NEW YORK – September 10, 2015 – For the first time ever, fans will be able to watch a SHOWTIME PPV boxing event on their computers and mobile devices via cbs.com/fight, as Floyd Mayweather puts his undefeated record on the line, in what Mayweather says will be his final fight, against two-time world champion Andre Berto this Saturday (8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT).

CBS Interactive Advanced Media will stream the pay-per-view event to U.S.-based users at cbs.com/fight for $64.99. The purchase includes access to additional fight week events streamed live at cbs.com/fight:

Weigh-in Live – Fri., 9/11, 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT
Countdown Live – Sat., 9/12, 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT
The four fight pay-per-view telecast – Sat., 9/12, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
In addition to the main event, the live stream will also feature three undercard fights. Roman “Rocky” Martinez will risk his WBO Junior Lightweight title in a rematch of a Fight of the Year candidate against the boxer he dethroned, four-time world champion Orlando “Siri” Salido. In addition, Badou Jack “The Ripper” will make the first defense of his WBC Super Middleweight World title against mandatory challenger “Saint” George Groves, and Mexico’s Jhonny Gonzalez will face Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Oquendo in a 10-round super featherweight bout.

With the pay-per-view purchase of the fight online, U.S.-based users will also receive a three month free trial of CBS All Access, the subscription video on demand and live streaming service for the CBS Television Network. For more information on CBS All Access, visit cbs.com/allaccess.

Mayweather vs. Berto, a 12-round welterweight world championship bout for Mayweather’s WBC and WBA 147-pound titles, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, LLC and sponsored by Tecate. The event will take place Saturday, September 12 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Sept. 10, 2015) – The fighters who will appear on the stacked, action-packed “HIGH STAKES: Mayweather vs. Berto” undercard this Saturday, September 12 live on SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena took part in their final press conference Thursday at MGM Grand.

In the three pay-per-view fights preceding Saturday’s main event between Floyd “Money” Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) and Andre Berto (30-3, 23 KOs), Roman “Rocky” Martinez (29-2-2, 17 KOs) will defend his WBO Junior Lightweight Title in a rematch against four-time world champion Orlando “Siri” Salido (42-13-2, 29 KOs), Badou Jack “The Ripper” (19-1-1, 12 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBC Super Middleweight World Title against mandatory challenger “Saint” George Groves (21-2, 16 KOs) and former three-time world champion and Mexican power-puncher Jhonny Gonzalez (58-9, 49 KOs) will be opposed by Puerto Rico’s Jonathan “Polvo” Oquendo (25-4, 16 KOs) in a 10-round 130-pound match.

Former IBF World Champion Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith (27-7, 12 KOs) and longtime top-10 contender Vanes Martirosyan (35-2-1, 21 KOs), who will clash in a scheduled 10-round junior middleweight fight during “COUNTDOWN LIVE: Mayweather vs. Berto” telecast live on SHOWTIME® (6:30 p.m./3:30 p.m. PT), were also in attendance.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions LLC. are priced at $1,500, $1,000, $750, $500, $300 and $150 and are on sale now. Tickets are limited to eight (8) per household for all ticket prices except the $150 ticket category, which is limited to four (4) per household. To charge by phone or with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday:

ROMAN MARTINEZ

“I understand that Salido is a strong fighter. We know each other well. That is why we trained very hard for this fight, even harder than for our first. I look forward to gaining this victory for all of Puerto Rico.

“The exposure for this fight is amazing; the entire world is going to be watching. We are so accustomed to each other and we understand that we have to put forth a tremendous performance on a card of this magnitude.

“I want to continue to be a world champion for all of Puerto Rico. I’m in peak condition and I’m ready to get the win.

“Salido can say whatever he wants. I know him and I was able to knock him down in the first fight. I’m confident I can go finish him.

“I understand why this fight is happening. Who wouldn’t want to see us go at it again? But I thought I clearly won the first time, and I am confident I will win again on Saturday.’’

ORLANDO SALIDO

“You saw what happened the last time we fought. You know this is going to be a spectacular matchup. I know Rocky very well and I know he is a smart fighter. Last time I got out of my game plan. This fight, I’m focused and looking forward to a great fight.

“I’m a better fighter than he is. I know that Martinez is going to run, but I’m in great condition to seek him and get the victory.

“It’s about getting on the inside for me. Martinez is an intelligent fighter and he knows how to use his reach. If I can get inside his chest and attack the body I will get the win.

“It’s going to be the best fight of the night. We’re going to exchange blows and pick up where we left off. I’m treating this like it is the biggest fight of my career and I can’t wait to demonstrate my skills one more time.”

BADOU JACK

“I’m very excited for this fight. We had a tremendous camp. We’re ready to go. I don’t talk much. I’m all about fighting.

“Groves is absolutely not in my head. I’m focused and mentally strong on my task at hand. I won my biggest fight that I’ve had up to date, he didn’t. He has had two shots at the title and has lost them both.
“Groves got famous for getting knocked out by Carl Froch. He’s a good fighter, but I’m very comfortable that I’m going to beat him.

“I just stay focused on what I have to do. No one is getting under my skin.

“I’ve always believed in myself. Things happen in boxing. I worked hard and that’s how I got to this moment.

“I’ve always been the underdog in my opinion. I like it. It motivates me. I’m going to prove my worth Saturday night.”

GEORGE GROVES

“It’s great to be here. I’m happy to have my shot at the title. We’re ready. I’ve been traveling to Vegas to box since I was 13-years-old. Year after year I’ve always been successful out here, always with knockouts.

“British boxers have been doing well in the ring as of late, but there is no extra pressure or incentive. We’re very prepared. We know what we need to know about Jack. We wish him luck, because he’s going to need it.

“It’s a huge fight for me with the title on the line. I’ve been involved with higher competition but I haven’t taken my eye off of Badou Jack. We’re looking forward to a good win on Saturday.

“Training up in Big Bear was great. The first week I realized the difference in the heat and altitude. But mostly I love being isolated. Out here it’s peace, I’m purely in camp. No other distractions.

“I’m confident of winning. I’m always confident of winning. The best way to describe this fight is that Badou Jack is a good fighter, but I’m a better fighter. I’m better than him at every phase of the game.

JHONNY GONZALEZ

“This is my second fight at 130 pounds and I feel much more comfortable, stronger, confident and secure than I did at 126.

“It is tremendous to be on this fight card. This is going to be a terrific fight. I’ve trained hard and I’m ready to go on Saturday. The reality is, this is the type of fight that can bring me a step closer to in another world title.”

JONATHAN OQUENDO

“The main key, whether I box or slug, is to fight smart. I’m very excited for this opportunity. It means a lot to me to be on a card of this magnitude. I’m excited to weigh in tomorrow.

“When you have Mexico vs. Puerto Rico, you get a war. I have no doubt there will be blood in the ring. Jhonny Gonzalez is very experienced and was a great champion, and I thank him for taking this fight. I look forward to getting in the ring Saturday.”

ISHE SMITH

“When I fought Cornelius Bundrage for the title, I knew I had to win. I had a lot of pressure on me. There was no doubt I had to win. It’s the same thing now. Vanes is a good fighter, but I have to win. I’ve had to bring myself up from the bottom.

“All of the other promoters gave up on me, but Leonard Ellerbe and Floyd took a chance on me and I’ll always be grateful.

“Vanes is a good fighter. It’s going to be a hell of a fight. I have to win. I have no choice. “

VANES MARTIROSYAN

“Ishe is a good fighter. He’s been in with a lot of tough guys. I have a lot of respect for him. It’s going to be a really good fight.

“It’s a blessing to be here. I had a really good camp and I’m excited that the fight is here. It’s great to be a part of a show like this.

“I can’t wait for this fight. You’re all going to see ‘The Nightmare’ on Saturday night.”

# # #

“HIGH STAKES: Mayweather vs. Berto,” a 12-round world championship bout for Mayweather’s WBC and WBA Welterweight World Titles takes place Saturday, Sept. 12 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and sponsored by Tecate. The event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® (8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT). The co-main event will feature a rematch between Roman Martinez and Orlando Salido for the WBO Junior Lightweight World Title. The Martinez vs. Salido fight will follow Mayweather Promotions’ own Badou Jack “The Ripper” making his first defense of the WBC Super Middleweight World title against mandatory challenger “Saint” George Groves. The Jack vs. Groves fight is presented in association with Team Sauerland. The first pay-per-view televised fight is a 10-round super featherweight showdown featuring Mexican power puncher Jhonny Gonzalez against Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Oquendo. The event will be available in Spanish through secondary audio programming (SAP).

Mayweather vs. Berto will be shown on the big screen in theaters across the country via Fathom Events. For more information visit www.FathomEvents.com

For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.SHO.com/Sports andwww.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @AndreBerto, @BadouJack, @StGeorgeGroves, @Romancito77, @siri_salido, @jhonnygbox, @JonathanOquen @mayweatherpromo, @SHOSports and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather,www.Facebook.com/TheRealAndreBerto,www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

“Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” ticketholders will now be able to grab a signature from one of the sport’s most recognizable stars in front of the SAP Center Box Office next Saturday at 3 p.m. PT local time, as they enter the arena. Kimbo Slice, who scored a knockout victory over MMA legend Ken Shamrock in his Bellator debut this past June, will be on site signing autographs and taking photos with fans before taking in the explosive action at the “Dynamite 1” event.

For the first time ever, “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” will feature both a Bellator MMA cage and a Glory kickboxing ring on one arena floor at the same time. In the evening’s main event, Tito Ortiz (18-11) will challenge the undefeated Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion, Liam McGeary (10-0) for the title.

The revolutionary event airs live and free on Spike at 9/8c. Tickets for the historic event start at just $30 and are on sale now at the SAP Center box office and are also available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com, as well as Bellator.com.

Additionally, the previously announced fight card features a Glory kickboxing title fight featuring Zack Mwekassa (13-2, 12 KO) and Saulo Cavalari (31-2, 19 KO) for the vacant Light Heavyweight Championship, as well as Bellator MMA competitors Paul “Semtex” Daley (37-13-2) and Fernando “The Menifee Maniac” Gonzalez (24-13) also competing in Glory action, when they trade-in the MMA gloves for kickboxing gloves. Finally, recently signed Keri Anne Taylor-Melendez (2-1) will compete in kickboxing action against Hadley Griffith.

On the mixed martial arts side, Bellator MMA will also conduct a four-man, one-night light heavyweight tournament to determine the No. 1 contender in the division that features Phil Davis (13-3) taking on Emanuel Newton (25-8-1) and Linton Vassell (15-4-1) facing Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (15-4, 1 NC). Newly signed lightweight standout Josh “The Punk” Thomson (20-8, 1 NC) is also in action, when he makes his Bellator MMA debut against Mike “The Greek Assassin” Bronzoulis (18-8-1).

“Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” – Saturday, September 19 – SAP Center, San Jose, Calif.

Main Card:
Bellator Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Tito Ortiz (18-11) vs. © Liam McGeary (10-0)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Final: TBD vs. TBD
Glory Vacant Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Saulo Cavalari (31-2) vs. Zack Mwekassa (13-2)
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Josh Thomson (20-8) vs. Mike Bronzoulis (18-8-1)
Glory Welterweight Feature Fight: Paul Daley (37-13-2 MMA/20-3 Kickboxing) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (24-13/1-2 Kickboxing)
Glory Bantamweight Feature Fight: Kerri-Anne Taylor Melendez (2-1) vs. Hadley Griffith (Debut)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Fight: Phil Davis (13-3) vs. Emanuel Newton (25-8-1)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Fight: Linton Vassell (15-4-1) vs. Muhammed Lawal (15-4, 1 NC)

Preliminary Card:
Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Victor Jones (Debut) vs. David Blanco (1-0) *
Bellator Flyweight Amateur Fight: Gloria Telles (Debut) vs. Alysia Cortez (Debut) *
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Nick Pica (4-0) vs. Mauricio Alonso (10-5)
Glory Lightweight Feature Fight: Jose Palacios (7-7) vs. TJ Arcengal (4-1) *
Bellator Middleweight Feature Fight: Brandon Hester (1-0) vs. DeMarco Villalona (1-0) *
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Israel Delgado (0-1) vs. JJ Okanovich (0-1)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: James Terry (15-8) vs. Carlos Rocha (9-3)
Bellator Flyweight Feature Fight: Matt Ramirez (1-1) vs. Josh Paiva (5-1)
Bellator Bantamweight Feature Fight: Gabe Carrasco (5-0) vs. Joe Neal (5-0)
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Adam Piccolotti (5-0) vs. Marlen Magee (3-3)
Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Thomas Diagne (5-4) vs. Mike Malott (4-1)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Alternate Bout: Francis Carmont (23-10) vs. Roy Boughton (12-5)

About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About Spike:
Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

About GLORY:
Founded in 2012, GLORY is owned and operated by GLORY Sports International (GSI), a professional martial arts organization and television content provider that maintains offices in New York, Denver, London, Amsterdam, and Singapore. GLORY programming is seen in over 170 territories. GLORY kickboxing rules are comprised of a mix of several combat disciplines including Karate, Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do and traditional Boxing. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @GLORY_WS, and visit us online at gloryworldseries.com.

About SAP Center in San Jose
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, SAP Center at San Jose is the premier sports and entertainment venue in Northern California. Each year, SAP Center hosts approximately 175 events featuring professional and amateur athletes, Olympic athletes, Grammy award-winners, international recording artists, and a variety of performers who appeal to children and families alike. SAP Center at San Jose is home to the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League as well as the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League. For more information about SAP Center at San Jose and for a list of upcoming events, visit the SAP Center home page at www.sapcenter.com.

Westbury, NY (September 10, 2015) – Tonight at the Space at Westbury in Westbury, New York, one of the newest members of the GH3 Promotions stable, undefeated Jr. Lightweight Bienvenido Diaz will take on Victor Vasquez in a bout scheduled for 4-rounds.

Diaz of Prospect Park, New Jersey was a late starter in boxing after a stint in Mixed Martial Arts, but has found the sweet science to be his calling.

Diaz, 2-0 with both wins coming via knockout, takes on Vasquez (3-1, 1 KO) of Yonkers, New York.

Diaz did not have much film on Vasquez, but he will come into the ring with a solid gameplan.

“Camp was great. I had great sparring and am prepared for this fight. I reall do not know much on Vasquez other than then he is tall. I am sure he will try to keep me at a distance, but I have been working on getting close,” said the 26 year-old Diaz.

Although Diaz has fought on GH3 Promotions cards in the past, this will be the first fight for Diaz as a signed fighter to the growing roster of Vito Mielnicki’s company.

“It is great to work with GH3 Promotions. Vito is a good guy and he has treated me well.”

“I am a former MMA fighter in the amateurs. I switched to boxing when my opponents continued to grab me as I tried to throw a punch. That is when I decided to box. I know that on Thursday, it will be a real exciting fight. I go in with the mindset that If I was a paying customer, I would not want to see a boring fight, so I give the give the fans what they want to see.

Diaz is managed by Pete Festa and Phil Shevack. He is trained by Aroz “Terrific” Gist.

Festa wants people to know that this isn’t the average MMA fighter turned boxer.

“Bienvenido is a great kid who unlike most of the fighters who switch sports, has learned his craft and continues to improve as a boxer. We always knew he can punch. He has improved dramatically with his boxing ability. I am looking to see the improvement on how his boxing ability sets up his power shots.”

Said GH3 Promotions president, Vito Mielnicki, “like all the GH3 fighters, we will move him aggressively. We have Diaz on September 26th and November 12th. He will be moved rapidly to see what he has. He is a solid kid.”

GH3 Promotions features undefeated Middleweight Antoine Douglas, Super Middleweight’s Jerry Odom & Derrick Webster, undefeated Super Bantamweight Adam Lopez as well as Boxcino 2015 Jr. Middleweight Champion John Thompson, Jr., undefeated Welterweight’s Jerrell Harris & Keenan Smith,undefeated Super lightweight Bienvenido Diaz, Light Heavyweight Lavarn Harvell, Jr. Lightweight O’Shanique Foster & Super Middleweight Andrew Hernandez to the GH3 Promotions stable.

Monterrey, Mexico– After two successful event sell-outs in Mexico City for UFC® 180 and UFC® 188, UFC® conquers new territory with UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BROWN vs GASTELUM, scheduled for November 21 in Arena Monterrey, in Monterrey, Mexico.

Kelvin Gastelum, Ricardo Lamas, Diego Sanchez, Erik Perez, Leandro Silva, Efrain Escudero, Hector Urbina and Henry Cejudo were present at the press conference, which took place today at Hotel Habita in Monterrey, Mexico.

Headlining the November card is the five-round main event featuring UFC® welterweights Matt “The Immortal” Brown (22-13, fighting out of Cincinnati, Ohio), and Kelvin Gastelum (12-1, fighting out of Yuma, Ariz.). UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BROWN vs GASTELUM will mark Mexico’s second event of 2015 as well as the season finale of The Ultimate Fighter® Latin America 2, where two fighters from the famous reality show will be crowned champions.

In addition, Ricardo “The Bully” Lamas (14-4, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.) goes up against Diego “The Dream” Sanchez (27-7, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) in a featherweight showdown. Lamas, who challenged for the 145lb. belt in 2014 against Jose Aldo, will bring his black belt jiu-jitsu skills to the Octagon® against The Ultimate Fighter® season one winner and 21 fight UFC® veteran Sanchez.

Other bouts for UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BROWN vs GASTELUM include:
· Third-ranked, Jussier Formiga, (13-8, fighting out of Natal, Brazil) and no. 5 and Olympic wrestling gold medalist Henry “The Messenger” Cejudo (9-0, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) will collide in a flyweight battle
· Leandro “Buscape” Silva (18-2-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) will meet The Ultimate Fighter® Latin America 2 coach, Efrain “Hecho en Mexico” Escudero (25-9, fighting out of Tempe, Ariz.) in a lightweight bout
· Monterrey native, Erik “Goyito” Perez (14-6, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M., by way of Monterrey, Mexico) and Damian “Webster” Stasiak (9-2, fighting out Lodz, Poland) will compete in a bantamweight match
· Valmir “Bidu”Lazaro (13-3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) will face his Brazilian counterpart Michel “Tractor” Prazeres (18-2, fighting out of Belem, Para, Brazil) in a lightweight fight
· Hector “El Toro” Urbina (25-8, fighting out of Muncie, Ind. by the way of Monterrey, Mexico) will challenge Bartosz “The Butcher” Fabinski (12-2, fighting out of Warsaw, Poland) in a welterweight bout

Tickets for UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BROWN vs GASTELUM go on sale Friday, September 10 and are priced at zone Diamante (orange) $5,000.00, zone Platino (green) $3,500.00, zone Barrera Platino (blue) $2,500, zone Barrera Oro (yellow) $1,850, zone Preferente (red) $1,580, zone Butaca (light green) $1,222, zone Luneta Especial (brown) $1,059, zone Luneta (purple) $896, zone Balcón Especial (grey) $651, zone Balcón (pink) $350, Bar ‘n Grill & Super Palco $2,500 (prices listed in Mexican pesos and include taxes). Tickets can be purchased starting September 11 through www.superboletos.com. To order by phone with a credit card, call +52 (81) 15154100. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. The ticket price does not include applicable service charges.

Get your VIP package today! The UFC VIP Experience packages together your tickets with behind-the-scenes access to the official weigh-ins, backstage tours, meet and greet and autograph signings with top UFC stars, Q&A sessions, and photo opportunities, access to an in-arena VIP party room, a chance to hold the championship belt inside the Octagon® and more.

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change.
Follow us on Twitter: @UFC and Facebook/UFC

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About UFC®

UFC® is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 158 countries and territories to over 1 billion TV households worldwide in 21 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service that is available throughout the world with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.

About the Arena Monterrey

Zignia Live is part of Avalanz Group and is one of the main companies promoting shows in Mexico and Latin America, ranking in the “Top 20” as most active promoters in the world. Live Zignia is aprovider for venues in Mexico City, Puebla, Guadalajara, Torreon, Tampico, Monterrey and offers unique and memorable experiences through the presentation of live world-class performances.

LONDON (10 Sept) – Boxing star Amir Khan will be BoxNation’s special guest analyst for Floyd Mayweather’s final fight against Andre Berto and has backed his stablemate to cause a ‘big surprise’.

‘The Channel of Champions’ will be showing the legendary Mayweather’s last outing exclusively live in the UK, with Khan making up a knowledgeable trio of on-air talent which also includes charismatic presenter Steve Bunce and two-weight world champion Steve Collins.

The star-studded guest list will see Irish hero Collins, who has shared the ring with some of Britain’s biggest names including Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn, now sharing the couch with another in Khan as they bring BoxNation subscribers their unique and privileged insight.

28-year-old Khan was in the running to face the undefeated Mayweather this Saturday night but was left at the altar after the pound-for-pound king opted to face the hard-hitting Berto instead.

The two-time world champion though, who trains with Berto, is giving his full backing to his stablemate and thinks Floyd will be in for a shock if he has underestimated the all-action Haitian.

“It would be foolish for Floyd to go in there thinking that Berto is a pushover or an easy fight. I know how motivated Berto is for this fight and have seen all the graft he’s done in the gym during previous camps so he’s going to bring it on Saturday, no doubt,” said Khan.

“Floyd has been around a long time and has the experience so I don’t think he’s going to underestimate Berto. But you never know though, after Pacquiao there’s a chance he could go in there with less motivation but he says it’s his last fight so that will push him.

“If Floyd does overlook Berto then he’s in for a big surprise because Berto has the power to hurt him. I think no matter what, Berto is going to leave it all in the ring and will make sure he gives the fans an exciting fight,” he said.

The Olympic silver medalist believes that Berto has to make the fight as uneasy for the 38-year-old Mayweather as possible if he hopes to upset the odds and claim the WBC and WBA welterweight world titles.

Berto’s speed, and esteemed trainer Virgil Hunter’s tactics, are also keys to winning the fight.

“Floyd is used to guys pressing him and looking to push him back, and to a certain extent that has caused him problems like in the first Maidana fight but he’s very good at making adjustments and dealing with that,” Khan said.

“Berto will need to do bits of that in the fight but also use his speed at the right times. He’s quicker than Maidana and that will be an advantage for him because Floyd hasn’t been in with many quick guys in recent years and as you age your reflexes aren’t as sharp.

“I know Virgil will have a few game plans for the fight because against Mayweather you can’t just have one plan – you have to go in there with several and you need to know when to use and implement them.

“I know Berto is going to give Floyd a tougher fight than most people are expecting,” Khan said.

The bout represents Mayweather’s 49th fight and after a glittering 19-year-career, the five-weight 12-time world champion claims that this will be his last matchup before hanging up the gloves.

Khan, however, is unconvinced that Mayweather will call it a day, especially if he equals Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record.

“I know Floyd has talked about this being his last fight but I can’t see it,” Khan said.

“To beat Marciano’s record when it is touching distance away isn’t an easy thing to walk away from. If he gets the win on Saturday then I’m sure we’ll see him in the ring next year.

“He’s had a great career and will want to end it with a bang, and what better way than beating Marciano’s record,” said Khan.

Mayweather v Berto / Groves v Jack is live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 525 and TalkTalk 415) this Saturday night at 1am. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-
About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.415), online at Livesport.tv and via apps (ios, Android, Amazon). BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (September 10, 2015) – M-1 Global has announced a Super Fight between M-1 Challenge featherweight champion Ivan “Buki” Buchinger and M-1 Challenge lightweight titlist Mansour “Tarzan” Barnaoui will headline M-1 Challenge 62, October 10,at The Ice Cube Curling Centerin Sochi, Russia.

M-1 Challenge 62 will be streamed live from Sochi, Russia 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.

Buchinger strikes Tural Ragimov in their 2014 title fight

Buchinger (29-4-0, 7 KO/TKO, 16 SUB), unbeaten in M-1 fights with a perfect 4-0-0 record, will be making the second defense of the M-1 Challenge title he captured October 17, 2014 at M-1 Challenge 52, when he stopped Tural Ragimov in the fourth round in their “Fight of the Night.”

Fighting out of Gabcikovo, Slovakia, Buchinger is riding an eight-right win streak, last losing nearly three years to Conor McGregor. “Buki” successfully defended his crown this past April at M-1 Challenge 56, punching out Aliyar Sarkerov in two rounds.

Barnaoui celebrates his title-winning victory over Maxim Divnich

Barnaoui (12-2-0, 4 KO/TKO, 7 SUB), fighting out of Paris, won the M-1 Challenge lightweight championship in his last fight, knocking out Maxim Divnich in the opening round this past May at M-1 Challenge 57. Barnaoui, who has vacated his lightweight title, has won his last four fights.

Also fighting on the card against an opponent to be determined is undefeated Russian light heavyweight Adam “Beard” Yandiev (8-0-0, 3 KO/TKO, 5 SUB), a rising MMA star who is a judo specialist. In his last fight at M-1 Challenge 58, Yandiev defeated previously undefeated (7-0-0) Valdas Pocevicius in the first round via a choke hold.

Yandiev’s hand is raised in victory at his last fight vs. Pocevicius

Fights and fighters are subject to challenge. Additional bouts will soon be announced.

Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 62 live on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable, Suddenlink Communications and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., as well as nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in more than 30 countries throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Upcoming Event: M-1 Challenge 61, September 19, 2015 in Ingushetia, Russia.

Information

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www.wmmaa.org

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@M1GlobalNews
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ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL: Founded in 1997, M-1 Global has established itself in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the premier entity for discovering and developing the world’s next-generation of superstar fighters. With its office in St Petersburg, Russia, the M-1 brand has staged more than 160 events worldwide, including M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge, M-1 Global and M-1 Global HWGP events, in addition to co-promoting Strikeforce events and M-1 Global on the U.S. network, Showtime. Captivating live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups, M-1 Global events have featured some of the sport’s top names, including legendary heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Sergei Kharitonov, Aleksander Emelianenko, Roman Zentsov, Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Chalid Arrab and Stephan Struve. 2015 promises to be another sensational year of world-class competition with a full calendar of Challenge events fueled by a talent-rich contention system ranking M-1 Global Champions among the greatest fighters in the sport.

ABOUT M-1GLOBAL.TV: Enjoy MMA action now in high definition brought to you by M-1Global.tv, offering only the best fights from M-1 Global and other MMA organizations. M-1Global.tv is a great platform developed specifically to bring together the most exhaustive fight video database. It also provides an easy and intuitive interface, helping everyone to start using the platform in no time while avoiding any spoilers. Besides watching the past fights on demand at any time convenient to the customer, viewers are able to enjoy the action LIVE, all available to M-1Global.tv users through a low-priced month to month digital subscription. Your world of action. Anytime!

LAS VEGAS (September 10, 2015) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today that it has inked another pair of recognized stars – lightweight (155 pounds) Caros “The Future” Fodor and middleweight (185 pounds) Cory “The One” Devela – to exclusive, multi-year agreements. Each athlete’s promotional debut will be announced soon.

Fodor (10-4) of Kirkland, Wash. joins his brother, rising star and costumed crime fighter Phoenix Jones aka Ben Fodor, on the World Series Fighting roster.

“Caros and Cory are two seasoned and accomplished stars in their respective weight classes, so it is a pleasure to welcome them aboard,” said World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo.

“With our roster of stars,” said Sefo, “and our schedule of live events and television programming all growing rapidly, this is a more exciting time than ever for World Series of Fighting, and we are delighted to be able to have more and more established talent like Caros and Cory be a part of what we are building.”

The 31-year-old Fodor, a protégé of famed trainer Matt Hume, has won three of his last four bouts that took place over the course of a two-year stint competing in Asia. Fodor put himself on the map in 2010 after signing with Strikeforce and reeling off five consecutive victories on national television while competing for the now-defunct, former number two promotion in the world.

Fodor boasts a 70 percent finish rate, having earned 5 of his 10 career wins by submission and 2 wins by (T)KO. Since he began his career as an amateur 10 years ago, he has not suffered a knockout.

Also 31 years old, Devela (15-6) of Bonney Lake, Wash. is coached by wrestling guru and MMA submission ace Dennis “Superman” Hallman. Like Fodor, he established his name at a young age by competing against top-level competition on a major stage.

Devela, who will look for his fourth consecutive victory after earning a unanimous decision over superstar Nick Ring on June 26, produced one of the memorable moments in Strikeforce history when he stopped Joe “Diesel” Riggs with a vicious body slam in the first round (1:22) of their matchup on February 23, 2008.

Live World Series of Fighting action returns to NBCSN on Friday, Sept. 18 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with the much-anticipated “WSOF 23: Gaethje vs. Palomino II” world championship doubleheader event that will be headlined by a world lightweight championship rematch between reigning kingpin Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje (14-0) and hard-hitting rival Luis “Baboon” Palomino (23-10).

About World Series of Fighting (WSOF)
“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF.com) is a world wide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and “World Series of Fighting” President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.

BOLTON (10 SEPTEMBER) By Peter Fury: Although we contemplated basing ourselves in Ireland for The Big One, we’ll now be in England for the full duration of the camp and then go to Germany one week before the fight. We’ve got a lot of help here and a set-up already established here. It just made sense, I think, to stay in England for this Klitschko fight.

At this point in camp, the work is very focused and intense. The sparring started on Monday and Tyson is well on target. He knows what game plan he has to use and we’re working towards that strategy on a daily basis. We’ll keep working and working on it until it becomes second nature.

Obviously, Tyson should be in very good condition by the time the fight comes around. He should be more than able to go 12 rounds at a very good pace.

In terms of sparring, we’ve brought in people from America, France, Germany and everywhere in between. We’ve got between eight and ten sparring partners and they’re all very tall – in and around the 6’6 and 6’8 region.

Also, I’ve gone for a lot of young, fresh blood this time. I haven’t gone for experienced veterans. They’re all sort of 8-0, 12-0 and 16-0. They come with that bit of hunger and ambition. They come trying to impress. And that’s what we need. We want a good spar from them. We don’t want these over-the-hill but highly-rated veterans who just come over for a quick payday.

It’s been difficult finding these guys, of course. The problem we have is that Wladimir Klitschko’s team will be looking at the same sort of sparring partners as us. They too want guys who are upwards of 6’6. It’s basically a case of who gets there first. We’re looking at a lot of the same people.

I’ve got the Glory world kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven over and Tyson’s getting some good work out of him. I’ve also got an Armenian K1 fighter who is ranked in the top five in the world. So we’ve got a lot brute strength in there.

These kickboxers don’t mess around. They don’t bring complaints. They get hit and keep coming forward. They’re not afraid of getting hit or being involved in a war. It’s second nature to them. They’re big, strong and they can box as well. We’ve got the best of both worlds really. They can box well and they’re also incredibly tough and durable. They don’t mind getting wet.

Remember, a kickboxing match is a very short and intense fight. There’s no real feeling-out process. These men are used to getting in there and getting down to business very quickly. They’re rough, tough, fighting men. So, as you can imagine, they fit in very well here.

*** Tyson Fury challenges Wladimir Klitschko for the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO world heavyweight titles on October 24 in Dusseldorf, Germany. Tickets can be purchased from eventim.co.uk or on 0844 249 1000. The fight will be televised live and exclusively in the UK on Sky Sports Box Office ***

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LAS VEGAS (Sept. 9, 2015) – Floyd Mayweather and Andre Berto participated in the final press conference for “HIGH STAKES: Mayweather vs. Berto” on Wednesday at the David Copperfield Theatre at the MGM Grand ahead of their major showdown taking place this Saturday, Sept. 12 live on SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. E/5 p.m. PT) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

In what is expected to be the final fight of his illustrious 19-year career, boxing superstar and pound-for-pound king Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) will put his undefeated record and WBC and WBA Welterweight World Championships on the line when he faces power-punching, two-time welterweight world champion Berto (30-3, 23 KOs). Three days before they meet in the ring, the two fighters and their camps were business-like and confident as they took their turns at the podium.

Here is what the fighters and executives had to say Wednesday:

FLOYD MAYWEATHER

“We’ve been here so many times. I know talking doesn’t win fights. I know trainers don’t win fights. It comes down to the two competitors. I’m always prepared, physically and mentally. We have a remarkable game plan.

“I want to thank everyone that has covered this event and my career over 19 years. Whether it was a good story or a bad story, you guys wrote about me and kept me relevant. That’s how I was able to do record breaking numbers.

“Training camp was unbelievable, like always. I was asked if I’d be able to get in top condition after the Pacquaio fight and I absolutely did. No matter who I chose, the critics would have something to say.

“I know what it takes for a fight at this magnitude. No matter what anyone says, it comes down to the two competitors and I know what I can do. One thing I can do, I can fight.

“When we talk about landing the highest percentage, I’m that guy. When we talk about doing the highest gate or PPV, I’m that guy.

“I can’t say I’m going out 49-0 because you can’t overlook anyone.

“Every fight played a major key. It’s not just the intelligence; it’s the sharp mind, the good chin, the tremendous heart. I never overlooked an opponent. I trained for every fighter the same way, by pushing myself. I believe in my skills and I believe in my talent. I’ve been in there with the best, and the results are always the same.

“You have fighters that may be faster than me, there are fighters that may hit harder than me, you have fighters who are very athletic, but you don’t have a fighter who can make adjustments like me. You don’t have fighters that can be on my level mentally.

“It’s never personal for me, it’s always business. Everyone fights for what they fight for. My thing is this; I keep my eyes on the prize. I don’t focus on things outside the ring. I focus on the guy in front of me.

“You get to where you get to by staying focused. My dream was to be the best. No matter what happens Saturday, when it comes to boxing, I’m the best at this.

“Some guys wanted to rush me, well what’s plan B? Pacquiao could set traps for other fighters, but he couldn’t set traps for Floyd Mayweather. You need a plan A, a plan B and a plan C. I’ve never beaten a fighter with my plan A.

“Berto you’ve had a hell of a career. You’re a tough fighter and competitor. It’s obvious you’ve done something right. My thing is, just put guys in front of me, and we’ll rate him after they face me.

“To be in the sport of boxing and make upwards of $800 million, my team has done their job. I’ve never focused on things on the outside. I’ve never put anything before boxing. At 4:30 in the morning when my opponent is sleeping, I’m working. I don’t want to leave anything in this sport.

“No fighter in history has been in bigger fights than me. No fighter in history has beat more champions than I’ve beat. But it’s not over yet. I’m going to push myself. I can go to places where no fighter can go mentally.

“The sport of boxing needs this. Berto is a tough, young, hungry fighter and that’s what we need to bring the best out of us. I’m going to come forward and be Floyd Mayweather. Trainers and fighters try to find ways to throw fighters off, but I know what to do when it’s all said and done.

“I want my legacy to be of a remarkable fighter inside the ring and a great businessman outside of it.

“We’re going for the knockout. I’m pretty sure he’s going for the knockout. It’s going to be something special.”

ANDRE BERTO

“It’s funny, when it comes to the media and critics. They’re not in that gym working and knowing the feeling of being a fighter. They don’t know the miles we run and the sacrifices that we have to make to become a world champion or come up to this level of fight.

“This camp has been intense. It has definitely taken me up to levels that I’ve never achieved. We’ve left no stone unturned, I’ve busted my ass for the last couple months.

“Anybody that steps in the ring, I have to respect. When it’s time to fight, I’m coming for my respect. Saturday night is going to be a good one I promise you.

“I’ve given my whole life to this sport. I’ve come in and I’ve entertained the people. That’s what I do. That’s why I came into this game. I’ve been counted out from day one coming from where I come from.

“I’m just coming for my respect. I’m coming for everything that I deserve.

“At the end of the day, I have to be able to take my game to a whole other level. Sometimes you need that opponent to get you to that point, and Floyd is the one.

“He has a great IQ, but one shot can change it all.

“You can be smart, you can be fast, but this is boxing.

“Floyd is sharp of course, but I have certain tools that I believe will make it a real difficult Saturday night. We’re going for the knockout. You definitely don’t want to miss it.

“This is huge for Haiti. The country of Haiti is just elated right now and Saturday night they will definitely be in the building. Saturday night will be historical for the country. This is the first time that an individual has been on this level to represent the country.

FLOYD MAYWEATHER SR., Mayweather’s Father & Trainer

“I see a real fight on Saturday. Don’t get me wrong because I don’t know what’s going on but I really think Floyd is coming to fight.

“I know Berto’s coming to fight. One thing I’ve seen from Berto is that he has no defense – and he’s messing with a defensive whiz.

“I definitely think Floyd will trap him somewhere along the way.

“Floyd respects Berto and is not overlooking him, but he might just stop him, it’s very possible.’’

VIRGIL HUNTER, Berto’s Trainer

“There are some things that a lot of people don’t understand. When you have two guys who were born in situations where they try to prove who the king of the school is, you get some real fights.

“I think about Joe Frazier in the “Thrilla in Manila”, when people thought he was done, but he fought over his head. Does Andre Berto have that capability? Yes, of course he does. We see it all the time in sports. There are nights when it just happens. Andre Berto is going to take it over his head and that’s what he intends to do and what he has to do.

“We can’t match his IQ, but there are other elements that make a successful fight. There is something brewing in the air. I’ve been around a long time and I know when something is personal. You better tell your people to tune-in for this fight. Trust me; it’s going to be a rumble.

“I’ve seen Floyd’s Plan B. I’ve seen him go to war. I’ve seen him rumble with guys bigger than him. I’m not going to be swayed by his skill. This fight is going to be fought from way deep down.”

LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions

“We are thrilled that this fight night will be filled with high stakes matchups all night. We have a tremendous fight card. Of course, the main event has the highest stakes of them all as Andre Berto will be taking on the undefeated Floyd Mayweather.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports

“Six fights in 30 months. Floyd, they said you wouldn’t do it, they said you couldn’t do it and once again you proved them wrong. The first five fights yielded nearly 10 million PPV buys, $750 million in PPV receipts and it’s all led here to fight number six, fight number 49.

“19 years undefeated, 17 consecutive years as world champion, 16 consecutive opponents who are former or current champions. On Saturday night none of that matters. Andre Berto isn’t fighting a legacy or a record book or history, he’s fighting a man, and men can lose.

“The conventional wisdom is that Floyd is going to win this fight, but conventional wisdom said that the first Maidana fight would be easy for Floyd. It said Canelo would be Floyd’s toughest challenger and it said Pacquiao could beat Mayweather. It didn’t account for Hasim Rahman or Buster Douglas and it certainly won’t account for Andre Berto’s heart or desire to rewrite boxing history on Saturday night.

“Like you, I don’t know what will happen on Saturday night. I do know that Berto is more athletic than any fighter Floyd has fought recently. One thing I do know, it’s not going to be boring. When you have fighters like our entire PPV card has, it’s a night not to be missed.”

RICHARD STURM, President of Entertainment & Sports for MGM Resorts International

“We’re thrilled to be a part of this championship fight between Mayweather and Berto that will kick off a sensational fall lineup of entertainment at MGM. We all look forward to history as Floyd looks to end his career at 49-0 and equal the record of Rocky Marciano that has stood since September 1955.

“We are pleased to welcome back Andre Berto. Berto will take on one of the sport’s greatest champions and there is no doubt he will be prepared for the challenge.”

BOB BENNETT, President of the Nevada State Athletic Comission

“There is no doubt that any commission in the world would be elated to have this fight, just like we are. We’re very appreciative of Floyd Mayweather for having this show in our backyard. The NSAC actually commissioned Floyd’s first fight 19 years ago and to date we have regulated 25 out of 49 of Floyd’s fights come this Saturday night when he tries to tie Rocky Marciano’s record.

“It’s been our honor and privilege to regulate these fights. Our officials spend a lot of time in training and we’re ready to go to work come Saturday night.”

* * *

“HIGH STAKES: Mayweather vs. Berto,” a 12-round world championship bout for Mayweather’s WBC and WBA Welterweight World Titles takes place Saturday, Sept. 12 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and sponsored by Tecate. The event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® (8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT). The co-main event will feature a rematch between Roman Martinez and Orlando Salido for the WBO Junior Lightweight World Title. The Martinez vs. Salido fight will follow Mayweather Promotions’ own Badou Jack “The Ripper” making his first defense of the WBC Super Middleweight World title against mandatory challenger “Saint” George Groves. The Jack vs. Groves fight is presented in association with Team Sauerland. The first pay-per-view televised fight is a 10-round super featherweight showdown featuring Mexican power puncher Jhonny Gonzalez against Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Oquendo. The event will be available in Spanish through secondary audio programming (SAP).

Mayweather vs. Berto will be shown on the big screen in theaters across the country via Fathom Events. For more information visit www.FathomEvents.com

For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.SHO.com/Sports andwww.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @AndreBerto, @BadouJack, @StGeorgeGroves, @Romancito77, @siri_salido, @jhonnygbox, @JonathanOquen @mayweatherpromo, @SHOSports and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather,www.Facebook.com/TheRealAndreBerto,www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 9, 2015) –World championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today the addition of three prominent industry leaders in sports, entertainment and media, respectively, to lead its Board of Directors. Joining the Board, effective immediately, are Mark Ford (Executive Vice President, Global Advertising for Time Inc.), Mike Stevens (Senior Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer, New York Football Giants, Inc.) and John Weiser (President, U.S. Distribution for Sony Pictures Television).

“We are thrilled to add the diverse sports, media, and brand building expertise that Mark, Mike, and John bring to our Board as we look to continue to grow as a premier destination for MMA fans and sponsors alike,” said CEO, Carlos Silva.

In his role EVP, Time Inc. Global Advertising Sales, Ford works across Time Inc.’s brands to drive overall advertising sales revenue for the company and to build on their leadership in the marketplace. Ford previously served as EVP and President of Time Inc’s Sports Group, where he was responsible for the global business development and operations of Sports Illustrated, SI For Kids, Golf and popular brand franchises including the SI Swimsuit issue.

Stevens, the New York Giants first-ever CMO, has a strong track record of growing businesses through innovative corporate partnerships, live events, multi-platform media and innovative activations. He has led the team’s transformation to become a leader in team business performance while also successfully building, marketing and selling the largest privately funded stadium in the world, MetLife Stadium. Stevens brings extensive sports industry experience to the World Series of Fighting with prior roles at eBay Sports and the National Basketball Association.

As President of U.S. Distribution for Sony Pictures Television, Weiser oversees all domestic sales operations including sales of features films produced by Sony Pictures, first-run and off-network syndicated programs and Sony Pictures library titles to U.S. broadcast networks, cable networks and television station groups along with video-on-demand, subscription video-on-demand and domestic pay television.

The World Series of Fighting cards air exclusively on NBC Sports Network and NBC. Its next fight card, WSOF 23 Gaethje vs. Palomino, is headlined by this exciting Lightweight rematch scheduled for Friday, Sept. 18 at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT from Comerica Theater in Phoenix, AZ.

About “World Series of Fighting” (WSOF)
“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF) is a world wide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and “World Series of Fighting” President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.

Las Vegas – In the most anticipated matchup in UFC® history, two kings battle for one throne, as inaugural UFC featherweight champion and pound-for-pound great Jose Aldo returns to face newly-crowned interim champion Conor McGregor in the five-round main event of UFC 194®. Plus, undefeated middleweight champion Chris Weidman puts his spotless record on the line when he meets No. 1 contender Luke Rockhold in the co-main event. UFC 194®: ALDO vs. McGREGOR takes over the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, Dec. 12.

Jose Aldo (25-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), UFC’s first-ever featherweight champion, has proven to be one of the most dominant titleholders in the history of the sport, as he’s compiled seven consecutive title defenses while remaining unbeaten for nearly a decade. Slated to meet earlier in the year at the record-breaking UFC 189 event, an injury forced Aldo to withdraw from the contest against bitter rival Conor McGregor (18-2, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland). The undeterred Irishman was then pitted against No. 1 contender Chad Mendes, who he defeated with a thrilling second-round knockout to claim the interim title.

Ready to finally settle the score, Aldo returns to the Octagon® to prove he is the undisputed featherweight champion, while “The Notorious” intends to cement his claim as the true 145-pound world champion.

In the second half of this championship doubleheader, undefeated middleweight champion Chris Weidman (13-0, fighting out of Baldwin, N.Y.) will clash with former STRIKEFORCE® middleweight champion Luke Rockhold (14-2, fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) in the co-main event. Having defeated former champions Anderson Silva (twice), Lyoto Machida and, most recently, Vitor Belfort, Weidman looks to add another name to his perfect record. Rockhold earned his crack at the title after racking up four stoppage victories, including impressive second-round submissions over Machida and Michael Bisping. This high-stakes bout has analysts wondering if this could be the greatest middleweight matchup in UFC history.

Plus, vying for the next shot at the 185-pound championship, No. 2 contender and former STRIKEFORCE middleweight champion Jacare Souza (22-3, 1NC, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) goes toe-to-toe with third-ranked Yoel Romero (10-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Pinar del Rio, Cuba), who is riding a six-fight unbeaten streak that includes five knockouts.

Additional bouts include:

· In a showdown between top-ranked welterweights, No. 6 Demian Maia (24-6, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) will look for a fourth straight win when he meets Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, No. 11 Gunnar Nelson (14-1-1, fighting out of Reykjavik, Iceland).

· In what promises to be an exciting featherweight scrap, fifth-ranked Max Holloway (14-3, fighting out of Waianae, Hawaii) takes on UFC veteran and eighth-ranked Jeremy Stephens (24-11, fighting out of San Diego, Calif.).

· MMA legend and former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber (32-8, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) returns to the bantamweight division to face No. 12 Frankie Saenz (11-2, fighting out of Scottsdale, Ariz.).

· The Ultimate Fighter® Season 20 standout and fifth-ranked strawweight contender Tecia Torres (6-0, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) meets former Invicta FC atomweight champion and 11th-ranked contender Michelle Waterson (13-4, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.), in a 115-pound bout.

· Undefeated rising contenders Warlley Alves (10-0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Colby Covington (8-0, fighting out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) square off in a welterweight bout.

· The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2 winner Leonardo Santos (14-4, 1NC, fighting out of Campos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) takes on surging lightweight star Kevin Lee (11-1, fighting out of Las Vegas.), a winner of four straight.

· Joe Proctor (11-3, fighting out of Bridgewater, Mass.) meets Russian prospect Magomed Mustafaev (12-1, fighting out of Sochi, Russia).

· Tristar Gym staple John Makdessi (12-4, fighting out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada) battles exciting lightweight Yancy Medeiros (11-3, 1NC, fighting out of Makaha, Hawaii).

· The Ultimate Fighter Season 11 veteran Court McGee (16-4, fighting out of Orem, Utah) takes on The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 finalist Marcio Alexandre (13-2, fighting out of Florianopolis, Brazil) in a welterweight showdown.

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

Visit the UFC® Press Portal for additional information, media credential applications, and content to support your UFC coverage.

Tickets for UFC®194: ALDO vs. McGREGOR go on sale Friday, Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $1,253, $853, $603, $403, $278 and $178. Tickets are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets are also available at any MGM Grand box office. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.

UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Sept. 10 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Get your VIP package today! The UFC VIP Experience packages together your tickets with behind-the-scenes access to the official weigh-ins, meet and greet and autograph signings with top UFC stars, Q&A sessions, and photo opportunities, access to an in-arena VIP hospitality room, a chance to hold the championship belt inside the Octagon® and more.

UFC 194 headlines an unprecedented three-day series of events in Las Vegas. Before Aldo and McGregor square off at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday night, UFC will host two nights of live action at The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. This includes a UFC FIGHT PASS® event (bouts to be announced soon) on Thursday, Dec. 10, followed up by The Ultimate Fighter®: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber Finale on Friday, Dec. 11. These three incredible events make Las Vegas the can’t-miss destination for fight fans this December.

UFC®194: ALDO vs. McGREGOR will be available live on Pay-Per-View on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Vubiquity, and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, Rogers and Canal Indigo for a suggested retail price of $49.99 US/CAN for Standard Definition and $59.99 US/CAN for High-Definition.

About UFC®

UFC® is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 158 countries and territories to over one billion TV households worldwide in 21 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service that is available throughout the world with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.

About MGM Grand

MGM Grand Hotel & Casino is “The Entertainment Authority,” creating the ultimate Las Vegas experience. The hotel features the astonishing KÀ by Cirque du Soleil; Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club; master illusionist David Copperfield and world-class entertainment at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. MGM Grand offers signature restaurants by celebrity chefs including Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak, Michael Mina’s PUB 1842, Emeril Lagasse’s New Orleans Fish House, Wolfgang Puck’s Bar & Grill and Michelin three star and Forbes Five-Star restaurant, Joël Robuchon. The resort recently remodeled all of the rooms and suites in its main tower and launched the industry’s first-ever STAY WELL Collection. MGM Grand is home to many of today’s hottest DJs including Tiësto, Calvin Harris and Steve Aoki who share residencies between Hakkasan Las Vegas Restaurant and Nightclub and WET REPUBLIC, The Strip’s hottest day life destination. The hotel also features a state-of-the-art, non-smoking Five Green Key conference center, the Grand Spa, Cristophe Salon and an inviting six-acre pool complex. Upscale accommodations include SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand, an exclusive boutique luxury hotel within the hotel and The Signature at MGM Grand, a luxury all-suite, non-gaming hotel located adjacent to the main resort. MGM Grand is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). For more information and reservations, visit mgmgrand.com, call toll free at (877) 880-0880 or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Las Vegas (Sept. 9, 2015) – Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), on a mission to bring quality boxing to fans on network television, has confirmed that it will participate in the second annual Box Fan Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Saturday. The PBC series has brought more than 21 fights to more than 26 million viewers through network partners ABC, CBC, ESPN, Fox Sports1, NBC, NBCSN, Spike and BounceTV since it launched in March of this year.

PBC will bring its signature fan-focused approach to the Box Expo with an interactive booth featuring meet-and-greets with its fighters, highlights of some of the year’s best bouts and giveaway items.

The Box Fan Expo will coincide with the Floyd Mayweather vs Andre Berto championship fight.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online at: http://www.boxfanexpo.eventbrite.com

The PBC organization joins Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Tim Bradley, Zab Judah, James Toney, Sergio Martinez, Shawn Porter, Mia St. John, Terry Norris, Joel Casamayor, Fernando Vargas, Ruslan Provodnikov, Ray Mancini, Jessie Vargas, Mike McCallum, Austin Trout, Kevin Kelley, referee Richard Steele, the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the World Boxing Association (WBA) among early commitments to this year’s Box Fan Expo.

This unique fan experience event, which allowed fans to meet and greet boxing legends, past and current champions and other celebrities of the sport, debuted last September. This year the Expo will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and once again, allow fans a chance to collect autographs, take photos and purchase merchandise and memorabilia.

Exhibitors such as boxing gear, apparel, broadcasting media and other brand companies who wish to participate will have a chance to showcase their products to fans and the whole boxing industry.

Last year’s inaugural Box Fan Expo featured some of the most popular fighters and boxing celebrities in recent history. Fans were treated to visits with Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr, Martinez, Amir Khan, Zab Judah, Mikey Garcia,Toney, Riddick Bowe, Leon Spinks Terry Norris, Porter, Chris Byrd, Jesse James Leija ,Lamon Brewster, Ray Mercer, Earnie Shavers, St-John, Erislandy Lara, Quillin, Jean Pascal and Austin Trout. Also appearing were current WBC Champion Deontay Wilder, the charismatic Vinny Pazienza, Paul Williams, noted commentator Al Bernstein and trainer Roger Mayweather of Mayweather Promotions.

The roster of attendees for this year’s Box Fan Expo will be announced throughout the next several weeks leading up to the event.

For anyone in the boxing industry or brand companies who wish to be involved and reserve a booth as an exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Box Fan Expo at:

U.S.A telephone number: (702) 997-1927 or (514) 572-7222

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on the Box Fan Expo is available at: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

View the official promo video of Box Fan Expo here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/video-2/

You can follow Box Fan Expo on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/BoxFanExpo and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

LONDON (9 Sept) – British ace George Groves says he’s ready to burst onto the world scene as he challenges for the WBC world title in Floyd Mayweather’s final bout.

The 27-year-old takes on super-middleweight champion Badou Jack this Saturday night, live and exclusive on BoxNation, on the undercard of pound-for-pound king Mayweather’s last fight against Haitian hard-hitter Andre Berto.

It’s been a whirlwind career for Londoner Groves who has twice fought for the world title, those being two defeats to rival Carl Froch, but having bounced back with two wins including capturing the European title he insists he is ready to now take the boxing world by storm.

“Every fight is more vital than that last, more important than the last and there’s more to lose, especially once you’ve lost,” said Groves.

“I came back after losing last year and won the European title, I became the mandatory of the WBC. Since then we’ve been rolling and waiting for our opportunity to fight for the WBC belt. We knew it would come so we’ve been patient with it.

“People will consider this a 50-50 match up. We’re going to go in there and show people that they couldn’t be further from the truth. We’re in a great place and we’re just ready to perform, to steal the show and arrive on the world scene.

“So all the pressures and all the excitement and everything else that goes with fighting for the world championship, I don’t feel any of it because to me, it’s just a fight,” Groves said.

Hammersmith hero Groves has spent the last two months training in the US at Big Bear Lake, undergoing gruelling mountain runs to whip him into shape.

Up against Jack he’ll face an opponent with a record of 19 wins, with just one loss and a draw on his record, but Groves insists the Swedish born fighter won’t be on his level.

“We have plenty of motivation up here in the mountains. We’re working hard. It’s been a lifelong dream to become world champion. We’re just concentrating on Badou Jack,” Groves said.

“This is a fight against a good guy, but a guy who is not as good as me. For that reason, we’re just looking forward to getting in there and performing. And winning and everything that goes with it.

“Without trying to give too much away about the game plan, we know Jack’s strengths. We know his weaknesses. We plan to go in there, nullify his strengths and expose the weaknesses.

“But we’re in phenomenal shape. First we came up here, I was in good shape. I was struggling to breathe because of the altitude. But now, we are flying. We’re getting better results than we do back in London when we’re out in flat land and there’s more oxygen.

“We’re going to go bring the fight to Badou Jack. Make sure he works for every second of every round. From there on in, the game plan will develop,” he said.

31-year-old Jack, a Mayweather Promotions fighter, came to prominence with his majority decision victory over Anthony Dirrell in April of this year to win the WBC world title.

The 168-pound champion is unfazed at Groves’ confidence going into the bout and says he will do his big talking in the ring.

“For me it’s just another fight. I’m not a trash talker. I don’t get into all that trying to get into your mind and stuff,” said Jack.

“I’m staying focused on winning the fight. I might seem like a quiet guy or something like that, but come fight night, in the ring, it’s going to be a different story.

“It’s a 50-50 fight and I think that’s where you don’t know who’s going to win. That’s what makes it so exciting. I believe I’m the better fighter and I’m 110 percent confident that I’m going to win this fight,” he said.

Mayweather v Berto / Groves v Jack is live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 525 and TalkTalk 415) this Saturday night at 1am. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.

Philadelphia, PA—Hard-hitting junior lightweight contender Jason Sosa, of Camden, NJ, has signed a new promotional agreement, this one with Peltz Boxing and Top Rank, Inc., as he prepares for his Oct. 2 fight with Jorge Pazos, of Guamuchil, Mexico, on Friday evening, Oct. 2, at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia.

The 27-year-old Sosa also has moved into the No. 10 slot among 130-pounders, according to the International Boxing Federation (IBF).
“This is a big day for me,” said Sosa, who has knocked out his last 12 opponents. “This motivates me to do bigger and better things in my career as a professional boxer. I am more than happy and blessed to have signed a new agreement with Peltz Boxing and Top Rank. With that being said, I am very excited knowing I am ranked No.10 in the world.
A pro since 2009, Sosa is 17-1-3, 13 K0s, including the big one in his last fight, a first-round blowout of former world-title challenger Jerry Belmontes, of Corpus Christi, TX, on Aug. 15 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
“I first did business with Bob Arum (Top Rank CEO) in 1974 when Bennie Briscoe fought Rodrigo Valdes in Monte Carlo,” said J Russell Peltz, president of Peltz Boxing, “and we always have worked well together. Top Rank is still at the top of their game and no one promotes Puerto Rican fighters better than they do. I’ve been working with Carl Moretti (Top Rank VP) on this deal for months.”
Top Rank has promoted Sosa’s last three fights—the K0s over Belmontes, Herbert Quartey, of Ghana, on April 25 in Guaynabo, PR, and over Santiago Bustos, of Spain, on June 13 in Madison Square Garden.
“With another year of development and continued exposure on our platforms, Jason and his explosive punching power will rise to the top of the already talent-rich junior lightweight and lightweight divisions,” said Moretti. “Signing him with our good friend Russell Peltz, who still today is one of the smartest boxing minds in the business, was a no-brainer. Welcome aboard, Jason; we look forward to promoting your career in the years to come.”
Sosa turned pro in 2009 after only three amateur fights—he lost two of them—and he has developed into a world-class fighter since teaming up with manager/trainer Raul “Chino” Rivas in 2012.
The Oct. 2 card, the first official one joining Top Rank with Peltz, is billed as the Puerto Rican Boxing Classic and the seven-bout program figures to attract a sold-out crowd.
From bantamweight Sixto Escobar, who became the first Puerto Rican world champion in 1935, to current title-holder Danny Garcia, of Philadelphia, Puerto Ricans have had a long and storied history in boxing.
Among area fighters looking to display their talents on the Oct. 2 card are local Puerto Rican fighters from Philadelphia and New Jersey. Many of them bring a loyal following to their fights.
In addition, invitations to attend and sign autographs will be sent to outstanding Puerto Rican fighters up and down the East Coast.
First fight is 7 pm.

Philadelphia, PA—Popular lightweight Victor Vasquez, of Philadelphia, hopes to extend his modest three-fight winning streak when he takes on Tyrell Samuel, of Baltimore, MD, in the six-round semifinal as part of the Puerto Rican Boxing Classic on Friday evening, Oct. 2, at the 2300 Arena at 2300 South Swanson Street.

Headlining the seven-bout card is an eight-round junior lightweight contest between world-rated Jason Sosa, of Camden, NJ, and Jorge Pazos, of Chumuchil, Mexico. First fight starts at 7pm.
Vasquez (above left), 32, has won three straight at the 2300 Arena, stopping Jose L. Guzman, of The Bronx, and Osnel Charles, of Atlantic City, and earning a six-round decision over Gerald Smith, of Philadelphia.
Vasquez is known as the Fighting Barber since he works in that profession at Consider It Done in North Philadelphia.
A pro boxer since 2006, Vasquez has a record of 19-9-1, 9 K0s.
Samuel (above right), 33, has been fighting as a pro even longer, having turned pro in 2005 and winning his first nine fights. He has beaten Gustavo Dailey, of Philadelphia, Joey Tiberi, of Newark, DE, and Carlos Vinan, of Newark, NJ.
In his most ambitious starts, Samuel dropped decisions to Eric Hunter, of Philadelphia, over eight rounds, and to Doren Spivey, of Virginia Beach, VA, over 10 rounds.
Junior middleweight Ismael “Tito” Garcia, of Vineland, NJ, considered by boxing insiders to be one of the best prospects in the area, goes against Yusmani Abreu, of Cuba, in a six-round match.
Garcia, 28, has been plagued by inactivity since turning pro in 2010 and has boxed only nine times in more than five years, winning eight—four by knockout—and fighting one No Contest.
In his last fight May 8 at the 2300 Arena, Garcia knocked out Tommy Ayers, of Cincinnati, OH, in the first round.
Abreu, 35 now living in Las Vegas, NV, is a solid fighter with a poor record (4-11-2). The combined record of his 17 opponents is 95-21-5 and he turned pro in 2005 in Mexico against Gilberto Flores Hernandez, who was left-handed and 12-4 at the time. Abreu has boxed nine men who were undefeated.
A third six-rounder features a rematch between junior welterweights David Gonzales, of Philadelphia, and Ryan Belasco, of Wilmington, DE. They boxed a six-round draw on May 8 in the same ring.
Gonzales, 25, is 5-0-2,1K0. Belasco, 31, is 18-6-5, 3 K0s.
Three additional four-rounders complete the card: Edgar Cortes, of Vineland, NJ, vs. Antonio Conigliaro, St. Clair, PA, super bantamweights; Scott Kelleher, Philadelphia, vs. Alberto Manuykan, Union City, NJ, junior welterweights; Avery Sparrow, Philadelphia, vs. tba, lightweights.
The seven-bout fight card figures to attract a sold-out crowd.
From bantamweight Sixto Escobar, who became the first Puerto Rican world champion in 1935, to current title-holder Danny Garcia, of Philadelphia, Puerto Ricans have had a long and storied history in boxing.
Among area fighters looking to display their talents on the Oct. 2 card are local Puerto Rican fighters from Philadelphia and New Jersey. Many of them bring a loyal following to their fights.
In addition, invitations to attend and sign autographs will be sent to outstanding Puerto Rican fighters up and down the East Coast.

The war of words between Patrick Nielsen (26-1, 12 KOs) and Rudy Markussen (38-3, 25 KOs) continued at today’s pre-fight press conference to promote their ‘Collision Course’ clashes on Saturday night at the Arena Nord in Frederikshavn.

The Danish rivals have been embroiled in a bitter feud since Nielsen made the move up to super middleweight, prompting Markussen to return from retirement to challenge the young southpaw. On Saturday night, both men face their final test ahead of a domestic mega-fight later this year with must win fights against tough international opposition.

Nielsen, the current WBA International Champion, takes on Brazilian brawler Samir Santos Barbosa (36-12-3, 25 KOs). ‘’I’ve been training harder than ever for this fight and breaking all my records in the gym,’’ reveals the 24 year-old.

‘’I’ve been growing and maturing with every new challenge, and right now, I feel unstoppable. In boxing you can never overlook an opponent, so Barbosa has my full attention, but once I’m finished with him, my attention turns to Rudy, and I’ll be ready to send him back into retirement!’’

In the co-featured main event, Markussen, the former European Champion and World title challenger, returns from a near to three year absence to face Ramazi Gogichashvili (19-6-2, 9 KOs).

‘’A fight with Patrick gives me all the motivation I need,’’ said the 38 year-old, who insists he is in top shape ahead of his ring return. ‘’My training has gone better than expected. I’m injury free and as fit as I’ve ever been. This is a fight I must win, and one I am well prepared for.’’

Nielsen could not resist the chance to antagonise his future opponent, presenting the ‘Hard Hitter’ with a ‘special welcome back gift’ – a framed photograph of Markussen suffering a KO defeat to Brian Magee in his February 2012 World title challenge.

‘’Rudy has been out the ring for a long time so I thought I would give him a special welcome back gift reminding him of what happened last time he fought a southpaw like me,’’ said Nielsen.

Said promoter Nisse Sauerland: ‘’Patrick versus Rudy is potentially one of the biggest domestic fights in Danish boxing history. It’s no secret that they don’t get along. You can feel the tension whenever they are in the same room. This is a fight the fans want to see and a fight that will happen if they both win on Saturday night.’’

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 8, 2015) – The countdown to “HIGH STAKES: Floyd “Money” Mayweather vs. Andre Berto” continued Tuesday afternoon as Floyd Mayweather and Andre Berto made their Grand Arrivals at MGM Grand in Las Vegas before their fight this Saturday, Sept. 12 live on SHOWTIME PPV® (8 p.m. E/5 p.m. PT) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

In what is expected to be the final fight of his illustrious 19-year career, boxing superstar and pound-for-pound king Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) will put his undefeated record and WBC and WBA Welterweight World Championships on the line against power-punching, two-time welterweight world champion Berto (30-3, 23 KOs).

Also making their Grand Arrivals Tuesday were the six other talented fighters who will compete on the four-fight pay-per-view telecast: Roman “Rocky” Martinez, Orlando “Siri” Salido, Badou Jack “The Ripper”, “Saint” George Groves, Jhonny Gonzalez and Jonathan “Polvo” Oquendo.

In world title fights, Martinez (29-2-2, 17 KOs) will risk his WBO Junior Lightweight title in a rematch against the boxer he dethroned, four-time world champion Salido (42-13-2, 29 KOs), and Jack (19-1-1, 12 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBC Super Middleweight World title against mandatory challenger Groves (21-2, 16 KOs). Opening the telecast will be a 10-round junior lightweight showdown between former three-time world champion and Mexican power-puncher Gonzalez (58-9, 49 KOs) against Puerto Rico’s Oquendo (25-4, 16 KOs).
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions LLC., are priced at $1,500, $1,000, $750, $500, $300 and $150 and are on sale now. Tickets are limited to eight (8) per household for all ticket prices except the $150 ticket category, which is limited to four (4) per household. To charge by phone or with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Here is what the fighters and Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, said at MGM Grand on Tuesday:

FLOYD MAYWEATHER
“To become great, you have to follow greatness. To become a great leader you have to be a great follower.

“I want every fighter to stay focused and on a parallel path.

“I’ve done a lot for this sport. Everyone used to be focused on heavyweights. My ultimate goal was to have everyone focus at whatever weight class I was, in my weight class. I’ve always been able to make noise at whatever weight class I was in.

“We want Andre to believe in himself and his skills.

“Every fighter that I’ve ever faced had the remedy to beat me, but the results have always been the same.

“I don’t overlook anyone, he’s a tough competitor, and we will just have to see what happens on Saturday.

“My ultimate goal is that we can find another Floyd Mayweather. When I turned professional I was a teenager and the MGM was Mike Tyson’s building. I’m just blessed and I feel like I was dealt a royal flush.

(On Jen Welter) “She is a remarkable woman; I look forward to meeting her. She’s a trailblazer.”

ANDRE BERTO
“I had a tremendous training camp. I am in better shape than I’ve been in years.

“I’m looking forward to making history on Saturday.

“I don’t know anything about any code that Mayweather has. When I want to walk through a door I just break through.”

LEONARD ELLERBE

“We’re really honored to be able to honor her (Jen Welter) at the Titans of Trade breakfast. This is our sixth breakfast; we’ve been able to recognize other great women who have contributed to sports.

“She’s a remarkable person and we look forward to honoring her and having her attend the fight.”

BADOU JACK

“This is my first defense so I’m excited and absolutely ready for Saturday. He says he is going to win, but we’ll see how it goes on fight night.

“I’m ready to go. I’m ready to knock him out.’’
GEORGE GROVES

“I’m feeling great, really focused and had a great camp. On Saturday all I have to do is be myself and I will get the job done.

“Jack is a good opponent but he is not as good as me.

“I appreciate all the support I am getting from the Brit fans, some of whom are here today. This is going to be a good week.’’

ROMAN “ROCKY” MARTINEZ

“I am very proud to be on this card and what better way to be a part of it than against Salido again.

“We all know Salido’s style: he falls and is used to getting up and continuing to fight. This is going to be a tough fight like our last one. But I am going to do my best and do what I can to win again.’’

ORLANDO SALIDO

“I’m ready to bring on the war, give it everything I’ve got and looking for a big win. I know I made a lot of mistakes in the last fight but I’m confident I corrected them.

“A big difference in this fight is that it is not in Puerto Rico like our first one, this one’s at a neutral site the United States. Whether it’s a decision or a knockout, I’m coming to win.’’

JHONNY GONZALEZ

“Oquendo is a great, tough fighter but I am ready to take him on. I expect this to be a great fight on Saturday and I will leave everything in the ring.

“This is going to be a hard fight. I’m coming here to win.’’

JONATHAN OQUENDO

“Jhonny Gonzalez is a champion of the world. We know he’s a powerful, dangerous fighter. But I’m here to fight and give my daughter a gift on Saturday.

“But this fight is for all the fans of Mexico and Puerto Rico.”

* * *

“HIGH STAKES: Mayweather vs. Berto,” a 12-round world championship bout for Mayweather’s WBC and WBA Welterweight World Titles takes place Saturday, Sept. 12 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and sponsored by Tecate. The event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® (8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT). The co-main event will feature a rematch between Roman Martinez and Orlando Salido for the WBO Junior Lightweight World Title. The Martinez vs. Salido fight will follow Mayweather Promotions’ own Badou Jack “The Ripper” making his first defense of the WBC Super Middleweight World title against mandatory challenger “Saint” George Groves. The Jack vs. Groves fight is presented in association with Team Sauerland. The first pay-per-view televised fight is a 10-round super featherweight showdown featuring Mexican power puncher Jhonny Gonzalez against Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Oquendo. The event will be available in Spanish through secondary audio programming (SAP).

Mayweather vs. Berto will be shown on the big screen in theaters across the country via Fathom Events. For more information visit www.FathomEvents.com

For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.SHO.com/Sports andwww.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @AndreBerto, @BadouJack, @StGeorgeGroves, @Romancito77, @siri_salido, @jhonnygbox, @JonathanOquen @mayweatherpromo, @SHOSports and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather,www.Facebook.com/TheRealAndreBerto,www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

Brooklyn, N.Y. (Tuesday, September 8, 2015) – Uprising Promotions light heavyweight Samuel Clarkson (16-3, 10 KOs) picked up his third consecutive knockout victory and sixth win of the past year in late August, stopping the durable Rayford Johnson in the first round of a bout in his native state of Texas. With an impressive decision win over former world title challenger Cedric Agnew and a third round knockout of highly regarded prospect Jerry Odom over the past six months, Clarkson now looks to continue building on that momentum as he battles his way to a championship fight.

“After we fought Odom, we literally took no time off. It was basically an extended camp,” Clarkson said of preparation for his contest with Johnson, which was five weeks after his Showtime debut opposite Odom. “I took off a day or two. I was running again by that Sunday, and we were sparring again by Tuesday. I really just kept the process going, working on my uppercuts and overwhelming people with my power and aggression. We just continued to keep doing what we had been doing.”

The August pairing with Johnson was the second meeting between the two fighters, with Clarkson earning a unanimous decision in a six-frame bout nearly two years ago.

“Going into the fight, I knew it was going to be tough because I had fought him before,” he stated. “I hit him with everything I could the first time around. It would daze him, but he was able to take all of the shots I threw. I knew I was going to be in a battle, but I was prepared to go to war with him. I was prepared for headbutts because I knew he lunged forward with his head, so I was prepared for it all. I was prepared to come back with stitches.

“I was timing his right hand. He threw his right hand, and I slipped it. I caught him with a straight left and a right hook, and it was over. After that, I hit him with four or five straight punches, and he was asleep as he went down. I did not expect that. I thought I was going to get him in the fourth round. As my dad tells me, if you are gonna show up, you gotta show out! That’s just how we were rocking.”

Regardless of some early stumbles in his career, Clarkson, who is trained by his father, and his team never lost faith. They knew if he remained focused on himself and perfecting his craft that he could find himself on the type of streak that he is currently enjoying.

“I definitely feel blessed, first and foremost. I feel really blessed,” he remarked. “I have never been this in tune with myself before. Ever since I’ve been going to church, I’m so together with everything that I’m doing. I’m learning how to separate a lot of my personal issues from my boxing life. My team and I are all growing together. Our conversations are different. The way we map things out is totally different. Before I started making my march, a lot of people started counting me out because of my three losses. A big part of that was my fault because I was fighting to please people who didn’t even know who I was. When you fight for those reasons, you fall short. You have to remember what you are fighting for. I fight because I love to fight. My first couple losses, I feel as though I was trying to entertain the crowd instead of doing what I am supposed to do. At the same time, it made me a better person. It humbled me, and it also made me recognize where I’m at and where I could be.”

Once he took the time to reconsider, Clarkson did not have to look far to remember that the people who had always been in his corner were the ones who were most important.

“I’m fighting for me, my son and my family,” he continued. “We train together, and I prepare myself mentally for whatever is going to happen. I’m prepared to die in that ring. When I step in there, nobody can help me, whether they believe in me or not. I have to fight for me. I can’t be worried about anyone outside of those four corners.”

One of the biggest takeaways for Clarkson during his impressive success over the past year is he has learned the importance of evolution. He has focused on growing as a fighter inside the ring and as person outside of it, and the combination has given him an entirely new outlook on his life.

“This is not a game to me, and I don’t like losing,” he stated. “I’m my biggest critic, and losing hurts. I told my father a million times that it hurts my pride to lose. He told me if I don’t want to lose, then don’t lose. It’s just as simple as that. If you don’t want to lose, then don’t be afraid to do the extra miles. Don’t be afraid to train three times a day. When it hurts, don’t be afraid to an extra push-up. You can’t be afraid to step outside of your box. My team, my father, my mother and my sisters – they won’t let me stay in my own square. When it gets kind of scary and I’m hesitating to step, they’ll just push me. There’s no half-stepping with me. For the people who have seen me fight and think they know what to expect, don’t think I will come out like that in my next fight because it will never be the same again.”

Make sure to follow @UprisingPromotions on Instagram and Twitter to keep up with all of the latest news.

Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing is proud to announce that this Thursday, September 10 at 8pm, the #1 Regional Sports Network in the country, MSG Network will air a tape delayed broadcast of fast rising undefeated Jr. Welterweight contender Cletus “The Hebrew Hammer” Seldin. Seldin, Rated #9 in the World by the WBC is considered one of the hardest pure punchers in boxing. The broadcast features him against one of his toughest opponents, Ranee Ganoy. The Bout took place at The Paramount in Huntington, NY.

Seldin, 16-0 13KO’s, Shirley, NY, defended his WBC Jr International Silver Jr. Welterweight title against the hard punching Philippine native Ranee Ganoy, 38-12-2 32 KO’s.

Seldin who is quickly becoming a fan favorite because of his aggressive, all out style, took a big step up in class when he met Ganoy, who is the former IBF Pan Pacific Lightweight Champion. It was an exciting battle between two hard punching fighters with the up and coming Seldin putting it on the line against the upset minded Ganoy.

Also scheduled to appear on the broadcast will be undefeated Queens native Danny Gonzalez, 8-0-1 3KO who took on hard hitting Carl McNickles, 8-8 6KO, Chicago, IL, in a 6 round Jr. Welterweight bout, and undefeated Huntington, NY Featherweight Johnny Hernandez, 4-0 1KO battling it out with Puerto Rico’s Angel Suarez, 2-2 1KO.

Star Boxing’s Joe DeGuardia had this to say about the fight being telecast on MSG: “We are delighted once again to have MSG Network broadcast another exciting event from the Paramount in Huntington, NY. These fights are action packed and will have you on the edge of your seats. Cletus Seldin is one of the most exciting, hard punching fighters in the world today”.

MSG Networks is the exclusive local television home of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres (Upstate New York only), New York Liberty, Westchester Knicks and New York Red Bulls, and the official regional sports networks of the New York Giants. MSG Networks also telecasts over 100 live college events from top national conferences, as well as horse racing, boxing and award-winning original programming. In 2015, MSG Networks received 16 New York Emmy Awards, including 13 for MSG Network and three for MSG+. MSG Network’s 112 Emmys over the past eight years are more than any single network or station in the region during that time.

MIAMI (September 8, 2015) Miami, Florida – World MMA Association (WMMAA) and Battle Brotherhood (BB) this Friday in Miami will launch, World Alliance, an international initiative to support and honor service members and their families. The initiative aims to educate, challenge, and spark action from all sectors of every society – citizens, communities, businesses, nonprofits, philanthropic organizations, and government – to ensure military families have the support they have earned.

World Alliance is spearheaded by WMMAA vice president Tomas Yu, who also is WMMAA Pan-American president, and BB president Iskander Galiev, who have been leaders in supporting international combat military families and advocating for their priorities. World Alliance will address the unique challenges and needs of combat military families. Building on this groundwork, the initiative will focus on key priority areas like employment, education, and wellness, while engaging in a comprehensive effort to raise awareness about the service, sacrifice, and needs of combat military families.

Both organizations recognize and serve all combat military families who, like their loved ones in uniform, serve and sacrifice so much so that we can live in freedom and security,” Yu said. “This is a challenge to every segment of every society not to simply say thank you but to mobilize, take action and make a real commitment to support military families.”

“There are so many ways that every society member can lend a hand and make a difference,” Galiev explained. “I have met individuals and groups across continents who are supporting troops and their families and showing all citizens that there are countless ways to help -some large and many small. But all important. And I can tell you from personal experience, all is appreciated. That is why we are here today and why the WMMAA and Battle Brotherhood are trying to rally communities to join us.”

Strengthening the quality of life military families, veterans, and survivors of the fallen and address some of the issues, like the financial challenges that confront military families by working with the business community to make it easier for veterans and their spouses to build a career.

“We’re here today because these Heroes in uniform have never served alone. NOT yesterday, NOT today and NOT tomorrow,” Yu added. “Behind every uniform stands a wife or husband; a mother, a father; a son or daughter; a sister or brother. These families – these remarkable families – are the force behind the force.”

“I have always said we have lots of obligations as nations but only one truly sacred moral obligation to this brotherhood: to prepare and protect those we send into harm’s way, and to give them every bit of care they, and their families, need when they return,” Galiev noted.

World Alliance has made battle brotherhood and military families a priority across the world, but the alliance recognizes that this can’t be the work of one government alone. Our alliance will reach out broadly to include commitments and efforts from outside international governments across many different sectors. As an initial step, World Alliance is working with leading employers, non-profits and media companies to kick off World Alliance with meaningful commitments to address military family’s unique needs in employment, education, wellness and public awareness.

Commitments also include public awareness activities to ensure that the world knows more about the unique challenges and needs of military families and their strength, resilience and service. We are developing an initiative enabling people to honor military families by making pledges of service. As part of the initiative, www.BattleBrotherhood.com will provide ways for all to step up and show their gratitude to service members and their families worldwide. Visitors can send messages of thanks, find opportunities to get involved and share stories of service. The website will highlight government support and the outstanding citizens, communities, and businesses that are serving international military families.

The official World Alliance launch will be held this Friday (Sept.11) with a gala celebration at Newport Beach Resort in Miami, Florida. Doors open at 8:00 p.m. ET. For additional call (305) 305-0123 or visit www.battlebrotherhood.com.

Information

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

www.battlebrotherhood.com
www.facebook.com/boewoebratstwo
Twitter @Officer_on_Duty
www.youtube.com/user/BattleBrotherhood
ABOUT WMMAA: Its goal is to be the official world governing body for Mixed Martial Arts. A non-profit organization founded in 2012, WMMAA is on a mission to develop a standardized and regulated organization, including competition, training, officiating, testing and growth when necessary. More than 40 countries have been granted WMMAA membership.

BROOKLYN (September 8, 2015) – Former world champion Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, Australian middleweight Michael Zerafa, 2012 U.S. Olympian “Sir” Marcus Browne and Staten Island’s Gary Stark Jr. took part in a media workout at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn Tuesday before their respective showdowns on Saturday, September 12 at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

Quillin and Zerafa face-off in a 12-round middleweight showdown that headlines Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC with televised coverage beginning at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT with a super welterweight world title clash between Cornelius “K-9” Bundrage and Jermall Charlo. Browne will take on former world champion Gabriel Campillo in a 10-round light heavyweight affair that may appear on the NBC portion of the broadcast, while Stark Jr. takes on Anthony Napunyi in six-rounds of super featherweight action.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, are
priced at $150, $85 and $45, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.comand www.foxwoods.com or by visiting the Foxwoods’ Box Office. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

Here is what the fighters had to say Tuesday:

PETER QUILLIN

“I was just telling Zerafa when we faced-off that I’ve been in his shoes before and I know how it feels. No disrespect. He doesn’t have to tell me that he’s got nothing to lose, I know that. I’m worried about looking good in this fight and doing what I’ve been working on in the gym.

“I know he’s beaten all the best in Australia, but I’ve beaten the best all over the world. He’s not going to be in his backyard and have that comfort he’s used to.

“We’re at a point now where I need to showcase my talent at this level. The exposure on NBC is great. We can be seen by so many people and build something that will last for years to come.

“Not everyone knows I was raised all my life in Grand Rapids, Michigan just like Floyd Mayweather and he was really one of my biggest inspirations. Fighting on the same day as him is the closest I’ll get to fighting on his undercard, which I’ve always wanted to do. I still get to headline my own event on NBC and I hope that people are inspired by how hard Floyd and I have worked to get to where we are.

“I’m excited for the possibility of fighting Daniel Jacobs. He’s been calling for it for a long time and the seats are reversed now, because he’s a champion and I’m not. I’m motivated regardless of the belt, but I want the opportunity to fight one of the best in the world and showcase my talent and show I’m the king of Brooklyn.”

MICHAEL ZERAFA

“It’s been a good experience coming to the U.S. for my first time. It’s a lot of adrenaline and I have as we get closer to the fight and I’m just looking forward to fighting one of the best in the world.

“It’s going to be an exciting fight and I’m going to give it my absolute all. We know it’s going to be a hard fight and our team has trained extremely hard. We have a great game plan and we’re going to give it our best shot.

“I didn’t know too much about Quillin when I accepted the fight but he is one of the best in America so we know that it’s going to be a hard fight and we’re going to make it a war. We’ll leave it all out on the table and the better man will win.

“I feel good at this weight. I’m strong and smarter with less stress on my body. I’m feeling switched on and very confident.

“Losing has made me a better, tougher and stronger fighter. There’s nothing to lose in this fight, I have everything to gain.”

MARCUS BROWNE

“I’m blessed to be in this position and I’m looking forward to getting into this fight and putting on a great show.

“Everything is part of the plan. I’ve just taken it one fight at a time and now we’re here in a great position.

“Training camp has been great. We’ve worked on everything and covered all the corners we need to. The sparring with Charles Foster and Lennox Allen has been great and they’ve gotten me ready for the lefty.

“Campillo is a veteran and he’s going to be there. You just have to find him and get him out. I’m going to use my use, my speed, my strength my power. All of that will get me the victory.

“I’m so grateful for this opportunity and I just want to keep putting on a better performance every time I’m out there.”

GARY STARK JR.

“I feel great, It’s been a very good camp. It’s tougher with the baby at home but it’s all a blessing. I feel like I’m resurrected.

“I fought recently and that first fight back there were some jitters. By the fourth round of that fight I really wanted it again. It’s great to be on a ‘Kid Chocolate’ show. I remember when he first started, he was on some of my shows, throwing chocolates to the crowd. Now look where he is now.

“I’m looking to work my way towards a title shot. My team pushes me very hard. Everybody believes in me and that’s big. Boxing is all confidence. I’ll always have tons of confidence.

“We’ll see the old me back in the ring Saturday afternoon. It’s so great to be back in the ring again.”

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.dbe1.comand www.nbcsports.com/boxing,follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @KidChocolate @K9Boxing, @FutureOfBoxing, @LouDiBella, @FoxwoodsCT and @Swanson_Comm,
become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainmentand www.facebook.com/NBCSports.

Las Vegas (Sept. 8, 2015) – Eight-time world champion Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns has confirmed that he will appear and have a booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the second annual Box Fan Expo that will take place this Saturday. The Boxing Expo will coincide with the Floyd Mayweather vs Andre Berto championship fight, which will take place later that evening and Mexican Independence weekend.

Hearns more famously known as “The Hitman,” became the first boxer in history to win world titles in four divisions. He would also become the first fighter in history to win five world titles in five different divisions. Hearns was named Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year in 1980 and 1984 and is best known for his fights with Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran. He was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012.

Hearns will also have on hand, T-shirts, gloves and signed pictures for fans to purchase and enjoy.

Hearns joins his old rival Duran, Tim Bradley, Zab Judah, James Toney, Sergio Martinez, Shawn Porter, Mia St. John, Terry Norris, Joel Casamayor, Fernando Vargas, Ruslan Provodnikov, Ray Mancini, Jessie Vargas, Mike McCallum, Austin Trout, Kevin Kelley, referee Richard Steele, the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the World Boxing Association (WBA) among early commitments to this year’s Box Fan Expo.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online at: http://www.boxfanexpo.eventbrite.com

This unique fan experience event, which allowed fans to meet and greet boxing legends, past and current champions and other celebrities of the sport, debuted last September. This year the Expo will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and once again, allow fans a chance to collect autographs, take photos and purchase merchandise and memorabilia.

Exhibitors such as boxing gear, apparel, broadcasting media and other brand companies who wish to participate will have a chance to showcase their products to fans and the whole boxing industry.

Last year’s inaugural Box Fan Expo featured some of the most popular fighters and boxing celebrities in recent history. Fans were treated to visits with Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr, Martinez, Amir Khan, Zab Judah, Mikey Garcia,Toney, Riddick Bowe, Leon Spinks Terry Norris, Porter, Chris Byrd, Jesse James Leija ,Lamon Brewster, Ray Mercer, Earnie Shavers, St-John, Erislandy Lara, Quillin, Jean Pascal and Austin Trout. Also appearing were current WBC Champion Deontay Wilder, the charismatic Vinny Pazienza, Paul Williams, noted commentator Al Bernstein and trainer Roger Mayweather of Mayweather Promotions.

The roster of attendees for this year’s Box Fan Expo will be announced throughout the next several weeks leading up to the event.

For anyone in the boxing industry or brand companies who wish to be involved and reserve a booth as an exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Box Fan Expo at:

U.S.A telephone number: (702) 997-1927 or (514) 572-7222

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on the Box Fan Expo is available at: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

View the official promo video of Box Fan Expo here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/video-2/

You can follow Box Fan Expo on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/BoxFanExpo and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (September 8, 2015) – After his explosive Bellator MMA debut, Hisaki Kato (5-1) will return to action on November 20 at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, OK., to main event “Bellator 146” against Melvin Manhoef (29-12-1, 2 NC).

The middleweight contest will serve as the main event of “Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef,” which airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream on Spike.com at 6 p.m. CT.
Tickets for “Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef” go on sale Friday, September 11th at 10 a.m. CT and will be available at the WinStar World Casino and Resort Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster. Ticket prices range from: $75, $55, $45 and doors for the event open at 5:00 p.m. CT local time, with the first contest taking place one hour later.

You can’t make much more of a sudden impact than Kato did against Joe Schilling at “Bellator 139: Kongo vs. Volkov,” knocking out the Glory kickboxing standout via Superman Punch early in the second frame. The victory put Kato on the map in a big way, earning him spots on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top10 countdown and “Knockout of the Year” lists everywhere as well as propelling him to main event status.

Also tied to Schilling is Manhoef, who is returning to the Bellator MMA cage after more than nine-months of inactivity. “No Mercy” has the undeniable ability to knock out any opponent standing in front of him, earning 27 of his 29 professional victories with his unparalleled striking power. The Dutch competitor also has an extensive kickboxing record and has competed for many of the world’s most prominent promotions, which include Strikeforce, K-1 and the infamous Rings in Holland.

About Bellator MMA:
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About Spike:
Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

ORANGE, Calif. (Sept. 8, 2015) – In what is shaping up as one of Thompson Boxing Promotions best shows of the year, NABA Super Bantamweight Champion Danny Roman (16-2-1, 5 KOs) of Los Angeles defends his title for the first time against Erick Ruiz (14-3, 6 KOs) of Oxnard, Calif. in the “Path to Glory” 10-round main event.

“Path to Glory” takes place Friday, Sept. 25, from the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif.

Roman, who recently was elevated to the number fifteenth ranking by the WBA, is the owner of an eight-fight winning streak. He last fought in July against Daniel Noriega – where he won his current title with a landslide points victory.

Prior to his split decision win in August, challenger Ruiz had come up short against top prospects Jessie Magdaleno and Manuel Avila.

“I saw Ruiz’s last fight in August,” said the 25-year-old Roman. “He likes to sit back and counterpunch. I’ve seen guys like him before. We know how to prepare for his style.”

Tickets for “Path to Glory” are priced at $40, $60, & $100 and are available for purchase online at ThompsonBoxing.com, or charge by phone at 714-935-0900.

In the 8-round co-main event, undefeated junior welterweight standout Giovani Santillan (16-0, 9 KOs) puts his unbeaten mark on the line against Ernesto Ortiz (10-2, 7 KOs) of Mexico.

Santillan, a southpaw fighting out of San Diego, turned professional three years ago and is the former NABF Junior Super Lightweight Champion. The 23-year-old will fight for the second time this year.

In the special attraction, featherweight Juan Reyes (12-2-3, 2 KOs) of Riverside, Calif. brings his high octane fighting style to Jose Haro (10-1-1, 6 KOs) of Salt Lake City in a bout scheduled for 8-rounds.

“All three of these fights are worthy of main event status,” said Ken Thompson, president of Thompson Boxing Promotions. “Danny Roman, Giovani Santillan, and Juan Reyes have all headlined our shows in the past. From top-to-bottom, the fans are getting a spectacular show.”

In other action, featherweight Erick Ituarte (11-1-1, 2 KOs) of Santa Ana, Calif. meets Angel Martinez (6-1-1, 2 KOs) of San Antonio in a 6-round fight.

Budding lightweight prospect Cesar Villarraga (8-0, 4 KOs) of Colombia hopes to extend his winning streak against Manuel Mendez (5-1-1, 2 KOs) of Indio, Calif. (6-rounds).

Opening the “Path to Glory” show is heavyweight Dakota Walker (pro debut) of Reseda, Calif. (4-rounds). An opponent for Walker will be announced at a later date.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the first bell rings at 7:45 p.m. The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 N. Vineyard Ave., Ontario, CA 91764 and can be reached at 909-937-0900.

“Path to Glory” is presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Lucas Oil, in association with LATV Networks.

For more information, please visit ThompsonBoxing.com.

For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please check our Facebook Page, find us on Google+ and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @ThompsonBoxing.

Beach Haven, New Jersey (September 8, 2015)–On Saturday, September 26, at Beach Haven Memorial Park (In between the Sea Shell & Engleside Resorts) at Engleside Avenue at the Beach in Beach Haven. New Jersey.

In the main event, Jr. Middleweight Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna will take part in a 6-round bout.

LaManna will be looking for his 2nd straight win as he won a 6-round unanimous decision over Joshua Robertson on August 7 in Atlantic City.

LaManna of Millville, New Jersey has a record of 17-1 with 7 knockouts.

Fighting in the 4-round co-feature will be “Brutal” Brendan Barrett.

Barrett, of Little Egg Harbor, NJ, is a 6-time MMA Heavyweight champion, will be making his 2nd professional boxing appearance.

He is 0-0-1 as he fought a disputed draw with James Rankin on May 8, 2009 in Philadelphia.

Also seeing action in a 6-round bouts will be Super Middleweight Ian Green (6-0, 4 KO’s) of Paterson, NJ; Welterweight Keenan Smith (8-0, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia, PA; Jr. Lightweight O’Shanique Foster (7-0, 4 KO’s) of Orange, Texas

In 4-round Bouts: Welterweight Arturo Trujillo (6-0, 3 KO’s) of Easton, PA will fight an opponent to be named.

Jr. Lightweight Bienvenido Diaz (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Prospect Park, NJ will face Joshua Arocho (3-10-4, 2 KO’s) of Vineland, NJ in a four round bout.

Smith, Diaz, Foster and Trujillo are promoted by GH3 Promotions.

The full card with more bouts will be announced shortly.

H.I.T.M Promotions will present Boxing at the Beach. The show will have 8 professional boxing matches that will take place approximately one block from the beach.

The fights begin at 5:30 PM with the doors opening at 4:30 PM with tickets ranging from $125 (rows 1 & 2), $100 (rows 3 and 4). $75 (rows 5-7) and $50 for General Admission and be purchased by clicking www.hitmpromotions.com.

The entire card will be announced shortly.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (September 8, 2015) – “Irish” Brennan Ward (11-3) will compete for the third time in 2015 when he meets Dennis “The Menace” Olson (14-9) in a welterweight contest at “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which emanates from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on October 23.

The bout will take place during the main card of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which will be televised live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET.

The main event of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” features an exciting rematch for the bantamweight title fight between champion Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) and his former training partner Eduardo Dantas (17-4). In the co-feature, Brandon “Bull” Halsey (9-0) will look to regain the vacant Bellator MMA Middleweight Title when he takes on Rafael Carvalho (11-1).

Tickets for “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which start at just $25, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the Mohegan Sun Arena box office. Doors for the event open at 6:00 p.m. ET local time, and the first contest takes place shortly after.

Ward is fresh off an ESPN Top-10 first-round knockout of Roger Carroll at “Bellator 140: Lima vs. Koreshkov,” his second consecutive victory. “Irish” has competed in his home state of Connecticut on three-straight occasions, but the crowd may be torn as he faces Olson, who also calls the New England area his home.

Olson fought valiantly against Paul Daley this past July, but ultimately was defeated in his third appearance under the Bellator MMA banner. “The Menace” has finished 10 of his 14 wins as a professional and will also be competing for the third time in 2015.

Bellator 144: “Galvao vs. Dantas 2” Updated Card

Main Card: (Spike – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT)
Bellator Bantamweight Championship Fight: Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) vs. Eduardo Dantas (17-4)
Bellator Middleweight Championship Fight: Brandon Halsey (9-0) vs. Rafael Carvalho (11-1)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Brennan Ward (11-3) vs. Dennis Olson (14-9)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Michael Page (8-0) vs. TBA

About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About Spike:
Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

LONDON (8 Sept) – Superstar Floyd Mayweather is adamant that his fight with Andre Berto this weekend will be his last.

The pound-for-pound king is set to hang up the gloves after his 49th fight, live and exclusive on BoxNation, admitting that he wants to get out of the sport while he has all his faculties intact.

“Number 49 is my last fight,” said Mayweather. “No one is in my shoes. My health is more important. If you stick around anything too long, anything can happen. I’m not really worried about losing, but I want to have a sharp mind. You can make a lot of money, but you still want to be able to talk, walk, and have a sharp mind.”

Some have doubted 38-year-old Mayweather’s claim that he will call it a day following his matchup with the spirited Berto, especially given the fact if he wins the unbeaten ace would be just one fight short of beating heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record.

But the Grand Rapids born fighter believes he sealed his legacy long ago, with his record-breaking victory over Filipino hotshot Manny Pacquiao crowning him ‘The Best Ever’.

“I’m not Nostradamus but if you go look at an old interview, I talked about Pacquiao, what they were going to say, what they were going to do and how that fight was going to go,” said Mayweather.

“Everybody that said throughout the years that I was a coward, I was scared, he couldn’t beat Pacquiao. They gave him this. They gave him so many accolades and he’s an all-time great.

“But all these people had to eat their words. So if he’s an all-time great, then what does that make me? If they’re saying he’s the fighter of the century, what does that make me?

“So when they do rate me and when my fight is over, the only thing I can do is believe in myself and believe in my skills. I’m going to be ‘The Best Ever’ till the day I die,” he said.

Two-time world champion Berto goes into the fight as an underdog but despite that Mayweather is well aware that he cannot underestimate the Haitian hard-hitter.

“He feels like he has nothing to lose, and I think that when you’ve got a guy that’s put in that situation, it makes him work that much harder because he’s got a chance to be one of the top guys in the sport when I’m through,” Mayweather said.

“It’s like they say in football, any given Sunday. I say any given Saturday, anything can happen. So I’m prepared. I’m prepared mentally and physically. I’m in top shape. I’m ready. I’m pretty sure he’s in top shape and he’s ready. But I’m not going to overlook him.

“I want to win just like he wants to win. I’m working out – I’m pushing myself every day. As I get older I’m working harder. Actually, I think this camp I sparred a lot more, I pushed myself a lot more. I think I worked harder this fight than I did for the Pacquiao fight,” he said.

Britain’s George Groves is also in action on the night when he challenges WBC champion Badou Jack for the super-middleweight world title.

Mayweather v Berto / Groves v Jack is live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 525 and TalkTalk 415) this Saturday night at 1am. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-
About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, U.S.A. – On Saturday night, September 12, 2015, super featherweight professional boxer, Gervonta “Tank” Davis (Baltimore, Maryland/11-0-0, 10 KOs) will face Recky “The Terror” Dulay (Philippines/8-1-0, 5 KOs) in an 8 round fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the main event, Floyd “Money” Mayweather (Las Vegas, Nevada/48-0-0, 26 KOs) will face Andre Berto (Winter Haven, Florida/30-3-0, 23 KOs) in a 12 round championship fight for Mayweather’s WBA and WBC Welterweight titles. Mayweather-Berto is being billed as the last professional fight for Floyd Mayweather. Davis’ fight on September 12 is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, and will take place on the non-televised portion of the Showtime PPV card.

In his previous fight on May 22, Davis needed just one minute and fifteen seconds to defeat Alberto “Ironman” Mora (Mexico/5-4-0, 1 KO) by TKO at the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The fight was scheduled for eight rounds, but Davis landed an uppercut just a few seconds into the fight that floored his opponent. Mora beat the count, but still appeared to be hurt. Davis then backed him up with a body shot, and followed up with a combination that knocked out Mora’s mouthpiece. The referee waived the fight off at 1:15 of Round 1.
Gervonta Davis talked about his upcoming fight. He said, “September 12 is the first time I’ll be fighting as a pro in Las Vegas. When I was growing up, I always dreamed that one day I would fight on Floyd Mayweather’s undercard, and now it’s happening. For this fight, my team and I agreed it was time to step up the competition, so that I will be ready when it’s time to fight for a world title. I’ve seen that Dulay is a good fighter, but he hasn’t faced someone like me before. September 12 is one of the biggest boxing weekends of the year. Mexican boxing fans are some of the best, and many of them will be in Las Vegas for Mexican Independence Weekend. I want to put on a great show for them, and show that I am exciting. They know boxing and I want their support. For the people who have been following and supporting me, you already know that I will make sure you get your money’s worth on September 12. Thank you Floyd Mayweather and everyone at Mayweather Promotions for what they have done for me, including allowing me to fight on the biggest card in boxing. Thank you to my team, Al Haymon, Yekim Customs, Nike Boxing, Athlete Performance Solutions, Ethika, Baltimore Parks and Recreation, and Upton Boxing Center. To my city of Baltimore, you know I’m going to keep making you proud. Keep supporting me, and I’ll fight for you.”
Davis’ longtime boxing coach, Calvin Ford (Upton Boxing Center), said, “Gervonta “Tank” Davis has advanced himself to the biggest stage in boxing, a fight on Floyd Mayweather’s card. This is great for the city of Baltimore, Upton Boxing Center, and Baltimore City’s Department of Recreation and Parks. I’ve personally witnessed Floyd Mayweather in a mentorship role for Tank. Floyd is passing on lots of knowledge to him, both in and out of the ring. That will help him become one of the biggest stars in boxing. This fight means a lot to me personally. I’ve had opportunities to travel to Las Vegas before, but I never went, because I wanted to go with one of my fighters. For this fight, we began training camp in Baltimore, and we are finishing it up in Las Vegas. Tank has a tough opponent this time in Recky Dulay. As always, we have to come into this fight with a great game plan. Dulay has experience and can box well. He is a slightly taller fighter than Tank, has very good movement in the ring, and he’s not easy to hit. This card has a lot of historical significance as far as the history of boxing goes, because this is Mayweather’s last fight, and we really appreciate him allowing our team to be a part of it. This is just the beginning of great things to come for Team Davis. Let the truth be told.”
Floyd Mayweather said, “Gervonta Davis is an unbelievable young fighter. Twenty years old. He’s one of the guys that are the future of boxing. You definitely don’t want to miss his fight on September 12. He will put on a show.”
Tickets to Gervonta “Tank” Davis’ fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 12 in Las Vegas, promoted by Mayweather Promotions, are priced at $1500, $1000, $750, $500, $300, and $150, and are on sale now. Tickets are limited to eight per household for all ticket prices, except the $150 category, which is limited to four per household. To charge by phone, or with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster (800) 745 3000. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Follow Gervonta Davis on Instagram: @GervontaDavis or http://instagram.com/gervontadavis
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Johannesburg, September 7 – South Africa’s Tommy “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen faces his toughest test at Salle des Etoiles, Sporting Monte Carlo on November 7, challenging Germany’s Jürgen Braehmer for the latter’s WBA light-heavyweight title.

The fight will top the “Night of Champions” tournament card in Monaco which features boxers from around the world – China, Venezuela, Kazakhstan, Russia, Japan, France, South Africa, Germany and the United Kingdom – being represented

South Africa’s boxing powerhouse Golden Gloves will promote the event.

Braehmer (47-2, 35 KOs) is fresh off a weekend victory over Konni Konrad, his fifth successful defence since claiming the title against Marcus Oliveira in 2013.

A former WBO champion, Braehmer is unbeaten in seven years, having beaten a host of top contenders put before him.

Braehmer (like Oosthuizen, a southpaw) has only fought once outside Germany and will be leaving his safe confines to face one of the division’s toughest, and undoubtedly most talented, contenders.
Oosthuizen (25-0-2, 14 KOs), possessing great skills, is an unbeaten fighter having held both IBO super-middleweight and light-heavyweight titles. He now has the opportunity of finally establishing himself as a leading light in the light-heavyweight division.
“I’m thrilled, this is a big opportunity to display my skills and claim the prized WBA title. I’ve been waiting for a long time and this could lead to unification fights and my dream to become the first South African to make a division his own,” he said from his hometown of Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.
“I’ve seen Braehmer. His handspeed is critical; I’m going to have to bring my A-game. He’s similar to me with counter-punching and angles, but my style is adjustable and I can adapt. I’ll have a response to whatever he brings.
“I like fighting overseas. It motivates me more. I want to do South Africa proud. I’ve been training hard already . . . Braehmer is definitely not training as hard. After him, I want to go after the big boys – Sergey Kovalev and the rest. I want to fight them all.”
Braehmer, speaking in the aftermath of a fresh victory, was similarly confident.
“I’m very happy to get the opportunity to come to Monaco and defend my title at such a special venue. This is a chance for me to let the world know that Jürgen Braehmer is ready for any challenge. Oosthuizen is a quality opponent but he has never fought anyone like me. I’m pleased to hear that he is training hard as hopefully we will be able to deliver the fans in Monaco and those watching on television a thrilling encounter on November 7. But no matter how hard he trains, it will not be enough to take my title from me.’’
Kalle Sauerland, promoter of Braehmer, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Rodeney Berman’s Golden Gloves to deliver fans a hotly anticipated world championship fight between Jürgen Braehmer and Tommy Oosthuizen. Jürgen has never shied away from a challenge and when the opportunity came for him to defend his title in Monaco he didn’t have to give it a second thought. This is a chance for him to further his legacy and prove once again why he belongs at the top of the light-heavyweight division.’’
On the undercard brimful of championship fights, Yonfrez Parejo (16-1-1, 7 KOs) of Venezuela, the WBA’s number one-ranked bantamweight, defends his Interim belt against Kazakhstan’s Zhanat Zhakiyanov (25-1, 18 KOs) , who is trained by the famed Ricky Hatton, and is accustomed to fighting on the road, having fought in China, the United Kingdom, Australia, Bulgaria, Switzerland and Thailand. He is rated second by the WBA.
Zhakiyanov was something of an unknown quantity until he scored a stunning one-punch knockout of France’s Karim Guerfi in Sheffield last April, which earned him the European bantamweight title.
The WBA Intercontinental welterweight crown will also be up for grabs when David Avanesyan (a Russian-based Armenian) comes up against Charlie Navarro (Venezuela).
Avanesyan (20-1-1, 10 KOs) earned rave reviews after sparring with Chris Eubank jr, and has more than held his own in sparring sessions against Carl Froch, George Groves and James DeGale. In Navarro, he meets a wily veteran who has more than held his own against the best in the division.
Navarro (25-7, 20 KOs) is a wily veteran who fought Vyacheslav Senchenko for the WBA title in 2010.
UK interest will focus on popular Adam Etches (19-1, 16 KOs) against Japan’s Yosuke Kirima (15-0, 9 KOs) for the PABA Interim middleweight title.
Etches won the IBF Youth super-middleweight title in 2013 and is expected to bring his loyal army of fans to Monaco
Rounding out the tournament is a fight for the WBC Silver super-bantamweight title between French champion Amor Beladhj Ali (14-3-1, 2 KOs) and Qiu Xiao Jun (17-2, 7 KOs) of China.