LAS VEGAS – March 22, 2023 – Undefeated former two-time WBC Super Middleweight Champion David “The Mexican Monster” Benavídez and former IBF Super Middleweight Champion Caleb Plant officially kicked off fight week events Wednesday with open media workouts before they meet in the SHOWTIME PPV main event this Saturday, March 25 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The media workout also featured fighters competing on the pay-per-view telecast including unbeaten rising stars Jesus “Mono” Ramos and Joey Spencer, who meet in the co-main event, rising lightweight contenders Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela, who duel in a lightweight showdown, and welterweight contenders Cody Crowley and Abel Ramos, who square off in the pay-per-view telecast opener at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased HERE through AXS.com.

Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday from MGM Grand:

DAVID BENAVIDEZ

“This is a dream come true. There’s a lot at stake in this fight. I’ve been wanting an opportunity like this for a long, long time. The time is right, right now. This is the best time to make this fight happen. I’m ready to give the fans what they want to see. I’m going for the knockout on Saturday.

“I have tremendous power. Everybody I hit, get hurt. I end up breaking them down little by little. This is the most focused I’ve ever been for a fight. I know Caleb Plant is going to be a hard fighter moving around a lot. But whatever he brings to the table, I’m going to be ready for it. I’m looking for that knockout and I’m going to get it.

“I just want to push myself. This is pay-per-view. I want to be in the limelight. I want to continue having pay-per-view fights and to do that, I have to push and get the knockout. But I’m not going to go in there just throwing wild shots. I’m going to be very calculated. This is the best I’ve ever felt mentally, physically and emotionally. I was already a monster before, but Caleb Plant brought the ‘Mexican Monster’ out of me.

“It’s a dream come true to headline a SHOWTIME PPV at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Just coming in here and seeing my face all over the place and the ring in the entrance to the MGM Grand, I used to see that when Manny Pacquiao used to fight here. I used to tell myself that I’m going to get there one day. Now the day has come. It’s my turn to give these fans what they want to see and to be a pay-per-view star.

“I’m going to show what I’ve always shown. That I’m a monster and I can’t be stopped.”

CALEB PLANT

“I’m super excited. Thanks to all the fans showing up today. This is a big fight. Exactly what the fans want and what boxing needs. So, make sure you tune in Saturday because this is going to be big. 

“I’ve been here before. I’ve been in big fights before. I know what this is all about and I know what it takes. Me and my team are fully prepared to get my hand raised on Saturday night. 

“[Trainer Stephen Edwards] ‘Breadman’ came in last camp and we took things up to another level – you’ve seen that in my last performance. We took just a couple of weeks off and got back to work. So we’ve been building on top of that and it’ll show in the fight.

“I’m getting back to my old ways and the way my dad wants me to box. With ‘Breadman’ being here and echoing that and them going off each other, we’ve just got great chemistry.

“Getting my hand raised is all the motivation I need. It’s super motivating to have my family here with me. I’m gonna show that if you come up short or things don’t go your way, you gotta keep chasing and fighting for your dreams.”

JESUS RAMOS

“This is what boxing is all about. Good fighters fighting other good fighters. That brings out the crowd. That’s what this is about. We’re here to compete.

“It’s crazy that both Joey and I turned pro around the same time, and now we’re here. But that’s what boxing is all about, making the big fights. This is a great fight and it’s going to be entertaining for the fans.

“It’s always special sharing a card with my uncle. It’s a great card and to have my uncle and my whole family here means a lot. We did training camp together and now we’re here. It’s exciting and we’re both ready for this.

“I’m looking to make a big statement on Saturday night – that we’re here to stay. We’re fighting tough fighters, overcoming adversity and becoming better with each fight.

“I’m just focused on winning. If the knockout comes, it will come, but I have to win.”

JOEY SPENCER

“This sport is about testing yourself against the best that you can, and I feel like Jesus [Ramos] was one of the best fighters that I could get and that’s what happened. So that’s what I want to do for the rest of my career and as long as I do this – go in there and test myself physically and mentally and in a way that you can’t do outside this sport.

“It’s a great training camp and we’ve had some good looks and had some undefeated pros in my camp – tall southpaws to emulate the look that I need for Jesus. Everything is going well. I’ve put together a great game plan. I’m mentally and physically ready and I’m looking forward to showcasing that for the world to see.

“This is a familiar feeling for me – the feeling of fight week. I’ve never been this high up on a card before or in a fight of this magnitude, but I’ve been able to observe the really big fights over the past five or six years, so I’m definitely prepared to show that this is my time.

“All I know is that I have to get the win at all costs. Whatever it takes and whatever I have to do to get the win, I will do it. If I have to adjust, or if I have to change my gameplan – whatever I have to do, I’m prepared for all circumstances and ready to go out and get it done.”

CHRIS COLBERT

“I missed boxing so much. This is what I love to do. This is my life. It just feels good to be back and to be fulfilling one of my dreams. It was always a dream to fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Come Saturday night, that dream is going to come true and I’m going to show up and show out.

“I know that Valenzuela is a great fighter and he’ll be coming to fight, but I ain’t worried about nothing. In my last fight, I didn’t get the decision that I wanted, but everybody knows that I can really fight. Come Saturday night, I’m going to show that.

“I’m coming up in weight, so what fighter is not going to feel good coming up in weight? Saturday night will tell me how I really feel and I’ll see whether or not I can hang at this weight class. I feel like I can. I’ve been in the ring with 155-pounders and it’s nothing to me. I think I’ll be good.

“The time away from the ring just made me realize certain things that I didn’t realize when I was on my high horse because I was undefeated. I was winning and I was making a lot of money and doing things that I had never done before. But that’s never going to stop. I’m always going to be me. Always going to be ‘Primetime’. It’s going to be ‘Primetime’ on SHOWTIME PPV on March 25. I will be victorious.”

JOSE VALENZUELA

“This week is a blessing. It’s a dream come true to be on the undercard with my brother David Benavidez. This is another opportunity to show and prove to myself and the world what I’m made of and what I can really do. 

“I took this tough fight because I know what I can really do when I have my head in the game and when I have my stuff together. I’ll be putting on a show on Saturday night.

“I learned a lot from my loss to Edwin De Los Santos. I learned a lot about the game and about myself, my team and my family. I just learned so much and I’ve matured a lot. It was a blessing in disguise.

“Chris Colbert is a good fighter. He’s slick and he’s fast. I’m well prepared for that. I’ve trained for his style and I’ll be ready.

“I’m promising fireworks on Saturday night. The whole card from top to bottom is a great card. It’s going to be a good night of boxing and I will be victorious. My hand will be raised, there’s no doubt about that.”

CODY CROWLEY

“Vegas is home for me in terms of where I live, and also in terms of where I deserve to be, which is at the top of the boxing game with the legends. I’m paving my way one fight at a time and I feel like I’m right at home.

“Abel is a veteran. Hats off to him. He’s been in a lot of exciting fights at the top level. But he hasn’t been in there with Cody Crowley yet. Anything you’ve seen, it’s going to be totally different. I’m a different animal, a different beast. I suffocate my opponents to the point where they can’t breathe. Unless you’re willing to throw 150 to 200 punches a round, you’re not ready for Cody Crowley.

“My dad took his own life last summer. He was battling some demons just like I think every single human being in this room does on a daily basis. The greatest thing I can do to honor him is to not let those demons attack me like they attacked him. That means waking up every day no matter how hard it is, moving forward, opening my mouth, sharing my heart and letting people know what’s going on in my head. This fight, I’m raising money for suicide awareness in my father’s name so other people who need help can have resources to reach out and come out on the other side.

“In a perfect world for Cody Crowley, this fight ends in a shutout with me winning every single round until I suffocate him and take him out. I’m going for a stoppage. I’m a 15-round fighter. I’m still waiting for those days to come back. I hope when I go out there and show my conditioning and the excitement that I give fans a reason to get off their chairs and stand on their feet on fight night.”

ABEL RAMOS

“I’m excited for this fight. I’m enjoying it and I’m thankful to all the fans for showing up today.

“Crowley is a tough opponent and we’re expecting an exciting fight and we are ready to go. Whatever he brings, we’ll be ready.

“It’s motivating to be on the same card [as my nephew Jesus]. We went through training camp together and we’re here now. It’s going to be an exciting night for the Ramos family.

“Be sure you tune in, because I’m coming out with the victory.”

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ABOUT BENAVIDEZ VS. PLANT

Benavídez vs. Plant will see undefeated former two-time WBC Super Middleweight Champion David “The Mexican Monster” Benavídez and former IBF Super Middleweight Champion Caleb Plant meet in a high-stakes, 12-round showdown for Benavídez’s Interim WBC Super Middleweight Title live on SHOWTIME PPV on Saturday, March 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

In the co-main event, unbeaten rising stars Jesús “Mono” Ramos and Joey Spencer will go toe-to-toe in a 10-round super welterweight scuffle, as each fighter looks to make their claim as the future of the 154-pound division. The action will also see rising lightweights Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela meet in a 10-round duel, while unbeaten welterweight contender Cody Crowley faces the hard-hitting Abel Ramos in the telecast opener at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #BenavidezPlant, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

Boston, MA (March 22, 2023) Fast-Rising Irish Boxing Star, ‘King’ Callum Walsh, (6-0, 5 KOs), had a whirlwind international week surrounding his most recent dominant performance, a second-round knockout of Wesley Tucker on the Eve of St. Patrick’s Day, March 16 from the Agganis Arena in Boston, MA and broadcast live internationally by UFC FIGHT PASS, the highest rated boxing event on the premium streaming service.

The victory, promoted by Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions, was Walsh’s sixth appearance on UFC FIGHT PASS and Boston’s biggest boxing event in many years.

Said Loeffler, “Callum’s popularity is ascending quickly. The huge attendance in Boston and the record-setting viewership on UFC FIGHT PASS validates his ability to draw immense interest for his fights. He’s clearly bringing UFC fight fans back to boxing.”

“Everywhere we go, whether its UFC events in Las Vegas, Phoenix or London; in addition to his fight nights and media events, Callum is swarmed by fans for photographs. We have very big plans for him not only this year but in the coming years.”

The 22-year-old Walsh’s week in Boston kicked off Monday with a visit to the iconic Fenway Park where he was presented with a personalized jersey by members of the Red Sox front office. While visiting the famed Green Monster in left field, Walsh declared ‘Boston fight fans will see Ireland’s Green Monster on Thursday night’.

Walsh spent Monday evening with his Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach hosting a boxing clinic for the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester in addition to holding a media workout at the famed Peter Welch’s Gym in South Boston.

On Tuesday, Walsh hosted the Fight Week Press Conference at the renowned West Side Johnnie’s Sports Memorabilia Bar attended by a huge contingent of Boston media.

Following the weigh-in on Wednesday, Walsh and UFC President Dana White returned to Peter Welch’s Gym to host a Boxing Punch Machine contest for the hundreds packed into the gym. Known for his knockout power, no one was able to beat Walsh’s high score which earned him a cash bonus of $5,000.  

Among the sports celebrities in attendance for Walsh’s first fight in front of the Boston boxing fans were UFC President Dana White, UFC Legend Georges St. Pierre, Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro Defensive End Maxx Crosby, New England Boxing Legend Micky Ward, Two-Time Super Bowl Champion (New England Patriots) Tully Banta-Cain, Two-Time Heavyweight World Title Challenger Gerry Cooney, Former Heavyweight Contender Kevin McBride, Former Welterweight Contender Dicky Eklund and UFC Hall of Famer Matt Serra.

On St. Patrick’s Day, Friday March 17, Walsh and Tom Loeffler traveled to London, England for UFC 286 at the sold-out O2 Arena. Walsh was widely recognized by UFC fight fans in a venue he hopes to headline in the future.

Prior to the start of UFC 286 on Saturday, Walsh was a special guest at the UFC 286 Fan Experience where he once again registered the high score on the Boxing Punching Machine.

Walsh is scheduled to return to the ring and UFC FIGHT PASS in June.

Photos: Credit / 360 Promotions

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(March 22, 2023) – Stephen Fulton’s WBO/WBC junior featherweight world title defense against Naoya Inoue — originally scheduled for Sunday, May 7, at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan — has been postponed due to a training injury suffered by Inoue.
 
Fulton-Inoue will be rescheduled for July, with a new date to be announced in due course.
 
The main event and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.
 
Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs) will make his third world title defense and second as a unified champion since defeating Brandon Figueroa in one of the best fights of 2021. Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs), the sport’s pound-for-pound king, is a three-division world champion who is making his junior featherweight debut after defeating Paul Butler last December to become the undisputed bantamweight world champion.

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About ESPN+ 
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.9 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). 

NEW YORK (March 22, 2023) – Multiple world champion Kathy “Wildcat” Collins (14-2-4, 3 KOs) will become the first female boxer inducted into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF).

Collins, of Plainview, is one of a 22-member Class of 2022 being inducted at the 11th NYSBHOF induction dinner, sponsored by Ring 8, on Sunday afternoon (12:30-5:30 p.m. ET), April 30, at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York.

“”It’s a tremendous honor to be inducted into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame,” said Collins (married name Globuschutz). “This is my fourth induction into Halls of Fame, which is special to me since I also held four world titles. But this is even more special since it is finally here in New York, the Mecca of Boxing, and where it all started for me.

“In 1995, I was part of the first class of women ever allowed to box in the fabled Daily News Golden Gloves. A year later, the first women’s fight televised on the USA Tuesday night boxing series from the Paramount at Madison Square Garden, which culminated in the highest female purses at the time from Madison Square Garden as a co-featured bout on a major pay-per-view for Don King. These were major accomplishments in women’s boxing. It helped paved the way for women today, some coming out of the Olympics, selling out The Garden and working towards equal pay with seven-figure pay days.”

Collins’ second professional fight was a six-round decision over Andrea DeShong in 1996, which brought pro women’s boxing to the famed Madison Square Garden and regular cable television.

In 1997, Kathy captured the IFBA welterweight title and added the IWBF junior welterweight crown later that same year, then, she dropped down to the lightweight division to successfully challenge for the IWBF championship. Collins became the first fighter to simultaneously own world titles in the WIBF, IFBA, and IWBF.

Kathy Collins is a true pioneer in women’s boxing. Now, she’ll be honored at home in New York by her induction into the NYSBHOF.

“In 30 years,” she concluded, “we’ve come a long way baby! It is truly an honor to be recognized by the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame and to be recognized and included in in a tremendously talented, successful class of inductees, and being around so many of my friends and colleagues that helped me break ceilings along the way.”

“Kathy Collins is a great asset for the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame as our first female boxer inductee,” NYSBHOF president Bob Duffy commented. “Her induction into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame is an extension of her career as a pioneer of women’s boxing. We are proud to be inducting her.”

Other living boxers heading into the NYSBHOF are Brooklyn’s 2-division (welterweight & light welterweight), 6-time World Champion “Super” Zab Judah (44-10, 30 KOs), Brooklyn’s 2-divbision World Champion (welterweight and light welterweight) Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi (36-8, 7 KOs), Troy welterweight Kevin “Mr. Excitement” Pompey (32-18-3, 12 KOs), and Brooklyn World Super Lightweight World title challenger Dmitry “Star of David” Salita (35-2-1, 18 KOs).

Posthumous participants being inducted are Poughkeepsie’s world lightweight challenger Johnny Busso (36-12-1, 15 KOs), Bronx middleweight Eugene “Silent” Hairston (45-13-5, 24 KOs), New York City’s NYSAC Featherweight World Champion Tony “Jimmy Pell” Pellone (51-19-6, 10 KOs), Bronx featherweight Mike “The Bronx Spider” Belloise (91-28-12, 21 KOs), New York City’s World Colored Heavyweight Champion Harry “Black Panther” Wills (70-9-3, 56 KOs), and Hempstead’s World Light Heavyweight World title challenger Eddie “Wildcat” Davis (34-6-1, 20 KOs).

Living non-participants heading into the NYSBHOF are Brooklyn trainer Hector Rocha, Brooklyn ring announcer Dave Diamante, Bronx commentator/producer/radio show host Tony Paige, Latham journalist Bob Mladinich, Brooklyn neurologist Barry Jordan, Brooklyn judge Robin Taylor, and Buffalo journalist Bob Caico.

Posthumous non-participant inductees are Brooklyn manager Izzy Zwerling, Manhattan manager Dave Wolf, Brooklyn trainer George Washington, and New York City manager/promoter Irving Cohen.

Each attending inductee (or direct descendant of) will receive a custom-designed belt signifying his or her induction into the NYSBHOF.

The 2022 inductees were selected by the NYSBHOF Nominating Committee members: Chairperson Jack Hirsch, Randy Gordon, Henry Hascup, Don Majeski, Ron McNair, Jim Monteverde, Neil Terens, Jose Corpas, Bobby Cassidy, and Bob Duffy.

All boxers needed to be inactive for at least three years to be eligible for NYSBHOF induction, and all inductees must have resided in New York State for a significant portion of their boxing careers or during the prime of their respective career.

Tickets are priced at $160.00 per adult, $60.00 for children (under 16), and includes a complete brunch and cocktail hour upon entry, starting at 12:30 p.m. ET, as well as a 7-course dinner (prime rib, fish, or poultry) and open bar throughout the event. Tickets are available to purchase by contacting NYSBHOF president Bob Duffy at 516.313.2304 or depcomish@aol.com. Ads for the NYSBHOF program are available, ranging from $80.00 to $200.00, by contacting Duffy. Go online at www.nyboxinghof.org or www.Ring8ny.com for additional information about the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.

NYSBHOF

CLASS of 2012: Carmen Basilio, Mike McCallum, Mike Tyson, Jake LaMotta, Riddick Bowe, Carlos Ortiz, Vito Antuofermo, Emile Griffith, “Sugar” Ray Robinson, Gene Tunney, Benny Leonard, Tony Canzoneri, Harold Lederman, Steve Acunto, Jimmy Glenn, Gil Clancy, Ray Arcel, Nat Fleischer, Bill Gallo and Arthur Mercante, Sr.

CLASS of 2013: Jack Dempsey, Johnny Dundee, Sandy Saddler, Maxie Rosenbloom, Joey Archer, Iran Barkley, Mark Breland, Bobby Cassidy, Doug Jones, Junior Jones, James “Buddy” McGirt, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Bob Arum, Shelly Finkel, Tony Graziano, Larry Merchant, Teddy Brenner, Mike Jacobs, Tex Rickard and Don Dunphy.

CLASS OF 2014: Floyd Patterson, Tracy Harris Patterson, Billy Backus, Kevin Kelley, Juan LaPorte, Gerry Cooney, Mustafa Hamsho, Howard Davis, Jr., Lou Ambers, Jack Britton, Terry McGovern, Teddy Atlas, Lou DiBella, Steve Farhood, Gene Moore, Angelo Prospero, Whitey Bimstein, Cus D’Amato, William Muldoon and Tom O’Rourke.

CLASS OF 2015: Saoul Mamby, Joey Giamba, Johnny Persol, Harold Weston, Lonnie Bradley, Paul Berlenbach, Billy Graham, Frankie Genaro, Bob Miller, Tommy Ryan, Jimmy Slattery, Bob Duffy, Mike Katz, Tommy Gallagher, Bruce Silverglade, Charley Goldman, Jimmy Johnston, Cedric Kushner, Harry Markson, Damon Runyon, and Al Weill.

CLASS OF 2016: Aaron Davis, Charles Murray, Vilomar Fernandez, Edwin Viruet, Hector “Macho” Camacho, Rocky Graziano, Rocky Kansas, Joe Lynch, Joe Miceli, Ed Brophy, Joe DeGuardia, Randy Gordon, Dennis Rappaport, Howie Albert, Freddie Brown, Howard Cosell, Ruby Goldstein, and Jimmy Jacobs.

CLASS OF 2017: Gaspar Ortega, Renaldo “Mr.” Snipes, Doug Dewitt, “The Bronx Bomber” Alex Ramos, Dick Tiger, Jose Torres, “Nonpareil” Jack Dempsey, Don Majeski, Ron Katz, Stan Hoffman, Bobby Bartels, Hank Kaplan, Al Gavin, Arthur Donovan, and Dan Parker.

CLASS OF 2018: Lou Del Valle, Jake Rodriguez, Terrence Alli, Joe Mesi, Kid Chocolate, James J. “Gentleman Jim” Corbett, Jack McAuliffe, Billy Costello, Melio Bettina Ralph “Tiger” Jones, Charley Norkus, Dave Anderson, Pete Brodsky, Herb Goldman, Bobby Goodman, Melvina Lathan, Ron Scott Stevens, Johnnie Addie, Johnny Bos, Murray Goodman, Bert Randolph Sugar, and Sam Taub.

No class of 2019 due to COVID-19 restrictions

CLASS OF 2020: Jorge Ahumada, Alfredo Escalera, Freddie Liberatore, Dennis Milton; Lou Savarese and Merqui Sosa, Soldier Bartfield, Steve Belloise, Jimmy Goodrich, Tami Mauriello, Davey Moore, Freddie Welch, Don Ackerman, Bobby Cassidy, Jr., Rick Glaser, Jack Hirsch, Max Kellerman, Dr. William Lathan, Julie Lederman, Ron Lipton, Kevin Rooney, Dan Daniel, Bobby Gleason, Flash Gordan, A.J. Liebling, Tony Mazzarella, and manager Dan Morgan.

CLASS OF 2021: Michael Bentt, Shannon Briggs, Verno Phillips, Donny Lalonde Johnny” Verderosa, Larry Barnes, Johnny Turner, Al Singer, Kid Norfolk, Patsy Giovanelli, Eddie Martin, Battling Siki, Solly Krieger, Herbie Kronowitz, Tommy Paul, Lou Salica, Ron McNair, Don Elbaum, Ed Schuyler, Bill Verigan, Tom Hauser, Mike Silver, and Jill Diamond, Lou Stillman, Bill Cayton, James Walker, John Condon, Irving Rudd, Richard K. Fox, and trainer Victor Valle.

ABOUT RING 8: Formed in 1954 by an ex-prizefighter, Jack Grebelsky, Ring 8 became the eighth subsidiary of what was then known as the National Veteran Boxers Association – hence, RING 8 – and today the organization’s motto remains: Boxers Helping Boxers.

RING 8 is fully committed to supporting less fortunate people in the boxing community who may require assistance in terms of paying rent, medical expenses, or whatever justifiable need.

Go online to www.Ring8ny.com for more information about RING 8, the largest group of its kind in the United States with more than 350 members. Annual membership dues are only $30.00, and each member is entitled to a buffet dinner at RING 8 monthly meetings, excluding July and August. All active boxers, amateur and professional, are entitled to a complimentary RING 8 yearly membership. Guests of Ring 8 members are welcome at a cost of only $7.00 per person.

INFORMATION:

www.nyboxinghof.org

www.Ring8ny.com

PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY — March 22, 2023 — Pro-fighter John “Body Shot” Leonardo (9-1-1), intends to set his mark across the boxing map on Saturday April 1st as Bergen County Fight Night 3 goes down at The Terrace at Biagio Ristorante in Paramus, New Jersey – presented by Abella Boxing Promotions with PPV available at Bergen Audio Visual – $24.99. 

The 22-year-old Italian with four knockouts in 11 bouts (36.3 KO %), out of Manalapan, New Jersey, will go toe-to-toe against Ernest Hall (4-2-1) in a six-round super bantamweight bout.

“I’m hyped to get in there,” Leonardo said. “I show up to win and I come to fight with my heart. I fight with the best of my ability, and my heart kicks in and takes care of the rest.”

Speaking of ability, Leonardo has grown into his own under the ethics and values transcended down from his father Donald Leonardo, who is a retired professional boxer and 1987 Daily News Golden Gloves Champion. 

“My dad was a big body puncher and the golden gloves had him as one of the best body punchers to ever go through the golden gloves,” Leonardo said. “My dad would always say ‘hit the body, hit the body’ and it came to a point where I was the only guy in the amateurs where I would set you up and touch you low.”

His father Donald has been the head of Leonardo’s camp ever since his amateur career, where he fought in 70 bouts starting at the age of 14. 

Uniquely, in all walks of life, things come full circle… 

Now, as John Leonardo prepares for his pro-fights, he also trains and provides lessons to the youth at Juice Boxx Boxing Gym located in Freehold, New Jersey. 

“Obviously at the stage where we’re at now, you don’t get paid enough for what we do,” Leonardo said. “It’s a tragic thing. You’re at a beginning stage, where you gotta take shots to the head in order to make a paycheck and it’s not even enough money. So to make money and to do other things, I do what I know best and that’s boxing. I train my own set of amateur guys. Many of them are currently competing in the New Jersey Golden Gloves.” 

But with that said, his main concern and goals are to represent his home roots of New Jersey as well as his Italian heritage.  

“It’s very important because you need to have the state of Jersey behind you,” Leonardo explained. “When you get big and travel out to these places, fans want to see Jersey win. They want to have someone represent for them.” 

“And representing Italians across New Jersey is even more important. Everybody’s community kinda sticks together. Being involved in your heritage and background is huge. With the Italian guys, you don’t see many of us. They want to support that. People are behind what they are.”

Remaining Six-Rounders: 

Raymond “The Scientist” Cuadrado, (5-0-0, 20 KO%), of Ridgewood, Queens, NY, will put his undefeated record up on the line against Usiel Hernandez (2-1-0) in a junior lightweight bout. 

Nicky “The Bull” Vitone (9-1-1, 63.6 KO%) of Pine Brook, New Jersey, fights Jordan Rosario (4-10-0) in a super-lightweight bout. 

Four-Round Bouts: 

Christian “Veneno” Otero (4-3-0, 28.5 KO%) of Manhattan, NY will go toe-to-toe with southpaw Vinnie Denierio (3-7-0) in a lightweight bout. 

Dane Guerrero, of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, is set to make his pro-debut against Andre Hinmon (0-2-0) in a super middleweight bout. 

Kevin Hernandez (0-0-1), of Bergenfield, New Jersey will go up against Tyrell Cook (0-3-0) in a welterweight bout. 

Bergen County Fight Night 3, presented by Abella Boxing Promotions is sponsored by NY METRO PROMOTION & PRINTING, TEAM PARAMUS COLLISION, PARAMUS 186 PBA, SKULL FUEL ENERGY DRINK, WIRED PRODUCTS, MYPAL BY PALADINO ENTERPRISES – NEW JERSEY’S PREMIER, HOME SERVICE APP, TURN KEY DATA, TIRE WHEEL PERFORMANCE CENTER, CIBAO MEAT PRODUCTS “TRADICIÓN DE CALIDAD”

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – BERGEN COUNTY FIGHT NIGHT 3

WHEN: Saturday Night April 1st, 2023

WHERE: The Terrace at Biagio Ristorante located on 293 Paramus Road, Paramus, NJ 07652

BOUTS: 4 Six-Round Bouts, 3 Four-Round Bouts (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

TICKETS AVAILABLE: $100 General Admission, $300 VIP

PPV/STREAMING: Bergen Audio Visual – $24.99 

Follow on Instagram: @abellaboxing

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Top Rank presented by Autozone will be live this Saturday, March 25, at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+.  The triple-header features a junior welterweight showdown, a minimumweight title unification fight, and a six-round heavyweight clash. The event takes place at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

In the 12-round junior welterweight main event, former unified 140-pound world champion José Ramírez (27-1,17 KOs) from Avenal, California will meet former lightweight world champion Richard “RC” Commey (30-4-1, 27 KOs).  Following his 2021 decision defeat to Josh Taylor for the undisputed junior welterweight title, Ramírez rebounded last March with a unanimous decision victory over former two-weight world champion José Pedraza. He has been among the sport’s best 140-pounders since winning the WBC world title against Amir Imam in March 2018.

Commey,from Accra, Ghana, made his name as one of the sport’s top lightweights, winning Commonwealth honors before capturing the IBF world title in February 2019. His title reign lasted 10 months, as he knocked out former world champion Ray Beltrán before a stunning second-round stoppage defeat to Teófimo López at Madison Square Garden. Commey’s lightweight run ended with a December 2021 decision loss to Vasiliy Lomachenko. 

The co-feature will be a world title unification clash, as WBA minimumweight world champion Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada (23-0, 9 KOs) collides with WBC world champion Tina Rupprecht (12-0-1, 3 KOs).

Hailing from East Los Angeles, California, Estrada returns to her home state intent on unifying world titles for the first time in her decorated career. The 30-year-old veteran turned pro nearly a dozen years ago and has competed at the world class level in three weight classes. In 2021, she captured the WBA minimumweight and WBO light flyweight titles in consecutive fights. Estrada then vacated the light flyweight title to pursue undisputed glory at minimumweight. She signed with Top Rank last year and returned from a nearly 11-month layoff in November to shut out Jazmin Gala Villarino.

Rupprecht, from Augsburg, Germany, has made five defenses of her world title after being elevated from interim champion in 2018. Earlier that year, she toppled Yokasta Valle, who is the current IBF and WBO unified minimumweight world champion. In July 2021, Rupprecht edged former world champion Katia Gutierrez by split decision. She is coming off a decision win over Rocío Gaspar in December.

The heavyweight opener will be a six-round clash between Antonio “El Gigante” Mireles and Patrick Mailata.  Mireles (6-0, 6 KOs) is a Mexican-American prospect from Des Moines, Iowa. As an amateur, he won several national tournaments and signed with Top Rank in September 2021. Mailata (6-1, 3 KOs) is a Samoan-born prospect who had a decorated amateur career representing New Zealand.

The undercard will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+.
 

ESPN’s Joe Tessitore will call the action with Hall of Famers Andre Ward and Timothy Bradley, Jr. as analysts; Mark Kriegel and Bernardo Osuna will serve as reporters.  

Original Content: The Dream Americano

Ahead of the March 25 doubleheader, ESPN will air Top Rank’s The Dream Americano, a 30-minute celebration of the Mexican-American fighting spirit, featuring a visit with co-headliners, U.S. Olympian José Ramírez and undefeated world champion Seniesa Estrada. Viewers will also be treated to special guest appearances by actors Danny Trejo and Mario López. 

In addition to the air times below, The Dream Americano will also be available for replay on-demand in the ESPN App and on ESPN.com and ESPN+. 

Top Rank Presents: The Dream Americano 

ESPN.com

Out Friday: How Seniesa Estrada’s love for boxing helped save her father –by Mike Rothstein

ESPN+, ESPN App Boxing Content: Live and Upcoming, On Demand, Studio Shows, Archives  

Top Rank: Real Time Go all-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night 

Boxing 

Top Rank 

State of Boxing 

Max on Boxing Max Kellerman hosts a 30-minute series weighing in on key boxing news and providing insights on the sport’s top fighters and upcoming events 

Who Do U Fight 4? Get to know the next generation of Top Rank stars and learn what drives them 

Follow @ESPNRingside: Facebook Instagram Twitter TikTok

 Ramírez vs. Commey-  Estrada vs. Rupprecht  – Mireles vs. Mailata  (All Times ET)

About ESPN 

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.? ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.? 

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.9 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).

Lyndon Arthur will catapult himself above his domestic light heavyweight rivals by winning the vacant IBO world title, declared promoter Kalle Sauerland. 

The Manchester fighter tackles the heavy-handed Braian Suarez at the University of Bolton Stadium on Friday night, live and free-to-air on Channel 5 from 10pm, in association with Ladbrokes, Numan and Infinitum Entertainment. 

Arthur is part of a thriving UK scene at light heavyweight and Wasserman Head of Global Boxing, Sauerland, says defeating the dangerous Suarez would put the ‘King of the North’ at the top of the pile. 

The 31-year-old is refusing to look at potential mega-fights with Joshua Buatsi, Dan Azeez and Anthony Yarde just yet, but taking home the prestigious IBO belt on Friday night, will put Arthur in the driving seat to land those huge domestic clashes. 

Wasserman Head of Global Boxing, Kalle Sauerland said: “The light heavyweight division is a talking point in this country and there are some massive fights out there, internationally.  

“And on Friday night, the King of the North, Lyndon Arthur, can put himself above Buatsi, above Yarde, above Azeez by winning the IBO world title. Those fights can come, and they will come. 

“But it is a tough mission in front of Lyndon on Friday night. Suarez has close to a 90% knockout ratio and I don’t think the judges will be needed. I am confident in our man. He has been overlooked but on Friday night, Lyndon will have more viewers than Yarde, Buatsi and Azeez did in their last two fights, put together. 

“And no-one else in the UK light heavyweight division will have one of these world titles, if we are successful. A win puts us ahead in the race. Yarde put in a strong performance against Beterbiev but, at the end of the day, he was still well short.” 

Manchester hero Lyndon Arthur said: “Suarez is a good fighter who has good power and I’m excited to see what he brings. 

“My focus is only on Suarez and winning the IBO title. After Friday night, I will speak about those other fights that have been mentioned.”

The dangerous Braian Suarez said: “I am so thankful for this opportunity, and I will do everything in my hands to bring the victory home to Argentina. 

“I hope to win by KO, but the priority is just to win. Like every boxer, Arthur has weaknesses. I am not going to tell you what they are, but I am going to take advantage of them.” 

Arthur and Suarez headline a stunning first show of 2023 for Wasserman Boxing, with the 12 fight card delivering 50-50 contests, a title eliminator and a host of local, national and international stars. 

The future of female boxing in the flyweight division, the formidable Chloe Watson, has her fifth pro contest, while Kane Garnder and Conah Walker clash in a tasty looking super lightweight meeting. 

Lyndon Arthur vs Braian Suarez, for the IBO World Light Heavyweight Title is live and free-to-air on Channel 5 at 10pm on Friday.

Tickets are available from Wassermanboxing.com 

BELFAST (March 22, 2023) — Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez may have to start calling himself “The Road Warrior.” Lopez will make the first defense of his IBF featherweight world title against Michael “Mick” Conlan on Saturday, May 27, at The SSE Arena in Conlan’s hometown of Belfast.
 
Lopez captured the title last December, venturing to Josh Warrington’s home base of Leeds, England, to grind out a majority decision.
 
Lopez-Conlan and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the United States. BT Sport will broadcast the event in the UK and Ireland.
 
Promoted by Top Rank and Conlan Boxing, in association with Queensberry Promotions, tickets go on sale Friday, March 31, at 11 a.m. local time via www.Ticketmaster.ie.
 
“The passionate Belfast fans will pack The SSE Arena hoping to lift their hero, Michael Conlan, to a world title. I also know that Luis Alberto Lopez thrives in enemy territory and will not relinquish his title without a tremendous fight,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
 
“Belfast hasn’t had a big world title fight in six years. Michael’s fans have traveled far and wide throughout his career and now they get to create the cauldron-like atmosphere that the SSE Arena is known for in the biggest fight of his career. Luis Alberto Lopez is a very dangerous fighter and a fantastic champion that has a reputation of going to the enemy’s backyard and upsetting the apple cart, so we are in for a barnburner on May 27,” said Conlan Boxing CEO Jamie Conlan.
 
Lopez (27-2, 15 KOs), from Mexicali, Mexico, navigated bumpy terrain to become a world champion. After early-career defeats to Abraham Montoya and Ruben Villa stunted his momentum, Lopez thrilled American fight fans with his July 2020 split decision victory over Andy Vences inside the MGM Grand Bubble. Fourteen months later, he dominated then-unbeaten junior lightweight prospect Gabriel Flores Jr. over 10 rounds. Lopez then moved down to featherweight and stopped another undefeated foe, Isaac Lowe, in seven rounds at London’s York Hall. After two stay-busy wins, he received his shot at the title, turning an expected triumphant Leeds homecoming into disappointment for the partisan fans.
 
“I am a road warrior. Traveling to my opponent’s home country doesn’t faze me,” Lopez said. “I won my world title in Leeds, and now it’s time to defend it in Belfast. The louder they cheer for Michael, the harder I will fight. The IBF title will remain in Mexico. May 27 will be a special night for me, and Michael’s fans will go home disappointed.”

Conlan (18-1, 9 KOs) turned pro in 2017 after a decorated Irish amateur career that included two Olympic berths, an Olympic bronze medal, and gold medals at the World Championships, European Championships, and Commonwealth Games. His double middle finger salute to the judges at the 2016 Rio Olympics turned him into a fighting folk hero, and as a pro, he has proven himself on the world stage. Last March, he nearly captured the WBA featherweight crown from Leigh Wood in Wood’s hometown of Nottingham, England. Conlan, ahead on all three scorecards, was knocked out in the 12th round of ESPN’s Fight of the Year. The Wood disappointment did not linger, as Conlan came back later that year with victories over Miguel Marriaga and Karim Guerfi at The SSE Arena. Five months after knocking out Guerfi in one round, Conlan returns to the friendly SSE Arena confines, prepared to seize his championship moment.
 
 “This is a massive opportunity. Fighting for the world title in Belfast is something I’ve always dreamed of, and I will be taking this opportunity with both hands.” Conlan said. “The SSE Arena will be buzzing, and I will do everything I can to bring a world title home. Credit to Lopez for coming to Belfast, but I am taking his title. He is not prepared for what is coming his way on May 27. Ireland will see a new champion crowned.”

# # #

About ESPN+ 
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.9 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). 

March 21, 2023, Plant City, FL  —  Once beaten Mohamed “El Bufalo Negro” Soumaoro will battle undefeated Angel “El Chocolatito” Vazquez in a ten round lightweight bout in the main event of ProBox TV’s March 22 boxing show at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida. 

Tickets, starting at $50, are available HERE.

The ProBox Live Stream will begin at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT.

10 Rounds Lightweights Main Event

Mohamed Soumaoro           vs                          Angel Vazquez

Montreal, Canada                                              San Luis, Sonora. MX

12-1, 5 KO’s                                                                     12-0, 6 KO’s

139.8 lbs. 139.8 lbs.

6 Rounds Super Featherweights TV# 2

Demontaze Duncan                  vs                              Axl Melendez

Louisville, Kentucky                                               Ceiba, Puerto Rico

8-0, 8 KO’s                                                                       5-0, 4 KO’s

148 lbs.________________________________________148.4 lbs.

6 Rounds Jr. Welterweights TV #1 (8:00 PM) LIVE

Omar Rosario____ ________ vs___ _______Zach Hill

Caguas, Puerto Rico__________________________ Watertown, SD

9-0-2 KO’s______________________________________3-3-2 KO’s

141.8 lbs._________________________________________140 lbs.

Both Soumaoro and Vazquez are coming off the biggest wins of their careers, against undefeated opponents.

Soumaoro (12-1, 5 KOs) born in Guinea and fighting out of Montreal, Canada, is on a two-fight win streak. His last fight was a unanimous decision win against undefeated Jusiyah Shirley on December 2 at the ProBox Events Center.

“Training camp went very well and I feel ready to give a great show to the fans, give a beautiful performance and win the fight,” said Soumaoro. “Vazquez is a young fighter who likes to put the pressure on and will do everything in his power to beat me. However, whatever he brings to the ring on March 22 I will be ready for. I am unlike any other opponent he has faced.

“This win against Vazquez, my first ten-rounder on a Platform like ProBox TV, will be huge for my career. An emphatic win against another undefeated boxer will get my name out there and lead to bigger opportunities.”

Vazquez (12-0, 6 KOs) is from San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico. The twenty-two year old made is professional debut in February 2019 and his first eleven fights took place in Mexico. His last bout, his first in the US, was a unanimous decision win over fellow undefeated Nicholas Sullivan.

“I have prepared myself well physically, technically and mentally for this fight,” said Vazquez. “I sparred with top level fighters because I know my opponent has experience and good technique and will bring his all on fight night. The best one to do it on that night will win and I’m feeling real good about it. It will be an interesting fight and the public will enjoy it. I’m going to meet him in the middle of the ring then close the spaces and take him to the ropes where I will throw combinations that do damage.

“This a very good opportunity for me and after this victory against a quality fighter they get me bigger challenges so I can soon fight for titles that place me among the best in the division.”

Also on the three-fight live stream will be undefeated Dominique Valle (5-0, 4 KOs) from Tampa, FL vs Carlos Rosario (5-1, 3 KOs) from Fajardo Puerto Rico in a six-round super featherweight bout and Demontaze Duncan (8-0, 8 KOs) from Louisville, KY will battle Axl Melendez (5-0, 4 KOs) from Ceiba, Puerto Rico in a six-round welterweight bout.

Follow ProBox TV at https://twitter.com/ProBox_TV and https://www.youtube.com/c/ProBoxTV

For more ProBox TV info click here https://proboxtv.com/what-is-probox-tv/en

Roseland, NJ (March 20, 2023) –GH3 Promotions has announced the signing of undefeated super middleweight Junior “The Young God” Younan to a co-promotional deal with Amaury Piedra.

Younan, 27 years-old of Brooklyn, New York has a record of 17-0-1 with 11 knockouts.

“This a is a great signing for us. Junior has always been a terrific talent. He just needed the opportunities, and that is what we plan to do. He can be a real player in the super middleweight division, and with a couple of wins, he will get those and eventually win world championships.” said Vito Mielnicki of GH3 Promotions.

“I am grateful for the opportunity. We have a nice plan for the rest of the year. I am excited for what is to come.  I am looking to fight in May, and then fight on a PBC platform. The goal is to get belts at Super Middleweight. I hope people are sleeping on me because I am getting better. Once they see me back in the ring, people will see that I am still the fighter people were talking about when I turned professional. I just had a year layoff, and stopped a guy with one loss in less than a round. After these few fights, I will be ready for anyone. The only problem before was consistency in fighting. And knowing that I will be active, I will be ready for the biggest challenges,” said Younan.

Younan was a highly touted amateur boxer who compiled a 90-5 record before turning professional in 2013 at the age of 18. Once dubbed by The New York Times as “a boxing prodigy” as a 10-year-old, Younan was a two-time National Junior Golden Gloves champion, the 2011 National Junior Olympic championship, and at one point was the No. 1-rated junior boxer in his weight class by USA Boxing. 

Younan turned professional on November 9, 2013 with a first-round stoppage over Kenneth Taylor Schmitz. Younan has defeated Mike Guy (9-2-1) and in his last bout, he stopped Dauren Yeleussinov (10-1-1) on July 30, 2022 in Brooklyn.

We see the passion with Vito and how he gets with his fighters. He responds right away and he cares about his fighters. We are very excited about the future. When we fought in July, PBC loved what they saw. Vito will get us opportunities on a PBC Platform, and Junior will be ready for anyone in the super middleweight division.  We are old school and believe real fighters have to fight real fighters. Junior will be doing just that, said Younan’s father/trainer Sherif Younan.

(March 21, 2023) — Two international fight cards will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ this week. The action starts Thursday, as super middleweight knockout artist Christian Mbilli takes on two-time Ecuadorian Olympian Carlos Gongora in a 10-round main event from the Montreal Casino in Montreal, Canada.
 
The ESPN+ action continues Friday from the Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy, as undefeated 168-pound contender Ivan Zucco faces off against London’s Germaine Brown in a 10-round bout.
 
Mbilli-Gongora and undercard bouts will stream live on ESPN+ on Thursday starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
 
Zucco-Brown and undercard contests will stream live on ESPN+ on Friday beginning at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT.
 
Mbilli (22-0, 20 KOs) is a 2016 French Olympian who is inching closer to a world title opportunity. The 27-year-old is coming off an impressive 2022 in which he scored knockout wins over former title challenger Nadjib Mohammedi and DeAndre Ware, along with a decision victory last December over Vaughn Alexander. Gongora (21-1, 16 KOs) represented Ecuador in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics before turning pro in 2015. In 2020, he scored an upset knockout victory over Ali Akhmedov. He then stopped Christopher Pearson in 2021 before losing a close decision to Lerrone Richards. The 33-year-old southpaw is coming off a fourth-round TKO over Oscar Riojas last August.
 
In other streaming action from Montreal:
 
Canadian Olympian Simon Kean (22-1, 21 KOs) faces his stiffest challenge yet against two-time world title challenger Eric Molina (29-8, 21 KOs). Kean was 15-0 with 14 knockouts before an upset loss to Dillon Carman in 2018. He avenged that loss the following year as part of a seven-fight knockout win streak.
 
Junior welterweight Steve Claggett (33-7-2, 23 KOs) will attempt to score his fifth straight KO victory in a 10-round tilt against Mexico’s Rafael Guzman Lugo (26-2-2, 16 KOs).
 
Undefeated lightweight Luis Santana (8-0, 2 KOs) returns to the ring in an eight-round fight against Francisco Arturo Ramirez Martinez (11-4, 6 KOs) of Veracruz, Mexico.
 
In a battle of undefeated junior lightweights, Canada’s Leila Beaudoin (8-0, 1 KO) will collide against Mexico’s Laura Avendano Mondragon (6-0, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder.
 
Zucco (16-0, 14 KOs) is a 27-year-old southpaw who debuted in the paid ranks in 2017. He beat then undefeated Luca Capuano in 2021 via sixth-round knockout to capture his first regional title. In his last fight, he stopped Marko Nikolic in the second round to capture the WBC International super middleweight title. His last six opponents have not gone the distance. Brown (12-1, 3 KOs) is a 28-year-old native of London who captured a British title in 2022 with a decision win over Charlie Schofield. In his last outing, he lost the belt to Zak Chelli in what has been his only loss so far.
 
In other streaming action from Milan
 
Francesco Russo (12-2, 10 KOs) will put his Italian junior middleweight title on the line in a 10-rounder against Christian Mazzon (9-4, 3 KOs).
 
Maxim Prodan (20-2-1, 15 KOs) will see action in an eight-round welterweight tilt against Mirko Marchetti (8-4).
 
Undefeated Italian prospect Giovanni Sarchioto (6-0, 6 KOs) will participate in an eight-round middleweight contest against France’s Houcine Moulahi (4-13-2, 2 KOs).
 

# # #

About ESPN+ 
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.9 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). 

LAS VEGAS – March 21, 2023 – SHOWTIME SPORTS^® boxing schedule is in full swing as the network televises its third live boxing event of March and eighth of the year this Saturday night when 168-pound stars David “The Mexican Monster” Benavídez and Caleb Plant meet in a high-stakes, 12-round showdown to settle their long-simmering feud live on SHOWTIME PPV. The showdown takes place at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The SHOWTIME^® schedule across the first six months of 2023 features four matchups pitting top-5 ranked opponents against each other, including No. 1 Benavídez and No. 2 Plant at super middleweight, according to the Transnational Boxing Rankings.

As the two heated rivals put the finishing touches on their fight-night preparations, here are some news and notes from SHOWTIME SPORTS to gear up for one of the year’s biggest and best fights.

NON-STOP ACTION

SHOWTIME SPORTS is in the middle of one of its strongest schedules in the network’s 37-year history of televising live boxing. Beginning with the February 25 slugfest between Subriel Matias and Jeremias Ponce, the SHOWTIME schedule includes seven live telecasts in nine weeks, culminating with the Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia mega-fight on April 22. The industry-leading schedule already includes some of the biggest names in the sport, including Benavídez, Plant, Davis, Garcia and Sebastian Fundora, with plans to add more star-power with blue-chippers Errol Spence Jr., Jermell and Jermall Charlo, Keith Thurman, Jaron Ennis, David Morrell,and Danny Garcia returning to action.

WALL TO WALL COVERAGE

There will be no shortage of content to feed fight fans’ appetite for Benavídez vs. Plant as SHOWTIME surrounds fight week with wall-to-wall, premium coverage. The full episode of the Emmy^® Award winning ALL ACCESS for Benavídez-Plant is now available on the SHOWTIME Sports and Premier Boxing Champions YouTube Channels. Special ALL ACCESS bonus clips are also being released on the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel, including this clip of “The Mexican Monster” revealing a piece of his fight night attire. In addition, several YouTube Shorts, including this one of Plant showing off his impressive shoe collection, can be found on the “Shorts” tab on the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel.

The SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel will also be home to live streaming coverage of all fight week events, including open media workouts on Wednesday, the final press conference Thursday, the official weigh-in Friday, and the post-fight press conference. Morning Kombat’s award-winning duo of Brian Campbell and Luke Thomas will serve as the hosts of the live streams on Thursday and Friday, as well as for the SHOWTIME PPV COUNTDOWN show on Saturday, which will include live coverage of preliminary bouts and analysis of the upcoming pay-per-view card. Unbeaten super bantamweight contender Kevin Gonzalez will battle Colombia’s Jose Sanmartin in a 10-round duel topping the countdown prelim show, while Cuban contender Orestes Velazquez takes on Argentina’s Marcelino Lopez in a 10-round super lightweight attraction in other action.

FROM SILVER SCREEN TO BOXING SCENE

The Benavídez family is used to performing on the big stage, but Jose Benavídez Jr. took that premise to a new extreme by starring in the blockbuster film Creed 3. Jose Jr., David’s older brother and a top contender in his own right, delivered a universally praised acting performance as a pivotal character in Creed 3 in his Hollywood debut. He plays the nemesis of Damian “Dame” Anderson, who becomes the central antagonist to the title character Adonis Creed. Away from the silver screen, Jose Jr. helped David prepare for the biggest fight of his career on Saturday. Jose Jr. knows that big-fight feeling well. He’s a former amateur star who challenged welterweight champion Terence Crawford for his WBO title in 2018. He also lost a majority decision to two-division world champion Danny Garcia last July on SHOWTIME but has rebounded nicely as boxer “Felix Chavez” in the third film of the popular Creed film series.  

A FAMILIAR STAGE

MGM Grand Garden Arena will serve as the backdrop for Saturday night’s action, which is fitting since the iconic venue has played host to some of the greatest fighters who have stepped through the ropes. Since opening its doors in 1993, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Oscar De La Hoya, Roberto Duran, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Roy Jones, Manny Pacquiao, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder have all performed there. The venue is also familiar to SHOWTIME, as Saturday will mark the network’s 36^th live boxing telecast from MGM Grand Garden Arena. Its most recent telecast there was a notable one: Canelo Alvarez’s SHOWTIME PPV November 2021 against Plant. This will be Plant’s third fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena while Benavídez will be making his second appearance there.

BUCKING THE TREND

While Saturday’s main event has the potential to be unforgettable, the headliners aren’t the only ones generating attention. The stacked undercard is led by a pair of undefeated fighters in rising stars Jesús “Mono” Ramos and Joey Spencer who are making a statement about their willingness to face tough opposition rather than pad their records with light touches in agreeing to their 10-round super welterweight bout. 

“This fight is proof that if two guys want to get in the ring at any stage in their career, even if it doesn’t necessarily follow the specific script that boxing usually follows, you can make a fight that’s outside of the box,” Spencer said during a press conference on February 22. Ramos concurred, saying, “This new generation is hungry. We want to fight each other. It’s going to bring boxing a lot of big fights and entertaining nights.”

The undercard also features an intriguing contest between two rising lightweights coming off their first career losses as Chris “Primetime” Colbert meets Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela and unbeaten welterweight contender Cody Crowley faces the hard-hitting Abel Ramos in the telecast opener in another well-matched encounter.

FROM SHOBOX^®TO PAY-PER-VIEW

Benavídez will be making his eighth appearance on SHOWTIME, having appeared on SHOBOX: The New Generation^®, SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® previously. Benavídez first appeared on SHOWTIME when he was 18 in the telecast opener of a 2015 SHOBOX, where he introduced himself to the boxing world by scoring a first-round KO over Felipe Romero. In the main event of a 2017 SPECIAL EDITION telecast, Benavídez became the youngest ever world champion in the super middleweight division with a split decision victory over Ronald Gavril. On that night, Benavídez joined a prestigious list of fighters who fought on SHOBOX and went on to win a world title – a list that has grown to 88 names after O’Shaquie Foster won a title in February. Benavídez has since appeared on five SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts and now will be making his SHOWTIME PPV debut.

Plant will headline his second SHOWTIME PPV on Saturday night and will be making his third overall appearance on the network after he also scored a victory in the opening bout of the SPECIAL EDITION telecast that was headlined by Benavídez-Gavril.

HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO BET?

DraftKings, the official sportsbook sponsor of Benavídez vs. Plant, views “The Mexican Monster” as a slight favorite on Saturday night. He is currently listed as a -330 favorite, while Plant is a +240 underdog.

Some of the brightest minds in boxing also weighed in with their fight night predictions, with many seeing this as a 50/50 fight that could go either way.

“It’s a 50-50 fight but I think Caleb on points,” said former two-time welterweight world champion Shawn Porter. “Something’s telling me Caleb is in the right place at the right time. I truly think he’s going to break down David, and he’s going to frustrate David.”

“I love the fight given the talent level of the two and the significance within the division,” said Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports. “Plant has everything he needs to win this fight, but I see Benavídez as something of a sleeping giant. He has enormous untapped potential and I believe this fight is coming at the right time for him. I see it as a nailbiter that Benavídez pulls out down the stretch with crisp combination punching.”

WHERE TO CATCH ALL THE ACTION

The four-fight pay-per-view event kicks off at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and is widely available for purchase and live streaming in the United States at SHOWTIME.com/ppv and via the SHOWTIME app on supported devices including Apple iOS and tvOS devices, Android Mobile, AndroidTV, Roku, Amazon FireTV, Samsung Smart TV and LG Smart TV (2019 models and newer), Xbox One, Xfinity Flex, the Cox Wireless 4K Contour Stream Player and online at SHOWTIME.com. The event is also available for purchase in the U.S. via satellite and telco systems through DIRECTV^®, DISH, Sling TV and Vubiquity.  The suggested retail price is $74.95 (SRP). In Canada, viewers can purchase and access the event via traditional cable and satellite distributors (Bell, Rogers, Shaw and SaskTel/TELUS). Liberty and Claro TV will offer the event in Puerto Rico. G&G Closed Circuit Events is the commercial distributor within the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada. 

THE A TEAM

Veteran sportscaster and “The Last Stand” podcaster Brian Custer will host the SHOWTIME PPV telecast while versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo will once again handle the blow-by-blow action alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and three-division world champion Abner Mares. Three more Hall of Famers round out the most decorated team in boxing – ringside reporter Jim Gray, world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr. and boxing historian Steve Farhood as unofficial scorer. Sportscaster Alejandro Luna will call the action in Spanish on Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) with former world champion and SHOBOX: The New Generation commentator Raúl “El Diamante” Marquez serving as the expert analyst. Four-time Emmy^® Award winner David Dinkins, Jr. will executive-produce the telecast with Bob Dunphy, son of Hall of Fame boxing announcer Don Dunphy,directing.

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#          #          #

ABOUT BENAVIDEZ VS. PLANT

Benavídez vs. Plant will see undefeated former two-time WBC Super Middleweight Champion David “The Mexican Monster” Benavídez and former IBF Super Middleweight Champion Caleb Plant meet in a high-stakes, 12-round showdown for Benavídez’s Interim WBC Super Middleweight Title live on SHOWTIME PPV on Saturday, March 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

In the co-main event, unbeaten rising stars Jesús “Mono” Ramos and Joey Spencer will go toe-to-toe in a 10-round super welterweight scuffle, as each fighter looks to make their claim as the future of the 154-pound division. The action will also see rising lightweights Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela meet in a 10-round duel, while unbeaten welterweight contender Cody Crowley faces the hard-hitting Abel Ramos in the telecast opener at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #BenavidezPlant, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

Atlantic City, NJ (March 8, 2023)–THIS SATURDAY night, March 25th, Kristian Prenga will take part in the main event when he takes on Sam Crossed for NABA Heavyweight Title plus The NBA Continental Heavyweight at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

The fight card is promoted by Rising Star Promotions.

Prenga of Mirdite, Albania is 12-1 with all of his wins coming by knockout. The 32 year-old has thrilled his fans with prodigious knockout power has taken out Jaime Barajas (2-0-2) and his last outing when he drilled Alvin Davie in two rounds on November 12, 2022 in Atlantic City.

Crossed of Greenbelt, Maryland has a record of 11-3-1 with seven knockouts. The 35 year-old Crossed is an eight-year veteran who has a win over Josh Jones (1-0). Crossed is coming off a defeat to Calvin Mends on May 21, 2022 in Springfield, Virgina.

Appearing in the six-round co-feature will be undefeated flyweight Anthony Johns (5-0, 4 KOs) of Newark, New Jersey against an opponent to be named

Also in six-round bouts:

Isaah Flaherty (5-0, 3KOs) of Queens, New York takes on Dewayne Williams (3-6-1, 3 KOs) of Philadelphia, PA in a super welterweight bout.

Avious Gibson (10-0, 9 KOs) of Chattanooga, Tennessee will take on an opponent to be named in a welterweight contest.

In Four-Round Bouts:

Malik Nelson (3-0, 3 KOs) of Perth Amboy, New Jersey battles Joseph Adorno Del Valle (0-0-1) of Vega Alta, Puerto Rico in a featherweight contest.

Gabriel Gerena (1-0, 1 KO) of Piscataway. New Jersey boxes Joshua Maldonado Garcia (1-3) of Vega Alta, Puerto Rico in a super featherweight bout.

Pro debuting super featherweight Francisco Rodriguez of Pleasantville, New Jersey will fight an opponent to be named.

Justin Figueroa (3-0, 3 KOs) takes on Manuel Moreira (0-3) of Sheridan, Wyoming in a super welterweight clash

Derrick Starling (5-1, 4 KOs) of Philadelphia takes on an opponent to be named in a heavyweight contest.

Tickets are available for $65, $85, $150 and $200 and can be purchased BY CLICKING HERE

LAS VEGAS – March 21, 2023 – A pair of undefeated rising contenders will look to cement their status in their divisions with statement victories in action that will be live streamed on the SHOWTIME PPV COUNTDOWN SHOW this Saturday, March 25 leading up to the highly-anticipated David Benavidez vs. Caleb Plant event taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

Unbeaten super bantamweight contender Kevin Gonzalez will battle Colombia’s Jose Sanmartin in a 10-round duel topping the show, while Cuban contender Orestes Velazquez takes on Argentina’s Marcelino Lopez in a 10-round super lightweight attraction. The live streaming presentation will begin at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page and will be hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show hosts Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell.

These fights will lead up to the SHOWTIME PPV telecast at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT featuring super middleweight rivals David “The Mexican Monster” Benavidez and Caleb Plant going toe-to-toe in the 12-round main event.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased through AXS.com.

The 25-year-old González (25-0-1, 13 KOs) made a successful U.S. debut on SHOWTIME in May 2022, earning a unanimous decision over Emanuel Rivera Nieves in their 10-round fight. A native of Sinaloa, Mexico, González has fought professionally since 2016, and owns a unanimous decision over former title challenger Ivan Morales in March 2021. González won a regional 122-pound title by stopping Alexander Mejia in July 2021, finishing the fight in round seven. He takes on the 30-year-old Sanmartin (34-6-1, 21 KOs), who most recently won a unanimous decision over Miguel Martinez in December 2022. The Arboletes, Colombia-native has challenged current featherweight champion Mauricio Lara and current super featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete during a pro career that dates back to 2011.

A native of Cuba now residing in Miami, Velazquez (6-0, 6 KOs) has stopped each opponent he’s faced since turning pro in October 2020 following a prolific amateur career. The 30-year-old added four victories in 2022, including most recently stopping Guillermo Leonel Crocco in the first round of their December 2022 clash. He will be opposed by Buenos Aires, Argentina’s Lopez (37-2-1, 22 KOs), who enters this fight having won his last five outings, including triumphs over veteran contenders Pablo Cesar Cano and Breidis Prescott. The 36-year-old has a 5-1 record stateside, with his only blemish coming via-split decision against Michael Perez in 2017.

The non-televised undercard lineup will be highlighted by a battle of unbeatens as Las Vegas super featherweight prospect Demler Zamora (10-0, 8 KOs) battles Arizona’s Jesus Ibarra (15-0, 7 KOs) in an eight-round showdown. Rounding out the action is super middleweight prospect Daniel Blancas (5-0, 3 KOs) in a six-round attraction facing Texas-native Nicholas Molina (4-1-1, 4 KOs), super featherweight prospect Robert Meriwether III (3-0, 2 KOs) dueling Mexico’s Jesus Perez (14-15-1, 8 KOs) in a six-round fight, and super featherweight prospect Dorian Khan Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs) in a four-round fight.

#         #         #

ABOUT BENAVIDEZ VS. PLANT

Benavídez vs. Plant will see undefeated former two-time WBC Super Middleweight Champion David Benavídez and former IBF Super Middleweight Champion Caleb Plant meet in a high-stakes, 12-round showdown for Benavídez’s Interim WBC Super Middleweight Title live on SHOWTIME PPV on Saturday, March 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

In the co-main event, unbeaten rising stars Jesús “Mono” Ramos and Joey Spencer will go toe-to-toe in a 10-round super welterweight scuffle, as each fighter looks to make their claim as the future of the 154-pound division. The action will also see rising lightweights Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela meet in a 10-round duel, while unbeaten welterweight contender Cody Crowley faces the hard-hitting Abel Ramos in the telecast opener at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #BenavidezPlant, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

FRESNO, Calif. (March 21, 2023) — Antonio “El Gigante” Mireles is ready for prime time.

The 6-foot-9, 270-pound heavyweight southpaw will return in a six-round clash against Patrick Mailata on Saturday, March 25, at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. Mireles-Mailata will open the televised tripleheader headlined by the junior welterweight showdown between Jose Ramirez and Richard “RC” Commey and the minimumweight title unification bout between WBA champion Seniesa Estrada and WBC queen Tina Rupprecht.

Ramirez-Commey, Estrada-Rupprecht and Mireles-Mailata will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment, tickets starting at $29 are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com.

Mireles (6-0, 6 KOs) is a Mexican-American prospect from Des Moines, Iowa. As an amateur, he won several national tournaments and signed with Top Rank in September 2021. Mireles made his pro debut the following month on the undercard of the Emanuel Navarrete-Joet Gonzalez main event in San Diego. Under the tutelage of Robert Garcia, he has maintained a 100 percent knockout ratio and is coming off a first-round knockout against Eric Perry last November. Mailata (6-1, 3 KOs) is a Samoan-born prospect who had a decorated amateur career representing New Zealand. Mailata has won two straight since a majority decision loss to Kingsley Ibeh.

Baltimore, Maryland (March 20, 2023)–Jeter Promotions has announced the signing of undefeated junior welterweight Ahmad Muhammad Jones to a promotional contract.

Jones, 23 years-old of Baltimore, Maryland is 4-0 with two knockouts.

All four of Jones’ wins have come on Jeter Promotions cards, and the signing makes it official that he will be with Jeter Promotions going forward.

?”Tony Jeter is doing an amazing job, and he is keeping fighters active and doing great things. He is staying busy by doing shows in different areas. I could see myself fighting in the different spots that Tony Promotes such as Atlanta, Pennsylvania and Maryland,” said Jones.

Jones started boxing at the age of 13, and had 35 amateur fights. He considers himself a boxer-puncher. Jones turned professional on December 3, 2021 with a first-round stoppage over Joshua Zimmerman in Philadelphia. Jones has a win over Kani Burnside. In his latest outing, Jones won a four-round unanimous decision over Michael Crain on February 18th in Hanover, Maryland..

“I am working on building my record and hopefully get on TV and fight for any belt that is available. Tony can bring me to be a champion and I believe in him:”

Jones is trained by Marvin McDowell

Photos by Daniel Cork

MANCHESTER, England – Tuesday, March 21 – Frazer Clarke will face former WBA world interim heavyweight title challenger Bogdan Dinu this Saturday, March 25th at Manchester’s AO Arena.

The news comes as Clarke’s initial opponent Rydell Booker is sadly forced to withdraw through illness following a serious medical incident.

The American heavyweight was taken unwell last weekend. Booker had attended a boxing event in his hometown of Detroit, just days before he was due to travel to the UK, where he was taken ill with a serious medical emergency. He is now recuperating and everyone at BOXXER sincerely wishes Rydell Booker a full and swift recovery.

Undefeated Team GB Olympics hero Clarke (5-0, 4 KOs), who memorably won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games, will now bid to take another scalp on his burgeoning resume when he faces off against his 6ft 5in Romanian rival. 

Dinu (20-4-0, 16 KOs) was beaten by Daniel Dubois the last time he fought in England when he was stopped for the vacant WBA interim heavyweight title in June 2021.

Last year, he fell short in his challenge for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title after taking on Kevin Lerena.

Based in Bucharest, Dinu fought former world title challenger Kubrat Pulev in 2019 and has stood opposite American Jerrell Miller too during his 24-fight career since turning professional in 2008.

Outside of the ring, the 36-year-old has served as an Independent Special Actions and Intervention Service Agent (SIIAS), which is a Romanian police task force created in 1995 as part of the Counter-Organised crime squad. Its roles include seizing dangerous or armed criminals, handling hostage crises, disaster rescues, the protection of police, witnesses and others involved in criminal investigations.

Whether Dinu will be able to handle the might of ‘Big Fraze’ in Manchester remains to be seen, however. Standing at a mean 6ft 6in, Clarke has been triumphant in his last two successive fights at the AO Arena and will be looking to make it a hat-trick when he returns this Saturday.

“Unfortunately Rydell Booker had to pull out of the fight. He’s had a medical problem, so I’m sending my best wishes to him and I hope he can get better soon,” said Clarke, speaking today on Sky Sports News.

“We’ve got a new opponent in Bogdan Dinu, who is a very credible opponent. He has boxed some great names including the likes of Daniel Dubois, Kubrat Pulev and Jerrell Miller. It’s a good fight for me and I’m looking forward to it.

“This is professional boxing – you can’t bank on anything. I’m accustomed to it now and throughout my career I am used to fighting people at a day’s notice. My job is to go out there and win. People can talk about looking fantastic and making a statement. But I’m a winner and that’s my job every time. If I can perform how I know I can then I will do that. I’m looking to go out there and make a statement.

“It’s been an up-and-down start to my career. Everytime I’ve got in there and I’ve won. This is heavyweight boxing. It’s dangerous. It’s up to me to be professional and do my job.

“It doesn’t matter who I’m getting in with this weekend, I’m ready to go and do my job.”

Final tickets are on sale now at BOXXER.com starting at just £25 – a bargain price for a blockbuster night of elite boxing, headlined by Lawrence Okolie defending his WBO world cruiserweight title against New Zealand’s David Light.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE and Village Hotels.

– – – – – – – 

CONTACT BOXXER PR

Matty Lawless, Head of PR & Communications

+447393764765 | matty@boxxer.com

FULL CARD FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 25 AT THE AO ARENA IN MANCHESTER

*Please note: Below list is not the running order

12 x 3 mins  WBO World Cruiserweight Championship

LAWRENCE OKOLIE vs DAVID LIGHT

8 x 3 mins Heavyweight Contest

FRAZER CLARKE vs BOGDAN DINU  

10 x 3 mins Vacant English Super-Featherweight Contest 

MICHAEL GOMEZ JR vs LEVI GILES

6 x 2 mins  Featherweight Contest                                       

KARRISS ARTINGSTALL vs LINZI BUCZYNSKI

8 x 3 mins  Super-Middleweight Contest

CALLUM SIMPSON vs CELSO NEVES

6/8 x 3 mins  Featherweight Contest                     

RHYS EDWARDS vs BRIAN PHILLIPS

6 x 3 mins Middleweight Contest

SHAKIEL THOMPSON vs ROBERT TALAREK      

8 x 3 mins Middleweight Contest

AARON McKENNA vs LUCAS NDAFOLUMA             

6 x 3 mins Welterweight Contest

SAMUEL ANTWI vs OMIR RODRIGUEZ

6 x 3 mins  Lightweight Contest

FRANKIE STRINGER vs TBA                                       

4 x 3 mins Super Welterweight

HARVEY LAMBERT vs CASEY BROWN

Essington, PA (March 21, 2023)–RDR Promotions returns to the Clarion Hotel in Essington, PA on Friday, April 14th as heavyweights Junior Wright and Brian Howard will slug it out in the six-round main event.

Fresh off an explosive knockout of Colby Madison, Wright of Delaware County is 19-4-1 with 16 knockouts. The 36 year-old Wright has victories over Nick Reader (3-0-1), Nick Kisner (12-0-1). On May 21, 2016, Wright challenged Beibut Shumenov for the WBA Cruiserweight title. Wright was stopped in 10 -rounds in a fight that took place in Las Vegas. Wright is coming off that vicious third-round stoppage over Colby Madison on October 1, 2022 in Philadelphia.

Howard of Loganville, Georgia has a record of 15-5 with 12 knockouts. The 42 year-old Howard has wins over Yuwshua Zadok (1-0), Chris Stallworth (9-2), Alex Guerrero (12-0-1), Shawndell Winters (8-0), Carlos Negron (20-2). Howard is coming off la oss to Efe Ajagba on April 10, 2021 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In an six–round co-feature, welterweight Mark Dawson Jr. will be in action against Jose Mayoral

Dawson of Philadelphia, is promoted by RDR Promotions is 10-1-1 with four knockouts. The 25 year-old Dawson has been a pro for seven years, and has a win over previously undefeated Ivan Pandzic (13-0-1). Dawson is coming off a fourth round stoppage over Vincent Floyd on September 23, 2022 in Essington, PA

Mayoral of New Orleans, Louisiana is 5-2-1 with one knockout. Mayoral has wins over Jose Belloso and the touted Boubacar Sylla (12-0). Mayoral is coming off a draw with Ibrahim Robinson (4-0) on January 21 in Tampa, Florida.

Also in a six-round bout, Angel Perez (7-0, 6 KOs) of Harrisburg, PA takes on upset-specialist Kieron Hooks (4-2-2, 1 KO) of Philadelphia in a welterweight bout.

In six-round bouts:

Rasheen Brown (11-1, 7 KOs) of Philadelphia takes on Eric Manriquez (7-15-1, 3 KOs) of Houston in a featherweight contest.

In Four-Round Bouts:

Antonio Dubose (13-2-2, 3 KOs) of Philadelphia fights Phillip Davis (3-5-2) of Worcester, Mass. in a lightweight affair.

Seeing action against opponents to be named will be RDR Promotions fighters: junior welterweight Marvelous Corbin (2-0, 2 KOs) of Philadelphia; bantamweight Edwin Cortes (3-0 of Millville, NJ and welterweight Nimal Farmer (3-0, 3 KOs) of Lindenwold, NJ

The Clarion Hotel is located at 76 Industrial Highway in Essington, PA

Tickets are $100, $75 and $55 and can be purchased at the Following Link

CLICK FOR TICKETS

CARSON, CALIF. – March 20, 2023 – Undefeated super welterweight sensation Sebastián “The Towering Inferno” Fundora and rising contender Brian Mendoza previewed their battle for Fundora’s Interim WBC Super Welterweight Title during a virtual press conference on Monday before they meet on Saturday, April 8 live on SHOWTIME from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

Two more fights round out the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® telecast beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, as undefeated super lightweight contender Brandun Lee takes on Mexico’s Pedro Campa in the 10-round co-main event, while undefeated featherweights Luis “The Twist” Núñez and Christian Olivo square off in the 10-round telecast opener.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing are on sale now and can be purchased at axs.com.

Fundora has established himself as a must-see contender on the rise, engaging in exciting clash after exciting clash, including one of 2022’s best fights, an instant classic that saw him stop top contender Erickson Lubin. He will face the upset-minded Mendoza, who scored a career-best victory last time out by knocking out former unified champion Jeison Rosario.

Here is what the fighters had to say Monday:

SEBASTIAN FUNDORA

“I feel like I’ve been proving myself over and over again. We’re waiting for our shot to fight for the title. They keep putting guys in front of me who they say will knock me out or expose me, but I keep proving them wrong.

“Camp has been really good for me. We’ve been training hard and getting ready for another exciting fight in Carson. Just expect fireworks. I’m bringing my best, so I hope he brings his best.

“I’m always ready to go toe-to-toe. Everyone I fought has been strong guys and Mendoza is another. We’re just going to go for the win like always.

“This fight is as important as every other fight before. Mendoza is a contender as well and we’re not looking at him lightly. We have to get past Mendoza if we want to even think of fighting for the championship.

“Mendoza had a great performance in his last fight and he looked strong. I didn’t see anything different from him really. We knew he was strong.

“I’m just building up. My dad and I had plans that we talked about and we talked about contending and fighting for a title around this age. Things are working out. We’re where we want to be and just looking to get that title fight soon.

“We’re going to have to see what he brings on April 8. I have to prove myself again. We both have chips on our shoulders. We want to become champions and we have to win on April 8 to do so.

“I feel like some people are trying to skip me in order for the title, but I’m remaining patient and staying focused on this fight. I just have to keep moving forward while everything else gets dealt with.

“I’m using my jab and using my distance more. I’ve always been able to do it, but I’m more comfortable with it now. Lubin was really in my chest, so the fight didn’t really call for it. Against Ocampo I was able to use those skills more.

“We never pick anybody, I just get the assignment and go for it. Mendoza is coming off a big win and we said ‘heck yeah’ to the fight. It’s a good fight for the fans and a good fight for us.  

“Mendoza is gonna find out that I’m the next world champion at super welterweight.”

BRIAN MENDOZA

“When I said I was going to add a former unified champion to my resume, people scoffed and laughed at me. I just thought, ‘Okay, keep laughing.’ You don’t have to believe me. I’m going to show you with my actions. That’s what I’m going to do in this fight. I’m gonna show that I’m one of the best in this division. That’s the goal. I’m going to pull off another big upset.

“Fans can expect another explosive performance. I’ve had a tremendous camp and I’ve been killing myself day in and day out, suffering every single day making sure that I leave no stone unturned. We’re just ready to go. I wish the fight was tomorrow.

“I’ve sacrificed so much in camp to make sure that I’m ready for whatever happens on fight night. If he tries to use his range or he tries to bang like usual, we’ll be ready for anything. I’ve had great preparation, even sparring with cruiserweights in this camp. It’s a cliché, but I will truly be ready for anything.

“His height isn’t going to be an issue. I’ve been fighting and sparring guys taller than me my whole life. I’m usually the shorter guy at 154 pounds anyways. It doesn’t make a difference. I haven’t had any trouble in sparring with guys who try to keep me away or with guys who try to overpower me because they’re bigger. I have too much experience and that’s what’s going to be the difference.

“I’m not going to go in there and play to his strengths. It’s about me proving who I am to the world. The experience that I have right now is unreal. These last five years in Vegas have been tremendous. People think I’m just a hard-hitter, but I’m going to show the world otherwise.

“We’re going to hear, ‘And the new interim WBC Super Welterweight World Champion.’ Fundora is going to learn that I’m a lot more than just a power-puncher.

“A win in this fight would mean everything. I’m trying to get to that next level and I finally feel like I have the right team around me. I feel like I have the right experience and I’m in my prime. I’m entering my prime and the time is now.

“Fighting at Dignity Health Sports Park is an honor. It’s a legendary place. Tons of wars have happened there. I want to cement my name as part of one of those wars and one of those big fights that went down there. This could be a Fight of the Year type of fight. Neither of us are going to take a step back.

“I just gained a lot of great experience in the Jeison Rosario fight. He was a former unified world champion. I picked up some tricks and tips from the fight but the biggest thing I took was just the experience of being in the ring with somebody like that. 

“I’m honestly kind of enjoying the whole ‘B-side’ experience. It just makes the victory that much sweeter.”

#         #         #

ABOUT FUNDORA VS. MENDOZA

Fundora vs. Mendoza will see undefeated super welterweight sensation Sebastián “The Towering Inferno” Fundora defend his Interim WBC Super Welterweight Title against rising contender Brian Mendoza on Saturday, April 8 live on SHOWTIME from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and will feature undefeated super lightweight contender Brandun Lee taking on Mexico’s Pedro Campa in the 10-round co-main event, plus undefeated featherweights Luis “The Twist” Núñez and Christian Olivo square off in the 10-round telecast opener.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #FundoraMendoza, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

Pittsburgh, PA (March 20, 2023) -Super Bantamweight contender Oleh Dovhun inched closer to a world title opportunity by making the second defense of the WBA NABA title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Juan Centeno in a fight that headlined a five-bout card at The Priory Grand Hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The card was promoted by Integrity Fighter Management and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

Despite being cut on his left eyelid due to an accidental clash of head, Dovhun showed his class throughout the bout by boxing his way behind a consistent work-rate. Centeno hung in there, but Dovhun showed why he is a world-ranked contender and took the fight by scores of 100-90 on all cards.

Dovhun of Pittsburgh via Ukraine ups his perfect mark to 15-0. Centeno of Miami us 8-7-3.

Dovhun is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and managed by Integrity Fighter Management.

In the co-feature, Devaun Lee sent shockwaves by stopping previously undefeated hometown fighter Kiante Irving in round four of their six-round super middleweight bout.

Lee was able to withstand an early rush by Irving. Irving may have punched himself out as Lee started to take over in the second and third rounds. Lee started tagging Irving with flush shots until the bout was stopped at 2:03 of round four.

Lee of Queens, NY is 11-8-1 with six knockouts. Irving of Beaver Falls, PA falls to 11-1-1.

Joe Turk remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Isaiah Margheim in a heavyweight bout.

Turk of Pittsburgh is now 3-0-1. Margehim of Sandusky, Ohio is 1-3.

Jordan Zlacki took a four-round split decision over Eric Palmer in a welterweight battle.

Zlacki of Springdale, PA is now 3-5. Palmer of Uniontown, PA is 14-17-5.

The opening bout saw Devon Siegfried stop Matteo Gardner in a scheduled four-round fight featuring debuting cruiserweights.

In round three, Siegfried dropped Gardner with a right hook for the 10-count at 1:05.

PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY — March 20, 2023 — After nearly six-years out of pro-boxing, the time has come for Bergenfield’s very own, Kevin “Hurricane” Hernandez, to take what is his and return to the ring in Bergen County Fight Night 3 – Saturday night April 1st presented by Abella Boxing Promotions at The Terrace at Biagio in Paramus, NJ – PPV/Streaming Available for $24.99.

Hernandez, 29, a student at Columbia University in New York City, studying Computer Science and Mathematics, will go up against Tyrell Cook (0-3-0) in a welterweight bout scheduled for four-rounds.

“It’s a weird, roundabout way of being a boxer and going to Columbia University,” Hernandez said. “The discipline and everything growing up with boxing, definitely helped me get into Columbia.”

Hernandez (0-0-1) made his pro-debut in June of 2017, but was forced to remove himself from the sport due to a torn-right labrum and more specifically, the hardships of balancing work, his education, and family obligations.

“Financially, it was just my mother, me and my brother at the time,” Hernandez, of Colombian heritage, said. “So, basically, you know, a Hispanic lifestyle, I was working to just pay for the bills and everything.”

In 2019, after his mother asked him, “why wouldn’t you try going back to school,” he decided to enroll into Bergen Community College, and achieved a 4.0 GPA in his first semester.

“I thought, ‘what do I have to lose,’” Hernandez said about attending Bergen Community College. “I didn’t know what to do at the time, but when I went, I didn’t know if it was because of my age, getting more mature, or the discipline from boxing all the years, but it was fine.”

He graduated with a 3.7 cumulative GPA and was named the recipient of the Professor Robert Neil Ender Memorial Mathematics Award – an award given to only five students in Bergen Community College per graduation class. Since then, Hernandez has been attending Columbia, building on his education, while consistently working and training in the gym.

However, Hernandez doesn’t fit the mold of generic boxing stereotypes.

“When you see him in the ring, you can see he turns a different button on,” Abella Boxing event organizer Rob Park said about Hernandez. “You would not think that stereotype of him being a college student, you know, is in him. He comes to fight and he does everything he can to win. That’s just the person he is.”

Park added: “He’s an animal, he goes on and on. He doesn’t care who he spars.”

On another note, Hernandez is an intern at ERDOS Technologies – Ramsey Theory Group located in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and actually works out in the facility with a small boxing ring constructed, thanks to CEO Dan Herbatschek. Hernandez also trains at YESS Boxing Gym based in Dumont, NJ.

Six-Round Bouts:
Raymond “The Scientist” Cuadrado, (5-0-0, 20 KO%), of Ridgewood, Queens, NY, will put his undefeated record up on the line against Usiel Hernandez (2-1-0) in a junior lightweight bout.

Nicky “The Bull” Vitone (9-1-1, 63.6 KO%) of Pine Brook, New Jersey, fights Jordan Rosario (4-10-0) in a super-lightweight bout.

John “Bodyshot” Leonardo (9-1-1, 36.3 KO%) of Manalapan, New Jersey, goes up against Ernest Hall (4-2-1) in a super bantamweight bout.

Mike “The Champ” Lee (9-2-0, 63.6 KO%) of Jersey City, New Jersey, takes on Antonio Sanchez (7-16-3) in a super welterweight bout.

Remaining Four-Rounders:
Christian “Veneno” Otero (4-3-0, 28.5 KO%) of Manhattan, NY will go toe-to-toe with southpaw Vinnie Denierio (3-7-0) in a lightweight bout.

Dane Guerrero, of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, is set to make his pro-debut against Andre Hinmon (0-2-0) in a super middleweight bout.

Bergen County Fight Night 3, presented by Abella Boxing Promotions is sponsored by NY METRO PROMOTION & PRINTING, TEAM PARAMUS COLLISION, PARAMUS 186 PBA, SKULL FUEL ENERGY DRINK, WIRED PRODUCTS, MYPAL BY PALADINO ENTERPRISES – NEW JERSEY’S PREMIER, HOME SERVICE APP, TURN KEY DATA, TIRE WHEEL PERFORMANCE CENTER, CIBAO MEAT PRODUCTS “TRADICIÓN DE CALIDAD”

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – BERGEN COUNTY FIGHT NIGHT 3
WHEN: Saturday Night April 1st, 2023
WHERE: The Terrace at Biagio Ristorante located on 293 Paramus Road, Paramus, NJ 07652
BOUTS: 4 Six-Round Bouts, 3 Four-Round Bouts (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
TICKETS AVAILABLE: $100 General Admission, $300 VIP
PPV/STREAMING: Bergen Audio Visual – $24.99

Follow on Instagram: @abellaboxing
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/AbellaBoxingPromotions

MEDIA ADVISORY: If you would like to schedule an advanced interview with Kevin Hernandez or any other individual fighters, feel free to reach out to Rich Mancuso and/or Robert Rizzo with their contact information provided below.

Credential forms have been distributed. If you would like to attend Bergen County Fight Night 3, you must complete the form, and reply back to Rich Mancuso and/or Robert Rizzo.

For any further questions, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you from Abella Boxing Promotions.

March 20, 2023, Plant City, FL  —  Once beaten Mohamed “El Bufalo Negro” Soumaoro will battle undefeated Angel “El Chocolatito” Vazquez in a ten round lightweight bout in the main event of ProBox TV’s March 22 boxing show at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida. 

Tickets, starting at $50, are available HERE.

The ProBox Live Stream will begin at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT.

Both Soumaoro and Vazquez are coming off the biggest wins of their careers, against undefeated opponents.

Soumaoro (12-1, 5 KOs) born in Guinea and fighting out of Montreal, Canada, is on a two-fight win streak. His last fight was a unanimous decision win against undefeated Jusiyah Shirley on December 2 at the ProBox Events Center.

“Training camp went very well and I feel ready to give a great show to the fans, give a beautiful performance and win the fight,” said Soumaoro. “Vazquez is a young fighter who likes to put the pressure on and will do everything in his power to beat me. However, whatever he brings to the ring on March 22 I will be ready for. I am unlike any other opponent he has faced.

“This win against Vazquez, my first ten-rounder on a Platform like ProBox TV, will be huge for my career. An emphatic win against another undefeated boxer will get my name out there and lead to bigger opportunities.”

Vazquez (12-0, 6 KOs) is from San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico. The twenty-two year old made is professional debut in February 2019 and his first eleven fights took place in Mexico. His last bout, his first in the US, was a unanimous decision win over fellow undefeated Nicholas Sullivan.

“I have prepared myself well physically, technically and mentally for this fight,” said Vazquez. “I sparred with top level fighters because I know my opponent has experience and good technique and will bring his all on fight night. The best one to do it on that night will win and I’m feeling real good about it. It will be an interesting fight and the public will enjoy it. I’m going to meet him in the middle of the ring then close the spaces and take him to the ropes where I will throw combinations that do damage.

“This a very good opportunity for me and after this victory against a quality fighter they get me bigger challenges so I can soon fight for titles that place me among the best in the division.”

Also on the three-fight live stream will be undefeated Dominique Valle (5-0, 4 KOs) from Tampa, FL vs Carlos Rosario (5-1, 3 KOs) from Fajardo Puerto Rico in a six-round super featherweight bout and Demontaze Duncan (8-0, 8 KOs) from Louisville, KY will battle Axl Melendez (5-0, 4 KOs) from Ceiba, Puerto Rico in a six-round welterweight bout.

Follow ProBox TV at https://twitter.com/ProBox_TV and https://www.youtube.com/c/ProBoxTV

For more ProBox TV info click here https://proboxtv.com/what-is-probox-tv/en

LAS VEGAS (March 20, 2023) – Boxing’s top fighters, media members and more weighed in on the upcoming blockbuster fight between undefeated former two-time WBC Super Middleweight Champion David “The Mexican Monster’’ Benavídez and former IBF Super Middleweight Champion Caleb Plant ahead of their 12-round showdown headlining live on SHOWTIME PPV this Saturday, March 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

Of the 29 people polled for their predictions – 21 of them are forecasting victory for Benavidez in a close and compelling fight, while five favor Plant, two were unable to pick a winner, plus one who said matching these two superstars was a clear victory for boxing.

The oddsmakers at DraftKings have the fight closer than displayed by those polled, with Benavidez placed as the favorite at -330 (a $330 bet placed will win $100) and Plant +240 ($100 bet placed wins $240) while the Bet MGM Sports Book has Benavidez -275 and Plant +225.

Here is what those closest to the fight game had to say about the Benavidez-Plant matchup:

JERMELL CHARLO, Undisputed Super Welterweight World Champion

“I’m rocking with Plant. Plant has the boxing skills. Benavidez is just one-dimensional. He’s going to come forward and put a lot of pressure on Plant. But styles make fights and so this is going to be a good one. But I’m rocking with Plant.”

BRANDON FIGUEROA, Recent winner on SHOWTIME of Interim WBC Featherweight Title

“I’m rooting for Benavidez all the way. I see him knocking (Plant) out in the eighth or ninth round.”

SHAWN PORTER, Former Two-Time Welterweight World Champion

“It’s a 50/50 fight but I think Caleb takes it. Something’s telling me Caleb is in the right place at the right time. I truly think he’s going to break down David, and he’s going to frustrate David. He’s bringing a lot to the ring that David has never been up against. David’s spoiled with his pressure. He breaks everyone down, but I don’t think he’ll be able to do that to Caleb, so I’m picking Caleb in a late-round stoppage.”

AMANDA SERRANO, Undisputed Featherweight World Champion

“I usually don’t like to make predictions for fights. You just never know in boxing. However, I am going to make one this time for Benavidez vs. Plant. I really do like Plant. I think he is a really nice guy, great fighter. However, for this fight, I have to go with Benavidez.”

REY VARGAS, WBC Featherweight World Champion

“Plant-Benavidez will be a very even fight, 50-50. Strategy will be the key factor for whoever comes out on top. Plant has his speed and waist movement. Benavidez with his explosiveness and his strength. I truly believe it is 50/50. I have to lean on the Mexican side, because of that strength and explosiveness.”

GEORGE KAMBOSOS, JR., Former Unified Lightweight World Champion

“This is a 50/50 matchup. From my point of view Caleb Plant has had better experience and looks in great shape. We saw in his last fight he does have that nice snap, that power and he will definitely out-box Benavidez. I don’t think he will knock him out, but he can hurt him. I’m going with Caleb Plant on a close points decision.”

CALEB TRUAX, Former IBF Super Middleweight World Champion

“This is a great super middleweight fight and a big win for boxing. I see it going similarly to Canelo-Plant. Plant will have success early due to his feet and jab, and then Benavidez’s pressure and power get him the late stoppage. I’m pulling for Plant to win, being that he is a former opponent of mine.”

DAVID MORRELL, Undefeated WBA Super Middleweight Champion

“It’s a 50/50 fight. Benavidez has power, but he has never fought against someone with moves like Plant, who will make life hard for him with his speed. I would love to pick a winner, but I just can’t, considering how even this fight truly is.”

ANDY RUIZ, JR., Former Unified Heavyweight World Champion

“I got my money on Benavidez. He is just a bigger fighter, a stronger guy, ‘The Mexican Monster’. Nothing against Caleb, he is a warrior and we all risk our lives in the ring, but I just feel like Benavidez will be too much.”

YORDENIS UGAS, Former WBA Welterweight World Champion

“I was initially going to say 50/50, but now I’m going to lean in favor of Benavidez, 55-45 in his favor.”

VLADIMIR SHISHKIN, Undefeated Super Middleweight Contender

“This is a great fight between two elite fighters in the division. I favor Benavidez, but Plant showed improvement after the Canelo fight and that means he is coming to win. I will not be overly surprised if Plant is able to score a points upset over Benavidez.”

BOB SANTOS, Sports Illustrated 2022 Trainer of the Year

“I think Benavidez vs. Plant is going to be a tremendous fight in the early rounds. Plant will be having some success moving and boxing, but towards the middle rounds Benavidez will take over and win the fight. That said, I think it’s going to be a tremendous fight and both guys’ stock is going to go up.”

KEITH IDEC, Boxing Scene

“Benavidez by 11th-round TKO. Plant’s intelligence, movement and skill will enable him to make the most of their fight competitive. The relentless Benavidez pressure and volume punching will eventually wear Plant down, though, and lead to a stoppage in one of the championship rounds.”

STEPHEN JACKSON, Former NBA World Champion and “ALL THE SMOKE” Co-Host

“Plant is coming off one of the biggest wins of his career. A big knockout after losing to Canelo. He’s in a good space right now. Benavidez has been looking for a fight, he’s one of the dangerous fighters around right now so it’s going to be a good fight. Caleb is still on his high and he has to win this fight to get back to Canelo. Benavidez has been calling out Canelo for years and this is a stepping-stone. If I have to lean toward a side because you put a gun to my head, I’m going to go with Benavidez.”

ROBERT LITTAL, Black Sports Online

“I believe this is truly a 50/50 fight with an amazing clash of styles between someone they call the ‘Mexican Monster’ and the other they call ‘Sweethands.’ In the end I think Caleb Plant survives an early assault from Benavidez and uses the knowledge from the Canelo fight and puts on a boxing clinic down the stretch to win a unanimous decision.”

GREG BEACHAM, Associated Press

“I like Benavidez by late-round stoppage. His toughest opponent has usually been himself, but I still think he can reach his full potential. Benavidez should be motivated by a talented, confident veteran opponent like Plant, who could easily take this fight if Benavidez shows up unfocused or unprepared. Benavidez’s strength and talent are the determining factors for me in an excellent matchup.”

MORGAN CAMPBELL, New York Times:

“Benavidez by very close decision. Might be split decision, might be majority decision, but I think he’ll win seven rounds.”

LARGE, Barstool Sports

“Although both fighters possess both attributes, I still see this one as strength versus speed. And Benavidez’s power will get to Plant by the late rounds. Benavidez by KO Round 8-10.”

PAUL PIERCE, Former NBA World Champion and “Ticket & The Truth” Co-Host

“I’m going with Plant. That’s my man. I met Caleb Plant – I’ve sat with him at a fight and I had a moment with him so I’m going with Caleb Plant. I ain’t gonna lie though, Benavidez is a beast.”

KEVIN IOLE, Yahoo! Sports

“David Benavidez W12 Caleb Plant: I love the fight given the talent level of the two and the significance within the division. Plant has everything he needs to win this fight, but I see Benavidez as something of a sleeping giant. He has enormous untapped potential and I believe this fight is coming at the right time for him. I see it as a nailbiter that Benavidez pulls out down the stretch with crisp combination punching.”

DAN RAFAEL, Fight Freaks Unite

“It’s an outstanding matchup but I think Benavidez will win. Plant is a good boxer but Benavidez is a brutal puncher with excellent power and an excellent chin. Plant may have some success boxing for stretches in a good fight, but Benavidez will break him down and stop him late.”

DEMARCUS COUSINS – Four-Time NBA All-Star

“I do like Plant. I question his power, but Plant is a very skilled boxer. I don’t know though, I might have to go the other way with this one [and pick Benavidez]. Benavidez is a monster.”

JOE SANTOLIQUITO, Ring Magazine

“I like Benavidez. I think he’s simply too big, and too strong for Plant. Benavidez knows the stakes and will come in acutely prepared. Plant will try to out-box Benavidez and get the fight into the later rounds, but with that comes some risk. Benavidez wins by late-round stoppage.”

ADRIANA NORIEGA, Fox Deportes

“Benavidez vs. Plant is a great, 50/50 fight. Two contrasting fights that make for a very interesting clash. On one side, you have ‘The Mexican Monster’ with the physical advantages, power and aggressive style that defines him. I expect Plant to use his sweet hands, his timing, his speed and his footwork to potentially frustrate Benavidez. If the fight ends early, I expect Benavidez to win. If it goes to the judges, Plant has the better chance in my book.”

MICHAEL ROSENTHAL, Boxing Junkie

“I have a lot of respect for Plant, who I believe is an elite athlete with an elite skill set. And he showed us against Anthony Dirrell that he’s no slouch in the power department. I just think that Benavidez has too much firepower for him. He’s an offensive juggernaut, a guy who breaks down opponents with ferocious, relentless pressure that has resulted in 23 knockouts in 26 fights. Plant will have some success early, but Benavidez will land more and more punches as the fight progresses and score a late stoppage. Benavidez KO 9.

CLAUDIA TREJOS. DAZN/PROBOXTV/BYB

“This will be an explosive fight. Benavidez with the advantage of height and advantage of youth will use his skills to make Plant fall into his fighting style. We can never discount Plant’s grit – a boxer who has proven his warrior spirit inside and outside the ring. Benavidez always does his homework and has power to go along with it – a win against Plant puts him on track for the highly anticipated fight against Canelo. I can see Benavidez taking this opportunity to show off his complete tool set. Benavidez by KO in the later rounds.”

ABE GONZALEZ, Big Fight Weekend

“David Benavidez versus Caleb Plant is a dream fight for the purist. I can see Caleb Plant frustrating Benavidez early with his boxing ability and movement. However, in the later rounds, after those Benavidez punches start to add up, he will slow Plant down and stop him around the ninth or 10th round.”

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ABOUT BENAVIDEZ VS. PLANT

Benavídez vs. Plant will see undefeated former two-time WBC Super Middleweight Champion David Benavídez and former IBF Super Middleweight Champion Caleb Plant meet in a high-stakes, 12-round showdown for Benavídez’s Interim WBC Super Middleweight Title live on SHOWTIME PPV on Saturday, March 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

In the co-main event, unbeaten rising stars Jesús “Mono” Ramos and Joey Spencer will go toe-to-toe in a 10-round super welterweight scuffle, as each fighter looks to make their claim as the future of the 154-pound division. The action will also see rising lightweights Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela meet in a 10-round duel, while unbeaten welterweight contender Cody Crowley faces the hard-hitting Abel Ramos in the telecast opener at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased HERE through AXS.com.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #BenavidezPlant, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

A family business returns to the storied Manchester Arena this week when Michael Gomez Jr, son of the Manchester boxing legend Michael Gomez, will step into the ring on Saturday night in a bid to become champion of England. 

Gomez Jr (18-1, 5 KO’s) faces the undefeated Levi Giles (13-0, 3 KO’s) on Saturday March 25th for the vacant English Super-Featherweight Championship, with the whole event airing live on Sky Sports. 

The headline bout features world cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie defending the WBO world cruiserweight title against undefeated Commonwealth Games silver medalist David Light.

In tribute to the return of the Gomez clan to the Manchester Arena, BOXXER has created a  section of £25 tickets – the same price as tickets to see Gomez Sr at the arena back in 2002. 

Here’s Michael Gomez Jr on this Saturday’s challenge:

Competing for the vacant English Super-Featherweight Championship

Becoming the English champion isn’t the main priority for me actually. The main priority is fighting in Manchester Arena live on Sky Sports. That’s something I’ve always dreamed of because I grew up watching my father do that, so that’s the biggest thing for me. Titles come second to that, for me.

‘Throwback’ ticket price of £25

The last time you could get tickets for a boxing event in Manchester Arena at that price was when my dad was boxing there in the early 2000s, so I think it’s great they’ve created a batch of tickets at that price as a throwback to that era because his son is on the card. 

Boxing can be expensive so this makes it really accessible to young fans and fans who maybe otherwise couldn’t afford it, especially as we have this cost of living crisis going on right now. To be able to get a ticket at that price for a world-level international boxing event on Sky Sports is unheard of today. If you’re a boxing fan and you don’t snap that up, I think you’re crazy!

On competing in same arena which hosted so many of his father’s career highlights

It means a lot to me. This is an opportunity for me to make my own name in the sport and prove how good I am in my own right and carry on the family legacy of big nights in the Manchester Arena. I’m looking forward to it – I can’t wait to get in there and show what I am about! 

On what he expects this fight to look like

I don’t take backwards steps, I like to get involved. I think in this fight, one of us gets taken out, one of us hits the canvas. Obviously I am planning for that to be him. 

My coach has been watching a lot of tape on him and feels like he doesn’t react well to getting hit hard and put under heavy pressure. If that’s the case then it’s going to be a bad day at work for him in Manchester Arena on March 25th, because I hit hard and I bring the pressure.

Rising British Heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley will face American Michael Polite-Coffie on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s clash with Jermaine Franklin at The O2 in London on Saturday April 1, live worldwide on DAZN – as Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams will look to close in on a clash with rival Felix Cash, with ‘Ammo’ meeting River Wilson-Bent before Cash challenges Matteo Signani for the European Middleweight Title.

REMAINING TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED VIA STAGE FRONT
Cash and Williams have been slated to clash in a big Middleweight battle in 2023, and the fierce rivals will look to rubberstamp that showdown with victories in London. Williams (13-0 9 KOs) fights in the UK for the third time and in his second showing at the Greenwich venue, having stepped through the ropes in his fourth pro fight there in October 2019 and then stopping former World Title challenger Javier Maciel in February 2022 at Alexandra Palace. 

The 26 year old, ranked at number three in the WBA, ended 2022 with a pair of ten round wins over Kieron Conway and Simon Madsen, and will be looking for a statement win over Wilson-Bent (14-2-1, 6 KOs), the Coventry man who has boxed for the Commonwealth, WBC Silver and English Titles in the last year.

Cash’s European Title tilt was announced in February, and now his future American foe has been added to the bill, his clash with Signani takes on even more significance as the Wokingham man looks to make up for lost time after enduring a frustrating 2022 in which he picked up two wins. 

Italy’s European Middleweight ruler Signani (32-6-3, 12 KOs) landed the title for the first time against Gevorg Khatchikian in Trento back in October 2019 before making successful defences against Maxime Beaussire in 2020 and Ruben Diaz in May 2021. ‘Il Giaguaro’ lost the belt to Anderson Prestot on a technical decision in June last year but avenged that loss in November.

Former British and Commonwealth Champion Cash (16-0, 10 KOs) is looking to add the EBU crown to his collection after enduring a frustrating 2022 in which he picked up two wins. Cash and Williams went face-to-face with him in a fiery ringside encounter in Leeds after Cash’s December outing in Yorkshire.

Wardley (15-0, 14 KOs) is riding high after claiming the vacant British Title in November with a third round stoppage over Nathan Gormley at Wembley Arena in London, and the Ipswich ace returns to the capital for his fourth straight fight and third in that run at The O2, and meets American Polite-Coffie (13-3, 10 KOs) in his first fight of 2023, with the Floridian aiming to hand a first defeat to Wardley, who now has Solomon Dacres breathing down his next for a shot at the coveted Lord Lonsdale belt after he claimed the English Title in Newcastle on Saturday night.

Campbell Hatton (10-0, 3 KOs) is back in action after hitting double figures in Liverpool in March, and the son of British boxing legend Ricky will meet Staffordshire’s experienced Louis Fielding (10-7, 1 KOs) in his first eight round battle in the paid ranks and Essex’s John Hedges (7-0 2 KOs) lands his first eight round clash against Poland’s Daniel Bocianski (11-2, 2 KOs).

The previously announced clash between Craig Richards and Ricards Bolotniks has been postponed after Richards suffered a hand injury.

Las Vegas – UFC^® today announced that former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will be inducted into the 2023 Class of the UFC Hall of Fame as a Pioneer. The 2023 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Toyo Tires^®, will take place during the 11^th Annual UFC International Fight Week^Ô this summer in Las Vegas and will be streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS^®.

“Anderson Silva is one of the greatest athletes of all time,” UFC President Dana White said. “Anderson’s 16-fight winning streak in the UFC, 10 successful title defenses and almost seven years as middleweight champion were one of the most remarkable things we’ve ever seen in professional sports. He was an absolute artist inside the Octagon, and it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.”

Silva will enter the UFC Hall of Fame as the 19^th member of the Pioneer Era Wing. The Pioneers Era category includes athletes who turned professional before November 17, 2000 (when the unified rules of mixed martial arts were adopted), are a minimum age of 35, or who have been retired for one year or more.

A veteran of 46 fights during his 23-year professional MMA career, Silva compiled a record of 34-11, 1 NC (21-8, 1 NC UFC / PRIDE), notching victories over future UFC Hall of Famers Forrest Griffin, Stephan Bonnar, Dan Henderson and Rich Franklin. He also secured wins over former UFC light heavyweight champion and UFC^Ò 12: JUDGEMENT DAY heavyweight tournament champion Vitor Belfort, former UFC welterweight champion Carlos Newton, former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nate Marquardt, former WEC middleweight champion Chris Leben, and former WEC heavyweight champion James Irvin. 

Silva made his professional MMA debut in Brazil in 1997, winning his two matches as part of BFC 1. He would then compete across numerous MMA platforms over the next nine years, capturing middleweight titles in Shooto (2-0) and Cage Rage (4-0), while also fighting top ranked talent in PRIDE (4-1).

An international star, but virtually unknown to UFC’s fanbase, Anderson made his UFC debut against Chris Leben in the main event of UFC ULTIMATE FIGHT NIGHT 5 on June 28, 2006. Silva defeated the former WEC champion via first round knockout that earned him a title shot against UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin.

UFC^Ò 64: UNSTOPPABLE took place on October 14, 2006, at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Franklin entered the bout on a seven-fight winning streak and was unbeaten inside the Octagon. Anderson took control of the fight early, defeating Franklin via KO in the first round. He repeated his victory over Rich a year later in Franklin’s hometown of Cincinnati.

Silva’s two wins over Franklin, sandwiched around stoppages of Travis Lutter and Marquardt, launched one of the most dominant title reigns in professional sports history. Anderson ruled the middleweight division for 2,457 days – nearly seven years – defeating a host of top contenders including Chael Sonnen (twice), Demian Maia, and Belfort in the process. He also competed outside of the middleweight division, moving up to light heavyweight and defeating future Hall of Famers Griffin and Bonnar, as well as James Irwin.

After setting a then-record number of successful title defenses (10) with his second victory over Sonnen in 2012, Silva lost the middleweight crown to Chris Weidman in the main event of UFC^Ò 162: SILVA vs. WEIDMAN on July 6, 2013. Following his second consecutive loss to Weidman in the rematch at UFC 168, Anderson continued to provide fans with memorable moments inside the Octagon, returning from a serious leg injury suffered in the rematch to face top athletes such as Nick Diaz, future Hall of Famers Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping, and former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya before retiring in October 2020 after a loss to Uriah Hall.

Silva enters the UFC Hall of Fame with an impressive resume that includes:

• Longest winning streak in UFC history – 16

• Longest title reign in UFC history – 2,457 days

• Most wins in UFC middleweight history – 11

• Most knockdowns in UFC middleweight history – 13

• Tied for most knockouts in UFC middleweight history – 8

• Tied for second-most wins in UFC middleweight history – 14

• Second-most consecutive title defenses in UFC history – 10

• Second-most knockdowns in UFC history – 18

• Fourth-most title fight wins in UFC history – 11

• Tied for fourth-most knockouts in UFC history – 11

• Tied for fourth-most finishes in UFC history – 14

Outside the Octagon, Silva has been honored with numerous awards during his career, such as being acknowledged by World MMA Awards Fighter of the Year (2008), Sports Illustrated Fighter of the Year (2008), ESPN.com Knockout of the Year (2011), and Wrestling Observer Most Outstanding Fighter and MMA Most Valuable Fighter (2012).

A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Silva trained in multiple combat sports disciplines, beginning with jiu-jitsu, and expanding to taekwondo, capoeira, and muay thai during his teenage years. An accomplished lifelong martial arts practitioner, Anderson holds a 3^rd degree black belt in jiu-jitsu and a 5^th dan black belt in taekwondo. In addition to MMA, he has also competed in five professional boxing matches, securing a 3-2 record. Silva currently resides in Los Angeles, Calif., with his wife, Dayane, and five children.

To view Silva’s UFC FIGHT PASS collection please visit: https://ufcfightpass.com/playlist/13232/anderson-silva-ufc-hall-of-fame

To see a complete list of UFC athletes and fights enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame, as well as details regarding the UFC Hall of Fame format, please visit UFC.com/HOF. For additional information, please visit UFC.com.

4 x 3 mins Super-Bantamweight contest
MUHAMMAD ALI 123.6 lbs v SEAN JACKSON 122.1 lbs
(Leicester, England)               (Manchester, England)

followed by

4 x 2 mins International International Super-Flyweight contest
MAISEYROSE COURTNEY 114.2 lbs v BUCHRA EL QUAISSI 114.2 lbs
(Eltham, England)                                    (Roda de Ter, Spain)

followed by

4 x 3 mins Lightweight contest
ADAM REICHARD 134.3 lbs v JAHFIEUS FAURE 134.1 lbs
(Sunderland, England)             (Oldbury, England)

followed by

8 x 3 mins Middleweight contest
MARK DICKINSON 161.5 lbs v BEN RIDINGS 166.6 lbs
(West Rainton, England)           (Bury, England)

followed by

19:00 LIVE ON DAZN

8 x 3 mins Lightweight contest 
CALUM FRENCH 138 lbs v JORDAN ELLISON 139.8 lbs
(Gateshead, England)          (Seaham, England)

followed by

10 x 3 mins WBA Continental Super-Bantamweight Title
HOPEY PRICE 121.4 lbs v THOMAS MASSON 120.8 lbs
(Leeds, England)                 (Pas-De-Calais, France)  

followed by

10 x 3 mins English Heavyweight Title
SOLOMON DACRES 236.7 lbs v ROBERT ISMAY 262.4 lbs
(Birmingham, England)                (Newcastle, England)

followed by

8 x 3 mins International Welterweight contest
PAT MCCORMACK 151.8 lbs v DARIO SOCCI 150.9 lbs
(Sunderland, England)               (Rome, Italy)

followed by

10 x 3 mins WBA International Welterweight Title
CYRUS PATTINSON 146.4 lbs v CHRIS JENKINS 146.5 lbs
(Alnwick, England)                      (Garnant, Wales)

Boston, MA (March 17, 2023) On Thursday night in front of a huge crowd filled with celebrities from the sporting world, Fast Rising Irish Star, ‘King’ Callum Walsh, (6-0, 5 KOs), of Cork, Ireland stopped veteran Wesley Tucker, (15-5, 9 KOs), in the second round at the Agganis Arena in Boston, MA and broadcast live internationally on UFC FIGHT PASS. The event was promoted by Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions.

Among those seated ringside for Walsh’s first fight in front of the Boston boxing fans on the Eve of St. Patrick’s Day were UFC President Dana White, UFC Legend Georges St. Pierre, Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro Defensive End Maxx Crosby, New England Boxing Legend Micky Ward, Two-Time Super Bowl Champion (New England Patriots) Tully Banta-Cain, former heavyweight contender Kevin McBride, former welterweight contender Dicky Eklund and UFC Hall of Famer Matt Serra.

With Hall of Fame trainer and Boston native Freddie Roach in his corner, Walsh easily won the first round as the southpaw super welterweight fought smartly behind his range finding jab combined with his tight defense. Using his power to overwhelm Tucker in the second stanza, the 22-year-old Walsh used his full arsenal to score three knockdowns with the bout being called to a halt at 2:59 of the round. The super welterweight bout was scheduled for ten rounds.

Said an elated Walsh to a thundering ovation, “Boston I will be back. It doesn’t matter who is across the ring, I can adapt to anything. Freddie said to put the pressure on and work the body and that’s what I did.”

“I’d like to thank every single person who came out tonight, thank you to my family and friends who are here from Ireland.”

In the super welterweight co-feature scheduled for eight rounds, Danny O’Connor, (31-3, 12 KO’s, of Framingham, MA stopped Luis Garcia, (13-2-1, 9 KOs), of Richmond, CA in the fifth round (1:55). Fighting off a five-year layoff, O’Connor thrilled the local crowd with a tremendous performance. Currently residing in Colorado where he is employed as a firefighter, O’Connor was honored after the bout by representatives from the local and national firefighter’s unions.

Fighting in the middleweight division, Frank ‘The Tank’ Hogan, (14-0, 13 KOs), of Weymouth, MA stopped Jimmie Williams, (18-11-2, 6 KOs), of New Haven, CT. Hogan proved to be too strong over the first five rounds as Williams’ corner stopped the fight with the popular Irishman staying undefeated.

In the featherweight division, Hegly Mosqueda, (24-0, 18 KOs), of Caracas, Venezuela, was victorious over Jose Garcia, 13-4-3, 9 KO’s), of Houston, TX over eight rounds. Scores were 77-75 twice for Mosqueda and 77-75 for Garcia.

Kendrick Ball Jr. (21-1-3, 12 KOs), of Worcester, MA won a six round unanimous decision over Mike Stegall (7-1-3, 3 KOs), of Cedar Hill, MO. Scores were 60-54, twice and 59-55.

DUBAI – March 17, 2023 – In order to provide even more world-class boxing action to viewers in the USA and Australia, the best deal in livestream boxing, ProBox TV, has made the fan-friendly decision to move the broadcast start time of tomorrow’s (Saturday, March 18) Hardcore Boxing event, featuring Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller taking on Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne in the 10-round main event, to 12 PM EASTERN TIME. 

With 13 action-packed fights scheduled on promoter Anatoly Sulyanov’s event from The Agenda in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, including several significant, TV-worthy bouts, the decision was made to allow viewers to watch even more great fights. Please also note, the main and co-main events will still be shown at their originally scheduled broadcast time and the adjusted start time means that more supporting bouts will be available for viewing.  

WBA #10 Miller (25-0-1, 21 KOs) and WBA #9 Browne (31-3, 27 KOs) will headline tomorrow’s show, which also features a 10-round super featherweight co-main event between Dublin Ireland’s WBA #5- and IBF #11-rated former world title challenger Jono “King Kong” Carroll (23-2-1, 7 KOs) and three-time world title challenger Miguel “The Scorpion” Marriaga (30-6, 26 KOs), as well as a 10-round cruiserweight battle between fast-tracking former amateur star Soslan “Cobra” Asbarov (3-0, 1 KO) of Chapaevo and once-beaten American Brandon Glanton (17-1, 14 KOs).

Fans can catch all the action and a lot more for a very special deal: Subscribe to PROBOXTV.COM for a year for the regular one-time price of just USD $18 (no automatic yearly renewal) and watch the potential heavyweight fight of the year, starting at 12 pm (ET) this Saturday (March 18).

Then with your 2023 yearly subscription, catch all the action on boxing’s hottest new series, the always thrilling back-and-forth of Wednesday Night Fights twice a month on PROBOXTV.COM. Plus, you’ll get exclusive events and shows featuring boxing’s best commentary team of Paulie Malignaggi, Mike Goldberg, Chris Algieri, and Juan Manuel Marquez, plus up-to-the-minute news updates from their crack team of top boxing journalists whenever boxing news breaks.

Calling all the action will be top-notch commentator/ring announcer Ray Flores, along with popular former UFC star Tyron Woodley. Current $1.99 monthly subscribers will not be able to watch Miller vs. Browne without upgrading their subscription to the $18 per year plan, a considerable savings.

Subscribe to ProBoxTV.com NOW!

Jarrell Miller 333 lbs. vs. Lucas Browne 277 lbs.

Jono Carroll 130 lbs. vs. Miguel Marriaga 130 lbs.

Soslan Asbarov 199.5 lbs. vs. Brandon Glanton 200 lbs. 

Promoter: Hardcore Boxing

Venue: The Agenda, Dubai

TV: ProBoxTV.com @ 1pm ET (USA & Australia);

ESPN Knockout (Latin America)

ATTENTION FANS IN DUBAI: Tickets to attend “Hardcore Boxing in Dubai” live can be purchased with cash, Unionpay and Mir cards at the Platinumlist office from 11:00 to 18:00 (Weekdays) at Office 413, 4th floor, Building 4, The Greens, Emaar Business Park, Dubai or online by clicking HERE.