ORANGE, CA (July 7, 2023) – After an illustrious and groundbreaking journey spanning over two decades, Thompson Boxing Promotions, founded by the late Ken Thompson, has made the difficult decision to conclude its operations. Thompson Boxing will be holding its final “Path to Glory” show on Friday, July 21, 2023, marking the end of an era that has left an indelible mark on the sport.

Louie Lopez (13-2-1, 4 KOs) will headline in a welterweight 8-round main event against an opponent TBA. George Acosta (15-1, 2 KOs) will fight an opponent TBA in an 8-round super featherweight co-feature. 

Thompson Boxing Promotions, renowned for its commitment to promoting world-class boxing events, has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of California’s boxing scene. Throughout their remarkable journey, Thompson Boxing has showcased countless talents, supported aspiring fighters, and provided memorable moments for fans from all walks of life.

Under the visionary leadership of the late Ken Thompson and the guidance of General Manager and matchmaker Alex Camponovo, Thompson Boxing Promotions has consistently delivered high-quality events, placing a strong emphasis on integrity, respect, and fairness. From the unforgettable nights at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, and the action-packed evenings at the Omega Products International Event Center in Corona, California, Thompson Boxing Promotions has left an extraordinary legacy that will forever be cherished.

Alex Camponovo expressed his gratitude to the fans and fighters who have been part of this incredible journey. “We are deeply grateful to our loyal fans, who have been the driving force behind Thompson Boxing’s success over the years. Their unwavering support and passion for the sport have been truly inspiring. We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the fighters we have had the privilege to represent. It has been an honor to work with such exceptional talent for the past 23 years, and we take pride in the role we played in their careers.”

Throughout its existence, Thompson Boxing Promotions has built a reputation as a promoter dedicated to the development of young fighters, providing them with a platform to showcase their skills and pursue their dreams. The organization’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the sport has been commendable, as it consistently embraced fighters from various backgrounds and nurtured their potential.

As the curtain closes on Thompson Boxing Promotions, the boxing community acknowledges the incredible impact the organization has had on the sport. The legacy of Ken Thompson will continue to inspire future generations of promoters, fighters, and fans.

“Path to Glory” 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.

Diego Pacheco has told promoter Eddie Hearn that he’ll show he’s ready to face his fellow contenders at Super-Middleweight as he defends his WBO International and USWBC Super-Middleweight titles against Manuel Gallegos at Cintermex in Monterrey, Mexico tonight, live worldwide on DAZN.

Pacheco (18-0 15 KOs) is knocking on the door of the big names in the division and if he shines against tonight in his second consecutive headline bout against Mexican Gallegos (19-1-1 16 KOs) and is looking to keep his seemingly unstoppable momentum going with another great performance tonight.

The 22 year old was elevated to headline status in his last outing in Liverpool, England and took that spotlight chance by the scruff of the neck when he destroyed Jack Cullen in March with a destructive fourth round KO, and should he be victorious tonight, Pacheco could headline for a third time in a third different country, but this time on his home patch in Los Angeles.

Pacheco will arrive earlier to the arena than most headliners would do tonight, but that’s so he can be ringside when his younger Heavyweight brother Federico fights for the fourth time in the paid ranks to kick-off the card live on DAZN. Diego and Federico train alongside each other with David Benavidez Sr in Seattle, with one of the very best in the Super-Middleweight division, David Benavidez, there for Pacheco to learn from.

Benavidez is one of many top contenders lining up to take on Super-Middleweight king Canelo Alvarez, along with one of Pacheco’s Matchroom stablemates, Edgar Berlanga. The Puerto Rican star made his Matchroom debut at the end of June against Jason Quigley at a sold-out Theater at Madison Square Garden, and punctuated a wide points win by putting the Irishman down twice in the final round.

Pacheco believes he is already above Berlanga’s level and would love the chance to prove that but is focused on the job at hand; namely, putting on another great display in another step-up night.

“It means a lot to headline here,” said Pacheco. “I boxed here a couple of times as an amateur and had good wins, so to be back here to defend my titles it’s a big blessing. I’m very focused, I’m 22, I’m getting older and wiser and I’m super happy with the way everything is going with my career. I have my feet on the ground and I’m ready for whatever comes tonight.

“I knew one day I would come back to Mexico and headline. I didn’t know that it would be Monterrey and I didn’t expect my brother to be on the card with me. But everything happens for a reason, we’re on the right track and we’ve been training super hard. My brother and I dreamt about moments like this and we’re just happy that it’s all falling into place. 

“I know Gallegos is a good fighter, he’s an experienced, tough Mexican fighter. He’s durable, never been stopped, never been put down, so I am excited to be stepping up against guys like this. I’ve been showcasing my skills and power against a lot of opponents, but to do it against a guy like him will be fun and hopefully everyone recognizes that he’s a good opponent once I look good against him. I’ll box this guy, use my skills against him and get him frustrated, and then once I find those openings, I’ll hit him with my hardest shots and I think he won’t be able to take them. I’m not predicting any rounds, but I think I will get him out of there.

“Federico and I are always pushing each other in camp and we both know that it’s important that we show out and look good. That’s what we have been preparing for and it’s time to shine tonight.

“It’s great to be around great fighters, not just David but his brother, and a lot of other great fighters in the gym. We all learn from each other, and Benavidez Sr really works all of us hard every day, and I’m grateful for all the tips and support from David and the rest of the guys in there.

“It’s not just sparring with David that improves me, every single day just being in there with him and the rest of the team I am getting better. He’s always watching and looking to help us improve, and it means a lot that he watches the rest of us after he’s trained and is willing to help us get better.

“I got to headline the night out of nowhere, we found out about a week before the fight. I was excited, it didn’t change anything, I still went in there to look good and dominate, do my thing. It motivated me with all eyes on me and that’s the same tonight.

“Jason looked good for a lot of the fight. It was a good fight; it went the way I thought it would do. Edgar is a good fighter, but I think that I am levels ahead of him, I’ll show that tonight and in the big nights to come. I welcome any fighter in the top of the 168lb division to fight me, I want to come out as the best. I am only 22 so I have time on my side to fight all these names, so I tell Eddie Hearn – line them up however you want, I’ll be ready.”

Live worldwide on DAZN from 6pm CST

4 x 3 mins Heavyweight contest

Federico Pacheco Jr. (254lbs) vs.   Oscar Heredia (252lbs) 
Los Angeles, California                      Monterrey, Mexico

Followed by

8 x 3 mins Flyweight contest

Neider Valdez (108lbs)         vs.     Isaias Ortiz (109lbs)
Monterrey, Mexico                           Mexico City, Mexico

Followed by

10 x 3 mins Bantamweight contest 

Jonathan Rodriguez (115lbs) vs.    Israel Gonzalez (115lbs)
San Luis Potosi, Mexico                     Los Cabos, Mexico

Followed by

10 x 3 mins Lightweight contest

Eduardo Hernandez (137lbs)         vs.     Hector Garcia (137lbs)
Mexico City, Mexico                                    Tijuana, Mexico

Followed by

10 x 3 mins WBO International and USWBC Super-Middleweight titles

Diego Pacheco (168lbs)        vs.     Manuel Gallegos (168lbs)
Los Angeles, California                     Los Mochis, Mexico

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – July 7, 2023 – Unbeaten prospects will square off in a trio of matchups highlighting the SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN live streaming presentation this Saturday, July 8 from Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

Action live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT and is topped by 2020 Dominican Olympian Euri Cedeño taking on fellow unbeaten William Townsel in an eight-round middleweight affair. The lineup will also see a rematch of unbeaten heavyweights as Steven Torres and James Evans look to settle the score after their January 2022 split-draw and super welterweights Dwyke Flemmings Jr. and Henry Rivera compete in a four-round battle.

The live stream is hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show hosts Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell, as well as by Stephen Jackson, the former NBA champion and co-host of the popular show ALL THE SMOKE^®, who will all be ringside for the three bouts.

These fights precede a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® tripleheader headlined by undefeated rising star Jaron “Boots” Ennis defending his Interim IBF Welterweight Title against all-action contender Roiman Villa in a telecast that starts at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com. The Ennis vs. Villa fight is promoted in association with D&D Boxing and Sampson Boxing.

The 23-year-old Cedeño (4-0, 4 KOs) will make his U.S. debut on July 8, having stopped all four of his opponents since turning pro in October 2022. Representing La Romana, Dominican Republic, Cedeño comes from a boxing family as both his younger brother and sister box, with the 2020 Olympian Euri leading the way in the pro ranks. He will be opposed by the 28-year-old Townsel (5-0, 4 KOs), who enters this bout having scored two knockouts so far in 2023. Originally from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Townsel now resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Fighting out of Reading, Pennsylvania, Torres (5-0-1, 5 KOs) burst onto the pro scene in December 2019 and went on to stop his first five opponents in two rounds or less. The 25-year-old first went toe-to-toe with Evans (6-0-1, 6 KOs) on New Year’s Day 2022, as the two supersized heavyweights fought to a split draw. A 30-year-old from Toledo, Ohio, Evans has added stoppage wins over Geovany Bruzon and Marcus Maulding since their 2022 clash.

The 19-year-old Flemmings (3-0, 3 KOs) turned pro in December 2021 and has earned three-straight stoppages heading into Saturday night. A native of Paterson, New Jersey, Flemmings most recently stopped Assuan Jones Chatman in the first round of their September 2022 matchup. He will be opposed by the 33-year-old Rivera (2-0, 1 KO), who fights out of Las Vegas and is originally from Oakland, California. Rivera’s last outing saw him earn a TKO over Tyre Rivera in April 2023.

The non-televised lineup will see super lightweight prospect Ismail Muhammad (1-0, 1 KO) in a four-round clash against Texas’ Parker Bruno (0-1).

#         #         #

ABOUT ENNIS VS. VILLA

Ennis vs. Villa will see undefeated rising star Jaron “Boots” Ennis defend his Interim IBF Welterweight Title against all-action contender Roiman Villa headlining action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, July 8 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.. 

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® telecast begins at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT and will also feature rising Cuban sensation Yoelvis Gómez taking on middleweight contender Marquis Taylor in the 10-round co-main event, plus hard-hitting lightweight knockout artist Edwin De Los Santos faces former amateur superstar Joseph Adorno in the explosive 10-round telecast opener.

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

4 x 3 mins Heavyweight contest
 
Federico Pacheco Jr. (254lbs) vs.   Oscar Heredia (252lbs) 
Los Angeles, California                      Monterrey, Mexico
 
Followed by
 
8 x 3 mins Flyweight contest
 
Neider Valdez (108lbs)         vs.     Isaias Ortiz (109lbs)
Monterrey, Mexico                           Mexico City, Mexico
 
Followed by
 
10 x 3 mins Bantamweight contest 
 
Jonathan Rodriguez (115lbs) vs.    Israel Gonzalez (115lbs)
San Luis Potosi, Mexico                     Los Cabos, Mexico
 
Followed by
 
10 x 3 mins Lightweight contest
 
Eduardo Hernandez (137lbs)         vs.     Hector Garcia (137lbs)
Mexico City, Mexico                                    Tijuana, Mexico
 
Followed by
 
10 x 3 mins WBO International and USWBC Super-Middleweight titles
 
Diego Pacheco (168lbs)        vs.     Manuel Gallegos (168lbs)
Los Angeles, California                     Los Mochis, Mexico

SAN ANTONIO, TX (July 6, 2023): Today, Golden Boy Promotions hosted a press conference at the Tobin Center and announced the new main event for Saturday, July 8 featuring Golden Boy’s hot prospect Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield (14-0, 11 KOs) who will headline in his home state of Texas. Presented in association with Davies Entertainment, Schofield will face Haskell “Hackman” Rhodes (28-4-1, 13 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada in a 10-round lightweight fight and defend his WBA International Title. The new main event replaces the original clash between undefeated knockout sensation Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (19-0, 19 KOs) of Grand Prairie, Texas and World Champion Eimantas Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs) of Kaunas, Lithuania for Stanionis’ WBA Regular Welterweight Title. The DAZN broadcast will begin at 7:00 p.m. CT/ 5:00 p.m. PT.

In the chief supporting role, Joseph “JoJo” Diaz (32-4-1, 15 KOs) will participate in a 10-round lightweight fight against Harbor City, California’s Jerry Perez (14-2-1, 11 KOs). In a spectacular unification bout, the WBA, WBC and Ring Magazine World Champion Marlen Esparza (13-1, 1 KOs) of Houston, Texas will face WBO World Champion of Buenos Aires, Argentina Gabriela Alaniz (14-0, 6 KOs) in a 10-round flyweight fight. Opening the broadcast with an eight-round super welterweight fight, Romanian-American prospect Eric Tudor (8-0, 6 KOs) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida will square off against Reggie Harris, Jr. (7-3, 3 KOs) of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Featured in the prelims, Tristan Kalkreuth (10-1, 7 KOs) of Duncanville, Texas will fight Joe Jones (13-8,10 KOs) of Jersey City, New Jersey in a six-round cruiserweight match. Opening fight night with six-rounds of light heavyweight action, Houston’s Darius “DFG” Fulghum (5-0, 5 KOs) will fight Jeremiah Curtright (2-1, 2 KOs) of Saint Charles, Missouri.

Here is what the fighters had to say:

FLOYD “KID AUSTIN” SCHOFIELD, WBA INTERNATIONAL LIGHTWEIGHT TITLEHOLDER:

“It’s a blessing to be the main event, everybody is coming up to me now ‘oh, now you’re the main event’ so you know, I gotta do what I got to do. Hearing that, I know I have to make a statement. I was training just as hard as if I was the main event from the beginning, so Saturday night I am going to make a statement.

“It’s super exciting to be fighting in San Antonio because it’s like now, all my fans don’t have an excuse, they can come to this fight. So I’d like to see everyone who said they were coming. I have a big fan base in Austin and in San Antonio, and to combine them for the fight is going to be massive support and love, the energy is going to be amazing.

“I just want to give a big thanks to Oscar De La Hoya, Golden Boy, Bernard Hopkins, my dad, my team, Chris, Cameron Davies, and all the fans. Thank you for not canceling this fight and my best wishes to Virgil Ortiz. Make sure you tune in on Saturday. It’s gonna be a good show.”

HASKELL “HACKMAN” RHODES, LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHTER:

“Just like Schofield, we’ve been training just like we’re the main event to compete against the whole card to steal the show. But I do want to say thanks to Golden Boy and everyone for keeping the show going and also to Floyd for taking the fight with me to put me in this position.

“I know he’s super talented, but I’ve seen a lot like him, and I’m used to styles like his, so I bring the experience and I’m ready. I know I have learned some lessons that have helped me straighten out my life because there are some fights I shouldn’t have lost. So this fight is going to get a fire from me that he’s not expecting. The fighter you have seen in the ring before is not the same, I am a whole different person.”

MARLEN ESPARZA, WBA, WBC, AND RING MAGAZINE WORLD CHAMPION:

“I’m really excited to be here. First of all, I want to thank God and I want to thank Golden Boy for making sure that the show goes on. I hope Vergil has a quick and healthy recovery. But I’m excited to get back in the ring. I’ve defended my belts before and I’m really looking forward to getting this WBO belt. My goal is to become undisputed and this is what I need to do to get there. I understand I’m also facing a world champion. So, we’re taking this very seriously. Me and my coach, my manager James Cooper, we’ve worked really hard on making sure that we have everything done correctly. And I’m just waiting and ready to get the job done.

“I feel like it’s like any other challenge that I faced in boxing. It’s always on to the next, to the next and trying to show that I am one of the best female boxers in boxing. I’ve done everything there is to do and the WBO belt is just what’s next. I take everything extremely seriously. Boxing has been my life. And it’s everything I focus on and this is a life goal. And I’m not going to leave the ring without it.”

GABRIELA ALANIZ, WBO WORLD CHAMPION:

“I’m really happy to be here and I am ready to show everyone the kind of fighter I am. I am very excited to be able to defend my world title and be able to fight for two more world titles.

“Making history as a female boxer in Argentina is a big motivator for me. I know that I’m in a foreign land, and I’m here as a visitor, but in the ring, I feel like I’m a local, because I am where I love to be. I love to be in the ring fighting.”

JOSEPH “JOJO” DIAZ, FORMER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION:

“It’s a tragic situation, what’s going on with Virgil Ortiz and in his career, my condolences to him and his family. I’m gonna be praying for you brother and I wish you a quick recovery so you can come back to the ring and give the fans what they want to see and see you back in the ring.

“Also want to thank Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions, for saving the show and saving this card. All of us fighters on the undercard have been working day in and day out to showcase our skills and showcase our abilities and show what we can do inside their ring. So for them to save the show for us means a lot to us.

“I’ve been training very, very hard. My career has had a lot of ups and downs, but I’ve been very focused and I feel very, very determined. I cut a lot of things out of my life that weren’t beneficial and right now I’m at my A-game. I’m really going to put on a great show, especially now that I’m the co-main event. I’m really going to whack some ass now.”

ERIC TUDOR, SUPER WELTERWEIGHT PROSPECT:
“I’m very excited to be a part of another great card. I want to thank God and Golden Boy for the opportunity. I want to thank my team for getting me ready. And, you know, I’m just very excited and looking forward to putting on another great fight Saturday, so make sure you tune in early.”

DARIUS FULGHUM, LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT PROSPECT:

“This is a huge opportunity to be on this card. Bernard gave a great speech; I was listening to it and it really inspired me and motivated me. We got to pivot. We make dozens of decisions in the ring and in life all the time. And so when a moment comes, we’ve got to seize it. So that’s what I’m here to do, to steal the show. And I hope everybody watching tunes in. We’re gonna put on a great show with everybody on this card.”

TRISTAN KALKREUTH, CRUISERWEIGHT PROSPECT:

“I just want to thank you all, all the fans and my team, my coaches. I’m just very humbled and grateful to be here and just following up on what Bernard said, as a fighter we have a simple job. It is to prepare, train, and fight. I just hope everybody tunes in to this fight. All Glory to God.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS:

“The health of the fighter is the most important. We are all in Vergil’s corner, wishing him the very best possible recovery and will wait for him with open arms and ready for when he wishes to come back to the ring. Vergil, with the help of his dad, has the potential to be a world champion.

“Thank you to DAZN and all our partners for helping us make sure the show goes on. This has opened up the opportunity for Golden Boy’s top prospect, Floyd Schofield, to accelerate his profile by headlining in his home state of Texas. Floyd will face Haskell Rhodes in a 10-round fight for the WBA International title.”

BERNARD HOPKINS, HALL OF FAMER AND GOLDEN BOY PARTNER:

“We lost the main event, of course we’re not happy about it, you’re not happy about it, but his health is most important. But also what’s important is that the fighters to my right and to my left see that adjustments have to be made. It’s no different than life, no different than in the ring, things happen that you can’t control.

“So the fighters here, the future champions, are watching. They might not say anything to us, but they are watching to see how we react as promoters. See how we pivot, to how we adjust, just like in the ring. Sometimes you gotta make those adjustments, the adjustments that need to be made on the promoter-side to save the show.

“And so again, this is an opportunity for those who were waiting to be showcased, for those who want to be the main event to get the chance to be the star of the night, of the show. So this is an opportunity for everybody that’s up on stage, that’s going to fight, to learn as a lesson that first, health is more important. Your safety is more important.”

#

Schofield vs. Rhodes is a 10-round fight for the WBA International Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Davies Entertainment. The event is sponsored by BetOnline, “Your Online Sportsbook Experts.” The fight will take place on Saturday, July 8 at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas and will be streamed live worldwide on DAZN.

Fans can purchase tickets at a discounted price for $150, $75, $37.50, $35, and $25 not including applicable service charges. Tickets will be available for purchase at ticketmaster.com or by using the Ticketmaster App on your mobile device. More information on ticket refunds will be shared as soon as possible.

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

About the AT&T Center
The premier entertainment venue in South Texas, the AT&T Center is the home of the San Antonio Spurs (NBA) and the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. The Bexar County-owned arena has also hosted hundreds of concerts and special events since opening in 2002 and underwent a $110+ million renovation in 2015 to enhance the fan experience at all levels. For more information go to ATTCenter.com.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – July 6, 2023 – Undefeated rising star Jaron “Boots” Ennis and all-action contender Roiman Villa went face-to-face at Thursday’s final press conference before they fight for Ennis’ Interim IBF Welterweight Title this Saturday, July 8 headlining action live on SHOWTIME in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

The press conference also featured rising Cuban sensation Yoelvis Gómez and middleweight contender Marquis Taylor, who meet in the 10-round co-main event, plus hard-hitting lightweight knockout artist Edwin De Los Santos and former amateur superstar Joseph Adorno, who duel in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® telecast opener at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com. The Ennis vs. Villa fight is promoted in association with D&D Boxing and Sampson Boxing.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday:

JARON ENNIS

“I’m ready and excited to get in there. I can’t wait. He comes forward and that’s what I like. I’m gonna show him my skills and everything I can do. We’re gonna show him why I’m one of the best fighters in the world.

“We’re going to have fun and do what I always do. We’ll be smart and let him come to us. I can’t go looking for the knockout, that’s when you don’t get it. We’re gonna put on a beautiful show for the fans and give them some fireworks.

“A victory over Villa keeps me going toward my goal. A lot of people say that he’s a power-puncher, but we’ll see on Saturday night. I’m coming to make a big statement and get a stoppage.

“I’m ready for anybody. But right now, we have business to take care of. I’m focused on Roiman Villa and then we’ll worry about what’s next.  

“Going the distance in my last fight didn’t put any pressure on me leading up to this one. Everyone fell for the trap. I wanted guys to want to fight me. I had been scaring everyone off.

“Villa is gonna be right there in front of me not moving his head. He’s a good fighter, but he’s throwing wild hooks. He’s gonna have a long night.

“It’s the ‘Boots’ Ennis show now. I’m gonna go out there and have fun. I’m gonna set up the knockout and be sharp and box beautifully.”

ROIMAN VILLA

“When you get an opportunity to fight a world class fighter like Ennis, you have to take that chance. It’s my duty to go after the toughest challenges and take advantage of opportunities like this. I’m not afraid of anybody.

“You may think the winner of this fight will be the most prepared or the one with the best technique, but I believe that it’s already decided. I put my faith in that and that’s why I’m so confident. I’m here for a reason and I’m gonna come out on top Saturday.

“I’ve had five months of preparation for this fight. Regardless of all of that, my faith is all I need. I’ve got power, but with my faith in the right place, everything will go the way we’ve planned.

“I’m not worried about a prediction. We can say whatever we want up here. I just have to do my talking in the ring on Saturday night.

“When I fought Rashidi Ellis, I was over the moon with the result and now I’m here for another challenge. If I win on Saturday, I’m ready for everybody. It doesn’t matter who comes next.

“I’m not about to say anything as far as a prediction. Because I’m gonna stay humble and take care of what I can on Saturday.”

YOELVIS GOMEZ

“I’m ready for this fight. Saturday night he will see that he’s never been in the ring with a lion like me.

“He has some impressive wins, but no one he’s faced is going to compare to me. His streak is over on Saturday night.

“I’m ready for whatever happens next. My only focus is on getting that victory on Saturday night and doing it in style.

“On Saturday night he’s going to have to prove everything that he’s saying. All that matters is what happens when we get in that ring.”

MARQUIS TAYLOR

“He did what he was supposed to do with everyone they put in there with him. That’s get them out of there. None of those guys on his resume compare with me at all.

“Look at my resume. He won’t even be my toughest fight. I’ve fought Kermit Cintron and in one year I beat three undefeated fighters. That’s what I do. I go in there and surprise people. By the time he’s in there with me, it’s too late for him.

“I know on Saturday I have to back up the talking. I show up every fight and I’ve been doing it for years now. I’m just happy and blessed there haven’t been any injuries in training camp and I’m feeling great. He’s gonna find out on Saturday.

“I’ve been begging for a fight like this for years. They say no one wants to fight me. So I’m happy to be here and Saturday I’m going to back it all up.

“Experience is going to be the difference. I’ve dealt with a lot of adversity. I’ve gone through everything in the ring that you can think of. After this, I want the title shot.”

EDWIN DE LOS SANTOS

“We’re gonna give the fans what they deserve on Saturday. I’m not worried about the knockout. I have to fight my fight, and I know that success will come from that.

This is going to be fireworks inside the ring. The fans are going to be the winner. They’re going to see a true fight between two really good fighters.

“Adorno is a quality fighter who deserves respect. But I’m strong and I feel great. I’m not worried about his credentials, I’m just worried about giving the fans a good fight.

“He’s talking the talk right now, but he’s gonna have to show it in the ring. Now this fight got really interesting.”

JOSEPH ADORNO

“This fight is very important for me. It’s do or die. I win or it’s gonna be tough for me. Only thing on my mind is getting the win.

“This weight is way better for me. Most guys won’t fight me at 135 pounds. It’s gonna be a problem for him. He’s gotta deal with my power.

“The fans are going to see a different me. I’m smarter now. He was talking smack in interviews but he’s all nice today. I’m gonna have to make him eat his words.

“I’m just so ready to get in the ring. I’m really not worried about anything he says, because I know that I have all the tools to get my hand raised.”

#         #         #

ABOUT ENNIS VS. VILLA

Ennis vs. Villa will see undefeated rising star Jaron “Boots” Ennis defend his Interim IBF Welterweight Title against all-action contender Roiman Villa headlining action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, July 8 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.. 

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® telecast begins at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT and will also feature rising Cuban sensation Yoelvis Gómez taking on middleweight contender Marquis Taylor in the 10-round co-main event, plus hard-hitting lightweight knockout artist Edwin De Los Santos faces former amateur superstar Joseph Adorno in the explosive 10-round telecast opener.

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

DALLAS – July 6, 2023 – Today, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Real Fight Inc. (RFI) announced that two super middleweight powerhouses, Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator Green” (12-0, 11 KOs) and Olivia Curry (7-1, 2 KOs) will be joining the Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz pay-per-view card live on August 5th. The 10-round matchup will be contested at 168 Ibs at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. Green, the universally recognized number one contender, comes to the ring off her latest dominating victory, a 6th round TKO, over former unified world champion, Elin Cederroos, back in February. Curry, who boasts a decisive five-bout winning streak, will put her power and skill to the test as she steps in against the powerful Green. Rounding out the card will be Real Fight, Inc.’s  Alan Sanchez (22-5-1, 10 KOs) vs. Angel Beltran Villa (17-1, 10 KOs) as they go head-to-head in an 8-round welterweight bout. 

The Paul vs. Diaz pay-per-view 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

Green, the former Team USA star who boasts an impressive 12-0 record with 11 KO’s and the record for fastest KO in a women’s fight, joined MVP after a trailblazing few years in the sport. She is currently the mandatory challenger for Undisputed champion Savannah Marshall’s newly earned WBC, WBO, WBA and IBF belts, which sets up a bout that would be the biggest women’s fight in UK history. As a former standout college basketball star, Green spent years as a starter for Old Dominion University (ODU) where she was impressively named Third Team All-CAA and ranked top 20 in the CAA in scoring. The Paterson, NJ native later broke out into the amateur boxing scene when she joined the U.S. National Team as a heavyweight after just five fights, earning a silver medal at the 2016 World Championships in Kazakhstan. In 2019, Green transitioned to professional boxing where she quickly gained notoriety as a top female contender, ranking #1 in the WBC and IBO, and #2 in the WBA, ultimately earning her the Paterson Laila Ali Award. 

“I’m at the top of my game right now,” said Shadasia Green. “I may be next in line for the super middleweight title, but right now, I’m strictly focused on knocking out Olivia Curry. The August 5^th card boasts an impressive lineup of fights and it’s an honor to share center stage with female boxing legends like Amanda Serrano and Heather Hardy. I can’t wait to show fans in Dallas and at home exactly why they call me ‘The Sweet Terminator.’”

Curry, the professional boxer out of Chicago, originally hailing from Cincinnati, OH, comes to the ring after winning her last five fights. The 33-year-old began her amateur fighting career in Muay Thai, winning the TBA Classic and fighting the best Class A competition in North America. As an amateur boxer, she won the Chicago Golden Gloves and went on to represent Chicago at the National Golden Gloves three times. Curry was nationally ranked as an elite female and competed at the 2018 USA National Tournament. As a pro, she is ranked in the top 5 middleweight contenders by major sanctioning bodies and The Ring Magazine. Outside the ring, Curry is a commercial filmmaker. She is managed by Trinidad Garcia and Rick Ramos.   

“I’m grateful to MVP and Real Fight, Inc. for the opportunity to fight Shadasia and introduce myself to the world with a bang,” said Olivia Curry. “I’m coming to Dallas to win. I want to show that women’s boxing at the higher, more dangerous weight classes is leveling up.”

RFI’s 32-year-old Alan Sanchez (22-5-1, 10 KOs), hails from Guadalajara, Mexico and has conducted his camp in Stockton, CA. He is the former WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Champion and is coming off consecutive victories that include wins over Saul Bustos (15-0-1) and Jose Miguel Borrego (18-2). Defined by the area’s toughness,  Sanchez is a 147 Ib standout who will take on Angel Beltran Villa who boasts an impressive record of 17-1 with 10 KOs. The 27-year-old from Mexicali, Mexico is currently training in Indio, CA and is entering this fight after an eight-fight winning streak, following his June knockout of Abraham Afful and unanimous decision upset win against Luis Lopez in March. He is managed by Francisco Garcia. 

“Shadasia Green vs. Olivia Curry promises to be an exciting fight from start to finish. I am excited for the world to see why Jake and I are such big believers in Shadasia,” said MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian. “For the first time, every member of our current MVP talent roster will be fighting on one card, and I couldn’t be prouder of the team we’ve built. Between the energy of the American Airlines Center, our incredible PPV production with DAZN, and the quality of the Paul vs. Diaz fighters- this night will be legendary.”

“These fights are the final pieces of a main card that showcases the best in boxing, Real Fight, Inc. and Most Valuable Promotions,” said RFI President, Zach Rosenfield. “We wanted to ensure that fans who attend this event and watch it all over the world through DAZN are treated to the best that boxing has to offer, and together we know that is what we are delivering”

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.

For more information, follow on Twitter via @MostVPromotions, @shaygreen35, and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @shadasia_green, @oliviarosecurry, @MostValuablePromotions, and @DAZNBoxing.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

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

About 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.?

?

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.

LAS VEGAS – July 6, 2023 – As fight week nears for the long-anticipated Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford SHOWTIME PPV clash, former champions and common Spence and Crawford opponents Shawn Porter and Kell Brook, plus top trainers Virgil Hunter and Stephen “Breadman” Edwards, previewed the matchup during a virtual media roundtable before Spence and Crawford meet on Saturday, July 29 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

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

Porter dropped a 2019 Fight of the Year to Spence, before losing the final fight of his career to Crawford in November 2021. Brook faced Spence in May 2017 as Spence traveled to the U.K. to capture his first career world title, while Brook came stateside to face Crawford in November 2020, losing by fourth-round TKO.

Here is what Porter, Brook, Hunter and Edwards had to say on Thursday:

SHAWN PORTER, Former Two-Time Welterweight Champion

“I’m excited. I was at church last night and they were talking about this fight. This is the biggest fight and I’m excited about it.

“The one narrative is Terence Crawford can do more things in the ring. He has more tools in his toolbox. Errol Spence is the most fundamentally sound boxer in the world. We have never been able to see him pull out everything that he has. Terence has been in the ring with guys who have done different things. From an X’s and O’s standpoint, it’s all a matter of, ‘What are you going to do this round?’ Both fighters have the ability to make adjustments, be aggressive, fight off the back foot, and counterpunch. This is an outstanding fight because they both have an A+ in every box. We are going to see three different strategies from each fighter, maybe even four or five different game plans. Both of these guys have to have both in order to win the fight.

“The calculated pressure from Errol has to be something that he sustains for the entire fight. He needs to continue putting on the pressure and body punching. If you’re Terence Crawford, you have to get to Errol’s body and make him uncomfortable. Errol has a really tight defense and keeps his hands at home. If he’s not punching, his hands are up. With a guy like that, you have to find openings. Those openings are usually there when that punch is being released. Punch when he’s punching. Be accurate and be that sharpshooter. We’re not saying anything that either of these fighters can’t do. That is why this is such a great fight. It’s hard to find the timing, it’s hard to find the distance. It’s hard to be confident and do it. It’s going to be a great fight.

“If Terence is able to be comfortable and manage his energy, we have to start talking about him in the same breath as Manny Pacquiao, Andre Ward, and Floyd Mayweather. With this fight, you can’t measure another fighter’s energy or mentality through the fight. Terence never got uncomfortable in his fight against me. He never showed me that there was anything unsettled within his heart or mind. I pride myself on making fighters uncomfortable. Never once did I see Terence uncomfortable. I didn’t apply the kind of pressure that Errol is going to apply. That may have been the reason why I didn’t see Terence uncomfortable.

“I don’t have a pick. I don’t know who is going to win this fight. This is what boxing truly is. Both guys have basically everything needed to win, from power to speed. I truly don’t think anyone can look at this fight and say, ‘That guy is going to win,’ because there are so many outcomes and possibilities. One thing we know that’s not going to happen is that there won‘t be any foul play, any low blows. There is not going to be any head butts that would end this fight prematurely. The fans win. Boxing purists especially win.”

KELL BROOK, Former Welterweight World Champion

“I’m very excited for this fight and everyone is talking about this fight. It’s a massive fight and for No. 1. I actually put both these guys up as pound-for-pound in all the divisions. and they’re going to go after it.

“Errol Spence is a very big welterweight, a natural southpaw. He’s big and strong and goes to the body good. His IQ is very high in the ring.

“Terence Crawford can box. He’s a sharpshooter with his punches and a very good finisher. He’s going to need every game plan in this fight. This is a real test.

“I put up guys like Errol, Crawford, Shawn Porter and Golovkin who I’ve been in there with who just have that aura around them. They have that X-factor. It’s the small margins that will decide this fight. It will come down to who has prepared the best. This is the real test for No. 1 in the division and we’re going to get some toe-to-toe action.

“I think Errol brings calculated pressure and will go to the body. He will be the bigger guy in the fight. Crawford has to be sharp and use the entire ring and pick his shots at the right time and make Spence work when he doesn’t want to work. He has to be very clever and get the rounds and break him down over the fight.

“I think inactivity can be an issue and it’s mental for Errol, who might question his inactivity. Time will tell.

“I think Terence is a very sharp and snapping puncher and Errol has a more grinding and thumping kind of power. That’s the difference I see in the two. We’re talking about two star fighters and it’s going to come down to a very small margin and they’re going to have to bring every part of their game to get a victory.”

VIRGIL HUNTER, Former Trainer for Andre Ward, Andre Berto, Amir Khan and More

“The fight can’t come soon enough. I’m excited, especially to get both men at their peak. Both men seem hungry and ready to go. I expect an epic night.

“Errol has a grind-it-out, that go-get-you mentality. It doesn’t make sense to go against what works. In this fight, it’s not what I’m going to do to you. The fighter that wins will be the one who’s not going to let the other fighter do what he wants to do.

“I had the fortune to spend one day in the gym with Terence. His physical strength is underrated. The way he is genetically built, the way he has stayed in the gym for his entire career and has never gotten out of condition, brings a snap to his punch. He has a real buggy whip snap to his punches. You can feel a snap. He was a wrestler early on, and I’ve watched him tussle with big guys and get them down to the ground. He is built from the feet up with his physical strength. He can generate a lot of power.

“I like Errol and the way he fights. At some point that grind out style will slow up as you age. You have to grind every single day. Errol has admitted that he has had a lifestyle that wasn’t always good. That does damage to the internal organs that is irreversible. Errol’s determination and drive are A-plus. Who can stop the other guy from doing what he wants to do is going to be a factor in this fight.

“If either fighter is down in the fight, he has the ability to come back, even the fight, and take the lead. The first four rounds are going to determine how the rest of the fight is going to go. Both men understand that they have to get the respect of the other fighter real quick. The key for Terence is to stop Errol from what he wants to do and hurt him. The key for Errol is to keep grinding. He is going to have his momentum accelerated and make it very difficult for Terence.

“If I was able to spend three weeks in Errol’s and Crawford’s camps and watch the training, watch the strategies, and watch what they both do after training, how they recuperate, how they reinvigorate themselves, that would allow me to have a more accurate pick in this fight. I will be more settled on a pick during the week of the fight. I’ll be watching the mentalities and attitudes of the fighters, particularly on their skills. The Las Vegas heat and the rehydration process are going to be factors. I would have to be subjected to each fighter’s mental makeup over a period of time to see the concentration and mental fortitude to be able to make a pick. I’m just going to enjoy the fight. This is a great fight for boxing.”

STEPHEN “BREADMAN” EDWARDS, Trainer for Julian Williams, Caleb Plant and More

“Crawford doesn’t have a lot of holes in his armor. One thing I was able to see in his fight with Shawn and Kell is that, for some reason, Terence is a little bit of a slow starter. They were able to get a lot done in the early rounds. So, I would really be conscious of that. [Terence] is one of the best fighters I’ve ever seen. The one thing about him is if you can get to him early before he adjusts.

“With Errol, he’s a snowball fighter who, once he gets his rhythm, comes forward and can walk you down behind that southpaw jab. One thing I would be worried about in this fight is letting Errol get his rhythm and establish that hard southpaw jab. That’s the first thing I would address if I was in Terence’s corner.

“The other thing would be counter attacking Errol’s body punching. Errol hits you to the body all night long and kind of wears you out. Besides Shawn, I’ve never seen someone go to Errol’s body all night long. I notice the small things and I’ve noticed Terence wears his trunks kind of high. I’ll be curious to see how he can overcome Errol’s grinding body shots.

“Terence is the puncher in this fight. Not that he punches harder than Errol, but he can hit you with shots that Errol doesn’t hit guys with. Errol kind of beats you down with his power, while Terence hits you on the money with shots you don’t even see. I would have Terence punch with him. Terence is really gifted where he can keep his eye on the target, punch with guys, and land clean shots. I don’t think he’s the hardest puncher I’ve ever seen as far as one-punch knockouts, but he has that ability to hit you while you’re punching with shots you don’t see. He doesn’t have to load up on it. It’s like a fast-snapping shot.

“Errol boxes going forward. When a guy boxes going forward he doesn’t get the same accolades as the guy who’s throwing a lot of smooth moves like a Pernell Whitaker or Floyd Mayweather, or even Shakur Stevenson. I think people use the word basic as an insult, but it’s not an insult, it’s a compliment. [Errol] is not fancy. He doesn’t show a lot of fancy moves and he doesn’t do a lot to avoid punches. But that doesn’t mean he’s not boxing. He keeps it simple.

“I think it’s a 50-50 fight. Errol does things in a subtle way. Against Mikey Garcia he fought a conservative fight and literally won every round. He got criticism for it because he didn’t knock the smaller man out. But he totally undressed him and outboxed him, so he does have that in his game and it could show up that night of the fight. Sometimes those guys need that special opponent in front of them to bring out what they really are because they don’t really show all of their stuff against the lesser guys.

“Those bright lights can do something to you, but both guys have composed, mature selves in the ring. I don’t see either guy choking up under the bright lights. Both guys seem to have that clutch gene. I don’t think that’s going to be a factor. Every time I’ve seen one of these guys’ backs against the wall, they up the ante and raise the stakes.

“Once these guys start clicking you’re going to see something special. I think the casual fan might say, ‘There’s not enough action.’ But for the purist, you’ll see some great, great stuff. It will become a classic. I think this is one fight I wish was 15 rounds because I think both guys are 15-round fighters and would have flourished in a 15-round era.

“I don’t have a pick right now. That’s the honest truth. I think we’re going to have the Fight of the Century. I wouldn’t be surprised if both guys hit the canvas. It’s so close and so many little things in the gym matter. I’m objective and have relationships with both teams. I really don’t have a pick right now. I just think it’s going to be a great 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 rising star Jesus “Mono” Ramos takes on Spanish contender Sergio Garcia in a 12-round WBC Super Welterweight Title eliminator. Kicking off the pay-per-view, unbeaten rising heavyweight Gurgen Hovhannisyan will duel the power-punching Viktor Faust in a 10-round matchup.

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/.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (July 6, 2023) – Undefeated contender Raymond “Danger” Muratalla is ascending the lightweight ladder without any delay. 

The 26-year-old Muratalla, who blasted out Jeremia Nakathila in only two rounds in May, makes his third appearance of 2023 in a 10-round clash against unbeaten Mexican standout Diego Torres on Saturday, August 12 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. 

Muratalla-Torres will serve as the co-feature to the junior lightweight title showdown between WBO world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete and former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez. U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. opens the televised tripleheader in a six-round heavyweight tilt against Willie Jake Jr. 

Navarrete-Valdez, Muratalla-Torres, and Torrez-Jake will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $50 are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.

Muratalla (18-0, 15 KOs) is quickly becoming a major threat in his division. He made his pro debut in 2016 in Mexico, and two years later he debuted in the U.S. He has stopped 12 of his last 13 opponents, and he is on track to have his most impressive year yet. In March, he survived a first-round knockdown to stop Humberto Galindo with a body shot in round nine. In May, he opened the Devin Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko pay-per-view broadcast with his devastating showing against Nakathila. 

Muratalla said, “I couldn’t be more excited to get back in that ring on such a great card. I can’t wait to put on another great performance for the fans. I believe this is my time now, and I will continue to show the hard work that’s being put in.”

Torres (17-0, 16 KOs) is a 25-year-old powerhouse from Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. The oldest of four boxing brothers, he began his pro career in 2019 and unleashed a streak of 13 knockout victories. In February 2022, he took on fellow Zapopon native Jonathan Escobedo Martinez, going the 10-round distance for the first time in an all-action slugfest. Torres is 3-0 with three knockouts since the Martinez war. In his last fight, he beat Jose Segura Torres via fifth-round TKO in March. Torres is now set to celebrate his 26^th birthday by making his long-awaited U.S. debut. 

“I am very excited about this fight. I think this is a big opportunity for me,” Torres said. “Fighting against another undefeated fighter is something that I was looking for. It is my way of showing that I am made for this, and I am here to achieve great things. I am not afraid. I’m going to give it my all and come out with a great victory.”

Isaac Lowe is the latest addition to the undercard of Lee McGregor’s huge homecoming world title fight next month. 

Live and free-to-air on Channel 5, on Friday, July 21, McGregor battles it out with Mexico’s Erik Robles for the vacant IBO world super bantamweight title. 

The Wasserman Boxing event, delivered in association with Ladbrokes, Numan and Infinitum Entertainment sees McGregor box in front of his home fans for the first time since his pro debut, five years ago. 

And supporting McGregor’s big night, is a packed undercard which now includes Lowe taking on Jonathan Santana in a featherweight dust-up. 

Unfortunately, a small set-back in training has forced the former cruiserweight champion of the world, Mairis Briedis, to withdraw from the Meadowbank Sports Centre event. 

But fans can still enjoy the latest outing for the UK’s most fearsome heavyweight prospect, Matty Harris as he aims to become the first man to stop Kostyantin Dovbyshchenko. 

Sultan Zaurbek, the world ranked Kazak with 10 knockout wins on his record, takes on former European super featherweight champion, John Carter. 

And with further big names, emerging talents and local favourites to be confirmed in the coming days, McGregor’s huge Edinburgh homecoming is one not to be missed. 

Lowe said: “This won’t just be a typical Isaac Lowe performance, I am going to show people I am a good boxer.

“People know I have the heart of a lion and I come to have a fight but there are other ways to win a fight. 

“I provide value for money, there is guaranteed entertainment in my fights. I am far from finished and I plan to put on a good show for the fans.” 

Briedis said: “I was really looking forward to fighting in Edinburgh on July 21. 

“Sadly, I have suffered a small set back in training and so I won’t be ready in time.  

“But I can promise my fans that big fights are coming later this year, and they will put me, and my beloved country of Latvia, back at the top of the sport.”

MONTRÉAL – (July 6, 2023) — In his Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) contract debut, former world kickboxing champion, Jonathan Giovanni Dibella (2-0, 1 KOs) will face veteran Mexican bantamweight Lamberto Macias (16-8-1, 12KOs) in the eight-round main event on Thursday, September 7,  at Montreal Casino.

Di Bella, 26, has had a flawless career in combat sports, whether in amateur boxing (6-0), pro kickboxing (11-0) or pro boxing. This will mark Di Bella’s third pro boxing fight, knocking out Jesus Velazquez (3-3, 2 KOs) in his last outing in July 2022, at Montreal Casino.

Macias lost his last fight by way of a 10-round decision against Carlos Cuadras (40-5-1, 27 KOs), the former World Boxing Council (WBA) world champion who is currently ranked No. 5 in the world by the WBC.

In the co-featured event, Canadian light heavyweight Terry Osias (12-0, 6 KOs), who only needed two rounds in both of her last two fights, stopping Swedish Niclas Elfstedt (11-2-1, 6 KOs) and Francy Ntetu (17-5, 4 KOs), will meet Abraham Hernandez Meja (9-5-2, 4 KOs) in an eight-round bout. Osias will be in his 12th fight at Montreal Casino.

Toronto’s Steven Rolls (22-2, 12 KOs), promoter Lou DiBella’s protege, will defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) North American middleweight title against Sladan Janjanin (36-15, 25 KOs) of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in a 10-rounder.

The elite card will also showcase world welterweight contender Marie-Pier Houle (8-1-1, 2KO), ranked No. 2 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), who will be in her first fight since her superb performance against world champion Sandy Ryan last April in Cardiff, Wales. Houle is matched against solid super lightweight Cindy Reyes Espinoza (4-1) in an eight-round clash. Espinoza and Houle have one common opponent, Marisol Moreno, who lost twice to Espinoza, and once to  Houle in a very tough fight this past January.

Multi-talented Caroline Veyre (4-0) will participate in her fifth fight in less than a year. She was very impressive in her last two fights, defeating Anaelle Angerville (5-2-1), of France, and Emma Gongora (6-3)..Veyre fights a quality opponent, Karina Travieso “The Relentless” Chavez (5-1), in an eight-round bout.

Popular Montreal light heavyweight Abed Almoty El Safadi (4-0, 1KO) will take on Dylan Rushton (3-9-2, 4 KOs) in a four-rounder, while light heavyweight Mohamed Zawadi (6-1, 5  KOs), who is promoted by  Lee Baxter, squares off against Edison Demaj (10-2, 5 KOs), of Germany, in a six-round confrontation.

DiBella began training very early at the age of two under the guidance of his father. Angelo Di Bella – two-time world kickboxing champion – in the family gym he founded. Jonathan’s first kickboxing fight was at age 10, his first professional fight the following year. He fought all over North America including in the iconic Madison Square Garden. Everyone in Quebec gyms knows Di Bella, as well as throughout the United States, where he served as a training partner for many boxers including several world champions. He received other offers from promoters in boxing, but he chose GYM.

Tickets for the Sept. 7 event are on sale now at ticketmaster.ca or directly from GYM at info@groupeyvonmichel.ca.

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

(July 6, 2023) – Former unified and lineal lightweight world champion George Kambosos Jr. is determined to reclaim his throne at the top of the division.
 
Kambosos returns in a 12-round IBF world title eliminator against 33-year-old English southpaw Maxi Hughes on Saturday, July 22, at FireLake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
 
Kambosos-Hughes and a 10-round lightweight co-feature between U.S. Olympic phenom Keyshawn Davis and Francesco Patera will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
 
Kambosos (20-2, 10 KOs) is a 10-year pro who reached the top of the lightweight division with a stunning decision win over Teofimo Lopez in November 2021 that was named ESPN’s Upset of the Year. In 2022, the 30-year-old avoided an easy hometown defense and instead faced Devin Haney in back-to-back undisputed world title showdowns in Melbourne, Australia. Following his first career losses, Kambosos has his eyes set on becoming champ again. Hughes (26-5-2, 5 KOs) has won seven straight fights. Last September, he beat former world champion Kid Galahad via 12-round majority decision.

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

“I’m away from any distractions [here in the United States], and I’m sacrificing. When I’m sacrificing, I always bring out this more relentless hunger out of me. I’m going home to a makeshift house that the team is living in, and we’re watching fights and studying fights. If we come up with something, we go into the backyard and start working on it. This a 24/7 warzone. We’re sacrificing with hard work, and July 22, I’m back.”
 
“Since the Devin Haney fights, I’ve gotten sharper. I’ve become a better boxer. I’m better on my feet. I’m better all around. I’ve been able to sit back and add more artillery to the game. I’ve been able to watch so much more footage from different fights. I’m a better fighter.”
 
“I know that Maxi Hughes is coming off a seven-fight win streak against guys that I’ve never really heard of. It’s okay. Whatever he’s coming with, that’s no problem. I’m coming in with what I’m coming in with. Just look at my last three fights. Don’t worry about the wins and losses. Just look at the names. Even prior to that. Look at my last five fights.”
 
“I’m going to make an emphatic statement. I’m going to show that I’m back. I’m going to show that I’ve become a better fighter. I’m going to knock out Maxi Hughes.”
 
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment and Ferocious Promotions, tickets are on sale at www.stubwire.com.

SAN ANTONIO, TX (July 6, 2023):

Statement from Golden Boy Promotions:

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our fighters, and we of course support Vergil’s decision 100 percent. This unfortunate event does however open the door for one of Golden Boy’s top prospects, Floyd Schofield, to accelerate his profile by headlining in his home state of Texas. We will, as always, put on a high-action card from top to bottom on July 8 and look forward to showcasing all of our fighters both in San Antonio and on DAZN.”

More information on the July 8 event will be announced shortly.

QUINCY, Mass. (July 6, 2023) – Undefeated Massachusetts Welterweight Champion Denzel “Double Impact” Whitley (11-0, 6 KOs) is a legacy boxer. His trainers, father Derrick and Uncle Darrin, were solid pro boxers in the late 1990s through 2007.

Whitley, 24, is breaking out of his coaches’ shadows to establish himself as one of the top New England prospects. The quintessential boxer intends to make a major statement in that respect in his next fight on the August 19^th “Pandemonium at The Palladium” pro boxing card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), at The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Whitley will be fighting in his last eight-round fight before graduating to 10. But first he has to get past his next fight, against Hector “El Gatito” Ednar Bobadilla (9-14-1, 4 KOs) for the vacant United States Boxing Federation (USBF) Atlantic welterweight title.

“I’m doing 10-plus rounds when I train, so I’m ready, plus I feel great (physically) when I go eight rounds. I know I can do it (go 10). I feel like I’m on the right path. Everything is going as planned and I’m moving at a great pace. I’m ready for whatever is ahead. I’m where I’m supposed to be!”

Instead of fighting at home in Western Mass., Whitley will be traveling 50 miles to the east in Worcester, which is located in Central Massachusetts.

“I’ll be back on the road again, unfortunately, but not too far from home,” Whitley commented. “It’s only a one-hour drive from home and my people have traveled further than that to support me. I have no doubt my family, fans, and supporters will pack that place like always. With my family, team and supporters behind me, we can conquer anything, whether I’m fighting at home or on the road.

“I look forward to fighting there because it’ll be my first time, plus it’s a new venue for me to make a name for myself and gain new fans that’s always exciting. I’m working hard on my whole game so I will be a better fighter each time I step in the ring. Watch me as I continue my journey.

“Denzel is stepping up and getting better each time,” GCP president Chris Traietti noted. “We are trying to put experienced opponents in front of him that will give him quality rounds to help him prepare him for the next level. August 19^th, Denzel can put another professional title on his resume and we’re off to 10-roiund fights and a world rating.”

The eight-round, main event pits James “Pitbull” Perkins (12-0-1, 9 KOs), of Lynn (MA), and Pittsfield’s (MA) Steve “The Savage” Sumpter (8-0, 7 KOs) for the vacant International Boxing Association (IBA) Americas Super Middleweight Championship, as well as Bay State bragging rights.

“Pandemonium at The Palladium” will be streamed live on www.bxngtv.com.

Other fighters expected to be in action on “Pandemonium at The Palladium” include another  Holyoke boxer, super welterweight Carlos Castillo (7-0, 4 KOs), unbeaten Springfield super featherweight Isaiah “Baby Warrior” Cruz (6-0, 4 KOs), and former celebrated amateur Felix Parrilla (7-0, 6 KOs).

Card subject to change. Tickets are on sale and available for purchase online at www.ThePalladium.net.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET, first bell at 7:30 p.m. ET.

WORCESTER, Mass. (July 6, 2023) – Undefeated heavyweight “Don’t Play” Sean Bey (7-0, 7 KOs) and Pittsfield’s (MA) Quintin Sumpter (6-1, 4 KOs) are in a grudge match August 4th (Aug. 5th rain date) in the eight-round, co-featured event on the “Punch-Out at Polar Park” Pro-Am card, presented by Shearns Boxing Promotions (SBP) in conjunction with Kendrick Ball’s Camp Get Right Boxing, in the Polar Park ‘s inaugural boxing event in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Polar Park is the home of the Boston Red Sox Triple-A affiliate Worcester Red Sox (WooSox), voted as the best minor league baseball park in America. A share of the proceeds will be donated to local charities from what is believed to be the first outdoor boxing show in Worcester history.

The 33-year-old Bey, who overcame cancer that sidelined him for five years, is a native of Stoughton (MA). He trains out of the Big Six Academy in Providence, which is operated by Dr. Roland Estrada and his son, 2004 U.S. Olympic boxer Jason Estrada.

Bey vs. Sumpter is a grudge match because back on March 26, 2022, Sumpter won a four-round majority decision over previously undefeated Timothy Hatfield, who also trained at Big Six Academy , coached by Roland and Jason Estrada.

“I guess you can call this a grudge match,” Bey admitted. “He (Sumpter) fought and beat Tim Hatfield. I’ve heard my opponent is an awkward fighter. Elusive! I’ll begin fast paced and cut off the ring.”

“They’re treating me like a gatekeeper,” Sumpter added. “They may want revenge, but they got a gift. I just took this fight because I haven’t fought since February.”

An Iron Worker in Local 7, Bey was a standout amateur boxer who captured top honors in The Northeast PALs, in addition to a silver medal at the Ringside Worlds, and he won four New England Golden Gloves championships. He also finished fourth in the U.S. Olympic Trials. When his amateur career was over, Bey didn’t turn pro because he had a fallout with his old coach, so he dabbled a little in mixed martial arts. Then, his life changed dramatically when he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. The 6’ 4”, 220-pound Bey was out of the ring five years but, thankfully, he’s been in remission the past four years.

“I was sick fighting cancer for four years and when I started boxing again, I did a lot of work with my strength-and-conditioning coach,” Bey commented. “I started lifting weights to get in shape and I went to Big Six Academy to start my pro career. Things happen in life. I got through it, but nothing has changed for me in terms of boxing.”

Sumpter, 34, was a football player who started relatively late in boxing, albeit he quickly became a New England Golden Gloves (Novice) Champion.

“I look at this as just another fight, nothing special,” Sumpter remarked. “I’ve fought on bigger platforms. I know he’s (Bey) undefeated. His coach was an Olympian, but he can’t fight for him. It’s just me and him in the ring, no team. I let my hands do the talking.

“Records don’t mean anything. We’re getting in the ring to fight. I don’t care if his record was 100-0, he’s still got to fight. I know he’s a big bruiser who comes forward, Good luck coming forward against me.”

The eight-round, main event showcases hometown favorite light heavyweight Kendrick “Peppa” Ball, Jr. (20-1-3, 12 KOs), a former New England middleweight champion and WBC USA Silver super middleweight champion, versus Mexican southpaw Oscar “Moustro” Riojas (28-16-3, 16 KOs).

In a pair of six-rounders, Brockton’s undefeated super featherweight “King” Kevin Walsh (9-0, 4 KOs) faces Philip Davis (3-5-2), of Worcester, Puerto Rican welterweight prospect Josniel “TG” Castro (9-1, 7 KOs) meets Argentinian Jorge “Tomatito” Martin Garcia (13-11-1, 3 KOs).

Also fighting on the undercard in four-round bouts are Worcester police officer Neal Sullivan (0-0-1) vs. Michael Medeiros (0-4), Norton police officer and celebrated amateur boxer Melanie “Pitbull” Costa (1-0, 1 KOs), a super bantamweight vs. TBA, pro-debuting Native American Robert Degaetano, of Douglas (MA), vs. welterweight Michael “Titan” Taylor (1-5), Dorchester (MA) lightweight Tevin “The Hitman” Regis in his pro debut vs. Kenneth Sabino (0-3), Rhode Island super middleweight James Manor (3-0, 2 KOs) vs. Saul “The Spider” Almeida, of Framingham.

The pro card will start after amateur boxers from throughout New England compete in the inaugural Carlos Garcia Tournament, named after the National Golden Gloves Hall of Fame trainer who founded and operated the highly successful boxing program at the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester for four decades.

Doors open at 5 p.m. ET with the first amateur match starting then (6 p.m. ET), the pro card starts at 7 p.m. ET.

Tickets are priced at $205.00 (Field VIP – rows 1-4, all padded seats), $155.00 (VIP), $75.00 (Home Plate Reserved – rows 5 and beyond, not padded seats) and $45.00 (Reserved), and available for purchase at Polar Park’s box office (508.500.8888), and online at www.polarpark.com/boxing.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please email all inquiries for details to ShearnsBoxingPromotions@gmail.com.

INFORMATION:

Website: polarpark.com. cgrboxing.com

Facebook: /ShearnsBoxingPromotions, /CampGetRightBoxing, /PolarParkWorcester

Twitter: @ShearnsBoxing, @PolarPark

Instagram: @ShearnsBoxingPromotions, @cgrboxing, @PolarParkWorcester

DEERFIELD BEACH, FL  (July 5, 2023) – Two of Don King Productions’ longtime members—Vonda Carson and John Moceyunas—were elected to the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame.

Carson and Moceyunas were honored this past weekend in St. Petersburg, FL.

“I am thrilled that the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame has recognized two of Don King Productions’ most dedicated members,” said the World’s Greatest Boxing promoter Don King.  “Vonda Carson and John Moceyunas have always gone above and beyond the call of duty in staging every fight we have presented to boxing fans around the world.  They are certainly true boxing Hall of Famers.”

Vonda Carson has won numerous marketing and sales awards including becoming the first African American women to win the prestigious American Eagle Award for outstanding performance in Sales and Marketing. In her statement.

“I am honored to receive such prestigious recognition, but our achievements in life don’t define our character,” said Carson.  “We must all strive for a greater Good. Changing lives, making a difference in the service of others as was mentioned in my acceptance speech Sunday.  I consider myself a servant of this Great Sport of Boxing.  We are people behind the scenes.

“I am thankful for the Guidance and training I acquired from Don King, Dana Jamison and the Late Bobby Goodman, who inspired and groomed most of us, in Boxing OPS at DKP.  He taught me how to handle opposition and face my challenges head – on!  I would often hear Don say things like failure is not an option!  And “Working Together Works.”  

“It is indeed good to be a Trail Blazer first to be nominated in this Category by the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame class of 2023. I speak for all the Unsung Heroes, who never Fades nor Falter, always able to do what is necessary and needed to get the job done!  It is a tedious job of self-sacrifice, long hours, hard work and dedication, however with all of that we are willing to do It again, an again! 

“We are the servants of this Great Sport! with every Promotional Contract, Bout Agreement, Medical Report, Eye Exam, MRI, EKG, through every travel record, room reservation.  Through our many vast travels from country to country, our many encounters with Bellman, Concierge’s desks, Tramrails, countless numbers Hotel stays from City-to-City countless number border Custom Checks.

“We wouldn’t change a thing! For this is who we are! 

“With every victory and every agonizing defeat the Unsung Heroes knows his or her roll in consoling’s a child after his fathers has been K.O ED! Giving expressions of Love and care to a distraught Wife or Mother. Going to the hospital with the fighter who has a Detached Retina or a Head Concussion, 

“We are Guardians at the Gate, that brings the agonizing news of the bleak report of the Prize fighters, Fate.      For we are the Servants of this Great Sport!  

“I speak for all the Unsung Heroes behind the scenes, I thank you for this opportunity to serve and when my time is done… as I pass the baton on to a younger generation for it is  my prayer that they have, the Passion and Love of this Great SPORT!

“I leave Mahatma Gandhi’s quote “that the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

Moceyunas has been Don King’s compliance coordinator for more than 29 years.  He rose through the ranks to Director of Operations.

Moceyunas has worked on more than 340 World Championship events including four of nine of the biggest pay per view events of all-time, which results in more than 1 billion dollars in revenue.   

Moceyunas also worked in DKP International Sales and handled the accounting of international sales for 19 years as well as IT operations for the organization.

John and the DKP team worked to digitize and manage the entire Don King Productions fight library consisting of 18,000 tapes including more than 632 events with more than 4,250 bouts and more than 300,000 photographs of some of the most iconic fights in the history of professional boxing.   Moceyunas and the DKP team also developed DonKingTV.com, the very first online streaming portal for boxing back in 2006.  He has streamed events with total views of more than 25 million over his tenure.  John Moceyunas and Team DKP continue to help direct legendary promoter Don King’s television operations.  He directed the first boxing event ever streamed from wireless public internet, worldwide to more than 52 countries on Jan. 29, 2022.

QUINCY, Mass. (July 5, 2023) – Undefeated prospects Gabriel “The Menace” Morales (7-0, 4 KOs), a lightweight, and middleweight Luke “The Quiet Storm” Iannuccilli (6-0, 3 KOs) have been added to the already stacked “Veterans Stadium Showcase” Pro-Am card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), on Friday night, August 11th (Aug. 12th rain date), at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, Massachusetts.

Former New England Welterweight Champion Mike “Bad Man, Ohan, Jr. (18-2, 9 KOs), of Holbrook, and Haverhill’s Harry “The Hitman” Gigliotti (9-4, 3 KOs), reigning ABF Atlantic super lightweight title holder, will battle in the eight-round, main event in a non-title fight.

Gigliotti, Morales and Iannuccilli are Reyes Boxing stablemates.

“The future of local boxing is promoters working together not against each other,” GCP president Chris Traietti remarked. “When we combine resources, we can make the shows that fans want to see. Mike Reyes has been great to work with and we are honored to have three of his fighters on this card, one of which is headlining, Gigliotti.”

“It’s a pleasure for Reyes Boxing to be pairing up with Granite Chin to make amazing local fights that people deserve,” Promoter Micheal Reyes added. “Gabby, Harry and Luke all look forward to offering the crowd an amazing show.”

Morales, a union carpenter from Lowell (MA), is fighting in a six-rounder.

“I’m pretty excited about fighting on this show,” Morales said. “I think fighting outdoors will help. I do all my running outside. No roof and cleaner air than if we were fighting indoors in a crowded room. I’m a boxer-puncher who has good output and I can box. I want to keep this train rolling. I was supposed to fight a 5-0 opponent on a show a couple of weeks ago that was canceled. I’m fighting on this show to stay active. I’ll take my time, pick my spots, and get more comfortable in the ring.

“Lowell has always been a special part of me. I want to continue what Micky (Ward) did for our city. There’s no added pressure on me. I’m more honored because Lowell people chose me to watch. I’ve always been around Micky and his brother (Dicky Eklund), because a lot of my family grew up with them.”  

Iannuccilli meets the always tough Maine middleweight Ryan Thomas Clark (2-4, 1 KO) in a six-round fight. Luke recently changed jobs and his position as janitor for the Town of Methuen has enabled him to be fresher during training sessions.

“It’s (changing jobs) made a tremendous difference,” Iannuccilli explained. “I worked manual jobs and then would go straight to the gym after work. That was physically draining. This job isn’t as physically demanding and I get out at 2 o’clock, so I get a nice break, and go to the gym refreshed.

“I’ve never fought outdoors, and I’m really excited about it. I’ve seen posts and pictures of outdoor shows and it’s always been an interest of mine. Outside will help with fresh air, no AC or heat, or fighting in a stuffy room. It’ll play big unless we have a super sunny, hot night.

“I respect all my opponents, but want to fight bigger names, and go after a local title. I was supposed to fight Baptiste (Julien, USBF Middleweight Champion), but it didn’t happen. If we both win on August 11^th, I’d definitely be interested in fighting him down the road.”

Baptiste (5-3, 2 KOs), of Woburn, and Massachusetts titleholder Jamer Jones (3-1, 3 KOs), of Pittsfield, are in a middleweight unification bout for their two titles in the eight-round co-featured event.

Undefeated middleweight prospect Francis “Frank The Tank” Hogan (14-0, 13 KOs), of nearby Weymouth (MA), will provide chief support in an eight-round bout. Hogan, who was a 2020 USA Boxing Olympic Team alternate, will bring “Tank Time” to Quincy.

Also slated to fight on the undercard are undefeated Irish light heavyweights Tommy “The Governor” Hyde (5-0, 4 KOs) and Thomas “The Kid” O’Toole (7-0, 4 KOs) in a pair of six-round matches, as well as Scituate heavyweight Kevin Nagle (2-0, 2 KOs).

Card subject to change.

Tickets for “Veterans Stadium Showcase,” are on sale and available for purchase online at www.EventBrite.com.

Sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Traietti at chris@granite-chin-promotions.com for details.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET with the amateur matches starting  at 6:30 p.m. ET, pro card commences at 8 pm. ET.

INFORMATION:  

Facebook.com/GraniteChin

Twitter: @Granite_Chin

LOS ANGELES (July 5, 2023) – Undefeated light heavyweight prospect Darius “DFG” Fulghum (5-0, 5 KOs) returns to the ring this Saturday night for his third fight in three months, back at home in Texas in a six-round bout against Jeremiah Curtright (2-1, 2 KOs) at AT & T Center in San Antonio.

Fulghum vs. Curtright is on a loaded card, presented by Golden Boy Promotions, headlined by the World Boxing Association (WBA) World Welterweight title fight between Vergil Ortiz, Jr. and Eimantas Stanionis.

Fulghum, 26, had to train during Houston’s oppressive heat, as well as pass on the traditional July 4^th weekend cookouts.

“Making weight has never been easier for me,” Fulghum jokingly said. “I’ll have some hot dogs and burgers after this fight. It’s the little sacrifices that pay off in the end. I’m used to this now. I’m a professional.

“For me, I’m excited to be fighting so often. It’s the dream of any young fighter. I always stay on weight and in shape to be in the right position. This is just the start of my pro career; I want to keep fighting and improving. I’m so excited for my future. I’d like to fight for a belt by the end of next year and be a top contender the following year.”

Fulghum, who is a promotional free agent, is thrilled to be fighting again in his native Texas. He lives and trains in Houston, but San Antonio is only three hours away.

“I love fighting at home again,” Fulghum remarked. “I was born in Killeen, which is only 1 ½ hours from San Antonio, and I have people in Austin and San Antonio. I’m going to have good support there.”  

In his most recent fight this past June 3^rd, Fulghum sold out Galveston (TX) Island Convention Center, as the headliner, stopping Symari Alexander in the sixth round.

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

Fulghum is working with 3 Point Management (3 PM), a growing company based in Los Angeles that has a growing stable of gifted boxers including former world super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-1, 30 KOs), NABA super flyweight champion John “Scrappy” Ramirez (12-0, 8 KOs), light heavyweight Kareem Hackett (11-0, 5 KOs), super middleweight Cem “Champ” Kilic (17-1, 11 KOs), and heavyweight Zach Spiller (3-0, 2 KOs).

INFORMATION:

Instagram/Twitter/Linkedin: @DariusFulghum

Tampa, FL (July 5, 2023) – On Saturday, August 5, lightweight contender Willian “Babyface” Silva meets highly-touted Ashton Sylve at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, TX as part of a DAZN pay per view card headlined by Jake Paul against Nate Diaz.

The card is presented by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Real Fight Inc (RFI). Headed by Jake Paul, MVP promotes Sylve and believes he’s one of boxing’s next superstars.

A native of Los Angeles, CA, Sylvie’s 9-0 with 8 of his victories coming by knockout. Sylvie, who has a massive following on social media, served as the co-main event to the Jake Paul-Anderson Silva fight October 29, 2022, in Glendale, AZ. With 14,000 fans in attendance and 300,000 watching on pay per view, Sylvie scored a first round knockout of Braulio Santos. In his last bout, Sylvie went the distance for the first time, shutting out Adam Kipenga over eight rounds in Orlando, FL.

Training out of Florida and representing his native Brazil, Silva’s an excellent 30-4 with 16 KO’s. He’s faced the likes of Felix Verdejo, Teofimo Lopez, Arnold Barboza and Cletus Seldin. Since returning to the lightweight division in 2022, Silva’s displayed an aggressive style and scored back-to-back knockouts.

“Sylve is a young and hungry fighter,” said Silva. “He has a good record but I am for sure going to be the toughest opponent he’s faced. I’ve been in with world champions and top contenders, so I know what it’s like at that level. I’ll be well prepared for Sylve and hope he’s ready for August 5.”

Silva’s promoter, Jody Caliguire of Reyes Fire Fist Boxing, believes this high-profile opportunity is perfect for Silva and a victory will lead him to bigger opportunities in the lightweight division.

“Willian’s a better fighter today than when he faced guys like Lopez and Seldin. He’s made drastic changes in camp with his head trainer Jim McLaughlin and is hungrier than ever before. I believe Sylve is a good prospect but he’s biting off more than he can chew against Willian!”

(July 5, 2023) — Mexican former two-division world champion Luis “Pantera” Nery returns in a 10-round main event against Filipino former title challenger Froilan “The Sniper” Saludar this Saturday, July 8 at Recinto Ferial Metepec in Metepec, Mexico.

The 28-year-old Nery will look to continue his campaign towards another title run in the competitive junior featherweight division.

Promoted by Zanfer Promotions, Nery-Saludar and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Nery (34-1, 26 KOs) burst onto championship scene in October 2017 with a fourth-round TKO against then-unbeaten champion Shinsuke Yamanaka to capture the WBC bantamweight crown. Three years later, he defeated Aaron Alameda to win the WBC junior featherweight title via 12-round unanimous decision. Nery suffered his first defeat in a title unification bout versus WBA king Brandon Figueroa in May 2021. He is 3-0 with two knockouts since the Figueroa loss and is coming off a 11^th-round knockout over former title challenger Azat Hovhannisyan in a Fight of the Year-level battle. Saludar (33-6-1, 23 KOs) is a 13-year pro who unsuccessfully challenged Sho Kimura for the WBO flyweight title in 2018. He has given stiff tests to former world champs Andrew Moloney and Daigo Higa. The 34-year-old is coming off a first-round TKO win over countryman Crison Omayao last October.

In other streaming action from Metepec, Mexico:

• Junior welterweight standout Carlos Sanchez (24-1, 19 KOs) will take on Marcos Gonzalez (22-3, 11 KOs) in a 10-round clash. Both are coming off April wins, with Sanchez beating Alexander Duran via six-round technical decision and Gonzalez defeating Josue Veraza via 10-round unanimous decision.
   
• In a 10-round junior middleweight fight, Jorge Garcia Perez (25-4, 21 KOs) will square off against Ricardo Bañuelos (18-9-1, 7 KOs). Both fought on the same card last month. Perez scored a seventh-round knockout win over Hector Andres Reyes, while Bañuelos lost to Mexican Olympian Misael Rodriguez via eight-round unanimous decision.
   
• Rashib Martinez (20-2-1, 9 KOs) will face Ernesto Garcia Flores (10-2, 9 KOs) in an eight-round bantamweight tilt.
   
• In a swing bout, flyweights Luis Rodriguez (8-3, 3 KOs) and Juan Carlos Barrientos (5-2, 3 KOs) will collide in a fight scheduled for four or six rounds. 

# # #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).  

NEW YORK, NY (July 4, 2023) – The Frisco RoughRiders and DiBella Entertainment are bringing the biggest fight of the year and a night of live boxing to the fight fans of Frisco, TX. On Saturday, July 29, Riders Field will host a viewing party for the long-awaited Errol Spence Jr. versus Terence Crawford undisputed welterweight championship.

Before Spence and Crawford get it on via the jumbotron, a night of live boxing will take place on the field beginning at 7:30 PM. In the main event, scheduled for 10 rounds, Fort Worth’s own Edward “Kid” Vazquez (14-1, 3 KOs), fresh off a big win on Showtime, will fight for the IBF Intercontinental featherweight championship versus hard-hitting Brayan “La Roca” De Gracia (29-2-1, 25 KOs), of Panama, who represents the most experienced opponent of Vazquez’s career.

Once the night of live action is complete, attention will turn to the biggest scoreboard in all of Minor League Baseball, where Spence and Crawford will battle from Las Vegas. All concessions will be open, making this the biggest and best watch party in town.

International Boxing Hall-of-Famer Lou DiBella is also an important figure in Minor League Baseball as the President and Managing General Partner of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the AA-affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, and the CEO and Managing Owner of the Montgomery Biscuits, the AA-affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.

“Spence-Crawford is the biggest fight in many years; the two top welterweights in the world, both undefeated and in their prime, will collide to determine who is the best of their era. I am thrilled to bring this tremendous fight to the fans in attendance at Frisco’s Riders Field via the closed-circuit telecast,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “As a special treat, DiBella Entertainment will also deliver a night of live world class boxing, featuring Fort Worth’s Edward Vazquez facing Panamanian KO artist Brayan De Gracia in the main event. Undefeated Armenian welterweight Aram Amirkhanyan and Dallas female boxing star Shurretta Metcalf will highlight the undercard. Boxing at the ballpark, both live and via closed-circuit, was once a longstanding tradition in the sport. On July 29, we will bring that back.”

“It will be peanuts, crackerjacks and fisticuffs on Saturday, July 29 at Riders Field,” said Chuck Greenberg, General Partner and CEO of the Frisco RoughRiders. “Spence vs. Crawford is the biggest boxing event in years and the RoughRiders are thrilled to host a special closed-circuit viewing of the fight for our loyal fans at Riders Field. In addition to the Spence-Crawford fight, DiBella Entertainment will present a live bout card to complement the action-packed evening. This is a truly special and unique event for us and we can’t wait to provide a great night of entertainment.”

Tickets, starting at $35 plus service fees, are on sale NOW and can be purchased through Tickets.com. VIP Ringside seating, including food and drink in the Founders Club presented by Baylor Scott & White Health, are $150. Riders Field is located at 7300 Rough Riders Trl, Frisco, TX 75034. Doors will open on the night of the event at 6:30pm CT, with the first bout scheduled for 7:30pm CT. The Spence-Crawford main event closed-circuit broadcast will be shown immediately following the conclusion of the live bouts.

Leading into the Vazquez-De Gracia main event, rising female talent Shurretta Metcalf (11-4-1, 2 KOs), from Dallas, TX, will fight in the co-featured attraction. Metcalf, once ranked the #1 USA super bantamweight as an amateur, is trained by Ozell Nelson, who worked with former undisputed middleweight world champion Jermain Taylor.

Also highlighting the undercard will be undefeated Armenian welterweight prospect Aram Amirkhanyan (14-0-1, 4 KOs). He is a former IBF International, WBO International, and WBA Continental champion. Prior to the pandemic, Amirkhanyan had been world ranked by three of the major sanctioning bodies and the combined record of his last five opponents was 61-3-1. He returned in July 2022 with an eight-round unanimous decision win.

Further details on this event will be announced shortly.

NEW YORK (July 3, 2023) – Three Split-T Management fighters from the state of Ohio emerged victorious on Saturday night with wins in their home state at The Huntington Center in Toledo.

2020 United States Olympian Tiger Johnson remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Jonathan Montrel in a junior welterweight bout.

In round three, the left eye of Montrel began to swell.

The eye continued to worsen as the doctor checked on it before round seven commenced. The right side of Montrel’s forehead became a bloody mess in round seven.

Johnson, 141.2 lbs of Cleveland, OH won by scores of 80-72 on all cards and is now 9-0. Montrel, 140.6 lbs of New Orleans is now 15-2.

Dante Benjamin Jr. remained undefeated by stopping Mirandy Zola in round one of their six-round light heavyweight bout.

In round one, Benjamin landed a big left hand that was followed by a right to the chin that put Zola on his back. Benjamin came forward and landed a big right that snapped Zola’s head back and the bout was stopped at 1:56.

Benjamin, 173.3 lbs of Cleveland is 7-0 with six knockouts. Zola, 173.9 lbs of Columbus, OH is 4-3..

DeAndre Ware won a six-round unanimous decision over DeCarlo Perez in a super middleweight bout.

Ware, 167.9 lbs of Toledo, OH won by scores of 59-55 twice and 58-56 and is now 16-4-2. Perez, 167.5 lbs of Atlantic City, NJ is 19-9-1.

Johnson and Benjamin are promoted by Top Rank.

The fights were streamed live on ESPN+.

NEW YORK (July 1, 2023) – Three Split-T Management fighters will be in action in their native Ohio as Tiger Johnson, Dante Benjamin Jr. and DeAndre Ware will fight at the Huntington Center on ESPN+.

Earlier in the day, Kandi Wyatt will make her third attempt at a world title as she takes on Natasha Jonas for the IBF Welterweight title in Manchester, England (ESPN+).

Johnson will take Jonathan Montrel in an eight-round welterweight bout.

Johnson, the 24 Year-old, 2020 United States Olympian is 8-0 with five knockouts is starting to appear on some top prospect lists. Johnson already has wins over Xaver Madrid (3-0), Esteban Garcia (15-1), Mike Ohan Jr. (16-1) and his last bout when he defeated Alfonso Olvera on April 1st in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Montrel of New Orleans is 15-1 with 10 knockouts. The 33 year-old Montrel has won two in a row, which includes a fourth round stoppage over Aristides Perez on January 14th in Cartagena, Colombia on January 14th.

Johnson was 141.2 lbs. Montrel weighed 140.6

Dante Benjamin Jr. will square off with Mirady Zola in a six-round heavyweight bout.

Benjamin, 21 years-old of Cleveland already has four wins over undefeated opponents in Henron Rendon (2-0), Kevin Johnson (2-0), Corey Thompson (4-0) and Emanuel Austin (6-0). Benjamin stopped Jasper McCargo in two rounds on April 1st in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Zola of Canal Winchester, Ohio is 4-2 with one knockout. Zola is capable as he has already defeated undefeated foes James Quiter (4-0-1) as well as Shaman Baxter (1-0) on January 21st in Newark, Ohio.

Benjamin checked in at 173.3 lbs. Zola was 173.9.

The Toledo-based Ware will fight veteran DeCarlo Perez in a six-round super middleweight bout.

Ware is 15-4-2 with nine knockouts. The 35 year-old has never backed down from a challenge and has had his hand raised over Derrick Adkins (5-1-1), Enrique Collazo (11-0-1) and Ronald Ellis (16-0-2). Ware is coming off a loss to Christian Mbilli on September 9, 2022 in Montreal.

Perez of Atlantic City, New Jersey is 19-8-1 with six knockouts. The 32 year-old Perez has wins over Shamone Alvarez (21-5), Donte Moore (8-0-2), Jamar Freeman (9-1-2), Marcus Willis (13-3-2), Tyrone Brunson (22-2-1), Jessie Nicklow (24-5-3), Jose Ubaldo Cabrera (23-0) and Lanell Bellows (16-1-1). Perez is coming off a loss to Frederic Julan on February 23rd in New York.

Ware weighed in at 167.9 lbs. Perez was 167.5.

Johnson and Benjamin are promoted by Top Rank. The three fights will be streamed on ESPN+ at 6:15 PM ET.

Johnson and Benjamin photos by Mikey Williams / Top Rank via Getty Images.

In Manchester, England, Kandi Wyatt will make her third attempt at a world title when she takes on Natasha Jonas for the IBF Welterweight title.

Wyatt of Calgary, Canada is 11-4 with three knockouts. Wyatt has a win over undefeated Dallia Velazquez (5-0) and her last bout when she defeated Kirstie Bevington on March 10th in Wolverhampton, England. Wyatt lost to Kali Reis and Jessica McCaskill in her two previous attempts at world titles.

Jonas of Liverpool, England is 13-2-1 with eight knockouts. The 2016 Olympian won the WBO Super Welterweight title with a second round stoppage over Chris Namus (25-6). Jonas added the WBC belt with a unanimous decision over Patricia Benghult (15-0). In her last bout, Jonas added the the IBF title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Marie Eve DiCaire (18-1) on November 12, 2022 in Manchester, England.

Wyatt weighed 146 lbs. Jonas was 146.5 lbs.

The fight will be streamed live on ESPN+ at 2 PM ET

10 x 2 mins WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO World Super-Middleweight Championship @12st

Savannah Marshall 11st 13lbs 

Franchon Crews-Dezurn 11st 13lbs 5oz 

10 x 2 mins Vacant IBF World Welterweight Championship @ 10st 7lbs  

Natasha Jonas 10st 6lbs 5oz

Kandi Wyatt 10st 6lbs

8 x 3 mins Light-Heavyweight Contest @12st 9lbs

Ben Whittaker 12st 6lbs 5oz 

Vladimir Belujsky 12st 7lbs 5oz

10 x 3 mins Super-Middleweight Contest @12st 2lbs

Callum Simpson 12st 1lb 

Boris Crighton 11st 13lb 

10 x 3 mins Vacant Commonwealth Silver Super-Middleweight Championship @ 12st

Zak Chelli 11st 12lbs 5oz 

Mark Jeffers 11st 13lb 5oz

6 x 2 mins Super-Welterweight Contest @11st 

April Hunter 10st 13lbs

Kirstie Bavington 10st 9lbs 5oz

4 x 3 mins Heavyweight Contest

Will Howe 17st 13lb 

Jake Darnell 17st 10lb 5oz

 •  Jared Anderson 243.4 lbs. vs. Charles Martin 250.5 lbs
(Heavyweight — 10 Rounds)

   •   Abdullah Mason 135.2 lbs vs. Alex de Oliveira 135.8 lbs
(Lightweight — 6 Rounds)

   •   Arslanbek Makhmudov 263.4 lbs vs. Raphael Akpejiori 255.5 lbs
(Heavyweight — 10 Rounds )

(ESPN+, 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT)

•    Tiger Johnson141.2 lbs  vs. Jonathan Montrel 140.6 lbs 
 (Junior Welterweight — 8 Rounds)

•  Dante Benjamin Jr. 173.3 lbs  vs. Mirady Zola 173.9 lbs 
 (Light Heavyweight — 6 Rounds)

•  DeAndre Ware 167.9 lbs vs. Decarlo Perez 167.5 lbs
 (Super Middleweight — 6 Rounds)

•   Husam Al Mashhadi 151.2 lbs vs. Rance Ward 153.6 lbs
 (Junior Middleweight — 6 Rounds)

• Tyler McCreary 131 lbs vs. Deivi Julio 130.9 lbs
 (Junior Lightweight — 6 Rounds)

•   Jahi Tucker 151.8 lbs  vs. Nicklaus Flaz 151.3 lbs
 (Junior Middleweight — 8 Rounds)

June 29, 2023 – Four of six fighters will make their return to SHOBOX: The New Generation to further build a name for themselves as hard-hitting prospect and amateur standout Jordan White (14-1, 10 KOs) and undefeated ex-Navy man Eridson Garcia (17-0, 11 KOs) square off in a 10-round super featherweight main event on Friday, August 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT live on SHOWTIME from Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, Pa.

The exciting tripleheader includes fighters with a combined record of 75-2-2 and 49 knockouts all stepping up and trying to come into their own as top prospects. Philadelphia’s undefeated prospect Paul Kroll (10-0-1, 6 KOs) will mix it up with fellow SHOBOX^® alum Guido Schramm (16-1-1, 9 KOs) of Argentina in the eight-round super welterweight co-feature. The telecast opener pits two up-and-coming unbeaten Pennsylvania fighters with Reading’s Julian Gonzalez (10-0-1, 9 KOs) and Pittsburgh’s Johnny Spell (8-0, 4 KOs) facing off in an eight-round super featherweight battle. White and Gonzalez are also SHOBOX returnees.

It’s the second time that SHOBOX will travel to Wind Creek Event Center this year under promoter Marshall Kauffman’s King’s Promotions.

“SHOBOX is a developmental series that prides itself on uncovering today’s top prospects who are looking to become tomorrow’s world champions,” said Gordon Hall, executive producer for SHOBOX: The New Generation. “The August 4^th card includes four returning fighters who we feel are all worth a second look. The ceiling is high for these young and talented fighters trying to raise their profiles on SHOBOX. Credit to the returning fighters for continuing to seek out the toughest challenges and good luck to the fighters experiencing SHOBOX for the first time.”

Here is more on each of the three bouts:

White vs. Garcia – 10-Round Super Featherweight Main Event

The Washington, D.C. native White, 25, was a former No. 1-ranked amateur, amassing a 145-16 record with wins over contenders Brandun Lee and Vergil Ortiz, Jr. He was teammates with future world champions Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson on the Junior National travel squad, competing in the Junior World Championships in Kiev, Ukraine in 2013. White turned professional at 18, winning his first four bouts, three by knockout before losing a decision to fellow undefeated foe Adam Lopez. White has since bounced back by winning 10 fights in a row, including a seventh-round TKO over previously unbeaten prospect Ronaldo Solis and an impressive sixth-round TKO over previously undefeated Misael Lopez (11-1, 5 KOs) in his SHOBOX debut in March of 2021.

“This is my time, but Garcia is coming into our territory,” White said. “He is another in front of me on the way to where I need to be. A win over Garcia gets me ranked high in the WBC and another big opportunity on SHOWTIME to be able to showcase all my skills. I will show the world what they have been missing.”

The Dominican Republic native Garcia started boxing at 14 and is a former highly decorated amateur. Currently living and training in Houston, the southpaw Garcia, 29, has sparred with former Olympian and unified champion Stevenson and up-and-coming SHOBOX alum Giovanni Marquez. Garcia was 270-30 and won multiple medals in national events in the early 2010s in the amateurs. From 2012-2017, Garcia served in the Dominican Republic Navy and won two second-place medals in the Military Games. He turned professional in 2017 and came to the United States in 2020 after seven pro bouts. Garcia won a 10-round unanimous decision over Armando Frausto two years ago to capture the vacant North American Boxing Federation (NABF) Super Featherweight Championship.

“I feel great about this fight on August 4,” Garcia said. “I have been watching videos on White, and he looks like a good fighter. I feel extremely grateful, happy and excited about fighting on SHOWTIME. This is the biggest fight of my career. This is a stepping-stone to enhance my career, and it’s a great opportunity to show everybody what a great fighter I am.”

Kroll vs. Schramm – Eight-Round Super Welterweight Bout

Representing the fighting city of Philadelphia, Kroll is a five-year pro who already owns impressive wins over highly regarded SHOBOX alum Shinard Bunch and previously undefeated Philadelphian southpaw Mark Dawson. In his SHOBOX debut in February of 2022, Kroll and Marquis Taylor fought to a spirited split draw. Kroll also owns a 10-round victory over Lucas Santamaria as he overcame a knockdown in the second round to earn the unanimous decision. A highly touted amateur with a record of 123-17, Kroll won the U.S. Olympic Boxing Trials in 2015 and has sparred with standout former champions Julian Williams, Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia.

“It’s another good opportunity for me fighting on SHOBOX,” Kroll said. “This time I will capitalize on it and look like I am supposed to. This is an opportunity to get bigger and better fights. I love fighting close to home and in front of my family, fans and friends. I get a lot of love from the people that want to see me win. I am looking to win a world title in under 15 fights and become unified in about 20-25 fights.” 

The 27-year-old Schramm (16-1-1, 9 KOs) is promoted by Sampson Lewkowicz’s Sampson Boxing. Known as a pressure fighter who comes forward, Schramm started boxing late at 17 and finished his amateur career with a record of 45-4 and won six amateur titles in Argentina. For the past three years, Schramm has trained in Los Angeles under Lionel Lara, and previously trained alongside former world champion Brian Castaño. In his last fight on SHOBOX in April, Schramm won a majority decision over previously unbeaten Jahyae Brown (13-1, 9 KOs) coming on strong in the later stages of the fight with his aggressive style.

“I am working hard on a daily basis for this fight on August 4, and hopefully I will get the victory and impress the viewers at home and fans in attendance,” Schramm said. “Being on SHOBOX, I want to show the world what I have. I have a lot to prove still, and I want to show why I’m going to be the next Argentinian world champion.”

Gonzalez vs. Spell – Eight-Round Super Featherweight Bout

Gonzalez, from Reading, Pa., just over 40 miles from Bethlehem, will feel right at home on August 4. The 21-year-old has fought three times already at Wind Creek Event Center in his young career, scoring first and second-round stoppages before a fourth-round TKO in his SHOBOX debut against Rosalindo Morales, his toughest opponent to date, in January. Gonzalez showed his power punch early dropping Morales in the first round and halting him with a stiff right hand to all but end the contest in the opening seconds of the fourth round. Gonzalez fought five times in 2021, the year he turned pro. The lone blemish on Gonzalez’s record is a six-round draw against Cuban prospect Ivan Jimenez. Going by the ring moniker “Gifted,” Gonzalez has sparred with Philadelphia’s unified 122-pound world champion Stephen Fulton Jr.

“We are back on SHOWTIME and back on the big stage,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t know much about Spell. I know he is an undefeated fighter and now I have to take another undefeated guy from Pittsburgh out. My profile went up with a knockout on SHOBOX but that does not go to my head – that can mess with you. This is just another person that is in my way.”

The unbeaten 27-year-old Spell from Pittsburgh is trained by his father Johnny Spell, Jr., a former professional fighter. Spell has been a regular in camp with multiple world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis and has sparred with world-ranked super bantamweight (WBA No. 5) Oleh Dovhun. He last fought in March when he decisioned Antonio Dunton El Jr. at Wind Creek Events Center over six rounds.

“I am ready for this and know it’s a big fight with another good fighter,” Spell said. “This will show who is built for the next level. The story line is that I am the underdog. This is my first TV fight and I am excited. I have seen him fight two times. He fought my friend from my city of Pittsburgh [Rosalindo Morales] and I feel like he is a good fighter who I have seen make a couple mistakes that I know I can capitalize on. Fighting on SHOBOX is a big opportunity for my city, as not many from Pittsburgh have fought on SHOWTIME. A win will put my career on the next level.”

International Boxing Hall of Famer Barry Tompkins calls the blow-by-blow action for SHOBOX with fellow Hall of Famer Steve Farhood joining the team remotely as the unofficial scorer. Former world champion Raul Marquez and veteran combat sports reporter and MORNING KOMBAT co-host Brian Campbell will serve as ringside expert analysts. The executive producer of SHOBOX: The New Generation is Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

# # #

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

About SHOBOX: The New Generation

Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series SHOBOX: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The SHOBOX philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 89 fighters who have appeared on SHOBOX and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more. 

JOE JOYCE WAS the talk of the tower when he took centre stage at the HQ of Talksport on Thursday to launch the build-up for his high-stakes rematch with Zhilei Zhang at the OVO Arena, Wembley on 23 September, live on TNT Sports.

Tickets for Zhang vs Joyce II go on sale at midday today (Friday 30 June) from AXS.com.

The ‘Big Juggernaut’ will be attempting to take back the WBO Interim world heavyweight title he surrendered to ‘Big Bang Zhang’ back in March when a severe swelling to his right eye rendered him unable to continue in the view of referee Howard Foster.

Hence the return match being tagged ‘An eye for an eye’.

Joyce, 37, teamed up with his Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren at the colossal News Building on London Bridge Street in SE1, where the wheels for the Wembley heavyweight spectacular were set in motion.

“I’ve had time to rebuild, relax, let my hair down a little and reflect on what went down and what I need to do to get back on the horse and ride into the sunset!” said Joyce, who now holds a record of 15-1 (14 KOs) up against that of Zhang, 25-1-1 (20).

“It is back to the drawing board and little improvements on things, nitpicking on bits I need to get right for this next camp coming. I think, watching it back and seeing the shots thrown and landed and stuff, it was terrible for me to experience that, but it is all a learning curve.

“I have taken losses in the amateurs and came back and won a silver medal – if not, the gold – and I can do it again in the pros. I’ve got the experience and the drive.

“I don’t want to take the long route to get back for the title, all I’ve got to do is beat him and I am back in line for a mandatory shot.

“That is important to me and I want to be a world champion and I want to deliver on my dreams, goals and aspirations. That is why I am here.

“I want to be in big fights and this is a massive fight. You think fights are going to happen and they don’t, but this fight is definitely going to happen.”

Promoter Frank Warren revealed that Joyce gave no consideration to potentially forfeiting his rematch to enable Zhang to challenge WBC king Tyson Fury.

“When we first made the fight Joe was champion, with Zhilei at No.2, so Joe went straight to the guy who was his immediate challenger with no messing about,” added Warren.

“We did put a rematch clause in there and, after the fight, we weren’t sure if Joe was going to be ready because he obviously sustained quite a bad eye injury, the reason why the doctor stopped the fight. So we were talking about Zhang fighting Tyson, but Joe said no, he didn’t want anyone in the middle and wanted the rematch.

“That tells you all you need to know about Joe Joyce. Straight in there, nobody else is getting in-between, ‘I’m in, I want to win my title back’.

“That was his prerogative, he insisted on it and we delivered it for him.

“It is now up to Joe. He is a sensible guy and one of the best people I have worked with in boxing, a nice person with a great team. He knows what he’s got to do and I think he has got the capability to win his title back.

“If he does that he becomes mandatory for the WBO version of the title and whoever is holding that after the fight between Usyk and Daniel Dubois, which takes place in August.”

Tickets to see the heavyweight clash between Zhilei Zhang and Joe Joyce at the OVO Arena, Wembley on Saturday 23 September, go on general sale at midday today (Friday 30 June) from AXS.com.

From 18th July, TNT Sports will be the new name for BT Sport.