MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (June 12, 2014) – Rapper/boxing promoter Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson will celebrate his birthday with a bang on Wednesday, July 2 as his company, SMS Promotions, presents a special edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights at Grand Theater in Fox Tower at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

Undefeated 50 Cent-promoted junior lightweight Mark “Too Sharp” Davis (18-0, 5 KOs) takes on Filipino knockout artist Michael “Hammer Fist” Farenas (38-4-4, 30 KOs) in a 12-round International Boxing Federation (IBF) title eliminator.

The winner of this main event fight will become the mandatory challenger for the winner of the July 10 title match between IBF junior lightweight champion Argenis Mendez and challenger Rances Barthelemy.

50 Cent, who owns a mansion in Farmington, Connecticut, is going home to celebrate his 39th birthday, technically speaking four days early, along with a star-studded list of friends and fans at a party in Foxwoods starting at 10 p.m. ET for those not attending the fights. All Tier 1 ($100.00) ticket holders will be entitled to free admission to 50’s birthday party.

“I’m on the road constantly so I really enjoy coming home to Connecticut to celebrate my birthday with my family and friends,” 50 Cent said. “I had so much fun last year that I had to make it an annual event. It’s going to be fantastic!”

Davis is a 27-year-old pure boxer. Fighting out of Cleveland, he had more than 200 amateur bouts, highlighted by his gold medal winning performance at the 2005 U.S. National Championships.

Farenas is a battle-tested veteran from the Philippines who has never been stopped in 47 professional fights. He lost a 12-round decision to another SMS fighter, multiple world champion Yuriorkis Gamboa, in 2012 for the interim World Boxing Association (WBA) super featherweight title, after fighting WBA super featherweight champion Takashi Uchiyama to a draw in Japan.

Former IBF featherweight champion Billy “The Kid” Dib (36-3, 21 KOs), from Australia, is moving up one weight class to super featherweight in the 10-round ESPN FNF co-feature against former WBA featherweight title challenger Alberto “Kichis” Garza (26-7-1, 21 KOs), of Mexico City.

Undefeated SMS Promotions lightweight prospect Ryan “Blue Chip” Martin (6-0, 3 KOs), fighting out of Cleveland, squares off with Albuquerque’s Matthew “Champ” Baca (4-1-1, 2 KOs) in the four-round ESPN opener.

Former S. Connecticut State University football player, unbeaten New Haven lightweight Jimmy Williams (6-0, 3 KOs), meets Bronx veteran Stephen Owusu (8-6, 4 KOs) in a six-round fight. Williams won the Connecticut State 154-pound title in his last fight, stopping Christian Lao in the opening round this past May 31st.

Undefeated WIBA International super bantamweight champion Shelly “Shelito’s Way” Vincent (11-0, 1 KO), of Providence, faces former IWBF bantamweight titlist Nadia “Da Phenomenal” Feliciano (7-5-3, 0 KOs), fighting out of the Bronx, in a six-round, non-title bout.

Also scheduled to fight on the undercard is a four-round intra-New England match-up between undefeated Nick DeLomba (3-0), of Cranston, RI, vs. New Haven (CT) welterweight Edwin Soto (9-1-2, 4 KOs)

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets are priced at $100.00, $75.00 and $45.00 and are on sale online at www.foxwoods.com, calling Foxwoods’ box office at (800) 200-2882, or in person at Foxwoods’ box office. Tickets will also be available to purchase through any Ticketmaster outlet and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Doors at Grand Theater in Fox Tower will open at 6 p.m. ET. The first bout will start at 7 p.m. ET with ESPN FNF between 9-11 p.m. ET.

Doors to the after party will open at 10:00 p.m. ET. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.foxwoods.com, calling Foxwoods’ box office at (800) 200-2882, or in person at Foxwoods’ box office.

HBO’s hit late-night boxing franchise returns for a full night of world class action when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV VS. CHRIS ALGIERI AND DEMETRIUS ANDRADE VS. BRIAN ROSE is seen SATURDAY, JUNE 14 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: June 15 (9:00 a.m.) and 17 (12:45 a.m.)
HBO2 playdate: June 15 (3:00 p.m.)
In addition to the two live fights, HBO will air the replay of the Sergio Martinez-Miguel Cotto world middleweight title fight from June 7. In a brilliant display before a capacity crowd at Madison Square Garden, Cotto registered a career-defining performance in capturing the 160-pound title belt. The highly anticipated showdown was carried originally on HBO Pay-Per-View®.
In the feature event at Brooklyn, Ruslan Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KOs), the “Siberian Rocky,” puts his hard-earned junior welterweight title on the line against local talent Chris Algieri (19-0, 8 KOs) of Huntington, NY in a matchup slated for 12 rounds. An awe-inspiring outing against Timothy Bradley in 2013’s Fight of the Year and a rousing triumph over 140-pound titleholder Mike Alvarado last October have brought Provodnikov, 30, to the doorstep of stardom. The Russian’s exciting fighting style, coupled with arguably the most destructive right hand in the division, are guaranteed to satisfy the most critical boxing buffs.
Different principles have paved a path of triumph for the 30-year-old Algieri. In February, facing his toughest challenge yet, he picked Emmanuel Taylor him apart en route to a unanimous decision. That victory has merited him a shot at Provodnikov’s title in his first headlining bout on HBO.
The live action kicks off as two budding stars duke it out for the junior middleweight crown when titleholder Demetrius Andrade (20-0, 13 KOs) of Providence, RI, and Brian Rose (25-1-1, 7 KOs) of Blackpool, Lancashire, UK, square off in a 12-round fight.
After being knocked down for the first time in his promising career, Andrade, 26, doggedly scrapped his way to a split decision over the then-undefeated Vanes Martirosyan in his HBO debut last November. The rising star will be defending his title for the first time.
Victories by knockout, decision and points have cemented the 29-year-old Rose’s reputation as one the most versatile and ring-savvy prizefighters in the UK. This bout marks his first American appearance and his HBO debut.
Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.
All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.
The executive producer of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jon Crystal; director, Johnathan Evans.
® HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

LAS VEGAS (June 11, 2014) – World Series of Fighting hosted a media conference call in a webinar format on Wednesday, a week before “World Series of Fighting 10: Branch vs. Taylor” is set to take place with three championship fights on the NBCSN-televised main card Saturday, June 21.

Headliners David Branch (13-3) and Jesse Taylor (27-9), as well as main-card competitors Georgi Karakhanyan, Rick Glenn (14-2), and Jessica “Jag” Aguilar (17-4) joined WSOF President Ray Sefo and WSOF Executive Vice President Ali Abdelaziz on the call.

World Series of Fighting 10 will take place on June 21 at Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Five main-card bouts air live on NBCSN at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT local time) and follow an eight-bout preliminary card which will stream live WSOF.com.

The following are highlights from the conference call:

RAY SEFO:

In stacking this card and WSOF 11 with title fights, are you worried about possibly burning out some of your future title matches?

“Absolutely not. We have great talent and all these guys have obviously proven themselves. When we stack up a card it’s because we have the talent to stack up a card. We have the likes of (Jon) Fitch, Justin (Gaethje), Nick Newell, Josh Burkman, and the list goes on and on. These are big names in the sport. Because this is our first NBC mothership fight card it’s only right for us to put some of our top fighters on this card. I believe from Day 1 we have put on amazing cards and we will continue to and get bigger and bigger.”

Is there any decision on where WSOF 12 in August will be held?

“There are a couple of locations right now but we haven’t finalized anything. Obviously we will announce that in the coming weeks. But it will definitely be in the U.S.”

ALI ABDELAZIZ:

“Here we go again with WSOF 10. We have some great fights from top to bottom… This machine is not going to stop. We want to be the best show in the world. We want to be the best MMA show on the planet, and that’s what we’re looking forward to doing.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that Jessica Aguilar is the No. 1 115-pound woman in the world. She’s the complete package and she’s been around the sport for a long time. She’s a true veteran of MMA.”

Is there any idea who would be in line for the winner of the Branch-Taylor fight?

“Yes, if you go by the rankings, most likely the winner of this fight would fight Yushin Okami. This is probably the next matchup but we will have to see. We have a big fight on our hands and I believe both David Branch and Jesse Taylor on June 21 have something to prove because they are fighting for the first-ever World Series of Fighting Middleweight title. I’m sure they are both going to put on a great fight for the fans and I just can’t wait for this fight.”

DAVID BRANCH:

“I’m a fighter that doesn’t have any weakness. I don’t have any holes in my game. Wrestling, jiu-jitsu, striking, cage wrestling. It doesn’t matter. I’m ready for everything. I don’t just prepare for wrestling. That’s how I’ve always prepared. There are some people that have similar styles and so you have to go with something else, but I’m not worried if I have to fight from my back.

“I would love to get the finish (knockout), but I don’t rush anything. If it’s there and I get the opportunity I would definitely take it. There’s no doubt about it. That’s always been my style.

“For me it’s all mental. I’ve had a few holes in my game that I’ve had to change up. I’ve been working hard and I’m a hard worker and I’ve been doing everything possible to sharpen up my game. I think one of the turning points was talking to Dan Gable. He started telling me stuff about my game I really didn’t even know, and it was a really cool talk. From then on I just realized that I a Goddamn beast and I just went out there and started hurting dudes, in training and in fights. I just turned into a completely different person and I just don’t give a damn. When it’s time to go out there it’s time to smash.”

JESSE TAYLOR:

“This title would mean the world to me. I’ve been traveling the globe, and it’s hard to get respect in this sport. I’m going to show my skills next Saturday on this high-level show.

“The last time I fought in Las Vegas was back in the old Ultimate Fighter days. So it’s kind of sentimental and feels like I’ve come full circle. I get another chance and I don’t want to lose out on this second opportunity.”

GEORGI KARAKHANYAN:

“I don’t care about the respect and all of that; I just go in there and fight my fights. I’m just happy that I became the first champion for such a great organization as World Series of Fighting and I’m looking to go out there on June 21 and, like always, putting on an exciting show. I have a very tough opponent in front of me and I’m ready for everything. I can’t wait.”

RICK GLENN:

“This is a huge opportunity. It was unfortunate I wasn’t able to make the fight in December, but thankful that they have given me the opportunity for this fight now so I get my shot. It means the world to me. It sucked to have to back out of a fight and I’ve never had to do that before. It sucked knowing I should be in there and watching (Karakhanyan-Palmer). They are both solid opponents. I’m not really thinking about belts and stuff, and I’m just really looking forward to this fight.”

JESSICA AGUILAR:

Do you feel like you’re the best strawweight fighter in the world?

“Yes, I do. I’ve been in the sport for about eight and a half years now and I’ve fought some top-level contenders and I’ve beaten the best of the best. So at this point I’ve proven myself over and over again and I feel like I’m No. 1 in the world in my weight class. My next goal is to be pound for pound the best female fighter in the world. So I’ll keep proving myself till I get there.

“(Emi Fujino) has fought in all different aspects of MMA. She has fought some of the same opponents as I have… A lot of people don’t know these Japanese fighters. They come out like Samurais. It’s do or die.”

DON’T FORGET:

Media credential applications are available for both “WSOF 10: Branch vs. Taylor” and “WSOF 11: Gaethje vs. Newell.” Click on the banners below to apply.

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About “World Series of Fighting” (WSOF)

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

About NBC Sports Network

NBC Sports Network, part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 80 million homes, the network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Soccer (MLS), IZOD IndyCar Series, Tour de France and the 34th America’s Cup, and beginning in 2013, the Premier League and Formula One. In addition, NBC Sports Network features college football, college basketball, college hockey, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, Fight Night boxing, Ironman, the Dew Action Sports Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as Costas Tonight, The Crossover, NFL Turning Point, Pro Football Talk and The Dan Patrick Show. NBC Sports Network is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

LAS VEGAS (June 11, 2014) – It is a tradition as old as the sweet science itself – fighters from minimumweight to heavyweight express themselves with their very own unique ring name. Anything goes as everything from Sugars to Executioners have made their way into the squared circle throughout boxing’s storied history, and Saturday, July 12 is no exception.

The main event of the SHOWTIME PPV showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will face off not only for junior middleweight supremacy, but honor and glory at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

SAUL “CANELO” ALVAREZ
“My nickname was given to me by my trainer Jose ‘Chepo’ Reynoso when I first started training at Reynoso’s Gym because of my red hair. First called me “Canelito” [Little Cinnamon] because I was still very young, around 12- or 13-years-old. As I grew older, it changed to ‘Canelo.’

“Since I started fighting in the U.S. as a professional on U.S. television, I dropped the
‘Saul’ all together because it has become a brand name and is my persona in the ring and out of it.

“What some people may not know is that I named my daughter Canela and I told her: ‘Once you grow up, you will understand what your name means and you will be proud of it.’ ”

ERISLANDY “THE AMERICAN DREAM” LARA
“I thought of the name ‘The American Dream’ with my co-manager Luis Decubas Jr., because I defected from Cuba to achieve my dreams. Since I’ve been living in the United States, my family and I have truly been living the American Dream.

“Coming from literally nothing, and receiving my first pair of shoes at the age of eight in a communist country, sometimes you don’t realize how important opportunity and freedom is until you have lived it. With hard work, a good team and the support of my wife, Yudi, behind me, I’ve been able to provide my family with a roof over their head, a good education, and daily meals that I never experienced as a kid in Cuba, but most importantly freedom.

“I risked my life in shark-infested waters leaving my mother, children and friends behind to escape a country led by a ruthless dictator to better my life, and my family’s lives. It took a lot of courage but that’s what I had to do to fulfill my dream of becoming a world champion, and it happened in the great United States of America, hence my nickname ‘The American Dream.’ ”

# # #

“Honor & Glory: Canelo vs. Lara” a 12-round junior middleweight fight taking place Saturday, July 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. In theco-main event Abner Mares returns to face Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Oquendo in a 10-round featherweight bout. In the SHOWTIME PPV opening bout, Johan Perez defends his interim WBA World Junior Welterweight Title against Mauricio Herrera in a 12-round match up. Also featured, Juan Manuel “JuanMa” Lopez meets Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas of Mexico in a 10-round bout for the WBO International Super Featherweight Title.

Tickets are still available at the $750, $500, $250, $150 and $75 price ranges, not including applicable service charges. Tickets are limited to eighteen (18) per person with a limit of eight (8) at the $75 price ranges. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

The event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP). For information visit
www.SHO.com/Sports. Canelo vs. Lara will be shown on the big screen in movie theaters across the country via Fathom Events. Information will be available at www.fathomevents.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, and www.mgmgrand.com, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @CaneloOficial, @LaraBoxing, @abnermares00, @jonathanoquen, @juanma_lopez, @elbandido130, @elmaestro1, @mgmgrand,@SHOSports and @Swanson_Comm, follow the conversation using #CaneloLara and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing andwww.facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

LAS VEGAS (June 11, 2014) – The Independence Day fireworks will continue into Wednesday, July 9 when FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes’ Golden Boy Live! series returns to Las Vegas with an exciting card featuring former world title contender Alfonso Gomez when he battles Ed Paredes in the 10 round junior middleweight main event along with rising stars Joseph Diaz Jr. and Diego De La Hoya who will both compete in televised bouts at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The tripleheader from the ‘Fight Capital of the World’ will kick off the mega fight week featuring Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez vs. Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara on Saturday, July 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and televised live on SHOWTIME PPV®.

Gomez vs. Paredes, a 10-round junior middleweight bout, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and O’Reilly Auto Parts. The Joint doors will open at 5:00 p.m. PT and the first fight begins at 5:15pm PT. The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets, priced at $95, $65, $35 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, will go on sale on Saturday, June 14 at 10:00 a.m. PT and will be available for purchase by visiting The Joint box office, calling 888.9.AXS.TIX or online at www.axs.com.

A popular action fighter who always leaves the fans happy, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico veteran Alfonso Gomez (23-6-2, 12 KOs) first made his name in the boxing world with his run on season one of the popular boxing reality series The Contender. Since then, the 33-year-old has fought the best of the best, including a big win over Hall of Famer Arturo Gatti in 2007. Winner of five of his last seven, with the only losses coming to current World Champions Canelo Alvarez and Shawn Porter, Gomez looks to get back in the title hunt in his first fight since July of 2012.

Ranked number seven in the world by the WBC, ninth by the IBF and 10th by the WBA, Hollywood, Florida’s Ed “The Lion” Paredes (35-3-1, 23 KOs) is rapidly closing in on a world title shot, but he has to get past Alfonso Gomez to keep his momentum going. Unbeaten in 15 consecutive fights dating back to 2009, the 29-year-old power hitter finally makes his Las Vegas debut in what promises to be an action-packed 10-round battle.

U.S. Olympian Joseph Diaz Jr. (10-0, 7 KOs) has used his immense talents to impress the boxing world since the London Games plus the young 21-year-old from South El Monte, Calif. has shown maturity beyond his years along the way. Coming off of a shutout win over then 50-fight veteran Luis Maldonado in April, Diaz Jr. will stay busy in an eight-round junior featherweight bout against an opponent to be named.

Nineteen-year-old Mexicali phenom Diego De La Hoya (5-0, 4 KOs) is starting to garner the buzz once heard by his cousin, newly inducted Hall of Famer Oscar De La Hoya. Looking to stay active in 2014, “The Golden Kid” will be making his fourth appearance in the ring on July 9 and he will look to keep his win streak alive when he faces an opponent to be determined in a six-round junior featherweight matchup.

A full undercard will be announced shortly.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.FOXSports.com/FOXSports1, www.FOXDeportes.com, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @AlfonsoSGomez, @JosephDiazJr. and @DiegoDeLaHoya, @FOXDeportes, and follow the conversation using #GoldenBoyLive, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing. For more information on FOX Sports 1 visit www.FOXSports.com/FOXSports1 and become a follower on @FOXSports.

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (June 11, 2014) – Iron Mike Promotions (IMP) is bringing “Judgment Day” to Miami as International Boxing Federation (IBF) Junior Lightweight Champion Argenis “La Tormenta” Mendez (21-1-1, 1NC, 11 KOs) defends his world title Thursday night, July 10, in a rematch of a controversial fight last January against undefeated No. 1 contender Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (19-0, 1 NC, 12 KOs).

Barthlemy knocked out Mendez with punches illegally thrown after the bell ending the second round. Mendez’ promoter, IMP, appealed the decision and the fight was ruled a “no contest” with the IBF mandating a rematch. IMP won the IBF purse bid to promote Mendez-Barthelemy II, which will air July 10 on Fox Sports I live from American Airlines Arena in Miami.

“You don’t always get a second chance to correct a mistake, but we were able to get Argenis a rematch,” promoter “Iron” Mike Tyson said. “Hopefully, he will take advantage of this opportunity.”

The 27-year-old Mendez, fighting out of Brooklyn, was a 2004 Dominican Republic Olympian. He had an incredible 238-13 amateur record, highlighted by a gold-medal performance at the prestigious Pan-American Games, as well as winning a silver medal at the 2005 World Championships. Mendez captured the IBF crown March 9, 2013, stopping defending champion Juan Carlos Salgado in the fourth round.

Warriors Boxing-promoted Barthelemy, also 27, is a former Cuban Junior National Champion who lives in Miami. He became Mendez’ original mandatory challenger by way of a second-round knockout of Fahsai Sakkreerin last June.

World light heavyweight contender Humberto “El Don” Savigne (12-1, 9 KOs) will face a top opponent to be determined in the co-feature. Savigne is rated No. 3 in world by the World Boxing Council (WBC). The Cuban native, who now lives in Miami, is riding a 10-fight win streak, resulting in three regional title belts in his collection: World Boxing Organization (WBO Latino, World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedelatin and WBC FECARBOX.

Also scheduled to fight on the Fox Sports I show is welterweight sensation Erickson “Hammer” Lubin (5-0, 5 KOs), who was considered Team USA’s No. 1 overall prospect for the 2016 Olympics prior to him signing an exclusive promotional contract with IMP last October 1 on his 18th birthday. Now living in Miami, as an amateur, the exciting southpaw was the 2012 National PAL Champion.

For more information visit www.IronMikeProductions.com, follow on twitter at @IronMikeProd and or become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/IronMikeProductions.Official

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ABOUT IRON MIKE PRODUCTIONS (IMP): Founded in 2013 by CEO Garry Jonas and Hall of Famer Mike Tyson, Iron Mike Productions is a full-service boxing promotional company with offices located in Deerfield Beach, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada. IMP is committed to changing traditional boxing promotion by advocating for its fighters’ successes, inside the ring and out, throughout their professional careers and into retirement.

Wilkes-Barre, PA: Nadjib Mohammedi (34-3, 20 KOs) has the experience edge over Anatoliy “The Gladiator” Dudchenko (19-2, 13 Kos) in next Saturday’s fight at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs but the question will be whether or not that experience can help him to overcome “The Gladiator’s” aggressive fighting style. These two warriors will face off next week for the #1 position in the IBF and the chance to challenge Bernard Hopkins for his IBF heavyweight world title. The scouting report for this fight is below.

Category
Anatoliy
“The Gladiator”
Duchenko
Nadjib Mohammedi
Age
35
29
Record
19-2 (13 KOs)
34-3 (20 KOs)
Strength
Dudchenko has a good reach and a good chin. He is aggressive with good punching power. According to Main Events’ matchmaker, Jolene Mizzone, “Anatoliy will control the pace of the fight.”
Mohammedi has great hand speed. He also has fought a higher caliber of opposition. He has 37 professional fights which gives him the edge with experience. He stays busy.
Weakness
Dudchenko gets hit a lot and gets careless when he brawls. He has not been in the ring with top competition yet.
Mohammedi has no real lateral movement. He has a tendency to be sloppy at times.
Experience
Dudchenko only has 21 fights (as compared to 37 for Mohammedi). He defeated Robert Woge in his last fight, who was 12-0 at the time.
Mohammedi has fought for titles. He went the distance against Nathan Cleverly (Lost – UD 12 rounds). He also fought Dmitry Sukhotsky (Lost – TKO 2nd round).
Power
Dudchenko has good power and a strong jab.
Mohammedi is more of a boxer.
Speed
Dudchenko’s speed comes with the excess of punches but he is not a traditionally fast guy. Although he lacks speed generally, when he gets more aggressive his speed kicks in.
Mohammedi has quick hands. He is a small light heavyweight so he moves well and is agile.
Endurance
Dudchenko is tough. His last fight was a 12 rounder and he won, but prior to that his longest fight was eight rounds. The jury is still out with regards to his endurance.
Mohammedi gets the edge with regards to endurance. He has gone the distance 14 times, three of them through 12 rounds and another three through 10 rounds.
Accuracy
Dudchenko has a good jab. According to Mizzone, “he sticks the jab in your face all day.”
Mohammedi gets the edge, however, because his jab may be more accurate.
Defense
Dudchenko does not have much by way of defense. His offense is his best defense.
Mohammedi is fast, so that makes him difficult to hit, but he stands right in front, which got him in trouble in his fight against Cleverly.
Chin
Dudchenko gets the edge here. He has only been knocked out once.
Mohammedi has been knocked out twice.
Style
Dudcenko is an aggressive, straight-at-you fighter.
Mohammedi is a boxer with a great jab. He comes straight forward and demonstrates some aggression.
Intangibles
Dudchenko travelled to Germany to take on then-undefeated contender Robert Woge in his backyard and won the IBF Fight of the Year award. He wasn’t intimidated.
Mohammedi gave up other opportunities to come to the US and fight for the #1 position when he could have had a big pay day in France instead. He has been in the ring with world class fighters and Dudchenko has not.
The Match-Up
This fight is about two top fighters from two different parts of the world fighting for a chance to face legendary light heavyweight Bernard Hopkins.
Will Mohammedi’s experience be too much for the over-aggressive Dudchenko?
Will Dudchenko be able to capitalize with his aggressive style?

According to Mizzone, “There are over a dozen up-and-coming contenders in the light heavyweight division. This fight is so important because both of these guys are trying to establish themselves in one of the sport’s most competitive divisions.”

Nadjib Mohammedi
Photo Courtesy of:
Christel Boxing

Main Events CEO, Kathy Duva, said, “Neither of these guys are well-known stateside yet, but they will be after June 21st! Dudchenko’s last fight was a Fight of the Year and I expect to see fireworks in this matchup as well. It’s a perfect fit for Fight Night. The fans will get a great fight and these fighters will get the exposure they deserve.”

About June 21:

June 21 features Anatoliy “The Gladiator” Dudchenko and Nadjib Mohammedi in a twelve-round light heavyweight bout for the #1 position in the IBF live on NBCSN Fight Night from Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre, PA. The co-feature includes a ten-round fight between Philly natives Karl “Dynamite” Dargan and Anthony Flores for the USBA Atlantic Coast Region Title. The Fight Night telecast will begin at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT. Doors will open at 5:00 PM. The card is presented by Main Events and Peltz Boxing, in association with Greg Cohen Promotions. The remainder of the undercard will be announced shortly. Ticket are available at ticketmaster.com or at the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs box office.

NBC Sports Live Extra:

NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets – will live stream Fight Night at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on June 21.
Coverage will be streamed via “TV Everywhere,” the media industry’s effort to make quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.

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BROOKLYN (June 11, 2014)– On Saturday, June 21, New York’s Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller will fight Mirko Cro Cop in the main event of the GLORY 17 Los Angeles kickboxing card to air on SPIKE TV, from the Forum in LA.

But Miller, a 260 pounder who is at the top of the ladder in the kickboxing world, wants everyone to know he will continue climbing the ranks in the boxing sphere, as a heavyweight superstar-in-the-making.

Now 9-0, with 9 KOs in the squared circle, Miller is also 22-1 as a kick boxer.

He has some unfinished business with Cro Cop, who he fought back in March 2013. Miller lost a heavily disputed decision; he’s now intent on righting that wrong, and then resetting his sights on the heavyweight championship.

The Brooklyn resident fights for promoter Dmitriy Salitas’ Star of David Promotions on boxing cards. Promoter Salita believes he has a New York talent who can follow in the footsteps of other Brooklyn legends, like Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe.

“Jarrell fought on my boxing show May 15 and looked spectacular in scoring a second round TKO victory,” Salita said. “We were working on his next fight when we got a call to fight Cro Cop in a rematch. Jarrell hasn’t kick-boxed in awhile and is fully focused on boxing but he has a strong desire to get revenge, so he can focus completely on boxing.”

Miller took part in the Spike “Guys Choice” awards show, which airs on Spike June 11 (9 PM ET), and was in the mix of all the “pandemonium” which will be on display in this celebration of dudes and the chicks they dig. He mixed and mingled with “The Walking Dead” cast, Cheech and Chong, and Kevin Hart, as well as some swimsuit models, he reported. “It was cool stuff!” he said.

After “Big Baby” tosses Cro Cop around like a stuffed animal, he aims to get back to the business of boxing. “I aim to be 15-0 by the end of the year, and to eat at least 300 cheeseburgers before the year is over,” Miller stated, “while having six pack abs! Mmmm, can you say cheeseburger!?”

The charismatic Miller fights Cro Cop (22-8; from Croatia) on June 21 (8 PM ET) in Inglewood, CA.

Check the Star of David website regularly for information on the next action-packed show, including details on Miller’s next appearance on a Salita boxing card.

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV

“I do not have any special rituals. I only believe in myself and my abilities.

“I enjoy having my fans from Russia at my fights.

“Algieri seems like a smart man and I expect him to be a smart boxer. We’ll see how practical his boxing theories are in the ring on Saturday.

“If I have to die in the ring to win, that is what I will do. Is Algieri willing to do the same? He had better or he will not defeat me.

“I know suffering. I grew up in it. All we had to eat was what grew from the soil — anything that grew from the soil — and raw fish and moose. I still eat raw moose liver. It makes me strong.

“I do not like fighting boxers who do not engage, like Algieri, but I am used to it. I will chase him and hunt him down. I am a hunter when I am in the ring.

“A lot of my friends and fans from my hometown will be coming to my fight. Barclays Center and Brooklyn already feels like second home to me.”

FREDDIE ROACH

“He may be undefeated, but Chris Algieri has never faced anyone like Ruslan. He may be a good student in school, but Ruslan will be teaching Algieri a crash course on how to lose on Saturday night.

“Ruslan is going to pour everything he has into this fight. His sole mission is to turn out Algieri’s lights.

“This is the first time Ruslan has had a nutritionist in training camp.

“Algieri has a degree in nutrition and claims to be on a healthy diet. We’ll see how well he digests the rights and lefts Ruslan serves up to him on Saturday.”

CHRIS ALGIERI

“It’s surreal for me. It’s a dream come true

“I believe my maturity as an adult has helped me throughout this whole process. It’s been hectic but smooth.

“Pressure has always made me step up to the competition. I prepared, I am in shape. Fight night, I am going to show who I really am. Ruslan has this great power in his punches but if you can’t land them, the power really doesn’t matter.

“I have fought in world title fights as a kickboxer. I have been the underdog and fought in large venues. That has prepared me for this.

“I know I belong with these guys and I know I can beat them and now I am ready to prove it again on June 14.

“I have to go out there and control the center of the ring. Push the pace and go out there and use my boxing IQ.

“I have been preparing for the power by not getting hit.

“The nation has seen me. They see what I can do. People don’t know who I am yet. They will after Saturday. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I would win

“I am not much into prediction but all I can on Saturday, “AND THE NEW….”

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

Provodnikov vs. Algieri takes place on Saturday, June 14, at Barclays Center. The fight will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark®, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The co-main event will feature undefeated WBO junior middleweight champion DEMETRIUS “Boo Boo” ANDRADE, making his first title defense, against No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger BRIAN “The Lion” ROSE. These four gladiators boast a combined record of 87-3-1 (44 KOs) – a 96 percent winning ratio, with more than half of their total victories coming by way of knockout.

Promoted by Banner Promotions and Top Rank®, in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, remaining tickets to the Provodnikov-Algieri world championship event, priced at $31, $56, $86, $106 and $206, can be purchased online via Ticketmaster by visiting www.barclayscenter.com or www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group tickets are also available by calling 855-GROUP-BK. For information on individual suites, please call 718-BK-SUITE.

The action-packed undercard will feature undefeated World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas champion, Top-Five contender and Long Beach, Long Island fan favorite “Irish” SEANIE MONAGHAN, and the debut of professional women’s boxing at Barclays Center with HEATHER “The Heat” HARDY of Brooklyn risking her undefeated record.

Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KOs), born and raised in Berezovo, Khanty-Mansi, Russia in Siberia, is trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach. He had an incredible year in 2013. On March 16 of last year, he was on the wrong end of a hotly-disputed unanimous decision loss to undefeated WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, Jr. Provodnikov, who moved up in weight for his first title shot, hurt Bradley numerous times during their slugfest, nearly knocking out the defending champion in the first and second rounds and scoring a knockdown in the final round. Two of the three scorecards had Bradley winning by only one point. It was voted the Fight of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America. Provodnikov moved down to his natural weight in his next fight and challenged WBO junior welterweight champion Mike Alvarado, scoring a dramatic 10th round stoppage to claim his world title, last October 19. Five of Provodnikov’s last six victories have been by knockout.

Algieri (19-0 8 KOs), hails from nearby Huntington, NY. Over the last 18 months Chris has elevated himself to a world-class contender after accumulating significant victories over top prospect Jose Alejo, former USBA champion Mike Arnaoutis, and most recently highly-rated contender Emmanuel Taylor in February. He’s as much a scholar as he is a brawler. He graduated from Stony Brook University with Honors in 2007 with a Bachelors of Science in Health Care Management and then went on to receive his Masters degree from the New York Institute of Technology in 2010. He aspires to attend Medical School.

HBO BOXING PRESENTS: “2 Days: Ruslan Provodnikov”
All times are ET/PT.

HBO replay times include: June 12 (1:30 p.m.) and 14 (11:30 a.m.).

HBO2 replay times include: June 13 (4:50 p.m. & 11:30 p.m.).

For fight updates go to www.banner-promotions.com or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/banner-promotions or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/bannerboxing or twitter.com/hboboxing.

Las Vegas, Nevada – UFC® returns to Los Angeles on Saturday August 2 at STAPLES Center with a world title bout featuring the only 145-pound champion the Octagon® has ever known – Brazilian superstar Jose Aldo – as he defends his title against No. 1 contender Chad Mendes in the most highly anticipated rematch in featherweight history.

The rivalry amongst two of the best camps in mixed martial arts, Nova União and Team Alpha Male, will add another chapter as Mendes (16-1, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.), riding a five-fight win streak – including three first-round knockouts, looks to avenge the only loss of his career against champion Aldo (24-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Aldo is coming off a dominant five-round victory over Ricardo Lamas at UFC 169, and is seeking to further cement his legacy as one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world. The 27-year-old has never lost in WEC or UFC competition, amassing a perfect 14-0 record.

Other bouts for UFC 176 include:
Fontana’s own Bobby Green (22-5), the 13th ranked lightweight in the world, vs. two-time “Fight Night” bonus award-winner Abel Trujillo (12-5, 1 NC).
Riverside’s hard-hitting Lorenz Larkin (14-3, 1 NC) vs. three-time Division II All-American wrestler Derek Brunson (11-3) at middleweight.
Former lightweight title challenger and No. 10 Gray Maynard (12-4-1, 1 NC) vs. Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Fabricio Camoes (14-8-1).
Undefeated tenth-ranked Bethe Correia (8-0) meets submission specialist Shayna Baszler (15-8) in the women’s bantamweight division.
No. 6 Jussier Formiga (16-3) battles ninth-ranked Zach Makovsky (17-4) in a battle of top 10 flyweights.
The Ultimate Fighter® semifinalist James Vick (5-0) vs. UFC newcomer Walmir Lazaro (12-2) at lightweight.

Tickets for UFC® 176: ALDO vs. MENDES II, presented by MetroPCS, go on sale June 13 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $300, $200, $150, $100, $75 and $50. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.staplescenter.com, via axs.com, or by phone at 888-929-7849, and will be available at the STAPLES Center Box Office stating Saturday, June 14. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.

UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, June 11 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, June 12 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

UFC®176: ALDO vs. MENDES II will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for Standard Definition and $54.99 US/$59.99 CAN for High -Definition.

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Beijing, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries to 800+ million TV households worldwide in 28 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS™, a digital subscription service with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT™ (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, Octagon™ branded apparel, best-selling DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit www.UFC.com and follow UFC at www.Facebook.com/UFC and on Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.

NEW JERSEY (June 11, 2014) – Gary Shaw Productions presents, ESPN “Friday Night Fights” July 11, 2014 at the Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton, WA. The 10-round main event will feature lightweights, Art Hovhannisyan (17-1-2, 9 KOs) vs. Jonathan Maicelo (20-1, 12 KOs) for the WBC International Silver Title. In the co-feature, middleweights Tureano Johnson (14-1, 10 KOs) and Mike Gavronski (14-0-1, 10 KOs) will battle in a 10-round middleweight showdown for the Continental Americas USNBC Title. The ESPN “Friday Night Fights” telecast begins at 9:00 p.m. EST / 6:00 p.m. PST.

Hovhannisiyan, who resides in Glendale, California, is coming off two impressive victories after suffering his first professional loss, a close unanimous defeat to Alejandro Perez. With momentum mounting, Hovhannisiyan, will look to get back into world title contention with a victory.

“As a fighter, I’ve come to realize you learn most about yourself after a defeat,” said Hovhannisiyan. “I’ve rededicated myself to training smarter, and my drive to be a world champion is greater than ever. Shaw knows I’m hungry to get back on top. Maicelo will have his hands full when we step in the ring on July 11th.”

Peruvian born Maicelo is also seeking to get back into title contention with a win. He vows to bring the fight to Hovhannisiyan and realizes a victory will get him closer to a world title shot.

“I feel like my back is against the wall,” said Maicelo. “I’m coming to make a statement and I’ll be going for the knockout. Hovhannisiyan is a good boxer, but he’s not better than me. I know I can win this fight and continue marching toward a world title. The fans can expect to see me bring the fight to Hovhannisiyan. Gary Shaw is the best promoter in boxing”

Tureano Johnson, who hails from the Bahamas, is eager to get back into the ring after a controversial loss to Curtis Stevens, in which he was winning on all scorecards, but had the bout stopped prematurely by the referee.

“In my last bout, the referee stopped the bout early, and I suffered my first loss,” said Johnson. “It was a very disappointing moment in my career but I’m ready to move on and show the world I’m one of the best fighters in the middleweight division. I’m coming back stronger than ever and I can’t wait to mix it up with Gavronski. Nothing is going to stop me from getting this victory. I want to thank my promoter Gary Shaw for getting back in the ring, especially on ESPN.”

Known for having power in both hands, hometown hero Mike Gavronski, has a perfect record and looks to continue his winning ways against Johnson.

“I’m happy to be fighting at home in front of all my family and friends.” Gavronski said, “Johnson is a very tough fighter coming off a tough loss to Stevens so he’s going to bring it when we step in the ring. I look forward to the challenge and I’m confident I can defeat him. It’s going to be a great fight and I’m coming to put on a show for everyone.”

“This is another great ESPN “Friday Night Fights” event,” said Gary Shaw. “All the fighters on this card bring a crowd pleasing style and The Little Creek Casino will be loaded with fireworks on fight night. There is a lot on the line for the Main and Co-Main event fighters. The winners will set themselves up for a big fight, so fans can anticipate a night filled with ferocious action.”

“We’re excited to bring ESPN ‘Friday Night Fights’ back to Little Creek Casino Resort,” said resort CEO Michael Starr. “The past events have provided great drama and excitement, and these fights promise to provide another thrilling night for our visitors and guests.

Tickets priced $100, $50, $35 and $20 are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Little Creek Casino at 1-800-667-7711, onsite at the Little Creek Casino Box Office, or online at www.little-creek.com.

New York, NY (6/10/14) – Over the years, Lou DiBella has seen his company (DiBella Entertainment) experience its biggest success in the storied middleweight division, having worked with and promoted such middleweight kingpins as Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor and Sergio Martinez. DiBella has also worked, and continues to work with, a slew of other top-rated middleweight contenders and world title challengers, including Andy Lee and Sergio Mora, who are both coming off sensational knockout victories. Looking to keep that trend going in the coming years, DiBella continues to concentrate on the middleweight division by loading up on young, talented 160lb. fighters. After the recent signings of highly touted Ukrainian amateur champions Sergiy Derevyanchenko and Ivan Golub, DiBella has now added fellow amateur standouts, and now undefeated pros, Eduardo Alicea (6-0, 3KO’s) and Paul Littleton (8-0-1, 5KO’s) to his ever-growing middleweight factory.

“The middleweight division has always been one of boxing’s elite weight classes, and it is once again today. We just recently added two of the best amateur boxers in the world to the DBE roster and we are now adding these two undefeated prospects to our growing stable. We truly feel that these talented fighters, in addition to fellow DBE middleweight prospect Lamar Russ, make up the best young group of middleweights in all of boxing. We are excited to be working with each and every one of them,” said DiBella.

Alicea was an outstanding amateur, amassing a 143-16 record and becoming the #1-rated U.S. amateur as a Junior Olympian in 2007 as well as winning the 2007 National Junior Olympics. The 23-year-old turned pro in 2011 but went through some promotional and managerial issues, which kept him somewhat inactive through 2013. Earlier this year, DiBella put Alicea, who is now working with esteemed trainer Robert Garcia, on one of his Broadway Boxing cards in New York and immediately liked what he saw. DiBella quickly moved to sign the promising young prospect, and just recently finalized a deal to co-promote him with Steve Smith’s Rumble Time Promotions, who also co-promotes world-rated junior middleweight contender Willie Nelson with DBE. Alicea will officially make his DBE and Rumble Time Promotions debut on their upcoming ESPN Friday Night Fights card on June 27, at the Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, MO. In addition to the Alicea bout, the newly signed Golub will be making his long-awaited pro debut.

The Chicago Golden Gloves champion Littleton has quickly become one of the most popular fighters on the Chicago fight scene, thanks to his aggressive style and willingness to take on all comers. Littleton’s last five opponents have had a combined 33-4-2 record, with three of those fighters coming in previously undefeated. The lone blemish on Littleton’s record came in a highly disputed six-round split decision draw to 9-1-2 Darnell Wilson. Littleton and Derevyanchenko are expected to make their much-anticipated DBE debuts on DiBella’s upcoming Broadway Boxing cards this summer.

Stay tuned for official fight announcements.

Johannesburg, June 10 – Rodney Berman has contacted IBF middleweight champion Sam Soliman’s camp about potentially matching him with highly-rated Martin Murray in Monte Carlo in October.

He says he has made a “substantial offer” to the Australian, who beat Felix Sturm for the title last month.

Murray fights Max Bursak for the WBC Silver belt in Monaco next weekend, but plans are already afoot to land a bigger prize later this year.

“The middleweight division is very fluid right now and Martin is a big part of that,” said the Golden Gloves promoter in South Africa. “He’s proven himself in major fights and he has huge pulling power.”

WBC champion Miguel Cotto is the hot man of the division after his dominant performance against Sergio Martinez last weekend, but Berman believes he will opt for more established names who would be big draws in New York or Las Vegas.

As for WBA Super champion Gennady Golovkin, Golden Gloves has promoted him a number of times in Monte Carlo, but he has a fight lined up against Daniel Geale next month. Julio Cesar Chavez jnr, Berman speculates, is a likely foe down the line for a potential superfight.

Berman is pursuing Soliman, reasoning that, at age 40, the Australian can’t afford to sit on the sidelines. Besides, the other champions aren’t queuing up to fight him.

The South African promoter will also be keeping a close eye on the August 9 fight in New York between Jarrod Fletcher and Daniel Jacobs for the WBA’s regular middleweight belt. Berman promoted Fletcher’s most recent fight (against Bursak).

“I would be prepared to offer the winner a deal for an October 21 bout against Murray,” said a bullish Berman.

Murray is well placed for an assault on the world title after two desperately close attempts, losing a controversial decision to Martinez in Argentina and drawing with Sturm in Germany.

He is rated number four by the World Boxing Council and effectively number one by the International Boxing Federation, which has the first two positions vacant.

It goes without saying that Murray must first beat Bursak to set the wheels in motion for the planned October extravaganza.

Baltimore, MD (June 10, 2014) – Undefeated multi-division world champion Tori “Sho Nuff” Nelson will defend her WIBA welterweight belt against longtime contender Nicole Woods Saturday, June 28 in the main event a Ponytail Promotions card at the Du Burns Arena.

$30 general admission, $50 floor seats, $75 VIP seats and $750 VIP tables of 10 are available by calling 410-499-5361 or going to Ponytailpromotions.com.

One of the best female fighters on the planet, Nelson is 9-0-1 with one win by knockout. Hailing from Ashburn, VA, the popular Nelson’s fresh off a second round stoppage of ring legend Mia St. John in May. The 37-year-old captured titles at welterweight and middleweight, traveling to Trinidad and Tobago in 2011 to win the latter. A true world champion, Nelson twice battled to controversial draws against Teresa Perozzi in her native Bermuda.

An Atlanta, GA native, Woods has one of the most impressive resumes in the sport. Dubbed as “Notorious”, Woods shared the squared circle with a number of top fighters, often fighting on the road. She’s fought the likes of Cecelia Braekhus, Melissa Hernandez (twice), Erica Farais, Belinda Laracuente and Kimberly Connor amongst others. In 27 pro fights, she’s been stopped just once.

The Woods-Nelson bout is scheduled for 10 rounds.

In the co-featured bout of the evening, Baltimore’s Willie “For Real” Williams, 13-7-2 (4 KO’s), battles Norfolk, VA’s Frankie “Freight Train” Filippone, 15-4-1 (2 KO’s), in an eight round light heavyweight contest. Williams and Filippone, who is a police officer in Virginia, meet for the vacant USBU championship.

Rising welterweight star James “Keep’Em Sleepin” Stevenson looks to go 22-0 when he faces an opponent to be announced in an eight rounder. One of the many talented fighters in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, Stevenson’s inching closer to a major fight in the near future.

In separate undercard bouts, prospects Demond “Dbestatit” Nicholson, Jeremy Trussell, Tyriesha Douglas, Seth Billups, Glenn Dezurn, Alexandru Marin and Andrew Farmer along with surging lightweight Tyrell “Da Show Shocka” Samuel, Travis Reeves and Kevin Womack Jr. will face opponents to be named.

“June 28 is going to be one of the best local cards in recent memory,” said Ponytail Promotions CEO James Hogan. “We’ve got many of the top male and female fighters in the Baltimore, Maryland, DC area under one roof. From the Nelson-Woods bout to Stevenson, Williams-Fillippone and all of the upcoming prospects, ticketholders are guaranteed to get their money’s worth and then some!”

Doors for this excellent evening of boxing open at 6 pm with the first bout scheduled for 7. Popular radio station 92Q and DJ Squirrel Wyde will be on hand from 6-8 PM with prizes and special giveaways.”

For more information, go to Ponytailpromotions.com

Founded in 2014 by respected Baltimore-based boxing businessman James Hogan, Ponytail Promotions envisions becoming one of the top promotional firms in the United States. With a keen interest in both male and female fighters, Ponytail Promotions will run a total of 10-12 shows per year in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC and North Carolina.

CANTON, MA (June 9, 2014) – On Saturday June 21st, Big Six Entertainment will host the 3rd out of their 6 scheduled events in MA in 2014. Tickets are $40 for general admission and $60 for ringside. Tickets can be purchased now by calling 617-312-5059. The amateurs start at 5:00pm and the pros start at 6:30pm.

The main event features a heavyweight slugfest between Steve Vukosa 8-0, 4 KO’s vs. Arthur “Armenian Assassin” Saribekian 23-5-1, 18 KO’s. Vukosa returns to the ring after a decade hiatus, as he looks to reestablish himself as New England’s top heavyweight contender. Saribekian is a hard hitting veteran that will be looking for another KO victory.

Big Six Entertainment’s CEO and president Artie DePinho said, “We are looking to build on our current success and provide fight fans with another entertaining night under the tent.”

Summer Slugfest showcases top prospect Rashidi Ellis 7-0, 5 KO’s, fan favorite Chris Traietti 16-2, 12 KO’s, and the always exciting Joseph “Chip Perez 10-3, 3 KO’s all in separate bouts against opponents TBA.

The undercard is also stacked with competitive bouts:
Donnie Palmer 5-0-1, 5 KO’s vs. Yohan Banks 7-8-3, 5 KO’s
Freddy Sanchez 1-0, 1 KO vs. Rafael Francis 0-0
Julian Pollard 3-0, 3 KO’s vs. Solomon Maye 1-2, 1 KO
Gabriel Duluc 9-1, 1 KO vs. Bryan Abraham 6-19-2, 6 KO’s
Greg Vendetti 4-2-1, 2 KO’s vs. Jesus Cintron 1-6-2
Mical Weisberg 3-1, 2 KO’s vs. Rameil Shelton 0-5
Travis Demko 1-0 vs. Paulo Souza 0-2
Jelame Garcia 1-0, 1 KO vs. Sergio Cabrera 0-2

The amateur portion of the event is headlined by Gary Balletto Jr. Some of New England’s most promising amateurs will also be featured including Ray Olivera Jr., Kendrick Ball Jr., and Keean Mosses. The full fight card will be announced soon.

Big Six Entertainments 2014 Schedule:
June 21st at The Irish Cultural Center
July 26th at Club Royale Boston
September 13th at The Irish Cultural Center
November 22nd at Club Royale Boston

NEW YORK (June 9, 2014) – In his first title defense this Saturday night, undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (20-0, 13 KOs) has nothing but bad intentions on his mind for mandatory challenger Brian “The Lion” Rose (25-1-1, 7 KOs).

Andrade vs. Rose is the 12-round co-feature, airing on HBO live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, on a card presented by Andrade’s co-promoters, Banner Promotions and Star Boxing, along with Top Rank. The main event is a 12-round bout between WBO junior welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KOs) and unbeaten challenger Chris Algieri (19-0, 8 KOs).

The 26-year-old Andrade, fighting out of Providence, captured the vacant WBO 154-pound title last November on HBO, defeating previously unbeaten 2004 U.S. Olympian Vanes “Nightmare” Martirosyan (33-0-1, 21 KOs) by way of a 12-round decision.

“Training camp was great,” Andrade said. “I worked on getting smarter and harder. We did some things differently than last camp: even faster movements, focusing on what parts of the body to hit, and being explosive. We worked on an all-around plan.”

A 2008 U.S. Olympian and 2007 World Championships gold medal winner, Andrade plans to make a major statement in hopes his performance propels him into a high-profile fight against the winner of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Erislandy Lara, possibly Floyd Mayweather, Jr. before he retires next year, or a unification fight with Carlos Molino.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity for Demetrius,” Andrade’s manager Ed Farris added. “Hopefully, we’ll get a spectacular win and provide fans with the kind of performance that they deserve. They will see Demetrius’ incredible potential and special gifts if he does what he’s capable of in the ring. Hopefully, they will become excited to see him guys like Mayweather and Alvarez. I know Demetrius can beat every one of the top guys out there. Whether politics in this sport will allow Demetrius the opportunity to show the world his tremendous ability, well, that’s another story. I know one thing, though, sooner or later Demetrius Andrade will be recognized as one of the most talented boxers in the world and boxing politics won’t stop him from eventually getting to the top.”

The gifted boxer of Cape Verdean heritage is not looking past his United Kingdom challenger. “Everybody in boxing has pop,” Andrade noted about Rose’s power in contrast to his seven knockouts in 25 wins. “I just have to go in and do what I do best – pick him apart.

“I’m a bad man! I’m going to whip his ass. He’s getting knocked out. Fans are going to see why none of the top guys in my division want to fight me. I’m taking over!”

Follow Demetrius Andrade on Twitter @BooBooBoxing.

LAWTON, OK
MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014

Star Boxing and Oklahoma’s popular middleweight contender, “Comanche Boy” George Tahdooahnippah (33-1-2) had to come off the canvas in the second round to score an action packed unanimous decision win over power punching Codale Ford, Friday night June 6, 2014 in XFN Fight Night 19 at the Grand Casino Hotel Resort in Shawnee, OK.

Tahdooahnippah was in command early in the first round and had Ford in trouble early. In the second round, Tahdooahnippah pressing the action, was caught by a right upper cut. Tahdooahnippah went to the canvas for the first time in his professional boxing career, but rose to his feet on unsteady legs to survive the round. In the third round, Tahdooahnippah regained composure and had Ford hurt with thunderous shots to turn the tide of the fight. Ford somehow stayed on his feet through the onslaught of Tahdooahnippah’s power punches to make it through the third round. The fourth and fifth rounds were close with Tahdooahnippah pressing the pace and taking control of the fight. The sixth round Tahdooahnippah and Ford battled with Tahdooahnippah again controlling the action with his ring generalship to pull out the unanimous decision win.

After the fight, Tahdooahnippah said, “Tonight was a tough night, especially in the second round. I was over confident and got hit by a shot I did not see. I knew when I was down that I was going to have to be knock out cold if I was to lose. I have never been down before, but I have the heart of a Comanche warrior. There is no quit in me!” The Comanche Boy looks to get back in the ring soon with details to follow.
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Before a standing room only, packed house, WBU World Lightweight Champion Noah Zuhdi (18-1, 14 KOs), Oklahoma City, OK, USA, retained his world title on Friday, June 6, 2014, in Oklahoma City defeating Eduardo Pereira dos Reis (13-2, 8 KOs), Sao Paulo, Brazil by TKO in the 4th round. Reis did not answer the bell for the 5th round. In the 4th round, Zuhdi connected with several uppercuts and powerful right hands and left hooks which left a lasting impact, inflicting a punishing body attack on the game Reis which zapped the strength and will out of him. In the early rounds, Zuhdi connected with numerous jabs and combinations. Reis had his moments but Zuhdi was too strong for him and dominated every round. The stoppage was only Reis’s second loss in 15 fights.

Don “Moose” Lewis, Chairman of the WBU, said Zuhdi was “one of the hardest hitting lightweights in the world” and that “Oklahoma City has a great sports franchise in town, and that franchise is WBU World Lightweight Champion Noah Zuhdi”.

The event was promoted by catBOX Entertainment and hosted by Oklahoma City’s newest and best outdoor venue, the OKC Downtown Airpark. WBU World Champion Zuhdi is signed with catBOX Entertainment. Photos at www.catboxentertainment.com.

On the undercard in an exciting bout, super middleweight Bo Gibbs, Jr. (11-0, 6 KOs), also a catBOX fighter, defeated David Lujan (4-1, 1 KO), from Wichita, Kansas, by unanimous decision after six grueling rounds. Boxing veteran Terry Buterbaugh (10-10, 4 KOs), Colorado Springs, CO, lost to long time amateur turned pro Anthony Hill by majority decision in a fight that could have easily been called either way. Joe Blurton, pro debut, was knocked out by Tolu Aguibaide, pro debut, in the second round. Raquel Vidal (1-2) won by TKO over Akasha Adams (0-2).

BOLTON (June 9) – Bolton sensation Haroon Khan continued his unbeaten run with an assured victory over Csaba Kovacs at the Reebok Stadium.

The 23-year-old battled tough Hungarian Kovacs in his hometown at the weekend, taking his stretch of wins to five since turning professional last year, as he conclusively won 60-55 on points over 6 rounds.

Khan’s superior speed and ringcraft was evident from the start, as he took it to the bigger man, whilst catching him with left hooks as he came in.

This was the first time super-flyweight Khan had boxed six-rounds, yet the young dynamo looked convincing and calm throughout, showing he was able to maintain a longer distance as he steps into a new phase in his blossoming career.

“I felt good in there and was very pleased to get another win under my belt,” said Haroon. “This was my first six-rounder and with the change of opponent at the last moment I’m happy with how things went. Kovacs was very tough and he caught me with a couple of good shots but I showed I was able to take them and come back even harder. I needed a fight like this and it’s only going to bring me on as a fighter – I’ve learnt so much from this fight,” he said.

Khan is set to be out again in September and will know what to expect when he goes into his next bout.

“This fight has shown me what I’m going to be up against for future fights over six rounds and beyond. It’s about pacing yourself, picking your shots and I know for my next fight I’ll be even better because I’ll know what’s coming,” said Khan.

“I’m going to observe Ramadan over the coming weeks and I hope to be out again in September. In the meantime, I’ll be ticking away in the gym and looking to improve mistakes I felt I made in this fight with my trainer Oliver Harrison,” he said.

Older sibling Amir Khan was ringside on Saturday night and will be looking to share his knowledge, as a former unified world champion, with the exciting young prospect.

“Haroon has all the tools to do really well and go very far in the sport,” said Amir. “I thought he did excellent getting the win but I’ll definitely be in the gym with him giving some pointers. This was the first time he has done six rounds and the more rounds he gets under his belt the more it will help him.

“There are a few changes I would like to see him implement in his approach, with him using his boxing skills a bit more because he has all the weaponry he needs,” he said.

BROOKLYN (June 9, 2014) – This past Saturday, WBO Jr. Welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov and undefeated challenger Chris Algieri met with a small group of journalists at Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse in New York City to talk about their June 14 title bout at Barclays Center. Their world title bout will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark®, beginning at 10 PM ET/PT.

Below are quotes and images from the media conference.

Photo Credit Claudia Bocanegra

PROVODNIKOV QUOTES:

“Despite winning the title I still feel like a challenger and I train like one. The only thing that has changed for me now that I am a world champion is that I now have more responsibilities, like interviews and appearances.

“My job on June 14 is to chase Algieri and hunt him down. He should be more worried about me. His style of fighting is not my favorite. I prefer an opponent who likes to engage and fight toe-to-toe, not a runner. I don’t have trouble with runners. They have trouble with me.

“This is a very important fight to me because it will show how many fans I can attract. Brooklyn feels like a second home. I hope Barclays Center can become my home arena in the same manner Miguel Cotto has at Madison Square Garden.

“I am focusing on a shorter, more prominent career. I only want the big fights. The fights the fans want to see. I want to make an impact and leave. I do not want to outstay my welcome in boxing. Money has never been my primary goal. I want to make the most out of my abilities to be my best in the ring. The respect of the fans and my achievements mean more to me than a title belt.

“I did not have an easy time growing up in Siberia. I don’t know where my childhood friends are now. Most are probably in jail. I stole food, sniffed glue, smoked and drank. My amateur boxing coach saved my life and helped to redirect my life toward being a productive person.

“I don’t like to spend my money on frivolous things and I haven’t. My family is secure and our life has improved since I have become a champion. The governor of my region is having a sports complex dedicated in my name built. It should be completed in 2015.

“I like to recite Russian poetry to myself as I make my ring walk.

“Most of my original goals have been achieved. When I was younger I would watch Mike Tyson fight. It was my dream to meet him and I finally realized that dream at the BWAA Awards Dinner when he shook my hand and presented me with the Fight of the Year award. Now it is time to set new goals where I can help others.”

ALGIERI QUOTES:

“My training in Las Vegas was very good, we had terrific sparring and I’ve been finishing off the last two weeks of camp here in New York City.”

“I’m not in awe of fighting Ruslan at all. I’ve watched him fight in the past and I have a very strong game plan to beat him. I’ve seen what works against him and just as importantly what doesn’t.”

“Emmanuel Taylor who I beat in February was a hard punching, strong fighter who had knocked out a high number of opponents. I wasn’t supposed to beat him or Jose Peralta. The underdog role fits me perfectly.”

“I’ve always loved boxing, but I had success at kickboxing and initially pursued
that. My favorite fighter was Oscar De La Hoya, at his peak he could do it all. But boxing has always been my passion, my love.”

“I was in a couple camps with Marcos Maidana and Brandon Rios, sparring for weeks. Both of them, like Ruslan are aggressive, very strong fighters who I had success against in training.”

“Yes, I’ve go options with my (clinical nutrition) degree, I don’t have to fight but I don’t think that
should be a factor in wanting to win any less. I’ve wanted to be a world champion
since I started boxing and I want to win just as badly as Ruslan does next Saturday.”

“Barclays is a beautiful venue and I’m sure both of us will have a large fan bases
cheering us on.”

“Of course I said yes immediately when offered the fight, fighting for a world title and on HBO is a terrific opportunity. But, also I know that I can beat Ruslan.”

“Sure many people will be shocked when I win, but not me.”

“Long Island has been terrific to me with their local support, it would mean a great deal to the people of Huntington for me to win the world title.”

LONDON (June 9) – BoxNation is delighted to announce that they will be showing the exciting world championship kickboxing event ‘Enfusion Live: Edition 19’, featuring England’s heavyweight world champion Daniel Sam, live and exclusive on June 29th in London.

The venture into the wider world of combat sports comes as an addition to the channel’s world class and unrivalled boxing coverage, which ‘The Channel of Champions’ will continue to deliver to its dedicated subscribers.

However, the agreement with Fighting Spirit – an international leader in the distribution of combat sports television – will see BoxNation widen its horizons as it airs the much anticipated event taking place at The Troxy in London.

The evening will see a host of top class action led by heavyweight hitter and reigning world champion Sam who defends his title against Morocco’s skilled 23-year-old Ismael Lazaar.

Londoner Sam, known as ‘The Warrior’, has earned an enviable reputation as a hard-hitting puncher who is able to deliver flying knees and devastating low kicks that has seen him earn a record of 25 wins in his 35 fights.

Lazaar, though, is the younger man compared to the 32-year-old Sam, and has faced and beaten some formidable names in the likes of The Netherlands Rick van Soest, so has shown he is ready for his shot at the big time.

Further world title action on the night will see the experienced reigning -90kg champion Wendell Roche – who holds the unparalleled record as being the only man to ever defeat kickboxing great Ginty Vrede – put his 90kg belt up for grabs when he battles the incredibly talented Andrew Tate – born in the USA and raised in England – who is more used to fighting in lighter categories and thus delivers fast paced action in the ring.

Ireland’s Chris Cooper faces Adam Hart from England at 95kg in a tremendous grudge fight after Cooper TKO’ed Hart back in December 2013, with ladies action set when the tough Grace Spicer challenges Ferial Ameeroedien of South Africa, with many more enthralling bouts also taking place.

‘Enfusion Live’ is the live format of the world renowned brand Enfusion which started in 2008 with a reality television show, expanding internationally four years later due to its success.

As of 2014, Enfusion produces live world championships, a yearly edition reality television show, and a development league ‘Fighting Rookies’.

‘Enfusion Live’ takes place 12 times a year and travels around Europe promoting premium live events.

“I am very excited to bring Enfusion Live and Fighting Spirit MMA on UK television,” said Sacha Puyssegur, Head of Programs Sales at Fighting Spirit. “The UK is such a great place for combat sports! The country has an endless pool of talented fighters and we are proud to be able to showcase them to their compatriots thanks to our starting relationship with BoxNation.”

Jim McMunn, Managing Director at BoxNation, said: “We are delighted to bring Enfusion Live to our viewers. Boxing will always be at the heart of who we are but when the opportunity arrives to deliver additional top class sporting events then we will take it, and it can only enhance the schedule for our customers.”

To subscribe to BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD & Virgin 546) visit www.boxnation.com.

-Ends-
About BoxNation

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

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

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Diaz and Mayweather vs Alvarez.

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

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

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

New York City (June 9, 2014) Undefeated heavyweight’s BRYANT “By By” JENNINGS and MIKE “The Rebel” PEREZ will clash in a World Boxing Council (“WBC”) Heavyweight Title Eliminator on SATURDAY, JULY 26 at The Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden. The fight will be televised Live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT, it was announced today by K2 Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions in association with Antonio Leonard Promotions.

The winner of the 12-round bout will become the mandatory challenger for the WBC Heavyweight Title, which was vacated by longtime champion Vitali Klitschko earlier this year.

The Jennings/Perez bout will serve as the co-feature to the WBA/IBO World Middleweight Championship defense by GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN against two-time world champion DANIEL “The Real Deal” GEALE.

“I commend HBO for sticking to their guns on making Jennings vs. Perez happen after the fight was called off.” said Gary Shaw. “I know Bryant is thrilled to be returning to the Madison Square Garden where he made his HBO debut and defeated Artur Szpilka who was undefeated at the time. Jennings is eager to show everyone he’s the best heavyweight contender out there. This will be a fight the fans will not want to miss. The next great American heavyweight will be on display, and I’m talking about Bryant Jennings.”

Said Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions; “We’re very excited to add this outstanding heavyweight matchup to the action packed “G4” boxing event featuring the return of Gennady Golovkin to Madison Square Garden. There is a lot at stake in this heavyweight fight and it’s fitting that it take place at “The Mecca of Boxing” where so many legendary heavyweight bouts have been held. There is nothing like heavyweight boxing at Madison Square Garden.”

“We feel that Mike is among the best heavyweights in the world and expect him to show that on July 26 against Bryant Jennings.”

“The fight is on again and I’m ready to make a statement against Perez,” said Jennings. “My fans can expect another great performance on July 26 as I return to the Madison Square Garden. HBO shows it’s serious about bringing the heavyweight division back to its glory days by making this fight happen and I’m here to make a name for myself. I want to thank Mauricio Sulaiman for including me in the Heavyweight tournament, giving me an opportunity to fight the winner of Wilder vs. Stiverne for the WBC world title.”
“I’m very happy this bout has been rescheduled,” said Perez. “My dream is to fight for the WBC heavyweight championship and a win over Jennings will bring me that much closer. I look forward to fighting on HBO again and I will prove that I deserve a shot at the heavyweight championship when I am victorious on July 26.”
“The WBC is proud to sanction the fight between Perez vs. Jennings as a final elimination fight as part of the WBC tournament in the Heavyweight division,” stated Mauricio Sulaiman, President of the World Boxing Council.

“Vitali Klitschko was honored with the Emeritus Champion distinction after he decided to dedicate his career to the politics of his country Ukraine and he is being regarded as a hero by many.”

“The WBC ordered a tournament between all the top rated fighters to fight and Perez vs. Jennings will prove to be a formidable match to find the second mandatory contender of the WBC Heavyweight division. “

The 29-year-old Jennings, 18-0-0 (10KO’s) is coming off his career best victory, a sensational, HBO televised tenth round knockout of Poland’s Artur Szpilka on JANUARY 25 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Dominating the action from the outset, Jennings dropped the crafty southpaw in the sixth before finishing him off in the final round.

A highly successful amateur in his native Cuba, the 28-year-old Perez has compiled a record of 20-0-1 (12KO’s), since moving to Ireland and turning professional in 2008.

Perez has recently made two previous appearances on HBO and is looking forward to showcasing his skills against another undefeated fighter on July 26th.

GOLOVKIN VS. GEALE is presented by K2 Promotions, GGG Promotions in association with Gary Shaw Productions and Grange Old School Boxing.

Advance tickets priced at $500, $300, $200, $100, $50 and $25 can be purchased starting at 12:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 10, at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com

For fight updates on JENNINGS VS. PEREZ via Social Media, follow HBO Boxing on Twitter at @HBOBoxing and Facebook at /HBOBoxing, Bryant Jennings on Twitter at @BYJennings, Tom Loeffler/K2 Promotions at @TomLoeffler1 and Gary Shaw Productions at @GaryShawBoxing. Use the hashtag #JenningsPerez to join the conversation on Twitter.

For fight updates on GOLOVKIN VS. GEALE via Social Media, follow HBO Boxing on Twitter at @HBOBoxing and Facebook at /HBOBoxing, in addition to on Twitter at Gennady Golovkin/@GGGBoxing, Daniel Geale/@RealDealGeale, Tom Loeffler – K2 Promotions/ @TomLoeffler1 and Gary Shaw Productions/@GaryShawBoxing. Use the hashtag #GolovkinGeale to join the conversation on Twitter.

New York City (June 9, 2014) Saturday afternoon in New York City, a Press Conference was held for “G4”, the boxing extravaganza set for SATURDAY, JULY 26 at ‘The Mecca of Boxing”, Madison Square Garden and Live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.

In attendance were WBA/IBO Middleweight World Champion GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN, Two-Time World Champion DANIEL ‘The Real Deal” GEALE along with undefeated heavyweight contenders BRYANT “By By” JENNINGS and MIKE “The Rebel” PEREZ in addition to undefeated welterweight prospect DUSTY HERNANDEZ-HARRISON. Hosting the press conference were Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions and Gary Shaw of Gary Shaw Productions.

The Press Conference was hosted by the internationally recognized voice of boxing, Hall of Famer, MICHAEL BUFFER. (All photos/courtesy Will Hart.)

GENNADY GOLOVKIN—“Thank you to HBO and Madison Square Garden for welcoming me back. I’m very happy to be fighting Daniel Geale, I’ve known him for many years and this will be a terrific fight for the fans. Saturday, July 26 will be a great night at Madison Square Garden.”

“I would also like to give express special thanks to our partner – EXPO-2017, an International Exposition dedicated to green energy scheduled to take place in 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan.”

DANIEL GEALE—“This is a tremendous opportunity for me. I want thank HBO, Gary Shaw, Grange Old School Boxing and Madison Square Garden. This is a perfect fight for me and I look forward to the challenge of facing Gennady.”

BRYANT JENNINGS—“I want to thank Gary Shaw in addition to Antonio Leonard and James Prince. I also want to thank HBO. I’m very happy to be back on their network and back at Madison Square Garden.”

“Mike doesn’t like to talk much but I’m here to tell you that I will be the next heavyweight champion from the United States and I can’t wait for July 26.”

MIKE PEREZ—“I don’t have much to say but I look forward to facing Bryant Jennings on July 26 and fighting on HBO.”

Golovkin will be defending his WBA “Super Champion” Middleweight Title and IBO Middleweight World Title against Geale in the 12-round main event.

With the highest knockout ratio (89%) among all active champions, in addition to his extraordinary growth in viewership on HBO, Golovkin, 29-0-0 (26KO’s), has become a must-see attraction in the international sporting world.

In 2013, Golovkin scored four knockouts, three of which were telecast on HBO to outstanding viewership earning him plaudits for both Fighter of the Year and Knockout of the Year among many media members.

Previously holder of the (‘IBF’) International Boxing Federation Middleweight and WBA “Super” Middleweight Title, Geale brings a distinguished record of 30-2-0 (16KO’s) into the world title challenge with Golovkin. Geale is currently ranked #3 by the World Boxing Association.

GOLOVKIN VS. GEALE is presented by K2 Promotions, GGG Promotions in association with Gary Shaw Productions and Grange Old School Boxing.

The Jennings/Perez bout will serve as the co-feature at “G4” with the winner of the 12-round bout becoming the mandatory challenger for the WBC Heavyweight Title, which was vacated by longtime champion Vitali Klitschko earlier this year.

The 29-year-old Jennings, 18-0-0 (10KO’s) is coming off his career best victory, a sensational, HBO televised tenth round knockout of Poland’s Artur Szpilka on JANUARY 25 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Dominating the action from the outset, Jennings dropped the crafty southpaw in the sixth before finishing him off in the final round.

A highly successful amateur in his native Cuba, the 28-year-old Perez has compiled a record of 20-0-1 (12KO’s), since moving to Ireland and turning professional in 2008.

Perez has recently made two previous appearances on HBO and is looking forward to showcasing his skills against another undefeated fighter on July 26th.

JENNINGS VS. PEREZ is presented by K2 Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions in association with Antonio Leonard Promotions.

With a record of 22-0-0 (12KO’s), Hernandez-Harrison will be fighting for the third time on the undercard of a Gennady Golovkin world title defense.

Advance tickets for “G4” priced at $500, $300, $200, $100, $50 and $25 can be purchased starting at 12:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 10, at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com

For fight updates on GOLOVKIN VS. GEALE via Social Media, follow HBO Boxing on Twitter at @HBOBoxing and Facebook at /HBOBoxing, in addition to on Twitter at Gennady Golovkin/@GGGBoxing, Daniel Geale/@RealDealGeale, Tom Loeffler – K2 Promotions/ @TomLoeffler1 and Gary Shaw Productions/@GaryShawBoxing. Use the hashtag #GolovkinGeale to join the conversation on Twitter.

For fight updates on JENNINGS VS. PEREZ via Social Media, follow HBO Boxing on Twitter at @HBOBoxing and Facebook at /HBOBoxing, Bryant Jennings on Twitter at @BYJennings, Tom Loeffler/K2 Promotions at @TomLoeffler1 and Gary Shaw Productions at @GaryShawBoxing. Use the hashtag #JenningsPerez to join the conversation on Twitter.

(CANASTOTA, NY): Capping a legendary athletic career that included 10 titles at six different weight divisions; a gold medal and dozens of championship fights, International “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame today in Canastota, NY.

“Today marks an incredible personal achievement, but it is only the latest milestone that never would have been possible without my family, my friends and, most of all, my fans,” De La Hoya said during the ceremony.

De La Hoya, 41, went into the Hall of Fame as part of an All Star class that included rival Felix “Tito” Trinidad and undefeated Super Middleweight World Champion, Joe Calzaghe.

Hours before the official induction ceremony, De La Hoya announced a $50,000 donation to the International Boxing Hall of Fame to mark the landmark’s 25th anniversary.

“Not only are all the legends of our sport honored inside the Hall of Fame, the people of Canastota are so knowledgeable and passionate about boxing, it was my pleasure to play a small part in maintaining the building and grounds in this wonderful part of the country.”

De La Hoya touched on numerous topics during his speech including the familial nature of boxing, his legendary matches with a cadre of superstars and the future of the sport.

“We must put aside the egos that have damaged our brand and sullied our reputation. We, the promoters, must stop carrying petty grudges that serve no purpose but to divide our sport. And most important, we must give the fans the fights that they want,” De La Hoya said.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, on Instagram @goldenboyboxing, @RealOscarDeLaHoya and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing.

David Price (18-2, 15 KOs) continued his comeback with a unanimous decision victory over Yaroslav Zavorotnyi (16-7, 14 KOs) at the Sport and Congress Center in Schwerin, Germany. After ten rounds of action the judges scored the fight 97-92, 98-92 and 100-90 in favour of the British heavyweight.

Price controlled the fight with his jab, while looking to unload his powerful right hand. Although Zavorotnyi proved a durable opponent he offered little in reply to Price’s dominance, resulting in a well-earned points victory for the 6ft 8’’ Liverpudlian.

‘’I was pleased with my performance,’’ said Price. ‘’It was great to get ten rounds in the bank. I’ve been a pro for five years but this was the first time I’ve gone ten rounds, so it was a good learning experience for me.

‘’Zavorotnyi was an awkward opponent. He kept his hands up, chin down and made himself difficult to hit. I may not have got the knockout but I stayed focused and did what I had to do to get the win.’’

Said promoter Kalle Sauerland: ‘’This was a great display from Pricey. He is really starting to show the improvements he has made in gym and during this rebuilding process. In terms of experience these ten rounds are like gold dust! We will be sitting down in the coming days to discuss whether we are ready to bring the big man home.’

LAS VEGAS — June 8, 2014 — Professional Boxing Manager Cameron Dunkin has signed Youngstown-based fighter Willie Nelson (21-1-1 12KO). Nelson, who is from Cleveland but trains in Youngstown with Jack Loew, is excited about the signing, saying “I feel like Cameron is the missing piece in my team. He’s the person that can get me the fights and exposure I need to move forward in my career.”

“I’m very happy with this signing,” said Dunkin. “Jack Loew is a tremendous and, in my opinion, underrated trainer. He did a great job with Kelly Pavlik, and he’s doing a great job with Willie. Willie has the potential to beat any junior middleweight in the world. He’s a really good boxer, a really good puncher, and shows a lot of heart. I’m really excited to be working with him.”

Nelson scored a spectacular first round knockout over Darryl Cunningham on the undercard of last night’s Cotto-Martinez PPV event.

HBO Sports presents SERGIO MARTINEZ VS. MIGUEL COTTO, the replay of their highly anticipated world middleweight title fight, SATURDAY, JUNE 14 at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO. The HBO Sports team, which was ringside for the live coverage at New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden, calls all the action, available in HDTV.

In the hottest prizefight of the first half of the year, Martinez and Cotto — two of boxing’s most celebrated superstars — met for the first time in the ring on Saturday, June 7. The showdown was carried live on HBO Pay-Per-View®. Cotto, in a career-defining performance, captured the middleweight title belt with a dominating display. The fight was stopped in round 10.
Immediately following the replay, HBO presents the previously announced “HBO Boxing After Dark®” doubleheader from Brooklyn headlined by the world junior middleweight title fight between Ruslan Provodnikov and Chris Algieri.
Other HBO playdates for all bouts: June 15 (9:30 a.m.) and 17 (12:25 a.m.)
HBO Signature playdates for all bouts: June 15 (3:00 p.m.) and 16 (12:30 a.m.)
® HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

Cecilia Brækhus (25-0, 7 KOs) successfully defended her WBC, WBO & WBA Female World Welterweight titles with a unanimous points victory over Jessica Balogun (24-4, 12 KOs) at the Sport and Congress Center in Schwerin, Germany last night.

Balogun proved a tough opponent but was ultimately outclassed by Brækhus. The judges scored the fight 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 all in favour of the pound-for-pound number one.

‘’It was a tough fight, but I expected that. Jessica is one of the toughest fighters around,’’ said Brækhus. ‘’All in all I was pleased with my performance. We had been working on some new things in the gym, improving my footwork and movement, and I think that showed tonight. Of course there are always things I feel I could have done better. But I am very happy!’’

Said Balogun: ‘’Cecilia is great fighter. She has very good technique. I think I focused too much on the knock out and forgot about my own technique, and that’s where in went wrong for me. But I would love to fight her again!’’

Following her second victory over Balogun, Brækhus is now looking to clean up the division and add the IBF crown to her impressive haul of titles.

‘’I would like to fight for the IBF belt next,’’ said Brækhus. ‘’I already hold the WBC, WBA & WBO titles and now I want to unify the division and become the first female fighter to hold all four belts.’’

Brækhus also admits she would willing to move up or down in weight in order to cement her legacy as the pound-for-pound queen.

‘’I want to fight the best there is. If that means moving up or down in weight to fight other champions then so be it. I am ready for the challenge.’’

Said promoter Nisse Sauerland: ‘’It was a good fight and a good win for Cecilia. Credit to Balogun, she is tough lady and gave Cecilia another ten hard rounds. There are still lots of options available to Cecilia and we will be sitting down in the coming weeks to discuss what’s next for the ‘’First Lady’’.’’

MAIN EVENT
Emmanuel Lartey 145
Steve Forbes 145
Contract Weight: 145 Lbs.

SEMI MAIN EVENT
*Cameron Sevilla-Rivera 165
Daryl Gardner 159
Contract Weight: 160 Lbs.

UNDERCARD
Jared Teer 146.5
Marcelino Pineda 145.5
Contract Weight: 147 Lbs.

Chris Wheaton 127
Jeremy McCleary 131.5
Contract Weight: 135 Lbs.

Ricardo Madonado 135
Manuel Mendez 136
Contract Weight: 136 Lbs.

Harrison Bevens 161
Cole Milani 158.5
Contract Weight: 161 Lbs.

Jared Torgeson 220.5
Mike Hayes 229
Contract Weight: Heavyweight

*The Sevilla-Rivera camp came to a monetary agreement with the Gardner camp to offset the weight difference.

New York City (June 7, 2014) On Friday evening in front of a huge crowd of fans, all four fighters from the upcoming “G4” boxing extravaganza hit New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

With the sensational artwork of their Saturday, July 26th event looking down from the “Mecca of Boxing’s” world famous marquee, GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN, DANIEL “The Real Deale” GEALE, BRYANT “By By” JENNINGS and MIKE “The Rebel” PEREZ posed for photos. The were joined by their promoters Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions and Gary Shaw of Gary Shaw Productions.

“G4” is headlined by the World Middleweight Championship between World Boxing Association “Super Champion” and International Boxing Organization Champion Golovkin and Two-Time World Champion Geale.

Co-featured at “G4” is the highly anticipated 12-round World Boxing Council Heavyweight Title Eliminator between Jennings and Bryant.

Both fights will be televised Live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.

GOLOVKIN VS. GEALE is presented by K2 Promotions, GGG Promotions in association with Gary Shaw Productions and Grange Old School Boxing. JENNINGS VS. PEREZ is presented by K2 Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions along with Antonio Leonard Promotions.

Advance tickets for “G4” priced at $500, $300, $200, $100, $50 and $25 can be purchased starting at 12:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 10, at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com

For fight updates on GOLOVKIN VS. GEALE via Social Media, follow HBO Boxing on Twitter at @HBOBoxing and Facebook at /HBOBoxing, in addition to on Twitter at Gennady Golovkin/@GGGBoxing, Daniel Geale/@RealDealGeale, Tom Loeffler – K2 Promotions/ @TomLoeffler1 and Gary Shaw Productions/@GaryShawBoxing. Use the hashtag #GolovkinGeale to join the conversation on Twitter.

For fight updates on JENNINGS VS. PEREZ via Social Media, follow HBO Boxing on Twitter at @HBOBoxing and Facebook at /HBOBoxing, Bryant Jennings on Twitter at @BYJennings, Tom Loeffler/K2 Promotions at @TomLoeffler1 and Gary Shaw Productions at @GaryShawBoxing. Use the hashtag #JenningsPerez to join the conversation on Twitter.