WITH ALL THE talk doing the rounds concerning the explosive British light heavyweights – namely Anthony Yarde and Joshua Buatsi – there is another who feels it is high time he too was added to the conversation.

Lyndon Arthur has amassed a record of 13-0 (10KOs) without too much fanfare to date and tends to be omitted from speculation regarding potential domestic dust-ups. He now wants in on the big fight gossip.

“I’ve been under the radar and it’s been working well while I’ve been learning my craft as a professional,” accepted ‘King Arthur’, a former Team GB standout amateur.

“It is getting to the stage now where we have to start making a bit of noise and have to start letting people know that I am not just a prospect. I am trying to be someone good in this division.

“My pedigree as an amateur was decent and as a pro I am doing quite well with 13 fights and ten knockouts.

“My name should be up there and it will be soon,” he insisted, adding that he would relish encounters with the likes of Yarde and Buatsi sometime soon, once he is up to ten round status.

“Of course, because when two British fighters get thrown in with a bit of needle it always makes for a great fight, so of course I want my name in there.

“If I keep winning and everyone else does then it is inevitable these fights will happen.

“I believe I am on a par with them and I believe with the right fights and a little bit more experience I will be up there. I need to get in a ten round fight because that is the only thing they have got on me now, being in the ten round camps. That is it.

“When I get to that there is no difference.”

Craig Richards is desperate to get one over on Jake Ball when the Light-Heavyweight rivals clash for the WBA Continental title in next month’s rearranged grudge fight.

The South Londoner finally locks horns with Ball at The O2 in London on February 2, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US, after his opponent pulled out of their scheduled fight in October at late notice.

‘Spider’ accepted Ball’s verbal challenge but was left frustrated when the Dominic Ingle-trained fighter took to social media to post pictures of his injured hand on the week of the fight and has questioned whether the Surrey man genuinely wanted to share the ring with him in October.

“I’ve lost a lot of respect for Jake,” said Richards. “The whole saga has been very frustrating. I just want to get the win and move on with my career. This has been dragging on for several months now and it’s time to put an end to it on February 2nd.

“All of his silly excuses, all of the delays and rearranged dates – it’s become a hindrance on my career and he’s wasting my time. We’ve become a bit of a comedy act and it’s something that I need to get away from. I’m desperate to beat him and look forward to a big 2019.

“He’s been holding me up for too long now. We tried to reschedule it for December 22nd but it never happened because Dominic Ingle couldn’t be in his corner as he was already busy. There’s been a lot of excuses but there won’t be anywhere to hide next month.

“For me, I’m on a mission, I’m hungry and I want to progress. I’m not sure if Jake shares the same passion and hunger as me. Maybe that’s why he’s messed me around for so long. It’s important for me to channel this frustration properly in the gym and on the night.”

The 28-year-old believes a win over Ball will earn him more title opportunities in the Light-Heavyweight division and says he is feeling the benefits of moving up to the 175lbs limit.

“I’m ready to make my mark in 2019,” said Richards. “This year it’s all about big competitive fights and pushing myself to challenge for more titles. Everything has started to come together nicely and the time for me is now.

“I’m back at my natural weight and it’s showing in all aspects of my game. I’m punching with a lot more power in sparring and I’m much more energetic outside of the gym. I’ve got a spring in my step and I’m excited about boxing again.”

Ball vs. Richards is part of a huge night of action in London.

Bermondsey star Ted Cheeseman steps up again when he challenges undefeated Spaniard Sergio Garcia for the European Super-Welterweight crown.

Undefeated British Cruiserweight Champion Lawrence Okolie returns to action after his win over Matty Askin at Wembley Stadium in September.

Rising Wokingham Middleweight talent Felix Cash fights for his second professional title when he takes on Nigeria’s Abolaji Rasheed for the vacant Commonwealth strap, with more fights to be announced soon.

Tickets for February 2 priced at £30, £50, £80 and £150 are (VIP) available to purchase from StubHub (www.stubhub.co.uk), The O2 (www.theo2.co.uk) and Matchroom Boxing (www.matchroomboxing.com)

NEW YORK – January 8, 2019 – Undefeated super middleweight prospect Ronald Ellis returns to ShoBox: The New Generation seeking a statement win against DeAndre Ware in the 10-round main event of a three-fight telecast on Friday, February 1 live on SHOWTIME from Main Street Armory in Rochester, N.Y.

The first of two February editions of the prospect developmental series will feature six fighters with a combined 89 wins against just three losses. The series returns just two weeks later on February 15 with a focus on the heavyweight division.

In the February 1 co-featured fight, 20-year-old Hawaiian Logan Yoon (14-0, 11 KOs) will make his national television debut against Richard Zamora (18-2, 11 KOs) in an eight-round super lightweight bout.

In the opening bout of the telecast, former No. 1-ranked U.S. amateur Abraham Nova (12-0, 10 KOs) will face fellow-unbeaten Oluwaseun Joshua Wahab (18-0, 11 KOs), of Ghana, in an eight-round super featherweight bout.

The 29-year-old Ellis, originally from Lynn, Mass., returns for his fourth ShoBox appearance as he seeks a statement win following a controversial draw in his last outing on the series. The former National Golden Gloves Gold Medalist out-boxed Junior Younan last February in a fight many observers thought he deserved to win. Still undefeated, Ellis returns as he looks to prove he has what it takes to turn from prospect to contender.

“I need to make a statement,” said Ellis, who upset highly regarded Terrell Gausha to win the 2010 National Golden Gloves. “The last time I was on ShoBox I got a draw. This is the perfect opportunity for me to show I have what it takes. Ware won’t run – he comes at you, he roughs you up, and he’ll be right there for me to hit. I know what I am up against. I have been working hard, training in different camps and approaching this as the biggest fight of my life. I appreciate SHOWTIME for giving me another opportunity to prove I’m ready for the big show.”

The fan-friendly Ware suffered the first loss of his career last September in a close and entertaining brawl with Cem Kilic on ShoBox. The 2013 National Golden Gloves Bronze Medalist will look to return to the win column as he faces his third consecutive unbeaten opponent. The 30-year-old’s career-best victory came last year over 2012 Olympian and previously undefeated prospect Enrique Collazo. A former collegiate football player at the University of Toledo, Ware also works fulltime as a firefighter in his hometown of Toledo.

“My last time out on ShoBox was great, but unfortunately I didn’t come out victorious,” Ware said. “This time I’m looking to come out with my arm raised at the end of the fight. Ronald Ellis is a tough fighter, and I commend and respect anyone who steps in that square circle. I know a win against a tough, undefeated guy is what I need to get me on track to winning a world title. I see big things happening for me after a win like this. The sky is the limit after this win.”

The 20-year-old Yoon, who was born and raised in Honolulu, went 100-11 as an amateur before turning professional in 2016. Gifted with one-punch power, Yoon started his career with 10 straight knockouts before earning a unanimous decision over former world champion Juan Carlos Salgado in just his 11th professional fight. Yoon fought five times in 2018, and his level of opposition has steadily increased as he has gained experience.

“This is a great opportunity to show the world what I already know – that I’m one of the best young fighters in the game,” Yoon said. “A win at this point of my career will open up new doors and will get me one step closer to where I want to be. We’re studying our opponent and putting a plan together for February 1. It will be my job to execute it.”

Zamora hails from Matehuala, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, where he compiled an amateur record of 60 wins against just four losses. The 25-year-old won the silver medal at the Mexican National Amateur Championships before turning professional in 2012. Zamora has fought his entire career in Mexico and will make his U.S. debut on February 1. He has won five straight since a 2017 loss to Antonio Moran, who recently dropped a close decision to Jose Pedraza.

“This will be my first fight in America and I’m thrilled that it will be on ShoBox,” Zamora said. “I will win this for my parents that sacrificed a lot for me and for my wife and son – I can’t let them down. I am coming to win and to show everybody that Mexico will always produce proud champions.”

Born in Puerto Rico, the 24-year-old Nova fought as an amateur in the U.S. where he compiled a stellar record of 167-11. Nova, who fights out of Albany, N.Y., was the No. 1 ranked 141-pound fighter in the United States and won gold at the 2014 U.S. National Boxing Championships. He turned professional in 2016 shortly after losing a close decision in the Olympic Trials to Gary Antuanne Russell. The hard-hitting super featherweight picked up five wins in 2018 and will face just his second undefeated opponent on February 1.

“I’m looking forward to making my ShoBox debut and the fact that it’s in Upstate New York makes it even more special,” Nova said. “I’ll have many of my friends, family and fans in attendance, so I plan on making a statement. You don’t want to miss it.”

Wahab was born in Nigeria but fought as an amateur for Ghana, where he was a three-time national amateur champion. He has fought his entire professional career in Africa, where he has already been in five-scheduled 12 round fights. The 28-year-old Wahab is mentored by Ghanaian great Azumah Nelson, who is widely considered the greatest African boxer of all time.

“In all honesty, I’ve watched his fights, and I respect all fighters, but Nova hasn’t seen a fighter like me yet,” Wahab said. “I’ll be leaving New York undefeated.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by GH3 Promotions in association with Greg Cohen Promotions, are priced at $100 for VIP Ringside, $50 for Preferred Seating, $30 for General Admission and $2,000 for VIP Tables. Tickets can be purchased by calling 585-232-3221.

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For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, #ShoBox, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports.

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 79 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

PHILADELPHIA, Penn. / ORANGE Calif.(Jan. 8, 2019) – Unbeaten featherweight prospect Ruben Villa (14-0, 5 KOs) takes the next step in what has become a promising young career when he makes his national television debut this Friday in a co-featured fight of a ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader

The eight-round bout takes place from StageWorks of Louisiana in the southern U.S. city of Shreveport. Coverage airs live on SHOWTIME beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Villa, a southpaw who turned 21 late last year, faces Colombian Ruben Cervera (10-0, 9 KOS), who will be stepping up from super bantamweight to fight the former two-time Golden Gloves winner from Salinas, Calif.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to fight under the bright lights,” said Villa, who is co-promoted by Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing. “This is what all boxers plan for – to be showcased on a national platform. The focus will stay the same. I’m going to be aggressive and put my stamp on the fight. I’m looking forward to delivering a memorable performance.”

Villa is fighting a largely unknown talent in Cervera. He boasts an impressive record, but it has been built against marginal opposition. Villa, who started boxing at age five, comes from an outstanding amateur pedigree and has seen advanced styles in sparring sessions since turning professional in 2016.

“There’s not much video on him, but we know he likes to load up for big punches so we’ll be aware of that,” Villa said. “I’ll play it smart the first couple of rounds and see what he’s made of.”

The match up figures to provide a test for Villa in the sense that a lightly scouted fighter makes for a dangerous opponent.

“I’m just going to fight my fight,” Villa continued. “I’ll use my footwork to keep him off balance and get him tired. I can pressure him with my hand speed and land punches from angles that he won’t see coming.”

The event is promoted by Devin Haney Promotions and Bishop Promotions LLC, in association with Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing. Tickets, starting at $30, are on sale now and available at www.akafights.com.

LOS ANGELES (January 8, 2019) – Fighters competing on Sunday’s Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes event shared their New Year’s resolutions for both inside and outside of the ring before they kick the year off on January 13 live from Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is headlined by IBF Super Middleweight World Champion Jose Uzcategui defending his title against unbeaten contender Caleb Plant. Both men recognized the importance of this fight for achieving what they hope for in 2019 and beyond.

“I’m 100 percent focused on Caleb Plant, but my New Year’s resolution is to unify the 168-pound division,” said Uzcategui. “When I’m not working on that goal, I just want to spend as much time with my family as possible.”

“My New Year’s resolution in 2019 in the ring is to definitely win the world title,” said Plant. “First things first, I have to get that strap and then we’ll move on to bigger and better things. Outside of the ring it would be to get a house, then just go from there.”

Televised action on FS1 and FOX Deportes will also see rising contender Brandon Figueroa take on former title challenger Moises Flores in super bantamweight action. Nearing a world title shot, Figueroa will face a tough test in Flores, who is motivated to again compete for a belt.

“I’m looking to make 2019 the year I become a world champion,” said Figueroa. “This is going to be a tough fight, but I think I’m going to be the stronger man in the ring that night. I also want to use this talent I’ve been given to help people in need. My resolution is to be a good role model for kids and contribute as much as I can to my community.”

“Last year had a lot of ups and downs, but I’m looking forward to becoming a world champion and making a title defense in 2019,” said Flores. “I’m very thankful for everything I have. Outside of the ring my resolution is to open a seafood restaurant and buy a house for my family this year.”

The broadcast will also feature sensational 18-year-old prospect Joey Spencer, who burst onto the scene last year after turning pro following a stellar amateur career. He racked up five knockout wins and will look to continue his rise in the new year.

“I’m planning on fighting five times this year so my resolution is to go 5-0, with five knockouts,” said Spencer. “I just want to keep getting better all-around as a fighter this year and I know that people will see my progression.

“I usually don’t make resolutions, but when I do have a little time away from the gym, one good vacation with the family would be great.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Zanfer Promotions, start at $50, are on sale now and can be purchased at AXS.com.

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ABOUT PBC ON FS1 & FOX DEPORTES: UZCATEGUI VS. PLANT
Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes is headlined by IBF Super Middleweight World Champion Jose Uzcategui taking on unbeaten Caleb Plant in the main event. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will also see unbeaten featherweight Brandon Figueroa battling Moises Flores and sensational prospect Joey Spencer entering the ring.

That show is preceded by PBC Prelims on FS1 and FOX Deportes beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT that will see the return of former world champion and pound-for-pound contender Guillermo Rigondeaux against Giovanni Delgado and hard-hitting 2016 Mexican Olympian Lindolfo Delgado in an eight-round super lightweight fight.

Fans can live stream the fights on the FOX Sports app, available in English or Spanish through the FOX or FOX Deportes feeds. The fights are available on desktop at FOXSports.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku.

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

Undefeated cruiserweight and US Army veteran Blake “The Beast” McKernan of Sacramento, Calif., is the latest boxer to sign a multi-year agreement with International Championship Boxing, promoter of the revolutionary and exciting new combat sport that features boxing in a cage.

The 31-year-old, 6-foot-1-inch McKernan has a record of 11-0 with six knockouts.
McKernan turned pro 16 days before his 29th birthday, but he has good reason for not doing so before then. He served in the US Army for more than three years as an infantry machine gunner, a stint which included one year in Iraq.

While in Iraq, attached to special forces seeking high value targets, he was wounded when an improvised explosive device located on a roadside detonated.

Back in civilian life, he was in the mortgage industry until, one day, he told himself, “I don’t want to live with ‘what ifs.’ “

So, he quit and devoted himself to boxing for the first time. McKernan started at age 10, but never stuck with it completely. He played football, baseball and soccer in high school and was, at his best, a four-handicap in golf.

“I want to turn my dreams into reality,” says McKernan. “When I was 10, I wanted to be the heavyweight champion of the world. I don’t know if success at that weight is possible for me, but who knows?

“What I do know,” says McKernan, “is that I’ll be bad news for anyone who gets in the cage with me.

“Fighting in the cage will be to my advantage,” says McKernan. “With six instead of four corners, I have more places to trap them, where they won’t be able to step off. Then they’ll taste my power.”

“We’re continuing in 2019 what we started in 2018, and that’s signing fighters who we believe will flourish in the ICB cage,” says Jack Fulton, founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia-based ICB.

“And the number of not just boxers but mixed martial artists and kickboxers that ICB will sign will grow,” says Fulton. “Boxers and fighters in all three sports from North America, Europe and Asia are reaching out to us in dramatically large numbers.”

Even though he’s boxing full time now, McKernan has plenty of other elements in his life, starting with his eight-year-old son Tyson, named after Mike, the former heavyweight world champion.

McKernan recently graduated from Sacramento City College with a degree in kinesiology. He works with several non-profit organizations in the Sacramento area, including Make-A- Wish America and Kaiser Permanente volunteer services program. He also works with the US Army, speaking on its behalf at local high schools.

“I combine Rocky and Rambo; that’s my life in a nutshell,” says McKernan.
It took Fulton almost two years to get the cage designed, built, patented and approved by boxing and athletic commissions within the United States, including the state of Nevada.
An 18-year veteran promoter of the sport, Fulton, through the years, began to realize the sport needed something new, something fresh. And in 2016 he did something about it.

“The Fight Zone” has red and blue entry points with two opposing neutral corners. Boxers compete under Association of Boxing Commissions rules: no clinching, no grappling and no kicking allowed.

Frank Holm says Dennis Ceylan (19-2-2, 8 KOs) must not underestimate Jesus Sanchez (9-1, 2 KOs) or risk suffering a second defeat to the Spanish Champion as they contest the EU Featherweight title on January 19 in Struer.

“This is a must win fight for Dennis. He is a much better and more gifted fighter,” says the Danish coach. “He must box from a distance, use his long jab, stay focused and be patient. He must lure Sanchez into traps, make him miss and make him pay. That is what we have been working on in the gym.”

Ceylan returns to the Struer Energi Park on a mission to avenge his shock second round knockout loss to Sanchez on March 10. A result that would help the former European Champion get his promising career back on track.

“Dennis sparred with Sanchez prior to their first fight,” reveals Holm. “And in those session he played with him, it was a walk in the park. Therefore, he might have taken it too easy the first time they met, but now, we’ve seen what can happen if you do not keep your concentration or keep your distance.

“Dennis must stay sharp, he must not underestimate Sanchez, and then I am sure he will get the win and take home the EU title!”

Having been stopped by Sanchez, Ceylan’s only other loss came in an IBF World title eliminator against Josh Warrington, a fighter now dominating the division following victories over Lee Selby and Carl Frampton.

“We have achieved something good already, and we’ve been close to achieving something great,” says Holm. “We must admit that we are yet there on Warrington’s level, however, we are still capable of producing big results.

“After winning the EU title, I would like to see Dennis fight again for the European title against the current champion Kiko Martinez, and then we can see how much further we can take it!”

Dina Thorslund tops the bill in Struer, defending her WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title against Alesia Graf, while former European Champion Dennis Ceylan rematches Jesus Sanchez for the EU Featherweight crown.

Oliver Flodin faces Abdul Khattab in a Scandinavian middleweight thriller, heavyweight hope Kem Ljungquist takes on Dominik Musil, Lolenga Mock continues his World title chase against Mateo Damian Veron, Mikkel Nielsen meets Bulgaria’s Angel Emilov, and Adam Bashanov faces Ivan Nikolov.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.dk or by calling 70 15 65 65.

LOS ANGELES (January 7, 2019) – Exciting contender Fernando Garcia will take on Isao G. Carranza in an eight-round super bantamweight clash as part of a stacked undercard on Sunday, January 13 at Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The 30-year-old Garcia (10-0, 5 KOs) has moved up the ladder in the division with three wins in 2018 and wants to make a statement against Mexico’s Carranza (15-13-1, 9 KOs). Garcia was born in Mexico but now lives and trains in Dallas, Texas.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Zanfer Promotions, start at $50, are on sale now and can be purchased at AXS.com.

Also in action are two unbeaten prospects as Indio, California’s Ruben Rodriguez (3-0, 1 KO) takes on Daniel Perales (10-14-2, 5 KOs) in a six-round super lightweight contest, while featherweight Victor Slvansky (7-0, 4 KOs) clashes with Mexico’s Angel Monrreal (10-11-1, 3 KOs).

Plus, Philippines’ Michael A. Plania (17-1, 10 KOs) will meet Mexico’s Ramiro Robles (15-8-2, 9 KOs) in an eight-round super bantamweight match. Rounding out the slate of non-televised fights is Desoto, Texas-welterweight Amon Rashidi battling Evincii Dixon in a four-round match.

The jam-packed undercard is part of a Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes show that features IBF Super Middleweight World Champion Jose Uzcategui taking on unbeaten Caleb Plant in the main event. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will also see unbeaten featherweight Brandon Figueroa take on Moises Flores and sensational prospect Joey Spencer entering the ring.

The undercard will also see PBC Prelims on FS1 and FOX Deportes (6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT) featuring the return of former world champion and pound-for-pound contender Guillermo Rigondeaux against Giovanni Delgado and hard-hitting 2016 Mexican Olympian Lindolfo Delgado in an eight-round super lightweight fight.

Also light heavyweight power-puncher Ahmed Elbiali battles Oklahoma’s Allan Green on the Prelims telecast, if time allows. Plus, Ryan “Cowboy” Karl and Kevin Watts meet in an eight-round rematch after Watts stopped Karl in round five of their exciting April bout that serves as an FS1 TV swing bout

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ABOUT PBC ON FS1 & FOX DEPORTES: UZCATEGUI VS. PLANT
Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes is headlined by IBF Super Middleweight World Champion Jose Uzcategui taking on unbeaten Caleb Plant in the main event. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will also see unbeaten featherweight Brandon Figueroa battling Moises Flores and sensational prospect Joey Spencer entering the ring.

That show is preceded by PBC Prelims on FS1 and FOX Deportes beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT that will see the return of former world champion and pound-for-pound contender Guillermo Rigondeaux against Giovanni Delgado and hard-hitting 2016 Mexican Olympian Lindolfo Delgado in an eight-round super lightweight fight.

Fans can live stream the fights on the FOX Sports app, available in English or Spanish through the FOX or FOX Deportes feeds. The fights are available on desktop at FOXSports.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku.

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

LAS VEGAS (January 7, 2019) – Welterweight Jayar Inson and flyweight Genisis Libranza make their U.S. debuts on the big stage as part of the non-televised undercard headlined their fellow Filipino countryman Manny Pacquiao on Saturday, January 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Inson (18-1, 12 KOs) will battle in an eight-round welterweight match, while Libranza (17-1, 10 KOs) takes on Nicaragua’s Carlos Buitrago (30-4-1, 17 KOs) in an eight-round flyweight match as the two fighters from Davao City, Philippines look to continue their respective win streaks.

In the main event, Pacquiao,boxing’s only eight-division world champion, will end his two-year hiatus from a U.S. boxing ring when he returns to Las Vegas to defend his World Boxing Association Welterweight World Title against former four-division world champion and must-see attraction Adrien “The Problem” Broner on SHOWTIME PPV®.

Three unbeaten prospects will also do battle in non-televised action as Australia’s George Kambosos, Jr. (15-0, 9 KOs) takes on Rolando Chinea (15-2-1, 6 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight match, Cincinnati’s Desmond Jarmon (7-0, 4 KOs) clashes with St. Louis-native Canton Miller (3-1-1, 1 KOs) in a six-round super featherweight bout and Chicago’s Destyne Butler (4-0, 3 KOs) fights in a four-round welterweight match.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by MP Promotions, Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions in association with About Billions Promotions, are on sale now and start at $100, not including applicable service charges, and can be purchased on line through AXS.com, charge by phone at 866-740-7711 or in person at any MGM Resorts International box office.

The pay-per-view undercard will see two-division world champion Badou Jack will battle unbeaten top-rated contender Marcus Browne for the WBA Interim Light Heavyweight Title and former world champion Rau’shee Warren taking on France’s Nordine Oubaali for the vacant WBC Bantamweight World Championship in a rematch of their 2012 Olympic matchup that was edged by Oubaali. In the opening bout of the four-fight PPV telecast, unbeaten Jhack Tepora will take on former world champion Hugo Ruiz in a 12-round featherweight clash.

About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Apple®, Roku®, Amazon, Google and Samsung. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Sony PlayStation® Vue and Amazon Channels. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™, and offers Smithsonian Earth™ through SN Digital LLC. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com

About Premier Boxing Champions
The Premier Boxing Champions series was created and is produced by Haymon Sports, LLC. It features the most accomplished and decorated array of international professional boxing talent across the most popular weight divisions.

About MGM Grand Garden Arena
The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premier sporting and special events. The Arena offers comfortable seating for as many as 16,800 with excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound. Prominent events to date have included world championship fights between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson as well as Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez as well as Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquaio; and concerts by The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, George Strait, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, U2, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jimmy Buffett and the Barbra Streisand Millennium Concert. The MGM Grand Garden Arena also has been home to annual events including the Academy of Country Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Festival, Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Championship and Frozen Fury NHL pre-season games hosted by the Los Angeles Kings.

TJ Doheny has signed a promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing USA and will make the first defense of his IBF World Super-Bantamweight title at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on Friday January 18, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW FROM WWW.MSG.COM – TICKETS START AT $46!

Doheny landed the IBF strap in stunning fashion in Japan in August, ripping it from defending champion Ryosuke Iwasa in Tokyo, moving to 20-0 (14KOs) in the process.

The Irishman will now look to solidify his status as a World champion in the Big Apple against an opponent to be announced soon, and then look to unify the division in 2019 – with a fight against WBA ruler and fellow DAZN fighter Daniel Roman a target.

“I am absolutely ecstatic to be joining the principal team in professional boxing today,” said Doheny.

“I believe with Matchroom Boxing and my management team at MTK Global I have the perfect blend to help me achieve my ultimate goals in the sport of boxing.

“I am really excited to getting the ball rolling with my first defense on January 18 at Madison Square Garden. This fight will give me the momentum I need going into really big year.”

“I’m delighted to welcome TJ to the team,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “TJ is always in great fights and he is coming off a huge win in Japan to capture the title.

“He will make the first defense of his title at Madison Square Garden on Jan 18 and if he comes through will attempt to unify the division against WBA champ Danny Roman in the spring. There are some great fights to be made at 122lbs and we expect to see all of them on DAZN.”

Doheny’s World title defense is part of a huge night of action in New York as Demetrius Andrade defends his WBO World Middleweight title for the first time against Russian Artur Akavov.

A third World title bout on the card sees Amanda Serrano (35-1-1 26KOs) gunning for history as she looks to land World honors in an extraordinary seventh weight class as she meets WBC and IBF World Super-Flyweight champion Eva Voraberger (24-5 11KOs) – the Austrian tasked with stopping Serrano’s bid for glory.

Former World Lightweight ruler Jorge Linares continues his comeback trail on the card when he meets Pablo Cesar Cano. Linares’ (45-4 28KOs) reign as WBA and Ring Magazine champion was ended in an epic clash with pound-for-pound star Vasily Lomachenko at Madison Square Garden in May, with Linares felling the Ukrainian star in the sixth before being stopped four rounds later.

Linares returned to winning ways in September with a third round stoppage win over Abner Cotto in September in California and starts 2019 with his 50th pro fight against Cano (31-7-1 21KOs), the Mexican former World title challenger who landed the WBC International Silver strap in his last outing in September – and Linares is joined by fellow Golden Boy Boxing star Alexis Rocha (12-0 8KOs), the 21 year old Welterweight talent ready to begin his charge for titles in 2019.

One of Matchroom Boxing USA’s rising stars tastes his first action in 2019 on the card as Reshat Mati (2-0 1KO) returns to the scene of his last outing in October where the ‘Albanian Bear’ went the four round distance in his second fight.

Tickets for January 18 are on sale now priced from $46 (including booking fee) – tickets are available from www.MSG.com

On Saturday, February 9, at the Memorial Centre in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, hometown favourite Cody “The Crippler” Crowley’s CCC Promotions will promote, and he will fight in the 12-round main event of, “Homecoming IV- Bad Blood,” a night of world-class professional boxing.

In the toughest test of his career, the undefeated Crowley (16-0, 9 KOs) will defend his CPBC Canadian and International Super Welterweight Championships against former Canadian champion Stuart McLellan (25-2-3, 10 KOs).

Tickets for “Homecoming IV- Bad Blood” are priced at $62.15, $39.55 and $28.25 and are available at www.memorialcentre.ca. VIP Floor Tickets are also available through CCC Promotions (text or call 705.927.3265).

25-year-old Crowley, from nearby Douro, Ontario, now resides and trains in Las Vegas with Ibn Cason, brother of former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman. The aggressive southpaw has gained notoriety and intense popularity back home for, among countless other world champions, serving as Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s sparring partner for the Pacquiao and Conor McGregor fights.

Officially his own promoter as President of CCC Promotions, Crowley won the CPBC International Super Welterweight Title in May 2017 with a unanimous decision over Mexico’s Edgar Ortega. In May 2018, he added the CPBC National Championship with a unanimous decision over Canadian rival Kevin Higson.

“He’s one of the first guys I wanted to fight when I turned pro,” said Crowley of McLellan. “He calls me out after every fight. I’ve offered him purses before, but now he realizes this is his biggest opportunity for a fight in Canada. I think it’ll be a great fight. We are going to bang it out, toe-to-toe. He thinks he has experience on his side and keeps saying I’m not ready, but people have only seen about 20% of what I can do. He’s a big guy who walks around at 175 lbs or so. He hunts you down and comes forward and tries to break you down, but that’s what I do. And I do it way better.”

32-year-old McLellan is an 11-year professional and former national champion, currently riding a 13-fight winning streak dating back to 2015. A determined and active pressure fighter, McLellan has gained a reputation as a spoiler for fighting and winning in the opponent’s hometown.

McLellan maintains that Crowley isn’t ready for a fighter with his experience.

“I know he’s got money behind him and gets the best training in Vegas, but all the glitz and glamor mean nothing to me. It’s nothing new to be on the road and be a road warrior. I won the Canadian title in the guy’s hometown. He thinks he’s ready for me, but he has no idea what he’s getting into. He’s going to find out on February 9. I have too much experience. I’m a very busy fighter and people have a hard time dealing with it. The stuff he’s learning right now is already second nature to me. 21 years of experience speaks for itself.”

The exciting undercard, packed with Canadian and international talent, will be announced shortly.

On fight night, doors open at 6 pm, with the first fight starting at 7 pm. The Memorial Centre is located at 151 Lansdowne Street in Peterborough. The Memorial Centre is a 4,329-seat multi-purpose arena. Built in 1956, it is now home to the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League and the Peterborough Lakers of the Major Series Lacrosse league. For more information, visit www.memorialcentre.ca.

London (7 November 2019) Poxon Sports and Premier Boxing Champions are delighted to announce that tickets for the Battle of Britain clash between James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr on Saturday 23rd February at The O2 will go on sale at MIDDAY today.

DeGale and Eubank Jr finally meet in an eagerly anticipated contest which promises to be as explosive and thrilling as the great all British Benn-Eubank and Froch-Groves confrontations of the past.

After years of animosity and a hostile war of words, the bitter enemies will put everything on the line with the winner claiming the Best of British bragging rights, all set inside the perfect backdrop of The O2 in the capital that has hosted many of the big domestic blockbuster fights in recent years.

Tickets are priced at:

£40 & £60 (Level 4/Upper Bowl),

£80, £100 and £150 (Level 1/Lower Bowl)

£150/£200/£300 (Floor)

£600 Inner Ringside/VIP Hospitality*

All prices are subject to booking fees.

*VIP Hospitality includes separate bar/hospitality area, complimentary wine/beer, with canapés and will operate from approximately 6pm to 9pm.

Tickets can be purchased from www.AXS.com and Inner Ringside/VIP Hospitality from www.sportandmusic.co.uk

The show will start at approximately 6pm with the Main Event in the ring shortly after 10pm.

A full supporting, action-packed, undercard will be announced shortly.

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

Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PoxonSports/, www.facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and www.facebook.com/ITVBoxing/

PHILADELPHIA – JANUARY 4, 2019 – Undefeated lightweight contender Xolisani Ndongeni arrived in the United States on Friday morning for his showdown with Devin Haney in the main event of the first ShoBox: The New Generation telecast of 2019 on Friday, January 11 live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT from StageWorks of Louisiana in Shreveport.

Ndongeni (25-0, 13 KOs) of South Africa traveled for nearly 24 hours, as he made the trek from his homeland to Louisiana, where he will finish up his training for the bout with the highly regarded Haney.

The event is promoted by Devin Haney Promotions and Bishop Promotions LLC, in association with Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing. Tickets, starting at $30, are on sale now and available at www.akafights.com

New York, NY (January 4, 2019) Female combat sports sensation Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano will fight for a record seventh weight division world boxing title on Friday, January 18, 2019 at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden and telecast live on DAZN (www.DAZN.com).

Sporting a record of 35-1-1, with 26 knockouts, the Puerto Rican-born Serrano will challenge Austria’s Eva Voraberger (24-5, 11 KOs) in a 10-round clash for the vacant WBO Super Flyweight Women’s World Title. With a victory, Serrano will tie boxing legend Manny Pacquiao as the only boxers to win world titles in seven weight classes.

This will be the first time in her 10 years as a professional that Serrano has competed in the super flyweight (115lb.) division. Most recently in boxing, Serrano won her sixth world title in the junior welterweight division (140lb.) defeating Yamila Reynoso on September 8, 2018, at home in Brooklyn, NY. The 30-year-old followed that up with a mixed martial arts victory on October 13, 2018, competing for Combate Americas.

“On Friday, January 18, boxing fans will get the opportunity to see Amanda Serrano, one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, continue to cement her legacy when she competes for a world title in her seventh weight class,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Eva Voraberger is an excellent fighter, one of the world’s best at 115/118-pounds. Her record reflects her excellence. In a span of four-and-a-half months, Amanda will attempt to win a world title six weight classes below the 140-pound title that she won last September. This has never been done by a fighter, regardless of gender. I truly believe that 2019 will be an historic year for women in boxing; Amanda Serrano will get it off to an historic start.”

Speaking after a day of workouts, Serrano stated, “I’m having a great training camp for my fight on January 18. I’ll be attempting to break my own record and win a world title in a seventh division. Any time you attempt to make history, it gives you an extra drive to push yourself to succeed. I am the only female and Puerto Rican, male or female, to win titles in six weight classes, and I did it in crazy fashion. I first won world titles at junior lightweight and lightweight, dropped down to the featherweight and bantamweight classes, then moved back up to junior welterweight, and now I’m headed to super flyweight.”

“I am fighting a tough and very skilled world champion in Austria’s Eva Voraberger. She currently holds the interim WBC bantamweight title and only has three pounds to drop whereas I’m coming off of winning the WBO 140-pound world title just four months ago. I’ve heard the critics say that I’m crazy for dropping this much weight so quickly, but I’ll prove them wrong. I am known as the ‘Real Deal’ for a reason.”

About fighting on DAZN, Serrano continued, “This is the beginning of my contract with DAZN that will culminate with a fight against Katie Taylor. This isn’t about taking easy fights before a big payday. This is about legacy and I will continue to cement my place in boxing history by taking risks. Dropping down to 115 pounds is going to be my first challenge and then I will move back up to fight for another world title before meeting Taylor.”

“I won the Golden Gloves at Madison Square Garden in 2008 and I am thrilled to be back there vying for a world title as a professional. Don’t miss this fight. I am coming to take the title by knockout.

LAS VEGAS (January 4, 2019) – Having recently moved from Miami to Las Vegas, hard-hitting light heavyweight Ahmed Elbiali shared his thoughts on training camp as he prepares to face Oklahoma’s Allan Green Sunday, January 13 from the Microsoft Theatre at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. The fight will be featured on the Premier Boxing Champions Prelims live on FS1 and FOX Deportes telecast that begins at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT, if time allows.

Prelims precede a Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes show that features IBF Super Middleweight World Champion Jose Uzcategui taking on unbeaten Caleb Plant in the main event. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will also see unbeaten featherweight Brandon Figueroa take on Moises Flores and sensational prospect Joey Spencer entering the ring.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Zanfer Promotions, start at $50, are on sale now and can be purchased at AXS.com.

Here is what Elbiali had to say from training camp at Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas:

On training with new coach Chris Ben-Tchavtchavadze:

“Chris is a great coach and he’s teaching me a lot. I’m learning how to parry punches and my defense is improving. On offense, I’m using my jab more to set up combinations. With Chris in my corner, I feel I have someone who can help me make the proper adjustments in a fight.”

On facing veteran Allan Green:

“I know I’m up against a fighter in Allan Green who’s been in the ring and went the distance with some very good fighters. He has a lot of experience, so I must fight wisely to be victorious. I’m going into this fight with a do or die mindset and I’m going to leave everything in the ring.”

On making the move from Miami to Las Vegas:

“It’s been a tremendous blessing since I moved here a few months ago from Miami. The quality of sparring I’m getting is just incredible. I’m getting better every day just from sparring top level guys. In Miami, there just isn’t the quality of guys to spar on a regular basis. The move has been great.”

On making his return to the ring:

“I only fought once last year so I’m hoping to get back on track fighting regularly in 2019. I think with a few more fights I’ll be ready to challenge anyone in my division. I just need to stay active.”

# # #

Fans can live stream the fights on the FOX Sports app, available in English or Spanish through the FOX or FOX Deportes feeds. The fights are available on desktop at FOXSports.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku.

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

INDIO, CALIF. (Jan. 4, 2019): Two world title fights will head to the Coachella Valley in February as Golden Boy Promotions presents another exciting night of boxing on DAZN. In the main event, Alberto “Explosivo” Machado (21-0, 17 KOs) will defend his WBA Super Featherweight World Title against Andrew “El Chango” Cancio (19-4-2, 14 KOs) in a 12-round clash. In the co-main event, Rey Vargas (32-0, 22 KOs) will put his WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship on the line against Franklin Manzanilla (18-4, 17 KOs) in a 12-round battle. The event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. and will be streamed live on DAZN – which is just $9.99 per month after a one-month free trial.

“Golden Boy Promotions has promised to bring exciting fights every month on DAZN,”
said Oscar De La Hoya, CEO and Chairman of Golden Boy Promotions. “We’re keeping our promise by bringing two world title fights featuring a world champion from Puerto Rico in Alberto Machado and one from Mexico in Rey Vargas. The best talent from these two countries, which have a rich history in the sport of boxing, will be on display for fans to watch at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino or from home on DAZN.”

Machado, a 28-year-old of San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a big man for his division and boasts explosive power in both hands. After unifying two regional titles with a dominant unanimous decision victory against Carlos “The Solution” Morales, Machado defeated Jezreel “El Invisible” Corrales by way of eighth-round knockout to capture WBA Super Featherweight World Title in Oct. 2017. The hard-hitting southpaw has retained his title against the likes of Rafael “Sweet Pea” Mensah and Yuandale “Money Shot” Evans and will look to make a third defense against Cancio.

“I am very hungry to go to Los Angeles and start camp for Andrew Cancio,” said
Alberto Machado.”Cancio is a great warrior with good experience and will come very hungry, but I will prepare myself responsibly as he is a great challenge for my career. A victory over him will take me further to what I want to achieve in this sport. This will be the third defense of my title, and now I am going in with more experience. I look forward to retaining my championship and returning to Puerto Rico as a world champion.”

Cancio is a 30-year-old contender who recently re-signed with Golden Boy Promotions after scoring a sensational technical knockout victory against then-undefeated prospect
Aida Sharibayev. The native of Blythe, Calif. has victories against the likes of
Rocky Juarez, Jerry “The Corpus Christi Kid” Belmontes and Rene “Gemelo” Alvarado, and he’s also been in tough fights against Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. and
Ronny Rios in a professional career that started over 12 years ago. Needless to say, Cancio has worked hard for his title shot.

“I’m very excited and grateful for this opportunity to fight for a world title,” said
Andrew Cancio. “Thanks very much to my manager Ray Chaparro and the Golden Boy Promotions Team, along with DAZN. I’ve watched many of Alberto Machado’s fights and know how great of a fighter he is. However, I’ve already started training and will be well prepared on February 9 to win the world title in front of my fans at Fantasy Springs who have always been so very supportive.”

“We are excited to start 2019 with a great fight for Alberto Machado on DAZN,” said
Miguel Cotto, President of Miguel Cotto Promotions.”We are committed together with Golden Boy Promotions to bringing the best fights with the best fighters in the world. We know what Machado he is capable of doing. He will enter the ring as a champion and leave the ring as a champion on February 9.”

As mentioned above, Rey Vargas will defend his 122-pound title against Franklin Manzanilla in the 12-round co-main event. Vargas is a 28-year-old world champion who brings a considerable height and reach advantage to every fight, which he has used to defend his titles against the likes of Ronny Rios, Oscar “El Jaguar” Negrete and Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan.

“Franklin Manzanilla is a complete fighter,” said Rey Vargas. “He’s tough and goes forward, but he also knows how to box. He’s a strong fighter, and he showed that by defeating Julio Ceja in four rounds to earn the right to fight for a world title. Manzanilla also hits hard. I’ve seen this, and his record indicates that as well. However, I also believe he has some deficiencies in his defense, and that’s what we’re going to try to take advantage of in this fight. Lastly, I invite all the people to watch this fight because it’s going to be a war, and God willing I will walk away with my hand raised high.”

Manzanilla is a 30-year-old native of Caracas, Venezuela who will fight in the United States for the first time. Manzanilla is coming off a victory against Julio Ceja for the WBC Silver Super Bantamweight Title, earning him a shot at Vargas in February.

“I’m training very hard to be well prepared,” said Franklin Manznilla. “However, we still haven’t even begun the hard stages of preparation that will have us in excellent condition to give everything in the ring. Rey Vargas is a great fighter who is always well prepared for his fights. He throws a lot of punches, which means we have to be double prepared for this bout. It’s going to be a great fight, and I invite everyone to watch it because they will witness a great upset and will get to know Franklin Manzanilla, a fighter who is preparing physically and mentally to become the new world champion.”

“Rey Vargas is the best super bantamweight in the world,” said Oswaldo Kuchle, President of Promociones del Pueblo. “He will put on a great show on Feb. 9 with his excellent boxing skills. Without a doubt, I think it will be a great and explosive fight that will delight fans in the arena.”

The undercard of this event will be filled with contenders and prospects from the exclusive Golden Boy Promotions stable.

Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. (27-1, 14 KOs) of South El Monte, Calif. will return in a 10-round super featherweight battle against Charles Huerta (20-5, 12 KOs) of Paramount, Calif.

Genaro “El Conde” Gamez (8-0, 5 KOs) will battle against Ivan “Striker” Delgado (13-1-2, 6 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight battle between a current Golden Boy prospect and an ex-Golden Boy fighter.

Oscar Duarte (15-0-1, 10 KOs) of Parral, Mexico will participate in a 10-round fight in the lightweight division.

Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan (15-3, 12 KOs) of Los Angeles, Calif. will compete in a 10-round super bantamweight fight.

Ferdinand “Lucky Boy” Kerobyan (11-0, 6 KOs) of North Hollywood, Calif. will return in an eight-round super welterweight battle.

Hometown hero Rommel Caballero (4-0, 3 KOs) of Coachella, Calif. will open the night of action in a six-round super featherweight battle.

Opponents for the undercard fighters will be announced shortly.

Machado vs. Cancio is a 12-round fight for the WBA Super Featherweight World Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions. Vargas vs. Manzanilla is a 12-round battle for the WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Promociones del Pueblo. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” and Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle.” The event will take place Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. and will be streamed live on DAZN.

About DAZN:
Globally, DAZN is a live and on-demand sports streaming service created by fans, for fans, that is leading the charge to provide access to sports anytime, anywhere. DAZN guarantees no long-term contract, no bundles, just one affordable price for access to all the service’s sports on connected devices including smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, games consoles and PCs. DAZN is currently available in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, Canada, Italy and now the U.S. at just $9.99 per month after a one-month free trial – where it is becoming a must-have service for sports fans, with a daily show featuring live look-ins to Major League Baseball games beginning in 2019 and more than 100 fight nights already lined up from Matchroom Boxing, Bellator MMA, the World Boxing Super Series, Combate Americas and the recently announced Golden Boy Promotions.

Tickets for the event go on sale Friday, Jan. 4, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. PT and are priced at $35, $45 and $55. Tickets will be available at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino box office, by calling 1-800-827-2946, or by purchasing online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

Media interested in attending Golden Boy Boxing: Machado vs. Cancio must request credentials by emailing clavoie@fantasysprings.net by 5:00 p.m. PT on Friday, Feb. 1.

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

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying
and pasting the link http://bit.ly/February9DAZN into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy Promotions for any photo and/or video usage.

Abdul Khattab (15-2-1, 4 KOs) will have a familiar face in his corner when he enters the ring for his eight-round Scandinavian middleweight thriller against Oliver Flodin (4-0) on January 19 at the Struer Energi Park in Denmark.

Khattab is fighting on the undercard of Dina Thorslund’s WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title defence versus Alesia Graf, and will be joined by coach and mentor, Mikkel Kessler, the former five-time World Champion.

“It means a lot to me that Mikkel is going to be with me in Struer,” says the Copenhagen boxer. “When Mikkel is with me, I feel safe, and as long as I listen to his instructions, with him in my corner nothing can go wrong!”

Khattab and Kessler were last in action on October 27 at the Sport and Congress Centre in Schwerin. Here, the 25 year-old scored a draw against Ronny Mittag, in a fight both men believed they should have won.

“Although the fight ended a draw, both me and Mikkel agreed that I won, and that meant a lot to me,” he says. “Now, we need a victory over Flodin, and I will be ready to move on to even bigger fights later this year.”

Dina Thorslund tops the bill in Struer, defending her WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title against Alesia Graf, while former European Champion Dennis Ceylan rematches Jesus Sanchez for the EU Featherweight crown.

Oliver Flodin faces Abdul Khattab in a Scandinavian middleweight thriller, heavyweight hope Kem Ljungquist takes on Dominik Musil, Lolenga Mock continues his World title chase against Mateo Damian Veron, Mikkel Nielsen meets Bulgaria’s Angel Emilov, and Adam Bashanov faces Ivan Nikolov.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.dk or by calling (+45) 70 15 65 65.

LOS ANGELES (January 3, 2019) – Featherweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz and exciting challenger Miguel Flores went face-to-face Thursday at a press conference in Los Angeles ahead of their world title showdown that headlines Premier Boxing Champions on FOX & FOX Deportes Saturday, February 16 from Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

Also in attendance at Thursday’s press conference was hard-hitting John Molina Jr., who faces unbeaten former champion Omar Figueroa in a 12-round junior welterweight clash as part of televised coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

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

Here is what the press conference participants had to say Thursday from the Conga Room at L.A. Live:

LEO SANTA CRUZ

“He may think I’m underestimating him, but I’ve never underestimated any fighter I’ve faced. Media and fans may think differently, but I don’t think I’m superior to anyone else, I just do my work.

“I get all of my confidence from my training. I learn everything in the gym. I work hard and train like I’m the challenger. I want to go and give the fans a great fight and continue to grow my name.

“When I retire I want to be known as a great Mexican fighter, so I’ve trained very hard with my dad. Even though he’s sick, he still is in the gym pushing me and telling me what to do. It’s a huge motivation to see him there supporting me. I know that if he sees me pushing myself, it’s going to motivate him too.

“When I say that I want to unify the featherweight division, I’m not looking past Miguel Flores. I have to be positive and always look toward the future. I’m not looking back. I’m just training hard to get that win and become the best at 126-pounds. First that means beating Miguel Flores.

“This is going to be a great fight. Miguel Flores is a tough fighter who throws a lot of punches and comes forward. He’s got a big right hand and he works the body well. He’s a fighter who leaves everything in the ring.

“I want to unify against any of the champions. I want any of the champions in 2019 and I want to become the featherweight king.”

MIGUEL FLORES

“It’s been a long road for me. I’m going to put on a good show on February 16. Leo and his father are professionals and they’ll work hard in the gym, but I have a feeling they’re overlooking me.

“I know all the hard work I’ve put in the gym and I know that I deserve this opportunity and I’m going to prove it by making the most of it.

“This is a great night of fights and I’m thankful to everyone that made it possible. My trainer, Aaron Navarro, has been with me and is really a father figure for me. The support from back home has been amazing.

“I’m excited to be starting off the year with this great opportunity. I’m going to give the writers an easy task, because on February 16 I’m going to give them the Upset of the Year and the Fight of the Year on the same night.

“People are going to be in for a treat on February 16. We have two Mexican fighters going toe-to-toe. You’re going to want to show up to see this one.”

JOHN MOLINA JR.

“February 16, there is going to be a war. It’s a great night of fighting. This is a fight that I specifically asked for. I believe stylistically it’s going to be all-action.

“I saw Figueroa say that he’s not going to see me get out of the fourth round. Well he’s not going to see that, because he’s going to be asleep.

“Talk is cheap, like I always say. I could talk until I’m blue in the face about how I’m going to hurt this kid. But it’ll sound naïve until I show you on February 16.

“I like Figueroa’s confidence. It’s going to make for a great fight. I don’t ever want to face a guy who’s going to come to lose. I know he’s coming to win. I’m glad to share the ring with great fighters like Leo, Miguel and Omar for this special night.”

TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions

“Premier Boxing Champions have made a major commitment to bringing some of the best and biggest fights to Southern California.

“L.A. has always been regarded as one of the best fight cities in the world and home to some of the greatest fights in boxing. We believe that Los Angeles, including right here downtown, can become a major hub for the sport of boxing.

“Southern California has long been a hotbed of slugfests between great Mexican-American fighters, and with Leo Santa Cruz and Miguel Flores, plus Omar Figueroa vs. John Molina Jr., we have the makings of another all-out war on February 16. This is going to be a great night.”

RICHARD SCHAEFER, Chairman & CEO of Ringstar Sports

“Los Angeles is once again the fight capital of the world. There are some great matchups coming here for the passionate Southern California fight fans.

“The Microsoft Theatre is a fantastic venue for boxing and it hosts signature events throughout the year, and on February 16 it will host a great doubleheader. They say that styles make fights, and I don’t think there are better matchups than these two fights.

“These fighters are warriors. No one on this card is ever in a boring fight. It’s like throwing oil in the fire. This is going to be a night you don’t want to miss and a great crowd watching these fights.”

# # #

Fans can live stream the fights on the FOX Sports app, available in English or Spanish through the FOX or FOX Deportes feeds. The fights are available on desktop at FOXSports.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku.

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.

Reading, PA (January 3, 2019) – On Saturday night, January 26th, championship boxing returns to the Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania as Phoenix Promotions stages a big Pro-AM card.

In the main event, it will be a 10-round battle for the UBA Bantamweight title as Rosalinda Rodriguez takes on Liliana Martinez.

Rodriguez of Miami has a record of 8-0 with two knockouts.

The 32 year-old Rodriguez is a four-year professional who has wins over two undefeated fighters in Frederica Blanco and Samantha Salazar.

In her last bout, Rodriguez won an eight-round unanimous decision over Crystal Hoy on December 8th in Louisville, Kentucky.

Martinez of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic has a record of 21-18 with 13 knockouts.

The 35 year-old Martinez is a 19 year-professional is coming off a decision loss to Sandra Atanassow on February 3rd in Germany.

In the eight-round co-feature, Hector Camacho, Jr. returns to the ring when he takes on Vladimir Hernandez in an middleweight bout scheduled for eight-rounds.

Camacho, Jr. of New York, has a record of 58-7-1 with 32 knockouts.

Camacho, 40 years-old, is a 23 year veteran of the squared circle.

Camacho went undefeated in his first 34 fights, which included wins over Freddy Curiel (14-3-1), Roberto Nunez (15-3), Miguel Angel Ruiz (21-5-1), Menard Reed (20-1), former world champion Phillip Holliday (36-3-1), Joe Hutchinson (18-1-2), Rocky Martinez (34-4-1), former world title challenger Larry LaCoursiere, Arturo Urena (19-3), Fredd Ladd (45-9), Nelson Estupinan (12-1), Kenny Kost (14-3), Israel Cardona (36-9) & Former world champion Yory Boy Campas (92-14-1).

Hernandez of Denver, Colorado has a record of 10-3 with six knockouts.

The 29 year-old Hernandez is a 10 year-professional has two wins over Danny Valdivia (14-0 & 14-1).

In a six-round bouts:

Nicholas Hernandez (9-3-1, 2 KOs) of Reading takes on Jauvan John (3-7-1) of Brooklyn, NY in a junior middleweight bout.

Frank Trader (11-2-1, 3 KOa) of Philadelphia fights Zack Ramsey (8-5, 4 KOs) of Springfield, MA in a junior lightweight bout.

In four-round bouts:

Harold Lopez (4-0-1, 1 KO) of Allentown, PA fights pro debuting Rondarius Hunter in a flyweight bout.

Rakym Dyer will make his pro debut against fellow first-timer Earvin Young of Milwaukee, WI in a welterweight bout.

Martino Jules (5-0) of Allentown, PA will take on an opponent to be named in a featherweight contest.

There will be an amateur show that begins at 4 p.m., and tickets that that portion of the show only are $25.

Ticket Prices are as follows for Pro Show, that begins at 8 PM
1) $1,500.00 VIP Tables.
2) $150.00 Ring Side Seats.
3) $75.00 Silver Seating.
4) $50.00 Bronze Seating.
5) $25.00 General Admission.

All Tickets can be purchased at At The Santander Arena’s Box Office -700 Penn Street Reading Pa. 19602; Ticketmaster.com and at The Reading Extreme Boxing Club located at 1419 N. 5th Street Reading Pa. 19602.

Leonard Ellerbe
All right, thank you everyone for joining the call today. Today’s call we are going to be talking with former two division world champion, Badou Jack and undefeated former 2012 U.S. Olympian Marcus Browne, which will be a very exciting matchup as the co-feature to Manny Pacquiao taking on Adrien Broner on January 19.

Representing SHOWTIME, we have on the call Chris DeBlasio. Chris, would you like to say a few words?

Chris DeBlasio
Thanks, Leonard. Happy New Year to everybody and thanks for being on the call today. On behalf of Stephen Espinoza, who couldn’t be with us, he’s traveling on other business, I want to say, from all of us at the network, we’re proud to present this event.

We have a four-fight pay-per-view telecast with each matchup up holding a unique, significance in its own right.

We have two world title fights on the pay-per-view. There’s also a 12 round featherweight bout that’s going to open up the show between Jhack Tepora and Hugo Ruiz. We have a main event that pits two of boxing’s biggest stars in Manny Pacquiao and Adrien Broner in a really important, 147-pound world title fight.

But the co-feature here, this is an interim title fight between Badou Jack and Marcus Browne. These are two fighters that have come of age on SHOWTIME.

Both began their careers, early in their careers were featured on ShoBox: The New Generation against very tough opponents and have fought on virtually every live boxing series that we have on the network.

This is Marcus Browne’s eighth fight with SHOWTIME and this will be Badou’s 13th fight with us. So we’re proud to have them back. They have a special place for all of us on the crew and on the team here at SHOWTIME Sports and for all of our viewers who seen him develop their careers to this important moment.

Both men have something to prove on January 19. The light heavyweight division is a division that is now wide open. There’s a lot of fresh talent and a lot of people vying for the top spot. Both men deserve this shot and this entire card is a really terrific way to kick off 2019. We’re excited.

Just a brief program reminder regarding this event, ALL ACCESS: PACQUIAO VS. BRONER will premiere this Friday at 10:30 p.m. on SHOWTIME. It’s a three-part series covering the main event fighters as they prepare for the big fight.

Episode two will premiere on Friday, January 11 at 9:30 p.m., and that’ll be followed by our first ShoBox telecast of the year. So with that, I’ll turn it back to you, Leonard, and we’ll get right to the fighters. Thanks for your time.

L. Ellerbe
Yes, thank you, Chris. Again, as Chris touched on, this – in my eyes, this is an outstanding bout. This is a bout that the fans have been talking about for a while.

These two have been going back and forth a little bit on social media. What an outstanding co-feature to a great main event and overall outstanding card.

Talking a little bit about Marcus Browne, he’s a very, very exciting young fighter, a former Olympian who’s going to be looking to make a statement against a former two-division world champion in Badou Jack.

And I think that, come fight night on January 19, Marcus is looking to, not only make a statement but open himself up to fighting anyone else that’s out there, any top guys in the light heavyweight division.

So, without further ado, I would like Marcus Browne, who comes to us with a 22 and 0 record with 16 big KOs from Staten Island, New York. Marcus, would you like to say a few words?

Marcus Browne
Happy New Year everybody. I’m honored. I’m ready. I’m working hard. I’ve worked hard my whole career for this point and Badou Jack, a respectable guy, two-time world champion, but come January 19, we’re bringing the whole kitchen sink and anything else with it.

I’m ready to take care of business. I know he knows what’s coming to him. And I really haven’t got too much to say. I’m going to let my hands do the talking.

I’m not huge braggadocios kind of guy. Neither is he, from what it looks like. It was one of the easiest fights to be made in the division and I appreciate you for signing the contract and being a man and stepping up.

Come January 19, you got hell coming. You’ve got fury. You’ve got everything coming to you. This ain’t no Anthony Dirrell. This ain’t no washed up George Groves that got beat up by Carl Froch twice.

This ain’t no old Adonis Stevenson. This ain’t no Nathan Cleverly. This is Marcus Browne, my brother. So make sure you’re ready because I know I’m ready.

L. Ellerbe
Well, thank you, Marcus. And moving on to the former two division world champion. I can’t say enough great things about Badou Jack. He’s the guy that’s always willing to take on the best that’s out there.

This is a fight that he asked for and it’s a fight that I think that Marcus Browne’s style will make for a very, very exciting fight. Badou is used to fighting any and every different style.

It’s a fight that he’s really, really looking forward to. So without further ado, former two-division world champion, none other than Badou Jack.

Badou Jack
Hey, how is everybody doing? You know, I’m excited for this fight. I’m always in the gym, always working hard. So I don’t have to say that I’m ready. I’m always ready.

It’s going to be good fight. The young hungry guys have got something to prove. I’ve been there, been battle tested because I fought the best.

I don’t have to brag about what I’ve done. This is the best guy available and we’re going to have some fun. It might look easy from the outside. Well, it’s a little different when you step up to world-class in the competition.

M Browne:
Trust me. I know it ain’t easy. And I’m working like I’ve never worked before in my life, so trust me, I know it ain’t easy. And you could say what you want from the outside. Come January 19, you’re going to see. You’re going to see. So, keep it up.

B, Jack
I let my hands do the talking. Everybody knows me.

M. Browne
Same here.

B. Jack
We’ll see fight night.

Q
Badou, I was just wondering if you could maybe talk about your experience level at the top level,
do you feel you’re more prepared for this type of fight than Marcus is because of the level of opposition that you fought?

B. Jack
To have experience against great fighters, of course, is going to play a major role in big fights but in boxing, anything can happen.

I’m very confident. I’m ready and I’ve been waiting. I haven’t fought since May. I’m definitely ready. I’m really hungry, so experience is a major key, of course.

Q
Marcus obviously has a very fast hands. He’s a strong guy. What you think of him just overall as a fighter?

B. Jack
The little that I’ve seen, he’s a good fighter. He’s definitely a good fighter.

Q
Marcus, what do you think of Badou Jack and maybe his level of experience against top guys?

M. Browne
Well, most of his fights have been at 168. Nathan Cleverly was washed and Adonis Stevenson is old. He’s a very strong minded, hungry and a great champion, of course, but come January 19, he’s going to see that he hasn’t fight anybody like me, plain and simple. I’m not James DeGale.

This is the light heavyweight division. He’s fighting a real light heavyweight and a young, strong, light heavyweight. So, we’ll see come January 19, like he said.

Q
Marcus, I’m not sure how closely you watched the fight but when he fought Adonis Stevenson back in May, who did you think won?

M. Browne
I didn’t watch it to see who won. And, honestly, I really don’t care who won, it didn’t matter to me, but it was a good fight.

He started off slow. Picked it up towards the end. Still couldn’t get him out of there. So, good fight.

Q
Thank you, Marcus. I have a question for both guys, as well. Obviously what happened to Adonis last month was a reminder of how brutal this business is.

I was just wondering, Badou, having shared the ring with him, what your thoughts are and what happened to Adonis and maybe how he’s recovered so far. And, Marcus, I know you didn’t fight him, but if also you could speak to that as well.

B. Jack
I was very emotional about it because I’ve been in that ring with him in my last fight. And he took a lot of punishment in that fight.

He was stumbling around in the hotel after the fight. Everybody said he really took a beating. So, it’s sad. But this is what we signed up for. I’ve been praying for him since this thing happened. I’m glad he woke up and hopefully he can recover. It’s the business. It’s nothing personal.

This is just business. We’re trying to feed our families. Hopefully you get back to normal so he can enjoy his family and his kids and everything. He just had a daughter before for the fight so, it’s sad but God willing, he’ll come back to normal.

M. Browne
It’s a sad and unfortunate situation but this is what we sign up for, what we sign on the dotted line for, getting in the ring. That’s the risk that we take at fighting.

I feel bad for him but hopefully he comes out of this with all of his faculties, so he could be able to enjoy his family like Badou said.

Most importantly, he’s older. He’s an older fighter. Father time caught up with him. I heard he was going through a lot of things outside of the ring so maybe that was part of the reason. But hopefully he will be all right.

Q
Badou are you now at the point where you kind of feel that you have to enter each fight with the objective of taking the judges out of the result so that there are no doubts that you are the clear winner?

B. Jack
Yes, you can’t really complain to the judges. In all those close fights I had, I landed more than 100 more punches than my opponents. And most of them – this is sad, but most of them were not the same fighter after. I just have to make a statement. They’re not going to do me any favors.

Q
This is for the interim WBA title and if you win, would you welcome a fight against the full world champion, Dmitry Bivol?

B. Jack
Yes that’s the fight that I really wanted but, right now, I’m focusing on Marcus Browne. That’s where all my focus is, so I can’t look past anyone. I know that as a fighter better than anybody else.

L. Ellerbe
I’ll speak on that. If Badou is victorious in this fight against Marcus Browne, he’s willing to fight any of the light heavyweight champions out there – any of them.

Q
Would you say that the winner of this fight can make the claim that they are the best light heavyweight in the world?

B. Jack
There are four champions better ahead of Marcus Browne. So just me beating him, that doesn’t really make me number one. I thought I would beat Stevenson and he was the lineal champion. But I don’t really focus on that. I’m focusing on winning my fight. All of the other stuff is just bonus.

Q
Badou do you feel that you will be able to get up the way you normally would for a fight being that Marcus isn’t one of the champions?

B. Jack
Yes, that comes with experience. It’s the ability be ready whenever. It doesn’t matter if it’s the champion or if it’s a contender or whatever. You’ve got to think that every fight is a world title fight or the toughest fight of your life. So, my motivation is never a problem.

Q
Leonard I heard you say that after this fight, if Badou is victorious, he’s willing to fight all of the champions. Is he able to go out and seek those champions on their respective networks?

L. Ellerbe
We’re willing to listen and entertain any offers that are out there. Obviously, Badou has a very tough fight ahead of him in Marcus Browne and he’s got to get by Marcus Browne first before considering anything else. But to answer your direct question, we’re willing to listen to any offers that are out there, if he’s able to get past Marcus Browne.

Q
Marcus, how badly did you have your mind set on Badou? Was this your only option?

M. Browne
Actually, well, couple months ago, all other guys were busy and he was the only guy who wasn’t, so it was one of the easiest fights to make. It really doesn’t matter to me who I fight. I’m tired of sitting around and not being active. I like to actually be in the ring.

Q
Is there anything that you see in Badou that’s giving you confidence that or is it frustration of not getting one of the champions?

M. Browne
No, no frustration, and I don’t see anything. He’s a tough, tough fighter. He’s not an easy fighter. He’s no walk over. Super tough. Super gritty. Super headstrong, so there’s nothing that I see. He was just a guy who wasn’t busy and I wasn’t busy.

We’re in the same weight division. He’s a light heavyweight. He’s a two-time world champion. He really didn’t lose the belt. He gave it up to fight for the belt to get a draw, so he’s still a champion basically.

All I see is a champion, the guy who’s ready and willing to fight and so on. This is a business.

Q
Do you feel that it would be easy for you to get a fight after this debut if you were able to beat Badou because of who he has and what he’s considered in the division?

M. Browne
I’m not overlooking him. I’ll be focused on him. I’m not worried about fighting no other champions. All I’m worried about is fighting Badou Jack on January 19. And after that, we can discuss whatever.

But until then, I’m only talking about fighting Badou Jack at MGM Grand on January 19 in Las Vegas. That’s about it.

Q
Leonard, quick question here. I hope you’re having a good New Year’s. Looking at the WBA and WBC ratings, Badou and Marcus were both one and two.

Is there a particular reason why you went with the WBA route for this fight in terms of the interim title?

Leonard Ellerbe
No, not necessarily. As you just mentioned, both of these guys are highly ranked across the board. It wasn’t difficult at all. And from the Badou perspective, he is always willing and ready and basically available to fight any of these guys.

He has a tough fight against Marcus Browne for the WBA interim title and we’ll move on from there.

Q
Badou, if you beat Marcus Browne, would be your preference to go directly into a Bivol fight or would you like to explore another possibility?

Badou Jack
There are a lot of big names out there. Sergey Kovalev and Eleider Alvarez fight two weeks after me, so let’s see what happens. I’m focusing on what’s in front of me.

But I’m willing to fight any one of the champions. I prefer the one that pays me the most. If they’ll pay me the same, probably Bivol. But like I said, Marcus Browne is first. That’s it.

Q
One more question for you, Badou. What did you think of Bivol’s last couple of performances where he went the distance with older veterans?

B. Jack
I think he is a good fighter. I think he’s a good boxer, athletic. Everybody says, oh, he’s going to knock this guy out. Yes, but this is boxing. Jean Pascal is a tough guy.

It’s not easy to knock everybody out. That’s the thing. It’s a different story when you fight veterans and tougher guys than when you fight prospect opponents that you’re supposed to knock out.

It’s a different story. My last fights have been against world champions. It’s a little harder to knock guys like that out. But Bivol, I think he won every round. Most of the rounds against him anyway. I think he’s a good fighter.

Q
Marcus, should you beat Badou Jack, is it your wish to go directly to Bivol or would you like to explore other possibilities?

M. Browne
This is prize fighting, so whoever’s got the biggest prize, that’s who I want to fight. But, yes, whatever makes the most dollars, makes the most sense to me at this point in my career.

That’s where I’m at with that. But I’m not looking past Badou Jack. He’s not a guy to be overlooked in his own right. I’m not going to feel and talk about ten months ahead when I’ve got the biggest fight of my life in 17 days.

Q
Marcus, just want to get your personal opinion. Leaving you out of it, who do you think is the best light heavyweight in the world out of those four?

M. Browne
Marcus Browne. I ain’t leaving me out of it because I don’t care who’s the best light heavyweight because you’re talking to one right now.

Q
Marcus, given how most of your fights, since 2015, the last three years, really ended pretty quickly, are you making any adjustments in having to ensure that you’re able to go a full 12 rounds against a guy like Badou Jack?

M. Browne
That’s for me to work on and for you to see on January 19. At the end of the day, I know the type of fighter he is. We know he’s a work horse of a fighter and we’re prepared for that. He’s got great form. On January 19, you’ll see that I’m in shape or not.

Q
Do you still kind of feel like you need that win over Badou Jack to sort of make a true statement to all the boxing fans out there that you do belong in that elite echelon of fighters at 175 pounds?

M. Browne
I need a win against every fighter that I step in the ring with. No fighter is going to define my legacy. At the end of the day, this is all part of God’s plan, it’s already written and I’m just following it. This is not my dream, it’s my destiny and I’m taking it one day and one step at a time, one fighter at a time.

Badou Jack is not going to define my legacy and determine whether or not I am a real player in the light heavyweight division. My performance in this fight will.

Q
Badou you said you wanted to make a statement. What advantage does your experience give you with a guy like Marcus Browne with all of his skills?

Also, when you say you want to make a statement, does that mean that you don’t want to leave it in the hands of the judges and that you do want to get a knockout?

B. Jack
Of course, I don’t want to leave it in the hands of the judges. If you’re a fighter, you should never go the distance.

Every fight is a different fight so you never know. But all I know is I’ve been there before. I know what it takes. I know I’ve been on a bunch of pay-per-view cards.

I know what it takes in front of those lights. When it’s really getting down to a 50-50 fight, when you’re in a tough fight, I know what it takes.

Q
Do you feel like, when you say you want to make a statement, do you feel like you want to get a stoppage? What are your thoughts on that?

B. Jack
I’m listening to my corner and following the game plan. Of course, I want to knock guys out. If they don’t come, they don’t come. I’ll show you January 19 what I’m about.

Q
Marcus, do you feel any pressure to get the knockout, win every single round and that way, make a statement and not leave it in the hands of the judges? In other words, are you concerned about winning this?

M. Browne
I’m not concerned about anything at all. At the end of the day, we know what we’re working for. If a knockout comes, it comes. But if not, we are winning every round and that’s that.

I’m not here to lose rounds and that’s about it. But I’m not concerned about what the judges are doing. We already know what type of time it is already.

We should know how we’re coming. I’m not looking for a knockout. I’m just looking to box and do what I do and implement the game plan and systematically break him down.

L. Ellerbe
We would like to thank everyone for joining the call. We’re 17 days away. Again, this is a great, great matchup. Outstanding co-feature to Manny Pacquiao taking on Adrien Broner on January 19.

I guarantee you, this fight here will be probably the best fight on the card. These guys will be looking to steal the show, and again, it’s a very outstanding matchup and we’re very excited. Thank you everyone for joining the call.

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About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Apple®, Roku®, Amazon, Google and Samsung. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Sony PlayStation® Vue and Amazon Channels. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™, and offers Smithsonian Earth™ through SN Digital LLC. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com

About Premier Boxing Champions
The Premier Boxing Champions series was created and is produced by Haymon Sports, LLC. It features the most accomplished and decorated array of international professional boxing talent across the most popular weight divisions.

About MGM Grand Garden Arena
The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premier sporting and special events. The Arena offers comfortable seating for as many as 16,800 with excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound. Prominent events to date have included world championship fights between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson as well as Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez as well as Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquaio; and concerts by The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, George Strait, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, U2, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jimmy Buffett and the Barbra Streisand Millennium Concert. The MGM Grand Garden Arena also has been home to annual events including the Academy of Country Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Festival, Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Championship and Frozen Fury NHL pre-season games hosted by the Los Angeles Kings.

One of Detroit’s most popular fighters, bantamweight prospect Ja’Rico “Great Lakes King” O’Quinn, will return to action on Friday, February 8, at Sound Board, inside the MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit.

O’Quinn (10-0-1, 7 KOs) will face Sonora, Mexico’s Alex “Xhino” Rangel (17-8-4, 11 KOs) in an eight-round bantamweight showdown as part of the Night of Knockouts XV- Live Professional Boxing event.

23-year-old O’Quinn was last seen at the very same venue, stopping Mexico’s Christian Esquivel in two rounds last October. A quick-fisted puncher with an entertaining style, O’Quinn will be looking to continue building his growing fanbase in Detroit. He is a former USA National Champion and the 2013 USA Boxing Youth National Champion.

28-year-old Rangel has gone rounds with several quality fighters, including IBF Bantamweight World Champion Emmanuel Rodriguez, and should provide another good test for the young hopeful.

“I’m hoping to get some more rounds out of this opponent,” said O’Quinn. “I try to give my hometown fans a great performance every time out and this opponent should be around long enough for us to put on an entertaining fight.”

“These are the tests a young fighter has to pass to continue up the ranks,” said his promoter, Dmitriy Salita. “Fights like these, against a tough Mexican veteran, are what Ja’Rico needs to develop into a world champion.”

Tickets for the event are priced between $180-$25 and are available by calling 718.612.5207. The MotorCity Casino Hotel is located at 2901 Grand River in Detroit. On fight night, doors open at 6:30 pm and the first bout begins at 7 pm. Card subject to change without notice. All bouts to be approved by the State of Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission. All guests must be at least 21 years of age with valid photo ID.

VERONA, N.Y. (Jan. 3, 2019) — Shakur Stevenson, the 21-year-old wunderkind who captured a silver medal for the United States at the 2016 Rio Olympics, will begin his 2019 campaign with his toughest professional bout to date.

Stevenson (9-0, 5 KOs) will battle Jessie Cris Rosales in a 10-rounder for the IBF Intercontinental and WBC Continental Americas featherweight belts on Friday, Jan. 18 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.

Stevenson-Rosales will serve as the co-feature to the Bryant Jennings-Oscar Rivas heavyweight main event, both of which will stream live beginning at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN+ — the new multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International segment in conjunction with ESPN. The undercard, including the highly anticipated pro debut of former Indian amateur standout Vikas “The Indian Tank” Krishan, will also stream live on ESPN+ beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), tickets, priced at $79, $62, and $45, are available at the Turning Stone Resort Box Office by calling 315-361-7469 or online at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com).

“I am ready to fight the best featherweights in the world. 2019 is going to be a year to remember for me,” Stevenson said. “Rosales is a tough opponent, but he’s going to be no match for my speed and power.”

Rosales (22-1-1, 10 KOs), a 27-year-old native of Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines, will be making his U.S. debut against Stevenson. He is coming of a second-round KO victory in March against Ibrahim Balla (13-1 at the time) in Altona North, Victoria, Australia. The only blemish on his record came via second-round KO in 2017 to former two-division world champion Jhonny Gonzalez.

Krishan, the most highly decorated amateur in the history of Indian boxing, will take on Steven Andrade (3-3, 2 KOs) in a six-round super welterweight bout. A 26-year-old southpaw, Krishan represented his homeland at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and became the only Indian fighter in history to capture gold medals at both the Asian and Commonwealth Games. He made headlines at the 2012 Olympics for defeating Errol Spence Jr., only for the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) to overturn the result a few hours later because of fouls that Krishan committed during the match.

“I was an amateur for a very long time, and the time was finally right to turn pro,” Krishan said. I do not take this opportunity lightly, and I look forward to showcasing my skills to boxing fans from around the world. I also want to show that Indians are not only good in medical studies, but we know how to fight as well!”

In other action:

Super welterweight contender Carlos “Caballo Bronco” Adames (15-0, 12 KOs) will take on the veteran Juan Ruiz (21-3, 13 KOs) in a fight scheduled for 10 or eight rounds. Adames is coming off a second-round destruction against Joshua Conley on the Terence Crawford-Jose Benavidez Jr. undercard Oct. 13 in Omaha, Neb.

Robson Conceicao (10-0, 5 KOs), a Brazilian who won a gold medal in front of his home fans at the 2016 Rio Olympics, will continue his march toward a 130-pound title shot in an eight-rounder versus Hector Ambriz (12-8-2, 6 KOs).

Former super featherweight world champion Jason Sosa (21-3-4, 15 KOs) will face the rugged Moises Delgadillo (17-18-2, 9 KOs) in a super featherweight bout scheduled for 10 or eight rounds.

Fazliddin Gaibnazarov (6-0, 3 KOs), who captured Olympic gold for his native Uzbekistan in 2016, will fight Ricardo Garcia (14-4-1, 9 KOs) in an eight-round super lightweight bout. Garcia has never been knocked out as a pro.

Heavyweight prospect Cassius Chaney (14-0, 8 KOs) will look to extend his KO streak to four against Michael Glasscox (6-2-2, 5 KOs) in a six-rounder.

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PHILADELPHIA, PA — Undefeated bantamweight prospect Christian Carto, of South Philadelphia, faces veteran southpaw Victor Ruiz, of San Diego, CA in the eight-round main event Friday evening, Feb. 8, at the 2300 Arena.

The Carto-Ruiz fight tops an eight-fight card, dubbed the “Philly Special” by promoter Michelle Rosado, of Raging Babe, in her first solo promotion in Philadelphia.

Carto, 22, has won all 17 of his pro fights, 11 by knockout. A pro since mid-2016, Carto has developed into one of the most popular fighters in the Philadelphia/Atlantic City area. In his last fight Nov. 9, Carto earned a six-round decision over Antonio Rodriguez, of Durango, Mexico.

Ruiz, 27, comes into the fight the more experienced of the two. He turned pro in 2011 and has boxed some of the best “little men” in the world. In 2015, in Corpus Christi, TX, he got off the canvas in the second round and went on to win an eight-round split decision over former IBF world super flyweight champion Daiki Kameda, of Tokyo, Japan.

Ruiz also boxed former WBC world-title challenger and current NABF bantamweight champion Oscar Negrete, of Rosemead, CA, losing their 2017 fight in Las Vegas, NV, via an eight-round decision. Overall, Ruiz is 22-10, 15 KOs.

“I’m eager to test my skills against (Victor) Ruiz,” said Carto. “We’ve watched tape and he’s got plenty of experience. Ruiz has fought some great fighters: McWilliams Arroyo, Oscar Negrete and current WBO Bantamweight Champion Zolani Tete. As for 2019, I’m ready to start the year strong and I’m happy to be back in South Philly at the 2300 Arena. Training camp is going great. Billy (trainer Briscoe) and I will leave no stone unturned and we’ll be ready for Ruiz.”

Promoter Michelle Rosado: “This is no walk-in-the-park fight for Christian. If he wants to crack the world ratings, this is the kind of guy he needs to fight and this is the kind of guy he needs to beat. Ruiz has been in with some of the best at flyweight, super fly and bantamweight.”

Heavyweight Darmani Rock will fight in the card’s co-feature, with welterweight Marcel Rivers, of North Philadelphia, heavyweight Sonny Conto, of South Philadelphia, bantamweight Alejandro Jimenez, of New Hope, PA, lightweight Gerardo Martinez of Coatesville, PA, bantamweight Jonathan Torres, of Bethlehem, PA, and bantamweight Jeremy Adorno of Allentown, PA rounding out the card.

ABOUT FEB. 8:
The Feb. 8 card consists of eight fights. Doors open at 6:30 pm and first bout is at 7:30 pm. This event is all ages.

TICKETS:
Tickets are priced $50, $75 and $125. They can be purchased online at www.2300arena.com or by calling 215-765-0922.

LOS ANGELES (January 3, 2019) – Featherweight world champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz will defend his WBA title against Houston’s Miguel Flores in a showdown that headlines Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes 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 an exciting 12-round junior welterweight clash between unbeaten former champion Omar Figueroa and hard-hitting John Molina Jr.

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

“Leo Santa Cruz is one of the most dynamic boxers in a deep division that features outstanding boxers,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Santa Cruz is never in a boring fight. His high volume punching is highlighted by its accuracy and efficiency, making him a master ring tactician. Miguel Flores always comes to battle and has caught a couple tough breaks. But a victory over Santa Cruz could reverse his ring fortunes. Omar Figueroa vs. John Molina Jr. Enough said. You know what they do.”

“Leo Santa Cruz and Miguel Flores were both born in Michoacán and they have the blood of the proud Aztec warriors flowing through them,” said Richard Schaefer, Chairman and CEO of Ringstar Sports. “Between them they have 61 fights and 58 wins! For them, February 16 is not just going to be another fight, for them it is about pride and country. The huge audience on FOX and FOX Deportes will be in for a treat and so will be the thousands in attendance at the Microsoft Theatre at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. What a way to start the New Year!”

A three-division world champion fighting out of Los Angeles, Santa Cruz (35-1-1, 19 KOs) enters this fight after completing a second exciting duel against Abner Mares that again saw Santa Cruz edge his rival on the scorecards. The 30-year-old will make the third defense of his title after he claimed the 126-pound belt from Carl Frampton in 2017, avenging the defeat he suffered to Frampton the year before. Santa Cruz has competed in title bouts in 15 of his last 17 fights, while picking up belts at 118, 122 and 126-pounds.

“I trained really hard for this fight like I do all my fights and I’m really focused and determined to get the win, because I know that after this one, I want to clean up the division,” said Santa Cruz. “I’m not overlooking my opponent at all. The main thing is I have to get this win and look great against Miguel Flores. I want to beat Flores and continue to show the world that I’m one of the best. After defeating Flores, I’ll be ready to clean up the division. I just have to be smart and not be too wild because I want to get the knockout and look spectacular. I know if I can be calm, I can do what I have to do.”

Flores (23-2, 11 KOs) was born in Mexico, but was raised and fights out of Houston. The 26-year-old rose up the rankings with victories over Ryan Kielczweski, Ruben Tamayo and Mario Briones. After suffering a setback defeat to Dat Nguyen, Flores was ahead on the scorecards against Chris Avalos in a fight on FS1 when the contest was stopped due to a cut on Flores’ eyebrow that was controversially ruled to have come from a punch. Flores bounced back in his last fight to stop Raul Chirino in April.

“We’re taking this fight very seriously and we understand that we’re going against the top featherweight in the division,” said Flores. “We know he’s looking to unify, but he has to first worry about me on February 16. We have to stay focused and smart. We know Leo likes to have brawls and he likes to throw a lot of punches. We have to be smart and box when we want to box and fight when we want to fight. We have to stick to our game plan.”

Figueroa (27-0-1, 19 KOs) made a name for himself with his relentless style that led to him capturing a lightweight title against Nihito Arakawa in a memorable 2013 clash. Representing Weslaco, Texas, Figueroa went on to defend his title twice before defeating former multiple-division champion Ricky Burns in 2015. The 29-year-old followed that up with a victory over Antonio DeMarco and after an injury layoff, came back in 2017 to drop Robert Guerrero five times on his way to a stoppage victory on FOX.

“I’m approaching this fight as something huge, and as a catalyst to even bigger things,” said Figueroa. “This is like the last leg of my career considering I just turned 29 a few weeks ago. I know it’s cliché to say it’s a crossroads, career-defining fight, but it is. I’m using this as building my case to take over the boxing world. I don’t think there’s any secret to my strategy. We all know how I fight. I plan to steam roll over him and get him out of there as quickly as possible. The thing that kills my opponents is they know what’s coming and they can’t stop it.”

Molina (30-7, 24 KOs) has never backed down from a challenge and has been in the ring with some of the best boxers from lightweight to welterweight during his career. The 35-year-old from Covina, California beat a fierce Ruslan Provodnikov by unanimous decision in 2016. Another standout battle from Molina’s career saw him drop former welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse twice before losing on an 11th round knockout. In his last fight he scored a fourth round TKO victory over Ivan Redkach in a back-and-forth bout from last December on FS1.

“This fight has been a long time coming, I’ve personally asked for it for three or four years now and it’s finally here,” said Molina. “I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas day to open my gifts. I’m crazily excited to open this gift. I have to be myself and I believe it will be a victory for me. Omar is no slouch. It’s tough to beat a guy who doesn’t like to lose and doesn’t know how to lose. He’s got that zero on his record for a reason. It’s going to a very entertaining fight. I believe this is the fight of the night and we’re going to steal the show.”

# # #

Fans can live stream the fights on the FOX Sports app, available in English or Spanish through the FOX or FOX Deportes feeds. The fights are available on desktop at FOXSports.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku.

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.

(Jan. 3, 2019) — Top Rank is proud to announce it has signed two of the East Coast’s brightest amateur stars — Puerto Rican-born super bantamweight Jeremy “Magic Hands” Adorno and South Philadelphia-born heavyweight Sonny Conto — to multi-year contracts.

Conto and Adorno will make their professional debuts in four-round bouts Friday, Feb. 8 at 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on the “Philly Special” card promoted by Michelle Rosado’s Raging Babe. Adorno, who currently lives in Allentown, Pa., is the younger brother of Joseph “Blessed Hands” Adorno, one of the sport’s top prospects.

“Signing with Top Rank is the beginning of my dreams becoming a reality,” Conto said. “There is no better place to make my professional debut than Philadelphia.”

“I’m really excited to have such a special person and fighter sign with the best promotional company in boxing,” said David McWater, Conto’s manager. “He is a superstar in the making.”

“I feel blessed to be signed with boxing’s best promotional company,” Adorno said. “Making my pro debut in Philadelphia in front of my family members and friends is a dream come true. My brother and I are going to take over the sport of boxing and give the fans a lot of action and excitement.”

“I’m thrilled to have Jeremy Adorno and Sonny Conto debut on my ‘Philly Special’ card,” Rosado said. “We’re in Conto’s backyard in South Philly, and we’re close to Adorno’s fans in Allentown. They were both outstanding amateurs with dedicated followings, which will make the card that much more special.”

Conto, 22, was a two-time Pennsylvania Golden Gloves champion, a silver medalist at the 2018 National Golden Gloves, and a bronze medalist at the 2017 National Golden Gloves. Before turning to boxing full-time, he was a decorated collegiate pitcher who helped lead Rowan College at Gloucester County to the NJCAA Division III Baseball World Series. A 6-foot-4 puncher, Conto will appear on the ESPN family of networks in 2019.

Adorno, who turns 18 on Jan. 9, won more than 100 bouts in the unpaid ranks. A member of USA Boxing through 2018, he captured titles at the National Silver Gloves, Ringside World Championships, and the 2017 USA Boxing Youth National Championships. He will train alongside his brother and father/trainer, Anibal Adorno.

Reshat Mati wants to turn his New York hometown into a fortress as he prepares for to fight for the third time as a pro on Friday January 18 at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW FROM WWW.MSG.COM – TICKETS START AT $46!

Mati had feverish support from his fans at the Theater when he moved to 2-0 in October, adding a knockdown to his shutout four round win over Juan Carlos Sepulveda, having stopped Adan Ahumada in three rounds earlier in the month on debut in Chicago.

The former amateur sensation is expecting a busy year as he banks experience in and out of the ring, and while the 20 year old hopes to be on plenty of Matchroom Boxing USA bills across the USA, New York is the place he wants to fight regularly in front of his growing fanbase.

“Making my home debut was so cool – I really want to build something special in New York,” said Mati. “I sold lots of ticket in Chicago and then even more in New York – all the Albanian flags in the crowd looked awesome and I think I put on a good display for them, and I’m thrilled to be starting 2019 back at the same brilliant venue.

“I’m not being cocky, but I’ve already got a really good fan base and I get a lot of them at my fights, and I want to grow that. I want people to see my name on the posters and say ‘I want to watch Reshat Mati’ – that’s my goal, to put on a great show and get lots of fans. But I can fight too, I’m not just a ticket-seller, I have goals in this sport and that’s to reach the top.

“I’m impatient to do it. I know that I have a lot of learning to do but I’m in the right place and I have a great team behind me, so I know I am going to be really active and will learn quickly in the ring and the gym.

“The start of my pro career has been great. It’s a dream come true to be a pro boxer, but my work ethic hasn’t changed, I’ve always trained as hard as I can and leave no stone unturned in the gym – that’s always going to be the way I approach my work.”

Mati’s third fight in the paid ranks is part of a huge night of action in New York as Demetrius Andrade defends his WBO World Middleweight title for the first time against Russian Artur Akavov.

A second World title bout on the card sees Amanda Serrano (35-1-1 26KOs) gunning for history as she looks to land World honors in an extraordinary seventh weight class as she meets WBC and IBF World Super-Flyweight champion Eva Voraberger (24-5 11KOs) – the Austrian tasked with stopping Serrano’s bid for glory.

Former World Lightweight ruler Jorge Linares continues his comeback trail on the card when he meets Pablo Cesar Cano. Linares’ (45-4 28KOs) reign as WBA and Ring Magazine champion was ended in an epic clash with pound-for-pound star Vasily Lomachenko at Madison Square Garden in May, with Linares felling the Ukrainian star in the sixth before being stopped four rounds later.

Linares returned to winning ways in September with a third round stoppage win over Abner Cotto in September in California and starts 2019 with his 50th pro fight against Cano (31-7-1 21KOs), the Mexican former World title challenger who landed the WBC International Silver strap in his last outing in September – and Linares is joined by fellow Golden Boy Boxing star Alexis Rocha (12-0 8KOs), the 21 year old Welterweight talent ready to begin his charge for titles in 2019.

Tickets for January 18 are on sale now priced from $46 (including booking fee) – tickets are available from www.MSG.com

Los Angeles, CA (January 3, 2019) Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions acclaimed ‘Hollywood Fight Nights’ series returns for the first time in 2019 on Sunday, January 27 at the AVALON in Hollywood, CA.

Advance tickets for The VIP Boxing Experience priced at $150 for VIP Seats on the Ring Apron, $125 for VIP Ringside Front Row, $100, $75 and $60 are now on sale online at www.360Promotions.us and through the interactive seating chart by clicking HERE. VIP Booths are also available by inquiring at Info@360Promotions.US. Doors will open at 3:00 p.m. with the first bell at 4:00 p.m.

“We’re very excited to kick off the 2019 season of Hollywood Fight Nights with an evening of great fights on Sunday, January 27 at the AVALON,” said Loeffler. “Our first four events last year were very successful and our shows have become one of the most popular nights on the Southern California boxing schedule.”

‘Maricela Cornejo is one of the most popular female fighters in the United States and will be making her debut at junior middleweight on January 27. Also, this will be the fourth time Brian Ceballo has fought at Hollywood Fight Nights, he is one of the boxing’s top young prospects and is returning to Los Angeles following a sensational performance at Madison Square Garden on December 8.”

In a highly anticipated local rivalry clash, two-time world title challenger Maricela ‘La Diva’ Cornejo, (12-3-0, 5 KO’s), of Los Angeles, CA will face Erin Toughill, (7-3-0), of Huntington Beach, CA in the eight- round junior middleweight main event on January 27.

A veteran of numerous nationally televised bouts contested at super middleweight, Cornejo will be looking to start her ascent in the junior middleweight division against her arch-rival.

Starting her professional career in 2000, Toughill has faced numerous top names in women’s boxing including former world champions Laila Ali and Jacqui Frazier-Lyde.

Top undefeated welterweight prospect Brian Ceballo, (6-0-0, 3 KOs), of New York, NY will fight Randy Fuentes, (8-7-1, 2 KOs), of McAllen, TX in the six-round co-feature on January 27.

Since turning professional in March of last year, Ceballo has impressed fans with each performance. Fighting for the first time at the famed Madison Square Garden, the 24-year-old former amateur standout scored a four-round unanimous decision over Daniel Calzada on December 8, 2018. In his last victory at Hollywood Fight Nights, Ceballo stopped Tavorus Teague in the second round on August 8, 2018.

The 30-year-old Fuentes has clashed with numerous undefeated prospects and is returning to action following a career-best knockout victory over Craig Callaghan on December 14, 2018 in Houston, TX.

In the light heavyweight division, heavy-handed contender Israel ‘Bumaye’ Duffus, (19-5-0, 16 KOs), of Los Angeles, CA clashes with undefeated prospect Juan ‘Sky’ Barajas, (7-0-0, 5 KOs), of Victorville, CA in a scheduled six-rounder.

A native of San Miguelito, Panama, the 26-year-old Duffus, trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, had won eight fights in a row, seven by knockout prior to dropping a ten-round decision to undefeated contender Charles Foster on November 18, 2018 in Boston, MA.

In 2018 the all-action 22-year-old Barajas stopped both of his opponents in the first round, Javier Rivera on May 25 and Juan Armendariz on May 11.

Fighting in a four-round junior lightweight bout, 18-year-old prospect Adrian ‘Bam Bam’ Corona, (3-0-0), of Rialto, California, faces Guadalupe Arroyo, a veteran of seventeen fights, competing out of Huntington Beach, CA.

With two prior exciting victories at Hollywood Fight Nights events, Corona quickly returns to action following a four-round decision over Jesus Arevalo on December 22, 2018.

Over four rounds in the bantamweight division undefeated prospect George ‘Fantasma’ Navarro, (3-0-1, 1 KO), of Los Angeles, CA clashes with Anthony Torres, (0-2-0), of Visalia, CA.

The 20-year-old Navarro will be fighting for the first time in the United States with his first four professional bouts taking place in Mexico. Most recently he fought to a four-round draw with Genaro Velarde on September 22, 2018, in Mexicali, Mexico.

Torres returns to the ring following a hotly contested four rounder against undefeated Sean Garcia on December 6, 2018, in Costa Mesa, CA.

Rounding out the Hollywood Fight Nights event, undefeated super bantamweight prospect Alberto ‘Tito’ Jr. Felix, (2-0-0, 1 KO), of Ontario, CA, will look to stay perfect in a scheduled four-round bout against an opponent to be announced. The 20-year-old Felix will also be making his debut in the United States having won his first two professional bouts in Mexico.

‘Hollywood Fight Nights’ will once again be streamed live internationally, FREE of charge on the 360 Promotions website, (www.360promotions.us) and by visiting their Facebook page HERE.

The historic AVALON is located at 1735 Vine Street in Hollywood, CA adjacent to the iconic intersection of Hollywood Blvd. and Vine St. For more details on the AVALON, please visit their website, www.AvalonHollywood.com

——————————-

Tom Loeffler was recognized by ESPN in 2017 as being involved in the promotion of the three biggest events of the year including the Anthony Joshua/Wladimir Klitschko World Heavyweight Championship at Wembley Stadium in London, the Gennady Golovkin/Daniel Jacobs World Middleweight Championship at Madison Square Garden and the massive Canelo Alvarez –Gennady Golovkin event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. These three events totaled over 130,000 tickets sold in addition to their extraordinary numbers in pay-per-view sales and network viewership worldwide.

Loeffler also co-promoted the World Middleweight Championship rematch between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin on September 15, 2018, boxing’s biggest event in the calendar year.

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James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr will clash at London’s O2 on 23 February in the first major UK event of the new deal between ITV and Haymon Sports’ Premier Boxing Champions, it has been announced.

The Super Middleweight match, to be screened exclusively live on ITV Box Office, will take place against a backdrop of hostility between two fighters who have long made no secret of their mutual dislike and are relishing the prospect of settling their differences in the ring.

James DeGale has already fired off an opening shot in the direction of his opponent.

He said: “Really excited and looking forward to being back home to a fight of this magnitude.

“I believe Eubank doesn’t have the pedigree, the size and skill to beat me.

“Eubank is a decent fighter but every time he has stepped up he has been found out. He has called my name for a long time so now I’ve finally got my chance to zip his lips.”

Eubank Jr responded in kind, saying: “DeGale is going to get the schooling of his career. A good old-fashioned hiding.”

Poxon Sport is the promoter of DeGale v Eubank Jr, as the exclusive promoter of all UK PBC events on ITV.

The fighters faced off at the Hotel Café Royal, in London, today [Thursday 3 January]. Live streaming of the press conference was hosted by ITV’s Gabriel Clarke on the ITV Box Office Facebook page and Youtube channel.

Full details of the undercard and how to access this ITV Box Office PPV event across all platforms will be announced and made available in due course. For updated and further information, please go to www.itvboxoffice.com

Tickets for the fight go on sale on Friday 4 January at midday to O2 members and to the wider public at midday on Monday 7 January. Tickets available from www.AXS.com and Inner Ringside/VIP Hospitality from www.sportandmusic.co.uk.

News of the DeGale v Eubank Jr showdown follows the announcement at the end of December of two major world title fights to be shown free to air on ITV4 as part of the broad scope of the ITV and PBC deal. On Sunday, January 13, Jose Uzcategui defends his IBF Super Middleweight World Championship against unbeaten top challenger Caleb Plant. Coverage will come live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

The following weekend, on 19 January, ITV4’s coverage will come live from Las Vegas where Manny Pacquiao will defend his WBA world welterweight title against Adrien Broner. The exclusive ITV4 coverage will also include the much-anticipated showdown between Badou Jack and Marcus Browne for the WBA Interim Light Heavyweight title.

Late last year, ITV announced a ground-breaking new deal with Haymon Sports and Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) to bring exclusive coverage of exciting PBC world-class boxing events to ITV viewers and fight fans in the UK.

The unique collaboration is the first time that Haymon Sports and PBC has partnered with a UK broadcaster to stage boxing events regularly in the UK. The exclusive three-year deal will guarantee a minimum of 15 televised events each year, drawing from PBC’s unrivalled group of over 160 of the best boxers in the world, which includes more than 60 current and former world champions in matches staged both in the UK and the US. PBC, the sports’ pre-eminent boxing brand, is broadcast over cable and network television in the United States.

The world-class action from events for the next three years will include free-to-air broadcasts on ITV’s channels, including ITV main channel and ITV4 and ITV Hub, and will also include pay per views on ITV’s PPV channel, ITV Box Office.

This new deal for boxing adds to ITV Sport’s portfolio of first class events, which includes exclusive free to air coverage of the England football team’s qualifiers for both the European Championship and World Cup, the 6 Nations and exclusive coverage of the Rugby World Cup, UK horse racing, the Tour de France and the French Open.

ENDS

About ITV

ITV is an integrated producer broadcaster and the largest commercial television network in the UK. It is the home of popular television from the biggest entertainment events, to original drama, major sport, landmark factual series and independent news. It operates a family of channels including ITV, ITVBe, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 and CITV, which are broadcast free-to- air. ITV is also focused on delivering its programming via the ITV Hub, mobile devices, video on demand and third party platforms. ITV Studios is a global production business, creating and selling programmes and formats from offices in the UK, US, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, the Nordics and the Netherlands. It is the largest and most successful commercial production company in the UK, the largest independent non-scripted indie in the US and ITV Studios Global Entertainment is a leading international distribution businesses.

About Premier Boxing Champions

The Premier Boxing Champions series was created and is produced by Haymon Sports, LLC. It features the most accomplished and decorated array of international professional boxing talent across the most popular weight divisions.

Thomas Madsen believes Dina Thorslund (12-0, 6 KOS) can secure a knockout win as she defends her WBO World Super Bantamweight title against Alesia Graf (29-7, 13 KOs) on January 19 at the Struer Energi Park in Denmark.

“Graf is an experienced boxer, who has met many good fighters in her career,” says Madsen. “She is tall and she throws good straight punches, but I don’t believe she is physically strong enough to resist Dina.”

Madsen insists his fighter is ready to go all ten rounds if required, but does not think it will be necessary for the hard-hitting World Champion, who has stopped six of her previous opponents inside the distance.

“Dina’s shape is good and she is ready to go ten hard rounds, but I hope she can knock Graf out. She must at least test Graf early with some power punches. I believe and hope for a KO victory,” says the Danish trainer.

Following an impressive 2018, Madsen has high hopes for the New Year: “It will be a great year where we chase even more success. We are looking to win more World titles and to unify the division, and that may mean fighting abroad.”

Dina Thorslund tops the bill in Struer, defending her WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title against Alesia Graf, while former European Champion Dennis Ceylan rematches Jesus Sanchez for the EU Featherweight crown.

Oliver Flodin faces Abdul Khattab in a Scandinavian middleweight thriller, heavyweight hope Kem Ljungquist takes on Dominik Musil, Lolenga Mock continues his World title chase against Mateo Damian Veron, Mikkel Nielsen meets Bulgaria’s Angel Emilov, and Adam Bashanov faces Ivan Nikolov.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.dk or by calling (+45) 70 15 65 65.

NEW YORK (January 2, 2019) — Split-T Management is pleased to announce the signing of top amateur heavyweight Sonny Conto to a management contract.

Conto, 22 years-old of Philadelphia, PA 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.

A natural athlete, Conto was an acclaimed baseball pitcher, who pitched for Rowan College, in Gloucester County. Conto, helped his team make it to the Junior College World Series, where his team placed 3rd.

“I am very excited to turn professional,” said Conto. I signed with Split-T Management because they are the best at managing their fighters and they also made me feel like family. I can’t wait to give all my fans a great career, and show them the real “Rocky.” The boxing world can expect to see exciting fights from me, and the next great Italian fighter to come out of Philadelphia, PA.”

“The 1st time I saw Sonny, I knew that I wanted to sign him. He has the rare combination of power and Charisma that doesn’t come often,” said David McWater of Split-T Management.

There will be a major announcement about Conto’s future in the very near future.