CARSON, CALIF. (November 2, 2021) – WBC Bantamweight World Champion and future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire will defend his title against undefeated Interim WBC Bantamweight Champion and fellow Filipino countryman Reymart Gaballo headlining action live on SHOWTIME Saturday, December 11 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Dignity Health Tennis Stadium in Carson, Calif.

Tickets for the live event go on sale today, Tuesday, November 2 at 12 p.m. PT and can be purchased at AXS.com.

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

WORCESTER, Mass. (November 2, 2021) – Rivera Promotions Entertainment (RPE) is bringing professional boxing back to Webster, Massachusetts, for the first time in 27 years on Saturday night, December 18, at Webster Town Hall.

RPE’s popular “New England Future VIII” will be headlined by a rematch of arguably the 2021 New England Fight of the Year to date between Puerto Rico-native Wilfredo “El Sucaro” Pagan (6-1-1, 3 KOs) and Carlos Marrera, III (2-6-2), who fought to a, thrilling 6-round split draw this past August 14th in Worcester (MA).

Three-time, 2-division World champion, RPE promoter Jose Antonio Rivera, fought in the last show in Webster back on November 18, 1994, when the then 11-0 Rivera stopped Gerry O’Campo in the fourth round at Municipal Auditorium. Rivera also fought at the Municipal Building in Webster on December 10, 1993, knocking out Julio Torres in round three. Fighting on that same card was his close friend, 3-0 Worcester heavyweight Bobby Harris, whose son Bobby “BH3” Harris, III will be fighting on the RPE Dec. 18th card.

“Being able to run a boxing event at the Webster Town Hall is very exciting for me,” Rivera said. “I remember fighting there in ’93 and ’94 and the place being packed. The fans are so close to you, it has a Blue Horizon feel to it with fans right above your head in the balcony section. In our ‘New England Future’ series, we like to showcase boxers from all over New England and we are happy to bring that to Webster, Massachusetts. The fans will not be disappointed with our line-up of boxers from Worcester, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Lowell, Southbridge and other cities and states throughout New England.”

Pagan, fighting out of Southbridge (MA), and Bridgeport’s Marrero, III (2-6-3) will be fighting again for the vacant New England Super Lightweight Championship in the 6-round main event.

The original Pagan-Marrero was an extremely entertaining, non-stop clash in which momentum swung round by round from one fighter to the other. One judge scored the fight 58-56 in favor or Pagan, another 55-59 for Marrero, and the last 57-57.

Danbury (CT) super lightweight Omar “The Beast” Bordoy (11-1, 3 KOs) takes on battle-tested “Ruthless” Agustine Mauras (7-12-3, 3 KOs) in the 6-round, co-featured event.

Harris (3-0-1), a two-time national amateur champion and World Games Silver medalist, faces an opponent to be determined in a 4-round super middleweight bout.

Worcester middleweight Eslih Owusu (6-0, 4 KOs), a native of Ghana, puts his undefeated record on the line in a 4-rounder versus Maycon Oiler Dasilva (0-3), fighting out of Concord (NH) by way of Brazil.

Also fighting on the under undercard in 4-round matches against TBAs are promising Boca Raton (FL) super welterweight prospect Josniel “TG” Castro (6-0, 4 KOs), Providence (RI) super featherweight lightweight Michael Valentine (6-1-1, 1 KO), and New Haven (CT) super lightweight Anuel Rosa (2-0, 2 KOs).

Additional bouts will soon be announced. Card is subject to change.

Tickets are priced at $75.00 (reserved seating) and $45.00 (general admission) and available for purchase or by contacting Jose Rivera (elgallojar@gmail.com/508.864.6954), AJ Rivera

(anthoneerivera@gmail.com/774.272.2269) or any of the fighters.

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

Event sponsors include Shamrock Sports, Lundgren Honda, Greatest Hits Cannabis Company, Lake Shore Legal LCC Attorneys at Law, Emmloan, 616 Reality LLC, Drafters Sports Café, and Asmar Jewelz.

INFORMATION:

Twitter: @RiveraPromoEnt, @JoseRiveraChamp, @KingRivera_

Lee Baxter Promotions has signed an exclusive Canadian output deal with FightZone TV, one of the world’s premiere streaming services for international boxing.
 
The promotional outlet has signed an long-term deal, which will see Lee Baxter Promotions stage shows across Canada, spotlighting some of the country’s top domestic talent and fighters in world title contention. Baxter will be the exclusive prover of Canadian content for the FightZone TV platform.
 
It is the first deal of its kind to bring Canadian boxing events to a global streaming platform.
 
“We are proud to partner with FightZone TV and finally be able to bring Canadian boxing to an accessible global platform,” said Lee Baxter. “The domestic scene in the UK and Europe has always been the gold standard for us in Canada. The way fans follow fighters from their beginnings, the value placed on domestic and Commonwealth titles, and the pipeline for success that creates. Having a broadcast outlet makes building that in Canada possible, and now fans across the world will see that we have the talent in this country to do it.”
 
The FightZone TV platform is available for $8.99 a month for Canadian subscribers, and will give fans access to FightZone TV’s weekly international bouts, as well as the eight Canadian events to be presented over the next year.
 
Lee Baxter Promotions has a strong base in Toronto, Ontario, but will also be expanding across the country, where markets have traditionally been underserved.
 
“There are massive boxing fanbases on both the east and west coast here in Canada, but unless you live there, you wouldn’t know it. We want to be able to showcase those markets, and give fighters from those underserved provinces opportunities to become stars on a global stage as well,” said Baxter.
 
The shows will primarily be staged on Sunday afternoons, to best accommodate both the Canadian and European audiences.
 
“For too long boxing has had an obsession with putting everything on a Saturday night, and you have a logjam of content fans have to choose from. Back in the day, big fights were on different days of the week, including Sunday afternoons, and we want to bring that back,” said Baxter.
 
FightZone TV broadcasts are staffed by veterans of the industry who have handled Sky Sports presentations for decades, meaning the shows will have a high quality feel in a local environment.
 
“For hardcore fight fans, FightZone TV is the best subscription you can buy, and we believe we’re bringing serious additional value to an already indispensable platform,” said Baxter.
 
Details for the first Lee Baxter Promotions broadcast on FightZone TV, slated for late 2021, will be released shortly.
 
To subscribe to FightZone, CLICK HERE

New York (November 2, 2021)–Split-T Management has signed 2021 National Golden Gloves champion Giovanni Marquez to a management deal.

Marquez, 20 years-old of Houston, Texas began boxing at the age of 12 as he is the son of former U.S. Olympian, world junior middleweight world champion and current broadcaster Raul Marquez.

“I started following Giovanni years ago and I always knew with his work ethic he would continue to improve, but I never imagined that he would develop so much, so quickly, as to be possibly the best amateur fighter in the USA in 2021. He was always relentless, well conditioned, and smart, and then he added power and greater balance! There are no ceilings for this young man, he can do anything he sets his mind to do,” said David McWater, CEO of Split-T Management.

“I feel great about signing with Split-T Management. David McWater and Split-T Management have been dominating the game. David has been a friend of my father’s for a long time, and has been giving me great advice. After that advice, I won the city, state and National Golden Glove tournaments. I am happy to be with a great manager and have my dad as my trainer. The sky’s the limit. Now I just have to stay focused and put in the work. “I feel like signing with David makes me have an all-star team with David and My dad. Having him as my trainer is an honor to continue the Marquez legacy. ” said Marquez.

“We are excited. We have a good relationship. He is a good talent scout, and he has always supported Giovanni and myself. David is one of the best managers out there, and I am thankful that he found interest in us as well. We feel that he will be making the right moves for Giovanni’s career. David was really impressed with Giovani when he was the National Golden Gloves, and he won the outstanding fighter of the tournament,” said Raul Marquez, who trains his son Giovanni.

Marquez had an amateur record of 75-12, which culminated in winning the National Golden Glove tournament this past August in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was named the Most Outstanding boxer in the tournament.

Marquez, who won the 152-pound National Golden Gloves, will begin his pro career around 145-pounds, with the goal to campaign as a junior welterweight.

“I feel my style is a better fit for professional boxing. I am a boxer-puncher, and I can adapt to anything in the ring. I can take my time to show my skills and show every aspect of my game. I believe that I will make my debut late this year or early next year. I want to stay active and develop my skills and be entertaining in each and every fight,” said Giovanni

“I have told Giovanni, me being his dad, gets a lot of attention. He has been getting attention. I tell him that he has to work hard and he can’t cut any corners. He works hard, and he is very disciplined. He is always working out and staying in shape. It is a long road and it’s a tough sport. We are going to try our best, I have learned so much from my career and my broadcasting. Add that to Dave’s connection, I feel that he will go far. We are ready for this step,” said Raul Marquez

Coventry, UK (2 November 2021) Birmingham star Shakan Pitters will be walked into the ring by none other than Grime sensation Jaykae, next Saturday.

Pitters headlines the Hennessy Sports multi-title show at the Coventry Skydome Arena on November 13, when he faces Leeds puncher Reece Cartwright, for the Vacant WBC International Light-Heavyweight title, live and free on Channel 5.

Also in title action will be Coventry sensation River Wilson-Bent’s when he challenges for the Vacant English Middleweight title against Rowley Regis rival Tyler Denny in a fiery Midlands derby and undefeated Irish Middleweight ace Aaron McKenna challenging for his first title.

‘Big Shak’ knows a win will smash him into the top 15 in the world and with the renowned Jaykae recently collaborating with Ed Sheeran, the long-time Birmingham friends are ready to put on another special show.

“We grew up in more or less the same area, Small Heath, so we’ve basically seen each other grow up,” said Pitters, the former British and Commonwealth champion.

“He’s doing his music, I’m doing my boxing and it’s obviously brought us even closer together. It was always going to happen, it was just getting the timing right. This is it.

“Jaykae is a massive star that represents Birmingham. Everyone knows who he is and just how good he is. The ring walk and my fight are going to be great for all the fans, not just those in the Skydome, but everyone watching it live on Channel 5.

“He will get them going and electrify the crowd, then it will be over to me to put on an electric performance. It will be explosive.

“Jaykae will drop a banger, then I will drop and bang out Reece Cartwright.”

Jaykae, whose real name is Janum Khan, has been blowing up the scene for a while now and has played at all the country’s leading festivals like Glastonbury, Reading and Creamfields, and has appeared on stage with Drake and supported Stormzy and Skepta.

He is about to team up again with Mick Skinner and The Streets, the ground-breaking hip-hop group from Birmingham and was one of the local stars that performed alongside the likes of AJ Tracey, Lady Leshurr and Aitch at the BBC 1Xtra show at the Arena Birmingham in 2019.

Pitters was in the crowd that night and not only hopes to have Jaykae walk him into the ring again once he has taken care of Cartwright next Saturday but would love to see more grime stars from the second city get involved.

“I hope this is the start of something,” he said.

“I like to support my city and behind the scenes I do a lot with the schools in Birmingham and a few charities as well, so I would love to work more with the brilliant music stars we’ve got.

“I’d love to do it again with Jaykae, maybe Mista, maybe M1llionz… There are so many. The best artists in Birmingham walking in with me would be brilliant.”

Pitters is never short of a few words in the build-up to his fights but has confirmed he will not be joining Jaykae on the mic.

They are “still discussing” which one of the star’s biggest songs will see him in, but the big punching light-heavyweight is happy to let his friend get the Skydome rocking.

“I’ve tried a bit of freestyle rapping when I’ve been on holiday with my mates, but I am not really about that,” he said.

“Jaykae always sends out a positive message for Birmingham so I will leave the words to him. I’ll just let my fists do the talking.”

Shakan Pitters v Reece Cartwright for the Vacant WBC International Light-Heavyweight Championship headlines the triple-title card that includes a fiery midlands derby between Coventry hot-shot River Wilson-Bent against Rowley Regis rival Tyler Denny for the Vacant English Middleweight Championship. Red hot Irish middleweight sensation Aaron ‘The Silencer’ McKenna will challenge for his first championship title. Aaron’s joins older brother Stevie ‘The Hitman’ McKenna who is lighting up the welterweight division with his dynamic and KO performances. The rest of the Hennessy All Stars team will be out in full force starting with welterweight ace Kaisee Benjamin, Birmingham super-middleweight Idris Virgo; Sevenoaks highly talented super-welterweight Michael Hennessy Jr.; undefeated County Donegal middleweight starlet Brett McGinty; unbeaten Brighton heavyweight destroyer Tommy Welch and two new additions to the card, Leamington Spa lightweight Danny Quarter and Chelmsley Wood lightweight Scott Melvin, both in separate four round contests.

Presented by Hennessy Sports in association with William Hill, Infinitum, Numan and Everlast, tickets are priced at £45, £55, £90 and £120 and are available from https://iceaccount.co.uk/wbc-championship-boxing-info

For further information go to www.hennessysports.com or social media: Facebook @HennessySports, Twitter @HennessySports and Instagram @hennessysports

Long Island, New York (November 1, 2021) Star Boxing, in association with DiBella Entertainment, announced last week the co-promotional signing of undefeated Italian IBO Super Featherweight World Champion MICHAEL “LONE WOLF” MAGNESI (Cave, Lazio, Italy, 19-0, 11KO’s). Magnesi will make his anticipated US debut on November 11, at The Paramount, in Huntington, Long Island, NY, headlining “Rockin’ Fights 40” against EUGENE LAGOS (Bukidnon, Philippines, 16-5-3, 11KO’s).

Tickets for “Rockin’ Fights 40”, sponsored by Fox Hollow, TECNE Next Gen Combat Training, FootDocStore.com, OPTYX New York, Winters Bros. and Nissan of Queens, are on sale now and can be purchased HERE. The Paramount is located at 370 New York Ave, Huntington, NY 11743. Doors will open on the night of the event at 7:00pm ET.

Featured on the undercard will be Bellport, Long Island’s 2013 New York Golden Gloves champion, undefeated super lightweight ALEX “EL TORO” VARGAS (11-0, 4KO’s), promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing. Vargas will be making his eighth appearance at The Paramount. Vargas brings the action as a skillful boxer who is not afraid to mix it up when he needs to – much to the delight of his growing fan base. Vargas, who has been on a tear since making his pro debut in 2018, continues to impress every time out. Vargas is scheduled for a six-round super lightweight bout against an opponent to be named soon.

Also featured is decorated Irish amateur, light heavyweight “MIGHTY” JOE WARD (Westmeath, Ireland, 4-1, 2KO’s). Ward’s renowned amateur career speaks for itself, racking up the medals, winning gold at the European Championships in 2011, 2015 and 2017, silver at the World Championships in 2015 and 2017, and representing Ireland at the 2016 Olympic Games. In his professional debut against Marco Delgado, Ward fell victim to a freak accident, dislocating his kneecap in the second round rendering him unable to continue. Since then, Ward has rallied four consecutive wins, including a revenge win in a rematch against Delgado on March 18, 2021. Ward will take on Brazilian LEANDRO “BUSCAPE” SILVA (Woburn, MA, 3-4, 2KO’s) over a six-round light heavyweight scrap. Ward is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and managed by Times Square Boxing Co.

A highly anticipated grudge match has captured a lot of local attention, as Bronx-native LOUIS “IL MARTELLO” MAIETTA (0-0-1) returns against his nemesis PEREZ AUGHTRY (Cheektowaga, NY 0-2-1) after their first meeting was scored a draw at “Rockin’ Fights 39” in September. This entertaining rematch will be over four rounds in the light heavyweight division.

Undefeated Italian Canadian AMANDA “BAMBOLA” GALLE (4-0) will square off against Haitian JAICA PAVILUS (Manhattan, NY, 1-3-1, 1KO) over a six-round super bantamweight contest. Galle, a three-time Canadian National champion and four-time Ringside National champion as an amateur, captured the Canadian Women’s Super Bantamweight title in January of 2020. Galle is co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Lee Baxter Promotions.

Brooklyn-based Lebanese super middleweight NADIM SALLOUM (5-1, 3KO’s) will make his second appearance at The Paramount, where he suffered his lone defeat in February of 2020. He has since rebounded with four straight wins, most recently scoring a fourth-round stoppage on October 8, 2021. Salloum will face an opponent to be named in a six-round bout.

Finally, Queens, NY, super middleweight ISAAH “ZAY” FLAHERTY (2-0, 1KO) and Brentwood, Long Island’s super lightweight PRINCE SLAUGHTER (1-0, 1KO) will be in respective four-round contests with opponents to be named soon.

“Rockin’ Fights 40” is presented by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, in association with DiBella Entertainment, and is sponsored by Fox Hollow, TECNE Next Gen Combat Training, FootDocStore.com, OPTYX New York, Winters Bros. and Nissan of Queens.

Stay tuned on social media, @StarBoxing @JoeDeGuardia @LouDiBella @DiBellaEnt, and visit the Star Boxing and DiBella Entertainment websites at www.StarBoxing.com and www.DBE1.com for updates and more information on the fight card.

Social Media
DiBella Entertainment
Instagram: @DiBellaEnt
Twitter: @LouDiBella, @DiBellaEnt
Facebook: @DiBellaEntertainment

BOSTON (November 1, 2021) – Vertex Promotions has announced it will present “Fall Brawl,” headlined by undefeated super lightweight prospect Adrian “Tonka” Sosa (12-0, 9 KOs), Saturday night, November 20th at Moseley’s On The Charles in Dedham, Massachusetts.

“We’re excited to be promoting our fourth show we’ve promoted since our inaugural event this past September 25th,” Vertex promoter Dave Clark said. “We’ve found a home at Moseley’s On the Charles, which provides intimate setting just outside of Boston. Our goal remains to provide local boxers with opportunities to stay active and fight in front of their family and friends. We get better at promoting with each show.”

Sosa will fight Alfonso Olvera (12-6-3, 4 KOs), fighting out of Tucson (AZ) by way of Mexico, in the 8-round main event. Sosa, who hadn’t fought in 28 months, returned to the ring with a fury, albeit showing signs of rust. His hand were quick, as usual, and he was well poised as on the lat Vertex show, September 25th at the same venue. His veteran Mexican opponent, Danny “Venado” Flores (15-25-1, 8 KOs), continually but unsuccessfully tried to lure Sosa into traps. Sosa was the hunter, stalking a game Flores, who often stayed in the corners or on the ropes baiting Sosa to mix it up. Sosa “pitched a shutout,” winning eight rounds on all three judges’ scorecards.

In his last fight (Sept. 28, 2019), Olvera upset previously undefeated Amon Torres by way of an 8-round unanimous decision. Olvera also gained invaluable experience going the distance with current unified World super lightweight champion Josh Taylor and former IBF Super Lightweight World titlist Ivan Baranchyk.

In the co-featured event, undefeated welterweight prospect James “The Slim Reaper” Perella (8-0, 5 KOs), fighting out of Mansfield, Massachusetts, faces veteran Jacksonville (FL) fighter Andre Byrd (8-11-2, 1 KO) in the Perella’s first scheduled 8-rounder event. Perella is a 4-time USA New England Championships and 4-time New England Golden Gloves Champion. The popular fighter returns in the 6-round co-featured event.

Undefeated ABF American West and NBA Continental champion, 23-year-old Albany (NY) lightweight RayJay “The Destroyer” Bermudez (14-0, 11 KOs), returns to his second home at Moseley’s On The Charles again to fight Columbian lightweight Rudolfo “El Tsunam” Puentes (20=8-2, 16 KOs).

Promising super welterweight prospect Francis “Frank The Tank” Hogan (8-0, 8 KOs) will put his perfect pro record on the line in a 6-round bout against an opponent to bet determined. Hogan, of Weymouth, MA, is the reigning New Hampshire super welterweight champion, as well as a 2019 New England Golden Gloves gold medalist.

In a pair of 6-round bouts, New Bedford (MA) middleweight Drew “Tomahawk” Dwelly (3-0-2, 3 KOs) meets Las Vegas’ Zachary Scott Juusda (1-1, 1 KO), while Springfield (MA) super lightweight super lightweight Eric “Gladiator” Goff (4-0, 3 KOs) is back against Carlos Galindo (0-9).

Unbeaten Providence middleweight Anthony Concepcion (8-0-1, 6 KOs), a member of World middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, will be in action against TBA in a 6-rounder.

Malden (MA) super featherweight Alex Rivera (1-0, 1 KO) faces Francisco Muro (3-8) in a 4-round bout. Also scheduled to fight on the undercard, each in 4-round matches versus TBAs, is Dorchester (MA) featherweight Troy Anderson, Jr. (1-0, 1 KO), a 2016 Rocky Marciano Tournament champion, vs. Auston Reed Ward (0-9); Galway, Ireland cruiserweight Tommy “The Kid” O’Toole (1-0, 1 KO), a 2019 Irish Elite Championship gold medalist; Boston welterweight James Murrin (1-0), and Kansas City (KS) super lightweight Marcus Davidson (1-0, 1 KO).

Cards are subject to change.

Tickets are on sale for $150.00 (ringside), $65.00 (general admission), $50.00 (standing room) and $2000.00 for a table of 10. Contact any of the competing fighters to purchase tickets, limited availability at the door.

Doors will open at 7 pm. ET with the first bout scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET .

NEW YORK (Nov. 1, 2021) — Three-weight kingpin Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko, the Ukrainian virtuoso who saves his best for the New York City spotlight, hopes his next oversized challenge is not a bridge too far. Lomachenko returns to Madison Square Garden on Saturday, Dec. 11 for a 12-round lightweight showdown against former world champion Richard “RC” Commey.

Lomachenko-Commey marks boxing’s return to the “Big Room” at Madison Square Garden for the first time in nearly two years, when Terence Crawford defended his welterweight title with a riveting knockout over Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas. In the 10-round co-feature, undefeated heavyweight sensation Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson will battle Oleksandr Teslenko.

Lomachenko-Commey and Anderson-Teslenko will air live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (simulcast on ESPN+) at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT following the 2021 Heisman Ceremony. Puerto Rican junior middleweight standout Xander Zayas and middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of Muhammad Ali, will also see action on this special New York City fight night.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment, tickets starting at $56 go on sale, Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 12 p.m. ET and can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com or MSG.com.

“It is only fitting that the great Lomachenko headlines boxing’s highly anticipated return to Madison Square Garden. However, Richard Commey can never be counted out, as he’s a tough fighter who carries huge power in both hands,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Jared Anderson is a future heavyweight champion, but I expect Teslenko to be his toughest challenge to date. I also can’t wait to see what Xander and Nico do next, as they are two of the most charismatic and exciting young fighters in the sport.”

Lomachenko (15-2, 11 KOs) has authored many of his most memorable moments under the MSG lights. He’s fought three times at the adjoining Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, knocking out Roman Martinez in 2016 to become a two-weight world champion, forcing fellow two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux to quit in 2017, and unifying lightweight world titles in December 2018 with a unanimous decision over Jose Pedraza. Lomachenko had a memorable bout against Jorge Linares at Madison Square Garden in May 2018, becoming a three-weight world champion when he knocked out the Venezuelan star the 10^th round with a body shot. He bounced back from his 2020 undisputed lightweight title defeat to Teofimo Lopez with June’s ninth-round stoppage over Japanese stalwart Masayoshi Nakatani.

Lomachenko said, “It is always special when I fight at Madison Square Garden, where so many great moments in my career have taken place. Richard Commey is a former world champion, an opponent I will not underestimate. I expect the best version of Commey, and I will be prepared for whatever he brings on December 11.” 

As has become his lightweight custom, Lomachenko will enter the ring as the smaller man. Commey (30-3, 27 KOs) has a nearly two-inch height advantage and 5.5 inches in reach. The New York City resident held the IBF lightweight world title in 2019, but in December of that year, he was stopped in two rounds by Lopez at Madison Square Garden. Commey took nearly 14 months off, returning in February to knock out Jackson Marinez in six rounds. One of the division’s most dangerous punchers, his other two losses have come via split decision to Robert Easter Jr. and Denis Shafikov. The winner of this fight becomes a logical world title challenger in 2022.

Commey said, “I want to thank my team of Michael Amoo-Bediako, Lou DiBella, and Keith Connolly for getting me this opportunity. Ever since the Lopez fight, all I have thought about is becoming a two-time world champion. This fight against Lomachenko will get me one step closer to my goal. I also want to thank Bob Arum and Top Rank for the opportunity to again grace the stage at Madison Square Garden, one of boxing’s most iconic venues. I know that most people consider me the underdog, but I am aiming to prove them all wrong and make Ghana proud once again.”

Anderson (10-0, 10 KOs), from Toledo, Ohio, rose to prominence due to his highlight-reel knockouts and status as heavyweight champion Tyson Fury’s most trusted sparring partner. He has scored three knockouts in 2021 and had his most high-profile assignment Oct. 9 on the Fury-Deontay Wilder III PPV undercard. Anderson opened the PPV telecast with a second-round blitzing over the previously undefeated Vladimir Tereshkin. Teslenko (17-1, 13 KOs), a 6’4, 220-pound prospect from Ukraine, built a 16-0 record before being knocked out in five rounds by Shawndell Winters in December 2019. He rebounded in fine form, knocking out Cesar David Crenz in three rounds in June 2021.

Anderson said, “I’ve made my mark in Las Vegas over the last two years and now it’s time to steal the show in my Madison Square Garden debut on December 11. The Mecca of Boxing holds so much history, and I can’t wait to add my name to list of legends who’ve fought there.”

Zayas (11-0, 8 KOs) can wrap up the 2021 Prospect of the Year award with an impressive showing at Madison Square Garden. The San Juan native is 5-0 in 2021, most recently knocking out Dan Karpency in four rounds on the Jamel Herring-Shakur Stevenson card Oct. 23 in Atlanta.

Ali Walsh (2-0, 2 KOs) turned pro Aug. 14 with a first-round knockout and makes his debut in the building where his grandfather fought some of his most legendary fights, including “The Fight of the Century” against Joe Frazier in 1971 and the 1974 Frazier rematch.  Ali Walsh shined alongside Zayas in Atlanta, notching a third-round stoppage over James Westley II.

In order to attend the event, all guests age 12 and older are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination (this means having at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine prior to attending). MSG’s comprehensive COVID-19 guidelines, including those regarding children under 12, can be found at https://www.msg.com/madison-square-garden/faqs.

About Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.
Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSG Entertainment) is a leader in live entertainment. The Company presents or hosts a broad array of events in its diverse collection of venues: New York’s Madison Square Garden, Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre; and The Chicago Theatre. MSG Entertainment is also building a new state-of-the-art venue in Las Vegas, MSG Sphere at The Venetian. In addition, the Company features the original production – the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes – and through Boston Calling Events, produces the Boston Calling Music Festival. The Company’s two regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network and MSG+, deliver a wide range of live sports content and other programming. Also under the MSG Entertainment umbrella is Tao Group Hospitality, with entertainment dining and nightlife brands including: Tao, Marquee, Lavo, Beauty & Essex, Cathédrale, Hakkasan and Omnia. More information is available at www.msgentertainment.com.  

QUINCY, Mass. (November 1, 2021) – Granite Chin Promotions most recent signee, New England welterweight champion Mike “Bad Boy” Ohan (13-1, 7 KOs), will close out 2021 headlining “Championship Road,” on Saturday night, November 13, streaming live Saturday evening, November 13, on bxngtv.com, from The Rim in Hampton, New Hampshire.

Ohan, fighting out of Holbrook (MA), will be in his first scheduled 10-round bout against Mexican challenger Israel “Filipino Tigre” Rojas (14-24, 5 KOs) in a super lightweight, non-title fight.

“Ten rounds means a lot to me,” Ohan said. “It’s something I’ve watched my entire life because all legends fought 10-rounders. This is special for me. I’m ready to go and I will outclass my opponent.”

Ohan captured the vacant New England title last November, when he won an 8-round unanimous decision over Ryan Dibartolomeo, followed by a successful title defense in his last fight in June, when challenger Tyrone Luckey retired after the five rounds.

The New England title is a stepping-stone and next year I feel like I can collect more title belts next year,” he added. “I signed with Chris (Traietti, president of Granite Chin Promotions) because I want to be in big fights. I can’t wait for this fight, I’m already in top shape. Two guys I recently defeated recently knocked out undefeated opponents, (Eric) Palmer (WSD6 vs. 8-0-1 Ruddicus Livsey) and Luckey (WKO1 and WKO6 vs. 7-0-1 Eduardo Aguilar).”

A former 2-time Southern New England Golden Gloves champion, the now 27-year-old Ohan is the son of a former prizefighter, middleweight Mike Ohan (14-6-2, 11 KOs – 1983-95), who sparred “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler. Ohan, Jr’s grandfather on his mother’s side also boxed.

“I always looked up to my father as a fighter,” Ohan., Jr. mentioned, “but he didn’t want me to box. I started late and didn’t go to the gym until I was 16 to help stay out of trouble. My father’s supportive and he goes to my fights. I fell in love with boxing right away and I feel even stronger about it today.”

Ohan’s birth name is Ohanian, but he is Irish. “It’s in my blood,” he explained. “It goes back to the old bare-knuckle days. My father is Irish on his mother’s side, Armenian on his father’s. My grandmother is Irish on both sides. So, I have a lot of Irish in me from my parents.”

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Undefeated Holyoke (MA) welterweight prospect Denzel “Double Impact” Whitley (6-0, 5 KOs), of meets John Ferrara (0-1), of Tiverton (RI) in the 6-round, co-featured event.

Guyana-native heavyweight Nkosi Soloman (3-1, 2 KOs), fighting out of Brooklyn, has been added to the card in a 6-round fight against TBA.

Fighting on the undercard, each slated for 4 rounds, is Woburn (MA) middleweight Julien “Black Dragon” Baptiste (3-0, 2 KOs) vs. Providence’s pro-debuting Alfred “Keenan” Raymond, Maine middleweight Llmar Kelly (0-1) vs. Providence’s Robert “Golden Boy” Nolette (0-1), Holyoke (MA) junior middleweight Carlos Castillo (3-0, 3 KOs) vs. Swansea’s (MA) Anthony Andreozzi (0-1), Pittsfield (MA) super middleweight Steve Sumpter (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. Juan Celin Zapata (6-19-2, 4 KOs), and Springfield (MA) middleweight Jamer Jones (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Woburn’s (MA) Aguilando Brandao (1-7).

Also, Lawrence (MA) lightweight “El Gallo” Kevin Rodriguez (2-1, 1 KO) vs. Daron Jenkins (0-5), Springfield light heavyweight Laurent Humes (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. Woburn’s pro-debuting Thailisson Nunes, Providence (RI) welterweight Damon Towns (3-0, 2 KOs) vs. TBA, Pittsfield (MA) heavyweight Quinton Sumpter (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Woburn’s pro-debuting Wewerson Silveira Silva.

Card subject to change.

Tickets priced at $60.00 (ringside) and $40.00 (general admission, in addition to ringside tables of four for $260.00, are available to purchase at www.TicketRiver.com (Search: Championship Road).

Doors open at 5 pm. ET with the first bout at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Brighton, UK (1 November 2021) Fast-rising heavyweight ace Tommy Welch has not only been trading punches with a Fury but has also been picking up tips from a certain Roy Jones Jr ahead of his next fight.

The undefeated talent has been sparring with world-title contender Hughie Fury as he prepares for his latest appearance on the title-packed Hennessy Sports show on Saturday, 13th November, at the Coventry Skydome Arena, live and free on Channel 5.

Welch uses the Eubank Gym in Brighton and with Chris Eubank Jr bringing in Roy Jones Jr – the only fighter in boxing history to win a World Heavyweight title after starting his career as a super-welterweight – as his trainer, the unbeaten banger admits it has been an honour to have a living boxing legend offering advice.

“I’ve been next to him [Jones Jr] in the gym for the last four, five, six weeks with Chris Eubank,” he said.

“That has been really cool. I’ve been learning some great stuff from him. What a legend.

“Roy was coming in a good hour before Chris would come in and I’d be training. He would pull up his chair and you could just see his eyes were at work.

“I could feel his eyes watching me and thinking. He was pulling up on all sorts of things. If I was moving from the ring to the bags, he would follow me, pull up his chair next to the bag and watching my feet, then watch my hands.

“He has a great aura and a great energy around him. It is amazing to know Roy Jones Jr, but to have him giving me advice and telling me things, was genuinely a privilege.”

Welch is already under the guidance of his dad Scott, who was the British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion and challenged for a world title back in the 1990s.

For this latest camp they were joined by another stella father-and-son team – Peter and Hughie Fury.

And while the two fathers watched on, the sons went at it for three days’ solid sparring and of course, neither took it lightly.

“It was fantastic. Hughie is a gentleman, his father Peter is a gentleman and they’re fighting men,” said Tommy.

“To be in camp with Hughie was great. And the spars were absolutely full-on. I won’t sit here and go on about stories from sparring, but it was genuinely a great experience.

“I respect the Fury’s, I really do. I like their work ethic and it was a great chance for me to feed off a world-title contender.

“Hughie is one of those fighters in the shadows. Him and his dad just keep their heads down and just get on with business. There’s no flashiness about them.

“I know cousin Tyson is the number one in the world, but even he was an almost hated fighter at the start but worked his socks off to turn everyone on to him.

“Hughie is a world contender, but he’s still on the up. He’s not like his cousin, who is sparing of course, but I guarantee, he has done all his hard work to get to the very top, so is now just perfecting it.

“Hughie still wants to learn, is working every day and wants to grind his socks off. I am doing the same. To be in camp with him was just great.”

Show update: Brixton Cruiserweight Isaac Chamberlain will not feature on this card and instead will headline a big Hennessy Sports show on Friday 10th December. Two popular Midlands fighters have been added to the card in separate fights: Leamington Spa lightweight Danny Quarter and Chelmsley Wood lightweight Scott Melvin.
Shakan Pitters v Reece Cartwright for the Vacant WBC International Light-Heavyweight Championship headlines the triple-title card that includes a fiery midlands derby between Coventry hot-shot River Wilson-Bent against Rowley Regis rival Tyler Denny for the Vacant English Middleweight Championship. Red hot Irish middleweight sensation Aaron ‘The Silencer’ McKenna will challenge for his first championship title. Aaron’s joins older brother Stevie ‘The Hitman’ McKenna who is lighting up the welterweight division with his dynamic and KO performances. The rest of the Hennessy All Stars team will be out in full force starting with welterweight ace Kaisee Benjamin, Birmingham super-middleweight Idris Virgo; Sevenoaks highly talented super-welterweight Michael Hennessy Jr.; undefeated County Donegal middleweight starlet Brett McGinty and unbeaten Brighton heavyweight destroyer Tommy Welch.

Presented by Hennessy Sports in association with William Hill, Infinitum, Numan and Everlast, tickets are priced at £45, £55, £90 and £120 and are available from https://iceaccount.co.uk/wbc-championship-boxing-info

For further information go to www.hennessysports.com or social media: Facebook @HennessySports, Twitter @HennessySports and Instagram @hennessysports

During the early years of Atlantic City boxing, the fight game was bustling. An array of ring talent, from club fighters to champions, came to the shore to compete at thriving venues like the Northside’s Waltz Dream Arena and Convention Hall on the Boardwalk. Although ring action was plentiful, the biggest fights were still happening elsewhere. However, everything changed once gambling came to town. As casinos popped up along the Boardwalk, Atlantic City fights got bigger and bigger. By the late 1970s, boxing was on the rise, and within a few years, business was booming. Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson ushered in the city’s peak era in the late 1980s, a time when more than just fight fans turned their attention to Atlantic City for some of the biggest sporting events ever. A decade later, Arturo Gatti ushered in another rise in AC’s prominence with a series of thrilling appearances in the city. Although AC never again topped the impact of those days, boxing action at the shore remained vital for decades to come.

John DiSanto and Matthew H. Ward have co-authored a book that tells the story of Atlantic City boxing from 1865 to 2020. The image-driven book includes more than 200 photos, many of them previously unpublished and seen for the very first time. This book is now available for sale and can be ordered directly from the authors (ACBoxingBook.com) or your favorite bookseller including Amazon.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
John DiSanto is the founder of PhillyBoxingHistory.com and the Briscoe Awards and is the chairman of the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame. Matthew H. Ward is a historian and journalist who specializes in boxing, Jersey Shore, and Philadelphia history.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Boxing in Atlantic City, released on November 1, 2021, is a 128-page soft cover book that includes 230 photographs. The cover price is $23.99.

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Arcadia Publishing and History Press is the nation’s leading publisher of books of local history and local interest. Arcadia has an extraordinary catalog of more than 15,000 local titles and publishes 500 new books each year.

SALEM, Mass. (October 30, 2021) – Colombian Welterweight Champion Jeovanis “Meque” Barraza (22-1, 15 KOs) defeated Argentinian southpaw Jorge “Tomatito” Martin Garcia (13-7-1, 6 KOs) by way of an 8-round unanimous decision to capture the vacant ABF Continental Americas super welterweight title in the headliner on last night’s “Down & Dirty” card, presented by Reyes Boxing Club at Melrose Memorial Hall in Melrose, Massachusetts.

“Down & Dirty,” New England’s only ongoing pro boxing series, streamed live and exclusively on throwdownsports.com.

“A+ effort by all the fighters, B delivery by the promotional team, because we started an hour late,” promoter Michael Reyes commented. “The main event was wonderful, 8 hard fought rounds for a title. Garcia has one helluva heart. He’s a champion. ‘Meque’ did his job. He saw some things he needs to work on that we’ve talked about in the gym. Overall, it was a great experience.”

Colombia and Argentina are bitter archrivals in sports like a South American version, albeit in boxing, of the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.

Both main event fighters made their United States debuts. The more skilled Barraza was tested by the tough, determined Garcia, but Barraza’s blistering body shots consistently set up his powerful head shots.

In the sixth round, Barraza’s constant pressure and effective combinations eventually wore down a tiring Garcia, who landed on the canvas twice, but he wouldn’t stay down. The seventh round was batting practice for Barraza, who hit Garcia with everything but the kitchen sink. Despite a vicious body assault that brought Garcia to his knees, he rose once again and somehow survived until the very end.

“It was a really good fight,” Barraza said after his fight. “He (Garcia) was tougher than I thought he would be. The big news is that I’m fighting here in the United States for the first time and leaving with a title belt.”

Barraza, who pitched a near shutout (80-69, 80-69, 79-70), collected another title belt and, more importantly, came out of the fight unscathed and sharp for his Nov. 13th showdown in Anaheim (CA) with Alexis Rocha (17-1, 11 KOs) in the co-feature on a DAZN show, presented by Golden Boy Promotions, and headlined by Jamie Munguia vs. Gabriel Rosato.

“I don’t have to change a thing,” Barraza noted. “I can continue my training for this fight, especially sparring, because I can continue with the same guys I sparred for this fight.”

In the co-featured event, ABF Atlantic Middleweight Champion Anthony “Big Daddy” Hines (7-0, 4 KOs) successfully made his first defense of the title he captured this past June, against Fidel Monterrosa Munoz (39-26-1, 31 KOs), the former Colombian Light Heavyweight Champion.

Fighting out of the Boston district of Dorchester, Hines came out jabbing and moving laterally during the first two rounds against the Colombian knockout artist, picking up the pace in the third, in which Hines floored Munoz with a strong right. Munoz claimed he was illegally hit behind his head in the fourth and the fight was temporarily halted for the doctor to check him out. The action continued after a couple of minutes. The fight was delayed in the fifth round due to an accidental head butt that sent Munoz to the deck and Hines suffering the most damage in what was a chippy fight.

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Anthony Hines remained undefeated and retained his ABF Atlantic title belt

Also fighting out of Dorchester, lightweight Jonathan DePina (5-1, 4 KOs) wore down a gutsy Stacey Anderson (0-8), eventually putting him away in the third round, DePina cracked his opponent with a counter right for the initial knockdown. Moments later it was all she wrote for Anderson, who was trapped in a neutral corner, and battered until he went down for good.

Popular Lowell (MA) fighter Gabriel “Menace” Morales (3-0, 2 KOs), a carpenter by trade, displayed everything in his toolbox to the delight of his loud, enthusiastic fanbase, stopping journeyman Pablo DeSouza (0-24) in the second round. A natural lightweight, Morales cutdown welterweight DeSouza, first with a left hook in the second, soon followed by a right sending him to the mat once again. DeSouza stood before the referee’s count hit 10, but he was clearly unable to continue.

Undefeated Dominican Republic lightweight prospect Alejandro “El Abusador” Paulino (4-0, 4 KOs), fighting out of New London (CT), outclassed a much more experienced fighter in Italy native Christian “El Ninja” Danilo Guido (8-20, 6 KOs). Paulino floored Guido at the end of round one and closed the show in the second, decking Guido three more times, the last with a perfectly executed uppercut with time running out for a technical knockout.

Dallas heavyweight Vercell Webster (2-4-1, 2 KOs) upset previously Dennis Ventura (4-1, 3 KOs) by way of a 4th-round technical knockout. Webster dropped Ventura with a straight right to the temple in the first round and a game Ventura never really recovered. The same shot to the head, landed in the same (red) corner, decked Ventura again. He beat the count, but referee Melissa Kelly didn’t like the way Ventura responded, and she stopped the fight.

Opening the action, Providence heavyweight Sean Bey improved to 3-0 (3 KOs) when pro-debuting Brandon Grundy was severely handicapped by right hand injury suffered midway through the opening round. After the ring doctor examined him, the fight continued briefly as Bey unloaded a series of unanswered punches on a trapped on the ropes Grundy, until referee Kevin Hope waved off the fight at the 2:24 mark of round one.

Official results below:

OFFICIAL RESULTS

MAIN EVENT – ABF CONTINENTAL AMERICAS SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Jeovanis Barraza (23-1, 15 KOs), Barranquilla, Colombia

WDEC8 (8069, 80-69, 79-70)

Jorge Martin Garcia (13-8-1, 6 KOs), General Lavalle, Buenos Aires, Argentina

(Barraza won ABF Continental Americas super welterweight title)

CO-FEATURE — ABF ATLANTIC MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Anthony Hines (8-0, 4 KOs), Dorchester, MA

WDEC6 (58-54, 57-55, 57-54)

Fidel Monterrosa Munoz (39-27-1, 31 KOs), Barranquilla, Colombia

(Hines retained the ABF Atlantic middleweight title)

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Vercell Webster (1-4-1, 1 KO), Dallas, TX

WTKO4 (0 :37)

Dennis Ventura (4-0, 3 KOs), Lynn, MA

Sean Bey (3-0, 3 KOs), Providence, RI

WTKO1 (2:24)

Brandon Grundy (0-1), Megehee, AR

WELTERWEIGHTS

Gabriel Morales (3-0, 2 KOs), Lowell, MA

WTKO2 (2:24)

Paulo DeSouza (0-24), Woburn, MA

SUPER LIGHTWEIGHTS

Jonathan DePina (6-1, 4 KOs), Dorchester, MA

WTKO3 (1:03)

Stacey Anderson (0-8), Albuquerque, NM

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Alexandro Paulino (5-0, 5 KOs), New London, CT by way of Dominican Republic

WTKO2 (2:58)

Christian Danilo Guido (8-21, 6 KOs), Tigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina by way of Italy

INFORMATION:

Website: www.ReyesBoxingClub, www.AFightingChanceinc.org

Twitter: @boxing_inc

Instagram: @ReyesBoxing, @FightingChance501c3

LinkedIn: @MichaelReyes

Facebook: /MichaelReyes, /ReyesBoxingInc, #FightingChance501c3

Patrick Wojcicki (14-0-1, 5 KOs) is the latest addition to a major night of boxing in Ilsenburg, Germany on December 3 as the Wolfsburg fighter, who is in line to face Gennady Golovkin for his Middleweight World Titles, takes on domestic rival Alexander Pavlov (12-2, 9 KOs).

For Wojcicki, this fight brings an end to a frustrating two year period that saw two eliminators to meet world ruler Golovkin cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and injury. The IBF #3 has retained his ranking and will now look to secure his shot at world glory with a victory over the big-punching Pavlov.

“I can’t wait to get back out there,” said Wojcicki. “It’s been really hard not boxing over the pandemic. I’ve so much energy and aggression to let out on fight night. I’m so excited just to be back in the ring. World Titles are my goal, but first I have an opponent with a lot of knockouts on his record I have to take care of – which I will.”

Wojcicki is fighting as part of a huge night of action in Ilsenburg, which is the first in a series of high-profile events to take place in Germany following a ground-breaking new partnership between powerhouse promoter Wasserman Boxing and major global boxing and media company Probellum.

The card also features Denis Radovan defending his IBF European Middleweight Title against former World Title challenger Brian Rose and the return of Super Welterweight star Abass Baraou versus Meriton Karaxha.

“Huge international fights and domestic dust ups – this card is getting better and better and we haven’t finished yet,” said promoter Kalle Sauerland. “In addition to Denis Radovan and Abass Baraou we now have another future world champion Patrick Wojcicki in action. This will be a special night of boxing.”

Tickets for the Wasserman Boxing and Probellum event on December 3 in Ilsenburg are available via www.eventim.de/artist/internationale-boxgala

16:50 BST LIVE ON BEFORE THE BELL

4 x 3 mins International Heavyweight contest
THOMAS CARTY 18st 3lbs v IGORS VASILJEVS 15st 11lbs 11oz        
(Dublin, Ireland)                      (Riga, Latvia)

followed by

6 x 3 mins Light-Heavyweight contest
JOHN HEDGES 12st 10lbs 8oz  v BEN THOMAS 12st 11lbs 12oz                 
(Takeley, England)                         (Bolton, England)

followed by

6 x 3 mins International Cruiserweight contest
JORDAN THOMPSON 14st 3lbs 6oz v PIOTR PODLUCKI 13st 13lbs 5oz            
(Manchester, England)                          (Warsaw, Poland)

followed by

8 x 2 mins International Super-Bantamweight contest
ELLIE SCOTNEY 8st 11lbs 8oz v EVA CANTOS 8st 10lbs 13oz               
(Catford, England)                         (Elda, Spain)

followed by

19:00 BST LIVE ON DAZN

10 x 3 mins vacant WBC International Silver Super-Featherweight Title
YOUSSEF KHOUMARI 9st 3lbs 4oz v JORGE CASTANEDA 9st 2lbs 15oz                 
(Wembley, England)                              (Texas, USA)

followed by

10 x 3 mins vacant WBA International Light-Heavyweight Title
CRAIG RICHARDS 12st 7lbs v MAREK MATYJA 12st 6lbs 7oz                
(Crystal Palace, England)         (Wroclaw, Poland)

followed by

6 x 3 mins International Heavyweight contest
JOHNNY FISHER 17st 4lbs 2oz v ALVARO TERRERO 16st 12lbs                  
(Romford, England)                        (Cadiz, Spain)

followed by

8 x 3 mins International Heavyweight contest
ALEN BABIC 15st 4lbs 5oz v ERIC MOLINA 18st 5lbs                 
(Zagreb, Croatia)                     (Texas, USA)

followed by

10 x 2 mins WBC, IBF and Ring Magazine Super-Lightweight World Titles
CHANTELLE CAMERON 9st 13lbs 9oz v MARY MCGEE 9st 13lbs 10oz                 
(Northampton, England)                            (Indiana, USA)

WBA Welterweight World Title – 12 Rounds

Jamal James – 145.2 lbs.

Radzhab Butaev – 146.2 lbs.

Referee: Celestino Ruiz; Judges: Max DeLuca (Calif.), Patricia Morse Jarman (Nev.), Don Trella (Conn.)

Welterweight Bout – 10 Rounds

Jaron Ennis – 146.6 lbs.

Thomas Dulorme – 146 lbs.

Referee: Mike Ortega; Judges: Tim Cheatham (Nev.), Dave Moretti (Nev.), John McKaie (N.Y.)

Lightweight Bout – 10 Rounds

Michel Rivera – 138 lbs.

Matias Romero – 135.4 lbs.

Referee: Robert Hoyle; Judges: Max DeLuca (Calif.), Lisa Giampa (Nev.), David Sutherland (Okla.)

# # #

ABOUT JAMES VS. BUTAEV

James vs. Butaev will see WBA Welterweight Champion Jamal “Shango” James defend his title against unbeaten contender Radzhab Butaev in a 12-round duel that headlines a night of action live on SHOWTIME Saturday, October 30 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and features rising welterweight star Jaron “Boots” Ennis in a 10-round showdown against veteran contender Thomas Dulorme in the co-main event. Kicking off the telecast, exciting unbeaten lightweight contender Michel Rivera faces Argentina’s Matías Romero in a 10-round attraction.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased at AXS.com. Ennis vs. Dulorme is promoted in association with D&D Boxing. Rivera vs. Romero is promoted in association with Sampson Boxing.

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

NEW YORK (OCTOBER 29, 2021) – International super star Jake “The Problem Child” Paul will face undefeated professional boxer and U.K. reality TV star Tommy “TNT” Fury in a sanctioned eight-round cruiserweight bout after months of heated back-and-forth between the two men. Paul and Fury will headline a SHOWTIME PPV event on Saturday, December 18 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. The main event bout will be contested at a 192-pound catchweight, as Paul continues to challenge himself and deliver on his promise to disrupt the combat sports industry. 

On the heels of an impressive performance against former mixed martial arts world champion Tyron Woodley in August, Paul looks forward to his fifth professional boxing match as he takes a sizable step up in competition and puts his undefeated record on the line. Paul, the social media sensation, has garnered unprecedented attention for a young boxer since he entered the ring against NBA star Nate Robinson and defeated him with a show-stopping knockout that made headlines around the world. Paul is now taking the next step in his young career as he goes after Love Island reality TV star Fury, the younger brother of WBC Heavyweight World Champion Tyson Fury. 

Paul and Fury will meet for the first time since their fight was announced on Saturday, November 6 in Las Vegas and will make an additional appearance in Tampa on Monday, November 8. More details on both events to follow.

Titled #PaulFury: One Will Fall, the event is produced and presented by Most Valuable Promotions and SHOWTIME PPV and promoted in association with Tony Holden Productions. The pay-per-view telecast begins live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV and it will feature other exciting high-stakes, professional boxing matches which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets for the live event will be available for purchase on Wednesday, November 10, at www.amaliearena.com. 

The 24-year-old Paul (4-0, 3 KOs) is a world-renowned content creator. He began his professional boxing journey in January 2020 and has proven to be an influential participant in the sport’s landscape with his outsized personality and quickly developing skill set. The Cleveland-native is fighting out of Puerto Rico under the eye of former boxing cruiserweight contender and world title challenger B.J. Flores, who has been training Paul from his first professional fight. After knocking out British YouTube star AnEsonGib in his debut and defeating Robinson with a knockout heard around the world, Paul made quick work of former MMA champion Ben Askren in April with a first-round knockout. The win over Askren was Paul’s first victory over a seasoned professional fighter and he followed it up with an impressive performance against Woodley, arguably his most dangerous opponent to date. 

“I started my professional boxing career less than two years ago on January 30th, 2020. Four fights, three pay-per-views, two as the headliner, and one sold-out arena, I’m looking forward to my toughest challenge yet and continuing to prove the critics wrong,” said Paul. “Fight a real boxer they’ve said, and that is exactly what I’m doing. An undefeated boxer from the legendary Fury bloodline. However, this one is more than just boxing for me. It’s for America and showing the world there is no other country that gives you the opportunity to achieve whatever you set your mind to. It’s for every young person who has a dream and dedicates their life to achieving it.  On December 18th I’m continuing to fulfill my dreams and turning a Fury into a Fumbles.”

Fighting out of Manchester, England, Fury started boxing at 12 years old. With 12 amateur bouts, he won two regional titles and reached the U.K. national final in 2016. Fury’s first professional fight came in 2018, a win by decision. From there he proceeded to knockout or TKO his next four opponents and put the boxing world on notice. He has fought three times in 2021, including his U.S. debut on Paul’s undercard in August, where the 22-year-old earned his seventh victory against Anthony Taylor. Paul is clearly facing his biggest challenge to date in the undefeated Fury (7-0, 4 KOs), who comes from a renowned family of boxers and has been trained by British star Ricky Hatton.

“Jake Paul is about to learn a serious life lesson. This is my world, and he doesn’t belong here,” said Fury. “I’m not one of these MMA men or basketball players, I have been boxing my whole life. On December 18th I will show the world the difference between a YouTuber and a real fighting man. Thanks to my promoter Frank Warren, Most Valuable Promotions and Showtime for giving me the opportunity to shut this clown up once and for all.”

#PaulFury: One Will Fall is the second live sporting event co-produced by Most Valuable Promotions, a company founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian on the premise that content is king, and fighters are the content creators in combat sports. Paul and Bidarian serve as Executive Producers of the #PaulFury event.

# # #

For more information on #PaulFury visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow on Instagram via @JakePaul, @TommyFury, @MostValuablePromotions and @ShowtimeBoxing, Twitter via @JakePaul, @TommyTntFury, @MostVpromotions and @ShowtimeBoxing, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

(ESPN+, Approximately 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)

    •    Jose Zepeda 139.4 lbs vs. Josue Vargas 139 lbs 
(Zepeda’s WBC Silver Super Lightweight Title — 10 Rounds)

•    Carlos Caraballo 117.6 lbs vs. Jonas Sultan 117.6 lbs 
(Vacant WBO Intercontinental Bantamweight Title — 10 Rounds)

(ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)

•   Jonathan Guzman 123 lbs vs. Carlos Jackson 123 lbs 
(Junior Featherweight — 8 Rounds)

   •    Mathew Gonzalez 143 lbs vs. Dakota Linger 141.8 lbs
 (Junior Welterweight — 6 Rounds)

   •    Pablo Valdez 148.4 lbs vs. Alejandro Martinez 148.6 lbs
 (Welterweight — 6 Rounds)

   •       Jahi Tucker 147.6 lbs vs. Jorge Rodrigo Sosa 145.2 lbs
 (Welterweight — 6 Rounds)
  •       Ray Cuadrado 129.6 lbs vs. Michael Land 129.4 lbs
 (Junior Lightweight — 4 Rounds)
   •      Kasir Goldston 142 lbs vs. Marc Misiura 142.2 lbs
 (Junior Welterweight — 4 Rounds)

New York (October 29, 2021)–IBF Junior Welterweight World champion “Merciless” Mary McGee will take on Undefeated WBC champion Chantelle Cameron in a much anticipated unification bout on Saturday at The O2 Arena in London.

The Ring Magazine Belt will also be on the line.

The fight will headline a card that will be streamed LIVE on DAZN (2 PM ET).

The bout is part of a tournament that will crown an undisputed champion as WBA champion Kali Reis will take on Jessica Camara on November 19th in New Hampshire. The vacant WBO Title will also be at stake.

McGee of Gary, Indiana is managed by Split-T Management under the guidance of Brian Cohen, and has an outstanding record of 27-3 with 19 knockouts.

The 35 year-old McGee is a 16 year-professional, and had an early win over Kristi Follmer (16-1). Mary won the IBF Title with a 10th round stoppage over Ana Laura Esteche on December 5, 2019. She has defended the title once by stopping Deanha Hobbs (8-1) in nine rounds on February 8, 2020 in Hammond, Indiana.

Cameron, 30 of Northampton, England, has a record of 14-0 with eight knockouts.

Cameron is a four-year professional, who has wins over Edith Ramos (5-1-1), Viviane Obenauf (12-3), Anahai Ester Sanchez (19-4). Cameron won the WBC title on October 4, 2020 with a 10-round unanimous decision over Adriana Dos Santos Araujo (6-0) in England. Like McGee, she has one title defense, and that was a 5th round stoppage over Melissa Hernandez on May 29th in Las Vegas,.

Mary McGee–Press Conference Quotes

“I’ve trained really hard for this fight; I knew a long time ago that I would be fighting Chantelle because I would listen to her saying she wanted to fight one of the champions – I made sure I prepared for her from that day. When I was offered this fight, I was excited because I knew I could sit next to Eddie Hearn.

“I knew that sitting next to Eddie Hearn, and with Matchroom, was one of the pinnacles of boxing. So, to be a female fighter who used to sell tickets out of her car all night just to get a fight, to sitting up here, I’m more than ready. It’s going to be an exciting fight.

“I started boxing when I was 14, I stayed amateur for maybe five years, after winning the golden gloves a couple years in a row, I needed to make a living for myself, so I went pro. They said you could make $100 a round boxing; it was what I loved to do so I said, ‘hey this sounds like a steal for me’. As I got better and kept winning, I realized that my opponents cost more money, so I had to get out and sell tickets night and day just to get on the card and make sure my opponent got paid.

“I know it’s going to be a tough fight; I’ve watched her beat the hell out of girls and I thought, ‘yeah, I’ve got to make sure I get out there and do my real work’. She’s not coming to lose, I made sure I worked hard for her. I take this fight very seriously.

“I don’t believe so, some of the girls she fought, like the girls she got the title from, she came overweight and out of shape. Chantelle beat her but I can beat someone who’s overweight and out of shape too. Melissa is a good champion, but at Featherweight. I’m a natural Super-Lightweight so I know I have a better chance than those other girls.

“I didn’t come all the way across the pond just to get beat, it’s going to be a rumble in the jungle, like in the Ali days, she’s not going to just beat me believe that.”

McGee, who is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, weighed 139.6 lbs while Cameron was 139.5

If Victorious, McGee will join Teofimo Lopez as Split-T Management fighters who hold the Ring Magazine Title.

Photos: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 29, 2021) — Junior lightweights Luis Melendez and Thomas Mattice stayed ready. The contenders, on less than two weeks’ notice, agreed to face off Friday, Nov. 5 in the eight-round co-feature to the Mikaela Mayer-Maiva Hamadouche title unification tilt at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, part of Curio Collection by Hilton.
 
Melendez-Mattice replaces the Janibek Alimkhanuly-Hassan N’Dam middleweight showdown, which has been postponed to a later date.

The entire card will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Matchroom Boxing and OPI Since 82, tickets starting at $25 are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting AXS.com.
 
Melendez (16-1, 13 KOs), from Puerto Rico, turned pro with a first-round knockout on a Top Rank card in July 2018. The only blemish on his pro ledger came via split decision defeat in his third pro fight in September 2018. Since that setback, Melendez is 14-0 with 11 knockouts, including eight victories since last December. Mattice (17-2-1, 13 KOs), from Cleveland, Ohio, is no stranger to American boxing fans. He has won two straight fights since a February 2020 majority decision loss to rising lightweight Isaac Cruz on a nationally televised card.
 
“I’m grateful to Top Rank and ESPN for this opportunity, and I’m coming to give the fight fans a great show,” Melendez said. “When you stay ready, good things happen. I’m always in the gym and in shape, and I give credit to Mattice for being ready as well.”
 
Mattice said, “I’ve been staying ready, and when the opportunity came to fight Melendez, I did not hesitate. Everybody has been turning me down at 130 pounds. This is a big opportunity.”
 
In a special feature, undefeated Las Vegas-born junior lightweight Andres “Savage” Cortes will battle Mark Bernaldez in an eight-rounder. Cortes (15-0, 8 KOs) notched more than 100 wins as an amateur, including a pair of triumphs over current undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez. His professional breakthrough came in August in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he knocked out former world title challenger Genesis Servania in one round. That was the first time Servania had been knocked out in 37 professional fights. Bernaldez (23-4, 17 KOs) is a 10-year pro from the Philippines who has won three straight fights by knockout since a July 2020 decision defeat to Albert Bell.

Cortes said, “This is a huge opportunity to show out in front of my fans in Las Vegas. After my big win against Servania, I am coming to do a number on Bernaldez.”
 
In other undercard action:

• Joseph “Blessed Hands” Adorno (14-0-2, 12 KOs) returns in a scheduled eight-round lightweight contest against Damian “El Macho” Araujo (21-3, 8 KOs). Adorno is coming off a pair of draws, including a Fight of the Year contender in April versus fellow unbeaten Jamaine Ortiz. Araujo last fought in April, losing a decision to then-unbeaten junior welterweight prospect Omar Juarez.
   
• Abdullah Mason, a 17-year-old lightweight prodigy from Cleveland, will make his professional debut in a four-rounder against Florida native Jaylan Phillips (1-0, 1 KO). Mason, considered one of America’s top amateur talents, signed with Top Rank earlier this month and is managed by James Prince.
   
• Unbeaten middleweight prospect Tyler “Hercules” Howard (19-0, 11 KOs) returns from a nearly year-long layoff to fight the upset-minded Ian Green (14-2, 11 KOs) in an eight-rounder. Howard was last seen on the Terence Crawford-Kell Brook undercard grinding out an eight-round decision over KeAndrae Leatherwood.

About Virgin Hotels Las Vegas 
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is a reimagined and re-conceptualized casino resort. The property is part of Curio Collection by Hilton. The integrated resort intermixes a passion for food and beverage with music and culture and features three hotel towers totaling over 1,500 Chambers and suites; the 60,000 sq. ft. Mohegan Sun Casino, operated by Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment; a five-acre desert pool oasis including Élia Beach Club and a multi-functional event lawn; live music and entertainment theater with 4,500 capacity; 24 Oxford showroom accommodating 650 guests; an exclusive portfolio of twelve food and beverage venues including Todd English’s Olives, Kris Yenbamroong’s Night + Market, the legendary Nobu, Michael and David Morton’s One Steakhouse, Kassi Beach House from restauranteur Nick Mathers, Casa Calavera by global hospitality company Hakkasan Group, the sports entertainment, daylife and nightlife venue Money, Baby! from Justin Massei and Mikis Troyan of Clive Collective, famous Afters Ice Cream, Pizza Forte by the Ferraro Family and signature Virgin Hotels restaurants and bars including The Kitchen at Commons Club, The Bar at Commons Club, The Shag Room and Funny Library Coffee Shop. The property is owned by JC Hospitality, LLC, in partnership with Juniper Capital Partners, Virgin Group, LiUNA, Fengate Asset Management, Dream and Orlando Development. The off Strip playground is located at 4455 Paradise Road. For more information, visit www.virginhotelslv.com. 
 
About Virgin Hotels 
Virgin Hotels is a lifestyle hospitality brand that combines heartfelt service, straightforward value, and a seamless, personalized hotel experience with the track record of innovation and smart disruption that Sir Richard Branson’s global Virgin Group has pioneered for 50 years. Each property intermixes a passion for food and beverage with music and culture, fusing with the local landscape and providing a vibrant and inclusive environment for travelers and locals alike. Virgin Hotels Chicago – named the “#1 Hotel in the United States” in 2016 and “#1 Hotel in Chicago” in 2016, 2017, and 2020 by the Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards – Virgin Hotels Dallas – named the “#16 Hotel in Texas” – Virgin Hotels Nashville, Virgin Hotels New Orleans and Virgin Hotels Las Vegas are now open. Locations in New York, Miami, Edinburgh and Glasgow to follow. Virgin Hotels continues to explore hotel and office conversions and ground-up development in Boston, Los Angeles, Austin, Seattle, and London.
 
About Curio Collection by Hilton 
Curio Collection by Hilton is a global portfolio of more than 100 one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts in nearly 30 countries and territories. Curio Collection properties offer guests authentic, curated experiences through distinctly local offerings and elevated amenities, while providing the benefits of Hilton and its award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors. Experience a positive stay at Curio Collection by Hilton by booking at curiocollection.com or through the industry-leading Hilton Honors app. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. Learn more about the brand at newsroom.hilton.com/curio, and follow Curio Collection by Hilton on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
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 14.9 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).
 

Mary McGee plans on overwhelming Chantelle Cameron when they clash for the WBC, IBF and Ring Magazine Super-Lightweight World Titles at The O2 in London this Saturday October 30, live worldwide on DAZN. 

‘Merciless’ McGee (27-3, 15 KOs) comes into the fight with increased momentum, notching seven straight wins since her World Title loss in 2013 and picking up the IBF Super-Lightweight Title on the way. The American’s last win came via a ninth round TKO against Deanha Hobbs to retain her crown. 

“My relentlessness, my heart and my determination to not give up overwhelms certain opponents,” said McGee. “I guess they feel the power, but I’ve never thought in my mind that I’m that powerful. So for me, I feel as if she is going to run from me. She tells her game plan in interviews. I’m going to make her miss and make her pay. I already know what she’s going to do – she’s going to try to run and pot-shot. 

“I’m not Adriana Araujo. She came five pounds overweight. She was drained and she couldn’t pursue Chantelle. The last girl that she fought Melissa Hernandez shouldn’t even be fighting at 140lbs – she’s a great fighter but at 140lbs what can you do against someone who’s much bigger and stronger than you? It’s going to be a different fight. I know that she’s going to be doing a lot of running but I’m going to chase her down. 

“My experience allows me to look at certain things and understand what I can and can’t do. I’m not taking any more fights to lose. I’m coming over here to win. I’m going to fight hard – dog hard. If they think I’m going to just open up and let her hit me then they’ve got another thing coming. Nobody is stopping me. I’ve never been stopped in 31 fights and I’m not going to start now.

“My plan is to beat her, to overwhelm her. I want a fair decision if it goes to the judges. My plan is to do what I’ve trained to do round to round. I’m ready to win those belts. I want to win titles but I’m not just here to hold titles. I want to build a legacy for my son and myself. When I came back to boxing it was after I had my child. I decided that this was a way to make him proud of me.”

Cameron vs. McGee tops a big night of action Greenwich, ‘The Savage’ Alen Babic (8-0, 8 KOs) clashes with two-time World Title challenger Eric Molina (28-7, 20 KOs) over eight rounds, Craig Richards (16-2-1, 9 KOs) returns to the ring against Poland’s Marek Matyja (20-2-2, 9 KOs) after pushing WBA Light-Heavyweight World Champion Dmitry Bivol all the way in May, Youssef Khoumari (13-0-1, 5 KOs) takes on Jorge David Castaneda (14-1, 11 KOs) for the vacant WBC International Silver Super-Featherweight Title, ‘The Romford Bull’ Johnny Fisher (3-0, 3 KOs) faces Spain’s Alvaro Terrero (5-13-2, 3 KOs) in front of over 1,000 of his fans, Catford Super-Bantamweight Ellie Scotney (2-0) squares off against Eva Cantos (2-1) in her first fight with new trainer Shane McGuigan, Manchester Cruiserweight Jordan Thompson (10-0, 8 KOs) makes his Matchroom debut against Poland’s Piotr Podlucki (6-5, 2 KOs), Takeley Light-Heavyweight prospect John Hedges (3-0) meets Ben Thomas (2-7-3, 1 KO) over four rounds and Dublin Heavyweight Thomas Carty (1-0) has his second professional fight. 

Undefeated Belfast Middleweight talent Caoimhin Agyarko has signed a long-term promotional deal with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing. 
 
‘Black Thunder’ (9-0, 6 KOs) harbours dreams of becoming Ireland’s first ever black World Champion and the 24-year-old former Holy Trinity amateur standout believes he now has the perfect team around him to achieve his goals after signing a management deal with STN Sports in September.
 
“I’m absolutely over the moon to have signed with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing,” said Agyarko. “I’m really excited about this next chapter in my career. I believe my manager Paul Ready has got me the perfect opportunity to showcase my skills and I have full belief that Matchroom will make me the first black Irish World Champion.”
 
“I’m delighted to welcome the exciting and dangerous Middleweight talent Caoimhin Agyarko to the Matchroom ranks,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “Caoimhin has a real viciousness to his fighting style and is sure to be a fan favourite for DAZN viewers all around the world. ‘Black Thunder’ has a remarkable story and I look forward to guiding him towards some huge nights in Belfast.” 
 
“I’m delighted to have secured this deal for Caoimhin,” said Director of STN Sports Paul Ready. “He’s a special fighter who can box and fight – those who don’t know about him soon will and are in for a treat. Special thanks to Shaun Palmer at Matchroom for the smooth process with this deal. Belfast we are coming!”
 
You can follow Agyarko’s journey on Twitter: @caoimhinagyarko and Instagram: blackthunder.ca

Coventry, UK (29 October 2021) Unbeaten Birmingham ace Kaisee Benjamin is used to staying one step ahead of his opponents, but not just in the boxing ring.

Benjamin features on Hennessy Sports’ big show at the Coventry Skydome Arena on Saturday 13th November headlined by Shakan Pitters’ WBC Silver Light-Heavyweight title challenge against Reece Cartwright; River Wilson-Bent’s challenge for the Vacant English Middleweight title against Tyler Denny and Aaron McKenna in championship action, live and free on Channel 5.

Hot shot Benjamin firmly believes another of his favourite one-on-one sports will help him keep the rest of the super-lightweight division in check now.

Benjamin is the latest pugilist to reveal his other passion… chess.

Anthony Joshua, Terence Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk are well-known fans of ancient board game, and the Birmingham body shot sensation wants to make the same move as all three and be crowned a world champion.

The 26-year-old believes that playing the ultimate cerebral sport will make him an even better fighter in the ring now that he has added extra power to his arsenal with back-to-back stoppages in his last fights.

“I wouldn’t say I am a Grandmaster, but I do love chess,” he revealed.

“There’s no doubt it makes you a smarter person and an even smarter fighter – if you’re good at it.

“It doesn’t really give you a high IQ just like that, but what it does do is get you to think one, two, three steps ahead. That’s the name of the game.

“The more steps ahead you are, the less chance your opponent has. You can outsmart them and then trap them. You can see why a lot of boxers play it.”

The two sports have more similarities for Benjamin to contend with, though.

He is 15 fights into his professional career and had hoped to have more than the Midlands Area belt to his name having turned pro four years ago.

A new nutritional approach has enabled him to start a new chapter down in a new weight class and under the guidance of trainer Jon Pegg, is hoping it will be easier to test himself in the ring than on the chequered board.

“I don’t play chess all the time. I can’t find anyone to play,” he continued.

“I do have a chess app on my phone though and a chess board at home, of course. It’s just difficult to find someone to play against.

“There’s no-one to play in my house. I tried to teach my girlfriend how to play it, but she can’t get the hang of it.

“I’ve not played Jon yet. It sounds like, right now, that he’d beat me, but I’d like to play him and see where I am at.

“It’s the same with boxing. No-one wants to fight me, but I am hoping that down super-lightweight I will get more fights, more opportunities. I can’t wait.”

Benjamin doesn’t sport a nickname like most other fighters and is too modest to bring chess into the equation and be known as Kaisee ‘Grandmaster’ Benjamin.

He may never become the best chess player on the planet, but certainly sees it as a smart move to help him fulfil the ambition that drives him on.

“I want to become a world champion. That is everyone’s dream, and I am no different and will do it.

“Now I need to start taking steps up. I did think I would have more belts to my name by now, be it domestic or international and that is what I need to do.

“You will see a new me on November 13.”

Shakan Pitters v Reece Cartwright for the Vacant WBC International Light-Heavyweight Championship headlines the triple-title card that includes a fiery midlands derby between Coventry hot-shot River Wilson-Bent against Rowley Regis rival Tyler Denny for the Vacant English Middleweight Championship. Red hot Irish middleweight sensation Aaron ‘The Silencer’ McKenna will challenge for his first championship title. Aaron’s joins older brother Stevie ‘The Hitman’ McKenna who is lighting up the welterweight division with his dynamic and KO performances. The rest of the Hennessy All Stars team will be out in full force starting with Brixton cruiserweight ace Isaac Chamberlain, welterweight ace Kaisee Benjamin, Birmingham super-middleweight Idris Virgo; Sevenoaks highly talented super-welterweight Michael Hennessy Jr.; undefeated County Donegal middleweight starlet Brett McGinty and unbeaten Brighton heavyweight destroyer Tommy Welch.

Presented by Hennessy Sports in association with William Hill, Infinitum, Numan and Everlast, tickets are priced at £45, £55, £90 and £120 and are available from https://iceaccount.co.uk/wbc-championship-boxing-info

For further information go to www.hennessysports.com or social media: Facebook @HennessySports, Twitter @HennessySports and Instagram @hennessysports

LAS VEGAS (October 28, 2021) – WBA Welterweight Champion Jamal “Shango” James and unbeaten contender Radzhab Butaev went face-to-face at a final press conference Thursday before they meet in the SHOWTIME main event this Saturday, October 30 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Thursday’s press conference also featured undefeated rising welterweight star Jaron “Boots” Ennis and veteran contender Thomas Dulorme, who meet in the co-main event, plus exciting unbeaten lightweight contender Michel Rivera and Argentina’s Matías Romero, who square off to open the telecast at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and can be purchased at AXS.com. Ennis vs. Dulorme is promoted in association with D&D Boxing. Rivera vs. Romero is promoted in association with Sampson Boxing.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday:

JAMAL JAMES

“We’re at the top level here. Everyone on this stage is a top-level fighter. We’re all going to bring our very best Saturday night.

“At this level, everyone hits hard. We’re not fighting cupcakes. Every opponent you get in there with, can hurt you. I’ve been in there with guys who hit extremely hard, and I beat them. It’s nothing new to me.

“We’re here in Las Vegas headlining on SHOWTIME and it’s time for me to let people know that I’ve been at this top level. I want to get those opportunities against the top fighters. The welterweight division is stacked. We have a bunch of great talent and it’s time for some new guys to get their names up there.

“I’m not overlooking Butaev. I have to get past this fight first. But I want to run that back against Yordenis Ugas. He’s a great fighter. I didn’t have a full camp when I fought against him. I don’t like to make excuses – because he was the better man that night. But I think if we both have full camps, it could definitely be a different story.

“I’m not ducking anybody. I want to win Ugas’ title and make there one WBA champion. I definitely would be ready to take on Ennis or whoever it is after that.

“I’m just happy to have this opportunity to get back in the ring. I’m going to listen to my corner and follow through with their instructions. I trust them with my life. If they tell me to be offensive or if they tell me to box, I trust them.

“Representing my city of Minneapolis gives me extreme motivation. When you look at the history of boxing, it’s a sport that brings people together during hard times. It gives people the chance to take their minds off serious trouble they’re dealing with. My city has shown me a lot of love and that gives me extra motivation.”

RADZHAB BUTAEV

“I’ve had a lot of experience in the amateurs and pros. I believe in myself and I believe in my experience. We had a great camp and everything went as planned. On Saturday, I’m here to prove that I’m the next world champion in this division.

“I believe that everything I’ve been through will be the difference in this fight. Fighters have different advantages against different opponents, but the most important advantage is the will for victory. I believe that my will is at the highest level.

“I had a long amateur career, but now that I’m working with Joel Diaz as my trainer, we’re working more on the professional style. I’m working on sitting down on my punches and loading up a little bit more.

“We’re going to bring the action to the ring. That’s what the fans love. I’m bringing that Mexican style. Fans love brawls and that’s what we’re working on. I’m ready to bring the war to the ring.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the ring, but I’ll be ready for whatever he brings. I don’t know exactly what he’s going to do, but I’ll be prepared for it.”

JARON ENNIS

“Dulorme said he has experience, but I’ve been boxing all of my life, since before I could walk. I’ve sparred pros since I was 12. This is nothing new to me and he’s going to see that on Saturday night.

“I’m going to continue to do what I’ve been doing, and that’s putting on dominating performances. Everyone knows I’m in and out like a robbery.

“On Saturday night, you can expect fireworks. I’m going to look good and come out victorious in knockout fashion. We’re not looking for the knockout, but we’re going to let it come naturally. And it’s definitely going to come.

“I feel great at welterweight. I can make 147 as long as I want. I’m on weight right now. I’ll be ready to rock and roll Saturday night. Once I get all these belts, then I’ll start thinking about 154 pounds.

“I feel like I’m the most talented welterweight in the division. I’m great at everything. I can fight from either side and I can box or fight on the inside. A lot of guys don’t want to prepare for someone who can do all that I can do. After I make this statement on Saturday night, I’m ready to keep moving up the ladder.

“I’m from Philly, so everyone knows I have that dog in me. It’s been in me. I’m ready to go and move on to bigger and better things.

“I watched some of Dulorme’s fight against Eimantas Stanionis, but I’m not Stanionis. I’m a whole different fighter. Talent wise, skill wise, power wise. I’m on a whole different level. Watching me is one thing, but when you’re in there with me, it’s a whole different thing.

“I’m not worried about what Dulorme did against other fighters. I’m going to do me, and put on a beautiful performance for everyone watching. I’m coming home victorious with that knockout.”

THOMAS DULORME

“I’m very thankful for my team for getting me on this big card. I’m ready for this fight on Saturday night and I’m going to put on a great performance and surprise everyone.

“You don’t always need strength in boxing to overcome obstacles. You need experience and technique. I believe I have those attributes and that it’s going to help me come out on top. I’ve sparred all the best and I’m going to use it in my fight

“On Saturday it’s going to be different because I’m putting in great work, day after day to be ready. We’ve been training to climb back up to the elite. After Saturday, we’ll be back on top of the world again.

“Ennis is a good fighter. But his best win was against Sergey Lipinets, who was a 140-pounder. I don’t think he has the experience yet to overcome a fighter like myself.”

MICHEL RIVERA

“I’ve been training hard for this moment. I know I have to stay in control during this fight. I’m staying focused. I’ve been working hard to show that I’m the future of boxing.

“I know Romero has good experience, but he’s standing in my way. I want to win this fight and get to big fights. I’m going to be the king of 135 pounds. None of the other contenders are going to want to fight me.

“This is a guy [Romero] with experience. I have heavy hands, everyone knows, but I have conditioning too. I’m ready for 15 rounds. I’m just on another level than him. Everyone will know this on Saturday night.”

MATIAS ROMERO

“I learned against Isaac Cruz how to fight here on this stage and what it’s like to fight here in the U.S. This time I’m way better prepared. I got the experience from 12 rounds and I learned a lot. I’m going to be even better in this fight.

“We know each other well and I believe I have everything I need to walk out with the victory. I’m going to listen to my coach and make sure I stay focused from the first round until the end.

“I had a very short camp for my last fight. I prepared as well as I could. I had a much longer and better camp this time. It’s going to be a different performance, and everyone is going to see what I can do.”

#

ABOUT JAMES VS. BUTAEV
James vs. Butaev will see WBA Welterweight Champion Jamal “Shango” James defend his title against unbeaten contender Radzhab Butaev in a 12-round duel that headlines a night of action live on SHOWTIME Saturday, October 30 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and features rising welterweight star Jaron “Boots” Ennis in a 10-round showdown against veteran contender Thomas Dulorme in the co-main event. Kicking off the telecast, exciting unbeaten lightweight contender Michel Rivera faces Argentina’s Matías Romero in a 10-round attraction.

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

SALEM, Mass. (October 28, 2021) – The official “Down & Dirty” weigh in was held today at Reyes Boxing Club in Salem (MA) for tomorrow night’s pro boxing event at Melrose Memorial Hall in Melrose, Massachusetts.

“Down & Dirty” will be streamed live and exclusively on pay-per-view at https://throwdownsports.com/programs/reyes-boxing-10-29-21, starting at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT, for $29.95.

Tickets are priced at $75.00 (General Admission), $90.00 (Reserved), $125.00 (Ringside) and $250.00 VIP (dedicated server on stage) and available for purchase online at https://throwdownsports.com/programs/reyes-boxing-10-29-21 or directly from any of the participating boxers on this show. Limited tickets will be available at the door while they last.

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

Fighters’ official weights below:

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

MAIN EVENT – ABF CONTINENTAL AMERICAS SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (8)

Jeovanis Barraza (22-1, 15 KOs), Barranquilla, Colombia 153 ½ lbs.

Jorge Martin Garcia (13-7-1, 6 KOs), General Lavalle, Buenos Aires, Argentina 153 ½ lbs.

CO-FEATURE — ABF ATLANTIC MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (8)

Anthony Hines (7-0, 4 KOs), Champion, Dorchester, MA 157 ½ lbs.

Fidel Monterrosa Munoz (39-26-1, 31 KOs), Challenger, Barranquilla, Colombia 157 ½ lbs.

HEAVYWEIGHTS (4)

Dennis Ventura (4-0, 3 KOs), Lynn, MA 235 lbs.

Vercell Webster (1-4-1, 1 KO), Dallas, TX 236 ½ lbs.

Sean Bey (2-0,2 KOs), Providence, RI 222 ½ lbs.

Brandon Grundy (pro debut), Megehee, AR 266 lbs.

WELTERWEIGHTS (4)

Gabriel Morales (2-0, 1 KO), Lowell, MA 145 lbs.

Paulo DeSouza (0-23), Woburn, MA

SUPER LIGHTWEIGHTS (6)

Jonathan De Pina (5-1, 3 KOs), Dorchester, MA 135 lbs.

Stacey Anderson (0-7), Falls Church, VA 140 lbs. 136 ½ lbs.

LIGHTWEIGHTS (4)

Alexandro Paulino (4-0, 4 KOs), New London, CT by way of Dominican Republic 137 lbs.

Christian Danilo Guido (8-20, 6 KOs), Tigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina by way of Italy

INFORMATION:

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Twitter: @boxing_inc

Instagram: @ReyesBoxing, @FightingChance501c3

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Facebook: /MichaelReyes, /ReyesBoxingInc, #FightingChance501c3

NEW YORK (Oct. 28, 2021)— Josue “The Prodigy” Vargas earned his nickname fighting as an amateur growing up in The Bronx. The Puerto Rican-born junior welterweight contender now has the opportunity to notch a career-defining win roughly 10 miles from where he was raised.

Vargas (19-1, 9 KOs) will take on two-time world title challenger Jose “Chon” Zepeda (34-2, 26 KOs) in an ESPN+ 10-round main event Saturday at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. The winner of this crossroads battle will be in line for a world title opportunity. Vargas has won 13 straight since a controversial disqualification defeat, while Zepeda is one year removed from his Fight of the Year knockout victory over Ivan Baranchyk. Zepeda last fought in May, winning a decision over “Hammerin” Hank Lundy.

In the 10-round bantamweight co-feature, Puerto Rican knockout sensation Carlos “Purin” Caraballo (14-0, 14 KOs) will fight former world title challenger Jonas Sultan (17-5, 11 KOs). Caraballo is coming off March’s eye-opening knockout victory over Leonardo Baez. It was also announced today that Caraballo and Miguel Cotto Promotions entered into a long-term co-promotional pact with Top Rank. 

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $30 are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com or MSG.com. 

At Thursday’s final press conference, this is what the combatants had to say.

Jose Zepeda

“He’s a young fighter. He’s a very energetic fighter, but I’ve been there. I have a lot of experience with rated number one and two fighters in the world. Wherever he takes it, I’m going to take it. I already proved I could go as hard as it gets.”

“He’s a young fighter. He still needs a lot of experience. He doesn’t know it. His team probably doesn’t know it yet, but Saturday he will get to see that boxing is not a game. You put your life in there, and he hasn’t been with any top 20 fighters. He’s going to realize what he got into this Saturday.”

“You’re going to see the best of ‘Chon’ Zepeda. Like I said, wherever he takes it, that’s where I’m going to take it. I know I can go all out if I need to. I don’t think it’s going to go there. I just think I’m going to outbox him. He believes he is a better boxer. He believes he’s faster. He definitely doesn’t believe he hits harder.”

“He’s number 56 in the world. Why is he saying {I haven’t fought anyone}? Saturday, like I said, he’s going to find out there’s levels to this.”

Josue Vargas

“I asked for the fight. I hit him up on Instagram a year ago.”

“I’m fighting in my hometown, Madison Square Garden, the main event. I feel ready, very confident. He said I don’t have the experience he has, but hey, I’ve been in the ring {sparring} the best. I can name them. I’ve been in there with Mikey Garcia, Floyd Mayweather, Gervonta Davis, Teofimo Lopez. The list could keep on going.”

“Now that I became a father, I’m fighting for my child now. I’m fighting for more of a reason, and I’m going to give it my all in there. I’m going to perform, I’m going to shine at Madison Square Garden in front of my hometown, and just come out victorious so you can put me in the top five, top 10 at 140 pounds. I deserve this opportunity. I’ve been in this game 14 years, 14 years strong.”

“All I got in my mind is coming out victorious, and I’m confident about that. That’s like 100 percent. That’s the way a fighter has to think. I’m in the sport for a reason, so therefore I give respect to Zepeda for taking the fight because he ain’t have to. He’s ranked {No. 1} by the WBC, so I give props to him because fighting me is a whole different ballgame. The only fighter he’s {fought} with kind of a good style is {Jose} Pedraza. That was it. He’s never faced anyone like me who’s young. I’m 23 years old who has the energy, but not only that, has great footwork.”

Carlos Caraballo

“There is a lot of talk that I’ll be the next superstar from the island. We’re working hard for that, alongside Miguel Cotto Promotions and H2 Entertainment. Now that I’m signed with Top Rank, we’re going to make this happen.”

“Every opponent is difficult. Everyone trains to win. I’m ready to go the 10 rounds, but if the knockout comes, I will go home early.”

“It’s motivating for me to know that big names in Puerto Rican boxing like Miguel Cotto and Felix Trinidad and other great champions have performed here. I’m ready to put on a great performance and be the next fighter to come out of Puerto Rico.”

Jonas Sultan

“I’m very excited for this fight. I’m proud to be here again on a Top Rank card. I’ve been here before. This fight Saturday night, I will show my best fight ever. This is going to {be a great fight} between me and Caraballo. May the best man win, and maybe I’ll be the best man.”

“{IBF junior bantamweight champion} Jerwin Ancajas is my friend and a sparring partner for this fight. He gave me the confidence and motivated me to win this fight. He gave me a lot of techniques, and let’s get ready to rumble for this fight.”

“If I beat Caraballo, it would have a big impact on my career. I would be looking for another world title fight.”

SATURDAY, October 30, 2021

ESPN+, Approximately 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

Jose Zepeda vs. Josue Vargas, 10 rounds, Zepeda’s WBC Silver 140-pound title

Carlos Caraballo vs. Jonas Sultan, 10 rounds, bantamweight

ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT

Jonathan Guzman vs. Carlos Jackson, 8 rounds, junior featherweight

Mathew Gonzalez vs. Dakota Linger, 6 rounds, junior welterweight

Kasir Goldston vs. Marc Misiura, 4 rounds, junior welterweight

Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman:

“Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to the second phase of our press conference. Of course, the disappointment that Dillian Whyte will not be fit to fight against Otto Wallin this Saturday but the good news is we have a great fight card ready to go at The O2 this Saturday live around the world on DAZN. When we got the bad news about Dillian Whyte automatically you get asked the question and you have to make the decision on what do you do. Obviously we have an obligation to these men and women to make sure that we deliver for them on many different levels. One to make sure that we advance their careers, two we give them opportunities to fight, we progress their careers, and obviously they get paid as well. It was never in the mind to let these people down. We care for our fighters and there’s a massive opportunity for the people up here on this stage.”

Chantelle Cameron:

“My career has gone from strength to strength, I’m living the life and absolutely loving it.

“This is going to be my toughest fight yet and something I’ve been screaming for years now; I’ve always said I want to face a tough champion and I’ve got it.

“I never change, so, I want to make an exciting fight and Mary’s going to bring that to the ring as well. I feel like my engine is better, I don’t stop.

“It’s all a visualise, all I see. Unified Champion.” 

Mary McGee:

“I’ve trained really hard for this fight; I knew a long time ago that I would be fighting Chantelle because I would listen to her saying she wanted to fight one of the champions – I made sure I prepared for her from that day. When I was offered this fight, I was excited because I knew I could sit next to Eddie Hearn.

“I knew that sitting next to Eddie Hearn, and with Matchroom, was one of the pinnacles of boxing. So, to be a female fighter who used to sell tickets out of her car all night just to get a fight, to sitting up here, I’m more than ready. It’s going to be an exciting fight.

“I started boxing when I was 14, I stayed amateur for maybe five years, after winning the golden gloves a couple years in a row, I needed to make a living for myself, so I went pro. They said you could make $100 a round boxing; it was what I loved to do so I said, ‘hey this sounds like a steal for me’. As I got better and kept winning, I realised that my opponents cost more money, so I had to get out and sell tickets night and day just to get on the card and make sure my opponent got paid.

“I know it’s going to be a tough fight; I’ve watched her beat the hell out of girls and I thought, ‘yeah, I’ve got to make sure I get out there and do my real work’. She’s not coming to lose, I made sure I worked hard for her. I take this fight very seriously.

“I don’t believe so, some of the girls she fought, like the girls she got the title from, she came overweight and out of shape. Chantelle beat her but I can beat someone who’s overweight and out of shape too. Melissa is a good champion, but at Featherweight. I’m a natural Super-Lightweight so I know I have a better chance than those other girls.

“I didn’t come all the way across the pond just to get beat, it’s going to be a rumble in the jungle, like in the Ali days, she’s not going to just beat me believe that.”  

Alen Babic:

“I rate Molina for being here, but I don’t rate him as a tough test of mine. I really don’t think you can fight me on ten days’ notice, he said I don’t respect the Heavyweight division, but he took the fight and training for what – to be a fitness trainer. I think I’m going to smash him and I’m going to do it for my brother Dillian Whyte.

“I want to be knocked out; how can you be fearful when I want to be defeated. I crave it, please somebody defeat me, I love it. I want to take the 0 from my record, I don’t like it. F**k you 0.

“I box for the average Joe. I don’t just want to box for the boxing fanatics, you will value me, it’s just a matter of time. Please come out and support me, I will give it all, I’ll be reckless.”

Eric Molina”

“13-day notice, my wife and my team helped me prepare. Working with the number on promoter in the world, I just can’t say no man. It’s an honour to be here, to be out here halfway across the world, I relish these fights – I just can’t say no, I love it.

“No disrespect to the guys Babic has faced, he’s faced some tough guys. I think Babic is a tough fighter also, in the Heavyweight division, I just don’t think he has the size for this division. I’ve seen some guys even myself, I’m small for this division.

“It’s the Heavyweight division, you have to respect it and stay humble to it. It’s something I’ve learnt in the game, this fight I’ve got to use my experience and size to my advantage.

“He’s got one gear, he comes forward, I think that he’s a fan-friendly fighter because he’s reckless. When you’re reckless, you eventually run into a wreck, that’s what makes it exciting. I feel like my abilities, my counter punches, I think this fight leaves a big opportunity for me to win.

“If you look at all my fights, I’ve landed the big shot, I think Anthony Joshua was the only fight I didn’t. Even looking at the last fight with Wardley who I think is a great fighter also, he took my shots well, but I landed them all night. We’re going to see if he can take those shots on Saturday.” 

Craig Richards:

“This is a fight I wanted, a tough fight, past the British level. He’s ranked above every British fighter behind me so it’s a move forward in my career. I know he’s solid, but this is what I want, a solid test, I want to keep pushing forward, kicking the door down and making waves on the scene.

“I possess a lot of power at 175lbs as you’ve seen in some of my big fights but still, I don’t get the credit that I think I deserve. I feel like sometimes it’s fights like this I’ve got to make sure I go out there and perform, get a good job done on him, otherwise people will put me to the back of the list as always.

“You hear people mention Light-Heavyweights and leave me out of the scene sometimes, although I’ve gone out there and beaten some good names. It’s fights like this I need to go out there and perform well, keep pushing forward until they’ve got no choice but to have my name at the top of the list.

“I believe that eventually everyone’s got to get into the mix right, if you look at me, I’ve been in the mix, I’ve beaten two top five prospects in Britain. I’ve beaten so many domestic talents I could have won the British Title outright, but yet no one talks about that. No other domestic guy has done what I’ve done, yet I’m still left out of the conversation. I’m in the second half of my career now and I’ve got to make it count.” 

Marek Matyja:

“It’s a big chance to fight for the British market and in a British ring, it’s up to my hands and fist to fight my position.

“I saw his fight with Bivol and I saw his good side, but I didn’t come here to emphasise his good side but to use his weak side and win.” 

Johnny Fisher:

“Massive thank you to everyone who’s supported me and to those who are coming on Saturday night. Big thanks to you Eddie for keeping the show on, because there would have been a lot of angry people in Romford looking for you somewhere. My Dad’s been a massive help, up until 2/3 in the morning stressing while doing his job so I’ve got to give him a massive thank you.

“None of it matters unless I put on a good performance on Saturday night. We’ve been working hard in the gym with Mark Tibbs, Jimmy Tibbs and the whole team. It’s now down to me to do the business, everything else has been laid down, it’s now time for me to put on a good performance.

“That’s going to be the challenge for this fight, we’ve been working very hard in the gym to measure my distance correctly and I’ve been sparring very well. I was sparring with Fury up in his gym before this as well, as you said, he’s a game fighter and comes to fight. I think that will and ambition he’s got, it’s my job to crush it, when he comes forward and tries to let his hands go, my speed and power will be telling, he’ll feel it in full force.” 

Youssef Khoumari:

“The camp I had in Portugal was the best camp I’ve ever had; I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life and I’m ready to go on Saturday night – bring more than my A game.

“Like I’ve shown in my last couple of fights I’m ready for whatever comes on the night. I’m tough, I’m ready to go, everybody knows from what they’ve seen I love a war. I’m ready to bring the heat on the night and make it another smoky Saturday.” 

Jorge Castaneda:

“I’m ready to come fight and show the people of the UK a war. I’ve trained really hard for this fight, I know Khoumari is going to bring his A game, he’s going to come and get into a hell of a fight with me, you don’t want to miss it.

“I had to take any opportunity they gave me you know; I didn’t go up in the amateur ranks, I didn’t have any amateur fights. Like I said, in the pro rankings, I’ll take any opportunity they’ll give me to showcase my skills and that I’m a great exciting fighter.

“It’s really motivating for me; I’m fighting for a title against a tough guy. These are the types of fights I need to get closer to a World Title, I know winning this fight will bring me more exciting fights, better paydays, that’s what I want. I want to fight, take this win, take this belt back to my family and to the people of Laredo, Texas.”

Ellie Scotney:

“It’s been a long time coming and I feel like I’m finding my feet now. From Saturday night I’m looking forward to getting the ball rolling.

“I’ve been there seven weeks now and I feel like I’m learning every day, if I show a glimpse of that on Saturday night, I’m going to keep learning from there.

“As soon as I get in the ring Saturday and get the business done, I’m looking to get into those big fights because they’re the ones that matter.” 

Thomas Carty:

“Over the last year, this time last year, I flew out to Derek Chisora’s camp when he fought Usyk and from there it’s been non-stop. I’m delighted to be here now, kicking off my own career on a Matchroom show, which is where everyone wants to be. I’m really looking forward to Saturday night.

“I made my debut in Belgium in May, but over the last year I’ve racked up loads of rounds with quality fighters, so I do feel well experienced – I do need the rounds in the ring. I do feel as though I’ve gained massive experience over the last year sparring these guys, seeing what level they’re training and where they’re at.” 

John Hedges:

“I’m looking forward to it, obviously the first one in front of a crowd and there’s a fair few coming. Obviously with Johnny’s support there’s going to be a lot of Essex in the arena. It’s going to be a good night, great night in Austria recently, I’m fresh from just having a fight. I’m looking forward to it, I’m blessed for the opportunity so thank you very much.

“I had a hard start to the pros; we’ve just been full on since then. We’ve moved to Mark Tibbs’ stable and all of us train hard, fight hard. We haven’t been taking the easiest of fights and it’s been good, I’ve been seeing the progression slowly. My last fight there was a big improvement and I look to do the same again come Saturday. I’m grateful for the opportunity and I think I’m going to shine.”

Jordan Thompson:

“It was scary because I’ve been out of the ring for two years now with a bit of a stop-start career, so when the main event got called off, I was definitely one of those that was worried. Thank you for keeping the card on and giving us all the opportunity to get out there and put on a show still.

“Sparring is sparring, hopefully on Saturday night I’ll go out there and put it into play. I’ve gained some really good experience in the last few years, even I’ve been inactive, I do see myself getting in there and in the mix with things. I won’t be shying away from any fight, so I’ll get some momentum behind me Saturday night, hopefully get out again before the end of the year and next year we get into the mix of things.”