Manchester, England (June 9, 2016) – Peter Fury, father and trainer of unbeaten WBO #6 rated heavyweight Hughie Fury, recently announced that his son has been suffering from acne conglobata.

Unlike regular acne, which doesn’t impact day to day living and typically is treatable with nonprescription medications, acne conglobata causes extreme fatigue, fevers and joint pain. The condition led to what Team Fury admits was a subpar performance against Fred Kassi, where he won the WBO Intercontinental belt by way of technical decision. This opened the door for critics of his progression.

Following the win over Kassi, the 21-year-old was formally diagnosed with acne conglobata by respected Dr. Ian R White. According to Dr. White, Hughie had problems for more than five years and his condition worsened since it went untreated. He’s since been placed on various medications and is improving daily.

“I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, Hughie was only at 30 percent against Kassi and he’s been battling this condition in most of his pro fights,” said Peter Fury. “Dr. White said this is the worst case of acne conglobata he’s seen in five years. Thankfully, Hughie’s improving. His stamina and overall health are way better now than it was even a few months ago. Dr. White deserves a ton of credit for that.”

On July 9, Fury risks his 20-0 record against an opponent to be named at the Manchester Arena. The bout takes place as part of the world heavyweight championship rematch between champion Tyson Fury and legendary Wladimir Klitschko. The card is one of the biggest in 2016 and a significant stage for young Hughie to showcase his talent. To ensure he performs on his grandest stage yet, Hughie’s been in an intense training camp alongside his cousin Tyson and expects a big improvement from the Kassi fight.

“I’m feeling a lot better and that has made this training camp much better for me thus far,” said Hughie Fury. “We still have a month to go before fight night and I’m waiting to find out who my opponent is. Regardless of who it is, I’m prepared for an impressive showing July 9. My team expects that I will be 100% in the near future. My plan is to fight for and win a world title in 2017.”

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (June 9, 2016) – Abner Mares, the former three-division world champion boxer, will be taking class, technique and power into the ring when he meets WBA Featherweight World Champion Jesus Cuellar on Saturday, June 25 live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS presented by Premier Boxing Champions from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Live coverage begins at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST.

Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

Mares returns to the ring after a loss in one of 2015’s most-watched fights against featherweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz. In 2016 Mares changed his training camp to work with former world champion boxer and two-time “Trainer of the Year,” Robert Garcia (Mikey Garcia, Antonio Margarito, Marcos Maidana) out of his Riverside, Calif., facility. Mares has continued to work with his longtime strength and condition coach Luis Garcia (Andre Berto, Amir Khan). His fight against Cuellar not only marks his first fight of 2016 but a chance to capture a fourth world title.

“This is going to be a technical fight,” said Mares. “Cuellar is a hard-hitting fighter and since the fight was made we’ve been preparing for a real battle. I have no personal vendetta against him, however I am excited to see what monster the Mares-Garcia combination has created and gets unleashed. My power and spirit are 1000 percent. Fans are going to see a fantastic, clean, technical fight.”

For Mares’ fans the direction under the guidance of Garcia brings new possibilities for the fighter, and one that Garcia sees as the next step and progression for Abner.

“I’ve been seeing the Abner that the world knew three to four years ago,” said Garcia about Mares’ training. “A warrior with tremendous boxing skills, that’s the Abner I see now. He’s in tremendous shape but it’s a different Abner. He’s been a warrior all his life and he will come to fight – he has that mentality – but his jab, his straight punches and footwork are better than what fans have seen in the past two years.”

This fight marks the first fight for Mares in New York.

“It’s my first time fighting and being in New York and I plan on giving the fans at Barclays a ‘Fight of the Year’ performance,” he said. “New York is the home of the American dream. Being a Mexican who came to the U.S. as a young child, it’s hugely symbolic for me as well as my family. This is my chance at winning my fourth world title and to do it in the city that started so many dreams and careers and on the first primetime fight on CBS in almost 40 years, it’s an important moment.”

ABNER MARES:

How are you preparing for this fight? …

“I’ve been training with Robert since December. When the original March fight was postponed and I had a chance to fight Cuellar for the title so we never really took a break. We did change our training regimen a bit to stay fresh, get stronger and work on some tactical and technical skills. Robert has a great eye and knowledge of the sport, having worked with so many fighters, including Cuellar. It gives me an advantage in preparation.”

Why the change in trainers? …

“I knew I needed to change my camp after the last fight. I felt that we had a solid camp but in the end, I didn’t stick to the plan and it resulted in a loss. I am a warrior, I’ll never give up, always come back. I am not afraid to take a fight. But I knew I needed a trainer whose plan I would have to follow versus having a trainer who would fit into mine. Robert and I come from similar backgrounds, his record speaks for itself and I know this partnership is going to deliver big wins.”

TRAINER ROBERT GARCIA:

What is Abner’s untapped skill? …

“Abner is very candid as a boxer. He has great skills in speed, footwork and power — he has all three and when combined he’s unstoppable. Sparring has been tremendous and if he does exactly what he is doing in gym and follows instructions then he can compete against any top featherweight in the world in my opinion.”

How is sparring? …

“Abner’s a beast. He’s doing great in our sparring sessions – his power is tremendous and his boxing has just become more effective. He’s always been a tremendous fighter who can box inside and on the outside. What the world saw and loved from him in August – his heart and ability to get in and fight – has been focused and strengthened. We’re very focused on winning and beating a hard-hitting fighter.”

Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @ShowtimeBoxing @PremierBoxing, @AbnerMares, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.facebook.com/BarclaysCenter.

LONDON (9 JUNE) Former British, Commonwealth and European super-bantamweight champion Kid Galahad is back. He’s back in the ring, he’s back on the hunt for titles and he’s back chasing domestic rivals.

On July 9 at the Manchester Arena, Galahad, as part of the undercard to Tyson Fury’s world heavyweight title blockbuster with Wladimir Klitschko, looks to follow up a routine April comeback win and once again put the super-bantamweight division on notice.

“The opponent in April (Simas Volosinas) wasn’t the best but it felt good to be back,” says Galahad, who’d been out the ring for 19 months. “It felt like I’d been away on holiday for a very long time and then came home and everything was nice and comfortable. You’re back in your old bed, you’re surrounded by home comforts. It felt right. It felt like that’s where I should be.”

Though unable to compete for the best part of two years, Galahad, a product of Sheffield’s Wincobank gym, stayed disciplined and in shape and trained as if it was the only option available to him.

“I just got on with it,” says Galahad, having recently returned from a week at John Severs’ Vista Boxing Gym in La Nucia, Spain. “Things like this happen in life and you have to deal with it.

“People are sometimes out for two or three years through injury. They can’t train or do anything for a lot of that time. But my situation wasn’t like that. I was still able to keep ticking over. Even the great Muhammad Ali was out the ring for three years and he came back to do amazing things.

“I didn’t go on lads’ holidays or start messing around and drinking. I didn’t do any of that. I just stayed in the gym and kept training and developing as a fighter.

“When I get back fighting top opposition, you’ll see all the stuff I’ve been working on. I didn’t let that time go to waste. I’ve progressed a lot.

“If anything, I feel better now than I did two years ago. I feel more developed and more rounded as a fighter.

“I want to be fighting for titles again as soon as possible. I know I have to build myself back up, and go through a couple of routine fights, but, if you ask me, I’m ready for titles now. If you’ve been there once, you can get there again.”

Once back in the title mix or, indeed, in possession of a belt or two, Galahad, 26, hopes to lure either Carl Frampton or Scott Quigg into a lucrative, all-British dust-up.

“For any of us to make big money, we all have to fight each other,” he explains. “There are no other big fights in these lower weight-classes. The fights in the UK between UK fighters are the fights that make sense right now.

“We’ll have to see what happens with Carl Frampton. He’s moved to featherweight and is about to fight Leo Santa Cruz. I don’t see him winning that fight, I think he’ll get stopped, but I wish him well.

“Scott Quigg will always try and avoid me. In fact, Scott Quigg will try and avoid anyone who is half decent. In his last fight (with Frampton) he got badly exposed. He says he wants to fight (Guillermo) Rigondeaux and this guy and that guy, but, when he gets back fighting again, I guarantee you he won’t be fighting big names or dangerous guys. He always name-drops the good fighters in the division and then ends up fighting some guy nobody knows.”

In February, however, Quigg did face Frampton in a world title unification fight. It was a spectacle Galahad, 19-0 (10 KOs), found tough to stomach.

“It was a contender for the worst pay-per-view main event in history,” he says. “The only ones that rival it are Tony Bellew’s rematch with Nathan Cleverly and David Haye’s fight with Audley Harrison.

“Frampton and Quigg talked it up for years and then got in there and were both scared to lose. Neither of them did a thing for twelve rounds. There were no risks taken. There was no attempt to provide entertainment or make a statement. They were both just happy to get paid. Fights like that give this sport a bad name.”

*** For tickets to REPEAT OR REVENGE: Fury vs. Klitschko 2, please visit eventim.co.uk or call 0844 847 8000 ***

Doors open 18.30 first fight 19.00

GEORGE JAGO VS. MARIO PETROV
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Welterweight Contest

JOE FITZPATRICK VS. JORDAN ELLISON
4 A 3 Minute Rounds Lightweight Contest

CHARLIE DRISCOLL VS. FONZ ALEXANDER
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Lightweight Contest

SANJEEV SAHOTA VS. SILVIJE KEBET
4 X 3 Minute Rounds International Super-Lightweight Contest

SAMMY MCNESS VS. EVALDAS KORSAKS
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Welterweight Contest

ARCHIE SHARP VS. REYNALDO CAJINA
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Lightweight Contest

BOY JONES JNR VS. RUSS MIDGLEY
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Featherweight Contest

JOHNNY COYLE VS. LEE GILLESPIE
8 X 3 Minute Rounds Welterweight Contest

DARRYLL WILLIAMS VS. ADAM JONES
10 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Middleweight Contest

LAKELAND, FL. (June 8, 2016) – Undefeated Dauren Yeleussinov (5-0, 4 KOs) battles New York’s Devaun Lee (7-2, 3 KOs) in an eight-round middleweight bout that highlights undercard action on Sunday, June 12 from the Lakeland Center in Lakeland, FL.

The June 12 PBC on Bounce TV show is headlined by a battle between exciting welterweights Phil Lo Greco and Joseph Elegele. Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT and will feature unbeaten Australian prospect Steve Lovett and tough contender Craig Baker in a light heavyweight showdown. PBC – The Next Round will include several special tributes to Muhammad Ali and his tremendous impact on boxing throughout the telecast.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by King’s Promotions, are priced at $75, $50 and $35, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.thelakelandcenter.com or by calling 888-397-0100 and from the Lakeland Center Box Office by calling 863-834-8111 or visiting between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Additional action features unbeaten Miami prospect Harold Calderon (9-0, 5 KOs) in a six-round junior middleweight attraction, undefeated Philadelphia prospect David Gonzalez (7-0-2, 2 KOs) in a six-round junior welterweight fight and Groveland, Florida’s Amos Cowart (11-1-1, 9 KOs) in eight-rounds of lightweight action against Justin Savi (28-5-2, 18 KOs) out of Benin.

Rounding out the night of fights are Orlando’s Christian Camacho (1-1) against veteran Anthony Napunyi (14-19, 7 KOs) in four-rounds of featherweight action, Orlando-prospect Craig Duncan (5-1-1, 4 KOs) in a six-round super middleweight fight against unbeaten Miami-native Victor Darocha (7-0-1, 6 KOs) and the pro debut of Lakeland’s Emmanuel Bermudez against Randy Heddericks (0-5) in a four-round welterweight tilt.

An experienced amateur out of Berezino, Kazakhstan, Yeleussinov now fights out of Brooklyn where he has served as a sparring partner for middleweight world champion Daniel Jacobs. Since turning pro in 2014, the 30-year-old has stopped four of his five opponents inside the distance. He will take on the Queens-native Lee who comes off back-to-back victories over previously unbeaten fighters including his March victory over Chris Galeano.

LO GRECO VS. ELEGELE FIGHT WEEK MEDIA SCHEDULE
*All Times Are Eastern*

Saturday, June 11

5:00 p.m. OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN
Lakeland Center – Room 5
4:30 p.m. – Media Arrival
5:00 p.m. – Weigh-In Begins

Sunday, June 12

6:00 p.m. LAKELAND CENTER DOORS OPEN
701 Lime Street
Lakeland, FL 33815

6:30 p.m. FIRST BOUT

9:00 p.m. BOUNCE TV BROADCAST BEGINS

CREDENTIAL DISTRIBUTION
Fight night credentials can be picked up from the box office beginning at 6 p.m. Proper personal photo ID (Driver’s license or passport) is required for credential pick-up. To apply for media credentials please email Marc Abrams at phillyboxing@gmail.com.

# # #

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

Bounce TV is the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and more. Bounce TV has grown to be available in more than 93.5 million homes across the United States and 93% of all African American television homes, including all of the top AA television markets. Among the founders of Bounce TV are iconic American figures Martin Luther King, III and Ambassador Andrew Young.

For local channel location, visit BounceTV.com.

# # #

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

Bounce TV is the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and more. Bounce TV has grown to be available in more than 93.5 million homes across the United States and 93% of all African American television homes, including all of the top AA television markets. Among the founders of Bounce TV are iconic American figures Martin Luther King, III and Ambassador Andrew Young.

For local channel location, visit BounceTV.com.

HBO Boxing lights up Broadway on the eve of New York’s Puerto Rican Day Parade when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: ROCKY MARTINEZ VS. VASYL LOMACHENKO AND FELIX VERDEJO VS. JUAN JOSE MARTINEZ is seen SATURDAY, JUNE 11 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from The Theater at Madison Square Garden, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: June 12 (11:30 a.m.) and 13 (10:30 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: June 12 (3:30 p.m.) and 14 (11:35 p.m.)

The doubleheader will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO and HBO On Demand.

The 12-round main event is a spectacular junior lightweight showdown featuring titleholder Rocky Martinez (29-2-3, 17 KOs) in the second defense of his crown versus the heralded Vasyl Lomachenko (5-1, 3 KOs). Hailing from Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, Martinez, 33, is ring-tested and willing to meet any challenge. Lomachenko, 28, had a brilliant amateur career, winning two gold medals as a member of the Ukrainian Olympic team. Since turning pro, he has battled elite competition, capturing a featherweight world title.

The opening bout pits fan favorite Felix Verdejo (21-0, 14 KOs) against Juan Jose Martinez (25-2, 17 KOs) in a ten-round lightweight showdown. The gem of Puerto Rico’s thriving boxing program, Verdejo, 22, calls San Juan home and is a fixture on the New York boxing scene. Martinez, 29, who hails from Mexico City, is riding a six-bout winning streak in the 135-pound division.

Launched 20 years ago, HBO BOXING AFTER DARK was the network’s initial platform for a host of exciting talents, including Floyd Mayweather, Arturo Gatti, Marco Antonio Barrera, Fernando Vargas, Terence Crawford, Felix Verdejo, Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin.

The weekend is packed with boxing events: Sunday, June 12 the International Boxing Hall of Fame will induct a new class of members. Included is HBO unofficial scorer Harold Lederman, who joined the network in 1986. He also served for 44 years as an accomplished boxing judge.

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

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

The executive producer of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Thomas Odelfelt director, Johnathan Evans.
® HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

Historically, west Belfast is an area synonymous with explosions and native son Joe Fitzpatrick is intent on detonating one when he debuts on the mainland at the York Hall tomorrow evening.

Dubbed ‘The Dragon’, the 5ft 11in southpaw has burnt out all four pro opponents to date in swift fashion and will be hoping for a similar incineration when he squares off with Seaham’s very decent Jordan Ellison – a man yet to be stopped – over four rounds in east London.

Last month, fight writer Glynn Evans called up the 21 year old to reminisce and prophesise.

How did you first become interested in boxing?
Dad’s been a boxing coach for about 40 years and, when I was as young as four or five, he took me to the Immaculata gym in west Belfast where (1956 Olympic medallist and world bantamweight champion) John Caldwell and (ex British featherweight champion) Martin Lindsay had boxed as amateurs. I still train there today and Martin is one of my coaches.

What can you tell us about your amateur career?
I had 150 odd amateur fights, and I’d estimate that I won about 130. Over 50 would have been internationals. I travelled the world, Washington DC twice, Spain, Russia….everywhere. I first boxed for Ireland when I won a multi-nations over in Finland when I was just 11 years old. Shortly after, I got a points decision over England’s Jack Bateson (a future European Championships medallist). I was the first to beat him.

Across various age groups, I won six All-Ireland titles and three Ulster Senior titles, one at 52kg, the last two at 60kg. I never won the All-Ireland Seniors but beat Sean McComb from the Holy Trinity twice and he went on to win two All-Irelands.

At the European Juniors in Dublin, I got a bronze medal, beaten by one point against the Russian in the semi, and I picked up a bronze at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man, losing to an Aussie.

I also got a silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The Scot, Charlie Flynn beat me by unanimous decision in the final. I didn’t box well. I’d been up late the night before and also the nerves got to me. There were 10,000 Scottish fans screaming for him. That was probably my amateur highlight but I knew it should’ve been gold.

Why did you opt to turn pro?
Last year, I picked up a hand injury so couldn’t enter the All-Irelands to stake my claim for the Olympic qualifiers so I opted to turn pro instead. No regrets.

How have you acclimatised to the professional code?
I get lots of good sparring with the likes of Jamie Tennyson, Paul Hyland Jr, James Fryers plus Tyrone McKenna who’s a couple of weights heavier. In the amateurs I messed about a lot and didn’t have a very tight guard but you can’t get away with that in the pros.

Thus far as a pro you’ve blitzed all four opponents inside 10 rounds. What’s the secret behind the firepower?
This may surprise people but I really wasn’t much of a puncher in the amateurs. It’s just that I train far harder and, as a result, have become stronger. The smaller (pro) gloves allow you to punch faster as well as harder. I still consider myself more of a boxer than a fighter.

What are your goals for the rest of 2016?
I don’t want to suffer from the inactivity that blighted Martin (Lindsay)’s career.
In addition to Thursday, I’d like at least another two fights this year then hopefully, I’d like to think about fighting for eliminators and titles in 2017. I desperately want to fight (Commonwealth Games conqueror) Charlie Flynn for a pro title sometime in the future because I know I’ve got the potential to beat him. I’m the better boxer. I just wasn’t focussed last time.

Ultimately, what do you hope to achieve out of boxing?
I’m a big Celtic (FC) fan but used to play Gaelic sports and ultimately I’d love to fight for a world title before 40,000 at Casement Park (home ground of Antrim), up the Falls Road. Like all young fighters, it’s my dream to become a world champion and I’m determined to make it happen.

How do you pass your time, away from boxing?
For the past two years, I’ve been a committee member of the Divis Residential Support Team. We do a lot of youth and community work, help the elderly, stuff like that. We address anti-social behaviour, clean up graffiti and paint over it.

Finally, what can punters expect from Joe Fitzpatrick tomorrow night?
Having only fought on small hall shows back home I can’t wait to show what I can do on the mainland and to all the BoxNation viewers.

Essentially, I’m a long, rangy southpaw who loves a scrap. Being so tall, uppercuts are probably my best shots. I think fans will enjoy that I’m hard to hit and like a fight. I guarantee I won’t be boring

Essex light-welter Charlie Driscoll gatecrashes the pro ranks tomorrow evening safe in the knowledge that he has already scalped domestic leader Jack Catterall in the amateur code, writes Glynn Evans.

Eldest son of top grade ex pro Mickey Driscoll, the 22 year old south London native, now based in South Ockendon, was a five time national junior titlist and regular England representative, prior to penning a pro deal with promoter Frank Warren in January.

Tomorrow evening at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, the stylish, all-action box fighter kickstarts a pro career that he hopes will be similarly decorated.

How did you first become interested in boxing?
My Dad Michael won three or four national titles and boxed for England as an amateur but gave up a promising pro career (just four losses in 23) to start a family. He never pushed me into it and as a kid I was playing football for Tottenham and Millwall schoolboys.
When I was 11, I had a cousin who was repeatedly getting kicked out of schools. My dad suggested boxing at the West Ham Boys Club to calm him down but the cousin refused to go alone so I tagged along. I loved it so ditched the football, no regrets. The cousin gave up after three sessions!

What did you achieve in the amateur code?
I had my first amateur fight, aged 12, just three months after entering the gym. (Coach) Mickey May had a massive influence on me; one of a kind! I won the first of my three national schoolboys titles within seven months. That was probably the highlight of my boxing life. I was crying afterwards, really emotional.

I also won two Junior ABA titles and got to the finals of the CYPs. I won and lost against (top pro prospect) Jack Catterall, a strong southpaw and a lovely fella. One time I boxed him and won, one time I fought him and lost. Back then, Jack was efficient but basic, nothing like the puncher he is now. Perhaps we can meet again for a lot of money a few years down the line.

As a senior I went in the senior ABAs three times. In 2015, I finally won the London title representing the Lynn club, after losing twice losing in the final. Eventually I lost to Alfie Price, my good friend from West Ham, in the English quarters.

I never really got involved with the Team GB set up but, from the age of 15, I boxed for England seven or eight times. All told, I won 52 of my 61 bouts but lost faith in the amateurs when I wasn’t notified that a national training camp had been cancelled.

What role has your father played in your career?
For the first two or three years, Dad just watched as a parent but Mickey May asked him to help out and he became involved in our careers. My younger brothers Sid (17) and Vinnie (14) have both won national schoolboy titles. Dad had a strong pro and amateur background and could always relate to me, knew when to mess about and when to be serious. Like Mickey May, he’d get you to walk through walls. Today, Dad’s head coach with the England schools set up.

As a pro you’ll be coached by ex amateur trainer Sam Mullins. What does he add?
I moved to the Lynn ABC in Camberwell when I was 20 because I had work commitments in south London and Sam’s trained me ever since. He tells you straight, doesn’t let any mistakes go unchecked and he never overcomplicates things. He’s good technically, very focussed and a great motivator, never frightened to give you a rocket up your arse!

How do you pass your time away from boxing?
I work for a plumber’s merchants who kindly sponsor me. Away from the gym, I enjoy family time, watching my younger brothers play football. I was brought up supporting Millwall but these days prefer to watch good football on the tele!

On Thursday, you finally make your pro debut over four rounds against 28 year old Newark hard case Fonz Alexander (stopped just three times in 36 pro fights). Why should York Hall fans keep an eye out for Charlie Driscoll?
I intend to bring something different. My style is fast paced and exciting. Fans will see an adaptable fighter. I can vary to whatever is in front of me. I’m a tall, upright boxer but I cut the ring down with high hands if I need to. I intend to go over whoever is in front of me.

Professional boxing is a new ladder to climb. Ideally, I’d like to fight five times this year and just let the Ws add up. Titles will then progress naturally.

New York, June 8, 2016 – Smithsonian Channel will honor the life and legacy of Muhammad Ali this week with the airing of two programs about the man who transcended his sport to become one of the world’s most beloved public figures. Encore presentations of LIVES THAT CHANGED THE WORLD: MUHAMMAD ALI and SPORTS DETECTIVES: ALI’S GOLD MEDAL will air throughout this week.
LIVES THAT CHANGED THE WORLD: MUHAMMAD ALI
Thursday, June 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT; Friday, June 10 at 5:00 p.m. ET/PT, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT; Saturday, June 11 at 3:00 p.m. ET/PT; Sunday, June 12 at 5:00 p.m. ET/PT
No one had seen a heavyweight fighter with such speed and grace, nor heard one that spoke like a poet. And no one expected him to fly in the face of authority and risk everything for his beliefs. Hear these stories from the people closest to Ali – those who witnessed his life and who, in turn, were inspired to take bold actions on their own.

SPORTS DETECTIVES: ALI’S GOLD MEDAL
Friday, June 10 at 4:00 p.m. ET/PT, 6:00 p.m. ET/PT and 10:00 p.m. ET/PT
In his biography Muhammad Ali tells the story of what happened to his Olympic gold medal from the 1960 Rome Olympics: Disgusted by being refused service in a Louisville diner, he tossed the medal into the Ohio River, making it an enduring symbol of his struggle for Civil Rights. But is that story true, or simply part of the legend of Muhammad Ali?

Smithsonian Channel™, owned by Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where curiosity lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing entertainment across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME® with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to ` Among the network’s offerings are series including Aerial America, Million Dollar American Princesses, The Weapon Hunter, Mighty Ships, Mighty Planes and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include Civil War 360, 9/11: The Heartland Tapes; MLK: The Assassination Tapes and The Day Kennedy Died. Find out more at www.smithsonianchannel.com. Smithsonian Networks also operates Smithsonian Earth™, through SN Digital LLC., a new subscription video streaming service delivering spectacular original nature and wildlife content.
Smithsonian Channel: It’s Brighter Here
www.smithsonianchannel.com

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (June 8, 2016) – Welterweight world champion Keith Thurman opened training camp to media today in St. Petersburg as he prepares to defend his title against former world champion Shawn Porter on Saturday, June 25 in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT with a featherweight world title showdown between current champion Jesus Cuellar and former three-division world champion Abner Mares.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $49 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

Born and raised in the area, Thurman worked out at St. Pete Boxing Club along with longtime trainer Dan Birmingham as he prepared for his primetime battle against the strong and dangerous Porter.

Here is what the participants had to say Wednesday:

KEITH THURMAN

“Muhammad Ali opened up the door for so many people. Michael Jordan changed the game in our era, but Ali did it so long ago. He showed people that boxing is a great sport and can be the most entertaining sport in the world.

“For me, it’s almost like a dream come true. It’s surreal. I remember at an early age in boxing saying, ‘I want to be the guy that brings boxing back.’ I’m really blessed to be where I am in my career. For all the fighters who could end up on this stage, I’m proud that I’ve been chosen.

“I’ve always considered myself a knockout artist. Back to when I was a teenager knocking out grown men in headgear. Ever since then, I’ve been dropping people like a bad habit.

“I love being a power-puncher. My favorite fighter of all time is Mike Tyson. One of my goals that I set when I was a kid was to have more knockouts than Mike Tyson throughout my career.

“I’m ready for Shawn Porter. We’re going to box harder, box stronger and box better. I will be the better man.

“Training is the fundamentals of getting one prepared. We’ve always known that Shawn Porter was going to come into this fight in tremendous shape. That’s what his training methods are all about. But the Energizer Bunny has never been hit by Keith Thurman, and I’m pretty sure I could stop it in its tracks.

“I’m going for the knockout. I’ve stated it before. My hands are itching for a knockout. I’m ‘One Time,’ all the time. That’s my philosophy. Every single time I step into the ring I’m looking for the knockout. We don’t get paid for overtime.

“This is an opportunity to showcase our talents and our skills to the world. The winner will have an opportunity to be the head guy in the sport. I’ve always wanted to have a legacy in the sport of boxing.

“I want to be the undisputed welterweight champion of the world. That’s my ultimate goal. There have only been so many in the history of boxing. I want to be a part of that history.”

DAN BIRMINGHAM, Thurman’s Trainer

“Keith is a guy who deserves to be on this stage. He has a lot of experience and he’s come into his own. This is the kind of thing that happens when you work hard.

“Life happens. Keith was involved in the accident and so we took the necessary rest. He saw the right doctors and we’re back now. We’re ready for Shawn Porter.

“We’re constantly conditioning. We’re working on attacking his style. He’s a short, come-forward brawler who’s going to try to come into Keith’s chest and make it a war. We’re making out adjustments.

“Keith has to be busier, more in charge fighter. He has to work off of his jab and then his power will keep Porter at bay.”

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Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @KeithFThurmanJr, @ShowtimeShawnP, @AbnerMares, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.facebook.com/BarclaysCenter.

LOS ANGELES (June 8, 2016) – Undefeated World Ranked Heavyweight Contender and 2012 U.S. Olympian Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale (17-0, 15 KOs) participated in an open media workout at Crossroads Boxing Gym in Ontario, Calif., on Tuesday afternoon ahead of his world title challenge against IBF Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua (16-0, 16KOs) on Saturday, June 25 on SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® from The O2 in London, live on SHOWTIME.

Joining Breazeale at the media workout was his trainer Manny Robles.

DOMINIC BREAZEALE

On the passing of Muhammed Ali…

“Muhammed Ali was a huge inspiration. Heavy hearts when great ones pass away like that. He was a wonderful man. I never had the opportunity to meet him, but I did meet some of his kids, Layla Ali being one of them.

“Ali was a very inspirational type of individual. You go back and watch some of his fights; I was way too young to see him fight in his prime but I’ve seen the recordings and seen the video footage. Everyone says he did everything wrong but everything right. It’s just phenomenal.

“One of the things I was able to take from watching him fight was his jab. Sometimes he’d beat guys hands down with just his jab.”

On AIBA’s position on pros to fight in Olympics…

“I think it’s a good thing and a bad thing. AIBA’s doing a good job bringing the councils together and generating a new buzz for the sport. It might be a little too late for some of the professional fighters to get themselves together to compete for their country. I like the fact that they’re taking the head gear off because that’s the next step after the Olympics. You go into the pros and there’s not going to be any more padded gloves or head gear that you’re wearing so that’s a good thing. As far as the pros, I don’t see any successful pros joining and entering into an amateur competition, but for those that didn’t get a chance to compete in the Olympics they might.”

On competing in the Olympics…
“I have definitely considered it. But I’ve got a fight coming up.

On his opponent Anthony Joshua…

“I think, in general, he’s kind of had a little bit of a stepping stone as far as fighting in the Olympics in his backyard, having the judges there in his backyard. I don’t know if you saw the fight but when he fought in that final match for the Gold Medal, I was sitting third row and I hands down believe that (he lost). But you know, when you’ve got judges on your side, in your own country, Olympics in your own country, it looks better when the home native wins.

“Even as a professional, he fought a guy in Charles Martin that really didn’t show up fight night. Charles Martin himself had an easy road and path to the title with the whole slip and fall against Glazkov. When you think of a heavyweight champion you want to make sure he’s fought the best, and I think that’s why Joshua has chosen me as his opponent to defend against. That’s what he plans on getting out of the situation if he can make it through the 12 rounds. I plan on putting on some extreme pressure and taking Joshua to a new level of boxing, and we’ll find out June 25.”

On what it means to get a shot at a title…

“I think Joshua’s thinking of me as a stepping stone and he’s going to be sorry about that. He’s just wrong. I mean, he’s fighting a guy at 6-foot-7, 255 pounds that brings the pressure and a great pace from round-to-round. I’m one of those guys that I might take a shot, I might work some defense, I might work a strong jab.

“Either way, I’m going to make it a fight. All of my opponents have been down on the canvas and I don’t think Joshua is going to come shy of that as well.

“I’m going in as the underdog, I’m going into an arena with 20,000 opposing fans. I’ve been picked as the smaller guy in the ring, by the IBF as a stepping stone and I feel like my back is against the wall. I’m going to come out fighting.”

On what it would mean to bring the title home to the U.S…

“To go over and win in London the IBF title is a major stepping stone I plan on achieving, and then I plan on continuing to go after all the titles.

“My mindset has definitely changed. This is an opportunity I have been working for the last eight years. I dabbled around in boxing young as a 23-year-old, and here I am at 30 getting ready to turn 31 and it’s progressively getting better and better, day after day, camp after camp, fight after fight. The situation that I’m in now mentally is just different compared to some of my fights in the past. My confidence level is through the roof. And physique-wise I feel great.”

On what it would mean to become champion…

“It’s everything wrapped into one. It’s definitely one of those stepping stones. I’m not just going to be settled winning the IBF title. Right now that’s the mission at-hand and the goal to accomplish, but to become champion is everything. All those hard days, those times you want to run get up early in the morning or run Mt. Baldy Saturday afternoon when everyone else is sleeping in. It’ll all pay off that night when my hand’s raised.”

On how he will approach dealing with Joshua in the early rounds of the fight…

“I want him to feel uncomfortable at all given times of the fight, every second of every round. Yes, he’s got rid of a lot of his guys in the earlier rounds, he hasn’t into deep waters. Do I want to see him go into uncharted territory? Of course, without a doubt. I’ve been there, I know what it feels like and I’ve done it several times now. At the same time, I’m not going to let an opportunity pass me. If I see something I can take in the first, second round I’m definitely going to get him out of there.”

On winning his fight over Amir Mansour after getting knocked down …

“It’s just another confidence booster. It’s one thing to finish a guy in the first round with three punches or something like that. It’s another thing to finish a guy in the sixth, seventh round with a combination of shots and finally you come out of an experienced fight with a guy like Amir Mansour where he puts you down on the canvas in the second and you’re thinking to yourself ‘damn what did I get myself in to?’ and you come back, battle back and you end up breaking the man’s jaw.

“”Whether people are going to say, ‘Amir was going to beat you, he was ahead on the cards,’ then again he’s got a broken jaw and he’ll probably never fight again. It’s one of those things. I can go to bed at night thinking to myself, you know what, that’s another mission accomplished, another stepping stone, let’s move on to the next one.

“It gives me something to work on. I know I’ve been down on the canvas, I know I was able to come back and be very successful from it. Anytime you get a win of that matter where you get a guy, break him down, break him down where he quits on the stool it’s a huge confidence booster. It makes you understand as an athlete or as a professional boxer that you’ve got punching power, you just broke another man’s jaw.”

On fighting in the UK…

“For me, I think my football background is going to come in hand when fighting on the road in London. Anytime you get on the football field and you play quarterback, let’s say you’re down by 20-30 points and all the fans are booing, throwing popcorn at you, there’s nothing that you can teach a man or an individual to gear up for a situation like that. But I’ve been there, done that. Fighting in front of 20,000 fans will be nothing new for me.”

On if he’d like to unify…

“Oh yeah, without a doubt. That’s the overall plan and goal. Everyone keeps telling me fight it round after round, match after match, and at this point I’m fighting it title after title. So I’m going to get this title and turn around in the next couple of weeks and announce hopefully another title defense and unify a couple different times. That would be great.”

On the difference in the current popularity of the heavyweight division from past years…

“I think the heavyweight division is getting ready to change. With individuals like myself, Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury, we have guys who are characters who bring a lot of charisma to the division. That’s something that we need. Yes, we are athletes but in the end we are entertainers and we want to see a show. I’m the type of guy that brings a show every single time I fight. It’s action-packed from the opening bell to the end, and fight fans are looking for that. And that’s what is going to resurrect the heavyweight division.”

What it means to go back and fight in the UK…

“It means a lot to get a chance to fight in the UK again. I get a chance to put closure on a door that’s still open. To go there and fight in the 2012 Olympics and come out with one loss; a lot of hard work was put into preparing for my amateur competition.

“Then again I do understand and believe I’m a completely different fighter — not only am I a professional but I no longer fight an amateur style. I would consider myself a knockout artist with some pretty good punching power and that’s what I plan on showing the UK fans and my U.S. following. It’s a chapter that needs to be closed and I plan on doing that.’’

On how much it means to him to fight for the title…

“I think it’s going to beautiful. It’s going to be great to go back to where my amateur career ended and beat the guy who won the gold medal. That’s going to be great. And then, on top of that, take away more hardware with the IBF heavyweight title. You couldn’t ask for anything better. That’s why I keep saying that it’s a blessing in disguise. It would be different if I was just fighting a typical heavyweight who just recently won the belt and is defending it but I’m fighting the heavyweight champ as well as a gold medalist.”

On fighting someone of Joshua’s size and if poses any complications…

“I’ve sparred guys that are bigger than me, I’ve sparred some guys smaller than me. I’ve fought some guys that have all been smaller than me. I’ve been the tallest thus far, but I don’t think the difference in a matter of inches is going to make that big of a difference. The guys I’m sparring with now are 10 times better than Anthony Joshua himself.

“I think that it’s going to be one of those situations that it is not going to be a difference of size or weight. It’s going to be the difference of skill and experience.”

On where he sees the heavyweight division going in the next three years…

“I believe that we’ve got a lot of heavyweights who are doing real well and are real successful in their situations, some being titleholders, some not. But I think it’s going to be a revolving circle. Me fighting Anthony Joshua, then going on to Deontay Wilder and Fury, Klitschko might even hang around for a while. Will it ever be compared to the Ali days or Riddick Bowe and the Holyfield days? I don’t know. Riddick Bowe and Holyfield had one great trilogy and I study it all the time. So it all depends on how much each fighter has left in him.”

On what it would mean to him to be a part of that next generation of greats…
“I’m already part of it. I’m already blossoming in to the situation. It’s a dream come true. It’s what you work your tail off for every day in the gym as well as on the road with strength and conditioning. It’s why you skip out on birthdays and holidays.”

On the altercation between him and Joshua at the London press conference…

“You know, Anthony Joshua came out there with the expectations of getting a little more of a warm or respectful welcoming. I was respectful; I stuck my hand out there and shook the man’s hand. They asked us to face off and we faced off and exchanged some words. I said my opinion and he didn’t like that, but that’s his problem. Like I told him, come fight night you can express yourself all you want. On June 25 bring your mouthpiece and gloves and it all happens in the square.”

MANNY ROBLES

“It’s been a great camp, we really started weeks before we got the call for the fight. Dominic took off about a month after the Mansour fight and then we got right back to work.

“He’s going to be much lighter for this fight than he was for Mansour, his conditioning is much better.”

“We leave on June 15 to get acclimated but he’ll be ready to go on June 25 and to be victorious.”

For more information, visit www.SHO.com/Sports, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports.

Also follow Dominic Breazeale on Twitter @TroubleBoxing, Anthony Joshua @AnthonyJoshua and use hashtag #JoshuaBreazeale to join the conversation.

LONDON (8 JUNE) Unbeaten heavyweight star Hughie Lewis Fury believes a potential rumble with IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua would bear a striking similarity to the night Muhammad Ali bemused and broke George Foreman in Zaire in 1974.

Twenty-one-year-old Fury, set for a tune-up bout on July 9 in Manchester, is currently recovering from illness, but, once back to full fitness, has his sights set on returning Joshua’s IBF title to the Fury family.

“I think when Joshua steps up to a higher level he’ll come undone,” says Hughie. “Joshua knows he can hit, he knows he’s one-dimensional and his team know all he needs is a stationary target, guys who can’t move. That’s why he looks good. That’s why he gets his knockouts. But put him in there with anybody who knows how to jab, move and actually box and I think he’ll look clueless very, very quickly.

“Let’s go back to the time when Muhammad Ali fought George Foreman. Everyone said Foreman was going to destroy Ali. They didn’t give Ali a chance. But look what movement did to power that night. After a few rounds, Ali took control and made Foreman look clueless. You can’t hit what you can’t see.

“I’m not saying I’m Ali, and I’m not saying Joshua is Foreman, but I think the same thing would happen to Joshua if he fought me. He’d be left hitting thin air and would get frustrated and exhausted.”

Though Fury, 20-0 (10 KOs), is happy to grab any of the available heavyweight titles, when he’s good and ready, he seems particularly irked by the way Joshua claimed his current belt.

“Joshua’s got very good management and he’s on a good rise,” says Hughie. “But I don’t class him as a world champion. He hasn’t fought anyone. He was gifted a belt. He didn’t win it. Tyson (Fury, cousin) had the belt taken off him and then Charles Martin won it because some guy (Vyacheslav Glazkov) got injured. The whole situation was a disgrace. It seems like anybody can get a belt these days.

“Charles Martin came over here, as a so-called world champion, took a shot, sat down and was smiling as he was counted out. That’s no world champion. Even if you’re no good, you at least put up a fight and give it a go. Put your heart and soul into it. At least then you have a bit of respect for the guy. But for him to go out the way he did was pathetic.”

The passing of Muhammad Ali on Friday night in Scottsdale, Arizona served as yet another reminder that they don’t make them quite like they used to. And Fury, a fan of Ali since he was a child, admits most of what he knows was taught to him by the The Greatest.

“He was an inspiration to us all,” he says. “I’ve always looked up to and admired Ali, especially in his fight with Foreman. That has always been one of my favourite fights to watch.

“That’s my style; movement and speed kills power. You don’t need to be the biggest puncher in the world. Even Muhammad Ali said that. You need to be clever and you need to be fast. I know I’m not a huge puncher, but I’m quicker and have more ring intelligence than these other heavyweights. It’s what is going to get me to the top.”

*** For tickets to REPEAT OR REVENGE: Fury vs. Klitschko 2, please visit eventim.co.uk or call 0844 847 8000 ***

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HBO Sports returns to Russia for the first time since 2013 to present world light heavyweight champ Sergey Kovalev’s title defense against challenger Isaac Chilemba when the fight is presented in the United States on MONDAY, JULY 11 at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT (same day tape-delayed) from the DIVS Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia, exclusively on HBO.

In his first fight in Russia since 2011, Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 KOs) defends his light heavyweight title for the ninth time when he faces Malawi’s Isaac Chilemba (24-3-2, 10 KOs) in a bout scheduled for 12 rounds. Kovalev, 33, has emerged as one of the sport’s most feared punchers defeating many of the best fighters in the light heavyweight division including Bernard Hopkins and Jean Pascal. He is ranked as one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound performers. Chilemba, 28, has never been stopped in his 29 professional bouts and will look to use his ring savvy to emerge victorious in his first career world title opportunity.

Kovalev vs. Chilemba will be televised from the DIVS Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia, on Monday, July 11 at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT, capping off an exciting weekend of international boxing on HBO which begins on Saturday, July 9 live at 5:00 p.m. ET/PT when world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury squares off with former titlist Wladimir Klitschko in Manchester, England.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (June 7, 2016) – A Team Promotions hosted an open media workout on Monday at Bix Six Academy in Providence for undefeated former world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (22-0, 15 KOs). The 2008 U.S. Olympian, of Providence, R.I., is finalizing preparations for this Saturday 12-round WBC Super Welterweight eliminator against Willie “The Great” Nelson (25-2-1, 15 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio, in one of three fights on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Banner Promotions, Inc., are priced at $85, $60, $45 and $35 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Turning Stone Box Office, by calling 877.833.SHOW, or online at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com).

Here’s what Andrade, who’ll also be risking his WBO International title, said Monday:

DEMETRIUS ANDRADE

Reflections of Muhammad Ali:

“Muhammad Ali certainly shook the world, and not only in boxing. He was colorful; nobody talked like him. He helped boxers, too. Ali is the reason Floyd (Mayweather, Jr.) is who he is because Ali set the bar high.

“As an entertaining boxer, Ali brought blacks and whites together and later he spread the word about religion, culture and his other diverse interests.

“What young boxer didn’t do the Ali Shuffle? I know I did, and taunted my opponents like him, too.”

About Pros in the Olympics:

“I’m for pros in the Olympics as long as an amateur, who has a few Olympic trials, has the first opportunity to qualify for the Olympics. Coming up in the amateurs, I fought grown men, some who had been Olympians a few times. I was 21 and some of the opponents were 34-35 and had already been Olympians one or two times. They had advantages in experience, power and skill. Unfortunately, Americans only have Olympic opportunities when they’re young amateurs.

“Would I go the Olympics now? Yes! The Olympics is the biggest thing on the planet. To represent the United States again, yeah, I’d do it now for the chance to win gold. But I do think headgear should be applied in amateur boxing, including the Olympics.”

On the 154-pound division:

“I’m putting myself in the best position to fight for the WBO or WBC title. There are rumors of Canelo fighting (WBO champion Liam) Smith. Let me fight Smith and the winner gets Canelo. Or let me fight Canelo with the winner getting Smith.

“I’m going to knock out the Charlo twins. Both guys have fought on SHOWTIME, so those fights shouldn’t be too difficult to make. Once I take care of business with the Charlo twins, I’ll fight Lara (WBA champion) to clean up the division.”

On Gennady Golovkin:

“I definitely want to fight Golovkin. Let me build myself up first, by cleaning out the 154-division, and then we’ll have a mega-fight with two different styles. GGG is known for his knockouts. I knock out people, too, but I’m a better boxer than him. It’ll be one of the biggest fights in the sport of boxing. I’m going to clean up the 154-division, make my reputation and then it’s a go with GGG.”

Relationship with his opponent Willie Nelson:

“We were in the U.S. amateurs together, but because we were in two different weight classes – he was 140-147 and I was 152 – there were no problems between us. We used to watch each other fight and watch other Americans box.

“Nelson is experienced having gone through the amateurs. He fought (Vanes) Martirosyan, who I beat (for the vacant WBO title by 12-round unanimous decision). He’s fought at this level. I know he’s tall, but I’m 6-foot-1, so our height difference isn’t serious.”

On returning to the ring:

“I’m pleased that we have this opportunity. SHOWTIME has given me this chance and now it’s up to me to prove I can backup what we said.”

For more information: Twitter: @AndradeATeam, @BooBooBoxing, @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports. Instagram: @BooBooATeam, www.Facebook.com.DemetriusAndrade

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8

6 p.m. FIGHTERS ARRIVALS
Location: Turning Stone Resort Casino-Winter Garden Lobby (In front of the waterfall)

THURSDAY, JUNE 9

11 a.m. FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE
Location: Turning Stone Resort Casino, Exit 33 Atrium (Located by P14)
5218 Patrick Rd, Verona, N.Y. 13478

11 a.m. Press Conference Begins

FRIDAY, JUNE 10

5 p.m. OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN
Location: Turning Stone Convention Center
Rooms: Seneca, Onondaga, Cayuga and Tuscarora
5218 Patrick Rd, Verona, N.Y. 13478
4 p.m.- Fighter check-in
5 p.m.- Fighters On-scales

SATURDAY, JUNE 11

5 p.m. Doors Open
6 p.m. First Fight Begins
7 p.m. SHOWTIME EXTREME® Telecast Begins
9 p.m. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Telecast Begins

Media Credentials: Please pick up media credentials between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. in the Cypress Room. Valid ID required.

Post-Fight Press Conference will take place immediately after the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast concludes in the Cypress Room.

About Provodnikov – Molina

On Saturday, June 11, Ruslan Provodnikov (25-4, 18 KOs), a former WBO Junior Welterweight World Champion, and former world title challenger John Molina Jr. (28-6, 23 KOs), of West Covina, Calif., will face each other in the 12-round main event. In the co-feature, undefeated former 154-pound world champion and 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius Andrade (22-0, 15 KOs), of Providence, R.I., will face Willie Nelson (25-2-1, 15 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio, in a 12-round WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator.

Opening the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader is a battle for the vacant WBC Lightweight World Championship between No. 1 ranked Dejan Zlaticanin (17-0, 10 KOs), of the Southeastern European country of Montenegro, and WBC No.-ranked

Also on June 11, former world title challengers, Willie Monroe Jr, (19-2-0, 6 KOs), and John Thompson, (17-2-0, 6 KOs,) will meet in a 10-round middleweight bout in the main event on SHOWTIME EXTREME® (7 p.m. ET/PT). In the SHOWTIME BOXING on SHO EXTREME® opener, heavyweight Andrey Fedosov (28-3, 23 KOs) takes on Mario Heredia (11-1, 9 KOs, 1-2 in WSB) in a 10-round heavyweight bout.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Banner Promotions, Inc., are priced at $85, $60, $45 and $35 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Turning Stone Box Office, by calling 877.833.SHOW, or online at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com).

Turning Stone Resort Casino is no stranger to hosting high caliber nationally televised boxing events. Last year, Turning Stone hosted the epic battle between Provodnikov and Matthysee, selected over arenas in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Miami. When Provodnikov returns to Turning Stone on June 11th, it will mark Turning Stone’s 18th nationally-televised boxing event, cementing the resort as a mecca for knockout fights. Located in Upstate New York, Turning Stone is an award-winning destination resort, offering world-class amenities including four hotels, 21 restaurants and dining options, two luxurious spas, five beautiful golf courses, and several bars, cocktail lounges and nightlife venues.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports.

Visit Banner Promotions at www.banner-promotions.com, follow on Twitter at @BannerBoxing, follow on Instagram at @BannerBoxing, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BannerPromotions, follow on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/banner-promotions-inc-?trk=biz-companies-cym, and watch on Youtube at www.youtube.com/user/bannervideo.

For Turning Stone Resort Casino: www.turningstone.com ; Twitter: @turningstone ; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TurningStoneResort/

LAS VEGAS (June 7,, 2016) – Some of tomorrow’s stars will be showcased this Friday night at the third installment of the “Knockout Night at the D” series, airing (11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT) live on CBS Sports Network from the outdoor Downtown Las Vegas Events Center (DLVEC).

An old-time grudge match between WBC United States (USNBC) lightweight champion Demond “Body Shot” Brock (11-3-1, 4 KOs) and former USNBC titlist Chuy “Hurrican” Gutierrez (14-0-1, 4 KOs) headlines the card in the 10-round main event.

The 35-year-old Brock, who fights out of Kenner, Louisiana, learned to box in the Louisiana State Penitentiary while he served a 14 ½-year sentence there for armed robbery. Gutierrez, a native of Mexico who fights out of Las Vegas, never lost his belt in the ring. The stage is set for this Las Vegas showdown, which is a crossroads fight in several ways with the winner climbing to the next level.

The “Knockout Night at the D” series, presented by the D Las Vegasand DLVEC, is promoted by Roy Jones Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions.

The 6-round co-feature pits undefeated Mexican junior middleweight prospects Rolando Garza (7-0, 5 KOs) and Erasmo Garcia (6-0, 4 KOs) in a televised fight. The TV opener finds a pair of unbeaten welterweight prospects, Las Vegas’ popular Jeremy “J-Flash” Nichols (4-0, 2 KOs) and New Mexico’s Adam Vasquez (5-0-1), squaring off in a 4-round bout.

Also fighting on the undercard in 4-rounders are Las Vegas’ pro-debuting Max Ornelas vs. San Antonio, Texas junior featherweight Robert Ledesma (1-4), 4-time Mexican National Champion Edgar Ramirez (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Los Angeles heavyweight Jonathan Rice (3-1, 2 KOs), and Los Angeles heavyweight Cashton Young (2-0, 1 KO) vs. Tracey Johnson (3-2-4), of Boston.

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $99.99 VIP ringside, $49.99 ringside, $24.99 and $14.99 general admission (seated), are on sale at www.Ticketmaster.com or www.DLVEC.com. Taxes and fees apply to all sold tickets.

Doors open at 5:00 p.m. PT with the opening bout scheduled at 6:15 p.m. PT.

The “Knockout Night at the D” series was developed in partnership with DLVEC and Neon Star Media.

CBS Sports Network is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 221 and Dish Network Channel 158. For more information, including a full programming schedule and how to get CBS Sports Network, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.

FITE will stream all of the June 10th “Knockout Night at the D” preliminary matches worldwide. In addition, the entire card may be watched on FITE APP outside of North America starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

TITLE Boxing is the official apparel and gloves partner for the “Knockout Night at the D” series.

Idea Design Studio is the main sponsor.

INFORMATION:

Websites: www.dlvec.com, www.thed.com, www.royjonesjrboxing.com, www.knockoutnightboxing.com

Twitter: @thedlasvegas, @dlvec, @DerekJStevens, @BoxingatheDLV, @RoyJonesJrBoxing

Instagram: @dlvec, @thedlasvegas, @RoyJonesJrBoxing

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/dlvec, www.Facebook.com/thedlasvegas

Follow these fighters on Twitter: @BodyShotBrock, @ElHurrican88, @jflashgang
For More Information:
“Knockout Night at the D”: Bob Trieger, (978) 590-0470, bobtfcp@hotmail.com, @FightPublicist

BETHLEHEM, PA. (June 7, 2016) – Former title challenger Edner Cherry (34-7-2, 19 KOs) and quick-fisted contender Lydell Rhodes (23-1-1, 11 KOs) will compete in the 10-round lightweight main event of Premier Boxing Champions TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 and BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on Tuesday, June 28 from Sands Bethlehem Events Center in Bethlehem, Pa.

Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features unbeaten featherweight
Omar “Super O” Douglas (16-0, 11 KOs) battling hard-hitting Cuban Alexei “The Hurricane” Collado (19-1, 17 KOs) in a 10-round bout.

“I know Rhodes is a good fighter and I am preparing for a tough fight,” said Cherry. “I am still pushing towards a world title. I learned that when you fight for a title, you have to knock out the champ. I’m not giving up. I’m still here and think this will be a great fight. This is what boxing needs, two great fighters going at it.”

“I have been waiting for a fight like this for a long time,” said Rhodes. “Cherry is a warrior who has never been stopped. I will be the first person to stop him. I have to go out and dominate against a guy who has fought many world champions. I believe if I do that, it will push me towards a world title shot.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by King’s Promotions, are priced at $108, $83 and $58, not including applicable service charges and taxes and are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

“This is a terrific show headlined by a great crossroads fight between Edner Cherry and Lydell Rhodes,” said Marshall Kauffman of King’s Promotions. “Cherry is looking for another title shot and with a win Rhodes will get right in the mix. This should be an outstanding night of fights in Bethlehem and on FS1 and FOX Deportes.”

Cherry, of Wauchula, Fla., is a former world title challenger who is 10-1 since 2009. His only blemishes since 2007 are losses to Timothy Bradley and Paulie Malignaggi at 140-pounds and his title challenge last October against Jose Pedraza in which he dropped a split decision. Cherry, who was born in the Bahamas, owns victories over Vicente Escobedo, Monte Meza Clay and Wes Ferguson and will look to take down a contender on his way to another title shot.

A multi-sport athlete who has competed in both boxing and mixed martial arts professionally, Oklahoma City’s Rhodes looks to rebound on June 28 from his first blemish at the hands of unbeaten Sergey Lipinets. The 28-year-old recorded four victories in 2014 including triumphs over Miguel Angel Huerta and John Nater before fighting to a draw in 2015 with Jared Robinson in addition to the fight with Lipinets.

An undefeated fighter out of Wilmington, Delaware, Douglas impressed in the TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS main event in December 2015 when he defeated contender Frank De Alba in a step up fight. The 24-year-old had already beaten Daniel Attah in 2015 and previously took down veterans Anthony Napunyi, Jean Javier Sotelo and Osnel Charles and he will again fight strong competition as he seeks a world title shot in the near future.

Fighting out of Miami but originally from Cuba, Collado turned pro in 2008 and was victorious in his first 18 pro bouts before a decision loss in 2014. The 28-year-old owns victories over veterans Edgar Riovalle, Franklin Varela and Jose Saez and most recently stopped Gyci Lorenzo in February.

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

Hackensack, NJ (June 7, 2016) – World Bare Knuckle Boxing heavyweight champion Bobby Gunn is deeply saddened by the passing of Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson.

For the last several years, rumors were circulating of a matchup between Gunn and the backyard fighting legend turned professional fighter.

The two had discussed a match and Gunn personally challenged Kimbo after his courageous come from behind victory over Ken Shamrock in June 2015. Due to what had been said about one another publicly, Gunn thought it may be an intense meeting. Surprisingly, it was the exact opposite.

“I thought there would’ve been a lot of animosity between us since the fight had been discussed and I was pretty adamant about facing him,” said Gunn. “The truth is, and you can see it in the video on YouTube, he was a very nice man. When the cameras were off, we ended up discussing how our sons were both up and coming fighters, our families and other things. At that point, I earned more respect for him as a human being than I ever would have if we fought.”

Last night, Gunn was notified that Kimbo was admitted to the hospital and in bad shape. Shortly thereafter, multiple outlets reported he passed away at 42. As a family man first and fighter second, Gunn was devastated.

“It was very sad to read that he passed, especially at such a young age and so quickly. He has six children and a loving wife that he left behind. Once you got past the rough street fighter, Kevin Ferguson was a very nice person and everybody who met him felt the same way. I’d like to send my condolences to his friends, fans and most importantly his family.

Gunn also plans to pay respects to Kimbo and his family in the ring.

In my next fight, I’ll be defending my bare knuckle championship against Shannon Ritch. The fight is scheduled to be near his hometown of Miami, Florida and I’ll be dedicating the defense to Kimbo Slice. I’d like to personally invite his family to attend the event. 305 forever.”

Saturday, July 23, 2016 ‘Comanche Boy’ George Tahdooahnippah (34-2-3, 24 Kos) will make his Las Vegas debut at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV on the Terrance Crawford – Viktor Postol HBO PPV undercard. Comanche Boy will be fighting 2012 Olympic gold medalist Ryota Muruta (10-0, 7 Kos) of Tokyo, Japan in a 10 round Middleweight bout. It will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

Tahdooahnippah said, “I want to thank my promoter, Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing for bringing me this fight. I have long awaited to fight in Las Vegas. But this is far from a vacation. I am fighting a dangerous opponent with power and an Olympic Gold Medalists. His Promoter, Top Rank has big plans for him. I am coming to shake up those plans and make Comanche Boy a house hold name!”

Joe DeGuardia, President of Star Boxing said, “I am looking forward to seeing George “Comanche Boy” on July 23rd in Las Vegas vs the Olympic Gold Medalist Murata. George has the heart of a true warrior and I expect his warrior pride will force Murata into deep waters!”

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Tecate and the motion picture “Hands of Stone,” tickets to Crawford vs. Postol, priced at $304, $204, $104, and $54, not including applicable service fees. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 1-888-9-AXS-TIX. Tickets will also be available for purchase at mgmgrand.com or axs.com. – See more at: http://www.toprank.com/news/boxing-promotions-crawford-postol-crawford-postol-features-2-of-boxings-best#sthash.Nmd39Xrd.dpuf

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the Hashtag #CrawfordPostol to join the conversation on Twitter.

Comanche Boy Promoter Star Boxing:

Star Boxing Inc. celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2012. The company has produced some of the most exciting and memorable boxing events in recent history. Star Boxing continues to work with and develop a number of very exciting world champions, world rated contenders and young prospects. Star Boxing is proud that is has consistently brought credibility, integrity, and exciting fights to the boxing industry. For more information on Star Boxing, visit their official website

at www.StarBoxing.com
follow on Twitter at @Star Boxing, Instagram at StarBoxing and Facebook.com/StarBoxing,

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (June 7th, 2016) — With Luis Felix forced to withdraw from his first official title defense due to injury, Ryan Sanders will step up to face a three-time Ultimate Fighting Championships veteran Friday at Twin River Casino.

Sanders (10-7, 1 KO), the Bangor, Maine, native who defeated Felix in March and was set to face the Providence, R.I., lightweight in a rematch June 10th, 2016 for Felix’s CES MMA Title, instead battles Long Island native Levan Makashvili (7-2-1, 5 KOs) in a three-round bout on the main card of “CES MMA 36” live on AXS TV Fight.

The Sanders-Makashvili fight joins a stacked lineup that also features the return of nine-time Bellator and three-time CES MMA vet Matt Bessette (18-7, 5 KOs) of Stafford Springs, Conn., rising East Providence, R.I., lightweight Nate Andrews (8-1, 5 KOs) and former Strikeforce and Bellator standout Josh LaBerge (10-5, 4 KOs) of Fall River, Mass.

Tickets for “CES MMA 36” are priced at $40.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesmma.com, www.twinriver.com, www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 401-724-2253/2254 or at the Twin River Casino Players Club.

Sanders appears on AXS TV for the second time since March after beating Felix in a non-title bout as a last-minute replacement for Waylon Lowe when Felix suffered a knee injury in the second round and was forced to verbally tap. The rematch would’ve been for Felix’s title; instead, Sanders faces Makashvili, who last fought in January on UFC on Fox 18 against Damon Jackson, a fight ruled a draw after Makashvili was deducted a point in the third round for an illegal strike.

The January fight against Jackson was Makashvili’s third UFC appearance since May of 2015. He amassed a 6-1 record before signing with the promotion last February, but his debut was pushed back three months when his opponent withdrew due to illness.

Sanders, who fought on the Bellator 93 undercard in 2013, carries a three-fight win streak into Friday’s event, which includes a win over regional standout Lucas Cruz. Sanders’ resume also includes a win over 15-time UFC vet Marcus Davis.

Also on the main card, Bessette faces Brazilian Jairo Soares (17-10, 2 KOs) in a featherweight bout. Bessette has rebounded nicely since his knockout loss to Lenny Wheeler at “CES MMA 30,” finishing each of his last three opponents within the first two rounds, including a first-round submission win over Taurean Bogguess at “CES MMA 33” in March.

Andrews, meanwhile, looks to keep the momentum going following the most impressive win of his career at “CES MMA 33” in March, a dominant second-round knockout of former CES MMA champion and UFC vet Julian Lane on national TV. On Friday, Andrews faces Oklahoma’s Luis Muro (4-1, 1 KO), who looks to rebound from his first career loss less than a month ago.

Lane, meanwhile, is looking to start a new win streak at “CES MMA 36,” but will first have to get through Medford, Mass., lightweight Lewis Corapi (6-2, 3 KOs). The Ohio native Lane, who is now 10-5-1, recently snapped his three-fight losing streak in April with a submission win over Antonio Castillo Jr.

Corapi hasn’t fought in more than a year and has yet to avenge his March of 2015 loss to Jay Bakanowski; he was scheduled to face Providence’s Keenan Raymond at “CES MMA 35” in April until Raymond sustained an injury the day of the fight.

Rounding out the main card, Fall River, Mass., native Josh LaBerge (10-5, 4 KOs) makes his third appearance with CES MMA in a lightweight bout against Maine’s Jonathan Lemke (5-3, 4 KOs). LaBerge earned a hard-fought unanimous decision win over 40-fight vet Ran Weathers at “CES MMA 35,” just his third fight since 2011.

Highlighting the stacked preliminary card is the professional debut of Providence bantamweight Marquise Brewster and the return of undefeated New Britain, Conn., flyweight Carlos Candelario (3-0, 1 KO).

Brewster, who earned a promotional contract with CES MMA following a victory in his final amateur bout on the undercard of “CES MMA 35” last month in Beverly, Mass., faces Vladimir Kazbekov (0-1) of Welland, Ontario, while Candelario, fresh off his thrilling 31-second knockout win over Luay Ashkar at “CES MMA 34” in April, battles Turtle Creek, Pa., native Roosevelt Archie (0-1).

Also on the preliminary card, featherweight James Grant Murrin (3-4, 2 KOs) looks to snap his two-fight losing streak when he takes on Long Island native and two-time CES MMA vet Thomas English (5-6, 2 KO), who last appeared at Twin River in January of 2015 against current UFC featherweight Kyle Bochniak; and heavyweights Dan Randall of Granby, Mass., and Marquis Allen of Mansfield, Ohio, make their professional debuts against one another in a three-round bout.

Dedham, Mass., featherweight Matt Tullos (1-0) faces Merab Dvalishvilli (2-2, 1 KO) of Long Island; Mashpee, Mass., welterweight Bobby Flynn (5-3, 1 KO) battles Queens native Kevin Horowitz (6-5); and Providence’s Kurtis Parisi makes his pro debut against 15-fight vet Hector Sanchez of Woonsocket, R.I., in a middleweight bout.

Flynn returns to the cage for the first time since August while Tullos makes his second appearance with CES MMA after winning his pro debut against Shan Bachok in March.

Visit www.cesmma.com, www.twitter.com/cesmma or www.facebook.com/ces.mma for more information and use the hashtag #CES36 to join the conversation.

LONDON (7 JUNE) By Peter Fury: We, like everyone else, got news of Muhammad Ali’s passing on Saturday morning. It hit us hard. The man was a living legend.

It’s always sad to lose a great champion and they don’t come much greater than Muhammad Ali. It was a sad day for everybody in boxing and everybody in the world.

As a little lad growing up, we always used to watch Ali on the TV or listen to his fights on the radio. He was a big part of our lives and a great ambassador for the sport; us young kids definitely looked up to him.

Tyson and Hughie also looked up to him the way we did. He was a gift passed down the generations. It didn’t matter whether you watched him during his prime or not. He was the kind of fighter who will never be forgotten. A great fighter and an even greater human being.

His win against George Foreman was absolutely amazing because the whole world were convinced he was going to get annihilated. The Joe Frazier fights also stick in my mind whenever I think of Ali. They showed the toughness of the man. He beat Frazier at his own game in the final fight, which is rightly considered one of the greatest fights of all-time.

His passing has reminded us all of what a tremendous champion he was and what a tremendous era he conquered. After all, that seventies heavyweight era is about as good as it gets.

Boxing is all about having different characters and getting these characters to establish rivalries. Back then, Ali had Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Sonny Liston, Ken Norton and Larry Holmes. They were all around at roughly the same time and it made Ali even greater because you are ultimately judged against your competition. He was up against some of the greatest heavyweights to ever set foot in a ring and, more often than not, he got the better of them.

Every generation has its own superstars. In the nineties we had Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis, and then, following that, we had the reign of the Klitschko brothers. Well, now, thanks to his win against Wladimir Klitschko in November, we’ve got a new era started by Tyson Fury. He has freshened things up and given the division a new look and a new feel. He has given it a new lease of life.

But his work is far from over.

I know he talks about retirement and leaving the sport early, but I’m pretty certain you’re going to see Tyson Fury around for a very long time.

*** For tickets to REPEAT OR REVENGE: Fury vs. Klitschko 2, please visit eventim.co.uk or call 0844 847 8000 ***

FOLLOW US ON ON TWITTER @HENNESSYSPORTS
For more information on Hennessy Sports:

www.hennessysports.com

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New York, NY (6/6/16) – DiBella Entertainment has promoted some of the biggest and most exciting boxing events at Foxwoods® Resort Casino in the last decade and now, the N.Y. based promotional company is proud to announce that it has partnered with Foxwoods to stage a summer boxing series.

The series will kick off next month, on Thursday, June 30th, with a special edition New England Broadway Boxing, headlined by Connecticut’s own undefeated, world-rated super bantamweight contender Luis Rosa (22-0, 10KO’s). The series will follow up with its second installment on Thursday, July 21st. The summer series will close out with its final edition sometime in the second half of August.

“Foxwoods is one of the great venues for boxing on the East Coast and our (DBE) home away from home in the New England area. We are thrilled to have partnered with our great friends at the Northeast’s premier resort destination to be doing a summer series, featuring some of boxing’s best talent as well as some of the most promising young fighters out of the New England area,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment.

“We are proud to continue to offer the most compelling, nationally-televised boxing events featuring the best fighters in the world. For nearly twenty five years, Foxwoods has been considered the ‘Fight Capital of the Northeast,’ and this Summer Boxing Series will only build upon that fact,” stated Felix Rappaport, President & CEO of Foxwoods Resort Casino. “In true Foxwoods fashion, boxing fans can expect nonstop action and excitement from the moment the bell rings.”

In addition to Rosa, DiBella Entertainment promotes some of the New England area’s most promising up-and-coming prospects and contenders, including top-rated, former world title challenger Edwin Rodriguez, Ryan Kielczweski, undefeated female Shelly Vincent, Danny Aquino, and recently signed amateur standouts Mykquan Williams and Anthony Marsella.

A complete list of the upcoming June 30th card will be announced shortly.

Tickets for the June 30th card are on sale now and are priced at $125, $75 and $45, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com and www.foxwoods.com or by visiting the Foxwoods’ Box Office. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

For additional information, you can visit www.dbe1.com, follow us on Twitter @loudibella @DiBellaEnt or like our fan page on facebook/DiBellaEntertainment.

Lou DiBella
Thank you all for joining us. As you know that we have a great fight card on Saturday, June 25, SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS presented by Premier Boxing Champions at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The main event between Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter for the welterweight championship is one of the most eagerly anticipated fights in all of boxing. And tickets have been selling very, very well.

We’re really lucky to have a co-feature of great significance and a tremendous, a really quality competitive co-feature bout between champion Jesus Cuellar and Abner Mares.

The televised coverage for the show begins at 9 p.m. Eastern time, 6 p.m, Pacific time with the featherweight world championship between Cuellar and Mares opening as the co-main event.

Tickets for the live event start at $42. They are on sale right now that you can purchase online by visiting Ticketmaster.com, Barclaycenter.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000. And they are available at the box office at Barclay Center and any Ticketmaster location.

The champion, Jesus Cuellar from Buenos Aires, Argentina, the WBA featherweight champion, is 28-1 with 21 KOs. He won the interim title in 2013. He was elevated to a full champion in 2015.

He’s made five successful defenses. He’s coming off a 12-round unanimous decision over Jonathan Quendo in his last fight at Barclays Center. He’s won 11 straight, just one loss in 2011.

He has his hands full with Abner Mares, a three-time world champion, former WBC featherweight champion, former WBC super bantamweight champion, former IBF bantamweight champion, coming off a 2015 Fight of the Year candidate when he lost the majority decision in a war to Leo Santa Cruz for the then-vacant WBA featherweight title.

One of boxing’s storied warriors, he has wins over Joseph Agbeko, Eric Morel, Anselmo Moreno, Daniel Ponce De Leon and Jonathan Oquendo. This is a tremendous fight and it would not be coming to, it would not be on CBS, it would not be SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS if not for the next gentlemen, and he’s the man that runs SHOWTIME Sports. I’d like to introduce you to Stephen Espinoza. Stephen.

Stephen Espinoza
Thanks, Lou. For this card, boxing is returning to CBS prime time for the first time in nearly 40 years. As most of you heard by now, the last CBS primetime boxing telecasts was Ali-Spinks in 1978.

And for an occasion this special, we wanted to make sure that we were representing the best that boxing has to offer and that’s what these two fights are. These matchups, these fighters, are the best that the sport has to offer.

We’re putting our best foot forward; both the main event and the co-main events features matchups of the top five in their divisions, Thurman and Porter and Cuellar and Mares.

With respect to this particular fight itself, I can’t really decide which of the two matchups I’m more excited about. Jesus Cuellar has clearly established himself with a great resume. He is a dangerous puncher.

Abner Mares, as you guys all have seen on SHOWTIME, is one of the most entertaining fighters in any weight class. And this is a matchup that features great styles, great boxers in the ring and very gracious competitors outside the ring. This, again, is the best the sport has to offer. We’re proud to be bringing it to you. Thank you, Lou.

L. DiBella
Thank you, Stephen. I’m going to start with the challenger to let him say a few words. I’ve been a big fan of this guy for a long time, one of the most exciting fighters in all of boxing.

Never been in a bad fight. Never given less than 100 percent. And he knows he has his hands full with Mr. Cuellar, but he’s looking to get his fourth world title. It’s my pleasure to introduce Abner Mares.

Abner Mares
How are you guys doing? I’m truly, truly blessed and really excited to be showcased on such a big card as Thurman and Porter against a champion like Jesus Cuellar, a great champion and in his prime, in his time, young, strong.

Just how I like them, man. These are the type of fights I like. I’ve never been in a bad fight.

Win or lose, I always give it my all. In this fight, it definitely won’t be any less. It’s going to be a tremendous fight, a fight that I’m looking forward to for myself, for my career, for my family because winning this fight will make me a four time world champion.

Not only that, the first time being in New York, taking this as a family trip as well and I’m really, really blessed and excited to be facing Jesus Cuellar.

It’s everything put together — a tremendous fight against the tremendous fighter on primetime. What more can you ask for? I’m really blessed, really excited and working my butt off so I can give you guys the best on June 25.

L. DiBella
Thank you, Abner. And now to the champion, Jesus Cuellar. He’s a WBA featherweight champion of the world, 28-1 with 21 KOs, Jesus Cuellar.

Jesus Cuellar
We’re here. We’ve been training for over two and half months already and grinding and training really hard for this fight so I’m ready for June 25.

Q
Is this kind of the way they would want it Abner, taking the toughest test available?

A. Mares
Definitely, definitely. It will grab people’s attention and that’s the key point I want to make, I’m the type of fighter that wants to leave his career known as the fighter that never took an easy route and faced the tough fighters at their moment, at their times.

And God willing, always came out on top. It’s not always going to be the same as my last fight, it was a great fight, a fight, against Leo that I didn’t win but I got the respect from people.

At the end of the day, that truly – you know, to me, that’s a title, to get the respect from the fans. So definitely, I’ve always chased the best and toughest opponent out there. No questions asked.

Q
What is that relationship with Robert Garcia like and do you feel like you have insider secrets on your opponent heading into this fight?

A. Mares
You know what, I’m going to be honest, I don’t, because we barely ever even talk about, what kind of mistakes Cuellar makes or anything like that.

It’s basically just a training camp, where we are just learning day by day with our sparring partners and me being a student and Robert Garcia just telling me basically how to fight a southpaw and in this situation a southpaw that he knows very well. But we’re not focusing on anything he saw that he knows about Cuellar.

It’s mainly tapes that we’ve seen, his last fight, a few of his last fights and just based off of that and I think just my talent and my experience will definitely help out in this fight. More than anything, it’s just both of our experience put together and combine to make a perfect game plan for June 25..

Q
Jesus, would you be able to comment on the split between you and Robert Garcia, why it happened, and was there any animosity? What is the new relationship in the gym with your new trainer is like?

J. Cuellar
I first want to talk about my trainer now. Juan Manuel Ledesma is the trainer with the national team in Argentina.

He’s known me for maybe 16 years. I was with him and he made me a champion a few times. He’s the only one that taught me and got me to where I am.

Also, that when I came to the U.S. I came to train with other trainers to figure something out because Juan was still with the national team, so the opportunity, when it presented itself, I brought him from Argentina when I was training with Robert Garcia.

I did not want to make the commute to Riverside. I was comfortable where I was and Robert didn’t have that much time to be there at the time.

I decided to train in L.A. at a pro boxing gym with all the Argentinians over there and that was just a decision I made. There wasn’t any animosity, any problems with Robert. Robert didn’t have the time to show up or to be there, so he did his own thing. And that’s why I went to LA.

Q
Who are some of the fighters that you grew up watching or maybe want to imitate because you have a fairly unique style for a southpaw?

J. Cuellar
I admire a lot of fighters and one of the ones that I look up to is Erik Morales. I’m a unique fighter. I find my way, I like the way I fight. Juan Manuel Marquez, that’s another fighter I liked to watch when I was growing up.

Q
Abner, in this fight, Cuellar has a slight advantage in height and reach. Do you see him posing any particular problem for you?

A. Mares
You’re always going to find problems in a fight. You could say he’s got pretty much all the advantages coming into this fight — height, reach, even weight and power.

But again, that’s what it’s all about, I think. Being in that ring, it wakes my instincts even more. I’m going to be aware more. I’m going to be smart in there and, yes, I’m going in there thinking that and it’s going to make me a better and more aware boxer.

I’m not worried, that’s the word. I’m not worried. It’s boxing. If I were, I’m in the wrong sport. I’m not afraid either. I’m just excited. I’m just excited to see what he brings in. I know he’s got the power. I know he’s got the pressure. So it’s just a matter of knowing how to deal with it.

Q
What advantages do you have that you feel you can bring to the table? What weaknesses does he have that maybe you can attack?

A. Mares
Well, let’s see, I think I’ve got a bit more experience as far as being in there with more world-class fighters. The other one, I think I’ve been in there with punchers as well and I consider myself a better boxer. That’s pretty much what I think my advantages are.

But again, I’m focused more on what he has because that’s what we’re going to have to work on, on our behalf and I’m not going to say much because I don’t want to say too much.

We are ready for a tough, hard-hitting, pressure fighter in Cuellar. I’m excited more than anything to prove something to myself and to the fight fans.

Q
Your last two losses have come in the last five fights, both in big title fights. What do you take from that and what is it exactly that you want to prove to yourself?

A. Mares
Well, definitely what I want to prove to myself is that I still belong in this level type of fight against top fighters such as Cuellar, Leo or any other top flight featherweight.

And I think the reason that, my two defeats, when you just go through them real quick, first- round knockout against Jhonny Gonzalez, it was just, he caught me cold.

My fight against Leo Santa Cruz, it was a tough fight. We went 12 rounds, it was a candidate for Fight of the Year, where I gave it my all but at the end of the day, I think I fought the wrong game plan during that particular fight. I think I defeated myself by not following instructions and not fighting a perfect plan.

I think that’s pretty much it. I’ve got a lot more to give, I’m going to show. Now with my new trainer and the new mindset that I have, I think I’m going to prove just that.

Q
Do you anticipate that this fight is also going to be something that’s going to be a real shootout, something that is going to be a lot of action, start very quickly?

A. Mares
I think so. I think it’s going to be just that. In my mindset, they’re already thinking that it is going to be that way and that way my body is adjusted to it.

I am looking forward to that fire, to that brawling, to that toe-to-toe. That’s what we’re working hard for but at the end of the day, if we can make it an easier fight, from our side, for our benefit, it’s better for us. But if that’s not the case, knowing his pressure and style then we’re ready for that.

Q
How do you mentally prepare for a fight like that knowing, with all the weigh-ins and the ring introduction and all that stuff that, when the bell rings, right at that point, it might get very fierce very quickly?

A. Mares
I don’t think there’s a proper way to prepare mentally for that. I think it’s just based on experience and the numerous times we’ve been in the ring. And just pretty much, yourself and the confidence that you should have on yourself and on the training and on the people that has helped to get to where you are.

Plus, my family is going for the first time. My kids are going to attend. So if anything, that’s not pressure. If anything, that’s motivation. So I’m really excited and looking forward to this show against Cuellar on June 25. Do not miss it. I’m excited.

Q
Jesus, do you expect this to be a real toe-to-toe war or to start out that way?

J. Cuellar
We’re going to come out. We’ve been training for this fight and we’re doing it on our strategies. We’ve been working on them. For this fight, if the opportunity presents itself, we’re going to take the fight to him. But we’re working hard so we’re prepared for this fight.

Q
Do you feel that you are a better boxer than Abner? He just said he thinks he’s a better boxer that you. But you think you are the better boxer of the two?

J. Cuellar
He said I have everything. I know how to box and I walk to the ring and I know how to fight and I also have the power.

This will be the best version of Jesus Cuellar that you see on fight night.

Q
Does anybody want to make a prediction for this fight?

J. Cuellar
I’m going to win the fight. I’m coming to win and that’s it.

A. Mares
I’m winning come June 25, I’m going to win. I’m going to be the four-time world champion once again and I’m going to show you what Mexican fighters are made of.

Q
Can you discuss the psychology of fighting a southpaw in general and in particular, what Robert Garcia might be imparting to you about Cuellar, without giving away too many secrets?

A. Mares
I’ve only faced three, and I know a lot of people say that they have difficulties fighting southpaws because you don’t fight them as much and it’s just different. They’re punching where they’re coming from.

But I get adjusted to them real well, real quick and Robert being in my corner for this fight, knowing Cuellar a bit, it’s definitely an advantage but I’m not really focusing on that. I’m not putting all my money on that side. It’s based really on what we’re working on, which is how to fight a southpaw puncher.

I think I’m a better fighter, skilled, faster. I’ve got great footwork and we’re just going to put it to work on the night. I’m ready to fight toe-to-toe with this guy as well.

I’m known for that. Winning an easy fight and then making it a brawl. But at the end of the day, the fight fans are going to get what they deserve, an exciting fight.

If a knockdown comes, it comes. I’ll get back up, I’ll take my eight count and then go on with the fight. I think you’ve got to be mentally prepared for that as well.

He’s one of those southpaws that you just like fighting because they just keep coming forward. And no matter if you’re hitting them, they keep coming. So it’s just a matter of how much my hands can take as far as my hands hitting his face.

Q
Can you talk about the psychology of what it took mentally to come back from your first loss?

J. Cuellar
Losing in the middle of my career was an accident because I got rid of people that I didn’t need to have in my corner. It actually was a blessing because I got rid of people that I didn’t want, people that were there to screw me over.

But I actually fought at 122 pounds and he’s usually fighting at 126 and he killed himself to make weight because they offered him, if he won that fight, he was going to get a title shot.

It was a big contradiction doing that fight. It was a misunderstanding from the other company that used to manage me. Now I’m here. I’m with the manager that I want and I’m doing good.

A. Mares
Yes, you could get over it but you never forget. I won’t until I get revenge. I think it just happened to click. There was no fire the first round.

He just caught me cold. We were just barely getting to feel each other as far as punches. But it just happened. It’s part of the sport. You win some, you lose some.

You get knocked out. You knock somebody out. I think we start fight to fight. After that, it’s when you start knowing that it’s all better and all better.

I think that’s on my side, facing the top agenda fighters after that defeat. It has upped my confidence backup.

Q
Is this personal for either of you? And if so, why or why not? First, Jesus, can you answer that question, is this personal?

J. Cuellar
It’s not personal. I’m not fighting his team. I’m not fighting Robert. I’m fighting Abner Mares. At the end of the day, the guy that stepping into the ring is Abner Mares and that’s it.

A. Mares
Definitely not personal on this. I have nothing against the guy. Met him a few times. Don’t know much about him and it’s just business. It’s a fight that’s been presented to me. I’m just going to go in there and try to destroy the guy because at the end of the day, it’s either him or me. So that’s it. Nothing personal.

L. DiBella
Just one more time, this is the co-feature to Thurman-Porter. This is the WBA featherweight championship. The card is Saturday, June 25. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS presented by Premier Boxing Champions at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Tickets are moving fast. Please get them. You can get them at Ticketmaster, outlet by calling Ticketmaster, by Barclaycenter.com, 1-800-745-3000, or at the Barclay Center box office and we hope to see you there.

If you can’t be there, televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. Eastern time, 6 p.m. Pacific time on CBS and this is live, a doubleheader of championship boxing on CBS primetime. This is the first time in years, so we’re making history. Please join us. Thank you for being on this call.

# # #

Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @KeithFThurmanJr, @ShowtimeShawnP, @AbnerMares, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.facebook.com/BarclaysCenter.

Big time boxing returns to Cardiff this summer as two of the UK’s unbeaten champions put it all on the line in what should be a fight of the year contender. British and Commonwealth Super-Welterweight Champion Liam Williams defends his titles against WBO Intercontinental Champion Gary Corcoran. The bitter rivals will lock horns in a grudge match showdown at the Cardiff Ice Arena on Saturday 16th July, live and exclusive on BoxNation.

Big-punching Williams was in devastating form in 2014 with stoppage wins over Yuri Pompilio, Ronnie Heffron, Stepan Horvath and Michael Lomax. The unbeaten Welshman was side-lined for the majority of 2015 with hand injuries but now he’s back punching harder than ever.

Williams is raring to get back on his world title trail after blasting out Gustavo Alberto Sanchez inside three rounds on his 2016 ring return on the undercard of Liam Smith’s world title defence against Predrag Radosevic, which followed a career best performance against Kris Carslaw in December. There is no love lost between the super-welter rivals and Williams is itching to get it on in the ring.

Williams said: “To be honest with you I don’t like the man at all. He’s given me a bit of lip on Twitter a few times and I’m looking forward to putting some hurt on him. I’ll have the home crowd behind me and I’m going to send him home with his tale between his legs.

“Gary thinks a lot of himself and I’m not sure why. He’s a confident man but I’m not sure where he gets that confidence from. On his day he can be dangerous but I’m going to batter him, he won’t be able to handle my power.”

Known as the ‘Hell Raiser’ for his ferocious fighting style, Corcoran has ripped through his first 15 opponents; claiming 6 knockouts along the way. The unbeaten 25 year-old wants to take out as many rivals as possible on his journey to a world title; starting with Williams.

“Williams is the fight I’ve wanted for a long time; I know I’ve got the beating of him. I’ve got the ability to box him or fight him so I’ll be prepared for whatever he brings to the table on the 16th.”

“I know I’m a better fighter than him and I’m going to prove it. He doesn’t have as good an engine as me and it will show on the night. I want to be British champion this year and really push on from there; Liam is standing in the way.”

A talent-stacked undercard sees British and Commonwealth Champion Super Bradley Skeete make the fifth defence of his WBO European Welterweight title; Baggies banger Tommy Langford defends his WBO Inter-Continental belt; Southampton’s red-hot Joe Pigford looks to extend his unbeaten run to eleven fights; Welshmen Craig Evans, Alex Hughes and Jay Harris all look to impress in front of their home crowd.

Big news about the rest of the card will follow this week which will see a huge fight involving a pound-for-pound superstar also added to the bill. More to follow!

Tickets are priced at £35, £40, £70, £100, £150 and £200 are available from:

Eventim
0844 249 1000
www.eventim.co.uk
Ticketmaster
0844 844 0444
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
Ticketline
02920 230 130
www.ticketline.co.uk

BoxNation, the Channel of Champions, will televise the show live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546, TalkTalk 415, Freeview 255 and also on smart connected devices via multiple platforms. Go to www.boxnation.com to see how you can watch this fight and more live!

Martin Murray has warned George Groves he’s going to drag him into deep waters and make him crumble when they face-off in an eliminator for the WBA World Super-Middleweight title at The O2 on June 25, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Murray and Groves meet in a huge domestic crossroads clash that puts the winner in line for a crack to land another World title shot, and for the St Helens ace, it’s the all-British showdown that he’s craved throughout his career.

Murray believes his stamina and work-rate will prove to be the difference in the bout against the Londoner and says he’ll force ‘Saint’ George to crumble late in the fight.

“I train for fights to go all the way and take my opponents into deep waters,” said Murray. “I’ve shown that I have got a good engine and can sustain a good work rate over 12 rounds. George has stamina issues, that’s well known, the fight favours me late on with him fading and my high work rate over 12 rounds, but it favours him early with his power and I know that, and it makes for an exciting fight.

“I have one of the best defences in world boxing, I’ve been in with better fighters than George who have not been able to get rid of me and I am that confident in this fight that the only way he can beat me is if I lose concentration and get caught with something stupid early.

“He was clinically beaten by Carl Froch and those defeats took a lot out of him. He hasn’t had a fight that hard since and on June 25 he’s going to be in a real fight. When it gets hard for him, psychologically it’s going to be tough. I will break him and he will crumble.”

Murray and Groves clash on a huge night of boxing at The O2, as Anthony Joshua MBE defends his IBF World Heavyweight title against unbeaten American Dominic Breazeale.

Chris Eubank Jr defends his British Middleweight title against Welshman Tom Doran, John Wayne Hibbert clashes with Andrea Scarpa for the vacant WBC Silver Super-Lightweight title, Brixton Heavyweight Dillian Whyte returns to the fray, Conor Benn is in action for the third time in the paid ranks and there’s a debut for Team GB star Felix Cash.

LONDON (6 JUNE) Welterweight Peter McDonagh, boxing’s latest Cinderella Man, will appear on July 9 at the Manchester Arena – as the part of the blockbuster Tyson Fury vs. Wladimir Klitschko show – and is hopeful of securing a shot at the European title in the coming months.

McDonagh, now 38, has been a professional since 2002 and has fought a who’s who of the lightweight, super-lightweight and welterweight divisions. He has had his ups and his downs and is a three-time Irish champion. He currently rides a nine-fight win-streak and admits he’s feeling better than ever.

“When I turned pro at 24, people said, ‘How long do you think you can do it?’” he begins. “I said, ‘Look, I could be finished after one fight, or I could have 80. You never know.’ You just listen to your body and see how you feel.

“Three years ago, in 2013, I lost my sister to breast cancer and came really close to retiring from boxing. But I went over to the MGM gym in Marbella and told my manager, Daniel Kinahan, I was going to retire. He said, “Don’t retire, give it one more shot and see how you go.” I was on a losing streak and everything. But, as soon as I hooked up with the MGM and my manager, it all changed. I went from strength to strength. I’m unbeaten in nine now. I’ve won three titles since I’ve been with them and I’ve still got the desire to go on and win bigger titles.”

McDonagh continues: “I’m in the top fifteen of the European rankings, so there’s a good chance I’ll get a shot at the European title. That’s the plan. That’s what we’re hoping for. Now I’m on the right side of the card it makes a massive difference. I’m no longer taking fights at short-notice against kids much bigger than me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m beating good kids with that sort of notice, or, if I lose, I’m losing very close fights, but it’s a different story if you give me a full camp.

“I’m a promoted and managed fighter now. How far can I go? Let’s see. I’ve beaten champions. I beat the kid who beat Luke Campbell (Yvan Mendy) but didn’t get the decision. I beat Michele Di Rocco and never got the decision. I beat Lee Purdy. I beat Michael Gomez. I beat Dean Byrne. I know what level I’m at – I just need the opportunity. Physically, I feel the best I’ve ever felt; age is just a number.”

Fitness and ambition aside, few fighters in Britain are able to boast McDonagh’s wealth of experience. Indeed, his appearance on July 9 won’t even mark the first time he has featured on a world heavyweight title bill.

“I was on the David Haye versus John Ruiz bill at the Manchester Arena,” he says. “I was on just before the main event. But obviously it’s a lot different this time around. This is the heavyweight championship of the world, not just one of the belts. This is much, much bigger. And it’s Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko. That also makes it special. Klitschko is a legend of the sport and one of the real icons. I don’t think a promoter has brought someone of that stature to England for many years. It’s exciting.”

As for the result of the night’s main event, McDonagh can see only one winner.

“I see it being a totally different fight to the first one,” he says. “I think Wladimir will come and bring it to Tyson and then he’ll walk on to a big shot in about seven or eight rounds. All Tyson has to do is keep his composure, take his time and he’ll knock him out.”

*** For tickets to REPEAT OR REVENGE: Fury vs. Klitschko 2, please visit eventim.co.uk or call 0844 847 8000 ***

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LAS VEGAS (June 5, 2016) – World Boxing Association (WBA) cruiserweight world champion Beibut Shumenov (17-2, 10 KOs) stopped No. 11-rated Junior “Hurricane” Wright (15-2-1, 12 KOs) in the 10th round of their May 21st title fight to remain mandatory challenger for unified WBA Super/International Boxing Federation (IBF) cruiserweight world champion Denis Lebedev (29-2, 22 KOs). The WBA mandated a Lebedev-Shumenov fight within 120 days of May 21.

Shumenov, 32, is a 2004 Kazakhstan Olympian who lives and trains in Las Vegas. During his 9-year professional boxing career, Shumenov has defeated four world champions – Gabriel Campillo, Byron Mitchell, William Joppy and Montell Griffin – as well as seven world title challengers. He is 8-2 (4 KOs) in world title fights

Below find a one-on-one interview with Shumenov:
(Photo by Yumio Yamada)

Evaluate your performance against Junior Wright in your last fight?

BS: “I am 100-percent a completely different fighter than in my previous fight against B.J. Flores. But, at the beginning of this fight, I had a little bit of ring rust. The inactivity is really hard for me. I would like to be busier and fight more often. I already started training and doing light exercises, right after my fight on May 21st. In my next fight, I will be even more different fighter against Lebedev.”

How does it feel to be the only fighter from your country to be 2-division world champion?

BS: “I don’t really think about those things. My main goal is to unify all of the titles and fight all the best fighters.”

You’ve always wanted to unify as a way of determining who the best or real champ is. In 20-11, you almost fought a unification as WBA light heavyweight but then-WBO champion Juergen Braehmer who suddenly went home a few days before the scheduled unification fight. How does it feel to know that you will be fighting Lebedev for WBA super and IBF cruiserweight titles within 120 days from May 21?

BS: “This has always been my goal – to unify – and I’m motivated even more knowing that I am going to fight for those two titles very soon.”

Do you think a deal will be made between your manager, Al Haymon and Lebedev’s promoter, Andrei Ryabinsky, or will it go to purse bid?

BS: “It doesn’t concern me, whether it goes to a purse bid, or where the location is. However, I hope the parties can get the best deal worked out for everyone involved.”

If Lebedev doesn’t want to fight you and he relinquishes his WBA super title belt, where do you go from there, fight second-mandatory challenger Yunier Dorticos?

BS: “I have heard rumors that Lebedev doesn’t want to fight me and, if this is true and he relinquishes his WBA Super belt, then I want to fight Dorticos because every organization should only have one champion in each division. I hope this isn’t the case, as I have been waiting to fight Lebedev since I won the WBA interim title (mandatory) back in July of 2015. The WBA has ordered us to fight within 120 days of May 21st. I am ready, willing and able to fight him and I hope he is ready, too.”

Fans may friend Beibut Shumenov on his Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/BeibutShumenov.

BAKU, Azerbaijan (June 5, 2016) — Ukrainian fighter Alexander Butenko won a hard fought 5-round decision over Artiom Damkovsky last night to become the new M-1 Challenge lightweight champion in the M-1 Challenge 67 main event in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Butenko (41-11-2) and Damkovsky (20-10-0) battled from start to finish with Buntenko winning a unanimous decision to capture the vacant M-1 Challenge lightweight title.

In the co-feature, M-1 Challenge featherweight champion Ivan “Buki” Buchinger (31-4-0), of Slovakia, used a North-South choke to submit his late replacement opponent, Russian Mikhail Korobkov (9-2-0), in a non-title fight.

Red-hot Kazakh welterweight Shavat Rakhmonov (6-0-0) kept rolling, knocking out Brazilian Marcelo Brito (13-8-0) in the opening round. Hometown favorite Etigat Adakishniev (1-1-0) won his first professional fight, submitting Spaniard Adrian Perez (3-2-0) by way of a guillotine choke.

Czech Republic had two winners on the main card as middleweight Talekh Nadzhafadz (5-1-0) won a 3-round decision over his Spanish opponent, Felipe “Biggi” Nsue (11-10-0), while heavyweight Zauer Gadzhibabayev (5-1-0) used a rear naked choke to submit Bulgarian Lazar Todev (2-3-0).

Fighting on the preliminary card, Russian lightweight Zalimbeg Omarov (7-1-1) and Russian featherweight Azamat Zhantuduev (1-2-0) won a 3-round decisions over, respectively, Mikhail Syrbu (4-2-0), of Moldova, and his fellow countryman Bair Shtepin (3-1-0). Russian heavyweight Evgeni Myakinkin (14-5-0) forced Evgeni Guryanov (8-6-0) to submit with a triangle choke, and Russian featherweights Vadin “Bad Santa” Malygin (6-1-1) and Ibragim Navrusov (2-0-1) fought to a 3-round draw.

Complete results and picture gallery below:

MAIN CARD

MAIN EVENT – VACANT M-1 CHALLENGE LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 5 X 5
ALEXANDER BUTENKO (41-11-2, M-1: 8-1-0), Ukraine
WDEC5
ARTIOM DAMKOVSKY (20-10-0, M-1: 10-7-0), Belarus
(Butenko wins vacant M-1 Challenge Challenge lightweight title)

FEATHERWEIGHTS
IVAN BUCHINGER (31-4-0, M-1: 6-0-0), Slovakia
WSUB1 (North-South choke)
MIKHAIL KOROBKOV (9-2-1, M-1: 0-2-0), Russia

WELTERWEIGHTS
SHAVKAT RAKHMONOV (6-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0), Kazakhstan
WTKO1
MARCELO BRITO (13-8-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Brazil

MIDDLEWEIGHTS
TALEKH NADZHFADE (5-1-0, M-1: 2-0-0), Czech Republic
WDEC3
FELIPE NSUE (11-10-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Spain

HEAVYWEIGHTS
ZAUR GADZHIBABAYEV (5-1-0, M-1: 3-0-0), Czech Republic
WSUB2 (Rear Naked Choke)
LAZAR TODEV (2-3-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Russia

PRELIMINARY CARD

LIGHTWEIGHTS
ZALIMBEG OMAROV (7-1-1, M-1: 4-0-1), Russia
WDEC3
MIKHAIL SYRBU (4-2-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Moldova

HEAVYWEIGHTS
EVGENI MYAKINKIN (14-5-0, M-1: 2-1-0), Russia
WSUB1 (Triangle Choke)
EVGENI GURYANOV (8-6-0, M-1: 1-3-0), Ukraine

FEATHERWEIGHTS
AZAMAT ZHANTUDUEV (2-1-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Russia
WDEC3
BAIR SHTEPIN (3-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Russia

VADIM MALYGIN (6-1-1, M-1: 0-0-1), Russia
DRAW3
IBRAGIM NAVRUZOV (2-0-1, M-1: 0-0-1), Russia

Alexander Butenko and Artiom Damkovsky

Alexander Butenko and Artiom Damkovsky

Azamat Zhantuduev & Bair Shtepin

Etigat Adakishiev

Ivan Buchinger

Vadim Malygin & Ibragim Navrusov

Zaur Gadzhibabayev & Lazar Todev

Upcoming Event:June 16, M-1 Challenge 68, St. Petersburg, Russia

Information

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www.wmmaa.org

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Scouse hero Liam Smith emphatically defended his WBO World Super-Welterweight title with a second round stoppage win over Montenegro’s Predrag Radosevic at the Liverpool Echo Arena. ‘Beefy’, making the second defence of his world title in his own city, dropped his challenger to the canvas with a signature crippling left body hook one minute and thirty-three seconds into the second round. The contest was over after Radosevic failed to beat the referees count.

It is now eight consecutive stoppage wins for Merseyside maverick Smith. The Joe Gallagher-trained super-welterweight didn’t put a foot wrong as he took his unbeaten record to 23-0-1 (13 KOs) and will now look ahead to potentially massive showdowns.

Speaking afterwards Smith said: “I knew the first body shot hurt him so I went for him a little bit. I knew I’d get a reaction as soon as I did it again. It was a good performance and a good stoppage; Joe said it was a proper world champion’s performance.

“Everyone is seeing the names that are getting thrown at me. If I was offered one of those fights I’d take it. I was massively up for this fight as I knew what a win would mean. Retaining a world title in my own city was a special experience.”

Queens, NY (6/4/16) – On Friday night, DiBella Entertainment returned to Resorts World Casino New York City with another action-packed nine-bout card for the latest installment of its popular “Broadway Boxing” series, proudly sponsored by Nissan of Queens.

The evening concluded with a slugfest featuring female fighters Alicia Napoleon, 153½, of Lindenhurst, NY, and Latasha Burton, 162, of New Orleans, LA, facing off in a rematch scheduled for eight rounds. There were plenty of shifts in momentum with each taking control at times while dishing out heavy artillery. Napoleon began applying pressure from the outset but Burton soon found a home for her straight right counter. The Long Islander fought her way inside to land power shots in the second, but then Burton came back with her own in the third. A straight right stunned Burton in the next round, though she proved resilient to control the action in the fifth. Napoleon continued to stalk her foe and by the sixth, Burton was tiring. With Burton looking to clinch and slow down the pace, Napoleon sought openings on the inside. Intent on scoring a knockout, Napoleon stormed out of her corner in the eighth with an unrelenting attack of power shots resulting in a TKO stoppage at the 1:43 mark when several left hooks to the head were unanswered. Napoleon improved to 6-0 (5 KOs) and Burton is now 4-7. Having claimed the vacant WBC silver junior middleweight title in January, Napoleon is determined to secure a shot at a world title in the near future.

(Photo Credit: Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment)

Returning for the first time since September 2014, former WBA lightweight champion Richar Abril, 139, of St. Petersburg, FL, engaged former world title challenger Jerry Belmontes, 138¾, of Corpus Christi, TX, in a 10-round tactical battle. Searching for countering opportunities, Abril felled Belmontes in the first with an overhand right. Abril was content to fight on the outside, while Belmontes, prone to loading up on his right hand, was simply not active enough overall. During the later rounds, Abril would take a half step back and land short countershots whenever the increasingly desperate Belmontes lunged in. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder over the final six minutes of action, Abril pelted Belmontes with hooks to the body. With scores of 96-93 twice, and 95-94, Abril upped his record to 20-3-1 (8 KOs) with a unanimous decision, while Belmontes suffered his ninth defeat, falling to 21-9 (6 KOs). Following his world title defense against previously unbeaten Edis Tatli (23-0) in September 2014, Abril was stricken with dengue fever that he contracted from a mosquito bite while training in Cuba to defend his title against Derry Matthews in early 2015. Abril was forced to vacate his title as he battled through the illness. Now back and 100 percent healthy, Abril will look to quickly regain his world championship under the DiBella Entertainment banner.

(Photo Credit: Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment)

Notre Dame graduate and light heavyweight contender Mike Lee, 178¾, peppered Mike Snider, 178, of Flemington, WV, with combinations to the head and body for eight one-sided rounds. Outboxing his adversary, Lee expertly evaded Snider’s advances and often countered with devastating hooks and straight rights. In round four, a left hook dropped Snider. By the sixth, Lee’s uppercut became a prominent weapon. After eight rounds, the judges tallied 80-71 twice, 79-72, all for Lee via unanimous decision to up his record to 17-0 (10 KOs). Snider fell to 10-4-3 (5 KOs). Before graduating in 2009, the Chicago-native Lee claimed three Bengal Bout championships while fighting on Notre Dame’s boxing team. Lee then won the 2009 Chicago Golden Gloves and soon turned pro in 2010. In September 2011, Lee became a national spokesman for Subway Restaurants and continues to be featured in their nationally broadcast “Famous Fan” advertising campaigns. In 2011, Lee headlined the first-ever pro boxing event at the University of Notre Dame, donating more than $100,000 to Notre Dame Charities through The Mike Lee Foundation.

In his first fight scheduled for six rounds, 20-year-old fan-favorite Julian Sosa, 142½, of Brooklyn, earned a hard-fought split decision over a very game Isaac Johnson, 142¼, of Colorado Springs, CO. Early on, Sosa’s jab was key, bloodying Johnson’s nose in the first and keeping him at bay. However, Johnson was able to close the gap by round three and the bout turned into a brawl, featuring several exciting exchanges for the remainder of the contest. Landing pinpoint, accurate countershots, Sosa was still able to maintain control. Scorecards read 58-56 Johnson and 59-55 twice for Sosa, who upped his record to 5-0-1 (2 KOs). Johnson is now 2-2.

Far Rockaway cruiserweight prospect Joe Williams, 184, easily dispatched of
Lamar Harris, 183½, St. Louis, MO, quickly taking advantage of his defensive deficiencies. Left hooks hurt Harris, whose exposed chin provided a wide-open target, then a right hook dropped him in the first. Williams continued to land his left hook in round two and, after having seen Harris absorb enough punishment, the referee halted the action at the 2:38 mark. Williams improved to 9-0 (7 KOs), while Harris fell to 9-12-4 (5 KOs). A 2011 US Olympic Team Trials silver medalist, Williams won the 2012 National Golden Gloves heavyweight title and was a three-time NY Golden Gloves champion before turning pro.

Coming off his sensational TKO victory on the ShoBox series in December, Canadian middleweight contender Steve Rolls, 162½, of Toronto, impressively broke down southpaw Emmanuel Sanchez, 163¾, of Laredo, TX, over five rounds.
Rolls staggered Sanchez with a left hook to the temple early in the first then used that same punch effectively throughout, doubling and tripling up on it. An exhausted Sanchez, who had a point deducted in round five for excessive holding, was unable to come out of his corner for the sixth stanza and the bout was stopped, dipping his record to 7-5 (1 KO). Rolls, now 14-0 (8 KOs) as a pro, had a very successful amateur career, competing on the 2009 and 2010 Canadian National boxing teams, compiling an impressive 83-14 record in the process.

Making his NYC debut, former amateur standout and two-time National Golden Gloves champion Marquis Moore, 167½, of Temple Hills, MD, bobbed and weaved his way inside against the much taller, rangier Turner Williams, 165½, of Beckley, WV, unloading quick-fisted combinations until a left hook to the body doubled his foe over in the red corner. Moore landed a few more hooks to the midsection to force a stoppage at 1:20 of the opening frame, to even up his record at 2-2 (2 KOs). Williams dropped to 1-3. Moore, a member of the U.S. Army, who was honorably discharged after serving three years for our country, had an outstanding amateur career, compiling a 140-15 record. Moore also claimed the National PAL championship in 2015 and boxed at the U.S. Olympic trials.

(Photo Credit: Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment)

Brooklyn’s former junior middleweight world champion and now ordained Orthodox rabbi Yuri Foreman continued his comeback with an impressive stoppage victory over Jason Davis, of Vancouver, WA. Foreman outboxed Davis with a stiff jab, directing it both upstairs and down, in the opener. Backing Davis to the ropes in the following frame, Foreman landed a left uppercut to drop his adversary. A flurry of hard shots resulted in a second knockdown and a left hook to the body produced the third. Foreman, now 34-2 (10 KOs), finally finished Davis off with another barrage that prompted a referee stoppage at the 1:55 mark of round two. Davis dropped to 13-12-2 (4 KOs).

Staten Island’s James Wilkins, 136¼, made a successful pro debut stopping Buffalo, New York’s Jack Grady, 140, inside two rounds. The stoppage came at the 2:49 mark. Wilkins’ speed and power proved too much for the upstate native Grady, now 0-4.

Statement on the pass of Muhammad Ali:
Muhammad Ali was The Greatest of all time. Perhaps the greatest in any sport. The outpouring of emotion currently taking place around the world is a testament to his impact beyond boxing and beyond sports.

On behalf of everyone at Showtime Networks, and our extended boxing family, we offer our condolences to the Ali family and to the millions of people the world over that were inspired by his grace, poise and prowess in life.
– Showtime Networks Inc

Today the whole world mourns the loss of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. His boxing talent was matched only by a towering self-belief. Everyone at Queensberry Promotions are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of The Greatest.

The former Heavyweight Champion was just 42 years old when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984. For three decades, Ali waged public battle against Parkinson’s – making brave appearances and carrying out endless charity work.

In his fight against Parkinson’s, Ali became the face of the debilitating disease. His toughest battle came outside the ring against an opponent that even he couldn’t knock out.

In light of today’s tragic loss Queensberry Promotions will be releasing a limited number of seats for tonight’s World Championship Boxing Event held at the Liverpool Echo Arena. Each seat will be sold on a first come first served basis (entrance before 8PM) and will be priced at just £5 with all of the money raised from these tickets sales being donated to the Parkinson’s UK charity in memory of Ali.

Before tonight’s World Championship Boxing event, headlined by Liam Smith and Predrag Radosevic, boxing will give it’s traditional ten bells salute in remembrance of the great Ali.

Parkinson’s UK drives better care, treatments and quality of life for those suffering with the disease and their family members. As well as providing care for those suffering with the disease, Parkinson’s UK provides expert information on every aspect of Parkinson’s so that people affected by the condition can stay in control of their lives.

To find out more about Parkinson’s UK and the work they do visit www.parkinsons.org.uk or call their confidential helpline on 0808 800 0303.