Virgin Islands-based super welterweight contender John “Dah Rock” Jackson safely made weight at the WBC mandatory 30-day weigh-in today.

On Saturday, May 21, at The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, Nevada, Jackson (20-2, 15 KOs), who will face undefeated Texan Jermell Charlo (27-0, 12 KOs) for the vacant WBC super welterweight title. The pair will meet on a blockbuster card that will also feature the high-profile Erislandy Lara vs. Vanes Matirosyan rematch and Charlo’s brother Jermall defending his IBF World super welterweight against former world champion Austin Trout.

Under WBC rules, participants in title fights are required to weigh no more than 10% of their contracted weight 30 days from the fight and no more than 5% on fight night. Jackson weighed in at 167 lbs. on his way to hitting 154 lbs.

Jackson, the son of legendary champion Julian “The Hawk” Jackson, will be fighting for a world championship for the first time since turning professional in 2009.
About Sampson Boxing
After a very successful run as a matchmaker and adviser, Sampson Lewkowicz switched over to the promotional side of professional boxing in January 2008.

Sampson Boxing has grown into one of the world’s most prestigious promotional firms, representing many of the world’s best fighters and most promising young contenders.

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America and Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, VS. and several international networks.

Leonard Ellerbe
Good morning everyone. It’s a bright, sunny, beautiful day here in Las Vegas. Thank you all for joining the call today. I just want to go over a few fight facts real quickly.

Tickets are on sale now, and they start as low as $25. They can be purchased online at Ticketmaster and all Ticketmaster locations. Our event will be live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

We’ll be bringing you a double header of super middleweight title fights. Our event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, in association with Interbox and Matchroom Boxing.

The main event will feature Badou Jack versus Lucian Bute for the WBC Super Middleweight World Championship. Also on the card will be another very exciting televised bout. It will be featuring the IBF Super Middleweight Champion, James DeGale. DeGale will be fighting his mandatory challenger, Rogelio Medina. And the winners, all four fighters, have agreed to meet in a Super Middleweight Unification fight later this year.

Well first up I’d like to introduce Lucian Bute. He comes to us with a 32 and 3 record with 25 big knockouts. He’s fighting out of Montreal, Canada by way of Romania. He’s a former IBF with nine title defenses between 2007 and 2012.

His most recent performance against James DeGale was a very exciting bout and the fans were very impressed and earned him the right for this title shot. So without further ado, I’d like to introduce Lucian Bute.

Lucian Bute

Hi everybody. I think camp is going very well. Still very, very good. I’m very comfortable and very confident for this fight. All my hard work is done – just have a few days here in Montreal. Next week we coming in to Washington, DC. Everything is going well.

L. Ellerbe
Okay. Next up I’d like to introduce the WBC Super Middleweight Champion of the World, none other than Badou Jack who is coming with us with a 20 and 1 record, with 12 big knockouts. He’s fighting out of Las Vegas by way of Stockholm, Sweden.

He’s Mayweather Promotion’s top fighter. He won the WBC Super Middleweight Title with a 12 round majority decision over Anthony Dirrell last April. He retained it when he caged George Groves last September on the Mayweather-Berto undercard, which was a very exciting fight. So Badou, would you like to say a few opening words?

Badou Jack
Yes. How’s everybody doing? I’m very excited for this fight. We’ve been training for more than 12 weeks. We’re definitely ready. All the hard work IS done and I can’t wait to fight. I’m very, very excited. Lucian Bute is a very tough opponent, so I have to bring my A game. I feel we’re going to put up a very good fight, a fan friendly fight for the fans. Thank you.

Q
Badou, can you talk about your approach to this fight? How do you think you’re going to be able to win and retain the title?

B. Jack
I always believe in myself. That’s the main thing. I’m not trying to be fighting like no other fighter. I’m trying to do what I can do just to win. So I’m excited. I know I have probably the toughest test of my career.

I’m excited. I just want to fight. That’s what I want and to do my thing. I’m very, very comfortable that I’m going to beat him.

Q
What do you think are your advantages in this fight?

B. Jack
I think I’m a little bit younger, three years younger I think. I’m a little fresher I think. But he’s got a lot of experience. He got way more experience than both Dirrell and Groves. So you never know in boxing. It’s a hard business and he’s the guy up. We’ve been training real hard, so we are ready.

Q
Lucian, tell us why you think you’re going to be able to win this fight and capture this title.

L. Bute:
Like I said, my confidence before the fight with DeGale was not 100%. Now it’s back 100%. I feel good. I feel strong. The training time is going very well. I feel very comfortable. I think it’s a big opportunity for me to become world champion for the second time. I will do that in Washington, D.C.. I’m very confident about that.

Q
What happened before the DeGale fight? Was it the fact that you had one fight before that?

L. Bute
I was not comfortable maintaining my fitness. I had a long period to break. I’m healthy in this moment. Everything is going well.

I had one fight before DeGale, a tune up fight. Against DeGale I think I looked good and everybody saw I’m very competitive in the high-level fights.

Q
What did you learn from the Carl Froch fight that maybe you’re taking into this fight about how to manage the pressures of fighting away from home?

L. Bute
My last fight for the title fight was in 2012, and the pressure wasn’t on me. If I don’t have the title, the pressure wasn’t on my shoulders.

But now it’s different thing. The champion is Badou Jack in the United States and the fight is in Washington, D.C.. I’m very comfortable with that. I have no pressure. I’m coming in to Washington, D.C. , looking forward to become world champion on April 30.

Q
Now this will be your third fight working with new trainers. In what way have they changed you as a fighter? How has your style changed in your opinion now that you’ve been working with them?

L. Bute
We work very hard. Last year we started. We started to have chemistry where we understand by just looking at each other. We work very hard. I’m more aggressive in moving my head. Letting my hand go. I feel very comfortable with this, like Lucian Bute at the beginning.

What did Floyd Mayweather say or do for you to help you bounce back the way that you have from your one loss?

B. Jack
He just said that anybody can get caught with a good punch. I know you’re better than that guy you lost to. Just keep your head up good and bounce back. It was nothing that he really did to help me to bounce back.

In boxing anything can happen and fast. I proved that that was just a lucky punch or an accident or whatever. I proved that in my last couple of fights. So everything is good. It was actually a blessing because people were overlooking me because of that loss.

Q
What does it feel like for you then having been in the background or having people overlook you to now be in a headlining role on SHOWTIME in a fight coming up?

B. Jack
Like I said, it’s a blessing. I’m very, very comfortable, very happy and I’m glad that my opponent is very confident too. That’s what we want him to be. Just like the last two opponents, they were very confident. So I’m looking forward for to a great fight.

Q
The same question for both fighters is how do you like this tournament situation you’re in?

B. Jack
It’s something to look forward to, but you have to respect your opponent and you have to respect what’s in front of you. That Lucian Bute is a very tough time. So I’m thinking about him right now, that’s all. I’m focused on him. But, you know, after that we can talk about the next fight. Yes. I’m excited.

L. Bute
I feel great. It’s a big opportunity. But like Badou said, I’m very focused, very content in this fight. If I take this belt, after that we’re looking forward to have an opportunity to unify the titles. I would love to have a chance to unify the fight. But I’m very, very focused on April 30.

Q
How did you prepare for a strong punch or a strong left-handed punch like Lucian Bute?

B. Jack
Well I’ve fought southpaws my whole life in sparring and . I got a good right hand. I like fighting southpaws.

Q
Usually fighters don’t like to look far ahead like that. Are you taking maybe a bit too lightly this next fight against Bute?

B. Jack
Absolutely not. I never said that. So I said, like I just answered the other question. I’m fully focused on Lucian Bute. I still got to beat this guy too. So right now our only focus is Bute. After that we’ll see what’s next. In the future I will definitely move up the latter.

Q
Badou I’m just wondering if you are able to beat Lucian and wind up fighting DeGale, how much does it help to fight southpaws back to back and kind of get into a rhythm of training for southpaws and back to back fights?

B. Jack
I don’t know. It’s good to prepare for southpaws Like I said, it’s a very tough fight. So not looking past it I have to fight it. I got to be first. Then we’ll see.

Q
How did you think that Lucian Bute looked against DeGale? And if you could just kind of assess DeGale as a fighter as well.

B. Jack
He looked good. People wrote him off like they did with me. They thought DeGale was going to blow him out in a couple rounds. But he looked good. That’s why he got this opportunity to fight again for the title because he looked that good.

I think his style and my style will match perfectly. He likes to fight. I like to fight. We both got boxing skills as well. So I’m excited.

James DeGale is a very good fighter too. He’s got a lot of skills, speed, Olympic Gold Medalist. He deserves a lot of credit. He went to Boston and to Canada. He’s a good fighter. Another very good fighter.

Q
Were you more impressed with his win over Lucian Bute or Dirrell?

B. Jack
They both were similar opponents. I don’t think he’s been that active before that fight. I don’t know. But Lucian Bute is the former champion. He’s defending a lot of times. Dirrell was never a world champion, even though he’s on that level. But no, both were pretty good fights.

Q
DeGale is obviously fighting the same night as you are on the same card. What do you think of his fight? Obviously he’s a heavy favorite. What do you think of that fight?

B. Jack
As far as talent and skills, he’s way better. But I’m fond of Medina. I know what kind of tough guy he is, mentally very strong. And he can punch. He’s dangerous. So I would say again I would not overlook him because this guy is dangerous. But I think he’ll win but he’s just got to be careful.

Q
Lucian keeps saying the same thing about you. That you’re a good boxer, but you’re not exceptional. And that you make mistakes. What is your reaction to those comments?

B. Jack
I think that’s exactly what I want to hear. Lucian, he’s from the outside looking in. I am always in great shape. I know how to break an opponent down. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion and that’s his opinion. That’s good. That’s good for me.

L. Ellerbe
I would like to just comment that both fighters have been having excellent camps thus far. Both fighters are really looking forward to the fight on April 30. Both guys have a tremendous amount of experience.

We know that Lucian Bute, he comes prepared. He’s a former world champion. He’ll be coming to take away Badou’s belt. Badou on the other hand he feels very, very good being world champion. He’s made a vow that nobody’s going to take his title away from him. So we’re going to have an excellent fight come April 30. I’m very excited.

Now going to shift over to the co-main event, which is a very exiting match. We have James DeGale and Rogelio Medina. The winner of this fight will take on the winner of Jack versus Bute in the Super Middleweight Unification later this year.

I would like to introduce our promotional partner, a very dear friend, in my opinion one of the top promoters in the world. Definitely the top promoter internationally. He’s done a phenomenal job with all of his fighters.

I’m very, very impressed with all the work that he’s done with his stable of fighters over there. So without further ado, I’d like to introduce Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing.

Eddie Hearn
Thank you very much. Thank you. It’s a pleasure to be on the media call and to be involved with the show. I was very interested to hear the comments of Lucian Bute who I know very well and Badou Jack. I think you probably know that but he’s a great fighter.

I think he’s a really, really tough fight for Badou Jack. I think James DeGale has a tough fight with Rogelio Medina. But for sure that fight between Badou Jack and Lucian Bute is a wonderful fight. I think the stars will mix perfectly for a very, very interesting fight.

Of course we saw Badou Jack had a great victory over George Groves who is still attempting to win a world title. But the interesting thing about this unification is how it feels to have an old Super Six style where the best fought the best.

I think it’s wonderful for boxing that the whole world can watch almost like we said there a semifinal between four of the top Super Middleweights in the world. And the winners will go on to fight the winner.

Of course I’m biased. But in every tournament you have a seed. Number 1 seed in this tournament is James DeGale. I think rightly so he’s been insatiably the number one Super Middleweight in the division.

Andre Dirrell was massively underrated. I think the win against Lucian Bute was underrated and was also in Quebec City. The Dirrell fight was in Boston. This is not a guy who gets home comfort. This is not a guy who’s reliant on home canvas even. This is road warrior that’s traveling around the world to fight the very best, which is very, very unique in boxing today.

So I’m really excited about DeGale. I think his confidence is growing and growing and growing. He’s a chronical character, even out of the ring. I think he’s going to put on a wonderful performance on April 30 in Washington.

I think Jack, you’re going to see him in a very close fight. Then hopefully everybody can get what they want. DeGale against Jack in the unification title fight. These guys are ready to fight, ready to meet.

And I hope they both come through because I can’t wait to see that fight. I can’t wait to see James DeGale get a run as the top 168-pounder. So it’s a pleasure to be working with Mayweather Promotions, of course SHOWTIME as well.

I’m really excited to be down in Washington. I’ve not been there for a fight before. I’ve heard wonderful things. Be ready for a great night of 168 pound matches and two great fights and then hopefully the unification fight that everybody wants. Thank you.

He’s number one at 168-pounds and he’s traveling all over the world to be the best. Probably sitting on a beach in Miami, tapering down after another great time with his trainer

The current IBF Super Middleweight Champion of the world, James “Chunky” DeGale.

James DeGale
The Champ. Hi. Yes, I’m feeling great man. I’m feeling real good. I was training extremely, extremely hard, as always. Feeling good. I can’t wait for the 30th. I’m not looking past Medina. He’s a very good fighter. A tough fighter in his own right.

Every time he steps up to the highest level. He’s lost. On the 30th of April he’s going to lose again and I’m going to look unbelievable. Hello. Can you hear me?

I know I’m the best 168 out there. I’m the best 168 out there and I need to prove it. I’m willing to do that.

Q
How much easier is it getting for you to get into the ring not in front of your home crowd?

J. DeGale
I’m used to it if I’m being honest. Listen, I won my Olympic Gold Medal away from home. I won my world title away from home. I’m actually getting used to it. That’s what I’m saying. So this is why I keep on telling you people, I’m a road warrior because I’m willing to go anywhere to fight anywhere and to prove I’m the best.

But listen, my homecoming is coming as well. Yes that’s coming very soon. Once I beat Medina on the 30th of April, I want the Unification belt in London in front of my home people.

Q
Would that be as early as September?

J. DeGale
Yes well I’m ready, listen, I’m ready to go as soon as I come through this with no bumps, not swollen. So I’m ready to go, September is perfect for me.

Q
How much of a motivation factor is this tournament event on April 30 for you?

J. DeGale
It’s good. It’s good. This is what boxing needs. The best boxing the best. As I say, all I want to do is win titles and add the WBC title to my IBF would be fantastic because these days there’s not many unification fights because people don’t want to fight the best. But there’s four or five that come together in like a little tournament, like a mini tournament. And we’re going to see who the best is.

Q
How do you look at the possible prospective of having to fight Lucian once again in the fall?

J. DeGale
If I’m being honest, I don’t really want to fight Lucian Bute again. I think I beat him last time and I beat him pretty well. It was pretty convincing. I had everything against me as well. I still beat him well.

I want to box fresh a new world champion, someone like Badou Jack. I think the clash of stars would be fantastic. We’re both hungry. We’re both here. And we’re peak. I think it would be a fantastic fight. But if Lucian Bute wins, we can do it again as I say. But this time around we’re doing it in London.

Q
What you think of Badou Jack and how he’s kind of come along as a world champion, particularly in his last fight against George Groves? How do you think a fight against him would go?

J. DeGale
Listen, I think Badou Jack is a very good fighter. I think he’s come on as he’s become world champion, he’s growing in confidence. He’s become a better all-around fighter.

A couple fights ago, even I underrated him. I thought he wasn’t all that. But he’s proven in these last couple fights against Groves and against Dirrell that that guy is a worthy world champion and he can fight.

But as I said, I’m the best Super Middleweight in the world. I’m willing to prove that.

Q
What do you expect, James, to happen in the fight between Bute and Badou Jack?

J. DeGale
I expect the fight to be a competitive fight. Bute is still great, as you see against me. He just came up just short. He just didn’t have it. But Lucian Bute is a very good fighter. It should be a battle. It’s Badou Jack, and I think he’s going to win. But it wouldn’t surprise me if Bute pulls it off.

Q
Everybody’s pretty much writing Medina off based on his rep. What do you know about him, because he’s going to be going with absolutely nothing to lose?

J. DeGale
Okay. I know that he’s a typical Mexican and a tough Mexican. I know he loves to have a fight. He’s tough. He’s strong. He’s game. But every time he steps to the highest level, right, he’s lost. He’s been stopped or he’s lost.

I’m not overlooking him. I’m training extremely hard. I’m going to win and look good. I’m looking to the point of a proper show, a good standout performance.

Q
Are you going to, in your mind, try to compare your performance against him to Badou Jack’s because he scored a TKO against him in 2013. So he obviously can’t do that. But do you got it set in your mind that you want to go for a knock out to make that point?

J. DeGale
Yes. Listen, if a knockout comes, it comes. But the way I’m feeling and my momentum, my confidence is sky high. It’s sky high. And someone like – as I said before, no disrespect to Medina. He’s a good fighter in his own right. But I’m a couple levels above him. I’m elite. I’m an elite fighter. I’m the best in the division. So I should have no problems in the fight.

Q
How do you just focus on this fight and then take care of what happens afterwards?

J. DeGale
Listen, I’m a true professional. I’m fully focused. I take one fight as it comes. The first step is “Porky” Medina. But I’ll be ready for that. Then we can move on to the next fight.

J. DeGale
I don’t really. Well actually I do like making predictions, but my last couple have been wrong. But let’s have a bit of fun to make one. Again, I say within six rounds I’m going to stop Medina.

Q
James, you said you would rather Badou Jack to win against Lucian because you already fought Lucian. But would you think about not going for the unification fight if Lucian wins it? And just maybe challenge one of the other champions in the other organizations?

J. DeGale
Maybe. It depends. I want that WBC. It’s been around for years. It’s one of the oldest belts. It’s probably the most prestigious belt. So I want to add that to my collection. So if Lucian Bute wins, we can do it. But next time we do it in London. It’s simple.

Q
Would you rather try to get four belts at 168 before moving up?

J. DeGale
Yes. I would love to. As I say, I just want to prove to everyone I’m the best Super Middleweight. First I want to clear up the Super Middleweight division.

Would you like to see more of these types of tournaments?

J. DeGale
I would. I would. As I say before that unification fights rarely happen these days. It’s pretty sad. But yes, I would like to seethe best box the best. The champions boxing champions. That’s how boxing should be.

Q
Just if you had one advice to Badou Jack for winning against Bute, what could you say to him?

J. DeGale
What shall I say to him? Just be fully, just fully focused. And don’t overlook Lucian Bute because he’s still a force in the Super Middleweight Division. He’s still got a bit left. So as I say, he’s got to be switched on and fully focused.

L. Ellerbe
Thank you James for those wonderful comments. I’d just like to touch on one thing. I’m very, very excited too for your fight with Rogelio. I know it’s going to be a very, very exciting fight. Honestly, Badou is looking very forward to fighting Lucian.

just wanted to add, he’s been begging me, and when I say begging me, begging me. If he gets past Bute, he’s very, very excited, looking forward to fighting you.

J. DeGale
Fantastic. I hope you are a man to your word. I hope you and Badou Jack are a man to your word. That would be a fantastic fight. If you come through it fast to United Kingdom that would be an honor. Trust me, but as said before, I’m the best in the division and I want to prove it. So can’t wait.

L. Ellerbe
Yes. I would like to thank everyone for joining us on this wonderful call today. We have a very, very exciting card, as you’ve heard from the fighters, on April 30 in Washington, D.C.

This fight will be immediately following the PBC on FOX show which will feature headline Andre Berto versus Victor Ortiz. So that should be a tremendous fight. And I’d like to thank everyone again for joining the call.

For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com and www.SHO.com/Sports and follow on Twitter at: @BadouJack, @ButeLucian, @JamesDeGale1, @PorkyMedina @MayweatherPromo, @SHOSports and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

As part of the ongoing 30th Anniversary celebration of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®, relive the unforgettable 2005 Fight of the Year between world champions Diego “Chico” Castillo and Jose Luis Castillo tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME.

In anticipation of tonight’s “Throwback Thursday” airing, below are links to watch the 2005 Round of the Year (Corrales-Castillo 10th) and a reflection on the slugfest from Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein.

Corrales-Castillo Round 10:
YOUTUBE: http://s.sho.com/22S8ufr
DOWNLOAD LINK: https://we.tl/BhvsOrKQfN

Bernstein Reflects On Corrales-Castillo I:
YOUTUBE: http://s.sho.com/1MrXRso
DOWNLOAD LINK: https://we.tl/7x7G4agjXe

Corrales-Castillo, and all of the classic fights presented as part of the 30th Anniversary, are available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, SHOWTIME ANYTIME® and via the network’s online streaming service.

Anthony Joshua MBE will defend his IBF World Heavyweight title at The O2 on June 25.

Joshua landed the belt at the Greenwich venue in style last month, dispatching Charles Martin inside two rounds. The Watford man returns to the scene of that win for his first defence, with further information on his opponent and ticket sale dates to be released next week.

“If there is a date to get in your diary its June 25th – first title defence, The O2,” said Joshua. “Opponent to be announced but I just spoke to coach and I told him I am feeling great and I can’t wait to get back in to camp. I want to be active so that is why I chose the closest date. I appreciate you guys and I can’t wait to see you again and put on a great performance.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 20, 2016) – Austin Trout (30-2, 17 KOs), the former super welterweight world champion, is ready to collect his second world title on Saturday, May 21 when he meets IBF Junior Middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo in a 12-round match live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) from The Chelsea, a one-of-a-kind 40,000-square-foot venue inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

“It’s my time,” said Trout. “My focus is amplified 10-fold. I’m the confident, happy Austin that fans know, but trust me, when it’s fight time I’m ready for any dogfight that comes. You’ll see Austin bring out and defeat the ‘Lion’ in him because at the end of the day I’m taking that belt.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions, are on sale now. Ticket prices start at $39, and are available online at www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com or through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 and www.ticketmaster.com.

Born in El Paso, Texas and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Trout is trained by Barry Hunter and Louie Burke of Headbangers Gym in Washington D.C. Having started boxing at the age of 10, his natural talent and the ability to grow into the sport took Austin across the United States and Latin America in the amateur divisions and then into the pros. Known as one of the fiercest gentlemen competitors in the sport, he beat the likes of Miguel Cotto, Rigoberto Alvarez and Delvin Rodriguez, before losing his title to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. Trout comes into May 21 looking to claim a title in a division he’s been a true threat within for his career.

You’ve said you’ve been led to this fight, why is it important?
“Coming off of four consecutive wins, I’m not just on a comeback streak but I’m taking a full step forward. Charlo is the champ, this fight is about no more half stepping. It’s about taking on the best. Isn’t that what it’s about, being the best?”

How is camp going?
“I physically feel great. I’m really comfortable with Barry, it’s my fourth camp with the Headbangers team; Luis is there as well. Luis helps me with pre-camp and then I shift to D.C.

“I was already in D.C. getting camp started when the rumors about this fight came true. I had been at the gym at home for pre-camp for a month and a half before hitting D.C. I was working out five times a week, running every day just getting the program going. As I said, no half-stepping. I’m already sparring, doing the work, getting right. I’m not walking through it but running and trotting through it. I’m 30, I’m at my physical peak, my talent couldn’t be any better.”

Talk about the fight and what to expect?
“Neither one of us is going out without a fight, so I don’t see this being a boring fight. It’s time for people to remember me. I’ve earned this championship shot against an undefeated bull like Jermall Charlo but I will take his belt. “

Your first professional loss was against ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in San Antonio in 2013. What are your thoughts on that fight?

“I had a good, competitive fight with Saul – it felt like a unification bout – I was WBA champion and he was WBC champion. The open scoring was more detrimental to my game plan thea the judges! During the fight when I was told that I wasn’t winning on anyone’s cards I had to change my game plan. It was a dogfight. Canelo never had to box and move that much before in a fight.

“But, live and learn. Instead of walking into a fight like that I listened to those around me. No more surprises. This Charlo fight is a fight I want, a fight my team wants and we’re ready. I’m a more mature, focused champion who’s coming back. I’m dangerous – I have experience, talent and God on my side.”

For more information visit www.sports.sho.com and www.mayweatherpromotions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @LaraBoxing, @VanesBoxing, @FutureOfBoxing, @NoDoubtTrout, @TwinCharlo, @MayweatherPromo and @Swanson_Comm, become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing and www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions

New York, New York (April 20, 2016)–TONIGHT from the Hilton Westchester in Rye Brook, New York, It will be another installment of Broadway Boxing to be streamed LIVE on www.gfl.tv

The action kicks off at 7 PM ET for $14.99 and CAN BE PURCHASED BY CLICKING HERE

In the main event, Bryant Cruz will take on Moises Delgadillo in a lightweight bout scheduled for eight-rounds.

Cruz of Port Chester, New York has a record of 16-1 with eight knockouts. The 26 year-old turned professional in 2012 and won his first sixteen bouts.

Cruz has quality wins over Joshua Reyes (5-1) and he won the UBF All-American Lightweight title with a 2nd round stoppage over Engleberto Valenzuela. Cruz also has a solid win over Martin Cardona (20-5). In his last bout, Cruz suffered his first blemish when he was stopped in seven rounds by Dardan Zenunaj on December 11, 2015 in Houston, Texas.

Delgadillo of Guadalajara, Mexico has a record of 15-14-2 with eight knockouts. The 28 year-old is a twelve year veteran who has faced top competition. The capable Delgadillo has upset wins over Jose Ramirez (20-0) & Sergio Torres (19-4-1). Delgadillo has dropped two straight which includes his last bout when he dropped an eight-round unanimous decision to Bekman Soylbayev on Februar 18 in Costa Mesa, California.

In an eight-round junior middleweight bout, Alantez Fox (18-0-1, 7 KO’s) of Forestville, MD will take on Josue Obando (14-9-1, 11 KO’s) of Guadalajara. Mexico.

Billel Dib (18-1, 9 KO’s) of Sydney, Australia will make his much anticipated American debut when he takes on Jose Salinas (9-1-1, 5 KO’s) of Albuquerque, New Mexico in a lightweight bout scheduled for eight-rounds.

In a six-round welterweight bout undefeated Noel Murphy (5-0, 2 KO’s) of Woodlawn, New York battles Ariel Vasquez (11-12-2, 8 KO’s) of Phoenix, Arizona.

Stivens Bujaj (14-0-1, 9 KO’s) of New York takes on Harvey Jolly (15-22-1, 7 KO’s) of Nashville, Tennessee in a six-round cruiserweight battle.

Wesley Ferrer (10-0, 5 KO’s) of Brooklyn, New York takes on Luis Alberto Pelayo (12-6-1, 6 KO’s) of Guadalajara, Mexico in a six round junior welterweight bout.

LOS ANGELES (April 20, 2016) – A thrill-packed night of fights await fans at the new state-of-the-art T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 7. The night will heat up as undefeated rising stars Diego De La Hoya (13-0, 7 KOs) of Mexicali, Baja California and Jason “El Animal” Quigley (10-0, 9 KOs)Donegal, Ireland are set to headline the preliminary undercard in respective career-defining fights set to test them like never before.

First, in defense of his WBC Youth Super Bantamweight Title, De La Hoya will face off against fellow unbeaten Rocco Santomauro (13-0, 1 KOs) of Duarte, Calif. in an eight to ten round showdown. Quigley will take on the experienced “King” James de la Rosa (23-3, 13 KOs) of San Benito, Texas in a 10-round middleweight event set to open up the stream available on select channels before the pay-per-view event and digitally on HBO Boxing’s YouTube Page, www.GoldenBoyPromotions.com, Ring TVLive.com and additional websites and outlets where Ring TV is available starting at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT.

Additionally, boxing’s top prospects will be on the sport’s biggest stage as undefeated talents Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis (14-0, 11 KOs) of Lynn, Mass. is set to fight in an eight-round welterweight event, Washington D.C.’s Lamont Roach Jr. (10-0, 3 KOs) will participate in an six-round super featherweight fight and newly signed Golden Boy Promotions’ fighter David Mijares of Santa Monica, Calif. will make his professional debut in a four-round super lightweight bout. Opponents will be announced shortly.

“We have a stacked undercard set for the fans on May 7 and luckily for the fans watching from home, they will also be able to get in on the action by watching the impressive Diego De La Hoya and Jason Quigley on select channels and various digital outlets,” said Oscar De La Hoya, chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions.

“I am looking forward to being part of one of the biggest boxing events of 2016,” said Diego De La Hoya. “This is my chance to perform in front of a big stage and give everyone a great fight against another undefeated top prospect.”

“I’m delight and excited to be on the undercard of such a big show,” said Jason Quigley. “This is exactly the platform I need to be able to show the world what I’m capable of and what I’m here to do. James De La Rosa is simply just another hurdle on my path to be coming a world champion and lifting them belts.”

“I am excited to get the chance to fight Diego De La Hoya, he is a top fighter and beating him puts me at the top,” said Rocco Santomauro. “I have Sugar Shane Mosley in my corner and he has trained me to make sure I keep my undefeated record. It’s going to be a battle to the end. I think a lot of people will be interested in the dynamic of this fight. I am going to use my new Mosley KO power. Just watch, on May 7 the boxing world will know that I have arrived”

“I was looking forward to fighting a bigger name, but Jason Quigley is a strong, young fighter,” said James De La Rosa. “He doesn’t have half my experience as a professional, but I applaud his confidence for stepping up. I’ve been in camp since January and although my last fight was canceled I am ready to face Quigley on May 7.”

Just 21 years old, Diego De La Hoya has shown maturity beyond his years in the ring, and despite the pressure of being the cousin of Hall of Famer Oscar De La Hoya, the Mexicali native’s poise outside the ring has garnered him a growing legion of fans. In 2015, De La Hoya began his move on the super bantamweight elite with five wins highlighted by back-to-back victories over former world title challengers Manuel “Suavecito” Roman and Jesus “Estrella” Ruiz, Ramiro “Zurdo” Robles, Jose “Hollywood” Estrella, and Giovanni “Lloviznas” Delgado. De La Hoya kicked off 2016 in style in February with a fourth-round body shot knockout of Arturo “Fuerte” Badillo setting the stage for a tough fight against fellow unbeaten Rocco Santomauro on the Canelo vs. Khan undercard.

Ready to take a step to the next level in his promising career, 28-year-old Rocco Santomauro made his name on the Las Vegas scene, winning 10 of his 13 professional bouts in the ‘Fight Capital of the World.’ Always looking to entertain the crowd on fight night, Santomauro is coming off an impressive six-round victory over Jose “Hollywood” Estrella in February 2016, and now he’s got his sights set on taking away De La Hoya’s perfect record.

The fighting pride of Donegal, Ireland, 24-year-old middleweight Jason Quigley has built a huge fan following in his adopted home of Los Angeles, California, and that’s no surprise considering the has ended nine of his 10 professional fights by knockout, eight in two rounds or less. Quigley was last seen in the ring on November 20 going the distance against Marchristopher Adkins and in 2016, Quigley won a first round knockout over Freddy Lopez. Now in the toughest challenge of his career thus far, Quigley will be looking to make a statement over the experienced San Benito middleweight “King” James de la Rosa on May 7.

“King” James de la Rosa is the fighting pride of Harlingen, Texas, boasting a record of 23 wins, against 3 losses, with 13 wins coming by way of knockout. De la Rosa has been boxing since he was five years old and became a professional boxer at the age of 17. De la Rosa holds key victories over Abel Perry, Tim Coleman and Tyrone Brunson. De la Rosa’s biggest victory came on Sept.12, 2014, against former Mexican Olympian and Interim WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo on the undercard of Mayweather-Maidana II. “King” took 2015 off to a great start with new trainer James Johnson and All-American track and field strength and conditioning coach, Hickel Woolery.

Undefeated welterweight Rashidi Ellis may have the nickname “Speedy,” but it’s his punching power that has been leading him to victory as of late. Winner of four straight fights by knockout, the 22-year-old most recently dispatched Victor “Pambele” Gonzalez in four rounds to win the vacant WBA Fedecentro and interim WBC Latino Welterweight titles. On May 7, he makes his Las Vegas debut on one of the biggest sporting events of 2016.

Also fighting in Las Vegas for the first time this May will be Washington, D.C. super featherweight Lamont Roach Jr. A stellar amateur who won multiple amateur titles before turning professional in 2014, the 20-year-old Roach has barely lost a round on his way up the 130-pound ladder. 2015 was a busy year for Roach Jr. as he took on and defeated Herbert “Sensational” Quartey, Jose Miguel Castro, Christian Santibanez and Jose “Flash” Bustos. The super featherweight doesn’t plan to slow down as 2016 has already proven to be a good year with a victory over Jesus Lule on the undercard of Luis Ortiz vs. Tony Thompson in March 2016.

Some fighters are made in the gym. The 20-year old David Mijares was seemingly born into the sport. As Mijares’ father worked with legendary musician Bob Dylan, his pregnant mother visited the boxing gym and her water broke. David wasn’t delivered in the gym, but as he grew up, it was his second home and he would even put on gloves and do drills as a toddler. By the age of 12, he began competing, going on to compile a 57-12 record as an amateur. Among his accomplishments were three National PAL Championships, a 2015 Golden Gloves title, and a Bronze medal in the 2015 USA National Championships. Even more impressively, he did it all while excelling in his studies and even playing the Euphonium for the nationally-ranked orchestra at Santa Monica High School. Now, he is set to make his professional debut in the largest stage in boxing, opening the night for Canelo Alvarez vs. Amir Khan.

Canelo vs. Khan, a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Championships, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Canelo Promotions and sponsored by “Cerveza Tecate, Born Bold”, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Casa Mexico Tequila, DOOM® — Fight Like Hell on May 13, and HANDS OF STONE: The True Story of Roberto Duran, in theaters this August! David Lemieux vs. Glen Tapia is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Eye of the Tiger Management and Patrick Teixeira vs. Curtis Stevens is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Main Events. The mega-event will take place Saturday, May 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets priced at $1,500, $1,000, $800, $600, $400, $250 and $150, not including applicable service charges and taxes, with a total ticket limit of 12 per person (a limit of 10 per person at the $1,500, $1,000, $800, $600 and $400 price levels and a limit of two [2] per person at the $250 and $150 price level) are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com

Spotlighting two of the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters, WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: GENNADY GOLOVKIN VS. DOMINIC WADE AND ROMAN GONZALEZ VS. MCWILLIAMS ARROYO will be seen SATURDAY, APRIL 23 at 10:00 p.m. ET & 7:00 p.m. PT from The Forum in Inglewood, Cal., exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will call all the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: April 24 (9:00 a.m.) and 26 (10:30 p.m.)

HBO2 playdate: April 25 (11:45 p.m.)

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

In the main event, Gennady Golovkin (34-0, 31 KOs), originally from Karaganda, Kazakhstan, and now training at Big Bear, Cal., defends his middleweight crown against Dominic Wade (18-0, 12 KOs) from Largo, Md., in a scheduled 12-round contest.

Seeking his 16th consecutive successful title defense, the 33-year-old Golovkin is drawing closer to Bernard Hopkins’ record of 20 victorious middleweight title defenses. On a 21-bout knockout streak, Golovkin has compiled an extraordinary knockout-to-win ratio of 91%; no opponent has gone the distance with him since June 2008. Trained by the highly regarded Abel Sanchez, he will be making his tenth appearance on HBO since his auspicious Sept. 2012 debut.

Wade, 25, will draw on his youth and amateur experience, which includes being a four-time Junior Olympic Champion and a participant in the Olympic boxing trials for the 2008 Games. As a pro, he has amassed an impressive perfect record, with a knockout-to-win ratio of 67%, and now hopes to dethrone one of the sport’s most feared champions.

The opening bout features another undefeated fighter, as flyweight champ Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (44-0, 38 KOs) from Managua, Nicaragua takes on McWilliams Arroyo (16-2, 13 KOs) of Fajardo, Puerto Rico in a scheduled 12-round title fight.

Gonzalez, 28, has brought attention to the flyweight division with his speed and power, boasting a 86% knockout-to-win ratio. Arroyo, 30, with a 78% knockout-to-win ratio, was on a 12-bout win streak entering his previous title bout before suffering a controversial split-decision loss. Now this 2008 Olympian will have the opportunity to spring a massive surprise.

Golovkin and “Chocolatito” are sharing an HBO card for the third time. Both were impressive at the Forum in May 2015 and at New York’s Madison Square Garden the following October.

HBO’s Emmy-Award-winning series “24/7” debuts an all-new edition right after the fights with “24/7 CANELO/KHAN.”

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 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jon Crystal; director, Johnathan Evans.

® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 20, 2016) – Mayweather Promotions stars Chris “Young King” Pearson (16-1, 11 KOs) and Sharif “The Lion” Bogere (27-1, 19 KOs) compete in separate bouts that highlight undercard action on Saturday, April 30 from the DC Armory in Washington D.C.

The event is headlined by a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader that begins live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT featuring a pair of super middleweight world title fights, as WBC champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack takes on former champion Lucian Bute, and IBF champion James “Chunky” DeGale battles top contender Rogelio “Porky” Medina.

Pearson will take on Joshua Okine (22-5, 15 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight contest while Bogere faces former African champion Samuel Amoako (21-9, 15 KOs) in a 10-round super lightweight contest.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Interbox in association with Matchroom Boxing, are priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, on sale now. To purchase tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster locations, or call (800) 745-3000.

Additional action inside the arena will feature unbeaten Washington, D.C.-born Latondria Jones (2-0, 1 KO) in a four-round super welterweight bout against Virginia’s Kamika Slade, undefeated Ecuadorian Carlos Gongora (6-0, 3 KOs)in a light heavyweight match and the pro debut of D.C. product Keegan Grove in a four-round lightweight scrap.

Rounding out the non-televised undercard fights are Richmond, Virginia’s Moshea Aleem (4-0, 2 KOs) who will go up against fellow unbeaten Georgia native Martez Jackson (2-0-1, 1 KO) in a four-round super welterweight bout, lastly is a four-round welterweight attraction with Brooklyn’s Chordale Booker (1-0, 1 KO).

The 25-year-old Pearson will look to bounce back from his first career loss to unsurpassed Eric Walker in December with an emphatic victory on April 30. The Dayton, Ohio-born product previously picked up victories over Lanardo Tyner, Janks Trotter, Steve Martinez and Said El Harrak in the last two years after an outstanding amateur career in which he captured a National Championship in 2011. He takes on the experienced Okine, who is originally from Ghana but now fights out of nearby Silver Spring, Maryland.

A recent addition to the Mayweather Promotions stable, Bogere fights out of Las Vegas while proudly representing his native Uganda. The 27-year-old won his first 23 pro fights while picking up victories over Raymundo Beltran, Francisco Contreras, and Manuel Levya. He enters this bout on a four-fight win streak and will be challenged by the former African lightweight champion Amoako, who represents Ghana while fighting out of Silver Spring, Maryland.

For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com and www.SHO.com/Sports and follow on Twitter at: @BadouJack, @ButeLucian, @JamesDeGale1, @PorkyMedina @MayweatherPromo, @SHOSports and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (April 19, 2016) – M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Viktor Nemkov will defend his title May 27 against challenger Rashid Yusupov, headlining M-1 Challenge 66, in Orenburg City, Russia.

M-1 Challenge 66 will be streamed live from Moscow in high definition on www.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all of the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets.

M-1 Global also announced that former M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Stephan “T-800” Puetz will also return to action against M-1 Global-debuting Andrey Seledtsov.

Nemkov (23-5-0, M-1: 14-4-0) captured the coveted M-1 Challenge light heavyweight title this past December, taking a hard-fought 5-round decision from defending champion Puetz, who had won a 5-round split decision April, 2014 against Nemkov for the title. Nemkov (pictured to left) is a two-time M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion having defeated Vasily Babich (WSUB3 – arm-lock) for the vacant title that he then lost in his first title defense to Puetz.

A native of Kazakhstan who fights out of Russia, Nemkov will be making his initial title defense of his second championship belt against Yusopov.

Nemkov (L) and Puetz (R)

The 23-year-old Yusupov (6-2-0, M-1: 3-1-0), fighting out of Sochi, Russia, has won four fights in a row to put himself into title contention. A former Russian, European and World Amateur MMA champion, unlike many of his fellow countrymen from the North Caucasus, Yusupov (pictured below) is a dangerous striker whose signature moves are powerful kicks. He is also a top-notch wrestler, evident by his M-1 Challenge victories against Charles Andrade and Martin Zawada.

Puetz (13-2-0, M-1: 4-1-0), fighting out of Munich, Germany, successfully defended his M-1 Challenge title twice, after beating Nemkov in their original championship match, against Luis Fernando Miranda (SUB2 – choke) August 15, 2014 at M-1 Challenge 50, and Valery Myasnikov (KO/TKO2 – punches) December 17, 2014 at M-1 Challenge 54. In a non-title fight this past May, Puetz stopped then M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Marcin Tybura in the third round due to severely damaged broken nose.

The 28-year-old Seledtsov (5-1-0, M-1: 0-0-0) is a former Spetsnev solider who has a solid boxing, combat samba and MMA background. The powerful Russian is the local White-Rex promotion champion.

Information

www.M1Global.tv
www.mixfight.ru
www.wmmaa.org

Twitter & Instagram:

@M1GlobalNews
@VFinkelchtein
@M1Global

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/M-1-GlobalNews

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (April 20th, 2016) — The return of Rhode Island icon Peter Manfredo Jr. on Friday, May 13th, 2016 will now also include the return of a once-promising regional prospect looking to get his career back on track.

Undefeated Springfield, Mass., junior welterweight Zack Ramsey (7-0, 3 KOs) steps back into the ring for the first time since 2014 to face 20-fight vet Issouf Kinda (17-3, 7 KOs) of New York in a six-round bout at Twin River Casino, one of nine fights on the undercard of the 10-round Manfredo-Angel Camacho Jr. showdown presented by CES Boxing.

Tickets for May 13th are priced at $46.00, $66.00, $151.00 (VIP) and $201.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesboxing.com, www.twinriver.com or www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 401-724-2253/2254 or at the Twin River Casino Players Club. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Originally born and raised in Hartford, Conn., but now fighting out of Massachusetts, the 26-year-old Ramsey fought 100 times as an amateur, winning 96 bouts, and captured titles in the Western and New England Gloves Tournaments.

After a three-year respite from boxing between the ages of 16 and 19, Ramsey returned to the amateur scene in 2009, cleaned up New England again, and turned pro in 2012 with a knockout win over Alan Beeman. His most noteworthy victory as a pro was his eight-round unanimous decision win over previously unbeaten Edwin Soto in Connecticut in 2013. Ramsey last fought in March of 2014, winning every round en route to a unanimous decision over 33-fight vet Shakha Moore.

Born in West Africa, the 28-year-old Kinda won his first 15 fights as a pro, including an impressive victory in 2012 over Greek super lightweight Mike Arnaoutis in the first defense of his New York State Title. Kinda suffered his first career loss via a controversial technical decision against Chris Howard a year later when the bout was stopped after the sixth round due to a cut over Howard’s eye from an accidental head butt.

Kinda later went on to face Paterson, N.J., vet Jeremy Bryan and reigning undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) Lightweight Champion Ismael Barroso.

The Manfredo-Camacho main event headlines the latest installment of CES Boxing’s 2016 Twin River Casino Fight Series, a loaded lineup featuring two title bouts and the Rhode Island debuts of CES’ newest additions to the roster.

May 13th is Manfredo’s first fight since November of 2013, when he stopped Rhode Island’s Rich Gingras in the 8th round of a scheduled 10-round bout. Coincidentally, Camacho’s last win was also against Gingras via 8th-round stoppage in September for the then vacant Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) International Light Heavyweight Title. After fighting just once during a six-year stretch between 2008 and 2014, Camacho has now risen to 15-0, culminating with his fifth career knockout in September.

In addition to Manfredo-Camacho, undefeated Worcester, Mass., junior middleweight Khiary Gray (12-0, 9 KOs) defends his UBF Northeast Title against Fort Meyers, Fla., vet Quinton Willis (10-3-2, 5 KOs) in an 8-round bout.

In a fight that could steal the show, regional standouts Nick DeLomba (8-1, 2 KOs) of Cranston, R.I., and the undefeated Freddy Sanchez (7-0, 5 KOs) of Worcester face off in a 6-round bout for the vacant New England Super Featherweight Title. DeLomba is looking to rebound from a first-round knockout loss to Gledwin Ortiz in September while Sanchez returns to the ring for the first time in two and a half months after suffering a no decision against Antonio Fernandes due to an accidental head-butt and subsequent cut over his right eye.

The undercard also features the Rhode Island return of New Haven, Conn., welterweight Jimmy Williams (10-0-1, 5 KOs), who puts his unbeaten record on the line against the hard-hitting Juan Rodriguez Jr. (12-4, 5 KOs) of Union City, N.J.

Rivalries will renew May 13th in a highly anticipated rematch between Stoughton, Mass., super featherweight Travis Demko (4-0, 1 KO) and Mohamad Allam (2-1, 1 KO) of Holyoke, Mass. The two faced one another in September with Demko winning by unanimous decision in a 4-round bout. They will now settle the score May 13th in a 6-round bout.

Also returning to Twin River, unbeaten Framingham, Mass., lightweight Julio Perez (4-0) faces Providence’s Cido Hoff (0-0-1) in a 4-round bout, while two fighters from Worcester make their professional debuts. Kendrick Ball Jr., the son of Gray’s head trainer, Kendrick Ball, debuts in a 4-round super middleweight bout against Providence’s Tunde Odumosu, trained by Rhode Island’s Victor Fagnant. Also from Worcester, decorated amateur Jamaine Ortiz debuts in a 4-round super lightweight bout against Skowhegan, Maine vet Josh Parker (0-2-1).

Visit www.cesboxing.com, www.twitter.com/cesboxing or www.facebook.com/cesboxing for more information and use the hashtag #ManfredoCamacho to join the conversation.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions:
Thank you to all the media, all the international media for today’s call. We have WBC Ring Magazine and lineal middleweight world champion, Canelo Álvarez, who holds a record of 46 wins with one defeat and 32 KOs.

Canelo, as you know, will be defending his WBC Ring Magazine World Championship against Amir “King” Khan Cinco de Mayo weekend, which is May 7 at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas live on HBO Pay-Per-View.

We are counting down the days now to this mega fight with two of the biggest international fighters fighting at the biggest arena in the world. It’s going to be a great event and the first boxing event at the T-Mobile Arena since the venue opened earlier this month.

Canelo versus Khan is guaranteed to give the fans action. This is because history has shown us that when you get speed and power in that ring, it makes for a high-intensity, action-packed fight, and that’s exactly what the fans want to see, and they want to be entertained.

I was at Amir Khan’s training camp yesterday with all the media and he’s looking incredible. He’s looking strong. He’s looking powerful, and he has not lost his speed. He’s looking fast. So obviously this goes to show you that this is a fight that’s dangerous for both guys, but obviously I know that Canelo, as I’ve seen many times in camp now, he’s looking in great shape, and he’s ready to go against Amir Khan on May 7.

Tickets are still available. They are going extremely fast, and we expect a total sellout on fight night, and obviously if you can’t be in Las Vegas, this fight is being televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View, the best network for boxing.

Last thing, I want to thank the sponsors, Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Casa Mexico Tequila, and “DOOM – Fight Like Hell” on May 13. The sponsors have been doing an incredible, incredible job on activations on a national scale, so we greatly appreciate that.

Now, let me introduce to you, Team Canelo. I’m extremely happy to introduce my friend, he is the manager and trainer to Canelo Alvarez, and to say a few words, that is José ‘Chepo’ Reynoso.

JOSE ‘CHEPO’ REYNOSO, Manager and Trainer to Canelo Alvarez: Good morning. Basically, we’re towards the end of final stages of training camp, which would be one of the biggest events in Canelo’s career. We’re very happy and training hard so that we can be victorious, and so that we can celebrate and say ‘Viva Mexico’ and ‘Viva Canelo.’

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Gracias, Chepo. Now, next, it is my pleasure to introduce to you the trainer of Canelo Alvarez. He’s been doing a tremendous job, along with Chepo, with Canelo. They have a great dynamic together and they are preparing like no other for this fight. Let me introduce to you Eddy Reynoso.

EDDY REYNOSO, Head Trainer to Canelo Alvarez: Good afternoon to everybody, and I want to say hi to everyone.

So we’ve had great preparation. There’s three weeks to go till fight time. We haven’t had any mishaps. Everything is going just as planned and we’ll be ready to fight.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: It is my pleasure now to introduce to you the champion, at the age of 25, Guadalajara, Jalisco México’s Canelo Alvarez has conquered the boxing world over, captivating fans both at home and around the globe with his action-packed fighting style, his charisma, and willingness to take on the toughest challenges.

The 2015 Fighter of the Year candidate’s road to stardom began in 2011 with a win over Matthew “Magic” Hatton for the vacant WBC Super Welterweight World title, his first title defense against Ryan Rhodes and stoppage victories over Alfonso Gomez and Kermit Cintron.

Canelo has already faced the likes of Sugar Shane Mosley, Josesito Lopez, Austin Trout, in front of 40,000 fans at the Alamo Dome. He’s already fought Mayweather; the second-highest grossing bout only behind Mayweather and Pacquiao. He’s faced Angulo, and Cuba’s Erislandy Lara. He’s fought Kirkland in the Minute Maid Park in front of more than 31,000 fans where he received ESPN.com’s Knockout of the Year.

In November, he defeated feature Hall of Fame champion Miguel Cotto for the WBC Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight Championship in front of a packed arena at the Mandalay Bay Event Center where they generated to more than 900,000 homes across the country.

And now Canelo will look to remain on top of the sport by defeating Amir “King” Khan on May 7 in Las Vegas.

It is my pleasure, with a record of 46-1, 32 knockouts, to introduce to you Canelo Alvarez.

CANELO ALVAREZ, WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion: Good afternoon to everyone. I’m very happy to be on this call with you. We’re just a few weeks away from the fight. I’ve had a great preparation. I can’t wait to get in the ring and to give everyone a great fight. Thank you.

Q. Canelo, there’s a lot of folks out there that look at this and do find it to be a match up of speed versus power. Some say ‘why is Canelo fighting a much smaller fighter?’ I would like to know your response to the folks who say, ‘come on, Canelo, fight a guy your own size.’

CANELO ALVAREZ: There’s always going to be critics. There’s people supporting you and there’s always people that are against you. I really don’t worry about that.

I never underestimate anyone in the ring because anything can happen in the ring. My job is to be prepared, to be ready for the best possible fighter so I can give a great performance.

It doesn’t really bother me. I really don’t think about it. At the end of the day, it’s going to be a great event and I’m going to be ready for the fight.

Q. I know you’re preparing for an important fight in your own career, but I wonder if part of you is going to take a little break on Saturday night and maybe watch and see what GGG does in the ring in the Forum in Los Angeles. Will you watch that fight as scouting perhaps for a future show down with Golovkin?

CANELO ALVAREZ: Yeah, if I have the time, if I’m free on Saturday night, I’ll watch it. I’ll sit down and watch it. If not, I’ll probably record it and watch it later. I follow boxing, so yeah, most likely I’m going to watch it.

Q. Will you be watching it because you’re a fan or because this is the fighter that, all due respect to Amir, everybody wants to see you fight Golovkin in the fall. In other words, you’re watching not as a fan, because this is a guy you may step in the ring with in the future.

CANELO ALVAREZ: That fight’s going to happen. It’s going to have to happen. The fight is eventually going to happen. But I’m watching it because I’m a fan, I’m a boxing fan, and I like to watch it. It’s what we do when we’re in training camp. We try to watch all the fights that are televised when we have time to watch them.

Q. Where do you stand as the promoter? Are you going to try to make that fight for the fall?

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Well, look, obviously it’s a fight that, you know, the question is not if, but when. That’s a fight that as a promoter, it’s a fight that I want to see; that the world wants to see, but as a promoter, I want it to be the biggest event in the history of this sport to attract fans and to bring back the fans that we lost when people witnessed Manny Pacquiao versus Mayweather.

So my question every single day is: How can I accomplish that? And in order to accomplish that, there’s a famous saying in boxing, that one certain promoter once said — and you know what that is. But this fight has to happen at the perfect moment, at the perfect time, and I think we’re getting close.

Q. What saying were you referring to? I’m not sure what you meant.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Well, the marination. The marination.

Q. Okay. That sounds to me — I understand where you’re coming from, from the business point of view, but it does sound to me that wouldn’t be this coming fall.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: You never know. In this sport, you never know. And look, Canelo is a competitor. We’re all competitors here. You just never know. So first thing’s first; he has to take care, and we have to get through Amir Khan, and then we’ll sit down and we’ll see what happens.

Q. But you’re not committing to the fight even though it’s mandated out — you don’t think about it, maybe you’ll do it, maybe you won’t, but you’re not going to commit to it even though it’s the fight that’s been ordered; is that my correct assessment?

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Exactly.

Q. How similar are your careers, yours and Canelo? Obviously you had your great career, and Canelo is starting his now. How similar are the careers?

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: You know, there’s some similarities, but I feel that Saul is more advanced at this point of his career. He’s more advanced. He’s accomplished a lot more than I did at 25 years old. A lot of people forget, he’s just 25. He’s just 25 years old.

So at this early stage of his career, he’s a little more advanced. And for me, I admire that. I admire his career and I’m going to support him 100 percent, because he’s still young and he still has so much more to go.

Q. You’re fighting a fighter from England. I’m told that you’re learning English, so you’re going to obviously tap into the European market now. You have a great campaign not only in Spanish but in English, as well. Are you trying to broaden your market? What exactly is it you’re trying to do?

CANELO ALVAREZ: Look, I really don’t look for these things to happen. My job, and I’m very fortunate, is to box, and I train hard and I give the best of me. These deals come and I’m not trying to tap into my market. It’s just something very fortunate that my career, that I’ve been able to have this in my career.

Obviously with Tecate, I’m extremely happy with them and it’s a great responsibility and it’s a great campaign, as well. I’m very excited, and I’m very happy for what they have done for me.
But look, my whole thing is I want to be a legend. I want to be a legend, and I train hard so I can do legendary things in boxing, and that’s what I train for; and these deals come, and I’m very thankful.

Q. In the 30-day weigh-in, we saw you were somewhere around 162 pounds. Does that indicate that you’re going to be a lighter, faster Canelo; maybe getting ready for the Khan fight because he’s a fast fighter?

CANELO ALVAREZ: I hope so. I hope so. I hope that really does happen that I am faster.

Look, what I’m doing, I’m working hard. I’m doing my work and working hard. Obviously we’re concentrating on the style that Amir has. That’s part of my work.

But I’m working hard, and we won’t know until fight night how I feel or how I come out. But as of right now, I’m just working hard and trying to adjust to the game plan and get ready for the style that Amir is going to bring.

Q. Obviously everybody is talking about the Golovkin fight. Oscar says it’s not if; it’s when. What are you thinking and what would you like to see about the fight? When will you be ready for Golovkin?

CANELO ALVAREZ: It’s in my future plans. It’s definitely in my future plans. I want to have that fight. I want to give that to the fans. I’m just not sure when.

Right now I’m focused on Amir Khan. That’s my fight. I want to fight three times this year. That’s my goal. That’s my plan. But anything can happen in this fight with Amir Khan. So sometimes you have a plan and it changes, so I’m focused 100 percent on Amir Khan and we’ll see right after that.

Q. Eddy, would it surprise you if Canelo ends up with knockout in this fight, and would that validate you being Trainer of the Year finally? 2015 they gave it to Sanchez.

EDDY REYNOSO: We’re training hard. He’s a very good fighter. He has a very good defense. We’ll see what happens in the fight. We don’t look for that to happen.

As far as for the Trainer of the Year, look, I do my job and I keep advancing little by little and all I can do is work hard and I leave that up to other people to decide.

Q. Obviously Canelo was passed over for Fighter of the Year. He had some great performances; one that comes to mind is the Kirkland fight. How do you feel about that, Oscar? Do you think that there should be some reform on the way its picked? He obviously deserved it.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Everyone has their own opinion. You know, I think that Saul has been doing a wonderful job as a fighter.
But look, it’s only the beginning. I think Canelo is going to have many, many more opportunities to win Fighter of the Year.

Q. Do you think it was an injustice that you didn’t win the Fighter of the Year? And do you even care about that?

CANELO ALVAREZ: Look, it’s nice. It’s nice winning awards. It’s something that’s nice. But I don’t think about that.

What I worry about is winning fights. At the end of the day, you have to win fights, and that’s what really counts and that’s what I train for and that’s what I work hard for, is to win fights.

The last thing I worry about is winning awards. I concentrate on winning fights.

Q. Now that Floyd is out of the picture and you’re the one that’s going to be fighting for the first time at the T-Mobile Arena, do you think that you can become the next king of boxing or the king of Las Vegas for boxing, and how do you feel about opening up the T-Mobile Arena?

CANELO ALVAREZ: Look, I don’t give myself titles. I don’t think of that. What I do is I do my job. If other people want to say that I’m the next person in boxing or call me or give me titles, then that’s up to them. That’s their opinion.

As far as fighting for the T-Mobile Arena, it’s a big honor. It’s a huge honor. It’s something new in my career, something that’s going to go down as one of the best arenas for boxing. I think there’s going to be some great fights there, and to be the first one, it means so much for me and I’m very happy and I’m honored.

Q. If you guys do not face GGG in the fall, is it an option to have a rematch with Miguel Cotto, just based on how well box office-wise that fight did?

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Well, we’re obviously focused on May 7. I mean, look, we’re not going to talk about possible opponents. But we strongly feel that, look, Amir Khan possesses a real threat and we have to focus on Amir Khan, and after the fight, then we’ll sit down once again and decide what we’re going to do.

Q. But is that a possible option, though, just going forward?

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: It might be.

Q. One thing about what you were saying, with you say that you’re not committed to doing the GGG fight in the fall, that you’re not sure what will happen; can you explain why you’re not committed to it at this point and why you’re not certain that will be his next fight?

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Well, look, because in boxing, you never know what’s going to happen. I cannot talk to you and say that Amir Khan is an easy fight, because it’s not. You know, there’s a rematch clause in place for a reason because, you know, Amir Khan is a real threat.

I cannot commit to something, I mean, if this fight hasn’t even happened.

Q. Just again, given all this talk about who you might face after May 7, because most people do believe that you’ll be able to take Amir, what do you think about giving up your WBC belt if you didn’t play GGG?

CANELO ALVAREZ: I’m not even thinking about that. I’m preparing for this fight on May 7. I’m not even thinking about that.

After the fight, we’ll see. We’ll decide and see what’s the best course of action. But right now, it’s not even in my mind. Hasn’t even crossed my mind. I don’t know.

Q. What do you worry about with Khan when you analyze the matchup? What things worry you for this fight?

CANELO ALVAREZ: Well, he’s a fighter that’s very fast. He’s explosive. He’s a very, very good fighter. He’s fast, explosive. That’s why I’m training so hard. I want to be 100 percent because I don’t like surprises.

Q. It’s pretty wide open for pound-for-pound fighter in the world. You’re obviously somebody that could be considered that. Is that something you think about or that you want? In the past you’ve said that you’re not worried about titles you’re given; that you don’t worry about that stuff. But is this something that personally you would like to achieve, become pound-for-pound fighter, best fighter in the world?

CANELO ALVAREZ: Of course it’s something that I would like. Of course I would love to be considered the best fighter pound-for-pound. That’s the reason why I train so hard. That’s the reason why I want to fight the best.

But it’s not for me to say. It’s the public. If the public considers me that or I’m named pound for pound the best fighter, that’s great. But yeah, that’s something I would love to attain.

Q. Now that Floyd and Manny are retired, can Canelo be the top draw? Can he be the top guy in boxing, Pay-Per-View-wise, weight-wise. Obviously he’s opening up the T-Mobile Arena which is a great new facility. Oscar, do you consider that he could be the top draw in boxing?

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Yes, I think that Saul could be considered not only the top draw but the most popular around the world. He’s already proved it.
You know, he broke records when he fought against Floyd Mayweather, so he’s already been there. He’s done that. So of course, I think that he is, and he’s going to continue to be, the top draw in boxing.

Q. With all due respect, you as a young boy, you wanted to always come in boxing and fight the best. Now that you’re at the top, everybody wants to come and fight you now. They want to treat you like a piñata and everybody wants to come and hit you and take their turn with you. How do you feel about that? Does that motivate you? What do you feel?

CANELO ALVAREZ: It’s a great motivation for me. It has a lot to say that everybody wants to come and try to take their turn and try to beat me. That’s why I train so hard; so that it doesn’t happen. So I’m always prepared. Yeah, it’s a big motivation for me.

Q. Obviously you’re a very good fighter: You can do it all, you can box, you can punch, you can stand toe-to-toe in a fight. What else is needed to make you a complete fighter, to make you an elite fighter? What does your team have to do or work on?

CANELO ALVAREZ: I think that obviously, look, there’s always going to be people that criticize me. They are always going to have tests and I have to pass different tests. And every fight, I keep learning and I keep getting better and I pass all the tests. There’s people that are always going to put more tests in front of me.

You know, I just keep — I have to keep doing what I’m doing, and I’m satisfying myself. Obviously I’m getting better each time out there.

I think about the people that are criticizing me that are with me; that are helping me get better that know what I’ve accomplished and where I come from, and that’s what’s important to me and that’s what I concentrate on.

Q. There’s comments that Oscar made in the British papers that Khan has a very good chance of winning and he could easily win the fight.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: No, that’s not what I said.

You know, this fight is a tough fight, just like any other fight, and you have to be prepared and you have to be ready, because you never know what’s going to happen in the ring.

Q. A lot of people are talking about the weight, the difference in weight. What do you feel about the difference in weight and what advantages do you have?

CANELO ALVAREZ: Look, I don’t think about that. I don’t worry about that. I just train hard. I think about having a great preparation and being ready for the fight.

I’ll repeat it again, I don’t like surprises, so I don’t think about that stuff. Obviously both of us are going to have our advantages, and the key thing is during the fight to take advantage of those advantages.

Q. Everybody is talking about the advantages of the fight. Do you think that you can possibly win by a knockout?

CANELO ALVAREZ: I feel that I’m obligated to win the fight, not necessarily to win by knockout, but to win the fight. That’s why I train hard, so I can win this fight. I don’t think about the knockout.

Q. By beating Cotto, do you think you gained some credibility that you might have lost when you lost to Mayweather? And have you ever faced anybody with the same style as Amir Khan?

CANELO ALVAREZ: As far as losing to Floyd, I don’t think I lost any credibility. You know, to go in there and perform like I did against Floyd at 22 years old, I don’t think I lost any credibility at all.

You know, I lost to a guy that nobody beat. Nobody was able to beat. None of the big names were able to beat him, so I don’t think I lost any credibility.

As far as beating Miguel Cotto, what it did, it gave me confidence. And it was historic for me, for my career, and it gave me a lot of confidence: A fighter, the stature of Miguel Cotto, the experience he has, the brand, the name, everything. It just gave me a lot of confidence and it’s something that was historic for me.

Look, I think I faced every kind of style. There’s so many different styles I’ve faced. I’ve faced people like that that are fast, elusive. I have the experience to be victorious May 7. I think it’s something that he doesn’t bring anything different that I haven’t faced before in the past to the table.

Obviously I have to be prepared, but yes, I have faced guys like him before.

Q. Eddy, obviously everybody is dangerous. Are you worried about the Amir Khan style? Are you worried or are you confident about his style?

EDDY REYNOSO: No, I think everybody’s dangerous. Anybody you face in the ring is dangerous. Amir Khan has a lot of qualities. That’s the reason why we’re training hard, and we’re getting prepared because he’s got many qualities and he can be a dangerous fighter.

Q. What has changed for you since your loss from Floyd Mayweather?

CANELO ALVAREZ: Many things have changed. I’m more experienced now. I’m more of a complete fighter. I’ve learned so much in that fight. So many things have changed. I think I have more confidence around the ring, so there’s many things that have changed.

Q. What is it that makes Canelo successful, not only inside of the ring but outside of the ring?
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: I think the desire is very, very important. I admire desire. He’s got so much desire, not only inside the ring but outside of the ring. He’s very focused and he takes it serious. He takes it very, very serious.

He works hard at his craft, so I think that’s something that I admire and you have to really love that about him.

Q. You’re only 25 years old. Is the best yet to come?

CANELO ALVAREZ: Of course there is. There’s many more things and many more goals. I have so much more that I want to accomplish in the sport. I think that I can reach many of them. I just have to concentrate more and keep working hard at my craft.

I just want to thank everybody for all your support and thank you so much for taking time to be on this call. I want to obviously invite everybody to see the fight May 7, and I just want to thank everybody for all the support. Thank you so much.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Thank you to all the media. We greatly appreciate it. And please mark your calendars, Monday, April 25, we have Canelo’s media work out in San Diego. Additional details will be coming soon, but that is April 25 will be Canelo Álvarez’s media workout in San Diego. Thank you very much.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports
Visit our archives at asapsports.com

Canelo vs. Khan, a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Championships, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Canelo Promotions and sponsored by “Cerveza Tecate, Born Bold”, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Casa Mexico Tequila, DOOM® — Fight Like Hell on May 13, and HANDS OF STONE: The True Story of Roberto Duran, in theaters this August! David Lemieux vs. Glen Tapia is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Eye of the Tiger Management and Patrick Teixeira vs. Curtis Stevens is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Main Events. The mega-event will take place Saturday, May 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets priced at $1,500, $1,000, $800, $600, $400, $250 and $150, not including applicable service charges and taxes, with a total ticket limit of 12 per person (a limit of 10 per person at the $1,500, $1,000, $800, $600 and $400 price levels and a limit of two [2] per person at the $250 and $150 price level) are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com.

An all-new edition of HBO’s Emmy-Award-winning reality series “24/7” premieres Saturday, April 23 at 12:15 a.m. ET/9:15 p.m. PT with episode one of “24/7 Canelo/Khan.” Liev Schreiber narrates.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com or www.hbo.com/boxing, follow us on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @canelo, @amirkingkhan, @OscarDeLaHoya and @HBOboxing, become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or www.Facebook.com/HBOboxing, join us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @canelo, @amirkingkhan, @OscarDeLaHoya and @HBOboxing, and follow the conversation using #CaneloKhan.

Photos and videos are available for download in the official Canelo vs. Khan press kit here: bit.ly/canelokhan.

TOM LOEFFLER: I couldn’t be more excited about kicking off fight week – this fight between Roman and McWilliams is not even a co-feature. It is a co-main event. Roman being the No. 1 pound-for-pound champion in the sport of boxing and arguably McWilliams being one of his toughest fights that’s he’s had. This will be Roman’s 3rd time on HBO since his debut on HBO last year. His awareness internationally and also the respect he has received has skyrocketed with the boxing media and the boxing fans. We are looking to have a sold out Forum and also the biggest capacity they have had for any boxing event since they transformed the historic venue.

ROMAN GONZALEZ: I feel very happy about this fight. He is a great boxer and I believe that I am in great condition.

McWILLIAMS ARROYO: It’s an honor for me to have this opportunity. I have been training very hard. I have to give the champion all of the credit. I have been working very hard and I plan to get that title.

How much longer do you think you can pair Gennady and Roman together?

TOM LOEFFLER: It’s been a fantastic pairing and the fans really respond when they see the No. 1 & No. 2 P4P fighters on the same show. We really worked hard to make it happen this time – this is the third time they have been on the same show together. If everything goes the right way, and I mentioned this is a very difficult fight for him, if everything goes the right way against McWilliams then I think he will have earned the right to be a main event fighter on HBO.

CARLOS BLANDON: My personal opinion is that I am just so happy that Roman is fighting on the undercard of one of the greatest fighters pound-4-pound, GGG. I think it’s a great blessing that HBO puts us on the card with the knockout artist. I do believe that eventually Roman will be the main event and we leave that up to HBO and K2. We know that they do their jobs to the best of their ability with Teiken Promotions and we will be ready for that when it comes. But for now GGG is the main event and we will be taken under consideration.

ROMAN GONZALEZ: I believe that both fighters, Golovkin and myself, are both main events and I hope that after this fight they give me an opportunity to be my own main event.

This is your second shot at a flyweight world title, can you reflect on your first fight in Thailand in 2014? You knocked him down but got the split decision loss

McWILLIAMS ARROYO: I’m a fighter that likes to fight. I know I had good moments in the ring. If we fought in a different territory, I know that it would have been different because he was holding throughout the fight and I couldn’t do a lot of things. But I don’t have any excuses. It is already by me. I am motivated to get a world title because that has always been my dream.

Are you intimidated at all by fighting the man who most regard as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world?

McWILLIAMS ARROYO: That motivates me more because I am in boxing to fight the best. It has been my dream since I was a little kid, to fight on HBO and to fight the best in the world. Having thoughts that some think I can’t beat him motivates me even more. At the end of the day the best man will win.

What will a win mean for you?

McWILLIAMS ARROYO: It will be excellent. It’s not only fighting the best in the world but to be a champion at the same time as my twin brother will be a dream come true.

How does it feel to be ranked No. 1 but not have the purses there yet? Do you feel that one day you could make over $1M to break the record of Carbajal and Gonzalez? Do you believe the purses are not that big due to the weight class?

ROMAN GONZALEZ: Yes, due to the fact of my weight class, the purses are not as high. I do believe that after this fight, where Arroyo and I will give such a great fight, that soon I will be receiving the purses that I deserve.

Do you feel a special pressure representing Nicaragua?

ROMAN GONZALEZ: No, I feel very happy and very proud of myself that all of the Nicaraguans are so nice to me. It’s a great honor for me to represent Nicaragua.

Arroyo, do you feel a special responsibility to represent Puerto Rico in a certain way?

McWILLIAMS ARROYO: Of course it is a great responsibility every time I step up into the ring. I do it to represent my country but I am really relaxed. It is going to be a hard fight. I am really concentrating and I am going to do my best.

What is the Forum capacity and what number are you at right now?

TOM LOEFFLER: We are expecting over 16,000 people at the Forum on Saturday night. There are still some tickets available this week. We are very close. We have over 14,000 tickets sold right now. It is definitely one of the biggest shows in California history. Over 16,000 will be considered a sell-out and as I mentioned it will be the highest attendance figure for any boxing event since the Forum was renovated. They are very happy about Gennady and Roman returning and the LA fans have responded. It’s been almost a year since they fought at the Forum and the fans have responded for these two great match-ups.

The last fighter to take you to a decision was Estrada. Do you believe Arroyo has the same tools to go the distance?

ROMAN GONZALEZ: I believe that every fighter is different. At the same time, the conditioning I had with Juan Francisco Estrada was not the same conditioning as today. The training camps I have had for the last two fights have put me in great condition for the fights. I know that McWilliams will be prepared for the fight and I have also prepared to the best of my ability.

What weight are you right now? This was your second training camp in Costa Rica – how do you feel?

ROMAN GONZALEZ: I am three pounds over the weight right now – 115 lbs. The training camps in Costa Rica have gone really well and have put me in top condition for Saturday night.

Why did you choose Costa Rica? Is it hard to train in Nicaragua?

ROMAN GONZALEZ: There is a lot of media attention in Nicaragua which makes it difficult to concentrate on training. Going to Costa Rica lets me put all my efforts into training for the fight.

Since you have been out of the ring for almost a year, were you hesitant to take the fight against the best fighter in the world?

McWILLIAMS ARROYO: I have done it before. It was not my decision to be out of the ring. I had prepared myself for three or four fights during that time and the fights didn’t go through. It wasn’t what I decided but things happen in boxing. But all of the training has been there and it won’t be a factor.

What can you take away from the loss to Estrada to use against Roman?

McWILLIAMS ARROYO: I can’t really compare it because it is two different fighters. Estrada was a fighter that holds on too much. He did a lot of grabbing. I know this fight will be much more explosive because Roman is aggressive and I am aggressive.

What are your thoughts on Roman? Is he living up to the hype? What do you think about what he can do in the ring?

McWILLIAMS ARROYO: He’s a great fighter and deserves what he has accomplished. I respect that but on the 23rd when I am going up in the ring, I’m not going to have that on my mind. I am going for what I want and that is to win a world title. I know that fans want a great fight and that’s what I plan to give.

Who would you match Roman up with for an HBO main event?

TOM LOEFFLER: It’s hard to speculate with Gennady and Roman on future opponents. If Roman is not successful on Saturday all of the plans go out the window. As with Gennady, there has been a lot of talk with him and Canelo but there is nothing to speculate on. If Roman is not successful against McWilliams or if Gennady is not successful against Wade…This is probably one of Roman’s toughest fights – for McWilliams to go to Thailand to lose a split decision along with his great amateur background makes for a difficult fight. We will see how everything goes on Saturday then sit own with Mr. Honda and Carlos Blandon and see what happens at that point.

What has HBO said about Roman headlining?

TOM LOEFFLER: We’ve been pushing for that and Roman has gotten a great response form the HBO viewers and if he wins on Saturday we will have more discussions.

Do you think Roman can achieve the “Gold Standard” that Carbajal and Gonzalez set some time ago and what are the challenges?

TOM LOEFFLER: If you remember Michael Carbajal and Chiquita Gonzalez both had great stories. Both were built up and to have that fight at the Forum made for an historic event. I think Roman is getting a lot of international media attention and has a lot of momentum behind his career. It depends on having someone at the same level and there are a lot of great fighters in the lower divisions. I think it’s possible and the more exposure the lighter divisions get the easier it will be to make that type of fight possible.

TOM LOEFFLER: Certainly McWilliams brings a lot of support from Puerto Rico and being the flag-bearer for the Olympic team for his country in 2008 and that’s the type of thing you need to make that type of fight – two very marketable fighters.

What was the feeling to carry the Olympic flag?

McWILLIAMS ARROYO: It was an honor to me being in front of my whole, not only my boxing team, but all of the other sports. I was very grateful and to also have my brother with me also fighting in the Olympics – it was a great honor.

What do you think about getting this opportunity?

McWILLIAMS ARROYO: I am prepared for the fight. I missed out on my first opportunity at a world title but that doesn’t mean I can’t make it now. It is a dream come true to finally fight on HBO. I am ready and on the 23rd, the best man will win. I know it’s going to be a hard fight and the fans are going to be the ones to enjoy it.

Does being No. 1 pound-for-pound affect the way you fight in the ring?

ROMAN GONZALEZ: It is a big blessing. I have trained very hard. I feel like I have trained enough to win. I train for my family and for my country. It is a big motivation to be No. 1 and be able to maintain that.

Do you go into this fight looking for the knockout or just waiting and if it comes it comes?

ROMAN GONZALEZ: I have never said that I am going to knock an opponent out. I am going to give my best and I am going to pay attention to my corner and if the knockout comes, then I welcome it but I am not looking for the knockout.

Why do you think you can win this fight?

McWILLIAMS ARROYO: I didn’t just start yesterday. I have been boxing all my life. I am here to fight the best. I have always wanted to fight the best. The training that I have and the experience – I already know that I can give my best. At the end of the day the best man will win. I am very motivated and I am going to the ring for the win.

Do you think Roman may be looking beyond you?

McWILLIAMS ARROYO: I can’t answer that. Only he can tell you that. I don’t think so, but really I don’t know.

Roman, what plans to you have outside of the ring?

ROMAN GONZALEZ: This is, for me, to keep motivating young people and to be able tell people to keep away from any vices if there is any opportunity to do so.

Do you see bigger things in store for you after Saturday night?

ROMAN GONZALEZ: It motivates me because God gives me the will to win on Saturday. I know that after that fight there will be a lot higher purses and bigger fights and that motivates me.

Stylistically, will Arroyo be the most difficult fighter to date?

ROMAN GONZALEZ: I will find that out on Saturday. It could be very hard. It could be very easy. I do not know. I know he is a warrior, but I will find out if it will be the hardest fight on Saturday.

In closing…

PETER RIVERA: We like to show our appreciation for everyone that is on the call. I would also like to thank Tom Loeffler and Carlos and Chocolatito Gonzalez to let us be on this great show. I want to say to the fans this will be a great fight and I hope that on Saturday we will have a new world champion from Puerto Rico and the twin brothers can be world champions at the same time.

McWILLIAMS ARROYO: On the 23rd, watch the fight. I am going for the win. It’s going to be a great, great fight.

ROMAN GONZALEZ: I am very happy and I hope on Saturday we are able to give the best fight possible.

TOM LOEFFLER: I have to thank both teams – Peter Rivera and from PR Best Boxing Promotions and McWilliams Arroyo. When we reached out to Peter there was no hesitation in taking the fight and working together again with Mr. Honda and Teiken Promotions and Carlos from Chocolatito’s side it really came together and that’s how you make the best fights. I think the fans will be in for a great treat Saturday night at the Forum.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Boxing Superstar and Undefeated, Unified World Middleweight Champion Gennady, “GGG” Golovkin, 34-0 (31KO’s) will defend his titles (WBA, IBF, IBO and WBC “Interim’) against Undefeated Mandatory Challenger Dominic Wade, 18-0 (12KO’s) on Saturday, April 23 at the Fabulous Forum in the main event at UNDEFEATED.

Co-featured will be Consensus #1 Pound-For-Pound Fighter and WBC Flyweight World Champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, 44-0 (38KO’s) battling World Ranked Contender McWilliams Arroyo, 16-2 (14KO’s) of Puerto Rico.

Both bouts will be televised Live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets for UNDEFEATED, priced at $400, $300, $200, $100, $60 and $30, are now on sale through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.com, 1-800-745-3000) and the Forum Box Office.

Golovkin vs. Wade is promoted by K2 Promotions, GGG Promotions and in association with TGB Promotions. Gonzalez vs. McWilliams is presented by K2 Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions and PR Best Boxing Promotions.

SOCIAL MEDIA: For more information, visit www.K2Promos.com, www.GGGBoxing.com, www.TGBPromotions.com, www.FabulousForum.com and www.HBO.com/boxing.

Follow on Twitter at Gennady Golovkin @GGGBoxing, Dominic Wade @_DomoWade,
Roman Gonzalez @chocolatitobox, Tom Loeffler/K2 Promotions @TomLoeffler1, TGB Promotions @TGBpromotions, the Forum @theForum and HBO Boxing @HBOBoxing and become a fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/GGGBoxing, www.facebook.com/TheForum and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.

Use the hashtags #GolovkinWade and #GonzalezArroyo to join the conversations on social media.

Last Friday night April 15, at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota, WBA-NABA Middleweight Champion Rob “Bravo” Brant celebrated his one-year anniversary of fighting under the Greg Cohen Promotions banner by knocking out Arkansas veteran Delray Raines at 55 seconds of the first round.

The victory finalized an incredible first year for the WBA #12-ranked Brant, which saw him go 6-0, 5 KOs, including four Nationally televised bouts, one of them a KO of the year candidate over Decarlo Perez on ShoBox: The New Generation in January.

He now sits at the top of the middleweight prospect/contender class and should be fighting for a world title within a year.

“When Rob signed with us, he told us to get him the opportunities and he’ll make the most of them and that’s what he’s done sensationally,” said Greg Cohen. “He’s the hottest up-and-coming middleweight in the world with some huge fights on the horizon. I couldn’t be happier for him.”

Cohen says it’s Brant’s work ethic that has led to his steady ascension. “No one works harder than Rob Brant in the gym and day-to-day. He eats right; he lives right and has no bad habits. And he never stops learning. Every fight has been easy to spot the improvements he’s made from the previous.”

Cohen says he’s currently negotiating with the camps of several prominent fighters to secure Brant his first major showdown. “Rob is ready for the top of the division now and we’re working hard to get him the right fight. And no matter who it is you can’t count him out. Every time we’ve stepped Rob Brant up in competition, he’s responded by becoming even more dangerous. It’s going to be a very interesting year for Rob Brant and his growing army of fans.”
About Greg Cohen Promotions
One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.

Founder and CEO Greg Cohen has been involved with professional boxing in various capacities since the late 1980s, honing his craft and establishing himself as a shrewd international boxing businessman.

Distinguished by his ability to spot and develop raw talent, Cohen first made promotional headlines for his expert guidance of, among many others, former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout, who Cohen helped guide from unknown New Mexico prospect to elite pay-per-view level superstar.

In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney.

Cohen currently promotes WBA Interim World Lightweight Champion Ismael Barroso, Undefeated WBA NABA Heavyweight Champion and world-rated contender Jarrell Miller, undefeated WBA NABA Middleweight Champion and world-rated contender Robert Brant, former world champion Kendall Holt, as well as current world-rated contenders including long-time elite middleweight “Mean” Joe Greene, top super featherweight Arash Usmanee, Canadian lightweight and TV action hero Tony Luis; WBA and five-time Irish National Amateur Champion, Dennis Hogan; and Australian lightweight prospect Josh King.

Greg Cohen Promotions has hosted world-class boxing events in the finest venues throughout the United States and the world and has also proudly provided talent and/or content for several television networks including CBS Sports Network, HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC Sports Network, CBS Sports Network, MSG and FOX Sports Net.

For more information, visit gcpboxing.com. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GCPBoxing. Twitter: @GCPBoxing.

MOSCOW (April 19, 2016) – M-1 Global recently announced its M-1 Challenge 65 bonus performances, highlighted by the Fight of the Night award, along with Submission of the Night and KO of the Night.

The M-1 Challenge 65 Fight of the Night was between Russian middleweight prospect Artem Frolov (6-0-0, M-1: 2-0-0) against Kristijan “Klitschko” Perak (8-3-1, M-1: 0-2-1), in which Frolov won by way of an opening-round submission by way of an arm-bar.

M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev (14-3-0, M-1: 8-1-0) was awarded the Submission of the Night. The reigning M-1 Challenge middleweight champion, who advanced to the M-1 Global Grand Prix Middleweight Championship versus Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko (51-9-0, M-1: 2-0-0), used a choke hold on his Brazilian opponent, Maiquel “Big Rig” Facao (35-9-0, M-1: 0-1-0), midway through the first round to win the main event.

M-1 Challenge 65 Submission of the Night: Ramazan Emeev

Former M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Max Divnich (12-1-0, M-1: 6-1-0) captured KO of the Night honors with an impressive second-round stoppage (punches) of Robert “TQ” Turnquest (5-2-0, M-1: 0-1-0).

M-1 Challenge 65 KO of the Night: Max Divnich

Information

www.M1Global.tv
www.mixfight.ru
www.wmmaa.org

Twitter & Instagram:

@M1GlobalNews
@VFinkelchtein
@M1Global

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/M-1-GlobalNews

MONTE CARLO, Monaco (April 19, 2016)- The second annual World MMA Association (WMMAA) Asian Championship will be held May 27-30 at Hwasoon Culture and Sports Center in the Republic of South Korea.

The Asian MMA Championship will feature the top amateur MMA fighters in six different weight classes.

“This year’s Asian MMA Championship is a significant milestone for our association,” WMMAA president Vadim Finkelchtein said. “We strive to educate people from each country in which we hold regional championships. This time will be no different with more people learning the beauty of Mixed Martial Arts. We’re also organizing a judges and referee seminar within a certification process. We are looking forward to this event and hope to have as many Asian countries participating as possible.”

An international judges’ seminar will be held May 24-27, to certify and accredit judges. Only accredit judges will be allowed to work during the Asian MMA Championships. Preliminary and semifinal matches will be May 28, followed by the championship final matches.

The official weigh-ins and competition draws will be conducted May 27,

The Asia Division Congress: Battle of the Nomads of the WMMAA Pro Asian Division will be held May 29.

Individual team competition will be held in accordance with the “Official Rules of Mixed Martial Arts Competition, subject to WMMAA approval. Including revisions, additions and clarifications of certain clauses. Matches will held in accordance with the Olympic system with two third-places in each of the six weight divisions.

Team scoring is awarded by the maximum amount of points scored by individual team members on the following basis: 1st – 10, 2nd – 8, 3rd – 6, 4th – 5, 5th – 4, 6th – 3, 7th – 2, 8th – 1.

All individual first-place winners will be awarded special championship belts and medals, second and third-place finishers will receive a medal and certificate. Teams finishing among the top three in the final standings will be awarded cups and certificates.

In addition to the host, South Korea, other eligible countries to compete in the Asian MMA Championship include Afghanistan, China, Chinese Taipei, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Singapore and Tajikistan
Information

www.WMMAA.org
www.facebook.com/World.MMA.Association
www.youtube.com/user/TheWMMAA

New York, NY (4/19/16) – DiBella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing series heads back up north to the suburbs of Westchester County on Wednesday for the third time in a little over a year. The exciting card will take place at the beautiful Hilton Westchester in Rye Brook, NY. Headlining the event will be Portchester’s own junior lightweight prospect Bryant “Peewee” Cruz (16-1, 8KO’s) in a scheduled eight-round bout.

The bout on April 20th will be Cruz’ first since suffering his lone loss as a professional, back in December of last year. In Cruz’ ShoBox debut, he took on late replacement Dardan Zenunaj, a once-beaten, world-rated contender. Cruz got off to a very fast start, dictating the pace and sweeping all of the early rounds. However, the hard-charging Zenunaj kept the pressure on all night and the bout turned into a war halfway through. After dropping Cruz with a barrage of punches near the end of the seventh, Cruz’ corner elected to halt the contest between frames. Cruz took the fight as a learning experience and is eager to get back to his winning ways in front of a hometown partisan crowd when he steps into the ring tomorrow night against Jalisco, Mexico’s Moises Delgadillo (17-14-2, 8 KO’s).

A native of County Cork, Ireland, the 21-year-old Noel Murphy (5-0, 2KO’s) was a multi-time national champion as an amateur before relocating to Yonkers, NY, and embarking on his professional career in November 2014. He has quickly built a passionate local fan base with his dynamic style and will not disappoint those in attendance when he provides them with another action-packed performance against Ariel Vasquez (11-12-2, 8 KO’s), of Phoenix, AZ, in their scheduled six-rounder.

The 6’5″ 24-year-old unbeaten middleweight prospect Alantez Fox was a standout amateur boxer who compiled a 165-35 record, highlighted by gold medals at the Ringside National and Under-19 tournaments in 2010. From Forestville, MD, Fox (18-0-1, 7 KO’s) is trained by his father Troy out of Lloyd Irvin MMA/Boxing Gym. With exceptional physical tools that include a 79-inch reach, Fox is ready to take the division by storm as he climbs up the rankings. He will square off against Josue Obando (14-9-1, 11 KO’s), of Guadalajara, Mexico, in an eight-round contest.

Born in Albania, Stivens Bujaj (14-0-1, 9 KO’s) moved to Bronx, NY, at an early age. One of the more popular fighters throughout the New York fight scene, Bujaj, who recently relocated to nearby Yonkers, NY, was a two-time NY Golden Gloves champion before turning pro in 2010. The lone blemish on Bujaj’s record is a split decision draw to fellow contender and IBO world title challenger Junior Wright in May 2015. During the bout with Wright, Bujaj suffered a broken jaw. He has since reeled off back-to-back victories following surgery to repair his jaw, and is looking to impress as he continues his ascent up the rankings of the cruiserweight division. On Wednesday, he will be facing Harvey Jolly (15-22-1, 7 KO’s), of Nashville, TN, in a six-round bout.

World-ranked Australian super featherweight contender Billel Dib (18-1, 9 KO’s), of Sydney, New South Wales, will make his US debut against Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Jose Salinas (9-1-1, 5 KO’s) in an eight-round bout. Ranked nine by the WBO and 13 by the IBF, Dib is determined to secure his 10th straight victory as he works his way toward a world title shot. A pro since 2011, Dib has already won the Australian and interim WBO Oriental super featherweight titles, but would love to add another world title to the family’s collection that includes former champ and brother Billy’s IBF featherweight belt.

Brooklyn’s Wesley Ferrer (10-0, 5 KO’s) will challenge Luis Alberto Pelayo (12-6-1, 6 KO’s), of Guadalajara, Mexico, in a six-round lightweight battle. An outstanding amateur, Ferrer was a two-time NY Golden Gloves champion, 2012 New York Amateur Boxing champion and New York City Metro Tournament champion, as well as a participant at the 2013 National Golden Gloves.

Tickets are priced at $125, $75 and $55, and are currently on sale through the DiBella Entertainment office by calling (212) 947-2577. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

The Hilton Westchester is located at 699 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573.

Ivan Redkach 135.2 – Luis Cruz 134.9
Immanuel Aleem 158.9 – Jonathan Cepeda 160.4
Junior Castillo 157.8 – Kyrone Davis 158.2
Stephen Fulton 122.8 – Adalberto Zorilla 122.5
Frank De Alba 131 – Daniel Perales 130.9
Dustin Pague 146.9 – Rafael Davis 144.4
Nicholas Hernandez 152.9 – Jamil Gadsden 154
Kent Cruz 139.1 – Jerome Rodriguez 140

Promoter: King’s Promotions
Venue: Sands Bethlehem Event Center
1st Bell: 7 PM ; FS1 & Fox Deportes 9 PM ET

Bernie Bahrmasel: “Hello, and welcome to the Gennady Golovkin/Dominic Wade international media conference call for the World Middleweight Championship, on Saturday, April 23rd at the Fabulous Forum in Los Angeles and telecast live on HBO at 10 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Pacific. This truly is an international media conference call as in addition to welcoming media members from North America, we also have press joining us from 17 countries around the world. We want to send a special welcome to them.

Sporting a record of 34 and 0, with 31 knockouts, Boxing Superstar, and Unified Middleweight World Champion Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin will defend his WBA, IBF, IBO, and WBC interim title against undefeated mandatory challenger, Dominic Wade, who brings a record of 18 and 0 with 12 knockouts into the showdown. First on the call will be Gennady and his team, and later we’ll be joined by Dominic Wade his manager, Jerry Vines, and his trainer, Jay Stencil.

At this time, it’s my pleasure to introduce, individually, the All-Star team of Golovkin to say a few words. First off is his promoter, voted the 2015 Promoter of the Year by numerous worldwide outlets for his work with K2 Promotions, which sold over 105,000 tickets last year, Tom Loeffler.

Tom Loeffler: Thanks, Bernie. We’re excited about coming back to Los Angeles at the Fabulous Forum. This will be Gennady’s second fight there. He’s headlining the show versus mandatory IBF challenger, Dominic Wade. This will be Gennady’s 16th World Championship Title defense. We couldn’t be happier with the ticket sales. The fan reaction for this fight and also the co-feature with Chocolatito on the show versus McWilliams Arroyo, it’s a tremendous show. So we’re excited about that. We just had the media training day up in Big Bear on Tuesday, had a great response there. We announced the Jordan deal on that day, which is a huge deal for Gennady, so just looking to a great show April 23 at the Forum.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Thanks, Tom. Next up is Gennady’s trainer, voted the 2015 Trainer of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America. He’s been Gennady’s trainer since 2010, his 17th training camp with ‘GGG’, Abel Sanchez. Go ahead, Abel.

Abel Sanchez: Thank you very much to all the members of the media that are with us today. We’re looking forward to the 23rd. We’ve had a great training camp. Thank you to Dominic and his team for being part of this promotion. I think it’s going to be a great fight. I think it’s going to be a great show, and welcome on the 23rd.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Thank you, Abel. Finally, we have as voted an unprecedented two years in a row by Yahoo Sports and the Los Angeles Times, The Fighter of the Year for 2014 and 2015. In addition to being named HBO Sports’ The Fight Games’, 2015 Man of the Year Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin.

Gennady Golovkin: Yes, I’m here. Thank you very much. Absolutely, I’m very excited to come back to LA.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Excellent, our first question comes from Dan Rafael of ESPN. Go ahead, Dan.

Dan Rafael: Okay, yes, my question, Gennady, you know everybody has watched you know the different things that you bring into the ring. What I wonder is, what’s the one thing that, when you go to training camp to prepare for, whether it’s against Dominic Wade or any other opponent that you face, what is the one thing that you believe that you need to work on that may not be as good as you would like it to be?

Gennady Golovkin: Yes, Dan. My preparation is very good. You know like every last couple times, I feel great. Right now I have just a couple days left, just one week before the fight. I feel great. I bring maybe new idea, like new strategy. I work with Abel. Thank you, Abel, my coach. He shows me new ideas.

Dan Rafael: Abel, do you think that he has any flaws that you see as the coach that you want him to work on? And if so, Abel, what are they?

Abel Sanchez: Well, there’s flaws in everybody. When he goes away from camp he comes back, we have to re-work on the things that we’ve always were been working on. Every training camp, I try to implement a couple things that I think are going to be, not necessarily for this opponent, but that are going to be necessary for us to compete with the elite guys at the top in the future. So every training camp, we put in a couple new things, and in this training camp we did also. Obviously those are the things that we would keep close to the vest, but are things that are going to make him a better fighter and hopefully make him the greatest of all time that I think he could be when the time comes.

Dan Rafael: I’m trying to figure out even like what one of those things could be. I’ve been watching him his whole career. You see an offensive fighter that has really no flaws as far as I can tell. I guess maybe a little bit defensively, is there anything, without giving away your trade secrets, is there one element of the game that you would really get on them about?

Abel Sanchez: Well, obviously, no it’s not only I. Max, his brother is insistent on him, and I’ve been saying this all along, he and I have talked about this on him moving his hands a little bit more in training. It’s so easy for him to do the things that he does that sometimes he just gets complacent in the gym, and anything can happen in the gym, a thumb, or an elbow, or anything. So we try to insist on him, for this training camp, because maybe Dominic is not in his mind so we’re trying to insist in this particular training camp to make sure that he was moving his shoulders, moving his head, and just giving me a little more action on the inside.

Dan Rafael: Okay, and my other question, now Abel, you said just a moment ago that you believe that he can be what the greatest middleweight of all time or you mean fighter of all time? What were you talking about?

Abel Sanchez: One of the greatest middleweights. I think that when we’re all finished, maybe not in the near future, but in the future they give them the accolades that are due them. I think that eventually when, 20 years from now, when we all sit down and discuss, when people sit down to discuss the middleweights, Golovkin will be one of the middleweights that they talk about.

Dan Rafael: Do you think it’s hard for him to get up for an opponent like Wade, not that he is not a good boxer, but he’s so unknown. Gennady’s already faced, maybe not the superstar lead opponents, but he’s already, he’s had a number of fights against former titleholders and certainly opponents with at least some bigger reputations and recognitions than Dominic Wade has had.

Abel Sanchez: Well, fortunately for Gennady, he is after the unification of all the belts. So that motivation alone it really doesn’t matter who’s on the other side to him right now because if he doesn’t fight this fight, he’s going to lose that middleweight belt, the IBF. That right there is the motivation. To him, Dominic Wade represents the IBF belt. So it is motivation enough for him.

Dan Rafael: Triple G, is there anything for you that makes it more difficult to maybe get up for an opponent like Dominic Wade who is not the most known guy compared to some of the other fighters that you have faced?

Gennady Golovkin: No, I’m okay. I understand what to do. I understand it’s very important, every fight with an opponent. I understand my motivation is my goal for all the belts in the middleweight division. I have motivation. I feel good. I’m working hard every day. You know I just feel this is my time.

Dan Rafael: Okay, thank you very much, everybody, look forward to seeing you all next week. Appreciate it.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Thank you very much, Dan, we appreciate it. Our next call comes from Salvador Rodriguez, from ESPN Deportes. Go ahead, Salvador.

Salvador Rodriguez: Hello, everybody. Gennady, how do you see the boxing scene right now after the Mayweather leaves, Pacquiao leaves? Do you see new boxing stars right now?

Gennady Golovkin: No, I don’t feel it. Right now it’s not of interest for me who’s number one, number two. You know after Floyd or Manny; it doesn’t matter for me. I know my style. I know my division is very important. You know I think people understand more things. To fans, people understand my style. People love my style, and I just thank my fans.

Salvador Rodriguez: What about if you won this fight and Canelo won in May, and Canelo asked for another option, are you ready to give him another option or that’s the last one that you give in May?

Gennady Golovkin: It doesn’t matter for me, if Canelo win or Canelo lost. Canelo can talk, it doesn’t matter. My focus is only on Dominic Wade, right now.

Salvador Rodriguez: Tom, how are you? Tom Loeffler, how difficult will it be to give Golovkin the opportunity to unify all the titles. You know, not just Canelo? What about Danny Jacobs?

Tom Loeffler: Well, I’ll tell you it’s hard to unify when the other fighters, or the other champions, don’t want to fight Gennady. Like Gennady said, he and Abel, are focused 100% on Dominic Wade. It’s part of the obligation, being a champion with the IBF who named Dominic as the mandatory, but it’s my job to look forward and try to secure other opportunities. So, we have to give David Lemieux a lot of credit. He was the only champion so far willing to get in the ring with Gennady.

Canelo’s mandated if Gennady wins in April, and Canelo wins in May, he’s mandated to fight for the WBC, and Danny Jacobs, who you mentioned, he’s a great name as well. He had a big win over Peter Quillin, but again everyone’s focused right now on Dominic Wade. If he doesn’t win the fight April 23, all the names that I can line up in front of him are meaningless. So, everyone’s focused on Wade, and then after that, we’ll see who would actually get in the ring with him if he’s successful.

Salvador Rodriguez: Okay, thank you. Just one, Abel Sanchez.

Abel Sanchez: The question is, “How difficult is it to keep Gennady motivated when all the names that are mentioned are walking away or running away from him?” My answer was that it’s not hard to keep him motivated because he is a professional, a true professional, comes to the gym ready to work. Right now the goal is to gain or to win all the four belts, the major belts, so hopefully this year that goal will be accomplished, and then we can worry about how we keep him motivated next year for the other goals that we have set for ourselves.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Our next question comes from Mitch Abramson, from Ring Magazine. Go ahead, Mitch.

Mitch Abramson: Hey, everybody. I have a question for Tom. Hey, Tom, how are you doing?

Tom Loeffler: Hi, Mitch.

Mitch Abramson: Tom, have you gotten any update from Golden Boy as to what their plans are after May 7th? Have you got any response at all about what their mindset is?

Tom Loeffler: No, I really haven’t discussed the topic of Canelo, or regarding Canelo, with Golden Boy. We had the meeting with the WBC when Canelo was obligated to fight Gennady by winning the WBC title, but since then, since we had the agreement that he could have one voluntary defense and then would have to fight the winner of Gennady, or Dominic Wade, since then we haven’t had any discussions. We figure we’d focus on April 23, they would focus on May 7 and then after those two fights we’d figure out the situation.

Mitch Abramson: You have any sense, though, at this point, what their plans are or is it just very open-ended?

Tom Loeffler: It’s pretty open-ended. You see interviews and things of that nature, but we have to go by the WBC mandate and the WBC rules. Again, that’s all a moot point if Gennady doesn’t win April 23, it doesn’t matter what agreement is in place, then Dominic Wade becomes the champion and mandatory contender for the WBC title. So we figure we’ll wait until after the fight, see how everything goes, and then at that point we can resume discussions after we get the IBF mandatory out of the way.

Mitch Abramson: Okay, one last thing, Tom. I know that Gilberto Ramirez has been mentioned as a possible backup plan for Gennady if Canelo doesn’t fight him. What was your impression of Gilberto, who just fought on Saturday, and won a title?

Tom Loeffler: I think Gilberto looked great. Whenever a young mandatory challenger like that can dominate an established champion like Arthur Abraham, who’s been a champion for so long at 168, you have to give Ramirez a lot of credit, a lot of respect. That would certainly be a fight down the road that could make a lot of sense for Gennady. Bob had reached out to see if we’d have interest and we definitely responded that we would have interest in that fight. That would certainly be a fight down the road for Gennady if we can’t get the other middleweight champions to fight him.

Mitch Abramson: Would that be a possibility for this year, do you think, if the fight with Canelo doesn’t happen?

Tom Loeffler: It really depends. First priority is obviously Dominic Wade. The second priority is to get the mandatory against Canelo or Amir Khan. Third priority would be to try to unify with the WBO champion, Billy Joe Saunders. Certainly if those other opportunities don’t materialize, then Ramirez would be one of the biggest fights that Gennady could be in.

Mitch Abramson: Thanks, Tom, I appreciate it.

Tom Loeffler: Thanks, Mitch.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Thanks very much, Mitch. Our next call comes from Andrew Johnson from the Huffington Post. Go ahead, Andrew.

Andrew Johnson: This question is for Gennady. Gennady, a lot of your fans I think are curious about Kazakhstan, what the place is like, and what it’s like growing up there. Can you tell us maybe one of the country’s strengths or something that you love about the country and then one challenge or one of the struggles that’s facing the country right now?

Gennady Golovkin: Thank you, Andrew. Sure, I always love my country and am proud of being from Kazakhstan. Right now I live in California, the priority for my fights is here in the US, my team, my co-workers, everybody lives in California. Right now just my focus is in the United States.

Tom Loeffler: I can jump in on that is, he was actually named by the President of Kazakhstan as the Ambassador for the World Expo 2017, which is going to take place in Kazakhstan next year. So he’s very proud of his heritage being from Kazakhstan. He always fights with the Kazakh flag with him and represented Kazakhstan in the Olympics. So maybe just to elaborate on your answer, he’s focused his boxing career in the United States. He’s living in Los Angeles, but certainly always represents Kazakhstan. His mother and his brother, Max, still live in Kazakhstan.

Andrew Johnson: Got you, thank you very much.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Thanks very much, Andrew. Our next call comes from Gayle Falkenthal, from Community Digital. Go ahead, Gayle.

Gayle Falkenthal: Thank you very much, Bernie. Gentlemen, this is both Abel and Gennady. You’ve got a long knockout streak running, and there must be pressure to keep that streak up. How do you work with this preparing for a fight, and in conjunction with that question, how do you decide whether or not to go for a quick knockout as you did against Marco Antonio Rubio versus going into some later rounds and getting some work in? What do you plan to do this fight?

Abel Sanchez: Go ahead, G.

Gennady Golovkin: Okay, this is my secret, it’s hard work every day. Thanks to my coach, thanks to my team. I know my power. I know my style.

Abel Sanchez: Okay, I don’t think there’s any pressure on us or at least we don’t put any pressure on us in the gym for the knockout even though the streak is going, the streak will happen by itself if it’s supposed to happen. Gennady trains for 12 rounds because we know that the opponent, whoever the opponent that we’re facing is, is just as motivated as we are to be where Gennady is and to stay where Gennady is. So, if we don’t prepare as if it’s going to be a 12 round fight, then we may be surprised. We’ve been fortunate that Gennady has landed the shot that he’s landed and we’ve ended short fights but we definitely prepare for 12 rounds and if it happens to be shorter, great, so be it. It’s a great show for the fans.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Thank you very much, Gayle. We’ll see you next week. We’re going to take one final call for Team Golovkin. That will be Corey Erdman from BoxingScene.com. Go ahead Corey.

Corey Erdman: Thanks very much. Gennady, I’ll start with you. Dominic Wade was speaking about you earlier on in the week, and he said not unbeatable, and you’re not going to go down as the greatest fighter in history. Is it possible that Dominic Wade can actually go the distance with you?

Gennady Golovkin: I can’t talk before fight, just after I beat him. I know he’s a good fighter. He’s undefeated, and probably will have a lot of time for a great performance. I think we’re bringing and giving fans a great show, a great event. I hope he is ready 100% to fight.

Corey Erdman: Perfect. Abel, one question for you as well. You’ve become, it seems, increasingly vocal in recent months calling out other fighters on Gennady’s behalf and just seemingly being more active in the media. Is that because your kind of getting impatient in wanting Gennady to get a crack at what are these truly big names that are out there and seemingly avoiding him?

Abel Sanchez: No, I’ve been vocal only because when you call us out or when you say that Gennady is not fighting the elite, when guys come out and use his name for publicity, I think we have to respond. I think we have to respond because, as Tom alluded to in the past, guys always say I want to fight Golovkin, but just not next. So when these guys are saying that, we can’t just sit back and not say anything. We’ve made offers, and Tom’s made offers, to just about everybody, and we’ve been turned down. So that’s the reason that I’m vocal. If you don’t use our name, then obviously you’ve got nothing to talk about.

Corey Erdman: All right, last question, then, for Tom. Because there isn’t a lineup of opponents, obviously you guys were put in an interesting scenario negotiating with Dominic Wade and having to deal with his team, Al Haymon, and the other side of the political divide. What were those dealings like? Was there any kind of awkwardness whatsoever?

Tom Loeffler: I’ll tell you, unlike the other champions in the middleweight division, there was no hesitation at all on Dominic Wade’s side. I’ve known Tom Brown for a long time and once Wade was named the mandatory challenger from the IBF, we made the deal in about a week. I have to give a lot of credit to Dominic and to his entire team, his manager Jerry Vines for putting the deal together. There was no hesitation. There was no fear in taking the fight, and they see this as a huge opportunity. Look, Dominic can turn the boxing world on its head. If he defeats Gennady Golovkin, all of a sudden he’s the top dog in the middleweight division and at the top of the sport. So, it’s a huge opportunity for him for this fight.

Corey Erdman: Alright, perfect. Thank you guys so much.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Thanks very much, Corey.

Corey Erdman: Thank you.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Abel and Gennady, we know you’ve got another busy day of training. Can we get some final comments from you? Gennady, go ahead first please.

Gennady Golovkin: Yes, thank you very much, everybody. I’m very excited about the fight. Thanks to HBO for their support. Thanks of course to Dominic Wade’s team. I appreciate it because he’s really a true fighter. He’s real. He’s undefeated. He’s a big guy. I hope we’ll have a lot of time for a great performance and a great event, I promise an amazing show. Thank you very much.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Thank you, Gennady, appreciate you joining us today. Go ahead, Abel.

Abel Sanchez: I would like to thank all you members of the media that participated in this. Thank you for the support. Thank you for the coverage. HBO will be delighted with the show that Gennady puts on. Dominic, I know, is a tough opponent for us, but we’ll make it as short a night as possible or as long and exciting fight as possible. Thank you very much.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Thank you, Abel. At this time, we’re going to turn the call over to Dominic Wade’s team. Jerry, the long-time manager of Dominic Wade, go ahead, Jerry.

Jerry Vines: Hi, how’s everybody doing? Thank you for having us on the call today. Yes, Dominic has been preparing hard. He’s actually at the gym right now as we speak and we stepped away to do this call but we’re preparing hard. We’d like to thank Tom Loeffler and K2 for this opportunity, and we take this opportunity really serious and have plans to help to upset the boxing world on April 23rd

Bernie Bahrmasel: Is Jay Stencil there with you as well, Jerry?

Jay Stencil: Yes, Dominic is training very hard. Dominic is focused and, like Jerry said, he’s been dedicated and he’s actually in the gym now working. So Dom is prepared for the moment. April 23rd, Dom is going to do great.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Thank you, Jay. Finally we’ll go with the number two middleweight of the world, undefeated with a record of 18 and 0, with 12 knockouts, Dominic Wade.

Dominic Wade: Yes, how you doing, how you doing everybody. Man, I’m feeling good? Man, I’m ready for April 23rd, it’s going to be a beautiful situation. It’s going to be a beautiful night.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Our first call comes from Jeff Freeman from Boxing Digest. Go ahead, Jeff.

Jeff Freeman: Hi, thank you. Can you hear me?

Bernie Bahrmasel: Yes.

Jeff Freeman: Dominic, you’re a heavy underdog. What your best chance to win this fight against Gennady Golovkin?

Dominic Wade: I guess just that, the underdog so no one is expecting what I got, or what I can do. So I think everybody’s kind of underestimating what I can do and how I perform. That night I can show it.

Jeff Freeman: You were at one time trained by Barry Hunter, is that right?

Dominic Wade: Yes.

Jeff Freeman: Can you explain why you’re no longer with Barry Hunter and who you are trained by now so people understand?

Dominic Wade: Just personal issues, but everything worked out. Everything’s cool, so it’s really nothing going on.

Jeff Freeman: Okay. And what are your recollections of the 2014 Dashon Johnson fight Dominic. He nearly beat Jesse Hart in a Philly war last month.

Dominic Wade: Yes, I know. I came from there. I just trying to let everybody know that I actually defeated him. So I’m gonna go in there and just clean them out on the 23rd, after the first round, we see. I want the belts.

Jeff Freeman: Thanks, Dominic. Good luck against Gennady Golovkin.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Thanks very much, Jeff. Our next call comes from Dan Rafael, from ESPN. Go ahead, Dan.

Dan Rafael: Hey, Dominic. How are you today?

Dominic Wade: How you doing?

Dan Rafael: I’m good. I know obviously you’re fighting him next week, but it seems like there are many people who, when they talk about Golovkin, they want to talk more about, will Canelo Alvarez fight him? There was some conversation maybe that Top Rank had reached out to him to see if he’d be interested in fighting Gilberto Ramirez for the super middleweight title that he won last week. That they talk about every other big-name, but maybe forget that you’re going to be standing across the ring from him next week. Does that bother you, or does that motivate you? Or what are your thoughts about that everybody wants to talk about what’s next for Triple G before you get your chance at him?

Dominic Wade: Yes, it kind of motivates me a little bit due to everybody’s just looking past you already. Nobody really gave me the chance, so everybody’s kind of looking past trying to see the Triple G and Canelo fight, but you know you never know what happens in this fight. Maybe, I’ll be the one to shut it all down.

Dan Rafael: Now you come into the fight with, relatively speaking, a pretty low profile as far as your exposure to the boxing public. You’ve only been on a couple of TV fights, haven’t really fought any big names. I guess the biggest name that you defeated or faced was Sam Soliman, who had a title a while back. Do you feel like you have adequately been prepared to fight somebody that most people have as one of the top pound for pound fighters in the world when you have not fought anybody even remotely close to that level?

Dominic Wade: Yes, definitely. I think as long as you’ve been prepared for the next level I think every fight is helping you climb the ladder and get you prepared for that next moment.

Dan Rafael: What do you think, Dominic, so far, this is going to be the biggest fight you’ve had so far, but before this fight, what in your mind what’s the biggest fight you’ve had?

Dominic Wade: I’m going to have to say Sam Soliman. That was my last fight, so I’m happy to win. That was my next step. That’s what got me here.

Dan Rafael: That seemed like, you won the fight, but I mean it was a really tough fight. It wasn’t like you just walked through the guy. He gave you some problems. Some people might’ve thought he won the fight.

Dominic Wade: Yes, yes, right. He’s a very awkward guy. I think he’d give anybody a couple problems but you as a person, you’ve got to be strong mentally to get through that fight, or he is going to get you every time. I think that was all what’s in the mind, the strength of your mind, if you can keep your composure.

Dan Rafael: So you feel like the victory against Soliman was enough to get you prepared for a fighter of the caliber of Triple G?

Dominic Wade: Definitely, even though they’re not the same fighters, I had to keep my composure, I was in an awkward situation that caught me off guard that I had adjust to.

Dan Rafael: Have you given the thought to this, if you win the fight next Saturday, among the belts that you’ll obtain will be the WBC’s interim title. It will make you the mandatory to fight the Canelo Alvarez/Amir Khan winner.

Dominic Wade: Right.

Dan Rafael: What will that fight mean to you?

Dominic Wade: It’s going to mean everything because I’m up here with the sharp fellows and everybody’s overlooking me now.

Dan Rafael: All right. Dominic, thank you very much. I wish you luck next week, appreciate your time.

Dominic Wade: Thank you, appreciate it.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Our next call comes again from Gayle Falkenthal from Community Digital News.

Gayle Falkenthal: Good morning, gentlemen. Dominic, have you watched previous fights of Gennady’s via video, and if so, what have you learned from his previous opponents’ mistakes that you’ll be taking advantage of?

Dominic Wade: I can’t really go off another fighter and the style and how they fight him. I think everybody try to fight him their own style, so I can’t really say. I have watched a couple of his tapes.

Gayle Falkenthal: Have you identified some weaknesses that you think you can take advantage of?

Dominic Wade: I’ve seen a few, but then again, like I said, you can’t really go off another fighter. You know the same mistake you made with that person, you probably won’t make with this person.

Gayle Falkenthal: What would you want fans, as Dan Rafael said, not a lot of the public is super familiar with you, what would you like fans, perhaps seeing you for the first time, to know about you and your style?

Dominic Wade: Me, I’m the type of person, I’m not going to go with the flow but I’m going to try to set the pace and try to throw it off a little bit. I’m going to bust. I do a little bit of everything.

Gayle Falkenthal: Good, good luck to you, Dominic.

Dominic Wade: Thank you.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Gayle, thanks very much. At this point we’re going to ask for some final comments from Dominic and his team. Can you go ahead, Jerry, please?

Jerry Vines: Alright, I want to thank everybody for the time that they put in today and thank Team Golovkin again. We’ll see you guys April 23rd. Dominic will definitely be ready for this big opportunity, and hopefully we can shake up the boxing world.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Thanks very much, Jerry. Jay, can you go ahead as well with some closing comments about Dominic’s training and his preparation?

Jay Stencil: Well, again, like I said, Dom has been prepared, and we’re close to about ready for April 23rd. We just want to thank the Golovkin team for the opportunity. So, April 23rd, we’ll be there and Dom will be prepared and we’re looking to shock the world. Excited and ready to go.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Thanks very much, Jay, thanks very much. Dominic, do you have any final comments for the fans who will be watching this fight as you try to become the middleweight champ of the world next Saturday night?

Dominic Wade: I want to thank the media. I want to think HBO. I want to thank Al Haymon. I want to thank my team for pushing me, for getting this fight for me. I want to thank Gennady for giving me the opportunity. April 23rd should be a great night for everybody so I want everybody to come out and watch. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a good fight.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Thanks very much, Dominic. We will see you soon. We’ll take some final comments here from Tom Loeffler from K2 Promotions. Go ahead, Tom.

Tom Loeffler: Thanks, Bernie. I just wanted to follow up on the question that Dan Rafael had asked about beating Sam Soliman. Sam actually got the chance that Gennady never got. Sam Soliman beat Felix Sturm twice in Germany. So accomplishing that feat, and then Dominic being able to beat a champion like that, I think puts him right there in the position that he’s at now for the mandatory challenger.

So you can never underestimate someone, especially that’s young and hungry and undefeated, like Dominic is. I think the fans have responded to that. Everyone’s looking forward to Gennady coming back to Los Angeles, Chocolatito and Arroyo as the co-feature. It’ll be a fantastic night of boxing. We have the Terrace open starting the tailgate party at 3 o’clock and then the doors open at 4:30. So, make sure the fans get their tickets early and get to the Forum early as well. We appreciate all the media on the call today.

Bernie Bahrmasel: Thanks again, Tom, again and to the media around the world for joining us. This is truly an international event. We’ve had over 350 media credential applications for this event for next Saturday night. We will be distributing tomorrow a full fight week media schedule. Thank you again very much for joining us. We look forward to see seeing you and having you watch the event next Saturday night. Have a great day.

Boxing Superstar and Undefeated, Unified World Middleweight Champion Gennady, “GGG” Golovkin, 34-0 (31KO’s) will defend his titles (WBA, IBF, IBO and WBC “Interim’) against Undefeated Mandatory Challenger Dominic Wade, 18-0 (12KO’s) on Saturday, April 23 at the Fabulous Forum in the main event at UNDEFEATED.

Co-featured will be Consensus #1 Pound-For-Pound Fighter and WBC Flyweight World Champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, 44-0 (38KO’s) battling World Ranked Contender McWilliams Arroyo, 16-2 (14KO’s) of Puerto Rico.

Both bouts will be televised Live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets for UNDEFEATED, priced at $400, $300, $200, $100, $60 and $30, are now on sale through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.com, 1-800-745-3000) and the Forum Box Office.

Golovkin vs. Wade is promoted by K2 Promotions, GGG Promotions and in association with TGB Promotions. Gonzalez vs. McWilliams is presented by K2 Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions and PR Best Boxing Promotions.

SOCIAL MEDIA: For more information, visit www.K2Promos.com, www.GGGBoxing.com, www.TGBPromotions.com, www.FabulousForum.com and www.HBO.com/boxing.

Follow on Twitter at Gennady Golovkin @GGGBoxing, Dominic Wade @_DomoWade,
Roman Gonzalez @chocolatitobox, Tom Loeffler/K2 Promotions @TomLoeffler1, TGB Promotions @TGBpromotions, the Forum @theForum and HBO Boxing @HBOBoxing and become a fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/GGGBoxing, www.facebook.com/TheForum and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.
Use the hashtags #GolovkinWade and #GonzalezArroyo to join the conversations on social media.

LOS ANGELES (April 18, 2016) Former two-time world champion Amir “King” Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) today hosted a media workout at his gym in Hayward, Calif. ahead of his battle against WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs)on Saturday, May 7 at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Canelo vs. Khan will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Below is what Amir and his team had to say at today’s media workout:

AMIR KHAN, Former Two-Time World Champion:

“It’s been very different this time around. This camp has to be one of the hardest training camps I’ve had. Strength conditioning, the boxing and sparring have been different. I’m being pushed to the limit every time. I’ve trained very hard this time and I’m going to go into the fight very strong.

“This is probably my fifth fight under Virgil. We’re getting to know each other even better. He knows what to improve on. He knows how to work me. We are bonding better now than ever.

“This is a massive fight, fighting Canelo. He is a big name around the world. Beating Canelo will definitely take me back to the top where I want to be. I’ve always dreamed of being one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world, and I think by beating Canelo that will definitely get me there. That is why I took this fight.

“We are going to have to use the right game plan towards what Canelo will bring in the ring that day. We will have to be very focused in this fight. What beats Canelo in my eyes is speed, and movement, skill and boxing IQ so that’s what we are going to be using.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions:

“Amir is looking great this camp, very strong, fast and confident. I know Virgil and he are working on a solid game plan for this fight. Come May 7, we will see if speed can overcome power to be victorious.

“Amir is a very talented fighter. I think he has matured, grown in his knowledge and ring IQ and that will impact how he fights on May 7. I think the fans can count on Amir giving it everything he has in the ring on May 7, which will make for an exciting and explosive fight with Canelo.”

VIRGIL HUNTER, Trainer to Amir Khan:

“My job is to get Amir Khan ready to fight May 7 and win May 7. He’s going to have an IQ that night in order to be successful. And the IQ he uses should be simple: don’t get hit and hit back. That calls for focus and if he’s in tune, he should be OK.

“His defense has to come in ways that is going to work for him. He needs to be defensive for the right thing at the right time. That’s what we are focusing on: where to be, where not to be.

“He’s already exceeded the expectations for his career. He’s competitive. Mentally, he has come a long way to understand the game where he doesn’t just rely on his physical gifts.”

SHAH KHAN, Manager and Father to Amir Khan:

“The training is going really well up to now. We have had good sparring partners. The preparation for the fight is going according to plan. Virgil is working out a great game plan for him on May 7.

“We wish the best to Canelo’s team and hopefully the best guy will win on May 7.”

Canelo vs. Khan, a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Championships, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Canelo Promotions and sponsored by “Cerveza Tecate, Born Bold,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, Casa Mexico Tequila and DOOM® — Fight Like Hell on May 13. David Lemieux vs. Glen Tapia is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Eye of the Tiger Management and Patrick Teixeira vs. Curtis Stevens is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Main Events. The mega-event will take place Saturday, May 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets priced at $1,500, $1,000, $800, $600, $400, $250 and $150, not including applicable service charges and taxes, with a total ticket limit of 12 per person (a limit of 10 per person at the $1,500, $1,000, $800, $600 and $400 price levels and a limit of two [2] per person at the $250 and $150 price level) are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com.

An all-new edition of HBO’s Emmy-Award-winning reality series “24/7” premieres Saturday, April 23 at 12:15 a.m. ET/9:15 p.m.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com or www.hbo.com/boxing, follow us on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @canelo, @amirkingkhan, @OscarDeLaHoya and @HBOboxing, become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or www.Facebook.com/HBOboxing, join us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @canelo, @amirkingkhan, @OscarDeLaHoya and @HBOboxing, and follow the conversation using #CaneloKhan.

Photos and videos are available for download in the official Canelo vs. Khan press kit here: bit.ly/canelokhan.

CHICAGO — April 18, 2016 — Hitz Boxing returns to The Belvedere this Friday, as Notre Dame great Tommy Zbikowski makes his long-awaited ring return in his hometown of Chicago. A fighter inside the ring, and a Chicago Firefighter outside the ring, the former NFLer fights for more than money or fame on Friday, as he raises money for fallen Chicago Firefighter Daniel Capuano, who was killed in the line of duty in a Chicago warehouse fire in December. A portion of the evening’s profits will be donated to Capuano’s family.

Zbikowski, a legend of Notre Dame football lore, was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft. His NFL career would span five years and three teams, culminating with a brief stint with the Chicago Bears before announcing his retirement in 2013. It was in 2011, during the NFL lockout, when Zbikowski stepped into the ring to resume a boxing career begun under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden in 2006. He was forced to put boxing on hold again when the lockout ended that July, but finally returns to the ring Friday, as he looks to remain undefeated in his fifth professional fight.

In the co-feature, undefeated, local Chicago welterweight Nick Ramirez returns in his hometown in search of his 9th straight win. Ramirez is fighting in his first bout of the year after winning a wide unanimous decision over Agustin Cicero in November. Rounding out the card, local flyweight Javier Rivera returns versus Phoenix’s Luis Guerrero, undefeated, fan-favorite heavyweight Nick Mazurek returns, and Giovanni Mioletti makes his professional debut.

Doors to The Belvedere Elk Grove open at 6:00 this Friday, April 22nd, and first bell is at 7:00. Tickets are priced $110 and $50, and are available at HitzBoxing.com.

New York, NY (4/18/16) – For the third consecutive year, DiBella Entertainment has secured the broadcast rights for the New York Daily News Golden Gloves. The Golden Gloves finals take place tonight and tomorrow at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. DiBella Entertainment’s popular undefeated light heavyweight prospect Mike Lee will be a featured commentator analyzing the action on both nights.

A proud graduate of Notre Dame’s esteemed Mendoza College of Business, the Chicago-native Lee has galvanized the enormous Fighting Irish alumni network and has been a popular draw throughout the country since turning pro in 2010. He also understands the value of an amateur pedigree, having won the Chicago Golden Gloves in 2009 after graduating college. Fans may recognize Lee from television as he became a national spokesman for Subway Restaurants in September 2011, and continues to be prominently featured in their nationally broadcast “Famous Fan” advertising campaigns.

Lee is familiar with Barclays Center as his last fight took place there on January 16, when he impressively stopped Joe Gardner inside three rounds to improve to 16-0 (10 KOs), as part of the Deontay Wilder-Artur Szpilka heavyweight championship undercard.

Stay tuned for an announcement on when the finals will air.

LAS VEGAS (April 18, 2016) – WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Badou Jack and former world champion Lucian Bute hosted media workouts at their respective training camps last week to discuss their Saturday, April 30 world title showdown live on SHOWTIME from the DC Armory in Washington, D.C.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® doubleheader begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with IBF Super Middleweight World Champion James DeGale defending his title against top contender Rogelio Medina.

Jack, who welcomed his first child, a daughter named Malaniyah, earlier in the day, held his workout at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas while Bute hosted media at the gym owned by the Grant brothers in the western part of Montreal. Joining Jack at the Las Vegas workout were lightweight contender Sharif Bogere and Washington, D.C. born Latondria Jones, who compete in undercard action on April 30.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Interbox in association with Matchroom Boxing, are priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, and are on sale now. To purchase tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster locations or call (800) 745-3000.

Here is what the participants had to say:

BADOU JACK

“I’m looking forward to another victory. This is going to be a tough fight, but I’m ready. I’ve been training really hard and I’m ready to get into the ring.

“I’m more focused and determined now than ever to secure what is mine. The fans will have an exciting show to look forward to on April 30. I can guarantee that!

“My daughter being born this morning is extra motivation for me and to continue working hard to provide for my family. I only slept for 2 hours, but I feel brand new.

“I still feel fresh! Training camp is good. Everything is right on schedule. I’m feeling really focused.”

LUCIAN BUTE

“The most important thing for me is to have fun when I train. My confidence level is back at 100 percent. There’s a great atmosphere here at the gym and I have great chemistry with my trainers. I’ve done quality sparring and starting next week we’ll be reducing the training volume so as to focus more on the level of intensity.

“The pressure won’t be on me because I’ll be on his turf, in Washington. He is the favorite because he’s the champion, but I’m confident and I’m able! We looked at some video of him with Howard (Grant). He’s a good boxer, but he’s not exceptional and he makes mistakes. I have experience. This will be my 13th world championship fight. My experience and my speed will make the difference.

“My confidence level wasn’t at 100 percent before I fought James DeGale, but now it’s all back after performing the way I did against him. All the better for me if Badou Jack is already looking ahead to his next fight, is taking me for granted and is underestimating me. I know for my part that I can beat him. He did well in his last bout against George Groves, where he was able to come up with a good right blow that sent him to the canvas. But I’m going there to deliver.

“I’ve now been training for a year with Howard Grant, who already knows me well and pushes me to go beyond my limits. We’ve developed a trusting relationship and I feel very comfortable working alongside him. It’s hard to put into words! It’s true, I’m 36 years old, but I still have some good years ahead of me in professional boxing. For Éric Lucas, who had this belt for several years, I will bring back the title to the province of Quebec.”

SHARIF BOGERE

“Training camp has been going tremendously well. I’m excited to get back in action on April 30. it’s going to be a good show. Two world titles on the line, that’s something big.

“I want people to know who The Lion is. People will know that The Lion is here to stay. I will put on a great show as I always do.

“I want to put on a good show so the fans will never forget about my presence in this division. Being born in Uganda, it’s important for me to make my homeland proud.”

LATONDRIA JONES

“Training camp has been going well, I am looking forward to going into the fight real strong, dominating and come out with a win. It’s important that I continue to stay mentally focused and physically ready.

“I don’t really look too much into to my opponents, until I’m getting ready for that belt. As far as I know, this is her pro debut. I’m going to show her what this is all about, and give her that pro life.

“I was born in D.C. so, I look forward to going back and fighting at the Armory to give my hometown fans what they want to see. They came to see a show, and I plan on delivering. I look forward to getting better and coming out on top. I’m working hard and taking it day-by-day. I thank God for being in this position that I’m in.”

For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com and www.SHO.com/Sports and follow on Twitter at: @BadouJack, @ButeLucian, @JamesDeGale1, @PorkyMedina @MayweatherPromo, @SHOSports and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

LAS VEGAS (April 18, 2016) – Unbeaten Mayweather Promotions star Andrew “The Beast” Tabiti (12-0, 11 KOs) and undefeated power-puncher Keith “Machine Gun” Tapia (16-0, 11 KOs) will go toe-to-toe and put their perfect records on the line in an 10 round cruiserweight bout on Friday, May 13 on ShoBox: The New Generation from Sam’s Town Live in Las Vegas.

Televised coverage live on SHOWTIME begins at 10 p.m. ET/PT and features another exciting matchup in the cruiserweight division as 2012 U.S. Olympian Michael Hunter (11-0, 8 KOs) battles fellow unbeaten Isiah Thomas (15-0, 6 KOs) in 10-round bout. Hunter, who is coming off of a knockout victory in February, looks to keep his unblemished record in tact when he takes on Thomas, who is best known for winning the first ever Junior World Boxing Championship for the United States.

“I’m focused and I’m ready,” said Tabiti. “I’ve been in training camp for 10 weeks. My game plan is to go in and destroy. I want to thank my fans for supporting me and I am going to go in and give my fans a show.”

“I feel blessed by this opportunity to be boxing on ShoBox on May 13,” said Tapia. “I’m training hard and will put on a great fight. I will show the fans that I’m one of the best cruiserweights in the world.”

“Camp is going well and I’m ready for May 13,” said Hunter. “No matter who gets put in front of me, I’m going to keep taking care of business, and there’s nothing else to talk about.”

“I’m feeling good about this fight. Michael Hunter is a quality fighter with a good amateur background. Dominating him will prove to the boxing world that I’m ready for a title fight,” said Isiah Thomas. “I don’t think Hunter can handle the speed and agility that I have for a cruiserweight, that’s my advantage in this division and I plan to put it on display May 13.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, are priced at $25 and $50, not including applicable fees, and go on sale today, April 18. Tickets can be purchased online at: www.samstownlv.com/entertain, by calling (702) 284-7777, or at any Boyd Gaming box office.

“We’re looking forward to going back to Sam’s Town Live for a second time after a successful sellout show on Feb. 16,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “Mayweather Promotions aims to promote action-packed cards that get fans off their feet. I think the matchups on this card will do just that.”

The highly regarded 26-year-old Chicago native Tabiti, fighting out of Las Vegas, is making his 2016 debut. He’s won 11 of his 12 fights inside the distance, including a second-round TKO over Tomas Lodi on September 29, 2015. Tabiti, a solid amateur with a record of 32-6, turned pro in July 2013. His unique style incorporates fast, explosive hand-speed in tandem with rapid body movement and exceptional footwork.

Tapia, originally from the Bronx, has been victorious in four of his last five fights by knockout. He made his professional debut on Nov. 18, 2011 by stopping Andrew Kuilan in the opening round. Fighting out of Carolina, Puerto Rico, the determined, steadily improving 25-year-old Tapia is coming off of a 10-round unanimous decision over Garrett Wilson in December. Like Tabiti, Tapia also had an outstanding amateur career.

Hunter, son of former heavyweight contender Michael Hunter Sr., is a two-time national amateur champion who competed at the 2012 Olympics. Since making his pro debut in March 2013 by defeating Chad Davis, the up-and-coming 27-year-old hasn’t come close to losing. He’s won his last four fights by knockout, all inside four rounds. In his most recent outing, Hunter knocked out Phil Williams in the first round last February 27.

A top-notch amateur, Thomas turned pro in 2008 and won his initial three starts by first-round knockout. A natural southpaw, discovered after the Junior Olympics by the late, great Emanuel Steward, the promising Thomas registered a clear, unanimous 10-round decision over previously unbeaten Jordan Shimmell last July 25.

For more information visit www.sports.sho.com and www.mayweatherpromotions.com, follow on Twitter: @FloydMayweather, @MayweatherPromo @SHOSports, @andrewtabiti89, @machine_gun_tapia_, follow on Instagram at: @floydmayweather, @Mayweatherpromotions, @shosports, become a fan on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

It’s been three days since “the shot heard round the world,” the one-punch knockout Louisiana lightweight Mason “Rock Hard Mighty” Menard scored over opponent Eudy Bernardo. VIDEO: http://s.sho.com/1NtEYjW

In what should have been a fight against his toughest opponent to date, Menard (31-1, 23 KOs) destroyed the Dominican Bernardo, dropping him in the second and finishing their nationally televised ShoBox: The New Generation co-main event with a single right hand at 2:11 of the third.

In what will certainly be a “Knockout of the Year” candidate, Menard’s devastating right hand left the formerly undefeated Bernardo unconscious and announced the 27-year-old as an unexpected fighter to watch in the lightweight division.

“I train hard, diet right. I get good sparring. I do everything to the tee. I go to church on Sundays and the blessing come true for me,” said a happy Menard, post-fight. “It felt great to be on the world stage and perform like that. With all my people back home watching and developing new fans out of the people watching everywhere, it’s just a great feeling. I want to continue this.”

At the time of the KO, Bernardo appeared to be seriously hurt and was taken from the ring on a stretcher. He has since recovered. “I knew in my mind it’d last about three rounds, but I didn’t expect that shot to take him out,” continued Menard. “It’s a great feeling to get a victory, but I’d rather my opponent walk out of the ring. I saw he was seriously hurt and I got down on one knee and said a prayer for him.”

For Menard’s promoter, Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions, the victory was not unexpected, despite Bernardo being favored going in, but is still a very pleasant development.

“With one punch, Mason is now a serious contender in the lightweight division,” said Cohen. “He’s ready for any of the champions including Jorge Linares, Rances Barthelemy or Terry Flanagan.”

With a humble nature and movie-star good looks, Cohen saw the potential in Menard immediately. “Now everyone knows what we already did. He’s a sensational fighter with true star potential. I’m very excited to be working with him.”

“I’m ready for anybody,” said Menard. “As long as business is right, I’m not scared of anybody, bring them on!”
About Greg Cohen Promotions
One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.

Founder and CEO Greg Cohen has been involved with professional boxing in various capacities since the late 1980s, honing his craft and establishing himself as a shrewd international boxing businessman.

Distinguished by his ability to spot and develop raw talent, Cohen first made promotional headlines for his expert guidance of, among many others, former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout, who Cohen helped guide from unknown New Mexico prospect to elite pay-per-view level superstar.

In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney.

Cohen currently promotes WBA Interim World Lightweight Champion Ismael Barroso, Undefeated WBA NABA Heavyweight Champion and world-rated contender Jarrell Miller, undefeated WBA NABA Middleweight Champion and world-rated contender Robert Brant, former world champion Kendall Holt, as well as current world-rated contenders including long-time elite middleweight “Mean” Joe Greene, top super featherweight Arash Usmanee, Canadian lightweight and TV action hero Tony Luis; WBA and five-time Irish National Amateur Champion, Dennis Hogan; and Australian lightweight prospect Josh King.

Greg Cohen Promotions has hosted world-class boxing events in the finest venues throughout the United States and the world and has also proudly provided talent and/or content for several television networks including CBS Sports Network, HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC Sports Network, CBS Sports Network, MSG and FOX Sports Net.

For more information, visit gcpboxing.com. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GCPBoxing. Twitter: @GCPBoxing.

Hard-hitting light-heavyweight talent Anthony Yarde harbours dreams of becoming a multi-weight world champion.

The Tunde Ajayi-trained demolition man is gunning for another knockout win when he takes on Tzvetozar Iliev at Stratford’s Copper Box Arena on Saturday 30th April, exclusively live on BoxNation.

With four big knockout wins in five professional fights, the hype around 24 year-old Yarde continues to grow. The big-punching Ilford man is aiming to become a dominant force in the UK light-heavyweight scene before setting his eyes on the ultimate prize; a world title.

“My ambition right now is to make my mark on the light-heavyweight division before moving up to cruiserweight. I’m aspiring to become a three weight world champion, before I retire I’d like to have a couple of fights up at heavyweight if my body grows,” said Yarde.

He added: “When I was young I was very slim and skinny but as I went through secondary school I wanted to bulk up a bit so I started pushing weights. When I was in the athletics squad they would make us do a lot of weight training as well. I feel good at this weight but moving up a division could be on the cards down the line.”

After impressively blowing away Hungary’s David Sipos inside the opening round at York Hall last month, Yarde now looks forward to making an emotional return to his childhood home of Stratford. The Hackney-born knockout merchant faces his toughest test to date at the impressive Copper Box Arena.

He said: “It’s where I grew up as a kid so it’ll be special heading back to Stratford to fight as a professional boxer. I lived there all my life until I was 14 and it’s a place close to my heart. Going from fighting on the streets to actually doing it in the ring as a profession at an arena like the Copper Box is a big progression.

“Growing up in Stratford, there were always arguments and altercations on the streets. You had to learn how to look after yourself or life could be very tough. I never went around causing trouble but you needed to be able to use your fists. I must have been about 12 when I first realised I had power; I dropped a kid who was trying to mug me.”

All-action Yarde believes that his explosive style was always suited to the professional code and is enjoying his fearsome reputation as one of the division’s biggest punchers. However, the Ilford ace believes his timing is just as deadly as his speed and power.

“I spend a lot of time working on my timing and precision,” he explains. “From studying boxing I’ve realised that you can have all the speed in the world but if you don’t connect with your shots it’s a waste of energy. A lot of people notice that I try not to waste shots; I always try and land solid shots.

“Boxing is the hardest and most unforgiving sport there is; that’s why I take my training so seriously. You need to be completely devoted to the sport if you want to become a success, that’s why I make sure I train a minimum of six times a week.”

You would be forgiven for thinking that the muscle-bound Yarde spends hours on end pumping iron to perfect his impressive physique. However, the multi-talented sportsman says he rarely picks up a dumbbell.

He said: “I feel at light-heavyweight I already have an advantage over most people in terms of power. When you throw my speed and timing into the mix then it makes for an effective combination. I don’t really touch heavy weights believe it or not. The only strength work I do is from my own body weight. You won’t see me doing any bench presses or bicep curls.”

Heavyweight sensation Hughie Fury headlines the card when he challenges American Fred Kassi for the Vacant WBO Intercontinental Title; Red-hot Liam Walsh defends his British and Commonwealth Super-Featherweight titles against Troy James; Ovill McKenzie and Dmytro Kucher clash for the Vacant European Cruiserweight Championship; Ryan Walsh defends his British Featherweight Championship against James Tennyson; Anthony Nelson defends his Commonwealth Super-Flyweight Championship against Jamie Conlon. The undercard features big-hitting light-heavyweight star Anthony Yarde, Southampton super-welterweight Joe Pigford, Erith super-bantamweight Lewis Pettitt; Chingford super-featherweight Boy Jones Jnr; Indian middleweight sensation Vijender Singh; Chelmsford super-middleweight Billy Long, West Ham super-welterweight Sammy McNess; Sidcup super-featherweight D.P Carr; West Ham super-lightweight Ben Smith; Hornchurch super-lightweight Sanjeev Sahota; Nantwich heavyweight Nathan Gorman; Enfield super-middleweight Barney Joe Jones, and Stains-Upon-Thames welterweight Tony Bange.

Tickets priced at £30, £40, £60, £80, £100, £150, £200 are available from See Tickets 0871 230 7148 and www.seetickets.com, Eventim 0844 249 1000 and www.eventim.co.uk, Ticketmaster 0844 8440 444 and www.ticketmaster.co.uk

The Channel Of Champions, BoxNation, will televise live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546, TalkTalk 415 and Freeview 255. Subscribe at www.boxnation.com or watch online at watch.boxnation.com and via iPhone, iPad or Android and Amazon devices.

BETHLEHEM, PA. (April 15, 2016) – Undefeated super bantamweight prospect Stephen Fulton (8-0, 3 KOs) faces undefeated Puerto Rican Adalberto Zorilla (5-0, 5 KOs) and local super featherweight contender Frank DeAlba (17-2-2, 6 KOs) faces Mexico’s Daniel Perales (6-4-1, 3 KOs) as part of an exciting undercard on Tuesday, April 19 from Sands Bethlehem Events Center in Bethlehem, Pa.

Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 and BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes is headlined by lightweight contender Ivan Redkach (19-1, 15 KOs) will facing off against Puerto Rico’s Luis Cruz (22-4, 16 KOs). Televised coverage begins ay 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with brawling 160-pound prospect Immanuwel Aleem (15-0, 9 KOs) taking on Jonathan Cepeda (17-1, 15 KOs) while Dominican Olympian Junior Castillo (9-0, 9 KOs) faces Delaware’s Kyrone Davis (10-0, 4 KOs).

Fulton and Zorilla will square-off in a six-round super bantamweight bout while DeAlba and Perales meet in six-rounds of super featherweight action.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by King’s Promotions in association with DiBella Entertainment, 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.

Further action will feature a pair of Pennsylvania prospects in their pro debuts as Harrisburg’s Dustin Pague takes on Philadelphia’s Rafael Davis in a four-round welterweight fight, super welterweight Nicholas Hernandez (3-1, 1 KO) in a six-round bout against Newark’s Jamil Gadsden (0-6), Philadelphia’s Emmanuel Folly (6-0, 4 KOs) in four-rounds of lightweight action and St. Louis-native Vincent Cruz (9-0, 6 KOs) in eight rounds of super lightweight action against Allentown’s Jerome Rodriguez (7-3-3, 2 KOs).

At just 21-years-old, the rising prospect kept busy in 2015 as he picked up five victories including his last out in Bethlehem where he defeated previously unbeaten Joshua Greer. The Philadelphia-product will look to open his 2016 with a victory over the unbeaten Zorilla out of Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

The 28-year-old De Alba had a 19 fight unbeaten streak snapped in his last outing in which he dropped a narrow majority decision to unbeaten Omar Douglas. Originally from Bayamon, Puerto Rico but now fighting out of nearby Reading, Pennsylvania, he’ll battle the 24-year-old Perales out of Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com www.sandseventcenter.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com.

Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @IRedkach, @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.

LAS VEGAS (April 12, 2016) – Cinco de Mayo Weekend just got more caliente as Golden Boy Promotions has turned up the heat for a packed weekend of boxing to kick off the highly anticipated showdown between Canelo Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs)and Amir “King” Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) on Saturday, May 7 at the new T-Mobile Arena. As a special treat for all Las Vegas boxing fans, Golden Boy Promotions will present a free night of outdoor boxing on Friday, May 6 at the Toshiba Plaza adjacent to the state-of-the-art T-Mobile Arena. Located on the Las Vegas Strip between New York-New York and Monte Carlo, fans will get to see Canelo and Khan face off for the final time during their official weigh-in on the Toshiba Plaza immediately followed by a night of action-packed fights starting at 4:00 p.m. PT.

For fight fans watching the festivities from home, Estrella TV will present a special three hour broadcast of boxing with the main event featuring Tijuana knockout artist and former lightweight world title challenger Marvin “Cachorro” Quintero (28-6, 24 KOs). He will defend his NABF Lightweight Title against current NABA Lightweight Champion Petr “Zar” Petrov (36-4-2, 17 KOs) of Ryazan, Russia in a 10-round winner-takes-all event.

In the televised co-main event, Mexican warrior and former WBA Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano (29-4-1, 21 KOs) will take on the resilient Alan Sanchez (17-3-1, 9 KOs) of Fairfield, Calif.in 10 rounds of guaranteed excitement for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Title. Opening the televised Estrella TV broadcast, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico’s Horacio “Violento” Garcia (30-1-0, 22 KOs) is scheduled to participate in a 10-round super bantamweight fight against an opponent to be announced shortly.

“Golden Boy Promotions is giving back to all the boxing fans in Las Vegas and kicking off Cinco de Mayo weekend on May 6 with an action-packed night of free boxing to get everyone warmed up for Canelo vs. Khan,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Golden Boy is committed to bring the best in boxing and the fights featured on May 6 are guaranteed non-stop action between fighters in their prime battling for titles that will get them closer to becoming the next world champions.”

“We are excited to have Petr Petrov fighting on this great weekend of boxing,” said Arthur R. Pelullo, President and CEO of Banner Promotio`ns. “Petr is on the cusp of fighting for a world title and winning this fight will gain him the NABF title, which will be added to his NABA title and will solidify him as one of the best lightweight’s in the world.”

Part of the non-televised card but still streaming live on Ring TV, Oscar “Ratón” Cortes (25-2, 13 KOs) of Zapopan, Mexico will participate in an eight-round lightweight clash and fan favorite Joet Gonzalez (12-0, 6 KOs) of Glendora, CA will go up against Chihuahua, Mexico’s Ricardo “Cepillo” Proano (11-3, 9 KOs) in a six-round featherweight bout. Leaving behind a highly decorated amateur career, Santa Ana, Calif.’s Alexis Rocha (1-0) has the entire boxing world buzzing as he fights professionally for the second time in a four-round super welterweight bout. Opponents will be announced shortly.

Marvin Quintero vs. Petr Petrov is a 10-round fight for the NABF and NABA Lightweight title and is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Banner Promotions and sponsored by “Cerveza Tecate, Born Bold.” The festivities begin immediately after the Canelo vs. Khan official weigh-in at the outdoor Toshiba Plaza in front of T-Mobile Arena with the first bout starting at 4:30 p.m. PT. The Estrella TV Boxeo Estelar broadcast will air live on Friday, May 6 at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT and will stream live simultaneously on estrellaTV.com and on YouTube via Fenomeno Studios: youtube.com/FenomenoStudios. The Ring TV live stream will begin at approximately 4:30 p.m. PT through 9:00 p.m. PT

Marvin “Cachorro” Quintero will make his return to the ring after his knockout over Jeffrey Fontanez in September 2015 at the Belasco Theater winning the NABF Lightweight Title. Throughout his long and notable boxing career, this experienced southpaw fighter has faced the likes of Walter Estrada and Miguel “Titere” Vasquez, the latter of whom he went up against for a shot at the IBF Lightweight World Championship. Quintero is fired up to fight Petr Petrov this May for his chance to add the NABA Lightweight Title to his collection.

With 36 victories under his belt, lightweight contender Petr “Zar” Petrov holds an impressive boxing resume including winner of ESPN’s 2014 Boxcino tournament. Petrov was last seen in the ring on April 2015 taking on former world champion Gamaliel “Platano” Diaz winning the NABO and NABA Lightweight Titles via unanimous decision. As the current NABA Lightweight Title holder, Petrov will be looking to add another notable title to his name when he faces Quintero on May 6.

High off his last win against Silverio “Chamaco II” Ortiz, Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano of Tlalnepantla, Mexico State, Mexico is set on demolishing any opponent who stands in his way of adding another title to his name. No stranger in battling for belts, Cano is the former WBA Interim Super Lightweight World Champion and NABF Light Welterweight Champion and along his path to world championship gold has fought for the WBA Welterweight World Championship against Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi and the vacant WBC Super Lightweight World Championship against Erik “El Terrible” Morales.

Meanwhile, hailing from Fairfield, CA, Alan Sanchez has impressed boxing fanatics everywhere, especially in his defeat of John Karl Sosa on the weekend of the Cotto vs. Canelo this past November at Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel and Casino last November. A former sparring partner for world champion Canelo Alvares and coming off a five win streak over Jorge “Pantera” Silva, Jorge “Zurdo” Ramirez Jr., Ed “The Lion” Paredes, and Carlos “Kalimba” Lozano, Sanchez is hoping to secure his first title when he takes on Pablo Cesar Cano for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Title.

Last November, Guadalajara, Mexico’s Horacio “Violento” Garcia brought every bit of his power and punch when he took down distinguished fighter Raul “Bule” Hidalgo at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Café as he fought during the weekend of Cotto vs. Canelo. As the current title holder for the WBC Continental Americas Super Bantamweight Title, “Violento” is ready to take on any opponent willing to step up in the ring to face him Cinco de Mayo weekend.

Oscar “Ratón” Cortes, the 27-year-old native of Zapopan, Mexico, will bring his experience to the ring on May 6, with victories over well-known fighters such as Alejandro “Zorrito” Barrera and Alexander Monterrosa. As the two-time champion for the WBC Youth Intercontinental Lightweight Title, Cortes is has all of the experience to make this eight-round lightweight bout an all-out brawl on May 6.

Always swift in the ring, Glendora, CA’s Joet Gonzalez has so far taken on the likes of Marcos “No Money” Rios, Miguel “Yaqui” Tamayo, and Jose Angel “Pepe” Beranza in his hopeful boxing career. After his latest knockout last November at LA FIGHT CLUB, this undefeated fighter is using all of his power to maintain his undefeated status, opening up the Cinco de Mayo weekend festivities against Ricardo Proano of Chihuahua, Mexico on May 6.

Chihuahua, Mexico’s own Ricardo “Cepillo” Proaño will be making his first appearance in Las Vegas on May 6. Having previously fought for the WBC FECOMBOX Super Featherweight Title in 2012, Proano will be looking to use that experience against the rising featherweight star Joet Gonzalez. A professional since 2011, he has taken on tough opposition in Edgar “Lic” Martinez, Cesar Alan Valenzula and Francisco “Panchito El Centenario” De Vaca. On May 6, Proano will look to start off 2016 in the winner’s column.

Newly signed with Golden Boy Promotions, 20-year-old southpaw standout, Alexis Rocha of Santa Ana, CA will make his debut in the “Fighting Capital of The World” on May 6. As the brother of fellow Golden Boy Promotions stable mate and current WBC Silver Featherweight Champion Ronny Rios, Rocha brings an impressive amateur record that has helped develop him as a top talent in the ring.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.estrellatv.com, follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @EstrellaTV and become a fanon Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/EstrellaTVNetwork, visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing, and @EstrellaTV, follow the conversation using #BoxeoEstelar.

Los Angeles, CA (April 17, 2016) Fight Week Media Events for Saturday April 23rd’s highly anticipated UNDEFEATED professional boxing event will kick-off Sunday night, April 17 as Boxing Superstar and Unified World Middleweight Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin heads to the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to their showdown against their arch rivals, the San Francisco Giants. This will be the third time Golovkin has received the honor from the Dodgers, many of whom have attended his previous two Los Angeles fights.

A sell-out is expected and K2 Promotions is encouraging fans to purchase their tickets in advance either online through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.com) or at The Fabulous Forum Box Office.

All four TV fighters competing in World Boxing Council sanctioned bouts were within the required limit at their respective 7-day weigh-ins. Unified World Middleweight Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, defending his WBA, IBF, IBO and WBC “Interim” Titles weighed 164 lbs., while undefeated mandatory challenger Dominic Wade tipped the scales at 166 lbs.

Consensus #1 Pound-for-Pound Fighter in the World and WBC Flyweight World Champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez weighed 115.8 lbs. at his training camp in Costa Rica and world ranked challenger McWilliams Arroyo hit the scale at 115.4 lbs. Additionally, all four fighters passed the WBC’s medical and safety requirements which the sanctioning body has in place.

Along with the two previously announced women’s bouts on the undercard, Kenia Enriquez,
15-1-0 (7KO’s) vs. Amaris “Diamond Girl” Quintana, 9-2-2 (1KO’s) in an eight round flyweight bout and Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada, 5-0-0 (1KO), vs. Selene Lopez, 3-4-3 (1KO), two additional fights will round out the six-bout event.

Undefeated top lightweight prospect Ryan “Blue Chip” Martin, 13-0 (8KO’s), of Cleveland, Ohio, will face Reynoso, Mexico native Rosberg “Lobito” Montoya, 16-7-1 (13KO’s) in a scheduled six round lightweight clash.

Also in a “Battle of the Pedro’s”, undefeated junior lightweight prospect Pedro “Little Pete” Duran, 13-0 (10KO’s) of Paramount, California, faces Pedro “Manitas de Piedra” Lopez, 6-2-1 (2KO’s) of Tijuana, Mexico.

With a record setting $312,000 in merchandise sold at Golovkin’s last fight, October 17, 2015 at a sold-out (20,748) Madison Square Garden, a full line of New “GGG” Merchandise will be on sale this Saturday, April 23 at the Fabulous Forum.

Friday’s Official Weigh-In is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC at The Fabulous Forum. Doors will open on the North side of the venue at 12:00 p.m. PT with the weigh-in starting at 12:30 p.m. PT. Parking is free through the Prairie St. entrance on the East side of The Fabulous Forum.

The parking lots at Fabulous Forum will open up on Fight Day at 2:00 p.m. PT. TECATE is sponsoring a venue wide tailgate party for boxing fans arriving early. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. PT with the first fight at 4:45 p.m. PT. Live on HBO World Championship Boxing® will start their local telecast at 7:00 p.m. PT (10:00 p.m. ET) commencing with GONZALEZ vs. ARROYO, followed by GOLOVKIN vs. WADE.

—————————————–

Boxing Superstar and Undefeated, Unified World Middleweight Champion Gennady, “GGG” Golovkin, 34-0 (31KO’s) will defend his titles (WBA, IBF, IBO and WBC “Interim’) against Undefeated Mandatory Challenger Dominic Wade, 18-0 (12KO’s) on Saturday, April 23 at the Fabulous Forum in the main event at UNDEFEATED.

Co-featured will be Consensus #1 Pound-For-Pound Fighter and WBC Flyweight World Champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, 44-0 (38KO’s) battling World Ranked Contender McWilliams Arroyo, 16-2 (14KO’s) of Puerto Rico.

Both bouts will be televised Live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets for UNDEFEATED, priced at $400, $300, $200, $100, $60 and $30, are now on sale through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.com, 1-800-745-3000) and the Forum Box Office.

Golovkin vs. Wade is promoted by K2 Promotions, GGG Promotions and in association with TGB Promotions. Gonzalez vs. McWilliams is presented by K2 Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions and PR Best Boxing Promotions.

SOCIAL MEDIA: For more information, visit www.K2Promos.com, www.GGGBoxing.com, www.TGBPromotions.com, www.FabulousForum.com and www.HBO.com/boxing.

Follow on Twitter at Gennady Golovkin @GGGBoxing, Dominic Wade @_DomoWade,
Roman Gonzalez @chocolatitobox, Tom Loeffler/K2 Promotions @TomLoeffler1, TGB Promotions @TGBpromotions, the Forum @theForum and HBO Boxing @HBOBoxing and become a fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/GGGBoxing, www.facebook.com/TheForum and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.

Use the hashtags #GolovkinWade and #GonzalezArroyo to join the conversations on social media.

BROOKLYN (April 16, 2016) – An action-packed primetime doubleheader of world title fights, headlined by the explosive, eagerly-awaited clash between welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman and former champion “Showtime” Shawn Porter,will come to Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday, June 25.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS presented by Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) broadcast will begin with a co-main event featherweight battle 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 $25, not including applicable fees, and are on sale Thursday, April 21 at 10 a.m. 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.

Thurman (26-0, 22 KOs), of Clearwater, Fla., and Porter (26-1-1, 16 KOs), of Las Vegas by way of Akron, Ohio, are both coming off superb 2015 campaigns that solidified the fresh faces among the elite of arguably boxing’s most exciting division. With perennial pound-for-pound champion Floyd Mayweather now retired, the 27-year-old Thurman and the 28-year-old Porter are hungry to stake their claim as the future of boxing.

Cuellar (28-1, 21 KOs), of Buenos Aires, Argentina, will make the second defense of his WBA 126-pound title against Mares (29-2-1, 15 KOs), a popular brawler from Southern California who has compiled a staggering resume over the past five years while earning titles at 118, 122 and 126 pounds. Cuellar vs. Mares joins a stacked lineup of featherweight bouts that showcases many of the world’s best 126-pounders aiming to unifying one of boxing’s deepest divisions.

“Keith Thurman against Shawn Porter is one of the best matchups that can be made in the welterweight division right now,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Fans in attendance at Barclays Center and those watching on CBS will witness a passing of the torch as the hard-punching world titleholder Thurman and the highly skilled former champion Porter vie to prove who will be the next heir to the throne in the post-Mayweather era of the 147-pound division. The explosive co-main event between Jesus Cuellar and Abner Mares will give fans a fight to remember.”

“Barclays Center has featured many memorable welterweight fights and the long-awaited Thurman vs. Porter matchup promises to become the best one yet,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment.

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.