PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Feb. 14th , 2019) — As a young up-and-comer, the heavy-handed Sicilian who breezed through his amateur career undefeated, Juiseppe Cusumano promised his coach and mentor, Robert Matney, he’d one day win a world title.

When Matney, a former Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy, died unexpectedly in 2014, Cusumano’s career took a turn for the worse. The promising heavyweight struggled with alcohol abuse and sat on the shelf for more than two years, the victim of a shady manager who robbed him of most of his earnings without booking him any fights.

There were days Cusumano struggled to get out of bed. Friends and family urged him to give up boxing a find another career. But Cusumano refused to throw in the towel. He had a promise to keep.

Next Saturday at Twin River Casino Hotel, Cusumano (17-2, 15 KOs) finally has the opportunity to cash in when he faces Brendan Barrett (7-1-2, 5 KOs) of Ventura, Calif., in an eight-round showcase for the vacant National Boxing Association (NBA) World Heavyweight Title, one of three title bouts at CES Boxing’s 2019 season opener.

The NBA, dormant for more than six decades after it changed its name to the World Boxing Association (WBA) in 1962, has returned under the direction of its new president, Damon Gonzalez. The Feb. 23rd Cusumano-Barrett showdown is the first NBA heavyweight championship bout since 1951 when the legendary Jersey Joe Walcott knocked out fellow Hall of Famer Ezzard Charles at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.

The list of former NBA heavyweight champions includes 11 Hall of Famers, among themJack Dempsey, who won the inaugural title in 1921; Gene Tunney; Max Schmeling; Jack Sharkey; Max Baer; Jim Braddock; Joe Louis; Floyd Patterson and the iconic Rocky Marciano, Cusumano’s idol as a young fighter. Marciano won the World Heavyweight Title in 1952, stopping Walcott in the 13th round of their scheduled 15-round fight in Philadelphia. He defended it six times before retiring at 49-0 in 1955.

Other sanctioning bodies existed at the time, including the New York State Athletic Commission, which dissipated in the early 1960s with the formation of the WBC, and the European Boxing Union, but the NBA was the first of today’s major sanctioning bodies to recognize world champions and its history is indisputable. The opportunity to wear that belt and join a list of champions that includes names such as Schmeling, Louis, Patterson and Marciano is a dream come true for Cusumano.

“It’s something I really need to get,” Cusumano said.

Reunited with trainer Marcus Luck, Cusumano continues to get stronger and leaner with each fight camp, shedding the excess weight from his year-long layoff between 2016 and 2017. He has implemented new techniques into his training regimen and enters next weekend in the best shape of his life as he aims for his 16thwin in his last 17 fights.

“With CES signing me [in 2017] it’s really helped me out because they have watched the process of me growing back into the fighter I should be,” said Cusumano, who has fight eight times in the last 17 months since joining forces with CES Boxing president Jimmy Burchfield Sr. “Even though I’m not 100 percent there yet, you can see the process. Each time, I’m getting better and better and my body is getting better.

“I’m learning things, too, because I’m older. I’m 30 years old, so I can’t train like I was when I was 20, but I had to learn that after a few fights because I did feel a little heavy in the [2018] fight with Bernardo Marquez, so I was like, ‘OK, I did something a little wrong here,’ because I shouldn’t have felt that heavy. Now it’s more about being in fight shape already. I should be in shape weeks before the fight. Not work harder, but work smarter, like Floyd [Mayweather] says.”

Cusumano struggled early in that fight with the southpaw Marquez before extending his then 12-fight win streak with a fourth-round knockout, but his run came to an unexpected halt less than a month later when he lost to the slick and surprisingly-elusive Robert Simms by unanimous decision. Cusumano still feels he won that fight, but admits the awkward 5-foot-11 Simms frustrated him by landing quick shots to the body, then holding on for dear life, not allowing the 6-foot-4 Sicilian to use his height and reach to his advantage.

His opponent next weekend is the same height as Simms, which may initially raise eyebrows, but Cusumano insists there are several differences between Barrett and Simms, many of which may play into his favor on the 23rd.

“Simms was a little slicker. He was very flexible for his weight,” Cusumano said. “With Barrett, he’s a little more stiff and more hard-headed. He’s a hard-headed guy that likes to throw bombs and likes to keep his head and come forward. That’s not going to be a very smart thing to do with me, especially with the shape I’m in.”

Cusumano and Barrett have combined for 20 knockouts in their careers, 15 for Cusumano and five for his opponent. Neither have been knocked out. Cusumano is confident he can use his jab more effectively than he did against Simms and use it to set up his knockout punch — the “bang-bang, night-night,” as he calls it — similar to the way he finished Marquez in May after three sluggish rounds.

“If he doesn’t get knocked out,” Cusumano said, “he’s going to have a serious headache the very next day.”

Twenty-two-year-old Worcester, Mass., prospect Jamaine Ortiz (9-0, 4 KOs) faces 21-year-old Oxnard, Calif., standout Ricardo Quiroz (10-0, 5 KOs) in an eight-round bout on the main card of CES Boxing’s 2019 season opener for the vacant WBC World Youth Lightweight Title. Headlining is female featherweight sensation Shelly Vincent (23-2, 1 KO) of Providence, R.I., by way of New London, Conn., who faces Budapest veteran Edina Kiss (15-9, 9 KOs) in an eight-round rematch of their 2015 bout, won by Vincent by majority decision.

Tickets for the event start at $47 and are available online at www.cesboxing.com or www.showclix.com or by phone at 401-724-2253/2254. Next weekend’s event also makes history as part of the world’s first ultra-high definition, high dynamic range — also known as 4K — event streaming live via VIVE Network TV. The VIVE app is available on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Play (Android TV), iOS, Roku and all smart TVs. Visit https://tickets.vivetv.network to purchase.

Doors open at 6 p.m. ET and the first preliminary bout begins at 6:30. VIVE will stream two bouts for free on Facebook beginning at 8 before the 4K televised pay-per-view main card kicks off at 9. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Also on the main card, female super bantamweights Marcia Agripino (3-1-1) of Ledyard, Conn., and Boston’s Amanda Pavone (6-0, 2 KOs) face one another in an eight-round bout for the vacant New England Championship. Taunton, Mass., welterweight Marqus Bates (5-2, 3 KOs) faces Jair Ramos (5-2-2, 2 KOs) of Waterbury, Conn., in a six-round bout and super lightweight Nicholas Briggs (2-0, 2 KOs) of Worcester puts his unbeaten record on the line against Andy Aiello (1-1-1) of Bridgewater, Mass., in a four-round bout. Unbeaten Pawtucket, R.I., super featherweight Ricky Delossantos (6-0, 1 KO) returns in his toughest test to date against U.S. Army National Guardsman Javar Jones (7-1, 2 KOs) of Indianapolis.

Providence junior middleweights Victor Reynoso (2-0, 2 KOs) battles 1-0 John Williams of Baton Rouge, La., who scored a knockout win in his pro debut in August, while fellow unbeaten junior middleweight Lamont Powell (2-0, 1 KO) of Providence faces 29-year-old Kenneth Chery (1-1, 1 KO) of Montreal Quebec. Likewise, Providence lightweight Michael “Bling Bling” Valentin( 4-0, 1 KO) returns from a one-year layoff to face Philadelphia’s Christopher Burgos (1-3-1, 1 KO) in a four-round bout and decorated New York City amateur Arnold Gonzalez makes his long-awaited professional debut in a four-round super lightweight bout against Falls Church, Va., veteran Stacey Anderson (0-4).

Visit www.cesboxing.com, www.twitter.com/cesboxing or www.facebook.com/cesboxing for more information, or follow CES Boxing on Instagram at @CESBOXING.

ARLINGTON, TX. (February 14, 2019) – Unbeaten IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. defends his title against undefeated four-division champion Mikey Garcia in a highly anticipated and historic showdown for pound-for-pound supremacy that headlines a Premier Boxing Champions on FOX Sports Pay-Per-View event on Saturday, March 16 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The four-fight pay-per-view card will also see unbeaten former super middleweight world champion David Benavidez taking on veteran contender J’Leon Love in a 10-round showdown, undefeated former 118-pound champion Luis Nery battling former champion McJoe Arroyo in a 10-round attraction and fan-favorite Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola facing unbeaten Jean Pierre Augustin for 10-rounds of action.

Tickets for this showdown, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Ringstar Sports, are on sale now, and can be purchased at SeatGeek.com, the Official Ticketing Provider of AT&T Stadium.

Spence and Garcia will go face-to-face on Saturday, February 16 at a press conference in Los Angeles that will air live on FOX from the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT. The press conference is open to ticket holders for the Leo Santa Cruz vs. Rafael Rivera featherweight championship fight.

On Tuesday, February 19, Spence and Garcia will square off at a press conference from
AT&T Stadium where they will finally go toe-to-toe on March 16.

Garcia is stepping up two weight classes from his last fight to challenge Spence for the welterweight title in Spence’s backyard, not far from the Dallas suburb of DeSoto where Spence grew up a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan. Garcia will be fighting in Texas for the ninth time as a pro and figures to be buoyed by the large contingent of Mexican and Mexican-American fans that will be in attendance.

His task has historical parallels to the paths taken by great fighters like Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao, who all moved up multiple weight classes to challenge all-time great welterweights. Mosley and Pacquiao were both successful in moving up from lightweight to defeat Oscar De La Hoya, while Marquez’s rise to welterweight was halted in a decision loss to Floyd Mayweather.

Spence is a power-punching welterweight who has stopped his last 11 opponents heading into this intriguing matchup against the brilliant tactician that Garcia has established himself as. With a clash of two superb boxers in the prime of their careers and squarely in the top-five of the mythical pound-for-pound rankings, the winner can stake a claim as the best boxer in the sport today.

“Errol Spence Jr. vs. Mikey Garcia is a matchup of two highly-skilled and accomplished fighters in a true blockbuster showdown,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Fans will get to see the hometown hero Spence against the Mexican-American superstar Garcia with huge contingents of fans uplifting them to put on a performance to match the moment. Combined with a jam-packed pay-per-view undercard of action fights, this has all the makings of a once-in-a-lifetime event.”

“Spence vs. Garcia is an event that transcends boxing and is a coronation that will crown the new ‘King of Boxing,'” said Richard Schaefer, Chairman and CEO of Ringstar Sports. “In addition to the main event, fight fans will be treated to a spectacular night of boxing featuring three of the most exciting Mexican fighters in the sport in David Benavidez, Luis Nery and Chris Arreola. This is exactly what a pay-per-view card is and should be all about: entertainment and non-stop action from the first bell to the last!”

“We are proud to host a boxing match of this magnitude with Errol Spence Jr. and Mikey Garcia,” said Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager Jerry Jones. “AT&T Stadium was built to house the greatest sporting events on the planet, and we feel we have another incredible boxing event on the horizon with this matchup in our building on March 16.”

Spence (24-0, 21 KOs) is no stranger to big stadium events as he won the IBF title by traveling to England to take on then-champion Kell Brook at Bramhall Lane soccer stadium on May 27, 2017. In front of a raucous crowd of over 27,000 loyal Brook supporters, the 28-year-old Spence stopped Brook in round 11 to wrest away the title.

This will be Spence’s third defense of the title. After beating Brook, he successfully defended it with an eighth-round stoppage of two-division champion Lamont Peterson and then knocked out mandatory challenger Carlos Ocampo in the first round in his last fight at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, near his hometown of Desoto, Texas on June 16. Spence turned pro shortly after representing the U.S. at the 2012 London Olympics with much promise and rose to the championship ranks with wins over former champion Chris Algieri and veteran contenders Leonard Bundu, Alejandro Barrera and Chris van Heerden.

“I can’t wait for March 16th. It doesn’t get bigger than this,” said Spence. “Fighting at AT&T Stadium in my hometown is a dream come true. If I beat Mikey Garcia the way I plan on beating him, I will be the guy in the sport. This is my year and Mikey isn’t going to stop me. I am training like this is the biggest fight of my life and I want to put on a great show for the fans and win convincingly.”

Garcia (39-0, 30 KOs) is striving to put together a legendary career and is aggressively pursuing that goal. He has won world championships at featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight. He now eyes a welterweight title against the consensus class of the division in Spence. Fighting out of Moreno Valley, California, Garcia unified the IBF and WBC Lightweight World Championships in his last bout by scoring unanimous decision victory over Robert Easter, Jr. on July 28.

The 31-year-old first reached the championship ranks by blitzing through the featherweight and junior lightweight division, defeating Orlando Salido, Juan Manuel Lopez, Roman Martinez and Juan Carlos Burgos to establish himself as a star in the sport. Garcia has been on a fast track since ending a nearly 2-1/2-year hiatus with a knockout victory over Elios Rojas in 2016. After the victory over Rojas, Garcia scored a KO victory over Dejan Zlaticanin for the WBC lightweight championship in January 2017, before defeating four-division champion Adrien Broner in July and then captured a title at 140-pounds by dropping and defeating Sergey Lipinets last March.

“In my career I’ve always sought to fight the best in boxing and this fight against Errol Spence Jr. is just that,” said Garcia. “I want to be known as one of the all-time greats and what better way to do that than to win a welterweight title and become a five-division world champion. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Errol and what he’s accomplished, but I fully expect to leave the ring at AT&T Stadium with the welterweight world title. This is a match that I’ve been looking forward to for a long time and I plan on giving the fans a performance they’ll never forget.”

The 22-year-old Benavidez (20-0, 17 KOs) became the youngest fighter to ever win a super middleweight title in 2017 when he defeated Ronald Gavril at just 20-years-old. Fighting out of Phoenix, Benavidez’s older brother Jose is also a pro fighter who challenged Terrence Crawford last year. Benavidez most recently won a rematch against Gavril last February, and as WBC “Champion in Recess” he will look to reclaim his belt against the winner of the Anthony Dirrell vs. Avni Yildirim bout for the vacant title on February 23.

Born in Detroit but fighting out of Las Vegas, Love (24-2-1, 13 KOs) has long been amongst the top contenders at super middleweight and most recently lost a decision to Peter Quillin in August. The 31-year-old had been previously unbeaten in seven bouts heading into the contest against Quillin.

Currently riding a nine-fight knockout streak, Nery (28-0, 24 KOs) will look to get one step closer to a fight to regain a bantamweight title when he steps into the ring March 16. The 24-year-old from Tijuana, Mexico twice traveled to Japan and stopped Shinsuke Yamanaka in WBC title fights. In 2018 he stopped Jason Canoy and Renson Robles heading into his U.S. debut against Arroyo.

A 2008 Olympian for his home country of Puerto Rico, Arroyo (18-2. 8 KOs) captured a 115-pound championship with a technical decision over Arthur Villanueva in their 2015 clash. After dropping decisions against Rau’shee Warren and Jerwin Ancajas, the 33-year-old most recently defeated Sander Diaz last June.

An exciting brawler inside the ring, Arreola (37-5-1, 32 KOs) is well-known for challenging the best heavyweights in the sport throughout his career, and for becoming a popular attraction in and around his native Los Angeles for his fighting style and persona. The 37-year-old faced the likes of Vitali Klitschko, Tomasz Adamek, and Bermane Stiverne, before challenging Deontay Wilder for his title in 2016. After a brief retirement, Arreola returned to stop Maurenzo Smith last December.

Unbeaten and fighting out of Louisville, Augustin (17-0-1, 12 KOs) will face his toughest and most experienced test to date in Arreola. Born in Haiti, Augustin turned pro in 2014 and has steadily climbed up the heavyweight rankings.

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

About AT&T Stadium:
AT&T Stadium is one of the largest, most technologically advanced entertainment venues in the world. Designed by HKS and built by Manhattan Construction, the $1.2 billion stadium features two monumental arches, the world’s largest HDTV video board cluster, an expansive retractable roof and the largest retractable end zone doors in the world. Features of the stadium include seating for 80,000 and expandability for up to 100,000, over 300 luxury suites, club seating on multiple levels and the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop, open to the public year round. The stadium is also home to a world-class collection of contemporary art, made up of over 50 pieces from an international array of curated artists displayed on the walls and in the grand public spaces of the venue. In addition to being the Home of the Dallas Cowboys since opening in 2009, the stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLV, the 2010 NBA All Star Game, the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four, the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship Game and the annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. The venue has also played host to high school and college football, concerts, championship fights, international soccer matches, and other special events. For more information, go to www.attstadium.com.

Bensalem, PA—Garrett Wilson, a seasoned fighter and one of the last of the old-school Philly fighters, goes against another veteran when he boxes Brian Howard in an 8-round cruiserweight bout in the main event Xcite Fight Night 3 at Parx Casino on Friday evening, March 1.

The event will mark the first of four Joe Hand’s Xcite Fight Night boxing events in 2019 at Parx Casino®. The seven-bout fight card figures to attract a huge crowd.

Wilson, who lives in South Philadelphia, has fought the best. Twelve of his 34 previous opponents were undefeated at fight time. The combined record of his opponents stands at 397-78-19 but that did not keep him from being rated among the Top 10 cruiserweights in the world at various times during his almost 11-year career.

Known as the “Ultimate Warrior,” Wilson has competed in five different countries, nine different states and 23 cities as a pro.

“I’m an everyday blue-collar worker,” Wilson said, “with the heart of a warrior and the mindset of a champion. Talk is cheap and I got bills to pay.”

He may be one of the nicest fighters outside of the ring, always with a smile on his face, but he channels that energy differently inside the ring with half of his wins (18-15-1 record) coming by knockout.

Wilsons’ biggest wins have come over Omar Sheika, Chuck Mussachio and Andres Taylor. The wins over Sheika and Taylor avenged a loss (Sheika) and a draw (Taylor). Wilson currently holds the Pennsylvania State Cruiserweight Title.

Across town, Brian Howard trains at Fast Lane Boxing Gym in West Philadelphia.

“I’m blessed,” said Howard. “I feel great about my upcoming fight. It’s my first time fighting in Philadelphia and I am thankful for the opportunity to fight such a notable guy; Wilson is a champion”

Howard (13-2, 10 K0s) is a Georgia native but now calls Philadelphia his home. A pro since 2010, Howards two wins came by knockout over a pair of undefeated fighters: Alex Guerrero in Queens, NY, and Shawndell Terell Winters in Elk Grove Village, IL.

First fight is 7:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased tickets from the Hold My Ticket Call Center at (1-877-466-3404) and at www.parxcasino.com/entertainment.

About March 1

The March 1 card will consist of seven fights, beginning at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 6:30 pm. The card I spromoted by Joe Hand Promotions. This event is only for adults age 21 and older. Tickets priced at $50, $75 and $100 are on sale at Joe Hand Promotions (215-364-9000). You can also purchase tickets from the Hold My Ticket Call Center at (1-877-466-3404) and atwww.parxcasino.com/entertainment.

About Parx Casino

Parx Casino® is owned and operated by Greenwood Racing, Inc. Parx Casino® is conveniently located 20 minutes north of center city Philadelphia, I-95 exit 37 or PA Turnpike exit 351 (westbound), exit 352 (eastbound) onto Street Road in Bensalem. Parx features over 200,000 square feet of gaming; over 3,300 slot machines and 133 live table games; a private poker enclave with over 80 poker tables; live racing & simulcast action; Parxgrill, an upscale signature restaurant; Liberty Bell Gastropub, farm-to-fork inspired menu; Foodies quick service dining; Chickie’s & Pete’s Crab House and Sports Bar; 360 bar and live music venue; Jax sports bar; Circle Bar; Bambu Noodle House; Earl of Sandwich®; Xlounge, ultramodern luxury lounge; the Xcite Center, an over 1,500-seat live entertainment venue and complimentary parking for 5,000 cars. For more information on Parx Casino®, visit www.parxcasino.com.

Filip Hrgovi? has signed a co-promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing and Team Sauerland, with his future fights to be screened exclusively live on DAZN in the US and Sky Sports in the UK.

The Rio 2016 Olympic Bronze Medallist has made a blistering start to his professional career, racing to seven wins from seven fights – with five of those wins coming by knockout – since making his pro debut in September 2017.

Ranked in the top ten in the World with the WBA, the 26-year-old Croatian star already finds himself being positioned for a World title fight, having been matched aggressively from the very start of his career.

He sent shockwaves through the Heavyweight division with a sensational third-round knockout win over Amir Mansour to claim the WBC International belt in his hometown Zagreb, and also has notable wins against former World title challenger Kevin Johnson and Brit Tom Little.

As Hrgovi? continues to climb the World rankings and move closer to an inevitable World title shot, the highly-touted prospect says he is delighted to be teaming up with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing alongside his current promoter Team Sauerland.

“I am very happy and honoured that my promoter Team Sauerland will be working with Matchroom Boxing, DAZN and Sky Sports to deliver me big fights as I continue my World title quest,” said Hrgovi?. “This will be great for my career and proves I am one of the best prospects in the business. My goal is to become World Champion and to hold all the belts in the Heavyweight division. I know to be the best, I will have to beat the best, and as I proven so far in my professional career, I am willing to fight any heavyweight out there.

“I look forward to being involved in huge fights all around the World and showing boxing fans what Filip Hrgovi? can do!”

“Heavyweight boxing is currently enjoying a huge resurgence and we believe Filip Hrgovi? is the most exciting up and coming fighter in the division,” said Nisse Sauerland. “We’re delighted to be working with Eddie Hearn and Sky Sports, with whom we have always enjoyed an excellent relationship, and DAZN, who are doing great things for boxing in the US, and plotting a route forward that will take Filip to the top of the Heavyweight pile.”

“I’m excited to team up with Team Sauerland to work on an exceptional young Heavyweight in Filip Hrgovi?,” said Eddie Hearn. “Everyone in the sport knows what a threat this man is and he is already willing to jump in big fights at such an early stage in his career. Fans will get to watch Filip all over in the World competing in all major fight cities – don’t blink!”

JOE MULLENDER WAS given prior notice that his name was firmly in the frame for a shot at the British title, but being tipped the wink did not prompt a scouting mission to assess the strengths of a potential opponent.

Mullender challenges Liam Williams for the British middleweight title at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday March 8 and the basher from Brentwood, known as Smokin Joe, had knowledge of the prospect before the Welshman claimed the title with an emphatic stoppage of the previously unbeaten Mark Heffron at the Manchester Arena in December.

“I was at one of the award do’s with my manager Andy (Ayling) and Francis (Warren) and they just said to me ‘do you want to fight the winner?’. I said ‘how much?’ Done!” stated the 32-year-old with a record of 11-2.

A pre-Christmas jaunt to Manchester was never on the cards though, according to the former English champion.

“No, I’m not bothered, it really doesn’t bother me,” insisted Mullender. “I could have gone there and sat ringside peeping through the ropes. What difference is that going to make?

“I can’t judge a fight and sit there wondering if I could exploit this or that. Listen, he’s gonna punch my head in and I’m gonna punch his head in. Game plans go out of the window so it is irrelevant to me who won because at this level everyone is a good fighter.

“I know what I am good at and I know what I have to do. What he’s good at, he’ll do, so there is nothing special to it in my opinion.

“I don’t feel like I had to sit there and watch it and I haven’t looked at it since either. I don’t need to, Liam is a good fighter and I am not one to sit and study and opponent.

“Who is he? Lovely, see you then.”

Williams is a world level operator who has previously challenged for an Interim title at super welterweight, as well as a final eliminator for a world title. Mullender, by contrast, admits his style is of a more basic nature and could be described as up close and personal.

“Yeah and it is made for fighters like Liam, but my tactics are not going to change. I’m not going ‘I’m going to shock the world’ and then go on the back foot. I’m telling him in the press conference that I am coming to ‘ave it with him.

“So he either irons me out or we are having a fight. It is as simple as that.
“I don’t pretend to be something I’m not, but everyone can come and watch me or fighters of my style and think they will pick them apart.

“Well, who has?

“I don’t know what he will do, but he can make it a very simple fight for himself by running, staying on the back foot and jabbing my head off. That is probably what Dom Ingle is saying to him, that I am basic and if I take too many he will stop me.

“Come on then, stop me!

“It is one thing looking at it from the outside and saying I am going to do this or that. When I am on your chest, try and stop me then. If you ain’t, I am gonna tickle your ribs and I am gonna beat you up.

“Otherwise, you’ve got to beat me up. It isn’t hard to work out.”

Tickets are priced from £40 and are available to buy via RoyalAlbertHall.com
TICKETS START FROM £40
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LOS ANGELES (February 13, 2019) – Fighters competing on Saturday’s Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes event took part in a media workout Wednesday as they near their respective showdowns this Saturday night at Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

Tickets for the show, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Ringstar Sports, are on sale now, and can be purchased at AXS.com.

Wednesday’s workout featured Mexican contender Rafael Rivera, who will battle WBA Featherweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz in the main event.

Also working out Wednesday at City of Angels Boxing Club were unbeaten former champion Omar Figueroa and hard-hitting John Molina Jr., who battle in super lightweight action, and unbeaten prospect Donnie Marshall, who faces fellow-unbeaten Sebastian Fundora in a super welterweight bout that kicks off televised coverage at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Unbeaten 2016 U.S. Olympian Karlos Balderas was also in attendance, as he competes in a TV swing bout.

The fighters will go face-to-face at a press conference on Thursday that will feature former two-time world champion and Southern California favorite Fernando Vargas. Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday:

RAFAEL RIVERA

“When I got this opportunity, I didn’t think twice. I was training and ready and I wanted this challenge. I’m here to make the most of it.

“Like I always say to my fans, be ready for a great fight. I’m looking to make this very exciting and interesting. The belt is coming back with me to Tijuana.

“I never look for the knockout, but I’ve still been able to get them. I’m ready, so I hope he’s also ready to give the fans a great fight.

“This is a big challenge for me. I’m coming for that world title. I want to prove how good I am and become a world champion for my fans in Tijuana.

“I love to face the best fighters out there. Leo is a fighter who throws a lot of punches. We’ve seen it and we’ve studied it. But I don’t think he’s very fast. I’m faster than he is and I have to take advantage of that. I have to counter him when he comes in and do my job.”

OMAR FIGUEROA

“I’m looking to come back strong against Molina. My style is always to go in there for the knockout and give the fans a great show. The sooner we get him out of there, the better.

“We know that John Molina is a tough fighter. He’s been in there with some of the best in the world and he’s given them problems. We expect him to bring a great fight.

“We’ve seen Molina box before and make things difficult for certain fighters. I’m going to try to make the fight my style of fight and we’ll see if he obliges. Once he feels the power, he might choose to box.

“I don’t think this goes past six rounds. I’m confident about that. We’re going to be ready for anything Molina brings.

“I’ve been doing a lot of healing physically, mentally and spiritually. I’m looking to show on Saturday that I’ve got everything together.”

JOHN MOLINA JR.

“I feel excited and confident. Maybe overconfident, but I am ready. We did our job in the gym and now we are ready for the fight.

“I have to expect the best version of Omar Figueroa. He is a smart kid. I don’t know if he is trying to entice me into a war right away. I don’t know what his game plan is, but we will find out on Saturday.

“Fans need to tune in on FOX and FOX Deportes February 16. This is going to be a war and I believe we’re going to steal the show.

“This isn’t my first go around against a Joel Diaz-trained fighter. I did it before with Ruslan Provodnikov and now it is my job to beat Figueroa.

“I am not affected by being considered the underdog. Every one of my fights, fans make money. I think Provodnikov I was 11-1. When you become a veteran in the sport, you stop worrying about stuff like that. Talk is cheap.

“There is a lot at stake for me. I don’t feel pressure, but there is a lot at stake. Every fight of my career I have something to prove and Saturday is no different.”

DONNIE MARSHALL

“This is my first big opportunity and I’m ready to take full advantage. I’m going to show everybody where I’m at.

“I’m going to take it as it comes in the ring. We have a game plan, but I’m a creator in the ring. I create on the go. I’ll fit in where I can and go with the flow of the fight.

“The only challenge I see is his height. He’s obviously very tall at six-foot seven-inches. We know what we have to do to break him down. I don’t even really see the height as a challenge, because I spar with heavyweights all the time.

“I’m 10-0, but I only started boxing when I was 20, about 10 years ago. I don’t have the time like young prospects who want to play around, I want to fight any and everybody I can right now.”

KARLOS BALDERAS

“I feel excited and anxious to get back in the ring. I’m ready physically and mentally. I know that my opponent won’t be ready for the heat I’m going to throw at him.

“This year I’m looking to be busy. I want to be back in the ring in April if everything goes well on Saturday. After this fight I’m going to move to Los Angeles and add trainer Roberto Alcazar to my team. He’s had a lot of experience in big fights and I think he’s going to be a great help. I can really understand clearly what he’s trying to teach me.

“I’m going to show everyone that I’m the real deal once again. I’m going to prove why these fighters can’t make it through a fight with me. This year is all business for me.”

# # #

ABOUT SANTA CRUZ VS. RIVERA
Leo Santa Cruz vs. Rafael Rivera is a Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes event that will see featherweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz take on Mexico’s Rafael Rivera in the main event Saturday, February 16 from Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features unbeaten former champion Omar Figueroa battling hard-hitting John Molina Jr. and a matchup between unbeaten prospects Sebastien Fundora and Donnie Marshall. Rising prospect and 2016 U.S. Olympian Karlos Balderas will compete in a swing bout that will air live if time permits.

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, @Ringstar and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

SAN ANTONIO, TX (February 13, 2019) – Prince Ranch Boxing’s highly touted amateur standout and 5-Time National Champion, Ricky Medina (2-0, 2 KO), looks to continue his fast rise to the top of the featherweight division when he returns to the ring on Feb. 23, 2019 at the Floresville Event Center, in Floresville, TX. The event titled “Small Town Big Showdown” is being presented by TMB & PRB Entertainment. Medina will face an opponent TBD.

The 18-year old high school senior, Medina, has been training hard in preparation for his upcoming bout. He’s started his career with two consecutive knockouts and has plans to remain undefeated with a stellar performance on fight night.

“I’ve been working extremely hard in the gym and I’ll be ready to go when I step in the ring on February 23rd,” said Medina, who is managed by Greg Hannley, CEO of Prince Ranch Boxing. “I’m happy with the progress of my career and I’m thankful for the team around me. I love fighting in Texas where all my family and friends can watch me fight. As always, if I get my opponent hurt, I’m going for the knockout.”

“Ricky Medina is a great kid with a ton of talent and charisma,” Greg Hannley said. “When he fights, you can see he’s on another level. His success in the amateurs is transcending in the pros. I’m looking forward to another great performance from him. He’s a very special talent to say the least.”

“When we signed Medina, we knew we had something special,” said Rick Morones, of TBM & PRB Entertainment who promotes the young San Antonio native. “He’s a special fighter and we will continue to keep him busy.”

“Everything about Medina spells world champion,” stated Alex Draghici, of TMB & PRB Entertainment. “When he fights his talent is obvious. His fighting style is fan friendly as well.”

“Small Town Big Showdown” takes place at the Floresville Event Center on Feb. 23, 2019. Tickets priced $25 General Admission, $80 Ringside and $800 VIPTables (10 seats) are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (210) 449-5599 or (210) 322-9974. The Floresville Event Center is located at 600 SH 97West, Floresville, TX 78114. Doors open at 6:00 PM, first bell at 7:30 PM.

PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 13, 2019) — The Nail and the Mean Machine are ready for their South Philly close-up.

WBC and lineal light heavyweight champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk will make the first defense of his world title against Doudou Ngumbu on Saturday, March 30 at the 2300 Arena. In the 10-round co-feature, Gvozdyk’s stablemate, top welterweight contender Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas, will take on Philadelphia native Ray Robinson.

Gvozdyk-Ngumbu and Kavaliauskas-Robinson will air live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The undercard, including the IBF welterweight title eliminator between Kudratillo “The Punisher” Abdukakhorov and Keita Obara and an appearance by Philadelphia-born heavyweight prospect Sonny Conto (1-0, 1 KO), will stream live on ESPN+ beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Peltz Boxing, tickets priced at $125, $75, and $50 go on sale Thursday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at 2300arena.com, the 2300 Arena box office at (267) 758-2173, or by calling Peltz Boxing at (215) 765-0922.

“It was a long journey for me to become a world champion, and I plan on showing everyone why I am the best light heavyweight in the world,” Gvozdyk said. “Ngumbu is a tough fighter who I cannot afford to overlook. My goal in 2019 is to unify with the other champions, but before I can do that, I have to take care of business on March 30.”

“It is a great opportunity to face arguably the best light heavyweight fighter in the world. After 12 years and 46 fights in my career with serious opposition, I get my first shot at a major world title,” Ngumbu said. “I have the utmost respect for Oleksandr Gvozdyk, a great champion who took the WBC title in a war against Adonis Stevenson. It is not going to be easy, but I believe I am much more experienced as a pro and I intend to use that to my advantage.”

Gvozdyk (16-0, 13 KOs) captured an Olympic bronze medal for his native Ukraine in 2012 as part of a national team that included two-time gold medalist and future promotional stablemate Vasiliy Lomachenko. He climbed the rankings with dominant wins over the likes of Nadjib Mohammedi and Yunieski Gonzalez and won the WBC interim light heavyweight title last March with a unanimous decision against Mehdi Amar. As the mandatory challenger, he traveled to Quebec City and, behind on two of the three judges’ scorecards, knocked out longtime champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson in the 11th round. Ngumbu (38-8, 14 KOs) is coming off perhaps the most significant win of his career, a 12-round majority decision over then-unbeaten Yoann Kongolo in May of last year. A native of the Democratic Republic of Congo who is now based in France, Ngumbu will be making his first attempt at a world title.

Kavaliauskas (21-0, 17 KOs) is universally regarded as one of the welterweight division’s top contenders, a massive puncher who rolled through then-beaten Roberto Arriaza in three rounds last November in Oklahoma City. He has knocked out five of his last six foes and is the WBO’s top contender for the belt currently held by pound-for-pound great Terence “Bud Crawford. Robinson (24-3, 12 KOs) is a rangy southpaw boxer who rebounded from back-to-back losses early in his career to Shawn Porter and Brad Solomon to win 13 in a row. In his last bout, Feb. 17, 2018 against Yordenis Ugas, he saw that winning streak come to an end when Ugas scored a seventh-round stoppage.

“I know a lot of Robinson’s fans will be in Philadelphia to cheer him on, but they will leave the 2300 Arena disappointed,” Kavaliauskas said. “This is the year that I fight for, and win, a welterweight world title. I am ready for anybody, including the Crawford-Khan winner. I will show everyone in Philadelphia and watching on ESPN what the ‘Mean Machine’ is all about.”

“I am always excited to come home and put on for my city,” Robinson said. “Every fight is a risk, but the higher the risk, the bigger the reward.”

Abdukakhorov (15-0, 9 KOs), a native of Uzbekistan who now lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, went 2-0 in 2018, including a convincing 12-round unanimous decision over Laszlo Toth in defense of his WBC silver welterweight belt. Obara (20-3-1, 18 KOs), who hails from Tokyo, is one of the division’s heaviest punchers. He knocked out Alvin Lagumbay in three rounds last August, a measure of revenge over the man who knocked him out in two rounds less than four months earlier.

For more information visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook:
facebook.com/trboxing; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing.

Use the hashtags #TheNail and #MeanMachine to follow the action on social media.

To subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 per month, go to www.espnplus.com.

###

About ESPN+
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Programming on ESPN+ includes hundreds of MLB and NHLgames, exclusive UFC and Top Rank boxing events, top domestic and international soccer (Serie A, MLS, FA Cup, UEFA Nations League, EFL Championship, EFL Carabao Cup, Eredivisie, and more), thousands of college sports events (including football, basketball and other sports), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby and cricket, new and exclusive 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) and cancel at any time.

ESPN+ is available as an integrated part of the ESPN App (on mobile and connected devices) and ESPN.com. They are the industry-leading all-in-one digital sports platform, delivering a rich, personalized experience to tens of millions of fans every month.

London (13 February 2019) With little over a week until he steps between the ropes at The O2 to confront his bitter rival Chris Eubank Jr, Two-Time IBF World Champion James DeGale MBE today exhibited his lean and sculpted physique, hand speed and power-punching to a captivated audience at a packed media work out at Stonebridge ABC in Wembley.

Looking ripped and ready, DeGale moved with poise and grace around the ring, mixing it up with speed and power to make it clear to everyone present that he’s primed to do battle with his Brighton arch-rival on Saturday 23rd February, exclusively live in the U.K on ITV Box Office and in the U.S on Showtime, promoted by Premier Boxing Champions and Poxon Sports.

DeGale was put through his paces by his long-time trainer Jim McDonnell in front of the watching media and also former IBF World Middleweight Champion Darren Barker and Team DeGale member Paulie Malignaggi, the former WBA and IBF World Welterweight Champion.

He expressed some stern words of warning for Eubank Jr, “Come February 23rd the smile will be wiped off his face. He’s all show. If I’m honest, if his surname was Smith, you wouldn’t know who he was. He’s riding off his dad’s name. There are levels in boxing and I’m on a level above him. Come fight night, it’s going to be a schooling. Eubank Jr is gonna get schooled. I’ve dubbed this a ‘retirement’ fight. When he loses, he’s finished, he’s done. This will be his last fight.”

He added, “I’m so excited about this fight. I’ve been training for a long time and I’m feeling great, feeling focused and ready to do battle. The last couple of years, injury wise, have been very frustrating for me. But now I can honestly say that I’m feeling great. I’m going to put in a fantastic performance against Chris. Come February 23rd it’s going to be a fantastic night and a fantastic victory for me.”

DeGale even found time to surprise his mum Diane with a bouquet of Valentine’s Day flowers before posing for photographers who captured his relaxed determination as fight night approaches.

Commenting on fighting in London again, DeGale added, “I’m a London boy through and through. I was raised in Harlesden and I’m proud of my city, proud of where I’m from. So, it will be good to go back to The O2 and put on a fantastic performance for the fans. I can’t wait.”

A Storm Is Coming is headlined by the long awaited domestic blockbuster showdown between James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr for the Vacant IBO World Super-Middleweight Championship; Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Joe Joyce defends his title against Challenger and Former WBC World Champion Bermane Stiverne; Former IBF World Featherweight Champion Lee Selby returns to action and takes on Omar Douglas; The British Heavyweight Title Eliminator between Andre Sterling and Ricky Summers. Plus an action packed undercard featuring super-featherweight Anthony Cacacae; welterweight Chris Kongo; light-heavyweight Seb Eubank and the pro-debut of cruiserweight Chez Nihell.
VIDEO
James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr. Head-To-Head on The O2 roof

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Tickets available from www.AXS.com and Inner Ringside/VIP Hospitality from www.sportandmusic.co.uk

This fight will be shown exclusively on ITV Box Office. For further information and updates, please go to www.itvboxoffice.com

For further event information, please visit www.poxonsports.uk and www.premierboxingchampions.com or follow on Twitter and Instagram at @PoxonSports, @PremierBoxing, @ITVBoxOffice, @ITVBoxing and join the conversation with #DeGaleEubankJr

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TORONTO, ON—Lee Baxter Promotions is excited to announce the signing of one of Canada’s top boxing stars, welterweight contender Custio Clayton.

Clayton (15-0, 10 knockouts), a 2012 Olympian and six-time national champion, has been knocking on the door of world title contention, fast-tracking through the 147-pound ranks in just over four years as a professional.

The Dartmouth native, who is trained and managed by Eric Belanger, will now have a chance to showcase his skills in the burgeoning boxing hotbed of Toronto, the home base of Lee Baxter Promotions.

“I’m just really excited to get back in the ring. Especially in Toronto, where I can show a new market what I’m all about,” said Clayton, who has relocated to Ottawa, Ontario.

The addition of Clayton bolsters a growing list of potential world title contenders on Baxter’s roster, including Samuel Vargas, Stanyslav Skorokhod, Dusty Harrison and Patrice Volny.

“I’m extremely excited to have Custio on our team. He is the best pure boxing talent in all of Canada, and even though he’s only 15 fights into his pro career, he’s not a fighter who needs coddling or more seasoning,” said Baxter. “We believe he is a fight or two away from a big fight, a world title fight, and we firmly believe he can bring a title home to Canada.”

Clayton was last seen in 2018, when he turned in a comprehensive shutout performance against the unbeaten Stephen Danyo.

“I never stopped training. We have a fresh team and we’re all really hungry to work together. I feel Lee is a hungry promoter with a lot of momentum and upswing, and I’m very happy to be joining his team,” said Clayton.

The 31-year old will make his debut under the Lee Baxter Promotions banner on March 29 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, on the very same plot of land that legends such as Muhammad Ali, Jose Napoles and George Chuvalo have fought. Clayton’s opponent will be named shortly.

“Custio has the potential to become a legend in Canadian boxing circles, and the first of the final steps towards immortality will happen on March 29,” said Baxter. “He has the look and the charisma to resonate with the community the way the Raptors have, and become Toronto’s first boxing superstar. If everything goes to plan, the city will have a new major sports franchise: The Blue Jays, the Raptors, the Maple Leafs, Toronto FC, and Custio Clayton.”

Tampa, FL (February 13, 2019) – Fire Fist Boxing’s Connor “The Kid” Coyle, Willian “Baby Face” Silva and Mark Reyes Jr. will all fight as part of a UFC Fight Pass card Saturday, February 16 at the Coliseum in St. Petersburg, FL.

This excellent evening of boxing is promoted by Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions in association with Rite Hook Promotions.

Headlining the telecast is an eight round middleweight showdown between Coyle and Travis “Dirty Red” Scott.

Splitting time between his native Ireland and St. Petersburg, FL, Coyle’s a perfect 8-0 with 3 wins by knockout. He’s become a big draw in the Tampa-St Pete area and most recently scored a sixth round TKO of Danny Pastrana. The talented Coyle has been featured as a prospect to watch out for by media members from both sides of the pond.

Fighting out of Baton Rouge, LA, Scott is Coyle’s most experienced foe to date. The 38-year-old has an excellent 19-4 professional ledger with 5 KO’s. A true veteran of the sport, Scott turned pro in 2004 when Coyle was 14.

Welterweight phenom Mark Reyes Jr of Tampa, FL risks his 0 against fellow unbeaten Rodrigo Tatijewski of Sao Paolo, Brazil in a highly-anticipated six round contest.

The wildly popular Reyes Jr. is 8-0 with 6 KO’s. An athletic boxer-puncher, Reyes is coming off a third round TKO of Juan Garces last October and at 22-years-old, continues to improve rapidly.

Tatijewski, who is fighting for the first time in the United States, is 8-0 and has 7 wins by way of knockout. He’s confident of making a major splash by taking out Reyes in front of millions of viewers on UFC Fight Pass.

Junior welterweight Willian “Baby Face” Silva of Plant City, FL by way of Sao Paolo, Brazil challenges rugged Argentinian Juan Ramon Solis in a ten rounder.

Silva, who has an excellent 26-2 professional ledger and 15 wins by knockout, scored a dominant 9th round TKO over Jose Forero last October. After fighting most of his career at lightweight, Silva’s sights are set on the best at 140 pounds but he must first get past Solis.

Living and fighting out of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Solis is 25-13 with 9 KO’s. The 36-year-old’s faced many top fighters including world champion Robert Easter, contenders Sergio Thompson and Diego Silva along with unbeaten Saul Rodriguez among others.

“This is a great opportunity for Connor, Mark and Willian,” said Jody Caliguire of Fire Fist Boxing. “The UFC Fight Pass platform is perfect for all three of these excellent boxers to showcase their talent to fans from all over. We’re looking forward to Saturday evening.”

Fans can watch Coyle, Silva and Reyes’ bouts on Ufc.tv/page/fightpass and tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fight-fest-st-pete-ufc-fight-pass-rjj-rite-hook-promotions-tickets-55031335205.

For more information, please visit Firefistboxing.net or Facebook.com/firefistboxing.

ABOUT FIRE FIST BOXING: Fire Fist Boxing is a professional full-service boxing management group. Fire Fist Boxing manages elite top-ranked, local and international boxers living and/or training in the Tampa Bay area.

Heavyweight boxing’s biggest star Anthony Joshua OBE will defend his WBA Super, IBF, WBO and IBO World titles against Jarrell Miller in his long-awaited U.S. debut at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday, June 1, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the U.S.

Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs), defended his World titles with a devastating knockout of dangerous Russian Alexander Povetkin last time out at Wembley Stadium in September in what was the Olympic Champion’s fourth straight stadium fight in front of over 80,000 fans.

It was a crushing return to the scene of his historical triumph over legendary Champion Wladimir Klitschko in April 2017, where he produced the performance of a lifetime to claim the WBA crown in an unforgettable battle in front of a post war record crowd of 90,000 at England’s National Stadium.

The British sensation blasted Povetkin to the canvas with a brutal assault in the seventh round and then floored the WBA mandatory challenger again to signal a sudden and dramatic ending to his 22nd professional victory in his home city.

And now sport’s biggest name will follow in the footsteps of Heavyweight greats such as Joe Louis, Joe Frazier, Evander Holyfield and Muhammad Ali when he crosses the Atlantic to silence Brooklyn’s brash ‘Big Baby’ Miller at ‘The Mecca of Boxing’.

“June 1st I am heading to The Big Apple and I plan to embrace the culture and leave with an appetite for more,” said Joshua. “I will be fighting Jarrell Miller at the legendary Madison Square Garden. It has been an honour and a blessing to fight at some of the best venues in the World at home in the UK, not least Wembley Stadium, but the time has come to head across the Atlantic and defend my Heavyweight titles in the USA. I am looking forward to taking on another challenge with a good boxer & a brilliant talker, it will be an exciting fight, I will leave nothing to chance and plan on dismantling Miller in style to make my mark.”

Miller (23-0-1, 20 KOs), has been calling for a British scalp ever since he went face-to-face with Joshua during a heated exchange at the launch of DAZN’s streaming service in the U.S. in July last year, and the undefeated 300lbs giant is promising to turn AJ’s American dream into a living nightmare as he looks to announce himself on the biggest stage of all.

Miller earned his shot at Joshua with successive wins over former World title challengers Gerald Washington, Mariusz Wach, Johann Duhaupas and Tomasz Adamek, crushing the latter inside two rounds on his Matchroom Boxing USA debut at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago in October.

He followed this up with another big stoppage win, this time steamrolling Bogdan Dinu in four rounds to claim the interim NABA Heavyweight title at the Kansas Star Arena, and now Miller returns to his home city to fulfil a lifelong dream of fighting for the World Heavyweight crown.

“AJ is making a huge mistake coming over here to fight me in my own backyard,” said Miller. “He wants to announce himself on the American stage but all he’s doing is delivering me those belts by hand. Its dog eat dog in the ring and this dog has got a bigger bite, he’ll be leaving New York empty-handed. This is the fight that I’ve been chasing all my life and on June 1 I’m going to achieve the thing I was born to do and win the Heavyweight Championship of the World. That punk AJ is standing in the way of my dreams and on June 1 he’s getting run the hell over.”

“It’s been an eventful few months but I’m delighted to finally announce that Anthony Joshua will make his American debut at the iconic Madison Square Garden on June 1,” said Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing Managing Director. “AJ has created an incredible ‘Lion’s Den’ atmosphere in the UK and we plan to bring that energy to New York on a card that will be stacked with British vs. American talent. When you look at the Heavyweight greats that have graced the renowned ‘Mecca of Boxing’ the names of Ali, Frazier, Marciano and Tyson stand firm and June 1 will be a moment when the World will witness AJ’s turn.

“Jarrell Miller is someone I know well having been involved in his last 4 fights in America. I know how much he wants this fight and I know the belief that him and his team have in beating AJ. He is a mountain of a man with an incredible work rate and he will get the chance to challenge for 4 World Heavyweight belts in his backyard this summer. They went to head to head for all the wrong reasons last Summer and next week they will do it again as we get ready for the big build up for a momentous moment on June 1st at MSG.”

“We are delighted to be showing this massive occasion on Sky Sports Box Office and our team will provide every step of an enticing build up,” said Adam Smith, Head of Sky Sports Boxing. “Every boxer wants to conquer America and the time has come for AJ at the iconic Madison Square Garden. It’s been the home of countless classics, from Ali vs. Frazier to the controversial bout that was called a draw between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis 20 years ago. It’s another chapter in the Joshua story.”

“Anthony Joshua is the number one Heavyweight in the World and DAZN is excited to deliver the British star’s much-anticipated U.S. debut at the iconic Madison Square Garden,” said Joseph Markowski, DAZN Executive Vice President, North America. “In New York awaits a hometown fighter in Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller who has been quite vocal about his plans to spoil Joshua’s stateside arrival. He poses a real threat to dethrone the Heavyweight king in what will undoubtedly be a major international attraction and we are eager to see what will unfold June 1 on DAZN.”

“The World Heavyweight Championship at Madison Square Garden is unlike any setting in the World and we couldn’t be more thrilled to host Anthony Joshua and Jarrell Miller,” said Joel Fisher, Executive Vice President, MSG Marquee Events. “The legacy of Heavyweights at ‘The Mecca of Boxing’ that began with the likes of John L. Sullivan, Gene Tunney, ‘Jersey’ Joe Wolcott, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Joe Louis, Evander Holyfield, Wladimir Klitschko and Lennox Lewis will continue when Joshua and Miller step into the famed Garden ring in front of a packed house on June 1.”

“On June 1 Brooklyn’s Jarrell Miller will fight in the World’s greatest city for boxing’s greatest title — the Heavyweight Championship of the World — on boxing’s biggest stage — ‘The Mecca of Boxing’ Madison Square Garden,” said Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions. “It is a dream come true for Jarrell, but it is exactly what we envisioned and what I promised him when I began working with Jarrell in his second professional fight. He is on the verge of making history and I am proud to have been there since the beginning. On June 1 Jarrell follow in the footsteps of Brooklyn Heavyweight greats Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe to bring the Heavyweight World title back to its rightful home NY.”

“It is incredible to be a co-promoter of Jarrell Miller’s World title challenge against Anthony Joshua on June 1st streamed live on DAZN,” said Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions. “The fact that this event is taking place at Madison Square Garden makes it extra special as it’s a home game for Team Miller. I can’t wait to hear Michael Buffer announce, “And the NEW…!”

JOSHUA VS. MILLER TICKET SALES ANNOUNCEMENT

Important information for fight fans on tickets for the New York blockbuster

Tickets for Anthony Joshua’s long-awaited American debut against Jarrell Miller at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 1 will be available to purchase from this Friday!

Madison Square Garden Pre-Sale begins at Midday ET (5pm GMT) on Friday 15th February via Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com)

Fight Pass Pre-Sale begins at Midday GMT (7am ET) on Monday 18th February via StubHub (www.stubhub.com)

General Sale tickets are on sale at Midday ET (5pm GMT) on Tuesday 19th February via Madison Square Garden and StubHub (www.stubhub.com)

Tickets can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.MSG.com.

Official Ticket and Travel Packages, including the opportunity to travel on the Official Charter Plane, are available to purchase via Sportsworld (www.sportsworld.co.uk) Prices start at £1,095. Reserve your seat today.

Tickets are priced, $106, $156, $206, $306, $406, $506, $756, $1,006, $1,256 and $2,506 plus applicable booking fees.

Wheelchair seats, companion seats, aisle seats and Assistive Listening Devices are available to purchase by calling 212-465-6034

Micki Nielsen (25-1, 15 KOs) is full of confidence as he prepares to challenge Yves Ngabu (19-0, 14 KOs) for the European Cruiserweight title on Saturday night at the Eventhal Schiervelde in Roeselare, Belgium.

Nielsen faces his biggest career test as he attempts to dethrone the undefeated champion in his backyard, but the hard-hitting Copenhagen-native believes he is up to the challenge and ready to bring the EBU belt back to Denmark.

“I feel great,” said Nielsen. “I’ve boxed away from home before, and to be honest, it doesn’t bother me, especially when I know I have what it takes to win.

“I’ve had no problem making weight, my conditioning is good, and my coach says I’m in my best shape ever. I’ve worked hard and I’m ready to become European Champion on Saturday.”

Ngabu claimed the European title with a fourth-round knockout win over Tomas Ladi in April 2017, before retaining the belt in similarly emphatic fashion when stopping Geoffrey Battelo in the fourth-round in his first defence in January.

“He’s definitely a good opponent, but I believe I’ve faced better,” says Nielsen, who sees a victory over Ngabu as his route back to the upper echelons of the cruiserweight division following his sole career defeat to Kevin Lerena in 2016.

“I’ve watched his fights and I know he likes to come forward and throw a lot of shots. He throws some good punches and likes to use his uppercuts on the inside, but I’m confident in my own ability and I feel well prepared.

“I want to knock him out in front of his fans on Saturday. It will be a statement for me to prove I’m back and ready to face the best in the division.

“Of course, the victory is the most important thing, but a knockout will bring me back to where I was before my defeat to Lerena, and a European title will open the door to some great fights and some big shows in Denmark. That’s the goal!”

Promoter Nisse Sauerland is backing his man to get the job done in Belgium.

“We’ve only seen glimpses of Micki’s true potential so far,” says Sauerland. “But on Saturday, he has the opportunity to show what he’s made of by taking the title from an undefeated champion. Ngabu is a strong opponent, but I believe Micki has the strength and ability to become European Champion.”

Micki Nielsen’s European Cruiserweight title challenge against Yves Ngabu can be seen live and exclusive in Denmark on TV3 Sport from 20.00 (CET).

13 February 2019 – Bangkok, Thailand: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), earlier today held the ONE: CLASH OF LEGENDS Official Kick-Off Press Conference at the W Hotel in Bangkok.

In attendance at the Press Conference and part of the head table was Hua Fung Teh, Group President of ONE Championship, main event athletes Nong-O Gaiyanghadao and Han Zi Hao, co-main event athletes Kongsak P.K.Saenchaimuaythaigym and Alaverdi Ramazanov, Shannon Wiratchai and opponent Amarsanaa Tsogookhu, and Rika Ishige and opponent Nou Srey Pov.

Ticket information for ONE: CLASH OF LEGENDS is available at www.onefc.com.

Photo: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1b36SXAjUQYr3V01QZE5VrCO_bldTO5R1
Video:

Hua Fung Teh, Group President of ONE Championship, stated: “Thailand has given the world one of the most famous martial arts in human history. Muay Thai is an intricately crafted and devastating striking style known for its effectiveness and power. It comes as no surprise that Thailand is recognized for having the best strikers in the world. That’s why we at ONE Championship love being back here, because we feel that we are one with the martial arts spirit and the culture of this beautiful country. This Saturday, ONE: CLASH OF LEGENDS will showcase Muay Thai, together with other martial arts, in all their glory, an thrill fans all over the world.”

Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title Contender, stated: “It is an honor to be here in front of all the media and the fans. I would like to say, I am extremely excited and happy for this incredible opportunity. Han Zi Hao is very fast and he is a great athlete. I will tell you one thing, I will not underestimate him. Through hard practice and training, I have become stronger. Expect the best version of Nong-O Gaiyanghadao in the ring this Saturday night. I’m coming for the belt and it would be an honor to be crowned the first ever ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion.”

Han Zi Hao, ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title Contender, stated: “This time, I have the chance to challenge for the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title, and that means a lot to me. I came to Thailand to practice Muay Thai when I was 14 years old because I know the best in the world train here. Nong-O [Gaiyanghadao] has been my idol since I was a kid. Now, I have the chance to face my idol in the ring, and it is a big honor for me. I want to bring the belt back to China. I will do my best.”

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

About ONE Championship™
ONE Championship (ONE) is the largest global sports media property in Asian history, and the largest producer of millennial live sports content in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE is the Home of Martial Arts, and is the world’s largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. ONE hosts the biggest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions on the largest global media broadcast in Asia. ONE eSports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship, runs Asia’s largest global eSports Championship Series with some of the biggest blockbuster game titles in the world. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1.7 billion potential viewers across 138 countries with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, Great Sports, Tencent, and more.

NEW YORK – February 12, 2019 – Undefeated middleweight world champions Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer will meet on Saturday, April 13 live on SHOWTIME to crown the women’s undisputed 160-pound world champion. The blockbuster unification from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. will be the main event of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION live at 9 p.m. ET/PT and is arguably the most significant women’s boxing event in history.

Shields vs. Hammer features two of the consensus top-10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world squaring off to crown only the second undisputed champion in female boxing history. The fight, originally scheduled for November 2018, was postponed due to a now-resolved medical issue suffered by Hammer.

The 23-year-old Shields (8-0, 2 KOs) is a two-division champion who holds the IBF, WBA and WBC 160-pound titles. The 28-year-old Hammer (24-0, 11 KOs) owns the WBO belt, is the WBC Champion in Recess, and has dominated the women’s middleweight division for more than eight years. Shields and Hammer fought on the same card last June on SHOWTIME, with both fighters winning impressively to set up the first undisputed showdown in the women’s 160-pound division.

The winner of Shields vs. Hammer will join Terrence Crawford, Jermain Taylor, Bernard Hopkins, Oleksandr Usyk and women’s welterweight Cecilia Braekhus as the only fighters to have unified all four major world titles in any weight class.

Shields vs. Hammer is promoted by Salita Promotions. Ticket prices and on-sale date will be announced next week by Boardwalk Hall.

“I always seek the biggest challenges and set the highest goals. I will be ready like never before and will defeat Christina Hammer on April 13,” said Shields. “Nothing will stop me from becoming undisputed champion and continuing my journey to carry women’s boxing to never-before-seen heights. I want to be the greatest of all time and change the game forever for all women in sports, and April 13 is an important step on that road to history.”

“I have waited a long time for this moment,” said Hammer. “I am bigger, stronger and more experienced than Claressa Shields. I am undefeated and have been a champion for over eight years. I can’t wait to show the world that I am the best and undisputed middleweight champion of the world.”

“SHOWTIME Sports has a long history of featuring the best in women’s combat sports, whether it was with Laila Ali and Christy Martin in boxing, or Gina Carano, Cris Cyborg and Ronda Rousey in MMA,” said Gordon Hall, Executive Producer of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION. “More recently, since 2016 we have featured today’s elite with Claressa Shields, Christina Hammer, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano appearing in an industry-leading 10 presentations of women’s boxing. Male or female, SHOWTIME has delivered the best fighters in their toughest matchups, and April 13 will be no different. We have two of the best pound-for-pound female fighters in the world facing each other with all four middleweight titles at stake. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

“The biggest women’s fight of all time is set to take place on April 13 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City,” said promoter Dmitriy Salita. “Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer, both champions, both in their prime, are not only taking on the biggest challenge in their respective careers by meeting each other in the ring, but are breaking barriers for boxing and for women in sports. April 13 is destined to be an electric and historic night of boxing live on SHOWTIME.”

“Shields vs. Hammer is the biggest and most important fight in women’s boxing history – two undefeated unified champions in their prime battling for the undisputed middleweight championship of the world,” said Shields’ manager Mark Taffet. “Christina Hammer is indeed a very good fighter and champion, but Claressa Shields is once-in-a-lifetime. The same intense focus and determination that got Claressa through life, earned her two Olympic gold medals, and won her five world titles in eight pro fights will carry her to victory on April 13.”

“We are very excited to bring world-class championship boxing back to Atlantic City’s Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall,” said Matt Doherty, Executive Director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. “This reinforces the CRDA’s commitment to attract world-class sporting events and increase visitors to our destination.”

Shields was the first American boxer in history – male or female – to win consecutive Olympic gold medals. The Flint, Mich., native turned professional following the 2016 Olympics and became unified women’s super middleweight world champion in just her fourth professional fight. Shields moved down to middleweight for her June 22 headliner on SHOWTIME, defeating Hanna Gabriels to win the IBF and WBA titles and become a two-division champion in just her sixth professional contest. After Hammer was named WBC Champion in Recess due to her medical issue, Shields picked up the vacant WBC title last November with a unanimous decision over Hannah Rankin. She most recently defended all three titles in December against Femke Hermans.

Hammer, of Dortmund, Germany, has been the dominant force in the women’s middleweight division since winning the WBO title in 2010. Hammer became unified champion in 2016 with a unanimous decision over WBC titlist Kali Reis and made four defenses as unified champion. In her eight years as champion, Hammer has lost just a handful of rounds across 16 world title fights. Hammer, who also models professionally and was recently featured at Fashion Week in New York City, made her U.S. debut on June 22 after campaigning mostly in Germany since turning professional in 2009. After being forced to withdraw from the November unification due to the health issue, Hammer won a non-title fight via second round knockout last Saturday, February 9 in Germany.

The undercard for the SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION telecast will be announced in the coming weeks.

Reading, PA (FEBRUARY 12, 2019) – King’s Promotions is pleased to announce that it has entered into co-promotional agreement’s with four highly touted undefeated fighters, WBO number-three ranked bantamweight Duke Micah undefeated welterweights Janelson Figueroa Bocachica & Poindexter Knight, Jr. and super lightweight Greg Outlaw.

“I am very excited to sign these future stars in boxing and to be working side by side with Eric Bentley in developing these 4 future champions,” said Marshall Kaufffman of King’s Promotions.

“Each boxer has their own unique qualities and each one I believe has what it takes to go on to be a World Champion.”

“One of the things we’ve learned now that we’ve hit our two-year mark as a promotional entity is the importance of working with others. Our biggest successes have come in joint ventures with other promoters and I don’t think we’ve had a better ally than Marshall and Kings Promotions since we started. This is the first step in our company getting its bearings back and making sure we put the fighters first, and this partnership with Kings Promotions will open up a lot of doors to work with various networks and platforms as well as maintain a high activity level. Hopefully this is the start of a much bigger venture together,” said Eric Bentley, COO of Real Deal Sports and Entertainment.

Micah of Accra, Ghana has a record of 22-0 with 18 knockouts. The 2012 Olympian is a seven year professional. Micah has climbed the rankings based on wins such as a 3rd round stoppage over previously undefeated Ekow Wilson (14-0) to win the WBO African Bantamweight title; Another stoppage win over Wilson 21 months later; A win over undefeated Matthew Chanda (7-0) to win the Commonwealth Bantamweight title; Jonathan Aguilar (23-4) to win the WBC International Bantamweight title; Jose Gonzalez (23-4) and his last bout which was decision win over Thomas Snow (19-3) on June 9th in Brooklyn.

Bocachica, 20 years-old of Detroit has a record of 13-0 with nine knockouts. Bocachica began boxing at the age of eight, and started winning amateur tournaments such as the 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 Ringside Championships, 2012 National PAL Championships, and 2015 Detroit Open-class Golden Gloves. He was ranked number one in his division in the United States from 2013 to 2015, and sixth on the 2016 Independent Worldwide Amateur Boxing rankings. Bocachica is a three-year professional, and has wins over Pablo Sanchez (10-2), and his last bout which was a 1st round stoppage over Victor Abreu that took place on January 19th in Puerto Rico.

Knight of Philadelphia, has a record of 6-0 with three knockouts. Knight, of North Philadelphia, won the National Golden Gloves while competing in the middleweight division.

The 23 year-old compiled an amateur record of 45-5 with 15 knockouts, and before winning the National Golden Gloves, was a two-time Pennsylvania State Golden Gloves winner. He has continued to step up the competition; in his last two bouts he has wins over Gregory Averil Young (4-0) & a 1st round knockout win over Travis Castellon (16-4) on November 9th in Philadelphia.

Outlaw of Bowie, Maryland, has a record of 7-0 with two knockouts. The 25 year-old Outlaw is a four-year professional, who is stepping up with each fight. In his last bout, Outlaw defeated Mack Allsion IV (8-1-1) on December 8th in his hometown of Bowie, Maryland. A former amateur standout, Outlaw has developed a massive following in the DMV-area, a thriving community in the world of boxing.

World

Detroit-based super flyweight Ja’Rico “Great Lakes King” O’Quinn notched yet another impressive victory last Friday night.

Fighting in the co-main event of a show at the Sound Board in Detroit’s Motor City Casino and Hotel, O’Quinn (11-0-1, 8 KOs) scored a TKO 3 (2:38) over battle tested Mexican veteran Alex Rangel (17-9-4, 11 KOs).

The undefeated O’Quinn, one of Detroit’s best bets to be their next world champion, sent the overwhelmed Rangel to the canvas once in round two and then three more times in the third before the merciful stoppage.

O’Quinn and trainer Chad Jaquillard have been working hard and it shows in the clear improvements in every fight.

To view the final knockdown before the stoppage, click HERE.

His promoter, Dmitriy Salita, says that 23-year-old O’Quinn is ready for a step up to the world level.

“Jarico O’Quinn is extremely impressive. With each fight, he is developing into a world-class professional fighter. This is a weight class is scarce for American talent, but Ja’Rico, throughout his amateur career and now as a pro, is showing that he is one of the best in the world. I believe he is the next in line to bring a world title to the city of Detroit.”

BRITISH WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION Johnny Garton reflected that his professional career did not get off to the most auspicious beginnings, partly because his own trainer wasn’t hugely enthused over the prospect of working with him.

Garton did indeed end up learning the pro ropes at the iBox Gym in Bromley under the tutelage of Alan Smith, who is known in the business as a specialist in harnessing the talents of more defensively-minded, stylish counter punchers.

The now 31-year-old Garton wasn’t the ideal horse for the course at Smith’s stable of thoroughbreds because, by his own admission, his amateur skillset was limited at best.

“I believe I had 30-35 fights and lost about ten, maybe a few more,” revealed the fighter known as The Pexican, dubbed as such due to his all-action style and hailing from Peckham.

“I wasn’t the greatest and I was even worse as an amateur – even more of a slugger!

“I used to just have a tear-up for three rounds and knew on turning pro that I needed to change.

“I remember speaking to Al and he wasn’t overly keen because he knew I got hit too much. But I knew Al was the right coach, so I kept chipping away and kept coming back and annoying him.

“Here we are now,” pointed out Garton, who makes a first defence of his title at the Royal Albert Hall on March 8 against Chris Jenkins.

“I broke the mould at this gym! But I am bringing titles back and that is the main thing,” he added, before conceding that he never imagined making a living from boxing when his primary aim was selling enough tickets to even step into the ring.

“Never, no. Most of my career, up to about two years ago, was all ticket deals where if you don’t sell tickets you don’t fight and earning little money.

“I haven’t really earned much money from the sport and that is why I am chasing the purses now.

“It was massively disheartening back then but I love the sport of boxing and I always had my job to fall back on. At times when you saw people doing well with big pay days it was a bit of a kick in the teeth.”

A turning point for Garton came in December 2017 when he added the IBF European title to the Southern Area and English belts he had previously won after a bruising encounter with Mihail Orlov at the Copper Box.

“I’d just got signed by Frank (Warren) then and it was such a good fight that they showed it back on BoxNation. From there I think people started taking an interest in me.”

Now the Garton story moves on to probably the grandest venue of all in South Kensington on Friday March 8, live on BT Sport.

“It is a breath-taking venue and, to me, it doesn’t seem like a boxing venue because it is too nice. I can’t wait to get out there and for my supporters to see it.”

Also at the Royal Albert Hall, Nicola Adams OBE will look to make history and be the first female crowned World Champion at the venue as she challenges for the WBO World Flyweight Title against Arely Mucino on International Women’s Day.

Liam Williams makes a first defence of his British middleweight title against Joe Mullender, while Johnny Garton will defend his British Welterweight title against Chris Jenkins. Lucien Reid will fight Indi Sangha in what will be his toughest test to date, with GB Flyweight Harvey Horn, cruiserweight talent James Branch and middleweight banger Denzel Bentley also featuring.

Tickets are priced from £40 and are available to buy via RoyalAlbertHall.com
TICKETS START FROM £40
GRAND TIER: £100
LOGGIA: £100
SECOND TIER: £75

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Feb. 12th, 2019) — The numbers don’t lie: Next weekend’s showdown between Jamaine Ortiz and Ricardo Quiroz may not only be the biggest fight of the year at Twin River Casino Hotel, it might be the biggest, most important bout in the venue’s decade-long history.

Ortiz of Worcester, Mass., and Quiroz of Oxnard, Calif., put their unbeaten records on the line Saturday, Feb. 23rd, 2019 for the vacant WBC World Youth Lightweight Championship in one of three scheduled title bouts in next weekend’s CES Boxing season opener.

Since the Event Center opened its doors to boxing in 2017, CES Boxing has promoted 54 events at the mecca of New England boxing, and the eight-round world-title showcase between Ortiz (9-0, 4 KOs) and Quiroz (10-0, 5 KOs) marks the 27th time two undefeated fighters have faced one another.

Among the most notable occurrences, Philadelphia’s Hank Lundy, 10-0 at the time, battled 7-0 Esteban Almarez in 2008; a year later, reigning WBO world champion Demetrius Andrade of Providence put his 7-0 record on the line against soon-to-be Rhode Island fan-favorite Chris Chatman, who was 4-0 at the time; and in May of 2017 Ray Oliveira Jr., 7-0 entering the fight, faced Maine’s Casey Kramlich, who boasted an unbeaten 6-0-1 record.

Ortiz-Quiroz is a cut above.

In addition to fighting for the prestigious WBC Youth title, the two boast more combined wins (19) than any of the previous undefeated fighters who faced one another in Twin River’s illustrious history. There’s no comparison: Ortiz-Quiroz is worth the price of admission as two of the sport’s brightest stars in the 135-pound division battle for the right to call themselves champion in a fight that will undoubtedly change the career of whoever comes out on top.

Tickets start at $47 and are available online at www.cesboxing.com or www.showclix.com, or by phone at 401-724-2253. Ortiz-Quiroz also makes history as part of the world’s first ultra-high definition, high dynamic range event — also known as 4K — streaming live via VIVE Network TV. The VIVE app is available on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Play (Android TV), iOS, Roku and all smart TVs. Visit https://tickets.vivetv.network to purchase. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

“There is no bigger fight in New England than this one,” CES Boxing president Jimmy Burchfield Sr. said. “In our 27 years of promoting combat sports, I haven’t looked forward to a fight as much as I’m looking forward to this one.

“Jamaine Ortiz is as talented a fighter as you’ll find in New England. No one works harder or has a brighter future. He has a tough road ahead of him on the 23rd. Ricardo Quiroz comes from a true fighting city in Oxnard. He trains in one of the best gyms in the world. We know the pedigree of fighters who claim Oxnard as their home and we know what to expect when he steps into the ring next weekend.

“The hype is real — the winner will have earned this title the hard way.”

The history of the WBC Youth title is well-documented, as is CES Boxing’s history at the renowned Twin River Event Center. In its 55th event at the Lincoln, R.I., venue, the promotion may have put together its best fight card to date. In addition to Quiroz-Ortiz, the lineup features two more title bouts, plus the long-awaited return of Providence female featherweight sensation Shelly Vincent (23-2, 1 KO), who steps into the ring at Twin River for the first time in three years.

Vincent battles Hungary’s Edina Kiss (15-9 KOs) in an eight-round rematch of their 2015 bout, which Vincent by majority decision. Female super bantamweights Marcia Agripino (3-1-1) of Ledyard, Conn., and Boston’s Amanda Pavone (6-0, 2 KOs) face one another in an eight-round bout for the vacant New England Championship and hard-hitting heavyweight Juiseppe Cusumano (17-2, 15 KOs) battles “Brutal” Brendan Barrett (7-1-2, 5 KOs) of Ventura, Calif., for the National Boxing Association (NBA) World Heavyweight Title in an eight-round special feature.

Also on the undercard, Taunton, Mass., welterweight Marqus Bates (5-2, 3 KOs) faces Jair Ramos (5-2-2, 2 KOs) of Waterbury, Conn., in a six-round bout and super lightweight Nicholas Briggs (2-0, 2 KOs) of Worcester puts his unbeaten record on the line against Andy Aiello (1-1-1) of Bridgewater, Mass., in a four-round bout. Unbeaten Pawtucket, R.I., super featherweight Ricky Delossantos (6-0, 1 KO) returns in his toughest test to date against U.S. Army National Guardsman Javar Jones (7-1, 2 KOs) of Indianapolis.

Providence junior middleweights Victor Reynoso (2-0, 2 KOs) battles 1-0 John Williams of Baton Rouge, La., who scored a knockout win in his pro debut in August, while fellow unbeaten junior middleweight Lamont Powell (2-0, 1 KO) of Providence faces 29-year-old Kenneth Chery (1-1, 1 KO) of Montreal, Quebec. Likewise, Providence lightweight Michael Valentin (4-0, 1 KO) returns from a one-year layoff to face Philadelphia’s Christopher Burgos (1-3-1, 1 KO) in a four-round bout and decorated New York City amateur Arnold Gonzalez makes his long-awaited professional debut in a four-round super lightweight bout against Falls Church, Va., veteran Stacey Anderson (0-4).

Visit www.cesboxing.com, www.twitter.com/cesboxing or www.facebook.com/cesboxing for more information, or follow CES Boxing on Instagram at @CESBOXING.

TORONTO, ON—On March 29, two of boxing’s true hotbeds will combine for one exciting night of world-class boxing: Ukraine and Canada.

Three of Ukraine’s top contenders will be in action at the Mattamy Athletic Centre as a part of Lee Baxter Promotions latest event in downtown Toronto, Ontario.

In the main event, super welterweight standout Stanyslav Skorokhod makes his long-awaited return to Canada. Skorokhod (17-2, 12 KOs) was a competitor in ESPN’s prestigious Boxcino tournament, and had a lengthy and storied amateur career in his homeland, fighting in the same amateur system that has produced Vasyl Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk. The 29-year old is coming off a controversial split decision loss to Aram Amirkhanyan last June in a bout many observers believe he won clearly. Now, he returns to Toronto, the site of two of his most thrilling performances—knockout wins over Fernando Silva and Nestor Garcia.

“The night Stan fought Fernando Silva at the Powerade Centre in Brampton was undoubtedly one of the liveliest boxing crowds we’ve ever had in Ontario,” said Baxter. “I know the Ukrainian-Canadian community can’t wait to see him again, and we can’t wait to give them another tremendous show.”

In light heavyweight action, Vyacheslav Shabranskyy will return to the ring for the first time in over a year. Shabranskyy has established himself as one of the top contenders, and most exciting action fighters in the 175-pound division. The Zhytomyr, Ukraine native made his professional debut in 2012 and rattled off 17 straight victories and 14 knockouts. Now 19-2, Shabranskyy’s only two blemishes on his pro record are losses to Sullivan Barrera and Sergey Kovalev, two of the very best light heavyweights on the planet.

“Shabranskyy has gone toe-to-toe with the very best in the light heavyweight division. Not only does he know what it takes to make it to the top, but you know he’s going to be in a war each and every night as he tries to get there. He’s both a fan’s and a promoter’s dream,” said Baxter.

Finally, Ukrainian heavyweight prospect Oleksandr Teslenko will be in action in his adopted hometown of Toronto. The monstrous power puncher, who is promoted by Lou Dibella, made waves in 2018 with wins on Broadway Boxing, and on the undercard of Stevenson-Gvozdyk. With an amateur pedigree of 247 fights (with 224 wins), Teslenko is considered to be Canada’s—and Ukraine’s—possible best shot at a world heavyweight title in the near future.

The undercard will be rounded out by local favorite Nick Fantauzzi, Ross Mylet, and the professional debut of former Canadian national amateur champion Amanda Galle.

Tickets will go on sale shortly, and will start at $45. For more information, visit leebaxterpromotions.com.

New Castle, DE – Dee Lee Promotions, LLC along with Nick Tiberi , Matchmaker, will present another great night of Live Boxing on Saturday, March 30th, 2019 at the Hockessin PAL Center, 7259 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707 Doors. This card has a lot of Local Delaware favorites; “Jolt N” Joey Tiberi (16-3-0/9 ko’s); Stefan “The Freak” Talabisco (2-0-0/2 ko’s); Schmelle “The Real Deal” Baldwin (3-0-0/2 ko’s); Brandon “King Bran” Mullins (3-0-0/1 ko); Maurice “The War Time” Horne (4-0-0/3 ko’s); Vincent “Hollywood” Kirkley (2-0-0/2 ko’s) and Justin Riley (0-10/0 ko’s).

From just over the Bridge joining “A Night of LIVE Boxing” will be.. Ismael Garcia (10-0-1/4 ko’s) of Vineland, NJ; Brian Haneschlager of Kingsville, MD making his Pro-Debut; Dillon Kasprzak (02-0/0 ko’s) representing Philadelphia and Taylor Krahl from over the sunny bridge of Sunrise, FL making his Pro Debut.

Come out and support these young fighters! Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the first bout slated for 7:00 p.m. Ticket prices are; General Admission $45 in advance ($50 at the door), Ringside $60 in advance ($65 at the door) For more info contact: Promoter Diane Fischer Cristiano 609.868.4243, Matchmaker Nick Tiberi 302.540.7203 or Joey Tiberi 302-650-8678. Bouts are subject to change.

LOS ANGELES (February 11, 2019) – Unbeaten welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. and undefeated four-division champion Mikey Garcia will go face-to-face at a special FOX PBC PRESS CONFERENCE that will air live on FOX and FOX Deportes this Saturday, February 16 at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT from Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

“Errol Spence Jr. versus Mikey Garcia is one of the most intriguing fights of the year and having them face off before a live audience on network television is an unprecedented and unique way to build interest for this fight,” said Bill Wanger, EVP of Programming, Live Operations and Research, FOX Sports. “We’re excited to highlight these two undefeated fighters before they go toe-to-toe in the ring.”

“This is a historic occasion. I can’t recall the last time, if ever, in my 30 years in the sport when there has been a press conference live on broadcast television,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “It’s just further proof of the commitment that FOX has to the sport and the PBC boxers. It’s also a win for the fans who tune-in because they will get a sneak peek at what awaits when these two champions step into the ring at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on March 16.”

“Spence vs Garcia is a more than a fight. It is an event that will determine who is pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world,” said Richard Schaefer, Chairman and CEO of Ringstar Sports. “It is an event that transcends boxing. The legendary AT&T Stadium is the perfect host for this event, where two champions in the prime of their careers will put their records and their legacies on the line. On March 16, the world will be watching and witness one of the biggest events of our generation.”

The hour-long show on FOX will be hosted by Kate Abdo along with analysts Ray Mancini and newly crowned IBF World Super Middleweight Champion Caleb Plant. Kenny Albert hosts the press conference with fighters in the ring, while Jimmy Lennon Jr. introduces fighters. Heidi Androl serves as the reporter, adding interviews during the show. Spence and Garcia will preview their upcoming FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View showdown taking place Saturday, March 16 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Boxing fans can tune-in at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT for more PBC on FOX and FOX Deportes coverage as a three-fight broadcast kicks off from Microsoft Theater with WBA Featherweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz defending his title against Mexico’s Rafael Rivera in the main event.

NEW YORK (February 11, 2019)-Heavyweight Sonny Conto made a successful pro debut as he took out Jimmie Levins in the first round this past Friday night at 2300 Arena in Conto’s hometown of Philadelphia.

Conto put Levins on the canvas four-times in the opening frame, but for some reason the referee ruled slips. The 4th time Levins hit the canvas, it was from a vicious body shot, and the fight was halted at 2:19.

“Getting that 1st one out of the way is important. My father told me that this is my professional debut, but this is noting new. I have been doing this since I was 10 years-old. The hometown crowd was amazing, and it was a great opportunity. I can’t wait until the next one,” said Conto.

The 22 year-old Conto was was a two-time Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Champion as well as a Silver Medalist in the 2018 National Golden Gloves and a Bronze Medalist in the 2017 National Golden Gloves, is managed by Split-T Management, and is promoted by Top Rank.

Las Vegas (February 11, 2019) – Four-division world champion Erik Morales has confirmed that he will appear, have a booth and hold a Meet & Greet with his fans at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the 5th Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday May 4, 2019 from 10a.m to 5pm, during Cinco De Mayo weekend. The Boxing Expo will also coincide with the highly anticipated fight between Canelo Alvarez vs Danny Jacobs, that will take place later that evening at the T-Mobile arena.

Morales will make his second appearance at this years’ Expo and will be signing gloves, photos, personal items and memorabilia. Morales will also have merchandise to sell for fans to enjoy. Boxing Fans will also have an opportunity to take pictures with this boxing legend also known as “El Terrible”.

Morales joins James Toney and Jessie Vargas as an early commitment to this year’s Box Fan Expo.

About Erik Morales
Erik Morales Nicknamed “El Terrible,” is a retired Mexican boxing legend and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of fame in Canastota on June 10th, 2018. Morales compiled a 52-9 record in 61 fights, including 41 straight wins to start his career, and won world titles in four different weight classes (junior featherweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, junior welterweight). He also ended Manny Pacquiao’s six-year unbeaten streak in 2005 with a unanimous decision win. Morales notable fights came against Marco Antonio Barrera (nicknamed “The Baby Face Assassin”). The Morales versus Barrera trilogy is one of Boxing’s most famous fight trilogies of all time, involving two of Mexico’s most revered boxers. Their memorable fights were also named Ring Magazine’s fight of the year on February 19, 2000 and once again on November 27, 2004.

About Box Fan Expo
Box Fan Expo has been a huge success with fans and boxing industry people. Many boxing stars have attended the last four Expos such as Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Roy Jones Jr., Marcos Maidana, Andre Ward, Errol Spence Jr., Sergio Martinez, Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Tim Bradley, Deontay Wilder, Amir Khan, Shawn Porter, Fernando Vargas, Zab Judah, James Toney, Vinny Pazienza, Mikey Garcia , Mia St.John, Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares Maricela Cornejo, Badou Jack, Terry Norris , Riddick Bowe , Earnie Shavers, Leon Spinks, Danny Jacobs, Jorge Linares, Brandon Rios and many more…

Exhibitors such as boxing gear, apparel, new equipment’s, energy drinks, alcohol, supplement products, broadcasting media, sanctioning bodies and other companies who wish to participate will once again have a chance to showcase their brand to fans, media and the boxing industry.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online at:
https://boxfanexpo.eventbrite.com

Box Fan Expo is the ultimate boxing fan experience event, which allows fans to Meet and Greet Boxing Superstars of today, current and former world champions, Legends of the sport and other boxing Celebrities at their booth. On Site, fans will experience different activities from Autograph Sessions, Photo Sessions, FaceOff with your favorite boxers, as well as a chance to purchase merchandise and memorabilia from their booth, plus so much more… you won’t want to miss this must-attend Expo!

Box Fan Expo will also feature top boxing organizations, promoters, ring card girls, famous trainers and commentators as well as boxing gear companies “ALL UNDER ONE ROOF”.

Throughout the next several months leading up to the Event, there will be weekly updates on the many stars that will commit their appearance at the Boxing Expo. And for anyone in the Boxing industry or other Exhibitors (non-industry), who would like to be involved and reserve a Booth, contact Box Fan Expo:

Telephone number: (514) 572-7222 or Las Vegas Number (702) 997-1927

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

For More information on Box Fan Expo visit: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

Follow Box Fan Expo on Twitter and Instagram: @BoxFanExpo

Follow Box Fan Expo on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

NEW YORK CITY (Feb. 11, 2019) — Start spreading the news. The year’s most anticipated welterweight showdown is headed to The World’s Most Famous Arena.

Terence “Bud” Crawford will defend his WBO welterweight world title against Amir “King” Khan on Saturday, April 20 at Madison Square Garden.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Matchroom Boxing and Khan Promotions, tickets for this world championship event go on sale Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 12 p.m. ET/9a.m. PT. Tickets priced at $606, $406, $306, $206, $106, $81, and $56 (including facility fees) can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.MSG.com.

Undercard bouts and details on how fans will be able to access the pay-per-view event will be announced at a later date.

“I can’t wait to head back to New York City and Madison Square Garden for this fight with Amir Khan. The Garden is the perfect venue for a fight of this magnitude,” Crawford said. “I know that my fans will make the trip up to New York and I’ll have a ton of support when I step in to the ring. I expect Khan’s British fans to come out as well, and I believe we will have a packed house on April 20. It’s going to be a great fight so make sure to get your tickets early.”

“New York is undoubtedly one of my most favorite cities in the world, and it’s like a second home to me,” Khan said. “This is the biggest fight of my career against one of the world’s best in Terence Crawford, and Madison Square Garden is the perfect venue for a fight of this magnitude. It’s a short flight for my fans from the United Kingdom, and they will be coming over in droves to see this fantastic fight. I want to become a three-time world champion, and that is my primary motivation to win this fight.”

“Terence Crawford is one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport, he always puts on a show at Madison Square Garden, and we’re excited New York fight fans will be able to see him fight again at The Garden on April 20,” said Joel Fisher, executive vice president, MSG Marquee Events. “This will be an action-packed fight between Crawford and Amir Khan, and The Garden is excited to host this great night of boxing.”

Crawford (34-0, 25 KOs), widely regarded as the world’s best fighter, is a three-weight world champion who has knocked out five consecutive opponents. A former undisputed 140-pound world champion, Crawford won the WBO welterweight title in June 2018 with a ninth-round stoppage of Jeff “The Hornet” Horn. He defended the belt in October with a 12th-round TKO over bitter rival Jose Benavidez Jr. in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. This will be Crawford’s second headlining appearance at the big arena at Madison Square Garden. In May 2017, he knocked out 2008 Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz in 10 rounds.

Khan (33-4, 20 KOs), a former unified world champion at 140 pounds, has won two in a row since his 2016 knockout loss to middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. He is 4-0 in his career when fighting as a welterweight, including wins over former world champions Devon Alexander, Chris Algieri, and Luis Collazo. Khan headlined at Madison Square Garden once before when he defended his WBA 140-pound world title against Paulie Malignaggi at The Theater on May 15, 2010.

For more information, visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing.

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

DANIEL DUBOIS DOES not view the prospect of himself mixing with the elite of the heavyweight division as a long-term ambition.

The 21-year-old London based powerhouse is planning to climb a good few rungs of the heavyweight ladder over the course of 2019 and put the big three – Messrs Fury, Wilder and Joshua – on notice that the emerging force is quickly playing catch-up.

“This is the year for me and I am determined to make it a big one,” said the 9-0 man, who will take himself into double figures at the Royal Albert Hall when he meets Razvan Cajanu on March 8. “I’m gonna give 100 per cent and we will see by the end of the year where I am at. I am so determined to make this a positive year.

“I think I am not that far behind the best out there,” he insisted. “With a few little adjustments and, not rushing anything and staying grounded and real about the situation I’m in, I believe my skill will move me even closer to the big names out there.

“I am really not far behind now,” added the quietly-spoken but steely Dubois, who believes a productive run of fights against the right opponents will set him on a collision course with the current leaders of the heavyweight pack.

“That’s it, a positive run of fights where I show consistency and make a few statements along the way.”

Dubois missed out on reaching 10-0 against the American-based Romanian Cojanu in December when he suffered a seasonal KO that ruled him out of delivering some festive punch for the second year running.

“It seems to happen all the time around December,” he reflected with a heavy sigh. “Maybe I don’t adapt very well to the change of weather and the virus took me out.

“It wasn’t just man flu, it was a proper virus and whatever it was it was dreadful.

“It was disappointing to miss a fight but I think the rest might have served me well, giving me time to rest my hands.

“I’m back now and I’ll be better than last year and pushing on.”

His first assignment of the year is take two of his aborted mission against Cojanu, who ultimately fought a week later against Dubois’ domestic rival Nathan Gorman, who cruised to a relatively comfortable points victory in Manchester.

Dubois was not overly impressed with what he saw from either man.
“Yeah I saw the highlights but didn’t watch it all,” reflected the Londoner. “If you are asking for my opinion on the fight, I thought Nathan and this guy didn’t produce a spectacular fight.

“I expected it to go the distance because Nathan is not a knockout puncher, but he can box and this guy didn’t have much ambition to win.

“So it balanced out really, it was what I expected and not very exciting – pretty boring.”

Dubois goes along with the theory that Cojanu is tailored more to his strengths than that of Gorman and a KO statement is on the cards.

“That is definitely it and I’ve got to show that I can. I’ve got to go in there and do a job on him. I’ll take him out whenever I see the opportunity. I’ve got to create the situation, create the openings and I am looking forward to it.
“He is going down and I’ve got to chop him down.”

Also at the Royal Albert Hall, Nicola Adams OBE will look to make history and be the first female crowned World Champion at the venue as she challenges for the WBO World Flyweight Title against Arely Mucino on International Women’s Day. Liam Williams makes a first defence of his British middleweight title against Joe Mullender, while Johnny Garton will defend his British Welterweight title against Chris Jenkins. Lucien Reid will fight Indi Sangha in what will be his toughest test to date, with GB Flyweight Harvey Horn, cruiserweight talent James Branch and middleweight banger Denzel Bentley also featuring.

Tickets are priced from £40 and are available to buy via RoyalAlbertHall.com
TICKETS START FROM £40
GRAND TIER: £100
LOGGIA: £100
SECOND TIER: £75

(Feb 11, 2019) Undefeated Kazakhstani dynamo Bakhtiyar “Bakha Bullet” Eyubov has been added to the special two-hour UFC Fight Pass live stream (7:30 pm ET/6:30 pm CT) on Friday, February 15, from the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, Kansas.

Eyubov (14-0, 12 KOs) will face Mexican veteran Jose Luis “La Boa” Rodriguez (25-12, 13 KOs) in an eight-round super lightweight showdown.

The live stream, presented by Salita Promotions will also feature US Olympic bronze medal winner Nico Hernandez, women’s top contender Elena Saveleva and undefeated heavyweight puncher Apti Davtaev in separate bouts.

A born showman, Eyubov’s relentlessly aggressive fighting style has won him new fans with every fight. The young slugger says he’s looking forward to bringing his mayhem to a new audience through the UFC.

“I look forward to showcasing my skills February 15th and am honored to do so on UFC Fight Pass,” he said. “I am the best in the world and look forward to proving this point when I get in the ring.”

Eyubov was last seen taking out 21-1-1 Nicholas Givan in seven rounds last June. His promoter, Dmitriy Salita, says he’s happy his entertaining slugger is back in action.

“Bakha is one of the most dominant contenders in the sport. I look forward to an exciting performance from him on one of the leading combat platforms in the works in UFC Fight Pass,” said Salita.

In a very special bonus that night for online viewers, the commentating team will consist of long-time combat sports voice Sean Wheelock and “2018 Female Boxer of the Year” and women’s world champion Claressa Shields, making her debut behind the microphone.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Feb. 11th, 2019) — The highly-anticipated CES Boxing season opener continues to get better with two major additions to the lineup.

Unbeaten Pawtucket, R.I., super featherweight Ricky Delossantos (6-0, 1 KO) returns for his toughest test to date Saturday, Feb. 23rd, 2019 at Twin River Casino Hotel while decorated New York amateur Arnold Gonzalez makes his long-awaited professional debut on the undercard of a stacked fight card featuring three title bouts.

Delossantos, a former two-sport star at Rhode Island’s William E. Tolman Senior High School, faces Indianapolis native and U.S. Army National Guardsman Javar Jones (7-1, 2 KOs) in a six-round bout while Gonzalez battles Falls Church, Va., veteran Stacey Anderson (0-4) in a four-round super lightweight bout.

The addition of Delossantos and Gonzalez adds even more appeal to a fight card already generating considerable buzz throughout New England and the northeast. Worcester, Mass., lightweight Jamaine Ortiz (9-0, 4 KOs) faces Ricardo Quiroz (10-0, 5 KOs) of Oxnard, Calif., for the vacant WBC World Youth Lightweight Title in an intriguing battle of unbeatens. Heavyweights Juiseppe Cusumano (17-2, 15 KOs) of Carini, Sicily and Brendan Barrett (7-1-2, 5 KOs) of Ventura, Calif., battle for the vacant NBA World Title and Marcia Agripino (3-1-1) of Ledyard, Conn., faces undefeated Amanda Pavone (6-0, 2 KOs) of Boston for the vacant New England Female Super Bantamweight Title.

Tickets start at $47 and are available online at www.cesboxing.com or www.showclix.com, or by phone at 401-724-2253. The main card will stream live on the subscription-based 4K ultra high-definition platform VIVE Network TV. Visit https://tickets.vivetv.network to purchase. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Gonzalez, a two-time Golden Gloves champion who boasted a 59-9 amateur record, recently sparred 24 rounds with Manny Pacquiaoas the pound-for-pound great prepared for his world-title bout against Adrien Broner. The 24-year-old Ecuadorian prospect is trained by the world-renowned Freddie Roach out of the Wild Card Boxing Gym in California and is managed by George Foreman III, the son of two-time heavyweight champion George Foreman.

Delossantos is a familiar face in New England. The 29-year-old debuted in April of 2017 and continues to improve with each performance. He hasn’t lost a round since his second professional fight and recently blanked tough, New Jersey veteran Jose Ortiz over six rounds last September. He faces a tall order against Jones, an accomplished Army boxer who began his career with seven consecutive wins, two by knockout, and works as a surface maintenance technician for the Indiana National Guard.

The entire card is headlined by the long-awaited return of female featherweight sensation Shelly Vincent (23-2, 1 KO) of Providence, R.I., by way of New London, Conn., who faces Budapest veteran Edina Kiss (15-9, 9 KOs) in an eight-round rematch of their 2015 bout, won by Vincent by majority decision. Vincent fights at Twin River for the first time since 2016. She is best known for two highly-publicized bouts against Heather Hardy, both of which were nationally televised. The rematch aired live on HBO in October, just the second female boxing bout televised by the network in 25 years.

Regional rivals collide on the undercard as Taunton, Mass., welterweight Marqus Bates (5-2, 3 KOs) faces Jair Ramos (5-2-2, 2 KOs) of Waterbury, Conn., in a six-round bout and super lightweight Nicholas Briggs (2-0, 2 KOs) of Worcester puts his unbeaten record on the line against Andy Aiello (1-1-1) of Bridgewater, Mass., in a four-round bout.

Junior middleweights Victor Reynoso (2-0, 2 KOs) and Lamont Powell (2-0, 1 KO) of Providence face their toughest tests in separate four-round bouts. Reynoso battles 1-0 John Williams of Baton Rouge, La., who scored a knockout win in his pro debut in August, while Powell battles 29-year-old Kenneth Chery (1-1, 1 KO) of Montreal Quebec.

The undercard also features the return of Providence lightweight Michael “Bling Bling” Valentin (4-0, 1 KO), the eclectic 19-year-old who fights despite being born with a rare intestinal disease known as Hirschsprung’s. Valentin endured bullying throughout childhood and fights wearing a colostomy bag. He returns Feb. 23rd one year to the date of his last fight and will dedicate his fifth pro bout to the memory of Seven Bridges, a 10-year-old Kentucky boy who committed suicide after being bullied for wearing a colostomy bag. Valentin faces Philadelphia’s Christopher Burgos (1-3-1, 1 KO) in a four-round bout.

Visit www.cesboxing.com, www.twitter.com/cesboxing or www.facebook.com/cesboxing for more information, or follow CES Boxing on Instagram at @CESBOXING.

STAR BOXING is excited to return to its renown Long Island venue, The Paramount, on February 22nd, for another thrilling night of “Rockin’ Fights.” The 34th edition of the acclaimed fight series brings extreme boxing talent from across the world, right to Huntington’s, The Paramount. The main event is a real toss-up between the ‘big boys’ in a truly international fight between European champs. Giant Belgium JOEL “BIG JOE” DJEKO will take on Italian challenger, SIMONE “TYSON” FEDERICI in an intriguing 10-round cruiserweight bout. The co-main event will feature the return of Huntington’s own JOHNNY “HITMAN” HERNANDEZ who will be taking on upset minded, MARQUIS “THE HAWK” HAWTHORNE.

The main event features two international cruiserweight prospects who will travel a combined 7,873 miles to meet in the squared circle, in front of the expected packed crowd at The Paramount. Belgium’s Djeko (14-2-1 7KO’s), an IBO Champion, stands at a towering 6’5″ and breaks the will of his opponents by fighting behind his jab, followed by devastating power in both hands. Djeko’s marquee win came against then undefeated MARIANO ANGEL GUDINO (then 12-0 7KO’s), when he defeated the Argentinian by wide unanimous decision, dominating for the full ten-rounds, to secure the IBO Continental Cruiserweight Title. Djeko has fought in America only once before, but intends to begin laying roots state side, for an eventual shot at a cruiserweight world title. Djeko’s only 2 losses were on the road and by majority and split decision against undefeated prospects.

Djeko had this to say about fighting in America, “I am excited to make my first fight in New York, a city that saw the birth of great champions. But, I also come to fulfill my mission, that of leaving with a victory by knockout.”

Federici (14-1-1 6KO’s), a 25-year-old Italian who resides in Roma, Italy, will be making his debut on American soil on the February 22nd Paramount show. Federici had an impressive amateur record of 35-1-1. As a professional, Federici defeated FRANCESCO CATALDO in a thrilling battle earning the Italian Cruiserweight Title. Since then, Federici has successfully defended his title twice, most recently defeating the dangerous Georgian, ZURA MEKERESHVILLE by unanimous decision to add the IBF Mediterranean Cruiserweight Title to his pedigree. Federici has his eyes set an a massive victory on February 22nd main event. Federici and Djeko both have their eyes set on victory in the February 22nd main event and both know a top rankings in the cruiserweight division are at stake.

Federici said this about his American debut, “I thank America for the wonderful opportunity that has offered me! I hope to better meet American expectations.
I can’t wait to get in the ring.”

In the co-main event, fans will see Johnny “Hitman” Hernandez (9-4 1KO), a familiar face at The Paramount having fought eleven of his thirteen professional fights at the venue. Hernandez who is known for his footwork and great conditioning, always seems to get stronger as the fight carries on. This will be Hernandez second main event at The Paramount. He was last seen in an absolute thriller with fellow Star Boxing stablemate DANNY “EL GALLO” GONZALEZ (then 16-1-1 7KO’s). Over the ten-round main event, Hernandez and Gonzalez exchanged blow after blow at the center of the ring, as the crowd seemed to be on their feet throughout the fight with consistent and vocal support for both fighters. While the judges scored the bout in favor of Gonzalez by majority decision, Hernandez proved to the rowdy sold out crowd that he has the skill to fight the upper echelon of the 140 lb. division. Gonzalez went on to fight fellow Paramount alumni CHRIS ALGIERI at Madison Square Garden a few weeks ago. Hernandez promises to return with vengeance on February 22nd in his Paramount hometown.

Hernandez is ready for his opportunity on February 22nd, and is prepared to leave his mark. “There are no secrets to success,” said Johnny, “it is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failures.”

Hernandez will be facing the very tough Texan, Marquis Hawthorne, who will be making his second appearance at The Paramount. Over his twelve-fight career, Hawthorne has fought ten undefeated prospects, with an opponent combined record of 81-23-3. Most recently, Hawthorne (6-9 1KO) won in a shocking upset at Mohegan Sun on January 26th over amateur standout and undefeated professional, from Detroit, Michigan RONNIE “TEFLON RON” AUSTION (then 10-0 7KO’s). Over the 6-round bout, Hawthorne commanded the action, using his long reach and height advantage to maintain his distance, landing grueling right hands to the body and the head of Austion. At the final bell, the scorecards read 57-56, 58-55 and 59-54, earning a massive upset victory for Hawthorne over the previously undefeated Austion.

Hawthorne has is eyes set on one thing only come February 22nd. “I am coming off a big win over a great prospect,” said Hawthorne, “the game plan is to continue to trust the plan my coaches have set before me, resulting in victory.”

Star Boxing CEO JOE DEGUARDIA had this to say about the main and co-main event, “We have put together a very intriguing international fight for Long Island’s dedicated boxing fans. Belgium’s, Big Joel Djeko, is an imposing figure, and carries knockout power in both hands. Federici has proven his ability to win big fights in his home country of Italy. The winner has a bright future. ” Regarding the co-main, DeGuardia stated, “this fight is a perfect example of the allure of our ‘Rockin’ Fights’ series. Both Johnny and Marquis have earned the right to be in this fight. In his last fight Johnny showed grit and we will always support our fighters, win or lose, when they perform like he did. That’s what the Paramount series is all about, action and heart. Similarly, Marquis Hawthorne earned the right to this fight with his victory over our undefeated prospect Ronnie Austion in a huge upset. Johnny and Marquis always show up in phenomenal shape with great energy on fight night, and I expect a thrilling fight on February 22nd.”

The main event between European cruiserweight champions in Djeko and Federici is destined to excite. The co-main event will see Hernandez in front of his hometown fans while Hawthorne will look for a second consecutive upset. Undercard to be announced soon. Tickets are now on sale for “Rockin Fights 34 and can be purchased below.

“Rockin’ Fights 34” card is presented by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.
*Bouts Subject to Change*

LONDON (11 February 2019) LCpl Chez Nihell, 6-time UK Combined Services Champion and England’s 2018 ABA Elite Super Heavyweight Champion, will make his pro debut at The O2 on Saturday 23rd February, promoted by Poxon Sports for Premier Boxing Champion (PBC).

Chez, a member of The 27 Regiment Royal Logistics Corps, will feature on a massive night of action headlined by the long-awaited clash between bitter rivals James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr., the fiery head-to-head between Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Joe Joyce and Former World Champion Bermane Stiverne, the return of Former IBF World Featherweight Champion Lee Selby, exclusively LIVE on ITV Box Office.

Chez, who served in Afghanistan with The 1st Battalion Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, has been part of the Army Elite Boxing set-up since 2013. The powerful switch hitting counter-puncher won the England Super Heavyweight Title Series belt in 2016 and defended it three times before being crowned ABA Elite Super Heavyweight Champion 2018 to join an exclusive class of boxers including Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Dereck Chisora and Joe Joyce.

Having capped off his amateur career in style, Chez made the decision to turn pro after being named British Army Sportsman of the year in November 2018. With the backing of the British Army he has received special permission to combine his status as a serving soldier with launching his professional career.

To add an intriguing sub plot to the story, Chez will have his wife LCpl Alanna Nihell in his corner in a unique husband-wife/boxer-corner arrangement.
Alanna, who is a serving soldier herself and was the first female to Captain the Army Elite Boxing Team for two successive years, is an official Second and decorated champion having secured three ABA Lightweight titles and a Commonwealth Games Bronze Medal in 2014.