fighting?

“I enjoy how I have to prove to myself that I can actually do a lot more than what I think I can and push myself further than what I thought. I kind of had a lot of doubters in life and they looked at me like I wouldn’t go anywhere in life, and I actually got somewhere.”

Is there current or former fighters that you took pieces of their style from and implemented into your style?

“When I was teenager, I used to love watching Roy Jones. Jr. fight, and I wanted to get more into Roy Jones’s style. But as I got older, I kind of lost that speed, so I started developing a pressure style of fighting. For some reason when I am fighting, the more I actually come forward and battle with the guy, the easier the fight is, and the less you think about what’s happening and the more you stay in the zone with the fight. The more you box and run around, you might lose focus, and the fight gets boring too.”

Did you always want to be a boxer?

“I was more into military and law enforcement growing up, but my brother was always into wrestling and stuff. I’m not going to lie. It sounds kind of funny and cheesy since I’m from Philly, but I saw the Rocky movie every year on TV. Then after watching the movies so much, I said why not give it a try and what do you know, the Rocky movies lead me to being a Philly fighter.”

After your last fight, what is something that you have been working on that you want to showcase in the ring?

“So far I try to show determination and go against adversity. A lot of the time, most of the guys I have been thrown in against, a lot people said I wasn’t supposed to win. Because of my age or record, I did not have that great of an opportunity. So it’s more like going against adversity and the doubters. I have my son, and I have custody of him, and he is really young, but in a way, I want to show him that things are possible if you fight hard and really try to push through it. Everybody loved the last fight. They gave me ‘Fight of the Year’ for the Briscoe Awards, and the fight before that, I stole the ‘Fight of the Night’ even though I was not the main event. So pretty much since I put on action packed fights and people like it, I figure I’ll work harder on being more of an action packed fighter. Nowadays, what people want to see is a lot of punches being thrown, bleeding or getting hurt. So I don’t want to get hurt, but at the same time, I love the action. Everybody loves the action so I try to bring action packed fights.”

What are your hopes and dreams for your future in fighting?

“My only 3 goals in this sport have been hopefully to make enough money to buy a nice house with at least one fight, and not be fighting to pay it off. Second one would be to buy another house for my mom, if possible. And I would say the last one is like the first one and it would be to inspire my son to go for what he believes in and if he wants to push hard, he can make it happen.”

Who are your biggest supports outside the ring?

“I’m very thankful for the support because you know I kind of screwed up a lot in my life. So my mom never gave up on me, and she told me to keep trying for the best and one day you’ll find something. I appreciate everybody’s support. I was never used to getting a lot of support so in my mind, it’s just more about how I feel about myself or what I accomplish. I am really thankful for my girl and everyone that has been around. And the main one I appreciate is my coach. If it wasn’t for him, it wouldn’t have been possible. He helps me, he calls me, he checks up on me like we’re family. I’m really thankful for his support more than anybody because he is one of the guys that saw something in me when what others saw in me was another old guy trying to do something.”

What did it mean to receive the Briscoe Award for “Philly Fight of the Year” and were you expecting it?

“I wasn’t expecting it at all. I didn’t even think that was possible. I don’t see myself as a famous guy. I never tried to be famous. I just wanted to make a nice living. I was really excited and surprised when they gave it to me, and my family, my girlfriend and all my friends were happy for me. Then after I got it, I’m kind of nervous too. I can’t mess up, and I have to try really hard. I know there are a lot of fighters that are looking at me because of that award, and now I have to really step my game up to live up to that award.”

What does it mean to have your son in your life and how has it affected you?

“What it means to me is to show him hard work and dedication. What I’m hoping when he gets older when he finds something he likes or loves in life, he will work and put the effort in. When people tell him he can’t, he will still go for it and not let anyone tell him what to be in life and not be lost in this world and try to figure out what to do.”

Why did you choose to train where you do?

“My coach has been with me from my whole pro career and my last few amateur fights. I joined the gym when I was 24 and there was a coach there, and he wasn’t a real coach. He only had one amateur fight, and I heard he lost it because he was scared. I started to find things out about this guy, and the way he was training us was kind of crappy. Another coach came in who did boxing in the army, but he was more a physical trainer than a boxing trainer and he didn’t care too much about what happened. He just wanted to do it as a hobby and to entertain himself. He didn’t really care for the fighters so much. Time went by and then I came across Rickie Diaz and Miguel Perez. Those two saw something in me and they work with me even through all the bad habits I have and all the mistakes I was making. They saw if they gave me a command, I would follow it. And when it came to getting in shape, they knew I was running everyday so there was no need to keep track of me on exercise. If they told me to push forward, I would push forward. I really appreciate my two coaches because they saw I did not give up on them, and they never gave up on me. I would bust my back for them and they would do the same thing for me.”

What do you find the most rewarding or gratifying in boxing?

“To actually look in the mirror and look at yourself and know you put the effort in, and to feel like you did something instead of feeling like you wasted something with yourself.”

The live boxing event, which is produced in partnership between Joe Hand Promotions and Russel Peltz, will feature a six round heavyweight bout between Sonny Conto (8-0, 7 KOs) out of Philadelphia, PA going up against Mike Marshall (6-2-1, 4 KOs) fighting out of Danbury,

Super lightweights Christopher Burgos (3-4-1, 1 KO) of North Philadelphia, PA will battle Carlos Marrero (2-6-3) out of Bridgeport, CT in a six round bout.

Another bout on the card is a six round featherweight contest between Justice Bland (5-1, 2 KO’s) out of Brooklyn, NY going up against D’Angelo Fuentes (6-0, 4 KOs) fighting out of Coconut Creek, FL

Also on the card is a four round lightweight bout featuring Jordon Murphy (1-0, 1 KO) out of Deerfield Beach, FL going against Nasir Mickens (2-0, 1 KO) out of Philadelphia,