Timothy Bradley 146.4 – Jessie Vargas 146.4
Oscar Valdez 127.4 – Ruben Tamayo 129

LOS ANGELES (June 26) – Former Interim WBA Super Lightweight World Champion Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera will participate in the ceremonial coin toss at the first semi-final game of the 2015 SocioMX Cup between two of the most well-known Mexican soccer teams Cruz Azul F.C. and Pumas UNAM on Tuesday, June 30 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, ahead of his fight on July 11 against “Hammerin'” Hank Lundy at The Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. The ceremonial coin toss will be featured at the start of the broadcast of the semi-match through Socio MX’s cup national partner, Estrella TV and international partner ESPN.

The SocioMX Cup is promoted by Sports Marketing Monterrey and presented by Coors Light. Tickets for the event start at $25 available at Ticketmaster.com and the L.A. Coliseum box office. The match starts at 7:30 p.m. PT. The winners of the semi-final matches will advance to the Final of the SocioMX Cup in Dallas, TX at the Cotton Bowl on July 5. For more information please visit www.socio.mx.

Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera is set to face Philadelphia’s “Hammerin'” Hank Lundy (25-4-1, 12 KOs) in a 10-round super lightweight bout for the vacant NABF Super Lightweight Championship live on HBO Latino ® beginning at 11:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT).

Tickets priced at $10, $25, $50 and $100, plus applicable taxes and service charges, and are available for purchase at www.lacoliseum.com, www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations and by calling 800-745-3000.

Herrera vs. Lundy is a 10-round super lightweight bout for the vacant NABF title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with CES Boxing and sponsored by Corona Extra and Mexico, Live It To Believe It! Doors open at 4:00 pm PT and the first bell rings at 4:15 p.m. PT. The HBO Latino Boxing telecast begins at 11:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT).

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.cesboxing.com, and www.lacoliseum.com on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @CESBoxing, @HBOLatino, @elmaestro1, @hammerinhank30, @theartistperez, @sharibogere, @josephdiazjr, @jay_quigley, @strikerdelgado, @nick_arce, and @angelbojado and become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, CES Facebook Page, or www.facebook.com/hbolatino, and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @CESBoxing,@mauricioherrera359, and @hammerin_hank_lundy, @michaelperezofficial, @bogereshrif, @jospehdiazjr, @jayquigley1, @elchimpa, @strikerdelgado90, @realnickarce, and @teambojado.

TORONTO (June 26, 2015) — Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents another live installment of Golden Boy Promotions’ popular Golden Boy Live! series tonight, Friday, June 26 at 10 p.m. ET, as top local prospects are set to hit the Salinas Storm House in Salinas Calif., with Fairfield standout Alan Sanchez battling Canadian welterweight titlist Steve Claggett for the vacant IBA Americas welterweight title. Fight Network’s live broadcast of Golden Boy Live! will air exclusively in Canada.

Immediately following the boxing telecast, Fight Network presents a global broadcast of Hard Knocks Fighting 44 via one-hour tape delay from Calgary, Alberta, Canada’s Century Casino. Fight Network’s broadcast of Hard Knocks Fighting 44 will air on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in over 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

In the co-main event of Golden Boy Live! topped by Sanchez vs. Claggett, Salinas native Paul “El Gallo Negro” Mendez (18-2, 9 KOs) will take on Mexican David “The Destroyer” Lopez (41-15-1, 25 KOs) in a 10-round super middleweight bout, plus Andy “The Shark” Vences (11-0, 7 KOs) of San Jose, Calif., will face Santiago “El Lobito” Guevara (8-1, 3 KOs) of Los Angeles, Calif.

Meanwhile, Hard Knocks Fighting 44 features a stacked line-up of Canadian mixed martial arts talent, headlined by UFC veteran Nick Ring (14-3) taking on former Strikeforce standout Cory Devela (14-6). In other featured bouts, one-time UFC “Fight of the Night” winner Rodney Wallace (22-10-1) looks to return to the win column opposite fellow big show veteran Kalib Starnes (16-9-1), Gabriel Solorio (11-10) battles Rolando Cespedes (5-2) in featherweight action, plus undefeated Miles Anstead (6-0) takes on Brandt Dewsbery (13-3-1) and Joel Powell (8-5) meets Derek Boyle (13-7) in a pair of welterweight clashes.

The exciting doubleheader kicks off on Friday, June 26 at 10 p.m. ET.

For a full listing of Fight Network’s broadcast schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com, follow us on Twitter @fightnet, become a fan on Facebook and visit us on Instagram @fightnet.

The week of Saturday, August 8, at the Radisson Montevideo Victoria Plaza Hotel in Montevideo, Uruguay, promoter Sampson Lewkowicz will stage “Las Vegas en el Radisson,” a historic first for boxing, combining a world-class boxing show that Saturday night with a four-day international poker tournament.

In the boxing show’s main event, former women’s world champion and hometown hero Cecilia “La Reina” Comunales of Paysandu, Uruguay (12-1, 8 KOs), will move up in weight for the first time to go 10 rounds with Lina Milagros Tejada (10-2, 8 KOs) of the Dominican Republic for the WBC Women’s Super Lightweight International Championship.

The night’s main supporting bout is a very special “All Panama City” grudge match four years in the making, as super bantamweight Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion (18-7-1, 8 KOs) of Panama City, Panama, will challenge comebacking former multiple world champion Roberto “La Arana” Vasquez (32-6-2, 22 KOs), also of Panama City.

And in a very special third featured bout, Braulio “El Chavo” Rodriguez (17-1, 16 KOs) of La Romana, Dominican Republic, will take on Entre Ríos, Argentina’s Marcos “Maquinita” Martinez (17-2, 5 KOs) in a 10-rounder for the WBC Latino Super Featherweight Championship.

Three more exciting undercard bouts will also be held, one of which will feature Panamanian welterweight contender Azael “Turbo” Cosio (19-3-2, 16 KOs). The other match-ups and Cosio’s opponent are TBA.

The poker side of this unique doubleheader of casino sports will begin on Thursday, August 6, and is being organized by the CAM Poker Organization. On Saturday night, the poker will end at 7 pm and the boxing show will begin at 9 pm. The finals of the poker tournament will be held on Sunday.

In-person enrollees in the poker tournament will receive a complimentary dinner and premium ticket to the boxing. Satellite enrollees are also welcome. Visit www.full10poker.net, or www.aconcaguapoker.com for more information.

The boxing show is being broadcast by VTV Uruguay, TyC from Argentina (including locations in the United States) and TV Canal 4 in Panama.

ABOUT SAMPSON BOXING

After a very successful run as a matchmaker and adviser, Sampson Lewkowicz switched over to the promotional side of professional boxing in January 2008.

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

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

Hincley, MN- Cruiserweights Phil Williams and Al Sands are slated to meet in Minnesota’s most anticipated boxing event of the year on August 28th at Grand Casino Hinckley.

Both Williams (14-7-2) and Sands (15-1) are nationally ranked in the cruiserweight division, and boxing fans in the upper Midwest have been calling for the matchup for close to two years ????? ???? ?? ????? 10000. A deal was finalized for the boxers to meet at Grand Casino Hinckley, which should draw a large contingent for both fighters, as Sands hails from Duluth, and Williams represents Minneapolis.
“It’s a fight I’ve been wanting for a while now. I’ve been calling him out, and now we’re finally going to make it happen.” Said Williams.
Former WBU super middleweight champion Williams made his cruiserweight return last August when he notched a highlight reel knockout of Galen Brown. His only loss in the division came in December when he was stopped by the number one ranked prospect in the country Jordan Shimmel in Chicago.
“A matchup with Sands was at the forefront of our priority list when we moved Phil up to cruiserweight. Records aside, I think Phil’s experience and power against Al’s size and athleticism should make for a matchup that excites the fans.” Said Williams’ advisor Brett Mauren.
Sands has established a loyal fan base in the Twin Ports area since debuting in 2010, and picked up the state’s cruiserweight title in 2013, in addition to an NABA cruiserweight title. His 81% knockout rate has propelled him to a #8 ranking nationally by Boxrec.com
The fight is presented by Cory Rapacz and Grand Friday Night Fights. Tickets go on sale on July 3rd at 10am at grandcasinomn.com, and are priced 35$ general admission, 50$ reserved, 100$ ringside, and 600$ ringside table.

TORONTO (June 26, 2015) — Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents the third live installment of Big Knockout Boxing this Saturday, June 27 at 10 p.m. ET immediately following a live Canadian broadcast of the UFC Fight Night™: Machida vs. Romero prelims at 8 p.m. ET from Hollywood, Florida.

Fight Network’s live broadcast of BKB 3 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas will air nationwide in Canada and globally in over 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

The BKB heavyweight title is up for grabs in the main event as unbeaten Julian Pollard (6-0) faces Rodney Hernandez (7-2-1), a late replacement for combat sports superstar Tyrone Spong.

The exciting card also features a junior middleweight bout pitting hardened veteran Jesus Soto Karass (28-10-3) against Adrian Granados (13-4-2), a middleweight clash between Shane Mosley Jr. (4-1) and Jason Kelly (3-0), a junior middleweight tilt between Janks Trotter (9-1-1) and Ed Paredes (35-5-1), plus Kyrgyzstan native Urmat Ryskeldiev (10-3-1) throws down with Florida native Marcus Willis (14-4-2) at junior middleweight.

BKB is a revolutionary concept in the sweet science with fighters competing inside a pit with a 17-foot diameter. With no ropes and no corners, there’s no choice but to engage, and with a fighting surface half the size of a traditional boxing ring, there’s nowhere to hide. Strap in for two-minute rounds of pure intensity, plus HitChip sensors in the fighters’ gloves measure the speed and force of every punch they throw, so you can see the impact of every hook, jab and haymaker.

BKB 3 kicks off at 10 p.m. ET this Saturday, June 27.

For a full listing of Fight Network’s broadcast schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com, follow us on Twitter @fightnet, become a fan on Facebook and visit us on Instagram @fightnet.

For More Information Contact:

Bethlehem, PA (June 26 2015)–Saturday night at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, Undefeated Middleweight Kyrone “Shut it Down” Davis takes on the best opponent of his fledgling career when he takes on Jose Alberto Leal in a bout scheduled for 10-rounds.

The bout will be part of a 10 bout card promoted by King’s Promotions.

Davis of Wilmington, Delaware has a record of 7-0 with three knockouts is coming off a 6-round unanimous decision over 21 fight veteran Carlos Garcia on April 25 in Chester, PA.

The 20 year-old Davis ready for his third bout of 2015.

Leal, 32 years-old of Guadalajara, Mexico has a record of 9-7-1 with four knockouts. Leal has wins over Christopher Degollado (12-1) & Marco Alberto Martinez (5-0-2). Leal has lost two straight which includes his bout when he was stopped by Oscar Molina (10-0) on March 13 in Ontario, California.

“Everything has been great. I don’t know much about Leal but I am always ready for anybody who gets in with me,”said Davis.

After a terrific amateur career that saw Davis win 91 of 100 fights, he is now settling in to becoming a professional fighter.

“I am becoming more confident. I am feeling like myself in there and I am starting to come around. I am at the point where I am not worrying about who I am fighting. No style scares me.”

Going into his 8th bout, Davis continued on the growing process of being a professional.

“I am growing up. I see things different. I am more mature as a person and as a fighter. I believe in myself and believing in yourself goes along way. Saturday I expect to put on a show and everybody will see what “Shut It Down” is all about.

TONIGHT!! the weigh in will take place at 5:30 PM in the Berks meeting room.

On Saturday night, King’s Boxing will present night of boxing at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem..

In the main event, undefeated Welterweight Jamal James (16-0, 9 KO’s) of Minneapolis, MN will take on Mike Balasi (10-6, 7 KO’s) of Honolulu, HA in a bout scheduled for 8-rounds.

In 6-round Bouts:

Alex Martin (8-0, 5 KO’s) of Harvey, Illinois will take on Pavel Miranda (19-10-1, 9 KO’s) of Tijuana, Mexico in a Welterweight bout.

Caleb Plant (7-0, 6 KO’s) of Ashland, TN will fight Oscar Rojas (8-1, 3 KO’s) of Laredo, Texas in a Super Middleweight bout.

Christian Molina (4-0, 3 KO’s) of Allentown, PA will take on Justin Johnson (6-8) of Pittsburgh, PA in a Jr. Welterweight bout.

Kyrone Davis (7-0, 3 KO’s) of Wilmington, DE will take on Jose Alberto Leal (9-7-1, 4 KO’s) of Guadalajara, Mexico Middleweight bout..

In 4-round Bouts:

Robert Ramos (1-3-1, 1 KO) of Allentown, PA will fight Ismael Serrano (2-1) of Bethlehem, PA in a Lightweight bout.

Desmond Moore of Bethlehem, PA will fight Mike Heffilfinger of Pennsylvania in a battle of Featherweight pro debuter’s.

Carlos Gongora (1-0, 1 KO) of Brooklyn, NY will box Alvaro Enriquez (12-14-2, 4 KO’s) of Tlaxcala, Mexico in a Light Heavyweight affair.

Chris Colbert (1-0, 1 KO) of Brooklyn, NY will fight Antwan Robertson (9-14-1, 6 KO’s) of Minneapolis, MN in a Super Bantamweight bout.

Antonio DuBose (7-0, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia will fight Jesus Lule (7-12-1, 1 KO) of Fort Myers, FL in a Featherweight bout.

Tickets are priced at $100, $75 and $50 and can purchased at ticketmaster and www.ticketmaster.com

The 1st bout will start at 7:00 PM with the doors opening at 6 PM.

The show will be streamed live on www.gfl.tv

LOS ANGELES (June 26) – Golden Boy Promotions and Team Sauerland are excited to announce that they have agreed a groundbreaking co-promotional deal for Olympic medalist and undefeated middleweight Anthony Ogogo.

The agreement will see the promoters working closely together on Ogogo’s development whilst ensuring he has the perfect platform to continue his rise as one of the world’s most exciting prospects in Britain, across Europe as well as in the United States and worldwide.

Having established himself as one of Britain’s most distinguished amateurs, where he won the Junior Olympics and Junior World Championships, Ogogo then went on to win a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games before winning bronze at the 2012 Olympic Games.

The Lowestoft fighter produced one of the best performances in Olympic history by beating the then unbeaten, World No. 1 Ievgen Khytrov on his way to medaling at the London games.

Ogogo has made a promising start to his professional career so far (7-0) which also seen him fight on Floyd Mayweather’s undercard in Las Vegas in May 2014. Having been out of the ring for 11 months recovering from a long standing Achilles issue, and will now return to the ring on Saturday July 18 in Berlin – his first fight under his new dual promoters.

On the announcement, Ogogo said: “I am incredibly excited by this new partnership and cannot wait to get back in the ring. I feel privileged to have two of best promoters in World boxing backing me and want to thank them both for helping get to this point. The support Golden Boy have shown me since I signed with them has been amazing and I now can’t wait to repay the faith they’ve shown me in the ring. Kalle and Nisse Sauerland are two of the best promoters in the sport and their enthusiasm to help get me to the very top in the sport has been overwhelming. I now feel fitter than I’ve ever felt and am ready to send a wakeup call to the entire middleweight division.”

On the announcement, Oscar de la Hoya said “Anthony Ogogo is an exciting, dynamic middleweight who fits right in with the Golden Boy mantra of delivering the best fights for the fans. The sky is the limit for Anthony and we look forward to partnering with Team Sauerland to help fans across the globe witness the massive talent that this Olympic medalist brings to the table.”

A statement from the Sauerland brothers read, “We watched Anthony win his bronze medal at the Olympics and have followed his career develop ever since. He is one of the most talented middleweights in the world and we look forward to teaming up with one of the biggest promoters stateside Golden Boy Promotions to ensure that Anthony fulfils his massive potential. The middleweight division is hotting up, especially in the UK, and we firmly believe the name on peoples lips in 2016 will be Anthony Ogogo and that he will go on to be crowned a World Champion”

LONDON (26 June) – British heavyweight David Price’s clash for the vacant European title against Erkan Teper on July 17 will be shown live and exclusive on BoxNation.

The Merseyside hitman will travel to Ludwigsburg, Germany as he looks to overcome the undefeated Teper, who has won all 14 of his bouts, with nine coming by way of knockout.

31-year-old Price is aiming to re-establish himself as one of the leading names in what has historically been boxing’s glamour division after suffering two back-to-back defeats against American Tony Thompson in 2013.

Price has enjoyed four wins since then, including a spectacular sixth-round stoppage of Irineu Beato Costa Junior in his last fight, but Teper represents a step up in class, with victory set to put him back at the top of the heavyweight mix.

The former British and Commonwealth champion was long mooted as one of Britain’s brightest prospects, with 16 knockouts from 19 wins showing he has the power to dispense of anyone he shares the ring with, including 33-year-old Teper.

“This is an absolutely massive fight for me,” said Price. “To win the European title, and to become the first heavyweight from Liverpool to do it, would mean the world to me. It’s something no one could ever take away from me and would confirm my credentials as a world title contender.

“I’ve watched all of Teper’s fights and he is the perfect opponent for me. I’m 100% confident I will win. He is exactly the type of fighter I’ve been looking to fight, so to do it with the European title on the line is an added bonus.

“I’ll tell you now; he has never been in the ring with anyone who can punch like me, who can move like me and with my ability. I’m not messing around anymore. I’m coming with bad intentions.”

BoxNation is the home of the heavyweights having recently screened Wladimir Klitschko’s win over Bryant Jennings, Alexander Povetkin’s first round annihilation of Mike Perez as well as regularly airing British stars Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora’s big-time bouts.

To subscribe to BoxNation (Sky437/490HD, Virgin 525, TalkTalk 415) for just £12 a month visit boxnation.com.

-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.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

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.

Glassboro, N.J. (Friday, June 26, 2015) – Derrick “Take it to the Bank” Webster (19-0, 10 KOs) will be stepping up for the biggest fight of his career thus far on Friday, July 17th, facing unbeaten Russian Arif Magomedov (15-0, 9 KOs) in the co-feature bout of a ShoBox telecast. The fight, which will be taking place at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem (Pennsylvania), also has negotiations underway to determine which belts will be on the line for the victor.

“I think this is the first fight where I have been truly doing my homework on my opponent,” Webster stated. “I have been really focused on preparation for this fight and doing everything the appropriate way. I’m treating this fight like it’s a world championship fight. I know what comes after this, and I know that I deserve it. I don’t want to miss any of God’s blessings that He has in store for me. Right now, we’re training twice a day, beginning with our first workout at 5:00 AM. This camp is already something that I have never known. My trainer, Denny Brown, is pushing me to the max. I believe in everything he says, so I am doing everything that I am told to do. If Denny wants me there at three o’clock in the morning, then I am going to be there at three o’clock in the morning.”

Webster and his trainer have been together throughout his entire professional career, and the two have an unbreakable bond that translates to the ring. Webster has always done what has been asked of him by Brown, which is the main reason that the duo has been so successful together.

“Denny has a whole new focus right now,” Webster continued. “He doesn’t allow anyone to bother me in the gym, and he doesn’t want to be bothered himself. When we’re not in the gym together, we’re on the phone talking about the fight. He stays on top of me even when it comes to what I’m eating and drinking. He knows that I’m not a clubber or anything like that, so he knows he doesn’t have to worry about any kind of street life with me. He’s been doing everything to keep me on track so I can remain mentally prepared for this fight.”

In Magomedov, Webster is facing another representative from the recent wave of Russians who have moved their home base to the United States. Magomedov is currently ranked #2 in the WBA, #8 in the WBC and #6 in the WBO. With those types of world rankings, Webster fully understands how much a win over Magomedov would elevate his career and put him on the quick path to a chance at winning a world title.

“I’m going into this fight intelligently,” Webster concluded. “I’m not looking for a big knockout unless the opportunity presents itself. I’m just looking to go in there and be exciting so the world knows what they’ve been missing. We talked to Main Events a few times in the past (who signed Magomedov earlier this month), so I’m also looking to let them know why they should’ve signed me when they had a chance.”

For all of the latest information on Derrick Webster, make sure to check out his official website and follow him on social media: @DerrickWebster. For interview requests, contact Team Webster publicist John Archibald at jarchibald@ResSports.com.

SHELTON, Wash. (June 25, 2015) – The ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader tomorrow, Friday, June 26, live on SHOWTIME (10:35 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Little Creek Casino in Shelton, Wash., will feature promising undefeated middleweight prospect Dominic “Lights Out” Wade (17-0, 12 KOs), of Washington, D.C., against Sam “King” Soliman (44-12, 1 NC, 18 KOs), of Melbourne, Australia in the 10-round main event.

But the scheduled co-feature between unbeaten lightweight and former Marine and 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Captain Jamel Herring (11-0, 7 KOs), of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Mexico’s Oscar Cortes (25-2, 13 KOs) was cancelled Thursday when Cortez came in overweight. Armed Forces Network will air the ShoBox telecast despite the Herring-Cortes fight getting scrapped.

“I’m very disappointed that I didn’t get to fight,’’ Herring said. “I was really looking forward to it. I’ll be back in the ring in no time and I will continue my march of becoming a world champion one day.”

The new co-feature will pit unbeaten promising Erickson “The Hammer’’ Lubin (10-0, 7 KO’s) of Orlando, Fla., against Ayi Bruce (23-9, 15 KO’s) of Albany, N.Y., in a super welterweight scrap. The telecast opener will match heavyweights Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas (16-0, 11 KOs), a Montreal-based Colombian, and Jason Pettaway (17-2, 10 KOs), of Camp Lejeune, N.C. Both fights are slated for eight rounds.

Wade, who’ll take on the toughest opponent of his career when he steps up in class to face the vastly more experienced former world champion Soliman, also came in heavy. He weighed 162.5 pounds on his first attempt. When he returned to the scale, he weighed 161 pounds. Soliman, tipped the scale at 161.4 pounds, on his first attempt.

Southpaw Lubin, 19, a sensational amateur, will be making his ShoBox debut and 11th start since turning pro in November 2011. He weighed 152.4 pounds. Bruce, who has fought top prospects throughout his career but is coming off a lengthy layoff, weighed 151.4 for the super welterweight bout. In the heavyweight match added to the telecast Thursday morning, the physically strong and powerful Rivas, a former international amateur standout, weighed 244 pounds. Pettaway, who is looking to regain his winning ways after losing his last start, tipped the scale at 222.

What the fighters said Thursday:

DOMINIC WADE

“For me this is a big step up in class. Soliman is a very experienced fighter; I definitely don’t look at him as just some 41-year old who still fights. He’s a spoiler. He’s the kind of fighter that is difficult to look good against because he’s so awkward. I expect him to jump and throw punches and then hold, but I’ve trained to control him from the outside with my jab.

“I feel like it’s time for a real test. It’s time to see where I’m at. I could have fought easier, but I’ve been working hard at the gym and this is the time for me to start moving toward a world title shot.

“Going 10 rounds with Nick Brinson [in his ShoBox debut in June 2014] was a good learning experience. I thought I was going to stop him for sure, probably early, but he was tougher than I thought. He surprised me. Nothing Soliman will do will surprise me and I am 100 percent ready for Friday.’’

SAM SOLIMAN

“The right knee that I hurt against Jermain Taylor is 100 percent. I’ll be wearing a brace but it is nothing I’ll be thinking about. I had four months of rehab, but I’ve been injury-free in the seven months since.

“As a former kickboxer, I have been in a million wars, so this wasn’t even the worst injury I’ve ever suffered. You can’t compare it to what I went through as a kickboxer so I feel great. There are no mental fears or anything.

“I don’t want to be a stepping stone for anybody. I feel his promoters and advisors made a mistake in picking me. I still have plenty of fight left. They could have picked a lot of other fighters if they were looking to make a name for Wade.

“For me to still be fighting has nothing to do with age or special genes. It’s all about how you live your life.

“Wade is a good boxer, a smart kid who will try and keep you at bay. But I’ve fought 30-40 guys with that style. He’s talented and I don’t want to take anything away from him, but you need to have some tough fights. I know they see me as their ticket to a world ranking, a 41-year-old former champion. But they picked the wrong guy.’’

ERICKSON LUBIN

“I’m just here to fight. This is my first time on SHOWTIME and I’m really looking forward to it.

“I feel like my career is going just great. I fought a lot last year and hope to fight four-five times this year. I want to be labeled as a contender real soon, so I just keep fighting. I can fight at super welterweight or welterweight with no problems weigh-wise.

“I’m in a good division. I’ve been watching all the young guys. I feel I could fight any of them now, but I know I have to be patient. Still, if I had my way, I’d fight every month if I could.

“I’m still learning, of course, but I know I am getting there. I feel one of my greatest strengths is my ability to make adjustments. If one thing isn’t working I can adjust it to something totally different.’’

AYI BRUCE

“I can box or slug and have faced some tough guys. I’ve been off but that’s because a couple of fights fell out on me. I feel really strong and very prepared.

“Lubin is only 19. I’m going to show him my experience in the ring. I’ve fought lefties before so that will not be a problem.

“I’m coming to fight. I’m coming to win. I need to win. On Friday, I’m going to be the teacher and he is going to be the pupil. I’ll be taking him to school.’’

OSCAR RIVAS

“This is a great opportunity for me fighting on ShoBox. I want America to see me, I want to show the people what I’ve got. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this for a long time.

“I’m strong, but I think I’m a better boxer than people expect. I feel I have a lot of ability. All that international amateur experience made me well-rounded. I’m not just a pressure guy. I’ve got good movement and I throw a lot of combinations with speed.

“I’m happy with the way my career is going. They’re taking their time with me but I feel I’m ready to step up against tougher opposition. At 6-foot-1, I’m short for a heavyweight but I’m a tough fighter for guys taller than me.

“There has never been a heavyweight champion from Colombia. To become the first is a great motivation for me.

“I look forward to fighting the biggest names in the division. I’ve been waiting for the time and the time is now to move up. I feel I’m going to be a part of the heavyweight dance for a long time.

“But I’m not underestimating Pettaway. I look at him as a complete boxer who can take a punch and has good speed and power.’’

JASON PETTAWAY

“This is the opportunity of a lifetime, what I have been working for my whole life. I feel like this is a big step up for me, but it is also a big step up for him. I don’t think he has ever fought anybody as good as me.

“I know that a lot of people haven’t heard of me, but a win on Friday, and a couple more right after that, will put me right in the thick of the heavyweight mix.

“I’m definitely in great shape. I’m improving and getting more comfortable with each fight. I think nerves and fighting under the big lights has cost me before, but I’m over that now.

“I am really looking forward to fighting a guy like Rivas.’’

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox blow by blow with boxing expert Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as ringside analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

Tickets for “Little Creek Brawl VII” from Skookum Creek Event Center start at $20 and are available online at www.little-creek.com or by calling 1.800.667.7711. Doors will open at 5 p.m. PT, with the first fight tentatively set to begin at 6 p.m. Live coverage will begin at approximately 7:35 p.m. local time (PT).

For more information about Little Creek Casino Resort and its full line-up of upcoming acts that includes Paul Rodgers, Trace Adkins, Dwight Yoakam, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, YES and Toto, please call 800-667-7711 or visit online at www.little-creek.com

Las Vegas (June 25, 2015) – Former WBC women’s champion Mia “The Knockout” St. John has confirmed that she will appear at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the second annual Box Fan Expo that will take place Saturday Sept. 12. The Box Fan Expo will coincide with Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s last fight and Mexican Independence weekend.

St. John is one of the most decorated and famous female professional boxers of all-time. She is the former WBC, IFBA and IBA world champion who gained popularity by appearing on some of the biggest undercards in boxing history, many of which were headlined by Oscar De La Hoya. She also has appeared on the cover of Playboy and appeared on many of the popular talk shows all over the world. On top of that, St. John has done countless charity work, creating the non-profit “El Saber Es Poder” Foundation, which assists Latino-dominant schools in the U.S. St. John and her mother, Maria Rosales, visit schools to stress the importance of family, education, self-empowerment and voting.

St. John joins Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, Ruslan “Siberian Rocky” Provodnikov, Terrible” Terry Norris, Joel “El Cepillo” Casamayor and “El Feroz” Fernando Vargas 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 to large, enthusiastic crowds. 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, Sergio Martinez, Amir Khan, Zab Judah, Mikey Garcia, James Toney, Riddick Bowe, Leon Spinks Terry Norris, Shawn Porter, Chris Byrd, Jesse James Leija, Lamon Brewster, Ray Mercer, Earnie Shavers, Mia St-John, Erislandy Lara, Peter 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 top trainer Roger Mayweather of Mayweather Promotions.

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

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

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

View Promo Flyer here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/promo-flyer/

View Photos Gallery 2014 here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/photos/

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

To watch Mia St.John video about Box Fan Expo go to: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/former-wbc-womens-champion-mia-st-john-confirmed-for-second-annual-box-fan-expo-taking-place-saturday-sept-12-in-las-vegas/

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

Dennis Hogan 151 lbs. vs. Kenny Abril 152 lbs.
10 ROUNDS WBA-NABA US SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Tony Luis 137.5 lbs. vs. Edward Valdez 136 lbs.
CO-MAIN EVENT: LIGHTWEIGHTS – 10 ROUNDS

Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller 268 lbs. vs. Excell Holmes 250 lbs.
TV OPENER: HEAVYWEIGHTS – 6 ROUNDS

Bakhtiyer Eubov 150 lbs. vs. Jason Thompson 146 lbs.
TV SWING BOUT: WELTERWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS

Joe Greene 169 lbs. vs. Guy Packer 165 lbs.
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 6 ROUNDS

Hoshuan Sambolin 133 lbs. vs. Anthony Dave 139 lbs.
SUPER FEATHERWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS

Daniel Dejesus NA vs. Josue Rivera NA
LIGHTWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS

Venue: Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, Niagara Falls, NY

Promoters: Greg Cohen Promotions in association with Adam Wilcock’s Fight Card Promotions, Vito Mielnicki’s GH3 Promotions, Dmitriy Salita’s Star Of David Promotions and produced by David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions

TV: CBS Sports Network (9 p.m. ET/PT)

Tickets:priced at $35 and $45, and ringside seating is $75 and can be purchased with a major credit card by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, online at Ticketmaster.comor through the Seneca Niagara Casino Box Office: 716-501-2444.

ORANGE, Calif. (June 25, 2015) – Jose Roman (20-1, 14 KOs) of Garden Grove, Calif., has a serious challenge ahead of him when he faces hardened veteran and former contender Marco Antonio Lopez (24-6, 15 KOs) of Oxnard, Calif. Friday night at the Doubletree Hotel Ontario.

In the co-feature, undefeated lightweight Cesar Villarraga (7-0, 4 KOs) will put his unbeaten record on the line against journeyman Jose Araiza (34-12-1, 25 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico (6-rounds).

Also, heavyweight LaRon Mitchell (7-0, 7 KOs) from California’s Bay Area has plans on his next win against Roy McCrary (4-3, 3 KOs) of Houston.

WEIGHTS

Jose Roman, 134.2 vs. Marco Antonio Lopez, 135 (8 rounds)
Cesar Villarraga, 134.5 vs. Jose Araiza, 135 (6 rounds)
LaRon Mitchell, 254.1 vs. Roy McCrary, 271.3 (6 Rounds)
Fernando Fuentes, 123.4 vs. Joe Perez, 123.4 (6 Rounds)
Humberto Rubalcava, 121.9 vs. Isaiah Najera, 121.4 (4 Rounds)

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

“New Blood” is presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Lucas Oil, in association with LATV Networks.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. PT and the first bout starts at 7:30 p.m. PT. The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 N. Vineyard Ave, Ontario, CA 91764, and can be reached at 909-937-0900.

For more information, please visit ThompsonBoxing.com. To follow the conversation on social media, please use #ThompsonBoxing and #NewBlood.

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.

Las Vegas, Nevada: On July 25, 2015 WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will defend his three world titles for the second time against IBF mandatory opponent Nadjib “Iron Djib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) but the road to success was not an easy one for him and his manager, Egis Klimas, who reflects on the journey.

Kovalev was introduced to Klimas via a mutual friend, Anatoliy Rubinchikov, and the two met for the first time in Kazakhstan prior to Kovalev’s professional debut. Klimas was travelling to Kazakhstan with his long-time friend and trusted advisor Don Turner, so the two of them met with Sergey together. Turner said he knew instantly that Kovalev was a special fighter, “He was an interesting guy. He was shadow-boxing and he never changed the expression on his face and I thought this guy is for real. So I told Egis that this guy can’t miss.”

After their meeting it was decided that Sergey and his fellow countryman, former IBF Featherweight World Champion Evgeny Gradovich, would go to North Carolina to train at Don Turner’s gym. During that time Turner remembers a quiet Kovalev, “Sergey was quiet. He don’t talk much. He never talked that much. He just trained hard. He trained real hard.”

Don Turner Celebrates Ringside Kovalev’s Victory Over Pascal
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Turner’s gym is located deep in North Carolina farm country, surrounded by corn and tobacco fields. According to Turner, “My gym is like old-time fighters. You isolate yourself and focus just on boxing. Fighters today don’t want to fight; they want to play. Fighters of 40 or 50 years ago they trained like nine or ten months a year. Today these guys train for six or seven weeks at a time. Sergey and Gradovich were one of only a handful of fighters that didn’t want to leave my camp. Sergey and Gradovich were serious.”

Klimas added, “Sergey and Gradovich were the only ones who lasted at Don’s gym. It is a huge hangar in a field surrounded by fields. The closest town is like ten miles away. Sergey never complained to me once. Now he tells me a lot of stories about that time, but when he was at camp he never complained.”

During this time Klimas paid for Sergey to fight on various cards trying to secure him a promotional deal, but he was unsuccessful. “I spoke with many promoters,” explained Klimas. “I went to Top Rank, Golden Boy, DiBella, Gary Shaw and Sergey was on all of their shows. Nobody could really see him because he was stepping in and knocking guys out in two rounds. Also, I couldn’t get the very good guys to fight him so everyone would just say that he beat another bum. They couldn’t really see what I saw. I saw his training; I saw his work ethic and his attitude. The promoters didn’t see much of him. He would usually fight on the first fight on the card so there was really nobody around to watch and they thought that I was just building a record for him.”

Finally, Klimas was ready to give up and leave the boxing business but the counsel of Don Turner changed his mind. Turner said, “I told him to keep doing and I said, ‘Why don’t you go to Main Events?’ I told him not to quit boxing because he put too much money into it. I said, ‘Man, you at the threshold of making money. Why you gonna quit?’ It is just like everybody that comes to the camp; they be two or three fights away from making money and they want to leave.”

Klimas and Kovalev Goofing Off at Kovalev’s Photo Shoot
Photo Credits:
Rich Graessle/Main Events

“When he was already 18 fights and I knew to go deeper I would have to have a promoter, Don Turner said I should talk to Kathy Duva from Main Events because he knew her very well,” said Klimas. “He said she is a good promoter and he had a good relationship with her back in the day. I went to New York and called her and we decided to meet. She came with Jolene [Mizzone, Main Events’ matchmaker] and we decided to make a deal.” That deal would prove to be the turning point. In his fourth fight with Main Events, he knocked out previously-undefeated champion Nathan Cleverly to secure the WBO Light Heavyweight World Championship. Now, three years later, he is the Unified WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion.

Main Events CEO Kathy Duva continued, “I didn’t know what to expect from Sergey when I met with Egis the first time, but I left that meeting convinced that Egis was a manager we wanted to work with. While Jolene and I were meeting with him, we lost an important fight. Egis went from selling us on Sergey to helping us find a replacement without missing a beat. A few months later, Sergey rematched Darnell Boone on one of our cards and I was sold on Sergey. I’ll be forever grateful that Egis and Sergey came into our lives.”

When asked about his relationship with Egis, a grateful Kovalev added, “I’m very happy I got to meet with Egis. Egis believed in me and I believed in him and our union worked to get high stage of boxing. I wish the best to Egis!”

About Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will compete in his first mandatory title defense against Nadjib “Irondjib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The co-feature will include a ten-round light heavyweight match-up between Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) and Yunieski Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs). Tickets are on sale now and start at $25. Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster and all MGM Resorts Properties Ticket Offices. The HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

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kovalboxer.com
Twitter: @krusherkovalev
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www.jeanpascalboxing.com/en/
Twitter: @jeanpascalchamp
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www.mainevents.com
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www.Interbox.ca
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starboxing.com
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www.hbo.com/boxing
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www.mandalaybay.com
Twitter: @MandalayBay
Official Hashtag: #KrusherMohammedi

NIAGARA FALLS, NY (June 25, 2015) – The final press conference was held today for tomorrow night’s “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” at the Seneca Niagara Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, New York.

Presented by Greg Cohen Promotions in association with Adam Wilcock’s Fight Card Promotions, Vito Mielnicki’s GH3 Promotions, Dmitriy Salita’s Star Of David Promotions and produced by David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions, the night’s 10-round main event will feature WBA #11- and IBF #6-rated Dennis “Hurricane” Hogan (21-0-1, 7 KOs) of Queensland, Australia (via Kildare, Ireland) making the first defense of his WBA-NABA US Super Welterweight Championship against local favorite Kenny Abril (14-7-1, 7 KOs) of Rochester, New York.

Action begins on CBS Sports Network at 9 p.m. ET/PT with American heavyweight knockout artist Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (13-0-1, 10 KOs) taking on local slugger Excell Holmes of Buffalo in a six-rounder. The televised co-main event will feature Canada’s WBA #14-rated Tony “Lightning” Luis (19-3, 7 KOs) facing New York (via Dominican Republic) veteran Edward Valdez (13-10-2, 3 KOs) in a 10-rounder.

Tickets for “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” are priced at $35 and $45, and ringside seating is $75 and can be purchased with a major credit card by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, online at Ticketmaster.com or through the Seneca Niagara Casino Box Office: 716-501-2444.

Here is what the main event participants had to say:

DENNIS HOGAN

I know he’s (Abril) a slippery southpaw. I know he’s had some good wins and he’s durable. Being tricky, he can cause problems, so I’ve worked hard to be able to predict the unpredictable in my training.

I’m ok with being the out-of-town guy for this fight. 100%. I did this a lot as an amateur. If you fight a guy from Dublin at the stadium in Dublin the whole crowd is against you.

We teamed up with Greg Cohen Promotions, which was good because I wanted to get to America where it’s all happening. This is my third fight since November and we’re working our way up the ladder. We’re making big movements with every fight. I’m getting more popular here and I’m starting to get known and it’s all working very well.

KENNY ABRIL

Dennis Hogan, we’ve seen him fight. He’s tough and he comes forward. He stays busy. It looks like he comes in shape, but he’s one-dimensional. I think he stands too straight-up at times. Besides that, I really give him credit. He’s a strong fighter.

A win over him would rejuvenate my career. I’ve been off for a year, but I’ve been in the gym sparring and staying active. It’s not like I’ve been at home eating potato chips. It’ll boost me back up and give the confidence I need.

It’s beautiful to be fighting on national television in my hometown. I think it’s God’s way of telling me ‘you’re not done with this sport yet.’ A lot of people tell me I’m talented. I’m a real good boxer. I’ve been boxing since the age of seven. I’ve had some bumps in the road through my career, thinking after I won my first three fights I was a world champion. But I grew and matured in the sport of boxing and now I know what it takes.

# # #

The Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel is located at 310 4th Street in Niagara Falls, New York. For more information, call 716.299.1100, or visit www.senecaniagaracasino.com. The casino box office is open from 12pm- 8pm Sun-Thurs. & 12pm – 12 am Friday & Saturday and is located in the Seasons Gift Shop located in the north wing of the casino. For more information on Greg Cohen Promotions, visit www.gcpboxing.com or check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GCPBoxing. Twitter: @GCPBoxing.

About Greg Cohen Promotions

One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.

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

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

In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman (50-8-2, 41 KOs); and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney (74-7-3, 45 KOs).

Current world-rated contenders in the GCP roster include Arash Usmanee, universally recognized as a top-10 super featherweight; former WBA International Middleweight Champion and world-rated middleweight contender Jarrod Fletcher; top-rated featherweight Joel Brunker; cruiserweight Lateef Kayode; Canadian lightweight and TV action hero Tony Luis, and WBA and five-time Irish National Amateur Champion, Dennis Hogan; and Rising Welterweight sensation Cecil McCalla.

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

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

Bethlehem, PA (June 25 2015)–Saturday night at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, Christian Molina will look to stay undefeated when he takes on veteran Justin Johnson in a 6-round Jr. Welterweight bout that will be part of a 10 bout card.

Molina has established himself as one of the most popular fighters in the Lehigh Valley due to his exciting fighting style and engaging personality outside the ring.

Molina has been working very hard as he prepares for a step up bout against Johnson, who despite his record of 6-8, is 4-4-2 against the 10 undefeated fighters that he has been in the ring with.

“Training has been good. Right now I am just looking to make the weight and be ready for Saturday,” said the 27 year-old Molina.

Molina knows that he has to be at his best as Johnson not only has the experience but also has some physical advantages.

“I know he is 2 or 3 inches taller then I am. We have some good game plans and do what we have to do to win. I know he is a good fighter.”

As mentioned previously, Molina has built a great fan base in the area and they will be out to cheer their man on this Saturday.

“A lot of people come to support me. I really love that and it helps me in the ring. I feel that after a couple more wins, I can become a very big draw as I know that Puerto Rican fight fans get behind good fighters. This is my first six round bout and I know the big fights are yet to come.”

It says even more about how Molina has caught on to the fans as he came here from Puerto Rico just seven years ago.

“I came from San Sebastian, Puerto Rico in 2008 and went to Mendez Liciago High School and graduated from there in 2006. I came here by myself and wanted a future in America. I work in a warehouse to support my boxing. I know nothing is easy, I will continue to work hard and be the best fighter out there and hopefully one day, I can go back to Puerto Rico and fight at home.”

“Nothing is easy but I want to thank everyone who has supported me.”

Christian Molina – Stacey Anderson
Christian Molina – Stacey Anderson

TONIGHT!! at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, King’s Promotions will hold the final news conference in conjunction of Saturday night’s 10 bout card at the same venue.

The press conference will begin at 6 PM et and be held in the Berks meeting room.

The following evening the weigh in will take place at 5:30 PM in the Berks meeting room.

On Saturday night, King’s Boxing will present night of boxing at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem..

In the main event, undefeated Welterweight Jamal James (16-0, 9 KO’s) of Minneapolis, MN will take on Mike Balasi (10-6, 7 KO’s) of Honolulu, HA in a bout scheduled for 8-rounds.

In 6-round Bouts:

Alex Martin (8-0, 5 KO’s) of Harvey, Illinois will take on Pavel Miranda (19-10-1, 9 KO’s) of Tijuana, Mexico in a Welterweight bout.

Caleb Plant (7-0, 6 KO’s) of Ashland, TN will fight Oscar Rojas (8-1, 3 KO’s) of Laredo, Texas in a Super Middleweight bout.

Christian Molina (4-0, 3 KO’s) of Allentown, PA will take on Justin Johnson (6-8) of Pittsburgh, PA in a Jr. Welterweight bout.

Kyrone Davis (7-0, 3 KO’s) of Wilmington, DE will take on Jose Alberto Leal (9-7-1, 4 KO’s) of Guadalajara, Mexico Middleweight bout..

In 4-round Bouts:

Robert Ramos (1-3-1, 1 KO) of Allentown, PA will fight Ismael Serrano (2-1) of Bethlehem, PA in a Lightweight bout.

Desmond Moore of Bethlehem, PA will fight Mike Heffilfinger of Pennsylvania in a battle of Featherweight pro debuter’s.

Carlos Gongora (1-0, 1 KO) of Brooklyn, NY will box Alvaro Enriquez (12-14-2, 4 KO’s) of Tlaxcala, Mexico in a Light Heavyweight affair.

Chris Colbert (1-0, 1 KO) of Brooklyn, NY will fight Antwan Robertson (9-14-1, 6 KO’s) of Minneapolis, MN in a Super Bantamweight bout.

Antonio DuBose (7-0, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia will fight Jesus Lule (7-12-1, 1 KO) of Fort Myers, FL in a Featherweight bout.

Tickets are priced at $100, $75 and $50 and can purchased at ticketmaster and www.ticketmaster.com

The 1st bout will start at 7:00 PM with the doors opening at 6 PM.

The show will be streamed live on www.gfl.tv

LOS ANGELES (June 25) – Guaranteed to produce fireworks inside the ring, local favorite boxers will bring a night of explosive action to the historic Belasco Theater for the July edition of LA FIGHT CLUB. The popular monthly boxing series will feature an exciting undercard kicking off Fourth of July weekend on Thursday, July 2.

Rounding out an already impressive lineup of matchups, local fighters Melsik Baghdasaryan (1-0, 1 KO) of Glendale, Calif. and Abraham Calderon (0-1) of Los Angeles, Calif. will battle in a four-round welterweight swing bout that will have them fight for airtime on FOX Deportes. A fast-rising favorite, Emilio Sanchez (8-0, 6 KOs) of Los Angeles will face Jose Cen-Torres (13-7, 1 KO) of Merida, Mexico in a non-televised six-round super bantamweight fight.

Previously announced, the main event of the evening will feature Mexico City’s Gilberto “El Flaco” Gonzalez (25-3, 20 KOs) taking on undefeated boxer John Karl Sosa (13-0, 6 KOs) of Caguas, Puerto Rico in a classic rivalry of Mexico vs. Puerto Rico in a 10-round super lightweight battle. The co-main event will pit undefeated fighter Diego De La Hoya (10-0, 6 KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico against Jose “Hollywood” Estrella (14-6-1, 10 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico; and opening up the telecast will be Los Angeles transplant Oscar “Jaguar” Negrete (10-0, 3 KOs) taking on Ramiro “Zurdo” Robles (12-3-1, 6 KOs) of Guanajuato, Mexico in an eight-round bout.

Also fighters featured on the August 6 edition of LA FIGHT CLUB, Abraham “Chamaco” Lopez and Roy “Pitbull” Tapia will be in attendance and meet with fans prior to the televised bouts from 6:00 pm to 7:00 p.m. Fans with tickets to the event will have an opportunity to meet the fighters at the Corona banner at the front entrance, take a pictures with the fighters and Corona Ring Card Models.
Tickets for the July 2 edition of LA FIGHT CLUB are on sale now. Prices start at $20 and can be purchased online by going to www.goldenboypromotions.com or by visiting the Golden Boy Promotions Facebook page. For ticket information, email LAFightClub@goldenboypromotions.com.

Undefeated in his last six fights, winning all by knockout, Gilberto “El Flaco” Gonzalez is ready to fight to keep his winning streak when he faces John Karl Sosa on July 2. A professional since 2005, Gonzalez has faced tough fighters Ricardo Dominguez and Noe Bolanos along the way acquiring the interim WBC Youth World Lightweight Title. In his first fight of 2015, Gonzalez faced David Rangel quickly defeating him in the second round of a 10-round scheduled fight in March. But undoubtedly the greatest fight to date for the ruthless Gonzalez was giving the then undefeated Puerto Rican Jeffrey Fontanez his first lost via fifth-round knockout in August, 2014. Now the fighter is ready for the next challenge of his career when he faces another undefeated fighter, John Karl Sosa on July 2.

John Karl Sosa of Caguas, Puerto Rico has been undefeated since his professional debut in 2012. A relative new comer, Sosa has quickly risen up in the super lightweight division staying busy, fighting four to five times per year. Most recently, Sosa defeated Joaquin Chavez in his first fight of 2015 via unanimous decision. Now, Sosa is ready for another tough test when he faces the seasoned Gilberto Gonzalez on July 2.

Diego De La Hoya has thrilled fans with his impressive skills in the ring since making his professional debut in 2013. Fighting with power, the Mexicali, Mexico native has stayed busy in 2015 with an impressive victory over title contender Manuel Roman at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in February and showed up Ramiro Robles in his first appearance at LA FIGHT CLUB in May. De La Hoya is ready to continue his winning streak when he goes up against Jose Estrella on July 2.

Hailing from Tijuana, which has rich history in boxing, Jose “Hollywood” Estrella is ready to start 2015 on the right track in his first fight of the year on July 2. Having faced Luis Nery, Efrain Gonzalez, and Jamie Conlan in 2014, Estrella is determined to win over American audiences is his U.S. debut when he goes up against the tough Diego De La Hoya.

Undefeated super bantamweight star Oscar Negrete of Los Angeles will get in the ring eager to continue his winning streak and maintain his undefeated status July 2. 2014 was a good year for Negrete as he secured wins over Carlos Medina, Gabriel Braxton and Salvador Perez. Negrete has stayed active thus far in 2015 winning via decision against Fernando Fuentes at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in February and Luis Maldonado in hisLA FIGHT CLUB debut in May. Now, the fighter is eager to add another victory to his record when he goes up against Ramiro Robles in his return to LA FIGHT CLUB on July 2.

Hailing from Guanajuato, Mexico, the hard-hitting Ramiro Robles made his professional debut at the young age of 17, triumphing over Carlos Hernandez Mejia in Queretaro, Mexico. Robles worked to establish a record of 12 wins since his debut. On July 9, 2014, Robles made his U.S. debut against undefeated Joseph “Jojo” Diaz Jr., ultimately losing after a grueling 10 rounds. In his second fight of 2015 and his return to LA FIGHT CLUB Robles will be looking for redemption as he takes on Oscar Negrete in the televised opening bout.

Melsik Baghdasaryan will return to The Belasco Theater in July after making his professional debut at the April edition of the monthly boxing series where he defeated Mario Angeles in a knock out win. The former kickboxing champion hailing from Glendale, Calif. will look to continue his undefeated status as he goes up against Abraham Calderon.

Hailing from Los Angeles, Abraham Calderon made his professional debut in May 2015 at the Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino in Indio, Calif. where he faced a tough opponent in Darius Ervin. The young fighter will be looking for redemption when he faces Melsik Baghdasaryan on July 2.

Making his professional debut in 2013, Los Angeles undefeated featherweight Emilio Sanchez can do it all in the ring. Sanchez won his first three bouts via first-round knockouts and has continued to impress with 2014 victories over Jonathan Ramos and Juan Alvarado. The young but experienced fighter has triumphed in all his bouts of 2015 defeating Luis Cosme in March and Eliezer Agosto in May, both fights were part of LA FIGHT CLUB.

Jose Cen-Torres of Merida, Mexico made his professional debut against Nelson Chan in August 2010 in Yucatan, Mexico and his U.S. professional debut in July 2014 against Carlos Carlson in Ontario, Calif. He most recently faced Horacio Garcia in February 2015 as he unsuccessfully attempted to win the WBC Continental Americas Super Bantamweight title. He will look to clinch a much-desired victory against undefeated boxer Emilio Sanchez on July 2 at The Belasco Theater.

LA FIGHT CLUB: Gonzalez vs. Sosa is a 10-round super lightweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra and Mexico – Live It To Believe It!. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., and the first bout begins at 5:30 p.m. The FOX Deportes broadcast will air live at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT.

The “Knockout Experience VIP Package” is also available for an additional $25 upgrade and includes VIP entrance, access to an exclusive lounge offering food and beverages for purchase; a meet and greet opportunity with fighters and celebrities attending the event; an automatic entry into the LA FIGHT CLUB grand prize drawing, which can include but is not limited to: autographed gloves, picture in the ring, backstage access, tour of locker rooms, fighter ring walk, tickets to upcoming boxing events and additional merchandise and prizes.

The LA FIGHT CLUB is a monthly boxing series that takes place on the first Thursday of each month with the next installment scheduled for August 6. It will showcase the brightest stars in the sport and present these exciting matchups in a nightclub atmosphere with an original setup. The boxing ring will be set on the main floor of The Belasco Theater with on-camera standing room for fans in front of the ring similar to a concert pit, as well as reserved balcony and floor seats. Los Angeles’ own DJ Ray of Big Boy’s Neighborhood will spin music during the fights and fans will be able to dance and mingle with the fighters when the venue converts into a night club, in a VIP experience not matched by any promoter in the industry.

Media interested in attending the July 2 installment of LA FIGHT CLUB must be pre-approved for credentials. Credential applications are available by clicking HERE. Completed credential applications should be sent to credentials@mercuryllc.com by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 25. Media will not be credentialed on-site, no exceptions.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.belascous.com,www.FOXDeportes.com, follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @FoxDeportes, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,www.facebook.com/TheBelascoLA, www.facebook.com/FOXDeportes visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @belascola and @foxdeportes, follow the conversation using #LAFIGHTCLUB.

MIAMI (June 25, 2015) – Coming off 19-months of inactivity and making his junior middleweight debut last weekend, Randall “KO King” Bailey (45-8, 38 KOs) served notice that he’s making a serious run at yet another world title in a different weight class.

Three-time, two-division world champion Bailey stopped veteran Gundrick “Sho-Gun” King (18-15, 11 KOs) in the second round with a left hook, not his notorious right, in the main event at Riverdale Center of Arts in Riverdale, Georgia.

“In the first round,” the 40-year-old Bailey explained, “I just wanted to get the feel in the ring and start using my jab. I hit him with a couple of good right hands, but I knew he was experienced and that he was looking for my right. I came out in the second using my jab and left hook, starting to really feel it again. I crushed him with my left hook. I’ve been telling people I have more than my right but they haven’t listened. I did have a little rust in the first round but, in the second, I had my jab working, backed him up with it, and started putting my punches together.

“Fighting at 154 was, well, just another fight. I did feel stronger, though. Now? I just want to stay busy. It doesn’t matter who I fight, I’m not worried about anybody at 154, but I don’t really have enough time left to take baby steps. I want to get right back in the ring. It’s go time for The King!”

“Sho-Gun” King may not be at the top of the junior middleweight ladder but, he’s a battle-tested, experienced opponent, especially as an opponent for a fighter coming off a 1-½ year layoff such as Bailey. Bailey certainly showed enough against King for his head trainer, Orlando Cuellar, to be impressed.

“This was our first fight working together but I’ve seen Randall fight for years,” Cuellar said. “We worked on masking his big right hand by staying busy with his left hand, sitting back on his jab, not falling in, and hooking off his jab. He did it in training camp but sparring and fighting are different. He touched his opponent with his jab in the first round as I instructed. I wanted everything to come off his jab and for him to throw rights to the body, always throwing the first and last punch. In the second round, he effectively used his left hook to the head and body.

“Randall Bailey looked better than he has in three years. He’s not backing up. Randall’s finding range with his jab, hooking off the jab, mixing it up and moving around, going to the head and body. His opponent never saw the left hook because he was looking for the big right. He listened and everything came off his jab. I believe he can be as good as he was five years ago. Now, he’s a real sharp shooter. I was very impressed by his performance and I’m very hopeful about his boxing future.”

Bailey’s longtime manager, Si Stern, summed it up best: “This was his first fight at 154 and he already looks like a champion. He was a little rusty at first but, unlike in the past, he started moving all over the place. With his knockout power and now this movement, left hook and jab, Randall Bailey is even more dangerous than ever before. I’m fielding some calls about fights for him. If it’s a big fight and the money is good, we’ll take that next. But he won’t fight for peanuts, so, if the big fight isn’t there next, we take another fight and hope the one after that is the big one. Randall is ready to fight any junior middleweight in the world……if the price is right.”

Follow him on Twitter @KOKING_Bailey.

Undefeated Cuban heavyweight prospect Robert Alfonso shines

Bailey’s stable-mate, undefeated Cuban heavyweight prospect Robert Alfonso (6-0, 2 KOs), also shined last week on the Bailey-King undercard, starching mammoth Kevin Kelley (1-4, 1 KO) with a thunderous punches in the third round.

The 2008 Cuban Olympian, who now lives and trains in Miami, gave away more than 100 pounds to his 353-pound opponent. Alfonso came out throwing punishing punches from the opening bell, right up until the fight was halted by the referee in the third round.

“I’m very proud of Robert,” his trainer Cuellar noted. “He wasn’t known for his power but Robert’s very strong and he can really crack. He hit this guy with a right-left-right and knocked him down face first. The fight should have been stopped then, but he beat the count and the ref let it continue. It lasted only one more punch. His opponent had never been down before. Robert showed his new character as a legitimate knockout artist. He let his hands go and put his punches together. This cat can really crack! He was aggressive from the start, generating power with every single punch he threw.”

Stern firmly believes he has a future world heavyweight champion in Alfonso. “Robert weighed in at 250 pounds and he delivered a knockout blow to his 363-pound opponent that was incredible to see,” Stern remarked. “He went straight up in the air and landed flat on his face. I was really impressed by Robert’s power. People love watching heavyweights who knockout people and Robert can do that and a lot more. He may have another six-round fight next, or move up to eight rounds. Another three-four fights or so and he’ll be fighting 10-rounders. Our plan is to get him to around 15-0 with 10-11 KOs, which should get him into a world title fight.”

Lou DiBella
Thank you very much for joining us for this call for the PBC on ESPN show on August 1 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The show will be live on primetime on ESPN on Saturday, August 1st, with coverage beginning at 9:00 pm ET/6:00 pm PT.

The main event of the evening is Danny “Swift” Garcia against Paulie Malignaggi. The opening fight is a middleweight title bout between Danny Jacobs and Sergio Mora.

August 1 is the second PBC card on ESPN and the first one is going to be Keith Thurman against Brooklyn’s Luis Collazo. That’s going to be on July 11th in Tampa, Florida.

Tickets for August 1 are priced at $250, $150, $75 and $45 and are on sale now. They’re available at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. To charge by phone, you can call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or to get group tickets from Barclays Center, 800-GROUPBK.

The opening bout is a terrific fight. Danny Jacobs is an inspirational fighter but also a super talented middleweight that’s risen to championship stature and holds the belt. He’ll fight at Barclays Center for the fourth time.

Danny rise from cancer to vie over the champion has been well documented. But frankly, at this point, he’s beaten that illness and he wants to focus to be on his boxing career and on being the best he can be and he’s taking on a huge challenge on August 1 in Sergio Mora, legitimately one of the best middleweight contenders out there and known very well as the winner of NBC’s “The Contender” Series a number of years ago. Sergio is a former world champion at super welterweight, looking to add a middleweight crown to his resume.

He owns victories over Ishe Smith, Peter Manfredo Jr. and Vernon Forrest and enters this fight on a five-fight win streak. And he most recently defeated Abraham Han in February of this year on ESPN.

So first, I’ll let Sergio Mora say a few words before we go to the champion.

Sergio Mora
Hey, guys. Well, I’m excited to be fighting on my first PBC card. It’s been a long time coming. The last time I fought for a world title was seven years ago and I was able to defeat Vernon Forrest as a 4-1 underdog.

I think I’m going to be an underdog for this fight again, fighting the younger, stronger champion in his hometown. So defeating him is going to be tough with all the cards stacked against me and that’s something that I grown used to and accustomed to.

There’s nothing bad I can say about Daniel Jacobs, absolutely nothing. I look for something negative to say and I can’t. The guy has overall talent. He’s far younger, faster, stronger and hits harder than me and he has more momentum coming his way. He’s on a nine-fight win streak and he beats me in that as well. I have five-fight going for me.

But the thing that I can say is that he hasn’t faced opposition that I faced. I think he’s an emotional, athletic fighter. I’m a cerebral, intelligent, strategic fighter.

This is going to be a really exciting card because he’s in his hometown and defending the world title. I’m hungry for that world title and I know that I’m going to have to be extra sharp and do a lot more than just have a close victory in his hometown. So I’m going to have to press action and go out of my comfort zone and I think he’s going to have to go out of his comfort zone, which is going to make an interesting fight for everybody.

I’m very confident coming into this fight. I’m very happy on the team that I’m with now and this opportunity. I’ve always wanted to fight in Brooklyn. I always wanted to fight in a mega arena like Barclays Center. I’m blessed to have this opportunity and part of this PBC movement. Thank you.

L. DiBella

Thank you, Sergio.

And now to the champion, Brooklyn’s own, Danny Jacobs.

Daniel Jacobs

Well, after Sergio’s intro, what more can I say? That’s pretty cool.

I’m excited to have an opportunity to be back at Barclays Center a second time around as a champion. So this will be my second title defense. It’ll be against the most experienced guy I’ve faced thus far. I’m looking forward to testing my challenge against this slick, crafty veteran in Sergio Mora.

I’ve always said that I’m just trying to get that experience most importantly. It’s important to me as a young champion, I’m not where I want to be as a fighter thus far. You’re still growing, you’re still learning. I’m looking at this as just a really starting test. I’m trying to really gain as much experience as I can in fighting such a crafty, slick veteran.

He’s been in this position before. So, he’s already accustomed to being in this position and being an underdog but I can’t take him lightly even though he will be an underdog and even though people will pick me as a favor to win. I’m looking at him as the most devastating opponent that I’ve had thus far coming up to middleweight.

So there’s not a lot of fear as far as power is concerned but where he lacks that he makes up in his craftiness and his slickness and awkwardness and sometimes he does engage in the action as well. So I’m looking forward to it. It’s really a starting test but something that I’ve been preparing for a while of any camp even though I’ve been working and doing my broadcasting which I’m very happy to announce. I’ve been keeping in the gym. I’ve been keeping fit and I’m really looking forward to this test and have it at Barclays I think there’s not a better place in the world I have. So I’m looking forward to testing my skills against a crafty veteran.

Q
I’d like both of you to address when you receive this negative attention on Twitter and such, how do you deal with it and what’s your response to it.

S. Mora
Well, listen, I’ve been dealing with this negative criticism for my entire career. It’s something that followed me. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a reality show winner or because people hate the way that I go in to fight and I can’t knock people out. I’m sorry I wasn’t born with power. You need to be born with power. If I have a way where I can ingest power and knock out and what people want to see into my arsenal, then I’ll do it, but I can’t. I was born the way I’m born. I got to do what I can with my abilities.

I think I’ve come a long way with all the other athletes that lack power and I think that makes me an even better fighter. It made me evolve into a different type of boxer. So these are the things that boxing needs to understand and the fight fans need to understand that, “All right, well, listen, he’s fighting a guy with a lot of power but how come the guy with no power is actually doing better than the guy with power? Because this is the sweet science and that’s how I become a champion.

So it doesn’t bother me. I just continue educating people about the sweet science and letting them know that power is not the number one aspect you need to be successful it’s your agility, techniques, your defense, body shots, the strategy, it’s following that strategy it’s hard.

So I’m happy to answer those questions for people that don’t know. But people that do know, get over it.

Q
Danny, what about you responding to people who want you to fight Golovkin? That say he isn’t tough enough, how do you deal with that stuff?

D. Jacobs
I’ve learned since my return back. I’ve got a lot of criticism on my position – why I’ve been facing people who wanted me to step up, people who wanted me to get in position to fight who they want me to fight. I’m passed that point. Now what I care about – well, not to the extent where I don’t care about what the fans think but, if you support me, I look at it as, you understand the process, you understand that it’s not going to come when you wanted to come and if you’re a fan of the sport and if you’re a fan of myself, then you just go along with the journey.

I want to step up. I want to be able to get in there with the best of the best. But obviously, with everything going on in the sport of boxing right now, I’m not really in control of certain things, you know. I may control who I step in there with but to a certain degree. So I really don’t tend to get into things like that. I do what I do. I stay ready. As a champion, I conduct myself inside and out of the ring. Whoever I’m in there with I give my best. If you are a fan of the sport, then you’re going to like the fights regardless. It’s all about putting on a show. That’s what I’ve been doing – I felt like I’ve been put in good fights.

Q
Is it a challenge for you that you want to take on to be the first person to stop Sergio Mora or is it pretty important for you to finally go the distance to go 12 rounds?

D. Jacobs
I’d essentially wanted to go 12-rounds with Truax. I intentionally wanted to go 12-rounds with Truax. Because I felt like I could stop him a little bit earlier, maybe like in the 6th round but it was something that I wanted to prove to myself and knowing that I can go a full strong 12 rounds is something that I’m very confident with now and I feel like I’m answering my question. So, the test with Sergio Mora is – whether that he can be stopped or whether or not I can go the distance with him, he’s never been stopped before, so it will be icing on the cake to be able to not only to defeat him but to stop him in the match.

But, he’s a crafty veteran and if I can take a win over a guy like that, a win is a win to me. But at the end of the day, what the fans want to see is knockouts. What the fans want is spectacular fights. So my thing is if we could just produce a fantastic fight and a competitive fight, I’m content with that. A knockout is just icing on the cake. But it’s something that I’m looking for but if it happens, I’m pretty sure I know how to get the job done.

Q
What do you think about his boxing skills? How do they match up with yours especially over the course of a 12-round fight?

S. Mora
That was a great question you asked Danny, by the way. I think he answered perfectly. I would want to knock someone out like me, you know, because it puts something on your resume that Vernon Forrest and Sugar Shane Mosley, two Hall of Fame greats haven’t been able to do. So that was a great question.

Like I said, I think he possess everything that I don’t. But I have the experience. I think I take a better shot from experience with Danny and I think I follow my game plan more than Danny. A lot of boxers especially a lot of young athletic fighters they go out of their game plan and once they see that it’s not working. As a veteran, I know that it’s not working initially.

There’s a beginning, a midgame and an end game, kind of like in chess. But you just got to stick to what you practiced and don’t go out of your element and normally things go well for me. That’s how I’m going to continue doing.

Of course, I’ve changed some things in my strategy. I’ve changed some things in my arsenal and the way I see opponents and I go about it. But ultimately, it’s still Sergio Mora – still the guy that has that ability to upset a champion and that’s who’s going to be fighting August 1st.

Q
Can you talk about your perspective on having it been a long time since you were at this level in terms of a belt being available to you?

S. Mora
Well, anyone who’s been around the game for more than ten years or not even then. Anyone who’s been around the game will know that this is a political game. And if you’re not with the right side, you’re on the wrong side. And then even if you are on the right side, there’s another side I think that are right and they’re going to be butting heads.

Very political business and I think I turned a lot of people off when I fought Shane Mosley and an uneventful fight but I took all the blame for that and then after that, I was forced to go to Texas to fight a Texan. And I came up short against Brian Vera and then that just really hurt my career.

I was getting all the bad media, I wasn’t getting the right offers and that’s a good reason why fighters retire because they don’t have the offers coming in and it can be really depleting and depressing. I decided to go back to the drawing board and start off with a new team, have a new focus and I realized the change in the boxing as well, the same people that were in charge of courts in 2010, 2012, they’re not in charge anymore. There are new players in the game, there are new dates in the game and there’s new opportunity.

So because of all this new stuff that’s been added to the world of boxing, a person like myself has been able to make the comeback and I’m in a really good place and I am appreciative.

Q
Sergio, do you feel that you get a bit of a bad wrap?

S. Mora
In my head, in my stubborn, ignorant head, I’m undefeated. I thought I beat Brian Vera both of those times and I beat Vernon Forrest the first time. He beat me the second time. That’s an even draw, you know. So in a way, no one has really dominated, no one has really beat me convincingly. So in my head, I’m undefeated. There’s no rubber match to see who really has more wins over the other guy. But in reality, Vernon beat me the second time, I beat him the first time.

It’s a crazy business. People are waiting for you to just come down.

Q
So when you take a look at Danny’s record, what is your take on what he’s accomplished or what you think of his ability?

S. Mora
Well, exactly what you guys thought. I think with special talent and he got a piece of a world championship and he’s recognized as a champion. So, everything that people thought of him came true. Now that he’s on top, he needs to fight top fighters. I don’t think he’s faced the opposition that I faced and other champions have faced. I think that’s the only thing that he’s limited in.

So I’m going to be the best name on his resume and we’re going to see how he’s going to be able to handle a guy as crafty like me and a former champion like myself. So it’s a bit of success for him and it’s the best for me fighting a young, hungry champ.

Q
When you look over your resume of opponents you faced in your career so far, does he poses perhaps the most formidable test of your career given his experience and his crafty nature?

D. Jacobs
Well, absolutely, coming into this thing I even said that I mentioned that he’s the most experienced fighter that I will be stepping in the ring with. The former world champion, beating the likes of Vernon Forrest, Shane Mosley, a couple other guys. He has that experience. He knows what it is to go the distance. He knows what it is to be in a dogfight. I’m a young champion and I haven’t seen those things thus far, right, you know.

I’m content – well, not content but, I’m okay with the fact that I have fought those guys, those topnotch but that’s what I’m looking forward to is a ladder. You can’t skip the ladder. You can’t skip any steps, or you’ll fall.

So we take in a step by the time and we stepping up and every time you’re going to see great opposition. I’m just looking forward to this one. I don’t take him lightly whatsoever. I clearly mark him as one of the toughest, craftiest most experienced guy that I have faced.

Q
Daniel, what is going to be the thing that gets you over the top and helps you win this fight?

D. Jacobs
I don’t know what will be the main thing. But I feel like I have a lot more advantages than he does in the fight. But whatever my advantages are and whatever gets me going, will be the deciding factor for me I would stick to. So if it’s my speed, then I’ll stick to using my speed. If it’s my power, backing him down, showing him what a real middleweight feels like, then that’s what I would do.

But it’s all about adjusting and getting in there because, you know, not a lot of things may work according to the game plan. So you got to go to Plan B, Plan C and so on and so forth. So I’m just looking forward to seeing what works for me, figuring it out because it is a puzzle, it is a chess game when you fight a guy like Sergio and just making it work. I think that’s what a true champion does is just adjust and get the job done.

Q
What are you doing in training camp to get away from that label of spoiler and be directly concentrated on winning that title from Danny Jacobs?

S. Mora
Yes. I’ve been labeled the spoiler. I’ve been labeled a lot of names that I actually consider as a good thing, you know. You could see it as positive or negative. You come in the positive things that I’m going to go in there, I’m going to spoil Danny Jacobs’ plans and spoil his promotion plan and spoiler for the fans is the negative that I’m going to come in and win. I decided to go in there – when the fight with Mosley and Vera, I decided to change my style a bit and I actually engaged a little bit more and be a little bit more offensive and take more chances to go for the knockout. But I think I’ve done that. You know, in my last five fights, I knocked down three of my opponents. So I’ve kept my word and I got this opportunity to fight for a world title again.

With Danny, I’m going to do the same. I’m going to try to go out there and do the same thing that got me into this position. I’m showing them that I can be and I can be crafty. I mostly want to let them know that, “Hey, listen, I got this other side to my game too that I added to that slickness and that craftiness.” Danny also mentioned, if that’s not working, then I got to go to Plan B and C. I’m going to give him different looks just like he’s going to give me. But I’m an excited former champion and waiting to be a new champion August 1st.

Q
Talk about the kinds of sparring partners you have into camp.

S. Mora
Yes, I like to have heavier sparring partners, harder punching sparring partners. But it’s not about the power because me and my sparring partners aren’t going to go in there and hit me with that power. So I like hitting guys with slickness, with speed, just in case Danny comes in there and he shows me a different style, I got to be ready for that. So I got younger guys, stronger guys, powerful guys, big guys, elusive guys and I like to mix it up.

Q
You’re a tremendous fighter, and the same time, you are great announcer, can you talk about seeing that light at the end of the tunnel and a career after boxing?

D. Jacobs
Well, thank you sir I really, really appreciate that. To answer your question, yes, that’s the game plan. To be able to talk and give my side on a national level. So one opportunity I don’t take for granted that I’m enjoying doing is giving me a different perspective on a sport that I love. And it’s something that it can set me up for the rest of my life as something to do post-boxing. But, obviously not straying away from the main task at hand, boxing obviously is what I love to do and just the forefront. So I’m 110% focused on what we’re doing actually inside the ring.

But on my spare time in between fights, it’s something that I also like to do and stay busy. But the most part is just building the brand. That’s what we’re doing. We’re building the Danny Jacobs brand and I’m having fun doing it but I’m taking it seriously because, you know, boxing is a very short road and I’m going to fall back on this as well.

So just trying to take everything serious and trying to give the best that I have and seeing that it’s been working thus far. So God has definitely blessed me and I’m just looking forward to everything in the near future. This opportunity to fight Sergio is a heck of an opportunity for me in my mind. I think it’s one heck of a step-up as well.

So I’m just looking forward to what life has in store for me and my career in the future.

L. DiBella
We’re going to move on to the main event of the evening right now. But once again, this is Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN from Barclays Center on August 1. It’s primetime in ESPN, coverage beginning at 9:00 pm ET/6:00 pm PT. Tickets are from $250 down to $45 available at BarclaysCenter.com, Ticketmaster.com, the Box Office at Barclays or by calling Ticketmaster or calling Barclays Center.

The main event is a classic Philadelphia versus Brooklyn matchup, featuring two of boxing’s biggest stars. And it’s a must-win situation for both fighters when Danny “Swift” Garcia takes on Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi. It’s 12 rounds at welterweight at 147 pounds.

Interestingly, both of these fighters participated at Barclays Center inaugural boxing card in 2012.

Danny Garcia, the former Unified Welterweight Champion, made five defenses Junior Welterweight Champion, made five defenses of his belt. It’ll mark Danny’s official move up to welterweight and his fifth appearance at Barclays Center. On his last fight, he had a really tough win and a really hard-fought fight with Lamont Peterson.

On August 1, he has his hands full with Paulie Malignaggi, former Welterweight and Junior Welterweight World Champion, has a record of 33-6. It’s Paulie’s fourth fight at Barclays Center. He defeated Pablo Cesar Cano and Zab Judah there and he lost close split decision to Adrien Broner.

Paulie, do you want to start by saying a few words?

Paulie Malignaggi
Thank you, Lou. Yes, I’m just really feeling blessed to have the opportunity. It was an opportunity that I didn’t see coming my way after pulling out of the O’Connor fight earlier in the summer and then now trying to back up into the fall. I’m just really trying to sit back and enjoy the summer more so than training and whatnot.

This kind of opportunity just fell into my lap. It was unexpected. But I’m all about competing against the best. As surprised that I was, it was also an opportunity I couldn’t say no to. It’s a chance to, be back in the main spotlight with that kind of a fight, be at the forefront which are the kind of fights that I crave, anyway, and the kind of fights that really get my adrenaline flowing and get me motivated.

I’m fighting one of the best fighters in the world today at any weight. Like Danny Garcia, it’s a motivation to test myself against the best. I always want to test myself against the best, and so here I am.

L. DiBella
Thank you, Paulie. Danny “Swift” Garcia, still undefeated, 30-0 with 17 KOs. Danny?

Danny Garcia
How are you guys doing? First, I want to say good afternoon to everybody. I hope everybody is having a good day. Thanks for having me on this conference call.

August 1st this is going to be another great night at Barclays Center. It’s my fifth fight there and my first fight at 147. So I feel like this is a great matchup, stylistically, to the fans all around the world.

Come August 1st, I’m going to be ready. I’m working hard. I’m training hard. I can’t wait to get in there, showcase my skills and in the weight class.

Q
How do you feel, Danny, now moving up to welter?

D. Garcia
It feels great. For the first time in a long time, I could worry about training to get better and not training to lose weight. I’ve been fighting at 140 my whole career.

I just feel felt like losing the weight was affecting my performances, mostly in the later rounds of big fights because I will use a lot of my energy losing weight. I think I’m just going to – I’ve been feeling a lot stronger and a lot better at 147. I think I should have been moved up maybe after the Mattysse fight.

But I’m here now and I feel good. I feel strong. I’m training hard. And we’re working on new things just to get faster and stronger at 147.

Q
Did the weight loss hurt you against Lamont Peterson you think?

D. Garcia
I’m not making any excuses. He had a good game plan. I just didn’t feel strong at that weight class anymore.

Before, when I hit guys, I could feel the power going through my arms. And when I land a shot, I knew I would hurt them. I just didn’t feel strong at the weight class no more. I just felt like I was hurt myself. I just didn’t feel as strong at 140 anymore.

Q
Paulie, just talk about getting back in the ring after the Porter fight and this opportunity for you.

P. Malignaggi
I feel blessed just to get the opportunity and to get a chance to continue to test myself against one of the best fighters in the world.

You get to the point when you’re not in the ring for a while. It’s going through my mind that maybe I don’t want to fight. But as time went by and I started working out again, I started realizing that it was something I missed. It was something I was still craving. I wanted to be back in there.

This year, in particular, has been different than a lot of years. I’ve always had my fight and then I’ve gone right back into just hanging out. I’ve spent almost the entire year in the gym. And I’ve been able to balance it out with all my travel with my commentating. I was in Sadam Ali’s camp for his fight.. I went right into my own training camp for Danny O’Connor and I got cut just two weeks before that scheduled fight. Then I got a call for this fight not long after that.

I’ve spent a large chunk of the year in the gym, which is something that hasn’t happened in a long time. And I feel sharp before that. If we’re going to talk about the layoff, people are going to talk about the fact that, I haven’t fought for a long time. But in reality, I actually haven’t trained this consistently in a decade, I mean literally a decade. Since I fought Miguel Cotto, I started making pretty good money after that and I haven’t stayed all year in the gym. Before that, I was in the gym all year, you know.

I didn’t even mean to do it by design. It’s not like I said, “Oh, this year, I’m going to spend the whole year in the gym.” I didn’t – it’s not something I planned. It’s just something that ended up happening going from one camp into another camp, into another camp. And I guess it’s just an accident.

But I do feel the sharpness in a gym. I do feel the timing is really good. Obviously my weight has come down. So, that’s a good feeling knowing that I have to drop a lot of weight during the training camp just working on the sharpness and keep getting better.

Q
Was there ever any serious consideration about retiring after the Porter fight or was that just suddenly flowing around out there?

P. Malignaggi
It wasn’t even something I considered. It was just something that I felt like I was going to do, you know. I just felt like, I don’t really want to do this, in the time, the way I felt, where my mind was at. And it was just something I didn’t want to do anymore.

So I think that’s probably the best thing that happened to me in terms of thinking it like that. Not talking about the loss, but in terms of my mindset in that moment was probably the best thing because if you start to tell yourself you’re going to have a layoff and you’re going to come back, in the back of your mind, you’re never going to take that time off the right way. You’re going to be thinking about you should be back in a gym or when is the right time to get back in the gym.

But because I wasn’t thinking that, I was just thinking, “You know what, I’m done,” I gave myself plenty of time to kind of rejuvenate a little bit before I got back in the gym. And then I just decided, “Hey, you know what, I miss this. I want to get back in the gym.”

So I think the change of my mind was probably a good thing as opposed to just telling myself, “You know what, I’m going to take some time off and then come back.” I really didn’t think I was going to come back. So when I took the time off, it was really like a time that I was legitimately, in my mind, feeling rested and got myself rejuvenated without even realizing it. And then by the time I got back in the gym, it was like to try rebuilding a new me, so to speak.

Q
Did you think that this might be too much of a stepup after you’re going to be fighting Danny O’Connor after the long layoff?

P. Malignaggi
I was actually surprised. First, I didn’t realize Danny was actually going to move to welter right away. I figured like he was having trouble making the junior welterweight limit. But I had heard rumblings that he still wanted to stay a junior welter for a little longer.

I was surprised just in general that he’s moving to welterweight. And then I was surprised, coming off the layoff, I thought maybe that we’ll get somebody else, instead of me to fight Danny.

When I got the call, I was surprised. But it was almost like pleasantly surprised. And not because I don’t respect Danny because I do, I got a lot of respect for Danny and family and his father and everything, but I’m a competitor. I haven’t had a big fight in over a year. So it’s just like, man, this is an opportunity for me to kind of put myself back in the mix with one really good performance as opposed to slowly getting back in the mix over the course of three, four fights.

I’m 34-years-old. I’m not 24. So I don’t really have that kind of patience anymore. At the same time, when I got the call, I also realized how good I had felt in the gym sparring and how good I’ve been feeling in the gym just getting shaped or whatnot. So I felt like I could just flow right into another training camp, because I hadn’t taken that long a time off after I had been cut for the O’Connor camp. I actually still kept training.

So my weight was still good. It kind of made sense on a lot of fronts. I didn’t tell myself, “Oh, it’s a big step-up after a layoff.” I didn’t look at it like that. I looked at it from more of a positive perspective.

Q
Are there any health concerns for you or just heading into this fight?

P. Malignaggi
I don’t ever think about this stuff, man. You have to have a short memory in boxing. And that applies to both when you look good and when you look bad. So whatever has happened to you in the past, it doesn’t matter whether it was good or bad. You can’t take that in the ring with you in your next performance. You’re starting a new chapter every time you step in the ring for round one in your next fight.

So I know as far as round one, it’s a new chapter for me. And so I don’t consider, I don’t think about what’s happened to me in the past, whether it was good or bad. But it’s something that I haven’t thought about in a long time and it doesn’t go through my mind.

Q
Danny is this an effort for you to feel what a 147-fight feels like?

D. Garcia
This is a fight my manager wanted. He gave me the call. He made this fight. And like any other fight, he did ask me, “Hey, do you want to fight this guy?” And then we say, “Yes, we want to fight this guy.”

So I didn’t go say, “Gee, I want to fight Paulie because he’s not a big puncher,” you know, because, power is just one of the many skills you need in boxing. I don’t choose the opponent. I don’t hand choose the opponent. But I think that overall, this is going to be a great fight.

Q
And what are you looking for this fight to do in terms of advancing your career should you win the fight? What would be next for you? What are you aiming to do in this division?

D. Garcia
I don’t know what’s next. Obviously, one fight at a time. I got a task in front of me. I got to go in there 110% mentally and physically prepared and just get the job done. Then after that, we can see what’s next for us.

Q
Paulie, how do you view a fighter like Danny, a former champion, coming up from 140 to 147?

P. Malignaggi
Oh, I think he’s a phenomenal fighter. I even told Danny myself, early on, I wasn’t high on him. But, I know when he was in the prospect stages, he was beating some really good names and he was hitting a harder road up and a lot of prospects to do, in terms of a guy he has to fight. And he grew on me. I started realizing I’m not looking at this kid the right way. This kid is actually good on a lot of fronts, both from a physical perspective and from a mental perspective, really strong.

I’ve always had a lot of respect for him. But in terms of 140, 147, he’s no different than me. I was a junior welterweight champion; I moved into welterweight. So from that front, I don’t even look at myself as a bigger guy or anything. As a matter of fact, he moved up to welterweight at a younger age than when I moved up to welterweight, you know. So his body grew into the division a little sooner than my body grew into the division.

So I think from that point of view, we both have that in common that we’re both ex-junior welterweight. So from a physical standpoint, I’m not looking at it as having any advantages. It’s just a matter of matching of my skills to his skills.

Q
Moving up to 147, do you really feel like you’re going to be able to put a staple on a lot of people’s mouths to shut them up about all the criticism that comes with Danny Garcia?

D. Garcia
That’s just boxing. Because I’ve been the underdog before, I’ve been the underdog before and I won. And there was like, “Oh, he got lucky.” So it’s either I’m the favorite or the underdog. I can’t listen to none of that stuff after just going through each fight like I was, mentally prepared, physically prepared going in and get the job done.

If it’s good enough for the media and it’s good enough for the fans, I’m happy. I’m still happy because, it takes a real man to go in there and put gloves on and fight another man for 12 rounds. It takes a lot of discipline. It’s usually hard work for ten weeks straight waking up every day, doing the same thing, sweat, blood, tears, all that stuff.

So I would love for the fans and the media to love me. But, it is what it is, they’re tough on me and that’s what keeps the chip on my shoulder and that’s going to make me train hard every day.

Q
Do you see your craftiness advantages that you may have over him that Danny may have a little bit of difficulty with skilled boxers?

P. Malignaggi
I think styles make fight. From a style point of view there are things that I feel like I’ll be able to do against Danny. But I also expect Danny had made some adjustments since those fights.

When it comes to the Lamont Peterson fight, as I was watching that fight and Lamont started turning things around, I started thinking, maybe Danny, he got in his mind after the first three, four, five rounds that this was the kind of fight this is going to be all night.

And when you kind of get into that role in your mind where, hey, man, this is going to be at a slow pace fight and you’re going to go through the motions in the fourth round. And then suddenly the script gets switched on you; you weren’t ready.

I felt like Lamont almost caught Danny in a sleep. And so from there, I don’t know that Danny would make a mistake again. The pace was so slow early on. I felt like I put myself in Danny’s shoes and I said, “You know what, if I was Danny, I would probably be thinking two, three, four rounds. That’s it. This is the kind of fight we’re going to fight for 12 rounds. So I wouldn’t be ready when suddenly he got turned off. Because if in your mind you put in – if you put in your mindset that’s how the fight is going to be and then things switched, then you kind of get caught sleeping.

So I felt like maybe it was a learning experience for Danny. But as far as from the stylistic point of view, yes I like the way my boxing skills match up to his. I’m sure there’s things he feels he can do to me as well. And that’s kind of why we get in the ring, we compete with each other and you match up skills. But I’m sure both of us have certain advantages over the other that we’re both going to try to apply once the bell rings on August 1st.

Q
Do you see that as a must-win situation for you especially coming off the loss with Shawn Porter?

P. Malignaggi
I think it’s more must-win for me as far as my own boxing career is concerned. I think there’s no question that from my professional boxing career, not my commentating career; take everything else aside. For the life of my professional boxing career to continue, I feel like this is a must win for sure. I don’t think that there’s much of a must-win for Danny as it is for me.

At this level, they’re all – you always feel like it’s must win because you’re always in the mix for a bigger fight if you can win. So it’s always must win. But in reality, I feel like the burden falls on me more than Danny for it to be that kind of must-win.

But it’s also nothing new to me. I’ve been written off before. My career was supposed to end in 2009 when I went to Houston, Texas. I just came off the Ricky Hatton loss and I went to Houston to fight Juan Diaz. And no matter what I said in the press conferences, no matter what I’ve said in interviews, I remember just within one year they just kind of felt like this was going to be the end of my career. And so I had to go in there and prove it myself that it wasn’t yet, you know.

So I had everybody – if I allowed myself to listen to what everybody says, I would have long gone a long time ago because you figure, you teach everybody their lessons and then it happened again in 2012. I got sent to Ukraine. I hadn’t really had a big fight in a couple of years and people just thought I was again sent to Ukraine as a fight just to make a little bit of money and be done. I was surprised that everybody was thinking about me like that again. I was like, “Wow. These people really don’t learn their lesson, you know.”

And so I went to Ukraine and I’d come back with the WBA Welterweight title at that time. And I was able to turn things around again from – in my career. And those are really two key situations because losses in those two fights would really have erased me from the sport.

So I found myself again in this kind of situation. I’m not travelling to anybody’s hometown this time. I’m fighting in my own hometown. But it’s the same situation. It’s kind of the same thing. No matter what I say going into this fight, people are still going to look at it the same way that I’m the opponent and I’m the guy that Danny beats and this is my last fight and I’m just taking this for a payday and all this stuff.

So if I hadn’t already been through this, maybe I would worry about it. I remember in 2009, going to Houston, being kind of worried about it, complaining about all kinds of stuff and just not really knowing what I was walking into. I was walking into a dark room. But I’m not walking into a dark room on August 1st. I know exactly what’s going on. I know exactly what the rumblings are in the boxing world. And I know exactly what everybody is saying about the fight.

Regardless, it doesn’t matter. None of it matters. I go in the gym; I do my work every day. I know my mindset. It’s focused. It’s ready. And I know I’m going there to do work on August 1st. And nobody’s opinion is going to matter when the bell rings. But you can’t take people’s opinions in the ring with you, again, whether they’d be good or whether they’d be bad. Nobody’s opinion comes in the ring with you. It has absolutely no bearing on who wins each and every single round.

Q
Danny, what things have you been able to do this time around doing training that you could not do in the past because you had to make 140?

D. Garcia
We added things to our workout now. We added a lot of explosive workouts, a lot of agility, a lot of footwork, a lot of things to making you more explosive, things I couldn’t do at 140 because I didn’t have the energy for it. But now the extra weight is really helping me. I’m eating – I’m adding more meals to my base to make me stronger, like before I had to skip meals. I was always weak.

Q
When we’re thinking about this, your training in the gym, do you 100% know how good you’re going to be as far as the sharpness and what you have left at 34? Or does it remain to be seen, you’ll only know on fight night?

P. Malignaggi
Fight night you can feel any which way. You can have a good camp but sometimes have a bad night. You can have a bad camp and have a good night. You don’t know how you’re going to be on fight night until you wake up the morning of the fight.

But I will say this, I’m having a good camp. And it mainly has to do with the fact that I’ve flown from one camp to another to another and I’ve been able to keep working on my skills and keep working on my sharpness. My weight has stayed low because of the fact that I have consistent training, consistent sparring.

I really like the way I’m feeling right now. I like the rhythm that I’m in when I’m in the gym. I like the flow. We’re just going to try to bring this sharp camp into the fight.

Q
Do you believe that you got the fight because they believed that you were a faded fighter?

P. Malignaggi
I didn’t go that deep into thinking. When I got the call, I was just surprised. Rhen I got the thinking, like, man, that’s a big fight. Any competitor wants big fights and wants to be in the limelight and wants to be on the big stage. I was wondering if I would ever get a chance to fight on this stage again.

I was more just surprised than anything else. I didn’t really go into thinking as to why I got the fight or why I got offered the fight or whatnot. I think that’s more your guys’ job. And I’m sure they let me know about it on Twitter and in the media why I’ve got this fight. Even if I didn’t think about it, just seeing what everybody says about it, I kind of get the gist of it.

If that’s the reason I got offered the fight, it’s the same reason I got offered the Juan Diaz fight in Houston in ’09. It’s the same reason I got the Vyacheslav Senchenko fight in Ukraine in 2012. And my confidence comes from me knowing I have the mental capacity to not let that kind of pressure bother me and have the mental capacity to just go into my zone and eliminate all the negativity from my mind.

Danny said earlier he would love the media and the fans to love him. I couldn’t care less whether anybody loves me or hates me. And I think the body of my work throughout my career or the things that I said, the things that I do, shows that I could care less whether anybody loves me or hates. I go out there to do a job. I’m a competitor. I love competing. I love the adrenaline rush of combat at the highest level and testing myself against the best fighters in the world.

That’s why I do this. I love to fight – I love to see where I’m at. And on August 1st, I’ll show myself.

Q
Danny, where is dad, Angel Garcia?

D. Garcia
My dad is doing well. Right now, he’s at a shop. He owns and runs a business. Angel is just being Angel right now. I won’t see him until 5 o’clock. Only the Lord knows what he’s doing right now.

Q
I would say some of the best work that you have done in the ring is by out-foxing heavy-handed opponents. How much of the old fox are we going to see? How is he again against Danny Garcia?

P. Malignaggi
I think for the most part, people know Danny’s style, people know my style. We’re going to make some adjustments to each other, both as part of the game plan and once we see each other in the ring.

I can’t really tell you exactly how I’m going to play it out until I’m in the ring myself. I plan on being the best me possible. I plan on being the sharpest me possible. And right now, in training, I feel really good. The plan is to flow this training camp into a sharp night on August 1st.

Q
How long have you been thinking about the move up to welter?

D. Garcia
I believe right after the Matthysse fight I wanted to move up. I felt like that was a perfect time for me to move up because I beat the best 140-pounder at that time. I had beat Khan and then I came back and beat Morales and Matthysse.

I beat two of the best 140-pounders, so I feel like it’s time for me to go up to 147. But they had different plans for me. Me and my team, we decided to stay at 140 for a little longer to see how it played out. I just wasn’t fully strong at the weight class anymore. I just wasn’t fully strong anymore. So I felt like it’s time for me to go up to 147.

Q
How confident do you feel that you can become world champion again against the likes of Thurman, Kell Brook, perhaps a rematch against Amir Khan?

D. Garcia
I’m very confident. I faced a lot of good fighters. I faced a lot of great fighters in my career. I have a lot of experience. I was a big 140-pound fighter. I’ve never faced a 140-pound fighter who was taller than me or who looked better than me.

I was just squeezing my body down to 140. And I feel like I’m going to be a way better fighter at 147 and be able to use my legs more. At 140, I felt like I wasn’t strong no more, so I just had to walk forward all night and knock my opponents out.

But I feel like at 147, you’re going to see a more athletic Danny Garcia and be able to use my legs more, using my jab more and see punches clearer. When you drain yourself as hard to see punches, then you get hit with a lot of dumb punches because your vision is not clear.

I feel like my vision is going to be a lot clearer and be able to move my head, see the punches better, use my feet. And I think I’m going to be a champion at 147, too. I know so.

L. DiBella
With that, thank you, everybody, for joining us for this PBC on ESPN call.

Again, it’ll be Danny “Swift” Garcia against Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi, and Danny Jacobs against Sergio Mora in the opening bout at Barclays Center, August 1, primetime on ESPN, coverage beginning at 9:00 pm ET/6:00 pm PT.

# # #

In addition to the evening’s main event and co-main event, select undercard bouts will be carried live on ESPN3. ESPN Deportes will also televise the fight live as part of its Noche de Combates series and ESPN International will present live coverage across its networks in Latin America, Brazil, the Caribbean and Pacific Rim. Live coverage will also be available through WatchESPN on computers, smartphones, tablets, Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 and Xbox One via an affiliated video provider.

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.barclayscenter.com and www.dbe1.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @DannySwift, @PaulMalignaggi, @LouDiBella, @ESPNBoxing, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/fanpagedannyswiftgarcia, www.facebook.com/PaulMalignaggi, www.facebook.com/barclayscenterand www.facebook.com/ESPN. Follow the conversation using #PBConESPN and #BrooklynBoxing.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (June 25, 2015) – MMA star Alistair Overeem will be a special guest of M-1 Global and main event fighter Sergei “The Paratrooper” Kharitonov on July 3 at M-1 Challenge 59: Battle of Nomads 5 in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Kharitonov (22-5-0, 12 KO/TKO, 9 SUB), who faces Kenny “Deuce” Garner (16-8-0, 9 KO/TKO, 4 SUB) in their highly anticipated rematch, and Overeem are longtime training partners. In fact, the two have fought twice. In 2006, Kharitonov dislocated his shoulder and tapped out against Overeem at PRIDE 31 in Japan. At the K-1 Hero’s Tournament 1 ½ years later, Kharitonov stopped Overeem on punches in the opening round.

Overeem (39-14-0, 1 NC), who was born in England and fights out of The Netherlands, fought in M-1 Global back in 2002. He forced Sergey Kaznovsky into a first-round submission via an arm-lock at M-1 MFC: Russia vs. World 3 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

M-1 Challenge 59 will be streamed live from Kazakhstan 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 Andriod and Apple smart phones and tablets.

Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 59 live on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable 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.

Information:

www.mixfight.ru

www.wmmaa.org

www.M1Global.tv

Twitter & Instagram:

@M1GlobalNews
@VFinkelchtein
@M1Global

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/pages/M-1-Global/145250878842244
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!

LUCAS BROWNE has laid down the gauntlet to WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, telling the American to name the time and place for a fight.

Browne, who remains the mandatory challenger for Ruslan Chagaev’s WBA crown, began goading Wilder following the Alabama-native’s below par performance against Eric Molina earlier this month.

And Wilder has this week responded in a video posted online, saying the matter is now “personal” and that Browne may well be his next fight

“I saw Deontay’s video and wasn’t really impressed,” Lucas said. “Deontay says ‘I don’t believe in myself’. Anyone who knows me, knows that could not be further from the truth. I believe I’m the hardest hitting heavyweight in the world. There’s no doubt in my mind of that.

“He said he hopes I continue to climb the rankings… well I’m already ranked above his last opponent, Eric Molina, who would be lucky to last three rounds with me. He gave Wilder a tough fight.

“I’m happy to fight Deontay Wilder anywhere in the world. Las Vegas, New York, his backyard. Wherever. It’s a fight that would be explosive and that is what fight fans want to see in heavyweight boxing.

“Wilder said I might be his next opponent. Well it would be an honour to challenge for the heavyweight championship of the world. Have his team contact Hatton Promotions and we can give the fans what they want to see… An explosive fight!”

Matt Clark, Browne’s manager, says he would have no problems arranging the fight should Wilder’s representatives get in touch.

“If Wilder’s team can send us a contract we will have it back to them signed, sealed and delivered – immediately!” he revealed.

“You’ve got two brutal sluggers with dynamite in each fist. It’s a fight that the world would love to see. The difference is Lucas Browne has a great chin to match his concussive power.

“If the version of Deontay Wilder that fought Eric Molina shows up against Lucas Browne, he’s getting knocked out and Australia has its first ever world heavyweight champion.

“Big Daddy” Browne fears no man on this planet. Let’s make this fight a reality!”

NEW YORK (June 25, 2015) – Cancer survivor and Middleweight World Champion Daniel “The Miracle Man” Jacobs (29-1, 26 KOs) continued to spread his motivational story of perseverance this week by making visits to Gilda’s Club in Warminster, PA on Tuesday and Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in New York on Wednesday as part of his Get In The Ring Foundation community outreach. Jacobs took time out of training for his Saturday, August 1 Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN title defense against Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora (28-3-2, 9 KOs) at Barclays Center in his hometown of Brooklyn.

Photo: Daniel Jacobs with the children at Gilda’s Club
Credit: Kathryn Brown/Get In The Ring Foundation

Jacobs overcame his bout with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, and he hopes that his miraculous recovery and comeback can serve to motivate children who have been affected by cancer.

“These kids know the challenges that cancer can bring,” Jacobs said. “But when you see someone in my position — a world champion who overcame cancer and is doing so much after recovery — it can give them a sense of hope. I want to share the battles I’ve had, so it can give kids just a little more ease in the battles and the struggles they’re facing now.”

As Jacobs gears up for his fight back inside the squared circle on August 1, he is optimistic that his efforts this week will help the children at Gilda’s Club and Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital believe that they are champions in life just as he is in the ring.

# # #

TICKETS: Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $250, $150, $75 and $45, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.barclayscenter.com,www.ticketmaster.com and at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center now. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. For group tickets, please call 855-GROUP-BK.

For more information on Get In The Ring Foundation email kathrynbrown@getinthering.net.

Bethlehem, PA (June 25, 2015)–On Friday, July 17 at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, Adam Lopez (12-0, 6 KO’s) of San Antonio, Texas will take on Eliecer Aquino for the WBA FEDELATIN & WBC Interim Latino Super Bantamweight title which will serve as the 2nd bout of a big quadruple-header that will be televised live on SHOWTIME’s award winning ShoBox: The New Generation.

The bout is promoted by GH3 Promotions and will support the 10-round Middleweight main event event between undefeated fighter’s Antoine Douglas (17-0-1, 11 KO’s) of Burke, VA and Istavan Szili (18-0-2, 8 KO’s) of Frenkendorf, Switzerland. In the co-feature, Derrick Webster (19-0, 10 KO’s) of Glassboro, NJ will take on Arif Magomedov (15-0, 9 KO’s) of Chekhov, Russia in a 10-round Middleweight bout. The opening bout will pit Super Middleweights Jerry Odom (13-1, 11 KO’s) of Washington, DC and Samuel Clarkson (14-3, 8 KO’s) of Ceder Hill, TX in a bout scheduled for 8-rounds.

Some of the best talent in the country will be on display on the non-televised undercard as scheduled to appear will be Boxcino 2015 Jr. Middleweight champion John Thompson (17-1, 6 KO’s) of Newark, NJ; Light Heavyweight Lavarn Harvell (14-1, 7 KO’s) of Atlantic City, NJ; Super Middleweight Christopher Brooker (3-0, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia, PA; Super Bantamweight Manny Folly (4-0, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia, PA; Lightweight Samuel Teah (5-1, 3 KO’s) and Lightweight Bienvenidio Diaz (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Paterson, NJ will all see action.

Also on the card will be a 4-round Jr. Middleweight bout between Ricky Nuno (1-0) of Bethlehem, PA taking on Tim Kunkel.

Tickets are priced at $100, $75 and $50 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster and www.ticketmaster.com

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 Jerrell Harris,undefeated Super Bantamweight Qa’id Muhammad, lightweight Oscar Bonilla, Heavyweight Natu Visinia and Light Heavyweight Lavarn Harvell to the GH3 Promotions stable.

Los Angeles, CA (June 25, 2015) Boxing superstar GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN has been nominated by the ESPY’s for the 2014 Fighter of the Year.

Fans can vote for Golovkin at ESPN.com/ESPYS.

Recognized as the world’s most dominant boxer, the middleweight world champion has compiled a record of 33-0 with 30 stoppages, a knockout percentage of 91% — the highest in middleweight division history. Golovkin has now recorded 20 straight knockouts.

“This is a great honor to be nominated by the ESPY’s for the 2014 Fighter of the Year, “ said Golovkin. “I’m very grateful for the support of my fans worldwide.”

“Gennady is the most exciting boxer in the world,” said Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions. “This nomination by the ESPY’s further validates the level of attention that his performances are receiving on a global level.”

In the last year Golovkin scored four knockout victories. Kicking off the balloting year was his highlight reel third round knockout of top rated challenger Daniel Geale on July 26th at Madison Square Garden.

Moving to his new home of Los Angeles for his next fight, Golovkin set an attendance record at the StubHub Center on October 18 while stopping Marco Antonio Rubio in the second round.

On February 21, Golovkin fought for the third time in Monaco, capping a brilliant performance over Martin Murray by eleventh round knockout.

Most recently Golovkin headlined at the legendary Los Angeles venue, The Forum, stopping #2 ranked challenger Willie Monroe in the sixth round on May 16 in front of over 12,000 fans.

The 2015 ESPY’s will be telecast on July 15th, LIVE on ABC from the Microsoft Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles.

For more information on Gennady “GGG” Golovkin visit his website at
www.GGGBoxing.com, follow him on Twitter at @GGGBoxing and Facebook at @GGGBoxing.

Golovkin is sponsored by EXPO 2017, the International Exposition scheduled to take place in 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Further information can be found on their website at www.expo2017astana.com

Bryan Vera 168 – Rocky Fielding 167

37-year-old Rudy Markussen (38-3, 25 KOs) has signed a multi-fight contract with Team Sauerland, paving the way for an all-Danish dream bout against arch-rival Patrick Nielsen (26-1, 12 KOs).

“We are happy to announce that Rudy Markussen has signed a multi-fight contract with Team Sauerland,” said promoter Nisse Sauerland.

Rudy Markussen’s first fight is scheduled for September at the Nordic Fight Night series.

“If Rudy wins the fight, he will face Patrick Nielsen before the end of the year,” said Nisse Sauerland.

Rudy Markussen last entered the ring in December 2012, claiming a first round knockout victory against Daniel Regi in Herning, Denmark.

“With all formalities in place and having signed the contract, I am really looking forward to making a great comeback,” said Rudy ‘Hardhitter’ Markussen.

“It is a dream becoming reality. This is my chance to live out the burning desire I have inside of me,” said Markussen, psyching himself up for what will be the biggest showdown in Danish boxing for decades.

“A fight against Patrick Nielsen motivates me like no other. The fans can look forward to a spectacular fight!”

The date of the event in September and the following domestic clash against Patrick Nielsen have yet to be determined, however both are expected to be announced shortly.

LONDON (25 JUNE) Hennessy Sports in association with Mitchell Sports Promotions are pleased to announce that new British middleweight champion Nick Blackwell will defend his title on Saturday, July 25 against challenger Damon Jones at Derby Arena, live on Channel 5.

Not only that, the night’s chief support contest sees fast-rising heavyweight prospect Hughie Lewis Fury again step up in class to face respected international opposition over a scheduled ten rounds.

Also appearing on the July 25 undercard – televised live on Spike – will be current European Union light-welterweight champion Lenny Daws, former British super-bantamweight title challenger Leigh Wood, current English flyweight champion Louis Norman, as well as exciting prospects Yusuf Safa and Young Fury.

The likes of Myron Mills, Indi Sangha, Sajid Abid, Jamie Robinson, Nathan Kirk and Russell Henshaw will also see action in Derby.

Twenty-four-year-old Blackwell won the British middleweight title in May at London’s sold-out O2 Arena with a stunning upset victory against Londoner John Ryder, live on Sky Sports Box Office. The pair went toe-to-toe for six-and-a-half rounds before Blackwell’s better fitness and strength saw him halt Ryder in a dramatic seventh round. Now champion, Blackwell intends to clean up the domestic scene before pursuing world honours.

Yorkshireman Jones, meanwhile, his first challenger, is unbeaten in 13 professional fights and has barely put a foot wrong since turning professional in 2012. The six-foot southpaw won an English middleweight title eliminator against fellow unbeaten Grant Cunningham last time out and, at 22 years of age, believes he’s ready to fight for top honours in Britain.

“We’re only just getting started with Nick Blackwell,” said promoter Mick Hennessy. “He’s twenty-four years of age, but already has a wealth of experience, and it showed in his tremendous win against John Ryder.

“I truly believe Nick can now go on to dominate the other middleweights in Britain before looking to climb his way further up the world rankings. He’s young enough and good enough to one day be in the mix for world titles.

“His first defence on July 25 should make for a a fascinating blend of styles, as Damon Jones is a tall, awkward southpaw with plenty of ambition. He’s undefeated as a pro and will feel he has the style and ability to dethrone Nick in Derby. Nick will, of course, have other ideas.”

Derby Arena is located on Derby’s Pride Park next to the iPro Stadium, and development of the £27.5 million Arena heralds the most exciting and important changes to leisure facilities in Derby in the last 40 years, as part of Derby City Council’s Leisure Strategy.

The new arena is primarily a space for sports and physical activity, yet also serves as a venue to host cultural events, exhibitions, product launches and conferences, and can hold up to 5000 people.

*** Tickets for Blackwell vs. Jones can be purchased from the Derby Arena Box Office on 01332 255800 or by visiting www.derbylive.co.uk ***

*** Blackwell vs. Jones will be televised live on Channel 5 on July 25, while the supporting undercard will be televised live earlier in the evening on Spike ***

TOLEDO, OH (JUNE 25, 2015)–This past Saturday night at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., top lightweight prospect SONNY FREDRICKSON (9-0, 6KO’s) had to dig down deep and get up from the canvas on his way to stopping tough 29-fight veteran Juan Santiago in the second round of their scheduled six-round bout which took place on the Andre Ward vs. Paul Smith undercard.

Fredrickson dominated the first round and it was looking like an easy night as he scored a knockdown at the end of the frame. As Fredrickson went in for the finish, he was a little careless and got caught with a perfect counterpunch that sent him the canvas for the first time as a pro or amateur.

Fredrickson showed the resolve of a champion in the making, came back
in round two and landed some booming shots that hurt Santiago and the
fight was rightfully waved off.

“It was a great learning experience,” said Fredrickson of the first
round knockdown. “Santiago was tough, I got a little reckless and paid the price. Even a wounded opponent is stilldangerous, so I will definitely take this lesson to heart to make me abetter fighter.”

“I’m happy with the victory and to give fans an exciting show. I’m going to get right back in the gym and look forward to fighting again very soon.

Fredrickson is managed by boxing attorney Rick Torres of Victory Sports Entertainment.

Victory Sports & Entertainment is a newly formed athlete management company with offices in New York and Las Vegas. Founded by noted sports attorney Rick Torres and boxing trainer Michael Leanardi, Victory has steadily built an impressive stable of young prospects that it hopes to groom for future stardom. Victory Sports’ website is www.victorysportsent.com