NEW YORK (July 22, 2023) – TONIGHT at The Firelake Arena Shawnee, Oklahoma, two Split-T Management fighters will be in action in fights that will be streamed live on ESPN+ at 6:15 PM ET.

Undefeated welterweight Giovani Santillan will take on veteran Erick Bone in a 10-round bout, while Stephan Shaw will take on Joe Goodall in an eight-round scrap.

Santillan of San Diego has a perfect mark at 30-0 with 16 knockouts. The 31 year-old Santillan has built his record by defeating tough opponents such as Peter Haro (2-0), Michael Balasi (10-2), Daniyar Hanyk (10-0), Osenohan Vazquez (7-1-1), Eduardo Rivera (9-1-2), Ernesto Ortiz Centeno (10-2), Omar Tienda Bahana (18-3), Sammy Valentin (12-0), Dodzi Kemeh (19-1), Alejandro Barboza (11-1), former world champion Antonio DeMarco (33-8-1), Cecil McCalla (23-4), Angel Ruiz (17-1), Jeovanis Barraza (23-2) and on August 20, 2022 when Santillan won a 10-round unanimous decision over Julio Avila (19-0-2) in San Diego.

Bone of Ecuador is 27-6 with 14 knockouts. The 34 year-old Bone has defeated the likes of Luis Carlos Tejedor (3-0) and Mahonri Montes (29-3-1). Bone has won seven straight fights, which includes a fifth round stoppage of Roberto Verdago on March 18th in Quito, Ecuador.

Santillan, who is promoted by Top Rank, weighed 147.8 lbs. Bone was 147.6.

Shaw of Saint Louis is 18-1 with 13 knockouts. The 30 year-old Shaw is looking to re-establish himself in the heavyweight picture as he already has wins over Danny Kelly (9-2-1), Jonathan Rice (4-1-1), Joel Caudle (7-1-1), Donovan Dennis (12-3), Willie Jake Jr. (8-2-1), Gregory Corbin (15-2), Lyubomyr Pinchuk (12-1-1) and Rydell Booker (26-6-1). Shaw is coming off his first setback as he dropped a decision to Efe Ajagba on January 14th in Verona, New York.

Goodall of Brisbane, Australia has a record of 9-1-1 with eight knockouts. The 31 year-old has defeated Sumit Rangi (4-1-1) and his last bout when he Arseno Fosso in three rounds in Queensland, Australia on September 15, 2022.

Shaw is co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Top Rank.

Shaw checked in at 244 lbs. Goodall was 238 lbs.

Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images

Pittsburgh, PA (July 21, 2023) – Weights for Saturday night’s fight card at The Meadows Race Track and Casino in Washington, PA

Lyubomyr Pinchuk 200.2 – Anthony Holloway 196.8

Joseph Turk 202 – Michael Manna 199.8

Mary Cassamassa 164.6 – Christianne Fahey 164.6

Khama Worthy 160.2 – Martin Bills III 160.4

Paul Palombo 150.4 – Jessie Addison 153

Steve Cunningham Jr. 156.4 – Tyrone Albert Adams 160.8

Promoters: Integrity Fighter Management & Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing

Venue: Meadows Race Track and Casino

First Bell: 7 PM ET

The fights will be streamed live on BXNGTV.com and Starboxing.tv

Tickets are available at bit.ly/SummerSlugfest for more info call 412-728-3409

Philadelphia (July 21, 2023)–- Weights for Saturday night’s R and B Promotions card at the 2300 Arena.

Daiyann Butt 142.2 – Michael Crain 142.9

Tahmir Smalls 148.3 – Andres Vierra 151.2

Oluwafemi Oeyeleye 157.5 – Javier Maciel 166.9

Ezri Turner 171 – Milton Volter 177.8

Josh Jones 133.7 – Carlos Rocha 133.8

Allen Otto 155 – Tim Tyler 157.7

Juan Marrero 137.1 – Jose Fracica Baron 141.1

Anthony Dill 150.6 – Ghandi Romain 147.5

Jahron Williams 120.4 – Devin Gantt 123.3

Daniel Bean 237.5 – Rob Perez 238.2

Promoter: R and B Promotions

Venue: 2300 Arena

1st Bell: 7 PM ET

Stream: BXNGTV.com (Marc Abrams and LeAnna Cruz on the Call)

 •  George Kambosos Jr. 134.6 lbs. vs. Maxi Hughes 134.7 lbs
(IBF Lightweight Title Eliminator — 12 Rounds)

   •   Keyshawn Davis 134.3 lbs vs. Francesco Patera 134 lbs
(Lightweight — 10 Rounds)

(ESPN+, 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT)

•    Giovani Santillan147.8 lbs  vs. Erick Bone 147.6 lbs 
 (Welterweight — 10 Rounds)

•  Jeremiah Milton 255.3 lbs  vs. Willie Harvey 296.5 lbs 
 (Heavyweight — 8 Rounds)

•  Troy Isley 158.8 lbs vs. Antonio Todd 159.2. lbs
 (Middleweight — 8 Rounds)

•   Amron Sands 300 lbs vs. Hemi Ahio 247 lbs
 (Heavyweight — 8 Rounds)

• Stephan Shaw 244 lbs vs. Joe Goodall 238 lbs
 (Heavyweight — 8 Rounds)

(July 21, 2023) — American fight fans will be treated to “Breakfast With The Monster” this Tuesday, July 25, as Naoya “Monster” Inoue attempts to dethrone WBC/WBO junior featherweight world champion Stephen Fulton at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs) aims to become a four-weight world champion after attaining undisputed status as a bantamweight. Many experts regard him as the world’s pound-for-pound king, and he looks to bolster that claim with a win over Philadelphia native Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs). “Cool Boy Steph” has not fought since June 2022, when he dominated former unified world champion Danny Roman over 12 rounds.

Fulton-Inoue and undercard action will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. starting at 4:30 a.m. ET/1:30 a.m. PT.

The ESPN+ stream is also scheduled to include the following bouts:

• Cuban sensation Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez (12-1, 7 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBO featherweight world title against Japanese contender Satoshi Shimizu (11-1, 10 KOs). Ramirez snatched the vacant title in April with a one-sided decision over former junior featherweight world champion Isaac Dogboe. Shimizu, a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, has won three straight bouts since a 2019 TKO defeat to Joe Noynay.
   
• In an eight-round light flyweight attraction, unbeaten knockout artist Kanamu Sakama (7-0, 6 KOs) steps up against Ryu Horikawa (3-1-2, 1 KO), who is coming off an eight-round draw against former flyweight world champion Sho Kimura.
   
• Japanese junior featherweight phenom Yoshiki Takei (6-0, 6 KOs) looks to make it lucky number seven in an eight-rounder versus Filipino veteran Ronnie Baldonado (16-4-1, 9 KOs). 

# # #
About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).  

LAS VEGAS – July 21, 2023 – A stacked lineup of unbeaten prospects will enter the ring for the non-televised undercard of the Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford event on Saturday, July 29 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The card will see lightweights Jabín Chollet and Michael Portales duel in a six-round bout, unbeaten prospects Justin Viloria and Pedro Borgaro battling in a six-round super featherweight fight, lightweight prospect Demler Zamora in an eight-round showdown against Nikolai Buzolin and welterweight power-puncher Kevin Ventura facing DeShawn Prather in a six-round attraction.

The event is topped by a four-fight SHOWTIME PPV lineup featuring WBC, WBA and IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and WBO Welterweight World Champion Terence “Bud” Crawford meeting to crown the first undisputed welterweight champion of the four-belt era.

The pay-per-view telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features Mexican fan-favorite Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz facing unbeaten Giovanni Cabrera in a 12-round WBC and WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator in the co-main event, plus future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire takes on Mexican contender Alexandro Santiago for the vacant WBC Bantamweight Title. The pay-per-view opens up with top prospect Yoenis Téllez dueling Spanish contender Sergio García in a 10-round super welterweight attraction.

Prior to the pay-per-view, live streaming action will begin at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing^® Facebook page and see undefeated 168-pound contender Steven Nelson take on Rowdy Legend Montgomery in a 10-round showdown, plus Mexican super bantamweight prospect José Salas Reyes faces former world title challenger Aston Palicte in a 10-round bout.

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

Fighting out of his native San Diego, Chollet (7-0, 6 KOs) went the distance for the first time as a pro the last time he entered the ring, scoring a shutout of Daniel Perales in May. The 21-year-old has already fought three times in 2023 and will step up in competition when he faces Hayward, California’s Portales (3-1-1, 1 KO). The 26-year-old Portales bounced back from his first career defeat, which took place in February, to earn a unanimous decision over Margarito Hernandez in April.

The 18-year-old Viloria (2-0, 2 KOs) turned pro in April and has delivered a pair of stoppages in each of his first two matchups. The Whittier, California-native most recently stopped Pedro Pinillo in four rounds in May. He’ll step in against the 18-year-old Borgaro (4-0, 2 KOs), who represents Sonora, Mexico and made a successful U.S. debut in July by stopping Martin Cardona in two rounds.

The 20-year-old Zamora (11-0, 9 KOs) turned pro in 2019 as a teenager and delivered knockouts in eight of his first nine matchups. The Las Vegas-native has fought in his hometown twice previously as a pro, including his most recent outing that saw him KO Jesus Ibarra in March. He will be opposed by the Brooklyn-based Buzolin (9-4-1, 5 KOs), who’s only defeats have come against previously unbeaten fighters. In his last fight, Buzolin knocked out Gonzalo Carlos Dallera in three rounds in July 2022.

A training partner of Terence Crawford, Ventura (11-0, 8 KOs) fights out of Omaha, Nebraska and will compete in Las Vegas for the first time as a pro on July 29. The 26-year-old returned to the ring off of a four-year layoff in September 2022, emerging victorious via unanimous decision over Gilbert Venegas. He will face the 25-year-old Prather (15-1, 2 KOs), who made a successful 2023 debut by earning a decision over Brandon Clark in February. The Kansas City, Missouri-native turned pro in May 2018 and is unbeaten since a one-point decision loss in his second pro fight.

#         #         #

ABOUT SPENCE VS. CRAWFORD

Spence vs. Crawford will see unified WBC, WBA and IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth’’ Spence Jr. take on WBO 147-pound world champion Terence “Bud’’ Crawford for the Undisputed Welterweight World Championship on Saturday, July 29 in a highly anticipated SHOWTIME PPV clash from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features hard-hitting contender Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz facing unbeaten Giovanni Cabrera in a 12-round WBC and WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator in the co-main event, plus future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire battles Mexican contender Alexandro Santiago for the vacant WBC Bantamweight Title. Kicking off the telecast is top prospect Yoenis Tellez dueling Spanish contender Sergio Garcia in a 10-round super welterweight attraction.

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

As a current Gold Subscriber, be sure to tune in Saturday, July 22 at 7PM ET as the entire ‘Summer Slugfest’ fight card presented by Integrity Fighter Management and Star Boxing will air live and direct on StarBoxing.TV!

Star Boxing’s Ukrainian born cruiserweight Lyubomyr “Demolition Man” Pinchuk makes his return to the ring in his adoptive home of Pennsylvania against Anthony Holloway of Illinois. If you miss the live fight card, within 24 hours of the show, you will be able to rewind the action via your Gold Subscription video on demand feature!

LAS VEGA, NV (July 20, 2023) – Super bantamweight contender, Ra’eese Aleem (20-1, 12 KOs), has broke his silence since suffering his first defeat as a professional, a hard-fought split decision loss to Sam Goodman (15-0, 7 KOs), a fight that took place in Goodman’s homeland of Australia last month.

One of the major hurdles Aleem faced during his journey to Australia was acclimating to the significant time change. He attested to the difficulties of adjusting to the new time zone, stating, “The time difference definitely presented some unique challenges. I now know what fighters have always said about fighting overseas, its not easy. I’m not taking anything away from Goodman, he showed he belongs with the elite in the division. Nevertheless, I believe that stepping out of my comfort zone is necessary for growth and reaching new heights in my career. I definitely want that rematch, but here in the States, and let’s see if he can hang with the travel.”

Despite the setback in Australia, Ra’eese Aleem remains undeterred and determined to reclaim his position among the super bantamweight elite. He recognizes that the road to success is often filled with obstacles but believes that every experience, whether victory or defeat, serves as a steppingstone towards greatness.

“Ra’eese is a true warrior, and his determination is unmatched,” said Greg Hannley, CEO of Prince Ranch Boxing who manages Aleem. “Despite facing adversity in Australia, he has proven time and again that he belongs at the highest level of the super bantamweight division. We are excited about his future, and we are confident that he will bounce back stronger than ever.”

Looking ahead, Aleem is eagerly keeping an eye on the highly anticipated unification bout between Stephen Fulton and Naoya Inoue. The potential matchup with either of these world-class fighters presents an enticing opportunity for Aleem to prove his mettle on the grandest stage. His unwavering focus on top-tier competition showcases his commitment to be recognized as one of the best in the division.

“Fulton verses Inoue is going to be a great fight,” continued Aleem. “I’ll be watching closely as either one of them are potential opponents down the road. I’m leaning toward Fulton to pull off the upset, but I know it’s going to be a difficult task for him being that he’s fighting overseas. People don’t realize how hard it is to get acclimated when fighting on foreign land.

LAS VEGAS – July 20, 2023 – Undefeated WBC, WBA and IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. showed off his skills at a media workout in Las Vegas on Thursday as he nears his much anticipated showdown against WBO Welterweight World Champion Terence “Bud” Crawford which headlines a SHOWTIME PPV on Saturday, July 29 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The four-fight pay-per-view telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will see Spence look to complete his conquest of the welterweight division after first becoming world champion in 2017, before adding 147-pound world titles in 2019 and 2022. The winner between Spence and Crawford will hold the distinction as the first undisputed welterweight champion of the four-belt era and likely emerge as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport.

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

Here is what Spence, along with his esteemed trainer Derrick James, had to say Thursday:

ERROL SPENCE JR.

“This is what I’ve worked for my whole career. I want to be that undisputed welterweight champion of the world and I’m excited to go up against a great opponent like Terence Crawford to accomplish that.

“I’ve been fighting the best for a long time. When you see all the legends of the sport, they fought each other and made historic fights. That’s what I want to do. Terence is one of the best fighters in the world and I’m one of the best fighters in the world, so we had to make this happen.

“It’s definitely business as usual, but we’ve still amped up the training because of the opponent I’m facing. Terence can really fight and I believe that we’re gonna put on a great show and a great performance.

“I’m not worried about being the underdog. People can say what they say and have their opinions. I just have to go prove them wrong.

“I’ve been feeling the buzz for this fight. Anywhere I go they’ve been asking me about this fight. I knew I had to make it happen. This is what everyone wanted. We have to prove who the man is in the welterweight division and in boxing. The winner of this fight is the best fighter in boxing period.

“Every belt I’ve gotten I’ve taken from somebody. I beat champion after champion. I’m going through the ringer fighting the best guys in my division. There’s a big difference between facing a champion and someone without a belt. The guys with the belts have a lot more to fight for.

“I don’t know how much the size will factor into the fight until we get into the ring. They say he’s a strong guy and we’ll see next week.

“Everybody make sure you tune into this fight. It’s gonna be an amazing fight. This fight is gonna be a war of attrition. It’s a guts and glory type of fight.

“I don’t think there’s anyone I fought who’s similar to Terence Crawford. His style is different from anybody else. I don’t think Sugar Ray Leonard fought anyone like Tommy Hearns until he fought Tommy, and vice versa. That’s what happens in these historic fights.”

DERRICK JAMES, Spence’s Trainer

“This means everything. From the moment Errol turned pro, he said what he wanted to do. There were so many steps he had to take to get to this point, and now there’s just one more step to take. Being undisputed champion is everything he wanted.

“Our goal is to be able to push like we push in every fight. We’re going to use everything we’ve used to be successful throughout Errol’s career. It’s up to Terence if he can step to that.

“We’ve been training and sparring a lot since Errol last fought, so it’s not like he hasn’t been in the ring. He’ll just have to adjust to Terence’s timing in the fight. It might take a couple of rounds, but once he figures it out, he can do everything he has to do.

“I’m my greatest competition. I’m not worried about who’s in the other corner. It could be anybody. My focus on being who I am every day leading up to the fight and continuing to compete with myself.

“The perfect performance is a victory. I don’t care how he gets it, it’s just that he gets it. That’s what we’re working for.”

#         #         #

ABOUT SPENCE VS. CRAWFORD

Spence vs. Crawford will see unified WBC, WBA and IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth’’ Spence Jr. take on WBO 147-pound world champion Terence “Bud’’ Crawford for the Undisputed Welterweight World Championship on Saturday, July 29 in a highly anticipated SHOWTIME PPV clash from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features hard-hitting contender Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz facing unbeaten Giovanni Cabrera in a 12-round WBC and WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator in the co-main event, plus future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire battles Mexican contender Alexandro Santiago for the vacant WBC Bantamweight Title. Kicking off the telecast is top prospect Yoenis Tellez dueling Spanish contender Sergio Garcia in a 10-round super welterweight attraction.

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

Louie Lopez 149.2 vs Benjamin Lamptey 152.7

George Acosta 130.5 vs Edy Valencia Mercado 130.8

Nelson Oliva 166.2 vs Jeremaine Whittington 165.3

Kevin Salgado 144 vs Izaiah Vargas 146.8

Esteban Muñoz 142.4 vs Nelson Morales 144.4

“One Last Time” will take place at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA on Friday, July 21, 2023. Doors open at 6:45 pm PT with the first fight starting at 8:00 pm PT. Tickets priced $50, $75, $100, and $125, are available for purchase by calling 714-935-0900 or online at www.thompsonboxing.com. 

Fight fans will be able to watch all Thompson Boxing fights, weigh-ins, and behind-the-scenes content, via their new Mobile App downloadable on Apple and Google.

Beto Duran will operate as the blow-by-blow commentator with expert commentary by Doug Fischer and Rich Marotta. Jessica Rosales will serve as the onsite ringside reporter.

This event is sponsored by HUSTLER Casino, LA’s only luxury casino; 

Thompson Building Materials, Transforming spaces into beautiful places; Omega Products International, The leading stucco manufacturer in the United States; Belgard, Paves the way; and Makita, Rule the outdoors.

For more information, regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please visit ThompsonBoxing.com. You can also follow the conversation on social media, please use #ThompsonBoxing.

Please check our Facebook Page, watch our YouTube channel on Thompson

Boxing TV, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @ThompsonBoxing.

SHAWNEE, OK (July 20, 2023) — Former unified and lineal lightweight king George Kambosos Jr. is eager to reclaim his throne, but English southpaw Maxi Hughes stands in his way.

Kambosos (20-2, 10 KOs) will fight Hughes (26-5-2, 5 KOs) in a 12-round IBF world title eliminator this Saturday at FireLake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Kambosos will be making his Top Rank debut as he sets his sights toward once again becoming champion. 

In the 10-round co-feature, U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (8-0, 6 KOs) takes a seismic step up in class against Belgian contender and former European champion Francesco Patera (28-3, 10 KOs).

Kambosos-Hughes and Davis-Patera will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

The ESPN+-streamed undercard (6:15 p.m ET/3:15 p.m. PT) will feature the ring returns of welterweight contender Giovani Santillan, Oklahoma-born heavyweight Jeremiah Milton and middleweight prospect Troy Isley.

Santillan (30-0, 16 KOs) will face Ecuadorian contender Erick Bone (27-6, 14 KOs) in a 10-round battle, and Milton (9-0, 6 KOs) will make his second appearance of 2023 in an eight-round tilt against Willie Harvey (4-2-2, 3 KOs).

Isley (9-0, 4 KOs), a 2020 U.S. Olympian, will fight in an eight-rounder against Antonio Todd (14-8, 8 KOs).

Two competitive eight-round heavyweight matchups will also be featured on the ESPN+-streamed portion.

Orlando, Florida’s Amron Sands (12-2, 9 KOs) returns against New Zealand’s Hemi Ahio (20-1, 15 KOs), and once-beaten contender Stephan Shaw looks to bounce back against Australia’s Joe Goodall (9-1-1, 8 KOs).

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment and Ferocious Promotions, tickets starting at $39 are on sale at www.stubwire.com.

At Thursday’s press conference, this is what the fighters had to say.

George Kambosos
 
“It’s an absolute pleasure to be here in Oklahoma. I’m very excited. I’m very refreshed because I had three massive fights within 11 months. Big fights take a toll. But I was able to step back, refresh my body, and continue my training. I’m here right now. I’m very excited. I feel fantastic. And we can’t wait to handle business.” 
 
“I’ve never been the kind of fighter who says, ‘Oh, I’ve got a loss. It’s taken my confidence away.’ I lost to Devin Haney. I think the boxing world has forgotten that he’s the only guy I’ve lost to. I’ve got to remind them again. We have learned a lot. And we have worked on a lot. But the biggest thing is that I’ve become a greedy motherf***er now. I’m going to take advantage of every hole there is.”
 
“I’m only focused on Maxi Hughes. We give him the utmost respect. He’s here. We know what he’s going to bring. Whatever there is to come, that will be spoken about after Saturday. But for now, there is only man in front of me.”
 
“I’m going to take his head off. That’s what’s going through my mind. I’m ready. I’m looking to absolutely destroy this man in my path.”
 
Maxi Hughes
 
“It’s been one of my dreams to fight in the U.S. When you turn professional, you see all the big fights in America and you want to be a part of that. I’ve had my tough times in boxing, and I’ve shown a lot of mental strength. I’ve come through that. I’ve earned my right to be on this stage as the main event.”
 
“The preparation has gone very well. My training team has been together for five years. After my last fight in September, I gave myself a week off and went back to the gym. I’m a full-time professional. That’s my job. I don’t just train for fights. I train and learn all the time. And then in February, we got the deal done with George. Since then, George’s face and name has been imprinted in my brain. Preparation went well and I’m very confident.”
 
Keyshawn Davis 
 
“You’re going to see something new. You can watch me fight. You can study me. But you got to really know boxing to know the type of fighter that you’re getting in the ring with when you fight me. I’m 8-0. Ya’ll haven’t even seen the best of me yet. Ya’ll will see something new.”
 
“Every time somebody fights me, it could be a life-changing moment for them. But when they get in the ring, it’s a different story. Just expect the same of what you’ve been seeing out of me.”
 
Francesco Patera
 
“I am very happy to be here and fight in the U.S. This means a lot. I am ready. This can change my life, so I’m going to give it my all on Saturday.”
 
“If you make a name for yourself in the U.S., you make a name for yourself worldwide. So, a victory will give me a good name.”
 
“A win will put me in a world title spot. So, this means a lot. I’ve done it before, and I’m sure I can do it again on Saturday.”
 
Jeremiah Milton 
 
“This is my home state. I’m carrying that weight for the whole state when it comes to boxing. I represent wherever I go. Whether it’s across the sea or whatever, they always know I’m from Tulsa.”
 
“I started late in boxing. I’ve come a long way really fast. I only had about 22 or 23 amateur fights. Now I’m coming through among the best in the game right now. No matter what, if you have people doubting you in the past, and you’ve ended up on this stage, they can now watch me perform on this stage.”
 
Giovani Santillan
 
“I feel good. I’ve just been training for those 11 months that I’ve been away. I’ve been staying ready, and I’ve been waiting for that call. I’m ready, and I feel good. I’m ready for Saturday.”
 
“After this Saturday, I can get a big shot. It depends on how I perform. I’m not taking this fight lightly. Erick Bone has fought a lot of good fighters. And I plan on showing that I’m ready for big fights against the big names.” 
 

Saturday, July 22

ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)
 

George Kambosos Jr. vs. Maxi Hughes, 12 rounds, IBF Lightweight World Title Eliminator 

Keyshawn Davis vs. Francesco Patera, 10 rounds, Lightweights 

 
ESPN+ (6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT)

Giovani Santillan vs. Erick Bone, 10 rounds, Welterweights 

Stephan Shaw vs. Joe Goodall, 8 rounds, Heavyweights  

Montreal, Quebec, Canada – July 20, 2023 — Groupe Yvon Michel in collaboration with O.R.  Promotions are pleased to confirm that Montreal’s Kim Clavel (17-1-0, 3 KOs) is finally back in the World Championship! The current WBC International and WBO International champion will try to dethrone the IBF and WBO light flyweight champion Argentina Evelin “La Princesita” Nazarena Bermudez (18-1-1, 6 KOs) on Saturday, October 7 at Place Bell in Laval. Clavel, 32, will fight his 3rd world championship fight, (1-1) and for Bermudez, 26, the 10th (7-1-1).

This will be Clavel’s 3rd fight in 2023, she returned to victory on May 12 against Naomi Arellano Reyes (9-3, 5 KOs) in another breathtaking performance. We remember the incredible clash on January 13 against WBA champion Yesica Nery Plata (29-2-0, 3 KOs) when the Quebecer had to lose by decision of the judges and give up her title of WBC world champion.

On October 7, it is the real RECONQUEST for Clavel who gets a 2nd chance to be crowned with two major titles, she is ranked number 1 contender in both the WBO and the IBF.

Aspiring Clavel and champion Bermudez met with the media in a virtual conference this morning:

“I saw how hungry Bermudez was, with the knife between her teeth, when she faced the undefeated Tania Enriquez (20-1, 9KO) to regain her titles after her loss to Valle 4 months earlier,” said former WBC champion Clavel. It is with exactly this state of mind that I approach this fight with Bermudez, with fire in my eyes. I know that Evelin is a great champion and that our fight has all the ingredients to be the fight of the year, but it is me who will come out victorious.”

Bermudez replied: “While I agree with Kim on my attitude against Enriquez and the big world championship fight, we’re about to fight, I differ on the result. Unlike Kim I have already succeeded in my reconquest and I am even more equipped, more seasoned than ever and there is no question of taking away these titles so important in my life and my career. I will come back home to Argentina with my 2 belts I assure you.”

Evelin Bermudez, originally from Santa Fe, Argentina, began his career in 2016 at the age of 19. Thus, she won her first world championship fight in 2018 at just 21 years old by dethroning Mexico’s Maria Guadalupe Bautista (21-11-2, 4 KOs) at home in Argentina for the IBF light flyweight title. In 2022, she added the WBO title with a brutal knockout over Debora  Rengifo  (19- 11-1, 11 KOs) of Caracas, Venezuela. After seven successive IBF defenses and a WBO, she lost by majority decision to Costa Rican Yokasta Valle (28-2, 9 KOs), who is also IBF and WBO champion in the minimum division (105 pounds), in Carson, California. The latter immediately gave up her two new light flyweight titles (108 pounds) which allowed Bermudez to regain them, in Buenos Aires against the undefeated Mexican Tania Enriquez (20-0, 9 KOs), last March.

Tickets will be on sale and available starting this Friday, July 21 at noon on www.ticketmaster.ca and  directly at GYM in info@groupeyvonmichel.ca.

LA RECONQUEST is a presentation of Mise-O-Jeu in collaboration with Bell Media.

Clavel won her WBC crown on July 29, 2022, in Montreal, defeating defending champion Yesenia Gomez (19-5-3) by unanimous decision in 10 rounds at the Casino de Montréal, in a dazzling performance that unanimously delighted the people of Quebec.

We remember that at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Clavel returned to nursing to help seniors in Montreal. On the international stage, his courage and generosity have been recognized. She received the prestigious 2020 Pat Tillman Award at that year‘s ESPY ceremony on ESPN, Time Magazine recognized her as the “Next Generation Leader,” and the WBC presented her with the “Humanitarian Award.”

Sébastien Bouchard, Marie-Pier Houle, Caroline Veyre, Derek Pomerleau will also be featured, and 2 other fights will also be added:

Quebec’s Sébastien Bouchard (20-2-1, 9KO) will be back in the ring after his inspiring and dazzling performance on May 12 at Place Bell when he knocked out Fernando Marquez (11-2, 9KO) in the 6th round. Bouchard had to adjust to a lively and incisive Marquez early in the fight. This is a 2nd fight in less than 4 months for the friendly welterweight. A victory in this 10-round clash could open the doors to a return to Quebec City in late 2023 or early 2024.

The sparkling Marie-Pier Houle (8-1-1, 2KO)  of Terrebonne may have lost by decision in the WBO welterweight world championship in Cardiff last April against the excellent Sandy Ryan (6-1, 2KO) but the experience acquired and the new international influence that earned her solid performance will be important assets she who decided to attack of the super lightweight division. Houle is now recognized as a legitimate global aspirant according to the 4 major associations; #3 WBO, #6 IBF, #6 WBA and #11 WBC. On October 7, it will be his debut in his new division in a fight of 10 assaults.

The talented Caroline Veyre (4-0, 0KO) does not want to waste her time and she accumulates significant victories since the beginning of her career. This is why the independent Boxrec ranking already ranks it 5th among the best feathers in the world. Veyre will be in the ring at the Casino de Montréal on September 7 against Karina Chavez (5-1, 0KO) and if all goes well 4 weeks later she will be in action at Place Bell. This Olympian has her destiny all mapped out; she will be world champion!

Young middleweight Derek Pomerleau (5-0, 3KO) of Châteauguay will also be in action in a 6-round fight.

There will also be 2 other fights that will be added to the program. Participants will be chosen based on their performance on September 7 at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal. During this gala the prodigy and world kickboxing champion Jonathan Di Bella (2-0, 1KO) faces the tough Mexican Lamberto Macias (16-8-1, 12KO) in an 8-round bantamweight while the charismatic Terry Osias (12-0, 6KO) of Longueuil will meet Abraham Mejia (9-5-2, 4KO) of Monterrey.

Provincial Tour:

As announced a few weeks ago, Groupe Yvon Michel in collaboration with Les Cages Brasseries sportives, Radio Énergie and RDS Kim Clavel’s team with the president of GYM and other boxers to be confirmed in a few days, will go on a one-week provincial tour from August 8 to 12,

The formula is a 5 à 7 where the team will meet the many fans of Quebec in La Cage – Brasserie sportive, where there will be speeches by Kim and participants recounting their journeys and experiences then photo sessions and autographs.

Here are the dates and locations:

·       Monday, August 7: La Cage Quebec City Lebourgneuf

·       Tuesday, August 8: La Cage de Rimouski.

·       Wednesday, August 9: La Cage de Saguenay

·       Thursday, August 10: La Cage de Trois-Rivières.

·       Friday, August 11: La Cage Bell Center in Montreal.

The last tour of this kind was carried out by Lucian Bute’s team in 2011 and was a resounding success. We suggest that all those interested contact La Cage – Brasserie sportive in your area and reserve your seats.

#GroupeYM #LARECONQUÊTE #ClavelBermudez

About Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM)

Groupe Yvon Michel is a professional boxing promotion organization, founded in 2004 by Yvon Michel, Alexandra Croft and Bernard Barré, still active in the company, the most prolific in the history of professional boxing in  Canada. Since its founding, GYM has organized 167 galas in Quebec, all broadcast in Quebec on RDS, TVA Sports or Radio-Canada, and participated in 37 international galas outside Quebec. Eight boxers have become world champions, Joachim Alcine, Jean Pascal, Adonis Stevenson, Artur Beterbiev, Eleider Alvarez, Marie-Eve Dicaire (2 times), Oscar Rivas and Kim Clavel. Nineteen boxers from the organization have fought 56 world championship fights, maintaining an excellent record of 30 wins, 24 losses and two draws. During this period, the major American television networks were more active than ever coming to Quebec to broadcast the organization’s most important events.

Las Vegas – UFC^® brings an action-packed card to T-Mobile Arena to celebrate Mexican Independence Day with a thrilling flyweight championship rematch between champion Alexa Grasso and No. 1 contender Valentina Shevchenko. The co-main event will see No. 6 ranked welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov take on Kelvin Gastelum.

A great tradition in combat sports is to hold big fights on September 16th, and this year UFC is honoring its fans and fighters from Mexican communities with an inaugural Noche UFC event. In addition to the incredible fights, the fight week celebration will include a UFC Fan Experience, special appearances, community activities, commemorative merchandise, and much more.

“Mexican fans are some of the biggest and most passionate fans in all of combat sports,” said UFC President Dana White. “For years, I’ve wanted to truly honor their love for the athletes and the sport by bringing an incredible UFC event with Mexican athletes. It’s happening this year and we are bringing a MASSIVE Mexican card to Las Vegas on Mexican Independence Day. This card will be headlined by our Mexican champion in an insane rematch and it will be stacked from top to bottom with the best Mexican athletes in the world. Let me tell you something – I cannot wait for this event!”

NOCHE UFC: GRASSO vs. SHEVCHENKO 2 takes place Saturday, September 16 in Las Vegas and will be available exclusively on ESPN+ (English and Spanish). The prelims will start at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, followed by the main card at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

NOCHE UFC: GRASSO vs. SHEVCHENKO 2 tickets go on sale Friday, July 21 at 10 a.m. PT and are available for purchase at axs.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, July 19 at 10 a.m. PT via www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, July 20 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Media members wishing to apply for NOCHE UFC: GRASSO vs. SHEVCHENKO 2 fight week credentials may sign up here.

Mexico’s own Grasso (16-3, fighting out of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico) sets out for her first title defense against the woman she took the belt from in March. The elite flyweight has secured notable wins against Maycee Barber, Viviane Araújo, and Joanne Wood and now intends to defeat former champion Shevchenko for a second time to cement her place as the best flyweight in the world.

Longtime resident of Peru, Shevchenko (23-4, fighting out of Bishkek, Chuy Province, Kyrgzstan) aims to recapture the flyweight title and become a two-time champion at 125 pounds. A Master of Sport in taekwondo, boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai, Shevchenko has claimed highlight-reel victories over Lauren Murphy, Jéssica Andrade, and Katlyn Chookagian. The Kyrgyzstan fighter steps back inside the Octagon more motivated than ever as she looks for redemption against Grasso.

Undefeated welterweight Rakhmonov (17-0, fighting out of Kokshetau, Kazakhstan) looks to further his climb up the rankings by delivering another impressive performance. A Master of Sport in Combat Sambo and MMA, he has delivered memorable wins against Geoff Neal, Neil Magny, and Carlston Harris. Rakhmonov aims on keeping his 100% finish rate intact as he squares off with former middleweight title challenger Gastelum.

Mexican-American Gastelum (17-8 1NC, fighting out of Yuma, Ariz.) is determined to secure back-to-back wins as he takes on a rising contender. A decade-long Octagon veteran, Gastelum has defeated Chris Curtis, Ronaldo Souza, and UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping. The Arizona-native is determined to break Rakhmonov’s perfect record and insert his name in the title picture at 170 pounds.

Athletes of Mexican descent on the card include the following:

• Anthony Hernandez (11-2, 1 NC, fighting out of Dunnigan, Calif.) collides with Chris Curtis (30-10, 1 NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Cincinnati, Ohio) in a high-stakes bout set for the middleweight division
• Loopy Godinez (10-3, fighting out of Langley, B.C., Canada by way of Aguascalientes, Mexico)battles Sam Hughes (8-5, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) at strawweight
• Edgar Chairez (10-5, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico)squares off with Daniel Lacerda (11-5, fighting out of Valença, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) at flyweight
• Cynthia Calvillo (9-6-1, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) returns to the Octagon and faces Elise Reed (7-3, fighting out of Princeton, N.J.) at 115 pounds
• Tracy Cortez (10-1, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) faces Jasmine Jasudavicius (9-2, fighting out of Niagara, Ontario, Canada)in an exciting flyweight matchup

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

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About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 233 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to over 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s active fighter roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global sports and entertainment company Endeavor and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About T-Mobile Arena

T-Mobile Arena, the 20,000-seat venue located on the Las Vegas Strip between Park MGM and New York-New York, opened April 6, 2016. The arena hosts more than 100 events annually including major headline entertainment, awards shows, UFC, boxing, basketball and other sporting events, family shows and special events. T-Mobile Arena also is the home of the Vegas Golden Knights, a National Hockey League expansion team and the city’s first professional sports team, as well as UFC’s exclusive Las Vegas arena destination. The venue, named the No. 1 venue on Billboard Magazine’s 2018 Arena Power List as well as the “Best New Major Concert Venue” by Pollstar Magazine in 2016, features 50 luxury suites, more than two dozen private loge boxes, complete broadcast facilities, and other specially designed exclusive hospitality offerings and fan amenities destined to create a guest experience second to none. Toshiba Plaza, an adjacent two-acre outdoor entertainment space, features performance stages, a variety of video screens and other interactive content and display areas. Industry-leading architect Populous designed T-Mobile Arena to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s standards for LEED® Gold Certification. T-Mobile Arena is a privately funded joint venture between AEG and MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). For more information, visit T-MobileArena.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About ESPN+  

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).      

About ESPN

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

TULSA, OK (July 20, 2023) — Heavy-hitting Nigerian contender Efe Ajagba will take on unbeaten Kazakh southpaw Zhan Kossobutskiy in the 10-round co-feature on Saturday, August 26 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa. Ajagba-Kossobutskiy will be the co-feature to the heavyweight showdown between Toledo-born phenom Jared Anderson and Andriy Rudenko.

Uzbek Olympic gold medalist Bakhodir Jalolov will make his Top Rank debut in the eight-round televised opener against Nigeria’s Onoriode Ehwarieme.

Anderson-Rudenko, Ajagba-Kossobutskiy & Jalolov-Ehwarieme will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Holden Productions, tickets starting at $49.50 are on sale now at www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com.

Ajagba (17-1, 13 KOs), a 2016 Nigerian Olympian, has solidified himself as one of the division’s fiercest punchers. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound slugger debuted as a pro in July 2017 and secured six first-round knockouts in his first eight bouts. He suffered his first defeat in October 2021 against Frank Sanchez. Following the loss, Ajagba had surgery on both his elbows, returning in August 2022 to stop Hungarian veteran Jozsef Darmos in the second round. The 29-year-old is coming off a 10-round decision win against previously unbeaten contender Stephan Shaw in January.

“This is a great test for me as I continue my quest to become Nigeria’s next heavyweight champion,” Ajagba said. “I am coming to Tulsa to score a devastating knockout and remind everyone what I’m capable of doing inside the ring.”

Kossobutskiy (19-0, 18 KOs) is a 34-year-old southpaw from Kostanay, Kazakhstan. He has only gone the distance once in his career, a six-round decision win over Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko in September 2018. In 2021, he went 3-0 with three knockouts. In 2022, he dispatched former world title challenger Johann Duhaupas in the fifth round and is coming off a third-round knockout over previously unbeaten contender Hussein Muhamed last November.

Kossobutskiy said, “I’m ready to make my debut in the United States against a very strong opponent. I want to show that I can beat the best in the heavyweight division, and to do that, you must overcome very tough challenges. I look forward to showing the world my abilities on August 26.”

Jalolov (12-0, 12 KOs) represented Uzbekistan at the 2016 Olympics before turning pro in May 2018 with a third-round TKO over Hugo Trujillo. He built an 8-0 record before returning to the amateur ranks in the summer of 2021 to capture an Olympic gold medal. Jalolov then tallied four knockout wins in the paid ranks before continuing his remarkable amateur run in May with a gold medal at the 2023 World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The 29-year-old wrecking ball returns to the pro ranks following his fourth-round TKO over Curtis Harper last November.

Ehwarieme (20-2, 19 KOs) debuted as a professional with a decision win over Junior Maletino Iakopo in December 2010. He defeated his next 16 opponents by knockout, all within five rounds. He suffered his first loss against Rodney Hernandez in June 2019, but returned in December to stop Ariel Esteban Bracamonte via first-round knockout. Ehwarieme suffered a fourth-round stoppage loss against Kossobutskiy in February 2021, and he is 2-0 with two knockouts since. The 35-year-old, who represented Nigeria at the 2008 Olympics, blasted out Jeff Holcomb in only one round in February 2022.

The ESPN+-streamed undercard includes some of the sports brightest up-and-coming talents.

Rising featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (8-0, 5 KOs), the latest fistic talent to come from Brownsville, Brooklyn, will fight an opponent to be named in an eight-rounder. Carrington will make his fourth 2023 appearance following an eighth-round TKO win over Luis Porozo in June.

Undefeated middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (8-0-1, 5 KOs), grandson of Muhammad Ali, will face Sona Akale (7-1, 4 KOs) in a six-rounder. Ali Walsh will fight in Tulsa for the third time as a pro following an eight-round draw against Danny Rosenberger on the Devin Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko undercard.

19-year-old lightweight prodigy Abdullah Mason (9-0, 8 KOs) will make his fourth appearance of 2023 in a six-round duel. Mason was considered one of the brightest U.S. amateur talents before signing with Top Rank in October 2021. The southpaw returns after a second-round TKO win over Alex de Oliveira on July 1.

In a 10-round junior lightweight tilt, Filipino Olympian Charly Suarez (15-0, 9 KOs) will put his unbeaten record on the line against hard-hitting Dominican Yohan Vasquez (25-3, 20 KOs). Suarez heads to Tulsa following a 12^th-round TKO win against then-unbeaten Australian Paul Fleming on enemy turf.

Kazakh Olympian Ablaikhan Zhussupov (3-0, 2 KOs) returns in a welterweight clash scheduled for eight rounds.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with an electrifying welterweight showdown as No. 10 ranked contender Vicente Luque takes on former UFC lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos. Also on the card, fan favorite Cub Swanson looks to deliver another exciting performance against Hakeem Dawodu.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: LUQUE vs. DOS ANJOS will take place Saturday, August 12 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. The entire event will air on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ (English and Spanish) with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. The prelims will begin at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

The always exciting Luque (21-9-1, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil) looks to secure the biggest win of his career with a signature performance. A well-rounded competitor who has finished 19 of his 21 victories, he has delighted fans with wins over Michael Chiesa, Tyron Woodley and Mike Perry. Luque now intends to defend his spot in the rankings by stopping Dos Anjos in emphatic fashion.

Former UFC lightweight champion Dos Anjos (32-14, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) plans to secure another memorable win in the 170-pound division. The record holder for the most fight time in UFC history with over eight hours spent in the Octagon, Dos Anjos has defeated some of the best to ever compete in MMA, including former UFC champions Robbie Lawler, Anthony Pettis and Benson Henderson. He now seeks to make another run up the welterweight ranks by taking out Luque.

A member of the UFC Hall of Fame’s Fight Wing for his epic battle with Dooho Choi, Swanson (28-13, fighting out of Palm Springs, Calif.) returns to action aiming to secure a record-breaking 10^th post-fight bonus at featherweight. A staple of the 145-pound division since 2011, he holds thrilling victories over Daniel Pineda, Darren Elkins and Kron Gracie. Swanson now seeks to start his 2023 campaign by becoming the first man to KO Dawodu.

Dawodu (13-3-1, fighting out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada) looks to steal the show and announce himself as the next contender to watch in the stacked featherweight division. A former Muay Thai champion, Dawodu has shown off his skills in victories over Michael Trizano, Zubaira Tukhugov and Yoshinori Horie. He now hopes to break into the Top 15 ranks and begin his run towards a title shot.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• No. 13 ranked light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree Jr. (12-5 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) aims for another signature KO against former heavyweight standout Chris Daukaus (12-6, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.)
• Lando Vannata (12-7-2, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) battles Mike Breeden (10-5, fighting out of Blue Springs, Mo.) in an exciting lightweight matchup
• Thrilling strawweights meet as Polyana Viana (13-5, fighting out of State of Para, Brazil) faces Iasmin Lucindo (14-5, fighting out of State of Bahia, Brazil)
• Heavyweights collide as Josh Parisian (15-6, fighting out of Howell, Mich.) returns against Martin Buday (12-1, fighting out of Nitra, Slovakia)
• Josh Fremd (10-4, fighting out of Westminster, Colo.) takes on Jamie Pickett (13-9, fighting out of Wilmington, N.C.) in a middleweight matchup
• The Ultimate Fighter season 30 flyweight winner Juliana Miller (4-2, fighting out of Lakeside, Calif.) seeks to spoil the UFC debut of Luana Santos (5-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil)
• AJ Dobson (6-2 1NC, fighting out of Columbus, Ohio) and Tafon Nchukwi (6-3, fighting out of Temple Hills, Md.) clash in a middleweight contest
• JP Buys (9-5, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) returns to bantamweight to face Marcus McGhee (7-1, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.)
• Featherweights Francis Marshall (7-1, fighting out of Freehold Township, N.J.) and Isaac Dulgarian (5-0, fighting out of Kansas City, Mo.) lock horns
• Jaqueline Amorim (6-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) intends to impress against Montserrat Conejo (10-2, fighting out of El Paso, Texas) at strawweight
• A gritty bantamweight matchup sees Da’Mon Blackshear (13-5-1, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) face off with Brady Hiestand (8-2, Spokane, Wash.)

Visit the UFC.com for information and content to support your UFC coverage. Please click here to apply for media credentials to the event.

Lee McGregor is 24 hours away from a potentially “life changing” moment when he fights for the vacant IBO world super bantamweight world title.

‘Lightning’ faces the big-punching Mexican Erik Robles at the Meadowbank Sports Centre tomorrow evening, on a packed night of action at the Wasserman Boxing event, which is delivered in association with Ladbrokes, Numan and Infinitum Entertainment.

Fans in the UK and Ireland can watch McGregor from 10pm, live and free-to-air on Channel 5, with the undercard being shown on the Wasserman Boxing YouTube channel.

Viewers in the rest of the world, can enjoy a huge Edinburgh fight night, live on DAZN from 7pm local time.

First bout 6pm local time

Weigh-In Results

4×3 Super welterweight contest 

Ryan Clark – weighs in tomorrow 

Dale Arrowsmith – tomorrow 

4×3 Middleweight contest 

Aston Brown 161.9lbs 

Vasif Mamedov 167.3lbs 

4×3 Super lightweight  

Jesse Brandon 147lbs 

Liam Fox – tomorrow  

8×3 Featherweight contest 

Isaac Lowe 127.2lbs 

Jonathan Santana 127.6lbs 

4×3 Light heavyweight contest 

Ben Andrews – tomorrow 

Darryl Sharp – tomorrow  

6×3 Heavyweight contest  

Kash Ali 253lbs 

Bohdan Myronets 216.5lbs 

10×3 Super featherweight contest 

Sultan Zaurbek 132lbs 

John Carter 134lbs 

6×3 Heavyweight contest  

Matty Harris 259lbs 

Kostyantin Dovbyshchenko 243lbs 

8×3 Super lightweight contest 

Harlem Eubank 142lbs 

Ishmael Ellis 139.8lbs 

Vacant IBO world super bantamweight title 

Lee McGregor 122lbs 

Erik Robles 121lbs 

DALLAS, TX – July 20, 2023 – Today, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Real Fight Inc. (RFI) announced the broadcast team and fight week schedule for the Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz pay-per-view taking place on Friday, August 5^th live from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. Paul vs Diaz, presented by Celsius Essential Energy Drinks, will feature famed voices in combat sports including Ariel Helwani, Shawn Porter and Todd Grisham as the night’s commentators and ringside analysts. The event will be hosted by DAZN Boxing Show veteran Ade Oladipo and undisputed super featherweight world champion boxer Alycia Baumgardner, while entertainment personality Sibley Scoles will join the team as ringside reporter. 

The Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz fight week events will all be open to the public, free of charge, and will kick off on Wednesday, August 2^nd with athlete workouts at The Factory in Dallas, TX beginning at 3pm CT with doors opening at 2:30pm CT. Workouts will feature Jake Paul, Nate Diaz, Amanda Serrano, Heather Hardy, Ashton Sylve, Chris Avila, Jeremy Stephens and Shadasia Green. DAZN will air the workouts live. A surprise MVP guest will also participate in the open workouts and will be available for interviews.

On Thursday, August 3^rd at 1pm CT with doors opening at 12:30pm CT, fighters will return to The Factory and face off in their final press conference before the pay-per-view event. The press conference, open to the public and free of charge, will be moderated by Ariel Helwani and presented by DAZN Boxing Show veteran hosts Ak & Barak and Ade Oladipo. The undercard bouts will kick off the event followed by co-main fighters Amanda Serrano vs. Heather Hardy and Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz. The day’s event will be broadcast across DAZN Boxing Show’s digital and social channels, along with Jake Paul’s and Nate Diaz’s YouTube channels. 

The public weigh-ins will be open to the public and free of charge, and will take place on Friday, August 4th at the American Airlines Center at 5pm CT with doors opening at 4pm CT. DAZN Boxing Show will continue its coverage as it brings the action to audiences live from its broadcast and social channels. Ade Oladipo and duo Ak & Barak will offer on-air commentary, with guest appearances from former MMA welterweight Dan Hardy and former two-time welterweight world champion boxer Shawn Porter.

“Fight week has a lot in store for fans, whether they are in Dallas or watching from home. From our open workouts featuring the newest member of our MVP family, to the press conference and weigh-ins, the Paul vs. Diaz fight week is going to be a treat for all our fans,” shared Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of MVP. “This incredible pay-per-view event wouldn’t be possible without our outstanding distribution partner, DAZN, RFI, and the entire team at the American Airlines Center. We’ve worked incredibly hard to ensure fans won’t miss a moment of the action as our elite lineup of broadcast and on-site talent delivers the fight week energy around the globe.”

“We have collaborated with MVP to make a best in class fight card that supplements an incredible main event with fan friendly bouts that showcase incredible fighters from the RFI and MVP rosters,” said Real Fight, Inc. President, Zach Rosenfield. “We were committed to extending the Ready4War card beyond fight night by creating four days of events for the amazing fans in Dallas so we can entertain some of the best fight fans in the world.”

Fans will also get the opportunity to witness three additional preliminary bouts during the Paul vs. Diaz pay-per-view. Super-middleweight Kevin Newman will take on Quilisto Madera over eight rounds, and light-middleweights Jose Aguayo vs Noel Cavazos and light-welterweight MMA veterans Luiciano Ramos vs Carlton Hamilton will each battle across four-round matchups. Madera, Aguayo, and Ramos are each represented by RFI. DAZN Boxing Show will air these live preliminary matchups across its channels, featuring broadcast talent of Ak and Darren Barker, along with YouTube boxing commentator Wade Plemons and Barak providing color commentary. 

Most Valuable Promotions, founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, and Real Fight, Inc., founded by Diaz, are partnering to bring Paul vs. Diaz to global audiences. The strategic partnership will combine the star power and international reach of both fighters to promote the year’s biggest fight. The event is presented by Celsius Essential Energy drinks and will be distributed globally by DAZN PPV. In the US and Canada in addition to DAZN PPV, Paul vs. Diaz will be available on all major cable and satellite pay-per-view providers.  All tickets can be purchased at https://www.ticketmaster.com/mvp-jake-paul-v-nate-diaz-dallas-texas-08-05-2023/event/0C005EA581B12549

For more information, follow on Twitter via @MostVPromotions, @RealFightINC and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions, @realfightinc and @DAZNBoxing.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

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

About Real Fight, Inc.

Founded by mixed martial arts legend Nate Diaz, in 2022, Real Fight Inc. promotes exactly what the name suggests — the fights people want to see, featuring the realest fighters from all over the world. Since his departure from the UFC, Diaz is extending his business empire with a true all-around combat experience that will focus on boxing, MMA, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The inaugural event under the Real Fight, Inc. banner is set to take place on August 5, 2023, when Diaz makes his long-awaited professional boxing debut against Jake Paul at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.  The card will also feature RFI fighters, Chris Avila, Alan Sanchez, Jose Aguayo and Luciano Ramos

About DAZN:

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

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

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

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

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

About American Airlines Center:

Designed by architectural wizard David M. Schwarz and Dallas based HKS, Inc., American Airlines Center is considered one of the nation’s top arenas. Since opening its doors in 2001, the Center has been setting the precedent for sporting and live entertainment events. Bringing in a wide variety of big name shows as well as being home of both the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars, American Airlines Center consistently displays its unique versatility. Billboard Magazine named American Airlines Center the 6th busiest arena in the world in 2022.

STAMFORD, CT – In front of a jam-packed crowd consisting of fans, family and media at Bobby V’s in Stamford on Tuesday night, Jimmy Burchfield Sr. unveiled the details of “Summer Heat 2023,” an absolutely stacked boxing card taking place on August 12th at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

Featured at the podium were Stamford pro boxers Chordale ‘The Gift’ Booker and Slawomir Bodhziewicz, as well as a pair of amateur fighters from New Haven, Chad Dawson Jr. and Troyveon Allen.  

“August 12 is going to be special, because not only will fans be treated to a great night of professional boxing, but they’ll get a 2-for-1,” stated CES Founder Jimmy Burchfield Sr.  “Their ticket will also allow them to attend the ‘Jimmy Burchfield Classic Invitational,’ a USA Boxing sanctioned Amateur showcase that will take place before the pro card on August 12th.”

The pro boxing card will be headlined by newly minted WBC US Super Welterweight champion Booker (19-1, 8 KOs), who won the title at Mohegan Sun Arena in April with a spectacular 4th round knockout.  

Booker will be one step closer to a title shot with an impressive victory over Puerto Rico’s Nicolas Hernandez (27-6-3, 12 KOs), especially if undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo vacates his belts after moving up two divisions to challenge undisputed super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on September 30th in Las Vegas.   

“This is going to be one of my best performances,” exclaimed Booker.  “I haven’t been this locked in since 2018.  However long it goes, it’s gonna be bad for Nicolas Hernandez.  You’re going to see a great performance and a great show.  This fight is not going 10.”      

The pro card will also feature Hall-of-Famer and former two division champion Jaime ‘The Hurricane’ Clampitt (24-6-2, 7 KOs) and many of the best prospects that New England has to offer, including Anthony ‘ATV’ Velasquez (12-0-1, 11 KOs), Alejandro Paulino (14-0, 12 KOs), Angel Gonzalez (12-0, 7 KOs) and Wilson Mascarenhas (7-1, 2 KOs) in separate bouts.  

“All of New England will be represented on the card in competitive match-ups,” said Burchfield Sr.  “From top to bottom, this will be one of the best shows of the year.”  

Another fighter CES boxing is excited to showcase is Polish prospect Slawomir Bohdziewicz (1-0, 1 KO), who scored a tremendous 3rd round knockout in his debut at Mohegan Sun Arena in April.

“I’m very thankful to Jimmy Burchfield for putting on this event,” said Bohdziewicz.  “I know my Polish fans will come out to support me and I will not let them down.”

The event kicks off with “Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Invitational” amateur showcase beginning at 4:30pm.  Topping that card will be Ali Feliz, the #1 ranked Heavyweight in the United States.  Feliz is from a fighting family: his father, Fernely Feliz, was a heavyweight puncher who retired with a record of 23-9 with 16 KOs and fought the likes of former heavyweight champions Oleg Maskaev and ‘The Quiet Man’ John Ruiz.  Ali’s brother, Fernely Feliz Jr. (6-0, 5 KOs) is a power punching heavyweight who will also see action on the undercard of the pro show.

The Invitational will also feature Chad Dawson Jr., son of former 2-time light heavyweight champion ‘Bad’ Chad Dawson, and Troyveon Allen, a 22-year-old who won the Western New England Golden Gloves at 132lbs this February.   

“My Dad stepped down, so now I’m here to take his place and have fun,” joked Dawson Jr. to the delight of the crowd. “Fun destruction!”.  

Join us at Mohegan Sun Arena for a fantastic night of boxing.  Tickets for this event are priced at $46, $66, $140 and $165.  Tickets are quickly selling out, so fans are encouraged to buy them at CESfights.com, Ticketmaster or at the Mohegan Sun box office.  Doors open at 4pm, with the first amateur bout starting at 4:30pm and the pro card beginning at 6:30pm.

For more information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.

INFORMATION

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions on the East Coast.  Founded in 1992 by Jimmy Burchfield Sr., CES Boxing has promoted many world class fighters, including Jamaine Ortiz, Juiseppe Cusumano, Hank Lundy, Vinny Paz, Peter Manfredo, Mariusz Wach, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, Chad Dawson and Ray Oliveira. CES Boxing has promoted such super fights as “The Thriller on Triller: Tyson v Jones Jr.”, “Mayweather vs. Gotti III” and “The Contender: Manfredo v Pemberton”.

ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA

Mohegan Sun Arena finished 2021 with its first “#1 Indoor Arena” ranking for its capacity in the world according to Pollstar and VenuesNow, ranked among the top 10 venues in the U.S. regardless of size based on ticket sales, and was named “2021 Innovator of the Year” by Celebrity Access for its ViacomCBS residency.  In recent years, the “Most Beloved Venue in America” has also been the “#1 Casino Venue in the World,” “#1 Social Media Venue in the World” and a seven – time national award – winner for “Arena of the Year.”  For more information on concerts and other great events, visit Mohegan Sun. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711.

Reading, PA (July 20, 2023)–Reading, Pennsylvania; The WBA Fedelatin champion Lisandro “El Gato” Barazarte (10-0 7KOs) has inked multi-year promotional agreement with Kings Promotions. The WBA number 15 rated featherweight is slated to appear this fall in the United States, marking his first fight under the promotional banner. 

“This is the right move for Lisandro at this point of his career. He is a world class talent and at the age of 25 he is ready to make the jump to the United States and chase a world title.” said Trifon Petrov who manages Lisandro Barazarte. 

On July 1st of 2022 in his hometown of Maracay, Lisandro Barazarte scored his most impressive win to date as he captured the WBA Fedelatin title with a 10 round unanimous decision win over undefeated Colombian knockout artist Kevin Piedrahita. Barazarte last fought in February of 2023 in Caracas, where he defended the WBA Fedelatin title with a first round knockout win over Marlembron Acuna. El Gato as he is known in his native Venezuela holds wins over previously unbeaten Kevin Piedrahita, hard hitting Yoni Blanco (14-2) and Otto Gamez (19-6). 

“When my manager Trifon Petrov presented me with the opportunity to sign with Kings Promotions, it was a no brainer. Marshall Kauffman works closely with Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) and Showtime, so I know I will be getting my well deserved TV time and big opportunities in the next year. I am excited to show the American audience that I’m one of the best fighters in the world.” said Lisandro Barazarte. 

“This is another excellent signing for Kings Promotions. Lisandro has all the tools to be the next world champion coming from the country of Venezuela. We are excited to have him as part of the Kings Promotion family” stated Marshall Kauffman. 

Once Lisandro Barazarte makes the move to the United States later this summer, he will be training alongside the hottest prospect in boxing Euri Cedeño in Kings Gym under the guidance of world renowned trainer Sensei Rivera in Reading, Pennsylvania. 

LAS VEGAS – July 19, 2023 – Undefeated WBO Welterweight World Champion Terence “Bud” Crawford held his media workout in Las Vegas on Wednesday as the three-division champion prepares to take on unified WBC, WBA and IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. headlining a SHOWTIME PPV on Saturday, July 29 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The four-fight pay-per-view telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will see Crawford look to become the first male boxer to become undisputed in two weight classes. The winner between Spence and Crawford will hold the distinction as the first undisputed welterweight champion of the four-belt era and likely emerge as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport.

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

Here is what Crawford had to say Wednesday prior to an extensive workout, along with comments from his trainer Brian “Bo Mac” McIntyre:

TERENCE CRAWFORD

“This fight means everything. This puts the cherry on top of my career. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time and I can’t wait to get it on.

“We’re here in Las Vegas early to get used to the atmosphere and the heat. Come fight night, we’re gonna be 110% prepared. We’re adjusting well.

“The welterweight division has had a lot of great fights in the past and this will be another one next Saturday. There’s a bright future for the division as well with a lot of great talent coming up. It’s still a hotbed for the sport.

“I’m just here to win the fight. We’re both prizefighters and I don’t worry about any plans he’s making for after this fight. I don’t think about a knockout, I just think about getting the victory and that’s what I’m gonna do next Saturday.

“I think I could beat anybody at any sport. That’s just my nature. I play to win. If I’m gonna challenge you, I’m coming to win and I believe that wholeheartedly. That could be anybody. Even if I’m playing Michael Jordan in one-on-one.

“He thinks he’s gonna bulldoze me and break me, but he’s gonna have to show me. All of that talk is fuel to the fire that’s already burning. He’s gonna have to prove everything that he’s saying come fight night.

“This fight is happening at the right time. All the belts are on the line, so there’s even more to fight for. What better way to have this fight than to have it for the undisputed welterweight title?”

BRIAN “BO MAC” MCINTYRE, Crawford’s Trainer

“This is the fight to shut the haters and non-believers up. It’s the icing on the cake for one hell of a career.

“You have to be dialed-in when you’re going up against a fighter like Errol Spence Jr., with a trainer like Derrick James. We want to keep the outcome in our hands by putting on a dominant performance.

“It’s not just another day at the office, but this is something that we live, eat, sleep, think. That’s how we got to this point. We know what it takes and we’re right back at it.

“This is one of the best fights to be made this century, with both guys being undefeated and with everything Terence accomplished. It means a lot and I’m expecting a lot of fireworks.

“Don’t miss this pay-per-view. As long as Errol Spence Jr. brings his ‘A-game’, you’re gonna see one of the best performances ever out of Terence Crawford. I pray that we get the best Errol Spence Jr., because there’s a better Terence Crawford to be seen.”

#         #         #

ABOUT SPENCE VS. CRAWFORD

Spence vs. Crawford will see unified WBC, WBA and IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth’’ Spence Jr. take on WBO 147-pound world champion Terence “Bud’’ Crawford for the Undisputed Welterweight World Championship on Saturday, July 29 in a highly anticipated SHOWTIME PPV clash from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features hard-hitting contender Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz facing unbeaten Giovanni Cabrera in a 12-round WBC and WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator in the co-main event, plus future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire battles Mexican contender Alexandro Santiago for the vacant WBC Bantamweight Title. Kicking off the telecast is top prospect Yoenis Tellez dueling Spanish contender Sergio Garcia in a 10-round super welterweight attraction.

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

ONTARIO, CA (July 19, 2023) – Super featherweight, George “El Yuyu” Acosta (15-1, 2 KOs) will battle Edy Valencia Mercado (20-11-6, 7 KOs) in an 8-round super featherweight co-main on Thompson Boxing’s final show “One Last Time”. 

“One Last Time” will take place at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA on Friday, July 21, 2023. Doors open at 6:45 pm PT with the first fight starting at 8:00 pm PT. Tickets priced $50, $75, $100, and $125, are available for purchase by calling 714-935-0900 or online at www.thompsonboxing.com. 

Fight fans will be able to watch all Thompson Boxing fights, weigh-ins, and behind-the-scenes content, via their new Mobile App downloadable on Apple and Google.

Louis Lopez (13-2-1, 4 KOs) vs. Benjamin Lamptey (13-11-9, 2 KOs), a scheduled 8-round welterweight bout, will serve as the main event.

Here is what Acosta had to say about is recent training camp, his matchup with Mercado, fighting for the last time on a Thompson card, and more.

On his recent training camp:

“I put in the work necessary to be at my best going into this fight. Every day I finish in the gym I know I gave everything I could to get better. Sitting on my punches is something that is getting better with each camp. All in all I had an incredible training camp and I’m feeling great.”

On his matchup with Edy Valencia Mercado:

“Mercado is a tough guy with a lot of fights. I’m going to control this fight by outboxing him from the outside. If the fight goes on the inside I’ll be ready for that style as well. I know if I stick to the gameplan I’ll come out on top.”

On what a win will do for his career:

“A victory against Mercado will be another step in the right direction. I’m on a nice winning streak right now and I have big plans to put myself in position to be in a meaningful fight. Every fight from here on out is crucial to me landing that big fight.”

On fighting on Thompson’s final show:

“I’m going to miss fighting at the Doubletree under the Thompson Boxing banner. They’ve always treated me good, and I’ll never forget the support they provided. There is no other promoter like Thompson Boxing in my humble opinion. They really cared about their fighters and built up a lot of guys from Southern California. I’m grateful to the entire Thompson Boxing family.”

LAS VEGAS – July 19, 2023 – A pair of showdowns featuring an unbeaten super middleweight contender and a rising super bantamweight prospect will enter the ring on the SHOWTIME PPV COUNTDOWN SHOW on Saturday, July 29 leading up to the much-anticipated Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford SHOWTIME PPV taking place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

Undefeated 168-pound contender Steven Nelson will top the lineup as he takes on Rowdy Montgomery in a 10-round showdown, plus Mexican super bantamweight prospect Jose Salas Reyes competes in a 10-round attraction against former world title challenger Aston Palicte opening up the live stream at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing^® Facebook page.

The show will be hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show co-host Luke Thomas, who will be accompanied by a pair of special guests. Sports broadcaster Kate Abdo, who covers UEFA Champions League for CBS Sports and is a former PBC studio host, and Ariel Helwani, renowned combat sports journalist and SHOWTIME Basketball podcast host, will both join Thomas in what should be a memorable night of streaming.  

These fights lead into a four-fight pay-per-view telecast beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT headlined by WBC, WBA and IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and WBO Welterweight World Champion Terence “Bud” Crawford meeting to crown the first undisputed welterweight champion of the four-belt era.

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

Nelson (18-0, 15 KOs) is an Omaha, Nebraska native and longtime training partner of Terence Crawford who will look to keep his unblemished pro record intact on July 29. The 35-year-old turned pro in 2016 after an accomplished amateur career and most recently fought on Crawford’s undercard in December 2022. That outing saw Nelson shake off the rust from a nearly two-year layoff to KO James Ballard in round one. He will be opposed by the Victorville, California-native Montgomery (10-4-1, 7 KOs), who enters this fight on a three-bout winning streak. Montgomery’s last defeat came via decision against rising middleweight sensation Elijah Garcia in May 2022.

A 21-year-old who turned pro in November 2020, Reyes (12-0, 9 KOs) carried an eight-fight KO streak into his U.S. debut this April. That outing saw the Tijuana, Mexico-native earn a shutout 10-round unanimous decision victory over the previously unbeaten Prince Dzanie. He will face the Bago City, Philippines born Alicte (28-5-1, 23 KOs), who has twice vied for the super flyweight world championship, including a split-draw for the vacant belt in a 2018 matchup against Donnie Nietes. Alicte would later drop a 2019 title fight against Kazuto Ioka and most recently had a three-bout winning streak snapped when he lost to current bantamweight world champion Jason Moloney in June 2022.

#         #         #

ABOUT SPENCE VS. CRAWFORD

Spence vs. Crawford will see unified WBC, WBA and IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth’’ Spence Jr. take on WBO 147-pound world champion Terence “Bud’’ Crawford for the Undisputed Welterweight World Championship on Saturday, July 29 in a highly anticipated SHOWTIME PPV clash from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features hard-hitting contender Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz facing unbeaten Giovanni Cabrera in a 12-round WBC and WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator in the co-main event, plus future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire battles Mexican contender Alexandro Santiago for the vacant WBC Bantamweight Title. Kicking off the telecast is top prospect Yoenis Tellez dueling Spanish contender Sergio Garcia in a 10-round super welterweight attraction.

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

ONTARIO, CA (July 19, 2023) – Thompson Boxing’s “One Last Time” card will be headlined by local fan favorite, Corona, California’s very own Louis Lopez (13-2-1, 4 KOs), as he faces Benjamin Lamptey (13-11-9, 2 KOs) in a scheduled 8-round welterweight bout. This will be Thompson Boxing’s final show after 23-years of promoting shows in Southern California.

“One Last Time” will take place at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA on Friday, July 21, 2023. Doors open at 6:45 pm PT with the first fight starting at 8:00 pm PT. Tickets priced $50, $75, $100, and $125, are available for purchase by calling 714-935-0900 or online at www.thompsonboxing.com. 

Fight fans will be able to watch all Thompson Boxing fights, weigh-ins, and behind-the-scenes content, via their new Mobile App downloadable on Apple and Google.

George Acosta (15-1, 2 KOs) will square off against Edy Valencia Mercado (20-11-6, 7 KOs) in an 8-round super featherweight co-main. 

Here is what Lopez had to say about is recent training camp, his matchup with Lamptey, fighting for the last time on a Thompson card, and more.

On his recent training camp:

“I just wrapped up a great training camp and I’m feeling well prepared to go the distance if the fight goes into deep water. I’ve been working on some minor changes to my game that I believe will make a difference in my performance. I’ll be focusing on fighting from a distance in this fight.”

On his matchup with Benjamin Lamptey:

“Lamptey has been in the ring with some good fighters, so I’m not taking him lightly. All his losses have come against undefeated fighters. I know he’s going to use all he experience to make this fight difficult. I’m confident I’ll be able to out box him and get the victory.”

On what a win will do for his career:

“I want to get back in the win column and start another winning streak. I’ve learned a lot since my last fight, where I came up short. I know a win here will get my back on track to landing a big fight.”

On fighting in main event on Thompson’s final show:

“It’s going to be a very emotional day for everyone fighting on the card, me included. The Thompson Boxing family has been close to all of us who have been fighting on their shows. I want to thank everyone at Thompson Boxing for giving me the opportunity to follow my dreams. I will have a lot of family and friends in attendance and I’m going to leave everything in the ring.” 

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – (July 19, 2023) – The highly-anticipated rematch between bitter middleweight rivals Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith and Chris Eubank Jr has a new date, with the two now set to collide in at the AO Arena, Manchester on Saturday, September 2nd.

Airing live and exclusively on Sky Sports Box Office, the SMITH vs EUBANK II: REPEAT OR REVENGE? pay-per-view blockbuster event will bring the heated rivalry to a fiery conclusion, nine months after their first electrifying encounter.

Smith and Eubank Jr first fought in January, meeting in the middle of the ring for a frenetic firefight which lasted just one minute into the fourth round before Smith secured victory with a stunning pair of knockdowns. 

Upset at the referee’s intervention and determined to avenge the defeat, Eubank Jr immediately activated the contracted rematch clause and went into a protracted training camp focused on handing a loss to Liverpool man Smith.

With a prior date having been postponed due to Smith suffering a minor injury in training camp, the simmering rivalry has reached new heights with each passing month and is set to reach boiling point on September 2nd.

“I’m glad that the date is set now and we can look forward to getting rid of this itch that needs scratching. I’m fully healed up now, injury-free, and I’m looking forward to finishing Chris Eubank Jr’s career on September 2nd,” said Smith.

“No more excuses, no more postponements. Smith can’t run forever. September 2 is the day of my revenge,” said Eubank Jr.

Ben Shalom, BOXXER’s promoter and CEO, said, “The rivalry between Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr has quickly become one of the most heated in British boxing. Their January fight was one of the most exciting encounters in BOXXER history. We’re expecting tickets to fly out for September 2nd at the AO Arena as fans rush to be ringside for what is guaranteed to be another unbelievable firefight.”

Kalle Sauerland, Global Head of Boxing at Wasserman Boxing, said: “Good things come to those who wait, and so the postponements will only make victory that bit sweeter for Chris, when he finally meets Liam Smith on September 2. Chris has had to remain patient and disciplined but what has been clear, in our conversations over the last few weeks and months, is that he is laser-focused on setting the record straight. Chris is going to deliver an electric performance.”

SMITH vs EUBANK II: REPEAT OR REVENGE? is presented in association with official partners bet365, WOW HYDRATE, Everlast and Village Hotels. 

Tickets for the blockbuster clash at the AO Arena in Manchester will go on sale on Tuesday July 25th. 

Fans can sign up at Boxxer.com for exclusive access to presale tickets before general sale.

Former unified and lineal lightweight world champion George Kambosos Jr. (20-2, 10 KOs) makes his Top Rank debut in a 12-round IBF world title eliminator against English southpaw Maxi Hughes (26-5-2, 5 KOs).

Kambosos is a 10-year pro who has traveled the globe in his efforts to conquer the lightweight division. In a triumph that was named ESPN’s 2021 Upset of the Year, Kambosos toppled Teofimo Lopez via split decision and captured three lightweight world titles. Following his first career setbacks in 2022, Kambosos has ambitions of reclaiming his throne, but he’ll first need to get past Hughes.

Hughes, a 33-year-old veteran hailing from the United Kingdom, debuted in the paid ranks in 2010. He lost a November 2019 showdown for the WBO European title against Liam Walsh, but rebounded impressively, winning all seven of his subsequent fights, including a 10-round decision win against then-unbeaten Kazakh standout Viktor Kotochigov in 2020. Hughes is coming off a 12-round majority decision win against former world champion Kid Galahad last September.

In the 10-round co-feature, U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (8-0, 6 KOs) takes a seismic step up in class against Belgian contender and former European champion Francesco Patera (28-3, 10 KOs).

Davis, from Norfolk, Virginia, went 3-0 in the pro ranks before capturing a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. In his most recent outing, the 24-year-old outclassed Anthony Yigit en route to a ninth-round TKO. Davis looks to continue his rapid lightweight ascent against his stiffest test to date.

Patera is an eight-year pro from Belgium. Since 2017, the 30-year-old has won 10 straight fights and is coming off a first-round knockout against Irakli Shariashvili in April.

The undercard streams exclusively on ESPN+.

ESPN’s Joe Tessitore will call the action with Hall of Famer, Timothy Bradley, Jr. Mark Kriegel and Bernardo Osuna?will serve as reporters.

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Kambosos, Jr. vs. Hughes (all times ET)

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

About ESPN+  

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).   

(July 18, 2023) – Ukraine’s unified WBA/WBO/IBF heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk will defend his titles against WBA mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois on Saturday, August 26 at Tarczy?ski Arena Wroc?aw in Wroclaw, Poland.
 
Usyk, a 36-year-old southpaw who hopes to become the undisputed king in a second weight class, will spend Ukrainian Independence Day weekend putting his belts on the line against London’s hard-hitting Dubois.
 
Promoted by K2 Promotions, in association with Queensberry, Usyk-Dubois and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the United States starting at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.  
 
Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs), a two-time Olympian and 2012 gold medalist, ended his amateur career with a record of 335-15. He turned pro in 2013 and secured the WBO cruiserweight world title in September 2016 by defeating Krzysztof Glowacki. In 2018, he became the undisputed cruiserweight champion in the World Boxing Super Series, claiming the WBC title against Mairis Breidis in January and the WBA and IBF belts from Murat Gassiev in July. He defended his crown with an eighth-round TKO against Tony Bellew in November before moving up to heavyweight with a seventh-round stoppage victory against Chazz Witherspoon in October 2019. After a decision win over Derek Chisora in October 2020, Usyk defeated unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua to become unified champion the following September. Usyk returns after defeating Joshua in their August 2022 rematch. 
 
Dubois (19-1, 18 KOs) started his career in the paid ranks in April 2017 with a first-round TKO against Marcus Kelly. He went 15-0 with 14 knockouts in his first three years as a pro before suffering his first setback, a 10^th-round stoppage loss to Joe Joyce in November 2020. Since then, he’s won four straight, including a fourth-round knockout against unbeaten American contender Trevor Bryan. The 25-year-old slugger is coming off a third-round TKO win against Kevin Lerena last December. 
 

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About ESPN+  
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).  

DETROIT – July 18, 2023 – Salita Promotions promoted fighters Joseph Hicks, Joshua Pagan and Jermaine Franklin, made it a successful hat-trick this past Saturday as all three were victorious in their respective showdowns that took place at Masonic Temple in Detroit.

Grand Rapids, Michigan’s Hicks (8-0, 5 KOs) continued to show the elite boxing skill that once had him set to captain the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2020 summer games, before the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the proceedings, in dispatching veteran Ramses Agaton via a six-round unanimous decision (60-54 three times). The 29-year-old owns four victories in 2023 and hopes to continue his uptick in competition.

“I love that I’m staying busy,” said Hicks. “These are the kind of fights that help me grow and develop into a world champion. I felt really comfortable in the ring and was able to take my work from the gym and implement it into the fight. I’m coming to make big noise in the middleweight division.”

Also picking up his fourth victory of 2023 was Pagan (8-0, 4 KOs), who made quick work of Gabriel Smith, stopping him in round one. The 23-year-old from Grand Rapids, Michigan has now delivered back-to-back knockouts after his last outing saw him earn a career-best victory via a third-round stoppage of the previously unbeaten Ronnell Burnett.

“It felt great being back in the ring, especially after being a part of Jake Paul’s camp and learning so much,” said Pagan. “I wish I had more rounds to show more, but it was a great experience nonetheless. I’m very excited to bring my experience and what I learned to the ring into my next fight.”

The 29-year-old heavyweight Franklin (22-2, 14 KOs) got back into the win column with a dominant unanimous decision (100-90 twice, 99-91) over the previously unbeaten Isaac Munoz Gutierrez after 10 rounds of action. A native of Saginaw, Michigan, Franklin had come off of close decision losses to former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and top contender Dillian Whyte in his last two outings, and will now look to catapult right back into challenge the heavyweight cream of the crop.

Expect to see these Michigan-based fighters continue their upward trajectories in the near future as Salita Promotions stays on its course to help the state’s best talents reach the highest levels of the sport.

“Three of the best American prospects and contenders had an impressive showing and showed why they all have world title aspirations,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “Big time boxing is back in Detroit and it’s a matter of time before boxing fans in the U.S. and around the world see Pagan, Hicks and once again, top American heavyweight Jermaine Franklin, in significant fights.”

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ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS

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

Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action. 

LAS VEGAS – July 18, 2023 – Top lightweight contender and Mexico City-native Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz has vowed to make his country proud and solidify his status in the star-studded 135-pound division when he faces unbeaten Giovanni Cabrera in a WBC and WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator that serves as the Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford co-main event live on SHOWTIME PPV Saturday, July 29 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

“I am ready to put Mexico on top once again and show that I am meant to go up against the best,” said Cruz. “I’m making sure that I’m working harder and smarter and making the most of everything I do in the gym. It’s not just about how hard you hit, you gotta be smart and have your punches connect in the way that you meant them to land all along.

“It may sound cliche, but it truly is about dedication, hard work and discipline. Being just a regular fighter is taking the easy way out. Saying no to a glass of water or to being with friends is hard. What we do is beautiful, but it’s hard. If you want to be an elite athlete, you have to learn how to live with sacrifice.”

Coming from a family full of professional boxers, including his father and grandfather, Cruz is no secret to the sacrifices his chosen profession requires at the highest level. Although he laments the time missed with his wife and children, it acts as motivation for him to perform at his best.

“The hardest thing I ever had to do was that I had to tell my wife and kids ‘today, I can’t take you for ice cream,’” said Cruz. “I’m fortunate that I train close to them, but I still miss a lot. At the end of the day, it only makes it more important that I make the most of these sacrifices and fight to my full ability. I fight at my best because of the love and support I receive from my family.”

The 25-year-old Cruz has become a fan-favorite amongst the passionate Mexican fans due to his all-action style that calls back to many of boxing’s most memorable Mexican champions and contenders. Although he’s competed at lightweight throughout his career that dates back to 2015, he has no plans of leaving the division and hopes to continue to develop his relationship with fans against the weight class’s other stars.

“I’m totally focused on staying at 135-pounds because it’s where I feel strongest and most comfortable,” said Cruz. “I just want to give everyone watching a great show. I’ve made a connection with the fans because I showed that I’m not afraid to fight the best. I have no fear, just resolve.”

Since giving unbeaten boxing superstar Gervonta “Tank” Davis perhaps the toughest test of his career in their December 2021 clash, Cruz has set his sights on a blockbuster rematch against the WBA Lightweight Title holder. However, his plans are set beyond just Davis, with eyes on clearing out the entire division before settling a grudge match against Ryan Garcia.

“I want the American fans to know me as well as the Mexican fans, so I have to go up against the very best,” said Cruz. “First, I want that rematch with Gervonta Davis no matter what. After that, I want to face Devin Haney and Vasyl Lomachenko. Then I’d like to face another contender in this division, and finally move up and take out Ryan Garcia.”

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ABOUT SPENCE VS. CRAWFORD

Spence vs. Crawford will see unified WBC, WBA and IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth’’ Spence Jr. take on WBO 147-pound world champion Terence “Bud’’ Crawford for the Undisputed Welterweight World Championship on Saturday, July 29 in a highly anticipated SHOWTIME PPV clash from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features hard-hitting contender Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz facing unbeaten Giovanni Cabrera in a 12-round WBC and WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator in the co-main event, plus future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire battles Mexican contender Alexandro Santiago for the vacant WBC Bantamweight Title. Kicking off the telecast is top prospect Yoenis Tellez dueling Spanish contender Sergio Garcia in a 10-round super welterweight attraction.

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

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