The boxing action heats up when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: JEZREEL CORRALES VS. ALBERTO MACHADO, DEMETRIUS ANDRADE VS. ALANTEZ FOX AND RYAN BURNETT VS. ZHANAT ZHAKIYANOV is seen SATURDAY, OCT. 21 at 10:05 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from two locations, Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY and SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The HBO Sports team will call all the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

The fights will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and affiliate portals.

In the main event from Turning Stone, Jezreel Corrales (22-1, 8 KOs) of San Miguelito, Panama takes on Alberto Machado (18-0, 15 KOs) of San Juan, Puerto Rico in a scheduled 12-round super featherweight title contest.

Corrales, 26, who has spent the majority of his career in Panama, is fighting in the U.S. for only the second time and making his third title defense. His only ring loss came in 2009, in his second pro bout. Last July, Corrales defeated the formidable veteran Robinson Castellanos to set up this encounter with the unbeaten Machado.

Known for his power, the 27-year-old Machado has an 83% knockout-to-win ratio and has been rising through the ranks of the 130-pound division. He previously scored a convincing decision victory over Carlos Morales and now faces his first shot at a title.

The co-main event from Turning Stone is a battle of undefeated fighters, as Demetrius Andrade (24-0, 16 KOs) of Providence, RI takes on Alantez Fox (23-0-1, 11 KOs), from Forestville, Md., in a scheduled 12-round middleweight contest. Two-time junior middleweight champion Andrade, 29, is moving up in weight class to battle Fox, 25, in a showdown both fighters hope leads to a title fight. A member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, Andrade has a deep amateur resume, having won a gold medal at the 2007 AIBA World Boxing Championships. The six-foot-four Fox will look to exploit his height advantage over the six-foot-one Andrade.

The night opens with a same-day, tape-delay presentation of the scheduled 12-round bantamweight unification bout at SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland between undefeated hometown favorite Ryan Burnett (17-0, 9 KOs) and Zhanat Zhakiyanov (27-1, 18 KOs) of Petropavl, Kazakhstan. Burnett, 25, is putting his title and perfect record on the line against fellow belt-holder Zhakiyanov, 33, who has compiled a 22-bout win streak since his only ring loss. The fight marks HBO Boxing’s first visit to Northern Ireland.

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of HBO Sports is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jonathan Crystal; director, Johnathan Evans.

® HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

Unified Heavyweight World Champion Anthony Joshua worked out for the media on Tuesday in Sheffield, England, as the undefeated British sensation continues preparation for his showdown against IBF mandatory challenger Carlos Takam on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT live on SHOWTIME from Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

“This is a must-win for myself and for Carlos Takam,” Joshua told Sky Sports, which will present the fight in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Box Office. “As much as my supporters want to see me win, there are still a few people who doubt me and want me to lose and disrupt our plan. They don’t want to see the cream rise to the top.”

Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs) is not taking Takam (35-3-1, 27 KOs) lightly, and said he feels added pressure taking on a new opponent on short notice as Takam replaces the injured Kubrat Pulev.

“Twenty wins, 20 knockouts ain’t bad, but boxing’s unforgiving. So don’t ask me what you do for your 21st fight,” Joshua said. “I can’t afford to lose, and I don’t want to lose.

“Boxing is a sport that’s unforgiving in a sense that if Takam beats me, that loss will stay on my record for a lifetime. That will always be my legacy. It will not be, ‘Oh, he was a world champion, and he did well for the sport of boxing.’ No, no, no, no no. It would be, ‘He’s 19-1.’ That’s the new legacy and I just don’t want that blemish on my record right now.

“I’ve known about Carlos Takam for a long time and he’s a very, very well-rounded fighter. He’s been moving his way up the IBF rankings, so I’ve always had my eye on him anyway.

“I think Eddie did a great job to have someone in place in case these mishaps happen. And when I heard the news I was fighting Takam, of all people, he’s a very strong, game fighter. This is his chance to kind of shock the world.

“Takam is already as tough as they come. He’s so tough. He just keeps on walking forward, and that’s disheartening for a fighter.

“When I’m in there with him, it will be interesting to see how game and ready he is, and what fire he is ready to go through.”

Atlanta, GA (October 18, 2017) The Real Deal Boxing, the promotional entity of Evander Holyfield’s Real Deal Sports and Entertainment, has finalized details for an action packed card Thursday night, October 19 at The Georgia Freight Depot in a ‘Special Edition’ Hall of Fame Tribute and Birthday Celebration.

Inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame this past June, boxing legend Holyfield will turn 55 years old on fight night.

Tickets priced at $150, $100 and $60 can be purchased in advance at TheRealDealBoxing.com. VIP Tables for $2500 and $1500 are also available for purchase. The historic Georgia Freight Depot is located at 66 Martin Luther King Dr. in Atlanta, GA 30303. Doors will open on the night of the event at 6:00 p.m. with the first bell at 7:00 p.m.

Four fights will be telecast nationally on CBS Sports Network starting at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday night. Featured on the call will be International Boxing Hall of Famer BARRY TOMPKINS, two-time world champion PAULIE MALIGNAGGI and the nationally known ring announcer DAVE DIAMANTE.

Headlining the October 19 special event, top featherweight contenders will battle over 10-rounds as Providence, Rhode Island’s TOKA KAHN “T-Nice” CLARY, (22-1, 15 KO’s) faces hard hitting DAVID BERNA (13-0, 12 KO’s), of Budapest, Hungary for the vacant WBA/NABA Featherweight Title.

The 25-year-old, all-action Clary returns to battle following his dominant performance in an eight round decision victory over Angel Luna on June 24 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Fighting for the first time in the United States, the 27-year-old Berna will be looking to impress boxing fans in this country as he makes the sixth start of his 2017 campaign. His last four victories have come by knockout.

Featured in the eight-round televised co-main event, local fan favorite and former world title challenger RAYONTA ‘Stingray’ WHITFIELD, (28-1, 15 KO’s), of Augusta, GA will face off against MARIO “EL Triturador” DIAZ, (16-1, 6 KO’s) of Aguascalientes, Mexico for the WBC Continental Americas Featherweight Title.

Riding a six bout winning streak, Whitfield will be looking to continue his path towards a world title opportunity against the battle tested Diaz.

Fighting for the first time in the United States, the 22-year-old Diaz is on a remarkable fourteen bout winning streak.

In a fantastic eight round clash of top super featherweight prospects, Washington D.C.’s JOSHUA DAVIS, (11-1, 5 KO’s), will battle RAY “Lightning Jr.” LAMPKIN, (10-0, 4 KO’s) of Portland, Oregon.

Undefeated cruiserweight prospects will also see action as The Real Deal Boxing’s newly-signed JOSHUA TEMPLE, (4-0, 4 KO’s), of St. Louis, Missouri, faces Worcester, Massachusetts’ BRYAN DANIELS, (5-0, 3 KO’s) in a scheduled six rounder.

Among the top national and local prospects featured on the off-TV undercard in separate bouts include middleweight MARQUISE MOORE, (5-0, 3 KO’s) of Colorado Springs, CO, welterweight JANELSON BOCACHICA FIGUEROA, (7-0, 4 KO’s), of Detroit, MI, junior featherweight LAWRENCE NEWTON, (7-0, 5 KO’s), of Boynton Beach, FL, and more!

Real Deal Sports & Entertainment is proud to partner with Medical Arts Radiology (www.medicalartsradiology.com) and Venum (www.venum.com). Superior Plumbing is a proud sponsor of this event.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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Website: www.TheRealDealBoxing.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Oct. 18th, 2017) — When he used to rummage through his father’s boxing memorabilia as a child, or sit next to him on the couch years later watching mixed martial arts, John Gotti III had no idea he’d one day step through those cage doors himself, alone, face-to-face with every fighter’s biggest adversary.

The idea, at first, was to find a way to make up for lost time with his father after the elder Gotti returned home from prison in 2004, so the two would watch all the big fights together and even attend live shows in New Jersey, just a stone’s throw from their home in Oyster Bay, N.Y.

Only 11 years old at the time, Gotti III took an immediate liking to the raw, unfiltered drama of mixed martial arts — combat in its purest form, as he calls it.

Following a successful, three-year trial run on the New York amateur circuit, the 24-year-old Gotti III makes his long-awaited professional debut Friday, Oct. 27th, 2017 on the preliminary card of “CES MMA 46” at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I., joining forces with the hottest promotion in the northeast.

Tickets for “CES MMA 46” are priced at $40.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesboxing.com, www.twinriver.com, www.ticketmaster.com or www.cagetix.com/ces by phone at 401-724-2253/2254 or at the Twin River Casino Players Club. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

His father, John A. Gotti — nicknamed “Junior” — never envisioned his own son fighting professionally, but has since cast aside any reservations knowing this is more than just a passing interest for Gotti III, who has changed his life both in and out of the gym in anticipation of what he hopes is a long, successful career in a sport often unforgiving for young, up-and-comers.

“I think now as I have chosen this as a profession, although my father is proud of me, I think he regrets fostering my interest,” Gotti III said. “I don’t think he ever thought this would be the end result.

“What father wants to watch his son in this type of environment?”

Gotti III takes his pride in his craft. He doesn’t drink or smoke. He’s not a partier. He briefly boxed as a child, but eventually segued into more traditional team sports before falling in love with MMA. He even tried a stint at bodybuilding, walking around at a heavily-muscled 250 pounds before settling into a more comfortable lifestyle in the welterweight division, where he’ll face Johnny Adams (0-1) of Rutland, Vt., on the 27th.

Naturally, Gotti III faces more than just the opponent standing across from him once the bell rings. He’s a naturally-gifted 24-year-old amateur standout about to enter his prime while looking to carve his own legacy under the shadow of the Gotti name.

There’s a certain pressure that comes with such a distinction — not to mention the fact Oct. 27th is the birthdate of his late grandfather, John Gotti, which is part of the reason he chose to fight on this date — but Gotti III is polished, wise beyond his years, and has cautiously climbed the ladder in anticipation of this day, from working more on his jiu-jitsu in recent months to hiring a strength coach. His last amateur fight was in February, so this will be the first time he steps back into the cage in six months with the hope that all the extra preparation and attention to detail will pay dividends on the 27th.

“I’m excited to be doing something I love,” Gotti III said. “For me to possibly move forward and see what I’m capable of achieving, I need to be tested by the likes of Adams.”

Choosing CES MMA as the destination for his first pro fight made perfect sense for Gotti III. The promotion is in its fourth year with AXS TV as its broadcast partner (the main card of “CES MMA 46” airs on the network beginning at 9 p.m. ET on the 27th) and has a reputation for paving a path to the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) for several prominent fighters, among them Rob Font, Andre Soukhamthath and Charles Rosa.

“I know several fighters who had fought for them and they said they were good guys to work with and they put on a great show,” Gotti III said. “It was a natural.”

The main event of “CES MMA 46” features the return of former CES MMA Middleweight World Champion “Doomsday” John Howard (24-13, 9 KOs) of Boston, who faces submission specialist Roger Carroll (16-14) of Claremont, N.C.

“CES MMA 46” also features the return of rising welterweight prospect Gary Balletto Jr. (4-1, 2 KOs) of Cranston, R.I., who battles Philadelphia’s Sharif Jones (3-2, 1 KO), plus the return of East Providence, R.I., bantamweight Dinis Paiva (9-6, 5 KOs), who faces Pennsylvania vet Brandon Seyler (7-5, 1 KO), both of whom will be fighting on the televised main card.

Also on the main card, lightweight Josh LaBerge (11-6, 5 KOs) of Fall River, Mass., returns to face Jonathan Lemke (6-8, 5 KOs) of Auburn, Maine, and bantamweight Rico DiSciullo (7-1, 3 KOs) of Peabody, Mass., faces Justin King (6-5) of Lawrence, Ind. Justin Sumter (3-1, 2 KOs) of New Haven, Conn., returns in a lightweight bout against Rahway, N.J., vet Shedrick Goodridge (6-9, 2 KOs).

Also returning Oct. 27th, Providence featherweight Marquis Brewster (3-0) battles Raymond Yanez (4-11, 1 KO) of Marion, Ohio, on the preliminary, where joining featherweight Pat McCrohan (2-1, 1 KO) of Berkley, Mass., who faces Buck Pineau (1-3) of Ashland, Maine. New Bedford bantamweight Jessie Pires makes his professional debut in the prelims against Syracuse, N.Y., newcomer Michael Taylor.

Visit www.cesmma.com, www.twitter.com/cesmma or www.facebook.com/cesmma for more information, or follow CES MMA on Instagram at @CESMMA.

LAS VEGAS, NV (October 17, 2017) – Undefeated prospects, super-flyweight Damien “Sugar” Vazquez (12-0, 6 KOs), super-lightweight, Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (7-0, 5 KOs), and light-heavyweight Tye Brooks (1-0, 1 KO), all who fight under the Prince Ranch Boxing (PRB) management banner, were victorious this past Saturday at the Palenque de la Feria in Aguascalientes, Mexico. The card was promoted by Damien Vazquez’s “Sugar Promotions” in associations with Malibu Films and SOBA Recovery Centers.

In the scheduled 8-round main event, Damien Vazquez, stopped his opponent Ivan Galicia Morelos, retiring the Mexican native who didn’t come out for the fifth round. Blair Cobbs went the distance with Hugo Padilla, winning a unanimous 6-round decision. Tye Brooks won his pro debut with a first round knockout over Ivan Najera. New signee’s, flyweight Maryan Salazar (6-2, 4 KOs) and lightweight Issac Avelar (13-0, 8 KOs) were also victorious. Avelar went the distance for the first time winning an 8-round unanimous decision, while Salazar won a 4-round unanimous decision.

“I was very happy that the Prince Ranch Boxing team went out there and got victories, going 5-0 in Mexico,” said Greg Hannely president of Prince Ranch Boxing. “The goal is to keep our stable of boxers constantly fighting. With each bout they are getting the experience they need to help them prepare fight bigger fights. We have big plans moving forward and as we grow, the boxing world will take notice.”

“It was a great show with a lot of up and coming talent,” said president of Sugar Promotions Oscar Vazquez. “Sugar Promotions is just getting started and we are off to a great start. We will be making an announcement shortly about our next show.”

“Vazquez, Cobbs and Brooks, all gained quality experience and confidence with these victories,” said head trainer Clarence “Bones” Adams, “All the hard work in the gym is paying off. All three of them will be back in the gym next week, ready to put in more work.”

The World Boxing Super Series Cruiserweight Final will be held in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia in May 2018 following an agreement signed in London between World Boxing Super Series organiser and owner Comosa AG and The General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia. The date and venue for the Final will be announced in due time.

The Muhammad Ali trophy will be awarded to the winner of the contest in the final stage of the inaugural season of the World Boxing Super Series, which has seen growing worldwide attention and broadcast coverage across more the 60 countries since its launch and Gala Draw in Monaco back in July.

Turki Al-Alsheikh, President of The General Sports Authority: “This agreement is part of our broader commitment and work to develop the sport of boxing in Saudi Arabia. Having the first final of such a high profile and groundbreaking tournament take place in Saudi Arabia is a key milestone for us, and will be one of many major sports events to take place in the Kingdom next year.”

“The interest in boxing amongst the young generation is there and growing rapidly, which is why the GSA is also working to form a grassroots partnership with one of the largest international boxing federations to promote the sport. Our involvement in the Muhammad Ali trophy is the perfect way to step up our engagement in boxing, given how popular and well respected this great sporting athlete has always been.”

Roberto Dalmiglio, CEO of Comosa: “This is fantastic news, not just for World Boxing Super Series but for boxing and for the sport in Saudi Arabia. We have seen huge and growing interest in the World Boxing Super Series from fight fans, broadcasters, commercial partners and venue owners from the major boxing markets around the world. The competition to host the cruiserweight final has been fierce, and we are delighted to be able to announce the winner.”

“I am sure that Saudi Arabia will lay on a fitting finale to the first year of the WBSS and first award of the Muhammad Ali trophy! We are proud to be working with the Saudi General Sports Authority on what will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the 2018 sporting calendar in Jeddah.”

Kalle Sauerland, Comosa’s Chief Boxing Officer: “The Muhammad Ali trophy is going from strength to strength and, with the cruiserweight division featuring all four federation world champions, the undisputed champion will be crowned next May. We will also feature local fighters on the undercard to help promote the sport locally.“

“The Muhammad Ali name and legacy is so revered in Saudi Arabia, and Ali himself fought his greatest battles (‘The Thriller in Manila’ and ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’) in locations not normally associated with boxing, so it is fitting to bring big-time boxing to Jeddah in the name of the Greatest of All Time.”

The first fights of the World Boxing Super Series took place in September and three of the four quarterfinals in the Cruiserweight division has already taken place. 2012 Olympic Gold Medallist and current WBO World Champion Aleksandr Usyk kicked off the cruiserweight tournament by spectacularly stopping Marco Huck, a former record-breaking World Champion himself, in the 10th round in Berlin.

WBA World Champion Yunier Dorticos defeated number one ranked Dmitry Kudryashov with a sensational second-round knockout in San Antonio. Finally, hometown hero Mairis Briedis outpointed Cuba’s Mike Perez in Riga to retain his WBC world title belt and set up a semi-final clash with Aleksandr Usyk.

Next up is Russia’s IBF World Champion Murat Gassiev against Poland’s former world champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, with the winner to face Yunier Dorticos. The venues of both semi-finals, which are expected to take place in the second half of January next year, will be announced in due course.

NEW YORK CITY (Oct. 17, 2017) Four-division world champion Miguel Cotto (41-5, 33 KOs) and WBA International Welterweight Champion Sadam “World Kid” Ali (25-1, 14 KOs) hosted a press conference today to formally announce their 12-round fight for Cotto’s WBO World Junior Middleweight Championship. The action will take place at the World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden, and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Cotto will make his 24th appearance on the network and his 10th showcase at MSG in the final fight of his historic career as one of the most decorated and significant Puerto Rican fighters in boxing history.

Below is what the fighters and their teams had to say at today’s press conference:

MIGUEL COTTO, Four-Division, Six Time World Champion, Future Hall of Famer and Current WBO Junior Middleweight Champion:
“It’s nice to be back. It is nice to be at this place; it made me the big boxer than I am now. All I can say is that I’m going to Los Angeles tonight to start my training camp. I’m going to do my best with Freddie, as always. I know Sadam Ali will do his best. We are going to bring a good show here on December 2.”

SADAM ALI, Current WBA International Welterweight Champion:
“I know I’m the underdog. I know a lot of the media are throwing bad words at me. But if you work hard, you never know what’s going to come. It’s not about the money. It’s about the opportunity. I know if I want to win, I have to come at 100 percent and fight smart. Cotto has tremendous power, so I’m going to fight smart. I’m going to use all of my abilities, my speed, my strength, my feet. I’m ready to shine. For those of you who don’t think I have a chance: all you got to do is wait and see. I promise you that you will see a great fight.”

ANDRE ROZIER, Trainer to Sadam Ali:
“We wanted to show the world that Sadam Ali is a special athlete. He is a special boxer. At this point, it’s been written that he doesn’t belong here or stand a chance. but we’re going to show the world that he does. He’s coming to win. It’s not a money thing. I told him, if he didn’t want to win the fight, then we don’t want the fight. It’s nothing more than. There is a stern test before us, but we plan to ascend to that challenge. We will be victorious.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions:
“This is a classic event: as one star says goodbye, another tries to fill the void. What can you say about Miguel Cotto that hasn’t already been said during his two decades in boxing?On December 2, Cotto will look to go out as a champion as he defends his WBO Junior Middleweight World Championship. Sadam Ali is a hungry fighter who is young and fresh, and he knows this is an amazing opportunity against a great legend. I know he will put on a great show. I’m very happy to announce that for every ticket sold, a portion of ticket sales will go to various charities that Miguel Cotto and his promotional company will choose.”

HECTOR SOTO, Vice President of Miguel Cotto Promotions:
“On December 2, Miguel Cotto will enter Madison Square Garden a champion and will leave a champion. And what else can we give to Puerto Rico, who is going through a terrible time right now than a victory from Miguel Cotto?”

PETER NELSON, Executive Vice President at HBO Sports:
“We commend what Oscar and Miguel Cotto Promotions are doing. This fight is an inflection point for the sport. We have a legend leaving the sport. Miguel began with HBO in 2003. This will be his 24th appearance on our network. This is a historic run. We’re excited to see this last fight with us. On the other side, we have a young, hungry fighter in Sadam Ali who is looking to be a world champion and moving up a weight class. He deserves recognition for stepping up and taking this fight.”

JOEL FISCHER, Executive Vice President of Marquee Events:
“I want to take this moment to welcome Miguel back to the Garden. This is his home. We are truly thrilled to host his last fight. We want to welcome him back for his tenth and final fight. I also want to welcome Sadam Ali back to the Garden. He has fought here several times, and even won the Golden Gloves here.”

Cotto vs. Ali, a 12-round fight for the Cotto’s WBO World Junior Middleweight Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions and sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle”, and Casa Mexico Tequila. The event will take place Saturday, December 2 at Madison Square Garden in New York City and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Tickets for Cotto vs. Ali are priced at $500, $300, $200, $100 and $50 and are on sale. Tickets can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com, www.goldenboytickets.com or www.MSG.com.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, and www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, and www.hbo.com/boxing. Follow on Twitter at @cottopromotions, @GoldenBoyBoxing, and @hboboxing, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/realmiguelacotto. Visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing and @realmiguelacotto and follow the conversation using #CottoAli.

Team Sauerland and Sport1 GmbH have signed a ground-breaking three-year-deal to lift boxing to the next level in Germany. From 2018 onwards, Team Sauerland will exclusively deliver boxing content to SPORT1, Germany`s leading 360° sports platform, which each year will broadcast at least 20 events with German participation and a total of roundly 100 fights live and exclusive on free-TV and its digital platforms.

“Team Sauerland has been continuously on Free to Air Television in Germany since 1992. We are delighted to continue that tradition and provide the sport with a huge free-to-air presence over the next three years,” said promoter Kalle Sauerland. “With a total of at least 60 free-to-air events with German participation until 2020 we now have a perfect platform for our current stars and the next generation of boxing heroes.”

Olaf Schröder, CEO of Constantin Medien and Chairman of the Management of Sport1 GmbH: “Thanks to this extensive and exclusive partnership with Team Sauerland, SPORT1 is set to become the new home for all boxing fans in the German-speaking countries. Together with Team Sauerland, we are opening the next chapter for boxing in Germany. As the leading sports dedicated platform, we will showcase this popular sport with its present and future stars, not only with extensive live broadcasts on free-TV but also on all digital platforms, giving it even more of the spotlight.”

The deal will also change the way boxing is viewed in Germany. SPORT1 will exclusively broadcast “Team Sauerland Championship Boxing” as well as “Next Generation Boxing” and “International Boxing Nights.” Prior to all big fights, there will be exclusive countdown programming – all available on free-TV. On top of that, SPORT1.de, Germany’s leading sports platform, will sync its boxing channel with Team Sauerland´s webpage, boxen.com, to expand the digital boxing coverage in the Online, Mobile and Social Media sector.

Said promoter Nisse Sauerland: “This 360-degree approach on free-to-air television will help boxing win many new fans and make sure it stays where it belongs: among the top three TV sports in Germany. Team Sauerland’s young talent pool has never been so strong. This historic deal with SPORT1 will give our fighters never-seen-before exposure and the unique chance to fight their way to the top and win the hearts of the public.”

Ricky Hatton plans to ruin old charge Ryan Burnett’s big night with the perfect game plan for Zhanat Zhakiyanov to unify the Bantamweight division when they clash for the IBF and WBA Super titles at the SSE Arena in Belfast on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.

Hatton brings Zhakiyanov to Belfast in an historic unification battle that sees the Manchester legend in the opposite corner to the man he introduced to the paid ranks.

The IBF king turned pro with Hatton in 2012 but a stuttering start to his career saw him leave the ‘Hitman’ in 2014 after just four pro fights and team up with Adam Booth.

Hatton has admitted that Belfast was right to move onto pastures new and was proud to see the 25 year old claim the IBF crown – but warns that he will have his hands full against the WBA Super king Zhakiyanov.

“I knew 100 per cent that Ryan had the ability to go all the way when I was training him,” said Hatton. “I was having a lot of problems at the time, I wasn’t in a good place at all, and Ryan felt the training was better elsewhere.

“I wasn’t the trainer I am today. I understand why he left. There are no hard feelings. The Ricky Hatton of today is in a miles better place than the Ricky Hatton back then.

“I text him before his World Title fight with Haskins to say good luck and text him straight after to say congratulations. I think the world of Ryan and his family. He’s a great lad and a wonderful talent but I don’t think he’s going to beat us on the night.

“Ryan’s done everything asked of him so far but he’s going to have to show more than his talent in this one. If he doesn’t nail Zhanat to the canvas in the first few rounds he’s in for a very tough night. But if he doesn’t put Zhanat over in the first few then goes on to win, I’ll be the first one to shake his hand.

“They’ve sparred together and he probably just edged the sessions with those big gloves and head guard but times and circumstances change. Ryan’s in for a heap load of trouble once that bell goes.”

Zhakiyanov was the man in trouble early in his World title clash with Rau’shee Warren in February, hitting the canvas twice in the opening round in Ohio. The hometown star was unable to put the visitor away though and Zhakiyanov recovered and pulled away from Warren to rip the WBA Super strap from him via split decision – a proud night for Hatton and one he feels will serve them well against Burnett.

“He was never going to beat Warren on just boxing ability alone,” said Hatton. “He was going to beat him with a lot of heart and will to win the World Title. We had a good game plan overall but he made fundamental mistakes in the first round. I told him not to stand off Warren because he’ll ping you and what happened – he stood off and ended up on his arse. He can’t start the same against Ryan with all his skill.

“He’s learnt lessons from it and come away with a World title. He went to Ohio in Warren’s backyard to take his belt and this time he goes into Ryan’s backyard so it’s nothing new to him and the experience will help.

“He’s never looked better to be honest with you. I know you hear trainers say that a lot, but he has never looked this good. He couldn’t be any sharper.

“He’s got an extra bit of ambition and determination for this one. There’s always been that bit of rivalry between the two. The fact he used to share a gym with Ryan and spar with him at the same weight.

“Ryan hasn’t fought anyone as good as who Zhanat has been in with. He’s beat Karim Guerfi for the European who is a very, very good fighter – potential World class. Rau’shee Warren is an absolutely outstanding fighter. As good as Lee Haskins and Ryan Farrag are, they aren’t big power houses who can pack a huge punch.”

Zhakiyanov’s clash with Burnett tops a huge night of boxing in Belfast as Paul Hyland Jnr defends his IBF European Lightweight title against Stephen Ormond and James Tennyson puts his WBA International Super-Featherweight title against Darren Traynor.

Burnett’s Adam Booth gym mate Josh Kelly fights for the fourth time in the paid ranks, as is his Team GB Rio Olympic teammate Anthony Fowler.

A host of local and Irish talents appear on the bill with Cruiserweight Tommy McCarthy, Super-Lightweight Tyrone McKenna, Lightweights Joe Fitzpatrick and Gary Cully and Super-Featherweight Feargal McCrory.

Tickets are on sale now priced at £33, £44, £65 and £105 from the SSE Arena Belfast at www.ssearenabelfast.com (ticket price includes inside charge)

VIP tickets priced at £150 are exclusively available from http://www.matchroomboxing.com/

Face value tickets for October 21 are also be available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ . StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing and Anthony Joshua.

17 October 2017 – Manila, Philippines: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced additional bouts for ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD, set for 10 November at the state-of-the-art Mall of Asia Arena in Manila. Fans will be treated to another exciting evening of authentic martial arts action as the best martial arts talent in the world take the ONE Championship cage. In the main event, reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang will defend his title against ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin Nguyen. In the co-main event, ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes will take on rising star Danny Kingad of Team Lakay.

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

Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, of the legendary Team Lakay in Baguio City, is one of the Philippines’ most experienced martial artists. After nearly a decade of competing in various promotions, the multiple-time SEA Games Wushu gold medallist has amassed an impressive 18-5 professional record. The 33-year-old veteran is currently riding a four-bout winning streak against high-profile opponents, including an emphatic technical knockout victory over Japanese legend Shinya Aoki to capture the ONE Lightweight World Championship in 2016. Showcasing a highly-improved wrestling and grappling arsenal, Folayang then defeated top challenger Ev Ting in his first title defense last April. Now set to return to the ONE Championship cage in Manila, Folayang will face ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin Nguyen in a cross-divisional showdown.

28-year-old Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen of Sydney, Australia, is a highly-skilled finisher and one of the most talented featherweights in martial arts. In his most recent bout, Nguyen stepped into the ONE Championship cage last August, scoring the biggest victory of his career when he stopped former undefeated featherweight champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov in Kuala Lumpur to capture the ONE Featherweight World Championship. Sporting a 9-1 professional record, Nguyen’s all-around skill set allows him to compete at the highest level of competition. In a much-anticipated battle between division champions, Nguyen is set to challenge the Philippines’ Eduard Folayang for the ONE Lightweight World Championship, and attempt to become the first double-division World Champion in ONE history.

28-year-old Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes of Brazil is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with well-rounded striking and grappling skills. He is the undisputed ONE Flyweight World Champion, and one of the most highly-skilled and dominant world champions in martial arts. Rarely opposed in the ONE Championship cage, Moraes thoroughly defeated former champion Kairat Akhmetov in an epic rematch last August, snapping the Kazakhstani’s perfect 23-bout win streak and reclaiming his belt. He is now set to defend his title against rising star Danny Kingad.

An unbeaten flyweight from Team Lakay, Danny “The King” Kingad is a regional wushu champion and martial artist with a perfect professional record of 5-0. A true warrior from the mountains of the Philippines and one of the top prospects to come out of Baguio City, Kingad is a tremendous striker who possesses well-rounded grappling skills. In his most recent bout, Kingad turned in a complete performance, putting his wide range of techniques on full display in a unanimous decision victory over Malaysia’s Muhammad Aiman. The impressive victory earned Kingad a shot at the ONE Flyweight World Championship, as he next meets defending champion Adriano Moraes.

Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon of the famed Team Lakay in Baguio City, Philippines, is one of the country’s most talented martial artists. With a professional record of 16-5, the Filipino champion and former world title challenger is known as a fierce competitor with the ability to finish opponents in a variety of methods. The 29-year old wushu stalwart owns seven huge knockouts on his resume, and is one of the most feared strikers in ONE Championship’s deep bantamweight division. In his last bout, Belingon stopped a top contender in Reece McLaren of Australia with a volley of devastating strikes. He now takes on another tough task ahead in Kevin Chung.

Kevin “Old Boy” Chung is a 24-year-old South Korean martial artist who was born and raised in the United States. He began his amatuer career in his adoptive hometown of Centreville, Virginia, in 2010, and has since impressed with his spectacular performances inside the cage. Chung turned professional in 2015, and currently holds a perfect professional record of 4-0, with two of his four career wins having come by way of spectacular stoppage. Chung prides himself on being an exciting competitor, willing to please the crowd by constantly seeking the highlight-reel finish. He is set to face feared striker Kevin Belingon next.

34-year-old Alex “Little Rock” Silva of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a second-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and world champion with a professional record of 5-1. Silva is riding high on a four-bout winning streak, rapidly climbing ONE Championship’s stacked flyweight ranks. He is a technical grappling specialist with a penchant for securing highlight-reel submission finishes. With steadily increasing confidence, Silva’s last four victories have ended in spectacular fashion. In his next outing, Silva takes on Japanese warrior Hayato Suzuki.

31-year-old Hayato Suzuki of Saitama, Japan, is a veteran martial artist with an unblemished professional record of 17-0 with two draws. Spending the majority of his career competing in his native Japan, Suzuki is known as a highly-skilled competitor with the ability to finish his foes with heavy knockout power and technical grappling skills. Out of 17 wins, Suzuki has finished 12 of his opponents, including seven by submission and five by knockout. In his most recent bout, Suzuki submitted former world title challenger Joshua Pacio in the first round. He is now set to face fellow grappler, Alex Silva.

Top Filipino women’s martial arts contender Gina “Conviction” Iniong of Baguio City, Philippines, is a six-time national wushu champion and member of the renowned Team Lakay. She owns a professional martial arts record of 5-2, with three of her five victories coming by thrilling finish, including two highlight-reel submissions and one knockout. In her last bout, Iniong impressed in her ONE Championship debut, defeating tough competitor Natalie Gonzales Hills by unanimous decision.

Female martial artist Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol of Jakarta, Indonesia, is an Indonesian national wushu champion who has trained in various striking disciplines such as kickboxing and wushu. The 29-year-old made her ONE Championship debut against Singapore’s Tiffany Teo at ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS last February, joining a growing list of elite female martial artists in Asia. Gaol will look to emerge triumphant in her next appearance inside the ONE Championship cage, when she takes on the Philippines’ Gina Iniong.

31-year-old Anatpong Bunrad of Thailand is one of the most talented strikers in the promotion’s deep flyweight division. He utilizes lightning quick and powerful strikes to subdue his opponents with sheer aggression, but also possesses the ability to finish on the ground with solid submission skills. In his most recent bout, Bunrad dropped a close split decision to Filipino rival Geje Eustaquio. Bunrad is looking for redemption inside the ONE Championship cage, as he takes on the highly-regarded Reece McLaren.

26-year-old Reece “Lightning” McLaren is a Filipino-Australian martial artist from Toowoomba, Australia, who sports a professional record of 9-5. He made his ONE Championship debut in 2015 with a spectacular submission victory over top bantamweight contender Mark Striegl, and then followed up that win with a unanimous decision victory over highly-regarded talent Muin Gafurov. In December of 2016, McLaren challenged Bibiano Fernandes for the ONE Bantamweight World Championship, falling just short of victory by way of split decision. Next for McLaren is a move to the flyweight division, as he faces top divisional talent Anatpong Bunrad.

21-year-old Joshua Pacio of Baguio City is a top martial arts talent with a professional record of 9-2. He is one of the Philippines’ most talented strawweights and a member of the famed Team Lakay. A rising star in Asian martial arts, Pacio is a wushu practitioner with a solid grappling repertoire. All but one of his career victories have come by spectacular finish, which includes five wins by submission and three by devastating knockout. A former ONE Strawweight World Championship Title Challenger, Pacio is looking to bring himself back to title contention with a victory. A tough task is ahead of Pacio, however, as he is slated to lock horns with countryman Roy Doliguez.

35-year-old Roy “The Dominator” Doliguez is considered one of the top strawweights in ONE Championship. Doliguez, a former professional boxing champion with more than 40 pro bouts, made his ONE Championship debut in 2015, vying for the inaugural ONE Strawweight World Championship against former champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke. In his most recent bout, Doliguez scored the biggest win of his career, stopping Brazilian stalwart Yago Bryan via third-round knockout. His next bout will be against fellow Filipino warrior Joshua Pacio.

Kicking off an exciting card at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD, Chinese featherweight Xie Chao will take on Malaysia’s Kelvin Ong. Xie was victorious in his most recent contest, submitting Marc Marcellinus with a first-round kimura in his promotional debut at ONE CHAMPIONSHIP: SHANGHAI. Ong, who trains alongside Ann “Athena” Osman and AJ “Pyro” Lias Mansor at Borneo Tribal Squad, will try his best to derail Xie’s winning ways in one of the evening’s preliminary bouts.

Also featured in the prelims is a classic clash of grappler versus striker, as China’s national wrestling champion Peng Xue Wen takes on three-time national Kun Khmer champion Phat Soda of Cambodia in a three-round strawweight bout.

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

About ONE Championship™
ONE Championship is the largest sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Championship is the home of martial arts. The world’s most exciting martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1 billion potential viewers across 128+ countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, and more.

Mikaela Laurén (29-4, 13 KOs) believes her power could prove too much for Cecilia Brækhus (31-0, 8 KOs) when she challenges for the WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO World Welterweight titles on Saturday at the Oslofjord Convention Center in Stokke, Norway.

The Scandinavian rivals meet in a repeat of their 2010 World title contest, and Laurén, the former WBC Super Welterweight Champion, is confident she can hurt the female pound-for-pound number one and put an end to her 31-fight unbeaten streak.

“Cecilia is a very arrogant person but when she feels my power she won’t be so cocky. She might be confident now, but once I hit her, it’s going to wake her up. It’s going to scare her and then I’m going to get her respect,” said Laurén.

“She’s been in the ring with some strong fighters before like Anne Sophie Mathis and Oxandia Castillo, and in those fights you can see she’s not comfortable when she gets caught with heavy punches. I’ve got heavy punches but I’ve also got better technique than both those girls. I’m going to be cleverer in the ring.

“Cecilia has never been down before but if anyone can do it, it’s me. Klara Svensson shook her in their fight, and Klara’s not even a big puncher. She landed the heaviest punch of the fight and you could tell Cecilia was hurt.

“I’ve spoken to Klara and she’s given me some advice. She’s on my side and she thinks I can beat Cecilia. I won’t mention everything she told me but she did say that Cecilia doesn’t really punch hard, and that shows on her record. She has hardly any knockouts.

“I think she is underestimating me. Maybe she thinks I’m still the same fighter I was seven years ago, but I wouldn’t even call myself a boxer back then. I was a novice. I’ve developed so much since our first fight. I’m a completely different fighter now and she is going to see just how much I’ve improved on Saturday.

“I know it will be tough but I’m used to doing it the hard way. Cecilia has had it much easier than me. She’s had a silver spoon in her mouth. She had a big promoter behind her from her first fight. I didn’t get a promoter until after my thirtieth. I’ve had to do everything on my own, and that’s made me hungrier and even more determined to win.

“She’s said I talked myself into this fight but I deserve it, and she knows it. I’ve been waiting a long time for this opportunity. This is my Olympics, and I will do everything I can to win. No one is unbeatable. Look what happened to Klitschko who she has been working with. Anyone can fall from the throne.”

Cecilia Brækhus vs. Mikaela Laurén is available to watch live and exclusive on Viaplay Pay-Per-View. For more information please visit: https://viaplay.se/ppv

Hockessin, DE (October 16, 2017) – Popular lightweight Joey Tiberi will headline a great night of professional boxing at the Hockessin PAL in Hockessin, Delaware on Saturday night, November 11th.

The eight-round battle, which is promoted by Night Night Promotions, will be contested for the USBU title.

Tiberi of Newark, Delaware has a record of 15-2 with eight knockouts.

The 31 year-old Tiberi is on a three fight winning streak, and coming off a 2nd round stoppage over Marlon Lewis on June 23rd in New Castle, Delaware.

Tiberi’s opponent will be announced shortly.

In the eight-round co-feature, Lamont Singletary will take on Hafiz Montgomery for the USBU Cruiserweight title.

Singletary of Dover, Delaware has a record of 8-2 with five knockouts.

The 32 year-old Singletary is a six-year professional, who has a win over undefeated Earl Platt (3-0). Singletary os coming a off a no-contest with Ernest Reyna on June 23rd in New Castle, Delaware.

Montgomery of Toms River, NJ has a record of 4-1 with two knockouts.

The 36 year-old Montgomery is a two -year professional who is coming off his biggest win when he took a six-round majority decision over previously undefeated Austin Bryant on June 22nd in Durham, North Carolina.

In a six-round super bantamweight bout, Ariel Lopez (7-0, 5 KOs) of Puebla, Mexico will fight against an opponent to be named.

In four-round bouts:

Shamelle Baldwin will make her pro debut against Chrystal Beyers (0-1) of Ohio in a Welterweight bout.

Weusi Johnson (2-5) of Wilmington, DE will face Edgar Cortez (4-4) of Vineland, NJ in a super bantamweight fight.

Michael Crain of Smyrna, DE will make his pro debut against Anthony Wood in a middleweight bout.

Maurice Horne (1-0, 1 KO) of Middletown, DE battles Maurice Amaro (2-10, 1 KO) of Philadelphia, PA in a light heavyweight bout.

Stanley Harvey (1-6, 1 KO) of Norfolk, VA will fight pro debuting Dino Peralta in a middleweight scrap.

Brandon Mullins will make his pro debut in super middleweight bout.

Warris Armany will make his pro debut against Joshua Cook (0-1) of Newark, NJ in a welterweight contest.

Tickets for this outstanding night of boxing range from $60 for General Admission ($65 at the door) and $45 for General Admission ($50 at the door) and can be purchased by calling 302-540-7203, 302-339-0648 or 302-650-8678.

Service members will receive a $10 discount with ID

World Boxing Super Series Cruiserweight Quarter-finals Conclude Saturday with IBF Champion Murat Gassiev Facing Former Champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk From Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. & on AUDIENCE Network

Winner Moves on to Face WBA Champion Yunier Dorticos in
WBSS Cruiserweight Semi-final

NEWARK, N.J. (October 17, 2017) – IBF champion Murat Gassiev and former champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk will square-off in the closing matchup of the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight quarter-finals as both men look to move one step closer to capturing the Muhammad Ali Trophy Saturday, October 21 from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. and on AUDIENCE Network.

Promoted by Ringstar Sports in association with World Boxing Super Series, tickets for the live event are on sale now and are available at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available to purchase at the Prudential Center box office.

The winner of this explosive showdown will be on to the WBSS semi-finals and a unification showdown against WBA champion Yunier Dorticos. The cruiserweight semi-finals will feature four world titleholders as these 200-pound champions each look to prove they’re the class of the division.

Click HERE for video highlights from the first round of WBSS action and see below for recaps of the cruiserweight action so far.

September 9, Berlin – Usyk-Huck, Ali Trophy cruiserweight quarter-final

The first contest of the World Boxing Super Series was the cruiserweight quarter-final between WBO World Champion Aleksandr Usyk and Marco Huck at the Max-Schmeling-Halle.

Ukranian Usyk retained his WBO cruiserweight title and moved on to the next round of the Ali Trophy tournament by stopping German Huck in the 10th round.

The Olympic gold medalist from London 2012 forced his German opponent backwards and dominated with his power throughout the fight which proved why the number one seed is the tournament’s favorite.

In addition, the Ukrainian got new fans all around the world with his charisma inside and outside the ring.

September 23, San Antonio – Dorticos-Kudryashov, Ali Trophy cruiserweight quarter-final

With a combined 41 knockouts over 42 victories, Yunier Dorticos vs. Dmitry Kudryashov at the Alamodome promised an all-action fight. In a fight between two KO artists, Cuban Dorticos showed that he mastered his skill better than his Russian opponent.

The WBA World Champion proved that he is a dangerous challenger for everyone in the tournament when a perfect right hand sent Kudryashov crashing to the canvas in round two. Kudryashov was counted out and Dorticos lived up to his nickname: ‘The KO Doctor’.

September 30, Riga – Briedis-Perez, Ali Trophy cruiserweight quarter-final

10.000 ecstatic fans at the Arena Riga got what they came for: A victory for their hero, WBC World Champion Mairis Briedis when beat Cuban Mike Perez (22-3, 14 KOs) by a 12 round unanimous decision in a very competitive fight.

The judges scored the fight 116-110, 115-111, and 114-112 and paved the way for an explosive quarterfinal: Usyk vs. Briedis!

Featured bouts on October 21 will see Polish contender Mateusz Masternak facing once-beaten Stivens Bujaj in a WBSS cruiserweight reserve match and unbeaten Polish contender Maciej Sulecki taking on former title challenger Jack Culcay.

For more information visit worldboxingsuperseries.com or www.ringstar.com

Follow on Twitter @WBsuperSeries, @Ringstar and become a fan on Facebook at facebook.com/WBSuperSeries and facebook.com/RingstarSports. Tonight’s fight was promoted by Ringstar Sports in association with World Boxing Super Series.

WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES FIXTURES

21/10/17 – Cruiserweight Quarter-Final:
Murat Gassiev vs. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (IBF World)
Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, USA

27/10/17 – Super Middleweight Quarter-Final:
Juergen Braehmer vs. Rob Brant
Kongresshalle in Schwerin, Germany

WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES AT A GLANCE
Number of participants: 16
Number of belts: 7
Number of world champions: 6
Number of former world champions: 3
Number of undefeated fighters: 9
Combined Record of participants: 423 wins, 17 losses, 294 KOs

ABOUT THE WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES
Organized by Comosa AG, the World Boxing Super Series will kick off in September 2017, featuring the Cruiserweight and Super Middleweight divisions. In each weight class, eight elite boxers will battle it out in a bracket-style elimination tournament, with four quarter-finals (fall 2017), two semi-finals (early 2018) and one final (May 2018). This makes for seven top fights per weight class, and a total of 14 fights in Season One to be staged in premier venues around the globe. The winners of the World Boxing Super Series will rightfully receive The Greatest Prize in Boxing, the Muhammad Ali Trophy. Please visit our website WorldBoxingSuperSeries.com for more information or follow @WBSuperSeries on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

About Prudential Center
Prudential Center is a world-class sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Opened in October 2007, the state-of-the-art arena is the home of theNational Hockey League’s (NHL) three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall University’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball program, and more than 175 concerts, family shows and special events each year. Ranked in the Top 10 nationally by Pollstar, Billboard and Venues Today, Prudential Center is recognized as one of the premier venues in the United States, and welcomes 1.75 million guests annually. For more information about Prudential Center, visit PruCenter.com and follow the arena on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PruCenter.

Bethlehem, PA (October 13, 2017) – Local favorite Frank De Alba will take on battle-tested Ivan Najera in the ten-round super featherweight main event on Tuesday night, November 21st at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center.

The nine-bout card is promoted by King’s Promotions.

De Alba of Reading, Pa. has a record of 22-2 with nine knockouts.

The 30 year-old De Alba has is a six-year professional who has wins over Andrew Bentley (1-0), Jose Bustos (8-2-3), Bernardo Gomez Uribe (16-3), Kiun Evans (12-2-1), and in his last bout where he won a eight-round unanimous decision over Ryan Kielczewski (26-2) on April 4th at The Sands Bethlehem Event Center. De Alba has won five straight.

Najera of San Antonio, Texas has a record of 17-3 with eight knockouts.

The 24 year-old Najera is also a six year veteran, who has amassed wins over Pedro Martinez (2-0), Jerry Fuentes (2-0), Angel Hernandez (8-1), Stan Martyniouk (13-1), and his last bout when he won an eight-round majority decision over Francisco Valdez on March 25th in Guadalajara, Mexico

In the eight-round co-feature, undefeated Mykal Fox will battle Marlon Aguas in a welterweight bout.

Fox of Forestville, Maryland has a record of 14-0 with four knockouts.

The 21 year-old Fox continues to step up the competition, and he is coming off an eight-round unanimous decision over Damiel Sostre on June 3rd in Fort Washington, Maryland.

Aguas of Ecuador has a record of 9-1 with six knockouts, and is looking to get back in the win column after being stopped by undefeated Ivan Golub on March 25th in Miami, Oklahoma.

Also in an eight-round bout, Victor Vasquez (8-3, 3 KOs) of Yonkers, NY will square off with undefeated Ricardo Garcia (14-0, 9 KO’s) of Santo Domingo, Domincan Republic in a lightweight fight.

An exciting undercard has been put together that will features some of the best prospects in the Lehigh Valley:

In four-round bouts:

Highly-touted prospect Joseph Adorno (4-0, 4 KOs) of Allentown, PA will take on an opponent to be named in a super featherweight bout.

Juan Sanchez (3-0, 1 KO) of Bethlehem, PA will take on pro debuting Derrick Pitts of Cincinnati, OH in a featherweight contest.

Josephat Ortiz (2-0, 1 KO) of Reading, PA will fight Bryan Perez (2-8-1, 1 KO) of Carolina, Puerto Rico in a featherweight bout.

Jose Elizondo (2-3-1) of San Antonio, Texas will fight Hector Bayanilla (1-0-1, 1 KO) of Allentown, PA in a super bantamweight affair.

Michael Polite-Coffie of Brooklyn, NY will make his pro debut against an opponent to be named in a heavyweight fight.

Harold Lopez (1-0-1, 1 KO) of Allentown, PA will take on an opponent to be named in a bantamweight fight.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by King’s Promotions, are priced at $50, $75 and $100, not including applicable service charges and taxes and are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

Undefeated Houston-based heavyweight contender Justin “Jawbreaker” Jones says he’s had his eyes opened to what it takes to be successful at the top of the boxing world.

For the past month, Jones (22-0-2, 12 KOs) has been in camp in Big Bear, California, with IBF Cruiserweight Champ Murat Gassiev, and his trainer Abel Sanchez, helping him prepare for his October 21 defense against former champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk. Gassiev and Wlodarczyk will meet at the Prudential Centerin Newark, New Jersey, as part of the WBSS (World Boxing Super Series) Cruiserweight Tournament.

“Camp is going great. I’m learning a lot of things,” said Jones. “The most important thing I’m learning is that the conditioning these guys do is unreal. I’ve never seen a guy train this much. These guys are in tremendous shape. The training routines they do are unbelievable. I’m in the shape of my life. In the past, I wasn’t doing anything close to what they are doing in training. Now that I’m adding it to my training, it’ll make me a different fighter. I won’t be pacing myself. I can just go get it.”

Justin Jones with noted trainer Abel Sanchez at Big Bear, California.

Jones says he’s thankful that sparring with top-level fighters like Gassiev has brought to light his weak spots.

“Sparring with Murat is helping me dissect my style,” he explained. “The guys I was sparring with before, I could normally get away with a lot of bad habits. You can’t do that with these guys. If I move a certain way or bend a certain way, I’m getting hit, so I’m evaluating my style and perfecting it.”

According to Jones, world-renowned trainer Abel Sanchez is also proving beneficial.

“He’s (Sanchez) helping me out. Obviously, his focus is Murat, but he tells me things to help me about balance and how to punch. They focus a lot on power punches here. Solid punches every shot. I see a lot of flaws in my own punching ability through them and I love improvement, so every chance I get I’m asking them questions.”

Jones adds that he’s very impressed with Gassiev’s abilities and predicts big things for him.

“He’s definitely a power puncher. He hits like a heavyweight to the body and head. He stalks and hunts and figures you out. He’s kind of like GGG. He pressures you, but he stays strong the whole fight. His conditioning is so good he doesn’t wear down.”

With the momentum of world-class training in Big Bear, and promotional firm Warriors Boxing in his corner, Jones says he’s looking to challenge somebody in the top 15 this year. “I’m so eager to get back in the ring against a top guy to see how I’ve improved. I could see it in sparring and in my body, but I want to see it in a big fight.”

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Oct. 16th, 2017) — As one of the founding fathers of the CES MMA brand, bantamweight Dinis Paiva has arguably grown more, both personally and professionally, than anyone who’s stepped through those cage doors over the past seven years.

With a full-time job as a supervisor, a wife at home, and the desire to one day start a family of his own, Paiva is juggling more than just fight night strategy and sparring sessions. He doesn’t need to fight — he does it because he wants to — yet he continues to make the sacrifices all fighters must make in order to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.

“You have to find a way in order to succeed,” said Paiva (9-6, 5 KOs), the East Providence, R.I., native who returns to the cage for the first time since January on the main card of “CES MMA 46” Friday, Oct. 27th, 2017from Twin River Casino.

“Between work, sparring, training, I put in close to 60 hours a week. My wife is the one who suffers the most, but it’s part of the sacrifice. It’s part of my story. It’s part of who I am.”

Tickets for “CES MMA 46” are priced at $40.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesboxing.com, www.twinriver.com, www.ticketmaster.com or www.cagetix.com/ces by phone at 401-724-2253/2254 or at the Twin River Casino Players Club. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

The irony is Paiva, now 29, is a better fighter now than he was as a 23-year-old up-and-comer when he debuted with CES MMA on the promotion’s sixth show in June of 2011. Making his 16th appearance with the promotion later this month in a nationally-televised bout against Brandon Seyler (7-5, 1 KO) on AXS TV, Paiva has endured almost every peak and valley that comes with being a professional fighter.

He lost three of his first four fights, including an unfortunate disqualification when he inadvertently kneed a grounded opponent, then won his next two to even his record, only to drop two more in 2013.

The following year, Paiva switched coaches, opting to work with veteran Mike Gresh from Cape Cod Fighting Alliance, won both of his fights and earned the award for New England’s Most Improved Fighter, igniting a four-fight win streak that ultimately thrust him into the AXS TV in a win over Matt Doherty at “CES MMA 27.”

A loss to Kody Nordby in 2015 broke Paiva’s career-best win streak and, more importantly, brought him down a peg, teaching him to refrain from getting too ahead of himself either during unprecedented success or unexpected failure. Nordby actually helped Paiva prepare for Paiva’s return bout at “CES MMA 40,” a knockout win over Zane Behrend.

“It goes to show you that’s how this sport brings people together,” Paiva said.

“Every fighter in the world, we’re all a work in progress. There’s no such thing as a perfect fighter,” he continued. “The sport is constantly changing. Guys like [UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson] are now turning a suplex into an armbar. That’s just some of the mind-boggling stuff you see now, and now you’re going to see every guy in camp trying to suplex guys into an armbar.”

As much as Paiva has changed inside the cage, life outside the lines has been a whirlwind over the past few years. He got married in 2016, then returned to his old job at Morris Maintenance the day he and his wife got back from their honeymoon. Paiva started at the company years ago as a third-shift janitor and is now the Director of Warehousing and Maintenance, a position that requires him to travel throughout New England as a supervisor.

Much like his MMA career, the job has had its ups and downs through the years, but Paiva stuck with it, often sacrificing sleep and family time to continue chasing a greater goal.

“Work and MMA, they coexist,” Paiva said. “I’ve accomplished a lot through the years in both. I haven’t always been the top dog, but I know what I’m capable of and I know what I have to offer. I always want to be the best version of myself.”

Hitting the gym after work and unloading on the heavy bag helps Paiva relieve some of the stress associated with his job, but the sport, despite all its flaws, continues to lure back into the spotlight. He’s thought of retiring – he even contemplated it after losing to Nordby – but still can’t walk away, not because he needs to the money, but because he genuinely loves the thrill of competition and wants to chase a title at 135 pounds.

“That’s what sets me apart. I don’t have to fight,” said Paiva, who was supposed to fight in August, but suffered a fractured foot that postponed his appearance at “CES MMA 45.”

As for making a run at a title, Paiva said, “It’s time.” He’s fighting Seyler at 145, but has no problem committing to 135 in order to fight for a belt. Seyler is a tough opponent, coming off a big win over previously unbeaten Kris Moutinho at “CES MMA 45,” but Paiva has struck that delicate balance between MMA and his full-time job, managing to successfully juggle both while preparing for yet another televised bout on MMA’s biggest stage.

“Putting my foot on the gas pedal now is what will get me to where I eventually want to be,” Paiva said. “This is a great matchup. I’m going in there throwing bombs. He’s going to get the best version of me.”

The main event of “CES MMA 46” features the return of former CES MMA Middleweight World Champion “Doomsday” John Howard (24-13, 9 KOs) of Boston, who faces submission specialist Roger Carroll (16-14) of Claremont, N.C.

“CES MMA 46” also features the return of rising welterweight prospect Gary Balletto Jr. (4-1, 2 KOs) of Cranston, R.I., who battles Philadelphia’s Sharif Jones (3-2, 1 KO), plus the long-awaited professional debut of Oyster Bay, N.Y., welterweight John Gotti III in a three-round bout against Johnny Adams (0-1) of Rutland, Vt.

Lightweight Josh LaBerge (11-6, 5 KOs) of Fall River, Mass., returns to face Jonathan Lemke (6-8, 5 KOs) of Auburn, Maine, and bantamweight Rico DiSciullo (7-1, 3 KOs) of Peabody, Mass., faces Justin King (6-5) of Lawrence, Ind. Justin Sumter (3-1, 2 KOs) of New Haven, Conn., returns in a lightweight bout against Rahway, N.J., vet Shedrick Goodridge (6-9, 2 KOs).

Also returning Oct. 27th, Providence featherweight Marquis Brewster (3-0) battles Raymond Yanez (4-11, 1 KO) of Marion, Ohio, and featherweight Pat McCrohan (2-1, 1 KO) of Berkley, Mass., faces Buck Pineau (1-3) of Ashland, Maine.

Visit www.cesmma.com, www.twitter.com/cesmma or www.facebook.com/cesmma for more information, or follow CES MMA on Instagram at @CESMMA.

WBA super champion George Groves defeated fellow countryman Jamie Cox in the Ali Trophy quarter-final with a fourth-round knockout and paved the way for a British superfight semi-final with Chris Eubank Jr.

“We have an opportunity to put on a mega fight. I can’t wait, it’s going to be epic!” said Eubank Jr. after facing off with Groves.

Groves ended Cox’s unbeaten record Saturday night as he delivered a stunning right hook body shot to floor Cox.

“I was landing big body shots on Jamie, in the end it was a right hook to the body, it’s a crippling shot – I don’t blame him for not getting up,” said Groves now looking forward to fighting Eubank Jr.

“It’s going to be a great fight. Eubank has always been all-action. He has improved over the years but he hasn’t boxed anyone on my level. I know if I boxed like I did tonight, he doesn’t stand a chance.”

Cox worked furiously and fought with intensity from the first bell, but in the end he could not handle Groves’ greater power.

“He placed the shot greatly and he’s a very good champion. He prepared well, I made a mistake and he made me pay. It was a great fight until then,” said Cox.

“It was an honour being a part of this great tournament.”

Hot, spicy and packing a blood red knockout punch – say hello to the Rogan Josh Warrington!

Leeds Warrior Josh is already the tasty favourite for a World Title shot after his IBF Featherweight Title Eliminator against Dennis Ceylan at First Direct Arena on October 21.

But the hottest ticket in town just got hotter.

He’s had a curry named after him by award-winning Bengal Brasserie, celebrating the boxer’s undefeated 25 win record and their £400,000 restaurant opening near the Arena, in the Merrion centre.

The Rogan Josh Warrington is an aromatic lamb dish, with a gravy based on browned onions, garlic, ginger and aromatic spices, cloves, bay leaves, cardamom and cinnamon.

Tomatoes give it a boxing blood theme and extra chilli packs a punch.

Indian food fan Josh, aged 26, of Garforth, says it’s a worthy curry champion.

“I love it. It’s not every day you get a curry named after you,” said the WBC International champ.

“I’ve been described as a hot and spicy fighter. They say I’m tasty. Now I really am. I love the colour. That’s what’s happening to anybody who stands in my way of that world title.

“It’s given me a bigger appetite for the World Title Eliminator and to get my teeth into Dennis Ceylan across the road at the Arena on October 21. I’m on a strict diet until then but I’ll celebrate with one of these curries.”

A win will set up the clash boxing fans want – a World Title fight against Lee Selby.

Bengal Brasserie managing director Malik Miah said: “Josh is our Leeds boxing hero so we’ve named this curry after him for fans coming to the Arena. Perhaps we’ll do a Nicola Naan bread after Nicola Adams.”

For a chance to win a Rogan Josh Warrington meal for two at the Bengal Brasserie and pair of tickets to see the fight enter the Yorkshire Evening Post free prize draw by e-mail.

E-mail your full name, address, mobile and landline numbers to raza.zulfiqar@jpress.co.uk, with #JPcompJWDC2 in the subject field.

Chief support on an unmissable evening of action sees Huddersfield’s British Super-Lightweight Champion Tyrone Nurse (35-2-2,7 KOs) make a highly-anticipated defence of his crown against undefeated Chorley star Jack Catterall (18-0, 10 KOs).

Manchester prospect Zelfa Barrett (18-0, 11 KOs) takes on Chris Conwell (9-2, 2 KOs) for the Vacant English Super-Featherweight title; Leicester starlet Lyon Woodstock (9-0, 5 KOs) takes on Craig Poxton (13-4, 2 KOs) for the Vacant WBO European Super-Featherweight title.

Undefeated Liverpool Super-Welterweight talent J.J Metcalf (16-0, 8 KOs) takes on Leeds native Damon Jones (15-1, 3 KOs) in an official eliminator for the British title currently held by Warren stablemate Liam Williams.

An action-packed undercard also features British Middleweight Champion Tommy Langford (18-1, 6 KOs); former Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and GB squad standout Sam Maxwell (Super-Lightweight, 3-0, 2 KOs); Bradford Welterweight Darren Tetley (14-0, 5KOs); Chapel-en-le-Frith Cruiserweight Jack Massey (12-0, 6 KOs); Doncaster Featherweight Reece Mould (6-0, 2 KOs); Leeds Flyweight Jack Bateson (1-0, 1 KO) and the professional debut of Leeds fighter Jack Daniels.

Tickets for Warrington v Ceylan are available from:

First Direct Arena
www.firstdirectarena.com
0844 2481585

Josh Warrington has a message to Frank Warren stablemate, Carl Frampton: “Let’s fill Elland Road.”

Warrington is a big admirer of the two weight World Champion who recently signed for Warren and boxes Horacio Garcia at Belfast’s Odyssey Arena on November 18.

And Frampton will be eyeing up Warrington when his rival faces Dennis Ceylan in a IBF Featherweight title Final Eliminator at First Direct Arena, Leeds on October 21.

He will be ringside working as a pundit for BT Sport and BoxNation, and both men know they could be squaring off next summer.

Warrington said: “Me and Carl would be a stadium fight.

“We both have massive followings and could sell out Elland Road. There is a big Irish community in Leeds and plenty would travel from Ireland to support Carl.

“By next summer Leeds United will hopefully be back in the Premier League and that will help it become even bigger

“It would be an helluva event and a cracking fight. It would be even more special if one of us had a world title.”

If Warrington beats Dane Ceylan he will be guaranteed a crack at IBF world champion Lee Selby

He added: “I have always rated Selby as a fighter. He is very good and it takes something to become a world champion.

“I have always given him credit where it’s due, but he is very disrespectful and there is hype around him.

“Some say he is a massive puncher, but that goes back to the fight with Stephen Smith. Since then he hasn’t had any big knockouts.

“He stopped Brunker with a body shot and Gradovich with a cut, but since then he hasn’t lived up to things being screamed about him.

“The way he has constantly labelled me “easy work” is showing no respect and the hate. He made it personal. He, his manager and manager’s son put a lot on social media.

“That is why I want to fight him and we can sort it out.

“Hisashi Amagasa was six foot and I will never come up with anyone as gangly and unorthodox as him. He had arms like lampposts and I thought I was looking up at a skyscraper.

“I am just interested to see what happens with Selby when I become mandatory. There have been talks of him fighting Carl and Santa Cruz, so what is Selby going to do, I don’t know.”

Chief support on an unmissable evening of action sees Huddersfield’s British Super-Lightweight Champion Tyrone Nurse (35-2-2,7 KOs) make a highly-anticipated defence of his crown against undefeated Chorley star Jack Catterall (18-0, 10 KOs).

Manchester prospect Zelfa Barrett (18-0, 11 KOs) takes on Chris Conwell (9-2, 2 KOs) for the Vacant English Super-Featherweight title; Leicester starlet Lyon Woodstock (9-0, 5 KOs) takes on Craig Poxton (13-4, 2 KOs) for the Vacant WBO European Super-Featherweight title.

Undefeated Liverpool Super-Welterweight talent J.J Metcalf (16-0, 8 KOs) takes on Leeds native Damon Jones (15-1, 3 KOs) in an official eliminator for the British title currently held by Warren stablemate Liam Williams.

An action-packed undercard also features British Middleweight Champion Tommy Langford (18-1, 6 KOs); former Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and GB squad standout Sam Maxwell (Super-Lightweight, 3-0, 2 KOs); Bradford Welterweight Darren Tetley (14-0, 5KOs); Chapel-en-le-Frith Cruiserweight Jack Massey (12-0, 6 KOs); Doncaster Featherweight Reece Mould (6-0, 2 KOs); Leeds Flyweight Jack Bateson (1-0, 1 KO) and the professional debut of Leeds fighter Jack Daniels.

First Direct Arena
www.firstdirectarena.com
0844 2481585

Mikkel Kessler has been forced to delay his comeback after contracting Lyme Borreliosis – a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks.

The former five-time World Champion had announced his plans to come out of retirement earlier this year and was expected to make his long awaited return to the ring in November.

However, the Danish boxing icon was struck down by a mystery illness whilst in training camp, and was later admitted to hospital where following multiple tests it was revealed that he had Lyme Borreliosis.

Kessler has since been released from hospital and is currently completing a course of antibiotics. The 38 year-old is close to making a full recovery, but still suffering from symptoms including fatigue, he is yet to resume training.

“I started to feel ill around 4 weeks ago. I was tired, my muscles were aching and I was unable to train,” reveals Kessler. “At that point, I still had no idea what was causing it. I had blood tests, which showed nothing, and it wasn’t until I had a spinal fluid test that the doctors were able to identify the problem.

“I’m not sure exactly when or where I was bitten by the tick, but I’m just thankful the bacteria was caught early and hopefully there will be no long lasting effects.

“Obviously, I’m disappointed to have to delay my comeback. I want to thank my fans for their support and patience. I hope to be ready to return to the ring early next year, and I promise to repay their support with a great victory!”

“I’ve had fighters suffering from many different injuries and illnesses in the past but this is a first for me,” said promoter Kalle Sauerland.

“I know Mikkel is bitterly disappointed, but his health must come first. We are now set for March and will announce venue and opponent in the coming weeks. It will take more than a tick to stop The Viking Warrior!”

16 October 2017 – Singapore: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced that American grappling superstar, Garry “Lion Killer” Tonon, is set to make his professional debut in ONE Championship, having signed an exclusive contract with the organization. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion is a fixture in global grappling tournaments, and is widely-considered one of the best submission grapplers in history. His first bout under the ONE Championship banner has yet to be announced.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “It is with great excitement that I announce the newest addition to ONE Championship’s elite list of global martial arts superstars, American submission grappling legend Garry Tonon. Garry is an amazing individual with a long list of accolades in submission grappling. I have no doubt that his transition to the ONE Championship cage will be a successful one. Fans have a lot to look forward to when Garry finally makes his debut with us.”

Garry Tonon, ONE Championship athlete, stated: “I am thrilled to be able to finally announce my arrival in ONE Championship. It is the natural evolution in my career as a grappler. I have achieved all that I have set out to do in the world of jiu-jitsu, and now I am ready to take on a new challenge. I am excited to begin my ONE Championship career, and proud to showcase my skills on the biggest global stage of competition.”

Garry Tonon is an American submission grappling superstar from New Jersey. He began wrestling in primary school, competing as an amateur before being introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 14. Under the tutelage of coach Tom deBlass and the legendary Ricardo Almeida, Tonon would go on to win multiple IBJJF No-Gi world championships in different belts. In September of 2013, deBlass and Almeida awarded Tonon a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Shortly after, his professional grappling career began, and Tonon would later win multiple titles at the Eddie Bravo Invitational (EBI) and Metamoris professional grappling leagues.

Tonon made his first appearance inside the ONE Championship cage when he took on Japanese martial arts legend Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki earlier this year, in the promotion’s first-ever Grappling Super-Match. Tonon won the contest impressively via heel hook submission. Determined to make a name for himself in the next chapter of his martial arts career, the 26-year-old Tonon is set to make his highly-anticipated professional debut in ONE Championship.

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

About ONE Championship™
ONE Championship is the largest sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Championship is the home of martial arts. The world’s most exciting martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1 billion potential viewers across 128+ countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, and more.

Austin, TX (October 16 2017) – Roy Jones Jr Boxing Promotions, along with Underwood Promotions are set to partner up on December 8th, 2017. The highly anticipated event will air live Friday night (Dec. 8th) on beIN SPORTS (9 p.m. CT / 11 p.m ET),) from inside the beautiful Round Rock Sports Center located in the beautiful scenic town of Austin, TX.

Seasons Beatings is promoted by Roy Jones Jr. Promotions (Las Vegas based) and Underwood Promotions (Austin based).

Calling the action live from ringside will be the dynamic trio Ray Flores, Jim Greishner and Sean Wheelock.

The 10-round main event is a match up of Aston Palcite (22-2-0, 19KO) vs. Jose Alfredo Rodriquez (32-6-0, 19KO) and former WBC World Champion, will fight for Aston’s NABF Super-Flyweight Belt. Aston is ranked No. 4 (as a flyweight) by the World Boxing of Organization (WBO), No. 7 with the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and No. 10 with the World Boxing Council (WBC).

Undefeated Kazakhstan Light Heavyweight Ali Akhemdov (9-0-0, 7KOs) will put his record on the line when he steps up against Texas native Roberto Silva Jr. (9-1-0, 6KO’s) in the 10-round Co-Main Event.

A dynamic trio of 6-rounders will fill the evening with high intensity when David Alfaro (1-0-0) faces off Kazkhstan native Iskander Kharsan (2-0-0), Light-Heavyweight Brian Vera (26-12-0, 16KO’s) goes toe-to-toe against Jas Phipps (9-6-2, 5KO), both looking to improve their KO record, and Texas locals to Reshard Hicks (9-0-0, 4KO’s) vs. Jonathan Steele (7-1-0, 6KO’s).

Also scheduled for a 4-rounder on the card will be Manny Mondragon (2-0-0) vs. Waco,TX local Antonio Castillo (2-0-0) and Light-Heavyweight Giovanni Loya (2-0-0) vs. Stetson Horne.

Texas native Kenton Sippio-Cook (10-3-0, 6KO) is scheduled to step in the ring and continue his winning streak in his hometown. Kenton who just won his last bout by way of TKO, is waiting to hear who his next opponent will step in the ring with him.

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, prices at $150.00 table (includes open bar and catering, $100.00 Ringside, $75.00 , $50.00, $30.00 general admission, are on sale now at http://seasonsbeatings2017.brownpapertickets.com
Taxes and fees apply to all sold tickets.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. CT with the opening bout scheduled at 7:00 p.m. CT.

INFORMATION:

Websites: http://www.RoyJonesJrBoxing.com http://www.beinsports.com/us http://www.rrsportscenter.com

Twitter: @RoyjonesJRfa, @beINSPORTS @rrsportscenter

Instagram: @RoyJonesJRboxing, @beINSportsusa @underwoodpromotions @aston_palicte @sips_a_trip @rrsportscenter
Please use hashtags: #AstonvsJose #MightyAston #RJJ #UnderwoodPromotions

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RJJBoxing http://www.facebook.com/beinsportsusa http://www.facebook.com/RoundRockSportsCenter

About Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions: Co-founded in 2013 by 10-time world champion Roy Jones, Jr. and Keith Veltre, Roy Jones, Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions is on its way to reinventing boxing. RJJ has already made a huge impact in the boxing community in a few short years. Creating exhilarating content for CBS Sports, Showtime, ESPN and beIN Sports in some of the finest venues across the country, RJJ has proven to that we conquering the sweet science of the sport.
Based in the fight capital of the world, Las Vegas, NV, Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions is climbing to the top at a fast pace, adding young talent to its growing stable such as Super Featherweight Bryan Vasquez, Super Bantamweight Joseph Agbeko, Super Flyweight Aston Francis Palicite, Lightweight Ismail Muwendo & Demond Brock, Super Lightweight Emmanuel Robles, Super Welterweight John Vera & Daniel Rosario Cruz, Super Featherweight Randy Moreno, Bantamweight Max Ornelas, Welterweight Flavio Rodriquez, Cruiserweight Adrain Taylor and Middleweight Shady Gamhour.

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

About Underwood Promotions: Founded in 2016 by CEO Keith Underwood, he had felt that his passion and vision for the sport would be best served in the Central Texas. Underwood wanted to create an environment that not only helped fighters to flourish in the sport, but that also gave the fans a first class experience at his boxing events. A veteran to the ring, Underwood knows 1st hand how compelling the sound of a crowds roar is when a fighter steps into that ring and that is why Underwood is determined to have his stable deliver competitive fights. Under the direction of Underwood, Jr. Middleweight,
Kenton Sippio-Cook, Light Featherweight Manny Mondragon, Super Middleweight Giovanni Loya, and Bantamweight David Alfaro have all thrived in their careers while signed with Underwood Promotions.

Carlos Takam has replaced Kubrat Pulev as the IBF mandatory challenger for Anthony Joshua at Principality Stadium in Cardiff on October 28, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Frenchman Takam is rated at number three with the governing body and has been on the hunt for a showdown with the British star, and gets his golden chance at ripping away Joshua’s titles in the Welsh capital after Pulev picked up a shoulder injury in sparring.

“I received a call from Kalle Sauerland late afternoon to inform me that Pulev had injured his shoulder and maybe ruled out of the fight – this was later confirmed by his doctor,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “IBF rules state that the mandatory will go to the next fighter in line which is Carlos Takam.

“When the Pulev fight was announced I made a deal with Takam’s team to begin camp and be on standby for this fight. When I called them this evening they were overjoyed and good to go. It’s a difficult position for AJ having prepared meticulously for the style and height of Pulev, he now faces a completely different style and challenge in Takam – this hasn’t happened in his career before but he is ready for all comers on October 28.”

Joshua’s clash with Takam is part of a huge night of action in Cardiff where the 2012 London Olympic Gold medal man’s bitter foe Dillian Whyte aims to take a giant step to his first World title shot by facing Robert Helenius for the WBC Silver strap.

Kal Yafai defends his WBA Wold Super-Flyweight title against Japanese mandatory challenger Sho Ishida and Irish sensation Katie Taylor challenges for her first World title as she takes on two-weight World champion Anahi Esther Sanchez for the WBA Lightweight crown.

There’s a mouth-watering British and Commonwealth Light-Heavyweight battle between Frank Buglioni, Lenroy Thomas and Dave Allen rematch for the Commonwealth Heavyweight title and Team GB Olympian and Welsh talent Joe Cordina appears in his fifth pro outing.

A limited number of tickets remain on sale via www.StubHub.co.uk.

Accessibility, ambulant and wheelchair tickets – please contact the Principality stadium via 02920 822432 – also on sale from midday Tuesday.

Official hospitality packages are available to purchase directly from Principality Stadium Experience. Both private suite and premium lounge packages are available to purchase, with prices starting from £450 per person + VAT. For further information please call the team on 02920 822 413.

Official Travel & Hospitality packages are also available via Sportsworld via www.sportsworld.co.uk or by calling 0208 9712966

Please ensure you plan your travel into the city before purchasing your tickets and allow plenty of time for additional security checks at the venue – please visit http://www.principalitystadium.wales/events/v/joshua-v-pulev-2017-10-28 to view the travel page for the event.

Long Island, NY — Undefeated New York City police officer Dimash “Lightning” Niyazov (12-0, 5 KOs) born in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, now residing in Staten Island, NY, will fight in a six-round lightweight bout on the non-televised portion of the Jacobs vs. Arias fight card on Saturday, November 11 at NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

“I haven’t fought in NY in a long time,” (August 28, 2015 to be exact) said Dimash. “My most recent fights were out of state and last one overseas. I can’t wait to see all my fans at home. They all have been waiting for me to fight here. It’s time I bring the shine back home, to my friends and fans.

Dimash, as well as Jarrell Miller, is promoted by Dmitriy Salita’s Salita Promotions. The Ukrainian born Salita is a former world title challenger and resides in Brooklyn. Dimash became a member New York City’s finest three years ago and is based in Brooklyn.

“Dimash is a talented fighter who exemplifies the American dream, which he is living out right now in New York City,” said Salita. “He is an exciting, popular fighter that brings excitement to every one of his matches.”

Dimash was introduced to boxing at 4 years old in native Kazakhstan. At age 5 he began to dedicate his time to gymnastics until at 13, when his family moved to the USA, his father began to train him in boxing once again. “Ever since then I have been in the hurt business,” said Dimash with a smile.

As an amateur, Niyazov had 30 wins against only 3 losses. He won the NY Empire State Games and NY Metros. He also traveled with the Kazakhstan team to China prior to the Beijing Olympics. “I trained in Beijing for two months,” said Dimash about that incredible opportunity. “And that helped me win the NY Metros.”

Currently, Dimash trains in Brooklyn at the Fight Factory Gym with his father who is his main coach and Akmal Zakirov, his second coach. He trains a couple of hours every day. “I’m excited to fight on the Jacobs card,” said Dimash. “I’ve known Danny since I was a teen when we trained in Coney Island houses. He came a long way and I’m proud of him. He gave my countryman GGG (Gennady Golovkin) a tough fight.”

Brooklyn’s Daniel Jacobs (32-2, 29 KOs) will face undefeated Wisconsin-Based Luis Arias (18-0, 9 KOs) in a twelve-round middleweight clash on his Matchroom Boxing debut at NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York on Saturday, November 11. In the twelve-round co-feature, in a battle of top ten heavyweights, Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller takes on Mariusz Wach. Opening the telecast will besuper lightweight knockout artists Cletus “Hebrew Hammer” Seldin and Roberto “Massa” Ortiz in a 10-round bout The tripleheader will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.

Tickets for the live event, starting at $35, are on sale now and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, NYCBLIVE.com or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the Ticketmaster Box Office at the Coliseum.

HBO Sports, widely acclaimed for its innovative boxing programming, takes an in-depth look at Daniel Jacobs, one of the sport’s true superstars in and out of the ring, as he makes his return in November in the talent-rich 160 pound division against undefeated middleweight Luis Arias, when MY FIGHT: DANIEL JACOBS debuts SATURDAY, NOV. 4 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT following the prime time replay of the HBO BOXING AFTER DARK telecast from Monte Carlo.

The special will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO® and HBO On Demand®, and at hbo.com/boxing, as well as other new media platforms.

Former middleweight champ Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs (32-2, 29 KOs), returns to action following his superb performance against fearsome pound-for-pound king Gennady Golovkin this past March in New York where “GGG” edged the Brooklyn native out on points. Jacobs will be looking for an explosive performance against the unbeaten American Arias as he looks to get back into title contention and a force to be reckoned with in the stacked middleweight division.

MY FIGHT cameras travel with Jacobs in his proud hometown neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY to chronicle the long journey it took to reach the elite level of professional boxing.

On Saturday, Nov. 11, Jacobs and Arias meet at NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, in a 12-round showdown that will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing as part of a tripleheader event beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

For more information, visit hbo.com/boxing; become a fan on Facebook at facebook.com/HBOBoxing; and follow on Twitter and Instagram at @HBOBoxing. Follow the conversation using #JacobsArias.

MY FIGHT: DANIEL JACOBS is narrated by Liev Schreiber.

Dillian Whyte will face Robert Helenius for the WBC Silver Heavyweight title at Principality Stadium in Cardiff on October 28, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Whyte made his US debut in August with a 16th KO from 21 wins over Malcolm Tann in his first action since his epic win over Dereck Chisora in their fight of the year contender in Manchester in December.

Whyte has been hunting a big name bout to move into prime position to land a World title fight and has landed that test in the shape of ‘The Nordic Nightmare’, and the two-time European champion Helenius is gunning for a win to land his first World title shot.

Brixton’s Whyte is hunting his own World title showdown with WBC king Wilder, and both he and promoter Eddie Hearn believe a standout win over the giant Finnish-Swede will bring that fight a step closer.

“It’s been a very frustrating few months trying to get someone to fight me,” said Whyte. “I thank Robert for stepping up and in two weeks’ time we will fight for the WBC Silver title in Cardiff. I love to fight and I’m looking forward to being back in the ring, getting the victory and moving on to challenge for the World Heavyweight title.”

“This is a huge fight and I’m excited about fighting the winner of last December’s thriller between Whyte and Chisora,” said Helenius. “Chisora and I were scheduled to fight in May but he ran. To my understanding Dillian is not a runner and he will stand and fight. This is a big fight for the Heavyweight division and may the best man win.”

“This is a fight we have been working on for some time and I’m pleased to add it to the huge October 28 show in Cardiff,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “I think we have made it very clear, we want to make Dillian vs. Deontay Wilder and this WBC Silver title will put us in prime position. Helenius is a giant of a man with plenty of experience and this is a tough test for Dillian, it’s going to be explosive.”

Whyte’s clash with Helenius is part of a huge night of action in Wales, topped by Anthony Joshua MBE’s World Heavyweight title defence against Kubrat Pulev.

A star-studded cast line-up in support of Joshua’s clash with the Bulgarian, as Kal Yafai defends his WBA Wold Super-Flyweight title against Japanese mandatory challenger Sho Ishida and Irish sensation Katie Taylor challenges for her first World title as she takes on two-weight World champion Anahi Esther Sanchez for the WBA Lightweight crown.

There’s a mouth-watering British and Commonwealth Light-Heavyweight battle between Frank Buglioni, Lenroy Thomas and Dave Allen rematch for the Commonwealth Heavyweight title and Team GB Olympian and Welsh talent Joe Cordina appears in his fifth pro outing.

A limited number of tickets remain on sale via www.StubHub.co.uk.

Accessibility, ambulant and wheelchair tickets – please contact the Principality stadium via 02920 822432 – also on sale from midday Tuesday.

Official hospitality packages are available to purchase directly from Principality Stadium Experience. Both private suite and premium lounge packages are available to purchase, with prices starting from £450 per person + VAT. For further information please call the team on 02920 822 413.

Official Travel & Hospitality packages are also available via Sportsworld via www.sportsworld.co.uk or by calling 0208 9712966

Please ensure you plan your travel into the city before purchasing your tickets and allow plenty of time for additional security checks at the venue – please visit http://www.principalitystadium.wales/events/v/joshua-v-pulev-2017-10-28 to view the travel page for the event.

BROOKLYN (Oct. 14, 2017) – Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilder and Welterweight World Champions Keith Thurman and Errol Spence Jr. met with the media on Saturday at Barclays Center to discuss their upcoming bouts and expected 2018 campaigns.

Wilder will defend his WBC belt on Nov. 4 against mandatory challenger Bermane Stiverne live on SHOWTIME from Barclays Center in a Premier Boxing Champions event. Thurman announced he expects to return in early 2018 in his first bout since unifying the division and subsequent surgery.

In news on Saturday, IBF Welterweight Champion Spence announced that he will make the first defense of his belt against former world champion Lamont Peterson in January 2018 on SHOWTIME on a date and site to be determined.

Below are flash quotes from the three fighters:

Deontay Wilder

“What other heavyweight is doing what I do? What other heavyweight has power like me? I don’t have to put you out in punches in bunches. I don’t have to do that. One punch. Goodnight.

“I’m happy that I’ve had time to calm down and think about things. I’m happy that I’m fighting Stiverne because he’s my mandatory. I can finally get him out the way so I’ll be a free man.

“This is the story of my life. Every situation that I’m put in, I try to be optimistic about. It’s easy to appreciate the good. But when the bad comes, some people don’t know how to manage that.

“I’m the most frustrated guy around. I don’t understand. The best are supposed to fight the best, right? I’ve always done that. I called (Wladimir) Klitschko out years ago.

“People make so many excuses for my career. The one who is actually trying to make a legacy out of their career, he’s the only one that’s not complaining. The people who don’t have to get in the ring and endure this suffering are the ones that complaining.”

Keith Thurman

“I’m in the bounce-back stage. It won’t be long before I get back into the ring and hopefully my arm will be better than ever. We’re estimating I’ll be ready for a fight the first quarter of next year.

“I look forward to continuing my legacy and dominating the welterweight division.

“Everything happens for a reason. I’m 28-years-old and it doesn’t feel good to not be an active fighter while you’re in your prime.

“I don’t think that I will take that level of a fight [against Shawn Porter] coming off my injury. I think we’re going to just get a welcome back fight. Throw the arm around, test it out, have an injury-free camp, take the momentum from that and we can possibly get in the ring with Shawn after that.

“I look forward to that [potential] fight against Errol. I look forward to great competition and Errol is that. This is a fight that you guys have been talking about, you won’t stop talking about, and you should keep talking about it because when it goes down it will be one of the best fights of this generation.

“Everybody knows there’s no Floyd Mayweather. There’s no Manny Pacquiao. Everybody thinks they know who the real champion is. But real talk is that the king of the welterweight division will manifest within one to two years.

“[Terence] Crawford has whacked up a lot of people, but he hasn’t whacked up a welterweight yet. He still needs to make himself relevant in this division. He’s a 140 undisputed champion. He can come up to this weight division and fight anybody in the top 10 and he deserves that. But we are so flooded with talent he is going to have to make himself relevant at 147 before he gets his hands on us.”

Errol Spence Jr.

“I’m happy to be here, it’s been awhile. It’s finally time to defend my title, capture more titles and become the undisputed welterweight champion of the world. That’s what I’m ready to do next year.

“[Peterson] is somebody that I looked up to as an amateur. I sparred with him as an amateur and learned a lot from him. He’s one of my favorite fighters and is a guy that will fight anybody. I’ve never known him to duck a fight.

“Lamont is a tricky fighter. He’s been around the block. He does a lot of cagey, veteran things. I’m looking to get experience in this fight. I’m still a young fighter.

“Since I was 5-0, I’ve said I’d fight Keith Thurman or anybody in the top 5. He’s got to go through rehab, but I’m ready when he is. I’m always ready to fight the best.”

PHILADELPHIA – The 10th Annual Briscoe Awards will be presented tomorrow, Sunday, October 15, 2017, at Xfinity Live! Philadelphia, beginning at 1:00 PM. The event is typically attended by local boxers – past and present, other boxing people, and sports fans. Expected to attend this year are the award winners, Jason Sosa, Jesse Hart, Tevin Farmer, Bernard Hopkins, Damon Allen Jr., Jaron Ennis, Christian Carto, Tyrone Brunson, Dylan Price, and Taneal Goyco.

Additionally, former and current boxing stars like Jeff Chandler, Charles Brewer, Stanley “Kitten” Hayward, Dick Turner, Nate Miller, Charlie “Choo Choo” Brown, Curtis Parker, Mike Everett, Buster Drayton, Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, Ivan Robinson, Mike Rossman, Sidney “Sweat Pea” Adams, Hall of Fame promoter J Russell Peltz, and others typically attend.

Former two-time cruiserweight champion, Steve “USS” Cunningham will serve as the celebrity co-host of the event.

Tickets are available at the door and cost $5. Xfinity Live! is located at 1100 Pattison Avenue, South Philadelphia.

ABOUT THE BRISCOE AWARDS ON OCTOBER 15 FROM 1-4 PM

The Briscoe Awards are named in honor of legendary Philly middleweight Bennie Briscoe and the trophies given away – the Briscoe Statue and the Briscoe Medal – all bear the deceased icon’s likeness. The event brings together the local boxing community, including the award winners, their families, past and present boxers, fight fans, other boxing people, and general sports fans.

This is the tenth year for the Briscoe Awards, which are presented by Philly Boxing History Inc., a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization, dedicated to preserving and celebrating Philadelphia’s great boxing legacy. Past winners at the Briscoe Awards include Bernard Hopkins, Danny Garcia, Steve Cunningham, and many others.

The event returns to Xfinity Live! Philadelphia, the central hub of Philly’s sports stadiums, located at 1100 Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia. Admission is $5, and tickets can be purchased at the door as well as BriscoeAwards.com or by calling 609-377-6413. Everyone is welcome.

For more information, please call John DiSanto, 609-377-6413 / johndisanto@phillyboxinghistory.com.

The 10th Annual Briscoe Awards will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2017, 1-4 PM, at Xfinity Live!, 1100 Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia.

New York City (October 13, 2017) Evander Holyfield’s Real Deal Sports and Entertainment has announced the signings of three top prospects; undefeated cruiserweight JOSHUA TEMPLE of St. Louis, Missouri, undefeated super middleweight MARQUIS MOORE of Colorado Springs, Colorado and top Brooklyn, New York based amateur standout JUSTIN BIGGS.

All three will fight for the first time under the Real Deal Sports and Entertainment banner next Thursday, October 19 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia Freight Depot in a ‘Special Edition’ Hall of Fame Tribute and Birthday Celebration for Holyfield who will turn 55 on fight night.

Tickets priced at $150, $100 and $60 can be purchased in advance at TheRealDealBoxing.com. VIP Tables for $2500 and $1500 are also available for purchase. The historic Georgia Freight Depot is located at 66 Martin Luther King Dr. in Atlanta, GA 30303. Doors will open on the night of the event at 6:00 p.m. with the first bell at 7:00 p.m.

“I’m thrilled to be working with these three top prospects,” said Holyfield. “All three are very serious about putting in the work it takes to become a world champion and I look forward to providing them the opportunities towards that goal.”

Stated KEVIN O’SULLIVAN, V.P. of Operations and Development for Real Deal Sports and Entertainment, “We’re very excited to add Joshua, Marquis and Justin to our stable of world class contenders and top prospects. All three exhibit the qualities it takes to be a world champion and we can’t wait for boxing fans to watch their development.”

A two-time National Golden Gloves Champion, the 24-year-old Joshua Temple was known as one of the heaviest hitters in the amateur ranks before turning professional. Having won all four of his initial professional bouts by knockout, Temple will battle fellow undefeated cruiserweight prospect BRYAN DANIELS, (5-0, 3 KO’s) of Worcester, MA over six rounds next Thursday, October 19 at the Georgia Freight Depot in Atlanta, GA.

Since turning professional last year, the 26-year-old Marquis Moore has quickly impressed fight fans in Colorado and New York City compiling a record of 5-0 with three knockouts. One of the top national amateurs in 2013 and 2014, Moore is ready to graduate from six round bouts in the near future as his exciting style is truly geared towards success in the professional ranks.

Moore will battle ZACHARY BUNCE, (2-2, 1 KO), of Las Vegas, Nevada in a scheduled six rounder next Thursday in Atlanta. Moore is co-promoted by Jeff Coyle and Mountain West Professional Boxing.

Stated Jeff Coyle, “We have a world-class boxer in Marquis’s Moore, quite frankly I don’t see who’s going to be able to beat this guy. We couldn’t be more excited about teaming up with Real Deal Sports and Entertainment. These guys are a top notch group and we look forward to putting on some fantastic events with them in the near future.”

Known as ‘The Brooklyn Torch’, the 24-year-old Justin Biggs lit up the amateur ranks with multiple national and local accolades. Among his titles were 2013 USA Boxing Metro Champion, 2015 Bergen PAL Champion, 2015 New York Boxing Tournament Champion and 2017 New York Golden Gloves Champion.

With a wealth of press in the New York City area during his amateur career, Biggs’ highly anticipated professional debut in the junior middleweight division will be announced shortly. He is trained by Yoel Judah, father of multiple time world champion Zab Judah.

Biggs will make his pro debut next Thursday in Atlanta against KENDALL BATTS, (0-2), of North Carolina in a scheduled four round bout.

Real Deal Sports & Entertainment is proud to partner with Medical Arts Radiology (www.medicalartsradiology.com) and Venum (www.venum.com).

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PHILADELPHIA – Camden, NJ junior lightweight Jason Sosa, takes home the Briscoe Award as the “2016 Philly Fighter of the Year”, on Sunday at the annual awards event presented by Philly Boxing History Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring and celebrating the Philadelphia fight scene – past and present.

Sosa upended the boxing world in 2016 by raising his game to the championship level and pulling off two upsets that few experts gave him the slightest chance of winning.
First, Sosa traveled to China to face WBA champion and heavy betting favorite Javier Fortuna for the WBA belt. Fortuna was skilled and carried a points lead into round eleven. However, Sosa’s “no quit” attitude keeps him in the fight until the very last bell. In the 11th, Sosa shocked Fortuna, and everyone watching, with a TKO victory that made the Camden fighter a world champ.

Five months later, Sosa defended his crown in Monte Carlo against another betting favorite, Stephen Smith of Liverpool. Sosa dropped Smith in the second and kept his title with a unanimous decision.

On the strength and significance of these two victories, Sosa led the pack among all other Philly-based boxers, and earned the biggest award at the 10th Annual Briscoe Awards, which will be presented on Sunday, October 15, 2017, at Xfinity Live! Philadelphia, 1:00 PM.

ABOUT THE BRISCOE AWARDS ON OCTOBER 15 FROM 1-4 PM

The Briscoe Awards are named in honor of legendary Philly middleweight Bennie Briscoe and the trophies given away – the Briscoe Statue and the Briscoe Medal – all bear the deceased icon’s likeness. The event brings together the local boxing community, including the award winners, their families, past and present boxers, fight fans, other boxing people, and general sports fans.

This is the tenth year for the Briscoe Awards, which are presented by Philly Boxing History Inc., a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization, dedicated to preserving and celebrating Philadelphia’s great boxing legacy. Past winners at the Briscoe Awards include Bernard Hopkins, Danny Garcia, Steve Cunningham, and many others.

The event returns to Xfinity Live! Philadelphia, the central hub of Philly’s sports stadiums, located at 1100 Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia. Admission is $5, and tickets can be purchased at BriscoeAwards.com or by calling 609-377-6413. Everyone is welcome.

For more information, please call John DiSanto, 609-377-6413 / johndisanto@phillyboxinghistory.com.

The 10th Annual Briscoe Awards will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2017, 1-4 PM, at Xfinity Live!, 1100 Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia.