Undercard
Sean Gee def. Omar Avelar via UD (40-36)(40-36)(39-37)
Jason Davis vs. Daryl Gardner ends in a Majority Draw (39-37 Davis)(38-38)(38-38)
Andres Reyes def. Ricardo Maldonado via UD

Semi Main Events
Marcelino Pineda def. Paul Mpendo via 3rd RD KO (2:51)
Marcello Gallardo def. Jeremy McCleary via 4th RD TKO (0:11)

Main Event
Mike Gavronski def. Maurice Louishomme via 6th RD TKO

Phoenix, Ariz. (March 28, 2015) – Hours before his scheduled rematch and World Series of Fighting (www.wsof.com) co-main event matchup with Thiago Silva (16-3), wrestling standout Matt “The Hammer” Hamill (11-5) has withdrawn from the bout due to illness.

Fast-rising star Teddy Holder (8-1) will take Hamill’s place in the live NBCSN televised matchup against Silva, which also represents the first bout in the WSOF multi-event tournament that will crown its winner the promotion’s first-ever world light heavyweight (205 pounds) champion.

“We are obviously very disappointed that Matt Hamill will not be able to compete tonight but, under no circumstance, would we ask a fighter to enter the WSOF cage if he or she sustains an injury or comes down with any kind of illness prior to a scheduled bout,” said WSOF President Ray Sefo.

“We are appreciative that Teddy Holder was willing to step up and accept a new opponent and formidable challenge on such short notice,” continued Sefo.

The re-shuffling of the lineup will also see Holder’s original opponent, Jake Heun (7-3), matched with a new adversary in Clifford Starks (10-2), who had been slated to face Eddie Arizmendi (15-6) in a WSOF 19 preliminary bout. Arizmendi will no longer compete, but will receive full compensation from WSOF for his previously scheduled fight.

In the highly-anticipated WSOF 19 main event, undefeated, reigning WSOF World Lightweight (155 pounds) Champion Justin Gaethje (13-0) will put his title and perfect record on the line against ferocious, hard-hitting contender Luis “Baboon” Palomino (23-9).

The four-bout WSOF 19: Gaethje vs. Palomino main card will air live, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT on NBCSN.

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

ABOUT NBCSN
NBCSN, part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 85 million homes, the Emmy Award-winning network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL) – including two games of the Stanley Cup Final — Premier League, Formula One, IndyCar, Tour de France, the 34th America’s Cup, and beginning in 2015, NASCAR. In addition, NBCSN features college football, college basketball, college hockey, cycling, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, Fight Night boxing, Ironman, the Dew Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as Costas Tonight, NFL Turning Point, Pro Football Talk, The Dan Patrick Show, and NASCAR America. NBCSN is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

LAS VEGAS (March 28, 2015) – Popular, hard-hitting Light Heavyweight World Champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson and his upcoming opponent, former super middleweight titleholder Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika, were interviewed via satellite by Brian Custer to appear on tonight’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast, live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).

Stevenson will defend his 175-pound crown against Bika on Saturday afternoon, April 4 (3 p.m. ET/ Noon PT) when Premier Boxing Champions makes its debut on CBS Television Network from The Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City

Stevenson (25-1, 21 KOs), speaking from his gym in Montreal, and Bika (32-6-3, 21 KOs), speaking from Boca Raton, Fla., discussed their world title fight, training and more, during a recent taped interview with Custer.

“Don’t miss it, Superman is in the building!,’’ exclaimed Stevenson, who went on to praise his opponent [Bika]. He insisted he was not underestimating him and stressed that his total focus was squarely on April 4.

Bika, who has never been knocked out, said he was not concerned about fighting on Stevenson’s home turf, was looking forward to becoming a three-time world champ and warned Stevenson if he came out seeking a KO, it might cost him.

“Every time he gets caught on the chin, he goes down,” Bika said.

Live boxing was a staple on CBS in the 1980s, consistently featuring future Hall of Famers Sugar Ray Leonard, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and others. Boxing’s history on CBS dates back to 1948 when the Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts premiered featuring legendary blow-by-blow commentator Russ Hodges.

The sport was a popular weekend afternoon staple on CBS in the 1980s and featured the memorable announce team of Tim Ryan, Gil Clancy and Leonard.

In tonight’s doubleheader on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT), WBC Featherweight World Champion Jhonny Gonzalez will defend his 126-pound title against 2008 U.S. Olympian and former world title challenger Gary Russell Jr., and undefeated super welterweight Jermell Charlo and once-beaten super welterweight Vanes Martirosyan will clash in a battle of world-ranked contenders for the WBO Intercontinental 154-pound championship at The Pearl Theater at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

HACKERVILLE. Okla. – March 27, 2015 – Joe Warren (12-4) may very well be “The Baddest Man on the Planet,” but Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) is the new Bellator MMA Bantamweight World Champion.

In a rematch of a controversial 2011 affair, Galvao earned a verbal submission win after a kneebar forced Warren to scream out in pain. The two met in the headlining contest of Friday’s “Bellator: Warren vs. Galvao” event at Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla.

The action was fast-paced from the opening bell with both fighters finding success. It was Warren’s takedowns that served as the primary offense, but Galvao always seemed to find an answer. He would make Warren pay in the second.

As the fight hit the floor again early in the second frame, Galvao transitioned to a kneebar, and as he applied the hold, Warren screamed out in pain, earning an intervention from referee John McCarthy 45 seconds into the second round. The contest was waved off via verbal submission, and Galvao was awarded the win and the Bellator MMA Bantamweight World Title.
The night’s co-main event saw L.C. Davis (23-6) and Hideo Tokoro (32-28-2) combine for an instant classic and a candidate for “Fight of the Year”, with Davis eventually earning a hard-fought split-decision victory scored 29-28 Tokoro, 29-28 twice Davis. The action was fast-paced from start to finish, with both men finding success in brutal striking exchanges, as well as slick grappling sequences. It was the type of fight which truly produces no loser, but Davis did just enough to get the official victory.

“The guy has fought the best,” Davis said of Tokoro. “I knew he was going to be tough. I thought I was going to put him away but I wasn’t able to; hats off to him.

“Next fight, I would like a title shot or a No. 1 contender.”

Tokoro admitted he disagreed with the razor-thin call but declined to blame anyone other than himself.

“I don’t agree with the split-decision, but I have to respect the judges’ decision,” Tokoro said. “I think there were many things I could’ve improved in the fight, but I think I did very well with my wrestling.”

In a light heavyweight contest, Francis Carmont (23-10) earned a decision win over Guilherme Viana (6-2), but it certainly didn’t come easy. After nearly finishing Viana in the second round with strikes, Carmont found himself defending a series of choke attempts in the third. Carmont’s defense was sound, and was granted a decision win, 29-28 on all three cards.

In the night’s first main-card contest, Ryan Couture (10-3) picked up a quick submission win over Dakota Cochrane (18-8), earning the tap at the 3:23 mark in the first round. It was Cochrane who initiated the grappling game, but Couture made him pay by moving to his back and sinking in a rear-naked choke that ended the fight.

Rashad Coulter (5-1) wrapped up the preliminary card with an impressive first-round TKO of Jeremiah O’Neal (13-25). The Bellator MMA newcomer overwhelmed his opponent with heavy punches and brutal knees to the body, scoring the finish by strikes just 1:44 into the opening round.

In a spirited featherweight matchup, Emmanuel Sanchez (10-1) dominated early and then survived a late rally attempt from a game Alejandro Villalobos (17-4) to walk away with a decision win, 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28.

Sean Holden (3-1) couldn’t quite get a finish over Tim Roman (2-2), but he did just about everything he could to pick up a victory over fellow welterweight Roman. Dominating the action from start to finish, Holden ended the first round with a deep rear-naked choke attempt and finished the third punching away in full mount, but Roman simply wouldn’t go away. Still, Holden was awarded a clear win, 30-27 on all three judges’ cards.

In middleweight action, Neal Ewing’s wrestling game proved too strong for Logan Nail (1-1). Ewing (6-0) took the fight to the floor repeatedly throughout the three-round affair, and while he was never especially close to finishing the fight, he cruised to a decision win 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27.

Although Stephen Banaszak (4-4) missed weight for a planned featherweight matchup with Brad Mitchell (4-2), he still picked up an impressive submission win. Banaszak declined to engage his opponent on the feet, instead searching for takedown opportunities at every turn. The strategy worked, as Banaszak picked up just the second omo plata win in Bellator MMA history, tapping out Mitchell at the 2:51 mark of the second round.

In flyweight action Klayton Mai (7-1) missed on early opportunity to finish Xavier Siller (5-4) via rear-naked choke but went back to the position later in the opening round. While he couldn’t quite get the choke, he adjusted the hold to a neck crank and scored the submission at the 3:55 mark of the first.

In the night’s first contest, bantamweight George Pacurariu (9-4) used a beautiful hip toss to throw opponent J.P. Cole (2-3) to the floor, where he immediately locked in a modified armbar to score the submission at the 2:59 mark of the first frame.

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

Phoenix, Ariz. (March 27, 2015) –Undefeated, reigning World Series of Fighting (www.wsof.com) World Lightweight (155 pounds) Champion Justin Gaethje (13-0) weighed in at 154.2 pounds and hard-hitting challenger Luis “Baboon” Palomino (23-9) tipped the scales at 154.7 pounds to make their much-anticipated world championship main event showdown official for WSOF 19 at Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz. tomorrow, Saturday, March 28, live on NBCSN.

WSOF 19 co-main event opponents Thiago Silva (16-3) and Matt “The Hammer” Hamill (11-5) tipped the scales at 205.6 pounds and 205.7 pounds, respectively, for what will serve as both the first bout in the WSOF multi-event light heavyweight (205 pounds) tournament as well as a rematch to their Oct. 9, 2013 matchup that Silva won by unanimous decision.

The four-bout WSOF 19: Gaethje vs. Palomino main card will air live, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT on NBCSN. The live preliminary card stream will begin at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT on an embeddable video player on www.wsof.com.

Priced from $39.99, tickets for WSOF 19: Gaethje vs. Palomino are on sale at Ticketmaster.com and WSOF.com.

Doors at Comerica Theatre will open at 2:00 p.m. PT. The first preliminary bout will begin at 3:00 p.m.

COMPLETE WSOF 19: GAETHJE VS. PALOMINO WEIGH-IN RESULTS:

Main Card:

Main Event: World Lightweight (155 pounds) Championship Bout

Justin Gaethje (13-0) (154.2 lbs.) vs. Luis Palomino (23-9) (154.7 lbs.)
Safford, Ariz. Miami, Fla.

Co-Main Event: Light Heavyweight (205 pounds) Tournament Bout

Thiago Silva (16-3) (205.6 lbs.) vs. Matt Hamill (11-5) (205.7 lbs.)
Sao Paulo, Brazil Loveland, Ohio .

Light Heavyweight (205 pounds) Bout

Jake Heun (7-3) (205.1 lbs.) vs. Teddy Holder (8-1) (204.3 lbs.)
Coconut Creek, Fla. Memphis, Tenn.

Bantamweight (135 pounds) Bout

Timur Valiev (8-1) (136 lbs.) vs. Ed West (18-9) (135.6 lbs.)
Albuquerque, N.M. Tucson, Ariz.

Preliminary Card:

Light Heavyweight (205 pounds) Bout

Clifford Starks (10-2) (201.3 lbs.) vs. Eddie Arizmendi (15-6) (204.4 lbs.)
Tempe, Ariz. Tucson, Ariz.

Lightweight (155 pounds) Bout

Benny Madrid (7-2) (156 lbs.) vs. Jimmy Spicuzza (5-2) (155.1 lbs.)
Phoenix, Ariz. Las Vegas, Nev.

Catchweight (180 pounds) Bout

Joe Gigliotti (3-0) (180.6 lbs.) vs. Brendan Tierney (11-6) (180.8 lbs.)
Gilbert, Ariz. Tempe, Ariz.

Bantamweight (135 pounds) Bout

Andres Ponce (7-4) (135.8 lbs.) vs. Juan Archuleta (5-0) (135.6 lbs.)
Tempe, Ariz Venice Beach, Calif.

Middleweight (185 pounds) Bout

Dan Huber (3-2) (185.5 lbs.) vs. Israel Aquino (184.3 lbs.)
Mesa, Ariz. Reno, Nev.

Welterweight (170 pounds) Bout

Matthew Frincu (5-1) (169.9 lbs.) vs. Eric Regan (15-24) (169.4 lbs.)
Phoenix, Ariz. Phoenix, Ariz.

Bantamweight (135 pounds) Bout

Joe Madrid (4-2) (136 lbs.) vs. Erik Villalobos (1-0) (135.3 lbs.)
Tucson, Ariz. Glendale, Ariz.

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

ABOUT NBCSN
NBCSN, part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 85 million homes, the Emmy Award-winning network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL) – including two games of the Stanley Cup Final — Premier League, Formula One, IndyCar, Tour de France, the 34th America’s Cup, and beginning in 2015, NASCAR. In addition, NBCSN features college football, college basketball, college hockey, cycling, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, Fight Night boxing, Ironman, the Dew Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as Costas Tonight, NFL Turning Point, Pro Football Talk, The Dan Patrick Show, and NASCAR America. NBCSN is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

Las Vegas – Undisputed UFC® featherweight champion Jose Aldo and challenger Conor McGregor are embarking on a world press tour spanning 10 cities in five countries over the course of 12 days to promote their upcoming world title bout at UFC® 189: ALDO vs. McGREGOR on Saturday, July 11 at MGM Grand Garden Arena to highlight International Fight Week. The event also features Robbie Lawler defending his UFC welterweight championship for the first time against No. 2 Rory MacDonald.

JOSE ALDO:

UFC 189 World Championship Tour – North American Wrap-Up – March 26 & 27

“Everything he (Conor) says is pretty strange to me. I’m ready for anything; I know what he’s going to do so I really don’t mind. I’m ready for anything he says or anything he does.”

“I’ve been the champion for a long time. They’re all going to talk, but I’m going to (continue) my reign and they will all fall.”

“I don’t take it the unprofessional way, I’m pretty professional. I just let him (Conor) do what he does, but when the fight comes I’m going to win. That’s what I do; I’ve been a champion all of my life. I’m going to go in there and win and keep the belt.”

“Everything is talked about (regarding moving up to lightweight). I already talked to Dana, so after this fight we’ll figure out what is going to happen.”

“I don’t really care how the fight goes, I’m going to win. My whole career, that’s how it goes, I go in there and win the fight. I don’t (predict) anything.”

“After this fight, I’m going to win, I’m going to go home, he’s going to go home crying and my pockets are going to be full of money.”

CONOR McGREGOR:

UFC 189 World Championship Tour – North American Wrap-Up – March 26 & 27

“They are not lines or nothing. I’m not trying to say anything as a line. I’m just saying what I am going to do to him. I’ll say it to him now and I’ll show him later.”

“Before I came along, he (Jose) was co-main event to the bantamweights. Now, we’re on private jets going all over North America, all over the world. Even top-15 featherweights are headlining cards now. It’s the McGregor division, make no mistake about it. If I leave, and go to the lightweight division, the featherweights go back to the prelims, it’s that simple.”

“It’s like in the jungle, one king gets old, he starts getting sloppy, he starts stagnating then a young gorilla comes up and kills him and takes everything he owns. That’s what is happening here.”

“It’s (media) part of the business, it’s something you must fall in love with. I honestly see it as a separate discipline. There’s boxing, there’s wrestling, there’s jiu jitsu, but there’s also media obligations – that is a separate discipline. Fighters can be broke under that spotlight, it can drain them and they lose the fight before it even begins, so it is something that I have learned to fall in love with. Not any particular part of it, just in general I have learned to accept it and become comfortable with it; that is what I am about; I become comfortable in the uncomfortable.”

“F— show business. This is the fight business.”

“Any man that makes the walk through the gate and steps in at any level, I don’t care if it’s in a small hall or it is amateur, if you step in you have my respect.”

“It’s good to come here (NYC), I find it fascinating how Ireland – we’re a nation of about 4.5 million – yet, we spread all over the world. When I come here I see Ireland everywhere. We literally built this city, so it’s good to be back.”

ROBBIE LAWLER:

UFC 189 World Championship Tour – North American Wrap-Up – March 26 & 27

“It was awesome to be in New York with these fans. They are amazing and really energetic to the point where they are still hanging around after the press conference. Their energy is excellent and helps in pumping up the fight.”

“I can’t wait to get back on the grind for this upcoming fight. This is what I love to do. I fight because it’s how I live. I’ve been doing this for 15 years and the competition is what I love. I love the sport.”

“It’s going to be an awesome fight (between Jose and Conor). Look what these guys brought to the table; look at these fans out here going crazy, this is awesome.”

“It’s nice to be a part of this. I’m a laid back guy so it’s nice for Conor and Jose to put on a show here. Come July 11th, I’ll be the one putting on a show.”

“I don’t really pay much attention to anyone else. I concentrate on myself; it makes life easier and let everyone else decide those things (matchups). I worry about myself and what I can control which is working hard and staying humble.”

“I don’t really care where I fight on the card. I’ll fight first, I’ll fight in the back, I’ll fight in the alley I don’t care. I’m not here to be the main event or this or that. I’m here to put on a show and beat people up and that’s what I concentrate on. I don’t really worry about where I’m at on the card.”

RORY MacDONALD:

UFC 189 World Championship Tour – North American Wrap-Up – March 26 & 27

“It’s an honor to be in this International Fight Week card, but this is not what drives me. I have never been so focused. I will show my best on July 11th. Lawler is internationally respected. A very good fighter, I feel people from Toronto will respect him a lot.”

“I can’t pinpoint anything. Both my losses were huge for my growing. Identifying weaknesses, not only technically but mentally has been a big part of it. I’m thankful for all the experiences I’ve had in MMA – the ups and the downs, all of it is a blessing and I’m happy to be here.”

“I’ll fight anybody, he’d (Conor) have a tough fight with me I think.”

“I feel very confident with my skillset in every martial art discipline. Wherever the fight goes I feel confident. I take a very similar approach to Robbie, I worry about myself and not my opponents and I prepare myself for war.”

“Every experience I gain confidence, more and more confidence, with my growth in this sport. Not only the evolution of my techniques in the gym but also my victories in the cage.”

“I have fire in my veins. It’s something I was born with and I live with.”

Regarding bringing the welterweight title back to Tristar where Georges St. Pierre held the belt for six years: “Everyone wants the title back in the gym and I’m going to go get it.”

EMBEDDED:

Rio de Janeiro:

Episode 1

Las Vegas:

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Los Angeles:

Episode 5

Boston:

Episode 6

Tickets for UFC® 189: ALDO vs. McGREGOR , presented by Bud Light, go on sale Friday, March 27 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $1,000, $750, $500, $350, $225 and $125 (prices do not include applicable service charges). Tickets are available for purchase online at ticketmaster.com and mgmgrand.com and UFCFightWeek.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Tickets will also be available in person at any MGM Resorts International box office. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC® 189: ALDO vs. McGREGOR, presented by Bud Light, will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $49.99 US/CAN for Standard Definition and $59.99 US/CAN for High -Definition.

About UFC®
UFC® is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 129 countries and territories to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide in 28 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.

LOS ANGELES, (March 27, 2015) Boxer Jhonny Gonzalez and his Mexican promoter Promociones del Pueblo conspired with manager/promoter Al Haymon to violate Golden Boy’s exclusive rights to promote Gonzalez, a bombshell complaint filed today against the fighter and the promotional company contends.

Despite Golden Boy’s repeated attempts, Gonzalez, Promociones del Pueblo and Haymon repeatedly refused to put on tomorrow night’s fight between Gonzalez and Gary Russell, Jr., until they cut Golden Boy out of the process, clearly violating the agreement between the boxer and promoter.

“Golden Boy’s contract with Jhonny Gonzalez couldn’t be clearer – the company has exclusive promotional rights for two years or four fights, and neither of those milestones has been reached to date,” said Golden Boy Spokesman Stefan Friedman. “Furthermore, the motive behind the defendants adamant and longtime refusal to match Gonzalez with Gary Russell, Jr is now plain for the world to see. We will vigorously fight to ensure our contract is enforced.”

Golden Boy is seeking damages of no less than $1 million and for the court to enforce the company’s existing contract with Gonzalez.

According to the complaint:

“In December 2013, Golden Boy entered into a written agreement with Gonzalez and DPP wherein Golden Boy obtained the exclusive right to promote Gonzalez’s professional boxing matches throughout the world for a period of two years beginning on the first bout conducted pursuant to the agreement, or four fights, whichever comes first (the “Agreement”). The Agreement further provides that Gonzalez will not take part in any professional boxing match prior to the first bout conducted pursuant to the Agreement.

In August, 2014, Golden Boy proposed that Gonzalez fight Gary Russell, Jr., a promising featherweight boxer in either November or December of that year. DPP initially ignored this proposal and then rejected it, preferring to have Gonzalez fight a lesser opponent, Jose Arce, in Mexico in October.

Thereafter, Golden Boy continued to try and find appropriate fights for Gonzalez. However, DPP consistently refused the fights proposed by Golden Boy for Gonzalez.

In February, 2015, it became clear why DPP was refusing all of the fights proposed by Golden Boy for Gonzalez. DPP was conspiring with Russell’s manager/promoter, Al Haymon, to put together a fight between Gonzalez and Russell in which Golden Boy would not be involved.”

SHEFFIELD, England (March 27, 2015) – Defending IBF Welterweight World Champion and hometown favorite Kell Brook and No. 1 challenger Jo Jo Dan made weight Friday.

Tomorrow/Saturday, SHOWTIME Sports® will present the Sky Sports telecast of Brook vs. Dan live on SHOWTIME (6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT) from the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England. Sky Sports’ Jim Watt and Nick Halling will call the action from ringside.

Brook, of Sheffield, weighed 145½ pounds for his first title defense; Dan, a Romanian who now lives in Montreal, Canada, tipped the scales at 146¼ pounds.

Brook (33-0, 22 KOs) will defend the IBF 147-pound crown he took from previously undefeated Shawn Porter last August on SHOWTIME. Two weeks later, Brook was hospitalized with career-threatening injuries after getting stabbed in the thigh during a holiday in Spain.

Dan (34-2, 18 KOs) has won five in a row and eight of his last nine. He is the first Romanian- based Canadian to compete in a world title fight in England since Lucian Bute lost his IBF super middleweight crown to Carl Froch in five rounds in 2012.

Later Saturday evening on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT), WBC Featherweight Champion Jhonny Gonzalez (57-8, 48 KOs), of Mexico City, will defend his 126-pound belt against quick-fisted southpaw Gary Russell Jr. (25-1, 14 KOs), of Capitol Heights, Md. In the co-feature, from The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, undefeated world-ranked Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (25-0, 11 KOs), of Houston, faces the more experienced once-beaten Vanes Martirosyan (35-1-1, 21 KOs), of Glendale, Calif., in a 10-round bout for the WBO Intercontinental super welterweight championship.

(Selected press conference quotes):

KELL BROOK, IBF Welterweight Champion
“Every day has been a challenge, but we have done it. It’s amazing for me to defend the world title in Sheffield. I will be there knowing that I was meant to do this and I belong at the elite level.

“I’ve come a long way, fighting on undercards and in leisure centres to packing out this arena as a world champion. It took me a long time to get that belt and there is no way on earth that Jo Jo Dan is taking it off me, not a prayer. I am going in there to excite; you’ll see flash and power. I’ve kept the fans waiting too long to fight again and I owe them a big performance. If Jo Jo does what he says he’s going to do and bring the fight to me, the fans are in for a treat because you know how I fight.

“He looks like a man that has come to win. He’s the mandatory challenger like I was against [Shawn] Porter and I took the title off him. It’s every fighter’s dream to challenge for a world title and to take it, so I know that he’s put in 100 percent in the gym and he will leave it all in the ring tomorrow night.

“I would never overlook Jo Jo. It’s happened too many times in boxing that fighters are thinking about another fight and they lose the one in front of them. I am focused on him and making sure I take care of business. He’ll bring his best and I will bring my best, and I’ll show everyone why I am special. I am looking to knock him out.”

JO JO DAN, IBF No. 1 Contender and Mandatory Challenger
“I feel great and I am in the best shape of my life. I cannot wait for tomorrow.

“I know what Kell’s strengths and weaknesses are and I’ll show that in the ring. He was impressive against Porter but I am ready to adjust to whatever he can bring and I am ready for 12 hard rounds.

“I am concentrating on Kell Brook. I will get booed, he will get cheered — I don’t care about that, I’m so confident of winning that title.”

# # #

About Showtime Networks Inc.:
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

NEW YORK (March 27, 2015) – SHOWTIME Sports® offers viewers exclusive access to Floyd “Money” Mayweather and the most anticipated event of the year with “INSIDE MAYWEATHER vs. PACQUIAO,” an intimate four-part documentary series chronicling the life of the perennial pound-for-pound champion as he navigates his collision course with Manny Pacquiao. Episode 1 premieres on Saturday, April 18 immediately following the live SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® doubleheader featuring Mexican superstar Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

INSIDE MAYWEATHER vs. PACQUIAO delivers a unique perspective of the compelling and popular Mayweather in the weeks leading up to the biggest prizefight of this generation. In the fourth installment, Epilogue, SHOWTIME Sports focuses the distinct and Sports Emmy Award-winning spotlight on the unpredictable drama of fight week, takes viewers inside the ropes on fight night, and into the mind of the fighter in the aftermath of the bout.

“SHOWTIME has set itself apart with its coverage of the biggest fights in boxing and our viewers have come to expect the unique access we provide,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “INSIDE MAYWEATHER vs. PACQUIAO will not only welcome viewers into Mayweather’s camp before the fight, but also give viewers a window into those dramatic and often poignant moments immediately before and after this historic fight.”

SHOWTIME cameras are entrenched in Mayweather’s camp in the shadow of the bright lights of Las Vegas. This unparalleled access allows INSIDE MAYWEATHER vs. PACQUIAO to peel back the curtain on Mayweather’s opulent public persona while revealing the unrelenting pursuit of perfection that propels the undefeated, undisputed champion.

From the red carpet spectacle of the kickoff press conference in Los Angeles and the rigors of training camp to the intensity of the weigh-in and the calm dressing room after the final bell, INSIDE MAYWEATHER vs. PACQUIAO offers an inside-out look at an event that has no rival.

Forty-seven fighters have stepped into the ring with Mayweather and all 47 have come away empty. With complete access to Mayweather and the vast entourage that surrounds and supports him, viewers of INSIDE MAYWEATHER vs. PACQUIAO come to understand what makes “Money” tick.

INSIDE MAYWEATHER vs. PACQUIAO episodes premiere on SHOWTIME with multiple encore presentations, including the cable television premiere on CBS SPORTS NETWORK. All episodes of the series will be available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, SHOWTIME ANYTIME® and online at SHO.com/Sports.

Ø Episode 1 premieres Saturday, April 18 on SHOWTIME, immediately following SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Chavez vs. Fonfara (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).

Ø Episode 2 premieres Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME

Ø Episode 3 premieres Wednesday, April 29 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME.

Ø Epilogue premieres Saturday, May 9 on SHOWTIME

# # #

About Showtime Networks Inc.:

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

LOS ANGELES (March 27) – LA FIGHT CLUB headliner Julian “El Camaron” Ramirez (13-0, 8 KOs) hosted a special Los Angeles media workout on Thursday, March 26 in anticipation of his April 2 bout against Casas Grandes, Mexico’s Raul “Bule” Hidalgo (23-12, 17 KOs). The second installment of LA FIGHT CLUB is featured as part of Golden Boy Live! series on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes and will include guest commentator andEXTRA Host Mario Lopez. The live telecast will begin at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT from The Belasco Theater in Los Angeles.

Also featured at the media workout were two-time Brazilian Olympian Everton Lopes (1-0) who will be making his second professional appearance at LA FIGHT CLUB April 2, and Los Angeles fan-favorite Nick Arce (2-0, 2 KOs), who brought his friend Los Angeles radio personality Piolin to join and Julian Ramirez in the ring. Click here for the video of their boxing encounter.
Tickets for the April 2 LA FIGHT CLUB are on sale now and selling quickly. Prices start at $20 and can be purchased online by clicking HERE and at www.goldenboypromotions.com or by visiting the Golden Boy Promotions Facebook page. For ticket information, email us at LAFightClub@goldenboypromotions.com. Upcoming events for LA FIGHT CLUB are scheduled to take place the first Thursday of every month on May 7 and June 4.

Below is what the fighters had to say during the media workout at West Side Boxing Club in Los Angeles:

JULIAN “EL CAMARON” RAMIREZ, Featherweight Prospect:

“On April 2 I will give fans a good fight. I will go out there and try to perform. I have trained hard, and I will be ready for Hidalgo. This will be an aggressive fight; fans want an aggressive style, and I will give them that.

“I want to fight the best, and when I am ready for a title fight I will take on any champion. I am ready for the challenge.”

EVERTON LOPES. Lightweight Prospect:

“We are training very hard. I am sparring and trying to improve everything. We have focused on fighting on the inside so I can be a strong fighter on April 2.

“Boxing was not popular in Brazil but now boxing is coming back. We are bringing back boxing to Brazil because they have world champions and Olympians to watch out for in professional boxing.”

NICK ARCE, Featherweight Prospect:

“My training camp has included a lot of running and a lot of speed drills. I want to be 100 percent at everything and make sure my defense and my speed will be in top form on fight night.
“I am excited because we are 10 minutes away from the Belasco Theater; it’s here in Los Angeles, right at home. I feel like I have the support of all my fans here. Without them this wouldn’t be possible.”
LA FIGHT CLUB: Ramirez vs. Hidalgo is a 10-round featherweight 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 Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT.

The LA FIGHT CLUB is a monthly boxingseries that takes place on the first Thursday of each month on May 7 and June 4. It showcases the brightest stars in the sport and presents these exciting matchups in a nightclub atmosphere with an original setup. The boxing ring is 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 spins music during the fights, and fans are 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 April 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@goldenboypromotions.com by 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 26. Media will not be credentialed on-site, no exceptions.
For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.belascous.com, www.FOXSports.com/FOXSports1, www.FOXDeportes.com, follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @FoxSports, @FoxSports1, @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 and @belascola and follow the conversation using #LAFIGHTCLUB.

March 27, 2015 – HBO Sports® debuts an all-new installment of “2 Days” when the feature segment returns Monday, April 6 at 10:15 p.m. (ET/PT) with a behind-the-scenes look at undefeated sensation Terence Crawford, one of boxing’s fastest rising stars.

“2 Days” is a revealing and intimate look at a 48-hour span in the life of a boxer in the lead-up to one of his fights and the next edition will focus on Omaha native Terence Crawford. HBO cameras followed the 2014 BWAA “Fighter of the Year” last November when he defeated Ray Beltran on Thanksgiving Weekend in front of the hometown fans. The win was Crawford’s 25th consecutive triumph as a pro and his last at 135 pounds where he was the premier lightweight performer. His upcoming fight will see the 27-year-old make his debut at 140 pounds.

HBO air times include: April 6 (10:15 p.m.), 9 (5:30 p.m. & 12:35 a.m.), 12 (1:15 p.m.), 13 (8:15 a.m.), 15 (1:45 p.m. & 10:15 p.m.), 17 (2:00 a.m. & 7:15 p.m.) and 18 (8:45 a.m.).

HBO2 air times include: April 8 (11:50 a.m. & 8:00 p.m.), 10 (2:40 a.m. & 4:30 p.m.), 11 (10:05 a.m.), 14 (3:30 p.m.), 17 (11:00 p.m.) and 18 (4:30 p.m.).

HBO Latino air times include: April 6 (10:15 p.m.), 9 (5:30 p.m.), 12 (1:15 p.m.), 13 (8:15 a.m.), 15 (1:45 p.m. & 9:45 p.m.), 17 (2:25 a.m.) and 18 (8:45 a.m.).

All times are ET/PT.

Crawford is slated to return to the ring on Saturday, April 18 when he meets the formidable Thomas Dulorme from the College Park Center at the University of Texas Arlington on HBO Boxing After Dark. The event will be part of terrific split site doubleheader on HBO starting at 9:45 p.m. (ET/PT).

“2 Days” will also be available on the HBO On Demand® service, HBO GO® and at www.hbo.com/boxing as well as various other new media platforms that distribute the series.

MONTREAL (March 27, 2015) – The concretization of the The Ring, WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO light heavyweight unification fight between Adonis “Superman” Stevenson and Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev has taken another important step. The World Boxing Council (WBC) has ordered a purse bid to take place April 17 in order to determine the promoter of this major event.

Initially requested by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) to insure the required time to prepare for a major event like this super fight, the WBC agreed to host the purse bid on Apr. 17 in Mexico.

The winner of this purse bid will have an advantage over the other promoter in terms of determining the date, place and television network for the light heavyweight showdown. Each group will split the bid equally on a 50-50 basis.

Before the Stevenson (25-1, 21 KOs) vs. Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) rumble can happen, though, both fighters must win their next bout. Stevenson, the Haitian-born Quebecer, has to successfully defend his WBC and The Ring crowns April 4 in Quebec City against Cameroon native Sakio Bika (32-6-3, 21 KOs), while Kovalev has 90 days to execute a mandatory defense of his IBF belt against Frenchman Nadjib Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) at a place to be determined.

Stevenson’s promoter, GYM president Yvon Michel, is excited by the possibility of promoting what could be the biggest light heavyweight brawl of all-time. “We went ahead because Adonis and his team (adviser Al Haymon and head trainer Jevan Sugar Hill) wanted this awesome fight to happen,” Michel explained. “My boxer (Stevenson) wants to give his fans, not only from Quebec but from around the entire world, the fight they really want.

“Adonis was unfairly accused of ducking Kovalev last summer but his ultimate goal has always been to prove he is the King of the Light Heavyweights.”

“Everybody talks to me about Sergey Kovalev,” WBC, The Ring and lineal world light heavyweight champion Stevenson added. “I am fully focussed on Sakio Bika right now, but I really want to unify the titles. I am the king of my division and ready to prove it.”

The 37-year-old southpaw, fully confident of winning all the major world title belts, also noted, “In fact, the two titles (WBA and IBF) that Bernard Hopkins lost to Kovalev were supposed to be mine, but Hopkins ran away to HBO rather than fight me.”

With the help of the WBC

Sanctioning bodies rarely allow champions of other organizations to be part in its rankings. In this case, however, the WBC made an exception and stated that, at its 52th annual convention last December in Las Vegas, the Kovalev vs. Jean Pascal bout winner would be the mandatory challenger for Stevenson’s title.

The importance and magnitude of a fight with all the titles of a single division at stake influenced the WBC Board of Governors to make that decision.

“That was an excellent strategy by Kathy Duva (president of Main Events and Kovalev’s promoter),” Michel commented. “Adonis is now obligated to face Kovalev in a unification bout, guaranteeing a simple process without long, unnecessary bargaining. Our champion won’t back down, the countdown has just started.”

Oneida Nation Homelands (March 27, 2015) – When the Saturday, April 18 fight between Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse and “The Siberian Rocky” Ruslan Provodnikov at Turning Stone Resort Casino was announced, the boxing world erupted – and ticket sales mimicked the enthusiasm. Due to the unprecedented demand to see this sure-fire “Fight of the Year” candidate, ringside seats sold out in only 15 minutes – and the entire event is now near sellout with Turning Stone releasing the last group of tickets. Limited $35 and $25 seats are still available for this epic fight.

Former World Champions Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse and “The Siberian Rocky” Ruslan Provodnikov, two of boxing’s hardest punchers, will take the stage on April 18 at Turning Stone Resort in a 12-round junior welterweight showdown which will be televised as part of a split site doubleheader live on HBO Boxing After Dark®. The clash of these two fearsome fighters will generate what is sure to be an all-action battle to remember.

The host of this legendary event, the Oneida Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino, continues to be nationally recognized as a leading venue for blockbuster boxing matches. In fact, boxing legend Mike Tyson selected Turning Stone Resort as the venue for his world debut as a promoter, Muhammad Ali’s daughter Laila Ali made her boxing debut at Turning Stone, and many boxing hall-of-famers have promoted fight cards or fought at the resort in recent years, and now Turning Stone has landed a “Fight of the Year” contender over arenas in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Miami. The April 18 fight will mark Turning Stone’s 15th televised boxing event in less than two years, cementing the resort as a mecca for knockout nationally-televised fights.

A truly stunning 3,400 acre destination resort, Turning Stone Resort also offers four award-winning hotels, an eclectic mix of more than 20 fine- and casual-dining restaurants, world-class amenities, including two luxury spas, five professional-level golf courses, an indoor tennis and golf dome, vast entertainment options, multiple nightlife venues and a 120,000 square foot Vegas-style gaming floor. Turning Stone Resort recently received several prestigious awards, including three AAA Four Diamond awards, accolades granted to less than four percent of AAA’s approved properties, distinguishing Turning Stone as the only resort in the entire Northeast with three Four Diamond venues at one property.

Matthysse vs. Provodnikov is a 12-round junior welterweight bout presented by Banner Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions in association with Arano Box Promotions and is sponsored by Corona Extra, Mexico, Live it To Believe It! and Khortytsa Vodka. Doors are currently scheduled to open at 6:00 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and the HBO Boxing After Dark® telecast will being at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

Limited seats are still available by calling the Turning Stone Resort Box Office at 315-361-7469 or online at Ticketmaster.

Professional media requesting credentials for the April 18th fight must contact Kelly Abdo, Turning Stone Resort Casino Public Relations Manager at 315.366.9291 or kelly.abdo@turningstone.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.banner-promotions.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.turningstone.com follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @BannerBoxing, @HBOBoxing, @RuslanProvod, @ TurningStone and become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/BannerPromotions, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/TurningStoneResort and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @ bannerboxing, @ turningstone and @ruslanprovod.

LONDON (March 27) – BoxNation are delighted to announce they will be screening undisputed heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko’s April 25th fight with leading contender Bryant Jennings live and exclusive.

The Ukrainian superstar has enjoyed a 10-year title reign at the top of boxing’s glamour division but will now put his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts on the line against the undefeated Jennings at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York.

Klitschko will return to fight on US soil for the first time since February 2008, with the bout set to have high British interest with Manchester heavyweight Tyson Fury mandated to fight the winner later this year.

Overcoming Jennings will be no easy task for 39-year-old Klitschko, with the Philadelphian, who has a three-inch reach advantage, hoping to become the first unified American heavyweight champion in more than 13 years.

After building up an unbeaten record of 19 straight wins, 10 coming by way of knockout, Jennings is confident that he can finally become the man to dethrone Klitschko, who has won 63 fights, 53 by knockout, with only 3 losses – the last coming over a decade ago.

“I do have great respect for Bryant Jennings and his achievements. He has good movement in the ring and good technique. I know this will be a tough challenge,” said Klitschko.

“I am extremely happy to fight in New York City again. I had my first unification fight there and a lot of great heavyweight matches have taken place at Madison Square Garden. It will definitely be a great fight night and I will do everything for it from my side,” he added.

Jennings has been in equally buoyant mood ahead of the fight and said: “On April 25th history will definitely be made and it will be made by me. One of us has to lose and it isn’t going to be me. Enough of the talking, I’m ready to fight.”

Jim McMunn, Managing Director of BoxNation, stated: “We are extremely pleased to be able to bring BoxNation subscribers this enthralling fight. There is always something special about the heavyweights and given the British interest in this fight, with Tyson Fury up next for the winner, it will be a very intriguing and exciting match-up. Wladimir Klitschko has been pound-for-pound one of the very best for so long but in Bryant Jennings he faces an undefeated and highly-skilled contender that is coming to win.”

‘The Champion Returns’ bill will also see one of boxing’s emerging stars in the unbeaten Sadam Ali take on the quick handed Francisco Santana as the co-feature in a 10-round welterweight clash.

BoxNation offers real value-for-money for fight fans, at just £12 a month, with a number of high-profile bouts coming up live and exclusive on the channel with light-welterweight kingpins Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson facing-off plus Andy Lee vs Peter Quillin on April 11th, followed by a night to remember on April 18th with three back-to-back live fights.

Those include Liverpool lightweight Derry Matthews challenging Richard Abril for the WBA world title, with rising star Terence Crawford looking to become a two-weight champion against Thomas Dulorme, before hard-hitters Lucas Matthysse and Ruslan Provodnikov exchange blows.

That night is followed by Klitschko vs Jennings on April 25th, before a huge battle in front of 40,000 fans at the iconic Minute Maid Park baseball ground takes place between Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez and formidable puncher James Kirkland on May 9th.

To subscribe to BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546 and TalkTalk 525) for only £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.525), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android. 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.

Mike Gavronski 162.5
Maurice Louishomme 159

Jeremy McCleary 126.5
Marcello Gallardo 127

Marcelino Pineda 147
Paul Mpendo 145.5

Jason Davis 151
Daryl Gardner 152.5

*Andres Reyes 136
Ricardo Maldonado 134

Sean Gee 143
*Omar Avelar 150

Andres Reyes and Omar Avelar weighed heavy. Camps came to an undisclosed financial agreement.

LAS VEGAS (March 26, 2015) – Two days before their important fights live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT), this Saturday, March 28, hard-hitting WBC Featherweight World Champion Jhonny Gonzalez, 2008 U.S. Olympian and former world title challenger Gary Russell Jr., undefeated super welterweight Jermell Charlo and once-beaten super welterweight Vanes Martirosyan participated in the final press conference at The Pearl Theater at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
In the second half of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® doubleheader, the hard-hitting Gonzalez (57-8, 48 KOs), of Mexico City, will defend his WBC Featherweight World Title against talented once-beaten Russell (25-1, 14 KOs), of Capitol Heights, Md.

The telecast opener will match undefeated rising star Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (25-0, 11 KOs), of Houston, against the battle-tested Martirosyan (35-1-1, 21 KOs), of Glendale, Calif., in a 10-rounder for the WBO Intercontinental 154-pound championship.

Earlier on Saturday, SHOWTIME Sports® will present the Sky Sports telecast of the IBF Welterweight World Championship between defending champion and hometown favorite Kell Brook and No. 1 challenger Jo Jo Dan live on SHOWTIME at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT from the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England. Sky Sports’ Jim Watt and Nick Halling will call the action from ringside.

Tickets for this Saturday’s stacked DiBella Entertainment fight card are priced at $200, $100, $75, $50, and $25, plus applicable fees are on sale. Tickets may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or by clicking HERE. Tickets are also available online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Here’s what the boxers and the other participants said Thursday at Palms Resort Casino Lounge.

JHONNY GONZALEZ, WBC Featherweight World Champion

“I am well aware of the history of the prestigious WBC featherweight title and the many great Mexican fighters before me who held it. It is an honor and a privilege and actually very exciting for me to be mentioned with those names.

“I definitely know that more people have been watching me since I knocked out Abner Mares. Knowing that more people are paying attention keeps me motivated, keeps me going strong.

“I feel I am getting better with every fight. Every victory only makes me work that much harder.

“I am very excited about fighting Gary Russell. He is a great fighter and this is going to be a great fight. I am totally prepared for anything. Everyone says it is my power against his speed, but anything can happen in a fight.

“The media thinks I’m done. They say Russell is too fast for me. I’m an underdog in this fight. While I don’t let any of the talk bother me, it does give me more motivation to prove to the people that I am for real and that I am a good fighter fight in and fight out.

“I enjoy being champion, putting in all the hard work and proving people wrong. I had a great training camp and prepared myself well in Mexico City for this fight. I’m known for knockouts but I never go into a fight looking for knockouts. I am ready to fight 12 hard rounds. If the knockout comes, it comes.

“I want to win and take the belt home to Mexico. You’ll see on Saturday what I have in store. You can see my strategy then. I hope to see you all there.

“I want to thank everyone for helping make this fight possible.’’

GARY RUSSELL JR., 2008 U.S. Olympian and former world title challenger

“I’m ready and in shape. In the ring I’m omnipresent. I’m going to change all those pictures on that belt.

“I feel the same going into this fight as I always do, and I expect the outcome to be the same as always, that I will come out on top.

“I respect Jhonny Gonzalez like I respect all my opponents. He worked hard to win the title. I have studied tape of him. I know he is going to come right after me. Gonzalez is a puncher. But I’m a good puncher too. He’s been knocked out before, maybe he’ll get knocked out again.

“I can do a lot of things in the ring. Of course, my youth and speed will be keys but I have other attributes, too, like boxing acumen, ring generalship and what I call controlled chaos. I can move and punch and I’m thinking all the time in there.

“Gonzalez and Lomachenko are totally different fighters with completely different styles. Lomachenko may be a bit better overall, but Gonzalez is more of a pure puncher with power. I know Gonzalez has a dangerous left hook. But I’m totally prepared for that and everything else.

“In my fight with Lomachenko I was flat. A lot of things went wrong in camp before that fight. I allowed my conditioning coach at that time to change up all sorts of little things with me, and they wound up working against me.

“For this camp, we went back to basics with the same people I’ve always had. It was a great camp. You know, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it and that’s the philosophy all of us have again.

“I never dreamed growing up of being a world champion. My goal was to become a U.S. Olympian and win a gold medal. When I didn’t, I felt I let so many people down. It was then I started dreaming of becoming a world champion.

“I get another chance on Saturday. I’m ready for it.’’

JERMELL CHARLO, Undefeated Super Welterweight Contender

“It’s been an awesome camp, we enjoyed it. It’s been an awesome six or seven weeks. One thing you can never forget is — being a Charlo, being a lion — we stay on our game for weeks. Always training, always in shape.

“We know who is around us in the division, and which fighters to pay attention to. We know how far up we are. Vanes is a great fighter – I grew up with him a little bit. We trained with him back in ’08. His father is great. His father knows my father. We made it to a level where we both carried ourselves to the top. Carried ourselves to rank No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 … and when you’re in that position you fight the best.

“Of course, I’m not going out without a fight. I know neither is Vanes. You guys are going to get a fight Saturday night. As simple as this — I come to roar, I come to take over, I come to show guys that you can’t figure us out.

“There’s so many different things that have been said … ‘you’re basic,’ ‘you’re a boy vs. a man.’ Impossible. I wouldn’t be here if I was a boy. So, Saturday you all will see. I’m going to work.

“There are several weaknesses that I plan on exploiting. He’s got 35 wins but you have to look at who he fought. I would argue some of those guys don’t have the resume of the guys I have fought.

“I’ve fought tougher fighters than Vanes, stronger guys. A lot of people avoid Charlie Ota because it’s a rugged fight, but I’ll take those fights. You have to get in there and adjust, which is something I do.

“Vanes has a good right hand that you have to watch out for. There are certain punches that we have to throw to neutralize it.

“This can open up bigger doors for fights with top guys at 154 and even some other guys we can make catch-weight fights with. I consider myself and my brother (Jermall) both top five fighters in the division.”

VANES MARTIROSYAN, World-Ranked 154-pound Contender

“I’ve been here before. I love the lights.

“To all the fighters, I wish them the best. We’re ready to go. There’s not much to say right now. I do all the talking in the ring. I’ll let my fists do the talking.

“We’re 100 percent ready. I want to thank my trainers Roma, Coach D, my brother, my father. We’re ready to go. On Saturday I guarantee a victory by knockout. I promise that.

“It’s been a great two month camp, but we’re always ready. I’m always doing something athletic even if I don’t have a fight.

“Jermell is a good fighter, a good boxer. I would say he’s basic and I really do believe that. You can’t change a fighter overnight — that takes time. We’ll see what he brings to the table and be ready for anything.

“I’ve been in situations before where I knew even bigger fights were ahead of me and I got kind of used to the lights. I know what to do now and I’m ready. After this fight there are bigger things to come but to get to those bigger things you have to focus on this task.

“I don’t look at myself as the B-side, I think he is. I’ve been in this situation before and I’ve fought a lot of big names. Maybe there’s hype around him that makes him the A-side but it is all hype. I’ve been in there with guys who have a lot of experience so I’ll be ready.’’

NACHO BERISTRAIN, Gonzalez’ Hall Of Fame Trainer

“I expect a very difficult fight against southpaw who is very fast. Gary Russell is a great fighter, I like him.

“Jhonny knows what he has to do. He has to throw punches, maintain constant pressure and cut off the ring. That’s the way to help overcome Russell’s speed.

“Since beating Mares, Jhonny has definitely become stronger and more confident and more ambitious. It’s not about money, however, he just wants to prove to all the people that he is a good champion.

“Jhonny was always dedicated but now he is even more dedicated. We expect a victory by a big margin on points, but if the knockout comes, it comes.’’

GARY RUSSELL SR., Russell’s Trainer/Father

“Gary’s speed is going to be the difference. Speed kills.

“After the camp we’ve had, we expect Gary to come out and do what he knows how to do. They talk a lot about Gonzalez’ punching power, but Gary can whack too, along with his overall hand- and foot-speed and overall ability.

“We went back to our old routine in training and I can tell you Gary feels a whole lot better now. He’s primed for a big effort on Saturday. We all are.’’

RON RIZZO, Vice President of DiBella Entertainment

“Seems to be that this fight has been lost a little been in the shuffle recently. I’m not sure why. We have a lot of big things happening within the boxing industry — just as the University of Kentucky is dominating with their undefeated season, there’s a lot of other great matchups that are involved in boxing, and this is one of them.

“This is one I’m really excited about, and all the matchmakers I’ve been talking to are excited as well.

“I think this is a bout that’s really going to stand out. I don’t want people to miss it. This is a really good fight. There’s also another good fight with Charlo vs. Martirosyan as well.

“I really feel the main event is an unbelievable fight that just got lost in the shuffle of big fights that are happening on network television. For me, all the matchmakers that I’m talking to… it’s just one of those perfect kind of style bouts that are very intriguing. Of course Jhonny Gonzalez always makes for exciting bouts. Gary Russell is another guy who wants that title. He’s ready to take it this time.”

JAIME QUINTANA, Promociones Del Pueblo

“On behalf of Promociones Del Pueblo who represents Jhonny Gonzalez, the World Champion, we would like to let you know that we are happy to be here in Las Vegas defending the title.

“Jhonny Gonzalez has put up pretty good fights before – you all know. You have followed the steps in his career. We appreciate that. Thanks to the media, it’s them that makes a great fighter a great champion.”

BILLY CONN, Vice President of Entertainment and Special Events for The Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort

“On behalf of everyone here at the Palms Casino and our 2,000 employees, we appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to cover this great event.

“We’re excited to work again with SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and DiBella Entertainment. Our crew at The Pearl has been working feverishly to make this intimate venue for everybody.

“You’ll really enjoy seeing fights here. Tickets are still available here at the Pearl Box Office, Ticketmaster, on our website, etc. Tickets start at $25. We look forward to hosting everybody here.”

BOB BENNETT, Executive Director of Nevada State Athletic Commission

“I feel privileged for the Nevada State Athletic Commission to go ahead and regulate this great Championship fight. We want to thank DiBella Entertainment and Goossen Promotions for bringing this fight to the fight capital of the world and to SHOWTIME for broadcasting the fight. Last but not least, and most importantly, I want to thank the fighters. Without the fighters, none of us would be here.”

# # #

“Gonzalez vs. Russell Jr.”, a 12-round world championship bout for Gonzalez’s WBC Featherweight World Title, is promoted by DiBella Entertainment. In the co-feature, Jermell Charlo takes on Vanes Martirosyan in super welterweight action. The event will take place at The Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas and will air on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT). The telecast will also be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).

For more information, visit www.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter at @SHOSports, @jhonnygbox, @mrgaryrusselljr, @TwinCharlo, @LouDiBella and @PearlAtPalms, follow the conversation using #GonzalezRussell, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing or visit the SHOWTIME Boxing Blog at http://theboxingblog.sho.com.

THACKERVILLE. Okla. – March 26, 2015 – Fighters took to the scales and successfully hit their targeted weights Thursday afternoon at the WinStar World Casino & Resort, the site of tomorrow’s highly anticipated “Bellator: Warren vs. Galvao” event, which airs LIVE and FREE on Spike at 9 p.m. ET.

“Bellator: Warren vs. Galvao” is headlined by a rematch of a controversial fight between Bellator Bantamweight World Champion Joe Warren (12-3) and Marcos Galvao (16-6-1). Many people felt that the Brazillian Galvao was robbed in their first match up, and now Warren looks to win in convincing fashion tomorrow night.

The event also features a bantamweight co-main event between L.C. Davis (22-6) and Japanese mainstay Hideo Tokoro (32-27-2).

Joe Warren (134.4 lbs.) vs. Marcos Galvao (134.6 lbs.)

LC Davis (135.4 lbs.) vs. Hideo Tokoro (135.6 lbs.)

Francis Carmont (204.8 lbs.) vs. Guilherme Viana (205.6lbs.)

Ryan Couture (156 lbs.) vs. Dakota Cochrane (205.6 lbs.)

George “Geo” Pacurariu (135.8 lbs.) vs. J.P. Cole (134.4 lbs.)
Klayton Mai (126 lbs.) vs. Xavier Siller (126 lbs.)
Brad Mitchell (145.4 lbs.) vs. Stephen Banaszak (146.8 lbs.)
Emmanuel Sanchez (145.4 lbs.) vs. Alejandro Villalobos (145.2 lbs.)
Logan Nail (184.8 lbs.) vs. Neil Ewing (184.6 lbs.)
Sean Holden (169.6 lbs.) vs. Tim Roman (170.8 lbs.)
Rashad Coulter (229.8 lbs.) vs. Jeremiah O’Neal (242.4 lbs.)

Additional fighter photos / Credit Bellator/Eric Coleman
PRE-FIGHT QUOTES:

Joe Warren:
“It’s an honor to be fighting again at WinStar Casino. I’ve been here three or four times and my fans show up and we sell out the venue. It’s really exciting to have the opportunity to beat up another Brazilian tomorrow.

“I always perform better in the bigger events in front of my fans. I rise to that level, it’s from my Olympic background.

“I’m not worried about anything that Marcos Galvao does, he’s just a body in front of me to punish. I have a focus and game plan. If I keep moving forward, no one can stop me.

“I am 100 percent looking for the knockout. I am trying to be the champion everybody wants me to.

“If it’s a five round fight, I am ready for that. This is a championship fight and MMA is the most unpredictable sport. Of course I would like to finish every single opponent in the first minute of the first round, but if that doesn’t happen and I am ready for good long fight.

“I am ready for whoever they put in front of me. Whoever is in that cage with me, I am going to punish. I want to keep this belt for as long as I can.”

Marcos Galvao:
“I have never felt better going into a fight. I had the best training camp I have ever had, I am ready for tomorrow.

“I am well prepared for wherever the fight goes. I am better than him in all aspects of MMA, including wrestling.

“It is a dream come true to be fighting on SPIKE. Everybody back home in Brazil is very excited to watch me fight. They all have their big screens up in their house and are ready to cheer me on.”

“Bellator: Warren vs. Galvao” – Friday, March 27, WinStar World Casino, Thackerville, Okla.

Main Card (9 p.m. ET)
Bellator Bantamweight Title Fight: Champ Joe Warren (12-3) vs. Marcos Galvao (16-6-1)
Bellator Bantamweight Feature Fight: L.C. Davis (22-6) vs. Hideo Tokoro (32-27)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Francis Carmont (22-10) vs. Guilherme Viana (6-1)
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Ryan Couture (9-3) vs. Dakota Cochrane (18-7)

Preliminary Card (6:30 p.m. ET)
Bellator Welterweight Prelim Fight: Sean Holden (2-1) vs. Tim Roman (2-1)
Bellator Middleweight Prelim Fight: Neal Ewing (5-0) vs. Logan Nail (1-0)
Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Emmanuel Sanchez (9-1) vs. Alejandro Villalobos (17-3)
Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Stephen Banaszak (3-4) vs. Brad Mitchell (4-1)
Bellator Flyweight Prelim Fight: Klayton Mai (6-1) vs. Xavier Siller (5-3)
Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: J.P. Cole (2-2) vs. Geo Pacurariu (8-4)

Swing Bout
Bellator Heavyweight Prelim Fight: Rashad Coulter (4-1) vs. Jeremiah O’Neal (13-24)

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

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

Tacoma Washington (March 26, 2015) After more than 18 years of showcasing the best up and coming boxing talent the West Coast has to offer along with many televised fights including 11 world title fights, Battle at the Boat’s 100th show is set to kick off this Saturday, March 28th, live from the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, with the first contest scheduled for 7:00PM.

Headlining this historic night of fights will be the highly anticipated bout between Tacoma’s own Mike “Imagine Me” Gavronski (16-1-1 10KO’s) and Maurice Louishomme (8-1-1 4,KO’s) of Colorado Springs, Colorado in a 10-round main event. Gavronski has been on a roll as of late, winning dominant decision victories in each of his last two contests. Louishomme has made a mark in his early boxing career with a crowd pleasing style along with the courage to take on any challenger that comes his way with his only loss coming against 2011 Gold Medalist at the World Championships, Ievgen Khytrov.

In the co-main event of the evening, Buckley, Washington’s undefeated sensation Jeremy McCleary (6-0) looks to keep his perfect professional record alive in a 5-round bout versus talented Oregonian Marcello Gallardo (4-1-2 1KO’s). McCleary is no stranger to the Battle at the Boat ring, with all of his professional contests taking place in the I-5 showroom. Gallardo poses as the toughest opponent McCleary has fought to date.

Also featured on the card will be heavy-handed Toppenish, Washington native Marcelino Pineda (4-1, 4KO’s). The talented knockout artist will be looking to add another knockout victory to his record when he takes on veteran Paul Mpendo (8-12-4 4KO’s) of Portland in another 5 round bout.

From top to bottom, the Battle at the Boat 100 card is stacked with exciting fights that will make this historic evening one to remember. The 4 round undercard bouts are as follows:

Jason Davis (12-10-1, 3KO’s) vs. Daryl Gardner (2-5, 2KO’s)
Sean Gee (debut) vs. Omar Avelar (3-12, 3KO’s)
Andres Reyes (2-0) vs. Ricardo Maldonado (4-2)

Halquist Productions has also planned for a very special intermission where past Battle at the Boat stars and other contributors of the West Coast’s leading boxing promotion step into the ring one more time. Those guests include: Kenny Ellis, Emmit Linton, Tom Mustin, Stan Naccaroto, and many more!

Tickets for Battle at the Boat 100 are on sale now at the Emerald Queen Casino box office as well as all Ticketmaster locations and start at only $25. Doors open at 6:00PM with the first bout scheduled for 7:00PM. Battle at the Boat is brought to you by Brian Halquist Productions. For more info, please visit www.halquistproductions.com as well as the Battle at the Boat Facebook page.
For Interviews or credential requests, please contact:

Washington D.C. (March 26, 2015) – A little more than two weeks in advance of his highly anticipated bout at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Lamont Peterson (33-2-1, 17 KOs) hosted media at the Bald Eagle Recreation Center in Washington, D.C. Lamont, his brother Anthony and Lamont’s trainer, Barry Hunter, took some time out of their training schedule to discuss Lamont’s Premier Boxing Champions showdown against Danny “Swift” Garcia (29-0, 17 KOs) on April 11.

Below please find notable quotes from the event, which was attended by print, broadcast and online media outlets from around the region:

Lamont Peterson, Super Lightweight World Champion

“The plan might be to just go out there and fight him. Regardless of how I choose to fight, I feel like I can win. I do have quicker feet, but I can use them to do other things too. I can go forward. I don’t always have to be going backwards. I will stick to the game plan, but we don’t know what the game plan is right now.

“My mentality always shows in the ring, especially in the late rounds. You ask a lot of your body in that ring and a lot of times it goes to what it knows. So your personality definitely comes out, and I think that’s where I shine more than other fighters. The later rounds are when I normally take over the fight. A lot of the time I wish we could go more rounds.

“The fans wanted to see this fight so I wanted to make sure that it happened. I never really call out names or talk about who I want next. I leave it up to the fans and to the media because there are lots of fights that the fans want to see that never happen. At the end of the day, I’m fighting for the fans and the media so why not fight who they want me to fight?

“I’m just looking to take the things I do well and execute, and then I’m looking to take away the things Garcia does well and force him to do the things he doesn’t do well more often. I don’t look at any one previous fight of his and think ours is going to go that way.

“I’m a better fighter. He’s definitely a counter-puncher and we’re looking to make sure that we don’t get countered the way some others have been.

“There have been ups and downs in the camp. Sometimes it’s time to pull back and relax, but sometimes it’s time to work hard. Overall I feel great. A lot of people say this, but this has been my best training camp ever and I’m happy where I’m at right now. I’m ready to fight.

“This is the biggest fight for me. After this there’s nothing left to do in the weight class. I’d like to move up after this next fight.”

Barry Hunter, Peterson’s Trainer

“Lamont is a very versatile fighter. He’s been in the ring hundreds of times. He can box. He can fight both inside and outside. He can strategize, but he can also be very aggressive.

“Danny is a solid fighter. He doesn’t do one or two things great, but he does a lot of things well. There are some things though that we’ve seen in him that we think we can exploit and we’re going to go out there with the intent to do so. Overall I think Lamont is a better fighter.

“There’s only a few big names left at 140, everyone else has moved up to 147. So Lamont’s way of thinking was that the only way this fight made sense at 140 was if he could face Danny Garcia. This was more about giving the fans what they want to see. This is going to give fans a great free fight again on national TV.

“NBC is a true sports network. They have NBA, WNBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS and the only sport that was missing was boxing. Boxing used to be on every network and they had legendary fights with legendary fighters. It wasn’t always about a belt either. Then things changed, but this gives us a chance to bring boxing back to the true fans.”

Anthony Peterson

“I’m not nervous about watching this fight. I’m just going to sit back and watch. Lamont’s so ready.

“Danny is an extraordinary fighter. It’s in his DNA, but Lamont is so focused I’m confident he’s going to win.

“Lamont learned to fight protecting me on the streets.”

# # #

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $300, $200, $150, $100, $80 and $50, 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. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com www.nbcsports.com/boxing,www.BarclaysCenter.com and www.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @LouDiBella, @DannySwift, @KingPete26, @KidChocolate, @AndyLeeBoxing, @RealLuisCollazo, @NBCSports and @BarclaysCenter and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions,www.facebook.com/NBCSports and www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment. Follow the conversation using #PremierBoxingChampions and #BKBoxing.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (March 26, 2015) – M-1 Global has announced a special five-round, heavyweight Super Fight on May 2 as unbeaten M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Marcin “Tybur” Tybura takes on M-1 Challenge light heavyweight titlist Stephan “T-800″ Puetz, headlining M-1 Challenge 57: Clash of Champions, in Orenburg, Russia.

The historic M-1 Challenge 57 will be streamed live 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.

The 29-year-old Tybura (12-0-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 SUB) captured the coveted M-1 Challenge heavyweight title last August 15 at M-1 Challenge 50: Battle on Neva, locking-in a choke hold on defending champion Damian Grabowski (19-1-0) in the first-round for the Submission of the Night.

The 6’3”, 248-pound native of Poland made his first title defense last November in Beijing, China, by way of another opening-round submission of previously undefeated Denis Smoldarev (9-0-0) via a choke hold. Tybura is unbeaten in six M-1 Global fights.

“I think this fight is the best option for me at the moment,” Tybura said. “I’m always looking for a challenge. I know Stephan weighs around 110 kilograms (242 lbs.), normally, and that he’s a great fighter. All of that gives me motivation. Fights are never easy; I always expect them to be hard and to go the full distance. We’re both champions, proving we know how to win title fights, and that makes it a great matchup.”

Tybura chokes ot Smoldarev
Puetz (12-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 4 SUB), 27, is 3-0-0 in M-1 Global fights, all in M-1 Challenge light heavyweight championship matches. The 6′ 5″ German is stepping up to fight as a heavyweight this one time against Tybura.

A decorated fighter in Germany before signing with M-1 Global, Puetz won the crown March 14, 2014 at M-1 Challenge 46, taking a five-round split decision from veteran Viktor Nemkov (19-4-0). Puetz has had successful title defenses against Luis Fernando Miranda (12-1-0) last August at M-1 Challenge 50 by second-round choke submission, and this past December at M-1 Challenge 54, in which he punched his way to a second round knockout of previously undefeated Valery Myasnikov (8-0-0).

“It was an easy decision for me to take this fight (at heavyweight) because I consider Tybura one of the best fighters out there and I love any sort of challenge,” Puetz explained his decision. “My motivation is to be the best and I have to beat the best in order to achieve that. I still consider this fight a “one-off” as my long term future is in the light heavyweight division. I usually walk around between 106-110 kilograms (233-242 lbs.), but I might even come into this fight a little lighter in order to work on my quickness. I will be in great shape for sure. This fight is the biggest fight M-1 can put out! It´s also a historical fight with the light heavyweight champion meeting the heavyweight champion. We are both known as fighters who constantly move forward and are willing to take a risk in order to finish our opponents. This fight won´t be any different. You better be prepared for a real WAR between MAN vs. Machine!”

Puetz (R) strikes Nemkov

All fights and fighters are subject to change. Additional fights to soon be announced.

Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 57 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.

UPCOMING EVENTS: M-1 Challenge 56, April 10, 2015 in Moscow, Russia.

Information

www.mixfight.ru

www.wmmaa.org

www.M1Global.tv

Twitter & Instagram:

@M1Global

@VFinkelchtein

@M1GlobalNews

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!

BROOKLYN (March 26, 2015) – Superstars of the present and future will be well represented on Saturday, April 11 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn as a full undercard of Olympians, prospects and future stars hit the ring looking to impress the Brooklyn crowd.

The exciting undercard features Olympic Gold Medalist for the Dominican Republic Felix Diaz battling Brooklyn-born Gabriel “Tito” Bracero in a 10-round super lightweight contest. Plus, the return of Brooklyn’s own Luis Collazo, who will compete in welterweight action.

Also fighting at Barclays Center are a pair of 2012 U.S. Olympians, as undefeated prospect “Sir” Marcus Browne takes on the experienced Aaron Pryor Jr. and Browne’s Olympic teammate Errol Spence Jr. makes his Brooklyn debut against once-beaten Samuel Vargas.

Additionally on the stacked undercard is the highly regarded Viktor Postol, plus undefeated prospect Prichard “Digget” Colon battles Jonathan Batista and undefeated prospect Heather “The Heat” Hardy” takes on Renata Domsodi in a super bantamweight bout.

“It’s an honor for me to be fighting in New York for the first time and at Barclays Center. I know the Dominican fans are going to come out in full force to support me,” said Diaz. “Bracero is a tough fighter, but I have world championship dreams and he is standing in my way.”

“This is a dream come true for me,” said Bracero. “I live in Sunset Park, right down the block from Barclays Center and I am grateful for this opportunity to fight in front of my hometown fans. I’ve been through hell in life, but I’ve never given up on my dream. If you believe in yourself, anything is possible. This is my destiny and I am ready.”

“I’m very excited to be fighting at Barclays Center again. I’ve experienced some of the most incredible moments of my career there,” said Collazo. “This will be my fourth fight at Barclays Center and I plan on giving my hometown fans a lot to be excited about on April 11.”

“I’m happy and excited to fight at Barclays Center for the eighth time,” said Browne. “My friends and family are going to come out and support me like they always do, but I am even more excited to be on a card with so many guys I consider great fighters and my friends like Kid Chocolate and Lamont Peterson.”

“Fighting at Barclays Center for the first time is a great opportunity and I plan on making the most of it,” said Spence Jr. “I’m going to work hard in camp to put on a great show for the fans in Brooklyn.”

“I was born and raised in Brooklyn and it is an honor to be invited back to fight in my hometown at Barclays Center,” said Hardy. “I’m looking forward to putting on a great show for the fans on April 11.”

“I’m very excited about this card and all the locals on the undercard. Collazo is a great fighter and one that the fans love to watch,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment, promoter of the event. “Felix Diaz versus Gabriel Bracero is a New York showdown, with a Dominican Olympic gold medalist from the Bronx facing a “Nuyorican” from Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Also, the first Brooklyn appearance of 2012 Olympian Errol Spence will be a real treat for the fans. Add rising stars like Staten Island’s Marcus Browne and Brooklyn’s own Heather Hardy, the first lady of DBE and you have the makings of an electric, nonstop night of action.”

“The heart of boxing at Barclays Center is the great local boxers that fight in our ring,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Barclays Center. “Our April 11 card not only delivers major primetime matchups, but gives many of my favorite fighters, including Luis Collazo and Marcus Browne, the opportunity to showcase their skills in their hometown. This is going to be an exciting night for Brooklyn Boxing.”

This exciting roster of undercard bouts will complement the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC primetime main event bouts featuring undefeated superstar Danny “Swift” Garcia (29-0, 17 KOs) facing Lamont Peterson (33-2-1, 17 KOs) and the middleweight championship bout between “Irish” Andy Lee (34-2, 24 KOs) and undefeated Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (31-0, 22 KOs). The second installment of PBC on NBC begins at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $300, $200, $150, $100, $80 and $50, 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. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

A two-time Olympian representing the Dominican Republic, Diaz (16-0, 8 KOs) won a gold medal at his second Olympic games in 2008 in Beijing. Now fighting out of the Bronx, the 31-year-old looks to remain undefeated when he takes on Bracero on April 11. This fight will mark his first time fighting in New York and he no doubt wants to impress the fans in his adopted home city.

The Brooklyn-born Bracero (23-1, 4 KOs) has worked his way to becoming a contender in the junior welterweight division. His only loss came in 2012 to DeMarcus Corley, but he has rebounded to win his last five fights, including his most recent victory over former title contender Dmitriy Salita. Now, he prepares to make another statement against Felix Diaz in his Barclays Center debut.

One of Brooklyn’s most respected fighters today, Collazo (35-6, 18 KOs) will be aiming to get back on track when he enters the ring on April 11. In May of 2015 Collazo faced Amir Khan in a hard fought 12-round unanimous decision loss, snapping a four-fight win streak. Never having suffered consecutive losses, the gritty Collazo believes that his hometown crowd will give him the boost he needs to get a win.

As he approaches his record eighth appearance at Barclays Center, the 2012 U.S. Olympian Browne (13-0, 10 KOs) is becoming synonymous with boxing’s newest Mecca. Unbeaten as a professional, with five knockouts in Barclays Center ring, the Staten Island native has shown how much he loves fighting in his backyard. Browne faces the 36-year-old Pryor Jr. (19-7, 12 KOs) from Cincinnati in a light heavyweight bout.

A 2012 U.S. Olympian who had a highly decorated amateur career, Spence Jr. (15-0, 12 KOs) from Desoto, Texas, is looking to remain undefeated and continue to make a name for himself in the sport. The 25-year-old will battle Columbian-born Vargas (20-1, 10 KOs) fighting out of Ontario, Canada.

A 31-year-old out of Kiev, Ukraine Postol (26-0, 11 KOs) has made a name for himself as one of the most feared men in the super lightweight division. Having only fought twice in the USA before, April 11 is a great opportunity for Postol to make a statement on American soil. After a thrilling victory over Selcuk Aydin in May 2014, Postol is primed for a big 2015.

Fighting out of Puerto Rico, the fast-rising Colon (13-0, 10 KOs) makes his second appearance at Barclays Center on April 11 after dominating Lenwood Dozier in Brooklyn en route to a six-round decision in August 2014. The 22-year-old will face the 30-year-old Batista (14-5, 7 KOs) out of the Dominican Republic in super welterweight action.

Already the winner of the first-ever professional female boxing match at Barclays Center, Hardy (12-0, 2 KOs) returns on April 11 looking to keep her perfect record intact. Her previous victory at Barclays Center came in June 2014 when she won a split decision over Jackie Trivilino. Most recently, she won a dominant unanimous decision against Elizabeth Anderson in December 2014. She looks to keep that momentum going on April 11 when she faces the Renata Domsodi (12-6, 5 KO’s) out of Budapest, Hungary in a super bantamweight contest.

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For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com www.nbcsports.com/boxing,www.BarclaysCenter.com and www.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @LouDiBella, @DannySwift, @KingPete26, @KidChocolate, @AndyLeeBoxing, @RealLuisCollazo, @NBCSports and @BarclaysCenter and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions,www.facebook.com/NBCSports and www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment. Follow the conversation using #PremierBoxingChampions and #BKBoxing.

Toronto – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, today announced a live broadcast of World Series of Fighting 19: Gaethje vs. Palomino this Saturday, March 28 at 9 p.m. ET exclusively in Canada.

WSOF 19: Gaethje vs. Palomino will be headlined by a world lightweight championship showdown between undefeated, reigning kingpin Justin Gaethje (13-0) of Stafford, Ariz., and aggressive-minded, hard-hitting challenger Luis “Baboon” Palomino (23-9) of Miami, Fla.

In co-main event action, the WSOF multi-event, four-man light heavyweight tournament will kick off with a rematch between superstar Thiago Silva (16-3) of Sao Paulo, Brazil and inspirational fighter Matt “The Hammer” Hamill (11-5) of Loveland, Ohio.

In a tournament reserve bout, American Top Team’s Jake “The Honey Bear” Heun (7-3) battles knockout artist Teddy Holder (8-1), and kicking off the televised card, Dagestani standout Timur “Lucky” Valiev (8-1) faces gritty bantamweight veteran Ed “Wild” West (18-9).

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

New York, NY, March 26, 2015-Lion Heart Boxing Productions’ gallant effort to resuscitate professional boxing in Zimbabwe may have been dealt a fatal blow. The Zimbabwe Boxing Board’s unexplained failure to act on a request by the company for permission to stage a boxing tournament in Harare may be the final straw that broke the camel’s back on the company’s “Zim Project.

In December of 2014, Lion Heart’s Board of Directors met and resolved to have one final go developing Boxing in Zimbabwe by exploring the possibility of promoting a quarterly boxing series in Harare starting in April 2015. As a result, the company decided to send its CFO, Edward Mendy, to Zimbabwe tasked with only one objective-investigate the feasibility of hosting a boxing tournament in Harare to be held on April 16 or April 23, 2015 in conjunction with Zim’s 35th Independence Day celebration, or other date as feasible. Ancillary to same, Mendy was tasked with the following: (1) confirm a date, (2) secure a venue, (3) book Zim boxers to feature in the Main Event, and/or co-main event, and (4) secure board permission to host the event.

The Main Event of the proposed May 2015 inaugural event was slated to feature Former Two Time British Champion and Two Time Commonwealth Champion Danny Williams (46-18) taking on Bulawayo’s own Thamsanqa Dube (12-3), a former WBA Pan-African Champion. In the Co-Main Event, Namibian and former World Champion Harry Simon (30-0) was selected to take on an opponent to be announced. The Undercard was to be highlighted by a special feature bout–WBC Africa Welterweight Charles Manyuchi (15-2) was to defend his title on home soil for the first time ever or just do a rating fight (subject to the approval of his Zambian Promoter Chris Malunga and his partners). Manyuchi is currently the most internationally recognized Zimbabwean Boxer and has been plying his trade in neighboring Zambia since 2012 for lack of options at home. The event would have been broadcasted live on ZTV and streamed live worldwide on the Internet. Further, the event would have been rebroadcasted on a delayed basis via regional sports channels in the USA, which reach over 165 Million American cable homes (over 100 Million unique homes) using Lion Heart Boxing Productions’ established contractual relationships. Additionally, the event was slated to be syndicated regionally and in other markets, worldwide as feasible.

In furtherance of the company’s Zimbabwe ambitions, Mendy left New York for Harare on February 26, 2015 on exploratory mission. He was received warmly by Zimbabweans of walks of life and spent a very enjoyable and productive ten days in Zimbabwe, visiting various cities and meeting with people. Lion Heart was able to achieve all of the stated goals except the last one, secure ZBB support for the proposed event, even though the first meeting scheduled on Mendy’s agenda was the Board. Unfortunately, not only did the Zimbabwe Boxing Board not provide the requisite nod, it would not even convene an official meeting of the Board to receive Mendy or table Lion Heart’s plans. To date, and three weeks later, Lion Heart has not received any correspondence from the Board on its application to host an event in May. The only information it has received relative to the event is from media reports, to the effect that the Board needs more time to deliberate.

Due to the ZBB’s non-responsiveness, Lion Heart regrettably has decided to put its Zim Project on hold indefinitely. Says Lion Heart Event Coodinator Sporty Smith, “We have no choice but to put our Zim Project on hold since the ZBB has failed to afford us the smallest of professional courtesy. We can understand a Board’s refusal to sanction an event it does not like it. A failure by a Board to reply, meet deadlines it proposed and otherwise fail to communcate, however, is unheard of. Not only was the board frosty in its welcome of Edward Mendy, it would not even convene a meeting of the board even though advance arrangements were made with it. Further, the Board would not even give us the courtesy of a response despite numerous follow-up inquiries. What is most shocking about the whole thing, the ZBB’s action (or inactions), is that it is not like the ZBB has sanctioned any real boxing events in its current term, a three-year term that expires in December, or have any boxing events scheduled on its calendar. Neither are any promoters other than Lion Heart knocking on the Board’s doors or trying to promote boxing events in Zimbabwe. Thus, we are truly perplexed given the extremely warm welcome and unabashed enthusiasm our project otherwise received from boxers, trainers, other members of the boxing community, the media, tourism and other government officials as well as ordinary Zimbabweans. Basically we have a Boxing Board that has seen no boxing events in its current term, yet it is not acting on the only real boxing event tabled before it, and a proposed major tournament with internationally recognized start at that.”

Lion Heart’s efforts to help develop the sport of Boxing in Zimbabwe, the “Zim Project,” has spanned over a decade. In addition to sponsoring various tournaments in Zimbabwe over the last decade, Lion Heart Boxing Productions and its owners have attempted to help advance the careers of numerous Zimbabwean boxers, including then undefeated Thamsanqa Dube and Ishmael Kuckocha, by sponsoring them to further their training and careers in the USA. However, despite what it believes to be its best efforts, Lion Heart Boxing Productions has had very limited success with its Zim Project and has little or nothing to show for its Herculean efforts to help progress Boxing in Zimbabwe.

Boxing tournaments in Zimbabwe that Lion Heart sponsored did not achieve the desired financial results. Further, various local promoters and Zimbabwean partners (other than Gilbert Munetsi) that Lion Heart Boxing Productions had contracted with over the years had turned out to be unreliable and unproductive. Many of local promoters and partners promised much and delivered little. Further, the Zimbabwe Boxing Board would not approve the signing of any of the fighters that Lion Heart had interest in the 2000’s. Most recently, Lion Heart agreed to help a small local promoter, Delta Force Promotions, with an event he planned by securing the event’s purse money and depositing same with the Boxing Board. The local Promoter, however, was unable to organize the event to the Board’s satisfaction. After that experience, Lion Heart finally resolved in 2014 to give up on its Zim Project. However, Lion Heart was convinced by Chit Town based writer and former ZBB Board Member Gilbert Munetsi to persist in its Zim endeavors and keep on working on the Zim Project.

Says company CFO Edward Mendy, “To be honest, equal credit for our perseverance on the Zim Project should go to Gilbert Munetsi and I. But for our continued pleading and my obstinacy in the face of adversity, Lion Heart would have long terminated its foray into Zimbabwe Boxing.”

Added Mendy, “After over ten years of working without success on our Zim Project, our lack of success in trying to sign various Zim boxers to bring to the USA in 2004-2005, the fiasco with Cox Chigwana in 2013 and our more recent unsuccessful efforts to help Clyde Musonda and his Delta Boxing Productions get their event of the grounds in 2013-14, we simply have to face the reality Zimbabwe may not be for us. Our trials and tribulations in Zimbabwe are well-documented, covered in great part by the Zim media and well-known to members of the current Board. While I am not one to give up easily, I learnt a long time ago that there is really no sound business reason for force a promotion in a jurisdiction with an unfriendly board. This is very unfortunate considering the scale of the proposed May event, its potential to jumpstart Boxing in Zimbabwe and serve as a vehicle for sustainable Sports Tourism, the enthusiasm of other stakeholders and the great amount of work already put in the Zim Project.”

About Lion Heart Boxing Promotions (the Promoter)
Lion Heart Boxing Productions is global Boxing Promoter and Sports Entertainment Company based in the U.S. The company was set up in 2001 for the sole purpose of providing top quality events with highest entertainment value and has promoted boxing events on four continents. The Company quickly earned a reputation as a producer of high quality fights and is well respected for its fair treatment of fighters and commitment to fighters’ rights.

Lion Heart Boxing Productions has had as one of its pillars for corporate responsibility a special interest in helping to develop the sport of boxing in Africa. This interest led it to promote boxing in Zimbabwe and a half a dozen African countries, all with varying degrees of success.

LOS ANGELES (March 26) – Two hard-nosed Mexican warriors will battle it out at Domo Dos Aguas in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico on Saturday, March 28, as Buenavista, Mexico’s Javier “Implacable” Prieto faces Tijuana, Baja California’s Jorge “Pantera” Silva in a 10-round welterweight matchup to be televised live on FOX Deportes and Claro Sports.

In the televised co-feature, Mexico City’s Gilberto “Flaco” Gonzalez meets Oaxaca, Mexico’s David “Nene” Rangel in a 10-round super lightweight division bout. Opening up the televised action rising star Roberto “Tito” Manzanarez of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, will square off against Edgar “Lupillo” Ramirez of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico in a 10-round super lightweight contest.

Prieto vs. Silva is10-round welterweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Cancun Boxing de Pepe Gomez. The FOX Deportes broadcast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT and the Claro Sports broadcast airs at 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT.

Eager to get back to his winning ways after two hard-fought draws with Ivan Cano and a December loss to Jorge Linares, 27-year-old Javier “Implecable” Prieto (24-8-2, 18 KOs) is wasting no time getting back into the ring against a worthy opponent in Jorge Silva. A nine-year professional, Prieto has been showing top-notch form with a 10-fight unbeaten streak only being snapped by Linares. On March 28, Prieto will be firing on all cylinders as he looks to start a new winning streak.

Looking to add a win to his resume, Tijuana, Baja California’s exciting prospect Jorge “Pantera” Silva (20-7-2, 16 KOs). Just 23 years old, “Pantera” has had tough bouts against Pablo Cesar Cano, Alan Sanchez, Alfredo Angulo and Yoshihiro Kamegai. He is ready to show that he has what it takes to compete with the best in the ring on March 28.

A crushing puncher who has scored knockouts in 19 of his 23 wins, Gilberto “Flaco” Gonzalez (23-3, 19 KOs) will attempt to extend his five-fight winning (and knockout) streak on March 28. Fresh from a fifth-round knockout of unbeaten Jeffrey Fontanez last August, “Flaco” will try to keep the momentum going in his promising career against Oaxaca’s David Rangel.

A professional since 2012, David “Nene” Rangel (10-1) has quickly amassed an impressive record with the only blemish against Junior Ramirez for the WBC Youth Silver Super Lightweight title. Rangel is looking to start a new winning streak when he faces Gilberto Gonzalez on March 28.

Unbeaten in eight fights since 2013, 20-year-old phenom Roberto “Tito” Manzanarez (29-1, 24 KOs) makes his first appearance of 2015 this Saturday and he expects this year to be his biggest one yet. In his last two bouts, Manzanarez defeated seasoned veterans Ricardo Castillo and Hector Velasquez and will be looking for more high-profile wins in the coming months.

Edgar “Lupillo” Ramirez (14-9, 11 KOs) is looking start off 2015 strong in his first fight of the year against Manzanarez. A professional since 2008, Ramirez had an impressive two year, 9-fight winning streak all via knockout. His most recent bouts include face offs against Robinson Castellanos, Leopoldo Nunez, Jesus and Angel Rodriguez.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.quequi.com.mx and www.FOXDeportes.com, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @PeriodicoQuequi and @FOXDeportes and visit on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/periodicoquequi and www.facebook.com/FOXDeportes and visit us on Instagram and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing.

Nutley, NJ(March 26, 2015)– On March 13, Vito Mielnicki’s GH3 Promotions had a stellar night as three of the promotional company’s top fighters, undefeated middleweight Antoine Douglas, super middleweight Jerry Odom and undefeated super bantamweight Adam Lopez all scored knockout victories on ShoBox: The New Generation in Westbury, New York.

That night was a by-product of lots of hard work put in by Mielnicki and his building stable.

One man that made it all possible was Kay Koroma.

Koroma is a boxing man from the Washington, D.C. area who Mielnicki credits as being a visionary for his company.

“I started my company, GH3 Promotions when I signed Antoine Douglas & John Thompson in Atlantic City. Kay is Antoine’s adviser and from that point on we got to talking and setting a plan in motion on how to build a company of great young fighters. Because of our relationship, he helped with us signing Jerry Odom,” said Mielnicki.

Between Douglas and Thompson, they fought eighteen times in the first year under the GH3 Promotional banner.

“I believed in him and we have respect for one another and trusted each other. He is gifted and driven like myself.”

“Our vision was to build a stable of thoroughbred fighters with great amateur pedigrees”

Mielnicki and Koroma are now taking the next step in developing the fighters from prospects to world champions.

“Kay is building a camp in Northern Virginia. It will give our fighters a great foundation with housing and all the needs for a fighter to have the best preperation for a fight. This will be a complete camp atmosphere.”

Besides being Douglas adviser, Koroma is training John Thompson for his April 10 bout with undefeated Stanyslav Skorokhod that will be a semifinal bout in the Boxcino 2015 jr. middleweight tournament in Bethlehem, PA that will be shown on ESPN 2.

“Kay doesn’t seek the limelight or credit but he has been a great partner with GH3. Because of his vision we are working with top amateurs Shakur Stevenson, Kavon Roberson, Troy Isley and Danny Gonzalez & Hans Perez. These are the next generation and with Kay’s help, they will be able to go to camp and hopefully it will give them the best opportunities to become Olympians. Kay is going to be the next top trainer in the business. He is a quiet before the storm. We have deep connections in the amateur ranks all around the country.”

“We have a top amateur and pro stable and we are getting ready to sign some new top talent and we will be able to feature them on the CBS Sports Network series that we have partnered with Greg Cohen Promotions on. We think we have the outlet like nobody else to showcase our talent and move the fighters at the pace that we have moved Antoine, Jerry and John Thompson. They fight often and it shows in their performances.”

Mielnicki believes that this is the year that his fighters will go from prospects to contenders and his younger prospects become stars of the future.

“2015 will be a big breakout year for us. I want to thank Kay, Dennis Porter and Ronald Simms from the Alexandria, Virginia boxing gym for believing in our young company that is growing at a fast pace.”

Oscar Bonilla will make his GH3 debut on April 2 in Connecticut; John Thompson returns April 10 in the Boxcino 2015 jr. middleweight tournament on ESPN 2; Adam Lopez returns to the ring on April 17 as part of a CBS Sports Network card and expect Antoine Douglas and Jerry Odom to return in May.

GH3 Promotions features undefeated Middleweight Antoine Douglas, Super Middleweight’s Jerry Odom & Derrick Webster, undefeated Super Bantamweight Adam Lopez as well as Jr. Middleweight John Thompson, Jr., undefeated Welterweight Jerrell Harris,undefeated Super Bantamweight Qa’id Muhammad, undefeated lightweight Oscar Bonilla and Light Heavyweight Lavarn Harvell to the GH3 Promotions stable.

26 March 2015 – Manila, Philippines: Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization with a 90% market share, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has finalized the fight card for ONE: VALOR OF CHAMPIONS with three additional fights. Top featherweights are set to clash as Shannon Wiratchai takes on Amir Khan. An all-Filipino clash is also set to take place at the event when the undefeated Jimmy Yabo takes on Edward Kelly. China’s Wang Ya Wei is also set to return to the ONE Championship cage against Indonesia’s Sunoto.

Tickets for ONE: VALOR OF CHAMPIONS are on sale now at www.smtickets.com. Ticket categories begin with the full Red Carpet and cageside experience at PHP5380. Tickets priced at PHP3180, PHP1280, PHP640 and PHP220 are also available. Prices include ticketing fee.

CEO OF ONE Championship™, Victor Cui, stated, “ONE: VALOR OF CHAMPIONS is set to be the biggest night of mixed martial arts action in the Philippines! The main event will feature two of the top welterweights in the world battling for supremacy when the best wrestler in mixed martial arts, Ben Askren, takes on 61-win veteran Luis Santos. Get ready for a night of adrenaline-pumping, heart-stopping mixed martial arts action as ONE: VALOR OF CHAMPIONS goes live around the world!“

Amir Khan is a Singaporean mixed martial artist with an undefeated amateur record who has competed in the United States. He is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Blue Belt under Relson Gracie, and also has competitive wrestling and Muay Thai experience. With more than seven years of combat sports experience under his belt, Khan now takes on Shannon Wiratchai after being victorious in his first two ONE Championship bouts.

Shannon Wiratchai is the top featherweight to emerge from Thailand. He has showcased an aggressive, brawling style every time he steps into the ONE Championship cage, making him a favourite among fans. Wiratchai is a practitioner of the Chinese martial art Baguazhang, and will once again look to exhibit the martial art in mixed martial arts action.

Edward Kelly is the younger brother of ONE Championship standout Edward Kelly. One of the brightest featherweight talents to emerge from the Philippines, Kelly looks to get his ONE Championship career back on track with an impressive victory over Jimmy Yabo in his home country.

Jimmy Yabo is an undefeated Filipino mixed martial artist. He boasts the best knockout percentage in the division, having finished all four of his opponents by knockout. He will now test himself against Asia’s best, beginning with an all-Filipino bout against Edward Kelly.

Wang Ya Wei is a wrestler originally from Hubei province. Considered one of the top wrestlers in the country, he then moved to Thailand where he trained in Muay Thai for an extended period of time. He performed impressively in the ONE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS Beijing Featherweight Tournament, advancing to the final with a TKO victory over Li Gen.

Sunoto is a kickboxing champion from Indonesia. He is also undefeated in mixed martial arts, having won two prior bouts in his native Indonesia. Sunoto will look to keep his undefeated streak alive when he takes on Wang Ya Wei in an exciting featherweight bout.

For more updates on ONE Championship™, please visit www.onefc.com and follow Twitter and Instagram @ONEFCMMA and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA

About ONE Championship™
With a 90%+ market share in Asia, ONE Championship™ is Asia’s largest Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organization. Headquartered in Singapore, the world’s most exciting mixed martial arts organization hosts the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. ONE Championship™ has partnered with FOX and STAR Sports for an unprecedented 10-year cable television deal with a coverage that spans 70+ countries across the world.

Laurel, MD (March 25, 2015) – Heavyweight hopeful Dwayne “Big Ticket” McRae will have the opportunity to move up the rankings when he battles unbeaten and highly touted NABO champion Charles Martin in a ten round championship match Saturday, April 25 at Madison Square Garden.

The bout takes place prior to the highly anticipated world heavyweight title fight between unified champion Wladimir Klitshcko and undefeated contender Bryant Jennings. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.com or by calling 866-858-0008.

Hailing from Laurel, MD, McRae has a solid 15-3 professional ledger with 8 wins by knockout. Fighting under the Mastermind Boxing banner, McRae is unbeaten in his last six and has lost just once in the last five years. Although most of his fights have taken place in Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia, the 34-year-old had been lobbying for a bout against a top notch foe.

Regarded as one of America’s brightest and fastest rising heavyweights, Martin is an outstanding 20-0-1 with 18 knockouts. Born in St. Louis, MO and based out of Los Angeles, CA, Martin’s derailed three previously unbeaten foes in Vincent Thompson (13-0), Glendy Hernandez (10-0) and Alexander Flores (14-0), stopping the later to become NABO champion. He also owns a second round knockout over former world amateur champion Joey Dawejko, who has since scored six straight victories.

“This is a great opportunity for my career,” said McRae. “In my eyes, I’m also undefeated since both of my decision losses were controversial and the other fight was stopped unjustly, so my position really should be similar to his.”

McRae is also confident that this fight is going to bring him to the next level based on what he’s seen of Martin, the WBO’s #4 and IBF’s #6 ranked contender.

“He’s a decent fighter but I didn’t see anything spectacular. I know what I can do in there and that’s far more important than officially having a 0 at the end of my record. When two fighters get in the ring regardless of who is supposed to be the next great fighter or not, anything can happen and this is my time to show everybody what I’m truly made of!”

The McRae-Martin bout may appear as part of the international telecast. More information will follow.

Fans can interact with Dwayne by going to Facebook.com/big.ticketmcrae.

Robert Alfonso 241 vs. Raymundo Lopez 252.6
Antonio Tarver Jr. 154.4 vs. Bruce Lutchmedial 156
Ahmed Elbiali 175.2 vs. Michael Stafford 173.4
Michael Seals 175.2 vs. Carlos Reyes 183.2
Daquan Arnett 156.4 vs. Travis Hartman 153.2
Yasmany Consuegra 229.6 vs. Taurus Sykes 251.2
Wilky Campfort 152.8 vs. Devon Moncrieff 155
Kamil Laszczyk 128.6 vs. Jose Luis Araiza 129
Patryk Szymanski 165.6 vs. Yoryi Estrella 168.2
Rances Barthelemy 137.4 vs. Angino Pérez 137.6
Breidis Prescott 146.2 vs. Fredrick Lawson 146.2

Promoter: Warriors Boxing
Venue: Hialeah Park, Hialeah, Florida
Tickets: Tickets for ESPN’s Thursday Night Fights, also billed as “Noche De Combates,” are on sale now through Ticket Force (www.myticketforce.com), www.hialeahpark.com, and at the Hialeah Park Casino cage.

MIAMI, FLORIDA (March 25, 2015) – Former IBF Super-Featherweight Champion Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (21-0, 12 KOs), has vacated his title in pursuit of bigger fights at Lightweight. Barthelemy’s first fight at 135 lbs. will take place tomorrow night at the Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida, against Angino Perez (18-4, 16 KOs). Barthelemy vs. Perez, a 10-round bout, will air live on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights”.

Standing 5’11, Rances Barthelemy has the height and reach to be successful while moving up in weight class. Barthelemy, a Cuban national amateur champion, has developed into a terrific professional fighter, winning his first would title against Argenis Mendez (22-3-1, 12 KOs) back in July of 2014. His sole title defense was a unanimous decision against Fernando David Saucedo (54-6-3, 8 KOs) last October.

“I feel confident with the move up to Lightweight,” said Rances Barthelemy. “I know I have the skills to win another title at 135 pounds. I’m looking for the biggest fights in the division but first I must get past Perez. This will be my first fight at this weight class. I feel strong and the extra weight will add power to my punches.”

Rances Barthelemy is advised by Al Haymon. The oppertunities are endless for Barthelemy if he can continue to shine on national television.

“If the right fights present themselves then I’ll be ready to fight anyone,” Rances continued. “I’m even willing to go up to Jr. Welterweight (140 lbs.) if the fight makes sense. I’m taking all comers from 135lbs. to 140lbs. My mission is to stay busy and keep winning. With Al Haymon advising me, I’m ready to take my career to new levels. It starts tomorrow night aginst Perez.”

Pennsauken, NJ (March 25, 2015)–On Saturday night, April 18 at the GPG Event Center (Formerly the Woodbine Inn) in Pennsauken, New Jersey. In the main event, heavyweight contender Chazz Witherpsoon will be in action.

The show is promoted by Witherspoon’s Silver Spoon Promotions.

Witherspoon (32-3, 24 KO’s) of nearby Paulsboro, New Jersey established himself as one of the top American Heavyweights as the St. Joseph’s University graduate won his first twenty-three bouts with wins over the likes of Michael Alexander (11-0), Talmadge Griffis (24-6-3), Jonathan Haggler (18-1) before suffering his 1st defeat to future two-time world title challenger Chris Arreola via controversial disqualification.

Witherspoon went on to win three win a row which was highlighted by an entertaining 8th round stoppage over Adam “The Swamp Donkey” Richards (21-1). That fight was voted Ring Magazine’s 2008 Heavyweight Fight of the Year. Witherspoon then dropped a fight to future two-time world title challenger Tony Thompson.

Witherspoon went on to score 4-consecutive knockouts which included a devastating 3rd-round destruction over Tyson Cobb (14-2).

Witherspoon then took on undefeated prospect Seth Mitchell on April 28, 2012 in a bout where Witherspoon had Mitchell badly hurt in several occasions before Mitchell came away with the victory.

In has last bout, Witherspoon stopped Cory Phelps in two rounds at the GPC Event on January 24.

Appearing on the undercard in 4-round bouts will be:

Vidal Rivera (1-0, 1 KO) of Camden, NJ takes on Tyron Stewart (0-1) in a super bantamweight clash.

Obafemi Bakari (2-0) of Staten Island, NY will fight pro debuting Andrew Osborne in a jr. middleweight fight.

Matthew Gonzalez (2-0) of Vineland,NJ will take on Joseph McDonald (0-1) of Concord, NC in a jr. middleweight fight.

Courtney Blocker (4-0, 4 KO’s) of Pensacola, FL will take on an opponent to be named in a jr. welterweight bout.

Paris Chisholm of Baltimore will be making his pro debut in a welterweight bout.

Erick Kitt (5-0, 2 KO’s) of Pensacola, FL will see action in a jr. middleweight bout.

Malik Hawkins (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Baltimore, MD will take part in a jr. welterweight bout.

Andrew Pureifoy of Philadelphia will fight in a cruiserweight fight.

Antoine Aikens (9-0, 1 KO) of Atlantic City, NJ will take part in a super middleweight bout.

Rocco Salimbene of Pennsauken, NJ will make his pro debut in a lightweight fight

Tickets for the great evening of championship boxing $80 for Ringside, $60 for select and $40 for General Admission and can be purchased by calling 856 472 0443 or 609 938 1755 or by email at info@silverspoonpromotions.com

There will be an after party at the GPG Event Center.

The GPG Event Center is located at 1443 Route 73 in Pennsauken.