LONDON (Sept. 7, 2023) – Lineal & WBC heavyweight boxing champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury and lineal heavyweight MMA king Francis Ngannou met face-to-face today at the kickoff press conference for the most anticipated combat sports event of the year.

Fury and Ngannou will collide in a 10-round boxing match on Saturday, October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in an epic showdown between two giants of their fields, which will mark the opening of this year’s Riyadh Season. The fight will take place under the official rules of professional boxing, with the three ringside judges using the 10-point must system.

This clash of heavyweight titans is promoted by Queensberry, Top Rank and Ngannou’s promotional banner, GIMIK Fight Promotions.
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Fury-Ngannou will be available on pay-per-view in the United States.

At today’s press conference, this is what Fury, Ngannou and Hall of Fame promoters Bob Arum and Frank Warren had to say:

Tyson Fury

“I’m absolutely honored to be fighting Francis.  He’s going to be a very, very good fighting man. You can see that he’s massive. He’s in shape. He’s going to be a real challenge. It’s something different for me. I’m used to boxing boxers and boxing the head off of somebody. But fighting an MMA guy who comes in with a different style is going to be different.”

“I can’t wait for it. It’s going to be an absolutely fantastic event. I’m honored that I’m a part of it, and I’m honored that Francis is a part of it. I’ve got to take my hat off to Francis for his story, where he’s come from, the fight, the grind, the determination and everything he’s put into it to get to where he is.”

“I will give Francis the respect that he deserves as a warrior, as a man and as a world champion. He’s a big man. He’s very strong and powerful. And it’s in my interest to give it the 100 percent training in camp and bring in the best sparring possible for me.”

Francis Ngannou 

“I am very excited. I am very happy. I have been dreaming of becoming a boxer since I was a kid. And today, I’m not just going to box; I’m going to box the guy at the peak of the mountain. Usually, I would not pay attention to what is going around. But this thing is so big that I can’t stop thinking about it. History is going to be made.”

“It’s something that I didn’t see coming, even though my dream was always there. I always hoped for it to happen some day. But I didn’t see it lay out this way as one of the biggest events of the world. This is not just a fight. We are going to open up Riyadh Season. So, it is a cultural event that we are fighting on. And we’ll just make this fight bigger and bigger. Nobody knows exactly what’s going to happen, but what I do know for sure is that I’m going to be out there hunting for that guy’s head to take it off. I can guarantee that.”
 
Bob Arum

“This is a massive event around the world, but it’s particularly massive in the United States because MMA has become one of the most popular sports there and Francis Ngannou is a legend in that sport. And Tyson has performed so admirably in the United States over the past few years that he is a massive figure in sports. The fact that they’re both coming together is something that is creating tremendous interest in the United States.”

Frank Warren

“This is a massive event. This is the biggest event I’ve ever been involved with. It’s a crossover event. You’ve got a guy who is the best in his discipline. He is the heavyweight champion. And you’ve got the man, the lineal champion, Tyson Fury, who has done everything you can ask for in a fighter. He’s an undefeated champion, a brilliant boxer and fighter. He can box or he can stand and trade with you. This is going to be something special.”

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About Riyadh Season:
Saudi Arabia’s capital embraces one of the world’s biggest entertainment events every year during winter. Since the launch of the Riyadh Season in 2019, the festival has welcomed visitors from all over the world to experience thousands of concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and other unique cultural events. In 2023, Riyadh Season will commence on Saturday, 28 October with a spectacular opening ceremony and an historic boxing match between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou.

INGLEWOOD, CALIF. (September 7, 2023) – Tickets for the welterweight showdown between NABO Welterweight Titleholder Alexis “Lex” Rocha (23-1, 15 KOs) of Santa Ana and San Diego’s undefeated and No.4 WBO-ranked Giovani “Gallo de Oro” Santillan (31-0, 16 KOs) will go on sale Friday, September 8 at 10:00 a.m. PT. The 12-round title defense, presented in association with Top Rank, will take place at the famous Kia Forum and broadcast live worldwide on DAZN. 

Tickets for Rocha vs. Santillan are priced at $150, $100, $75, $50 and $30 plus applicable fees. A limited amount of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets will also be available for purchase with exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades included. Standard and VIP tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or GoldenBoyPromotions.com.

More information on the undercard will be announced soon.

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Rocha vs. Santillan is a 12-round welterweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Top Rank. The event will be available worldwide to all subscribers on DAZN, both live and on demand.

Media interested in covering the fight can apply for a credential at https://www.emccredentials.com/rocha_santillan. Applications are due EOD, October 13, 2023.

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

About the Kia Forum

The Kia Forum, located in Inglewood, California, is the only arena-sized venue in the country dedicated to music and entertainment, delivering a superior experience for artists and fans alike. The iconic venue attracts a wide variety of premier events including the biggest names in music and entertainment, award shows, combat sports and more. Fans at the Kia Forum enjoy approximately 8,000 square feet of event level hospitality offerings, including merchandise and food and beverage options. A tinted glass wall separates this concession area from the arena, ensuring fans do not miss a moment of the show. A 40,000-square-foot outdoor terrace wraps around the perimeter of the building and offers comfortable furnishings and food and beverage options from some of SoCal’s most celebrated brands. Designed with entertainers and performers in mind, Kia Forum Backstage includes star-caliber dressing rooms that provide unparalleled comfort. The Kia Forum was honored at the 2022 Pollstar Awards as recipient of the Arena of the Decade award. For more information, please visit thekiaforum.com. Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

O’Shaquie Foster will defend his WBC World Super-Featherweight title against Eduardo ‘Rocky’ Hernandez at the Benito Juárez Sports Center in Cancun, Mexico on Saturday October 28, live worldwide on DAZN, in association with Pepe Gomez and Cancun Boxing.
 
Foster (20-2 11 KOs) landed the vacant belt in San Antonio, Texas in February, becoming the first fighter to defeat Mexican Rey Vargas on points to become World champion at the first attempt. The Houston native meets Mexican opposition again in his maiden defense on hostile ground, with the well-traveled champion fighting in a fourth country in his last seven fights. 
 
Hernandez (34-1 31 KOs) lands his mandatory shot at Foster on home turf and the big punching challenger will relish having his first World title fight in Mexico. ‘Rocky’ has been on a ferocious run of KO wins, recording his sixth straight win inside six rounds with a third round bludgeoning of Hector Garcia in Monterrey in July.
 
“It’s that time again!” said Foster. “King Shock is back in action. I’m excited for the opportunity to be back in the ring and defend my title. 
 
“We’re once again going into uncharted territory, so I’m eager to prove once again that I’m the best in the world and that I’m here to stay! Come October 28, I will dominate!”
 
“I’ve dreamed about this moment my whole life,” said Hernandez. “O’Shaquie is the best 130lbs champion. I beat him, and I show the world that I’m the best in the division.”
 
“This is going to be an explosive clash in Cancun,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “O’Shaquie will be full of confidence heading into his first defense after beating a great fighter like Vargas to win the title, but Rocky is a ferocious puncher that has been destroying everyone put in front of him and won’t take a backwards step in trying to achieve his dream. This is a fight not to miss and I expect yet another great Matchroom fight night in Mexico on October 28.”
 
The first undercard action announced on the card sees Australian Heavyweight Justis Huni make his long-awaited Matchroom debut against Andrew Tabiti. The pair were slated to meet in New Orleans in June, but an ankle injury in sparring for the Aussie amateur standout just weeks before the bout robbed forced the bout to be postponed.
 
Huni (7-0 4 KOs) will be champing at the bit to get back in the ring and kick-off his new dawn with Matchroom after penning a two-year deal with Hearn in February, and the 24 year old fights in the States for the first time in his career against former Cruiserweight World title challenger Tabiti (20-1 16 KOs) in his second fight at Heavyweight following a successful first bout against James Wilson in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia in August 2022.
 
Information on ticket on sale dates and further undercard action will be released soon.

LAS VEGAS – September 6, 2023 – Four of the top trainers in the sport, Ronnie Shields, Bob Santos, Calvin Ford and Robert Garcia, offered their insights and analysis of the upcoming historic showdown between Undisputed Super Middleweight World Champion Canelo Álvarez and Undisputed Junior Middleweight World Champion Jermell Charlo during a virtual media roundtable on Wednesday.

Canelo vs. Charlo headlines a SHOWTIME PPV on Saturday, September 30 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo Promotions will present the Premier Boxing Champions Pay-Per-View.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Canelo Promotions and TGB Promotions, are available through AXS.com. 

Here is what the trainers had to say Wednesday, including their predictions for the super fight:

RONNIE SHIELDS, Trainer of Jermall Charlo, former Trainer of Jermell Charlo, Erislandy Lara and more

“This is a big opportunity for Jermell and one that I know he’s not gonna take lightly, He’s gonna do everything in his power to come out victorious. That’s what he does. He wants to be the best, all the time.

“From his last two showings, Canelo has said he has injuries. Now he wants to prove that he hasn’t lost a step. He’s a competitor. He wants his people to stay behind him, so I think he actually comes into the fight in the best shape he’s been in in a long time.

Charlo is one of the few fighters who holds his power throughout the whole fight. You don’t get too many of those, but Canelo is also able to do that. It really makes this a great fight.

“Charlo has to make sure he wins rounds convincingly. You won’t win close rounds against Canelo. You have to keep pushing. Canelo has great defense, so Charlo has to be in great shape and push from beginning to end.

“You don’t see a lot of fighters go to Canelo’s body, because it’s hard to get close enough to do it. He’ll have to come up with a scheme to get into that position.

“I think Jermell Charlo wins this fight by split-decision.”

BOB SANTOS, 2022 Ring Magazine Trainer of the Year, Trainer of Mario Barrios, Hector Luis Garcia and more

“This is gonna be a very competitive fight. People are talking about Canelo being the bigger guy but I’ve been around both fighters quite a bit and I think people are missing that Charlo is a big guy. He might be naturally the bigger guy. Canelo has built his body up over time.

“It’s gonna come down to who wants it more and who can implement their game plan. I think Canelo is more comfortable in these kinds of fights, but I know that Charlo won’t have a problem with the size.

“I think Canelo has a chip on his shoulder. I take the John Ryder fight with a grain of salt, because no matter what guys say, it’s hard to get motivated sometimes when you’re not fighting elite guys. When you fight elite guys, you know your career is on the line. Canelo knows what kind of dangerous opponent Jermell Charlo is. I’m expecting the best Canelo for this fight.

“I think somebody is getting stopped. I’m not gonna say who, but I think it’ll come down to whoever capitalizes on the mistakes that their opponent makes.

“I could see either guy capitalizing in this fight. It wouldn’t surprise me if either guy stopped the other. I think Canelo probably wins, but I like how Charlo punches short and direct. I could see him catching Canelo with some of those straight shots.

“I won’t be surprised if Charlo wins, but I’m 55-45 leaning towards Canelo. I really think somebody is getting knocked out.”

CALVIN FORD, Trainer for Five-Time World Champion Gervonta Davis

“Canelo is changing up some things and going back to what got him here. For Charlo, this is a fight that he’s been asking for. He’s very motivated and that mentality will be important in this fight.

“Both guys have chips on their shoulders. Charlo knows the statement he can make with a win. Canelo is on the throne right now, and he doesn’t wanna get knocked off. These guys can both punch. We’ll see who executes their game plan. This fight could be a real roller coaster ride.

“Charlo has nothing to lose. If he goes in there with that attitude, then he can be victorious. Canelo is that guy right now and he’s changed his camp, so I know he’s taking this fight really seriously.

“Canelo’s defense is strong, so Charlo really needs to stay on him. Somebody has to take a chance, and that’s where we’ll see the knockout.

“Somebody is going to sleep. I don’t know which one, but someone is going to sleep.”

ROBERT GARCIA, 2011 Ring Magazine and 2012 BWAA Trainer of the Year, former Trainer of Mikey Garcia, Abner Mares and more

“I can’t wait for this fight. It’s gonna be one of those challenges that Canelo will need to be in top shape for. The size won’t matter. I’m pretty sure when it comes to fight night, they’ll be around the same weight. It’s gonna be very competitive and I can’t wait.

“Everyone says that Canelo is one of the hardest working fighters they’ve ever seen. But Canelo hasn’t looked that good his last couple of fights. That is a reason to give Charlo a really good chance. Charlo is not gonna hold back.

“You can train to the best of your abilities, but sometimes your body just doesn’t respond as well. Canelo may be training as hard as ever, but he’s had 18 years as a professional fighter. I still pick him to win the fight, but I don’t think it’s gonna be easy.

“Boxing needs these kinds of fights and I’m so glad we’ve had a lot of them recently. It’s been such a great year and it’s just getting better and better.

“If Charlo wins this fight, I think he’d be number two pound-for-pound after Terence Crawford. I think it’s that big of a fight.

“This is a tough one to pick. If Canelo wins by knockout, I think it’s under eight rounds. Late rounds is where Charlo could actually stop Canelo. If it goes the distance, I think Canelo edges a decision.”

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ABOUT CANELO VS. CHARLO

Canelo vs. Charlo will see pound-for-pound great Canelo Álvarez defend his undisputed super middleweight world titles in a blockbuster showdown against hard-hitting undisputed junior middleweight world champion Jermell Charlo headlining a SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) Saturday, September 30 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo Promotions will present the Premier Boxing Champions Pay-Per-View.  

The pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will see undefeated sensation Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. take on hard-hitting top contender Erickson “Hammer” Lubin in the 12-round super welterweight co-main event. The pay-per-view also includes former world champions Yordenis Ugas and Mario “El Azteca” Barrios going toe-to-toe for the Interim WBC Welterweight Title. Opening up the action are rising middleweights Elijah Garcia and Armando Reséndiz squaring off in a 10-round attraction.

For more information visit sho.com/ppv and www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #CaneloCharlo, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing and www.Facebook.com/premierboxingchampions/.

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 6, 2023) — IBF featherweight world champion Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez looks to kick off Mexican Independence Day weekend with an emphatic defense of his title.

Lopez will defend his crown against two-time world title challenger Joet Gonzalez on Friday, September 15 at American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. 

Lopez-Gonzalez, Xander Zayas-Roberto Valenzuela Jr., and the return of lightweight sensation Emiliano Fernando Vargas will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.

Lopez (28-2, 16 KOs) overcame numerous challenges in his quest to become a world champion. After early-career losses to Abraham Montoya and Ruben Villa, he defeated Andy Vences via split decision in July 2020 and dominated then-unbeaten prospect Gabriel Flores Jr. in September 2021. After scoring three more wins, he earned his shot at the IBF title, dethroning Josh Warrington in his hometown of Leeds, England. In his first defense, the 30-year-old once again traveled to enemy territory and beat Michael Conlan via fifth-round TKO in Belfast. Gonzalez (26-3, 15 KOs) is a 29-year-old contender who is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision victory against Jose Enrique Vivas in April.

Following a recent training session, this is what Lopez had to say:

“I’m always working on being a little smarter and on knowing how to do everything in the ring because sometimes we are going to need it. I am always working on improving all aspects.”

“I’m going for the knockout. It’s a personal challenge that I have. Joet Gonzalez has faced great fighters like Shakur Stevenson, Emanuel Navarrete and Isaac Dogboe, and he has never been knocked out. Knocking out a tough fighter like him is a huge goal for me.” 

“I know this fight will be difficult. Joet Gonzalez is a fighter who comes forward throwing a lot of punches. But I like to come forward, too. So, we know it’s going to be a real clash.”

“Representing Mexicans on such an important night is a great motivation. And I can’t wait for the fight. We’re ready. We have a plan ready, and we are going to do our job. We are going to put on a great show on September 15.”

LONG BEACH, CA (September 6, 2023) – Featherweight Rigoberto Hermosillo (13-4-1, 9 KOs), from Los Angeles, CA is ready to battle Alexis De Luna (10-1, 5 KOs) from Bakersfield, CA. The 8-round bout will headline Camponovo Sports “New Blood” boxing series taking place at Infinite Reality Studios in Long Beach, California, on Saturday, September 9, 2023.

In the 8-round co-main event, Long Beach’s undefeated super lightweight, Emiliano Moreno (6-0, 4 KOs), will face off against Guadalajara, Mexico’s Levy Garcia Benitez (3-0-1, 2 KOs).

“New Blood” will broadcast live on FOX Deportes, and air on tape delay on Estrella TV and beIN SPORTS, reaching a combined total of 98-million homes in the United States. Doors open at 4:30 pm PT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm PT. Televised fights start at 7:00 pm PT. Tickets priced $60 – $150 (Plus applicable fees), are available for purchase by calling 800-283-8699 or online at 

www.cbnpromotions.com.

Here is what Hermosillo had to say about his recent training camp, his matchup with De Luna, fighting in the main event of a new boxing series, and more.

On his recent training camp:

“I had a good amount of time to get ready for this fight, so my training camp was very productive. I worked on a lot of footwork drills and sitting on my punches more. My trainer Eddie Gonzalez has me in tremendous shape.

On his matchup with Alexis De Luna:

“De Luna is a young hungry fighter who is looking to make a name for himself. His only loss was a split decision so he could easily be undefeated. I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I know will be a problem for him. I feel my experience will be the key to victory.”

On fighting in main event live on FOX Deportes:

“I can’t wait to fight on FOX Deportes, its something I’ve been looking forward to since the fight was announced. I’m going to take full advantage of the opportunity and bring the fight to my opponent. This fight will be an all out Mexican war.”

On fighting at the Infinite Realty Studios on an exciting new boxing series:

“I’ve been to these studios, and they are incredible. Everything is top notch, and the show is going to look fantastic on television. I’m happy to be headlining “New Blood” and I won’t disappoint, I’m going to let my hands go and give the fans a great show.”

This event is sponsored by, Bud Light, HUSTLER Casino, LA’s only luxury Casino and Shoe Palace.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Madison Square Garden with the biggest heavyweight championship bout in company history when Jon Jones defends his newly-won belt against two-time titleholder and current No. 3 ranked contender Stipe Miocic.

UFC^® 295: JONES vs. MIOCIC takes place Sat., November 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV. The prelims will be available on ESPNNEWS and ESPN Deportes, as well as simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The early prelims will kick off at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.

UFC^® 295: JONES vs. MIOCIC tickets will go on sale Fri., September 8 at 10 a.m. ET and are available for purchase at ticketmaster.com and msg.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wed., September 6 at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thurs., September 7 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Media members wishing to apply for fight week credentials may sign up here.

Two-division champion Jones (27-1 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M. by way of Endicott, N.Y.) looks to secure his first heavyweight title defense. Among the best fighters ever, he has earned spectacular wins over former champions Rashad Evans, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Jones now aims to add to his legacy by stopping Miocic in emphatic fashion.

Greatest heavyweight of all time Miocic (20-4, fighting out of Independence, Ohio) plans to become the first fighter to finish Jones. A two-time champion, Miocic holds memorable victories against Daniel Cormier (twice), Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum. Miocic now intends to join Randy Couture in the history books by capturing the heavyweight title for a third time.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 7 ranked middleweight contender Derek Brunson (23-9, fighting out of Wilmington, N.C.) squares off with No. 8 Roman Dolidze (12-2, fighting out of Batumi, Georgia)
• Former strawweight champion and current No. 6 ranked contender Jessica Andrade (24-12, fighting out of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) faces No. 8 Mackenzie Dern (13-3, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.)
• No. 8 ranked flyweight contender Matt Schnell (16-7 1NC, fighting out of Shreveport, La.) locks horns with No. 14 Steve Erceg (10-1, fighting out of Perth, Western Australia)
• Joshua Van (8-1, fighting out of Houston, Texas) meets recent Dana White’s Contender Series signee Kevin Borjas (9-1, fighting out of Lima, Peru) in a clash of flyweight prospects

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

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About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 243 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports, and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSG Entertainment) is a leader in live entertainment, delivering unforgettable experiences while forging deep connections with diverse and passionate audiences. The Company’s portfolio includes a collection of world-renowned venues – New York’s Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and Beacon Theatre; and The Chicago Theatre – that showcase a broad array of sporting events, concerts, family shows, and special events for millions of guests annually. In addition, the Company features the original production, the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, which has been a holiday tradition for 89 years. More information is available at www.msgentertainment.com.

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus/

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading multiplatform sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, the leading sports app, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, leading social and digital platforms, ESPN.com, ESPN Audio, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

NEW YORK (September 6, 2023) – TONIGHT at the White Sands Event Center in Plant City, Florida, Undefeated featherweight Dominic Valle will be back in action as he tales on Damian Alcala in a six-round bout.

Valle, who is managed by Split-T Management is 6-09 with five knockouts.

The 22 year-old Valle is from Lutz, Florida and scored a sixth round stoppage over Carlos Rosario (6-1) in Plant City.

Alcala of Chula Vista, California is 7-2 with one knockout. The 29 year-old Alcala has a win over Nestor Luna Alonso. Alcala has won three straight fights, which includes a six-round decision over Eduardo Olorza Rivas on April 28th in Tijuana, Mexico.

Valle is promoted by Pro Box Promotions. The bout can be seen on Pro Box TV at 8 PM ET.

San Juan, Puerto Rico – September 6, 2023 – Today, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) took another historic step on its mission to advance women in boxing to be treated equal to their male peers, announcing the first ever Women’s Unified Championship bout with the same rules as a Men’s Championship. Seven division boxing world champion and undisputed featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (45-2-1, 30 KOs)will face mandatory WBO featherweight challenger Danila “A Guerreira” Ramos (12-2, 1 KO) on Friday, October 27th at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Serrano vs. Ramos will be preceded by MVP’s third installment of its Most Valuable Prospects series, presented by Celsius Essential Energy Drinks. The WBO, WBA and IBF world title fight between Serrano and Ramos will be contested at 126 lbs and will set a long-awaited historic precedent in women’s boxing as Serrano vs. Ramos will be contested over 12 three-minute rounds, equal to men’s championship fights. To date, per the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports women’s championship fights have been contested as 10 round bouts at 2 minutes per round. Most Valuable Prospects III which precedes Serrano vs. Ramos will be headlined by Antonio Vargas (16-1, 9KOs) as he looks to defend his WBA Continental Americas bantamweight title in a 10 round bout. Serrano vs. Ramos and Most Valuable Prospects III will be available globally on DAZN, with tickets set to go on sale Wednesday, September 13th at www.ticketmaster.com.

Serrano vs. Ramos seeks to set a new standard for women’s boxing, one that hasn’t been seen since Layla McCarter vs. Melissa Hernandez in 2007. This marks over 15 years since the sport has garnered a women’s fight equal to the men’s maximum of 12 rounds at 3 minutes each. Now, with the world watching, Serrano and Ramos will show a new generation of female boxers that they can do anything their male counterparts can do and for the first time ever compete at the same level for a unified world championship title.

Serrano, the first ever Puerto Rican undisputed world champion, started her current WBO featherweight title reign by defeating Heather Hardy in a brutal 10 round fight in 2019 to win the WBO belt, and has since defended her WBO belt five times. Most recently, Serrano offered Hardy redemption, but successfully defended her undisputed featherweight world champion title for the first time in a decisive 10 round unanimous decision victory. Serrano also won a blood-soaked war against WBA featherweight champion Erika Cruz back in February, which made her the undisputed featherweight champion. Serrano’s decisive win against Cruz followed her previous win over Sarah Mahfoud in Manchester, England that added the Dane’s IBF title to her WBO, WBC, and IBO featherweight belts. Her historic clash against Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden in 2022 earned recognition as Sports Illustrated’s Fight of the Year and The Ring’s Event of the Year and was further nominated for Event of the Year by Sports Business Journal. 

Beyond her power packed punches, the Puerto Rican native is a fierce advocate for equality in women’s boxing. Her headlining bout against Katie Taylor in 2022 broke barriers in women’s boxing when it came to equal pay and was the first combat sports event headlined by two women at Madison Square Garden. Serrano will continue to make history as she faces Ramos, proving that boxers of all genders should compete at the very highest level possible, creating a new, equal standard of 12 three-minute rounds, irrespective of gender.

“Danila Ramos may be my WBO mandatory challenger, but when we step in the ring, she will understand exactly why I am the undisputed featherweight champion,” said Amanda Serrano. “But this fight is about more than some belts. We have faced a long and hard battle, united as women, to achieve the same pay, respect, and recognition in boxing. Together, on Friday, October 27th, we will make history and prove to the world once again, how incredible women’s boxing is and that we are just as tough, dynamic, and capable as any man in the ring, if not more so. This is a fight for women everywhere to be treated the same as their male counterparts.”

Ramos, the veteran fighter out of Buenos Aires by way of Sao Paulo, Brazil, was ordered by the WBO on August 28th as mandatory challenger for Serrano’s featherweight world title. On August 18th, Ramos won the WBO Interim World Featherweight Championship via a split decision over Brenda Karen Carbajal in Buenos Aires who had held the belt since May 13th, 2022. She shares the same sentiment and desire as Serrano when it comes to showing the world that the rules of elite boxing should be the same for men and women.

“Fighting Amanda Serrano for 12 three-minute rounds for a Unified Championship is set to break the barriers that we women have been looking to do for many years,” said Danila Ramos. “We will go down in history and in the books, it will be a fight of two women warriors! I am preparing like never before for this fight and will proudly represent Brazil as we battle in Orlando, Florida and I look to bring all the belts home.”

“MVP has been focused on disrupting and transforming boxing since our inception two years ago and Amanda Serrano has been a key pillar of those efforts. She is not one of the greatest female boxers ever, she is one of the greatest boxers ever, period,” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “On Friday, October 27th, Amanda will once again demonstrate that she is a true ambassador of the sport and an advocate for all female athletes. Her dedication to transforming this sport into the best it can be is nothing short of admirable and she does it all with class outside the ring and a supreme intensity inside the ring. We also recognize Danila Ramos for her determination to show the world that women are equal. Additionally, it’s important that we thank the Florida Athletic Commission for approving this fight and being a part of this historic event.”

“Amanda Serrano is a true trailblazer and innovator”, said Joe Markowski, CEO DAZN North America. “Since DAZN started working with Amanda, she has pushed for three minute rounds, and so we are proud to be involved in this historic night for the sport on October 27th. Watch it live around the world on DAZN.”

Serrano vs. Ramos will be preceded by MVP’s third installment of its Most Valuable Prospects series, presented by Celsius Essential Energy Drinks. The main card of Most Valuable Prospects III will feature three exciting matchups, including the return of the young Puerto Rican sensation Krystal Rosado, Amanda Serrano’s first official signed fighter, who made her pro-debut on Most Valuable Prospects II with an impressive TKO victory in the second round, demonstrating her superstar potential. The Most Valuable Prospects series is produced and promoted by MVP, with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter and is distributed by DAZN. The third event in the series continues the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. All events within Most Valuable Prospects will take place on Friday nights in 2023 and will be hosted by Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL. DAZN will air the series globally across its platforms as a part of its subscription package which will include Serrano vs. Ramos, the entire main card lineup and prelims. CELSIUS Essential Energy Drinks, maker of lifestyle energy drink, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of the Most Valuable Prospects series.

For more information, follow on Twitter via @Serranosisters, @MostVPromotions, and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @serranosisters, @daniboxe, @MostValuablePromotions, and @DAZNBoxing.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP has produced Jake Paul’s last four global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Fury match, which surpassed 800,000 Pay-per-view buys worldwide. The promotion company also signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About DAZN

DAZN is a leading digital sports platform in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, Canada, US and the UK.? Its wide range of exclusive content includes top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, LaLiga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world – Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC.? 

DAZN is the NFL’s global partner and, from the 2023 season, will be the only place for fans around the world to watch every NFL match through the NFL Game Pass International add-on subscription. DAZN is a global home for boxing and combat sports through its partnerships with Matchroom Boxing the Professional Fighters League, and a global home for Women’s Football with UEFA Women’s Champions League and Finetwork Liga F.? DAZN is adding more and more sport to its platform to create a destination for sports fans.?

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DAZN is reimagining the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, bet, play, share, socialize, and buy tickets, NFTs and merchandise. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN.?

DAZN is available on most connected devices including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles, ensuring that fans have access to ground-breaking rights catalog and slate of incredible content. In the UK and globally, DAZN can be accessed on Samsung, LG, Sony and Panasonic Smart TVs and on Games Consoles including PlayStation and Xbox. Subscribers also have access to DAZN on their Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and Apple TV and can find the app on their iPhone, iPad, and android mobile devices. DAZN is available as an Amazon Channel on Amazon Prime TV and can be viewed on Channel 429 on Sky in the UK and Ireland.   

DAZN is a global, privately-owned company with employees in over 25 countries. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit?www.dazngroup.com.??

About Caribe Royale Orlando Resort

Located just minutes from the Walt Disney World® Resort in the nation’s number one convention and tourist destination, Caribe Royale Orlando is the only AAA Four Diamond all-suite meetings resort in Orlando. A TripAdvisor 2022 Travelers’ Choice Award winner – among just 10 percent of hotels worldwide to receive the distinction – the upscale Caribe Royale is emerging from a $140 million renovation that includes fully remodeling all of its one-bedroom suites, an all-new 50,000-square-foot grand ballroom (bringing the total meeting space to 220,000 square feet), and an inviting new lobby. Being privately-owned, Caribe Royale offers meeting planners faster approval cycles and more flexibility to create stand-out events. To learn more or to book a visit, event or meeting, visit www.cariberoyale.com. Follow the all-suite convention hotel on Facebook, Instagram,Twitter(@cariberoyale), LinkedIn and Pinterest. #cariberoyaleorlando

About CELSIUS Holdings, Inc.

CELSIUS Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: CELH), is a global consumer packaged goods company with a proprietary, clinically proven formula. A lifestyle energy drink born in fitness and a pioneer in the rapidly growing energy category. CELSIUS energy drinks offer proprietary, functional, essential energy formulas clinically-proven to offer significant health benefits to its users. CELSIUS energy drinks are backed by six university studies that were published in peer-reviewed journals validating the unique benefits provided by them. For more information, please visit: https://www.celsius.com.

New Haven, CT (September 5, 2023)–World ranked Super Featherweight contender William Foster III will be back in action this Wednesday night when he takes on Misael Lopez at The Probox Whitesands Event Center in Plant City, Fl. Foster was originally scheduled to fight Fradimil Macayo on July 12^th but the fight was scratched when Macayo unexpectedly pulled out the day before the fight. Foster versus Lopez will be a 10 round special attraction for the WBA Fedecentro Super Featherweight Title

Foster has a record of 15-0 with nine knockouts. The 29 year-old is ranked number 15 by the WBA. His resume includes notable wins over Sulaiman Segawa (10-0), Angel Suarez (8-2), Jahmal Dyer (9-2), Donald Smith (10-0), world rated and fast rising contender Edwin De Los Santos (13-0) and in his most recent bout he scored a convincing win over respected veteran Avery Sparrow on July 23, 2022 in Philadelphia.

The 27 year old Lopez (Denver, Colorado) will step in the ring with a 14-3 record. He started his career by winning 11 straight bouts which included a victory over undefeated James Wilkins on ShoBox before suffering his first defeat to Jordan White also on ShoBox. Lopez then reeled off three straight wins, including a decision over highly regarded Orlando Gonzalez (18-1). Lopez will be looking to bounce back after dropping his two most recent bouts against top contenders Edward Vazquez, his third appearance on ShoBox, and one time Foster victim Segawa in his most recent outing on May 6th.

?“We were definitely disappointed when we got the news that Macayo had pulled out of the bout on July 12 as we were already in Plant City and ready to go! William had worked extremely hard for that fight and left no stone unturned in camp. Not surprisingly, being the true professional he is, he asked if we could get him back in the ring as soon as possible and more importantly in a meaningful fight. We went right back into discussions with ProBox and we were able to secure this date. William kept his foot on the gas and didn’t skip a beat during training. Under the watchful eye of his trainer Luis Rosa the added preparation time has allowed him to really sharpen his skills for this bout. As a team we can’t wait to see the finished product in action. William gets better every time he steps in the ring and he is ready and willing to take on any of the division’s elite. He is already ranked in the WBA and an impressive showing against Lopez will move him one step closer to a well deserved World Title opportunity. His recent victories over Edwin De Los Santos and Avery Sparrow have proved William is amongst the division’s best. Adding a respected name like Misael Lopez to his resume should really catapult William up in the world rankings. William is fully prepared for anything that he sees in the ring. With his exciting and fan friendly style It is just a matter of time before William is recognized as the class of the 130 pound division!”, stated David Dubinsky of DKO Boxing, Foster’s Co-Manager along with Marilyn Rosa.

An impressive showing on Wednesday is imperative for the up and coming Foster to take the next step in his journey towards being universally recognized as one of the divisions’ most formidable contenders. Sometimes a change in opponents can cause trepidation for a fighter but the switch from Macayo to Lopez does not seem to faze Foster at all.

Said Foster, “Camp went really well. I sparred more rounds for this fight with the extra time and I sparred with different types of fighters, my coach always pushes me beyond my limits. I’m going to surprise him with my speed and the skills that I have developed over the years and with a victory I am hopeful to get a world title fight next. I’ve been in the business long enough and it’s time to get my shot at the title.”

(Sept. 5, 2023) — Undefeated super middleweight puncher Christian Mbilli defends his WBC Continental Americas belt in the 10-round main event against American contender Demond Nicholson this Friday, Sept. 8 at Theatre du Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Canada.

Promoted by Eye of the Tiger, Mbilli-Nicholson headlines a loaded fight card streaming live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Mbilli (24-0, 20 KOs), who was born in Cameroon and represented France at the 2016 Olympics, is a six-year pro who won the Continental Americas strap with a third-round TKO over Ronny Landaeta in September 2021. He has notched a slew of a high-level wins since then, including a near-shutout over American standout Ronald Ellis and a fifth-round stoppage of former world title challenger Nadjib Mohammedi. In March, he survived a two-way firefight to topple Carlos Gongora by unanimous decision. Nicholson (26-5-1, 22 KOs), a hard-punching 10-year pro, is coming off a decision loss in January to former two-weight world champion Demetrius Andrade.

In the 10-round junior welterweight co-feature, local favorite Steve Claggett (35-7-2, 25 KOs) defends his NABF title against Mexican veteran Carlos Sanchez (24-1, 19 KOs). Claggett has won six straight bouts, including a third-round TKO over former world champion Alberto Machado.

Middleweight prospect Alexandre Gaumont (8-0, 6 KOs) hopes to increase his KO streak to five when he fights Ulices Tovar Rivera (8-0, 5 KOs) in an eight-rounder.

In other streaming action:

Vanessa Lepage Joanisse (5-1, 2 KOs) vs. Timea Nagy (3-1, 3 KOs), 6 rounds, light heavyweight

Harley David O’Reilly (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Israel Nava Lopez (3-2, 2 KOs), 4 rounds, light heavyweight

Mehmet Nadir Unal (4-0, 4 KOs) vs. Hernan David Perez (9-8, 3 KOs), 6 rounds, light heavyweight

Jhon Orobio (3-0, 3 KOs) vs. Luis Godinez Bautista (4-2-2, 1 KO), 4 rounds lightweight

Luis Santana (9-0, 3 KOs) vs. Sergio Palafox (9-3, 2 KOs), 8 rounds, junior welterweight

Christopher Guerrero (7-0, 3 KOs) vs. Veselin Markov (7-0-1, 5 KOs), 6 rounds, welterweight

Moreno Fendero (Pro Debut) vs. Uziel Bueno (3-2, 2 KOs), 4 rounds, super middleweight

Devin Tomko (8-2, 3 KOs) vs. Juan Santiago Colchado (6-7-1, 5 KOs), 6 rounds, light heavyweight

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (September 5, 2023) – Due to a training camp injury suffered by Moussa Gholam, undefeated Jordanian lightweight prospect Bader “The Master” Samreen (8-0, 7 KOs) has been elevated to the 10-round main event for this Saturday’s launch of the Rising Stars Arabia (RSA) series, the first of its kind in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Samreen will face veteran Mexican fighter Jose “Cuate” Paez Gonzales (16-2-2, 12 KOs) in the milestone event, promoted by AAM Seddiqi Sports and sponsored by the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), steaming live on DAZN from Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Arena. It is sanctioned by the Middle East Professional Boxing Commission.

The first professional boxer from Jordan, Samreen embodies the spirit of the new RSA series, which will be a game-changer in the Arab boxing world, providing a platform to showcase the best of Arab boxing talent to international and regional audiences. The gifted Jordanian boxer captured a bronze medal at the prestigious 2018 AIBA Youth World Championships as an amateur. When he turned pro in 2021, he moved to Dubai because Jordan didn’t have proper boxing facilities for professionals.

Samreen gained invaluable exposure in the boxing world fighting on the undercard of two major pay-per-view events held in Saudi Arabia, Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua II, and Jake Paul-Tommy Fury.

Gonzales has a 10-1-2 record in his last 13 fights.

The 10-round co-featured event, UAE super flyweight prospect Sultan Al Nuaimi (9-0, 6 KOs) meets Jemsi Kibazange (18-6-3, 5KOs), of Tanzania. Al Nuaimi, known for his speed and agility, is a hometown favorite in UAE, where he is one of only a few professional boxers in addition to being an amateur champion there.

Undefeated cruiserweight force Mohammed “The Destroyer” Bekdash (25-0, 22 KOs), fighting out of Germany by way of his native Syria, has been added to the card in an eight-round bout versus Musa “Hitman” Ntege (8-4,, 6 KOs), of Uganda. The hard-hitting Bekdash is riding a 13-fight knockout streak dating back to 2015.

Another Jordanian boxer, Bishara Sabbar (6-0-0, 4KOs), is matched against India’s Mohd Azahar (8-5-1, 7KOs) in an eight-round bout for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth World super featherweight title.

Also fighting on the undercard are a pair of Egyptian Olympians, welterweight Marwan Mohamad Madboly (2-0, 1 KOs) and heavyweight Youssef Karrar (1-0, 0 KOs, fighting in six and four-round matches, respectively, against South African Sheldon Schultz (4-4, 4 KOs), and pro-debuting Muhammad Muzeei, of Uganda.  

Unbeaten welterweight Rohit Choudhary (4-0-2, KOs), of India, is matched against Iran’s pro-debuting Benyamin Moradzadeh in a six-rounder, while Bahrain featherweight Yousuf Ali (2-0, 0 KOs) faces Semugenyi Alex (0-1), of Uganda, in a four-round contest.  

AAM Seddiqi Sports has been promoting and managing fighters in the region for 10 years and it has a growing stable of more than 30 gifted regional and global talents. Its events include five world title shows that have been broadcasted globally on ESPN, Sky Sports, and other major networks.

DCT Abu Dhabi is responsible for promoting, protecting, and progressing the emirate by driving the strategic and sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors. As part of its mandate, the department is responsible for promoting regional and global sporting events in the emirate.

Tickets to Rising Stars Arabia are on sale now at abu-dhabi.platinumlist.net. Leading up to the event, fans can find updates on the AAM Seddiqi Sports Instagram channel @seddiqiboxing and on seddiqiboxing.com.

-END-

About Rising Stars Arabia

Presenting Rising Stars Arabia (RSA) – a fighting series promoted by AAM Seddiqi Sports and powered by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). This marks a notable debut within the UAE and the wider MENA region. This platform, humble in its intentions yet ambitious in its scope, provides aspiring Arab athletes with a unique opportunity to showcase their talents before regional and international audiences.

This significant initiative, grounded in the values of nurturing homegrown and regional talent, represents an important leap towards evolving professional boxing within the region. By doing so, it empowers an emerging generation of athletes with genuine opportunities right at their doorstep – eliminating the need to seek participation abroad.

About the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors, fuelling economic progress and helping to achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions. By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies, and systems to support the culture, creative and tourism industries.

DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the emirate’s people, heritage, and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives, and creative thought.

Richardson Hitchins has told Matchroom’s Flash Knockdown podcast he’s on the path to becoming a legend in the sport – and the next step on that journey sees him mix with former World title challenger Jose Zepeda at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida on Saturday September 23, live worldwide on DAZN.

Flash Knockdown – Season 3 Episode 3 is out now via all streaming platforms including Apple and Spotify by searching ’The Matchroom Boxing Podcast’ or by listening on the following link: https://pod.fo/e/1e96a7

TICKETS FOR ORLANDO ARE ON SALE NOW AT TICKETMASTER.COM

Hitchins (16-0 7 KOs) is full of confidence ahead of his first headline act and is fresh off the back of shining at home in his last outing, putting New Jersey’s John Bauza on the canvas during a shut-out win at Madison Square Garden, and the Brooklyn ace now lurks with intent at #6 with the WBO and #7 with the IBF in the 140lb rankings. 

Zepeda (36-3 27 KOs) represents a significant barrier to Hitchins’ plans to move into World title contention though, but Hitchins believes that the Californian, who has challenged for World titles at both 135 and 140lbs, is the perfect opponent to prove that he’s ready to 

“Now my foot is in the door headlining my first show against someone who has a great name in the division,” said Hitchins. “It shows my pedigree and skills that I display to get to this part of the journey.

“Zepeda has competed on the World stage. It’s a level up from my previous opponents but if I am who I believe I am, I should win this fight and possibly get him out of there.

“There’s a lot on the line right now but I’m not focused on the belts. My job is to go out there and dominate Zepeda and show who I am, then we can look at the landscape of the division.

“I see myself being a legend of the sport, who has mastered the craft of boxing. I want to inspire the next generation, if you see the progression in my career from my amateur status to now, I can relate to the young talent coming through.”

Hitchins also reveals how a visit from Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis boosted his preparations and gives his pick for the potential showdown between Regis Prograis and Devin Haney. The episode also features World title challenger John Ryder talking targeting Gennadiy Golovkin and Jaime Munguia, IBF and Ring Magazine champion Jai Opetaia talks his upcoming defense against Jordan Thompson, leading trainer Jamie Moorepicks his perfect dinner party line up in Food Fight and commentator royalty Mike Costello takes another trip down memory lane with a certain Smokin’ Joe Fraizer, plus there’s a cameo from Eddie Hearn and more!

Hitchins’ clash with Zepeda is part of a stacked night of action in Orlando, with the Welterweight division will move one step closer to crowning an undisputed champion on the night as WBA and WBC champion Jessica McCaskill (12-3 5 KOs) and WBO belt holder Sandy Ryan (6-1 2 KOs) meet for three of the belts. 

Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams (14-0 10 KOs) press his claims for World title action at Middleweight as he tackles Steve Rolls (22-2 12 KOs) and will Orestes Velazquez (7-0 6 KOs) will defend his WBA International Super-Lightweight title to kick off the main card against Mohamed Soumaoro (13-1 6 KOs).

Khalil Coe (6-0-1 4 KOs) continues to rise through the ranks at Light-Heavyweight, and ‘Big Steppa’ headlines the Before The Bell action and will be looking for his third KO win of 2023 against Kenmon Evans (10-1-1 3 KOs). Super-Welterweight Jeovanny Estella (12-0 3 KOs) and Super-Flyweight Jasmine Artega (10-0-1 5 KOs) tasting action over eight rounds while Bantamweight Roberto Rivera Gomez (3-0 2 KOs) kicks the whole night off over four rounds, with all three fighters to be matched imminently.

NEW YORK (September 4, 2023) -Split-T Management has signed undefeated featherweight contender Tiara Brown to a management contract.

Brown of Lehigh Acres, Florida has an undefeated mark of 15-0 with 10 knockouts.

Brown will be managed by Brian Cohen.

“I am very excited to sign with Split-T Management. I think Brian Cohen has done a great job with the many women boxers that he manages.. I like the feeling I get from that. I like the team, and I am glad to be a part of it.  I think Split-T Management will push my career forward and get me in the position that I deserve to be in. I have not had that proper team to push me forward and I see what Split-T Management does with their women. They have had many world champions, and I see myself in that position by the end of this year or early next year,” said Brown

Brown began boxing at the age of 12 as her older cousins were amateur boxers . Brown began to try boxing as a means to stay in shape as she was a basketball player and ran track. Brown started to compete and was starting to excel in the sweet science by competing in national competitions, and boxing became a passion of Brown.

Brown went to Columbus State in Columbus, Georgia on a Cross-Country scholarship.

Tiara continued to box and she became USA National champion. Winning the 2012 world Gold medal propelled her to be the number-one fighter in the world at 125 pounds.. She was the only American to win a Gold Medal on a team that included two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Claressa Shields, U.S. Olympian Mikaela Mayer, Christina Cruz and future undisputed world champion Franchon Crews Dezurn. The 5’7″ Brown had approximately 80 amateur fights.

Brown turned professional on September 30, 2016 with a first round stoppage over Khadija Sanders in Washington, D.C. Her undefeated resume includes wins over Vanessa Bradford (5-1-2), Jennifer Martinez (2-0) and her last fight when she defeated 42-fight veteran Lilliana Martinez on June 30th in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Brown is trained by Monyette Flowers

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (September 4, 2023)–Weights for Tuesday night’s Country Box show at The Troubadour in Nashville, Tennessee.

Chann Thonson 134.4 – Nikolai Buzolin 135

(WBA Continental Americas Lightweight Title)

Justin Biggs 154.4 – Eric Bossler 155

Erick Arellano 225.4 – Francois Russlell 250.6

Jaquan Carty 158.6 – Orlenis Licea 157.4

Kevin Torian 200 – Raquan Ashby 191.2

Ermes Orta 139.6 – Raymond Chacon 142,6

Promoter : Jimmy Adams Promotions

Venue: Troubadour Nashville

1st Bell: 8 PM ET (7 PM CT)

TV:

Dish Network–Channel 218

Comcast/Xfinity –Channel 1495

Fios–Channel 662

Frontier–Channel 162

ATT U-Verse–Channel 459/1459

Spectrum–Channel 189

GCI–Channel 142

Cincinnati Bell–636

Buckeye Cable–Channels 161/572

Direct TV–Channel 242

Stream: FITE.TV and Countrybox247.com

Marc Abrams and Albert Haynesworth on the call

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. (September 1, 2023): Golden Boy Promotions announced today the signing of super featherweight prospect Daniel “Ikaika” Luna (2-0, 2 KOs) of Victorville, California.

Luna has been boxing since he was 5-years-old, and steadily climbed the ranks of amateur boxing under the tutelage of his father, Daniel Luna Sr. With an extensive amateur career, he has over 100 fights under his belt and ultimately became a five-time National Champion and a Silver Gloves Medalist, rubbing elbows with some of the hottest contenders in the sport today. The 21-year-old is of Mexican and Hawaiian descent; his mother bestowed upon him the middle name of “Ikaika,” meaning strong warrior in Polynesian, which has become his official nickname as a professional boxer since his debut in May 2022.

“I am excited to start my journey with Golden Boy,” said Daniel Luna. “They are the home-team here in Southern California, and I have seen how they’ve been able to build their world champions. I want to thank Oscar, Eric and my entire team for this opportunity and I can’t wait to debut as a Golden Boy fighter on September 7.”

“I have been watching Daniel since he was 14-years-old, and I have been impressed with his steady growth in the sport,” said Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya. “In person, he has a unique look and a charming smile. In the ring, he is an assassin whose knockouts have captivated fans, the media and have gone viral. We have the formula to take his raw talent and build him into a potential world champion. We’re excited for him to show the world what he’s got come September 7.”

Click HERE to watch his viral knockout from his last appearance on May 24, 2023.

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?For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBox.

Los Angeles, CA (September 1, 2023) Highly touted boxing prodigy Cayden Griffiths will make his highly anticipated professional debut on Friday, September 15, 2023 at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. The six-round super lightweight bout is promoted by Top Rank and will be streamed on ESPN+.

“I’m very excited to be making my professional debut,” said the 17-year-old Griffiths who is trained by Joel Diaz and Antonio Diaz in Indio, CA and managed by Vadim Kornilov and Alik Frolov.  “I’ve been working very hard leading up to this, sparring with some of the best fighters in the world.”

“I’m very thankful to my team, Joel and Vadim for making this happen and to Top Rank for the opportunity.”

Among the recent sparring partners Griffiths has worked with include notable names; former world champion Murodjon ‘MJ’ Akhmadaliev, Brandon Figueroa, Batyr Akhmedov, Brandun Lee, Tito Acosta, Elnur Abduraimov, Hasanboy Dusmatov and Jesus Martinez.

Said Vadim Kornilov, “Cayden has all the attributes to become a superstar. He’s very talented in the ring and highly marketable outside. Watching him spar on a weekly basis with some of boxing’s best I’m confident he’s ready to succeed as a professional.”

Among the accolades Griffiths received as an amateur include; Gold Medalist / Junior Olympics National Championship, Five-Time California State Champion, Two-Time National Qualifier Champion, National PAL Champion, National Silver Gloves Champion, Junior Golden Gloves Champion and Two-Time Junior Olympic Silver Medalist.

The September 15 Top Rank event is headlined by the IBF Featherweight World Title fight between Luis Alberto Lopez and Joet Gonzalez.

Social Media

Instagram: @cayden_griffiths

ROSENBERG, Texas (Sept. 1, 2023) – Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly is ready to conquer the middleweight division one belt a time.
 
The reigning WBO world champion will lock horns against unbeaten IBF world champion Vincenzo Gualtieri in a title unification showdown on Saturday, Oct. 14 at Fort Bend Epicenter in Rosenberg, Texas. This will be the first boxing event to take place at the brand-new, state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue, which opened its doors last week.
 
In the 10-round lightweight co-feature, U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis takes another step up in class against Philadelphia-born contender Nahir Albright.
 
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with AGON Sports & Events, Janibek-Gualtieri and Davis-Albright will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.
 
Tickets starting at $35 go on sale Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. CST via ETix.
 
“There’s no doubt in my mind that Janibek is the best middleweight in the world,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “He has a chance to prove that once again with a victory over a tough champion in Vincenzo Gualtieri. I’m also pleased to see the future of the lightweight division, Keyshawn Davis, take his biggest step up to date against Nahir Albright. Top Rank is thrilled to be hosting the first boxing event at Fort Bend Epicenter, where fans near the Houston area will be in for a real treat.”
 
Janibek (14-0, 9 KOs) is a 2016 Olympian from Zhilandy, Kazakhstan, who took the fast lane to becoming champion. In 2021, he scored knockout victories over former world champions Rob Brant and Hassan N’Dam. He captured the WBO interim middleweight world title last May with a second-round destruction of Danny Dignum and was elevated to world champion after Demetrius Andrade vacated the title. Janibek has made two defenses, beating British champion Denzel Bentley via unanimous decision last November and blasting out Canadian contender Steven Butler via second-round stoppage in May.
 
Janibek said, “I am grateful for the opportunity to fight a fellow world champion. This fight gets me one step closer to becoming the undisputed middleweight champion, and I thank Vincenzo Gualtieri for putting his belt on the line. He is doing what the other champions have refused to do. I will, however, return home to Kazakhstan as a unified champion.”
 
Gualtieri (21-0-1, 7 KOs) debuted as a professional in October 2015. He went 15-0 before fighting to a draw against fellow unbeaten German Thomas Piccirillo in August 2020. He captured his first regional title with a points victory against Billi Facundo Godoy in November 2021. He defended it twice before capturing the vacant IBF middleweight world title with a unanimous decision win against then-undefeated Brazilian Esquiva Falcao.
 
Gualtieri said, “Janibek is an outstanding boxer who has done it all as an amateur and a professional, just like Esquiva Falcao. Janibek is a southpaw, just like Esquiva Falcao. Janibek was the favorite, just like Falcao. In the end, Janibek, like Falcao, will lose because I have the better team and the will of a champion. Only that will decide who wins and who loses, just as it did against Falcao.”
 
Davis (9-0, 6 KOs), from Norfolk, Virginia, is making a rapid ascent up the lightweight rankings. After going 3-0 as a pro, he captured a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. In November 2021, he signed a long-term promotional contract with Top Rank and has since scored six victories, including brutal knockouts against Esteban Sanchez and Omar Tienda. In April, he pummeled Anthony Yigit en route to a ninth-round TKO victory. He shut out former European champion Francesco Patera via 10-round unanimous decision in July.

Davis said, “I’m coming to Texas to beat up Nahir Albright. Simple as that. He’s not on my level, and after I put on a show, a message will be sent. The future of the lightweight division is here.”
 
Albright (16-2, 7 KOs) lost a majority decision in his pro debut in 2016. Undeterred, he won his next 14 fights and captured his first regional title with a decision win over Jeremy Hill in July 2021. He stopped Michael Dutchover in the sixth round of their showdown two months later before suffering a decision loss against Jamaine Ortiz in February 2022. Albright bounced back seven months later by handing Brazilian standout Estivan Falcao his first loss. He is coming off an upset majority decision win against U.S. Olympian Karlos Balderas in July.
 
Albright said, “This is another step in the right direction. He’s another person in my way. I’m not worried about Keyshawn Davis. I just beat an Olympian in my last fight. I want to fight the best and prove I belong in the ring with the top guys.”
 
The ESPN+-streamed undercard will feature a host of up-and-coming talents:
 
U.S. Olympic Silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (6-0, 6 KOs) will make his third appearance of 2023 in a six-round heavyweight battle against Don Haynesworth (17-8-1, 15 KOs). Torrez hopes to notch his third first-round victory of the year after first-round stoppages over James Bryant in February and Willie Jake Jr. in August.
 
Junior welterweight standout Giovanni Marquez (6-0, 4 KOs), son of former world champion Raul Marquez, will put his unbeaten record on the line in a scheduled six-rounder. The Houston native is coming off a second-round TKO win against Nicky Vitone in August.
 
U.S. Olympic silver medalist Duke Ragan (8-0, 1 KO) will make his 2023 debut in an eight-round featherweight fight against Jose Perez (11-1-2, 5 KOs). Ragan, from Cincinnati, Ohio, turned away a stiff challenge from Puerto Rican veteran Luis Lebron last October at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
 
2016 Italian Olympian Guido Vianello (10-1-1, 9 KOs) will take on Florida veteran Curtis Harper (14-9, 9 KOs) in an eight-round heavyweight tilt. In his last fight, Vianello lost his ‘0’ after a right hand from veteran Jonnie Rice caused a cut above his left eye, forcing the referee to end the bout in the seventh round. Vianello was ahead on all three judges’ scorecards at the time of the stoppage.
 
Kelvin Davis (9-0, 6 KOs), the eldest of the fighting Davis Brothers from Norfolk, will see action in an eight-round junior welterweight clash. Davis returns after a fourth-round knockout win against Derrick Whitley Jr. in July.
 
Unbeaten lightweight prospect Alan “Kid Kansas” Garcia (9-0, 8 KOs) will face an opponent to be named in a six-rounder.
 

# # #

About The Fort Bend County Epicenter
At 230,000 sq. ft., the Epicenter, located in Rosenberg, Texas, is a multipurpose sports and entertainment facility.  The arena boasts over 8,600 fixed seats, with a capacity of 10,000.  The venue features a multipurpose area and a covered outdoor pavilion. The Epicenter can host multicourt basketball and volleyball tournaments, concerts, family entertainment and livestock shows. www.thefortbendepicenter.com.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – (September 1, 2023) – Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr stared silently and unblinkingly into each other’s eyes without wavering following both of them making weight at today’s official weigh-ins for tomorrow’s ‘BOXXER: Smith vs Eubank 2 – Repeat or Revenge?’ showdown. 

Airing live and exclusively in the UK as a Sky Sports Box Office pay-per-view event (and airing in the US on ESPN+) the fight sees the two antagonists return to the ring in Manchester’s AO Arena, eight months on from the January firefight which saw Smith secure a fourth-round stoppage victory.

Eubank Jr has called this rematch a “do or die” fight for him and Smith has promised to end his rival’s career tomorrow night when they meet in the ring. Repeat or revenge? The question will be answered on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports Box Office. 

Sparks also flew today between Florian Marku and his Irish rival Dylan Moran, the week’s war of words turning into a shoving match as they squared off on stage. 

Fireworks are also expected between heavyweights Frazer Clarke and Dave Allen, whose strained bonhomie barely concealed clear tensions, and Adam Azim and Aram Fanyan, who travels from Ukraine looking to derail the Azim hype train and score a morale-boosting win for his Ukrainian fanbase.

The official weigh-in results are as follows:

Liam Smith (11st 6lbs) vs Chris Eubank Jr (11st 5lbs 5oz)

12 Round Middleweight Bout

Adam Azim (9st 13lbs) vs Aram Fanyan (9st 13lbs) 

10 Round Super-Lightweight Bout

Frazer Clarke (19st 4 lbs) vs David Allen (18st 5 lbs) 

10 Round Heavyweight Bout

Mark Heffron (11st 13 lbs) vs Jack Cullen (11st 13 lbs) 

12 Round British Super-Middleweight Title Bout

Mikaela Mayer (10st 1lbs 5oz) vs Silvia Bortot (9st 13lbs) 

10 Round Super-Lightweight Bout

Florian Marku (10st 6lbs 5oz) vs Dylan Moran (10st 5lbs)

10 Round Welterweight Bout

Sky Sports Stream

Lauren Price (10st 6lbs 5oz) vs Lolita Muzeya (10st 7lbs 5oz) 

8 Round Welterweight Bout 

Frankie Stringer (9st 9lbs 5oz) vs Engel Gomez (9st 8lbs) 

6 Round Lightweight Bout

Long Island, NY (September 1, 2023) – On October 28 at The Paramount, super welterweight, WENDY “HAITIAN FIRE” TOUSSAINT (14-2- 6KO’s) returns to his adoptive hometown of Huntington, New York, in an 8-round super welterweight bout against, JERMONE JONES (7-1 6KO’s) of Phoenix, Arizona at Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing “Rockin’ Fights” 45. 

Toussaint-Jones will be chief support to Toussaint’s sparring partner, and Star Boxing stablemate ALEX “EL TORO” VARGAS (13-0 5KO’S, Bellport, NY) who steps up in a 10 round super lightweight main event against MATT “SWEET CHILD” CONWAY (23-3 9KO’S, Pittsburgh, PA).  

Tickets are flying and a sellout is expected. Be sure to get your tickets before it’s too late HERE! 

Wendy Toussaint certainly showed the boxing world what he was made of in his last fight. On June 3rd, Wendy could hardly see the bright lights of Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena (home of the Detroit Pistons and Detroit Red Wings) as his face was covered in crimson blood from a gnarly three-inch gash on his forehead caused by a head clash with hometown favorite Ardreal Holmes Jr. Wendy was seemingly on his way to victory prior to the clash and was breaking down Holmes’ will and local fan support.  With the blood streaming down his face, Wendy begged the ringside doctor allow the action to continue, to the absolute awe and respect of the Detroit (Holmes) fans in attendance and the world watching on DAZN. Eventually the cut was determined to be too severe, and the fight was stopped by the referee in the 8th round. The bout went to the score cards in which Toussaint was robbed of a career defining victory, dropping a highly questionable split decision. Clearly, Toussaint returns home on October 28th seeking vengeance.  

“Reflecting on my last fight in Detroit, Michigan, it’s clear that the crowd’s passion and opinions of the results were strong,” said Toussaint. “The judges’ scores raised eyebrows, but that’s the unpredictable nature of the sport we love. I respect the effort of my opponent, Ardreal Holmes Jr., and I acknowledge the intense fight we both had. Despite the cut that brought an early end to our bout, I know I showed I was willing to leave it all in the ring. I’m taking the lessons learned from that experience and channeling them into my upcoming fight on October 28th. Every match is an opportunity to showcase determination and growth, and I’m committed to delivering a performance that reflects that. Thank you to everyone who supports me on this journey.” 

Across from Toussaint will be Memphis born super welterweight “Quadruple J” Jermone Jamar Jones Jr., now living, training, and fighting out of Phoenix, Arizona. The heavy-handed Jones has won 6 of his 7 professional victories by knockout and will pose a one punch KO threat for Toussaint at any given moment in their 8-round bout.  Jones is coming off a well fought battle with undefeated Farid Ngoga, this past June in Phoenix. Jones is not backing down from an opportunity to showcase his skills in New York and seeks the spoils of victory. 

Jones had this to say about the fight, “I wanted to fight two more times before the year is over with and that opportunity came up October 28. I’m going to be in New York, and I can’t wait.  I wanted to thank Star Boxing, Joe DeGuardia, Tony and Leo for putting this together and for the opportunity to fight in the big city. I’m coming to take a bite out of the big apple!” 

Toussaint-Jones is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and is proudly sponsored by Jamaica Ash. Rockin’ Fights 45 will take place on Saturday, October 28, live from The Paramount in Huntington NY (370 New York Ave., Huntington, NY 11743). Doors open at 6:30 PM. Tickets are available at www.StarBoxing.com and www.Ticketmaster.com. 

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – (August 31, 2023) – A fiery exchange between Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr concluded today’s press conference when they faced off in Manchester today ahead of this Saturday’s highly-anticipated rematch at the AO Arena, airing exclusively in the UK and Ireland as a Sky Sports Box Office pay-per-view.

Smith stopped Eubank Jr in the first minute of the fourth round in their January encounter in the same venue, but Eubank’s confidence seemed undented when he confronted Smith at today’s press conference.

Even now he was unwilling to acknowledge that Smith, with the first win behind him, was the better fighter of the two.

“If he pulls it off again, I can’t argue with it,” said Eubank. “But the performance I’m going to have on Saturday night is going to be exquisite, super-natural.”

Eubank has referred to Smith’s stoppage win as a “miracle” for the Liverpool man and a feat unlikely to be repeated, a claim which drew derision from Smith.

“Which shot was the miracle, Chris? The miracle was how easy it was!” he said. “If he makes the same mistakes, I’ll punish him for them.”

Eubank does acknowledge he is in this position for the first time – rematching an opponent who’s defeated him. “It is a new pressure that I have never had to deal with before. But I’m enjoying it,” he said.

“I’m enjoying the hardship I’m having to go through mentally and physically to execute the game plan on the night.

“I’m excited to go out there and see how I react.”

Florian Marku and Dylan Moran had a fiery interaction when they faced off, with Marku afterwards claiming Moran had trembled during the staredown.

“He was shaking when we were face to face, he tried to hide it. If you see the videos from the cameras, he was shaking his legs,” he said.

“I’m going to hunt him. I know he’s going to try to box, he going to try to run, but I will be too much for him.”

Moran laughed this off, “Never in my life will I shake in front of you… I am the superior boxer. It’s been a long and tough journey to get here today and I won’t let Florian Marku rob me of that.

“He’s standing in my way. It’s been a lifetime of hard work to be sat here and I plan on finishing the job Saturday night.”

Another fight on the undercard which is generating excitement is the heavyweight clash between Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke and David Allen.

Allen will look for a huge upset on Saturday night and although he knows his task is a tricky one, he is confident of victory.

Allen said: “I’ve known him a very long time. I’ve known him since 2012. We’ve done a lot of rounds together [in sparring]. I know what he’s capable of. He’s a very good fighter. I’ve been out for a long time. I know it’s a difficult ask for me, but I expect to win. I wouldn’t be here if not.”

Clarke, 7-0 as a professional, was last out in June where he dominated Mariusz Wach over 10 rounds to secure a unanimous decision and looks to continue his winning ways.

He said: “I come to win fights and have my hand raised at the end. My job is to land more leather on Dave Allen than he lands on me.”

‘Big Fraze’ also responded to Allen’s claims he is the better boxer, he said: “Dave outboxing me is like me saying that I’m going to become an underwear model for Calvin Klein. I just can’t see it happening.”

Undefeated prospect Adam Azim takes on his toughest challenge in 23-1 Aram Fanyan and although Azim has only eight professional fights under his belt, he is relishing the challenge.

The 21-year-old said: “I’m treating every single fight like a world title fight. I’ve got to take fights like this to develop myself and I feel like my confidence has doubled up. This is going to be the best performance you have ever seen in your life.”

Liam Smith vs Chris Eubank Jr II is live on Sky Sports Box Office this Saturday. 

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (August 31, 2023)–Jimmy Adams Promotions is pleased to announce a distribution deal that will see the popular CountryBox series be televised all over the United States on all major Cable television and Satellite providers.

The deal will begin with this Tuesday night’s (September 5th) six bout card from the Troubadour in Nashville, Tennessee.

The card will go into 100 million homes on the following channels on each Cable/Satellite Provider:

Dish Network–Channel 218

Comcast/Xfinity –Channel 1495

Fios–Channel 662

Frontier–Channel 162

ATT U-Verse–Channel 459/1459

Spectrum–Channel 189

GCI–Channel 142

Cincinnati Bell–636

Buckeye Cable–Channels 161/572

Direct TV–Channel 242

Plus on the web on www.countrybox247.com and FITE.TV

The fight card will feature undefeated Junior Middleweight Justin Biggs (12-0, 10 KOs) vs Eric Bossler (6-4, 5 KOs)

llightweight Chann Thonson (14-0, 11 KOs) talking on Nikolai Buzolin (9-5-1, 5 KOs) for the WBA Continental Americas Title

Plus undefeated fighters Erick Arrellano (6-0, 4 KOs), Emes Orta (4-0, 4 KOs) and Jaquan Carty (2-0, 1 KO) plus local favorite Kevin Torian.

Fans watching will also be treated to the sounds of country music star Rodney Collins.

The action begins at 8 PM ET / 7 PM CT and 5 PT.

The fights will be called by Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame broadcaster Marc Abrams and two-time NFL All-Pro Albert Haynesworth.

4 Rounds Featherweight contest
Niall Fielding 129.4lbs
John Spencer 130lbs

4 Round Super Lightweight contest
Alex Murphy 139.2lb
Joshua Ocampo 136.8lbs

4 Rounds Super Welterweight contest
Ashley Marron 149.8lbs
Petar Aleksandrov 148.2lbs

6 Rounds Super Lightweight contest
Ben Marksby 141.8lbs
Jordan Ellison (not weighed in yet)

6 Rounds Featherweight contest
Codie Smith 130.1lbs
Eliecer Quezada 128.6lbs

Vacant IBO World Light Heavyweight Title
12 Rounds contest
Lyndon Arthur 174.5lbs
Braian Suarez 175.7lbs 
(Suarez missed weight and can no longer win the IBO belt)

Big Fight Odds with Ladbrokes
Arthur win – 1/5
Suarez win – 7/2

Vacant British Super Welterweight Title
12 Rounds contest
Samuel Antwi 153.7lbs
Mason Cartwright 153.6lbs

Big Fight Odds with Ladbrokes
Antwi win – 2/5
Cartwright win – 2/1

LAS VEGAS (August 31, 2023) –- At the age of 32 and coupled with 14 years as a professional boxer, natural growth has forced former world super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-1, 30 KOs) to move up in weight to the cruiserweight division from light heavyweight.

“Zurdo” will make his cruiserweight debut on October 7^th versus former world light heavyweight champion Joe “The Common Man” Smith, Jr. (28-4, 22 KOs) at a 190-pound catchweight, headlining a Golden Boy Promotions event to be streamed live on DAZN from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Ramirez, fighting out of Mazatlán, Mexico, has simply outgrown the 175-pound weight class. In several of his most recent fights, “Zurdo” has entered the ring nearing just shy of 200-pounds, despite officially making weight the day before.

“This fight marks my move up to the cruiserweight division,” Ramirez explained. “This decision is based on a combination of factors that my team and I carefully considered. One of the main reasons is my natural growth and development as an athlete. As I’ve progressed during my career, I’ve gained muscle mass and strength, making it more suitable for me to compete in the cruiserweight division.

“Additionally, we believe that this move will provide exciting new challenges and opportunities for me. The cruiserweight division is known for its competitive and diverse talent pool, and I’m eager to test my skills against opponents with different styles and strengths. This transition also aligns with my long-term goals in the sport, and I’m confident that I’ll be able to make a positive impact in this new weight class. I’ve worked closely with my coaches and trainers to ensure a smooth transition in terms of training, strategy, and overall preparation. While it is a new chapter in my career, I’m embracing the change and looking forward to proving myself at cruiserweight.”

Ramirez hasn’t fought since his unsuccessful challenge last November against World Boxing Association (WBA) Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitriy Bivol (20-0), dropping a 12-round unanimous decision in Abu Dhabi. “Zurdo” was scheduled to fight March 18^th as a light heavyweight versus Gabe Rosado, but their fight was canceled when Ramirez came in overweight.

Rather than take a tune-up fight in his new weight class, “Zurdo” will take on Smith, who has defeated Bernard Hopkins, Andrzej Fonfara and Eleider Alvarez, among the more notables. The dangerous New Yorker from Long Island has stopped 22 of the 28 opponents he has defeated to date.

“I have nothing but respect for Joe,” Ramirez said. “He is a hard hitter and former world champion. But when I made this move to cruiserweight, I specifically asked my promoter for the toughest guys in the division to create a path to a world title fight. I’m a fighter and there has never been a fight I’ve dodged or turned down in my career and this is no different.

“Of course, any fight at this level will definitely shape the future and the next possible steps. I know how hard the stakes are and I want to prove to myself that I can be a world champion in this division.”

Ramirez was still highly rated as a light heavyweight when he announced his decision to campaign as a cruiserweight: The Ring #4, WBO #6, and WBA #7.  

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INFORMATION:

Website: www.ZurdoPromotions.com

Facebook: /ZurdoPromotions, /GilbertoZurdoRamirez

Instagram: @zurdoramirez, @zurdopromotions

Twitter: @ZurdoPromotions, @GilbertoZurdoRamirez

ABOUT ZURDO PROMOTIONS: Headquartered in Las Vegas and Mexico, Zurdo Promotions is the premier combat sports/event led by former World Champion, Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. Zurdo Promotions strives to be the best in all areas to set the new standard in boxing. Visit us at www.ZurdoPromotions.com.

Sheffield, England – 31 August 2023 – GBM Sports promoter Izzy Asif is delighted to announce that Reece Mould’s WBA Continental Lightweight Championship title defence against Martin McDonagh will be the inaugural event at the brand new Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield on Friday 6th October.

Doncaster star Mould headlines the double-title event billed as the Clash On The Court that also features a fiery Commonwealth Super-Flyweight Championship showdown between rivals Emma Dolan and Nicola Hopewell, Sheffield talents Naphtali Nembhard and Nohmaan Hussain, and many more.

Based at the heart of the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, the Canon Medical Arena is the UK’s first carbon-neutral build community arena with multi-purpose sports facility and integrated Medical Diagnostics Centre to improve health and wellbeing in South Yorkshire.

The new built arena will offer a flexible sporting facility, featuring three full-size basketball courts, and designed to hold 2500 spectators. It will be the new home for the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks and the B. Braun Sheffield Hatters (women) professional basketball teams and the arena will be available to wider sporting, education, and community organisations.

In the first ever event to be staged at the Canon Medical Arena, all-action Mould (18-1-0, 6 KO’s) makes the first defence of his WBA Continental Title when he collides with hard domestic rival McDonagh (12-2-0, 1 KO) from Sheerness, Kent.  The exciting all-British clash puts everything on the line and the winner move a step closer to World title honours. 

Chief support on the card sees a big East Midlands derby clash between fierce rivals Emma Dolan (5-0-0, 1 KO) and Nicola ‘Hurricane’ Hopewell (3-0-0, 1 KO).  Dolan from Newark makes the first defence of the Commonwealth Super-Flyweight Championship against Worksop’s unbeaten Hopewell with plenty of pride and ‘bragging rights’ at stake.

On the undercard former star Sheffield Sharks small forward Naphtali Nembhard transitions from basketball to make his professional boxing debut in the middleweight division.

Undefeated Sheffield bantamweight prospect Nohmaan Hussain (3-0-0), who also works as an NHS cardiac intensive care practitioner, aims to continue his winning record.

Further top talents from Sheffield also appear, including: cruiserweight Sheldon McDonald (6-1-0, 2 KO’s), super-featherweight Faraqat Ali (7-0-0), welterweight Bree Burbeary (3-0-0, 1 KO) and super-middleweight Red Johnson (3-0-0)

Completing the card will be the latest protege under top trainer Ben Davison the unbeaten Oldham Bantamweight Will Cawley (3-0-0, 1 KO) plus, Conisborough welterweight Joe Hayden (10-0-0) and Worksop welterweight Declan Cairns (6-1-0, 1 KO).

With five highly successful and sold-out shows staged under the GMB Sports banner, Asif believes that this will be his most impressive and stunning event to date and fitting to open the new arena with.

Asif, CEO of GBM Sports, said, “I’m absolutely thrilled to be the first promoter to stage an event in the fantastic new Canon Medical Arena and I’m counting down the days until we can open the doors of this incredible new venue for Sheffield.  Not only is it a major boost for the city but also for boxing in the UK with another great venue to showcase our sport.  This is a major statement of intent for GBM Sports in our short history as we continue to break new ground and grow our business.  We look forward to staging regular top class shows here with even bigger and better to come.  I’d like to thank Yuri Matischen, Mazher Iqbal and MP Richard Caborn for all their hard work in helping to put this tremendous deal together.”

Yuri Matischen, Managing Director of the Canon Medical Arena, said, “We look forward to welcoming GBM Sports as our first ever boxing event in the Canon Medical Arena.  One of the main reasons we built this venue was to be able to offer a venue of this size to local sporting hubs as an outlet and means by which to showcase. Boxing is such a popular, and important sport here in South Yorkshire and is ingrained into the local culture, we are excited to be able to put it on display here in Sheffield.”

LOS ANGELES (August 30, 2023) – Undefeated prospect Darius “DFG” Fulghum (6-0, 6 KOs) will experience a few firsts on September 16^th in his toughest test to date during his young professional career versus veteran Mexican fighter Ricardo Adrian “Tyson” Luna (25-10-2, 16 KOs) at Commerce Casino and Hotel in Los Angeles.

The 26-year-old Fulghum, who is a promotional free agent, will be fighting in L.A. for the first time in his first scheduled eight-round bout.

“I’m excited to be fighting on a good card on DAZN,” Fulghum commented. “I’ve built a good network there (in LA at Brickhouse Boxing Club in North Hollywood) and I’ll have a lot of people coming from home (Texas), too.

“Nothing really changes in training (preparing for his first eight-rounder at a lighter weight). Every time I had a four or six round fight, I prepared for it like it was a 12-round fight. Same for this fight but with even more focus.”

Luna has become a “gatekeeper” having fought top prospects at various stages of their respective careers such as (16-0) Albert Ramirez, (19-0) Diego Pacheco, (30-0) Eric Bazinyan and (16-3) Ryota Murata. Luna’s most notable fight was a draw with 21-2 Vyacheslav Shabranskyy.

“I’m not putting pressure on myself to get a knockout,” Fulghum said, “Every fighter will tell you, if a knockout comes, it comes. My style is wear-and-tear to breakdown my opponent. Will I take a knockout? Yes, but I’m not planning for it.”

Fulghum will be fighting for his fourth time in five months, a pace that perfectly suits “DFG” as he transitions from light heavyweight to super middleweight, fighting Luna at a 172-pound catchweight.

“I’d like to ramp it up even more because it builds my experience,” Fulghum explained his accelerated pace of development. “I haven’t suffered any damage in my fights and I’m always in the gym training.”

A licensed nurse in Texas with a degree from Prairie View A & M University, Fulghum was a decorated amateur boxer, ranked No. 1 in the USA as a heavyweight, despite fighting as a light heavyweight/super middleweight as a pro. He captured top honors at the 2018 National Golden Gloves Tournament and 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. All of his amateur accomplishments were achieved while he attended college.

Fulghum is working with 3 Point Management (3 PM), a growing company based in Los Angeles that has a growing stable of gifted boxers including former world super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-1, 30 KOs), NABA super flyweight champion John “Scrappy” Ramirez (12-0, 8 KOs), light heavyweight Kareem Hackett (12-0, 6 KOs), super middleweight Cem “Champ” Kilic (17-1, 11 KOs), and heavyweight Zach Spiller (3-0, 2 KOs).

(Aug. 30, 2023) — Top Rank has signed undefeated heavyweight prospect Brandon Moore to a multi-year promotional agreement. The 6’6 boxer-puncher, who hails from Lakeland, Florida, will make his Top Rank debut later this year.

Th 29-year-old former U.S. amateur standout turned pro in February 2020 and has knocked out four of his last five opponents.

“Brandon Moore has all the physical tools to develop into a top heavyweight,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “The heavyweight division is loaded with talent, and I believe Brandon will be squarely in the world title mix before long.”

Moore said, “I’m extremely blessed to have signed with Top Rank. My career has been a roller coaster ride. I wasn’t an Olympian coming out of the amateurs. I had to put in the work to get to where I am. After almost four years in the pro game, I am finally seeing the fruits of my labor. I can’t wait to make my Top Rank debut and show the fans what I’m all about.”

“I feel like the heavyweight division is ready for some fresh faces, and Top Rank is the biggest and best promotional platform for Brandon to showcase his talents,” said Ryan Rickey, Moore’s manager. “We look forward to a long-term working relationship.”

Moore (12-0, 8 KOs) returned from a nearly 15-month layoff in June to knock out Elijah McCall, son of former heavyweight world champion Oliver McCall, in the second round. He fought six times in 2021, including a fourth-round stoppage over Mexican veteran Elvis Garcia and a six-round decision over renowned journeyman Terrell Jamal Woods. Moore has gained invaluable experience in the gym sparring the likes of WBC/Lineal heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, former world champion Deontay Wilder, Luis Ortiz and British Olympic bronze medalist Frazer Clarke. Outside the ring, Moore was a collegiate basketball standout at Southeastern University and was named The Sun Conference Freshmen of the Year in 2013. His younger brother, Shaq Moore, currently plays for Major League Soccer’s Nashville SC and is a member of the United States men’s national soccer team.

LOS ANGELES – August 29, 2023 – Fighters competing on the Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo SHOWTIME PPV undercard went face-to-face Tuesday during a Los Angeles press conference ahead of their respective showdowns taking place Saturday, September 30 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo Promotions will present the Premier Boxing Champions Pay-Per-View.

The press conference featured unbeaten rising sensation Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. and top contender Erickson “Hammer” Lubin, who compete in the super welterweight co-main event, former world champions Yordenis Ugas and Mario “El Azteca” Barrios, who square off for the Interim WBC Welterweight title, and rising middleweights Elijah Garcia and Armando Reséndiz, who duel in the telecast opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Canelo Promotions and TGB Promotions, are available through AXS.com. 

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

JESUS RAMOS JR.

“I was excited when I heard I was gonna fight Lubin. I respect what he’s done as a fighter. He built himself back up after the Jermell Charlo fight and showed he’s a warrior.

“This is what I’m here for. I’m here to prove I’m one of the best and to do that I have to beat the best. It was an exciting moment when I was able to sign on for this fight.

“People didn’t really know what level I was on before the Joey Spencer fight. I had to show that I was on a different level and that I deserve to be on a stage like this.

“Hopefully with a win people will say I’m at the top of the division. That’s not up to me though. I just have to keep winning and proving myself. The main thing is to keep growing as a fighter. I’m gonna take a lot from this fight and have a lot more experience. I’m gonna be a different boxer after this and I’ll be ready for that title shot when it comes.

“I have good power, but I’m not relying on it. I have skills too and I’m gonna show them on September 30. I’m an intelligent fighter and everyone is gonna see that with a worthy opponent like Lubin across from me.

“I’ve faced tough guys like Brian Mendoza and Vladimir Hernandez, but Lubin looks like he’d be the toughest so far. He’s right up there because he’s got a lot of experience and we respect what he can do.

“I do feel like I’m the fresher fighter, but it’s not something I’m banking on. We’re working hard to be at my very best. He’s been in some wars, so we’ll see if he’s got wear and tear from it.

“Whatever I have to do to win, I’m ready for. I’m here to dominate. I want to make a statement, and in order to do that, I have to dominate. That’s the plan.”

ERICKSON LUBIN

“The mindset hasn’t changed for me. I still have a chip on my shoulder. I’m going into this fight very hungry. I have a young, hungry kid in front of me, but I’m young and hungry as well. You can expect fireworks on September 30. I’m looking to win and be in the big fights against the best guys in the division.

“I’m fueled by adversity. My first title challenge against Charlo brought me back to working real hard and eventually winning six fights in a row. I was winning the fight against Sebastian Fundora and losing fueled me to go back to the drawing board and work even harder.

“Ramos is a real solid fighter. I watched his last fight and I thought he looked good. But I’m not Joey Spencer. I’m one of those top guys in the division. I’m the cream of the crop and I’m here to prove myself. I want the toughest test every time out.

“I’ve asked for this fight even before he fought Joey Spencer. Now we have the platform and we’re here. It’s gonna be fireworks on September 30.

“This win solidifies that I belong at the top. It shows that I need a title shot. The winner of this fight will definitely get a big fight.

“The Luis Arias fight was a good comeback fight. I knew that with the way we trained, I was gonna dominate. That was eight weeks ago and now I’m happy we have only a few weeks to go for this one. I’m coming for another statement win.

“I’m definitely not downplaying Ramos, but I was 22-years-old like him and I took a step up in competition against a 27-year-old and fell short. I think history repeats itself, but in my favor.

“I’m looking for a one-sided ass-whooping. I want to go in there and come out with the victory, untouched.”

YORDENIS UGAS

“The most important thing right now is not what people might be saying, it’s that I’m healthy and happy. I’m preparing the right way for a great fight against Barrios. I don’t care about anything else.

“Barrios is a strong fighter, a tough fighter and a former world champion. I’m motivated to face an opponent of his caliber.

“There’s a lot at stake in this fight, but this is what I do. I go out and fight the best. I plan to take full advantage of this opportunity.

“I thought I fought well against Errol Spence Jr. and I walked away from the fight knowing I can compete against the best. I want to prove that I’m one of the best welterweights in the world.

“I promise that the fans are gonna see another exciting fight on September 30. This is another chance for me to challenge the best. Win or lose, I always push forward, and that’s what you’ll see on September 30.”

MARIO BARRIOS

“Whenever a fight is brought to me, there’s never a name that I say no to. This was no different. Ugas is a tremendous fighter and this is a huge opportunity. I was more than happy to take the fight.

“I’m trying to solidify my mark in this division. It’s gonna be a tough fight on September 30. I’ve never seen him shy away from a fight and I have a similar style. This is gonna be an explosive one that you don’t want to miss.

“We’re both gonna bring it on fight night. This is an exciting card and an exciting opportunity to fight for an interim world title.

“I’m expecting the best version of Ugas. We both have a lot to prove. A victory puts us right up there with all of the top welterweights. There’s a lot of good fights to be made and we’re all working to get to the top of the division.

“I was learning with each fight and took a lot away from my defeats. I’m still just as hungry as ever. I had my comeback fight in February in San Antonio and now I’m looking to bring another title back home.

“It’s gonna take everything to get this win. I’m gonna have to use my boxing ability, my power and my range. It’s gonna be an exciting fight and I’m looking forward to it.”

ELIJAH GARCIA

“I’m blessed to be on this card. I know that on September 30 I’m gonna have the toughest fight of my career so far. Reséndiz comes strong, in shape and ready to fight.

“I’m honored to be on a card with so many other great fighters. I’m preparing to be a world champion and these tough fights are what will get me ready for that.

“This has been the best year of my career. I had a big upset early in the year and then got a hard 10-round victory. Now I’m in back-to-back pay-per-view events. It’s like a snap of the finger and I’m blowing up. I’m just training hard and preparing for a tough fight.

“I want to be a world champion at 21 years old. Fighting tough opponents like Armando will get me ready for when that opportunity comes. I know how hard it’s gonna be, but that’s the way I have to go.

“Armando is coming off a huge win and he’s young and strong. I don’t see why this fight wouldn’t be a step up for me. I’m ready for it.

“I’m just staying humble and keeping my faith strong. I don’t want to look ahead and take too big of a leap. I’m following the direction that my team is telling me to go.”

ARMANDO RESENDIZ

“I expect a tough fight and I’ve trained for that. I hope that this is a fight that the fans will love. I want everyone to tune in and enjoy the action.

“I think that I have experience on my side, but age doesn’t matter too much. When I was younger, I fought older fighters as well. How you prepare is what really matters and I think we’re both going to prepare in the right way.

“I showed how hungry I was when I beat Jarrett Hurd. I have big goals in the sport. I want to be a main event staple and that was a big step toward that.

“I’m really excited to have Manny Robles in my corner. We mesh really well. You’re going to see more of that in this fight. We train hard and it’s reflected inside of the ring.”

TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions

“What a night this is going to be. This is a massive event. Canelo vs. Charlo, undisputed vs undisputed. With a fight of this magnitude, we had to deliver a stacked undercard.

“These three matchups have everything boxing fans could hope for or count on for a pay-per-view undercard. Each fighter here has a chance to catapult themselves to the top of their division with a win on September 30.

“All of these fights have the possibility of being a flat-out war and could steal the show. These are three quality, competitive and high-stakes fights.”

#         #         #

ABOUT CANELO VS. CHARLO

Canelo vs. Charlo will see pound-for-pound great Canelo Álvarez defend his undisputed super middleweight world titles in a blockbuster showdown against hard-hitting undisputed junior middleweight world champion Jermell Charlo headlining a SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) Saturday, September 30 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo Promotions will present the Premier Boxing Champions Pay-Per-View. 

The pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will see undefeated sensation Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. take on hard-hitting top contender Erickson “Hammer” Lubin in the 12-round super welterweight co-main event. The pay-per-view also includes former world champions Yordenis Ugas and Mario “El Azteca” Barrios going toe-to-toe for the Interim WBC Welterweight Title. Opening up the action are rising middleweights Elijah Garcia and Armando Reséndiz squaring off in a 10-round attraction.

For more information visit sho.com/ppv and www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #CaneloCharlo, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing and www.Facebook.com/premierboxingchampions/.

Los Angeles, CA (August 29, 2023) Boxing’s Top International Prospect, Tito Mercado, (12-0, 11 KOs), of Pomona, CA scored a devastating first-round knockout of Carlos Manuel Portillo, (23-5, 17 KOs), of Asuncion, Paraguay, on Saturday night in front of a huge crowd at the Lumcolor ‘Phoenix Center’ in Ontario, CA.

Using a battering jab, Mercado dropped Portillo with a tremendous left hook early in the opening stanza. Sending Portillo to the canvas again with a huge right hand to the head, Mercado was declared the winner by referee Thomas Taylor at 1:36 of the first round. The junior welterweight clash was scheduled for ten rounds.

“We practiced counter punching in the gym and it worked out very well,” said the victorious Mercado. “I want to fight the top guys; Arnold Barboza or Jose Ramirez. I’m more than willing to fight William Zepeda right now. If he’s interested I’m ready to fight him.”

Continued the 21-year-old, “It feels great to fight back at home and have the support of my family and fans. I always want to give the fans who bought a ticket a great show.”

The event was promoted by Fight City Promotions and broadcast live on their YouTube channel.

News of Mercado’s next fight will be announced shortly.

Social Media

Instagram: @realtitomercado

Facebook: @tito.mercado

NEW YORK (August 29, 2023) -Split-T Management fighters turned in impressive outings over the weekend.

Friday night in Atlanta, Andreas Katzourakis came off the deck to score an eighth and final round stoppage over Raphael Igbokwe in a middleweight contest.

Just 30 seconds into the fight, Igbokwe dropped Katzourakis with a short left.

That was short lived as Katzourakis turned things around and started to take control of the fight as early as round two.

In round five, Katzourakis had a big round as he hurt Igbokwe several times with big flurries. In round eight, Katzourakis poured on the pressure and landed 11 unanswered and flush shots that forced a referee stoppage at 2:18.

The performance from Katzourakis drew great reviews from fans who were commenting on social media, as most were looking forward to seeing the Greek warrior in action very soon.

Katzourakis, 160 lbs of Athens, GRE is now 11-0 with nine knockouts. Igbokwe, 160 lbs of Houston, TX is 16-5.

Donte Layne made a terrific pro debut by stopping Nathan Mitchell in the opening round of their four-round super middleweight bout.

In round one, Layne dumped Mitchell on the canvas with a hard left hand. Seconds later, Layne landed another hard left hand to the head that put Mitchell down and out at 2:29.

Layne, 166.8 lbs of Elmhurst, NY is 1-0 with one knockout. Mitchell, 166 lbs of Tupelo, MS is 0-2-1.

The 20 year-old Layne is a native of Elmont, New York.

Layne began boxing at the age of eight after his family would have backyard fights, and young Donte wanted to go to the gym.

Layne had an 85 fight amateur career that saw him go 74-11. He won the 2015 and 2017 Junior Olympics as well as a 2017 Silver Gloves title. Layne also won four U.S. National titles, which included the 2021 Elite National Championship and the 2022 Elite National Golden Gloves and National Championship.

He competed at 165 pounds and will campaign as a super middleweight in the professional ranks.

The 6’1″ Layne is trained by Anthony Santiago and Kenyatta Harris.

Mitchell of Senatobia, Mississippi is 0-1-1.

Saturday night San Juan, Puerto Rico, featherweight Yan Santana kept his perfect knockout streak intact as he stopped previously undefeated Jostin Ortiz Maysonet in round one of their six-round bout.

With the win, the 23 year-old native of La Romana, Dominican Republic is 9-0 with nine knockouts. Maysonet is the third straight undefeated fighter to fall to the emerging Santana and he is now 4-1.

Saturday night at The Showboat in Atlantic City, Split-T Management’s Christopher Pearson battled to a 10-round split draw with Derrick Webster in fight for the NBA Super Middleweight world title.

The bout was closely contested with Pearson landing the harder blows and very good body work.

Each fighter won a card 96-94 and a third card was even at 95-95.

Pearson is now 17-3-1. Webster is 29-4-1.