THE FOURTH SHOW of BT Sport’s exciting summer schedule has been brought forward and will now take place on Saturday August 15 with the addition of Belfast stars Carl Frampton and Michael Conlan to the card.

The BT Sport-televised show was initially listed to take place on Thursday August 20, but now switches to the previous weekend with the significant bonus of two-weight world champion Frampton and featherweight contender Conlan being drafted into action.

The originally scheduled headliner between Archie Sharp and Jeff Ofori for the WBO European super featherweight title remains on the card along with an IBF European Super-Welterweight  title defence for Troy Williamson.

Elite and hugely popular prospect Dennis McCann rounds out the card.

Frampton, 33, who is awaiting confirmation of his challenge to WBO world super featherweight champion Jamel Herring, will take on the Armenian Vahram Vardanyan, who holds a record of 21-1-1.

The Jackal (27-2-0) last fought in November in Las Vegas when he outpointed Tyler McCreary over 10 rounds.

Conlan (13-0), 28, who holds both the WBA and WBO Intercontinental titles, goes up against the experienced Frenchman Sofiane Takoucht (35-4-1).

Takoucht, 34, has been stopped only once in his professional career and is a former IBF International champion and world title challenger. His single stoppage came in his full IBF title challenge against Josh Warrington in Leeds back in October of last year.

The unbeaten super featherweight Sharp will clock up his 19th professional fight against the 10-2-1 Tottenham man Ofori. It will represent a fourth defence of his WBO European title for the 25-year-old.

Unbeaten Darlington man Williamson defends his title and his record on the show whilst thrilling prospect McCann, just 19, will be having his seventh professional fight since turning pro in May last year.

Israil Madrimov will face Eric Walker on the streets of downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma on August 15, live on DAZN.
 
Madrimov (5-0 5 KOs) has been knocking on the door for World title honors in the Super-Welterweight division and can send a fresh warning to the champions at 154lbs in just his sixth pro outing following a blistering introduction to the paid ranks.
 
The 25 year old looks set to replicate his habitual title winning exploits in the amateur code in the pro game, and ‘The Dream’ is confident of making it six KO wins from six when he goes toe-to-toe with Walker in Tulsa.
 
“I’m very excited to fight on August 15 against such a formidable opponent in Eric Walker,” said Madrimov. “Many thanks to all of my fans worldwide for their support, I can’t wait to put on another great show for you.”
 
“We were initially planning to bring Israil back around September, but this opportunity came up and we all decided that this is a great step for his career,” said Vadim Kornilov, Madrimov’s manager. “We’re looking forward to a bigger test here with Walker then with previous opponents.”
 
“This will be another great performance by Israil,” said Andrei Ryabinskiy, World of Boxing Promotions. “His popularity is growing, and we are very happy working with Matchroom Boxing and DAZN, keeping him busy and moving another step forward on August 15.”
 
For Walker (20-2 9 KOs) the opportunity to derail Madrimov’s rise and catapult himself into the upper echelons of the 154lbs division gives the 37 year old the chance to write yet another chapter of a remarkable life in and out of the ring. 
 
The Louisianan has forged a career in boxing from unlikely beginnings, learning to box in prison as a teenager and then making a bright start to his pro career and won 15 of his first 16 fights before entering ‘The Contender’ in the fall of 2018, where he fell to Brandon Adams in the semi-finals.
 
Walker enters the bout on the back of two wins in the final third of 2019 and the ‘Baby Faced Assasin’ heads to Oklahoma full of confidence that he is the man to end Madrimov’s run.
 
“Madrimov had a great amateur career but, as a pro, he makes a lot of mistakes and I’ll be the guy to give him his first loss,” said Walker. “Despite the restrictions from the pandemic, I’ve been training and staying in shape. I’ve been in the gym since May and I just got back from sparring with Shawn Porter. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this, my mind is focused, and I’m ready to take care of business on August 15.” 
 
“Eric Walker is a legitimate 154-pound contender and will be the best fighter that Israil Madrimov has ever faced. Since turning his life around, Eric has reestablished his career and was a star on the last season of ‘The Contender’. I expect a terrific, competitive fight on August 15 and look forward to watching it on DAZN,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. 
 
Madrimov vs. Walker has been added to the August 15 bill after WBC World Flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez was forced to withdraw from his defense against McWilliams Arroyo through a non-COVID 19 related illness, with Matchroom aiming to place the bout on a card later in the year. 
 
The main event on August 15 will now be the mouth-watering undisputed Welterweight title clash between unbeaten defending champion Cecilia Brækhus and unified Super-Lightweight ruler Jessica McCaskill.
 
“Madrimov vs. Walker is a great addition to our August 15 show,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Israil is one of the standout talents in world boxing and he’s on the cusp of World title glory after just five fights in the paid ranks – a remarkable achievement. 
 
“But Eric has already shown he has all the ingredients to beat the odds time and time again, and I know that he will lay it all on the line and provide Israil with the sternest of tests.
 
“Brækhus-McCaskill is a fight fit to top any bill and while it’s sad to lose the ferocious Mexican champion Julio Cesar Martinez from the show, Cecilia and Jessica more than deserve their spot as the main event – especially at a period of time when women’s boxing is on fire and in the spotlight, with the winner in Tulsa looking to take on the winner of the crunch rematch between Katie Taylor and Delfine Persoon, taking place a week after we return in America with a huge night of action in a stunning setting on the streets of Tulsa.”
 
Brækhus-McCaskill and Madrimov-Walker are the show toppers of a massive night of action in the unique setting of the downtown Tulsa streets as Matchroom return Stateside.
 
Madrimov’s fellow countryman Shakhram Giyasov (9-0 7 KOs) puts his WBA International Super-Lightweight title against Francisco Rojo (22-3 15 KOs), and a trio of young talents complete the card in Nikita Ababiy (8-0 6 KOs), Raymond Ford (5-0 2 KOs) and the debut of amateur star Marc Castro.

NEW YORK – July 22, 2020 – SHOWTIME Sports^® and Premier Boxing Champions unveiled a nine-event television lineup for the remainder of 2020 in a virtual press conference today. The schedule is the largest collection of world championship boxing announced since the COVID-19 pandemic forced a stoppage of the sport.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® host Brian Custer introduced the schedule comprising of 22 critical matchups, beginning on August 1, featuring 18 undefeated fighters, nine world champions and eight world championship fights including one world title unification bout. The robust rollout of fights over the next five months includes two unique pay-per-view events involving some of boxing’s biggest names – Gervonta Davis, Leo Santa Cruz, Jermall Charlo, Jermell Charlo and David Benavidez.

Each live telecast will be presented without fans in attendance from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Included in the schedule are four world title eliminators, three interim title fights and 13 bouts in all pitting top-10 ranked fighters.

Custer was joined by Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports and Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc., to preview the robust schedule spanning five months as well as world champions the Charlos, Benavidez and undefeated prospects Stephen Fulton Jr. and Angelo Leo to discuss their respective bouts.

Below are highlights of what Espinoza and the fighters had to say:

STEPHEN ESPINOZA

“We’re thrilled to announce what we believe is the strongest and most comprehensive schedule in all of boxing. Meaningful fights, competitive matchups. This is what boxing fans have been waiting for ever since the sport shut down in March. Between that March date, our last event on ShoBox, and August 1 will be 141 days that we’ve been down. Like everyone else, we’ve spent a tremendous amount of time coming up with protocols – but also a tremendous amount of time coming up with this schedule. From highly regarded prospects to emerging stars and big-time champions, we put them all in tough matchups. This lineup really delivers on our promise to boxing fans with the biggest fights, the most exciting fights, and the highest quality presentation in the sport. We’re doing nine telecasts with what are unquestionably the most significant fights in the sport since boxing has restarted.

“This is a really high-quality schedule with five months of meaningful fights, competitive fights and fights that are really going to determine champions and challengers for the foreseeable future.

“We weren’t going to come back just for the sake of coming back. We wanted to come back at a high level with meaningful fights – with fights which would remind the public why they’re excited about the sport of boxing. So, we put together a schedule week after week of competitive fights, with big names, with meaningful fights. Before we know it, this sport is going to be back where it should be in terms of momentum and positive energy.”

JERMALL CHARLO

“We will show everyone on September 26 that we’re the future of boxing. We’re going to let everyone in the world see the great things that me and my twin brother have done for the sport.

“Of course, the pandemic made us separate a lot of things in our routine and do things slightly differently. But I also can work out here at home so it hasn’t been too tough for me to stay sharp.

“Every fight is tough and I’m coming in prepared like always. Derevyanchenko is a highly rated fighter and we’re both going to go in there to get the job done.

“We haven’t decided who’s going to fight first, but we’re just so excited to be headlining these separate PPV cards. Me and my twin brother have something big in store for everyone on September 26.

“We just stay in shape. We’re always training and we’re always ready. This is a time in life where everyone had to go through the same thing. It was just a matter of time to get back to boxing.

“It is what it is not having fans in the stands. There’s not much we can do about it. We’re back and we’re going to enjoy it.

“I didn’t think Derevyanchenko won the fight against Golovkin, but he definitely made it a lot closer than people expected. I didn’t think people knew about his style and what he brings to the ring. It was close, but I didn’t think he won the fight.

“This win lets people know that I’m ready for the biggest fights against the other middleweight champions. Derevyanchenko has been in with tough competition, but he’s come up short. I know that people will have questions no matter what happens, but that’s just part of boxing. I’m ready to fight.

“It would definitely deliver a statement to the boxing world if I knock him out. The power is for real and I can get in there and hurt just about anybody.

“I feel like we’re going to meet in the middle of the ring and let our hands go. May the best man win. My game plan is going to be to shut his game plan down. We’ll see on fight night.”

ESPINOZA

“Jermall and Jermell have always said they want to do big events, historical events, unprecedented events that are unlike any other and that’s what this is. You would have to go back to those marathon Don King pay-per-views of the 80’s where you would have this many title fights on one card and even on those fights 30 or 40 years ago, you didn’t see the array of talent that we’re getting on September 26. Four world title fights, a unification fight, Jermell, Jermall taking arguably the toughest fights of their careers on the biggest stage. It is sort of the crown jewel in the schedule right now.”

JERMELL CHARLO

“This opportunity is finally here and I’m happy that me and my brother have this day to show how much we put into the sport. Now is our time to be PPV stars.

“I’ve been boxing for so long and it’s been my dream to win multiple belts, you can expect me to get that win. I’m going to dominate. I don’t want to leave this up to the judges. I’m going to dominate or win by knockout. That’s how I do it.

“People will be saying that ‘the Charlos are boxing’ after September 26. They’ll have to put us on the pound-for-pound lists after our performances.

“What matters the most is having this platform and putting on a great performance September 26. We know what we have to do.

“Being well-rested is important. Our bodies are in a great position and now it’s about getting better and working on things we need to work on. Boxing is a year-round sport, so we always stay in shape. 

“Rosario is just another fighter with two arms, two legs and a mind. I’m going to do what I do and be destructive. My job is to take his titles and that’s what I’m planning to do.

“We always fought on the same cards growing up. It gives us energy and helps us be at our best. At the end of the day, we’re going to be ready to fight no matter what.

“When you’re really focused on the fight you’re zoned in and not even hearing the crowd. It’s not going to be a factor for us.

“If Rosario can’t take the power, we can fight all twelve. I can take a punch, but we don’t know if he can take a Jermell Charlo punch. We’re going for knockouts. I like to set it up and deliver it within the 12 rounds.”

ESPINOZA

“We’re thrilled to have David (Benavidez) back on SHOWTIME. He’s one of the most exciting young fighters in boxing. Young, exciting, charismatic, someone that if you haven’t seen fight, you’re in for a treat. Again, on this particular card, we can’t just focus on the main event because there’s two really compelling co-features. Speaking of somebody who’s exciting to watch, “Rollie” Romero clearly fits that bill. If you haven’t seen him, make sure to tune in. He is one of the most exciting young fighters as well. In the opening bout, two high quality heavyweights will match up. In this case, two heavyweights who both suffered from and eventually recovered from COVID. Thankfully, they’ve recovered, but those are three intriguing fights headed by David Benavidez’s return to SHOWTIME.”

DAVID BENAVIDEZ

“I’m very excited to come back. We’ve been out of the ring for almost a year.

“It was a little difficult getting this camp started because – Seattle was the epicenter of the pandemic. So, the number one key was to stay home, stay safe, and train at the right times. Now that we have the fight in August, we’ve brought a couple guys from different cities and everyone has been tested and everything has been good. I’m in my dad’s gym, so we can train whenever we want. We’ve been having a great training camp so far and now it’s just getting to the date smoothly.

“That’s very unfortunate right now (not to have fans in attendance), but I think what matters most is the safety and protection of the people. It’s going to be the same thing, like the Charlo’s said, you kind of get tunnel vision when you’re in the ring. My main goal right now is to give the fans at home the best possible fight I can possibly give them. (Roamer Alexis) Angulo has a nice record, and he has a lot of knockouts. I have a lot of knockouts, so it’s going to be fireworks all night.

“I’m expecting him to come forward, this is his second world title fight. I think he’s here to make a statement and I know he’s taking this fight very seriously. I want these tough fights. I want these brawls. I want these barn burners. You don’t want to blink because this fight is going to end in a knockout.

“My main goal is to get to Caleb Plant. That’s the fight I want the most, that’s the fight I feel the fans want the most. Since we’re in the same promotion company that’s fairly easy. I was hoping to get that fight by the end of this year but the pandemic kind of messed up a lot of things. I’m not looking past Angulo — he looks like a great fighter and he looks like a strong fighter. I want to get past this fight and then hopefully by the beginning of next year we can get to Caleb Plant.

(On a potential move to Light Heavyweight)

“I think so, but as of right now there are a lot of great fights at 168. There’s Caleb Plant, there’s Callum Smith, there’s Canelo, there’s Billy Joe Saunders. There are so many great fighters at 168 and there are a lot of great fights to be made. I’m going to be here until I make all of those fights. I have a long time left in this boxing game. I still have about 10 or 13 years in this boxing game left, so I don’t have to move up too quick. As soon as I get all of these fights and all of the belts I want to get at 168, then it’s time to move up to 175 – but I’m staying at Super Middleweight right now for a while.”

ESPINOZA

“What strikes me about the August 1 card isn’t just the quality at the top of the card with two young, emerging guys fighting for a world title. On this one card, we have five undefeated fighters and one fighter with just one loss. And the one fighter with the loss is trying to avenge that in a rematch on this particular card. This is a remarkably competitive, high-quality card top to bottom. It’s not just Fulton-Leo – although that one is a fight fan’s fight – each of these three fights is meaningful an among top-tier guys and rising stars. They are the kind of fights that sort out future champions from the guys who came close. This card may quietly be the most consistent card from top to bottom on the whole schedule.”

STEPHEN FULTON JR.

“It would mean everything to me (to be the only current world champion from Philadelphia). I feel like I always hold Philly on my back, no matter what, and that mindset would not change even if there were five champions from Philly. I am coming to fight.”

“You should expect a good fight. I have been rocked before, but look where I’m at, still standing. I’m just excited overall for every aspect in how he fights. I am excited to be in the ring with him and have the opportunity to display my skills.”

“I am going to beat him because he hasn’t been tested. No one he fought has brought any competition to him. I am going to beat him because I have been tested, I have taken those punches and showed I can get up. Also, my overall skills are just better than his.

“I am always looking to mental adjustments leading up to the fight, and during the fight. I plan to look at this like sparring. When you are sparring, no one is there. I plan to have that same energy, but just a little more intense.

“Personally, I just want to beat him. After that, we can talk about what happens in the future. Honestly, I am just worried about this guy. I am not even thinking about anyone else. That being said, I feel like I am the best in this division. I prove myself over and over again, and that is what I am going to continue to do. I want to be the first undisputed 122-pound champion in the world.”

ANGELO LEO

“It would mean the world to me (to be the first champion from Albuquerque since the late great Johnny Tapia). He was a fighter I look up to, and to become a champion out of Albuquerque says a lot about the city, and a lot about myself. The goal is to become champion, and to represent Albuquerque in the process.

“At the end of the day it is a fight. He can boast about his resume all he wants. We are both top five in the world, we are both undefeated, so it does not really matter once we get in there. He has beaten undefeated fighters, but if you look at those fights, he has been rocked and dropped in all of them. He is not untouchable.

“I am going to get the victory, of course. Whether it goes 12 rounds or not, I am going in there to get that title.

“I am hungrier than him. I have seen what he has, and I know I can break him down. He doesn’t have the will and the heart like I do. On top of that, I have a lot of skill and experience. He is going to see why I am undefeated.

“I definitely feel I’m ready for championship fights. I thought I was ready for a world title three years ago. After I stopped Cesar Juarez in spectacular fashion, I knew I was ready for a world title.

“The 122-pound division is loaded, filled with great talent. This just makes for exciting fights. This is what boxing fans want, and this is what we are going to give them. To be the best you need to beat the best, and if you do not think that way you should not be in the sport. I am in this sport to be the best.”

(July 22, 2020) — Heavyweight contender Joe Joyce, who is on track for a super fight against fellow undefeated British heavyweight Daniel “Dynamite” Dubois, will take on the battle-hardened Michael Wallisch in the 10-round main event Saturday from BT Sport Studio in London.

This closed-door card, promoted by Queensberry Promotions, marks Joyce’s first ring appearance since last July’s unanimous decision over former world title challenger Bryant Jennings.

Joyce-Wallisch will headline an afternoon of boxing streaming on ESPN+ beginning at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.
 
Joyce (10-0, 9 KOs) burst onto the pro boxing scene after capturing a super heavyweight silver medal for the United Kingdom at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In less than three years as a professional, he has knockout victories over former world champion Bermane Stiverne and former world title challenger Alexander Ustinov. He won the Commonwealth title in his fourth pro fight with a second-round stoppage over Lenroy Thomas.
 
Although the Dubois fight is in the cards, he must defeat Wallisch (20-3, 13 KOs), a German veteran who once held the WBO European heavyweight belt. He last fought in September 2019 and was knocked out in three rounds by Tony Yoka, the man who edged Joyce in the 2016 Olympic gold medal match.
 
In other action on the ESPN+ stream:

• In a 10-round junior featherweight battle for the vacant British Southern Area title, Chris Bourke (7-0, 5 KOs) will face Ramez Mahmood (11-0, 2 KOs).
   
• Welterweight prospect Ekow “The Engine” Essuman (13-0, 5 KOs), who knocked out the previously undefeated Curtis Felix Jr. in his last fight, will take on an opponent to be named in a 10-rounder.
   
• Middleweight knockout artist Denzel Bentley (12-0, 10 KOs) will look to extend his knockout streak to three against Mick “The Hammer” Hall (15-2, 2 KOs) in a 10-rounder.
   
• The ESPN+ stream will kick off with a six-round featherweight tilt between Louie Lynn (6-0, 5 KOs) and Monty Ogilvie (9-1, 1 KO).

NEW YORK – July 22, 2020 – SHOWTIME Sports and Premier Boxing Champions announced today a lineup of nine live boxing events featuring 18 undefeated fighters, nine world champions, and eight world championship fights including one world title unification bout. The schedule comprises 22 critical matchups from bantamweight to heavyweight and features some of the biggest stars in the sport today – Gervonta Davis, Leo Santa Cruz, Jermall Charlo, Jermell Charlo, David Benavidez and more. It is the largest collection of world championship boxing announced since the COVID-19 pandemic forced a stoppage of the sport.

The SHOWTIME boxing schedule begins on Saturday, August 1 and runs through the end of 2020. Initially, each live telecast will be presented without fans in attendance from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Included in the schedule are four world title eliminators, three interim title fights and 13 bouts in all pitting top-10 ranked fighters.

There are two SHOWTIME PPV^® events in the lineup presented by Premier Boxing Champions. The first in late September is a pay-per-view doubleheader featuring four world title bouts in back-to-back three-fight events on the same night all for one price. Doubleheaders are common in the NFL, NBA and MLB. There hasn’t ever been a boxing PPV doubleheader – until now. The second blockbuster PPV event in October is a unique clash with the winner earning world titles in two weight classes. 

“We are proud to announce the strongest and most comprehensive schedule of fights in all of boxing,” said Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports and Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. “Each bout on this schedule, our largest schedule announcement since 2018, carries high stakes and significant implications. From highly regarded prospects to emerging stars to established champions – all in tough matchups – this lineup delivers on our promise to provide boxing fans with the best talent, the most exciting fights and the highest quality presentation in the sport. We are thrilled to return to live boxing with this star-studded schedule of exciting, meaningful fights.”

Philadelphia’s 122-pound rising star Stephen Fulton Jr. will headline SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® on August 1 (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) against talented, fellow undefeated contender Angelo Leo of the Mayweather stable in a marquee 12-round matchup for the vacant WBO junior featherweight world title. The Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions. This will mark the first live boxing event on SHOWTIME since ShoBox: The New Generation on March 13 when the network presented what was to be the last nationally televised professional sporting event in the U.S. for several weeks.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be finally getting back to boxing,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “Everyone has been patiently waiting and the series of fights that we will collectively put on over the next few months will be great for boxing and the sports world in general. We’re kicking things off August 1 with a world title opportunity for our rising contender Angelo Leo who has been consistently grinding and taking care of business. He’s facing another young and focused undefeated fighter and only one of them can be crowned champion. Both guys are confident that the title belongs to them, which is going to make for a great fight from the first bell.”

“I have been really impressed with both Fulton and Leo,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Fulton’s resume includes victories over eight undefeated fighters. Angelo Leo will be the third straight unbeaten fighter he’s faced. Leo has passed every test he’s had with victories against some of the toughest fighters in the division. The winner of this match will be soaring to new heights in the division.”

“This is my time. I’ve prepared for this my whole life,” said Fulton. “He will be a world champion one day, but not this time.”

“I’m excited to get back in the ring and to continue where I left off,” said Leo. “It’s an honor to be the main event on SHOWTIME and to be fighting for the WBO belt.”

The fight-by-fight schedule follows:

August 1

Main Event: Stephen Fulton Jr. (18-0, 8 KOs) vs. Angelo Leo (19-0, 9 KOs) – Vacant WBO Junior Featherweight World Championship

Co-Feature: Tramaine Williams (19-0, 6 KOs) vs. Ra’eese Aleem (16-0, 10 KOs) – Super Bantamweight Title Eliminator

Co-Feature: Joe George (10-0, 6 KOs) vs. Marcos Escudero (10-1, 9 KOs) II – Light Heavyweight Bout

About: Fellow Americans and undefeated fighters Fulton and Leo are legitimate top-10 junior featherweight contenders who will meet for the vacant WBO 122-pound world title. A southpaw from New Haven, Conn., Williams will clash with Las Vegas-based Aleem in an intriguing, 50-50 matchup between talented, undefeated prospects. Managed by All-Pro lineman Trent Williams, Houston’s George upset Escudero in an exciting ShoBox affair last November.

August 15

Main Event: David Benavidez (22-0, 19 KOs) vs. Roamer Alexis Angulo (26-1, 22 KOs) – WBC Super Middleweight World Championship

Co-Feature: Rolando Romero (11-0, 10 KOs) vs. Jackson Marinez (19-0, 7 KOs) – WBA Lightweight Interim Title

Co-Feature: Otto Wallin (20-1, 13 KOs) vs. Travis Kauffman (32-3, 23 KOs) – Heavyweight Bout

About: Undefeated Benavidez, 23, kicks off his second reign as WBC Super Middleweight Champion. In 2017, he became the youngest 168-pound champion in boxing history by defeating Ronald Gavril on SHOWTIME at just 20 years old. Angulo is coming off an upset win over heavily hyped and then unbeaten prospect Anthony Sims Jr. The power-punching “Rolly” Romero of the Mayweather stable, who has scored five first- or second-round stoppages in his last six fights, is an undefeated ShoBox alum ranked No. 10 by the WBA while Marinez is ranked No. 6. Wallin vs. Kauffman is an intriguing heavyweight matchup between the Swedish southpaw and the veteran Kauffman. Both fighters have survived bouts with the COVID-19 virus, made full recoveries and are anxious to get back in the ring. The winner will undoubtedly receive another big fight. The loser will go to the back of the line in the busy heavyweight division. This Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing. The Romero vs. Marinez bout is co-promoted by Mayweather Promotions.

September 19

Main Event: Erickson Lubin (22-1, 16 KOs) vs. Terrell Gausha (21-1-1, 10 KOs) – WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator Bout

Co-Feature: Tugstsogt Nyambayar (11-1, 9 KOs) vs. Eduardo Ramirez (23-2-3, 10 KOs) – WBC Featherweight Title Eliminator Bout

Co-Feature: Jaron Ennis (25-0, 23 KOs) vs. TBA – Welterweight Bout

About: Lubin, already a veteran at just 24 years old, has excelled since his shocking first-round loss to Jermell Charlo three years ago. Gausha is a former U.S. Olympian with just one loss. Both men are poised and hungry for a signature win and the opportunity to fight for a unified 154-pound title, which will be on the line the following week. Nyambayar and Ramirez are legitimate top-10 contenders. Nyambayar faced Gary Russell Jr. in February on SHOWTIME in the last SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast before the COVID-19 shutdown. Ramirez, of Mexico, is coming off a stoppage of previously unbeaten Leduan Barthelemy. A graduate of the popular ShoBox: The New Generation series, Philadelphia native Ennis has fought twice on ShoBox and twice on SHOWTIME BOXING: Special Edition cards. Ennis is a former National Golden Gloves Champion ranked No. 12 by the WBO and No. 14 by the IBF. This Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by TGB Promotions and the Ennis bout is in association with D & D Boxing.

September 26 – SHOWTIME/Premier Boxing Champions PPV Doubleheader

In One of the Main Events: Jermall Charlo (30-0, 22 KOs) vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko (13-2, 10 KOs) – WBC Middleweight World Championship

Co-Feature: Brandon Figueroa (20-0-1, 15 KOs) vs. Damien Vasquez (15-1-1, 7 KOs) – WBA Super Bantamweight World Championship

Co-Feature: Diego Magdaleno (32-3, 13 KOs) vs. Isaac Cruz (19-1-1, 14 KOs) – IBF Lightweight Title Eliminator Bout

About: Houston’s Charlo will defend his title against WBC No.-1 ranked Ukrainian Derevyanchenko in one of the main events of this pay-per-view twin bill that boasts four world title fights. Charlo has held the WBC middleweight title since 2019 and reigned as the IBF junior middleweight champion from 2015 to ‘17. Charlo holds wins at 154 pounds against championship-level fighters including Cornelius Bundrage, Austin Trout and Julian Williams. Derevyanchenko has twice challenged for the IBF middleweight title in 2018 and ‘19, losing only to top-level opponents Daniel Jacobs and Gennadiy Golovkin. The 23-year-old Figueroa claimed the interim WBA 122-pound title with an eighth-round stoppage of Yonfrez Parejo last April, before successfully defending the title with a homecoming KO of Javier Chacon in Edinburg, Texas. After being upgraded to the “regular” titlist, Figueroa retained his belt after a 12-round draw against Julio Ceja last November. The southpaw Vasquez is coming off a stoppage win over Alejandro Moreno in February of 2020. Magdaleno vs. Cruz is an IBF title eliminator matchup of ShoBox alums currently ranked 10^th and sixth, respectively.

The Other Main Event: Jermell Charlo (33-1, 17 KOs) vs. Jeison Rosario (20-1-1, 14 KOs) – WBC, WBA and IBF 154-Pound Unification Bout

Co-Feature: Mario Barrios (25-0, 16 KOs) vs. Ryan Karl (18-2, 11 KOs) – WBA Super Lightweight World Championship

Co-Feature: Daniel Roman (26-3-1, 10 KOs) vs. TBA – Super Bantamweight Bout

About: In the other main event of this two-part, six-fight pay-per-view telecast, Jermell Charlo will take on Rosario in just the eighth world title unification fight in the 154-pound division’s history. It is also just the second fight with three super welterweight world title belts up for grabs. In January, Rosario upset Julian Williams to win the WBA and IBF titles. Last December, Charlo regained the title by stopping Tony Harrison. At stake is supremacy in a talent-rich division. The 25-year-old Barrios from San Antonio has held the WBA (regular) super lightweight title since September of 2019. His opponent Karl hails from Houston and is ranked No. 9 by the WBA. A regular sparring partner of Erislandy Lara and Jermell Charlo, Karl is trained by Ronnie Shields. Roman is a former unified super bantamweight champion, having held the WBA (Super) and IBF titles from 2019 to January 2020. Roman’s 19-bout winning streak was snapped in January in a split-decision loss to Murodjon Akhmadaliev. Ranked in the top five by all four sanctioning bodies, Roman previously held the WBA title from 2017 to 2019. This unique PPV doubleheader is presented by Premier Boxing Champions and promoted by Lions Only Promotions and TGB Promotions. The Jermell Charlo-Jeison Rosario match is co-promoted with Sampson Boxing.

October 10

Main Event: Sergey Lipinets (16-1, 12 KOs) vs. Kudratillo Abdukakhorov (15-0, 8 KOs) – IBF Welterweight Interim Title

Co-Feature: Xavier Martinez (15-0, 11 KOs) vs. Claudio Marrero (24-4, 17 KOs) – Super Featherweight Bout

Co-Feature: Malik Hawkins (18-0, 11 KOs) vs. Subriel Matias (15-1, 15 KOs) – Super Lightweight Bout

About: The 31-year-old Lipinets has won three significant fights in a row since his lone loss to Mikey Garcia, including a dominant stoppage that sent former word titlist Lamont Peterson into retirement. Uzbekistan’s Abdukakhorov is coming off his biggest win to date over former world titlist Luis Collazo and is yet to taste defeat since turning professional in 2015. With Abdukakhorov ranked No. 1 by the IBF and Lipinets ranked No. 3, the winner will be in prime position to challenge the unified 147-pound world champion Errol Spence Jr. Sacramento’s Martinez of the Mayweather stable is an exciting prospect who thrilled ShoBox viewers when he scored one of the quickest knockouts in the history of the series last November, while Marrero is a grizzled veteran who held the WBA interim featherweight title in 2017. Hawkins of the Mayweather stable is trained by Calvin Ford and a teammate of two-division world champion Gervonta Davis. Every one of Matias’ 15 career victories as a pro has come by way of knockout, with his only setback a unanimous-decision loss to Petros Ananyan back in February. This Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by TGB Promotions, Top Rank, Inc. and Mayweather Promotions. 

October 24 – SHOWTIME/Premier Boxing Champions PPV

Main Event: Gervonta Davis (23-0, 22 KOs) vs. Leo Santa Cruz (37-1-1, 19 KOs) – WBA Super Featherweight World Championship/WBA Lightweight World Championship

About: This blockbuster main event will be contested at the super featherweight limit of 130 pounds. The winner of the match, however, will be in the unique position to earn world championships at 130 and 135 pounds on the same night.Two crowd favorites with massive followings will meet with Santa Cruz’s newly won WBA (Super) 130-pound world title on the line. The unbeaten “Tank” Davis is a two-division world champion and reigning WBA lightweight titlist at the age of 25. He emerged as a bona fide star in 2019 with sold-out main event bouts in Baltimore and Atlanta. “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz is a four-division world champion who avenged his only professional loss to Carl Frampton. The stage is set for one of the best matchups that can be made in all of boxing. Both men are all-action fighters. Davis boasts a knockout percentage of .957 while Santa Cruz is one of the busiest punchers in the sport. The winner of this fight will rightfully earn a top-10 spot on the coveted pound-for-pound list. This Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, TGB Promotions, GTD Promotions and Santa Cruz Boxing Club.

November 28

Main Event: Chris Colbert (14-0, 5 KOs) vs. Jaime Arboleda (16-1, 13 KOs) – WBA Super Featherweight Interim Title

Co-Feature: Richardson Hitchins (11-0, 5 KOs) vs. Argenis Mendez (25-5-3, 12 KOs) – Super Lightweight Bout

Co-Feature: TBA

About: The WBA interim super featherweight champion Colbert has fought five times in the past 20 months. Arboleda of Panama earned a split-decision win over veteran Jayson Velez in a WBA junior lightweight eliminator in February. New York City’s Hitchins of the Mayweather stable represented his parents’ home country of Haiti in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and Mendez is a former IBF Super Featherweight champion from the Dominican Republic. This Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing. The Hitchins vs. Mendez bout is co-promoted by Mayweather Promotions.

December 12

Main Event: Nordine Oubaali (17-0, 12 KOs) vs. Nonito Donaire (40-6, 26 KOs) – WBC Bantamweight World Championship

Co-Feature: TBA

Co-Feature: TBA

About: France’s Oubaali will be defending the WBC bantamweight world title for the third time. Donaire is the No. 1-ranked contender and fighting for his eighth world championship. A four-division titlist and former pound-for-pound mainstay, Donaire fought brilliantly in what many picked as 2019’s Fight of the Year, a decision loss to Naoya Inoue. At age 37, Donaire is attempting to defy the belief that the smaller the fighter, the earlier the prime. The Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by TGB Promotions.

JOE JOYCE will fight a man on a mission on Saturday night as German Heavyweight Michael Wallisch has again stated his intention to derail The Juggernaut’s journey to the O2 Arena and Daniel Dubois.

Should Joyce (10-0, 9KO’s) topple Wallisch (23-0, 13KO’s) on Saturday night, he’ll have fulfilled his half of the bargain and booked his spot on the top of the bill at the O2 Arena, London on October 24th.

All that will be left then is for Daniel Dubois (14-0, 13KO’s) to beat Wallisch’s teammate Erik Pfeifer (7-0, 5KO’s) on August 29th and the huge domestic showdown between ‘Dynamite’ and Joyce will be booked.

Both German’s were in town for a press conference yesterday hyping their upcoming fights with their British opponents and Wallisch made clear he intends to kill any hopes of the all-English clash later this year.

Introducing himself to the UK audience he said: “My name is Michael Wallisch, Heavyweight Division of Germany, and i’ve come to f*ck up the fight.”

Amateur standout Erik Pfeifer echoed that sentiment by saying that he was “here to beat Daniel Dubois.”

The pair are stiff challenges for Dubois and Joyce, with many saying that Dubois’ opponent in particular represents the toughest challenge of Daniel’s short career.

Veteran Wallisch understands the British fans’ hunger for the ‘Seek and Destroy’ branded scrap between the two Frank Warren Heavyweights but insists his and Pfeifer’s eyes are on the biggest prize in all of boxing.

“The plan is to ruin the fight between Dubois and Joyce. We’re thinking about which of us is winning, who’ll fight the other guy (in October) and then the winner wants to fight Tyson Fury in England.”

Both Dubois and Joyce were on-hand yesterday but at times seemed more motivated by staring each other down, and Wallisch believes that complacency could be what costs Joe on Saturday night.

“He should never underestimate me.

“I’m an old wolf in this business. I know you should never underestimate anyone and he shouldn’t underestimate me.”

Pfeifer, who had a stellar amateur career that took in two Olympic games, two World Championship Bronze medals and two victories over Tony Yoka, doesn’t believe that Dubois knows what he’s up against when the pair touch gloves.

“I’m Dubois’ toughest opponent. He hasn’t fought a strong fighter before.

“He’s a stepping stone in my way and I’ll push him aside.”

Pushed to give a prediction for this Saturday night when Wallisch and Joyce collide, confident Pfeifer simply said: “Wallisch will win.”

Despite their dastardly intentions to spoil British boxing’s biggest party, Wallisch looks forward to fighting in England as he recognises it as one of the great boxing markets in the world.

“We love to fight in England. England is one of the best countries to fight in.”

That said, English fans should expect no favours from their European cousins.

“The Germans are coming. And we will win.”

———-

To watch the full interview with Michael Wallisch and Erik Pfeifer, please click here 

Joyce vs Wallisch is live on BT Sport 1 at 7.15pm on Saturday July 25th

Nathan Thorley is determined to announce himself on the big stage when he challenges Bournemouth’s Chris Billam-Smith for the Commonwealth Cruiserweight Title on Week 2 of Matchroom Fight Camp in Brentwood, Essex on Friday August 7, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US. 

‘Thunder’ (14-0, 6 KOs) won Welsh honours at Light-Heavyweight before admitting defeat in his battle with the scales and moving up to Cruiserweight where he has scored points wins over Lithuanian imports Remigijus Ziausys and Dmitrij Kalinovskij.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist is confident fans will see the best version of him when he steps up in class to face ‘The Gentleman’ in what he hopes will be the first of many title fights at his new weight. 

“I’ve had one fight where my opponent was coming to win, and he got knocked out in the second round,” said Thorley. “I’m taking nothing away from Jermaine Asare, he’s a tidy fighter. After that I went back to fighting journeymen again – opponents who are only trying to survive in there. That’s not what I want out of this sport. I want to fight the best to be the best. 

“The division is massive at the moment, it never used to be, but now there’s plenty of fights out there for me that I want to take and will take. Chris is a good fighter. He’s got a good shot selection to the body and head. He’s a fit, strong, physical guy so I’ve got my work cut out. It’s not going to be an easy night. I’m really looking forward to getting in the ring with him. 

“I was never going to pass at this opportunity. This is my breakthrough night. Everyone that I’ve fought or sparred with have always said I’m big and awkward. He’ll have his work cut out too. I’m not coming in to just fall down. I’m coming in to win. I will have my hand raised.”

Billam-Smith vs. Thorley lands on Week 2 of Matchroom Camp, Terri Harper’s (10-0, 5 KOs) defence of her WBC and IBO Super-Featherweight World Titles against British rival Natasha Jonas (9-1, 7 KOs) headlines the show, Liverpool Super-Welterweight Anthony Fowler (12-1, 9 KOs) gets his second outing of the year against Adam Harper (9-1), Oldham Lightweight prospect Aqib Fiaz (5-0) steps up against Birmingham’s former Midlands Area Champion Kane Baker (13-6) and Leeds Featherweight prospect Hopey Price (2-0) fights on UK soil again following his win on the huge Andy Ruiz vs. Anthony Joshua 2 show in Saudi Arabia. 

SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA (July 20, 2021) – The highly anticipated return of undefeated super lightweight Ruben “Ace” Torres (12-0, 10 KOs) will happen this Sunday, July 26, 2020 as Thompson Boxing Promotions presents 3.2.1 Boxing, a live Pay-Per-View streaming event. Torres will face Oscar Bravo (25-9, 11 KOs), a durable and tough veteran known for giving prospects trouble. Torres will look to get yet another knockout in this 8-round co-main event bout.

The 3.2.1 Boxing 8-round main-event will showcase Michael Dutchover (13-1, 10 KOs), versus Jorge Marron Jr. (18-1, 6 KOs), as well as undefeated featherweight Arnold Dinong (6-0, 1 KO) facing Brandon Cruz (6-1, 4 KOs) in the 6-round opening bout.

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

On his recent training camp
“Training camp has been hard but rewarding. I feel like I am building a following, and I’m working hard to continue improving in the gym. My coach Danny Zamora has really helped guide me in the gym and outside of the ring, I am very focused and in the best shape of my life.”

On his matchup with Oscar Bravo
“Oscar Bravo is extremely durable. He has only been stopped once in his career and I am hoping to be the second fighter to do that as well. He is a veteran, who knows how to go rounds and challenge a developing fighter. I am going to fight a smart, but aggressive fight. I’ll look to exploit each flaw he has at the right time. We have a great game plan in place.”

On training with Michael Dutchover
“I am in the gym with Michael Dutchover every day and we have the same coach/manager in Danny Zamora. It is a great feeling that we’re on the same card and fighting the same day since we grind in the gym constantly. Now we’re working for the same goal on the same night. For our whole team, it’ll be a great night of fights.”

On fighting on 3.2.1. Boxing Pay-Per-View
“Thompson Boxing has a lot of fighters, so to be picked as one of the fighters to be featured on the pay-per-view card is a blessing. Thompson Boxing has done a great job with my career and I’m truly grateful. Over the last year I feel a lot of fans have really taken to my abilities in the ring, and fighting on pay-per-view is just the next step.

The July 26, 2020, 3.2.1. PPV broadcast, airing live on the Thompson Boxing Promotions website (www.thompsonboxing.com), will start at 4:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. ET., and will take place at the Omega Products International Event Center in Corona, CA. 3.2.1 Boxing is priced at $6.50 US Territories, Canada, EU and select Asian Countries, $3.50 Latin America, African and select Asian Countries.

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To access the pay per view register and buy now please visit ThompsonBoxing.com. To follow the conversation on social media, please use #321Boxing, #TBPresents, and #ThompsonBoxing.

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To learn more about 3.2.1 boxing and for regular updates on our fighters, please check our Facebook Page, watch our YouTube channel on
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 •     Oscar Valdez 129.9 lbs vs. Jayson Velez 130 lbs 
(Junior Lightweight — 10 Rounds)

•    Edgar Berlanga 169 lbs vs. Eric Moon 168.7 lbs 
(Super Middleweight — 8 Rounds)

•    Kim Clavel 109.8 lbs vs. Natalie Gonzalez 109.9 lbs 
(Light Flyweight — 8 Rounds)

•      Elvis Rodriguez 141.8 lbs vs. Dennis Okoth 141.5 lbs 
(Junior Welterweight — 6 Rounds)

•     Isaac Dogboe 126 lbs vs. Chris Avalos 125.9 lbs 
(Featherweight — 8 Rounds)

•    Genc Pllana 167.3 lbs vs. Raphael Igbokwe 165 lbs 
(Super Middleweight — 8 Rounds)

PHILADELPHIA, PENN/ / ORANGE, CALIF. (July 20, 2020) – Lightweight prospect Michael “West Texas Warrior” Dutchover (13-1, 10 KOs), who is co-promoted by Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing, will face Jorge Marron Jr. (18-1, 6 KOs) in a 8-round main event this Sunday, July 26, 2020 as TBP presents 3.2.1 Boxing, a live Pay-Per-View streaming event.

Dutchover, who is coming off his controversial loss to Thomas Mattice on ShoBox, has been in camp working to make a statement, meanwhile his opponent Jorge Marron Jr., views this bout as life changing should he come out victorious. Dutchover gives his thoughts on training camp, his matchup with Marron Jr. and more.

The card which will showcase Dutchover’s stablemate, super lightweight Ruben Torres (12-0, 10 KOs) versus Oscar Bravo (25-9, 11 KOs) in the 8-round co-main event, as well as undefeated featherweight Arnold Dinong (6-0, 1KO) facing Brandon Cruz (6-1, 4 KOs) in the 6-round opening bout.

The July 26, 2020, 3.2.1. PPV broadcast, airing live on the Thompson Boxing Promotions website (www.thompsonboxing.com), will start at 4:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. ET., and will take place at the Omega Products International Event Center in Corona, CA. 3.2.1 Boxing is priced at $6.50 US Territories, Canada, EU and select Asian Countries, $3.50 Latin America, African and select Asian Countries.

Here is what Dutchover had to say about his upcoming fight

On Training Camp
“Training camp has been good I have been training with my coach/manager Danny Zamora as well as my stablemate Ruben Torres. We are getting each other ready for our bouts on the same day. It is motivating being in the gym with the same group of people I began with and it is helping me push extremely hard for this fight. I want to make a statement in this bout and put the division on notice.”

On Headlining Your First Pay-Per-View
“It is an honor that Thompson Boxing chose me to be in the main event of this pay-per-view. I take it extremely seriously and now feel the need to entertain the fans who pay money to watch this bout. A lot of people are having financial situations right now, so for someone to pay for my fight I know I have to give them a great show and that is what I plan on doing. I am training and pushing myself to the limit.”

On Coming Off his First Career Loss
“It was heartbreaking, I fought in my hometown of Midland, Texas, and the fight was stopped over a cut. I knew I could’ve continued, but I also respect the doctor for making the best judgment he felt at the time. I know in boxing once you lose, a shadow is cast upon fighters and I want to prove to the world that I am a worthy fighter who will still be a world champion one day. So especially coming off a loss, it is especially important that I put on a performance that gets people talking.”

On his opponent, Jorge Marron Jr.
“Marron Jr. is a very tough opponent, who sees me as an opportunity. I know he comes from a fighting family and he is training extremely hard, looking to take everything I have worked for. This is not an easy bout coming off my last fight. I am expecting a very good fight on July 26th.”

The July 26, 2020, 3.2.1. PPV broadcast, airing live on the Thompson Boxing Promotions website (www.thompsonboxing.com), will start at 4:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. ET., and will take place at the Omega Products International Event Center in Corona, CA. 3.2.1 Boxing is priced at $6.50 US Territories, Canada, EU and select Asian Countries, $3.50 Latin America, African and select Asian Countries.

For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please like the Banner Promotions Facebook Page, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @BannerBoxing.

Las Vegas – The final event of the UFC^® run of shows on UFC FIGHT ISLAND is set to be headlined by a pivotal middleweight bout as former champion and No. 1 ranked contender Robert Whittaker takes on No. 5 Darren Till. Also on the card, MMA legends Mauricio Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira look to settle their historic trilogy. All events on UFC FIGHT ISLAND are the result of a partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN^®: WHITTAKER vs. TILL will take place Saturday, July 25 at Flash Forum on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island. The full event will be simulcast airing live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (English and Spanish) with the prelims starting at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT and the main card at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. The event will be closed to the public and will be produced with only essential personnel in attendance

The first New Zealand-born UFC champion, Whittaker (21-5, fighting out of Sydney, Australia) aims to return to his winning ways and secure the next shot at his lost title. Whittaker first captured his championship after moving up in weight and going on an incredible winning streak that included stoppage wins over Jacare Souza, Derek Brunson and Brad Tavares. This streak was capped off with back-to-back wins over Yoel Romero to earn and retain the belt, in two of the best fights in the division’s history. He now intends to make a statement and cement his claim as the clear No. 1 contender.

Former UFC welterweight title challenger, Till (18-2, fighting out of Liverpool, England) made an immediate impact in the middleweight division with a victory over perennial top contender Kelvin Gastelum. Prior to moving up in weight, Till had established himself as one of the best welterweights in the world with marquee wins over Donald Cerrone and Stephen Thompson. Now, Till seeks to earn another shot at UFC gold by taking out his first former champion.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rua (26-11, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) looks to make it three in a row against fellow Brazilian legend Nogueira. One of the most exciting and dangerous athletes to compete in UFC and PRIDE, Rua has secured wins over a who’s who of MMA icons, including Alistair Overeem, Chuck Liddell, Mark Coleman, Rampage Jackson, Forrest Griffin and Lyoto Machida. He now intends to prove that he still has what it takes to compete with the best in the world.

Nogueira (23-9, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) plans to make the most of his third fight with Rua with a career-defining win. A former PRIDE standout, Nogueira made waves when he joined the UFC in 2009 by earning wins over former champions Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans. Now, he looks to get back in the win column with another signature finish in what could be his last bout.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Former UFC champion and No. 14 ranked Fabricio Werdum (23-8, fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif.) takes on former three-time light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson (18-6, fighting out of Stockholm, Sweden) in the heavyweight division
• In a matchup of top women’s strawweight contenders, former champion and No. 7 ranked Carla Esparza (17-6, fighting out of Irvine, Calif.) attempts to hand undefeated No. 9 Marina Rodriguez (12-0-2, fighting out of Santa Catarina, Brazil) her first loss
• Paul Craig (12-4, fighting out of Coatbridge, Scotland) battles fellow light heavyweight grappler Gadzhimurad Antigulov (20-6, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia)
• An exciting welterweight matchup sees Alex Oliveira (20-8, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) take on Peter Sobotta (17-5, fighting out of Balingen, Germany)
• Looking to set a record for fastest back-to-back UFC wins, Khamzat Chimaev (7-0, Stockholm, Sweden) returns to welcome Rhys McKee (10-2-1, fighting out of Northern Ireland)
• Veteran lightweight Francisco Trinaldo (25-7, fighting out of Federal District, Brazil) looks to spoil the UFC debut of Jai Herbert (10-1, fighting out of England, United Kingdom)
• Nicolas Dalby (15-2, fighting out of Copenhagen, Denmark) intends to put on another exciting performance when he meets Jesse Ronson (21-10, fighting out of London, Ontario, Canada) on short notice at welterweight
• In a heavyweight bout, Tom Aspinall (7-2, fighting out of England, United Kingdom) aims to make a good first impression on UFC fans when he takes on Jake Collier (11-4, fighting out of Cuba, Mo.)
• Undefeated featherweight prospect Movsar Evloev (12-0, fighting out of Ingushetia, Russia) looks to hand Mike Grundy (12-1, fighting out of England, United Kingdom) his first UFC loss
• Streaking Canadian heavyweight Tanner Boser (18-6-1, fighting out of St. Albert, Alberta, Canada) steps up on short notice to take on Raphael Pessoa (10-1, fighting out of Atuba, Parana, Brazil)
• No. 13 ranked women’s bantamweight Bethe Correia (11-4, fighting out of Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil) aims to defend her spot in the rankings against Pannie Kianzad (13-5, fighting out of Helsingborg, Skane County, Sweden)
• Ramazan Emeev (18-4, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) looks to bounce back into the win column against short-notice replacement Niklas Stolze (12-3, fighting out of Magdeburg, Germany) in a welterweight bout
• Top English bantamweight prospect Nathaniel Wood (16-4, fighting out of England, United Kingdom) aims to get back to his winning ways with a statement win over John Castaneda (14-2, fighting out of Minneapolis, Minn.)

UFC will then wrap up its first series of events on UFC FIGHT ISLAND with UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: WHITTAKER vs. TILL on Saturday, July 25.

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

A full line of UFC FIGHT ISLAND products, including t-shirts, hats, water bottles, tote bags, and more are available now on UFCStore.com

###

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 the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi:

The Department of Culture and Tourism conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction that enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. The Department manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and programmes relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The Department of Culture and Tourism supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate’s heritage. A key role played by the Department is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.

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 quickly to 7.9 million subscribers, offering fans thousands of live events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, as well as premium editorial content.

Programming on ESPN+ includes exclusive UFC and Top Rank boxing events, thousands of college sports events (including football and basketball) from more than a dozen sports at 20 conferences, hundreds of MLB and NHL games, top domestic and international soccer (Serie A, MLS, FA Cup, Bundesliga – beginning in 2020, EFL Championship and Carabao Cup, Eredivisie), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby and cricket, exclusive ESPN+ Original series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films.

Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) through the ESPN App, (on mobile and connected devices), ESPN.com or ESPNplus.com.  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.

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 (July 20, 2020) – Former two-time world title challenger Willie Monroe Jr. has thrown his hat in the ring for a potential showdown with four-division champion Canelo Alvarez that would take place in September.

Monroe (24-3, 6 KOs) of Rochester, New York has won three bouts in a row, and feels that he not only has signed to fight Canelo in the past, but he has as many credentials as some of the names that are being mentioned as possible opponents.

“This is a fight that is four years in the making,” said Monroe. “What happened was when I fought Gabriel Rosado four years ago, I signed a contract to fight Canelo. I think his people were arrogant in thinking that I would not win that fight. Well, I won that fight, and the fight with Canelo never happened.”

“My manager David McWater and Split-T Management works with everybody, and I am ready, willing and able to fight Canelo. Look at my track record, I am always willing to take on anyone. I stood and fought with Gennady Golovkin; I went to England to fight Billy Joe Saunders; I fought and beat Rosado, Javier Maciel, and Hugo Centeno. I see some of the guys who are in the mix, and I feel that I compare favorably to their resume’s, and would definitely give Canelo a better challenge, so I would love that opportunity.”

Monroe is managed by Split-T Management and is a promotional Free Agent.

     LAS VEGAS, NEV. (July 20, 2020) — Before he boards the Tokyo Express as a member of the 2021 Philippines Olympic boxing team, amateur middleweight standout and Manny Pacquiao’s newest addition Eumir Felix Marcial has decided to turn professional since professional fighters are now allowed to compete in the Olympics.  Marcial, 24, from Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines, recently signed an exclusive promotional agreement with Senator Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, which boasts a stable that currently includes three world champions — WBO Bantamweight Champion John Riel Casimero, IBF Super Flyweight Champion Jerwin Ancajas, and IBF Minimumweight Champion Pedro Taduran.  Marcial is expected to make his pro debut in the Fall in the U.S.

            “It is an honor to have my idol Senator Manny Pacquiao as my mentor and promoter,” said Marcial.  “I have seen the tremendous opportunities that Senator Pacquiao and MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons have given to so many Filipino Boxers.  I feel working under the MP Promotions banner will give me the best opportunity as I prepare for the Tokyo Olympics and my professional career.  I would like to thank all those who were part of my career from the start, most notably my ABAP family led by president Ricky Vargas, Secretary-General Ed Picson, and my coaches Ronald Chavez, Pat Gaspi and Romeo Brin.  Also to my lifelong inspirations, my fiancée Princess Galarpe, my siblings, and my mother Carmelita and father Eulalio.  Most of all, thank you to all Filipino sports fans who have shown me endless support from the time I won my first gold medal in 2011 at the AIBA Youth World Championship.  You have inspired me and I pledge to you that I will always give it my all to achieve our goal of winning for the Philippines its first Olympic gold medal next year in Tokyo 2021 and becoming the first middleweight world champion from the Philippines.  A million thanks and ‘Mabuhay!’ to all the Filipino athletes.”

            “MP Promotions is thrilled to be selected by Eumir to guide his boxing career,” said Sean Gibbons, president of MP Promotions.  “Senator Pacquiao’s goal at MP Promotions is to give as many Filipino boxers access to the biggest platforms in the U.S. and around the world, and create the best opportunities to succeed in boxing like the ones Manny has enjoyed over the last 25 years.  We have followed Eumir through the amateurs and he is special.  His dedication to boxing, his family, and the country of the Philippines is very strong.  MP Promotions is proud to be guiding its first Olympian.  We will make sure his journey to the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo is a smooth one as we help Eumir achieve his dual dream of winning Olympic gold and a professional world title for his father and the Philippines.” 

             Before the pandemic shut the world down, Marcial had been on a roll.  He punched his ticket for the 2021 Olympics in March by winning all four of his bouts in the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifying tournament in Amman, Jordan.  Marcial was the top seed in his division.  Last December, he captured the gold at the 30th Southeast Asian Games as well as the silver medal in last year’s World Boxing Championships.  His illustrious résumé also includes being a three-time SEA games champion.

Jason Welborn says he was close to walking away from boxing after his controversial loss to James Metcalf last year, but the former World Title challenger has a new found hunger ahead of his Commonwealth Middleweight Title clash with Felix Cash on Week 3 of Matchroom Fight Camp on Friday August 14.

Welborn (24-8, 7 KOs) was stopped with a left hook to the body in round eight when he took on Metcalf for the vacant Commonwealth 154lbs belt in Leeds. The Liverpudlian was warned by referee Steve Gray for straying low with his punches in the sixth, then, in the eighth, Welborn was given added time to recover from a low shot.

Metcalf had a point deducted for the low shot before finishing proceedings moments later. Tividale’s Welborn was left seriously considering his future in the sport that has seen him win the British, WBC International and Midlands Area Titles – but his desire to land the Commonwealth strap pushed him on to fight another day. 

“I dropped back down to Light-Middleweight in my last fight against Metcalf,” said Welborn. “I was disgusted with everything that happened in that fight. I was going to walk away from the sport. I thought ‘you know what, I don’t need boxing’. At the end of day, I’ve worked hard to get here, and these up-and-coming fighters are getting looked after with the refs, but I don’t want to go out like that.

“It was my wife who made me get back into it. She said ‘that’s my belt, go and get it’. She knows what I’ve done to get here. My work is really successful at the minute and I could put all of my time into that if I wanted to, but who knows what more I could achieve in boxing. I’ve got more to give the sport and there’s something out there waiting for me. I’m not going out until I know what it is.”

In a recent interview, Wokingham’s Cash said Welborn ‘comes up short’ whenever he gets in the ring with ‘top operators’, and the Tony Sims-trained fighter believes this will be the case again when they clash live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US next month. 

Armed with a full training camp after plenty of notice, Welborn is confident his preparation will help him pull off an eye-catching win over the highly-rated Matchroom fighter, who he feels has had it easy with backing from a major promoter. 

“He’s been with Matchroom as soon as he turned pro. He’s had the luxury of long camps and plenty of notice. When I’ve been working I’ve had a calls off Errol Johnson at two weeks’ notice sometimes. When Nav Mansouri pulled out against Liam Smith I stepped in at two weeks’ notice and did what I could at the time. 

“Life changes and I’ve got lucky with sponsorships and I’ve moved forwards. I’ve won a British Title, if I walked away from the sport now I’ve got nothing left to prove. Not many people have done what I’ve done for the Black Country. He’s had it fed with a silver spoon. If I’d have had his backing I’d have probably been a World Champion. I’ve always had the heart and the hunger for boxing. I’ve just never had the backing or the support where I can train full time.

“I’ve had good notice for this fight and I’m feeling good up at Middleweight not having to worry about the weight so much. It’s business and at the end of the day I’m coming to do a job, the same as him. I think it’s going to be a scrap. By the time fight night comes around I’ll be ready for a good hard 12 rounds. I’m topping the bill and I’m going to make a good statement in this fight.”

Cash vs. Welborn headlines Week 3 of Matchroom Fight Camp, recent Matchroom signing Zelfa Barrett (23-1, 14 KOs) meets Ireland’s undefeated Eric Donovan (12-0, 7 KOs), Northampton Super-Welterweight Kieron Conway (14-1-1, 3 KOs) takes on Rotherham’s Navid Mansouri (20-3-2, 6 KOs), Watford Super-Bantamweight Shannon Courtenay (5-0, 2 KOs) faces the toughest opponent of her career in Rachel Ball (5-1) and hard-hitting Super-Middleweight menace John Docherty (8-0, 6 KOs) takes on the tough and durable Anthony Fox (8-12-4).

German Heavyweight Michael Wallisch has sensationally declared war on Hall-Of-Fame promoter Frank Warren’s stable of elite heavyweights.

Wallisch (23-0, 13KO’s) faces unbeaten Putney bruiser Joe Joyce (10-0, 9KO’s) next Saturday, live on BT Sport 1 at 7.15pm, and the Munich man fully intends to derail ‘The Juggernaut’ before moving on to Daniel Dubois in October and then an unlikely showdown with ‘Gypsy King’ TYSON FURY.

“Joe Joyce is a solid boxer. He was a good amateur, but I think Dubois is already in his head” said Wallisch, “When I win this fight, i’ll fight Dubois in October.”

“I think both fighters are strong heavyweights. Tyson Fury is the name everybody wants and he’s with Frank Warren. 

“Two wins and I’ll be fighting Fury. That’s a nice incentive.”

Wallisch makes his ring return on Saturday on the second UK behind-closed-doors show to be held post-lockdown and will share the bill with some of the brightest talents in British boxing, including Ekow Essuman, Denzel Bentley, Chris Bourke and Louis Lynn.

Despite his intentions to disrupt the British Heavyweight scene, Wallisch insists he can’t wait to fight on these shores.

“I look forward to coming to Great Britain. I love the way UK fans celebrate boxing and the respect they have for the athletes.”

Preparing for the fight in his native Germany has proved as tricky as it has for any UK fighter, because of the coronavirus restrictions over the last few months, but Wallisch doesn’t expect it to have any impact on his performance.

“I’ve been keeping in shape, of course. In Germany you couldn’t train in the gym for a long time, but now it’s fortunately possible again.

“I’m looking forward to the fight, even if the preparation time was short.”

———-

Joyce vs Wallisch is live on BT Sport 1 at 7.15pm on Saturday July 25th

17th of July 2020 – EC Boxing’s newly signed Heayvweight Mahmoud Charr has made it clear once again that he is willing to fight the big names of the division. In recent social media posts he offered non-other than former World Champion Andy Ruiz Jr. to fight him for his WBA World Title: „Andy Ruiz – I give you the opportunity to become World Champion again. Accept my challenge and do not hide behind your manager or promoter. Be a man and fight me, I’ll come to the US or Mexiko, I guarantee you that this will be a real battle.“

With Promoter Erol Ceylan from Hamburg, Germany at his side, fights of that scale have become possible for Charr, who’s been eagerly awaiting his return to the ring. Ceylan, who started EC Boxing a decade ago, has made a name for himself in the business. Apart from Charr, well-known boxers such as Christian Hammer, IBO Welterweight Champion Sebastian Formella or Light Heayvweight contender Igor Mikhalkin are part of his stable. Ceylan wants his new client to be involved in massive events: „Mahmoud wants to fight everyone and we are willing to negotiate with everyone. It’s time for a big Heavyweight showdown.“

Ruiz, who recently aligned himself with highly-rated Canelo trainer Eddy Reynoso, would be a huge task for the man from Cologne, but big challenges are nothing new for him. He fought both Vitali Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin in Moscow, as well as other relevant names in the division. He never turned down a dangerous fight. And while Charr is preparing for battle, Erol Ceylan is doing everything in his power to get them done.

SID KHAN, the man who taught Joe Joyce to box and older brother of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, says boxing needs the Heavyweight super-fight between Daniel Dubois and his Putney protege in October.

The showdown between Dubois and Joyce is now scheduled for London’s O2 on Saturday October 24 and todays announcement by Boris Johnson that fans might be allowed back in stadia by October has increased hopes the Heavyweight clash can finally be held.

Khan, head coach at Earlsfield ABC, helped turn Joyce into one of Britain’s most successful amateur boxers ever even though the Putney man only started boxing 12 years ago at the age of 22.

“Boxing needs a big bout like this and people want it in October. Without professional boxing we will be in trouble,” said Sid who has been coaching for around 40 years.

“Boxing needs this fight in October.”

Since Lockdown, Dubois and Joyce have been booked in tricky behind-closed-doors battles against German opposition in Michael Wallisch (23-0, 13KO’s) and Erik Pfeifer (7-0, 5KO’s) respectively.

Joe steps into the ring with Wallisch next Saturday, July 25th, before Dubois returns on August 29th.

Both German opponents have made it clear their intention is to spoil the party and derail Frank Warren’s plans to stage the huge domestic Heavyweight clash but Khan is hopeful that despite the many obstacles it’s faced, the fight will still go ahead as planned.

“Let’s hope it does go off… and we will see what happens, but I’m hoping Joe does the business. I personally think he’s unbeatable.

“One of my coaches bought five tickets for the original date in April for the club coaches and we still have them in place even though refunds were offered by the box office.”

Joyce, 34, was a keep fitter when he walked into Khan’s famous South West London gym and was working as a swimming instructor.

Joyce (10-0, 9 KOs) won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, silver at the 2013 European Amateur Championships and bronze at the 2015 World Championships.

He had to be content with silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics, dropping a controversial decision against Tony Yoka in the final.

Khan added: “Anything we asked Joe to do he would and he won so many national titles at Earlsfield.

“His Mum lives near the gym and he usually pops in, but I haven’t seen him for a good five months because of coronavirus and before that he was training in America.

“I have spoken to him on the phone, but he usually pops in, hits the bags and has a laugh with the boys.

“I will say, it is very hard to read Joe. He just shrugs his shoulders and gets on with it.

“You have to have a bit of banter to get him going, but if you told him training tomorrow was climbing Mount Snowdon he would go for it.”

Dubois (14-0, 13 KOs) is the early bookies favourite and Khan groaned: “People have Dubois winning already, but let us see what happens.

“As much as I like Dubois I don’t think he has been challenged.

“It is such an exciting bout to watch, but it won’t go the distance. They are both bangers and can really hit. It all depends what the game plan of their coaches is.

“The boxer does the hard bit, but there are still people behind them who have to guide them the right way.

“It depends on how well they have prepared because there are a lot of different factors with coronavirus. Are they getting the sparring? Are they getting the right training?”

———————————

Tickets are now on sale via AXS.com and Ticketmaster.co.uk

Ticket Prices:

£400 Ringside – Hospitality
£300 Floor
£200 Floor
£150 Floor/Tier
£100 Tier
£80 Tier
£55 Upper Tier
£40 Upper Tier

Rachel Ball is preparing to give fight fans the “shock of their lives” when she takes on popular Watford prospect Shannon Courtenay over eight rounds on Week 3 of Matchroom Fight Camp in Brentwood, Essex on Friday August 14.

The three-time kickboxing World Champion racked up four wins on the bounce after switching to professional boxing in 2017, including a points win over Eftychia Kathopouli in an all-out war at the Banks’s Stadium that saw both fighters touch the canvas.

Her first loss came against current Interim WBC Super-Featherweight World Champion Katherina Thanderz last year when she travelled to Norway at short notice to take on the former European Champion over eight rounds in Arendal. 

Despite Thanderz stepping in heavy on the scales, the fight went ahead and Ball pushed ‘Katy’ all the way in a close points loss. Having proved she can mix it with world level fighters, Ball has questioned how the relatively untested Courtenay will cope in her first real step up.

“Fans are going to have the shock of their lives,” said Ball. “They’re going to see a tall skinny ginger girl from Walsall coming in and smashing it up in Eddie’s back garden. I can’t wait and I think everyone is going to enjoy it. It’s going to be a brilliant fight.

“People say keep it long and I’m sure I will, but if it comes down to it I don’t mind having a good tear up. I’d love that. That’s not a problem. How will she cope with someone who throws back at her? How will she cope with the pressure?”

Ball, the only woman to win the BBBofC Midlands Area Fight of the Year Award, heads into her showdown with Courtenay as the underdog with the bookies, a tag that she happily owns as she looks to announce herself on the big stage live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US. 

“A lot of people have me down as the underdog. I’m only the underdog because people don’t know me. It’s not a reflection of my skills or my ability to fight. I’m sure they’ll see that come fight night. The underdog tag spurs me on because I want to prove to people how good a fighter I am.

“As soon as the fight was announced and it was out with the bookies I had people putting money on me. People back at home have been betting on me. If I win, I’m going to be really popular on August 14^th! Hopefully it will be a good pay day for everyone watching at home.” 

Courtenay vs. Ball lands on Week 3 of Matchroom Fight Camp, Felix Cash (12-0, 8 KOs) puts his Commonwealth Middleweight Title on the line for the second time against former World Title challenger Jason Welborn (24-8, 7 KOs) at the top of the bill, recent Matchroom signing Zelfa Barrett (23-1, 14 KOs) meets Ireland’s undefeated Eric Donovan (12-0, 7 KOs), Northampton Super-Welterweight Kieron Conway (14-1-1, 3 KOs) takes on Rotherham’s Navid Mansouri (20-3-2, 6 KOs) and hard-hitting Super-Middleweight menace John Docherty (8-0, 6 KOs) takes on the tough and durable Anthony Fox (8-12-4).

Undefeated Northampton star Chantelle Cameron has signed a multi-fight promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing. 

Cameron (12-0, 7 KOs) finds herself on the cusp of World Title action after winning WBC Final Eliminators in two separate divisions last year, securing her spot as Mandatory Challenger to Undisputed Lightweight Queen Katie Taylor and Super-Lightweight ruler Jessica McCaskill. 

Trained by Jamie Moore at the VIP Gym in Asltey and managed by MTK Global, 29-year-old Cameron says a huge showdown with her idol Taylor is at the top of her wish list but she won’t put her career on hold waiting for it and is already targeting other opportunities. 

“Matchroom and Sky are a huge platform,” said Cameron. “It’s always been in my sights and I’ve not had the chance until now to link-up, I can’t wait to get going. Day by day under Jamie and Nigel I’m improving but I’m still not the finished article. This time has allowed me to work in different areas I probably wouldn’t have focused on in proper training camp. 

“I wasn’t expecting to become mandatory in two weights, it was a bit of a shock but I’m delighted with MTK and Jamie since we’ve all come together. The last two fights have been great matchmaking and now a World Title shot is not too far away either at Lightweight or Super-Lightweight.

“Before my first pro fight people were asking me to fight Katie. I’m a massive fan, she’s a legend and I look up to her but at the same time I’m her Mandatory and I want that fight. That being said, I don’t want to be hanging around waiting – it could be years away, she has a fight lined up and is also talking about other fights.

“I want to win World Titles myself and can’t be sitting around waiting for that fight. As it stands, I’m not sure what the next move is given what’s happened with COVID-19 but I’ll be ready to go when the call comes. I’m looking to put on a good show for my Matchroom debut, first impressions last.”

“I’m delighted to welcome Chantelle Cameron to the team,” said Eddie Hearn. “I’ve been watching her closely over the last couple of years and she’s a huge talent – exciting, relentless and punches very hard. I believe she is going to go on and become a multi-weight World Champion.

“Her next fight will be for a World Title and we’ll announce it in the next couple of weeks. Women’s boxing is on fire right now and I’m so excited to be a part of it and deliver huge nights on sky sports and DAZN.” 

BOSTON (July 16, 2020) – Undefeated super featherweight prospect Jesus Vasquez, Jr. (6-0, 2 KOs), fighting out of Englewood, Colorado, has signed a managerial contract with
Ryan Roach’s Fighter Locker.

“I talked to my coach, Leroy Miller, who I’ve been with since the beginning, and it made sense to us,” Vasquez, Jr. talked about why he signed with Roach. “I had a good feeling about Ryan.”

“I knew Jesus was a special fighter when former world champion Vernon Phillips reached out to me and said that there’s a special kid out here you should look at,” Roach commented. “I spoke with his coach and it seemed like a perfect fit. Leroy is a great coach and I look forward to working with him. Jesus is very experienced and a well-rounded fighter. He has speed and power. I’m confident he will be competing for a world title in under 15 fights. He’s a special type of fighter and adding fighters like Jesus to my stable is remarkable.”

Vasquez, Jr. was a decorated American amateur boxer, posting a 158-25 record, at one point ranked No. 2 in the country at 123-pounds, No. 3 at 132, highlighted by gold-medal performances three times at the Ringside National Championships, in addition to winning the PAL Championships. He also medaled at numerous national and regional amateur tournaments.

Th 29-year-old Vasquez, Jr. got a relatively late start on his pro boxing career, which started February 10, 2018, when he won a four-round unanimous decision over Eberardo Lopez. Vasquez stayed an amateur to try and make the 2016 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. He was a member of the USA Knockouts of the USB World Boxing Series of Boxing, losing his Olympic bid in a losing U.S. Trials semifinals match versus Carlos Balderas, and then took off 1 ½ years from boxing. He did earn his Associates Degree from Arapahoe Community College in business.

His amateur experience included fights with Balderas, the 2016 US Olympian, reigning International lightweight World champion Teofimo Lopez, and countless others who prepared him for the pro ranks.

“I tried qualifying for the Olympic Team, but after losing to Balderas, I got away from boxing” Vasquez, Jr. said. “I returned when my love of the sport came back to me. The amateurs introduced me to different styles, fighting so many boxers nationally, and I even fought some International opponents here in the U.S.

“I got a late start in the pros, but I’m not in a super rush. I feel that I’m at the level to take hard fights. I don’t need to fight a lot of easy fights to build my record, because my amateur background puts me at that level. I would like to fight 6-8 times this year, but the pandemic has messed up plans for everybody. I had a fight scheduled for August that has been cancelled.”

A good example of Vasquez’ amateur pedigree advancing his pro career is his last fight this past January, in which he won a unanimous 6-round unanimous decision against 62-fight veteran Robert Frankel (37-24-1).

“He’s been training, and we are looking to get him back in the ring soon,” Roach added.

Vasquez, Jr. joins Fighter Locker’s growing stable that 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 (7-0, 3 KOs).

Other Fighter Locker stablemates include Dominican 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, Toronto, Canada welterweight Jeff “The Trouble 1” Tabrizi (8-3, 7 KOs), and New Haven, CT super welterweight Jimmy “Quiet Storm” Williams (16-3-2, 5 KOs). Plus, three fighters prepared to make their pro debuts: former Kazakhstan National Team light heavyweight Alexey Sevostyanov, Irish National champion Paul Ryan, and U.S. Army bantamweight Daniel Bailey, Jr.

CHRIS BOURKE ENTERS into his first title encounter at the BT Studio on July 25 against the also unbeaten Ramez Mahmood, but is also happy to set his sights a little higher and contemplate a challenge to British and Commonwealth super bantamweight king Brad Foster.

Bourke, 25, gets his maiden title opportunity on the second of Frank Warren’s summer series of specials from the home of BT when he will battle for the vacant Southern Area super bantamweight belt against the 26-year-old Mahmood, who goes by the stage name of ‘The Mathemagician’.

If it is Bourke (7-0) rather than Mahmood (11-0) who gets his sums right on the night then the prospect of a mouth-watering shot at Brad the Blade could well be a realistic option.

First and foremost, however, Streatham man Bourke knows he has got a job to do against a good fighter. The term ‘trade fight’ is being bandied around, which essentially means boxing people in the know believe it will be a cracker.

“Yeah it is a fight that was going to be made for the o2 bill before it got postponed, so it was always in the pipeline and it is a good fight,” reasoned Bourke, who trains out of the Peacock Gym in Canning Town. “He is a good fighter, he has won the title before (at featherweight) so he knows what he’s doing.”

Bourke has witnessed in person what he will be up against.

“I don’t really watch tapes of the people I am fighting, but I have seen him live when he boxed Brett Fidoe because he was boxing on the same show as one of my teammates, Sean Phillips. So I saw him there.

“He does the basics really well, nothing amazing, but nothing bad either.

“I was watching the fight knowing it was a possibility I would fight him. You see weaknesses and things they don’t do well, but every fight is different when you are actually in the ring. You can’t really read too much into it.”

For the former Team GB graduate his big night at BT will represent his first experience of fighting close to the top of bill and to sample of a few of the trimmings that come with the distinction. Next time though, he will remember to vet the images of him before they go to print.

“Yeah it was good to have a poster, even though it was not a great picture of me! I had a word about that straight away. At the moment I think it is co-main event and it is live on BT so it is good for me.

“I get butterflies for every fight and I won’t treat this one differently because you go into every one to win,” he added before confirming he was glued to the first studio show on July 10  so he could see what to expect when it comes to his turn.

“It was a bit strange with the ring walks and that, while you could hear every shot. It was different and BT did it well.”

Of course, top of the bill last time out was British champ Foster winning his belt outright by defeating James Beech jr on points. While Bourke was suitably impressed, it would not deter him from attempting to part Foster from his belts.

“I thought he boxed well. I’d never seen Beech box before and he did quite well. Brad Foster started really strong and looked quite solid before fading a bit in the middle rounds and then finishing really strong.

“Definitely, if it got offered I would take it now, but it is down to my team to decide. For me personally, if it was there, I would take it.

“I see him as like, no disrespect, like a worse version of Louie Lynn. Louie is relentless constantly, whereas Brad Foster is relentless then he’ll faze off and then pick it back up again.

“He does switch well and he’s got a nice variation of shots to the head and body. I think he is a good fighter.

“You are in boxing to win titles and I won’t avoid anyone. Maybe my power would make him back off a bit more and it would be an interesting and good fight.”

Chris Bourke and Ramez Mahmood collide for the vacant southern area super bantamweight championship on Saturday 25th July live on BT Sport. The show is headlined by the return of 10-0 heavyweight juggernaut Joe Joyce as he takes on Germany’s Michael Wallisch (20-3).

LOS ANGELES (July 16, 2020): We at Golden Boy are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Travell Mazion last night. Mazion was a kind, charismatic young man who lit up every room he walked into and brought excitement to fans inside the ring. We send our heartfelt prayers and thoughts to his family. May he rest in peace.

Mazion succumbed to an auto accident last night in Texas.

Simon Vallily is determined to inflict a first career defeat on Dillian Whyte’s Heavyweight protégé Fabio Wardley when they collide for the vacant English Title on the opening week of Fight Camp in Brentwood, Essex on Saturday August 1, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US. 

The 2010 Commonwealth Gold Medallist has let himself down a few times during his 20-fight professional career, particularly in 2018. First, he was on his way to lifting the English Cruiserweight Title only to lose his discipline and end up drawing with Afran Iqbal. Later in the year, he turned up at the Newcastle Arena over the Cruiserweight Championship weight limit and was stopped by Craig Glover.

While his career was not over, it was hanging by a loose thread. But the 34-year-old talent has re-invented himself as a Heavyweight and is currently undefeated in four fights, reeling off stoppage wins over Jone Volau, Dorian Darch and Erik Nazaryan before a points verdict over Phil Williams in December.

“I think that experience will play a big part in this fight,” said Vallily. “People keep on going on about the guys Fabio has sparred with, but I’ve been around the block and I’ve sparred with some of the best lads in the world – I’m not going to bang on about it. 

“10oz gloves and no headguards, believe me it’s a whole different ball game. It’s going to be a big eye-opener for him. I’ve had a look at him, and you can see he’s got a bit of talent. He’s tricky, he’s fresh, he’s going to come and he’s going to be fit. 

“It’s going to be a really good fight but totally disregard my professional career to this point because to be honest with you it’s been a total shambles. This is where it starts now and unfortunately for Fabio, this is my coming out party and not his. He’s not going to see the final bell. Sorry Fabio, but you’re going to sleep mate!”

Wardley vs. Vallily lands of Week 1 of Matchroom Fight Camp, top of the billsees Sam Eggington (28-6, 17 KOs) put his IBF International Super-Welterweight title on the line against Ted Cheeseman (15-2-1, 9 KOs), Belfast’s big-hitting James Tennyson (26-3, 22 KOs) takes on Cardiff’s Gavin Gwynne (12-1, 2 KOs) for the vacant British Lightweight Title, Chatteris talent Jordan Gill (24-1, 7 KOs) meets Watford’s Reece Bellotti (14-3, 12 KOs) in an electric Featherweight battle, and gifted Sheffield Super-Lightweight Dalton Smith (5-0, 4 KOs) squares off with Liverpool’s Nathan Bennett (9-1, 2 KOs). 

16th of July 2020 – Victor Faust is definitely a name to remember. The former amateur-standout has left his days in the unpaid ranks behind to pursue greatness in the professional boxing game. To accomplish his dreams he signed a long-term deal with German promotion EC Boxing in Hamburg, Germany. Erol Ceylan, the boss of ECB, is setting ambitious goals for his new client: „I’m 100 % sure that Victor has the ability to not only climb the ranks but become the heavyweight champion of the world. Size, skills, mentality – he’s got it all. We are very much looking forward to his progression in the future.“

Just like the Klitschko brothers Faust stems from that world-class amateur-program in the Ukraine, that has produced several outstanding fighters over the years, including Vasily Lomachenko, Oleksandr Usyk and Sergiy Derevyanchenko. The imposing 6’6’’, 232 pound giant won two european championships as well as four national titles, competed in AIBA’s World Series of Boxing and represented Germany’s supreme boxing team Traktor Schwerin. His solid basic fundamentals, astonishing physique and international accomplishments made Faust the perfect new signing for EC Boxing.

With the help of Peter Hanraths, who was one of the main figures leading Universum Boxpromotion to huge success in the 90’s and 2000’s, shaping the careers of fighters such as Dariusz Michalczewski, Felix Sturm or the Klitschko brothers, Ceylan was able to convince Faust to join the team. In late February the 28-year old made his professional debut, stopping the tough Belarus fighter Andrei Mazanik in less than a minute. As soon as the Corona-Crisis is over, Faust will come over to train at the EC Boxing Gym in Hamburg with coach Bülent Baser at his side. „It feels good to have such a great team surrounding me, so I can fully focus on the many tasks ahead. My goal is to become heavyweight champion of the world,“ Faust states with confidence.

Dina Thorslund (14-0, 6 KOs) defends her WBO World Super Bantamweight Title against former World Champion Nina Radovanovic (14-3, 3 KOs) as boxing returns to Denmark on September 26th at the Struer Energi Park.
 
Thorslund reunites with promoter Team Sauerland to deliver another exciting night of boxing in Struer. The Danish star will be headlining her hometown arena for the fifth time as she makes a third defence of the WBO title she claimed with a unanimous points win over Jessica Arreguin Munoz in 2018.
 
“I’m really looking forward to boxing again,” says Thorslund. “It’s been over a year since I’ve been in the ring, and my motivation has only grown, so I’m really looking forward to it. Nina Radovanovic is a good opponent, who works hard. I expect her to try to put me under pressure, but she will not succeed with that.
 
“I am happy to be working with Team Sauerland again. The cooperation works really fine. It gives me some peace of mind in the build up to the fight, as I know they know what they are doing, so I just have to concentrate on boxing.
 
“The pandemic put an end to me being able to fight, but my motivation hasn’t been affected. It’s the same as it was before and I’m 100% motivated. People can expect a top tuned Dina on September 26th. I have been training and waiting a long time for this fight, so I expect to be sharper than ever.”
 
Thorslund can expect a tough test as she returns to the ring for the first time following her points victory over April Adams in June 2019. Her opponent Radovanovic is an experienced contender. The 28-year-old Serbian is a former IBO World Champion, who has also fought twice for WBC honours.
 
“I’m very excited to face Dina,” said a confident Radovanovic. “I’ve watched a few of her fights and it seems that we have a similar temperament. She is a strong fighter and I believe the fight will be very attractive for the audience.
 
“I’ve had several title fights. They’ve always been exceptional and I have gained a lot of experience from each one, which I will use to my advantage. It’s nothing new to me to fight away from home in my opponent’s country. I love it! It’s what I’m looking forward to. I believe the Danish fans will be in for a surprise.”
 
“We’re delighted to be bringing boxing back to Denmark,” said promoter Nisse Sauerland. “We’re happy to be working with Dina once again, and excited to return to Struer for the fifth time, where we will be working with TK Promotion to ensure another spectacular night of boxing at the Struer Energi Park.
 
“In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, we will of course be taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of spectators, fighters and officials. We will be working closely with the Danish Professional Boxing Federation, and will continue to follow the latest guidance and advice from Danish authorities.”
 
Ticket details for Dina Thorslund vs. Nina Radovanovic will be shared in the coming weeks. Sign up to Ticket Alerts for priority booking.

  •         Felix Verdejo 135.9 lbs vs. Will Madera 135.8 lbs 
(Lightweight — 10 Rounds)

•         Jared Anderson 241.8 lbs vs. Hector Perez 220.7 lbs 
(Heavyweight — 4 Rounds)

•       Martino Jules 127 lbs vs. Aleem Jumakhonov 125.1 lbs 
(Featherweight — 8 Rounds)

•           Kenny Davis Jr. 134.5 lbs vs. Eduardo Sanchez 134.6 lbs 
(Lightweight — 4 Rounds)
Felix Verdejo  
“Having passed the initial test of the scale, it is time to demonstrate tomorrow in the ring the result  of all my dedication, effort, and perseverance. It will be different to fight in ‘The Bubble’ at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas without my fans, but I have no doubt that I will carry in my heart, my family, my people of Puerto Rico, and all who have supported me throughout my career.” 

* The Miguel Marriaga-Mark John Yap main event, contracted for 128 pounds, was canceled after Yap weighed in at 136.7 pounds. Verdejo vs. Madera is the new main event. The card will proceed as scheduled live on ESPN & ESPN Deportes TOMORROW beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

NEW YORK (July 15, 2020) – Highly regarded prospect Javier Martinez made a successful professional debut by winning a four-round unanimous decision over Ryan Burrs in a middleweight bout at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Martinez is under the guidance of Split-T Management’s Tom VanNewhouse.

Martinez boxed well and featured a strong right hook, especially to the body. He made Burrs back up on several occasions with those hard right hooks as the tall southpaw won by scores of 40-36 on all cards.

With the win, the 24 year-old native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin is now 1-0.

“I went in there with a game-plan that I thought that I was fighting a southpaw. I quickly adjusted. I should have used my jab more. In my next fight, I will fix that, and I will have my full team with me,” said Martinez.

“I could tell that I was working the body well. Those right hooks were very effective, and I am happy to win my pro debut. I will get back in the gym and work on the things that I need to work on, and I will keep getting better with each fight.”

Martinez is promoted by Top Rank.

Las Vegas – UFC^® continues its run of shows on UFC FIGHT ISLAND with a vacant flyweight championship bout that will see No. 1 ranked contender Deiveson Figueiredo rematch No. 2 Joseph Benavidez. In an exciting clash of middleweight contenders, No. 6 ranked Jack Hermansson takes on No. 7 Kelvin Gastelum. All events on UFC FIGHT ISLAND are the result of a partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+^®: FIGUEIREDO vs. BENAVIDEZ 2 will take place Saturday, July 18 at Flash Forum on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island. The main card begins at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT in English and Spanish on ESPN+. The preliminary card will kick off at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (English and Spanish). The event will be closed to the public and will be produced with only essential personnel in attendance.

Figueiredo (18-1, fighting out of Soure, Pará, Brazil) scored a controversial TKO win over Benavidez in February, but was deemed ineligible for the vacant championship due to missing weight. Arguably the hardest hitting flyweight on the roster, Figueiredo holds spectacular victories against Tim Elliott, Alexandre Pantoja and John Moraga. Figueiredo now looks to do right by his second title opportunity and prove his win over Benavidez was no fluke.

Considered by many to be among the greatest fighters to never win a UFC championship, Benavidez (28-6, fighting out of Las Cruces, N.M.) has a fresh opportunity to make his dream a reality. Over the course of his tremendous career, he has earned impressive victories against Jussier Formiga (twice), Henry Cejudo and Tim Elliott. Benavidez now hopes to even the score with Figueiredo and capture the UFC flyweight championship.

Known for his heavy ground-and-pound attack, Hermansson (20-5, fighting out of Oslo, Norway) has proven to be as tough and gritty as they come at middleweight. Victorious in four of his last five outings, he has netted exciting wins over Jacare Souza, David Branch and Thales Leites. Hermansson now aims to re-assert himself as a title threat by taking out another former UFC title challenger.

Winner of The Ultimate Fighter season 17, the resume of Gastelum (16-5 1NC, fighting out of Yuma, Ariz.) features the top names at middleweight and includes a classic five-round battle against champion Israel Adesanya. He also holds sensational wins over Michael Bisping, Jacare Souza and Tim Kennedy. Gastelum now hopes to continue his climb up the ranks by taking out Hermansson.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• In an exciting lightweight bout, Marc Diakiese (14-3, fighting out of Doncaster, England) meets Rafael Fiziev (7-1, fighting out of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan by way of Phuket, Thailand)
• Ariane Lipski (12-5, fighting out of Curitiba, State of Paraná, Brazil) aims to build off her most recent win when she takes on Luana Carolina (6-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil)
• In a pivotal flyweight contenders’ bout, No. 4 ranked Alexandre Pantoja (22-4, fighting out of Arraial Do Cabo, Brazil) squares off with unbeaten No. 7 Askar Askarov (11-0-1, fighting out of Khasavyurt, Dagestan, Russia)
• Undefeated Roman Dolidze (6-0, fighting out of Odessa, Ukraine) makes his UFC debut against Khadis Ibragimov (8-2, fighting out of Saint Petersburg, Russia)
• Grant Dawson (15-1, fighting out of Lee’s Summit, Mo.) meets Nad Narimani (12-3, fighting out of Bristol, England) in a 150-pound catchweight bout
• Joe Duffy (16-4, fighting out of Donegal, Ireland) returns to take on Joel Alvarez (16-2, fighting out of Asturias, Spain)
• Brett Johns (16-2, fighting out of Swansea, Wales) goes for another highlight-reel finish when he takes on Montel Jackson (10-1, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.)
• UFC flyweight newcomers collide when Malcolm Gordon (12-3, fighting out of London, Ont., Canada) squares off with Amir Albazi (12-1, fighting out of London, England)
• Davi Ramos (10-3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) meets Arman Tsarukyan (14-2, fighting out of Krasnodar, Russia, by way of Phuket, Thailand) in a battle of gritty lightweight grapplers
• Heavyweights kick off the evening when Carlos Felipe (8-0, fighting out of Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil) squares off with Serghei Spivac (10-2, fighting out of Chisinau, Republic of Moldova)

UFC will then wrap up its first series of events on UFC FIGHT ISLAND with UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: WHITTAKER vs. TILL on Saturday, July 25.

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

A full line of UFC FIGHT ISLAND products, including t-shirts, hats, water bottles, tote bags, and more are available now on UFCStore.com

###

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 the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi:

The Department of Culture and Tourism conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction that enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. The Department manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and programmes relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The Department of Culture and Tourism supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate’s heritage. A key role played by the Department is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.

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 quickly to 7.9 million subscribers, offering fans thousands of live events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, as well as premium editorial content.

Programming on ESPN+ includes exclusive UFC and Top Rank boxing events, thousands of college sports events (including football and basketball) from more than a dozen sports at 20 conferences, hundreds of MLB and NHL games, top domestic and international soccer (Serie A, MLS, FA Cup, Bundesliga – beginning in 2020, EFL Championship and Carabao Cup, Eredivisie), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby and cricket, exclusive ESPN+ Original series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films.

Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) through the ESPN App, (on mobile and connected devices), ESPN.com or ESPNplus.com.  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.

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.