NEW YORK – September 17, 2020 – Unbeaten former champion Luis Nery shared updates from his training camp as he prepares to take on undefeated Aaron Alameda for the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship in the co-main event of part two of a SHOWTIME PPV doubleheader Saturday, September 26 in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

For this fight, Nery is training for the first time under the guidance of Eddy Reynoso at his gym in San Diego, alongside Canelo Alvarez and former heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr., amongst others. Although Nery enters this fight on an 11-fight knockout streak, he has been able to hone other facets of his arsenal under Reynoso.

“Coach Reynoso has been helping me a lot with my defense,” said Nery. “We’re working on boxing with my hands up and on my accuracy. He’s helping me do everything possible to maximize my power and speed. I feel very strong and I’ve been sparring 12 rounds for a while now. I’m extremely ready for September 26 and focused on nothing but that.”

Nery and Alameda were set to square off in a bantamweight battle on SHOWTIME® in March, before the pandemic delayed that showdown. With Rey Vargas vacating his 122-pound title due to an injury, the rescheduled fight came with the addition of that title being on the line. While he knows Alameda will bring his best, Nery is confident in continuing his winning streak.

“I know that Alameda is a tough, undefeated fighter who’s going to leave it all in the ring,” said Nery. “I know he wants to win, just like me, and I know he’s working every day so that he can perform to his maximum potential. I believe that my speed and my overall talent will make me the winner. The postponement has given me even more time to train and prepare for this matchup. I’m 100% ready.”

Nery has long established himself as a force in the bantamweight division, winning his title in 2017 by traveling to Japan and handing Shinsuke Yamanaka his first loss via fourth-round stoppage. While September 26 is his first championship fight at 122-pounds, he has his sights set on dominating the super bantamweight division and beyond.

“At this moment, I want to fight at both 118 and 122-pounds,” said Nery. “There are a lot of great fights to be made in those weight classes. Sometime next year, I want to move up to 126-pounds so that I can dominate all three divisions.”

The stacked September 26 PPV undercards feature a wealth of champions and top talent at both the 118 and 122 weight classes. If he’s victorious next Saturday night, Nery has his eyes on a fight against WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Brandon Figueroa, who defends his title against Damien Vazquez in the co-main event of part one of the doubleheader.

“After I win this belt on September 26, I want Brandon Figueroa next,” said Nery. “I’m not overlooking Alameda at all, but if I had my choice, me and Figueroa would give the fans a great show my next time in the ring.”

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ABOUT CHARLO DOUBLEHEADER PPV
The CHARLO DOUBLEHEADER takes place Saturday, September 26 on SHOWTIME PPV with an unprecedented event presented by Premier Boxing Champions. The PPV begins at a special time of 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and features six compelling fights in all, five of which are world title fights, on the same night for one price. The SHOWTIME PPV telecast begins with the Jermall Charlo vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko three-fight card followed by a 30-minute intermission and then the Jermell Charlo vs. Jeison Rosario three-fight card.

Part one of the SHOWTIME PPV is headlined by WBC Middleweight Champion Jermall Charlo facing top contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko. WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Brandon Figueroa will defend his title against 122-pound contender Damien Vázquez in the co-featured bout, while WBO Bantamweight World Champion John Riel Casimero faces off against unbeaten Duke Micah in the pay-per-view opener.

The second three-fight card is headlined by the historic unification matchup between WBC Super Welterweight Champion Jermell Charlo and IBF and WBA 154-pound champion Jeison Rosario. Unbeaten former champion Luis Nery will battle undefeated Aaron Alameda for the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship in the co-feature, while former unified champion Danny Román faces off against former champion Juan Carlos Payano in a WBC Super Bantamweight title eliminator bout to open the second installment of the pay-per-view.

The event is presented by Premier Boxing Champions and promoted by Lions Only Promotions and TGB Promotions. The Jermell Charlo vs. Jeison Rosario match is co-promoted with Sampson Boxing.

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

Las Vegas, Nevada– (September 17th, 2020) – Starting on Saturday night, two big fight cards that will originate from Tijuana, Mexico will be streamed live on www.bestinboxing.com Pay-Per-View.

This Saturday, Borizteca Boxing and Grito De Guerra Promotions will present a terrific card that will feature super lightweights Kevin Torres and Jose Cuevas in the eight-round main event.

The show has a PPV price of $5.99

Torres of Bellingham, Washington has a record of 16-1-1 with 14 knockouts.

The 23 year-old Torres is riding a six-fight winning streak.

Cuevas of Tijuana is 13-1-1 with 11 knockouts.

The 21 year-old Cuevas has won four in a row.

The Pay-Per-View undercard begins at 6 PM ET / 3 PM PT will feature:

A eight-round battle of undefeated bantamweights as Breenan Macias (7-0-2, 4 KOs) of Goodyear, Arizona takes on Carlos Lopez (12-0-2, 4 KOs) of Mexico for the WBC Youth title. Macias is promoted by Mikey Garcia (Garcia Presents)

Elio German Rafael (15-3, 9 KOs) of Mexico City battling Alan Carillo (11-4, 8 KOs) of Tijuana in a six-round middleweight bout.

Mario Ramirez (13-1-1, 4 KOs) of Mexico squaring off with Adalberto Garcia (6-11-5, 2 KO) of Guadalajara, Mexico in a six-round super featherweight bout.

In a six-round lightweight bout, Manuel Rey Rojas (19-4, 5 KOs) of Dallas, Texas fights Jorge Alvarez (3-9-1, 2 KOs) of Mexico.

Four preliminary bouts featuring two undefeated fighters plus American favorite Mark DeLuca will be streamed live for FREE beginning at 4 PM ET on globalsportsstreaming.com ; bestinboxing.com ; Fight Hub TV on Youtube ; as well as Abrams Boxing on Youtube and 15rounds.com.

Monday, Paco Presents and Fabrica De Campeones will stage another terrific card that feature two title bouts and will begin at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT.

The PPV Price is $6.99

In the main event, Alejandro Santiago will take on Willibaldo Garcia in a 10-round bout for the WBC International Bantamweight title.

Santiago of Tijuana has a record of 21-2-5 with 11 knockouts. He is ranked number-nine by the WBC on the strength of wins over Jose Lopez (2-0-1), Hector Flores (2-0), Angel Barcenas (5-1-1), Alfredo Vargas (12-1-3) and his last bout when he stopped Roberto Cantu (20-2) in eight rounds to win the WBC International Bantamweight title on November 22.

Garcia of Copala, Mexico is 10-3-1 with five knockouts.

The 30 year-old Garcia has win eight in a row, and is unbeaten in his last 10 fights. He has wins over the likes of Luis Javier Valdes (3-0-1); Jose Maciel (4-0-1), Cuahutli Guerrero (5-0-1) and his last bout when he took a 10-round unanimous decision over Dewayne Beamon (16-3-2) on February 1st.

In the 10-round co-feature, Victor Sandoval (33-3, 21 KOs) of Tijuana takes on Kevin Villanueva (16-2-3, 12 KOs) for vacant WBC International Super Flyweight title.

In an eight-round super featherweight bout, Cristian Cruz (12-5, 6 KOs) of Tijuana fights Diego Aleman (12-1-1, 8 KOs).

In a six-round lightweight scrap, Gilberto Espinoza (11-2, 6 KOs) of Tijuana battles Saul Guardado (8-1, 7 KOs)

Kicking off the action will be a four-round flyweight bout between Bryan Luna (5-0, 3 KOs) of Los Mochis and Felipe Ayon (1-0-1, 1 KO).

The Pay-Per-View will begin at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT

Las Vegas – UFC^® kicks off its second run on UFC FIGHT ISLAND with one of the biggest events of the year, as middleweight champion Israel Adesanya looks to defend his title against fellow undefeated knockout artist and No. 2 ranked contender Paulo Costa. In the co-main event, the vacant UFC light heavyweight title is on the line as No. 1 ranked Dominick Reyes takes on No. 3 Jan Blachowicz.

UFC^® 253: ADESANYA vs. COSTA will take place Saturday, September 26 on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island and will stream live on Pay-Per-View, exclusively through ESPN+ in the U.S. at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT in both English and Spanish. The prelims will be simulcast on ESPN2 and ESPN+ (English and Spanish) beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with the early prelims kicking off at 6:30 p.m. ET /3:30 p.m. PT simulcast on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ and on UFC Fight Pass. The event will be closed to the public and will be produced with only essential personnel in attendance.

Adesanya (19-0, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) has quickly become one of the top superstars in the UFC since joining the promotion in 2018. After securing impressive wins over Derek Brunson and Anderson Silva, Adesanya defeated Kelvin Gastelum in one of the best fights of the year for the interim UFC middleweight championship. He followed up this performance by finishing Robert Whittaker for the undisputed title in front of a record-breaking crowd of over 57,000 fans. Now, Adesanya looks to put on another vintage performance and become the first person to defeat Costa.

Brazilian powerhouse Costa (13-0, fighting out of Contagem, Minas Gerais, Brazil) intends to make the most of his first UFC title shot by landing another signature knockout. Costa developed his reputation as one of the most devastating finishers in the middleweight division by stopping all but one of his wins before the final bell, including victories over Uriah Hall, Johny Hendricks and Garreth McLellan. Now, he plans to dethrone Adesanya and begin his reign as undisputed champion.

Reyes (12-1, fighting out of Victorville, Calif.) aims to make good on his second shot at UFC gold and prove that he is the best light heavyweight on the planet. A devastating finisher with nine first-round stoppages, Reyes quickly rose through the ranks with wins over Jared Cannonier, Ovince Saint Preux and former middleweight champion Chris Weidman. Now, he seeks to leave no doubt about his claim to the 205-pound throne by securing another vintage victory against Blachowicz.

Blachowicz (26-8, fighting out of Warsaw, Poland) is among the most successful UFC athletes to hail from Poland and has his sights set on becoming the first male Polish champion. Blachowicz believes his momentum is at an all-time high following three of the biggest wins of his career that include stoppages over former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, as well as perennial top contender Corey Anderson. He now looks to finally attain a UFC championship by becoming the only person to ever finish Reyes. 

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Top 10 flyweights collide as No. 7 Kai Kara France (21-8 1 NC, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) and No. 10 Brandon Royval (11-4, fighting out of Lakewood, Colo.) look to steal the show
• No. 7 ranked women’s bantamweight contender Kelten Vieira (10-1, fighting out of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) intends to get back to her winning ways when she takes on No. 13 Sijara Eubanks (7-4, fighting out of Toms River, N.J.)
• Top featherweight prospects lock horns as Hakeem Dawodu (11-1-1, fighting out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada) battles Zubaira Tukhugov (19-4-1, fighting out of Grozny, Chechen Republic, Russia)
• Brad Riddell (8-1, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) and Alex da Silva (21-2, fighting out of Balneario, Santa Catarina, Brazil) intend to make a statement in a clash of lightweight finishers
• UFC Hall of Famer Diego Sanchez (32-12, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) intends to secure another historic win when he meets tough Jake Matthews (15-4, fighting out of Epping, Victoria, Australia)
• Dana White’s Contender Series light heavyweight signees William Knight (8-1, fighting out of Vernon, Conn.) and Aleksa Camur (6-0, fighting out of Broadview Heights, Ohio) seek to establish themselves as the next top prospect in the division
• The Ultimate Fighter season 28 winner Juan Espino (10-1, fighting out of Gran Canaria, Spain) returns to the Octagon to take on Jeff Hughes (10-3, fighting out of Norton, Ohio)
• Hard-hitting light heavyweight Khadis Ibragimov (8-2, fighting out of Ratlub, Republic of Dagestan, Russia) welcomes UFC newcomer Danilo Marques (9-2, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) to the Octagon

Visit the UFC.com for information and content to support your UFC coverage.

(September 17, 2020) — Former flyweight world champion Charlie Edwards will test out the bantamweight waters in a 10-rounder against Kyle Williams on Saturday, Sept. 26 as the co-feature to WBA/IBF junior welterweight world champion Josh Taylor’s title defense against Apinun Khongsong in London. Taylor-Khongsong and Edwards-Williams will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ beginning at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT, with undercard bouts at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT.
 
Edwards (15-1, 1 NC, 6 KOs), from the London borough of Croydon, won the WBC flyweight world title in December 2018 with a one-sided decision over Cristofer Rosales, then defended it three months later with a shutout decision over Angel Moreno. He nearly lost his world title via knockout to Julio Cesar Martinez last August on the Vasiliy Lomachenko-Luke Campbell undercard, but the bout was ruled a no contest after Martinez hit Edwards while he was on the canvas. Williams (11-2, 3 KOs) is coming off a split decision defeat last October against an over-the-weight Ionut Baluta for the vacant WBO European bantamweight title.
 
In undercard action on ESPN+:

• Former Irish amateur superstar and 2016 Olympian Davey Oliver Joyce (12-1, 9 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBO European junior featherweight title against Baluta (13-2, 2 KOs) in a 10-rounder. Joyce moved down to junior featherweight following his shocking knockout loss to Leigh Wood last October in a bid for the WBO European featherweight title. In March, Baluta authored one of 2020’s biggest upsets, stunning former junior featherweight world champion TJ Doheny via eight-round unanimous decision.
• Top prospect Willy Hutchinson (12-0, 8 KOs), who notched a first-round KO last month, will face an opponent to be named in a 10-round super middleweight fight.
• Junior middleweight upstart George Davey (2-0) will see action in a four-round bout. The Queensberry Promotions prospect won a pair of Haringey Box Cup titles as an amateur.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service from Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to 8.5 million subscribers, offering fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, as well as premium editorial content. 
 
Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $5.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) at ESPNplus.com, ESPN.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu (ad-supported) — all for just $12.99/month.
 

Hamburg, 17th of September– On September 20th Dnipro, Ukraine will be the host of an exciting boxing show. Three aspiring athletes from German promotion EC Boxing will be a part of this event. Ukrainian heavyweight Victor Faust is taking center stage, fighting in front of his home crowd. He’ll be joined by fellow big man Ali Eren Demirezen and young 140 pound sensation Volkan Gökcek, who are all willing to take the next step in their careers.

Faust will be challenging Gabriel Enguema from Spain, who just like him is over 6’5’’ tall and has shown a sturdy chin in the past. This fight is a step up for Faust after two rather easy wins to start off his professional career. The 28-year old held his training camp in Istanbul, where he worked alongside teammates Demirezen and Gökcek. Therefore Faust will be prepared for what’s to come.
 

Demirezen, who sparred Faust for this fight, has already reached for the stars when he took on Nigerian Efe Ajagba in summer of 2019. Despite falling short on the scorecards, Demirezen is showing ambition to climb to the top of the heavyweight division. In Dnipro he will take on dangerous Kamil Sokolowski from Poland. Demirezen knows that he might be only one win away from getting another shot at a top contender, since Promoter Erol Ceylan from EC Boxing is
known for arranging big fights for his clients.

Also returning to the ring that night is up and coming super-lightweight Volkan Gökcek. The technically sound fighter from Istanbul will fight unbeaten Ukrainian Ruslan Belinskyi  „These are all decent tests for our fighters. We are looking to keep them active and lead them to the top. In due time they will all challenge for big titles“, Erol Ceylan states.

Las Vegas, Nevada – Showtime will return to the pay per view business on September 26th with a unique dual main event and a total of 6 fights on the broadcast. Jermell Charlo will attempt to unify 154 pound titles with Jeison Rosario in one of the main events while his twin brother Jermall will defend his middleweight title against Sergiy Derevyenchenko in the other.

The undercard is loaded as well and 23 year old prospect Damien Vazquez promises that his fight against undefeated WBA junior featherweight champion Brandon Figueroa will produce fireworks and be the fight of the night.

“My plan is simple. It isn’t a secret. Like I have been saying, it is going to be a phone booth war if Figueroa is willing to go to war with me. We are going to steal the show and be fight of the night, I guarantee it. No disrespect to the Charlo brothers but if my fight goes how I want it to go, it is guaranteed to be the best fight,” said Vazquez.

As has been the case with most of the sports world since the COVID-19 pandemic started to spread in the United States, this event will be held without fans in attendance.

Many fighters have complained about the lack of energy that a crowd provides, Vazquez couldn’t care less. He said that it is just Figueroa and himself in the ring and that they are in charge of their own destiny once they set their feet in the ring.

“Sh*t, it is even better without fans. Every time I go in a ring with or without a crowd it is just me and him. I am not worried about everybody else. It will just be me and him in there so who cares if there isn’t a crowd?” Vazquez explained.

Vazquez normally fights at 118 pounds but is excited to fight at the 122 pound junior featherweight limit. When asked if he believes he will be stronger at the weight he simply said that no one will know until he steps in the ring and lands his first flush shot.

“I don’t know. I don’t know if he is used to power or not but we are going to find out. That is for sure. This is one fight the fans do not want to miss. Once we go at it we will see if he can handle the power or not,” Vazquez stated.

Former world title challenger and WBC #8 bantamweight Alejandro “Peque” Santiago says despite the challenges of training in a pandemic, he is more than ready to continue his campaign to finally claim a world championship.

A professional underdog, Santiago (21-2-5, 11 KOs) has no less than five controversial draws on his record, including one in a challenge for IBF Super Flyweight World Champion Jerwin Ancajas’ belt in 2018.

Tijuana’s Santiago will return home on Monday, September 21, 2020, to defend his WBC International Bantamweight Championship against streaking contender Willibaldo Garcia (10-3-1, 5 KOs) of Copala, Guerrero, Mexico, in the 10-round main event of “SANTIAGO VS. GARCIA,” promoted by Don Chargin Productions, Paco Presents Boxing and Fabrica De Campeones.

A five-fight night of world-class professional boxing, “SANTIAGO VS. GARCIA” will be livestreamed for just $6.99 on FITE.TV and Global Sports Streaming (GSS) at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT.

24-year-old Santiago has made a career out of surprising his favored opponents in their backyards. First battling to a 10-round draw with then undefeated Antonio Nieves for the NABO Championship on ShoBox: The New Generation. Next came two controversial draws against highly touted Puerto Rican Jose Martinez in Martinez’s backyard of Puerto Rico, the second for the NABO Super Flyweight Championship. Then came his highest profile draw in September 2018, this time against Jerwin Ancajas, where one judge scored the fight 118-111 for Santiago.

Anything changed from your usual training camps because of Covid?

Many things changed for this camp. Our gym closed, so it was a bit difficult to find sparring, however, just like in a fight we made adjustments and adapted. That is what champions do.

What do you know about your opponent?

I know that he is tough and comes to fight. He will be very well prepared to face me on September 21.

Are you a bantamweight now or would you go back down to super flyweight?
I feel that I’ve waited long enough for any of the champions at 115 to face me. I felt strong during my last fight at bantamweight, but if the right opportunity presents itself, I can move back down to 115 lbs.

You’ve had a lot of controversial outcomes in your career. What do you think your professional record should be?

I feel like all five of the draws on my record should have been wins. I should be 26-2 and a world champion.

Why do you think you are not getting close decisions?

Because I have been the ‘B’ side for all of them. Complaining doesn’t do any good though, so I am working very hard to apply to be a lot more aggressive and win rounds without any doubt.

Does it feel good to be fighting at home?

It’s always good to fight in Tijuana. But I also love the challenge of fighting outside my comfort zone. It motivates me.

What are your goals for the next year?

My goal is to fight for the world championship again and win it this time.

In the night’s 10-round co-main event, Victor “Chucky” Sandoval (33-3, 21 KOs) will take on fellow Mexican Kevin “Desvalagado” Villanueva (16-2-3, 12 KOs) for the WBC International Super Flyweight Championship.

Also scheduled for action that night is a fantastic early crossroads fight between up-and-coming Mexican prospects as the ever-improving Cristian “Lacandonsito” Cruz (12-5, 6 KOs), the son of former IBO and IBF Featherweight Champion Cristóbal “Lacandón” Cruz, will face once-beaten Diego “FlaKO” Aleman (12-1-1, 8 KOs) in an eight-round super featherweight war. This fight, between all-action battlers, has potential “Fight of the Night” written all over it.

FITE.TV is the premiere digital network for direct-to-consumer digital live streaming for combat sports, specializing in professional wrestling, mixed martial arts and boxing events. To millions of fans around the world, FITE.TV streams a rich array of live pay-per-view events, subscription packages and thousands of hours of live and on-demand free programs with a mission to help fans discover and watch premium live events. FITE.TV is the leading digital distributor for the industry’s marquee events, including AEW, Impact, WWE, KSI-Logan Paul 2 from Matchroom, Canelo vs GGG 1 & 2 from GBP / HBO, Pacquiao-Thurman from PBC / Fox, Top Rank / ESPN PPV, ROH, BKFC, NWA, GCW, ONE, Combate, RIZIN, MOTO FITE Klub and FMX FITE Klub, Rumble on the Rooftop, Major Concerts, Tennis, Basketball, Soccer events and more.

Global Sports Streaming (GSS), founded by Armando Bareno, is a state-of-the-art streaming service for combat sports promoters and sports organizations. GSS, similar to Netflix or ESPN+ but much more ambitious and innovative, has the infrastructure in place to help combat-sport promotional companies deal with the new reality of COVID-19. GSS has a full line up of Boxing, Muay Thai, MMA, and new to GSS basketball the remainder of 2020. Emmy Award winner Courtney Perna anchors a new show on GSS called “Before the Bell.” GSS has also formed great partnerships with Fight Hub TV, bringing live fights to their 850,000+ subscribers along with Abrams Boxing on YouTube.

For more information on Paco Presents, please go to our website at pacopresentsboxing.com. Follow us on Twitter at @PacoPresentsBox, Instagram @PacoPresents, as well as like us on Facebook at facebook.com/PacoPresentsBoxing.

NEW YORK – September 16, 2020 – Top super welterweight contender Erickson “Hammer” Lubin knows that a convincing victory over Terrell Gausha will put him back in position to capture a world title, as he nears their WBC Super Welterweight title eliminator showdown this Saturday, September 19 headlining action live on SHOWTIME in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

“I respect him as a fighter, but I don’t think Gausha is on my level,” said Lubin. “He’s standing in my way of becoming a world champion, so I need to take care of business Saturday night, and look good doing it. I have to make a statement in this fight.”

Lubin and Gausha were set to meet on SHOWTIME last October, before Gausha was forced to withdraw due to a hand injury. Gausha presents the biggest test for Lubin in his pro career since his only defeat against WBC Super Welterweight Champion Jermell Charlo.

“Gausha is a U.S. Olympian who’s fought at the championship level, so I know he’s going to bring that experience to the table,” said Lubin. “This is a chance for me to show my growth in the ring and really separate myself as one of the elite fighters in this division.”

The 24-year-old Lubin has won four-straight fights since his 2017 defeat to Charlo, with three coming by stoppage. The winning streak has coincided with him bringing in renowned trainer Kevin Cunningham, who was also the head trainer for former world champions Devon Alexander and Cory Spinks, amongst others.

“We’re out here in West Palm Beach, Fla. and training camp has been going as planned,” said Lubin. “It’s just hard work and dedication day after day. Coach Cunningham and I are working great together. Everyone knows that he’s a no-nonsense type of trainer, so that mindset is contagious. I’ve done everything that’s been demanded of me so far in training. I’m in great shape and will be ready to go into deep waters if the fight goes the distance.”

Lubin returns to fight on a SHOWTIME platform for the fourth-straight bout and his second consecutive headlining appearance after his October 2019 unanimous decision victory over Nathaniel Gallimore in the main event.

“It’s always a great feeling to be fighting on the big stage on SHOWTIME,” said Lubin. “This is a title eliminator, so everything is on the line for me. I have to bring the heat from the opening bell. We are in the business of entertaining the fans, so I’m coming with everything I’ve got. Fans can expect to see an explosive fight on Saturday night.”

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ABOUT LUBIN VS. GAUSHA
Lubin vs. Gausha will see Top 154-pound contenders go toe-to-toe as hard-hitting Erickson “Hammer” Lubin battles 2012 U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in a WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator headlining a three-fight event presented by Premier Boxing Champions on Saturday, September 19 live on SHOWTIME from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

The SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features Mongolia’s Tugstsogt “King Tug” Nyambayar stepping in to face unbeaten Cobia “Soldier” Breedy in the 10-round featherweight co-main event bout. The telecast opener will see one of the top prospects in boxing, unbeaten welterweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis,squaring off against the Dominican Republic’s Juan Carlos Abreu in a 10-round matchup.

The event is promoted by TGB Promotions. The Ennis vs. Abreu bout is promoted in association with D & D Boxing.

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

NEW YORK – September 16, 2020 – Top super welterweight contender Terrell Gausha believes that his WBC Super Welterweight title eliminator showdown against Erickson “Hammer” Lubin gives him an opportunity to solidify his spot in the stacked 154-pound division as they headline live on SHOWTIME this Saturday, September 19 in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

“This fight is a chance to send a message to all the other fighters at 154 pounds,” said Gausha. “I want to control every round against Lubin, and if I get him hurt, I’ll be looking to get him out of there. I’m planning to show the gap between us as fighters. He was the one to call for this fight, but anyone who plays with my name, I make sure to send for them.”

Gausha has trained with coach Manny Robles in Los Angeles, with minimal disruption because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the extra time off has allowed extra healing time for the hand injury that forced him to withdraw from a previously scheduled fight against Lubin last year.

“Before the pandemic, we trained as a team with in-house sparring, but now it’s just slightly more restricted,” said Gausha. “Now it’s usually just me, my coach and then whatever sparring partner we bring in for that day. Normally I’d go to LA Fitness for some night training and treadmill work, but now we’re working out in the park and doing my running outside.

“My hand has totally healed,” added Gausha. “I’m ready to go full-throttle and I have no problems there anymore. The pandemic actually helped the healing process because I wasn’t using my hands as much. So I’m definitely 100% now.”

Lubin presents a chance for Gausha to score a signature victory on his road to a second world title fight. While he didn’t harbor any frustration in having to pull out of the original fight against Lubin, he made sure to watch his fight against Nathaniel Gallimore closely, noting his September 19 opponent’s improvements.

“Since Lubin’s loss, I know he switched trainers and I think he’s taking more time and fighting smarter now,” said Gausha. “I wouldn’t say it was disappointing watching Lubin fight Gallimore, but I definitely think things would have gone differently for him if he had been fighting me.

“September 19 is going to be a great test for me. Lubin is a young elite fighter, with his only loss coming against a world champion. Taking care of Lubin is going to show everyone that I’m ready for another title shot.”

Gausha bounced back from his only career loss, a decision to then WBA 154-pound champion Erislandy Lara in 2018, by knocking out Joey Hernandez in the first-round of their December 2018 clash. Most recently, Gausha fought to a split-draw against former champion Austin Trout in May 2019. With the experience against veteran southpaws in Lara and Trout, Gausha believes he is primed going into a showdown against another lefty in Lubin.

“I think I’m a lot more poised these days,” said Gausha. “In the Trout fight, I pressed the fight in the beginning. I did some different things, and I showed that I can use my footwork. Lara was my first test with an elite southpaw, and then I had Trout in my last fight. So I’m even more prepared for Lubin after those fights. I’m just more relaxed in there and sure of myself.”

With the WBC title eliminator, Gausha could put himself in line for the title currently held by Jermell Charlo, which could end up being a fight for three belts against the winner of the September 26 unification showdown between Charlo and WBA and IBF 154-pound champion Jeison Rosario. No matter who emerges from the Charlo vs. Rosario battle, Gausha believes he stacks up well against both of their styles.

“I think the winner of Charlo vs. Rosario would be perfect for me,” said Gausha. “I think I’d match up well with either one of them. They both like to stay busy in the ring, and I like my chances against that type of fighter.”

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ABOUT LUBIN VS. GAUSHA
Lubin vs. Gausha will see Top 154-pound contenders go toe-to-toe as hard-hitting Erickson “Hammer” Lubin battles 2012 U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in a WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator headlining a three-fight event presented by Premier Boxing Champions on Saturday, September 19 live on SHOWTIME from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

The SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features Mongolia’s Tugstsogt “King Tug” Nyambayar stepping in to face unbeaten Cobia “Soldier” Breedy in the 10-round featherweight co-main event bout. The telecast opener will see one of the top prospects in boxing, unbeaten welterweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis,squaring off against the Dominican Republic’s Juan Carlos Abreu in a 10-round matchup.

The event is promoted by TGB Promotions. The Ennis vs. Abreu bout is promoted in association with D & D Boxing.

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

HOUSTON – September 15, 2020 – WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Jermell Charlo showed off his skills for fans and media Tuesday during a virtual media workout as he nears the historic unification showdown against WBA and IBF 154-pound champion Jeison Rosario that headlines part two of a first-of-its-kind SHOWTIME PPV doubleheader Saturday, September 26 in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

Charlo was joined during the virtual workout by his trainer Derrick James as they went through a number of drills and routines. Charlo vs. Rosario will headline the second part of the special PPV doubleheader that begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT with part one headlined by his twin brother, unbeaten WBC Middleweight Champion Jermall Charlo taking on top contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko.

The workout streamed live on the PBC YouTube page and can be viewed in its entirety HERE. Here is what Charlo and James had to say Tuesday:

JERMELL CHARLO

“I’m excited and I’m ready for September 26. This is the time to prevail and for me and my brother to be the Charlo Twins. It’s time to be the best Jermell Charlo.

“Me and my brother have come so far together. It’s not just in boxing, but everything in our lives. We’re proof that all you have to do is keep pushing and trying. September 26 is the day that I have to make all of the time I put into this sport worth it.

“Fighting on SHOWTIME PPV is amazing. This is the one. We have a hard fight and that’s all we ever wanted. This is a great challenge for us to overcome.

“This is a different kind of media day, but the real fight will be different also. When you’re a real champion, you make those adjustments. I’m used to fighting in front of a massive crowd, so it’s really important to show that we’re giving our all every day for our fans.

“I used the pandemic to invest in myself and created a gym in my home. I’ve been getting in shape since it started. For this fight to be here in a week, I’m just more than prepared for it. I’m on weight and I’m hitting hard.

“I bounced back from that loss in 2018 last year, but there were still things I needed to learn and develop. We’re going to end 2020 with a bang. This is the Charlo show on SHOWTIME.

“All I’m doing is continuing to grow as an individual every day. We have to set our minds the right way and know how to roll with the punches. I’ve taken it upon myself to be even more dedicated and focused. Every time I feel pain, I think about all the other boxers out there pushing through pain. Now you see where we’re at because of it.

“I ended my last fight in the 11th round, so I’ve been able to finish in the later rounds. Everyone knows I can end the fight early too. Rosario got his chance and won the titles, but I always felt I was the best fighter in the division. When I’m at my best, I don’t see anyone that can compete with me. I always wanted all the belts, and I knew I was going to have to take them from somebody.

“After I lost in 2018, I told everyone that it just gave me jet fuel, and that when I come back, I’m coming back full throttle. That’s what I’m about. I have nothing to lose. I’m not letting him take anything from me.

“I’m even more dangerous than I was before. I’m an old school fighter right here. I’ve been dedicated to this game and I’m not going anywhere. Stay out of my way, because I’m the man trucking things.”

DERRICK JAMES, Charlo’s Trainer

“The focus from Jermell is higher than ever because of the magnitude of this fight, the opponent himself, and what’s at stake. He was already in great shape when we got to camp. So we’ve just built off of that from the start.

“We’re building off of the last fight. We’re reconstructing some things and he’s looking really good. He’s got his mind right and he knows that what we’re working on will help him in the fight.

“From the first time I started training Jermell, he wanted to be in this position. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. He wants all the belts, so it’s beautiful to see his dreams manifest. It’ll all come together on September 26.

“I like a smaller close camp anyway, so there haven’t been any problems with training during the pandemic. We’ve been able to keep a great focus throughout.

“Jermell is feeling really good. His disposition has been great. Not too serious, but very focused. It’s been amazing. People always say they’ve had the best training camp, but this is one I’ve really loved.

“I expect Rosario to be very dangerous. He’s a big puncher and he has a lot of aggression, but at the same time he’s got great boxing skills. He’s really a complete fighter. He just has to be the best Jermell Charlo and I know that this type of opposition brings that out of him.”

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ABOUT CHARLO DOUBLEHEADER PPV
The CHARLO DOUBLEHEADER takes place Saturday, September 26 on SHOWTIME PPV with an unprecedented event presented by Premier Boxing Champions. The PPV begins at a special time of 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and features six compelling fights in all, five of which are world title fights, on the same night for one price. The SHOWTIME PPV telecast begins with the Jermall Charlo vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko three-fight card followed by a 30-minute intermission and then the Jermell Charlo vs. Jeison Rosario three-fight card.

Part one of the SHOWTIME PPV is headlined by WBC Middleweight Champion Jermall Charlo facing top contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko. WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Brandon Figueroa will defend his title against 122-pound contender Damien Vázquez in the co-featured bout, while WBO Bantamweight World Champion John Riel Casimero faces off against unbeaten Duke Micah in the pay-per-view opener.

The second three-fight card is headlined by the historic unification matchup between WBC Super Welterweight Champion Jermell Charlo and IBF and WBA 154-pound champion Jeison Rosario. Unbeaten former champion Luis Nery will battle undefeated Aaron Alameda for the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship in the co-feature, while former unified champion Danny Román faces off against former champion Juan Carlos Payano in a WBC Super Bantamweight title eliminator bout to open the second installment of the pay-per-view.

The event is presented by Premier Boxing Champions and promoted by Lions Only Promotions and TGB Promotions. The Jermell Charlo vs. Jeison Rosario match is co-promoted with Sampson Boxing.

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

BOSTON (September 15, 2020) – Upset-minded veteran Juan “Merengue” Carlos Abreu has vowed to use his experience advantage against boxing’s newest boogeyman, Jaron “Boots” Ennis (25-0, 23 KOs), who has knocked out his last 15 opponents in a row, this Saturday night (Sept. 19th) on SHOWTIME live from a “closed” Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Ennis-Abreu, presented by TGB Promotions in association with D & D Boxing, will open the SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT in a 10-round welterweight match.

In his most recent fight last October, Abreu destroyed another undefeated prospect’s perfect record, 15-0 Israel Valerio, registering an opening round knockout to capture the World Boxing Council (WBC) FECARBOX welterweight title.

The 33-year-old Abreu, born in the Dominican Republic, has lived, and trained in Salem, Massachusetts, for the past five years. He is a former IBF Youth World super lightweight champion, whose mis most notable victory to date came in 2017, when he stopped dangerous Jesus Soto-Karass in the eighth round of their ESPN fight in Tucson, Arizona.
“I thank God, my family, and my team – Reyes Boxing and Hector Bermudez – for this opportunity to show my skills against a great fighter,” Abreu said after his workout at Salem Fitness Center.

Ennis, 23, is the latest in a long line of terrific Philadelphia fighters. A highly decorated amateur boxer, he was rated No. 1 in the country in his weight class (141 lbs.) when he turned pro in 2016. He won gold and silver medals at the prestigious National Golden Gloves Tournament, but “Boots” lost a close decision to Gary Russell in the 2016 U.S. Men’s Olympic Trials.

The fast-rising Ennis has rapidly become a “ring monster”, already ranked No. 11 in the world by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), No. 12 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and No. 16 by the WBC.

“Abreu is a very talented fighter,” Abreu’s manager Ryan Roach (Fighter Locker) commented. “This is a great opportunity for him to display his skills and that he belongs in the ring with the best. He’s had a great camp. The hard work is done. I’m looking forward to an action-packed fight on Showtime.”

Ennis has never fought past the sixth round, while Abreu has never been stopped. Something has to give.

“Juan Carlos worked hard for this chance to showcase his skills on Showtime against a great fighter,” Abreu’s head trainer Michael Reyes added. “We are ready. The work was put in at the gym, our mental head space is perfect. Only thing left is to bring home to win to Salem, Massachusetts.”

Fighter Locker’s growing stable of talented boxers also includes a talented Ukrainian trio of North American Boxing Association (NABA) super welterweight title holder Stanyslav Skofokhod (19-2, 16 KOs), word-rated welterweight Karen Chukhadzhian (16-1, 7 KOs) and super lightweight Zoravor Petrosyan (9-0, 4 KOs). Other Fighter Locker stablemates include fighting out of Salem, MA; Lynn, MA super welterweight Khiry “TNT” Todd (10-1, 8 KOs), West Haven, CT super welterweight Jimmy “Quiet Storm” Williams (16-3-2, 5 KOs), Dorchester, MA welterweight Gabriel Duluc (15-3, 4 KOs), Troy, NY super lightweight RayJay Bermudez (9-0, 6 koS), Toronto, Canada welterweight Jeff “The Trouble 1” Tabrizi (8-3, 7 KOs), Englewood, CO super featherweight Jesus Vasquez, Jr. (6-0, 2 KOs), Aurora, CO super middleweight “The Amazing” Shawn McCalman (4-0, 2 KOs) plus Irish National champion Paul Ryan, who will fight as a welterweight in the pro ranks, U.S. Army super bantamweight Daniel Bailey, Jr., who will making their pro debuts.

Team Sauerland have won the purse bid to stage the IBF Super Middleweight Final Eliminator between the UK’s Zach Parker (19-0, 13 KOs) and Germany’s Stefan Haertel (19-1, 3 KOs), with a number 1 mandatory position up for grabs for the victor.

Having tabled a bid of $118,530, the European promotional powerhouse Team Sauerland saw off competition from SES Boxing who submitted their own bid of $115,550, with the fight now expected to take place in the near future.

Parker produced a career best performance in his last outing as he halted the brave Australian Rohan Murdock inside the distance in early March, whilst Germany’s 2012 Olympian Haertel forced a fifth round stoppage against David Zegarra in November 2019.

Promoter Nisse Sauerland was delighted to win the purse bids and believes Parker has the ability to overcome his experienced opponent.

“We are very happy to win the purse bids and to be able to stage this great fight,” said Sauerland. “Zach Parker is an elite athlete and we believe he will be crowned a World Champion in the very near future.

“We know Stefan Haertel very well, but we are confident in Zach taking care of business. England vs Germany is a great sporting rivalry and we know the fans will be in for a treat when leather starts to fly as these fighters battle for their shot at a World title.”

LAS VEGAS (September 14, 2020) — Heavyweight knockout artist Efe Ajagba will make his Top Rank on ESPN debut Saturday, Sept. 19 against veteran Jonnie Rice in a 10-rounder as the co-feature to the Jose Pedraza-Javier Molina junior welterweight main event from the MGM Grand Las Vegas.
 
On the undercard, a pair of newly signed 17-year-old Top Rank prospects who are co-promoted by Antonio Leonard Promotions, welterweights Jahi Tucker and Kasir “Mazzi” Goldston, will see action in separate four-round contests. Goldston, from Deer Park, N.Y., will fight Isaiah Varnell (3-2, 2 KOs), while Tucker will face Deandre Anderson (1-1). 
 
The undercard bouts will stream live on ESPN+ beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET, with the co-feature scheduled to begin at approximately 10 p.m. ET.
 
“I am delighted that Efe Ajagba will make his Top Rank debut as he continues his march to the top of the heavyweight division,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Kasir Goldston and Jahi Tucker are two major talents, and we are excited to see their professional journeys begin here in Las Vegas.”
 
Ajagba (13-0, 11 KOs) resumes his heavyweight world title quest with a new promoter, manager (James Prince) and head trainer (Kay Koroma). Now living in Houston, Ajagba last fought in March, knocking out former world title challenger Razvan Cojanu in nine rounds. At 6’6 and 240-plus pounds, the 26-year-old former Nigerian Olympian is one of the division’s youngest contenders. Rice (13-5-1, 9 KOs) measures 6’5 and often tips the scales at more than 260 pounds. He is known for his durability, as his only two knockout defeats have come against previously unbeaten foes in the seventh and 10^th rounds, respectively.
 
“To all my fans, the wait is finally over. I am ready to get back in the ring and do what I do best,” Ajagba said. “I haven’t fought since March 7, and I’ve been looking for someone to devour. On September 19, I finally get to do it. Tune in to ESPN+. You don’t want to miss it.”
 
Goldston, from Albany, N.Y., won three consecutive National Junior Olympic titles from 2015-2017 and back-to-back Junior Open Championships in 2017 and 2018. Last year, at the prestigious Bornemissza Tournament in Eger, Hungary, he took home a silver medal after a split decision loss to a Hungarian boxer.
 
Tucker, from Deer Park, N.Y., was ranked first in the nation at 138 pounds after winning the 2018 USA National Boxing Championship in Salt Lake City, Utah. A high school sophomore at the time, Tucker aimed to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics. He picked up his first international gold medal last June at the Bornemissza Tournament and elected to turn pro rather than wait for the Olympics.
 
In other undercard contests:

• Two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez (4-1, 3 KOs), who avenged his lone pro defeat via shutout decision over Adan Gonzales on July 2, will fight Felix Caraballo (13-2-2, 9 KOs) in an eight-rounder at featherweight. Caraballo last fought June 9, losing via sixth-round knockout to former featherweight world champion Shakur Stevenson, the man Ramirez edged in the 2016 Olympic gold medal match.
   
• Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Leo Ruiz (7-0, 5 KOs), winner of four straight by knockout in three rounds or less, will fight an opponent to be named in a six-rounder.
   
• Bryan Lua (5-0, 2 KOs), from California’s Central Valley, will fight for the first time in more than two years against an opponent to be named in a six-rounder at lightweight.
   
• Puerto Rican junior lightweight prospect Frevian Gonzalez (3-0, 1 KO), who won a decision inside the “Bubble” on June 18, returns to fight Carlos Marrero (2-3-1) in a four-rounder.

Use the hashtag #PedrazaMolina to join the conversation on social media. For more information, visit www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing; twitter.com/ESPNRingside. 

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service from Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to 8.5 million subscribers, offering fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, as well as premium editorial content. 
 
Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $5.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) at ESPNplus.com, ESPN.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu (ad-supported) — all for just $12.99/month.

HOUSTON – September 14, 2020 – Unbeaten WBC Middleweight World Champion Jermall Charlo brought fans and media into his training camp Monday with a virtual media workout as he prepares to face top contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko to headline part one of a first-of-its-kind SHOWTIME PPV doubleheader Saturday, September 26 in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

Charlo was joined Monday by his longtime trainer Ronnie Shields as he showed off a variety of skills while training for the toughest opponent of his pro career. Charlo vs. Derevyanchenko will headline the first part of the special PPV doubleheader that begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, before his twin brother and WBC Super Welterweight Champion Jermell Charlo steps in for the main event of part two against WBA and IBF 154-pound champion Jeison Rosario.

The workout streamed live on the PBC YouTube page and can be viewed in its entirety HERE. Here is what Charlo and Shields had to say Monday:

JERMALL CHARLO

“I know that it’s my time to shine and my time to give everyone the best that I can give. I’m striving to be one of the best to ever lace up a pair of gloves.

“The fans that love me can expect me to do what I do. The fans who don’t know about me, they’re going to see a smart, strong and athletic fighter. You’re going to see all of it in the ring on September 26.

“I came from nothing, so I want to put everyone on. I want to make sure Ronnie Shields gets into the Hall of Fame. We’re looking to do something in boxing that no one has ever done.

“When I look outside this gym, I say there’s no way I’m losing. I’m carrying my whole family on my back. Houston, we have another one. I’m doing it for everybody here.

“I’m telling those other middleweights to buckle your seatbelts. It’s lift off. Everyone that doubted me, everyone who wants a chance, you’ll get your turn. I’m running the show. You just stay locked in.

“My power is growing along with me. With some fights you need to add more power and sometimes your power just naturally increases. I’ve gotten a lot stronger and a lot smarter, so I’ve been able to use my skills to go along with my power heading into this fight.

“Derevyanchenko is a come forward fighter. He’s going to bring a lot of power and speed with good technical skills. He calls himself ‘The Technician’ but we’ll see how technical he is once I start putting my jab in his face. I’m going to use all my natural skills in this fight.

“After I win this fight the sky is the limit. I know people will respect me a lot more after this, but I’m focused on only this fight. This fight is another big stepping stone toward even bigger fights to come.

“A lot of people don’t really know where the Charlos came from and they’re getting the chance to learn it throughout this time. It’s taken to this point for everyone to see that we belong on this big stage. I’m grateful for everyone around me who’s embraced me with love.

“We don’t have too much longer to be doing this. Where are the rest of the belts at? I’m ready. Watch next Saturday night, because I’m making this statement loud for everyone who doubted me.”

RONNIE SHIELDS, Charlo’s Trainer

“It means a lot to be in this position. It shows you that your fighter has made it to the top. He’s at the point where people want to see the champion of the world. It’s great to be there with him and help him to this level in the sport.

“At this moment, Jermall is in great shape and he’s just about ready. We still have another week of hard training to go, then we’ll start coming down next week. He’s really sharp right now and we just have to keep him that way.

“Houston loves winners and this guy is a winner. People know he’s a family man also and he works very hard for everything he’s gotten. He’s always shouting out Houston because this is where he’s from and it’s important to him.

“I’ve had so many good fighters in my career, but Jermall is right up there at the top with Evander Holyfield, Vernon Forrest and Pernell Whitaker. He works hard and pays attention to what he has to do. The thing that separates them is that he knows how to watch his opponent and he knows what he’s in for.

“Just like every opponent, we expect Sergiy to be at his best. We expect Sergiy to come in and try to win and be the best he can possibly be. Jermall is doing the same thing. No stone will be left unturned. We go over the game plan every day.”

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ABOUT CHARLO DOUBLEHEADER PPV
The CHARLO DOUBLEHEADER takes place Saturday, September 26 on SHOWTIME PPV with an unprecedented event presented by Premier Boxing Champions. The PPV begins at a special time of 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and features six compelling fights in all, five of which are world title fights, on the same night for one price. The SHOWTIME PPV telecast begins with the Jermall Charlo vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko three-fight card followed by a 30-minute intermission and then the Jermell Charlo vs. Jeison Rosario three-fight card.

Part one of the SHOWTIME PPV is headlined by WBC Middleweight Champion Jermall Charlo facing top contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko. WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Brandon Figueroa will defend his title against 122-pound contender Damien Vázquez in the co-featured bout, while WBO Bantamweight World Champion John Riel Casimero faces off against unbeaten Duke Micah in the pay-per-view opener.

The second three-fight card is headlined by the historic unification matchup between WBC Super Welterweight Champion Jermell Charlo and IBF and WBA 154-pound champion Jeison Rosario. Unbeaten former champion Luis Nery will battle undefeated Aaron Alameda for the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship in the co-feature, while former unified champion Danny Román faces off against former champion Juan Carlos Payano in a WBC Super Bantamweight title eliminator bout to open the second installment of the pay-per-view.

The event is presented by Premier Boxing Champions and promoted by Lions Only Promotions and TGB Promotions. The Jermell Charlo vs. Jeison Rosario match is co-promoted with Sampson Boxing.

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

BOSTON (September 14, 2020) – Undefeated Ukrainian super lightweight prospect Zoravor Petrosyan improved his pro record to 9-0 (4 KOs) last Saturday night in Russia, stopping out-classed Eubenii Vazem in the fourth round in Ekaterinburg.

Petrosyan, who is managed by Ryan Roach’s Fighter Locker, has won the first three rounds on each of the three judges’ scorecards, 30-27. The 22-year-old Petrosyan, fighting out of Kiev, was outweighed by 7-¼ pounds against late replacement Vazem (9-12, 4 KOs), who had even more of a weight advantage when they fought as opposed to their 7 ¼ lbs. difference at the weigh in.

“I’m very proud of my fighter,” Roach said. “His opponent fell out and he was matched against an opponent who fights two weight classes higher than Zoravor. He did very well and displayed some great boxing skills. He adapted well to the size differential and broke him down. It’s a big win for Team Petroysan.”

Petrosyan was a multi-national champion who captured a bronze medal at the 2016 World Youth Under-19 Championships.

Fighter Locker’s growing stable of gifted boxers includes a talented Ukrainian trio comprised of North American Boxing Association (NABA) super welterweight title holder Stanyslav Skofokhod (19-2, 16 KOs), and word-rated welterweight Karen Chukhadzhian (16-1, 7 KOs). Other Fighter Locker stablemates include Salem, MA welterweight Juan Carlos “Merengue” Abreu (23-5-1, 21 KOs), the former IBF Youth World super lightweight champion; Lynn, MA super welterweight Khiry Todd (10-1, 8 KOs), Dorchester, MA welterweight Gabriel Duluc (15-3, 4 KOs), Troy, NY super lightweight RayJay Bermudez (9-0, 6 KOs), Toronto, Canada welterweight Jeff “The Trouble 1” Tabrizi (8-3, 7 KOs), West Haven, CT super welterweight Jimmy “Quiet Storm” Williams (16-3-2, 5 KOs), super featherweight Jesus Vasquez, Jr. (6-0, 2 KOs), super middleweight “The Amazing” Shawn McCalman (4-0, 2 KOs) plus Irish National champion Paul Ryan, who will fight as a welterweight in the pro ranks, and U.S. Army super bantamweight Daniel Bailey, Jr., who will making their pro debuts.

INFORMATION:
WEBSITE: fighterlocker.com, punch4parkinsons.com
FACEBOOK: /fighterlocker
TWITTER: @RoachRyan
INSTAGRAM: @RyanRoach82

LOS ANGELES (September 14, 2020) – Undefeated lightweight prospect Néstor Bravo will take on José Luis Gallegos in a 10-round showdown that headlines FS1 PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Wednesday, September 23 from Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

The FS1 telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and will see a battle of unbeaten featherweights as Ranfis Encarnación and Víctor Pasillas duel in the 10-round co-main event. Plus, undefeated Cuban Maidel Sando goes up against Genc Pllana in an eight round super middleweight bout.

The event will be promoted by TGB Promotions and will take place without fans in attendance at the Microsoft Theater, an AEG venue, in downtown Los Angeles. The Encarnación vs. Pasillas fight is promoted in association with Sampson Boxing.

“September 23 will give boxing fans a look at numerous exciting prospects putting their unbeaten records on the line in the toughest contests of their careers,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Headlined by Néstor Bravo, one of Puerto Rico’s brightest prospects, taking on the dangerous José Luis Gallegos, this special Wednesday night show will see if Bravo has what it takes to become Puerto Rico’s next champion. In addition, unbeaten fighters Ranfis Encarnación, Víctor Pasillas and Maidel Sando will all look to be at their best to keep their records intact as they make their way into contenders.”

The 26-year-old Bravo (18-0, 13 KOs) will return to fight on the U.S. mainland for the first time since 2018 when he knocked out Jonathan Perez in Orlando. Representing his native Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Bravo added three victories to his ledger in 2019, including stoppage victories of Rodolfo Puente and Cristian Ruben Mino. A pro since 2015, Bravo began his career with six-straight stoppage victories and will enter the ring on September 23 for his second scheduled 10-rounder.

Gallegos (19-8, 14 KOs) has faced an impressive lineup of contenders throughout his career, including Michel Rivera, Joshua Greer and Jhack Tepora. The 25-year-old Gallegos was born in Chicago and now fights out of Bakersfield, California. He enters this fight the winner of his last three bouts, including most recently defeating Ricky Lopez in January.

A decorated amateur from San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, Encarnación (17-0, 13 KOs) has fought professionally since 2014. The 25-year-old had an impressive early career run in his home country, including winning a regional title over Milner Marcano in 2018. He made his U.S. debut in April 2019 by stopping Jose Bustos, and followed that up with a first round knockout over Emmanuel Dominguez last November.

Born in Los Angeles and fighting out of Redwood City, California, Pasillas (15-0, 8 KOs) will make his 2020 debut after a 2019 campaign that saw him score stoppage victories over Ernesto Guerrero and Saul Banos. The 28-year-old has ended his last five fights inside of the distance, not allowing an opponent to fight past round four. The September 23 showdown will be his first that is scheduled for 10 rounds.

The 31-year-old Sando (9-0, 7 KOs) added two stoppage wins to his ledger in 2019, with victories in January and March. Born in Las Tunas, Cuba, Sando trains and fights out of Nashville, Tennessee, where he made his pro debut in December 2017. He will step up his professional competition for the first time when he faces Pllana on September 23.

Pllana (8-1-1, 4 KOs) turned pro in 2017 after just four amateur fights, and won his first five contests before a majority decision loss to Raphael Igbokwe in August 2019. Originally from Pristina, Kosovo, Pllana now fights out of Hagerstown, Maryland. He enters this fight after a career best victory over Kevin Newman in February of this year, winning a 10-round unanimous decision. Prior to defeating Newman, the 26-year-old fought unbeaten Kalvin Henderson to a majority draw.

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Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.
For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes and @TGBPromotions become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

NEW YORK (Sept 14, 2020) – Split-T Management lightweight Eric Puente remained undefeated by winning a four round unanimous decision over tough veteran Luis Norambuena on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.

Puente boxed well and used his jab to set up good shots, which included several hard uppercuts and lefts to the body on the hard charging Norambuena. Puente kept Norambuena at bay, and came home with the victory.

Puente, 137.7 lbs of San Diego, California won by scores of 40-36 twice and 39-37 and is now 4-0. Norambuena, 135.6 lbs of Talca, Chile is 4-6-1. Puente was the 9th undefeated foe for Norambuena in his 11 bout career.

“I am so happy that I was able to go out there, and get the chance to show the world what I can do,” said the 21 year-old Puente. “I put a lot of work in. I want to give a big thanks to ESPN, Top Rank and Split-T Management for the opportunity. I can’t wait to come back again soon.”

Puente is promoted by Top Rank.

Photos by Mikey Williams / Top Rank

(September 12, 2020) —WBC/IBF light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev’s Oct. 23 title defense in Moscow against Adam Deines has been postponed after Beterbiev suffered a rib injury in training. Beterbiev-Deines is expected to be rescheduled before the end of the year.

Beterbiev (15-0, 15 KOs), the only current world champion with a 100 percent knockout rate, has not fought since his 10th-round stoppage victory over Oleksandr Gvozdyk last October to unify world titles. 

NEW YORK (Sept 11, 2020) – Tomorrow night at the MGM Conference Center in Las Vegas, Split-T Management’s undefeated lightweight Eric Puente will take on his most experienced foe to date when takes on Luis Norambuena in a four-round bout.

Puente (3-0) will be making his 2nd start of 2020, as he is coming off a decision win over Diego Elizondo on July 7th at the MGM Grand.

Puente, 21, of Vista, California was a 2016 National Youth Open Champion, and was a member of Team USA. Puente was a favorite to be a member of the 2020 United States Olympic Team.

Despite having a record that reads 4-5-1, Norambuena of Chile has wins over three undefeated fighters, and Puente will be 9th undefeated foe in the 11 fight career for the 28 year-old.

At Friday’s weigh-in, Puente was 137.7 lbs. Norambuena was 135.6

The bout can be seen live on ESPN+ beginning at 7:30 P.M ET / 4:30 P.M. PT.

Puente is promoted by Top Rank.

Photos by Mikey Williams / Top Rank

Las Vegas – The fourth season of the hit show Dana White’s Contender Series continues with Episode 7, featuring a lineup of rising athletes looking to make their dreams come true by impressing UFC President Dana White and earning a spot on the UFC roster.

The seventh episode of season four takes place on Tuesday, September 15 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, with all five bouts streaming exclusively on ESPN+ in the US.

ESPN+ is available through the ESPN.com, ESPNPlus.com or the ESPN App on all major mobile and connected TV devices and platforms, including Amazon Fire, Apple, Android, Chromecast, PS4, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, X Box One and more. Fans can sign up for $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, with no contract required.

To support your coverage, please find the download link to the season four sizzle reels here and here. In addition, please find the download link for the season four athlete feature here, which highlights some of the participating athletes, their backgrounds and what competing on Dana White’s Contender Series means to them.

Season 4, Episode 7 – Confirmed Bouts:

Middleweight

Gregory Rodrigues vs. Jordan Williams

Featherweight

Muhammad Naimov vs. Collin Anglin

Welterweight

Korey Kuppe vs. Michael Lombardo

Women’s featherweight

Danyelle Wolf vs. Taneisha Tennant

Featherweight

Dinis Paiva vs. Kyle Driscoll

Visit the UFC.com for information and additional content to support your UFC coverage.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 318 million fans and 102 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly one billion TV households across more than 175 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 65 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR. UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment enterprise, features more than 50 assets – nine U.S. television networks, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN International, ESPN The Magazine and more.  ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the leading direct-to-consumer sports streaming service from Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to 8.5 million subscribers through offering fans thousands of live events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, as well as premium editorial content. 

Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) through ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or the ESPN App (on mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of a bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu (ad-supported), and ESPN+ — all for just $12.99/month

•     Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas 146.5 lbs vs. Mikael Zewski 147 lbs 
(Zewski’s NABO and vacant WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Titles — 10 Rounds)

•    Miguel Marriaga 125.9 lbs vs. Joet Gonzalez 125.8 lbs 
(Vacant WBO Intercontinental Featherweight Title — 10 Rounds)

•    Aleem Jumakhonov 126.5 lbs vs. Jorge Ramos 127 lbs 
(Featherweight — 8 Rounds)

•      Manuel Flores 117.3 lbs vs. Jonathan Rodriguez 118 lbs 
(Bantamweight — 6 Rounds)

•     Anthony Chavez 129.1 lbs vs. Adan Gonzales 129.1 lbs 
(Jr. Lightweight— 6 Rounds)

•    Eric Puente 137.7 lbs vs. Luis Norambuena 135.6 lbs 
(Lightweight — 4 Rounds)

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service from Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to 8.5 million subscribers, offering fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, as well as premium editorial content. 

Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $5.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) at ESPNplus.com, ESPN.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu (ad-supported) — all for just $12.99/month.

Las Vegas – UFC^® will close out its latest string of events at UFC APEX with a heated welterweight clash that will see former interim champion and No. 2 ranked contender Colby Covington take on former champion and No. 5 Tyron Woodley. In another thrilling welterweight bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks, long-time UFC fan favorite Donald Cerrone faces fellow finisher Niko Price.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+^®: COVINGTON vs. WOODLEY will take place Saturday, September 19 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas with all fights carried exclusively on ESPN+ in English and Spanish. The main card begins at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, with the prelims kicking off at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.

Covington (15-2, fighting out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) aims to get the last laugh after trading numerous verbal barbs with his former training partner, Woodley. A NCAA Division I wrestler who pushes a relentless pace, Covington has delivered memorable victories against former UFC champions Robbie Lawler and Rafael Dos Anjos, as well as perennial contender Demian Maia. Covington now hopes to add yet another former UFC titleholder to his hit list to once again secure a shot at the championship.

Woodley (19-5-1, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.), who held the belt for almost three years, will go down as one of the most dominant titleholders in UFC welterweight history. After dethroning Robbie Lawler via first-round knockout, Woodley netted memorable title defenses against Stephen Thompson, Demian Maia and Darren Till. Woodley now plans to put his most heated rivalry to bed by delivering another sensational knockout win.

Cerrone (36-15 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.), the UFC recordholder for most wins (23) and finishes (16), has long been dazzling fans with spectacular performances inside the Octagon. Throughout his legendary career, he has secured highlight-reel finishes against Matt Brown, Rick Story, Jim Miller and Edson Barboza. Cerrone will now make his record 36^th UFC appearance and aims to deliver another vintage ”Cowboy” performance against one of the division’s most dynamic finishers.

Among the most exciting athletes in the welterweight division, Price (14-5 1NC, fighting out of Cape Coral, Fla.) now looks to capitalize on the biggest moment of his career. Price has won over fans since joining the UFC roster in late 2016 with jaw-dropping knockout victories against James Vick, Tim Means, Randy Brown and Alan Jouban. Price now hopes to earn his most important win yet by taking out a legend in his first UFC co-main event appearance.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Khamzat Chimaev (8-0, fighting out of Stockholm, Sweden by way of Chechnya, Russia) aims to continue his incredible streak against tough veteran Gerald Meerschaert (31-13, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.)
• In an exciting battle of light heavyweight contenders, No. 11 ranked Johnny Walker (17-5, fighting out of Montreal, Que., Canada by way of Rio das Ostras, Brazil) locks horns with surging No. 12 Ryan Spann (20-5, fighting out of Beaumont, Texas)
• Entertaining grapplers meet when Mackenzie Dern (8-1, fighting out of Long Beach, Calif.) takes on Randa Markos (10-9-1, fighting out of Windsor, Ont., Canada)
• Rising middleweights collide when Kevin Holland (19-5, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas) meets Darren Stewart (12-5 1NC, fighting out of London, England)
• Mirsad Bektic (13-3, fighting out of Montreal, Que., Canada) faces Eduardo Garagorri (13-1, fighting out of Rivera, Uruguay) in an exciting featherweight bout
• Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner Mayra Bueno Silva (6-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) goes for another slick submission when she meets Mara Romero Borella (12-8, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Ponte dell’Olio, Italy)
• Jordan Espinosa (15-7 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) hopes to build off the momentum of his recent victory when he squares off with streaking David Dvorak (17-3, fighting out of Horice, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic)
• Jessica-Rose Clark (9-6 1NC, fighting out of Innisfail, Australia) aims to return to her winning ways against Dana White’s Contender Series signee Sarah Alpar (9-4, fighting out of Edmond, Okla.)
• Journey Newson (9-2 1NC, fighting out of Portland, Ore.) takes on Randy Costa (5-1, fighting out of Taunton, Mass.) in an entertaining bantamweight bout
• Andre Ewell (16-6, fighting out of Riverside, Calif.) squares off with Irwin Rivera (10-5, fighting out of Hudson Valley, N.Y. by way of Mexico City, Mexico) in a clash of bantamweight hopefuls
• Darrick Minner (24-12, fighting out of Nebraska City, Neb.) goes for his first UFC win against recent Dana White’s Contender Series signee TJ Laramie (12-3, fighting out of Windsor, Ont., Canada)

Visit the UFC.com for information and content to support your UFC coverage.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 318 million fans and 102 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly one billion TV households across more than 175 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 65 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR. UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service from Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to 8.5 million subscribers, offering fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, as well as premium editorial content. 

Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $5.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) at ESPNplus.com, ESPN.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu (ad-supported) — all for just $12.99/month.

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment enterprise, features more than 50 assets – nine U.S. television networks, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN International, ESPN The Magazine and more.  ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

NEW YORK – September 11, 2020 – SHOWTIME Sports announced today the price and programming lineup for the first-of-its-kind pay-per-view doubleheader on Saturday, September 26, featuring two stacked fight cards each headlined by one of the world champion Charlo twins in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions. The SHOWTIME PPV^® event, CHARLO DOUBLEHEADER, is available for purchase at a suggested retail price (SRP) of $74.95 and includes six compelling fights, five of which are world championship bouts.

The CHARLO DOUBLEHEADER, which begins at a special time of 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, can be purchased for live streaming and via cable and satellite pay-per-view providers. Viewers can purchase the CHARLO DOUBLEHEADER in the SHOWTIME app on Apple tvOS and iOS devices, FireTV, Android Mobile, Android TV, Chromecast, Xbox One and contemporary Roku players and Roku TVs. The event is also available for purchase online at SHOWTIME.com and through cable and satellite pay-per-view distributors.

THE EVENT

The first card of the SHOWTIME PPV telecast will be headlined by undefeated WBC Middleweight World Champion Jermall Charlo defending his title against Sergiy Derevyanchenko. WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Brandon Figueroa will defend his title against Damien Vázquez in the co-featured bout, while WBO Bantamweight World Champion John Riel Casimero faces off against Duke Micah in the pay-per-view opener. Following the main event and a 30-minute intermission, the second three-fight card headlined by WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Jermell Charlo facing unified 154-pound World Champion Jeison Rosario will begin. Luis Nery will battle Aaron Alameda for the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship in the co-feature, while former unified champion Danny Román faces former champion Juan Carlos Payano in a WBC Super Bantamweight title eliminator bout to open the second three-fight card of the pay-per-view.

TELECAST TEAM

The announce team for the SHOWTIME PPV telecast is comprised of the most experienced and decorated boxing team on television. Veteran sportscaster Brian Custer is the host. Versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo handles blow-by-blow action alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and four-time world champion Abner Mares. Two Hall of Famers round out the telecast team: boxing historian Steve Farhood as unofficial scorer, and world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. 

The executive producer of the SHOWTIME PPV telecast is four-time Emmy award winner David Dinkins, Jr. The director is Bob Dunphy, son of legendary Hall of Famer Don Dunphy. The pair has been guiding SHOWTIME Sports’ flagship series SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® since its inception in 1986 and has produced the three highest-grossing pay-per-view events of all time (Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather-McGregor, Mayweather-Canelo).

THE JOURNEY: CHARLO DOUBLEHEADER and DIGITAL PROGRAMMING LINEUP

In the leadup to the unprecedented two-event pay-per-view, SHOWTIME Sports will produce and premiere THE JOURNEY: CHARLO DOUBLEHEADER, a 30-minute show that chronicles the unique story of Jermall and Jermell, twins born one minute apart in Houston, Texas, as they rise through the ranks and put themselves in position to become global boxing stars. Voiced by SHOWTIME boxing host Brian Custer, THE JOURNEY: CHARLO DOUBLEHEADER features rarely seen footage and gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at their most pivotal career moments, motivations, and life outside of the ring.

THE JOURNEY will premiere on SHOWTIME on Sunday, September 13 at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT and will be available for free on the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and all SHOWTIME On Demand platforms.

SHOWTIME Sports^® will also release new episodes of the original, digital franchise RING RESUME which examines the career progressions of boxing’s top stars, available on the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel. Beginning Monday, September 21, the SHOWTIME Boxing Snapchat page will focus on high-energy fight and training camp highlights featuring the Charlos. In addition, the Snapchat page will feature the Charlos’ RING RESUMES and THE JOURNEY to expand reach to young audiences with short-form, fast-paced storytelling. Plus, Brendan Schaub and Kenny Florian will preview the keys to the fights on BELOW THE BELT BREAKDOWN, available on the BELOW THE BELT YouTube channel.

MORNING KOMBAT INTERMISSION

Combat sports aficionados Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell will host a 30-minute intermission show after the conclusion of the Charlo vs. Derevyanchenko main event and the start of the second three-fight card. The duo, hosts of the popular live combat sports talk show and podcast MORNING KOMBAT, will also host live streams of the main events press conference and official weigh-in in addition to providing in-depth coverage on MORNING KOMBAT throughout the week. The official weigh-in and main events press conference will stream live on the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page. 

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

Now that all the participants are weighed-in, and confirmed covid-free, Hall-of-Fame Promoter Frank Warren’s incredible run of shows can continue live, tomorrow night on BT Sport 1 from 7.30pm.

In the main event of the evening, ‘The Beast from the East’ Anthony Yarde will meet one of Britain’s hardest men Dec Spelman, before hopefully moving on to a domestic dust-up with Commonwealth Champion Lyndon Arthur later in the year.

Elsewhere on the card, Mark Heffron and Denzel Bentley will do battle in a British eliminator for the Middleweight crown currently worn by Welshman Liam Williams.

The vacant IBF European title will also be on the line at welterweight when Cedrick Peynaud meets English champion Ekow Essuman. Lightweight Bilal Ali, featherweight Amin Jahanzeb and debut making super-welterweight Josh Frankham round out the card.

Official photos from todays weigh-in can be found here

Official weights below:

Anthony Yarde 12st 11lb 12oz
Dec Spelman 12st 12lb

Mark Heffron 11st 5lb 9oz
Denzel Bentley 11st 5lb 4oz

Ekow Essuman 10st 6lb 11oz
Cedrick Peynaud 10st 6lb 5oz

Mohammed Bilal Ali 9st 8lb 4oz
Ed Harrison 9st 5lb 9oz

Josh Frankham 11st 8oz
Kev McAuley 11st 2lb

London, UK (11 September 2020) It’s on! Shakan Pitters will defend his British Light-Heavyweight title against Craig Richards on November 14, exclusively live on free-to-air Channel 5.

The British Boxing Board of Control today confirmed that the fight has been confirmed and approved with the release of the latest Championship Circular with only the venue to be announced. Richards and his manager/trainer Peter Sims have also accepted the terms and agreed to the fight.

Newly crowned Pitters, who claimed the title with a decision over Chad Sugden last month, makes the first defence of his Lonsdale belt against his fierce London rival in a clash of styles that could be another potential fight of the year.

Promoter Mick Hennessy’s last two shows featuring Alex Dilmaghani against Samir Ziani just last week and Francisco Fonseca last November, both live on Channel 5, have been fight of the Year candidates.

Hennessy said, “I’m delighted to announce that Pitters versus Richards is finally on and will be free to watch live on Channel 5. This is a great fight that the public really want to see and I believe we could be in for a real treat with these two proud warriors. Shakan isn’t taking an easy first defence and he said that he would put the title on the line against him first if he defeated Sugden and he’s done that. I know that Craig will be really up for the fight, he was devastated to pull out of the first fight and will now be desperate to get his hands on the British title. After the last two shows on Channel 5 with the barnstormers between Dilmaghani and Ziani and Fonseca, I have a feeling Pitters v Richards could match them.”

Birmingham’s ’Big Shak’ is cleaning up the domestic division after defeating Dec Spelman to win the English 175lb title in September 2019 and now has similar intents to make the Lonsdale belt his own property with three defences, starting with Richards. Standing at 6ft 6in, the towering Pitters, 31, has amassed a perfect 14-0 record with four knockouts since making his pro-debut in March 2017.

From Crystal Palace, Richards, 30, was originally due to face Pitters for the British title in March but withdrew due to a viral infection and Sugden stepped in. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown, the Pitters-Sugden bout went ahead in August with Hennessy ensuring the winner faced Richards for the first defence.

A former Southern Area and WBA Continental Light-Heavyweight Champion, this will be Richards’ second attempt at the British title after he pushed then Champion Frank Buglioni the distance in October 2017 – and rocked Buglioni in the third round – when he took the fight at just five days’ notice.

Hennessy will release further details on the show next week with quotes from both camps.

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

LAS VEGAS (September 10, 2020) — Three former world title challengers and a longtime contender met the media for a Zoom press conference Thursday afternoon ahead of their can’t-miss doubleheader Saturday from the MGM Grand Conference Center (ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET ).

In the 10-round welterweight main event, the man known as “Mean Machine,” Egidijus Kavaliauskas, will take on Canadian contender Mikael Zewski in his first bout since challenging Terence Crawford for the WBO world title last December. 

The co-feature will see three-time world title challenger Miguel Marriaga battle recent world title challenger Joet Gonzalez in a crossroads featherweight tilt scheduled for 10 rounds.

Here is some of what they had to say to the media.

Mean Machine

“I want to face the best opponents at welterweight. My goal is to become mandatory and fight for another world title. I would like to fight the top names at 147.”

“Zewski is also a pressure fighter like me. I think we have similar styles, and I really believe we will make a very entertaining fight on Saturday. I know the fireworks will begin in the very first round. This will be an action fight!”

“If I get the opportunity to fight Crawford, I would do it all over again. I want to face him again. I know he is beatable. Everyone is. I liked how the fight started, but not how it ended. I lost focus in the middle of the fight. At the end of the day, that fight gave me more confidence. I was definitely in the fight. It made me a better fighter. I corrected the mistakes I did make, and now I’m coming stronger.”

Zewski

“I would love to fight the top guy in the division. That’s Terence Crawford, but I’m not really thinking about that right now. The guy that I have to beat right now is Kavaliauskas, and I have my total focus on him. I’m not looking at the future. Mean Machine is the present and I’m going to beat him. This will be a great fight. This is a fight that could get ugly, and it could be a war, for sure.”

“I’ve been here before. I feel like I’m home. There is no added pressure. Kavaliauskas is the perfect opponent for me right now. He is the kind of top fighter that will give me the challenge that I want. He is a great fighter and did a great job against Crawford. I want to show everyone that I’m at that level. I have a lot to win. I’m here to get the respect I know I deserve.”

Marriaga

“I have had the opportunity to fight for a world title three times, and I have not been able to be crowned as champion, but we hope that this time around I can finally conquer a world title. I’m hungry! I really want it. On Saturday night, Joet Gonzalez will face a very strong Miguel Marriaga. I have a great hunger for triumph. The motivation has always been there. I will not rest until I am champion. We will give everything on Saturday to get a big win for Colombian boxing.”

“It would be great to face the winner of the vacant WBO title fight between {Emanuel} Navarrete and {Ruben} Villa, but if that doesn’t happen, I’m ready to face any of the champions in the division.”

Gonzalez

“I told my team that after the world title loss against Shakur, I wanted to get right back in and face the best and biggest names in the division.”

“I want to show everyone that I’m a real contender and a top guy in the division. That’s why I took this challenge against Marriaga. He is one of the best, and I want to show that I’m a real fighter. I want to fight the biggest names possible. I would like to face the winner of Navarrete and Villa. I know I can compete with all these top guys at 126.”

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service from Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to 8.5 million subscribers, offering fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, as well as premium editorial content. 

Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $5.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) at ESPNplus.com, ESPN.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu (ad-supported) — all for just $12.99/month.

NEW YORK – September 10, 2020 – Unbeaten Aaron Alameda shared updates from his training camp and stated his intention for a career-defining win as he prepares to take on former champion Luis Nery for the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship in part two of a first-of-its-kind SHOWTIME PPV doubleheader Saturday, September 26 in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

“This is my first time on a card of this magnitude, so I’m going to come with everything I’ve got on September 26,” said Alameda. “I’m ready to put on a great show for the fans. After I beat Luis Nery, everyone is going to know my name.”

Alameda and Nery were originally scheduled to fight in a bantamweight bout in March on SHOWTIME before the event was delayed because of the pandemic. With Rey Vargas forced to vacate his WBC 122-pound title due to an injury, Alameda and Nery now have the opportunity to fight for the vacant belt, a change that only adds to Alameda’s inspiration during training.

“Now that this is a title fight, I’m even more motivated,” said Alameda. “I’m training very hard and I’m ready to win. I know Nery was a big puncher at 118-pounds, but he’s moving up in weight, we’ll see if he can bring that power up to 122-pounds. We’re also going to see if he can take my power.”

Along with his trainer Arnold Bravo, Alameda has trained in Bell Gardens, Calif. for the September 26 fight. Although there have been hiccups because of the pandemic, the fact that Alameda has known his opponent would always be Nery has made the process smoother.

“Training during a pandemic has been difficult, but we’ve essentially been training since January for this fight,” said Alameda. “When the March date was called off, we took a very short amount of time off, but then got right back into training for whenever it was going to happen.

“It’s been a very uncertain time and a lot of fighters haven’t really been training or sparring because they weren’t sure about the timing of their next fight. But because we’re in Los Angeles, we have a lot of local fighters to spar with. We were able to find three fighters to help us out with sparring and preparing to face a southpaw.”

The 27-year-old from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico took a slightly different route than many Mexican fighters to reach this point, opting for an extensive amateur career instead of turning pro as a teenager. Alameda embarked on his pro career in 2014 after competing in nearly 150 amateur fights, including a stint with the Mexican national team, but knew that eventually turning pro would be the only way to prove himself against the best in the world.

“I was very proud to be on the Mexican national team and I had a lot of fights for them,” said Alameda. “Eventually I decided that I wasn’t getting the opportunities I wanted as an amateur. I waited for the time to be right and that’s when I decided to turn pro. From there it was just a matter of time and building myself up toward a world title fight.”

Alameda and Nery are joined on the stacked September 26 lineup by top fighters at the 122-pound and 118-pound division, all of whom loom as potential future opponents for whoever emerges with the WBC title. Although Alameda is focused on his task against Nery, he is prepared to step in against any of the other top fighters around his weight class.

“Right now, I’m not thinking ahead,” said Alameda. “I’m only focused on Nery and winning this title. But I want to prove that I’m the best. After September 26, I’m willing to fight anyone they put in front of me.

“I understand that I’m the underdog in this fight, but that’s only making me hungrier to win. I’m going to go in there and show people who I am. I’m going to win and give the fans a good action fight.”

The unprecedented pay-per-view twin bill features six compelling fights in all, five of which are world title fights, on the same night for one price. Part one of the SHOWTIME PPV telecast begins live at a special time of 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT with the three-fight card topped by unbeaten WBC Champion Jermall Charlo facing top contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko. WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Brandon Figueroa will defend his title against 122-pound contender Damien Vázquez in the co-featured bout, while WBO Bantamweight World Champion John Riel Casimero faces off against unbeaten Duke Micah in the pay-per-view opener.

Following a 30-minute intermission, the second three-fight card, headlined by the historic unification matchup between WBC Super Welterweight Champion Jermell Charlo and IBF and WBA 154-pound champion Jeison Rosario, will begin. Unbeaten former champion Nery will battle undefeated Alameda for the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship in the co-feature, while former unified champion Danny Román faces off against former champion Juan Carlos Payano in a WBC Super Bantamweight title eliminator bout to open the second installment of the pay-per-view.

The event is presented by Premier Boxing Champions and promoted by Lions Only Promotions and TGB Promotions. The Jermell Charlo vs. Jeison Rosario match is co-promoted with Sampson Boxing.

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

BRITISH MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION Liam Williams is tipping former foe Mark Heffron to ‘chin’ Denzel Bentley when the pair’s eagerly awaited collision comes around on Saturday night, live on BT Sport.

Despite his heated history with hardman Heffron, Williams reserved his most stinging comments for Denzel ‘2Sharp’ Bentley who he referred to as “reckless and sloppy”.

The much-anticipated tear-up between Heffron and Bentley is an eliminator for the British title held by Williams, who is no stranger to the two potential challengers.

‘The Machine’ has in-ring experience battling Heffron and shared social media barbs with Bentley in the past.

In the ring, Williams became a two-weight British champion at the expense of the then unbeaten Oldham man Heffron, who now clocks in with a record of 25-1.

Heffron came up against Williams on December 2018 after his mandated match for the Lonsdale belt – Jason Welborn – withdrew from the contest following the purse bid process. It caused more than a few ripples of anticipation when Williams was tempted to step up from super welterweight and take on the challenge against a known heavy puncher.

The fight was the catalyst of a run of form from the Welshman that saw him soar to mandatory position for the WBO world title held by Demetrius Andrade in the space of four fights – all spectacular stoppages.

Nobody could really have known, least of all Heffron, that we were to witness the birth of a middleweight force of nature.

That being said, Williams holds his former opponent in a high regard and strongly suspects he will have the beating of the hitherto unbeaten Bentley, who is also a known knockout merchant, with 11 from his 13 wins.

Williams believes there are weaknesses Heffron will exploit.

“I think it will be a good fight – a very good fight,” considered the 28-year-old, who works out of the Ingle Gym in Sheffield.

“I think Heffron will probably end up chinning him. Bentley is very reckless and a bit sloppy, I think so, from what I have seen.

“He is a little bit sloppy and, as everyone knows, Heffron is a very big puncher. I was actually sparring with Mark the other day and it was a good old dust-up. You would never expect anything less of Mark because he is a top fighter who comes to give it.”

Williams acknowledges that Heffron was unfortunate to come up against a man possessed when he introduced himself to the middleweight division.

“This is it, if it wasn’t for me being on my A-game or if he was against anybody else he would have become British champion. He just came up against the wrong person that night because I was hungry and firing on all cylinders.

“He came up a bit short, but I think he will become British champion another time. I actually think as soon as he challenges again he will become champion.”

So has Williams noted a narrowing of the gap between himself and Heffron from their recent spar-wars?

“No comment!

“With me and Mark, with the build-up we had and stuff, at the time I genuinely didn’t like the boy and I wanted to hurt him. But, in all fairness to him, I do think he is a sound lad and we get on good now because it is just a sport and we had to put that behind us.

“He is fighting to provide and so am I. We just happened to come up against each other and it was me that came out on top.”

Mark Heffron and Denzel Bentley will fight live on BT Sport this Saturday on a card that also features the return of Anthony Yarde to light heavyweight action against Dec Spelman.

The vacant IBF European title will also be on the line at welterweight when Cedrick Peynaud meets English champion Ekow Essuman. Ellsewhere, lightweight Bilal Ali, featherweight Amin Jahanzeb and debut making super-welterweight Josh Frankham round out the card.

London, UK (9 September 2020) British Light-Heavyweight Champion Shakan Pitters is set to defend his title on November 14 on Channel 5 as he looks to get the first notch on his prized Lonsdale Belt.

Pitters claimed the title with a clear points victory over tough rival Chad Sugden just over two weeks ago and was back in front of Channel 5 cameras last weekend as a special guest presenter on the thrilling Samir Ziani-Alex Dilmaghani European title fight.

Promoter Mick Hennessy has lodged the date with the British Boxing Board of Control and has proposed Craig Richards as the intended challenger for the title. Hennessy won the original purse bid to stage Pitters v Richards back in December with a substantial bid, but Richards withdrew from the contest after suffering from a viral infection.

However, Hennessy kept to his word that Richards would get the first shot at the winner and he has made a very good offer to Richards’ team that reflects the original purse bid. He is currently awaiting confirmation if they intend to accept the fight as the Board are meeting today to formerly sanction the bout. If Richards declines, then Hennessy has a number of options to move forward with.

Also set to feature on the card will be the return of cruiserweight hot-shot Isaac Chamberlain who has racked up two sensational quick fire KO wins in two weeks’ and is firmly on his comeback into championship contention.

Birmingham ace and former Love Island star Idris Virgo, who has also had two wins in the last two weeks’, including a sensational first round body shot KO win, will return to action.

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

NEW YORK, – September 9, 2020 – Former unified super bantamweight champion Danny Roman anticipates an action packed showdown as he previewed his upcoming WBC super bantamweight title eliminator bout against former world champion Juan Carlos Payano taking place Saturday, September 26 in part two of a first-of-its-kind SHOWTIME PPV doubleheader presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

“Payano is one of the toughest and roughest fighters in the division,” said Roman. “His only losses are to elite fighters. This fight will be all action because Payano likes to mix it up, as do I. The fans will get to see two warriors going at it as I’m fully prepared for a grueling fight. This will be an explosive twelve-round battle, and that’s if it goes the distance, which I highly doubt.”

Roman and his longtime trainer Eddie Gonzalez have prepared for the Payano fight at the Fundamentals Gym in Los Angeles, studying their opponent and aiming to put on an impressive performance on September 26.

“It’s been a very productive training camp thus far,” said Roman. “We’ve been going strong, but smart, since early August. Coach Eddie has been studying Payano and we see some flaws in his game that we feel we can capitalize on. I’m in great shape and its full steam ahead for Payano showdown.”

The Los Angeles-native Roman will return to the ring for the first time since dropping a narrow split-decision, and his super bantamweight titles, to Murodjon Akhmadaliev in January. Roman knows that with a win in this title eliminator, he will be in a prime position to regain his status in the division.

“A victory will put me right back on the doorstep for a world title,” said Roman. “I feel that I’m still one of the best fighters at super bantamweight, but I must get past Payano. There are so many big fights at super bantamweight, because this division is one of the deepest in boxing. My mind is set on becoming a world champion again, and a victory against Payano will bring me closer to that goal.”

The September 26 doubleheader is stacked with champions and top talent in the 122-pound division, presenting an abundance of opportunities for Roman should he emerge victorious. The 30-year-old relishes the opportunities in front of him to fight for the top spot at super bantamweight.

“I’m excited about this next chapter of my career with PBC and fighting on SHOWTIME®,” said Roman. “I know there will be a lot of big fights that can be made, and I want to thank my promoter Thompson Boxing for always believing in me. At the end of the day, I’m an entertainer and I want to give the fans great fights.”

The unprecedented pay-per-view twin bill features six compelling fights in all, five of which are world title fights, on the same night for one price. Part one of the SHOWTIME PPV telecast begins live at a special time of 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT with the three-fight card topped by unbeaten WBC Champion Jermall Charlo facing top contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko. WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Brandon Figueroa will defend his title against 122-pound contender Damien Vázquez in the co-featured bout, while WBO Bantamweight World Champion John Riel Casimero faces off against unbeaten Duke Micah in the pay-per-view opener.

Following a 30-minute intermission, the second three-fight card, headlined by the historic unification matchup between WBC Super Welterweight Champion Jermell Charlo and IBF and WBA 154-pound champion Jeison Rosario, will begin. Unbeaten former champion Luis Nery will battle undefeated Aaron Alameda for the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship in the co-feature, while former unified champion Román faces off against former champion Payano in a WBC Super Bantamweight title eliminator bout to open the second installment of the pay-per-view.

The event is presented by Premier Boxing Champions and promoted by Lions Only Promotions and TGB Promotions. The Jermell Charlo vs. Jeison Rosario match is co-promoted with Sampson Boxing.

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