NEW YORK (January 8, 2020) – Split-T Management has signed undefeated cruiserweight Brandon Glanton to a managerial contract.

Glanton of Riverside, California has a record of 11-0 with nine knockouts. Glanton is trained by Jason Jones.

The 27 year-old Glanton began boxing at the age of 21 as he was working at a K-Mart and co-worker Corey Wilson, who was a professional MMA Fighter, led Brandon to the gym.

Glanton played two-years of college football at Albany State as a Defensive End and Nose Tackle.

Glanton describes himself as a pressure fighter. “I am hard nosed with lots of tenacity. I have good hand speed and power. I want to make these fighters jump over top rope. I have good rings smarts and I know how to move around the ring. Pressure bursts pipes,” said Glanton.

Glanton’s amateur record was 44-6 and he won two National Qualifying tournaments for the U.S. Olympic team, and took 3rd place in the United States Olympic Trials.

Glanton turned professional on May 6, 2017 with a 1st round stoppage over Willie Kyles, and is coming off a 3rd round stoppage over Jose Humberto Corral.

“I am excited to sign with Split-T Management. I had an opportunity to sign with Split-T Management out of the amateurs, but I was naive about the boxing business so I did not sign with any manager. As I started to understand the business, I called Dave McWater back, and we made a deal. I see what Split-T Management and their fighters are doing and I wanted to be part of the team,” said Glanton.

“Brandon is a terrific prospect with a great professional style and power. I see big things from him in the future and he will be in some very big fights,” said McWater.

Glanton has a college degree in Health Care Administration from Albany State.

Two of the light heavyweight division’s biggest punchers, Jesse “Hollywood” Hart and Joe Smith Jr., are prepared for a toe-to-toe battle in a 10-rounder Saturday evening (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) from the Etess Arena at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.

Hart, Smith, Top Rank president Todd duBoef and Star Boxing CEO Joe DeGuardia (Smith’s promoter) hosted a conference call Tuesday to kick off fight week. This is what they had to say.

duBoef

When we announced the fight and did our {2020 kickoff press conference} in New York in December, I got up at the press conference there, and there was a lot of tension between these two guys. So I think one writer came to me and said, “You know, I was really excited for this fight.” I was kind of excited. I wasn’t sure what was going to come of it, but after the press conference and seeing both the passion and the determination Jesse and Joe have towards this match, and really where they are in a hot division that is rich with great fighters and obviously great punchers, it came true to form in their press conference style. It’s an exciting way to start off the year. Nothing like starting it out with big punchers. I’d like to introduce Joe DeGuardia, who is a long-time friend and business partner of Top Rank, who has developed and guided Joe Smith’s career. Let him make a couple comments, and then we’ll open this up to all of you guys to ask questions.

DeGuardia

Thank you very much, Todd. I want to thank you guys. It’s always a pleasure working with Top Rank and you and Bob. I’m looking forward to another thrilling night of ESPN action that’s being provided. This Saturday night, I’m thrilled to have Joe Smith Jr. headlining the card. I can’t wait to see Jesse Hart and Joe Smith. As you mentioned, these are two of the hardest-punching light heavyweights in the game, in a division that’s stacked with talent, and both of these guys have over 40 knockouts between them. They are really fighting each other for another world championship opportunity. Two guys are world title challengers fighting each other for another shot. I always love watching Joe Smith Jr. fight. He’s so exciting, and I know he’s bringing down carloads of fans that are going to be in Atlantic City to watch him. Working class people coming down to see a true working man fight. And I am really looking forward to this fight, really looking forward to Saturday night, and I think the fans are in for a treat. 

Jesse Hart

The fight is beyond like… I’m not looking at what’s next. I’m not looking at a world title challenge next. With this fight starting off the year, it’s been rough on me since 2016 since that Joe Smith-Bernard Hopkins fight happened. I’m not looking at nothing else. This is, like I said at the press conference, is not business. This is not business. This is not for bragging rights neither. This is something that my family put on me. This fight is more of a family thing. With family, it’s personal. That’s family, so at the end of the day, for me on my end, this is for my family. This is not only for myself. This is my family. This is my big brother, Bernard Hopkins. January 11th is so close. You know, it’s time. Training’s been going good. No injuries. Everything is really, really great. Everything just went good this training camp. I think I’ve been more focused than I’ve ever been because once something becomes personal, aside from business, it doesn’t matter about the politics of it. It doesn’t matter about the ratings or none of that. This is, like I said, it’s probably business for him, probably just another fight. For me, it’s not. I don’t look at what’s next. When I asked Todd duBoef, Bob Arum and Carl Moretti for this fight, I looked at it from this is something I had to do for myself. So January 11th is close, so like I said, I’m in the best condition I can be in. I’m prepared. We’ll see what happens January 11th.

Joe Smith Jr.

Training camp went well. It’s one of my best camps so far. Definitely in my best shape ever, and I know I have a lot to prove. I’m looking at this fight as a chance to get myself out there again, to show that I belong in title fights. I’m looking to prove that, so I want to put on a great show for the fans, and hopefully get a title shot or something else big after this. It’s always personal with me as well. Personal for me, and I’m also fighting for my family and other things. I want to better my life, and the way to do it is by getting in there, putting on a great show and moving forward with my career.

Q:

Joe, when you hear Jesse talk about his mentality of not caring about getting a title fight, or not using this as a springboard for a bigger fight, but just wanting to avenge the loss that his mentor and friend Bernard Hopkins took against you, what do you think about that? It’s kind of an unusual circumstance, it seems to me, in a significant boxing event.

Smith

Yeah, I mean, I don’t really understand it. I understand it to a point, I guess, but either way, he’s still in it to prove himself and do what he has to do.

Q:

When they said he wanted to fight you, did you know what the reason was at that time, or you didn’t know that until he said what he said at the press conference? 

Smith:

I was told that was the reason. 

Q:

And when they told you that, what was your initial reaction? 

Smith:

I mean, if that’s what he feels he’s fighting for, good for him. I mean, but me, I’m fighting to become a world champion.

Q:

Jesse, you mentioned of course how this is a more personal bout. Has there been a target on Joe’s back since that 2016 fight? Describe your emotions when you saw your big brother go down like that.

Hart:It definitely put a target on Joe’s back. I was just at the right time. Timing’s everything. When I saw that, I was really really hurt because like how Todd just explained it. He was the poster boy, but he inspired me, he inspired the little kids to be great, not to be average, not to be good, but to be great. And it’s very hard to do that in the poverty-stricken area of North Philly that we come from. My father {Eugene “Cyclone” Hart}, he was there, but he never got the chance to fight for a world title so my dad would look at Bernard like, “That’s how it’s supposed to be done. This is how it’s supposed to be.”

My dad is Cyclone Hart, but he’s my coach. My dad is telling me he did it right, how Bernard handled things. How he takes care of his body, how he fights, how he models himself. What he came from, just because you come from the poverty-stricken area of North Philly doesn’t mean you lay down. It doesn’t mean you stop fighting. So when you got that, and then at 9 years old, Bernard Hopkins was calling my father, and they would have talks. My dad would put Bernard on the phone with me, and he would always encourage me. “It’s time to get in the gym. You gotta start running another mile, Jesse.” These are the things Bernard told me. That inspiration. We’re all inspired by somebody, whoever it may be. When I was a little boy, that was my inspiration. That’s the guy that I model. That’s the guy who, in 2022, they’re gonna build a statue of Bernard in North Philadelphia for all the things he accomplished. What he came from, and he didn’t lay down. So that’s the thing that inspires me.

Q:

Joe, describe what it would do for your career to bounce back from the Dmitry Bivol loss and take out a top fighter like Jesse Hart. What will that mean for your career? 

Smith:

It will mean a lot. I believe it will prove I belong with the top guys in the division, and I believe I can get another title shot out of it. 

Q:

Jesse, how much more confident do you come into this fight knowing you pretty much dominated Sullivan Barrera and knowing he pretty much dominated Joe?

Hart:

Fighters adapt. I’m coming in confident. 

I might not fight the way I fought Sullivan Barrera. Who knows? I might step to Joe. I might go blow for blow. We both got power. That’s what I wanna do. I don’t know what nobody else thinks about this but this a fight. If you listen to Todd duBoef when he talks about how the fight got made… Jesse called and asked for Joe Smith. This wasn’t about rankings, this wasn’t about politics. This wasn’t about I gotta fight this guy to take a step further to be line for a title shot. This wasn’t about none of that.This was simply, “Yo, see if we can get Joe Smith.”  So that mentality I’m taking in there. Let’s go. Let’s fight. It’s a fight. It’s not a boxing match. It’s none of that. It’s not strategic. It wasn’t strategically planned. The strategy would be to fight Eleider Alvarez because, you know, no, that’s out the window. Get Joe Smith on the line, that’s who I want to fight. Please, can y’all make it happen? 

He lost to a guy I beat, but I’m not gonna fight like that come January 11th. You might get me to step to Joe. We might see Joe get floored. We don’t know.Q:

Joe, is there motivation that maybe you have something left to prove after the losses to Dmitry and Sullivan? Do you kinda feel like you’re being overlooked, not necessarily by Jesse but from other people maybe because you haven’t had a lot of success ever since you beat Bernard Hopkins?

Smith:

Yeah, I definitely believe I’ve been overlooked. People always go back to the Barrera fight, but no one ever thinks about that I fought 10 rounds with a broken jaw in that fight and made it through the fight against a top contender with a broken jaw. Not many people do that. There’s been a lot of fighters, after they get a little hair fracture, they quit. My jaw was completely broken on both sides in half and just hanging and I made it through that fight. So for me to do that…. I won that fight in my view. With this fight hearing about how Jesse was inspired by Bernard Hopkins growing up, it gives me inspiration and it motivates me to put on a great show to inspire other people who are watching me. I want people to talk about me like Jesse’s talking about Hopkins. So that’s my goal when I come out January 11th.

Q:

Jesse, obviously you spent years fighting at 168, and then you move up against Sullivan Barrera. From a physical standpoint or a boxing standpoint, how do you feel fighting at 175 as compared to when you were at super middleweight?

Hart:

I feel much more stronger. I believe my body is more mature. We were doing something in the gym yesterday, me and Bernard, we were doing some pullups and Bernard hit 25, straight from the door at {54} years old. I hit 35 and in the gym we do this thing called repetition workout. We do the pullups, and then we do pushups, and then we do the situps, all in one thing. So it was like with more weight on my body, it’s evening out. As far as my upper body strength, it’s all coming together at this time. Like I said, evening out like that at 168, my upper body might have been stronger but my legs couldn’t handle that, or it was just I’m top heavy. I couldn’t put that much weight on my legs because of the weight I had to be at 168. With this, the weight is much more evened out. Legs are strong, upper body is strong, everything is physically and mentally ready to go.

Q:

My question is for Joe, actually. We’ve heard on this media call about Hart’s motivation being behind Hopkins. Can you elaborate by chance on your motivation for this fight, besides that it’s a world title shot? 

Smith:

Besides a world title shot, what’s my motivation? Like I was just saying a minute ago, to inspire others to get out there and give it their best and work hard every day.

Q:

Jesse, you’ve spoken extensively about how this fight is about getting revenge for Bernard Hopkins. How important was it for you to have this fight take place in Atlantic City where pretty much all of Philadelphia can come out and raise up? 
 
Hart:
 
That was very very important. I even wanted it in New York or Philadelphia. I mean, Philadelphia, New York or Atlantic City. They picked Atlantic City. That’s neutral ground. That’s not too far from New York and definitely not far from Philadelphia. That was very important because I want everybody to see the 10 rounds that take place with this fight. Again, that wasn’t important to me because if the fight had to be in Joe Smith Jr.’s backyard, I would have showed up. I’m talking about inside his home or his backyard because it’s that personal. There could have been no fans, just a bunch of dogs back there, and we still would have gotten it on. That’s how personal this is to me.

Q:

Joe, I have a question for you. Obviously it’s no secret you haven’t been the most active fighter in recent years, especially coming off the win with Bernard Hopkins, it’s just been basically one fight a year. What can you see that can help change that in 2020? Obviously aside from winning on Saturday night. 

Smith:

Yeah, I have to get past Jesse Hart on Saturday night. You know I’m hoping to stay busy this year. I want to fight a few times. I want to make 2020 my year. I’m really looking forward to it.

Q:

Was there anything specific holding you back or is it just a matter of like searching for the best opportunities as opposed to staying active?

Smith:

The best opportunities and, after the Bivol fight, I wanted to take some time to clear my head, and I did that and took off the summer, and I came back and I’ve been feeling great since. I feel stronger and better than ever.

Q:

Jesse, obviously you want to snatch the win and that’s very important to you, but what would be personally the most satisfying way to get it. Would you want to get in there and do a Wilder-Breazeale first-round knockout or would you want an extended fight where you’re dominant? What would be your most satisfying way to win this fight? 

Hart:

To win this fight in a dominating fashion, all the way around the board. From the first round to the last round is the plan now. I know there’s no quit in Joe. He showed that with Sullivan Barrera. He fought with a broken jaw. I want to dig down. I want to take Joe to that Ali-Frazier III type of knock-down, drag-out fight. Where Ali said it was the closest he was to death. I want to see if he quits then. That’s how far I want to push Joe. I want to stay in there, and I want to see where it’s at. I wanna see if he’s going to quit then with me. I know what I”m looking to do. I know I’m not looking to quit that night under no circumstances.

Q:

Joe, clearly this is an important fight for Hart to win and for the city and for himself, but is it a personal motivator to have two significant wins over notable Philly fighters? 

Smith:

Yeah, definitely. It’s gonna be a great night for me. I’m looking to come out on top, but I would like to do it in fashion, wearing the common man boxing trunks and beating another Philly fighter that underestimated me. I don’t see Jesse underestimating me, but being that he is a big fan of someone who did, and he’s from Philly… I’m just really looking forward to it. I want to put on a great show for everyone. For more information, visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Star Boxing, tickets priced at $100, $60, $40 and $25 (not including applicable fees) are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting www.ticketmaster.com and www.hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com.  

“I feel great, I feel good. We’re four weeks out, I’m on weight, my training is going great. I’m ready to fight, I’d be ready to fight next week. It feels good to be preparing for a fight again. I’m fighting back in Sheffield, we know what we get from the fans – amazing support. It’s always an amazing atmosphere in the arena.

“DeLuca is in front of me, an ex marine, a very fit fighter, very strong, he’s going to come over here like it’s his World Title fight. The fans are in for a real treat and I can’t wait to give them that treat. I can’t wait to perform and for the crowd to get behind me and push me on.

“Dom has watched DeLuca live a few times and I’ve seen little bits of him. I don’t really watch tapes of my opponents but I’ll watch a bit more of him in the next couple of weeks and then basically just listen to Dom and the game plan. The it’s just about getting in there and executing it.

“At the beginning of last year it was frustrating because I was trying to get the Terence Crawford fight to happen. I was trying to make a few fights happen but they never materialised. 2019 was frustrating at first but then I was just enjoying my time with my little girls, went travelling about a little bit but then I started getting a bit bored and thought boxing is where I belong and I need to give some more of myself to the fans. I’ve got unfinished business and I want to give all I’ve got.

“I want whoever holds a belt, I want to be a two-time World Champion this year. I want to be on everybody’s lips, ‘I can’t believe what this guy’s done. I can’t believe it. What’s happened? He’s the main man again’. That’s what I’m aiming for.”

Kid Galahad:

“I am fully focused at the moment on Claudio Marrero who is very dangerous and I’m sure this will be a difficult fight for me to win. He has great amateur pedigree as a former Olympian with the Dominican Republic, he’s only lost to high calibre boxers and he can punch.

“I’ve got to do a number on this kid and get him out the way. I have trained very hard for this fight and I will raise to the occasion, step up my game and be ready for whatever he brings to the table on February 8.

“I’ve got to be 100% ready and I can’t afford to make any mistakes because if I do that could be the end of the night for me.

“The day after my last fight I went back to the drawing board and straight back in the gym. I don’t believe that I lost that fight but the judges saw it a different way so next time I’ve got to make sure I don’t leave the decision to them.

“I believe the IBF is the best governing body and that’s why I’ve gone back down that route. I have got unfinished business and the IBF crown is the title that I want but I have challenges to overcome between now and then, if I don’t win this fight then there is no World Title fight for me.”

“On February 8 you should expect fireworks and a boxing lesson from myself!”

Dmitriy Salita proudly announces the signing of undefeated Detroit-based welterweight Joseph Bonas to a co-promotional contract.

Bonas (6-0, 5 KOs), a four-time national champion as an amateur and twin brother of also undefeated welterweight Jacob Bonas, is an immensely popular Romanian American with star potential.

The 26-year-old puncher trains with top-tier chief second Javan “Sugarhill” Steward at the new Kronk Gym and says he’s got big plans now that he’s inked a contract with the up-and-coming Salita.

“I feel great about singing with Dmitriy Salita,” said Bonas. “Me and (now co-promoter) Cameron Dunkin (of Now Promotions) knew it was going to be a great decision. He is making a lot of big moves and putting fighters in great positions and his shows are on a big level. He’s based in Detroit, close to me and is making real noise as a promoter. His work speaks for itself. I know where Salita can get me and it’s the very top.”

The confident Bonas revealed some ambitious plans for his fistic future.

I want to fight as much as I can this year and work on dropping my weight to 140 while racking up wins. I’m currently fighting at a catch weight from 147 to 152. My overall goal in boxing is to, of course, become a world champion and make as much money as I can and put my family in a better place. I also want to show people that I am the next Detroit great. I will take this sport over and win titles in more than one weight class

Bonas will have his first fight as a Salita Promotions fighter this Friday, January 10, a four-rounder against Steubenville, Ohio’s Glenn Mitchell (3-4, 3 KOs) on the untelevised undercard of undisputed middleweight champion Claressa Shields’ 10-round main-event showdown for the vacant WBC and WBO 154-pound titles against Croatia’s Ivana Habazin (20-3, 7 KOs) at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. and live on SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).

“Joseph Bonas is one of the best prospects in boxing and I am very excited about working with him,” said Dmitriy Salita. “He comes from the old Kronk Gym and is the connection between the rich history of the past and the future. I believe that he, along with his brother Jacob, will bring big championship fights to the city of Detroit.”

Brother Jacob Bonas (4-0-1, 2 KOs) will also appear this Friday in a four-rounder against Highwood, Illinois’ Christian Rivera (1-0-1).

In the night’s other televised bouts, undefeated welterweight Jaron Ennis (24-0, 22 KOs) will take on hard-punching Bakhtiyar Eyubov (14-1-1, 12 KOs) in the 10-round co-main event and in the telecast opener, WBA Super Middleweight Champion Alicia Napoleon Espinosa (12-1, 7 KOs) meets IBF Champion Elin Cederroos (7-0, 4 KOs) in a 168-pound world title unification.

The event is promoted by Salita Promotions in association with T-REX BOXING PROMOTIONS. The Napoleon-Espinosa vs Cederroos fight is promoted by Salita Promotions in association with DiBella Entertainment.

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

Jake Paul and AnEsonGib traded barbs and shoves at a fiery press conference in LA today as they met for the first time since the announcement of their fight on Thursday January 30 at Meridian at Island Gardens in Miami, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW STARTING AT $40 (PLUS FEES)
Paul and Gib will make their professional debuts on a card that is stacked with three World title clashes on the bill.

LA man Paul has fire in his eyes as he looks to avenge the recent defeat of his brother Logan at the hands of Gib’s fellow UK YouTube star KSI in their rematch in Los Angeles in November, with Jake having stopped KSI’s brother Deji Olatunji in the fifth of six rounds on the undercard of their first fight in Manchester, England in August 2018.

Paul has boxing royalty in his corner in the shape of former three-weight World champion ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosely training him in Big Bear, California, while Gib will call on KSI’s trainer and current 2-0 Cruiserweight talent Viddal Riley as his coach as they prepare in Las Vegas.

Paul, a year younger at 23 than the Brit, vowed to use his fight with Gib as a stepping-stone to face KSI himself, while Gib said he will deliver a KO win after pushing the American into taking the fight.

“I’m excited,” said Paul. “I’m more prepared than ever, this sport of boxing I’ve fallen in love with. It’s an honor to be on card with legends. We’ve been putting in the work in Big Bear. It’s an honor to work with a legend like Shane Mosely, and I look forward to knocking this big nose out Jan. 30. That’s the game plan and that’s how it’s going down. 

“You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. You used all your American Airlines miles to get knocked the f*** out.

“Gib is a doormat to me. He’s something I’m wiping my shoes with to revenge my brother. My brother lost on a two-point deduction to KSI. All respect to him, but I’m just a different fighter, different mentality, and after I beat GIB, KSI is going to get the smoke.”

“This man has fallen on all his social media platforms,” said Gib. “He took down my video for a specific reason, I guess the receding hairline comments got to him. I’ve made more money than your crew up there will ever make in their lives.

“When it comes to boxing, I’m going to knock him out. It’s a fight I wanted. He didn’t want this fight, I forced this fight upon him. I’ve been training every day, doing the sparring, doing the running, and doing what I need to do.

“You can expect a great performance, Jake on the canvas, and my hand raised as usual.”

Paul and Gib clash on a stacked bill during Super Bowl week in Miami as Demetrius Andrade (28-0, 17 KOs) defends his WBO World Middleweight title against contender Luke Keeler (17-2-1, 5 KOs). Also featured on the packed evening of boxing is Tevin Farmer (30-4-1, 6 KOs) defending his IBF World Super Featherweight title against JoJo Diaz (30-1, 15 KOs) and unified World Super Bantamweight champion Daniel Roman (27-2-1, 10 KOs) defending his titles against Murodjon Akhmadaliev (7-0, 6 KOs).

SAN ANTONIO (Jan. 8, 2020): Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan (30-3, 21 KOs) hosted a media workout today at Boxers and Brawlers Boxing Club ahead of his 12-round middleweight fight against Jaime Munguia (34-0, 27 KOs) at The Alamodome. The event will take place Saturday, Jan. 11 at The Alamodome in San Antonio, TX and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

O’Sullivan was joined by undercard fighters Franchon Crews-Dezurn (6-1, 2 KOs), Hector Tanajara Jr. (18-0, 5 KOs), Joshua Franco (15-1-2, 7 KOs), Tristan Kalkreuth (3-0, 2 KOs), George Rincon (9-0, 6 KOs), Hector Valdez (11-0, 7 KOs) and James Wilkins (8-1, 6 KOs).

Below is what the fighters had to say at today’s workout:

GARY ‘SPIKE’ O’SULLIVAN, Middleweight Contender:
“I’m ready for war. Jaime Munguia is an undefeated champion and he’s also young. He has become a great Mexican warrior and I expect nothing less from him. I truly respect him, and I know he respects me as well. Hopefully we’re going to be able to put on a great fight for the audience on Saturday. I believe I have the ability to beat anybody and always come up with a win. It’s all about your mindset”

“I come prepared. I’m a hard worker and I’m going to show it off on Saturday night. Whenever I’m fighting, I try to put my heart on it. This is no different for me. I’ve received great support from my team, and I respect their time and their sacrifices.”

“I’m excited to be in San Antonio once again. I didn’t have the opportunity to get around the city the last time I came. So far, I think it is a beautiful place. I had the chance to visit The Alamodome stadium last night and I’m expecting to see much more this time.”

FRANCHON CREWS-DEZURN, WBC & WBO Super Middleweight World Champion:
“Training camp has been amazing; my team has been amazing. My husband has been my constant partner. I’m feeling good; I’m peaking at the right time.”

“I want my opponent to come in confident, I want her to bring her best because I’m going to bring my best. One of my gifts is being able to adapt and I’m going to adapt to whatever is in front of me. I hope she underestimates me because I’m going to make her eat every word she ever said about me. I’m at a better place than I was three years ago, two years ago, one year ago, and I’m living in the moment. And I don’t mix personal with business. I’m going to put up a show and she is going to get beaten.”

“I just want to say thank you to my fans for the support, thank you for the messages. The world is in a crazy place right now, so take your mind off of that and enjoy a good show because I’m going to fight for you. Saturday night I’m going to fight for the world”

HECTOR TANAJARA JR., USNBC Lightweight Champion:
“I’m excited to be back in my hometown and see a lot of familiar faces. It makes me feel more relaxed and motivated to come out victorious on Saturday. Staying with my family in my hometown helps me a lot to stay focused and grounded. My dad has been a great support for me. He’s has helped me to keep everything one step at a time. I’m excited to show him and my hometown what I can do, especially with a high-caliber fighter.”

“My goal is to become a complete fighter. Burgos is a very tough opponent. He has had multiple great fights in the past. He’s a high-level boxer and my level just goes up higher when I’m fighting against opponents like him. I’m ready to show the world what I can give on the ring and that I’m going to fight my fight and not his fight.”

JOSHUA FRANCO, Flyweight Contender:
“I feel very excited. I finally have the chance to put on a show in front of my hometown. It’s a great feeling. Being able to represent my town and feeling that great support coming from my own people.”

“I had a strong training camp, but I feel really solid. I’m just ready to get on the ring and fight. I have a tough opponent on Saturday. He’s a good boxer; he comes with everything. He only has two losses, so this means he’s going into the ring with a very positive and strong mindset and I know he won’t just give up the fight.”

TRISTAN KALKREUTH, Light Heavyweight Prospect:
“I feel great for this fight. I pushed myself through every training camp as hard as I could. There’s always room to work harder and I feel that’s what I did on this camp. I feel slim and strong.”

“It’s definitely going to be a hard fight since my opponent is 6’7, but I believe I’m ready to give it all on the ring and fight. It’s going to be a great experience and an opportunity to learn more. As a professional boxer, I hope to continue learning from other great boxers like Canelo. Just keep the hard work going.”

GEORGE RINCON, Super Lightweight Prospect:
“I’m feeling good, ready and focused for fight night. I’m looking forward to this upcoming fight and to start the year strong. I’ve been working hard on keeping the basics going, so I’m ready to box and do my thing. I have to be patient and make sure I look good and show my talent. That’s the plan, to start this year strong and show what I can do. Once I find that timing and my rhythm going, it will be a short night.”

“We have some tough fighters here in Texas. Little by little Texas is getting more attention and hopefully, you’ll remember the Rincon Brothers as part of boxing history here. We are part of the major talent we have here in the state.”

HECTOR VALDEZ, Super Bantamweight Prospect:
“I feel excited and comfortable for the fight. I had a good training camp; my coach is one of the best coaches. I also had a camp at the RGBA with Vergil by my side. I feel strong, good and I’m ready to fight.”

“This fight is going to be a good learning experience for me. I want to go into the later rounds and see what I can overcome. If there’s an opportunity to take a good shot, I’ll take it.”

JAMES WILKINS, Super Featherweight Prospect:
“Training camp was great. This is my second camp in Texas, and I love the atmosphere. I’m from New York, so I love the vibe here in Texas. I’ve been preparing good with coach Roger, and I have been working hard on my strength and conditioning too.”

“For fight night, I’m looking forward to fighting and be smart and be intelligent, and if the knockout comes, I’ll get him out of there. This is boxing, so I don’t sleep on nobody, I take everything seriously and I know when the opportunity presents itself, I will take my opponent out of the ring.”

Munguia vs. O’Sullivan is a 12-round fight for the WBO International Middleweight Title presented by Golden Boy in association with Zanfer Promotions and Murphy’s Boxing. The event is sponsored by Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle.” The event will take place Saturday, Jan. 11 at The Alamodome in San Antonio, TX and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

Tickets for Munguia vs. O’Sullivan are on sale and are priced at $25, $40, $65, $100, and $200, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketsmaster.comand by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Tickets will also be available at The Alamodome box office, which is open Monday – Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm C.T. and Saturdays and Sundays when events are taking place at The Alamodome.

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

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting
the link: http://bit.ly/MunguiaOSullivaninto a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy for any photo and/or video usage.

PHILADELPHIA (January 8, 2020) – Unified 154-pound champion and Philadelphia native Julian “J-Rock” Williams showed off his skills and previewed his upcoming hometown title defense at a media workout Wednesday, as he prepares to face hard-hitting Jeison Rosario Saturday, January 18 in the FOX PBC Fight Night main event and on FOX Deportes from Temple University’s Liacouras Center.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased at http://www.liacourascenter.com/events (direct link HERE) or by calling 800-298-4200.

After winning the title in one of 2019’s best fights against then unbeaten Jarrett Hurd, Williams will fight in his hometown for the first time since 2011 when he competes on January 18. Here is what Williams and his trainer, Stephen Edwards, had to say Wednesday from James Shuler’s Memorial Boxing Gym in Philadelphia:

JULIAN WILLIAMS

On training and fighting in his hometown…

“I try to just block myself from the world… Especially with a hometown fight, people are pulling you 50 different ways, tickets, asking me stupid questions. It’s crazy, so I just try to block myself from the world.

“It’s not about enjoying, it’s about winning. I don’t care about enjoying. You’re not supposed to enjoy camp. It’s supposed to be a grind.”

On what he expects out of Rosario…

“Rosario brings ambition to the table. I think he’s an ambitious kid. I don’t think it’s a difficult fight (for me), to be quite honest. I just think it’s a matter of being focused and on top of my game, and I think I’ll take care of him. I don’t think it’s difficult, though. He’s a decent fighter. We’re not going to make him out to be Ray Robinson.

“He has put together a good string of wins, and he’s tough and he’s coming to win. So that’s more important than anything. He has the ambition to win, so you can’t underestimate him.”

On growing up in Philadelphia…

“Seeing all the stuff that I saw growing up (in West Philadelphia) made me hungry, made me want to get out and make a better life for myself. All you have to do is walk outside and go down Lancaster Ave. If that’s not motivating for you then nothing will.”

On his celebrity now that he’s a world champion…

“I’ve got a little more notoriety now. To be honest, I stopped thinking about it because I want to stay focused on the task at hand. The task at hand is being pound-for-pound best in the world. I’m not satisfied with just being the best super welterweight in the world. I’m just not satisfied with being unified champion of the world. Why sell myself short when I have the drive and the ability to be the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world? I’d be selling myself short. I’d be leaving millions of dollars on the table.”

On the history that he made for himself and Philadelphia when he defeated Hurd…

“I’m one of three men (from Philadelphia) who can say they’re a unified champion of the world.”

STEPHEN EDWARDS, Williams’ Trainer

On Rosario’s abilities…

“At this level, everybody can fight. (Rosario) is a good-looking fighter. He can punch. He’s just a good fighter. He’s got a lot of the same characteristics as Hurd and Charlo. He’s big and strong. It’s a good fight.”

On why this opponent for this fight…

“We thought we were going to be fighting Hurd (again), so we got a guy that’s kind of like Hurd because we didn’t know if Hurd was pulling out of the fight.”

On being Julian’s manager and helping advise him on real estate…

“If (Julian) buys a house I’ll tell him if that’s a good property, or sometimes he messes up, but the cool thing is that he’s got the money to make up for all the mistakes now.”

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ABOUT WILLIAMS VS. ROSARIO
Williams vs. Rosario will see unified 154-pound champion and Philadelphia-native Julian “J-Rock” Williams make a homecoming defense against hard-hitting contender Jeison Rosario Saturday, January 18 in the FOX PBC Fight Night main event and on FOX Deportes from Temple University’s Liacouras Center.

Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features undefeated rising star Chris “Prime Time” Colbert taking on former champion Jezreel Corrales for the Interim WBA Super Featherweight Title and top super welterweight prospect Joey Spencer entering the ring to take on Erik Spring in a six-round showdown

Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

Both JESSE “HOLLYWOOD” HART (Philadelphia, PA 26-2 21KO’s) and JOE “THE BEAST” SMITH JR. (Mastic Beach, Long Island 24-3 20KO’s) know that a lot is on the line when they step into the ring this Saturday night, January 11, at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City live on ESPN. Hart has turned this top light heavyweight battle into a “personal” vendetta against Smith Jr., who knocked his mentor, the legend, BERNARD HOPKINS out of the ring and into retirement, in 2016.

For the Long Island native, Joe Smith Jr., only business lies ahead at the Hard Rock, “I want people to talk about me the way Jesse Hart talks about Bernard Hopkins,” said a humorous Smith Jr. on yesterday’s national media tele-conference. With no love lost between the two, when asked about what his goal is in this fight, Smith Jr. pulled no punches, “it looks like I am going to have to let Philly down one more time.”

Coming off a tough battle with Russian Technician, DMITRY BIVOL in which Smith Jr. took the champion the full 12-rounds for the WBA World Light Heavyweight Championship, Smith Jr. knows a win against Hart is the only option. “I just always look to improving myself. I want to better my life. The way to do is to put on a great show and keep moving forward with my career,” said Smith Jr.

Use the hashtag #HartSmith to join the conversation on social media.

SAN ANTONIO (Jan. 7, 2020): Jaime Munguia (34-0, 27 KOs) hosted a media workout today at Boxers and Brawlers Boxing Club ahead of his 12-round middleweight fight against Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan (30-3, 21 KOs). The battle will take place Saturday, Jan. 11 at The Alamodome in San Antonio, TX and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

Below are what today’s participants had to say at the workout:

JAIME MUNGUIA, Middleweight Contender:
“Gary O’Sullivan comes with a strong desire to win and a strong mentality, which will make for a tougher fight. He’s a high-level fighter with a lot of experience. Fighting against him in my first fight at middleweight is a great opportunity to get a lot of experience.”

“He’s very strong and has a strong right hand, so we have to be careful. He’s a fighter that goes forward and throws punches very fast. He’ll suddenly explode with fast combinations, so we have to make sure we’re aware of that with my guard up.”

On having Erik Morales on his team:
“It’s always good to have someone with a lot of experience in your corner. Morales was in a lot of great fights with some of the best fighters in the world, so it’s always good to have someone like him on my team. He’s not trying to change my style. I’m going to keep my style, but we’ve also been working on my defense, speed, and knowing when to throw punches.”

On his move to middleweight:
“The move to middleweight has its benefits because I don’t have to lose as much weight. I feel good at this weight. I feel stronger. The plan is to one day fight for a world title in this division. But right now we are concentrated on the fight we have in front of us.”

ERIK “EL TERRIBLE” MORALES, Hall of Famer and Trainer of Jaime Munguia:
“We’re working on Munguia’s technique more than anything. Munguia is a very responsible fighter. He has lots of energy and loves to work. He also wants to learn. That was one of the conditions I had before starting with him. I wanted to make sure that he wanted to learn, and he has shown that he is ready and willing to learn what I have to teach him.”

Munguia vs. O’Sullivan is a 12-round middleweight fight presented by Golden Boy in association with Zanfer Promotions and Murphy’s Boxing. The event is sponsored by Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle.” The event will take place Saturday, Jan. 11 at The Alamodome in San Antonio, TX and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

Tickets for Munguia vs. O’Sullivan are on sale and are priced at $25, $40, $65, $100, and $200, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketsmaster.com and by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Tickets will also be available at The Alamodome box office, which is open Monday – Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm C.T. and Saturdays and Sundays when events are taking place at The Alamodome.

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

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting
the link: http://bit.ly/MunguiaOSullivan into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy for any photo and/or video usage.

NEW YORK (January 7, 2020) – Undisputed middleweight world champion Claressa Shields and former welterweight champion Ivana Habazin met face-to-face Tuesday at the final press conference three days before their long-awaited showdown for the vacant WBC and WBO 154-pound world titles this Friday, January 10 live on SHOWTIME from Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J.

The press conference also featured Philadelphia’s welterweight sensation Jaron Ennis and Brooklyn-based contender Bakhtiyar Eyubov, who meet in the 10-round co-featured bout, plus Lindenhurst, N.Y. native and WBA Super Middleweight Champion Alicia Napoleon Espinosa and undefeated IBF Super Middleweight Champion Elin Cederroos, who will clash in a blockbuster unification bout to open the SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION action at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The event is promoted by Salita Promotions in association with T-REX BOXING PROMOTIONS.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from the Hotel Plaza Athénée in Manhattan:

CLARESSA SHIELDS

“I’m once in a century kind of athlete. I guarantee it’s going to be over before six rounds. And I say six because I’m punching different. I’m stronger at 154. I’m faster.

“I just try to keep carrying women’s boxing the best way that I can. I’m regarded as a top 10 fighter in boxing already with only nine fights. When you have that kind of pressure you have to go out and not be average. Skill wise, there’s not a woman that can compare to me. I can do everything. I can box, I can brawl, I can stand in front of you toe-to-toe. When I when this fight I’m just going to get a little bit louder with: She’s the GWOAT, Greatest Women Of All Time. Put it there. I claim it.

“After everything happened in Flint I had a conversation with Stephen Espinoza and he just told me to stay focused. Everyone who was in Flint and knows about the incident that happened knows it’s not something I have a history of doing. I don’t do stuff outside the ring.

“One of the things she said that was really disrespectful was that I didn’t make weight for October 4. Don’t believe the lies. I made 154 pounds and I’m going to be a three-division world champion come Friday. Ivana doesn’t stand a chance. I’m sorry, I’m just going to keep it real. She’s not as skilled as Christina Hammer. She worked her way up, but once a quitter, always a quitter.

“Once the fight is over, she’s going to be a blast from the past. They won’t be talking about the incident in Flint. They may remember it, but her? They won’t even remember her name after I beat her down on Friday.”

IVANA HABAZIN

“I bet all of you are excited to see this fight. It’s finally time. First, I want to say thank you to SHOWTIME, Salita Promotions, and my team, who made this fight. I want to say that Claressa Shields is not the greatest woman of all time, but she is the greatest bully of all time. She can say whatever she wants, but you know what, talk is cheap, and on Friday night she ain’t going to do anything, because I’m going to knock her out.

“In regards to weight, I definitely think it’s going to be an advantage for me, but I don’t worry about her weight. Whatever, this is the fight, it’s not a game, and I came here to win.

“She can say whatever she wants, but the lion doesn’t concern itself with the opinions of sheep. So, I don’t even think about her.

“I’m not worried about the judges. I know what I need to do. If I want an easy win, it’s going to be with a knockout. But I prepare myself for the knockout or for whatever I need. I am really prepared better than ever.

“I don’t think the fight is going to be easy. Of course it’s not going to be easy and I prepared for that too, but I think this is one really big show and the judges will be fair, but I will not give them a chance to make a decision.”

JARON ENNIS

“I want to thank Eyubov for taking this fight because as you all know we go through a bunch of opponents every time I fight. Nobody wants to fight me. I thank him for taking this, but despite that, Friday night I’m coming to do my thing and put on a show. You all know I’m in and out like a robbery.

“I’m going to get that knockout. It’s going to come. I’m sure it’s going to come because he’s got to come to me. It’s going to come. We’re going to set it up perfect and get him up out of here.

“I’m unpredictable. You don’t know what I’m going to do. I can switch it up, I can have fun. I can do whatever I want to do to him. Friday night he’s going to see why nobody wants to fight me.

“After I do my thing on Friday night, we are most definitely looking for the top 10 or top 15, title eliminators, world titles, all of that. 2020 will be the year that I take over and the world will know about Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.”

BAKHTIYAR EYUBOV

“I’m very excited to be here on this SHOWTIME card. I come from a small country (Kazakhstan) and it’s really hard for me to believe that this is actually happening.

“I’m very thankful for this opportunity and will do my best on Friday. I’m grateful to fight such a skilled and tough opponent. I know he’s very strong physically and mentally, but I grew up on the streets and I’ve been around war all my life.

“I’m going to bring the toughness. I’m not a regular opponent. I come with an awkward style that will cause him problems.”

ALICIA NAPOLEON ESPINOSA

“We finally got here and it’s amazing. I’m honored to be on the card with these women and to be bringing this sport up together. We’re pioneering for women’s boxing for all the women that are with us now and the women who are ahead of us.

“I did not avoid [Shields] and we hashed this out before on social media. I want to get paid. I want to make decent money and make as much as the men in this sport eventually. You know when Claressa first started they weren’t offering as much as now and the money still needs to be more. Women offer just as much as the men.

“I’m looking to be challenged and to fight the best. That’s what we are here for. But I’m going to take a stand and I’m not going to say yes until the team agrees. That’s where I stand.”

ELIN CEDERROOS

“My team is something special. This is a big opportunity to be here and be on this fight card, and I just try to enjoy every moment. This is my first time in the U.S. I came from Sweden for this fight. We arrived yesterday, and this is so fun. I love it. It feels great to be here.

“This is a big dream coming true. Thank you for this opportunity. I don’t know what to say, I’m just enjoying the moment. I’m for sure going to put on a great show Friday night.

“I had my first amateur fight six years ago and had to pause for two years because of my second pregnancy. My kid Jack is turning four in February. My kids are back at home and my husband is coming tomorrow.

“I’m just feeling so strong. I feel I have this in me. The fight is just ahead and I think it will be such a great fight.”

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For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports. Follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing

HILADELPHIA (January 7, 2020) – Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) has announced the signing of 2016 U.S. Olympian and bronze medalist Nico Hernandez to a promotional contract that will see the highly-touted boxer fight in the world’s biggest bare knuckle events.

Hernandez will bring his fast hands and aggressive style to BKFC where he will compete in the 122-pound flyweight division. His BKFC debut will take place on Saturday, March 14 with additional information to be announced soon.

“BKFC is doing some amazing things in combat sports,” said Hernandez. “This is as real as it gets, and now I get to punch someone in the face without gloves. I can’t wait to fight for the fastest growing combat sports promotion in the world. When I step into the ring on March 14, the gloves come off!”

“We are very pleased to sign Nico Hernandez to a contract to fight March 14,” said BKFC founder and President David Feldman. “Nico is very talented and always brings his aggressive style to the table. This indicates the direction we are going, by signing young stars with great potential. Nico is one of many great boxing signings we will have in 2020 for BKFC. We can’t wait to see what Nico delivers!”

The unbeaten 24-year-old from Wichita, Kansas capped off an impressive amateur career at the 2016 Olympic Games when he defeated fighters from Italy, Russia and Ecuador to clinch his light flyweight bronze medal. Hernandez is the first U.S. men’s boxing medalist since 2008. Since turning pro in March 2017, Hernandez has compiled a 7-0 record, including four wins by knockout.

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About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
On June 2, 2018, Philadelphia-based Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) made combat sports history when it promoted the first legal, sanctioned and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889. “BKFC 1: The Beginning” took place in Cheyenne, Wyoming and featured 10 professional bouts, all under the auspices and control of the Wyoming Combative Sports Commission. BKFC uses only established fighters who have previously competed professionally in boxing, MMA, kickboxing and/or Muay Thai. All BKFC bouts are sanctioned and regulated by ABC member athletic commissions. For more information visit www.bareknuckle.tv or follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/bareknucklefc on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bareknucklefc/ on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEeMsInLdrUbIkbEcNm7g-A and on Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/bareknucklefc.

Las Vegas – UFC® returns to Norfolk with the vacant flyweight title up for grabs, as No. 1 ranked contender Joseph Benavidez and No. 3 ranked Deiveson Figueiredo battle to secure their first UFC championship. Also on the card, top women’s featherweight prospects meet to stake their claim for a title shot as Felicia Spencer takes on Zarah Fairn.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+®: BENAVIDEZ vs. FIGUEIREDO will take place Saturday, Feb. 29 at Chartway Arena with all fights carried exclusively on ESPN+ in English and Spanish. The main card begins at 8 p.m. ET with the prelims kicking off at 5 p.m. ET. Doors open at 4 p.m. ET.

A member of the flyweight roster since its inception in 2012, Benavidez (28-5, fighting out of Las Cruces, N.M.) hopes that his third UFC title challenge will be the charm to obtaining his first gold strap. A perennial top contender for most of his career, Benavidez has proven himself to be one of the best in the world with wins over Jussier Formiga, Henry Cejudo and Tim Elliot. He now looks to become the only person to stop Figueiredo and finally earn his long-awaited championship.

One of the most dangerous finishers in the flyweight division, Figueiredo (17-1, fighting out of Condor Belem, Para, Brazil) looks to leave no doubt in his first-ever title opportunity. Since joining the UFC roster in 2017, he has earned impressive stoppage wins against Tim Elliot, John Moraga and Joseph Morales. Now, he intends on delivering his most impressive performance yet in the biggest fight of his career.

Intending to start the new year with a statement, Spencer (7-1, fighting out of Orlando, Fla. by way of Montreal, Canada) looks to bounce back into the win column and declare herself the top contender for the featherweight belt. A former Invicta FC champion, Spencer impressed in her UFC debut with a first-round submission over Megan Anderson. Now, she aims to add another dominant stoppage to her record when she faces Fairn in the co-main event.

A striking specialist, Fairn (6-3, fighting out of Paris, France) looks to improve on her UFC debut and show that she can compete with the best in the world. With four knockouts and four first-round finishes in her MMA career, Fairn has proven that she is a dangerous test for anyone. Now, she intends on securing her first UFC win and announcing herself as the next contender to watch in the division.

Additional bouts on the card include:

Dana White’s Contender Series signee Aalon Cruz (8-2, fighting out of Tampa, Fla.) aims to impress in his UFC debut against the always-exciting Steven Peterson (18-9, fighting out of Dallas, Texas)
Bantamweight prospects Gabriel Silva (7-1, fighting out of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil) and Kyler Phillips (6-1, fighting out of Glendale, Calif.) battle to secure their first official UFC win
Jordan Griffin (17-7, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) looks to bounce back into the win column against debuting Dana White’s Contender Series signee TJ Brown (14-6, fighting out of Little Rock, Ark.)
Top middleweight prospects clash as Brendan Allen (12-3, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) meets Tom Breese (11-1, fighting out of Birmingham, England)
In a battle of featherweight strikers, Mike Davis (8-2, fighting out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) intends to take out Giga Chikadze (6-1, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.)
In further women’s featherweight action, Megan Anderson (10-4, fighting out of Kansas City, Mo.) looks to spoil the debut of Norma Dumont (4-0, fighting out of State of Minas Gerais, Brazil)
Undefeated Sean Brady (11-0, fighting out of Philadelphia, Pa.) intends to secure another impressive win when he takes on fellow top welterweight prospect Ismail Naurdiev (19-3, fighting out of Salzburg, Austria)
Marcin Tybura (17-6, fighting out of Uniejow, Poland) and Serghei Spivac (10-1, fighting out of Chisinau, Moldova) meet in a battle of heavyweight hopefuls
In a light heavyweight bout guaranteed to deliver fireworks, Ion Cutelaba (15-4, fighting out of Chisinau, Maldova) takes on Magomed Ankalaev (12-1, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia)

Visit the UFC.com for information and content to support your UFC coverage. Please click here to apply for the event.

Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT ON ESPN+®: BENAVIDEZ vs. FIGUEIREDO go on sale Friday, Jan. 10 at 10 a.m. ET. Tickets are available for purchase online at YnotTix.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Jan. 9 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

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About UFC®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 300 million fans and 75 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 170 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 Chartway Arena:

Chartway Arena is a 9,100-seat multi-purpose arena located on the campus of Old Dominion University. Operated by Spectra Venue Management since it opened in 2002, Chartway Arena is known as one of the premier mid-sized collegiate venues in the country. Chartway Arena is home to the Old Dominion Monarch Men’s and Women’s basketball and plays host to ODU Wrestling matches, a variety of family-oriented events as well as concerts, ODU commencement, career fairs, and lectures.

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 3.5 million subscribers in 18 months, 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.

BILOXI, MS. (January 7, 2020) – Unbeaten top prospect Michel Rivera will take on veteran contender Fidel Maldonado Jr. in a 10-round lightweight duel as part of FS1 PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday, February 1 from Beau Rivage Resort Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.

The action will also include unbeaten prospect Omar Juarez in a super lightweight showdown against Mexico’s Angel Hernandez, plus hard-hitting prospect Raymond Guajardo in a six-round super welterweight affair against Clay Collard. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is headlined by top welterweight Yordenis Ugas taking on Mike Dallas Jr. in a 12-round attraction.

Preceding the main card, FS1 PBC Fight Night Prelims begin at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT and feature rising 18-year-old prospect Jesus Ramos (11-0, 10 KOs), who most recently delivered a KO of the Year candidate on FS1 in September, as he faces Puerto Rico’s Bernard Lebron Figueroa (10-3, 4 KOs) in an eight-round welterweight battle. Plus, hard-hitting welterweight Jose Miguel Borrego (16-2, 14 KOs) takes on New Jersey’s Jimmy Williams (16-3-2, 5 KOs) in a 10-round affair on FS1.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Beau Rivage Theatre box office and through Ticketmaster.com.

The 21-year-old Rivera (17-0, 11 KOs) made his U.S. debut in June with an impressive victory dropping Rene Tellez Giron on his way to a unanimous decision. Representing Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Rivera has fought professionally since 2016 and most recently stopped Jose Luis Gallegos on FS1 in September.

Fighting out of his native Albuquerque, New Mexico, Maldonado (27-4-1, 20 KOs) has faced a slew of top contenders and has picked up a victory over Pablo Cesar Cano and a draw against Art Hovhannisyan throughout his career. The 28-year-old enters this fight on a three-fight winning streak since a 2017 defeat to Ismael Barroso.

The 20-year-old Juarez (6-0, 4 KO) was a highly decorated amateur who turned pro in September 2018 and has been on an active pace thus far. Representing his hometown of Brownsville, Texas, Juarez scored five victories in 2019 including a pair of knockouts on FS1 as he stopped Gino De la Paz in front of his hometown crowd in August and Kevin Shacks in November in Las Vegas. He will be opposed by 20-year-old Hernandez (10-1, 10 KOs), who fights out of Mexicali, Mexico, and will be making his U.S. debut on February 1.

Representing his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, Guajardo (5-0, 4 KOs) most recently delivered a highlight reel knockout over Donnis Reed in the first round of their December 21 showdown on FS1. The 19-year-old turned pro in March 2019 and has only gone the distance in one of his first five contests, including three-straight first round knockouts. He will take on the 26-year-old Collard (5-2-3, 1 KO) who fights out of Cache Valley, Utah and most recently defeating then unbeaten Quashawn Toler on January 3.

Also appearing on the stacked undercard is unbeaten super middleweight prospect Burley Brooks (5-0, 4 KOs) facing Ohio’s Melvin Russell (11-8-2, 7 KOs) in a six-round attraction and Bronx native Michael Coffie (8-0, 5 KOs) in a six-round heavyweight bout. Plus, Dallas’ Fernando Garcia (12-2, 7 KOs) competes in a six-round featherweight fight, while unbeaten Tuscaloosa, Alabama native Deon Nicholson (12-0, 12 KOs) battles Brooklyn’s Earl Newman (10-2-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-round cruiserweight showdown.

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Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

NEW YORK (January 7, 2020) – Split-T Management is pleased to announce the signing of super middleweight prospect Money Powell IV to a management contract.

Powell of Fort Mitchell, Alabama has a professional record of 10-1 with six knockouts.

The 21 year-old Powell began boxing at the age of 13.

“It was two days after my 13th birthday on February 1st, 2011 and that was the 1st time that I was in the gym. When I was really young, my dad used to slap box with me and show me videos of Roy Jones Jr. I was too young to start boxing plus my dad was in active duty so we moved around a lot. When we finally moved to Fort Benning, I was able to start boxing because this is where he retired,” said Powell.

Powell is trained by Jason Jones. Jason is a paraplegic.

He had a distinguished amateur that saw him win three United States Championships, Ringside World Championship. He was also a Member of the 2016 United States Travel Team that competed in Russia.

“I am a boxer-puncher. I set my shots up from boxing. We can adapt to anything. I say we because its my team,” said Powell

Powell turned professional on April 9, 2017 with a 1st round stoppage over Todd Templeton in Los Angeles. Powell has continued to step up the competition.

Powell, who is coming off his only set back when he lost a majority decision to Vaughn Alexander on August 31st in Minneapolis.

“Be Phenomenal or Be forgotten is a saying that I live by, and being with Split-T Management, I know they will take me and my team to great and heights and we will go down in history and never be forgotten.”

“I fight for all of my loved ones. I don’t do anything by myself. I am team oriented. No one can do everything by them-self.”

“Money is a very talented and classy boxer,” said David McWater of Split-T Management. “He is just 21, and already has fought some very experienced competition. He continues to grow and his best fights are ahead of him, and we see a very big future for Money.”

Powell is promoted to Ringstar Sports.

Beverly Hills, CA (January 6, 2020)–This Saturday night at The Hard Rock Hotel Atlantic City, undefeated super middleweight contender Cem Kilic will be looking to make a big statement as well as positioning himself for a world title shot when he takes on undefeated Steven Nelson in the co-feature bout of an ESPN televised card.

The bout was originally scheduled for December 14th in Madison Square Garden, but was moved to Saturday, where the fight will receive more exposure being shown live on ESPN.

Kilic of Neustadt Hessen, Germany of Turkish decent, and now calls Sherman Oaks, California, has a record of 14-0 with nine knockouts.

That record includes wins over two undefeated foes in Jerhed Fenderson and DeAndre Ware.

In his last bout, Kilic, 25 years-old, stopped tough Martez McGregor in the eighth round of their June 15th bout in Las Vegas.

Kilic, who is ranked number-seven by the WBA has been training in Vero Beach, Florida under the watchful eye of Hall of Fame trainer Buddy McGirt.

“I have had a great training camp with my Hall of Fame trainer Buddy McGirt in Vero Beach, Florida, and I feel really strong and sharp heading into fight week. This fight means so much to me, as I know my talents will be on display, and that a big win in front of a large audience on ESPN will take my career to the next level. I would like to thank my manager Shane Shapiro for all his belief in me and Top Rank and ESPN for giving me this opportunity to properly introduce myself to the US audience,” said Cem Kilic

“Cem is doing very well. Everything is going good and we just waiting until next week. The fight being put off was a blessing. It gave us more time to do what we need to do to win this fight,” said McGirt.

“This is the life changing opportunity Cem, and I spoke about when he first agreed to move here from Germany 6 years ago. Next Saturday, on January 11th, all of the American audience watching will see Cem Kilic’s hard core aggressive style of boxing combined with Buddy McGirt’s teaching of textbook boxing! I want to thank Bob Arum and Brad Goodman for the opportunity and their committed dedication to bringing boxing back to network television. I can’t wait for Saturday night,” said Kilic’ manager Shane Shapiro of No Limit Mindset LLC.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (January 6, 2020) – WBC Featherweight World Champion Gary Russell Jr. will defend his 126-pound crown against unbeaten mandatory challenger Tugstsogt “King Tug” Nyambayar Saturday, February 8 live on SHOWTIME from PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will see former world champions Guillermo Rigondeaux and Liborio Solís battle for the vacant WBA Bantamweight World Title in the co-main event. The telecast opens with Jaime Arboleda meeting Jayson Veléz in a 12-round bout WBA Super Featherweight Title eliminator.

The main event showdown will see Russell make the fifth defense of his title as he looks to again display the skills and speed that have made him one of the elite featherweight fighters in the world. He will be challenged by the 2012 Olympic silver medalist “King Tug”, who quickly rose up the rankings facing quality opposition throughout his 11-fight career.

“Gary Russell Jr. has proven himself to be at the very elite level of this sport and one of the best fighters in the featherweight division,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “His speed, power and overall skillset has made him a must-watch every time he steps into that ring. He’s going to get all he can handle from an undefeated fighter in ‘King Tug’ Nyambayar, who has the pedigree and power to make this a memorable fight. You won’t want to blink during this high octane showdown February 8 on SHOWTIME from PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.”

“The February 8 card is co-headlined by two of the most skilled boxers in the sport today,” said Stephen Espinoza, President Sports & Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. “Gary Russell Jr. – arguably the fastest hands in boxing – will be facing his toughest challenge as world champion against the aggressive power-puncher ‘King Tug’. And in the co-main event, Guillermo Rigondeaux, one of the best boxers on the planet since his days as an amateur in Cuba, moves down in weight to the bantamweight division for the first time in his pro career as he faces former world champion Liborio Solis with a world title at stake. Add in a compelling super featherweight eliminator and we have the makings of an action-packed tripleheader on February 8.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Kings Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through www.pplcenter.com/events (direct link HERE ).

The Capitol Heights, Maryland native Russell (30-1, 18 KOs) has held his WBC Featherweight Title since 2015 when he stopped multiple division champion Jhonny Gonzalez to emphatically capture the belt. The 31-year-old is part of one of boxing’s premier fighting families as he is trained by his father Gary Sr., and trains alongside his younger brothers, unbeaten super lightweight Gary Antuanne and undefeated bantamweight Antonio. Russell most recently stopped former champion Kiko Martinez in May on SHOWTIME after previously defeating then unbeaten challenger Joseph Diaz Jr in 2018 in a hometown defense.

“I’m forced to defend my title against another mandatory challenger and I’m going to show on February 8 why none of the other champions want to face me,” said Russell. “I’m the longest current reigning WBC champion but no one has stepped up to the challenge I present. I’m going to take care of business against a strong opponent and display all my skills like I always do.”

The 27-year-old Nyambayar (11-0, 9 KOs) represented his native Mongolia in the 2012 Olympics but now lives in the U.S. and is training out of Las Vegas. Nyambayar ascended up the featherweight rankings after his extensive amateur career with victories over then unbeaten Harmonito Dela Torre and former interim champion Oscar Escandon. Most recently he won his first 12-round decision by defeating former champion Claudio Marrero in January.

“This is going to be an exciting fight for everyone watching on February 8,” said Nyambayar. “Gary Russell Jr. is a great champion who is very talented, but he has the WBC belt and that’s what I want. I’m training hard to win this fight and I will be ready for anything that Russell brings to the ring.”

Rigondeaux (19-1, 13 KOs) will look to move down and capture a title in a second weight class in his SHOWTIME debut. Since turning professional in 2009 after one of the best amateur careers in history, Rigondeaux has showcased masterful technical skills that made him a unified 122-pound world champion and perennial member of the pound-for-pound list. A two-time Olympic gold medalist for his native Cuba, Rigondeaux made his name with victories over the likes of Nonito Donaire, Rico Ramos and Joseph Agbeko. Most recently, Rigondeaux scored an exciting eighth-round stoppage of former champion Julio Ceja in June.

Born in Venezuela and fighting out of Panama, Solís (30-5-1, 14 KOs) will make his U.S. debut on February 8 while riding a five-fight winning streak. Solís captured a super flyweight world title in 2013 amidst a 14-bout unbeaten run. He has lost by decision in his two previous attempts at 118-pound title, including a controversial loss to Jamie McDonnell, which he has bounced back from on his current win streak.

Arboleda (15-1, 13 KOs) has ripped off five straight victories by stoppage since he suffered the only loss of his career against Recky Dulay in 2017. The 25-year-old Arboleda from Curundu, Panama will be fighting in the U.S. for the third time in his career. He’s coming off a knockout victory over Victor Betancourt on August 24.

The 31-year-old Veléz (29-5-1, 21 KOs) has strung together three straight knockout victories since losing to Ryan Garcia in 2018. The Juncos, Puerto Rico resident is coming off a knockout victory over Hector Ruben Ambriz Suarez on July 27 and is looking for another championship opportunity. He came up short in his previous attempt when he fought to a draw against Evgeny Gradovich for the featherweight world title in 2014.

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

TRENTON, NJ — It was about 18 months ago when Shinard Bunch held his 17-year-old friend, a local camp counselor and youth mentor, Tashaughn “Yungsta” [sic] Robinson in his arms, encouraging him to breathe and stop talking, but Robinson died bleeding from a gunshot wound in Bunch’s front yard. The drive-by shooting, never solved, was one of a handful of killings Bunch has witnessed over the years in Trenton, the murder capital of New Jersey.

Bunch, a 20-year-old professional boxer, has become numb to the violence that plagues his city, where he has lived since he was 13. He now focuses on becoming a world champion, a dream Bunch feels he’s not entitled to have, coming from Trenton.

“I want to be great,” said Bunch, who fights January 11 at the Hard Rock Hotel Casino in Atlantic City. “I can’t say my goal is to become a world champion, or anything really spectacular. Where we come from, we don’t make it that far. You never heard about somebody from Trenton doing something like this.”

Well, except maybe Ike Williams.

A bridge in Trenton is emblazoned with the words “TRENTON MAKES THE WORLD TAKES.” This sentiment perfectly describes Williams’ career. One of the greatest fighters of all-time, Williams was managed by the mob and hardly saw a penny for several defenses he made of his World Lightweight Championship in the 1940s. Bunch is determined not to allow the world to take from him as it did from Williams.

Bunch’s mother, Quwannia Bunch, believed her son would be a star even before he was born. Upon his birth in Queens, NY, Bunch was named Shinard Charles Showtime Bunch by his mom.

“She always said she knew I was going to be a star,” said Bunch, whose birth certificate and calls to his mother would prove to new friends that he was being truthful about his name.

Now he goes by “Scraap,” [sic] a nickname given to him by Corey, his stepfather. Bunch’s father, also named Shinard, recently was released from prison, where he’d landed on attempted murder charges in New York. Quwannia married Corey when Bunch was 2 years old.

Corey treated Bunch’s siblings like his own children, and eventually gave Bunch another brother and sister.

“My parents don’t play,” remembered Bunch. Good grades and good behavior were expected from their son.

Bunch began boxing at the New York City PAL when he was only 5 years old. His mother had bought him a Muhammad Ali DVD, and the young boy was hooked. He followed his cousin to the gym and never left.

Bunch’s mother has had a profound impact on his career. She worked extremely hard to keep food on the table, first as a nurse and then as a security guard at a homeless shelter, sometimes going without food so her children could eat. Bunch is reverent of the sacrifices she made so that he could eat, wear nice clothes, and fight. She was ringside for his first loss, 30 fights into his amateur career. Bunch didn’t take the loss well and considered quitting the sport.

“She gave it to me that day,” Bunch said, laughing. “I acted a fool. I wanted to quit. I told her I’m not boxing. She sat me down and said, ‘At the end of the day this is what you chose to do so with that there’s always wins and losses in life, but you always gotta take a loss like you take a win. It’s right back to the drawing board. You mad because you got your ass kicked once? You kicked thirty asses before that–are you serious?’ My family is honestly why I’m at where I’m at. My mom always pushing me. My little brother Corey is my biggest fan.”

In 2016, Bunch was on the USA national team with Errol Spence and Shakur Stevenson. He was ready to make the Olympic team, but had a lot on his mind. He was 17, and his girlfriend recently revealed she was pregnant. His father had come back into his life and Bunch was talking to him regularly. His grandmother had just died and his mother was struggling.

Bunch decided to wait until the 2020 Olympics, but waiting became tiresome and he hit the pro circuit, debuting last April with a first-round knockout. On hand for that fight would be his stepfather Corey, and his mother and father, who had reconciled and moved back to New York.

Bunch stayed in Trenton, where he knew his success could make an impact.

One of Bunch’s major gripes with Trenton is the lack of mentors and father figures in the community. It’s something he says has kept him out of trouble, despite living within a razor’s edge of drug and gun violence.

“Corey is my dad,” said Bunch. “He’s my support system. He taught me everything I know–how to be a man, how to look at stuff, how to approach stuff, literally everything. When he found out I was going to be a father, he was angry but sat me down for a very long talk. He said, ‘Listen, you sat there and did what you did and now you gotta man up to it. This is what you’re gonna do.’ He molded me to be great, and to always remember who I am. The only person that can be myself is me.”

People who know that Corey isn’t Bunch’s biological father say Bunch resembles his stepfather in his mannerisms and character. For Bunch, that’s a compliment.

Bunch is working to be a role model to Trenton’s children: “Trenton is small, only 7 miles from one end of town to another. There are just not enough role models. I try to be a role model for the kids in and out of the gym. I go to schools and speak–anything I can do.”

He blames the rampant drug problems in the 1970s and ’80s for some of the city’s woes, and the lack of leaders in the community. “We’re ’90s kids,” he said. “Our generation is better, but there’s still problems.”

A win on ESPN+ on January 11 would give him new opportunities to talk about with the youth in Trenton. “Every fight is big, but this is just another level,” said Bunch.

“He was 2-0, and then we were offered the Paul Kroll fight last August,” said Bunch’s manager, J Russell Peltz. “Kroll was 4-0. You don’t usually have two undefeated prospects fighting each other that early in their careers.” Bunch lost, but gave Kroll, who is one of the hottest prospects in the country, a tough fight. “His promoter, Nedal Abuhamoud and I realized we have a good prospect on our hands,” continued Peltz. “We wouldn’t have known that if he just knocked out another opponent. After that fight, I got excited.”

Bunch, his girlfriend and 2 children still live with Corey in Trenton. The fighter has no plans to leave Trenton as his career advances, and believes he can do good.

“We need more leaders, and more role models in Trenton,” said Bunch. “We need more Coreys and Yungstas.” After Jan. 11, win or lose, Bunch will return to Trenton. It’s a good thing, because Trenton needs more Shinard Bunches.

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Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Star Boxing, tickets priced at $100, $60, $40 and $25 (not including applicable fees) are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting www.ticketmaster.com and www.hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com.

WORCESTER, Mass. (January 6, 2020) – Undefeated World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth World lightweight champion Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz (12-0, 6 KOs) isn’t a typical professional boxer whose life entirely revolves in and around the “Sweet Science.”

The 23-year-old Ortiz is also a licensed carpenter with diverse interests ranging from engineering and psychology to philosophy, and his ultimate post-boxing career aspiration is to attend medical school. First, though, Ortiz’ goal is to become world champion, which would be a first for a native of Worcester, Massachusetts.

“I was always fascinated by architecture, starting with my mother’s house, and that spun off to engineering,” Ortiz explained. “I wanted to learn how to build to better understand and became a carpenter after graduating from high school. I’m not worried about getting hurt at work. I do work with my hands, but I’m in the union and everything is safe, and I’m very careful.

“Medical school is my dream. I want to help people working with cells, blood and muscle tissues, understanding the body. I’m not sure if I’ll do research or be working with patients, maybe in internal medicine, but not in traditional medicine. I’m interested in natural, holistic medicine, and working for the benefit of people.”

Ortiz, who started boxing at the age of six, will return to the ring in early 2020 for, most likely, his final WBC Youth World title fight, because this title is for fighters 23 or younger, and Jamaine turns 24 on April 28.

The WBC World Youth title has been a stepping-stone for great champions such as Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Timothy Bradley, Danny Garcia and Leo Santa Cruz, among the more notables.

“I’m proud to be the WBC World lightweight champion, but I’ll have to give it up in April when I turn 24.,” Ortiz remarked. “I’ll win bigger titles as I get older. This has been good for now, but I’m going on to bigger and better things. I’m confident that I’ll be world champion in 2021 and I want to be a multiple wight-class world champion before I retire.”

Ortiz recently gained even more confidence when Teofimo Lopez (15-0, 12 KOs) captured the International Boxing Federation (IBF) World lightweight championship, knocking out defending champion Richard Commey in the second round this past December.

At the 2015 National Golden Gloves, Ortiz lost a decision to Lopez in the championship final. “He didn’t do that stuff to me (like he did to Commey),” Ortiz noted. “He didn’t beat me up. I lost a decision, but I showed that I could fight with him. He was nothing like you saw on television (vs. Commey), though. I’ve watched him get better and better.

So is Ortiz and before he swaps his boxing gloves for a stethoscope, he has unfinished business in boxing. Nothing short of capturing a world championship crown will satisfy “The Technician.”

PHILADELPHIA (January 3, 2020) – Top super welterweight prospect Joey Spencer will enter the ring to take on Erik Spring in a six-round showdown that opens up the FOX PBC Fight Night broadcast and on FOX Deportes Saturday, January 18 from Temple University’s Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.

FOX PBC Fight Night begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is headlined by unified 154-pound champion and Philadelphia-native Julian “J-Rock” Williams making a homecoming defense against hard-hitting contender Jeison Rosario. The co-main event will feature undefeated rising star Chris “Prime Time” Colbert taking on former champion Jezreel Corrales for the Interim WBA Super Featherweight Title.

Preceding the main card on FOX, FOX PBC Fight Night Prelims on FS1 and FOX Deportes begin at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT and feature a 10-round super welterweight attraction between Mexico’s Jorge Cota (29-4, 26 KOs)and New Jersey’s Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (28-2-1, 10 KOs). Plus, sensational 17-year-old prospect Vito Mielnicki Jr. (3-0, 3 KOs) steps in for a four round welterweight bout against West Virginia’s Preston Wilson (6-3-1, 4 KOs), while Puerto Rican prospect Romuel Cruz (3-0-1, 1 KO) competes in a four-round super bantamweight fight against Wisconsin’s Julio Garcia (3-3, 2 KOs) in the opener.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased at http://www.liacourascenter.com/events (direct link HERE) or by calling 800-298-4200.

The 19-year-old Spencer (9-0, 7 KOs) has made fast strides since turning pro in February 2018, including four victories on his 2019 campaign. Representing his hometown of Linden, Michigan, Spencer most recently stopped Travis Gambardella on FS1 in September after defeating Akeem Black on FOX in June. He will kick off 2020 against the 35-year-old Spring (13-3-2, 1 KO), who fought three times in 2019, winning twice. The Reading, Pennsylvania native dropped a decision to Courtney Pennington last time out but has won five of his last seven bouts.

The non-televised undercard will also feature Delaware-native Kyrone Davis (14-5, 2 KOs) in an eight-round middleweight fight against Atlanta’s Antonio Todd (7-2, 4 KOs), Philadelphia native Paul Kroll (6-0, 5 KOs) battling another Philadelphia native in Marcel Rivers (7-2, 4 KOs) for a six-round super welterweight affair, and super featherweight Ricky Lopez (21-4-1, 6 KOs) from Colorado Springs taking on Chicago’s Jose Luis Gallegos (18-8, 14 KOs) in a contest scheduled for 10 rounds.

Rounding out the action is Paterson, New Jersey’s Norman Neely looking to remain unbeaten against Georgia’s Larry Knight in a four-round heavyweight bout, Puerto Rico’s Luis Del Valle in an eight-round super lightweight duel and the pro debut of Philadelphia’s Miguel Angel Roman Jr. in a four-round featherweight affair.

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Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes .

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (January 3, 2020) –Former two-time world champion, Maureen Shea will take on Martina Horgasz in the main event on Friday, January 17th at Gulfstream Park and Casino in Hallandale, Florida.

The show is promoted by BAD Promotions and ChampionsHeart Promotions.

Shea of of Bronx, New York has a record of 28-2-1 with 12 knockouts. Shea is a 13 year-veteran and is a two-time world champion.

On December 10, 2011, Shea won the WBC Interim Featherweight title with a majority decision over Diana Ayala. Shea became a two-time world champion when she won the IBA Super Bantamweight title with a 4th round stoppage over Angel Gladney on July 11, 2014.

Shea has victories over Silvia Jimenez (5-1) and Dayanna Gonzalez (4-1). Shea has won her last four and in her most recent out, Shea won a unanimous decision over Edina Kiss on October 14th in Niagara Falls, New York.

Horgasz of Budapest, Hungary has a record of 5-5 with four knockouts. The 20 year-old is a three-year professional, has faced four undefeated fighters Horgasz is coming off a six-round unanimous decision loss to undefeated Natalie Gonzalez.

In the co-feature, former welterweight contender David Estrada will take on Javier Frazier in a six-round super welterweight bout.

Estrada of Chicago has a record of 29-6-1 with 19 knockouts. Estrada, 41, will be entering is 21st year as a professional, and has faced some of the biggest names in the sport.

Estrada has wins over Matias Anibal Rios (7-0), Eric Pinero (1-0), Reggie Davis (1-0), Luke Leal (7-1), Joel Salas (10-2-1), Armando Valardez (14-1), Nurhan Suleymanoglu (14-0), Chris Smith (19-0-1), Luther Smith (22-4-2) and Orlando Lora (26-0-1). Estrada has won seven straight fight which includes his fight where he stopped Manuel Santos on two rounds on November 19, 2016 in Jalisco, Mexico.

Frazier of Aiken, South Carolina has a record of 8-12-1 with four knockouts. Frazier has a win over Kobe Wall (1-0). Frazier, who has faced nine undefeated opponents is coming off a loss to undefeated Derrick Coleman on November 2 in Louisville, Kentucky.

In Six-Round Bouts:

Blake Davis (4-0, 2 KOs) of Cooper City, FL will take on Luis Iniguez (2-3-1) of Vancouver, WA in light heavyweight fight.

Former University of Miami Basketball player, Rapahel Akpejiori (5-0, 5 KOs) of Miami fights Mike Delshaun Ford (6-1, 5 KOs) of Sarasota, Florida in a heavyweight bout.

In Four Round Bouts:

Phillip Jean Seide (0-2) of Orlando, Florida squares off with Allen Terry (1-1, 1 KO) of Miami in a super middleweight contest.

Gaspard Pierre will make his pro debut against Brian Stevens (1-8, 1 KO) of Marathon, Florida in a cruiserweight bout.

Anthony Martinez (6-1, 5 KOs) of Miami battles veteran Samuel Miller (34-21, 30 KOs) of La Habra, CA in a heavyweight fight.

Daniel Araujo Figueiredo (1-0, 1 KO) fights Shauncey Perry (0-1) of Joneboro, AR in a lightweight bout.

Professional Boxing kicks off 2020 in South Florida on Friday, January 17 at 6 pm, as BAD Promotions in association with ChampionsHeart Promotions proudly present its inaugural event “Only The Strong Survive,” a night of world-class boxing at Gulfstream Park & Casino in the Sports of King Theater, a unique and intimate venue for a night of world-class boxing with proceeds going to the local Breast Cancer Organization.

Tickets for “Only The Strong Survive” are on sale now and cost $50, $75, $100, Sofa Loungers $1500 seat up to 3-4 people, 10 VIP Tables, including 4 Premier Elevated Ringside VIP tables starting at $2200 and seat 8. Tickets are available through BADpromotions.com,

Gulfstream Park & Casino is located at 901 Federal Hwy in Hallandale Beach Florida, the FIRST BELL will RING at 7 PM in the beautiful Sports of King Theater on the second floor. Doors Open at 6 PM.

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About BAD Promotions… BAD Promotions is built off loyalty and strives to be the most honest and reasonable promotional company in the business. BAD Promotions insist, without a doubt on being the GOOD GUYS in BOXING. Originated by 25-year-old Blake Davis BAD Promotions is positioning itself for greatness.

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About Gulf Stream Park & Casino Since 1939, Gulfstream Park has been one of the most important venues for horse racing in the country. Some of the world’s top thoroughbred contenders pass through Gulfstream Park with their eye on Triple Crown glory. Gulfstream Park is located at 901 South Federal Highway in Hallandale Beach, Florida, just two miles east of I-95 and is open seven days a week. Ideally located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami International Airports and just one mile from the Atlantic Ocean, this vast entertainment destination offers up countless things to do. In addition to thoroughbred racing, Gulfstream Park offers over 800 Vegas-style slot machines and South Florida’s finest poker room with over 20 live-action tables. Anchored by the legendary Gulfstream Park racetrack, The Village at Gulfstream Park is South Florida’s premier home design, dining, shopping, and entertainment destination. The open-air mall includes a plethora of signature home stores, an international array of restaurants, world-class art galleries, a bowling alley, outdoor cafes and nightclubs, fashion boutiques, and health and beauty services. Valet service and complimentary self-parking is available. Gulfstream Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator.

Two of Team Sauerland’s most exciting talents Abass Baraou (8-0, 5 KOs) and Sophie Alisch (5-0, 1 KO) step back into the squared circle on January 25th in Hamburg, in a historic evening that will see Germany’s oldest promoters Team Sauerland and Universum co-promote a show for the first time in history. 

Baraou enjoyed a fruitful 2019 claiming four victories, including wins over former World Champions Carlos Molina and Ali Funeka, he also won the WBC International Super Welterweight title and made his International and UK debuts, claiming stoppage victories over Abdelghani Saber in Dubai and John O’Donnell in London. 

The unbeaten 25-year-old, ranked number 9 in the IBF world rankings and number 15 with the WBC, is hoping to use the January fight as a springboard to another successful year as he looks to push himself into world title contention. 

Also returning to action is highly rated 18-year-old prospect Sophie Alisch. Alisch claimed five victories in her first year in the professional ranks and caught the fans attention with her slick skills and aggressive style.

“This show will be pure fireworks and sets the bar for 2020,” said Team Sauerland promoter Nisse Sauerland. “Whenever the countries two biggest and oldest promoters combine forces to send their best into the ring, it is great news for German boxing and the fans.

“We will see three hours of high level boxing on SPORT1 and I am sure Abass and Sophie will once again demonstrate their great skills and huge potential!”

Also on the card is IBO International Super Lightweight Champion Artem Harutyunyan (8-0, 5 KOs), Robert Harutyunyan (8-0-1, 3 KOs) and James Kraft (16-0-1, 9 KOs). Further fights and opponents will be announced shortly. 

All the action from the Work Your Champ Arena will be broadcast live on SPORT1.

MIAMI (January 2, 2020) – As the calendar flips to a new decade, undisputed middleweight champion Claressa Shields shared her New Year’s resolution ahead of her upcoming showdown against former champion Ivana Habazin for the vacant WBC and WBO 154-pound titles taking place Friday, January 10 live on SHOWTIME from the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J.

“I really have just one main resolution for the new year – no compromising,” said Shields. “That goes for both my personal and professional life. I also want to get closer to God and stay undefeated. I was going to say stop cursing also, but that’s just not happening.”

Shields vs. Habazin will open up the 2020 year of big boxing events, with Shields seeking to become the fastest fighter in boxing history, male or female, to become a three-division world champion.

“I’m very happy to kick off 2020,” said Shields. “Gervonta Davis ended 2019 on SHOWTIME and then the GWOAT brings in the New Year for SHOWTIME in 2020. It’s going to be a great start to the year. I’m coming in with a bang and gunning for the knockout.

“I’m super excited to have Jaron Ennis on the undercard, too. To me, he’s the next Roy Jones Jr. of boxing. He’s slick, he has power, he can box and he’s an all-around dedicated athlete. I look forward to sharing the card with him as a future world champion.”

Shields has trained in Miami with her head coach John David Jackson ahead of her 154-pound debut and has been able to maintain her focus and worked to stay sharp despite the fight’s two postponements.

“I made 154 pounds back in October before the cancellation,” said Shields. “After our fight was cancelled, I stayed active and only put on about 10 pounds. I’ve been down in Florida for the last six or seven weeks. It’s been hard work. I’ve pushed myself and I’m not taking Habazin lightly. I want the knockout because Ivana talks too much. I’m staying focused on being focused, and not letting anyone throw me off by talking nonsense.

“I don’t eat meat anymore. I haven’t in over three months, so my body is more toned now. I actually have a six-pack already with just a little more weight to lose. I think people are going to be surprised at the 154-pound version of me. I’m going to be very strong and very fast because I’ve basically had five months to prepare and to get ready for her specifically.”

Despite training camp taking her through the many holiday events that are gluttonously celebrated by the masses, Shields has stayed disciplined ahead of her opportunity to make more history.

“Balancing around the holidays is something I’ve been doing for years,” said Shields. “I saved a lot of money by not going home for Christmas, that’s for sure. But I still spoke with all my family and connected with everyone. I have a very strict diet in camp and I actually trained on Christmas. I consider my diet more of a life plan in general, and I have my days where I’ll splurge, but I stay disciplined.”

Ahead of next week’s event in Atlantic City, Shields plans to unleash and make another statement on her way to another championship-winning performance.

“No matter what she says, this beat down was coming in October,” said Shields. “All I’m doing is bringing it to Atlantic City. I’m going to knock her out. I’m going to put down a whole different beat down on her because of the level of disrespect she has shown me. I’m not going to let her be disrespectful towards me and I’m going to knock her out to shut her up.”

The event is promoted by Salita Promotions in association with T-REX BOXING PROMOTIONS.

Salita Promotions proudly announces the signing of undefeated heavyweight Gunnar Kolbeinn Kristinsson to a promotional contract.

Kristinsson (11-0, 5 KOs) from Gardabaer, Iceland, is the only active male fighter in his homeland and just the third in the country’s history. As an amateur, the 31-year-old was Icelandic champ and fought at the Amateur World Championships and Olympic Qualifier Tournaments.

Currently training in Detroit under Javan SugarHill Steward at the Kronk Gym, Kristinsson will have his debut fight under the Salita Promotions banner on Friday, January 17 at WinnaVegas Casino & Resort in Sloan, Iowa on the un-televised undercard of the 250th edition of ShoBox: The New Generation on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT).

“I feel very excited about signing with Salita,” said Kristinsson. “It’s a big opportunity and I know we are going to do big things together. I came to Detroit to train with SugarHill because I was at a point in my career where I needed more experienced, world-class coaching. My goal in boxing has always been to be undisputed world champion, this signing brings me closer to that goal.”

Moving forward, Kristinsson will travel back and forth from Iceland to Detroit. In his homeland, he will work with trainers Vilhjalmur Hernandez, Da?i Ástþórsson and Arnór Már Grímsson at Hnefaleikastö?in ÆSIR gym in the capital city of Reykjavik. The training team in Iceland will stick to SugarHill Steward’s training program so that there is “only one chef in the kitchen,” no matter where he is working.

“The Heavyweight division is buzzing again,” said excited promoter Dmitriy Salita. “Koli is a big, skilled, undefeated fighter from a unique place for boxing. I’ve been watching him train with SugarHill at the Kronk Gym and I see consistent improvement. With continued training and a busy fight schedule, I see Koli progressing to world-class levels in the heavyweight division.”

In the 10-round main event on January 17, WBC #12 super middleweight Vladimir Shishkin (9-0, 6 KOs) will take on unbeaten Ulises Sierra (15-0-2, 9 KOs). WBA and IBF #6 super lightweight Shohjahon Ergashev (17-0, 15 KOs) will face Adrian Estrella (29-4, 24 KOs) in the 10-round super lightweight co-feature and in the opener, Detroit native Ja’Rico O’Quinn (13-0-1, 8 KOs) faces Nevada’s Oscar Vasquez (15-2-1, 3 KOs) in an eight-round super flyweight contest.

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

NEW YORK (January 2, 2020) – Last week, Dan Rafael of ESPN.com put out his annual Top Prospect list, and five boxers who are managed by Split-T Management were acknowledged as being some of the elite young boxers in the world.

Coming in at number-10 was 2016 United States Olympian Charles Conwell. The 22 year-old Conwell (11-0, 8 KOs) went 2-0 in 2019 as he won the USBA Junior Middleweight title and defended it once. Those two wins catapulted Conwell to a number-11 ranking by the IBF. Conwell is promoted by DiBella Entertainment.

Abraham Nova checked in at number-12 on the list. Nova, 25 years-old of Albany, New York has a record of 17-0 with 13 knockouts. Nova went 3-0 with three knockouts in 2019, which included winning the NABA Super Featherweight title with a 1st round stoppage over Luis Renaldo Castillo (20-3). Nova is ranked number-seven in both the WBA and WBO. Nova just signed a co-promotional deal with Top Rank, and will be in action on January 18th in Verona, New York.

Brian Ceballo of New York made the honorable mention list. Ceballo, 25 years old is 11-0 with six knockouts, had a breakout 2019 by going 3-0. He had a flawless performance on June 8th when he won an eight-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Bakhtiyar Eyubov at Madison Square Garden. Ceballo is signed with 360 Promotions.

Diego Pacheco of Los Angeles was very busy in 2019. The 18 year-old super middleweight fought seven times in the calendar year to raise his mark to 8-0 with seven knockouts. In those wins, Pacheco defeated four undefeated fighters in places such as The Forum in Inglewood, California, Staples Center, Madison Square Garden and on the Ruiz – Joshua II card in Saudi Arabia. Pacheco is promoted by Matchroom Boxing.

27 year-old heavyweight Stephan Shaw was also an honorable mention. Shaw of Saint Louis went 3-0 with three impressive knockouts, which included a stoppage over over one-time prospect Donovan Dennis, Willie Jake Jr. and Gregory Corbin. Those wins raised Shaw’s perfect mark to 13-0 with 10 knockouts. Shaw is promoted by DiBella Entertainment.

“We are honored to have five of our clients in the top-25. These accolades are the result of the talent and extreme hard work of our clients. For them being on the list, it further validates our analytics, our extensive scouting system, and the hard work of every member of Split-T Management. They include Otha Jones, Tim VanNewhouse and myself as we spend countless hours scouting amateur boxers in the last few years. Our continued presence on this list makes it all worthwhile,” said David McWater, CEO of Split-T Management.

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 1, 2020): Golden Boy and DAZN will present a special night of boxing on Valentine’s Day as rising star Ryan Garcia (19-0, 16 KOs) defends his WBC Silver Lightweight Title in a 12-round fight against rugged contender Francisco Fonseca (25-2-2, 19. KOs). The event takes place Friday, Feb. 14 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

“Golden Boy is proud to present the biggest rising talent in the sport of boxing,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “Ryan Garcia silenced all the skeptics by knocking out a tough contender in Romero Duno, and he did it in just one spectacular round. Aside from being a popular young star who is loved by all women, he’s also demonstrated that he’s a skillful fighter with power in both hands. So, we will have something special for everyone to enjoy on Valentine’s Day when we deliver this great show at Honda Center and live on DAZN.”

Garcia is a 21-year-old contender who has quickly developed into one of boxing’s most popular young athletes. After a decorated amateur career, Garcia debuted as a professional and later signed with Golden Boy in 2016. Since then, he’s passed every tough test put in front of him, including wins against “Ruthless”Romero Duno, Carlos “The Solution” Morales and Jason “La Maravilla” Velez. Now, he’ll look to put himself on the path towards the highest levels of the sport with a win at the same venue where Canelo Alvarez became world champion for a first time in 2011.

“I’m very excited to be in the ring once again,” said Ryan Garcia. “I’m looking to shock the world this year. I’m going to show the boxing world that I’m here forever!”

On the other hand, Fonseca represents a recent wave of young talent from Managua, Nicaragua who have recently had much success in the sport. With fighters such as Felix Alvarado and Rene Alvarado becoming world champions within the past 18 months, Fonseca feels inspired to build off that momentum and upset Garcia. The 25-year-old will return after a tough draw against Alex Dilmaghani for a vacant title.

“Nicaraguan boxing is a the very top right now because we have two world champions representing us right now,” said Francisco Fonseca. “That’s why I will not let my country down. When I face Ryan Garcia, I will expose him on his own territory, and I will deliver him his first professional victory. My manager Rosendo Alvarez and I have been waiting for. We’ve dreamed of fighting Ryan Garcia, and we have the antidote to defeat him.”

“From rising stars to crafty veterans, the lightweight division is poised for a huge year in 2020,” said Joseph Markowski, DAZN EVP, North America. “With such an adoring fan base, we couldn’t think of a better fighter than Ryan Garcia to headline this special Valentine’s Day event during Fight Season on DAZN.”

In the co-main event, former three-division world champion Jorge “El Nino de Oro” Linares (46-5, 28 KOs) of Barinas, Venezuela will return in a 12-round lightweight fight.

Welterweight sensation Alexis “Lex” Rocha (15-0, 10 KOs) of Santa Ana, Calif. will defend his WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Title in a 10-round 147-pound clash.

Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (13-0, 9 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada will defend his NABF Welterweight Title in a 10-round bout.

Oscar “El Jaguar” Negrete (18-2-2, 7 KOs) de Tierralta, Colombia will fight Alberto “Impacto” Melian (6-1, 4 KOs) of Buenos Aires, Argentina for the vacant WBA International Bantamweight Title in a 10-round bout between two Golden Boy contenders.

Alejandro “PinPon” Reyes (2-0, 2 KOs), a native of Mexicali, Mexico who trains out of Los Angeles’ Westside Boxing Club, will return in a four-round lightweight battle.

Evan Sanchez (6-0, 5 KOs) of Parlier, Calif. will participate in a six-round welterweight bout.

Opponents for the undercard will be announced shortly.

Garcia vs. Fonseca is a 12-round fight for the WBC Silver Lightweight Title presented by Golden Boy. The event is sponsored by Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle.” The event will take place Friday, Feb. 14 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

Tickets for Garcia vs. Fonseca go on sale Friday, Jan. 3 at 10:00 a.m. PT. Tickets are priced at $150, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges. Tickets can be purchased at goldenboytickets.com, ticketmaster.com, and by phone at 800-943-4327 and at the Honda Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 5 p.m. PT and Sat 10 a.m. PT to 4 p.m. PT).

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

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying
and pasting the link: http://bit.ly/GarciaFonseca into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy for any photo and/or video usage.

NEW YORK (December 31, 2019)- In 2019, Split-T Management proved to be the top Management firm in boxing, as the company, which is led by CEO David McWater, had an astonishing 2019.

The company, which is littered with world champions and top prospects had its fighters win world championship, fight all over the world on every television and streaming platform, and continue to develop the best talent in the sport.

Split-T Fighters complied a record of 85-9-3, which included a world title victory by IBF World Lightweight world champion Teofimo Lopez, who obliterated Richard Commey in two rounds on December 14th at Madison Square Garden.

On November 23rd, Raquel Miller won a unanimous decision over Alma Ibarra to win the Interim WBA Super Welterweight title in Montreal.

Split-T Management fighters captured 19 regional fighters which included the NABF, USBA and USNBC titles on five occasions. NABA title winners three times. WBC Latino and WBC Continental Americas titles once.

Split-T Management fighters competed in bouts in the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, England, Belgium and Saudi Arabia.

In four fights, Split-T Management fighters were underdogs on the Las Vegas betting lines and came out with positive results. On February 1st, DeAndre Ware defeated Ronald Ellis on ShoBox: The New Generation; On May 2nd, Chris Pearson defeated previously undefeated Yamaguchi Falcao in Las Vegas; Welterweight Ray Robinson was able get draws in bout’s that most people believe he won against undefeated fighters Egidijus Kavaliauskas and Josh Kelly.

When Lopez scored the sensational knockout over Commey, Split-T Management, fulfilled on the promise of Lopez by taking him from his 1st professional fight, to become the top prospect in the sport, to world champion and into a potential mega-fight with Vasilliy Lomachenko this Spring.

The cupboard is very full with some of the greatest prospects in boxing as 2020 will see the continued growth of undefeated junior middleweight Charles Conwell, welterweight Brian Ceballo, heavyweight Stephen Shaw, super middleweight Diego Pacheco and junior lightweight Otha Jones III.

The aforementioned fighters are on many of the top prospect lists by most major and reputable boxing publications.

Chinese Promoter Longjoy Sports won the purse bid to stage the IBF/WBC Light Heavyweight title bout between Artur Beterbiev – Meng Fanlong bout, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Longjoy Sports, who works closely with Roc Nation Sports,  bid $1.9 million at the auction at the IBF offices in Springfield, New Jersey, where Roc Nation Sports promoter Dino Duva submitted the winning offer on Longjoy Sports’ behalf.

“They will stage the event in China, but we are waiting on the exact date and the venue, but we will co-promote the show with them,” Duva said. “The preliminary indications are that the fight will be in either Shanghai or Macau, but that could change.”

“(Longjoy Sports) won the bid and the other details are still being worked out as we speak, but we consider Artur to be the best light heavyweight in the world,” Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti told ESPN.

NEW YORK (December 30, 2019)- Split-T Management is pleased to announce the addition of manager Brian Cohen to the top Management company.

Cohen of Philadelphia will bring his stable of fighters to Split-T Management and will work very closely with CEO Dave McWater in the management and development of approximately 14 fighters.

Cohen manages current world champions Alicia Napoleon Espinosa and Mary McGee.

Cohen will join McWater along with Tim VanNewHouse and Joe Quiambao in the Split-T Management company.

The 43-year old Cohen has been around boxing his whole life as he received an early indoctrination into the sport from his father, Ivan Cohen, who managed former world junior middleweight champion Buster Drayton. Cohen then embarked in a successful fighting career that saw him go 15-2 as a professional. He then transitioned into managing professional fighters, where he became the preeminent female boxing manager in the world with his Empire Management stable.

“I’m trying to build an all-star team of boxing people at Split-T, and it seemed impossible to do that without adding Brian.Beyond being the foremost expert today on women’s boxing, he’s an accomplished fighter, a trainer, a cut man, you name it, and most importantly he’s a good person,” said McWater.

“This is a very unique situation for me. Dave McWater is a very intelligent guy, and I have known him a long time,” said Cohen. “Dave is from New York, and I do a lot of business in New York, so we seem to run into each other everywhere. Dave wants to get more into women’s boxing, and we started talking. Split-T Management has a lot of terrific fighters, and I feel I can be an asset because of my experience doing different things in the sport. I can scout talent, work corners, train fighters in the gym, do strength and condition and help with nutrition. I look forward working with Split-T Management.”

Sullivan Barrera is 100% healthy and ready to return to the ring.

The former Cuban amateur standout has fought through a torn labrum and rotator cuff the past few years but is now 100% healed after having surgery over the summer and is looking to make a final run in the light heavyweight division. 

“He had surgery to repair his rotator cuff and torn labrum in August.  He has been back in the gym working and is ready to go.  He is a promotional free agent so he can fight with anyone,” said his manager Luis Molina. “Marcus Browne is coming off of a loss and so is Sully. This next fight will be a make or break fight for Sully and Browne needs to get back in the mix too so I think it would be a perfect fight for both of them.”

Barrera has fought several of the top names at 175. Fighters such as Andre Ward, Dmitry Bivol, Joe Smith Jr. and Jesse Hart are all on his resume.  While he hasn’t won all of his big fights, he is a proven television friendly action fighter.

With his shoulder fully healed, Barrera believes that he will prove that he still has a lot left in the tank. A lot of critics have written him off and he is using that negativity to fuel his comeback.

“A lot of people say I am too old but I know what I can do. I wasn’t 100% the past few fights.  People haven’t seen the best Sully B in a long time.  I just need one more chance to step in the ring and prove it.  If I am so old and past it then I am sure Browne’s people will have no problem making the fight,” said Barrera.