Tyrone Crawley Jr. looks for 1st title in 9th bout THIS FRIDAY at SugarHouse Casino

Philadelphia, Penn. (August 7, 2018)–The old saying is “Like Father, Like Son.” That will be evident this Friday night at SugarHouse Casino as Tyrone Crawley Jr. battles Ricardo Garcia (14-3, 9 KOs) for the WBF Junior Welterweight championship.

The eight-round bout will headline a 10-bout card that is promoted by King’s Promotions.

Crawley (7-1) of Philadelphia has had an excellent camp as he prepares for Garcia.

“Training has been good. I have no injuries, and I could not have had a better camp. I was on weight about six days before the fight,” said Crawley.

Crawley has seen some things in Garcia that can exploit on fight night, which gives him the confidence to come home with the victory.

“Garcia has lost to two southpaws, so I think that he has a little trouble, and I see that he lunges in a lot. I know he will be ready, but so will I for whatever he brings to the fight on Friday.”

Crawley will be vying for his 1st title in his 9th fight, which is the same number of fights that his father, former world title challenger, Tyrone “Butterfly” Crawley had his 1st title bout.

“It means a lot to fight for a title. I have had a lot of ups and downs, injuries, and my son passed away. My dad fought for a title in his 9th fight. It was the ESPN title, so it’s ironic. Winning a belt would be great, and it will open up some doors for bigger opportunities.”

This will be Crawley’s 1st bout since his only professional loss that occurred on March 2nd when he had to retire due to a wrist injury in his bout with Anthony Mercado at SugarHouse Casino.

“I have had a few fights, TV fights that have fallen through. A win will get me into a higher profile fight.”

Crawley is inspired by longtime friend, Tevin Farmer, who captured the IBF Junior Lightweight title last week in Australia.

“Seeing Tevin win is an inspiration. It shows that you can’t give up, and it’s never too late to become a contender and eventually a world champion.”

“I want to thank my coach, my dad, The Happy Hollow Gym in Germantown, Loyal Boyz Boxing Gym, as well as my girlfriend who helps with my diet during camp and takes care of my daughter. I know my fans are excited that I am the main event in my hometown.”

In the eight-round co-feature Christopher Brooker (13-5, 5 KOs) of Philadelphia takes on Eric Moon (7-1, 6 KOs) of Marietta, GA in a super middleweight bout.

In six-round bouts:

Poindexter Knight (4-0, 2 KOs) of Philadelphia battles Greg Averil Young (4-0, 1 KO) of Hoover, AL in a welterweight clash.

In a battle of undefeated super featherweights, Joshafat Ortiz (4-0, 2 KOs) of Reading, PA fights Javier Oquendo (3-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia.

Rasheed Johnson (3-2, 1 KO) of Philadelphia takes on Tony Morris (4-1-1, 2 KOs) of Jacksonville, FL in a welterweight bout.

In four-round bouts:

Paul Kroll of Philadelphia makes his highly anticipated pro debut against DeAngelo Alcorn (0-1) of Searcy, OK in a welterweight bout.

Rasheen Brown of Philadelphia makes his pro debut against Sergio Aguilar (2-9, 2 KOs) of Homestead, CA in a super bantamweight affair.

James Martin (1-0) of Philadelphia battles pro debuting Jonathan Burrs of Hagerstown, Maryland in a super welterweight bout.

Nicoy Clarke (1-1) of Jersey City, NJ squares off with pro debuting Jose Nunez of Reading, PA in a heavyweight bout.

Yueri Andujar of Santo Domingo, DR will make his pro debut against Bryann Perez (2-10-1, 1 KO) of Carolina, PR in a featherweight bout.

TYRONE CRAWLEY, JR vs. RICARDO GARCIA FIGHT WEEK SCHEDULE
**All Times Are Eastern**

Wednesday, August 8

6:00 p.m. PRESS CONFERENCE
Location: SugarHouse Casino Event Center
1001 North Delaware Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19125
5:30 p.m. – Media Arrival
6:00 p.m. – Press Conference Begins

Thursday, August 9

5:00 p.m. WEIGH-IN
Location: SugarHouse Casino Event Center
1001 North Delaware Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19125
5:00 p.m. Media Arrival
5:30 p.m. Fighters on the scales

Friday, August 10

7:00 p.m. FIGHT NIGHT
Location: SugarHouse Casino Event Center
1001 North Delaware Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19125
6:30 p.m. Doors Open
7:00 p.m. 1st bell

CREDENTIAL DISTRIBUTION
Fight credentials can be picked up on Friday, August 10 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the venue entrance (Table) . Proper personal photo ID (Driver’s license or passport) is required for credential pick-up.

Tickets are on sale for $100, $75, $50, and can be purchased at SugarHousecasino.com

ABOUT SUGARHOUSE CASINO

SugarHouse, which opened in September 2010 as Philly’s casino, features 1,891 slots, 103 table games, a 28-table poker room, fun and unique dining options, riverfront views and free on-site parking. The casino employs approximately 1,700 people, and for six consecutive years has been voted a “Best Place to Work” by the Philadelphia Business Journal and for five straight years a “Top Workplace” by Philly.com. For more information, visit www.sugarhousecasino.com.

Undefeated Junior Featherweight Powerhouse Arnold Khegai Returns to Action on August 19

Undefeated junior featherweight Arnold Khegai (12-0-1, 8 KOs), the ethnic Korean, Ukrainian-born strongman, will return to action on Sunday, August 19, at the Korston Club Hotel Moscow, in Moscow, Russia in a 10-round showdown with Uganda’s Remmy Igga (12-5, 6 KOs).

The IBF #15-rated Khegai wowed the boxing world in May of this year, with a dominant unanimous decision over well-respected contender Adam Lopez, live on Showtime. With excellent hand speed and the strength of a middleweight, Khegai is poised to make his presence felt on the world stage in a championship fight.

“I am excited about getting back in the ring and making another statement,” said the 26-year-old Khegai. “I am ready to challenge the best in the world and my opponent is in my way to the big fights I want, so he must go.”

Khegai’s promoter, Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions, says Khegai is rounding into top form for an upcoming title shot.

“Arnold Khegai is an elite boxer and the best young face in the talent-packed super bantamweight division. August 19, he will take another step towards a world title shot, which will happen in the near future.”

About Salita Promotions

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

FURY: “THERE IS A TARGET ON MY BACK”

TYSON FURY believes that Francesco Pianeta will be in the mood to cause a huge heavyweight upset when they meet.

Fury (26-0) faces the Italian at Belfast’s Windsor Park on Saturday August 18, when they share top billing with Carl Frampton.

Pianeta (35-4-1), a 6ft 5in southpaw who weighs around 245lb knows a shock win could earn him a third world heavyweight title challenge and ruin Fury’s hopes of dominating the division once again.

Pianeta fell short against Wladimir Klitschko and Ruslan Chagaev, but Fury who recently returned after a two and a half year break said: “There is a target on my back.

“Pianeta is just one win away from being back right there among the best.

“Everybody brings there A game when they face me. They know it’s a lottery win if they can beat me.”

Fury doesn’t need to study Pianeta having sparred with him when his rival was an unbeaten world ranked prospect.

Former world champion Fury who beat Sefer Seferi on his comeback in June recalled: “I sparred with him in Germany when he was 26 and 0.

“He was tough, strong and he is a good opponent – very good.

“It was before he went on to fight Klitschko and Chagaev for world titles, but I was impressed.

“People say this is a big step up from Seferi and they can say what they want, but Seferi went the full distance with a current world heavyweight champion, Manuel Charr.

“He looked terrible against me, but that has happened to so many people. Wladimir Klitschko didn’t look much better against me than Seferi to be honest.”

Tyson isn’t cutting corners setting up camp in Manchester and staying at a hotel on the outskirts of the city away from his family.

Fury said: “I’m training hard in the gym every day. I’ve had no time off since the last fight. I’m getting in great shape and really focused on my job.

“I can’t wait to get in there and put on a show in Belfast.

“Time is flying and it does when you’re having fun. I have a great team around me and we have got everything bang on. I’ve never, ever been this happy with my training and routine.

“I’ve got everything sorted. I’ve got the right promoter, the right lawyers, have good people around me and I’m in a good gym atmosphere.”

Local idol and two time world champion Frampton defends his interim WBO featherweight crown against Australian Luke Jackson on the bill that is nearing a sell-out.

In only his sixth professional fight, Frampton’s great friend Paddy Barnes challenges WBC flyweight champion Cristofer Rosales.

The bill also includes a light-heavyweight clash between Belfast’s Steven Ward and Dubliner Steve Collins Jr. Also in action is WBO European middleweight champion Luke Keeler, Conrad Cummings, KO king Lewis Crocker, Marco McCullough, Sean McComb and Steven Donnelly.

Very limited remaining tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.ie priced at £80, £100, £120, £150, £250, £400 (includes hospitality). Buying tickets over the phone – 0844 847 2455. To purchase Accessible Seating – 0333 321 9996

Arizona Media Day: Ray Beltran Prepares to Defend World Title

(Aug. 6, 2018) — Ray Beltran scratched and clawed and spent nearly 19 years as a pro boxer before earning his first world title. He outpointed Paulus Moses on Feb. 16 in Reno, Nevada, to win the vacant WBO lightweight title, a lifelong dream finally fulfilled. A native of Los Mochis, Mexico, Beltran is now a proud resident of Phoenix, a short drive from where he will make his first title defense.

Beltran (35-7-1, 21 KOs) will defend his title against former 130-pound world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza as the headliner of an ESPN-televised card, Aug. 25 at the Gila River Area in Glendale, Arizona.

Beltran returned home Saturday for a full slate of media activities, including an open workout at Gent’s Boxing Club in Glendale and as a guest broadcaster for the second inning of the Arizona Diamondbacks Alumni Game.

This is what he had to say.

On his future: “Hopefully, we have another big fight coming up against {Vasiliy} Lomachenko. I’m pretty happy when I fight the best. I’ve had no easy fights in my boxing career. We made our own way. We made our own name. We got a contract with Top Rank after 20-something fights. Nobody created our record. I have a lot of knockouts, but I have more power than it looks like on {my record}. All the losses that I have, four or five were robberies. I’m ready. Right now, I’m focused on Pedraza, but we dream big.”

On fighting for Phoenix and Mexico: “I feel like my heart is in half. I feel like a Phoenix fighter, but I’m also a Mexican fighter from my hometown. I can’t believe what I’ve come from. I come from nothing. I come from a place where nobody is supposed to make it. I think it’s important that the people where I came from know about it, so they get the message — whatever you want to do in life, if you work hard, you can make a change.”

On his opponent: “Pedraza is a former world champion. I believe he’s going to bring some heat. He’s going to come and fight hard to take the belt away from me. He bobs and moves around the ring a lot. He’s got good footwork, but we’ve been working at Wild Card with all different types of styles.”

# # # # # #

Beltran-Pedraza and the Isaac Dogboe-Hidenori Otake WBO junior featherweight title bout will air live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 10:30 p.m. ET, with undercard action streaming live beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. on ESPN+ — the recently-launched multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International segment in conjunction with ESPN.

Tickets to this world championship doubleheader, priced at $125, $75, $50, and $25, not including applicable fees, are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at the Gila River Arena Box Office, by phone at 800.745.3000, or online at www.gilariverarena.com.

For more information visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing,facebook.com/trboxeo, facebook.com/espndeportes; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, @ESPN @ESPNBoxeo, @ESPNDeportes.

Use the hashtags #BeltranPedraza and #DogboeOtake to join the conversation on social media.

Roy Jones Jr. Promotions bring his stable to Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas

Las Vegas, NV (August 6, 2018)- Roy Jones Jr. Promotions and Red Rock Casino, Resort Spa team up to bring the excitement of hard hitting, powerful and undeniable battles back to Las Vegas with the return of their very own Max “Baby Faced Assassin” Orneals to the ring on August 10th, 2018.

Roy Jones Jr. Boxing returns to the neon lights of Las Vegas, Nevada on August 10th at Red Rock Hotel and Casino! Headlining the card will be The Son of the Sin City, The Battle Born Baby Faced Assassin and UNLV’s own Max Ornelas (11-0).

Max will match wits and fists with the Filipino Tornado Raymond Tabugon (20-8) in a battle sure to make the Red Rocks Rumble.

Opening the evening’s festivities will be the Roy Jones Jr. personally trained prodigy, Shady Gamhour (8-0) who has won all but one of his bouts by way of stoppage. Shady will step in with Evan Torres (7-5) who has only been stopped once in 13 professional contests. Can Shady stop the unstoppable?

Following this fight will be super-fast super-featherweights when Hector Lopez Jr. (10-0) faces off with Sulaiman Segawa (10-1). It’ll be Mexico vs Uganda in a you-can’t-miss bout. Segawa will be looking to silence any doubters coming off the first loss of his professional career while Lopez Jr. looks to keep his record without blemish.

The Co-Main event will feature another RJJ prospect that is sure to be tremendous or tremendo as Kendo “Tremendo” Castaneda (13-0) crashes the comeback party of Las Vegas native Jesus “Chuy” Gutierrez (14-2). Chuy has been chomping at the bit to re-enter the squared circle and his fans have been clamoring for his return after his over a year long absence. Will ring rust bring ruin to the former WBC Champion, Chuy?

Assassins, Tornadoes and Tremendos Oh My! Be sure you don’t miss any of the RJJ Boxing action on August 10th!

TICKETS: Ringside $100.00, VIP $50..00, GA $30.00,
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. (PCT) with the opening bout scheduled at 6:00 p.m.(PCT) with the 1st TV bout IS at 7:00 p.m. (PCT.) (all bouts, fighters and times are subject to change) Tickets can be purchased https://tickets.ticketforce.com/ . Taxes and fees apply to sold tickets.

INFORMATION:

Websites: http://www.RoyJonesJrBoxing.com http://www.beinsports.com/us https://www.redrock@sclv.com

Twitter: @RoyjonesJRfa, @beINSPORTS, @redrockcasino

Instagram: @RoyJonesJRboxing, @beINSportsusa, @redrockcasino
Please use hashtags: #OrnelasTabugon #RJJ #VegasFun

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RJJBoxing
http://www.facebook.com/beinsportsusa
https://www.redrock@sclv.com

About Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions:
Co-founded in 2013 by 10-time world champion Roy Jones, Jr. and Keith Veltre, Roy Jones, Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions is on its way to reinventing boxing. RJJ has already made a huge impact in the boxing community in a few short years. Creating exhilarating content for CBS Sports, Showtime, ESPN and beIN Sports in some of the finest venues across the country, RJJ has proven to that we conquering the sweet science of the sport.
Based in the fight capital of the world, Las Vegas, NV, Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions is climbing to the top at a fast pace, adding young talent to its growing stable such as Aston Palicte, John Vera Jr., Alexander Flores, Kendo Castenada, Randy Moreno, Max Ornelas, Edward Vasquez, Shady Ghamour, Skender Halili, Joseph Agbecko.

About Red Rock Resort:
Located 10 miles west of the Strip, Red Rock Resort is a four diamond AAA-rated resort that
features more than 800 guest rooms and suites, a 25,000-square-foot spa, a variety of
restaurants, a spectacular pool area, movie theaters, bowling at Red Rock Lanes and a full
array of gaming. To learn more about Red Rock Resort, please call 702-797-7777 or
visit https://redrock.sclv.com/.

About beIN Sports:
Launched in 2012, beIN SPORTS is the fastest growing global sports network in the U.S. and is offered on the 10 largest cable/satellite TV providers in the U.S., as well as other systems across the country. beIN SPORTS offers viewers premium sports content and entertainment across multiple platforms including TV channels beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Español and live streaming on beIN SPORTS CONNECT. A cornerstone of beIN SPORTS is its unrivaled live soccer coverage, which includes live matches from La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, NASL, and CONMEBOL/CONCACAF/CAF World Cup Qualifiers, as well as news and in-depth analysis of all the top leagues from around the world. In addition to soccer, beIN SPORTS serves as a haven for fans of motorsports, tennis, rugby, boxing, mixed martial arts (MMA) and volleyball, among others. With the recent addition of Conference USA coverage, beIN SPORTS will also broadcast College Football, Men’s and Women’s Basketball,Soccer, Baseball, Softball, and Volleyball. Thru beIN SPORTS CONNECT, authenticated subscribers can also enjoy all the exciting action from the two networks and stream live overflow matches offered in HD on your computer, tablet or smart phone.

Umar Salamov Challenges Light Heavyweight Champions Bivol and Alvarez

Russian light heavyweight contender Umar Salamov (21-1, 16 KOs) is issuing a challenge to newly crowned WBO Champ Eleider Alvarez and WBA ruler Dmitry Bivol.

While many of the top 175-lb fighters would prefer to avoid Alvarez and Bivol, two of the hardest punchers in the division, the 24-year-old Salamov says he’s up for the challenge any time.

Both Alvarez and Bivol appeared on national television over the weekend, with Alvarez scoring an upset KO over Sergei Kovalev and Bivol defending his title with a lacklustre decision over Isaac Chilemba.

“I saw their fights and I can confidently tell you that when I get my opportunity, I will dethrone both Bivol and Alvarez,” said Salamov. “I am the best light heavyweight in the world and look forward to proving it to the boxing fans by fighting the best!”

IBF #11- and WBO #15-rated Salamov was last seen in June, scoring a highlight reel ninth-round knockout over Brian Howard, live on Showtime. The impressive victory won him the vacant IBF North American Championship. In his young career, he has also already won the IBO Youth and World Light Heavyweight, WBO Youth World, European and International, and the IBF East/West Europe Light Heavyweight Championships.

“After his US debut in June, I am very confident that it’s just a matter of time before he wins a World light Heavyweight title,” said his co-promoter, Dmitriy Salita (along with Kazbek Aslambekov of KA-Promotions). “At only 24 years old, and with the amount of talent and experience he has, the sky is the limit for Umar in the light heavyweight division.”

Salamov is currently training in Detroit at the Kronk Boxing Gym. His next fight will be announced shortly.

About Salita Promotions

HBO SPORTS®’ 24/7 CANELO/GGG 2, A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK LEADING UP TO THE BLOCKBUSTER PAY-PER-VIEW MEGA-FIGHT IN LAS VEGAS, DEBUTS TUESDAY, AUGUST 28 ON HBO

HBO Sports’ groundbreaking “24/7” reality franchise, which has captured 18 Sports Emmy® Awards, will return for its 24th boxing installment with 24/7 CANELO/GGG 2, it was announced today by Rick Bernstein, executive producer, HBO Sports. The behind-the-scenes show follows two elite fighters – Canelo Alvarez and Gennady “GGG” Golovkin – as they prepare for their highly anticipated middleweight championship mega-fight title rematch Saturday, September 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

24/7 CANELO/GGG 2 debuts TUESDAY, AUGUST 28 at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT.

The show will also be available on HBO On Demand®, HBO NOW, HBO GO® and partners’ streaming platforms.

24/7 CANELO/GGG 2 will provide exclusive behind-the-scenes access, along with in-depth interviews and a profound lookback at their first encounter which ended in a controversial draw. Both men have made it clear they do not plan to leave the decision in the judges hands the second time around.

Canelo Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs), of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, is again holding camp with renowned trainer Eddy Reynoso. The Mexican superstar, who recently turned 28, has established himself as the sport’s top pay-per-view attraction. Canelo will be making his 2018 ring debut in the sports most anticipated rematch on Mexican Independence Day weekend.

Gennady Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs), from Karaganda, Kazakhstan, now living in Los Angeles, is training with the acclaimed Abel Sanchez. The undefeated knockout machine, who turned 36 earlier this year, will attempt a historic record-breaking 21st title defense which would pass sure-fire Hall-of-Famer Bernard Hopkins. Golovkin made his 2018 ring debut on May 5 in Carson, CA. with a spectacular knockout over Vanes Martirosyan.

Canelo’s fifth “24/7” appearance and Golovkin’s third, 24/7 CANELO/GGG 2 is the latest installment of the acclaimed franchise that began in 2007. Among the most-honored sports series on TV, it was called “a masterfully entertaining reality show” by ESPN The Magazine.

“Canelo vs. GGG 2” will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, September 15 at 8:00 p.m. (ET)/5:00 p.m. (PT), and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®.

The executive producer of 24/7 CANELO/GGG 2 is Rick Bernstein; senior producers, Dave Harmon and Bentley Weiner; producer, Harley Glantz; writer, Aaron Cohen. Liev Schreiber narrates.

JACKSON BELIEVES FRAMPTON IS FINISHED

LUKE JACKSON insists that Carl Frampton is on the slide.

The outspoken Australian challenges interim WBO featherweight champion Frampton at Belfast’s Windsor Park on Saturday August 18.

At stake for Frampton is a likely fight with IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington but Jackson is out to prove that Frampton is no longer the force he was.

Jackson, 33, believes that Frampton (25-1) has dipped as a fighter in his three contests since defeating Leo Santa Cruz two years ago.

“Across the board he is phenomenal, but I don’t think he is as good as he once was,” explained Jackson.

“In the first fight against Leo Santa Cruz he boxed out of his skin and deserved to win, but he hasn’t looked the same since.

“Carl is a very good fighter who does everything good, but I don’t honestly think he does anything great.”

Jackson’s comments suggesting the Frampton is struggling will rile the Belfast man but he isn’t asking for forgiveness.

He added: “We are going to punch each other in the head. I don’t really care if what I say upsets him.

“I respect him as a fighter, I respect him as a man but I am coming to beat him, not coming over to be friends.

“I don’t know if he wants me to call him a Hall of Fame fighter or the greatest, but I don’t think he is.

“He is very beatable and I think I can beat him, simple as that.”

Also on the BT Sport televised bill Lineal heavyweight king Tyson Fury faces a step up when he tackles two-time world title challenger Francesco Pianeta.

In only his sixth professional fight, Frampton’s great friend Paddy Barnes challenges WBC flyweight champion Cristofer Rosales.

Limited remaining tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.ie. priced at £80, £100, £120, £150, £250, £400 (includes hospitality). Buying tickets over the phone – 0844 847 2455. To purchase Accessible Seating – 0333 321 9996

Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame plans weekend Filled with events for sixth induction gala On Saturday, Aug. 18, at Caesars Palace

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Aug. 6, 2018) – Michelle Corrales-Lewis, the CEO of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, announced a complete schedule for events for the Hall’s sixth annual induction weekend.

Remaining tickets for the meet and greet and the gala can be purchased at the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s website at nvbhof.com or by going to https://www.eventbrite.com/o/nevada-boxing-hall-of-fame-6352624255

The prestigious induction ceremony will conclude the weekend and will be held on Saturday, Aug. 18 from 7-10 p.m. in the Augustus Ballroom at Caesars Palace. The ceremony, which annually honors the best from Nevada’s rich boxing history, will be filled with boxing superstars.

Former Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, an ex-amateur boxer and professional judge, will headline the 2018 slate of inductees.

In addition to Reid, others being inducted are former women’s pound-for-pound champion Laila Ali, the daughter of the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali; three-division world champion Sugar Shane Mosley; ex-heavyweight champion Chris Byrd; former featherweight champion Kevin Kelley; power-punching ex-heavyweight Earnie Shavers; former Nevada state welterweight champion Don Miner; Top Rank president Todd duBoef; and long-time judge Jerry Roth. Being inducted posthumously are arch rivals Alexis Arguello and Aaron Pryor; Henry Armstrong; Jack “Doc” Kearns and promoter Bill Miller.

Among the many boxing legends who are confirmed to attend are Michael and Leon Spinks; Evander Holyfield; Roy Jones Jr.; Chad Dawson; Badou Jack; Jessie Vargas; Shawn Porter; Brandon Rios; Lamon Brewster; Ray Mercer; Michael Carbajal; Angel Manfredy; Joel Casamayor; Mike McCallum and Eddie Mustafa Muhammad.Many other notable boxers are expected to attend.

“This is a wonderful class and we are very proud of all of them and we’re eager to celebrate their many accomplishments in this wonderful sport,” Corrales-Lewis said. “We have come up with a full slate of events to make this an entire celebratory weekend. In a short period of time, we have built a reputation as a first-class Hall of Fame and the fighters look forward to this event every year. We are continually looking for ways to improve and I believe this will be our best year yet.”

The following is a full schedule of events (times are Pacific Daylight Time):

Friday, Aug. 17

Noon to 4 p.m.: Meet and greet fan experience in the Augustus Ballroom at Caesars Palace. Tickets are $50. Fighters will be available for interviews by the media.

7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.: VIP cocktail party at the Caesars Palace pool or in the Augustus Ballroom, depending upon weather. There will be limited media access to this event and it will be by invitation only.

Saturday, Aug. 18

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: WBC Green Belt Challenge amateur boxing card in the Augustus Ballroom at Caesars Palace. Event is open to the media.

5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.: The 2018 Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame inductees and other dignitaries will walk the celebrity red carpet, adjacent to the Augustus Ballroom at Caesars Palace. This is open to the media.

7 p.m. to 10 p.m.: The 2018 Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame induction gala dinner will be held in the Augustus Ballroom at Caesars Palace. The event is open to media but please note that video opportunities will be limited and by invitation only.

MEDIA CREDENTIALS

Media wishing to cover the event should contact Jon Hait via email at jhshark@aol.com by no later than the close of business on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018.

*****************************

The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame is an IRS 501 (c)3 charity and all donations are tax deductible. The Hall’s charitable contributions over the five years since its formation have helped boxers in need and boxing-related charities. Donations are welcome.

The Hall was founded in 2013 by noted boxing broadcaster Rich Marotta.

Strike Cosmic Riches at Cosmo Casino: The Emerald Isle’s Gateway to Extravagant Entertainment

Introduction

Stellar entertainment awaits you at Cosmo Casino, the digital realm where the stars align in favor of your fortunes. Specially tailored for the Irish gamblers, Cosmo Casino has been soaring in popularity in Ireland. Whether you’re on the hunt for heart-racing slots or classic table games, this glittering online treasure is here to provide you with an interstellar experience.

A Glance Through Time: The Cosmic History

Cosmo Casino made its grand entry into the world of online gaming in 2006. Since then, it has been capturing the imaginations of thousands. Its meteoric rise can be attributed to its impressive array of games, remarkable bonuses, and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.

The Cosmo Casino’s majestic platform has gained traction in Ireland, catching the eye of the discerning Irish gambler. While there are many reviews to explore, a visit to irishcasinorius.com will provide you with a comprehensive and unbiased review of Cosmo Casino. This will give you a taste of what to expect when you step into this cosmic extravaganza.

Gaming Excellence: Games and Software

Cosmo Casino is the epitome of gaming excellence, with an awe-inspiring collection of over 550 games. This vibrant selection is powered by the renowned software provider, Microgaming, which is celebrated for delivering high-caliber gaming content. The partnership with Microgaming ensures that players at Cosmo Casino experience cutting-edge graphics, enthralling sound effects, and smooth gameplay. The slot aficionados can indulge in an assortment of slot games, ranging from classic 3-reel slots to the most exciting progressive jackpots like Mega Moolah. Moreover, traditionalists can relish an array of classic table games such as Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat. The casino also caters to the poker enthusiasts with an extensive range of video poker options. With regularly updated content and the latest releases, Cosmo Casino remains at the forefront of providing a top-notch and ever-evolving gaming experience.

Reaping Rewards: Bonuses and Promotions

Cosmo Casino rolls out the red carpet for both new and seasoned players with its bountiful bonuses and promotions. For newcomers, an enticing welcome bonus awaits, often encompassing deposit matches or free spins. But the generosity doesn’t stop there. Regular players can reap rewards through the casino rewards loyalty program, where points are earned with every play. These points can be redeemed for bonus credits, giving you even more opportunities to win. Moreover, Cosmo Casino frequently hosts promotions, including tournaments and seasonal offers, keeping the gaming experience fresh and exciting for all members.

Registration: Your Ticket to the Stars

Embarking on the cosmic adventure at Cosmo Casino is just a few clicks away. The registration process is streamlined and user-friendly. Simply hit the “Register” button on the homepage, fill in the necessary details such as your name, email, and preferred payment method, and create a password. Within minutes, your account will be activated, and you’ll be all set to explore the vast galaxy of games and promotions awaiting you.

Licenses: Safety in the Stars

Cosmo Casino’s commitment to providing a secure and fair gaming environment is reflected in its licensing. Holding licenses from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority, two of the most respected regulatory bodies, ensures that Cosmo Casino operates within strict legal and ethical frameworks. These licenses are a testament to the casino’s adherence to high standards of player protection, fair gaming, and responsible operations.

Security: The Stellar Shield

At Cosmo Casino, security is paramount. The casino employs 128-bit SSL encryption technology, ensuring that all personal and financial data is transmitted securely. In addition, Cosmo Casino boasts the eCOGRA Seal of Approval, signifying adherence to high standards of fair play and data security. With these measures in place, players can traverse the cosmic gaming realm with peace of mind, knowing that their information and funds are shielded by the stellar security.

Mobile App: A Pocketful of Stars

The Cosmo Casino mobile app allows you to carry a universe of entertainment in your pocket. Compatible with both Android and iOS devices, the app ensures that you can enjoy your favorite games on the go. The app maintains the high standards of the desktop site and is user-friendly.

Customer Service: Guiding Stars

At Cosmo Casino, players are never lost in space. The customer support team is available 24/7 via live chat, email, or phone. The support staff are well-trained and adept at resolving any issues you may face.

Expert Advice: Play Responsibly

It’s important to gamble responsibly and Cosmo Casino encourages this. However, if you need further advice or assistance regarding responsible gambling, it’s a good idea to consult authoritative sources. The National Council on Problem Gambling offers a wealth of resources and support for individuals who may need help in maintaining control over their gambling activities. This adds an extra layer of support and advice for players who want to ensure they are gambling responsibly.

Final Thoughts

Cosmo Casino is an astronomical adventure waiting to happen. With its sparkling array of games, robust security, stellar customer support, and cosmic rewards, it is no wonder that this online casino is taking Ireland by storm. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned player, Cosmo Casino is your launchpad to an out-of-this-world experience.

COMPLETE CARD ANNOUNCED FOR ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON IN SHANGHAI

06 August 2018 – Shanghai, China: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced the complete card for ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON, set for Saturday, 8 September at the Baoshan Arena in Shanghai, China. Once again, the absolute best in local and international martial arts talent will take to the ONE ring to showcase their amazing skills. In the main event, reigning ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan of China will defend her title against Samara “Marituba” Santos of Brazil.

Ticket information for ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON is available at www.onefc.com.

“The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan of China is the reigning ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion. With a professional record of 15-1, Xiong began her career competing in professional boxing and was inspired by her father, who imparted in her values of courage and integrity. Featuring a wide array of skills, “The Panda” bagged a gold medal at the prestigious China Open Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament in 2017. In her last bout, she defeated Laura Balin to successfully retain her ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship for the first time. Up next, the 30-year-old defends her title against Samara Santos.

Samara “Marituba” Santos of Brazil is a 25-year-old female mixed martial artist who is set to make her promotional debut at ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON. A former Salcaterra Marajo Fight Strawweight Champion, Santos has gained solid experience competing largely in her home country of Brazil for the majority of her career. She has amassed a 12-5-1 record over the past three years as a professional, including six wins by submission. In her first appearance in ONE, Santos will take on defending ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion Xiong Jing Nan.

Former ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario is originally from a small farming town in the mountainous Benguet region of the Philippines. Banario earned a wushu scholarship to attend the Cordillera Career Development College in Baguio, and won several national tournaments. Although he spent most of his time competing against Team Lakay, he was intrigued by an invitation to train with them, and decided to take it up. Under the guidance of head coach Mark Sangiao, he developed into one of the team’s top talents. In recent years, “The Rock” has proven to be one of the most dangerous competitors atop ONE’s lightweight division. He takes on Amir Khan next.

Former Singaporean Muay Thai champion Amir Khan moved to the United States to attend high school in Louisiana, where he began cross-training in wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu under BJJ black belt Relson Gracie. Upon returning to Singapore in 2014, Khan joined Evolve MMA and became a part of its famed competition team. He then joined ONE that same year, and has since accumulated several highlight-reel finishes, highlighting his immense talent and growing skills. In his most recent bout, Khan stopped South Korean Sung Jong Lee with punches in the second round. Up next, Khan takes on veteran Honorio Banario.

Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly trains at the famed Team Lakay alongside the likes of former ONE World Champions Eduard Folayang and Honorio Banario. With several impressive finishes against the world’s best on his record, Kelly has emerged as a contender in his own right. He even owns the second-fastest knockout in ONE featherweight history, a blistering 21-second finish of Meas Meul. The 34-year-old is a complete martial artist who looks to showcase Team Lakay’s world-renowned wushu every time he competes. Kelly has won four of his last six bouts, all by spectacular finish. He will now take on former ONE World Title challenger Christian Lee.

Christian “The Warrior” Lee, younger brother of reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee, began his professional career on an absolute tear, railing off five straight victories by thrilling finish. The 20-year-old has impressed fans with his ability to seek out stoppage wins over top-caliber opponents in an exciting, fan-friendly style. A former Pankration World Champion, Lee has won four of his last five bouts, showcasing his impressive skills inside the ONE cage. In his most recent outing, Lee challenged two-division ONE World Champion Martin Nguyen for the ONE Featherweight World Championship. Now, he is ready to return to action against Edward Kelly.

Ognjen Topic is one of the United States’ top-ranked kickboxers. He is a three-time Muay Thai World Champion, and two-time national champion. Training out of his home base of North Jersey Muay Thai, Topic makes frequent trips to Thailand to sharpen his skills at Eminent Air Gym in Bangkok. He began training in taekwondo, and earned his black belt before transitioning to Muay Thai at the age of 18 after falling in love with the art. Since then, he has stepped into the ring over 50 times against Muay Thai legends such as Saenchai, Coke Chunhawat, and Paowarit Sasiprapa. Along the way, he won WBC and WKA USA national championships, as well as World Titles in the Muay Thai Grand Prix, IKF, and Lion Fight. Known for his highly technical style, Topic will now face Tukkatatong Petpayathai in a ONE Super Series kickboxing contest.

Two-time Muay Thai World Champion Tukkatatong Petpayathai came from humble beginnings in a small countryside village in the Buriram region of Thailand. He was introduced to the world of Muay Thai by watching bouts on television with his father, and by the age of 10, he was already competing in his first bouts. Driven to further his success, he moved to Bangkok to train at the famed Kiatpetch gym when he was 14 years old. Tukkatatong has competed at the most famous stadiums in Thailand, including Lumpinee and Rajadamnern, facing the biggest names in the sport. He has amassed more than 270 professional bouts over the course of his illustrious 20-year career, capturing two World Titles at the famed Channel 7 Stadium along the way. Tukkatatong now makes his second appearance in ONE to take on Ognjen Topic in a ONE Super Series kickboxing bout.

Former Trench Warz Featherweight Champion Roman “Boom” Alvarez was born and raised in Guam, and he currently still lives in his childhood home. Alvarez has put together an excellent 8-2 record, competing in Guam, Saipan, and the Philippines, and has won titles in both the cage and the grappling arena. He currently trains at Spike 22 under celebrated veteran coach Melchor Manibusan, and sharpens his skills every day alongside some of the top mixed martial artists in North America. Now that he has a chance to make his mark on the world in ONE, he will do whatever it takes to realize his dreams of international glory. Alvarez faces the dangerous Daichi Takenaka next.

Former Shooto Pacific Rim Featherweight Champion Daichi Takenaka of Osaka, Japan was always athletic as a child. He played soccer and ran track in his youth, and began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu after discovering it by playing video games. He is a grappling specialist who excels in executing the rear-naked choke, a move he has used to dispatch four of his opponents in his career. He joined ONE in February 2018, making his debut against the highly-regarded Dae Hwan Kim. Rocking an unblemished 11-0-1 professional record, Takenaka is considered one of the hottest tickets at bantamweight. He now puts his undefeated record on the line against Roman Alvarez.

Top King Muay Thai World Champion Han Zi Hao of China is a Muay Thai practitioner who is based out of Bangkok, Thailand. The 22-year-old already owns an impressive professional Muay Thai record of 57-15 early in his career. A representative of Mad Muay Thai Gym, Han now finds himself looking to showcase his incredible striking skills on the biggest global stage of martial arts competition, joining elite athletes in the world of striking martial arts as part of ONE Super Series. Han’s first appearance for the promotion was a difficult one, however, as the Chinese stalwart took on the tough Panicos Yusuf. He now returns to action to face Stergos Mikkios in a ONE Super Series Muay Thai contest.

Proudly representing Sityodtong Global is Stergos “Greek Dynamite” Mikkios, who has won numerous Muay Thai titles in the United States including Triumph Kombat, AKBF, and Friday Night Fights championships. Although he only started training in Muay Thai six years ago, it soon became his passion and purpose in life. He even quit his job, sold most of his possessions, and moved to Thailand to train and compete full-time. With a Muay Thai record of 19-9-2, Mikkios now showcases his talents on the global stage in ONE. In his most recent contest, Mikkios figured in one of the most entertaining Muay Thai bouts yet against Ognjen Topic. Now Mikkios comes back to the ONE ring looking for redemption against Han Zi Hao in a ONE Super Series Muay Thai bout.

Shanghai Open BJJ Champion Chen Lei is from Changde, in China’s Hunan province. He first started his martial arts journey by training in boxing and Muay Thai, and then later switched his focus to the cage over the past few years. He even won a regional BJJ championship in Shanghai after developing his ground game. Training out of Equilibrium Beijing, Chen has since amassed a perfect 8-0 record in professional competition, showing his outstanding potential. This includes an impressive promotional run of three stoppage wins in 2017, when he defeated Malaysian Muay Thai star Saiful Merican and Indonesian grappling champion Jeremy Meciaz in stunning fashion. Next up, Chen takes on Muhammad Aiman.

Although former MIMMA Featherweight Champion Muhammad Aiman is from Negeri Sembilan, he grew up in cities all around Malaysia due to his parents’ careers. At the age of 16, he picked up boxing, which proved to be the beginning of a fruitful martial arts journey that continues to this day. Having conquered the Malaysian amateur scene, Aiman then set his sights on international glory as a professional with ONE, and made a successful debut in September 2016. He has since registered wins over several tough opponents, including BJJ champion Eduardo Novaes, and has made a name for himself as a thrilling young talent to watch. Aiman looks to continue his quest for greatness against China’s Chen Lei.

Former eight-time Kickboxing World Champion and professional boxer Daniel “The Rock” Dawson is an Australian martial artist who competes out of Perth, Western Australia. With a kickboxing record of 53-13, and a boxing record of 40-5-1 with 26 knockouts, Dawson is one of Australia’s most respected combat sports athletes. He has had a very successful career competing in events across Australia, China, Japan, Thailand, New Zealand and the United States. “The Rock” has now decided to take his talents to the prestigious ONE Super Series, where he joins a long list of striking legends. In his promotional debut, Dawson faces Mustapha Haida in a ONE Super Series kickboxing match.

Mustapha “The Flying Dragon” Haida is a former ISKA Kickboxing World Champion. The 29-year-old from Florence, Italy owns a professional kickboxing record of 38-7-3, training out of Fight Club Firenze at home in Florence. With experience competing under Glory, Super Kombat, Kunlun Fight and Bellator Kickboxing, Haida owns notable victories over opponents such as Andy Souwer, Enriko Kehl, Dzianis Zuev and Abdallah Mabel. He is ranked among the Top 10 welterweights in the world. Looking to prove his skills on the biggest global stage of martial arts competition, Haida now takes his talents to ONE Championship, where he faces Daniel Dawson in a ONE Super Series kickboxing bout in his debut.

Former two-time Muay Thai World Champion Hakim Hamech is a Muay Thai specialist and kickboxer from Lyon, France. Representing Team-NAS-R.K., Hamech has amassed a professional Muay Thai record of 42-8, and has impressed with his speed and power. After building a stellar professional career, Hamech now joins ONE Super Series to showcase his skills under the bright lights of the ONE ring, alongside the biggest tickets in striking martial arts. In his promotional debut, Hamech will search for his first victory in the promotion when he faces Japan’s Yukinori Ogasawara in a ONE Super Series Muay Thai contest.

Former WBC Japan Super Bantamweight Muay Thai Champion Yukinori Ogasawara was born and raised in Tokyo. After a regular childhood hanging around his father’s convenience stores, he finally found his calling when he was 15 years old. On a whim, he had signed up to take up kickboxing at Crosspoint Kichijoji near his house, and it would become a turning point in his life. Ogasawara then spent three years studying abroad in Vancouver, Canada, but never stopped training, even competing in an amateur kickboxing match there. He soon made his professional kickboxing debut, and has since amassed an excellent 15-4-4 record, winning a national title along the way. He faces Hakim Hamech up next in a ONE Super Series Muay Thai contest.

Former three-time National Kun Khmer Champion Phat Soda grew up as an orphan, and got into a lot of confrontations because of bullying. However, martial arts allowed him to turn his life around when he started training in Kun Khmer in 2012, and he has since accumulated over 100 bouts, winning national titles three years in a row. Driven by a desire to make a name for his country on the global stage, Soda joined ONE, and will attempt to show the effectiveness of Kun Khmer to the world. In his return to action, Soda takes on the tough Elipitua Siregar.

Former Indonesian National Wrestling Champion Elipitua Siregar came from humble beginnings, having been born to a family struggling to make ends meet in Indonesia’s North Sumatra region. His family sent him to live with his uncle in Jakarta in order to learn discipline. That would come in the form of enforced wrestling training, which would not just reform the young Siregar, but change his life forever. The young Indonesian competed in wrestling throughout his academic career, and racked up numerous medals at the national level. After such a long run of domestic success, he turned his attention to international glory in the cage, and joined ONE. Determined to become one of Indonesia’s most elite martial artists, Siregar will now face Phat Soda.

ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON

Saturday, 8 September

Baoshan Arena, Shanghai, China

Main Event

ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship

Xiong Jing Nan vs Samara Santos

Mixed Martial Arts: 56.7kg (Women’s Strawweight)

Honorio Banario vs Amir Khan

Mixed Martial Arts: 77.1kg (Lightweight)

Edward Kelly vs Christian Lee

Mixed Martial Arts: 70.3kg (Featherweight)

Ognjen Topic vs Tukkatatong Petpayathai

ONE Super Series Kickboxing: 65.8kg (Bantamweight)

Roman Alvarez vs Daichi Takenaka

Mixed Martial Arts: 65.8kg (Bantamweight)

Han Zi Hao vs Stergos Mikkios

ONE Super Series Muay Thai: 65.8kg (Bantamweight)

Chen Lei vs Muhammad Aiman

Mixed Martial Arts: 65.8kg (Bantamweight)

Daniel Dawson vs Mustapha Haida

ONE Super Series Kickboxing: 72.5kg (Catch Weight)

Hakim Hamech vs Yukinori Ogasawara

ONE Super Series Muay Thai: 61.2kg (Flyweight)

Phat Soda vs Elipitua Siregar

Mixed Martial Arts: 56.7kg (Strawweight)

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

About ONE Championship™

ONE Championship is the largest global sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Championship is the home of martial arts and is the world’s largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. The world’s most exciting martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1.7 billion potential viewers across 136 countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, and more.

UFC® RETURNS TO CHINA WITH FIRST-EVER EVENT IN BEIJING ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24

BEIJING, CHINA – UFC® today confirmed its first-ever event in Beijing, China, will be held at the Cadillac Arena on Saturday, November 24. Limited early bird tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT® BEIJING, Presented by General Tire, are on-sale now via Damai.cn and 247tickets.cn.

Following last year’s highly successful sell-out debut in mainland China, UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, is primed to deliver another thrilling night of action to fans in Beijing. Over the past few years, UFC has worked to identify and nurture the talents of top tier Chinese athletes who have shown great strength, skill and determination to succeed inside the Octagon®. UFC fans around the world have witnessed the sharp rise of local athletes such as Li Jingliang, Song Yadong, Yan Xiaonan, Song Kenan, and Pingyuan Liu, who have put their respective divisions on notice.

“China is the next frontier for the growth of UFC and the sport of mixed martial arts, and this market is paramount to our success internationally,” UFC Vice President of Asia-Pacific Kevin Chang said. “We are excited to bring our next live event to China’s capital and show the world just how far we have come. Our loyal fans in China demand nothing but the best, and one year on since our debut in Shanghai, UFC Fight Night® BEIJING, Presented by General Tire, is set to be a night to remember.”

UFC will be working together with Endeavor China, a subsidiary of Endeavor to deliver the live event.

“Endeavor China is excited to once again bring UFC – the world’s premier professional MMA organization – to Chinese audiences. After the great success of last year’s event in Shanghai, we are happy to announce that this year’s UFC Fight Night event will take place in the country’s capital, Beijing,” said Michael Ma, Endeavor China CEO. He continued, “MMA’s popularity is quickly rising in China, and we look forward to bringing our growing fanbase the best that UFC has to offer.”

Once again the live UFC event in China will be presented by General Tire, Mitchell Golledge, Head of Marketing RE PLT Tyres APAC stated, “The General Tire brand speaks to consumers that possess an adventurous spirit who believe that Anywhere is Possible. We are thrilled to take this next adventure to Beijing, a city where tradition meets the contemporary – just as martial arts now meets UFC.”

A limited amount of discounted Early Bird Tickets in riser categories for UFC Fight Night® BEIJING, Presented by General Tire are on sale now via Damai.cn and 247tickets.com. Riser ticket categories are Lower Bowl 1 RMB1,480, Lower Bowl 2 RMB1,280, Lower Bowl 3 RMB880, Lower Bowl 4 RMB680, Upper Bowl 1 RMB480, Upper Bowl 2 RMB380, Upper Bowl 3 RMB280.

UFC VIP Experience packages and floor seats are available at a later date. VIP Packages start at RMB 9,880 (row 3), rmb 13,880 (row 2), to rmb 16,680 (row 1), each with exclusive VIP privileges. Remaining floor seats are rmb 3,880.

Further details on UFC FIGHT NIGHT® BEIJING, Presented by General Tire will be announced in coming weeks. Keep up to date with all the latest news by following us on Weibo: @UFC???????, Wechat: UFC???????(ufcofficial) Youku, QQ, Facebook (UFC Asia), Twitter and Instagram (@ufc), and use our official hashtag: #UFCBEIJING

About UFC®

UFC® is a premium global sports brand and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2018, UFC boasts more than 284 million fans worldwide and has produced over 440 events in 22 countries since its inception in 1993. Acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment and fashion leader Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG), together with strategic partners Silver Lake Partners and KKR, UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas with a network of employees around the world. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe, while programming is broadcast in over 160 countries and territories to more than 1.1 billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content to fans around the world. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

About Endeavor China

Endeavor China is a subsidiary of Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG), a global leader in sports, entertainment and fashion operating in more than 30 countries. Formed through an investment group that includes Sequoia Capital China, Tencent, FountainVest Partners and Focus Media, Endeavor China is focused on building upon Endeavor’s longstanding presence in the region and advancing its growth across entertainment and sports.

About General Tire

The General Tire brand originated from Fort Mill, South Carolina in 1915 and owns the world’s largest tire site in Uvalde, Texas. The brand is part of Continental Tires, a company of Germany-based Continental AG. For over a century, General Tire has been passionately committed to its core values of Performance, Reliability, and American Heritage. The brand offers consumers a wide range of tire products, including high-performance tires, passenger car tires and off-road tires. General Tire strives to unleash the potential of every SUV, providing a fearless driving experience to adventure-loving APAC drivers – Anywhere is Possible with General Tire.

TEVIN FARMER WINS IBF JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE

New York, NY (August 3, 2018) Tevin “The American Idol” Farmer (26-4-1, 5 KOs), of Philadelphia, PA, won the IBF Junior Lightweight World Title today via 12-round unanimous decision against Australian Billy Dib (43-5, 24 KOs), at Technology Park, in Eveleigh, a suburb of Sydney, Australia.

Dominating from the opening bell, the southpaw Farmer landed at will throughout the fight. Using lateral movement and superior ring intelligence, Farmer hurt Dib with a piston-like jab and battering left hands over the course of the bout, dropping the valiant Australian in the ninth stanza en route to his first world title. After 12 rounds, scorecards read 118-109, 119-108 and 120-107. An emotional Dib announced his retirement in the ring following the decision.

“Billy Dib is a hell of a fighter, he had a great career, and he’s a two-time world champion,” said an elated Farmer. “He tried to bully me and that might have worked if I wasn’t from Philly. I’m the new champion of the world. It was a long time to get here, but there’s a long way to go.

“Nobody wanted to give me a shot, everybody was ducking me so I had to kick the door in. Now I’ve got the belt and everybody will want to start screaming my name. I’m ready to fight anyone and unify the titles.”

“I’ve never had a champion like Tevin Farmer,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “At 7-4-1, with all the odds against him, he decided he’d be a world champion. He went from 7-4-1 to 26-4-1, now with an IBF strap around his waist. Despite being shot through the hand protecting family and getting robbed in his last fight, he never stopped smiling and always believed in himself. Tevin is Philly to the core.

“I’m so proud of Tevin and I’m so proud of my friend Billy Dib, who fought the only fight that he could to give himself a shot. Dib would not quit as he hasn’t quit throughout the dark moments of his life. He went the distance with his heart, as he has and will in life. I wish him well in retirement.”

The 28-year-old Farmer had challenged for the same vacant title in his last bout on December 9, 2017, losing a very close, controversial decision to Kenichi Ogawa, of Japan. Ogawa later tested positive for a performance enhancing drug and was stripped of the title with the decision being changed to a No-Contest.

Farmer vs. Dib aired in the United States on ESPN+ and is currently available on replay HERE.

“WBA” WORLD BOXING ASSOCIATION CONFIRMED FOR FOURTH ANNUAL BOX FAN EXPO, DURING MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE WEEKEND, SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 15, IN LAS VEGAS

Las Vegas (August 3, 2018) – “WBA” World Boxing Association has confirmed that they will appear and hold a Meet & Greet with their fans at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the fourth Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday September 15, 2018 from 10am to 5pm, during Mexican Independence weekend. The Boxing Expo will also coincide with the highly anticipated rematch between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez vs Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin, that will take place later that evening.

WBA will have merchandise and memorabilia to showcase to their fans. Boxing fans will also have a great opportunity to take pictures with top fighters and boxing celebrities who will be present at their booth (to be announced shortly). Fans will also be greeted with surprises by the WBA at this years’ Expo.

The WBA is an international boxing organization that sanctions official matches and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. Founded in the United States in 1921 by thirteen state representatives as the National Boxing Association, in 1962, it changed its name in recognition of boxing’s growing popularity worldwide and began to gain other nations as members. Gilberto Mendoza from Venezuela was the President of the WBA since 1982 until his death in 2016, after which Gilberto Jesús Mendoza took over as president. In January 2007, it returned its headquarters offices to Panama after being located during the 1990s and early 2000s in Venezuela.

WBA joins, Thomas Hearns, David Benavidez, José Benavidez, Badou Jack, Mia St.John, Jessie Vargas, Erik Morales and Fernando Vargas as an early commitment to this year’s Box Fan Expo..

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on the Box Fan Expo is available at: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

You can follow Box Fan Expo on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/BoxFanExpo

and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

ESPN Signs Undefeated Two-Division World Champion Boxer and 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Andre Ward to New Multi-Year Deal

Undefeated two-division world champion and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward, has agreed to a new multiyear deal with ESPN, it was announced today. Under the agreement, Ward will serve as an on-site studio boxing analyst for ESPN.

“We are thrilled to have reached this agreement with Andre,” said Mark Gross, ESPN senior vice president, production and remote events. “Andre’s experience in the ring, wealth of knowledge and passion for boxing will further enrich our live boxing coverage and provide fans a unique perspective of the sport.”

Added Ward: “I’m excited to officially become a part of ESPN’s broadcast team. ESPN’s new boxing platform is an opportunity for today’s talent to be exposed to a wider audience and it pushes the sport forward. My desire is to be an asset to those watching all over the world by giving viewers an unbiased, educated opinion that is clear and concise.”

Ward, the former Ring Magazine number one Pound-For-Pound fighter and former Unified Light Heavyweight Champion of the World, will make his next onsite appearance at Atlantic City Ocean Resort Casino Saturday, August 18th, for ESPN’s telecast of Top Rank on ESPN headlined by heavyweight contender Bryant “B.Y.” Jennings (23-2, 13 KOs) facing off Alexander “Sascha” Dimitrenko (41-3, 26 KOs), airing at 10 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. On August 25th, Ward will be onsite at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona for ESPN’s coverage of Top Rank on ESPN featuring Ray Beltrán defending the WBO lightweight title against former junior lightweight world champion, Jose “Sniper” Pedraza.

Official Weights from Atlantic City

Saturday’s World Champion Boxing® telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Opening the telecast at The Hard Rock in Atlantic City, NJ is light heavyweight titlist Dmitry Bivol taking on Isaac Chilemba in a 12-round bout.

In the main event light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev defends his title against Eleider Alvarez in a 12-round bout.

Official Weights from Atlantic City:

Sergey Kovalev: 174 lbs.

Eleider Alvarez: 174.4 lbs.

Dmitry Bivol: 174.6 lbs.

Isaac Chilemba: 175 lbs.

Welterweight Erick Bone looks for breakthrough this Saturday night against former world champion Sergey Lipinets on FOX & FOX Deportes from NYCB LIVE, Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum

New York (August 3, 2018)– This Saturday night at NYCB Live, Home of The Nassau Coliseum, streaking welterweight Erick Bone will look to register the biggest win of his career when he takes on former IBF Junior Welterweight world champion, Sergey Lipinets.

The ten-round bout will be part of a nationally televised card that will be presented by Premier Boxing Champions on FOX & FOX Deportes at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT.

Bone (20-5, 8 KOs) of Ecuador has won four straight bouts, which Bone and his team believe it should be six straight wins, with disputed losses to former world champion Miguel Vazquez and then undefeated Eddie Ramirez.

“I am motivated and ready to get back on the big stage,” said Bone. “Lipinets is a strong fighter. He is good with both hands, He is good all around.”

“I know Lipinets is going to bring his best, and he will be well prepared, but Erick Bone will be well prepared as well. It is just a matter of who wants it more, and what will happen in the ring.”

Bone believes that he is catching Lipinets at the right time, as the former champion is coming off his 1st loss.

“I saw a few things in the Mikey Garcia fight that I can exploit, but I am not going on that fight alone. I won’t do exactly what Garcia did, but yes there are a few things that I learned by watching that fight that will help me on Saturday.”

Bone is coming into the ring believing that he has fought well enough to have won the previous six fights, so he feels that his confidence level is at an all-time hight.

“I feel very confident. I have fought good opposition, and no matter what the judges have said, I feel I haven’t lost any of my last six fights, and Saturday’win will be my biggest. I am just ready for a great performance on Saturday.

“Erick is very confident going into this fight, and we feel we are catching Lipinets at the right time as he is coming off his 1st loss to Mikey Garcia. I expect him to have a great performance on Saturday night. He has won four straight, but when you see the fights with Vazquez and Ramirez, Erick won those bouts,” said Bone’s manager, Ely McKay. “In fact the last fight we had in Vegas, a judge came up to me and told me that the fight with Ramirez is one of the fights the commission uses to school their judges. The Vazquez fight was so bad that one of the judges gave Vazquez 9 of 10 rounds, when at worst it was a close fight.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, DiBella Entertainment and Mayweather Promotions, are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visitingwww.ticketmaster.com, www.nycblive.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the Ticketmaster Box Office at NYCB LIVE. Group discounts are available by calling 516-231-4848.

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, @FOXTV, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions, @LouDiBella, @NYCBLive and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports andwww.facebook.com/foxdeportes.www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment,www.Facebook.com/NYCBLive. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.BROOKLYN BOXING on Long Island is an extension of BSE’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ brand. For more information, visit brooklynboxingshop.com.

Sergey Kovalev vs. Eleider Alvarez Scouting Report

(Atlantic City, New Jersey) – WBO and IBA Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev of Russia makes a dual title defense against undefeated light heavyweight contender Eleider “Storm” Alvarez of Colombia at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City on Saturday, August 4. The fight card will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

JOSEPH ‘JOJO’ DIAZ JR. AND UNDERCARD FIGHTERS LOS ANGELES MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES

NORWALK, CALIF. (Aug. 2, 2018): Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. (26-1, 14 KOs) hosted a media workout today at Legendz Boxing in Norwalk, Calif. in preparation for his battle for the WBA Featherweight World Title currently held by Puerto Rican warrior Jesus Rojas (16-1-2, 19 KOs) in the inaugural edition of Golden Boy Fight Night on Saturday, Aug. 11. The 12-round battle will be Diaz, Jr.’s second opportunity at a world title in the stacked featherweight division.

Part of the Golden Boy Fight Night undercard also participated in the workout. In the co-main event, Jonathan “Thunder” Navarro (14-0, 7 KOs) will face Damon “No Smilin'” Allen Jr. (15-0-1, 5 KOs) in a highly competitive battle between two undefeated Golden Boy Promotions prospects. Ferdinand “Lucky Boy” Kerobyan (9-0, 5 KOs) of North Hollywood, Calif. will battle across a scheduled six rounds of welterweight action against a soon-to-be-announced opponnent. Aaron “Silencer” McKenna (4-0, 3 KOs) of Monaghan, Ireland will participate in a four-round 147-pound fight against Sinaloa, Mex.’s Rolando Mendivil (10-4, 3 KOs).

Hector “El Finito” Tanajara, Jr. (14-0, 5 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas, will return in the co-main event of the Aug. 10 edition of LA FIGHT CLUB against Emmanuel Morales (7-2, 4 KOs) of Caguas, Puerto Rico.

Here’s what the fighters had to say at today’s media workout:

JOSEPH “JOJO” DIAZ JR., Featherweight Contender:
“Everyone was there during the Gary Russell Jr. fight. Oscar De La Hoya, my family and my team was there. There was no pressure. I just knew that it was the opportunity I had been waiting for my entire career. I knew I had to get it done. I knew it was in his hometown and that there were going to be a lot of his fans cheering him on. Unfortunately, I didn’t come out on top. I’ve watched the tape about 100 times. I looked at all the mistakes I made. I saw that if I would have just been more aggressive, started off earlier and used my jab that the outcome would have been different. I would be world champion right now. Things didn’t go as planned, but it was a lesson learned. I have the opportunity to fight for a world title again, and I can’t let this opportunity get past me. I’ve been training my butt off, and I’m going to walk away with the title around my waist.

Right now, I have a whole different mindset. We have a whole different training camp. On August 11, I will become world champion. Jesus Rojas is a dangerous fighter. He’s coming off two great wins and stopped both of them. He constantly applies pressure and has great conditioning. He’s going to keep on coming forward. My father and I know what he’s capable of and what he’s going to do. We’re working on my conditioning so that I do not get tired and so that I can be very active, throw a lot of shots and engage when he engages. It’s going to be an action-packed fight.”

JONATHAN “THUNDER” NAVARRO, Super Lightweight Prospect:
“This is going to be a tough fight for both of us, but me being a natural 140-pounder will be a factor. 140 pounds is the normal weight I fight at, and Damon Allen Jr. will be moving up from 135 pounds. Even though that’s only five pounds, that’s a lot in the sport of boxing, especially when you’re the smaller fighter. What makes Damon Allen a dangerous opponent is his speed and movement. To me, that’s all I see, and it’s not going to be a big deal. This fight will be a crossroads fight because we are both undefeated prospects. It’s going to be a hard fight. We’re going to give the fans a great fight. When we got word of this fight, I never hesitated to take it. The moment they told me his name I got happy because I know it will be an important fight. It excited me and made me want to train even harder. Not many young prospects get to showcase their talent against another fellow prospect this early in their career.”

FERDINAND KEROBYAN, Super Welterweight Prospect:
“I wouldn’t say I look for the knockout. But when the knockout presents itself, I never let back and give it my all to give the fans an exciting fight. I’ve been focusing on everything. I’ve been working on my craft. I’ve been working on getting my speed and power to work together as a unit. I’m looking forward to getting another win in front of my fans. I expect a big crowd at every fight because I have a very good fan base. It doesn’t matter how far I go, I know they will be there. I’m truly blessed to have them, and I want to give them a great show every time.”

AARON”SILENCER” MCKENNA, Welterweight Prospect:
“I’m very excited to be fighting on Facebook and on Golden Boy’s first-ever broadcast. I’ve had a great camp, and I’m ready to put on a great show for the fans in attendance and fans watching on Facebook. I always try to make my fights as exciting as I can for fans. I always try to put a good show and go for the knockout. Expect fireworks in this fight. I feel stronger in this fight than in previous fights.”

HECTOR “EL FINITO” TANAJARA, JR., Lightweight Prospect:
“I didn’t stop training after my last fight, so I’m feeling way better than in my last camp. I’m in great shape, and I’ve been doing 10 and 12 rounds of sparring. I’ve been working with Jonathan Navarro, and we’re helping each other in this camp. For my last fight, I knew he [Roger Gutierrez] was tough. You could tell from the weigh-ins that it was going to be heated. But things like that motivate me. When I fight good opponents, I look better. It helped me out because it showed what I could do and what I can still show I can do. The last fight gave me a lot of confidence. There were people saying that he was going to beat me or that he was stronger. It gave me a lot of confidence because there were even some rounds that I felt were easy. It gave me a lot of confidence. For this camp, we’ve been working on being busier and being aggressive. I’ve been working to get the knockout, and this fight will show that.”

###

Rojas vs. Diaz Jr. is a 12-round fight for the WBA Featherweight World Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Universal Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate,”THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” and Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle.” The fights will take place Saturday, August 11, 2018 at Avalon Hollywood. The action will be streamed live on Facebook Watch in the U.S. and globally on the Golden Boy Fight Night Facebook Page beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Fans can catch all the fights by following the Golden Boy Fight Night Page

Limited tickets for Rojas vs. Diaz Jr. are still available and are priced at $40, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Tickets are available for purchase at www.goldenboytickets.com and the Golden Boy Promotions Facebook page.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and www.avalonhollywood.com.
Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @AvalonHollywood. Become a fan on Facebookat www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and
https://www.Facebook.com/AvalonHollywood/Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya and @AvalonHollywood. Follow the conversation using #GBPonFB and #RojasDiazJr

Photos and videos are available to download by clicking here or by copying and
pasting link: http://bit.ly/RojasDiazJr into a browser. Credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions for photos and videos used.

Sergey Kovalev vs. Eleider Alvarez Dmitry Bivol vs. Isaac Chilemba Final Press Conference Quotes

Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events

“Oh, if these walls could talk! There are so many stories. If I got started, we’d never hear from anyone today. Main Events could not be happier to be bringing world championship boxing back to Atlantic City. We hope it’s a long, enjoyable stay.

“We are back with a bang!

“All the fighters in our lineup are excited to be here where so many great names in the past have made big impressions: Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Arturo Gatti. All our fighters would LOVE to add their names to this list. It will be fun watching them go for it.

“This Saturday night in our televised fights on HBO World Championship Boxing, four light heavyweights know the eyes of the world will be on them. They want to make a big impression. You will want to be part of this! But you need to move fast. Our floor and ringside seats are just about sold out.

“Tickets starting at 50 dollars are still available through Ticketmaster and Hard-Rock-Hotel-Atlantic-City-dot-com for Saturday’s event or you can watch live on HBO World Championship Boxing® starting at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Time. At the top of our card are a pair of exciting fights in the red-hot light heavyweight division: first up are Dmitry Bivol facing his toughest test against Isaac Chilemba. In our main event, two-time light heavyweight world champion Sergey Kovalev against an opponent who wants to hold on to his undefeated record and take a few belts home to Canada, Eleider Alvarez.

“On our non-televised undercard, we have our own version of the Fantastic Four from the famed Boxing Laboratory in Oxnard, California.

“They are led by top 15 ranked Bakhram Murtazaliev of Russia, who is co-promoted by Main Events and Krusher Promotions, facing Fernando Carcamo of Mexico. This is a ten round IBA Junior Middleweight title fight. We have a middleweight battle between Meiirim Nursultanov of Kazakhstan and Jonathan Batista of the Dominican Republic. This is an eight-round fight which will be televised internationally.

“His Kazakh countryman Madiyar Ashkeyev is back after being out due to injury. He is ready to go and fights Eduardo Flores of Ecuador in an eight-round junior middleweight showdown. The fourth of the Fantastic Four is Enriko Gogokhia – or ‘Gogo’ – from Georgia, fighting Ronald Montes of Columbia in a six-round welterweight fight.

“Super middleweight Vaughn Alexander’s amazing comeback story continues here Saturday – 11 years away from boxing and he picked right back up where he left off. He is the freshest boxer over 30 you’ll ever see. Vaughn plans to make a statement against New Jersey’s Denis Douglin. And he wouldn’t mind upstaging his brother Devon who fights in New York on the same night!

“We never forget the local fans who come out to support their neighborhood fighters. Two of our favorites are joining us in Atlantic City. They include Brooklyn’s ‘Notorious’ Frank Galarza and our fighting college student, Ismael Villarreal from the Bronx. And back in the lineup for Main Events after a few years away, lightweight Karl Dargan of Philadelphia returns in a six-round bout against Jonathan Perez of Colombia. Karl has been busy getting married, working in the hip-hop world, and turning up on reality TV.

“Twenty-five years ago, Arturo Gatti fought his first fight in Atlantic City on May 15, 1992, in this very arena. It was his fifth pro fight and Main Events’ first fight in the Etess Arena. Which one of our undercard fighters will be the next Gatti? You never know – be sure to watch them and you may have a big story to tell your kids 25 years from now.

“We are thankful to our sponsor Leon.RU for joining us on this promotion.

“For this card, we are working with Groupe Yvon Michel, Krusher Promotions and World of Boxing. When people want to make fights, it’s a breeze and a joy. Thank you everyone for your contribution to this exceptional card on Saturday.
I want to thank HBO Boxing and Ray Stallone who is here with us today for their support. I know they are as thrilled as we are to be back in Atlantic City in the Etess Arena. Ray, will you come up and say a few words about Saturday’s fight.

Ray Stallone
Photo Credit: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Ray Stallone, HBO Vice President of Media Relations

“Thank you, I hope my voice is clear and easy to listen to. I’m subbing for Peter Nelson, who is the head of HBO Sports, who many of you know. And I don’t know many people in network sports who have the same love and passion as Peter. So, I texted him this morning, and I said, “Is there a hair and makeup allowance for speaking at the press conference?” And he texted me back, and said no, but I can get you a voice coach. So, I hope I am able to deliver today and represent HBO Sports.

“As Kathy mentioned, we are thrilled to be in Atlantic City. Talk about memories! HBO, Main Events, Atlantic City — you know what a recipe for terrific fight action. And we are responsible for the television production, and we are responsible, and we are going to embrace Saturday night’s fight. Love being at the Hard Rock. It’s exiting being with some old friends. And we are really delighted we are partnering. And I did want to say that we are really underscoring the global appeal of boxing. We are in Atlantic City and look at the background of the four fighters who are fighting on the two televised cards. Look at where the promoters even hail from. It just underscores the global appeal of this sport. So, I think we are in for an exciting night on Saturday night, once again as Kathy had mentioned we will be on the air at 10 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time for championship boxing with our A-Team. Once again, thank you for having us.

Kathy Duva

“I also want to welcome and thank for the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. They have been an amazing partner and host for all of us. Boxing is so important to the Hard Rock, only the best would do – and they got him out of retirement! Bernie Dillon is now Vice President of Entertainment for the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. How lucky we all are to have him back in boxing. Please do yourself a favor – buy him a meal and get him talking sometime.”

Kathy Duva & Bernie Dillon Share a Laugh
Photo Credit: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Bernie Dillon, Vice President of Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City

“Thank you, Kathy, and welcome everyone to the new Hard Rock Hotel in Atlantic City. It’s a pleasure to welcome everyone here. Welcome Kathy Duva and her awesome Main Events staff. As she mentioned, we go way back and have produced many fights together with her husband and — oh gosh, I can’t tell you how many different champions we have produced together, but everyone from Evander Holyfield to Pernell Whitaker. And the list goes on and on and on.

“And certainly welcome to Commissioner Hazzard and the New Jersey State Athletic Commission. Always a pleasure to see Larry, and work with what I consider the best commission. I have worked all over the country and a few parts of the world. They are second to none, and believe me always fighters come first, and their safety. Larry has always been at the forefront of that.

“Welcome HBO Sports, Ray, it’s been a while, good to see you.

“Most importantly, welcome to the fighters. Mr. Kovalev, Mr. Alvarez, Bivol, Chilemba, and all the great fighters who are appearing on the undercard. Welcome to our great property, and hopefully many return in the future.

“What a great night, this Saturday night in the Hard Rock live at the Etess Arena. Of course, Kathy mentioned the arena. We are able to maintain the name of the arena after the great Mark Etess. I am sure there will be a few tears shed by some of us, but it’s a great boxing facility. And we will talk about it some more.

“Saturday night marks a major step for this property. Early in our first 45 days of development, we have spoken consistently about the Hard Rock Brand representing many genres of music and different types of entertainment. The Hard Rock has had an enlightenment of classic rock, rock alternative, and country, pop, urban R&B, jazz, blues, comedy. We really represent it all. We have had names like Christina Aguilera, Carrie Underwood, the Howie Mandell Comedy Club, Hall and Oates, Steely Dan, Florida Georgia Line, Maroon 5, Maxwell, Motor City 5, Pitbull, Blake Shelton, Amy Schumer – I could go on and on, but it’s really been exiting to present big time entertainment to everyone coming back to Atlantic City.

“And now the return of boxing to the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. When Kathy called me in April to discuss this event, we were actually talking about some other shows. And she mentioned this date, and she couldn’t do this show because she had another event featuring Kovalev and Alvarez. I said, ‘Wait a minute – how about bringing that to Atlantic City?’ And I think your response was ‘Really?’ and ‘Sure enough!’

“I knew from the beginning when she told me HBO was involved and the date, Saturday night in the middle of the summer, that it was the right fit for us. And she mentioned our ticket sales have been excellent. The response from our invited guests have been amazing on the casino side, and we expect well over one hundred media to be in attendance. That’s great publicity for us, that’s great publicity for the sport of boxing and I am just thrilled we can be a part of this.

“One thing Kathy did get wrong. She did mention we had twenty ringside seats left. We are sold out, and I am pleased to announce that the ringside area is sold out. We do have a limited amount of the $150 tickets left. We have another limited amount of our $100 tickets and plenty of $50 tickets left. We thought it was very important to keep this fight, this card affordable to the general public and rebuild the interest in boxing in Atlantic City.

“Hard Rock Live at the Arena is one of the best arenas to watch boxing. It was designed many years ago, and we had a part in putting the arena together from a technical stand point and made it, I think, a very good place for the media to come in and for HBO and other networks, and it today is very good for us.

“So, come in and enjoy a great night of boxing on a great property at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. It’s a great place to come and stay. And enjoy something else we have going on here, which is 365 Live. We have five other stages that we promote, over 50 live performances a week. And we are committed to having live entertainment over the year, and we have boxing and it will be a big part of that. Welcome and it’s great to be back. And to be home for me. Thank you.”

Larry Hazzard
Photo Credit: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Kathy Duva

“We are pleased to once again work with the New Jersey State Athletic
Control Board on this fight. Here with us today is commissioner Larry Hazzard.”

Larry Hazzard, Commissioner New Jersey State Athletic Control Board

“It’s really great having Bernie, Main Events, Kathy and all of the team back here in New Jersey again. This propels us, I think, back into big time boxing here in the state of New Jersey.

“I first came to Atlantic City in 1978 as a young referee, and I have had the great blessing and great experience to have been around for all of the great fights that have taken place here, either as a referee or as the commissioner. It is great to see one of my favorites, the great Roy Jones Jr. here today, who created so many exciting events with his performances.

“Furthermore, it has been a great and exciting adventure for us in Atlantic City. It is great to have Bernie Dillon back as one of the casino entrepreneurs, because as I have often said, we need boxing people back to bring boxing back. So, we are feeling good about this event, an outstanding event that makes us feel great about the future of boxing again here in New Jersey. Especially since we have real promoters back, Main Events and Atlantic City, it is just a great combination and an outstanding event they have put together.

“I have sat in my office looking at these bouts, and I told Jolene, you make my job very easy. One of the easiest parts of my job is approving bouts, because everything that comes in here looks like a home run.

“Therefore, it is no surprise to me that tickets are close to sold out, showing further that this is going to be a great event! We are really hoping that with this event and many more to come, New Jersey will once again springboard into the big-time boxing world, where it has been for so many years and where it belongs. I want to congratulate you Kathy and I also want to congratulate you too, Bernie, because with you two working together, in the future, I think that we are going to have some exciting events and New Jersey will once again reclaim its place as the boxing capital of the world. Thank you.”

Roy Jones Jr.
Photo Credit: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Kathy Duva

“Finally, to the media present today and watching live, thank you for your time and your interest. You are in for a real show – the kind of show only Atlantic City can deliver! Years from now you will be able to say ‘I was there’ when boxing made its big comeback in Atlantic City.

“On to our co-main and main event fights. The light heavyweight division continues to burn bright. I challenge you to name any other division this competitive at this moment. Any one of the top 20 ranked fighters is a dangerous opponent. And we have the best of the best for you.
“Isaac Chilemba of Malawi in Africa has come a long way for this shot. He is currently 25-5-2 with 10 knockouts. But there is something the record doesn’t show. This man has a reputation for making opponents prove themselves. Just ask Sergey Kovalev and Eleider Alvarez. They are both here today, so you can ask them.

“Chilemba takes on WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol of Russia. Bivol has 11 knockouts in 13 fights and is undefeated. Chilemba, as we have learned in our long association with him at Main Events fears no one. But his opponents need to have a little healthy fear — or they will be in for a shock.

“Let’s hear a few words from Isaac and team. First, I want to wish manager Jodi Solomon a very happy birthday today! I think we all know what she wants as her birthday present. Isaac, no pressure!

“But you might have heard of Isaac’s trainer his name is Roy Jones, Junior. Let’s welcome him to the podium to introduce Isaac.”

Roy Jones Jr., Trainer of Isaac Chilemba

“First, I want to say – thank God for giving us all the pleasure of being together to fellowship and to see this thing, keep it often in Atlantic City. I want to say. “what’s happening?” and thank you to my man Larry. And so good to see Bernie again, because these guys were around in my heyday. And to see them again just automatically lights a fire in your heart. Because, to me, when I came up, Atlantic City was almost the Vegas of the East.

“It was the only place that had casinos, and the only place that had the casino feel. So, when you got to Atlantic City to fight, you feel like you pretty much made it. I got here my second fight, and I dished out a lot of punishment along this boardwalk. It was fun, so I look forward to seeing it again.

“You could not ask for a better card to start it off because you have two world championship fights and four really high-class athletes, Isaac being one of them, who is definitely hungry for a title. And when he first mentioned the fight to me, I said ‘Bivol is a pretty tough character. Maybe we should wait a little longer.’ And he said, ‘No, I want a world title. I want to take my chances and go at it.’

“So, if he wants to go at it, we will go at it. And we are here. He wants to win, so we are coming to win. It is a great fight night for everyone. I am looking forward to seeing even the main event, because we know a lot about both Eleider Alvarez and Sergey Kovalev – which is another fight that on any given day, people would think either man could win.

“All four fights that Kathy put together for you are fights that are remarkable and competitive, giving any man a chance to win the fight. With that being said, everyone here is looking to win, two guys are looking to keep their titles and two men are looking to take their titles. You cannot ask for a better night, and without further ado, I want to bring Isaac to the podium to tell you all what he thinks.”

Isaac Chilemba
Photo Credit: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Isaac Chilemba, WBA Light Heavyweight Contender

“Thank you. First of all, I just want to thank God, HBO and Main Events for this opportunity. I would like to thank my team, Jodi Solomon, Roy Jones Jr., Shadow (cornerman Sibusiso Shabane), the fans, and everyone else out there who is behind me. It was a long road to get here. I had two rough years since I last fought here in the states, when I tore the ligaments in my arm against Oleksandr Gvozdyk. I had to take time off from boxing for more than a year. It was rough for me to go through all that. I made it through all of that and my team did not give up on me. They stood behind me and supported me. They kept telling me that I would be back.

“Thank God, my very first fight when I came back was a title fight in Australia. Anyone who has ever fought there know how hard it is to win with the politics in Australia. You have to be on top of your game to convince the judges. We did it and won the WBC International Title.

“I was very grateful for that, and now in the very next fight instead of defending my title, I have a world title shot against a tough opponent, Bivol. I really want to thank Bivol and his team for this chance, and Main Events and HBO for the opportunity. I thank God, and I am glad I am here. This time, I am not going to let this opportunity slip through my hands. I am going to win it. I am going to walk out of the ring on the 4th of August as a winner, as a world champion.”

Vadim Kornilov and Dmitry Bivol
Photo Credit: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Kathy Duva

“I want to take a moment to thank Andrei Ryabinsky’s World of Boxing for giving Main Events the chance to work closely with Dmitry and introduce him to the fans in the United States. He is the definition of a knockout artist. Dmitry knows his boxing history. In fact, he knows the legacy of the great fighters here in Atlantic City.
“Dmitry said recently in an interview he wants to have one of those fights fans always remember. Guess what fight he picked as an example? Gatti versus Ward. It is a pretty high bar, but you never know what might happen here on Saturday.

“Dmitry’s English, I have to remark, continues to improve dramatically after training in Los Angeles. We also have Dmitry’s manager Vadim Kornilov who would like to say a few words. Vadim, will you share your thoughts about this fight here in Atlantic City and also introduce Dmitry to the crowd?”

Vadim Kornilov, Manager of Dmitry Bivol

“Thank you, Kathy. Always a pleasure. First, I want to say a few words about Main Events. A very special company, the whole team, everyone is on top of everything it is so impressive. Fight week with Main Events is so much easier than usual and I thank you for that. Of course, World of Boxing and Andrei Ryabinsky, they have done so much for Dmitry and for us and we would probably not be able to be here without them and I just want to thank them for that.

“Of course, HBO, just as Roy said the three letters in boxing that are most important, HBO. We have had Ruslan Provodnikov, Viktor Postol, many others and now, Dmitry Bivol. Most of these guys are all names that once you say the name everyone in boxing knows. Everyone has seen them, and everybody has heard, and that is what HBO does. And they just really know how to get the PR and the attention the fighter needs and everything else is up to the fighter.

“Thank you to Sergey and his team. It is a pleasure to be on his main event. We enjoy being here and being able to watch Sergey on his main event. The whole country is proud of Sergey for being one of the top fighters from Russia.

“Of course, Atlantic City and the Hard Rock, to be honest we did not expect this. This is a great venue and a great hotel, and we really hope that this is the return that everyone has been waiting for. I am sure it will be. Now, I would like to introduce the humble and respectful champion Dmitry Bivol to say a few words. I am very impressed with the way his career is moving forward and he really knows how to stay professional and use his intelligence, which his English will speak for. I appreciate your time.”

Dmitry Bivol
Photo Credit: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Dmitry Bivol, WBA Light Heavyweight World Champion

“Hello, first of all, I want to say, thank you everyone for coming here and I’m grateful that Chilemba took this fight and he decided quickly. I respect him for this, and his team I want to say thank you everyone who organized this fight, Kathy Duva – thank you – Main Events, Andre Ryabinsky and the World of Boxing and of course HBO.”

“Thank you for this chance for me to show my boxing skills to many people. I’m really glad. And I’m glad to be here in Atlantic City, because I know there were many great fights, like Arturo Gatti against Micky Ward. I’m glad to be part of boxing’s return in Atlantic City.

“When I got my belt, I make one small step to my dream. To be a big name, to make a big name in boxing. Of course, I’m not going to give my belt to someone. I’m not giving my belt to Chilemba. I’m going to keep it a long time. I will try to do my best for boxing fans, for people who watch our fight. I hope it will be an enjoyable fight for you.

Kathy Duva

“The thing I keep hearing consistently from everyone is how smooth things are going, how much better Main Events is, how much it is a pleasure it is to work with us. And I have to say, it’s 100 percent true! But I do not get any of the credit for that. Jolene, Nicole, Lisa, Alexis, Joe, our fabulous PR support team of Gayle, Ed, and Ellen, they are the very best. They work harder than anybody else. Being behind the scenes and watching in recent weeks as I always do as Fight Week approaches – my hat’s off to all of you. You make us look so good, and I want you to know how much I love you all and appreciate it. I’m happy to hear people reconfirm for me what I already know.

“Moving on to our main event. We are happy to have Eleider Alvarez here for just his second fight in the United States. He is undefeated with a record of 23 wins, 11 by knockout. He is coming off notable wins over legendary Canadian veterans Jean Pascal and Lucien Bute.

“When others said no to Sergey Kovalev – and I promise you, Jolene can attest to this – many others have said no to Sergey. Eleider and his team did not hesitate for one second. Bravo and how refreshing. Alvarez is ranked in the top five and a legitimate challenger. He has been waiting for two years for the shot that he earned – two eliminator fights, including one with Isaac. He is crafty and smart. And not to be under estimated.

“I’m going to ask Eleider’s promoter, Yvon Michel to come up and introduce him, and trainer, Marc Ramsay.”

Yvon Michel
Photo Credit: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Yvon Michel, Promoter of Eleider Alvarez

“Thank you very much, Kathy. Thank you very much everybody who is here for this press conference. We are very, very happy. You cannot imagine how happy we are to be here, and for several reasons. I want to thank HBO for televising this event. I want to thank Mr. Dillon for your great place here at the Hard Rock. I want to thank the Main Events staff, Kathy for all their collaboration for the making of this event.

“Atlantic City means a lot for people in Quebec. It’s been for long, a great vacation place. Also, we used to come here for great boxing events. My first fight here, it was when I came for a world championship with Matthew Hilton, Stefan Willette, and many more.

“And I can tell you, that fight has been easy to make with Kathy. And I’m happy, very happy, that finally we have been able to make a big event together. We have done the title eliminator between Eleider and Isaac Chilemba. But for a main event, we started the first time I met Kathy to try to make a deal, it was in 2004. It was for Leonard Dorin against Arturo Gatti. We laid down everything to make the deal, and finally I left the company Interbox then. She went ahead and made the deal with the group that followed up. So, I came here as a spectator.

“I met Kathy, and we have tried several times to make other things. But this one, it’s a good one. We’re very happy to fight The Krusher. Sergey Kovalev is a great, great champion. He proved it by coming back. And a lot of people are saying that maybe he’s not the same since the Andre Ward fight. But probably a lot people believe he won the first fight against Andre Ward. The second fight, it’s another story. But he came back and when a fighter is coming back like that, this is showing his true value.

“It’s a great, great challenge for Eleider Alvarez against Krusher. But Eleider is ready for that. Eleider Alvarez has come a long way. He has been fighting professional since 2009. It’s been nine years since he moved, he left everything in Colombia, to come to Quebec, learn French, and learn his professional boxing. He’s been world ranked five years. The first time he was world ranked, he became a mandatory contender almost two years ago. He didn’t waste his time, he was a mandatory contender and he got his best win in his career. The best wins in his career have always been against the biggest challenge. When he fought in Monaco, when he came here in Chicago, when he fought Jean Pascal – he always gave his best performance against the best opposition.

“And when, even if he hasn’t fought since the Pascal fight 14 months ago, I tell you he is the best prepared that is possible for Eleider Alvarez. He has done everything, He has a great team of trainers behind him. And I’d like to invite the greatest coach trainer in Canada, to come here and talk about his preparation. So, I’d like to have Marc Ramsay come here.”

Marc Ramsay
Photo Credit: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Marc Ramsay, Trainer of Eleider Alvarez

“Thank you, Yvon, first of all I would like to thank HBO, Main Events, and Groupe Yvon Michel for coming together to give us that great opportunity. I would like to thank also Sergey, he has no obligation to give us that chance. Win or lose, he is always going for the biggest challenge possible. And as a coach, as a boxing guy, I respect that, I have a lot of respect for this.

“Eleider Alvarez had an amazing training camp. We have no injury, no excuse. He is ready to perform, ready to go, and I can guarantee you Saturday we are going for our realm.”

Eleider Alvarez
Photo Credit: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Eleider Alvarez, WBO Light Heavyweight Contender

“Good afternoon to all of you, First, I want to thank God for being able to actually be here. Thank you, HBO, Main Events, Kathy Duva, Groupe Yvon Michael, to the members of my team, and my manager who’s not here right now. Thank you for giving me the opportunity.

“With my trainer, I had one of the best, hardest trainings in the world. It’s made me in the best shape I’ve ever been right now. Having this opportunity to go up against a fighter with one of the greatest reputations of any contender I could think of, Sergey Kovalev, it’s an incredible opportunity. I’m very full of pride and joy to let the world know who Eleider Alvarez is. It’s time.

“I have a great training team, with Marc right here. We will be ready to go and fight. I have the talent, I am what I am. All I can do is wait to get in the ring Saturday and go for it. I give my respect to Kovalev. I want to let him know it’s a great honor. But on August 4th, I’m going to be the next world champion.

“Thank you to the journalists from Quebec for your support. I will bring home the victory.”

Egis Klimas
Photo Credit: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Kathy Duva

“You know, the last time there was a big fight in Atlantic City was just about four years ago when Sergey had one of those legendary nights with Bernard Hopkins here and walked away with three world titles. You think about it and here he is bringing it back, and when you think about it, it kind of makes sense. In my lifetime in this sport, the fighters who probably were the absolute favorites here in Atlantic City were Mike Tyson and Arturo Gatti. What those two have in common with Sergey Kovalev, other than being knockout artists, is they kind of have an attitude. Okay, and we know Sergey has an attitude, but it makes sense because this is Jersey. We all have an attitude, and I think that’s why this guy from Russia fits in so beautifully here!

“And Egis just said to me he’s got four ringsides for the highest bidder, if anybody wants it. Tickets are in very short supply.

“And so finally we move on to the man. And you have all heard that saying. right? ‘To be the man, you have to beat the man.’ Well, Sergey is the man in this very competitive division. And you don’t have to just take it from me; just ask any of the light heavyweights whenever they win a fight and gets asked, “who do you want next?’ They say Sergey Kovalev — you know, until Jolene calls them up and offers them a fight.

“But he is hungry, and he is looking forward. He has one goal left before he retires, and that is all of the belts. So, let’s hope all of the other champions cooperate this time. And if they do, we are in for one hell of a good time.
Sergey is here along with his manager and my dear friend Egis Klimas, who I call Manager of the Year for life. Because I really think they’re going to have to retire that award for you soon. Sergey and Egis, we at Main Events were just meant to meet them the day we did, and it has been glorious ever since. We’ve had our ups and we’ve certainly had our downs, and it has been one of my greatest experiences of my life to work with them and it continues to be. And I’m going to bring Egis up here to please give us our thoughts about Saturday’s bout.

Egis Klimas, Manager of Sergey Kovalev

“Hello everybody and welcome to Atlantic City, with a venue nobody thought we would be seeing, this Hard Rock. So, thank you for the hospitality.

“Great news! First of all, I have the best seat in the house between two champions. Second, Kathy just mentioned they have four ringside tickets, which I can sell for $800. she didn’t mention the price… going once, going twice No? Okay, we’ll deal later.

“What can I tell, what can I tell, that’s going to be a big test for Sergey Saturday night. Because he is going to be facing, as Yvon Michel said, one of the best. They are champions, but when we talk they are not champions – but one of the best light heavyweights today in boxing. I have no doubt. I believe in Sergey, I saw his preparation, and I saw the way he prepared for this fight. And I’m not going to talk much; Sergey is going to show us Saturday night in the ring. And I just want to say: Krusher is back. Thank you.”

The Krusher
Photo Credit: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Kathy Duva

“And again, it is my profound pleasure to be able to introduce to you the light heavyweight champion of the world, Sergey Kovalev. The Krusher.”

Sergey Kovalev, Two-Time Light Heavyweight World Champion

“Hi everyone. What can I say, but I am really glad to be here at one of the famous places of boxing, Atlantic City. I am very happy to be fighting here.
I want to first of all say, thank you very much to my team, my newest promotions of Krusher Promotions, HBO and Hard Rock Hotel for organizing this fight, this event and to all of my boxing friends who follow me. It is very important to me, because it gives me motivation moving forward. And all that I do right now and continue to do after my two crazy losses.”

It was a kick from life to awaken me and put my mind on the right trail. I lost my mind when I started to get famous. And I also didn’t have a coach in my training camp. I now have coaches in my training camps. (Before) all of my training camps were done myself, and of course some training camps were good, and some were not. There were some mistakes, of course there are always mistakes, and of course my performances were right, some a little good, and some not.”

Right now, with my coach working with me for the fight, Abror Tursunpulatov, I feel much more professional, because we’ve delivered and went through mistakes. I hope this Saturday, I will show my best skills and what I came to do.
Thank you to the team of Eleider Alvarez to take this fight, because this fight is going to be really interesting. And I’m really proud because he is an undefeated guy and he is professional and fights strong. I just want to say, watch HBO this Saturday, and come to Hard Rock Hotel and watch a nice evening of boxing. Thank you very much, and thanks to God for everything.”

Kathy Duva

“Atlantic City is back in the boxing business and business is good! Once again, tickets start at just 50 dollars and we’re definitely heading for a sellout. Frankly, the 50s are mostly all that’s left. They are available through Ticketmaster, through Hard-Rock-Hotel-Atlantic-City-dot-com. Or you can watch live on HBO World Championship Boxing starting at 10 p.m. Eastern and Pacific Time.

“My thanks to all of the talented and dedicated people working hard to put on this impressive show Saturday – that includes HBO, Hard Rock, New Jersey Athletic Control Board, World of Boxing, Krusher Promotions, Groupe Yvon Michel, and Main Events.

“But I do need to single out one person. That is 2015 NABF Matchmaker of the Year, Jolene Mizzone. The guys have to do the fighting, but Jolene makes the magic happen and does most of the sweating. There is simply no matchmaker in the world with her eye. Will you please give Jolene and the rest of our team a round of applause?

“Thank you for coming today. We’ll now pose the fighters for photos.”

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
Set on 17 acres, with the legendary Atlantic City Boardwalk as its backdrop, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City will be Atlantic City’s go-to entertainment destination, boasting 2,200 slots, 120 table games, more than 20 first-class restaurants and lounges, and world-class entertainment, including Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena, the beachside Sound Waves and the Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club. The hotel and casino also features the iconic Hard Rock Cafe, overlooking the Atlantic City Boardwalk, showcasing a brand new elevated menu and state-of-the-art stage, allowing for an amplified level of service and entertainment. Along with an endless array of upscale amenities, including world-class shopping and the brand’s signature full-service Rock Spa and Salon, featuring 31 treatment rooms, the new, music-inspired property offers lavish guest rooms and suites, with stunning views of the city and Atlantic Ocean. From family vacations and business trips to weddings, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City offers an unparalleled experience. Each of the hotel’s guest rooms and suites radiates a contemporary style, including Hard Rock’s signature The Sound of Your Stay® music amenity program, which allows guests to set the mood with complimentary vinyl records or jam out on a Fender guitar in the privacy of their own room. Hotel guests can enjoy high speed, property-wide Wi-Fi, 24-Hour In-Room Dining, towel and chair service at Hard Rock Beach or at the indoor pool, and 24-Hour Access to Body Rock fitness. For more information and to book your stay, please visit hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com.

Sullivan Barrera vs. Seanie Monaghan Postponed

Bethlehem, PA: Sullivan Barrera (21-2, 14 KOs) suffered an eye injury during a sparring session while training for his August 18, 2018 bout with Irish “Seanie” Monaghan (29-1, 17 KOs). To ensure Barrera is allotted ample time to heal before returning to the ring, Main Events has decided to postpone the Barrera-Monaghan fight.

The fight was slated to be the second installment in the Golden Boy Fight Night on Facebook Watch series live from Sands Resort Casino in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It is unclear at this time whether Barrera will be healed in time for one of the remaining dates in the series. An announcement is expected soon regarding an alternate date, site and perhaps opponent for Monaghan.

Together with Golden Boy Promotions and Facebook, the decision was made to postpone the whole card, rather than make a last-minute substitute. One of the many advantages provided by the Facebook Watch platform is the ability to schedule flexibly – on any date or at any time – to make sure that fans are getting the fights they want to see and to protect the safety of the boxers.

Kathy Duva, Main Events’ CEO explained, “We were all very excited about the Barrera-Monaghan bout appearing on this exciting new series. Unfortunately, injuries happen. If Sullivan is not ready to face Seanie in time to appear on the series, we will do everything in our power to deliver another exciting and entertaining event. We’re thankful to be working with Facebook and Golden Boy on a series that gives us the ability to be flexible.”

FOLLOW US:
#BarreraMonaghan
Twitter: @SullivanBarrera
Instagram: @SullivanBarrera
Twitter: @SeanieMono
Instagram: @SeanieMono
Facebook: facebook.com/IrishSeanieMonaghan
www.mainevents.com
Twitter: @main_events
Facebook: facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing
Instagram: @Main_Events

RICHARD COMMEY FIGHTS YARDLEY CRUZ THIS SATURDAY NIGHT AT NYCB LIVE

New York, NY (August 2, 2018) IBF Lightweight Title Mandatory Challenger Richard Commey (26-2, 23 KOs), of Accra, Ghana, now fighting out of Brooklyn, NY, faces battle-tested Mexican veteran Yardley Cruz (24-10, 14 KOs), of Los Mochis, Mexico, in an eight-round clash on Saturday, August 4, at NYCB LIVE, home of Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Commey vs. Cruz is one of the featured undercard bouts of the stacked Premier Boxing Champions on Fox and Fox Deportes event. Determined to keep his mandatory status, Commey understands that this bout versus Cruz is a must-win for him with a world title shot looming. Doors to the venue open at 3:00pm, with the undercard commencing shortly thereafter.

On March 10, Commey looked sensational, stopping the previously unbeaten 22-0 Alejandro Luna in six rounds to become the mandatory challenger for the IBF lightweight title, then held by Robert Easter. Last Saturday, Mikey Garcia defeated Easter via unanimous decision to capture the IBF belt in a unification bout.

“I’m excited to fight this Saturday night on such a big card and can’t wait to fight for the IBF Lightweight World Title against Mikey Garcia,” said Commey. “This time I’ll be victorious and fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming a world champion.

“I’m very grateful to my promoter Lou DiBella and the rest of my team for giving me the opportunity to face Alejandro Luna and now Yardley Cruz. First, I must be victorious on Saturday then next stop is my world title fight.”

Commey previously challenged Easter for the same title in September 2016, losing a very close 12-round split decision in Reading, PA, in a highly entertaining battle.

“Richard had an outstanding victory against Alejandro Luna in March stopping him in the sixth round and is now the well-deserved #1 mandatory challenger for the IBF Lightweight World Title,” said Commey’s promoter Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Mikey Garcia won the title on Saturday night and now Richard is in line to face him for the championship.

“Fans coming to the fights on Saturday at NYCB Live will be able to see Richard in action against Yardley Cruz, giving him the opportunity to stay sharp ahead of his world title challenge.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, DiBella Entertainment and Mayweather Promotions, are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.nycblive.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the Ticketmaster Box Office at NYCB LIVE. Group discounts are available by calling 516-231-4848.

# # #

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @FOXTV, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions, @LouDiBella, @DiBellaEnt, @NYCBLive and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.Facebook.com/foxdeportes.com www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.Facebook.com/NYCBLive. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina. BROOKLYN BOXING on Long Island is an extension of BSE’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ brand. For more information, visit brooklynboxingshop.com.

Top Rank Signs Saul “Neno” Rodriguez to Multi-Year Promotional Agreement

LAS VEGAS (Aug. 2, 2018) – Saul “Neno” Rodriguez has agreed to a multi-year promotional agreement with Top Rank, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum announced today. Rodriguez fought under the Top Rank banner from 2011-2016 and has returned with an eye on contending in the 130-pound division.

“I’m very excited to be back with Top Rank,” Rodriguez said. “I’m ready to stay busy fighting and training while working towards a world title.”

“We’re very happy to be back with Top Rank,” said Peter Kahn, Rodriguez’s manager. “Top Rank is the leading promotional company in the world and will provide Saul with a platform to accomplish all of his goals as a professional fighter.”

Rodriguez (21-0-1, 15 KOs), a Riverside, California, native turned pro in 2011 following a successful amateur career. The only blemish on his ledger is a 2012 technical draw against Cesar Garcia after a clash of heads caused Garcia’s right eye to swell. Rodriguez went 4-0 in 2014 and 2015 and had a breakthrough performance on Nov. 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, when he knocked out the usually durable Ivan Najera in the opening round. He followed up the Najera win with a seventh-round knockout against former world title challenger Daulis Prescott.

Rodriguez has fought only once since the Prescott win, a 10-round split decision victory against Oscar Bravo on Feb. 24, 2017 in Temecula, California. After a prolonged absence from the ring, the 25-year-old Rodriguez is ready for a fresh start, back where it all began.

Rodriguez’s next bout will be announced soon.

Andre Berto vs. Devon Alexander & Peter Quillin vs. J’Leon Love Final Press Conference Quotes & Photos

LONG ISLAND, NY. (August 2, 2018) – Former welterweight world champions Andre Berto and Devon Alexander went face-to-face Thursday at the final press conference before their primetime main event Saturday, August 4 in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX & FOX Deportes from NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Also competing on Saturday’s telecast that starts at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT and squaring-off Thursday were former champion Peter Quillin and super middleweight contender J’Leon Love. Additional action on FOX and FOX Deportes will feature rising unbeaten prospect Joey Spencer in a super welterweight attraction.

Headlining the FS2 and FOX Deportes telecast beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. ET is unbeaten contender Marcus Browne of Staten Island, who takes on Lenin Castillo, and former champion Luis Collazo, who battles Bryant Perrella in welterweight action, who were both in attendance at Thursday’s press conference.

Competing in undercard action and participating in Thursday’s press conference in her hometown was WBA Super Middleweight Women’s World Champion Alicia Napoleon, who defends her title against Scotland’s Hannah Rankin.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, DiBella Entertainment and Mayweather Promotions, are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.nycblive.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the Ticketmaster Box Office at NYCB LIVE. Group discounts are available by calling 516-231-4848.

Here is what the participants had to say Thursday from The JetBlue Overlook at NYCB Live, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum:

ANDRE BERTO

“A lot of these people on this card have been guys I’ve been around since they were coming up. I’ve been in the game for a while and I’ve been cracking heads for a while.

“We had a tremendous training camp for this fight. I took time to rejuvenate myself and I’ve come back and gotten myself into great shape. I appreciate what Devon Alexander has been through, but he’s dealing with a different animal on Saturday night.

“I’ve pushed hard to give myself the best chance to win on Saturday. We’ve prepared for everything that we think Devon can bring. I’m physically and mentally prepared for a battle.

“I’m going to push Devon. I don’t think he’s fought any that brings what I do since he came back from his layoff. We’re going to see if he’s back. If he’s not ready, then I’m going to make it a long night for him.

“It’s all business on Saturday night. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be dynamite. It’s going to be a good time.”

DEVON ALEXANDER

“I’m thankful that I can continue to fight, build my legacy and do something I love. I’m grateful to be here and show off my talent. I’m still writing my legacy and Berto is just another stepping stone in my way. I have to get past him.

“We had a great training camp down in Florida. Coach Cunningham has prepared me as well as for any fight in my career. The focus and dedication we put into camp will all show in the ring on fight night.

“Andre Berto was a great champion and I definitely respect what he’s done in this sport. Both of us need this win badly though and I’m sure neither of us will look to take a step back on our way to a victory.

“I love being in New York. I always get a lot of love from the fans, and they’re definitely a passionate group of fans. I’m going to be ready for the bright lights on Saturday.

“I have to thank Berto for accepting the challenge. We go way back to the amateur days. I’m up for the challenge. Everyone knows I will fight anybody. It’s going to be a great fight. There’s going to be fireworks.”

PETER QUILLIN

“I am more than ready for this fight. I have a lot of history with J’Leon Love. I’m going to be ready for him and it’s going to be a fight the fans won’t want to miss.

“I’m very blessed to be back in this position. Coach Sosa has really been a great gift for me. He’s helped me mentally and physically build on everything I had done with Virgil Hunter in the two years prior.

“Being back in New York definitely helps make me feel like I’ve made it back. I can be back in front of my fans, and most importantly my family, so that I can feel their support and let it carry me in the ring.

“We’ve worked on everything in camp and we’re ready to put on a show Saturday. I’m ready to show everyone that I still have what it takes to compete for a world title. This is something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time now.

JLEON LOVE

“I appreciate people coming out. I love coming to New York. This is a great card with so many great fighters and I’m grateful for the opportunity.

“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. Come August 4, you will see me display my talent. I have nothing but respect for Peter Quillin, but this is why they call it the crossroads. We have to run into each other.

“I’m not worried about anything Peter has done in past fights. I’m prepared for the best Peter Quillin we’ve seen. He’s not going to catch me by surprise in there.

“I just have to be smart, listen to my corner and impose my game plan. I know that I have the skills to win and win convincingly. If I follow the game plan, I’m going to show everyone I’m ready for the best in the division.

“I’m excited to be back in New York. I’m planning on riding the energy from the crowd, whether it’s rooting against me or with me, and giving everyone something to remember.”

MARCUS BROWNE

“It’s been a while but I’m thankful to be back. I’m super ready to go in there on Saturday night and put on a show for you guys. I’m going to do what I do best, and keep my name in title contention.

“I know that my opponent is skilled and he’s going to be ready to try to upset me. But I’ve worked too hard in camp to let anyone walk into my home and beat me. It’s just not happening.

“I’ve made sure to just stay patient and know that my time is coming. I’m going to keep adding to my resume until there’s no one who can deny my shot.

“I’m trying to get this done impressively, but I’ll take the win however I can get it. At this point it’s about continuing to win so that I can keep myself at the top of the rankings. I want a world title shot and I’m ready for it.”

LUIS COLLAZO

“It’s great to be here. I want to give thanks for everyone who has helped me in the last 18 months while I recovered from my injury. It was hard, but it was a process I had to go to.

“My team has supported me through thick and thin no matter what I’ve been through. That included my dad, who originally brought me into the gym when I was a kid. This is just what I love to do.

“My opponent is young and desperate to put a name on his record. He’s got some skills that we’ve prepared for. I’m confident he doesn’t have anything I haven’t seen before.

“I’m ready to go to work on August 4. I’m going to give the fans a great fight and another night to remember with me in the ring.”

ALICIA NAPOLEON

“This is a big card with a lot of action and I’m proud to be on it. Hannah is a wonderful champion and this is going to be a great fight. This is a tremendous opportunity and we’re going to continue to push for better and better opportunities for female fighters.

“This is a fight you won’t want to miss. I’ve had a great camp and I’m prepared for another war. I won this title at Barclays Center in March and I can’t wait to see everyone out cheering for us on Saturday.

“It’s an honor to be fighting at home. I really take it to heart that there are young female fighters out there who watch me for inspiration. It helps motivate me and I believe it’s going to help me defend my title successfully on Saturday.”

HANNAH RANKIN

“It’s fantastic to be on such a great card. I’ve been looking for a big fight like this and it couldn’t have come at a better time for me.

“When I got the call for this fight I was obviously going to say yes. Camp has been amazing and I can’t wait to go in there on Saturday night and show everyone what I’m capable of.

“This is a worthy opponent and I’m glad that she accepted the challenge. I’ve come too far to leave New York without the championship belt.”

LOU DIBELLA, President of DiBella Entertainment

“This should be a sensational show on Saturday, live on FOX and FOX Deportes beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. There is also a terrific show that actually begins on FS2 and FOX Deportes at 5:30 p.m. ET. This is a loaded card from top to bottom, as you can see from the dais here. It features a number of the best fighters in the world.

“The main event features two men in Andre Berto and Devon Alexander who are both multiple time world champions, well known fighters and fighters who need this win. The recipe for a great fight is two terrific boxers who must win.

“The co-featured event is a similar bout. Peter Quillin and J’Leon Love are guys who are in the championship picture at 168-pounds. The reality is the winner of this fight will have a chance to fight for the title soon.

“There’s a women’s title fight on this card that features Long Island’s only boxing world champion, in Alicia Napoleon. She’s a popular local fighter who is going to make the first defense of her title on Saturday. She will fight the pride of Scotland, in Hannah Rankin, in what should be a great bout. These are two champions of the sport and we’re honored to have them in the ring Saturday.”

# # #

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @FOXTV, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions, @LouDiBella, @NYCBLive and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.facebook.com/foxdeportes. www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/NYCBLive. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina. BROOKLYN BOXING on Long Island is an extension of BSE’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ brand. For more information, visit brooklynboxingshop.com.

Dmitry Bivol vs. Isaac Chilemba Scouting Report

(Atlantic City, New Jersey) – WBA Light Heavyweight World Champion Dmitry Bivol (13-0, 11 KOs) of Russia faces a title defense against light heavyweight contender Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba (25-5-2, 10 KOs) of Malawi. Bivol and Chilemba will fight in the co-main event on the Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev vs. Eleider “Storm” Alvarez card at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on Saturday, August 4. The doubleheader will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Category
Dmitry Bivol
Isaac “The Golden Boy” Chilemba
Age
27
31
Record
13-0-0 (11 KOs)
25-5-2 (10 KOs)
Strength
Bivol is a strong light heavyweight who has wasted little time with his opposition thus far. He has legitimate power in both hands, a strong jab and unleashes vicious combinations.
Chilemba is a highly skilled technical fighter with plenty of experience. He has incredible endurance and great defense. He uses his jab well and is very accurate with all his punches.
Weakness
Although he’s the current WBA Light Heavyweight champion, Bivol only has 13 professional bouts under his belt. This is something that may play a part against his experienced opponent.
Chilemba lacks significant punching power in either hand. He has only recorded one knockout victory since 2011. He has been inactive, only fighting once in the past 22 months.
Experience
Bivol will be at a disadvantage. His most recent win over Sullivan Barrera came against his most impressive opponent thus far. Chilemba has been in the ring with some of the best men the light heavyweight division has to offer.
Chilemba has faced top opposition throughout his career, including Tony Bellew, Sergey Kovalev, Eleider Alvarez and more. He is coming in with more than double the number of professional bouts under his belt than his opponent.
Power
Bivol has raw and legitimate power in his punches. He has a powerful jab that he snaps all night, and anything that follows his jab can end the night in an instant.
Chilemba will be at a disadvantage. He’s recorded just one knockout win in his last 12 bouts. However, what he lacks in power he makes up for in timing and accuracy.
Speed
The WBA titleholder has quick hands and does a superb job of beating his opponents to the punch with uncanny timing.
Chilemba is quick on his feet and has tremendous body movement, which is a reason why he can be difficult to hit at times.
Endurance
Bivol proved in his most recent bout he could dig deep in the championship rounds when he earned a stoppage win in the 12th and final round against Sullivan Barrera.
Chilemba has proven time and time again his gas tank is just as deep as anyone’s. He has gone a full 12-rounds on 11 separate occasions, including his most recent bout, a UD win over former title contender Blake Caparello.
Accuracy
Bivol’s aggressive, in-your-face style has allowed him to perfect his accurate punching. He likes to close in on his opponents, leaving them little room to run.
Chilemba is a very accurate puncher. He picks his shots wisely and times his punches well. He is also an effective counter-puncher, which should help considering his opponent’s usual high punch output.
Defense
Isaac Chilemba will be the most technically skilled boxer the champion has faced in his young career. This fight will help determine the level of Bivol’s defense.
Chilemba will be at an advantage; he has good foot work and moves around the ring very well. He is also an effective counter-puncher, which stems from his defensive skills.
Chin
Bivol took some big shots in his last bout with Sullivan Barrera. He was able to weather the storm and finish the fight strong.
Chilemba has proven throughout his career that he can take a punch from the best. He is one of the few fighters to have gone the distance with current light heavyweight king Sergey Kovalev.
Style
Dmitry Bivol is a very physical, in-your-face fighter. He uses his jab to the fullest and throws punches in bunches. He likes to come forward throughout the fight and smother his opponents, which has worked to perfection so far in the young champion’s career.
Isaac Chilemba is a technical fighter who uses counter punching skills with an effective defense. He shows great patience in the ring in dissecting his opposition. He has demonstrated in past fights that if a slugfest breaks out, he will not hesitate to fight fire-with-fire.
Intangibles
Bivol won a world championship in just his 12th fight as a professional. He has thrown down the gauntlet to the division since his professional debut, and there is no turning back now. He fully understands as long as he holds the WBA title, he will continue to face the best 175 pounders in the world. Chilemba will be the most experienced and accomplished contender he has faced to date.
Throughout his career, Isaac Chilemba has never turned down a fight. He understands in order to achieve goals in this sport, you need to fight the best when those fights are offered to you. Chilemba has consistently fought the best. Now he has the chance to seize this opportunity to win a title. This fight will mark the fifth undefeated fighter he has faced in his previous six bouts.
Crowd Support
Dmitry Bivol should have significant crowd support. He gained new fans and put himself on the division map in his most recent TKO win over Sullivan Barrera.
Similar to his opponent, Isaac Chilemba should expect significant crowd support. He has some big wins on his resume, and has competed against some of the best fighters in the world.
The Match-Up
Will Chilemba be able to handle the power and picked shots by Bivol?
Will Bivol get frustrated with Chilemba’s tactical defense?
Will Chilemba be able to rise to the occasion?
Will Bivol put his stamp in the Light Heavyweight division and stop Chilemba, whose only stoppage was due to an injury rendering him unable to continue?

“This match up says a lot about each fighter,” said Main Events Matchmaker Jolene Mizzone, 2015 NABF Matchmaker of the Year. “You have Dmitry, who is not taking a step back from his last fight when he fought against Sullivan Barrera. Isaac has been in with the top light heavyweight fighters. Dmitry is taking a risk against a guy who has a lot to prove in the division and always comes to fight. That is dangerous for anyone. Then you have Chilemba, who has never turned down a challenge. He is fighting a young up-and-coming boxer who has a lot to prove, that too is dangerous. It is always refreshing when each boxer wants to challenge themselves!”

Welterweight Contender & Minneapolis Fan-Favorite Jamal James Takes On Mexico’s Mahonry Montes Friday, August 24 in Main Event of Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 & FOX Deportes from the Armory in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (August 2, 2018) – Welterweight contender Jamal James will return to action in his hometown as he takes on Mexico’s Mahonry Montes in the main event of an exciting night of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes action Friday, August 24 from the Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The telecast begins at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT and will feature middleweight contenders Willie Monroe Jr. and Immanuwel Aleem going to battle in a 10-round attraction and unbeaten rising prospect Jamontay Clark taking on once-beaten Jeison Rosario in a 10-round super welterweight contest.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and are available by visiting www.ArmoryMN.com or Ticketmaster.com.

“Jamal James is building a following in his hometown of Minneapolis as he builds momentum in the welterweight division, and this fight against Mahonry Montes will help him accomplish both things,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “The undercard features some strong matches that include boxers who will figure prominently into the championship picture in the near future. It will be an entertaining show for the fans in Minneapolis and those tuning in on FS1 and FOX Deportes.”

“Warriors Boxing is very excited to return to the beautiful newly-renovated Armory in Minneapolis with another PBC on FS1 and FOX Deportes show,” said Leon Margules, President of Warriors Boxing. “In addition to the great lineup of televised fights, headlined by local star Jamal James, favorite son and former world champion Caleb Truax returns to the ring at home for the first time since back-to-back road performance in world title fights.”

James (23-1, 10 KOs) built on the biggest victory of his career – a knockout over tough veteran Diego Chaves last December – with a decision win against Abel Ramos in April at the Armory and on FS1. The 30-year-old James has picked up three-straight victories since suffering the only loss of his career – a unanimous decision defeat to Yordenis Ugas in August 2016. He returns to downtown Minneapolis looking to keep his momentum going towards the top of the welterweight division.

“I’m in camp training hard for another thriller at home against a pressure fighter in Mahonry Montes,” said James. “I’m going to use my height, range and skills to show that I’m hungry and keeping my eyes on the prize. Once I get past Montes, a big name is going to have to fight me. I’m right on the road to a world title challenge.”

The 28-year-old Montes (35-7-1, 24 KOs) has challenged everyone from world champions to top rising prospects throughout his pro career and enters this bout having scored knockout victories in consecutive fights. Representing Sinaloa, Mexico, Montes owns a victory over welterweight contender Francisco Santana in a fight last year that saw Montes drop his opponent on the way to a decision victory.

“I’m am so excited to have this opportunity against Jamal James,” said Montes. “My last loss was unfortunate because I thought I had my opponent hurt, but I’ve picked up a couple of wins since then and have been training very hard. I’m ready to show everyone that I belong with the best fighters in the world. I’m never in a bad fight and I’m going to show the fans in Minnesota how a real Mexican fights.”

A two-time title challenger, Monroe (22-3, 6 KOs) has faced current titlists Gennady Golovkin and Billy Joe Saunders in his forays into championship fights. The 31-year-old from Rochester, New York has defeated Gabriel Rosado, Brian Vera and John Thompson since 2015 to earn multiple opportunities at the middleweight title. Monroe most recently won a dominant decision over Carlos Galvan in March.

Fighting out of Virginia, Aleem (18-1-1, 11 KOs) stopped Juan De Angel in the sixth-round of their May fight to get back in the win column after his first defeat in a bout against Hugo Centeno Jr last August. The 24-year-old had stopped then unbeaten Ievgen Khytrov in the sixth round of a January 2017 fight that became a Fight of the Year nominee prior to the Centeno fight.

The 23-year-old Clark (13-0, 7 KOs) has used his height and reach to establish himself as a fast-rising prospect on his way to contender status. The Cincinnati-native had two impressive victories in 2017, first defeating then unbeaten Ivan Golub and then a decision victory over Domonique Dolton last November as he came out victorious against his toughest pro opponent so far.

Rosario (15-1-1, 11 KOs) fights out of Miami but is originally from the Dominican Republic. Rosario suffered his first defeat last year at the hands of Nathaniel Gallimore, but has rebounded to be undefeated in his last four fights. This run has seen the 23-year-old fight to a draw with Mark Anthony Hernandez in February before defeating Justin DeLoach and dropping him twice on his way to a decision victory in May.

# # #

Fans can live stream the fights on the FOX Sports app, available in English or Spanish through the FS1 or FOX Deportes feeds. The fights are available on desktop at FOXSportsGO.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. In addition, all programs are also available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.comhttp://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com.
Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @TGBPromotions, @WarriorsBoxProm, @FS1, @FOXDeportes and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, and www.facebook.com/foxdeportes. Highlights available at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on FS1 & FOX Deportes is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

CANELO ALVAREZ INTENSIFIES TRAINING CAMP IN PREPARATION FOR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED REMATCH AGAINST GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. (August 2, 2018): Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) has stepped up training camp in his second home of San Diego, Calif. as he prepares to face WBC, WBA, and IBO Middleweight World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs) in the most anticipated bout of 2018. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

After a controversial split draw that left the boxing fans wanting even more – Canelo shared his revamped routine as he prepares for the historic rematch, which will take place on Mexican Independence Day Weekend.

Details for Canelo’s training are as follows:
Running every morning (except Sunday) at around 6:00 a.m.
Training in the gym from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (jumping rope, shadowboxing, hitting the bags, working on strategy, etc.).
Sparring sessions at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Diet consists of chicken, fish, and select vegetables.
This week Canelo will complete his fourth week of training and third week of sparring.
Canelo’s camp still has five weeks’ worth of sparring left and he will complete 66 rounds of sparring this week.
This is what Canelo shared as he nears the halfway mark of his intense training camp in preparation for the fight of his career:

“The last fight gave us the blueprint for this rematch. We don’t necessarily have to change the strategy; we just have to add to what we did. We have to throw more punches in every round. We need to do that to remove any doubts about the victory. For that we will work on our conditioning. That’s what we needed a little more of in the first fight in order to be able to throw punches constantly in each round.

“We have been training very well. We’ve been working hard on the conditioning. That’s what we’ll need a lot of in the second fight. We’re focused. We’re focused on the style of Golovkin. We know that he’s not going to change. He’s going to go out to do the same thing he always does and come forward. He may want to change, but when things get tough, he’ll go back to the style he’s been using his whole life and which he has never changed.

“I’ve fought with very difficult fighters who are very difficult to land shots on and difficult to fight. I’ve fought with strong fighters as well. He’s a strong fighter. He’s a dangerous fighter. He is one of the toughest fighters I’ve faced. This is one of those fights we’re I’ll be the most prepared of my career.

“I’m automatically a faster fighter than he [Golovkin]. My reflexes are quicker than his, so I could see punches [in the first fight]. But he has a lot of experience. He landed some shots on me, but that’s due to his experience, and I could see punches as soon as he began to throw them. In the fifth round, I was hit with the kind of shot to knock someone out. It was between the ear and the neck, but I didn’t feel anything.

“I knew who Golovkin was from the beginning. He’s been at 160 pounds for pretty much his entire career. I’ve always said that when I move up to middleweight, I would fight the best. He’s supposed to be the best, and I felt very good in the first fight. His power is nothing out of this world.

“I don’t know why Golovkin’s corner or team have been aggressive in their talks. It may be because of the rivalry we have. I don’t know. I think they’ve gone too far. They’ve gone beyond just trying to sell the fight with their statements. I don’t like talking or instigating with the fighter or even trying to make a show to sell the fight. People know that when we get into the ring, we’re going to give a great fight, period.

“In some sense, he might have offended me. But I always consider who’s saying what. The truth is that Golovkin is my opponent, so I understand it. With Abel Sanchez, it doesn’t worry me at all. Because at the end of the day, what about him? At the end of the day, he’s not going to get in the ring with me.

“It got more personal this time around. The little respect that we had for each other was lost. I’m using this as motivation. Everything that he has said has made it personal. What they said about who I am as a person has made it personal. But I will use it intelligently to my benefit this Sept. 15.

“I dedicate this fight to everyone who has always supported me. To my family and my team, and to all the people who will watch the fight. It will be a great fight.”

Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets for Canelo vs. GGG 2 are on sale now, and are priced at $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700, and $500 not including applicable service charges and taxes. There will be a limit of eight (8) per person at the $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700 and $500 price levels. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets will also be available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com
or www.axs.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.caneloggg.com and www.hbo.com/boxing; follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @hboboxing and @TomLoeffler1; become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,
www.facebook.com/gggboxing, and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing; follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @HBOboxing and @OscarDeLaHoya; and follow the conversation using #CaneloGGG2.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying
and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloGGG2 into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy Promotions for any photo and/or video usage.

WARREN DELIVERS JACK CATTERALL V OHARA DAVIES

HALL of Fame promoter Frank Warren will stage a massive night of boxing at Leicester Arena on Saturday October 6.

The show will feature Britain’s number one female boxer Nicola Adams (4-0) challenging for her first world title on the BT Sport televised card.

One of the biggest fights in domestic boxing takes place when Chorley’s WBO intercontinental super-lightweight champion Jack Catterall (22-0) meets WBC international super-lightweight champion Ohara Davies (18-1) with both belts at stake.

Londoner Davies isn’t scared of shooting from the lip and the build-up and fight against Catterall where the winner will be primed for a world title tilt will not be for the feint-hearted.

Warren believes Daniel Dubois (8-0) is the finest prospect in the heavyweight division, but the man who has KO’d every opponent faces his toughest night against Kevin Johnson (32-10-1).

The iron-chinned American went the distance with Vitali Klitschko in a WBC world title challenge in 2009 and also lasted the 12 round distance with Tyson Fury in a world title eliminator.

He represents a huge step up in class for Dubois who is tipped to dominate the heavyweight division.

The rivalry between Leicester hero Lyon Woodstock (11-0) and Welling’s Archie Sharp (13-0) has spilled over on social media and the pair will settle their spat in the ring.

Woodstock will be defending his WBO European super-featherweight title and the winner will be in line to face British champion Sam Bowen (13-0).

Bowen has his first ever fight under Warren’s promotional banner on the bill with his British title likely to be on the line.

Adams opponent will be confirmed in the next week.

Warren said: “We’re pleased to be back in Leicester and bringing top quality boxing to the East Midlands.

“I am so pleased that we have put together such a strong card stacked with competitive fights for fans and those watching on BT Sport.

“Jack and Ohara is just a mouth-watering fight and we decided to put it on neutral territory in fairness to them both.

“Last time we went to Leicester one of the reasons we had a good turnout was because of local hero, Leon and that is a big reason we are there again.

“His fight against Archie is a pick ‘em and like Jack and Ohara, they are enemies and not friends.

“There is plenty of beef there and it could come down to the coolest head on the night in both fights.

“When Nicola turned professional I promised she would get a world title fight and we have delivered that in her fifth professional fight.

“And Sam Bowen, I am absolutely delighted he has signed a promotional agreement with us and also to be working with his manager Carl Greaves who has been vocal about how good Sam is.

“There are big fights in and outside our stable for him with Lyon, Archie and Zelfa Barrett all in the queue, but I know Carl is looking beyond British titles.

“Everyone knows my opinion on Daniel Dubois and Johnson may well be the man to give him rounds. I don’t think too many if any prospects have met Johnson so soon in their career.”

Full ticket and press conference details will be announced very shortly.

New Seven-Year Deal Runs Through 2025 Includes 54 Exclusive Live Top Rank on ESPN Events per Year

ESPN and Top Rank, the world’s premier boxing promotional company, today announced the most comprehensive, exclusive rights agreement in the history of boxing. This new seven-year deal runs from 2018 to 2025 and includes 54 events per year, as well as a full offering of exclusive shoulder programming, classic fights and studio content.

Top Rank on ESPN content will air on ESPN linear networks or stream 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.

This new agreement is the result of the huge success of the first year of Top Rank on ESPN. It will allow for a comprehensive alliance between Top Rank and ESPN’s leading networks and platforms to showcase even more Top Rank content, including live events, additional original programming and library content.

Highlights from the first year of Top Rank on ESPN include:

1. Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn (July 1, 2017) – The “Battle of Brisbane” had an average viewership of 3.1 million viewers and a peak of 4.4 million viewers, making it the highest-rated boxing telecast on cable since 2006 and ESPN’s highest-rated boxing telecast since 1995. Horn defeated Pacquiao by unanimous decision in a thrilling match.

2. Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux (Dec. 9, 2017) – Second most-watched cable boxing telecast of 2017, averaging 1.85 million viewers. It was the first boxing match in history to feature two two-time Olympic gold medalists.

3. Terence Crawford vs. Jeff Horn (June 9, 2018) and Manny Pacquiao vs. Lucas Matthysse (July 14, 2018) – Pound-for-pound elite Crawford won the WBO welterweight title over Horn in an event that drove subscriptions and was streamed live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+, ESPN’s new and innovative direct-to-consumer streaming service. The only eight-division champion in boxing history, Pacquiao headlined a second sensational fight on ESPN+, winning the WBA “regular” world welterweight title in a seventh-round TKO of Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

4. Terence Crawford vs. Julius Indongo (Aug. 19, 2017) – Crawford unified all four 140-pound titles with a third-round TKO over Indongo, becoming the first undisputed champion in boxing (in any weight class) since 2005.

5. Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Jorge Linares (May 12, 2018) – Thus far, it is the most-watched cable boxing broadcast of 2018. Lomachenko dethroned Linares to win the WBA lightweight title, becoming the fastest fighter to win world titles in three weight classes. Lomachenko accomplished that feat in 12 fights, breaking the previous record held by Jeff Fenech, who did it in 20 professional fights.

In the new deal, the 54 live events provide fans with a consistent boxing destination that showcases not only the finest of U.S. and international championship matchups, but also comprehensive coverage of up-and-coming prospects and contenders.

The exclusive live event breakdown per year is as follows:

– 18 events on ESPN

– 12 exclusive, prime time events on ESPN+

– 24 premium international events on ESPN+

– Undercard coverage of all 54 events on ESPN+

Subscribers to ESPN+ will also have access to a variety of new and existing boxing content throughout the year, including:

· The Boxing Beat with Dan Rafael (Tuesdays)

· In this Corner (twice monthly)

· Camp Life

· The unmatched, on-demand treasure chest of the greatest fights of all time, including hundreds of fights from the ESPN Big Fights Library and the Top Rank archive, including Ali vs. Frazier I-III, Ali vs. Foreman, Leonard vs. Duran I-III, Hagler vs. Hearns and Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, among many more

· Re-airs of all Top Rank on ESPN and Top Rank on ESPN PPV bouts

· Weigh-ins, post-fight interviews, and press conferences

Boxing news, information, and opinion will also appear across ESPN platforms and new programs will be developed and announced at a later date.

Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN President and Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks, said: “ESPN is thrilled with this new long-term agreement with Top Rank, which represents the most innovative and comprehensive relationship in the world of boxing today. By creating and distributing significantly more Top Rank events and boxing content, ESPN and Top Rank will jointly cultivate upcoming fighters and fights, creating the stars of tomorrow while providing fans with the sport’s best content in a more personalized manner.”

Todd duBoef, President of Top Rank, said: “This partnership will continue to bring the biggest events and best fighters from around the world to ESPN networks. Our collective ability to integrate live events, classic fights, studio shows, and behind-the-scenes features will raise the long-term profile of the sport of boxing and the athletes.”

Added Kevin Mayer, Chairman, Direct-to-Consumer and International, The Walt Disney Company, “This expanded relationship with Top Rank increases the ability of ESPN+ to serve boxing fans better than ever and allows us to continue to build more direct relationships with this incredibly passionate audience.”

Launched in April, ESPN+ is an integrated part of a completely redesigned ESPN App. Already the leading sports app, the new ESPN App is the premier all-in-one digital sports platform for fans and highlights the company’s culture of innovation. With a richer, increasingly more personalized experience, the new ESPN App curates all of ESPN’s incredible content into an experience unique to each fan’s individual tastes. ESPN+ is also available through ESPN.com.

The deal with ESPN was brokered by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) on behalf of its client, Top Rank.

—30—

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International (DTCI) segment in conjunction with ESPN. It offers fans thousands of additional live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks.

Programming on ESPN+ includes hundreds of MLB, NHL and MLS games, thousands of college sports events (including football, basketball and multiple other sports from more than 15 conferences), exclusive Top Rank boxing, UFC (beginning in 2019), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby, cricket, new and exclusive documentary films and series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films. Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time.

Ladarius Miller Training Camp Quotes

LAS VEGAS (August 1, 2018) – Rising lightweight contender Ladarius Miller will look to make a statement when he faces Dennis Galarza in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) Friday, August 3 from Sam’s Town in Las Vegas.

“I’m putting the lightweight division on notice,” said Miller. “I will be a name tossed in with the other great fighters in this division and I’m coming for that top spot. No one can stop me.”

Miller has improved across the board since a defeat to Rolando Chinea and will look to continue to build off of his recent momentum on August 3.

“Suffering a loss has helped me toughen up mentally,” said Miller. “I added a strength and conditioning coach who’s kept me in shape and helped me push myself farther. My head trainer Rafael Ramos has helped me get to this point and we’re only getting started.

“I now know that the only person who can beat me in the ring is myself. Whenever I’m in the gym and thinking about the loss, I remind myself that I am my only competition. When you begin to get serious about your craft and dedicate yourself, the results show.”

The Memphis-native, who now fights under the Mayweather Promotions banner in Las Vegas, is positioned to make waves in his first headlining spot.

“It feels great to be in this position at the top of the card,” said Miller. “Floyd and Leonard Ellerbe are putting me in a great position leading a card full of talented fighters. I don’t know where I’m ranked right now, but I believe this fight will get me to the level I need to be at to be in the conversation with top contenders.”

He will be opposed by the skilled and lanky Galarza, a fighter that Miller is familiar with and who he may mesh with to create a memorable fight night.

“I have a plan for whatever Galarza brings my way, but most importantly, I want to give the fans a great show and continue to show the world who Ladarius Miller is,” said Miller. “I’ve known Galarza since the amateur days. He’s a talented fighter who’s long and capable of fighting from a good range. I’m quicker, craftier and at the end of the day, I think I’m going to win a great fight.”

Tickets for the event, which is being promoted by Mayweather Promotions, begin at $25, are on sale now and will be available at www.samstownlv.com/entertain.

# # #

Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce will also be available to be streamed live via Bounce’s new subscription-video-on-demand service Brown Sugar, which features an extensive and one-of-a-kind library of iconic black movies as well as Bounce original programming and series. Brown Sugar is available on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Channels, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Kindle, Android and Apple smartphones and tablets and web browsers via BrownSugar.com. Brown Sugar also has Google Chromecast capabilities which allow video to play on televisions directly from mobile devices and tablets for consumers with Android and iOS devices. There is a free initial trial period for subscribers with a retail price of $3.99/month thereafter.

Bounce (@BounceTV) airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage, and features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports, and more. Bounce has grown to be available in more than 109 million homes across the United States and 97% of all African-American (AA) television homes, including all the top AA television markets. Visit BounceTV.com for more information. Bounce is part of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP).

For more information visit: www.premierboxingchampions.com and www.mayweatherpromotions.com follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @BounceTV, @MayweatherPromo, and @Swanson_Comm, become a fan on Facebook at: www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, Facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.Facebook.com/BounceTV. Follow the conversation using #PBConBounce. PBC on Bounce is sponsored by Corona: La Cerveza Mas Fina.

For local channel location, visit BounceTV.com.