Atlantic City, NJ: Saturday night the Russian wrecking ball Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (23-0-1, 21 KOs) will make his second defense of his WBO Light Heavyweight Title against undefeated Cedric “L.O.W.” Agnew (26-0-0, 13 KOs) from Chicago, IL at the Ballroom at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. Kovalev will be making his third appearance on HBO Boxing After Dark, but his first appearance in the hit series’ main event. Agnew will be making his HBO debut.

Krusher Kovalev
Photo Credits: Rich Graessle/Main Events

Kovalev, 30, has had a stellar career thus far knocking out 21 of his opponents for an astounding 91% knockout-to-win ratio. He knocked out Nathan Cleverly in the fourth round on August 17, 2013 in Cleverly’s backyard of Cardiff, Wales to win the WBO Light Heavyweight Title in his first HBO appearance. Then on November 30, 2013 he traveled to Quebec, Canada for his first title defense and his second HBO appearance where he knocked out Ismayl Sillakh in the second round. Kovalev has knocked out his last seven opponents (two in the second round, three in the third round, one in the fourth round and one in the seventh round). This will be his first title defense on US soil.

HBO Boxing Video News Update: Sergey Krusher Kovalev (HBO Boxing)
HBO Boxing Video News Update: Sergey Krusher Kovalev
(HBO Boxing)

Krusher is very excited to be back on HBO. He said, “I am very happy to fight again on HBO. This is a very big thing for me. It is a dream come true for me to be the main event on HBO. I promise my fans a great show.”

Agnew, 27, is also undefeated with a 50% knockout-to-win ratio. He knocked out Daniel Judah in the sixth round on November 3, 2011 in Dallas, TX to take the then vacant WBC US (USNBC) Light Heavyweight Title. Then Cedric successfully defended his title on May 3, 2012 when he defeated Otis Griffin via unanimous decision in twelve rounds in Dallas, TX. He picked up the USBA Light Heavyweight title on April 12, 2013 when he defeated Yusaf Mack in twelve rounds via unanimous decision in New Buffalo, MI.

Cedric Agnew
Photo Credits:
Rich Graessle/Main Events
Agnew said, “It feels good to make my HBO debut and I want to thank them for this opportunity to showcase my skills on the big stage. This is a very good opportunity for me. I am just going to go out and fight a smart fight. I am staying focused and staying humble. I am just looking to put on a great show come Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall.”

Malcolm Garrett, Cedric’s promoter said, “I know Cedric is ready for this fight. Most importantly, he knows he is ready for this fight. He wants this fight. There is no hesitation on his part. We are ecstatic to be fighting on HBO this is what we have been working towards for a long time. This is like a dream come true for him.”

HBO Boxing Video News Update: Cedric Agnew (HBO Boxing)
HBO Boxing Video News Update: Cedric Agnew (HBO Boxing)

This light heavyweight match-up is scheduled for twelve rounds but Kovalev has never been taken deeper than eight rounds in his professional career. The only time he went a full eight was in a split decision victory over Darnell Boone on October 9, 2010 in Atlanta, GA. Cedric has gone twelve rounds twice in his career (a unanimous decision win over Yusaf Mack on April 12, 2013 and a unanimous decision win over Otis Griffin on May 3, 2012 ) and ten rounds once (a unanimous decision victory over Rayco Saunders on May 1, 2008). In order to defeat the Krusher, Cedric’s best strategy is to try to outlast the Russian into the later rounds – that is, of course, assuming he can handle Kovalev’s intense power.

Kovalev & Agnew
Photo Credits: Rich Graessle/Main Events

Main Events CEO, Kathy Duva, said, “It will be interesting to see if Agnew can take Sergey into deep waters. Usually the champion has the advantage of late round experience, but we haven’t been able to find anyone that lasted past the fourth round with Kovalev!”

“Krusher Kovalev had a spectacular introduction to HBO subscribers in 2013,” said Peter Nelson, director of programming, HBO Sports. “Now he gets to headline his first telecast on the network in his 2014 debut. We look forward to an exciting night of action at Boardwalk Hall.”

About March 29:

March 29 features the WBO Light Heavyweight World Title showdown between Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (23-0-1, 21KOs) and Cedric Agnew (26-0-0, 13 KOs) from the Ballroom at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic, City, NJ. The telecast will begin live on HBO Boxing After Dark at 10:00 PM ET/PT with the Thomas Dulorme vs. Karim Mayfield co-feature. The event is presented by Main Events in association with Caesars Atlantic City. Tickets are on sale now through TicketMaster online at www.ticketmaster.com or via phone (800) 736-1420. Fans can also contact Main Events for tickets at (973) 200-7050. Ticket prices are $26, $51, $77 and $152. Doors will open at 6:30 PM ET. Undercard bouts will be announced shortly.

For fight updates go to www.mainevents.com, www.CaesarsAC.com, www.BoardwalkHall.com or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing, www.facebook.com/CaesarsAtlanticCity, www.facebook.com/BoardwalkHall or www.facebook.com/HBOboxing and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Main_Events, https://twitter.com/CaesarsAC, https://twitter.com/BoardwalkHall and https://twitter.com/HBOboxing.

About Caesars Entertainment:

Caesars Entertainment Corporation is the world’s largest casino entertainment company. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, more than 70 years ago, Caesars has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions, and now operates casinos on four continents. The company’s resorts operate primarily under the Harrah’s®, Caesars® and Horseshoe® brand names. Caesars also owns the World Series of Poker® and the London Clubs International family of casinos. Caesars Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its guests through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. Caesars is committed to environmental sustainability and energy conservation and recognizes the importance of being a responsible steward of the environment. For more information, please visit www.caesars.com.

LONDON (March, 27) – World champion Stuart Hall believes Martin Ward will be in for his worst nightmare when he makes his first title defence this weekend.

The North East pair clash in an exciting local derby at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle on Saturday night, live and exclusive on BoxNation, with Hall putting his IBF bantamweight crown on the line for the first time since capturing it against Vusi Malinga last December.

The Darlington ace dazzled in a gruelling, hard-fought, battle with Malinga in Leeds last year, winning a unanimous points decision that saw him follow in the footsteps of the North East’s only other world champion in Glenn McCrory.

Hall’s win has now set up the first-ever all world title fight between two men from that region, with the newly crowned champion vowing to make it an occasion Ward will want to forget.

“I don’t believe Ward can hurt me,” said Hall. “He’s going to try and be slick and use his boxing skills but I’m going to take him somewhere he’s never been before. That Malinga fight took me to places, and levels, I had never been before and was even unsure I had. It wasn’t easy at any stage and that’s how uncomfortable I’m going to make it for Ward. I came through, but will he?”

“He’s going to try and get away but I’ll find him and then start working on him. He’s going to wish that he never signed for the fight when he realises how hard it is in there with me. It will be a test on every level. He’s thinking it’s going to be his best night ever but I’m going to make sure it’s his worst nightmare,” Hall told BoxNation.

The 34-year-old, who dramatically changed his life around to become world champion, is only now beginning to come to terms with his new found status, and can’t wait for fight night to do battle with the tricky Ward, who has won 18 of his 20 contests.

“I’m getting used to being world champion now. It’s been a few months and it has finally started to sink in just what a great achievement it was. I know Ward will be coming out there looking to take away that belt from me but now I’ve got it I’m not going to let it go,” he said.

“Ward’s a good fighter, a southpaw, but I’ve fought two tougher southpaws in my last couple of fights. I believe I’m at a different level and intend to show that on Saturday night. I know the North East is going to be fully behind me – it will be one hell of an occasion,” said Hall.

A sizeable crowd is expected in the 11,000 seated Metro Radio Arena, with Hall getting the chance to fulfill a long held ambition of his by boxing in a top prizefight in front of his local fans, just like his idols of the past.

“It’s been a dream of mine to fight as a world champion in front of my home crowd. Bringing the belt back here and doing what I dreamed of when I saw [Joe] Calzaghe and [Ricky] Hatton and guys like that fight is really going to be something special for me,” said Hall.

“The atmosphere is going to be absolutely buzzing. Throw in the fact that this is a sort of North East derby with my fans and his fans it’s going to be unreal. What an occasion – I really can’t wait,” he said.

‘Stuey’ is looking for his reign at the top of the division to last for a while as he eyes potential showdowns with some of the other leading bantamweights around.

One potential clash, should he come through Ward, is a rematch with former world champion Jamie McDonnell, a man that beat Hall on a close points decision in 2011.

“First I need to get past Ward but when I do I want Jaime McDonnell next,” said Hall. “We had a close fight when we last fought and I was inexperienced back then. I’ve grown now as a fighter and as a person and I have no doubts that if we meet again I would beat him. I would go into the fight as the world champion and that gives you a belief that is hard to explain but I know I would be more than a match for him the next time around,” he said.

“There will be other options around like Paul Butler, who has moved up and wants the fight. I’m open to any of these guys, maybe even looking at a unification fight with one of the other champions out there like Anselmo Moreno or Shinsuke Yamanaka – bring them all on,” Hall said.

The bill will also see Jon Lewis Dickinson defend his British cruiserweight belt against Neil Dawson and undefeated rising star Frankie Gavin put his Commonwealth title on the line against Sacky Shikukutu.

Hall vs. Ward is live on BoxNation (Sky Ch.437/490HD & Virgin Ch.546) this Saturday from 7pm. Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-

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NEW YORK (March 27, 2014) – During his career, former undisputed heavyweight champion and international star Mike Tyson fought on SHOWTIME 17 times, second only to Julio Cesar Chavez (21) for most appearances by a boxer in the history of the network.

On Friday, April 18, Tyson returns in a different capacity when his Iron Mike Productions makes its promotional debut on the premium network with a three-fight card live on ShoBox: The New Generation (SHOWTIME, 10:45 ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from the Monroeville Convention Center in Monroeville, Pa., located outside Pittsburgh.

The telecast will feature three of Iron Mike Productions’ most highly regarded unbeaten fighters.

In the 10-round main event, heavy-hitting Cuban lightweight Alexei “The Hurricane” Collado (18-0, 16 KOs), of Miami, Fla., by way Cork, Ireland, and Havana, Cuba, will be opposed by his toughest opponent to-date, Pittsburgh-area crowd favorite “Lightning” Rod Salka (18-3, 3 KOs), of Bunola, Pa.

In the co-feature, undefeated southpaw and Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz (14-0, 8 KOs), of Oxnard, Calif., by way of Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic will box Emmanuel Lartey (15-1-1, 7 KOs), of Brooklyn by way of Ghana, in an eight-round welterweight bout.

In the opening bout of the telecast, local favorite and war veteran Sammy Vasquez, Jr. (13-0, 9 KOs), of Monesson, Pa., will meet fellow unbeaten Juan “The Beast” Rodriguez, Jr. (11-0, 5 KOs), of Union City, N.J., in an eight-round welterweight bout.

“Iron Mike Productions is fairly young but is a quickly growing company that has expeditiously risen to the achievement of world-class competition,” said Mike Tyson, President, Iron Mike Productions. “I’m looking forward to continuing our rise to prominence in the field of championship boxing. I was the first fighter to bring SHOWTIME to the apex of its prominence and it is great to have my company start off where I finished. April 18, on ShoBox, coming live from the Monroeville Convention Center in Monroeville, Pa., is going to be a spectacular night.”

Tickets are currently on sale and priced at $250.00 for VIP ringside (includes meet-and-greet with Mike Tyson), $100.00 for ringside, $75.00 for reserved seating and $35.00 general admission (plus fees). Tickets are available at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/shobox-the-new-generation-tickets-11033903703?aff=es2&rank=11&sid=8d2f3f59b37a11e38be122000a9f3045.

The 5-foot-9 Collado was an accomplished amateur with nearly 200 bouts. He won the Junior World Championship title in 2006, and a few years later, defected from Cuba to Ireland. He turned pro in September 2008. Through 2011, all of his pro fights took place in Ireland and England.

Collado won his initial 14 fights by knockout before going the distance against Franklin Varela in a 10-round decision in his final outing of 2011. Collado did not fight again for 17 months while he relocated his training camp from Ireland to Miami and signed a new promotional contract with Iron Mike Productions. Since returning he’s registered three victories in a row, two by knockout. In his lone start this year, the undefeated 26-year-old Collado won a clear eight-round unanimous decision over Edgar Riovalle on Feb. 22 in Bethlehem, Pa.

The slick-boxing, battle-tested Salka, 31, won his first three fights in 2013 but lost his last on a close 10-round majority decision to Ricardo Alvarez last Dec. 14 in San Antonio, Texas, on SHOWTIME EXTREME. Both lead announcer Barry Tompkins and expert analyst Steve Farhood had Pittsburgh fan favorite Salka winning by 96-94.

Diaz, 30, a 2008 Olympic gold medalist, trains in Oxnard with 2013 Ring Magazine Trainer of The Year, Robert Garcia. He is making his 2014 debut and first start since stopping Edgar Llanes at 1:37 in the first round on Aug. 17, 2013. This will be the fifth fight in the United States for Diaz, a pro since 2009. The promising Diaz hopes to keep busier this year after fighting just twice in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The 32-year-old Lartey is a former African Boxing Union and Ghanaian champion. The lone loss in the southpaw’s nearly nine-year professional career came via unanimous decision in his last fight against 2012 U.S. Olympian Errol Spence.

Vasquez, who turns 28 on April 15, will be making his third start of the year. He is a two-time Armed Forces Champion who served two tours of duty in Iraq. An extremely popular, crowd favorite in Pennsylvania—all 13 of his fights have been in or around Pittsburgh—Vasquez often has group busses filled with fans come to his fights. Lately, he’s been sending them home early. Vasquez has won his last four by stoppage, including a fourth-round TKO over Berlin Abreu on Feb. 22 in Bethlehem.

The undefeated Rodriguez, a 27-year-old southpaw, is coming off of a one-year layoff, having last fought April 13, 2013 where he beat Emmanuel Medina. Rodriguez speaks openly about his troubled childhood but credits boxing for turning his life around. He dedicated himself to the sport and as an amateur compiled an impressive record of 56-6 before turning pro.

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

For more information visit www.IronMikeProductions.com, www.sho.com/sports, follow on twitter at @IronMikeProd, @shosports, follow the conversation using #ShoBox or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/IronMikeProductions.Official and www.facebook.com/ShoBoxing.

LOS ANGELES (March 26, 2014) – StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., has rapidly become known amongst boxing aficionados as the place to be to see world-class fights and fighters. On Saturday, April 26, that reputation continues to grow as Golden Boy Promotions and SHOWTIME Sports® team up for an all-action tripleheader featuring some of the top fighters in the sport today. In the 12-round main event, Florida power-puncher Keith “One Time” Thurman defends his interim WBA World Welterweight Championship against former World Lightweight titleholder Julio “The Kidd” Diaz.

In other televised bouts on SHOWTIME, Argentine knockout king Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse returns in a 10-round matchup against hard-hitting Californian John Molina and Omar “Panterita” Figueroa Jr. defends his WBC Lightweight World Championship against fellow Texan Jerry “The Corpus Christi Kid” Belmontes.

“To headline a show like this against a former world champion is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and that day is here,” said Thurman. “I respect Julio Diaz and I will not underestimate him. He knows that this may be his last shot, and I expect the best from him, but I’ll be the one leaving with the victory.”

“This is a big opportunity for me to face a fighter that is feared by many, but not by me,” said Diaz. “I have been in the ring with far more dangerous and experienced fighters in the past, and everyone knows that I come to fight. My previous opponents Amir Khan and Shawn Porter will tell you that. ”

“Molina is the kind of fighter I respect and always want to compete against,” said Matthysse. “He shows up to fight and we’re going to give the fans the kind of show they want to see. I don’t think it will last long, but it will be something to see while it does.”

“I’m excited to showcase myself against someone that I consider to be one of the best fighters in the world at 140 pounds,” said Molina. “I am very well prepared to come in on fight night and do what I do best, and that is to be victorious.”

“I am especially excited about this fight because I have wanted to get payback against Belmontes for longer than a decade,” said Figueroa. “I fought him in the amateurs and he always beat me because I was always shorter than him. Now I am taller, stronger and bigger than him and I am looking to beat him the way he beat me in the amateurs.”

“I beat Omar 5 times in the amateurs but it was just that, the amateurs, we were young,” said Belmontes. “We have taken different paths as professionals and finally they cross and we meet again… on April 26, he’ll be beaten… for the 6th time”.

Tickets priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, go on sale tomorrow/Thursday, March 27 at 10 a.m. PT and will be available online at AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849) and at StubHub Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call 877-234-8425.

A supreme knockout artist whose power continues to captivate more and more fans with each bout, Clearwater, Florida’s Keith “One Time” Thurman (22-0, 20 KOs) skyrocketed from prospect to contender to champion with three wins over Jan Zaveck, Diego Chaves and Jesus Soto Karass in 2013, earning the interim WBA Welterweight World title with the victory over Chaves. On April 26, the 25-year-old makes the second defense of his crown.

A respected veteran who has earned his stripes in the boxing world, Julio “The Kidd” Diaz (40-9-1, 29 KOs) found new life in his career with a move to the welterweight division in 2012. Since making the move, Diaz is 2-2-1, including a 10-round split draw to Shawn Porter and a hard-fought loss to world renowned Amir Khan. The 34-year-old former world lightweight champion from Coachella, Calif., would like nothing more than to win another title on April 26.

Popular Trelew, Chubut, Argentina native Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse (34-3, 32 KOs) has been knocking opponents out for nearly 10 years, becoming one of boxing’s most feared competitors in the process. The former interim WBC Junior Welterweight World Champion, Matthysse’s last 11 wins have ended before the final bell, and after a 12-round decision loss to Danny Garcia in a terrific championship bout last September, the 31-year-old is more determined than ever to take matters out of the judges’ hands.

Covina, California’s John Molina (27-3, 22 KOs) has plenty of dynamite in his fists as well, earning him a reputation as an exciting fighter ever since he turned pro in 2006. In July 2013, the 31-year-old added to his legend with a dramatic come-from-behind last-round knockout of previously unbeaten Mickey Bey, Jr. In his most recent bout last November, the hard-hitting Molina halted Jorge Pimentel in two rounds.

Seen for years as the future of boxing, the time for Omar “Panterita” Figueroa Jr. (22-0-1, 17 KOs) is now. In his last fight, an epic win over Nihito Arakawa last July, Figueroa won the WBC Lightweight World title in a Fight of the Year candidate. The 24-year-old of Weslaco, Texas, was scheduled to face Ricardo Alvarez on the March 8 Canelo vs. Angulo PPV event but sustained an injury in training that forced him to withdraw. On April 26, the fiery competitor returns to defend his crown for the first time against Jerry Belmontes.

Jerry “The Corpus Christi Kid” Belmontes (19-3, 5 KOs) proudly represents his hometown in and out of the ring, but it was his effort in the ring in March 2014 that earned him a shot at Figueroa. In that fight he won a dominant 10-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Australian contender Will Tomlinson. Now, more confident than ever, the 25-year-old plans on delivering another upset win on April 26.

A full undercard will be announced shortly.

Thurman vs. Diaz, a 12-round fight for Thurman’s Interim WBA Welterweight World Championship on Saturday, April 26, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona, AT&T and Casamigos Tequila. It will take place at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and will air as the main event of the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) and will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP). In the co-feature, Argentine knockout artist Lucas Matthysse faces hard-hitting John Molina in a 10-round junior welterweight bout that is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions. In the opening bout of the telecast, Omar Figueroa Jr. defends his WBC Lightweight title against fellow Texan Jerry Belmontes. Preliminary fights will air on SHOWTIME EXTREME®.

KEY WEST, Fla. (March 26, 2014) – Battle-tested Bahamian heavyweight Sherman “Tank” Williams (36-13-2, 19 KOs) is returning to Germany to spar three weeks with world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (61-3, 51 KOs) and then fight highly-touted New Zealand prospect “Explosive” Joseph Parker (7-0, 6 KOs) on April 26 in Oberhauser, Germany.

Williams vs. Parker will be on undercard of a K2 Promotions-presented event, headlined by Klitschko’s IBF, WBO, WBA Super and IBO title defense against WBO No. 1 ranked mandatory challenger Alex “The Lionheart” Leapai (30-4-3, 24 KOs).

The 5′ 11, 245-pound Williams serves as a perfect sparring partner for Klitschko, whose Apr. 26 opponent stands 6′ 0″ and weighs 245-pounds. Williams, who has fought twice before in Germany, losing decisions to Manuel Charr and former world champion Ruslan Chagaev, has sparred twice with Wladimir and six other times with Klitschko’s brother, recently retired world champion Vitali.

“Based on their (Klitschko brothers) sizes, around 6′ 6″,” Williams explained, “I give them a contrast in style when they’re fighting much shorter guys. I’m aggressive and stay low, so they work on angles to throws shots. I try to slip and jab to get inside against taller opponents. Wladimir is a decent, intelligent, laidback type guy. Outside of the ring he’s reserved. As a fighter, he’s a good technician and hard worker in the gym.

“Germany has been very good to me. In most of my European exploits, I’ve been embraced because they love my Bahamian flavor. They hear me start talking and I bring them happy feelings. I put a beating on Chageav over there, from pillar to post, and the fans ended-up behind me. I have built a solid, steady fan-base in Germany and I’ve been well received since my first trip there. I’m no stranger in Germany and those people know and like ‘Tank’ Williams very well.”

The 22-year-old Parker is 20 years Williams’ junior. He is a 6′ 4″, 230-pound Samoan who has fought only one opponent of note, an aging Frans Botha, who Parker stopped in the second round of their 2013 fight in New Zealand.

“He seems talented from the little I know,” Williams admitted. “I had never heard of him before I was offered this fight. He’s been pushed in New Zealand and Australia, on the fast track but he has never fought anybody like me. There’s nothing he can do that I haven’t seen before and I’m used to being the shorter guy. A lot of guys can talk the talk but we’ll find out if he can walk the walk. I’m bringing my ‘Conch’ punch (overhand right) and Parker is going to know he’s been in a fight.”

In addition to Charr and Chagaev, Williams has fought some of the best heavyweights in the world during the course of his 16 ½-year professional career, such as Evander Holyfield (NC3), Robert Helenius (LDEC10), Chauncy Welliver (WDEC12), Tye Fields (LDEC12), Taurus Sykes (LDEC10), Al Cole (WDEC10), Obed Sullivan (LDEC12), Jameel McCline (D10) and Robert Davis (LTKO5).

“This is a very exciting fight for Sherman,” Williams’ manager Si Stern added. “His experience will enable him to do very well against Parker. A victory can bring ‘Tank’ some excellent opportunities for some major fights around the world.”

In 292 rounds fought, Williams has been knockout only one time, by Davis. His relatively short stature in height, especially for a heavyweight, has been detrimental over the years in terms of him landing high profile fights “I’ve been in the gym since October but it isn’t easy for me to get fights,” Williams noted. “I had fights lined up with David Price and Tyson Fury; they wouldn’t fight me, saying I was too short. I guess they wouldn’t have fought Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson or David Tua.

“The opportunity to fight this kid (Parker) came up. Hey, I’d fight anybody if the right opportunity comes up. This could spring me into something else. I always come to fight.”

New Town, ND (March 26, 2014)– This Friday night at the 4 Bears Casino & Lodge in New Town, North Dakota, The Boxcino 2014 lightweight tournament semifinals will take place with 8-round bouts featuring Petr Petrov (33-4-2, 15 KO’s) fighting Chris Rudd (13-1, 8 KO’s) and Fernando Carcamo (16-5, 13 KO’s) taking on Miguel Gonzalez (23-3, 16 KO’s).

The fights will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPNDeportes+ and WatchESPN beginning at 9 PM ET.

The tournament has been a critical success with the viewers and is the talk of social media.

One of the men responsible for identifying much of the talent that has been on display is Banner Promotions matchmaker Eric Bottjer.

Bottjer has been one of the most distinguished boxing men for the better part of two decades as he signed and developed many world champions.

Bottjer gives his overview of the quarterfinals and he breaks down what to look for in the semifinals.

“Petrov and Rudd were both big surprises because most people picked their opponents (Fedor Papazov and Yakubu Amidu respectively) to win in the opening fights,” said Bottjer.

“Both guys now face opponents with completely different styles than what they faced in their opening matches, so the key to their fight is who can make the adjustment. They both capitalized on fighting very aggressive fighters. Now they are each fighting more accomplished boxers.”

“Carcamo is the biggest puncher of the whole group of lightweights in the tournament and Gonzalez is the best boxer. It is no secret on how each of them is going to fight.”

“The fights in the first round were very good. The semifinals will be at that level if not better. The guy who wins this tournament would have defeated three good fighters on national television over a three-month period. Whoever wins the tournament will establish himself as a world-class fighter and title contender,” finished Bottjer.

Chicago, IL, Wednesday, March 26, 2014-Chicago’s very own super middleweight prospect Donovan “Don Da Bomb” George (24-4-2, 21 KOs) will return to the ring on Friday, April 18, as he makes his “Fight Night at Horseshoe Hammond” debut as the headliner at the The Venue. Joining George as co-features on the card are exciting Chicago super middleweight Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez (13-0, 10 KOs) of Chicago and Russian heavyweight sensation Andrey Fedosov (24-3, 19 KOs) who just relocated to the Windy City. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, The Venue box office and hitzboxing.com. Prices start at $19.00, the first fight is at 7:00 PM.

“Donovan is working hard and he is ready. There is no better place for him to return to the ring than The Venue and ‘Fight Night at Horseshoe Hammond,” said Bobby Hitz. “This card is stacked with local fan favorites with great followings.”

Also on the card, which is co-promoted with Round 3 Productions, is Chicago cruiserweight Dimar “Strongman” Ortuz (9-0, 6 KOs), welterweight Roy Navarro (5-1, 3 KOs) of Chicago, light welterweights Antonio “Aztec God of War” Canas (9-1-1, 3 KOs) and Genaro Mendez (7-2-1, 4 KOs) of Chicago as well as Eddie Ramirez (3-0, 3 KOs) of Aurora, and Chicago lightweight Fiore (11-2-1, 7 KOs).

George is co-promoted by Hitz Boxing and Round 3 Productions.

“I’m so excited to welcome Donovan back into this ring,” said Frank Mugnolo of Round 3. “He is going to put on a terrific show and remind fight fans why we call him ‘Da Bomb.'”

ABOUT HITZ BOXING
Since its debut in 1991, Hitz Boxing has been the midwest’s leading boxing promoter. Led by Bobby Hitz, who boasted a 21-4 record with 18 KO’s as a boxer, Hitz Boxing is the longest running boxing promoter in the Chicago area dating back to the bi-monthly boxing series the “Ramada Rumble,” held at the former Rosemont Ramada Inn. The organization currently promotes the wildly popular “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN and is the subject of the actuality show “Hitz Boxing,” a web series which has amassed over 5 million internet views. Over the year’s the organization has produced matches that have included some of the top names in boxing such as James Toney, Antonio Tarver, Montell Griffin, Iran Barkley, Andrew Golota and “Fast Fres Oquendo.

For more information, please visit: www.hitzboxing.com.

ABOUT ROUND 3 PRODUCTIONS
Round 3 Productions was formed in 2011 by lifelong Chicago resident Frank Mugnolo and has quickly become one of the premier boxing promotional firms in the United States.

Making their mark quickly, Round 3 Productions guided current #1 ranked light heavyweight contender Andrzej “The Polish Prince” Fonfara to his first world title (International Boxing Organization) in November 2012.
While continuing to retain a substantial financial interest in Fonfara, Round 3 Productions has teamed with Chicago’s Hitz Boxing to sign perennial super middleweight contender Donovan “Da Bomb” George to an exclusive promotional contract with more signings of Chicago’s finest to come.
From the packed houses at the UIC Pavilion to the unprecedented pro boxing event at U.S. Cellular Field, Home of the Chicago White Sox on August 16, 2013, Round 3 Productions has become a proven leader in the sport of boxing

ABOUT THE HORSESHOE CASINO
The $500 million Horseshoe Casino, a Caesars Entertainment Corporation property, just 20 minutes from downtown Chicago is the premier entertainment and gambling destination in Chicagoland. Where legendary gaming lives on, Horseshoe boasts more than 350,000 square feet with over 3,000 slot machines, over 100 table games, one of the largest poker rooms in the Midwest, and more. The Venue at Horseshoe Casino is proud to offer the ultimate concert and entertainment destination and premier experience in a flexible space that can hold up to 3,300 guests. Dining elegance is not overlooked and guests can choose from a variety of dining options including; Jack Binion’s Steak House which overlooks Lake Michigan and winner of the 2009, 2010, 2011 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and the May 2012 OpenTable Diners’ Choice award, around-the-globe variety at the Village Square Buffet, and a taste of Chicago at Benny’s Pub and Eatery.

For more information, please visit: www.chicagohorseshoe.com.

Must be 21 years or older to gamble or attend events at The Venue. Know When To Stop Before You Start® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9WITH-IT © 2012 Caesars License Company, LLC.

HBO Sports’ groundbreaking “24/7” reality franchise, which has captured 17 Sports Emmy® Awards and produced 18 multi-part boxing editions since 2007, looks at the upcoming world welterweight championship rematch between Manny Pacquiao and unbeaten titleholder Timothy Bradley Jr. with 24/7 PACQUIAO/BRADLEY 2, debuting SATURDAY, MARCH 29 (midnight-12:30 a.m. ET/PT), immediately after the “HBO Boxing After Dark” doubleheader that begins at 10:00 p.m. Spanning three weeks, the three unique programs offer inside access to the two elite fighters and their camps as they prepare for their high-stakes welterweight title showdown April 12 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Show # 1

Debut: SATURDAY, MARCH 29 (midnight-12:30 a.m. ET/PT)

Other HBO playdates: March 30 (noon) and 31 (10:30 a.m.), and April 1 (8:30 p.m.), 2 (4:30 p.m.), 4 (3:05 a.m.), 5 (2:30 p.m.), 11 (7:00 p.m.) and 12 (8:30 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: March 30 (12:35 a.m.) and April 2 (9:30 p.m.), 4 (8:00 a.m.), 11 (12:45 a.m.) and 12 (2:30 p.m.)

HBO On Demand® and HBO GO® availability begins: April 1.

This debut edition chronicles the road the two fighters have taken since their controversial first meeting in June 2012 and shows how they view their rematch.

The second edition of 24/7 PACQUIAO/BRADLEY 2, debuts SATURDAY, APRIL 5 (11:30 p.m.-midnight) and the third show debuts THURSDAY, APRIL 10 (8:30-9:00 p.m.) just two nights before the championship showdown.

“Pacquiao vs. Bradley 2” takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 12 at 9:00 p.m. (ET)/6:00 p.m. (PT), and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (March 26th, 2014) — Jesse Barboza could’ve given up on boxing a long time ago.

He could’ve quit as an amateur when he stepped in the middle of a fight between two close friends and wound up with a stab wound to the stomach that put him in the hospital for two weeks.

He could’ve walked away after tearing tendons in his foot and injuring his ankle less than a year and a half into his professional career, stalling his initial progress.

He could’ve decided boxing wasn’t worth all the trouble after spending nearly six hours everyday driving back and forth from Cape Cod to Providence just to train or get decent sparring.

It’s just not in his nature, not after growing up in a family as competitive as it is athletic.

“After everything I’ve been through, I sometimes feel like I’ve had a 30-year career, but I’m only 27, and in the heavyweight division, 27 is young,” said Barboza (7-1-1, 5 KOs), a Hyannis, Mass., native and former three-time New England Golden Gloves champion now entering his fifth year as a professional boxer.

“I’ve faced my fair share of adversity, but I’m hungry. I want this. If I didn’t, I’d quit. This is my life, and I work everyday at it.”

Looking to make 2014 his breakthrough year, Barboza will return to the ring Friday for the first time since November in a four-round bout against East Stroudsburg, Pa., veteran Glenn Thomas (1-1) on the undercard of Classic Entertainment & Sports’ latest event at Twin River Casino. Tickets are priced at $41, $76 and $126 (VIP) and can be purchased by calling 401-724-2253/2254, online at www.cesboxing.com or www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Players Club at Twin River.

Though down on his luck at times, the 6-foot-2 Barboza has never run low on drive or motivation. He and his older brother, Andre, were born a year apart, so they inevitably competed with one another at everything growing up, whether it was in the classroom or on the playing field. Not only did their father play college football, but their grandfather was also an amateur boxer, so athleticism ran in the family.

Football was their first love. They both played as youths, but Andre took it one step further, spending two seasons as a wide receiver at Division I Youngstown State after walking onto the Erie Community College team in Buffalo and becoming both the starting quarterback and team captain.

“He lied to the whole family and said he had a scholarship to play football, but he was actually trying to make it as a walk-on,” Barboza said. “He took a bus there, not even knowing if he’d make the team, and he wound up as the starting quarterback.

“He had a lot of faith. We come from a family based on faith.”

The younger Barboza gravitated more toward boxing, another hobby they both shared, but one only Jesse truly felt passionate about. Andre learned the hard way just how passionate his younger brother was one afternoon in the Barboza family living room.

“He was my first knockout victim,” Barboza laughed. “After my mother would leave for work, we’d clear out the room, start playing entrance music and everything, and use socks for gloves and start boxing one another.

“I was 10 and he was 11. I hit him with a sloppy, overhand right. It was scary. We laugh about it now, but at the time I’m thinking, ‘If this kid doesn’t get up ….’ I threw water on him everything. He denies it now, but it happened. I still mess with him about it to this day.”

While Andre went on to lead D-III Erie to a regional championship and catch four touchdowns in two seasons as a starter at Youngstown State, Jesse worked his way through the New England amateur circuit as a promising heavyweight prospect.

“Andre liked boxing, but I was passionate about it,” Barboza said. “In order to box, you have to have a passion for it. You can’t just kind of want to box. You can kind of want to play basketball and shoot around, but if you only kind of want to box, you can get hurt. Second place in boxing sucks. You’ve got to be the man, and you’ve got to have a passion for it.”

Luckily for Barboza, he never had to worry much about finishing any place other than first, winning the N.E. Golden Gloves championship three times, even after the inadvertent stabbing left him hospitalized for two weeks following his first title and forced him to miss the nationals.

“Instead of being there with my teammates, guys like Edwin Rodriguez, Demetrius Andrade, Danny O’Connor, I’m in a hospital bed,” Barboza said. “People were like, ‘Oh, man you should probably stop. Get a job, maybe move way,’ but I decided to fight through that.

“The day I got out of the hospital, I ran a mile. It was the dumbest thing I ever did, but I had to prove to myself I wasn’t going to quit.”

If getting stabbed and missing out a chance to compete in the nationals didn’t deter Barboza from chasing his dream, reoccurring injuries early in his career certainly weren’t going to keep him out of the ring, but the constant traveling and lack of stability on The Cape undoubtedly made it more difficult to succeed.

Barboza spent the early part of his career working with several different trainers, including Dave Gonsalves Jr., the uncle of fellow Cape Cod boxer Paul Gonsalves; Micky Ward and Orlondo Valles, who trained Providence’s Vladine Biosse and now works with fellow Rhode Islander Rich Gingras, among others.

Having to travel to Lowell, Mass., to work with Ward, or drive more than two hours from Hyannis to Providence to work with Valles eventually took its toll on Barboza, who also works a full-time job in a warehouse. Paul Gonsalves’ wife, Shauna, eventually came up with the idea for the two of them to start their own gym on The Cape, which would significantly cut down on the travel time.

The birth of 413 Boxing, located on the line between Mashpee and Hyannis, is “a blessing,” according to Barboza, offering he and others on The Cape an opportunity to hone their craft whenever they want to without having to worry about spending nearly half the day behind the while between destinations.

“I feel much better having a home base now,” Barboza said. “I have a hectic work schedule, but I can come down here whenever I want, just open the door and work out. You can only imagine working a full-time job, driving home, spending 10 minutes, if that, at home and then getting in the car and driving to Lowell, Chelmsford or Providence. You do it because you love the sport, but it wears on you.

“It showed in the ring,” he continued. “When I was doing all that crazy traveling, I had a draw, a loss [both against Winston Thorpe], and a win [against Antonio Robertson] where I really didn’t go after the kid or let my hands go. I was drained. I feel much better now that I have a home base.

“Everything is falling into place. I don’t have to worry about the small stuff anymore.”

Barboza’s fight against veteran Arthur Saribekian in November was his first training out of 413 Boxing, and the end result was a second-round knockout in arguably Barboza’s most impressive performance to date. With much-needed stability in his routine, and a much clearer path in the heavyweight division — Vitali Klitschko recently vacated the World Boxing Council (WBC) title he held for more than nine years without losing — 2014 could be the year Barboza becomes a household name both nationally and worldwide.

“Sky’s the limit in the heavyweight division,” Barboza said. “There’s a huge jump in talent between the guys at the bottom and the prospects. It’s a huge gray area. It’s strange how it works. Chris Arreola is fighting for Kltischko’s title [May 10th against Bermane Stiverne] and he’s already got three losses. In the ’90s, they would’ve forgotten about him, but now guys are getting three or four chances.

“If you’re a heavyweight in this country, you’re three or four fights away from being in line to be that next guy.”

After fighting only once in a two-year stretch from 2011 and 2012, Barboza won twice last year, setting the stage for what could be a breakthrough year in 2014. He’s come this far and fought through so much already. Why stop now?

“I know I said 2013 would be my breakthrough year, but I did have a solid year. Lord willing, 2014 will be the year I can start letting everyone in this country know there’s another heavyweight on the rise,” Barboza said. “This will be a big year for me. I feel good. I’m ready for it. I’m excited about this year.”

Friday’s undercard also includes the return of unbeaten Providence middleweight KJ Harrison-Lombardi (5-0-1) of Providence, who will put his record on the line in a four-round bout against Jason Bakanowski (0-1) of Worcester, Mass., while Springfield, Mass., welterweight Zack Rasmey (6-0, 3 KOs) takes on veteran Shakha Moore (11-19-3, 2 KOs) of Norwalk, Conn., in a six-rounder.

In the eight-round main event, Jersey City, N.J., light middleweight Chris Chatman (11-3-1, 5 KOs) will face The Contender Season 2 champion Grady Brewer (30-18, 16 KOs) of Lawton, Okla. Chattanooga, Tenn., lightweight prospect Ryan Martin (3-0, 2 KOs) will face Justin Robbins (2-5, 1 KO) of Springfield, Ill., in a four-round bout, and Cranston, R.I., welterweight Nick DeLomba (2-0) will return in a separate four-round bout. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

INGLEWOOD, CALIF. (March 26, 2014) – Boxing is back at the Forum (3900 West Manchester Blvd., Inglewood, Calif. 90305) and the historic inaugural brawl will feature four-division world champion and Méxican icon JUAN MANUEL “Dinamita” MÁRQUEZ battling former junior welterweight world champion and the pride of Colorado “Mile High” MIKE ALVARADO.

Márquez (55-7-1, 40 KOs), of México City, a longtime Forum stalwart who never lost a fight at the legendary boxing venue, and Alvarado (34-2, 23 KOs), of Denver, CO., will collide in a 12-round World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title elimination bout on Saturday, May 17. The Márquez-Alvarado welterweight rumble will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT. The winner will challenge the victor of the upcoming WBO welterweight championship rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley, Jr. Márquez and Alvarado boast a combined record of 89-9-1 (63 KOs) — a winning percentage of 90% and a victory by knockout ratio of 71%.

Promoted by Top Rank® in association with Zanfer Promotions, Márquez Boxing and Tecate, tickets to Márquez vs. Alvarado will go on sale Tuesday, April 1 at 3:00 p.m. ET / Noon PT. Priced at $400, $250, $150, $75 and $35, tickets can be purchased at the Forum box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (800-745-3000), and online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.fabulousforum.com. And to celebrate boxing’s return to the Forum, any $150 or $75 ticket, purchased at the box office or via Ticketmaster on April 1, between Noon and 4:00 p.m. PT, will include a complimentary companion ticket to the inaugural brawl. Limit six (6) tickets per order.

“The opportunity to go back and fight at the Forum where I developed as a professional fighter was too great to pass up,” said Márquez. “I expect a tough fight against Mike Alvarado and one that the fans will truly enjoy.”

“I am so excited. We have been training already for four weeks. Márquez has always been on our radar and he is the one I always wanted to fight,” said Alvarado. “This fight is my redemption to all of my fans. I know how important this fight is. What a fight with such a reward – to fight the winner of Pacquiao vs Bradley. This is an incredible opportunity. I will be fully prepared to fight Márquez on May 17.”

“Márquez vs. Alvarado should be a battle from bell to bell. Both really need this fight and that will make for an exciting encounter,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.

“On May 17, World Championship Boxing delivers a must-see, high-stakes, all-action event,” said Peter Nelson, director of programming, HBO Sports. “In a welterweight showdown between two of boxing’s great warriors, Juan Manuel Márquez and Mike Alvarado will rekindle a Forum tradition: fights between men who defy physics, weighing so little while having hearts so big. It will be a familiar atmosphere for Márquez as he’ll return home, both to the Forum for the first time in 15 years and live on HBO for the first time in four. On May 17, we’ll see if Alvarado can upend Márquez’s homecoming to make it his own house-warming. Don’t miss it.”

Márquez, who is trained by Hall of Famer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristáin, is undefeated at the Forum, winning all 12 bouts he fought there, from 1995 through 1999, with nine of those victories coming by way of knockout. Márquez is one of only a rare few fighters from México to have won world titles in four different weight divisions. He captured his first world title — the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) featherweight championship — with a seventh-round stoppage of three-time featherweight champion Manuel Medina in 2003. He unified that title that same year with a decisive victory over World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight titlist Derrick Gainer. Márquez successfully defended the titles three times during his three-year reign, which included unanimous decision victories over Victor Polo and Orlando Salido and a Draw with Manny Pacquiao. After losing the crown to Chris John, and winning the interim featherweight crown, both in 2006, Márquez moved up in weight to dethrone the legendary Marco Antonio Barrera and claim his World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight championship belt in 2007. After successfully defending the title, by a unanimous decision over Ricky Juarez, he lost the title in his 2008 rematch with Pacquiao by the slimmest of margins — a one point split decision. Since that fight, Márquez has won seven of his last ten fights, including knockout victories of Joel Casamayor, Juan Diaz, and Michael Katsidis — the latter two in WBA/WBO lightweight championship fights. In 2012, he won his fourth world title in as many divisions, capturing the WBO interim junior welterweight title with a dominant 12-round unanimous decision over Sergey Fedchenko. He ended that year with his most satisfying victory, a sixth-round knockout of professional nemesis Pacquiao, which was voted the 2012 Fight of the Year and the 2012 Knockout of the Year. Last October 12, in his first attempt at winning a record fifth world title in as many weight divisions, Márquez came up short, losing a split decision to defending WBO welterweight champion Bradley.

Alvarado (34-2, 23 KOs) of Denver, had won 10 of his last 14 bouts by stoppage en route to his rematch victory over Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios, on March 30, 2013, which not only avenged Alvarado’s loss to Rios in 2012’s Fight of the Year, but also made Alvarado a world champion. Alvarado had lost to Rios on October 13, 2012, via a seventh-round technical knockout in one of the most action-packed fights of the millennium. Going into round seven, two of the three judges’ scorecards had it 57-57. In the sequel, which was as action-packed as the first fight, Alvarado made subtle adjustments to eke out a narrow but unanimous decision and the WBO junior welterweight world title. Notable Alvarado knockout victims have included Breidis Prescott, Ray Narh, Emmanuel Clottey and Cesar Bazan. In 2012 Alvarado fought in two Fights of the Year-nominated fights. On April 14, 2012, Alvarado went toe-to-toe for 10 brutal and exciting rounds winning a unanimous decision over Mauricio Herrera (18-1, 7 KOs). Herrera entered that fight world-rated No. 7 and riding a two-year, five-bout winning streak, highlighted by victories over future world champion Ruslan Provodnikov (17-0) and Mike Dallas, Jr. (17-1-1). That was followed by his first fight with Rios in October. Alvarado’s world title reign ended in his first defense, last October 19, where he suffered a12th-round TKO to Provodnikov in front of a sold-out crowd in his Denver homecoming. .

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the hashtag #MarquezAlvarado to join the conversation on Twitter.

For more information on the Forum visit www.fabulousforum.com.

LONDON (March, 26) – Pound-for-pound ace Manny Pacquiao will be back on British screens next month when he battles WBO welterweight world champion Tim Bradley live and exclusive on BoxNation.

The world’s biggest and best dedicated boxing channel will air the eagerly anticipated rematch taking place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on April 12th, adding yet another mega showdown to its jam-packed roster.

The news comes hot on the heels following the announcement that the ‘Channel of Champions’ will also screen Floyd Mayweather’s May showdown with Marcos Maidana, which also features Amir Khan’s ring return against the highly respected Luis Collazo.

The initial clash in 2012 between ‘Fighter of the Decade’ Pacquiao and Californian Bradley, ended in much controversy with the American winning a highly contentious split decision.

Both fighters went their separate routes following the bout, with Filipino Pacquiao sensationally knocked out against Juan Manuel Marquez in their fourth meeting before bouncing back in style against the unrelenting Brandon Rios late last year.

Bradley on the other hand has grown since the pair’s first encounter, recording a win over the electrifying Ruslan Provodnikov, in the 2013 Fight of the Year, followed by a split decision victory over the Mexican legend Marquez.

Their April showdown will go a long way to answering the many questions that have arisen since they locked horns two years earlier, with the eyes of the boxing world set to be fixated on two of the very best pound-for-pound fighters when they do battle once again.

“I want my title back and I am prepared to endure my hardest training camp ever to win this fight against Tim Bradley,” said Pacquiao. “It is very exciting to be returning to Las Vegas. And as always, I dedicate this fight to my countrymen throughout the world and to bring glory to the Philippines.”

“This fight is to get the credit I did not get the first time,” said Bradley. “I must beat Pacquiao as convincingly as I beat Juan Manuel Marquez.”

“Tim Bradley is one of the toughest guys in the world and I saw that up close when he fought Ruslan Provodnikov last year,” said Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who worked Provodnikov’s corner. “Tim looked even better in beating Marquez in his last fight. Tim is the champion and Manny and I know we have our work cut out for us to successfully challenge him on April 12.”

“This is a fight which will give us peace of mind after the controversy of our first fight,” said Bradley’s trainer Joel Diaz. “We have to win and make it clear. It’s not going to be easy for Pacquiao if he thinks he can beat Bradley. I will guarantee that.”

“At long last a competitive superfight,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “I am sure the sports books in Las Vegas are gearing up for huge two-way action.”

Pacquiao-Bradley 2 joins BoxNation’s April schedule which also features the man known as ‘The Alien’ – Bernard Hopkins – who, at 49, puts his IBF light-heavyweight world title on the line in a unification matchup with WBA Super champion Beibut Shumenov.

Plus, the exhilarating Carl Frampton returns to the ring as he takes on Hugo Cazares in a WBC super-bantamweight world title eliminator with the victor facing off against Mexican kingpin Leo Santa Cruz.

Juergen Braehmer and Enzo Maccarinelli also go head-to-head in April for the WBA light-heavyweight world title, before BoxNation brings you the stacked Mayweather-Maidana bill which, in addition to the main event and Khan-Collazo, will see Adrien Broner take on Carlos Molina and rising star J’Leon Love against Marco Antonio Periban.

Even more top action features on BoxNation with heavyweight sensation Tyson Fury taking on the sturdy Dereck Chisora in a WBO world title eliminator on July 26th.

To subscribe to BoxNation (Sky Ch.437/490HD & Virgin Ch.546) for only £12 a month (plus a one-off registration fee) 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

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

Philadelphia, PA: Yesterday members of the media gathered at the Joe Hand Boxing Gym in Philadelphia, PA for Amir “Hardcore” Mansour’s (20-0-0, 15 KOs) workout where the heavyweight claimed to be in the best shape of his career as he gears up to defend his USBA Heavyweight Title against Philadelphia’s own Steve “USS” Cunningham (26-6-0, 12 KOs) Friday, April 4 on NBCSN Fight Night live from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia at 10:00 PM ET/7 PM PT.

BAM Boxing Promotions
Despite being undefeated, Mansour, 41, of Wilmington, DE has been struggling with health issues his last two fights. In his last fight he stopped Kelvin Price in the seventh round at Resorts International Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ on December 14, 2013. However, he said, “I was about 60% my last fight. I had a fracture in my wrist. Believe it or not the day I fought Price I could not do a push up. I almost failed the physical when the doctor asked me to do a push up so I had to do it on my fist. That is how little power I really had in my right hand. Even a month after the fight I couldn’t grip the pads.”

Prior to his fight with Price, Mansour won his USBA Heavyweight Title when he defeated Maurice Harris at Dover Downs in his home state of Delaware on August 23, 2013, only several days after battling the flu. He said, “When I fought Harris I was 208 pounds. I went from 229 to 208 in about nine days. I was in the emergency room about six days before the fight. I really should not have taken that fight but I am a fighter. That’s what I do.”

Amir “Hardcore” Mansour
Photo Credits: Bryanna Carzo/BAM Boxing Promotions
Now Mansour has allowed his body time to heal and claims he is in the best shape of his career. He said, “I took off and they gave me a nice rest. I got some braces for my wrist and my hand. This is really the first fight that I have been injury free probably in my whole career. And, as far as conditioning is concerned, I got a very strong twelve rounds in me.”

His challenger, two-time cruiserweight world champion Steve “USS” Cunningham also claims to be in great shape, “This camp has been grueling. Brother Naazim [Richardson, Steve’s trainer] has been really taxing on my body. We have been putting different stuff in there. We feel very confident that we are going to get in there and do our job which is to win.”

Mansour does not think Cunningham will be able to survive 12 rounds with “Hardcore.” He said, “I’m on my mission I am not going to let somebody that has had several chances already to become successful in this sport take my chance away from me. I don’t think he is going to last and if he does you might see a real damaged guy. I just hope to God that he is ok after the fight, that he can fight another day or just walk and talk normally. If he goes that distance with me, it is going to be brutal. I have trained hard for this fight. I am good and ready. I am going to this fight with my A game and to give it all I got. There is not a heavyweight on this planet that can go the distance with me because they are just not ready to go to hell and back and I am.”

Amir’s promoter, Joe Hand Jr. President of Joe Hand Promotions, said “We are very happy with the training camp he has had. He is as healthy as he has ever been in his career. We are grateful to Main Events for giving him this opportunity and to Steve Cunningham for taking the fight. We promise this will be the best Amir Mansour anyone has ever seen.”

About April 4th:

The event features a ten-round bout for the USBA Heavyweight Title between Steve “USS” Cunningham and USBA champion Amir “Hardcore” Mansour live on NBCSN Fight Night from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA. The Fight Night broadcast will begin at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT. The card is presented by Main Events and Peltz Boxing in association with BAM Boxing and Joe Hand Promotions. The undercard will include a ten round middleweight match-up between Curtis “Showtime” Stevens and Tureano Johnson. The remaining undercard fights will be announced shortly. Tickets are on sale now at www.comcastTix.com and the Liacouras Center 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 10 pm ET/7 pm PT on April 4th.
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.

All NBC Sports Network live events live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra, and to the digital platforms of participating cable, satellite, and telco services, via “TV Everywhere,” which is available on an authenticated basis to subscribers of participating MVPDs.

Enzo Maccarinelli (38-6, 30 KOs) travels to Rostock, Germany to challenge Juergen Braehmer (42-2, 31 KOs) for the WBA World Light Heavyweight Championship on April 5.

Maccarinelli, the former WBO Cruiserweight Champion, knows what it takes to become a world champion and makes no secret of his desire to take the title from Braehmer in front of the German’s home fans.

Q: What do you think of your opponent Juergen Braehmer?

EM: I really respect him. He was a top quality amateur, who beat Ricky Hatton twice I believe. He is a very tough, hard man who has been around almost as long as me.

Q: How have you been preparing for this fight?

EM: I have been training with former WBU World Middleweight Champion Gary Lockett, a top young trainer, at his gym in Cardiff. I have paid for some of the best sparring around and will have had an eight-week camp by fight night.

Q: What do you believe will give you the advantage over Braehmer on April 5?

EM: I will have the biggest heart and desire to win the battle. I want this title more than anything in my career. I really want to go out on top by winning this final world title.

Q: Braehmer is known for his technical abilities and his southpaw stance, will this influence your game plan?

EM: Gary and I have come up with a game plan to adjust to Braehmer’s style. I have sparred thousands of rounds with the best southpaw of recent years, Joe Calzaghe. I know a southpaw better than he does!

Q: How would you describe your own style?

EM: I used to be about the big left hooks and right hands, coming forward swinging, but under Gary I have learnt to use my boxing brain and it is now a controlled all-out attack.

Q: You know what it takes to become a world champion, will that experience help you when facing Braehmer?

EM: I’ve had twenty championship fights in my career, from British to World title level, of course it is all experience in the bag, but I think this fight against Braehmer will be totally different and I wont be reliant on any of my previous experience, it will come down to who wants it more, and that’s me!

Q: What made you decide to step down in weight and how have you found the transition to light heavyweight?

EM: I was making the cruiserweight limit easy for world title fights and just felt that I could go down to light heavyweight and still retain my power, which has been the case. I am faster and stronger now.

Q: British fans are known to travel to support their fighters, will you be expecting a big crowd cheering you on and will this give you an added motivation on the night?

EM: I will have fans there, but whether I have twenty thousand supporting me or two fans in the crowd, it won’t make a difference in the ring, I’m fully focused on my job on the night.

Q: What is your prediction for fight night?

EM: An Enzo Maccarinelli victory.

Joining Maccarinelli in action at the Stadthalle in Rostock will be undefeated Welsh prospects Lewis Rees (9-0, 5 KOs) and Liam Williams (8-0-1, 3 KOs). Rees, a decorated amateur and current Welsh Champion, will face Renald Garrido (11-7, 2 KOs), while 21 year-old Williams goes toe-to-toe with Yuri Pompilio (5-8-2, 1 KO).

There are still a limited number of tickets available for this show via www.eventim.

The March 28 edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra and ESPN Deportes’ Noche de Combates presentado por Corona Extra will feature the semifinals of the Lightweight portion of Boxcino 2014 sponsored by 1800 Tequila.

Friday’s show, from the 4 Bears Casino & Lodge in New Town, N.D., will air live at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN, broadband Spanish-language ESPN Deportes+ and WatchESPN. ESPN Deportes will televise the fights at 11:30 p.m. The card is promoted by Banner Promotions.

New Picture (4)Commentators:
Todd Grisham (@GrishamESPN), filling in for Joe Tessitore, will be ringside with Teddy Atlas describing the action for ESPN2. Doug Kezirian will fill in for Grisham in the studio. Delvin Rodríguez and Pablo Viruega will call the fights for Noche de Combates (Fight Night) on both ESPN Deportes and ESPN Deportes+, while Leopoldo González and Claudia Trejos will anchor the studio. Bilingual reporter Bernardo Osuna (@osunaespn) will present live interviews and reports for both shows. Current WBO Middleweight titlist Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin will appear in studio on both shows as a special guest.

Lightweight Semifinal Matchups: Eight Rounds Each

The semifinal round of the Lightweight tournament will feature:

Chris Rudd (13-1, 8 KOs) vs. Petr Petrov (33-4-2, 14 KOs)
Fernando Carcamo (16-5,13 KOs) vs. Miguel González (23-3,16 KOs)

Fighter backgrounds:
Spain’s Petrov, a former Jr. Welterweight world title challenger, won a six-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Fedor Papazov in the quarterfinal round of the Boxcino tournament. Rudd, fighting out of Tennessee, is coming off a six-round split decision win over Yakubu Amidu in the quarterfinal round. Ohio’s González scored a six-round split decision win over Miguel Mendoza in the quarterfinal round, while Mexico’s Caracamo is looking to advance to the finals following a second-round TKO win over previously undefeated Samuel Neequaye.

About Boxcino 2014:
The tournament, which started in February, is a single-elimination, two-weight class competition featuring eight fighters in the Lightweight and Middleweight divisions. Tournament details, TV schedule and brackets can be found on ESPN MediaZone. ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions Brian Kweder, who oversees content strategy and acquisition for ESPN’s soccer, boxing and bowling properties, recently discussed the tournament in a Q&A on ESPN Front Row.

Upcoming ESPN Boxing Schedule:
Date
Time (ET)
Main Event
Location
Networks
Fri, Apr 11
10 p.m.
Gilberto Ramírez (27-0, 21 KOs) vs. Giovanni Lorenzo (33-6, 25 KOs)—10 rounds, Super Middleweights
Mandalay Bay Casino, Las Vegas
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes+, WatchESPN
Fri, Apr 18

9 p.m.
Boxcino Middleweight
Semifinals: eight rounds each

Brandon Adams (13-0, 9 KOs) vs. Raymond Gatica (14-2, 9 KOs)

Willie Monroe Jr. (16-1, 6 KOs) vs. Vitalii Kopylenko (22-0, 12 KOs)

Turning Stone Casino, Verona, N.Y.

ESPN2, ESPN Deportes+, WatchESPN

Thu, Apr 24

9 p.m.

Josesito López (31-6, 18 KOs) vs. Aron Martínez (19-2-1, 4 KOs)—10 rounds, Jr. Welterweights

Agua Caliente Casino, Palm Springs, Calif.

ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Thu, May 1

9 p.m.

Roberto García (34-3, 22 KOs) vs. Victor Manuel Cayo (32-4, 23 KOs)—10 rounds, Welterweights

Hialeah Park Race Track,
Hialeah, Fla.

ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Sat, May 10
8 p.m.
WBC World Heavyweight Championship: Bermane Stiverne (23-1-1, 20 KOs) vs. Chris Arreola (36-3, 31 KOs)—12 rounds
USC Galen Center,
Los Angeles
ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
*Schedule subject to change

Friday Night Fights and Noche de Combates Social Media:
· Follow ESPN Friday Night Fights on Twitter @ESPNFNF or like it on Facebook.

· Score the fights round-by-round with the “Live Friday Night Fights Facebook Voting App,” an application on the ESPN FNF Facebook page that allows viewers to score the fight round-by-round.

· Follow ESPN Deportes’ Noche de Combates on Twitter @ESPNBoxeo.

· For the latest ESPN.com boxing news and analysis follow @ESPNBoxing.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (March 26, 2014) – American fighters Lee “American Bulldog” Morrision (13-3-0, 4 KO/TKO, 4 SUB) and Jeff “The Snowman” Monson (49-17-1, 3 KO/TKO, 29 SUB) will be featured April 4 on M-1 Challenge 47: Battle in the Heart of the Continent, airing free worldwide on M-1Global.tv, live from Orenburgzhe Sport Hall in Orenburgh, Russia.

Morrison challenges unbeaten M-1 Challenge featherweight champion Marat Gafurov (8-0-0, 1 KO/TKO, 5 SUB) in the main event, while Monson takes on French heavyweight Chaban Ka (6-3-1, 0 KO/TKO, 5 SUB) in a rematch of their 2011 fight that ended in a draw.

Morrison, fighting out of Okanogon, Washington, is unbeaten in his last eight fights, dating back nearly three years. The 28-year-old was a collegiate wrestler at North Dakota College and Menio College in California. He was 8-0 as an amateur MMA fighter before turning pro in 2007. Morrison made his M-1 Global debut in his last fight (Oct. 20, 2013), winning a hard fought split decision over Mikhail Malyutin at M-1 Challenge 42, earning Fight of the Night honors, as well as the No. 1 contender position for Morrison.

The 29-year-old Gafurov is a jiu-jitsu world champion from Ukraine who lives in Russia. He won the inaugural M-1 Challenge featherweight championship Nov. 15, 2013, choking Vugar Bahshiev into a submission at M-1 Challenge 35. In his first and only title defense to date, Gaforov stopped Yuri Ivlev by way of punches in the second round, last November at M-1 Challenge 41.

Monson was a standout wrestler in college at Oregon State and Illinois. He went on to become the two-time ADCC Submission Wrestling and No Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion. The 43-year-old veteran has fought in Russia three times (3-3-0), including a loss by decision to the great Fedor Emelianko, as well as a win by submission north-south choke) over Fedor’s younger brother, Alexander Emelianko.

The 6′ 2″ Ka has split a pair of Russian fights, losing by first-round submission (strikes) to Marcin Tybura in 2013 at M-1 Challenge 41, after winning his M-1 Global debut earlier that year to Alexei Kudin by first-round submission (choke) at M-1 Challenge 38.

M-1 Challenge 47 will also be broadcast live on Russia 2, the terrestrial channel, throughout Russia and the Commonwealth of Individual States (CIS), as well as across the Middle East on Abu Dhabi Sports Channels.

Providing chief support on the undercard in a Special Heavyweight Attraction is a potential show-stealing clash between two of the most exciting European heavyweights, undefeated Marcin “Tybur” Tybura (9-0-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 SUB) and dangerous Maro “Gladiator” Perak (23-3-1, 12 KO/TKO, 7 SUB). Tybura was scheduled to challenge M-1 Challenge champion and fellow Polish heavyweight, Damian Grabowski, at M-1 Challenge 46. Grabowski, however, had to withdraw due to a neck injury and Tybura was rescheduled to fight Apr. 4. The high-regarded Perak, fighting out of Croatia, accepted the most significant challenge of his career to fight Tybura.

Revenge seeking lightweight Ivan “Buki” Buchinger (25-4-0, 6 KO/TKO, 15 SUB) vacated his Cage Warriors title and joined M-1 Global to become its first Slovakian champion. His plans call for a rematch Apr. 4 against veteran lightweight Sergey Golyaev (23-10-0, 6 KO/TKO, 12 SUB) and then a move down in weight to M-1’s stacked featherweight division. Buchinger has won 13 of his last 16 fights and Golyaev was one of three who defeated Buchinger during the aforementioned period, needing only 21 seconds to become the first to knockout Buchinger.

Another American invader fighting on the loaded M-1 Challenge 47 event is Floridian welterweight Julien “J-Smoove” Williams (4-1-0, 0 KO/TKO, 4 SUB), who tangles with an unbeaten Russian, Rasul Abdulaev (3-0-0, 1 KO/TKO, 0 SUB). Williams makes his M-1 debut after going 2-0 in Bellator competition. He faces 2013 National and European amateur MMA champion Abdulaev, a physically strong individual who prefers to fight on the ground.

Also fighting on the undercard is lightweight prospects Kamil Maron (4-1-0, 0 KO/TKO, 3 SUB) vs. Georgy Fursov (2-1-0, 1 KO/TKO), as well as Brazilian light heavyweight Luis Fernando “Hulk” Miranda (11-1-0) vs. undefeated Ukrainian National MMA champion Vasily Babich (7-0-0).

Poland-native Maron, unlike many Alexander Nevsky-trained fighters who are well-prepared for stand-up battles, has won three of four fights by submission. Fursov is a young, Russian fighter trying to establish himself.

Miranda has a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and only one of his fights has gone the full distance. Babich is a strong puncher and kicker who stopped highly-regarded Russian prospect Artur Alibulatov by TKO.

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

The M-1 Challenge series has traditionally introduced a new wave of potential MMA stars, showcasing elite athletes from Russia and across Europe. M-1 Global is the No. 1 European MMA organization, as well as one of the oldest in the world, dating back to 1998. Superstar Fedor Emelianenko, considered by many to be the greatest fighter in MMA history, has been the face of M-1 Global around the combat sports world for the past decade.

Go on Facebook for more information about M-1 Global and M-1 Challenge 47 at https://www.facebook.com/pages/M-1-Global/145250878842244.

ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL: Founded in 1998, M-1 Global has established itself in the realm of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the premiere entity for discovering and developing the world’s next-generation of superstar fighters. With offices in St Petersburg, Amsterdam and Los Angeles and affiliates in Seoul, Tokyo and Paris, the M-1 brand has staged more than 150 events worldwide, including the M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge and M-1 Global and M-1 Global HWGP events, in addition to co-promoting Strikeforce events and M-1 Global on the Showtime network in the United States. Captivating live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups, M-1 Global events have featured some of the sport’s top names, including Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Aleksander Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Roman Zentsov, Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Chalid Arrab and Stephan Struve. 2014 promises to be another sensational year of world-class competition with a full calendar of Challenge events fuelled by a talent-rich contention system ranking M-1 Global’s Champions amongst the greatest in the sport. M-1 Global’s greatest asset is renowned heavyweight fighter, Fedor Emelianenko.

BOB ARUM: Good morning everyone, this fight has been eagerly anticipated, a lot has been written about it. The two fighters are extraordinarily dedicated to their profession. From everything I hear I think this is going to be a monumental fight and from talking to Freddie and Manny and from watching at the Wild Card that many will be 100% prepared and will give a vintage Manny Pacquiao performance on April 12.

FREDDIE ROACH: Training is going really well. The training in the Philippines went real well. Manny sparred quite a few rounds and just getting the work in. We have five different sparring partners and whatever Bradley brings to the table we will be ready for.

MANNY PACQUIAO: Good morning everyone and thanks for joining me on the call today. I would like to say that training is going very well and I’m sure you will see a good show on April 12.

Tim Bradley has been talking about the fact you may have lost your hunger and won’t be able to get it back…

MANNY PACQUIAO: Yes, I know. I assure you I still have the hunger to win and my desire to win is as strong now as it has ever been. His talk about me has inspired me. It has provided me great motivation in my training.

Do you still think about the decision versus Bradley and how do you feel about it?

FREDDIE ROACH: I don’t get mad. It’s part of life, winning and losing. Revenge is great and that’s what we have a chance to do here we get to reverse that bad decision and get the win here. Hopefully if everything goes well and we fight the right fight we will knock this guy out.

How do you feel about the first fight and do you need to change the strategy for this fight?

FREDDIE ROACH: The thing was it was so easy for Manny in the early rounds that in the later rounds he wasn’t throwing combinations like he usually does. He was just throwing single punches and kind of going through the motions. He thought we was very much ahead, of course, but we needed to be fighting aggressive three minutes of every round and if we fight at a fast pace like that we’ll be able to stop Bradley somewhere during the middle rounds along the way.

Manny, how do you feel when you look back on that fight?

MANNY PACQUIAO: I’m not angry after the decision. The officials did their best and no one is perfect in this world and sometimes they make mistakes. It’s part of boxing. I wasn’t really bothered about it after the fight. When I went home, most of the people were not negative – they were positive about the fight – most of them thought I won the fight.

Do you feel the need for a knockout to put the bad decision to rest?

MANNY PACQUIAO: We are not focusing on the knockout. We are focusing on being more aggressive and throwing a lot of punches – and if the knockout comes, it comes. I just want to prove that I can have the hunger that it takes to get the job done.

Is the tax situation a distraction?

MANNY PACQUIAO: About the tax situation, there is nothing for me to worry about because I did not hide anything. So I am not worried about that.

Have the actions in the Ukraine – specifically Klitschko finding out it is a lot more difficult than he thought, it being much tougher than boxing – deterred you in politics?

MANNY PACQUIAO: Politics is a lot different than boxing. It’s different than sports. Politics is about the nation and the people. There is no way to compare politics to boxing.

Bob, Manny still seems pretty calm about the decision, what do you think?

BOB ARUM: Manny is a pretty sensible guy. That decision was two years ago. You are not going to change the decision, you just go on with your life and you do the best you can in the fight that will take place on April 12. So why would you get worked up about a decision that took place two years ago. It was what it was and now you move on. Duane Ford is no longer judging. C.J. Ross retired in disgrace after another crazy decision and hopefully the Nevada commission will appoint judges from all over the world for this fight that will give a fair result if the fight doesn’t end in a knockout.

What have you learned from Bradley in his last two fights?

FREDDIE ROACH: Bradley is a very tough guy. He takes good shots. He has a good chin. He fought concussed against Ruslan and he didn’t know where he was – I don’t know if that’s a good think or a bad thing – I don’t know if that will show in this fight but if Manny puts enough pressure on him and land some hard shots it will affect him and I think it will be in our favor.

Because of the Bradley decision, do you think that Manny was being overly aggressive in the Marquez fight, which got the best of him?

FREDDIE ROACH: Well, the thing was he just stepped in a little too soon and he got caught and that’s par of boxing. The thing is, I’m not going to take his aggressiveness away from him and in his last fight he fought a very aggressive fight. He might have been able to finish him (Brandon Rios), he hurt him a couple of times but we didn’t jump in so quickly so we did learn some things from that fight. But we are going to fight our fight.

What about the judges for April 12?

BOB ARUM: I don’t know exactly when but we have circulated to both camps, a big list of proposed judges and given the camps the opportunity to knock off referees and judges and I have an 11:00 AM call, we have no Executive Director, so with the Chairman, Cisco Aguilar, to give him the results of the input from both camps and then I think the Commission has a meeting in early April where they will actually select the referee and judges.

Do you feel you have to go for a knockout?

FREDDIE ROACH: We don’t go into fights looking for knockouts, if you do that it’s not going to happen. Knockouts come with combinations – it’s a little bit of a bonus and the thing is we are going to fight this fight our way. We plan to beat him every round and if a knockout comes, it comes but we are not going in there looking for a knockout, because again, if you go in there looking for a knockout you’ll be waiting all night.

If you fight Bradley like you fought Clottey and Margarito with that game plan…

FREDDIE ROACH: No, because one bad decision doesn’t change everything in life and doesn’t change our game plan. We are going to fight that is similar to our last fight –stay very busy and throw combinations and in-and-out. We’ve got a good game plan and Manny’s doing very well with it. We are not going to make any adjustments as to who the judges are because that is out of our control.

How have the judges affected your ability to go in the ring and relax compared to how you fought when you lost that decision to Bradley?

MANNY PACQUIAO: I am not thinking about the judges. I always believe in the decisions of the judges. What I want to do is focus in the ring and focus on the strategy and techniques that we practice in the gym.

Does your religious beliefs affect your attitude in the ring?

MANNY PACQUIAO: No, the religion is a personal thing in my life and fighting in the ring, it’s boxing. It’s my profession. God always gives me strength. In the past I didn’t knock my opponent out – it’s competition – sometimes you knock the opponent out and sometimes you don’t. We cannot predict.

Freddie, do you believe Bradley is in the same class as Manny as a fighter?

FREDDIE ROACH: He is a very good fighter. He is tough and resilient. I don’t think he has all the abilities that Manny has but he is a solid fighter, yes.

Would you ever fight in New York?

MANNY PACQUIAO: I would love to fight in New York, yes. It depends on my promoter Bob Arum. I cannot dictate his strategy – he is the boss and he can talk about the promotion. Wherever the fight is, I will fight.

BOB ARUM: You have to understand that Manny is a foreign national and if he fights in New York he has to pay state tax, city tax, unincorporated tax which comes to fourteen percent. Because he is a foreign national he can’t take a credit for any of those taxes. So the penalty for fighting in New York, if Manny’s earnings are $20M, is as much as $3M. So the difference between fight in Nevada, which has no state taxes, and fighting in New York is $3M. Now it’s conceivable, if somebody is going to make up the difference that he could fight in New York. But why should it come out of his pocket. If someone would want him to fight in New York and change the ridiculously high taxes in New York, or they subsidize his tax bill in New York, that’s how I see it. Now Floyd Mayweather has the same problem – he lives in Nevada where there are no state taxes – so if he pays taxes in New York he doesn’t get a credit to his state taxes because he pays none in Nevada. So it’s well and good to say, why doesn’t he fight in New York, but it becomes a real problem. But if you’re Puerto Rican or Californian, you could fight in New York because California has a big state tax and you get a dollar for dollar credit against your state tax for the tax you paid in New York, and Puerto Rico is the same. This is not an easy situation. New York, as even the Governor Cuomo, has said, is chasing away a lot of business because of the tremendously high tax rates.

Do you feel Bradley is trying to get into your head by questioning your heart and desire in the ring?

MANNY PACQUIAO: I wouldn’t say that. The more he says it the more it inspires me to show the hunger and the killer instinct he is talking about. It’s good for me, but not for them, I think. I am not angry or disappointed about what he says to me but I’m happy that he has told me that because it inspires me to train hard and to focus in the gym on my game plan and focus on the fight. It is a benefit for me.

What do you think has changed in Bradley since you fought him and he has since won two big fights?

FREDDIE ROACH: He has always had a lot of heart. He’s just a very willing guy and he is in very good shape. For his fights he does what he is supposed to do. He boxed well against Marquez and he beat a good fighter. What he will bring to the table against Manny is what he brought against Marquez – he likes to exchange a little bit also, so when we get into an exchange we will have to take advantage of that moment.

MANNY PACQUIAO: I don’t think his style has changed. He has improved since our last fight. Against Tim Bradley I will fight my best and watch him when I get in there. I can match him in boxing skills or if he decides to go toe-to-toe. I am not worried about that because I know his style and I can adjust my style for any style that he may change.

Manny, have you watched the Bradley Marquez fight?

MANNY PACQUIAO: I have not watched the Bradley vs Marquez fight. I was not surprised that Bradley won and won by decision. That is what I had predicted. Bradley obviously fought the better fight and boxed Marquez. I assume Marquez just could not overcome Bradley’s skills and youth and there was no way Bradley was going to go toe-to-toe after his battle with Ruslan Provodnikov.

MANNY PACQUIAO: I do not think Bradley will fight toe-to-toe with me either, so I will have to hunt him down. I am prepared for that. I am not going for a knockout but if the opportunity presents itself, I am going to go for it this time. Bradley’s talk that I am no longer hungry has inspired me throughout this training camp. As Freddie Roach keeps saying every day in training, “No Mercy.”

In closing…

BOB ARUM: I am really excited about this fight. Manny is coming win with a whole new attitude – you are going to see the best of Manny Pacquiao. And Tim Bradley is not the same Tim Bradley that fought Manny Pacquiao two years ago – he is a much more confident fight and he is used to the big stage – he is prepared to do a tremendous fight and those of us who saw him against Provodnikov and Marquez know what a complete fighter he is. So I am looking forward to April12, I think it will be a classic battle with a lot of fireworks and I think people will really enjoy the event.

MANNY PACQUIAO: I than everyone for giving me this chance and I thank my promoter Bob Arum and Top Rank and I would like to invite everybody to watch on April12. There is going to be a lot of boxing and it is going to be an historic fight. Thank you all so much for your support and prayer. God Bless.

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

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with MP Promotions and Tecate, Pacquiao vs. Bradley 2 will take place, Saturday, April 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. It will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

When Pacquiao and Bradley rumbled the first time, on June 9, 2012 at MGM Grand, Bradley’s hand was raised via a controversial split decision, ending Pacquiao’s welterweight title reign as well as his seven-year, 15-bout winning streak. Though both fighters claimed victory neither was satisfied. Destiny may have played a hand in their first battle but it will be survival of the fittest that determines the winner of this exciting rematch.

Remaining tickets for Pacquiao vs. Bradley 2 are priced at $1,000, $800, $600, $400, $250 and $150, not including applicable service charges. There will be a total ticket limit of 12 per person with a limit of 10 per person at the $1,000, $800, $600, $400 and $250 price levels and a limit of two (2) per person at the $150 price level. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets will also be available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

24/7 Pacquiao/Bradley 2 premieres This Saturday! March 29, at Midnight ET/PT — on HBO. Show 2 debuts Saturday, April 5 at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT and show 3 debuts Thursday, April 10 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT two nights before the high stakes welterweight title bout.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the Hashtag #PacBradley to join the conversation on Twitter.

NEW YORK (March 24, 2013) – This Sunday’s third annual New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF) induction and awards dinner, sponsored by Ring 8, is officially a sold-out event.

NYSBHOF and Ring 8 president Bob Duffy reports that 450 people will attend the festivities this Sunday afternoon (12:30-5:30 p.m. ET) at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York.

NYSBHOF Class of 2014

Boxers

WBC/IBF Super Featherweight Champion Tracy Harris Patterson New Paltz
WBC/WBA Welterweight Champion Billy Backus Canastota
WBC Featherweight Champion Kevin Kelley Flushing, Queens
WBC Featherweight Champion Juan LaPorte Brooklyn
World Heavyweight title challenger Gerry Cooney Huntington
Two-time World Middleweight title challenger Mustafa Hamsho Brooklyn
1976 Olympic gold medalist Howard Davis, Jr. Glen Cove

Deceased

Two-time World Heavyweight Champion Floyd Patterson Brooklyn
World Lightweight Champion Lou Ambers Herkimer
Three-time World Welterweight Champion Jack Britton Clinton
World Featherweight Champion Terry McGovern Brooklyn

Non-Participants

ESPN boxing commentator and trainer Teddy Atlas Staten Island
Promoter Lou DiBella (DiBella Entertainment) Brooklyn
Boxing historian and Showtime analyst Steve Farhood Brooklyn
Trainer and Sunnyside Gardens matchmaker Gene Moore Queens
Boxing writer/historian Angelo Prospero Rochester

Deceased

Trainer/cutman Whitey Bimstein Manhattan’s Lower East Side
Trainer Cus D’Amato Bronx & Catskill
Trainer & 1st Chairman NYSAC William Muldoon Belfast/Caneadea-Westchester County
Manager Tom O’Rourke New York City

All living 2014 inductees have confirmed their attendance, including those below who commented about being honored.

Howard Davis Jr.: “I feel privileged to be inducted in my home state of New York. Being inducted into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame is a great honor and I’m proud to be standing next some of the great names in boxing.”

Teddy Atlas: “For seven years, starting as a 19 year old, I spent seven days a week in an upstate gym training fighters with the only reward being the seemingly exaggerated yet energizing words of an old man saying, ‘You will train world champions someday and be in the Hall of Fame.’ He just never said it would be together. Congratulations, Cus, and thanks for the help…..and the words.”

Steve Farhood: “Being inducted into the NYS Boxing Hall of Fame is special to me because I take great pride in being a New Yorker. Dare I say that for better or worse, I’m about as New York as anyone can be.

“I’m also thrilled that among my fellow inductees are fighters I covered, such as Gerry Cooney and Mustafa Hamsho, and longtime friends, such as Teddy Atlas and Lou DiBella.

“I was born in Brooklyn, and I’ve lived in Manhattan since the age of 12. I’ve been based in New York City for all 35 of my years in the boxing media, and be sure that I’m not planning to move any time soon.”

Bill Backus: “I am so happy to be chosen as an inductee to be put in the NYSBHOF. I was born and raised in the state of New York and 44 of my 75 fights were in New York.”

Gerry Cooney: “This is an honor and a pleasure. I’ve met so many great people through boxing. Boxing kept me off the streets and kept me ion the straight and narrow. I’m grateful for all the places and people I’ve met through boxing. All of the pieces fell together.”

NYSBHOF plaques are on display at the New York State Athletic Commission and Waterfront Crabhouse. Ring 8 also plans to build a monument in Long Island City with every NYSBHOF inductee’s name inscribed.

The 2014 inductees were selected by the NYSBHOF nominating committee members: Jack Hirsch, Bobby Cassidy, Jr., Don Majeski, Henry Hascup, Ron McNair and Neil Terens.

In order to be eligible for NYSBHOF induction, all boxers needed to have been inactive for at least three years, and all inductees must have resided in New York State for a significant portion of their boxing careers.

Go on line at www.Ring8ny.com for additional information about the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.

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

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

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

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

Go on line to www.Ring8ny.com for more information about RING 8, the largest group of its kind in the United States with more than 350 members. Annual membership dues is only $30.00 and each member is entitled to a buffet dinner at RING 8 monthly meetings, the third Tuesday of every month, excluding July and August. All active boxers, amateur and professional, are entitled to a complimentary RING 8 yearly membership.

LAS VEGAS (March 25, 2014) – The four-fight SHOWTIME PPV® event, “THE MOMENT: Mayweather vs. Maidana,” is now complete with the addition of two stellar 10-round bouts. Opening the pay-per-view event will be a super middleweight matchup between unbeaten J’Leon Love and former title challenger and Mexican Olympian Marco Antonio Periban of Mexico City followed by a junior welterweight bout featuring exciting former three-division world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner against the hard-hitting Californian Carlos Molina. The scintillating fight card, headlined by Floyd Mayweather vs. Marcos Maidana and Amir Khan vs. Luis Collazo, will take place on Saturday, May 3 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in what many are calling the best top-to-bottom pay-per-view boxing event in many years.

“This is a testament to the strength of a boxing event that involves Floyd Mayweather and Mayweather Promotions, said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. It will definitely be a moment no one will want to miss. Floyd gave his orders to make sure these fights were part of this show and we were able to make it happen. I think boxing fans are going to be extremely pleased with what we have put together for them. Mayweather Promotions’ J’Leon Love is training very hard for this fight. He knows a win over Periban brings him closer to a world championship. On May 3, I expect nothing less than a great night of boxing for everyone.”

“It would be easy for us to simply put a great fight like Floyd Mayweather vs. Marcos Maidana on top of this card and leave it at that, but that’s not fair to the boxing fans that demand and deserve more,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “So with the rest of this pay-per-view card, we’ve stacked it with an important bout between former world champions Amir Khan and Luis Collazo, the return of one of boxing’s top young superstars as Adrien Broner faces tough Carlos Molina, and an opener between J’Leon Love and Marco Antonio Periban that could produce the next super middleweight world title challenger. It will be an unforgettable night for all boxing fans.”

One of the most talked about fighters in boxing today, Cincinnati’s Adrien “The Problem” Broner (27-1, 22 KOs), is also one of the most talented. A world titleholder in three weight classes with speed, power and heart, Broner owns victories over Paulie Malignaggi, Antonio De Marco, Daniel Ponce de Leon and Gavin Rees. The 24-year-old lost his WBA World Welterweight title in a thrilling 12-round bout against Marcos Maidana last December making May 3 a virtual must-win fight for the highly touted former champion.

“I had minor set back but I am back on May 3rd. Everybody needs to understand that I just took a loss. I haven’t lost it,” said Broner. “I’m still “The Problem” and anyone can get it, whether you are African, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Cuban or Mexican.”

A talented boxer-puncher eager to get back in the title hunt, 28-year-old Carlos Molina (17-1-1, 7 KOs) has the style and talent to hand Broner his second loss. A seven-year professional who has built a substantial fan following in Southern California, the Norwalk product has returned from a 17-month layoff refreshed and determined to win a world championship. That quest starts against Broner.

“I am so excited to be able to fight on a card of this magnitude against Adrien Broner,” said Molina. “Sure he’s tough but we all saw what happened in his last fight when he was under pressure. I have the boxing ability and punching power to beat him and that is exactly what I plan to do on May 3.”

Dearborn Heights, Mich., native J’Leon Love (17-0, 10 KOs) is a gifted fighter who impresses fans with each outing. Unbeaten as a professional, the 26-year-old member of Mayweather Promotions and “The Money Team” is coming off back-to-back knockout wins over Lajuan Simon and Vladine Biosse. He will be looking for an impressive early finish against Periban as he fights in his adopted hometown of Las Vegas.

“It is always an honor to be on the same card as my boss, Floyd Mayweather,” said Love. “I train with him in the gym everyday and see what it takes to compete at the highest level in boxing. I can’t thank Floyd and Mayweather Promotions enough for these opportunities. My opponent is a very tough competitor but I have no doubt that I will be victorious and move one step closer to a world championship. May 3 can’t get here soon enough.”

A top Mexican contender for world title honors, 29-year-old NABF Super Middleweight Champion Marco Antonio Periban (20-1-1, 13 KOs) can box or bang, making him a nightmare matchup for opponents and a favorite of fight fans. The Mexico City native won his current NABF title with a second-round knockout of Samuel Miller in 2013. While he lost a subsequent WBC title fight against Sakio Bika via a controversial decision, he knows a win over Love will put him at the top of the division again.

“This is a great opportunity for me and I will represent my country and Mexican boxing fans all over the world on this Cinco de Mayo weekend,” said Periban. “J’Leon Love might be a member of ‘The Money Team’ but that won’t matter on May 3, when he has to face someone like me. We’ll see who comes out victorious. I will not let my people or my country down.”

“THE MOMENT: Mayweather vs. Maidana,” isa 12-round world championship unification bout for Mayweather and Maidana’s respective 147-pound titles. This is the third fight of Mayweather’s lucrative multi-fight deal with Showtime Networks Inc. THE MOMENT is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts and AT&T. In the co-main event, Amir Khan faces Luis Collazo in a 12-round bout for the vacant WBC silver welterweight world title. The pay-per-view undercard also features a 10-round junior welterweight fight between Adrien Broner and Carlos Molina as well as a 10-round super middleweight bout featuring J’Leon Love vs. Marco Antonio Periban. The event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).

Tickets priced at $1,500, $1,000 and $750 are still available, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Tickets priced at $550 and $350 are sold out. Tickets are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.sports.sho.com and www.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @chinomaidana, @amirkingkhan, @realluiscollazo, @AdrienBroner, @CarlosMolina562, @mayweatherpromo, @goldenboyboxing, @ShoSports and @Swanson_Comm, follow the conversation using #TheMoment and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and http://www.facebook.com/SHOboxing.

CEBU, PHILIPPINES (March 26, 2014) – Tonight in Cebu, Philippines at the at SAC Awards (Sportswriters Association of Cebu) being held at the Ayala Activity Center, Bruno Escalante will be honored for his astonishing 2013 boxing accomplishments, where he went 5-0 and captured the IBA super-flyweight world title. The SAC Awards honor the best athletes born in Cebu. Veteran sportswriter Quinito Henson will be the guest of honor.

“I’m very grateful to be recognized by the SAC panel for my recent success in boxing last year,” said Escalante. “The people of Cebu are very close to my heart as I still have a lot of family there. Cebu will always be on my mind each and every time I step in the ring. I pray for continued success in boxing. It’s a blessing to be receiving this award. I want to thank my team and everyone who’s been supporting me on my journey to be the best fighter in my division.”

BROOKLYN, NY (March 25, 2014) – Former Two-Time & Two Division Boxing World Champion and current NABF Welterweight Champion Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi has donated $25,000 to local non-profit Knockout Obesity in support of youth and adult nutritional and physical education serving the Brooklyn community. The check was presented today to Brooklyn restaurateur and Knockout Obesity founder Dimitrios Verteouris at the famed Gleason’s Gym in Dumbo. Former New York Senator and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams was in attendance.

“I was born and raised in Brooklyn,” said Malignaggi. “I have the ability to give back to my community, help make a difference, and Knockout Obesity is a program I believe in. I know it can make a huge difference in the community. Boxing is an optimum, great way to exercise and with diet and nutrition added to the mix, it’s a winning program.”
“Close to 60 percent of Brooklyn residents are obese, which causes health risks like heart disease and Type 2 Diabetes, ” said Adams as he prepared to enter the ring for a boxing tutorial with Malignaggi. “Nearly one-in-every-ten people living in Brooklyn has diabetes. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Brooklyn. We have to get moving! Make the time to exercise!”

With the aid of Malignaggi, Verteouris explained basic punches including the jab, cross, hook and uppercut, with Adams executing each move perfectly.
A former cast member on Food Network’s reality show, Fat Chef, Verteouris lost 82lbs in three months using boxing and his own healthy menu from Nature’s Grill. “Being overweight was something that held me back in life. Ever since meeting Paulie and being introduced to the Sweet Science my life has done a one-eighty,” Verteouris said. “I thank him for bringing me to the gym that day to show me what hard work and dedication can get you in life. I’m proud of my friend for achieving what he has, and for giving back to his community that made him the person he is today. The Knockout Obesity journey has just begun with big things to come!”

In order to expose others to his successful weight loss routine, Verteouris founded Knockout Obesity, which incorporates boxing into its health and fitness classes geared towards adults and children throughout Brooklyn. Initially a summer pilot program at The Boys’ Club of New York (BCNY), Knockout Obesity launched a year round program at all three of its community centers. Now, Knockout Obesity aims to implement similar programming throughout Brooklyn.

The need to focus on children was driven home by Dr. Wendy Scinta, a top expert on adult and childhood obesity who attended the check presentation. “Two thirds of adults are overweight and half of those are obese. One in three children struggle with their weight. We have to take matters into our own hands, one child, one family, and then one community at a time.” A former member of the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity, Dr. Scinta has helped thousands of patients successfully lose weight with her BOUNCE™ program and book. As the weight loss expert for Knockout Obesity, she described the American obesity epidemic as one that has stalled without much improvement. Engaging children in schools, employing outreach programs in local communities centers, educating the population on proper eating and exercise habits, are all solutions to the problem.
Knockout Obesity has been featured by ESPN, The Insider, New York Daily News, New York Post, Metro NY, Hot 97 and more. www.KOobesity.com.

LAS VEGAS (March 25) – Las Vegas will be the center of the boxing universe Cinco de Mayo weekend and kicking it off will be an action-packed night of fights at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino when FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes feature a tripleheader that includes two World Championship bouts just one night before “THE MOMENT: Floyd Mayweather vs. Marcos Maidana” takes place at MGM Grand. In the 12-round main event, the WBA Super Welterweight title is on the line when Cuban star Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara defends the belt against Las Vegas’ own former World Champion Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith.

Plus, rising lightweight star Mickey “The Spirit” Bey Jr. will meet hard-hitting Mexican veteran Alan “Explosivo” Herrera in a 10-round matchup and in the televised opener, Argentina’s Jesus Cuellar squares off with former World Champion Rico Ramos in a 12-round bout for Cuellar’s WBA Interim Featherweight World Title.

Lara vs. Smith, a 12-round bout for Lara’s WBA Super Welterweight World Title, is presented by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and is sponsored by Corona and O’Reilly Auto Parts. 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,go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, March 26 at noon PT and will be available for purchase by visiting The Joint box office, calling 800.745.3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

“Ishe Smith talks a lot on the internet, let’s see if he fights as well as he talks,” said Lara. “I’m on a different level and he’ll know that as soon as the first bell rings. He’s fighting the best super welterweight in the world and the pressure is mounting on him so he’s trying to build himself up mentally. Come May 2nd I’m going to do Mayweather a favor and retire him.”

“This is a dream come true, not only fighting for a chance at claiming another world title, but to be doing it in front of my hometown fans and family is a blessing, I’m truly honored,” said Smith. “Lara was offered a chance to fight me back in 2012 and he turned it down to fight Freddy Hernandez instead. I will show him he was right in turning the fight down the first time. I’m ready to lay it all on the line to regain one of the super welterweight championships, come May 2nd I will turn his American Dream into an American Nightmare.”

“May 2nd should not be overlooked by any means, it’s one night with two world championships on the line,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “We have put together a card with a roster of top tier talent that will be showcased come fight night. I’m sure no one in the building or watching from home will be disappointed.”

“With the entire boxing world focusing on Las Vegas, we’re giving fans another stacked card the night before ‘THE MOMENT,'” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Two championship fights and a great matchup between top prospects will get the weekend started right on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes.”

A native of Guantanamo, Cuba who now fights out of his adopted home of Houston, Texas, Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara (19-1-2, 12 KOs) is one of the most talented boxers in the sport today, with his style giving fits to whoever dares to step into the ring with him. Unbeaten in five straight, with wins over Freddy Hernandez, Alfredo Angulo and Austin Trout, Lara finally got his hands on a world championship belt in 2013 and the 30-year-old is not about to let it go.

A seasoned veteran whose February 2013 win over Cornelius Bundrage for the IBF Super Welterweight World Title was the most inspirational boxing story of the year, Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith (25-6, 11 KOs) made his fans at home and around the globe proud as he became the first Las Vegas native to win a world championship. Although he lost the belt to Carlos Molina last September, the controversial split decision prompted the WBA to put Smith back in a title fight as soon as possible and the 35-year-old vows to regain the title this May.

Cleveland native Mickey Bey Jr. (19-1-1, 10 KOs) was a top amateur before entering the professional game in 2005 and after some ups and downs, he returned to the ring in 2013 and capped off the year with a third round technical knockout win over Carlos Cardenas. Now approaching his fighting prime, he’s eager to begin his 2014 season with a big victory on May 2.

Though just 24 years old, Mazatlan, Mexico’s Alan “Explosivo” Herrera (32-5, 21 KOs) is an experienced veteran with nearly 40 professional fights to his name. A winner of six of his last seven bouts, including three first round knockouts, Herrera has the stopping power to get the respect of Bey or anyone else he faces in the ring.

Fighting out of Buenos Aires, Argentina, southpaw Jesus Cuellar (23-1, 18 KOs) was a decorated amateur with several titles on his resume, but with his style more suited to the pros, he made his debut in 2008 and hasn’t looked back since. Unbeaten in six straight, the 27-year-old won the WBA Interim Featherweight World Title last August with a 12-round unanimous decision victory over Claudio Marrero. Now he looks to make his first defense of the belt against Ramos.

Rico Ramos (23-3, 12 KOs) stunned the boxing world in 2011 when he beat the vastly more experienced Akifumi Shimoda for the WBA World Super Bantamweight World Title. While the Pico Rivera, California native lost the belt to Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2012 and navigated some rough waters after that, the 26-year-old bounced back with consecutive wins over Carlos Ivan Velasquez and Jonathan Arrellano to earn another shot at world title honors.

A full undercard will be announced shortly. For more information, visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.goldenboypromotions.com or www.FOXSports.com/FoxSports1, become a follower on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MayweatherPromo, www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing , @ishesugarshay, @laraboxing, @mickeybeytmt and visit on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions.com and www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing. Follow the conversation using #LaraSmith

New York (March 25, 2013) – “MARAVILLA,” the documentary, based on the struggle of Middleweight Champion Sergio Martinez to reclaim his crown in boxing, will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by AT&T, on Saturday, April 19, 2014. The film is included in the Viewpoints section of TFF, as well as part of the lineup for the eighth annual Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival, sponsored by Mohegan Sun. The official trailer for the film is now available to view and share on YouTube at http://youtu.be/m5UfkYbMkRQ

Director Juan Cadaveira gained access to the closed doors of boxing – actual negotiations, the politics of championship organizations, TV network issues and the vulnerable physical condition of an aging champion. The 80-minute character-driven documentary is a true insider look that follows Sergio in every step of his battles inside and outside the ring.

Along with thrilling footage of Sergio’s mastery inside the ring and the persistent efforts by his team to keep him at the top, the film goes beyond the guts and glory of a common boxing tale. “MARAVILLA” reveals an unforgettable man who uses ambition, adaptability, relentless determination and integrity to navigate through a business that is attempting to control his fate.

The documentary captures the grueling physical and mental demands on Sergio. Viewers are invited into his dressing room, his physical therapy sessions, and into his inner circle. The road to his achievements is shown to be isolating at times and requires a vision far beyond what is considered possible for a man who didn’t picked up boxing gloves until he was over twenty.

“MARAVILLA” sheds light on Sergio’s childhood growing up in poverty in Buenos Aires, with personal stories from family members and archival footage and photos from his youth. Sergio reveals his inner self and his approaches to successfully overcoming disappointment, adversity and neglect.

The film features interviews and testimonials by international boxing personalities such as Mike Tyson, Don King, Oscar De La Hoya, Bob Arum, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Dan Rafael, the late WBC president Jose Sulaiman. Those closest to Sergio figure prominently in the film, including his long-time promoter Lou DiBella, advisor Sampson Lewkowicz, trainers and family members, including his mother.

First time director Cadaveira, shot the film over two years in four countries: Argentina, Spain, Mexico and the United States, and in many different cities, from Quilmes to Las Vegas, via New York, Atlantic City, Los Angeles, and Mexico DF.

“MARAVILLA” premieres at the TFF on April 19, 2014 with three additional screening dates:

PREMIERE: 4/19/2014, 8:30 PM

2nd Screening: 4/21/2014, 3:45 PM

3rd Screening: 4/23/2014, 8:30 PM

4th Screening: 4/26/2014, 6:30 PM

Tickets for all screenings go on sale April 14, 2014. For additional info on “Maravilla” at TFF visit: http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/532089aac07f5df7d2000161-maravilla

“MARAVILLA” is produced by Blue Production Co. and BK Blu Productions. Written and directed by Juan Pablo Cadaveira and executive produced by Lou DiBella and Jamin O’Brien.

HBO’s hit late-night boxing franchise returns for an all-action doubleheader when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: SERGEY KOVALEV VS. CEDRIC AGNEW AND KARIM MAYFIELD VS. THOMAS DULORME is seen SATURDAY, MARCH 29 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from the Adrian Phillips Ballroom at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team of Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and Roy Jones Jr. 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: March 30 (10:00 a.m.) and April 1 (midnight)
HBO2 playdates: March 30 (4:45 p.m.) and 31 (11:00 p.m.)
In the 12-round main event, Krusher Kovalev (23-0, 21 KOs) of Russia defends his light heavyweight crown against Chicago’s Cedric Agnew (26-0, 13 KOs). Surging to the top of the 175-pound division in powerhouse fashion, the undefeated Kovalev, 30, knocked out his last six opponents in four rounds or fewer, most recently defeating top contender Ismayl Sillakh on HBO in November. Fans expect another remarkable display of power from Kovalev, who now calls Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., home.
A formidable challenger in his own right, the undefeated Agnew, 27, has taken the competition the distance in each of his last four bouts. He turned in a convincing performance in his most recent outing, an April 2013 contest against Yusaf Mack, earning a shot at a major title in his HBO debut.
The evening opens with a junior welterweight matchup expected to thrill, as San Francisco’s Karim Mayfield (18-0-1, 11 KOs) and Thomas Dulorme (20-1, 14 KOs) of Carolina, Puerto Rico, meet for a scheduled ten-round, 140-pound bout. The undefeated 33-year-old Mayfield knocked out Christopher Fernandez in eight rounds in his previous bout last September. Making his HBO debut in 2012 with a ten-round drubbing of rugged veteran Mauricio Herrera for a unanimous decision victory, Mayfield expects to shine in his first trip to Atlantic City.
In his only previous HBO appearance, Dulorme, 24, fell to Luis Carlos Abregu in the seventh round of their 2012 title bout, despite a game performance. Since then, the highly-valued prospect has scored two knockouts and two decisions to go undefeated in 2013. This will be Dulorme’s second visit to Boardwalk Hall.
Immediately following the doubleheader, HBO will present the premiere of 24/7 Pacquiao/Bradley 2 at 12 midnight (ET/PT).
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.

LONDON (March, 25) – Boxing’s biggest draw Floyd Mayweather will make his ring return live and exclusive on BoxNation in a stacked May 3rd card from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Long recognised as the number one pound-for-pound king in boxing, Mayweather has continuously broken records, with his previous clash against Mexican star Canelo Alvarez, screened on BoxNation, becoming the highest grossing pay-per-view boxing event of all time.

The fight games biggest star, and the best dedicated boxing channel around, join forces once again as Mayweather puts his undefeated record on the line against Adrien Broner conqueror Marcos Maidana.

The relentless and spectacular punching Maidana is coming off an excellent win against Mayweather clone Broner last December and will be looking to prove lightning can strike twice as he aims to penetrate the so far impregnable defence of the five-division world champion.

The world title unification bout, which sees Mayweather’s WBC welterweight title and Maidana’s WBA equivalent up for grabs, pits two of the world’s very best 147 pounders up against one another in what will be a momentous occasion.

“Marcos Maidana’s last performance immediately brought him to my attention,” said Mayweather. “He is an extremely skilled fighter who brings knockout danger to the ring. I think this is a great fight for me and he deserves the opportunity to see if he can do what 45 others have tried to do before him – beat me.”

Argentine Maidana has cemented himself at the top of the welterweight division, earning himself a growing reputation not only as a knockout artist but one of the most entertaining fighters around today.

“I am extremely happy to be facing Floyd Mayweather because it will give me the opportunity to show the world that I am the best welterweight in the division,” said Maidana, who will represent throngs of Hispanic boxing fans on Cinco de Mayo when he faces boxing’s top dog. “I just handed a great defensive fighter his first loss and plan to do the same to Mayweather. I don’t care whether he’s the best and undefeated. I will bring some real Latino power to him.”

The May 3rd event is also set to be stacked from top to bottom, with British superstar Amir Khan making his eagerly anticipated return against Luis Collazo.

The former unified light-welterweight world champion makes the move up to welterweight as he eyes a potential showdown with the very best in the division should he come through the highly skilled Collazo.

“All I am focused on is May 3rd and getting past Luis Collazo,” said Khan. “He’s a tremendous fighter that is coming off a great win against Victor Ortiz. My aim is to establish myself in the division and a fight against a full blown welterweight in Collazo offers me that chance. It’s going to be a great fight and one not to be missed.”

Collazo, who ran Ricky Hatton very close when they met in 2006, has bounced back in recent times by recording a stunning victory over Victor Ortiz earlier this year and will be looking to upset Khan when they meet.

“Defeating Victor Ortiz in January was just the beginning,” said Collazo. “Facing and beating Amir Khan on the biggest stage in the sport is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I will take full advantage of this and put myself in the best position to face the winner of the main event. I hope Khan is ready because Brooklyn is coming to take him down.”

Both Khan and Collazo will be looking to throw their names into the hat as potential Mayweather foes when they fight under the gaze of the headline act.

“Both Amir Khan and Luis Collazo have made it known that they want a shot at the winner of the fight between Floyd Mayweather and Marcos Maidana, so what better way for them to prove that they’re next in line than by fighting on “THEMOMENT” card on May 3?” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “These are two exciting former world champions and this fight has the potential to steal the show.”

BoxNation has grown spectacularly since its inception in 2011 with the channel constantly showing the very best domestic and international fights from around the world.

A host of top level bouts including Mayweather’s impending battle with Maidana will be available from April for just £12 a month (plus a one-off registration fee).

To subscribe to BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/490HD & Virgin Ch.546) please 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

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

Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia’s own Steve “USS” Cunningham (26-6-0, 12 KOs) hopes to win over his hometown crowd at the Liacouras Center at Temple University on April 4th when he attempts to take the USBA Heavyweight Championship belt from the undefeated champion, Amir “Hardcore” Mansour (20-0-0, 15 KOs), on NBCSN Fight Night. Cunningham, a two-time cruiserweight champion, learned to fight while in the United States Navy and has not fought in his home town since March 29, 2003 when he defeated Demetrius Jenkins at the Philadelphia Spectrum on the Tua-Rahman undercard. Cunningham said, “The last time I fought in Philadelphia, Philly didn’t know me. I learned to fight in the Navy so I didn’t have a following at home. I have always wanted to fight in Philly at this level or higher.”

His opponent, Mansour, a native of Wilmington, DE, has deeper boxing roots in Philadelphia. Mansour worked with Joe Hand at the Joe Hand Gym in Philadelphia after he was released from the Schuylkill Federal Correction Institution in Minersville, PA. According to Steve’s trainer, Brother Naazim Richardson, “Fighting here in Philly is an advantage for Mansour. His supporters are based in Philly. He’s got Philly history behind him. We have to work harder than Mansour. We have to do more to win over these fans. Plan on Steve Cunningham being Steve Cunningham. We have to be intelligent enough to know how he is thinking about it and we are. Some of the things that we have implemented into Steve’s training I am confident we have found a way to deal with it.”

The two were sparring partners shortly after Mansour was released from prison. About their time as sparring partners Richardson said, “Mansour is going to try to prove to Steve that he is a better fighter than when they sparred together. The sparring advantage actually goes to Mansour. They didn’t spar enough to give away anything about Steve. We have to be intelligent enough to know how he is thinking about it and we are.” Cunningham said, “I don’t want to lose ever. The USBA title would be a step on the stairs to heaven. This is a national title and it will move me up in the rankings. This will get me a step closer.”

According to Cunningham this has been one of his hardest training camps yet, “This camp has been grueling. Brother Naazim has been really taxing on my body. I need and enjoy my rest when I get it. I have added a lot of things to my cardio: swimming, sprints and rowing. We have been putting different stuff in there. We feel very confident that we are going to get in there and do our job which is to win.” Richardson believes Steve is ready to face the Southpaw, “Some of the things that we have implemented into Steve’s training I am confident we have found a way to deal with it.”

About April 4th:

The event features a ten-round bout for the USBA Heavyweight Title between Steve “USS” Cunningham and USBA champion Amir “Hardcore” Mansour live on NBCSN Fight Night from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA. The Fight Night broadcast will begin at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT. The card is presented by Main Events and Peltz Boxing in association with BAM Boxing and Joe Hand Promotions. The undercard will include a ten round middleweight match-up between Curtis “Showtime” Stevens and Tureano Johnson. The remaining undercard fights will be announced shortly. Tickets are on sale now at www.comcastTix.com and the Liacouras Center 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 10 pm ET/7 pm PT on April 4th.
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.

All NBC Sports Network live events live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra, and to the digital platforms of participating cable, satellite, and telco services, via “TV Everywhere,” which is available on an authenticated basis to subscribers of participating MVPDs.

WHAT: Fight Club Series PPV

WHEN: Friday, March 28, 2014

WHERE: Lac Leamy Casino in Gatineau, Ontario, Canada.

WHO: (All fights and fighters are subject to change)
MAIN EVENT (10) – WELTERWEIGHTS
ANTONIN DECARIE (29-2, 9 KOs), Former World Title Challenger, Laval, Quebec, Canada
vs.
PABLO MUNGUIA (19-4, 11 KOs), Former Mexican Champion, Mexico City, Distro Federal, Mexico

CO-FEATURE (10) – VACANT WBC CONTINENTAL AMERICAS SUPER FEATHEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
BAHA LAHAM (12-1-2, 5 KOs), Montreal, Quebec, Canada by way of Lebanon
vs.
ROODY PIERRE-PAUL (8-1, 5 KOs), Laval, Quebec, Canada

SPECIAL SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT ATTRACTION (10)
SCHILLER HYPPOLITE (8-1, 5 KOs), Montreal, Quebec, Canada by way of Haiti
vs.
JERMAIN MACKEY (18-7, 14 KOs), Nassau, Bahamas

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS (4)
PASCAL VILLENEUVE (3-0, 2 KOs), Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
vs.
FRANCOIS MIVILLE (6-1, 2 KOs), Longueuil, Quebec, Canada

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS (4)
MITCH LOUIS-CHARLES (3-1-1, 2 KOs), Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada
vs.
GUILLAUME TREMBLAY-CAUSE (2-0, 1 KO), Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada

HEAVYWEIGHTS (4)
ZACHARY BUNCE (2-0, 1 KO), Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
vs.
STEVE HARVEY (4-1, 2 KOs), Montreal, Quebec, Canada

CRUISERWEIGHTS (4)
SAMER BARAKAT (2-0, 2 KOs), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
vs.
SANDY PEMBROKE (3-7, 1 KO), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

LIGHT MIDDLEWEIGHTS (4)
STEVEN BUTLER (pro debut), Montreal, Ottawa, Canada
vs.
JEAN-FRANCOIS PLOURDE (1-0, 1 KO), Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada

PPV BROADCAST: Distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 7:00 p.m. ET – 4:00 p.m. PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via DIRECTV, iN Demand, DISH, and Avail-TVN. The event may also be watched worldwide on PPV at www.PunchingGrace.com

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: www.eottm.com, www.PunchingGrace.com or www.IntegratedSportsNet.com, and follow on Twitter @eotmvd and @IntegratedPPV

Las Vegas, Nev. – On Wednesday, April 16, Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) fans will get their fill of the UFC’s long-running reality series, The Ultimate Fighter®, as FOX Sports 1 showcases the season-ending The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale live from Quebec City, followed by the two-hour premiere of the hotly anticipated 19th season headlined by former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and two-division champion BJ Penn.

In the 19th edition of the series, 16 middleweight (185 lbs.) and 16 light heavyweight (205 lbs.) fighters will square off in the most challenging sports tournament on television. The premiere episode will determine the eight men from each division who will successfully move into The Ultimate Fighter house and compete for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a six-figure contract with the UFC.

See this season’s newly released promos featuring Frankie Edgar, BJ Penn and the latest cast of Ultimate Fighters.

The successful fighters will be divided into two teams, coached by Edgar and Penn respectively. The series will follow the teams as they live and train together in preparation for their fights. Then, both coaches will settle their score once and for all at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Sunday, July 6, in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale.

“Frankie Edgar is a guy who many believed should have fought at 145 pounds but fought at 155 pounds and beat everybody including BJ Penn – twice,” said UFC president Dana White. “This kid went from being a one-dimensional wrestler to having some of the best hands, knockouts and toe-to-toe wars.

“BJ Penn is one of the legends in the sport. He basically built the 155-pound division in the sport and had championship belts at 155 and 170 pounds. I can’t wait to see this third fight.”

The competitors are, in alphabetical order (name, professional MMA record, age, fighting out of):

The competitors are:
Corey Anderson (3-0), 24, Lincoln, Ill.
Cathal Pendred (13-2), 26, Dublin, Ireland
Kelly Anundson (6-1), 29, Deerfield Beach, Fla.
John Poppie (3-1), 24, Ettrick, Wis.
Anton Berzin (3-1), 24, Philadelphia, Pa.
Doug Sparks (7-2), 31, Bloomington, Ind.
Josh Clark (7-2), 29, Richmond, Ky.
Daniel Spohn (8-3), 29, Columbus, Ohio
Chris Fields (8-4), 30, Dublin, Ireland
Joshua Stansbury (4-2), 29, East Liverpool, Ohio
Matthew Gabel (8-3), 28, Le Mars, Iowa
Ian Stephens (4-0), 25, Ringgold, Ga.
Lyman Good (15-3), 28, New York, N.Y.
Adam Stroup (5-1), 27, Denver, Colo.
Eddie Gordon (6-1), 29, Uniondale, N.Y.
Nordine Taleb (8-2), 32, Montreal, Canada
Jacob Heun (6-3), 26, Coconut Creek, Fla.
Hector Urbina (16-8), 26, Coconut Creek, Fla.
Mike King (5-0), 30, Naples, Fla.
Matt Van Buren (6-2), 27, Chula Vista, Calif.
Tyler King (7-1), 33, North Attleboro, Mass.
Bojan Velickovic (8-2), 33, Delray Beach, Fla.
Dhiego Lima (8-1), 33, Sugar Hill, Ga.
Daniel Vizcaya (7-2), 28, Aurora, Ill.
Adrian Miles (14-5), 30, Biloxi, Miss.
Patrick Walsh (4-1), 25, Stoughton, Mass.
Tyler Minton (5-1), 26, Johnson City, Tenn.
Tim Williams (8-1), 27, Millville, N.J.
Todd Monaghan (8-2), 31, Clinton, Iowa
Roger Zapata (5-1), 27, New York, N.Y.
Cody Mumma (5-1), 30, Henderson, Colo.

The official headshots may be downloaded using the following link: ftp://upload:upload@ftp.ufc.com/2014-03-19-TUF-19-CAST-32-PRE-ELIMINATION-HEADSHOTS.zip (cut and paste link into your web browser to properly download files).

The Ultimate Fighter®: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn will run for 13 weeks in its regularly scheduled timeslot of 10 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. Each episode’s winners will advance in the single-elimination tournament, which will culminate in a three-hour finale, live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Sunday, July 6.

Many of today’s most recognizable names in the UFC have emerged from The Ultimate Fighter series, which also produced champions such as Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans and Matt Serra and season winners Michael Bisping, Ryan Bader and Nate Diaz.

For more show information, bios, videos and photos, visit ultimatefighter.com and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter under our new name @UltimateFighter or on Facebook.com/TUF.

###

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, the UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across 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 includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, 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. UFC also owns over 100 UFC GYM® locations, UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT™ (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC 360 (the internationally distributed magazine), a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, best-selling DVDs and Blu-rays, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, Octagon™ branded apparel and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit www.UFC.com and follow UFC at www.Facebook.com/UFC and Twitter: @UFC.

FOX Sports 1
FOX Sports 1 is America’s new national multi-sport channel that launched on August 17 in approximately 90 million homes and boasts nearly 5,000 hours of live event, news and original programming annually. The channel has several pillar sports: college basketball and football, MLB (in 2014), NASCAR, NFL (ancillary programs), international soccer, UFC and Golden Boy boxing, and adds USGA events, including the U.S. Open, and FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015. FOX SPORTS LIVE is FOX Sports 1’s flagship 24/7 news, opinion and highlights program, providing around the clock coverage through regularly scheduled programs, hourly updates and an information rich ticker. Original programs include: AMERICA’S PREGAME; MLB WHIPAROUND; NASCAR RACE HUB; CROWD GOES WILD, a new live sports entertainment talk show hosted by Regis Philbin; and the groundbreaking BEING: documentary franchise. FOX Sports GO, a new authenticated mobile sports experience for iPhone, iPad, Android devices and the web, serves as the channel’s digital extension. The app offers more than 1,100 live games and events from cross FOX Sports, FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2 and FOX Sports’ 22 regional sports networks, as well as scores, highlights, news, stats and analysis. For more information visit www.FOXSports.com/FOXSports1.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (March 25th, 2014) — Having already marked his territory in Rhode Island by beating hometown favorite Thomas Falowo in July, Jersey City middleweight Chris Chatman has taken his newfound allegiance to New England one step further by signing with Classic Entertainment & Sports, the region’s premier combat sports firm.

But don’t think for a second being part of a team for the first time in his career has tamed the outspoken, 5-foot-8 southpaw.

“I’m focusing my efforts on becoming a world champion,” Chatman said, “and if I have to take out their whole lineup to do it, then so be it.”

For now, Chatman (11-3-1, 5 KOs) will focus his efforts on chopping down another out-of-town challenger with ties to New England, The Contender Season 2 champion Grady Brewer (30-16, 18 KOs) of Lawton, Okla., in Friday night’s main event at Twin River Casino.

Brewer teamed with Rhode Island’s Gary “Tiger” Balletto on the hit reality series in 2006 and returned to Providence two years later to beat fellow Contender alum Cornelius Bundrage. Now he’ll face the hard-hitting Chatman, who’s gained an improbable cult-like following in Rhode Island not only for his win over Falowo, but also for his effort in a disputed loss to former Olympian Demetrius Andrade in 2009, his first of three appearances at Twin River.

The eight-round middleweight bout between Chatman and Brewer will be the headliner of Classic Entertainment & Sports’ latest installment of the 2014 Twin River Fight Series. Tickets are priced at $41, $76 and $126 (VIP) and can be purchased by calling 401-724-2253/2254, online at www.cesboxing.com or www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Players Club at Twin River. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

“He’s a strong fighter,” Brewer said of Chatman. “A guy like him, you know he’s coming to fight.

“I’m excited to come back to Providence,” he continued. “I loved it there. Great fight fans. They love boxing and I’m excited to show them what I can do.”

Despite an age difference of 14 years (Chatman is 29 an Brewer is 43), the two are chasing the same dream of winning a world title, and both have shown the willingness to fight anyone at any given time, even if it means standing toe-to-toe with a hometown favorite on foreign soil.

Born and raised in Chicago, Chatman eventually relocated to San Diego and carved his niche out west, fighting nine of his first 10 bouts in California — the lone exception and only blemish on his record being the fight in Rhode Island against Andrade — before taking his 9-1 record to Forth Worth to face unbeaten Texan Charles Hatley. The two traded knockdowns and fought to a majority draw. Two of the three judges scored it even while the third favored Hatley by four rounds.

It wouldn’t be the last time Chatman found himself on the wrong end of a decision in his opponent’s backyard. After beating Falowo last year, he faced unbeaten Maryland prospect Jarret Hurd in Maryland in a six-round bout in January. Hurd won by split decision. One judge scored it 59-55 in favor of Chatman. The other two gave it to Hurd, 58-56 and 59-55.

“Anyone who saw that fight knows I won it,” Chatman said. “I’m always putting my best in the ring. That’s the only way I know how to do it. I think it’s a shame when a fighter trains hard and makes all the sacrifices and wins the fight, but loses because of politics.

“It discredits our sport and shows the lack of integrity among judges. That’s one of the reasons I love to fight in Rhode Island. I always get a fair shot.”

Five of Chatman’s last seven opponents were undefeated at the time of the fight, and Falowo only had one loss when they faced one another last year. The combined record of those opponents was 76-5-2 before the bell rang.

Fittingly, Brewer has built a similar resume through the years with each of his last three fights coming against undefeated opponents, including a 2013 showdown against world-rated Russian prospect Matt Korobov — “to this day, one of the better fighters I’ve faced,” Brewer said — and a scheduled eight-round bout against 17-0 Tony Harrison of Detroit in April.

After beating Steve Forbes in The Contender finale, Brewer won his next four fights before stopping unbeaten Nigerian prospect Albert Onolunose in the second round of their scheduled 12-round bout. Two years later, he handed world-title challenger Fernando Guerrero — 21-0 at the time — the first loss his career via fourth-round knockout. Brewer has also faced World Boxing Association (WBA) light middleweight champion Erislandy Lara and Andrade, the current World Boxing Organization (WBO) champ.

“The Contender was real instrumental for me because it set the stage for my career and gave me the respect I had been looking for,” Brewer said.

“I’m always trying to get to the top. Sometimes, I’ve been there, and sometimes I’ve taken fights on short notice thinking I was ready, and that’s part of the reason why I wasn’t always able to show who I really am.”

With the dream of winning a world title still within reach, Brewer draws inspiration from former champs George Foreman and Bernard Hopkins. Foreman had been the oldest fighter to win a world title before the 48-year-old Hopkins broke his record in 2013. Brewer still has a shot, but he needs to beat Chatman on Friday to snap his four-fight losing streak.

The fight is of equal importance to Chatman, who’d benefit tremendously by beating a well-known veteran with more than three times his experience as a professional.

“I’m putting my all into this like I do with every fight,” Chatman said. “Grady is a veteran, a former champ, and he has the experience to back it up. Like me, he’s pulled off many upsets, so to go in there thinking I’m guaranteed a win is foolish.

“That being said, I’m confident enough in my work ethic to expect that I can earn a victory.”

Win or lose, Chatman’s future in New England will certainly be entertaining if nothing else, and though he may never get that coveted rematch with Andrade, there are plenty of opponents to target in this neck of the woods, teammates or not.

“If you’re between 154 and 168 pounds and you’re being put ahead of me, you’ll be in my sights,” Chatman said. “I’m ready to prove that I’m No. 1 and if anyone wants to speak to the contrary, you’re more than welcome to step up and glove up.”

Friday’s undercard includes the return of unbeaten Providence middleweight KJ Harrison-Lombardi (5-0-1) of Providence, who will put his record on the line in a four-round bout against Jason Bakanowski (0-1) of Worcester, Mass.

Coming off a knockout win over veteran Arthur Saribekian in November, Cape Cod, Mass., heavyweight Jesse Barboza (7-1-1, 5 KOs) will look to stay on track against East Stroudsburg, Pa., heavyweight Glenn Thomas in a four-round bout while Springfield, Mass., welterweight Zack Rasmey (6-0, 3 KOs) takes on veteran Shakha Moore (11-19-3, 2 KOs) of Norwalk, Conn., in a six-rounder.

Louisiana cruiserweight Alvin Varmall Jr. (2-0, 2 KOs), who made his Twin River debut in February with a knockout win over Andre Ward, will return to face Devon Mosley (0-0-1) of Capitol Heights, Md., in a four-round bout and Chattanooga, Tenn., lightweight prospect Ryan Martin (3-0, 2 KOs) will face Justin Robbins (2-5, 1 KO) of Springfield, Ill., in a four-round bout. Cranston, R.I., welterweight Nick DeLomba (2-0) will return in a separate four-round bout. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Enrico Koelling (12-0, 4 KOs) is currently one of the most exciting prospects to come out of Germany. The 24-year-old light heavyweight aims to prove his potential on the April 5 undercard to the WBA Title Fight between defending champion Juergen Braehmer and challenger Enzo Maccarinelli in Rostock, Germany. The Berlin native is set to meet 33-year-old Mirzet Bajrektarevic (8-1, 4 KOs) in a scheduled eight round contest.

Koelling won the WBO Youth Belt in his last fight but had to relinquish it shortly after due to turning 24 in late February. “It was a sensational feeling to win my first pro title on January 25. Now I want to set my sights on the next one,” said the protégé of coach Karsten Roewer.
His teammate and world champion Juergen Braehmer believes that Koelling can go all the way. “He has the fire and determination to make it to the top. I seldom meet such a hardworking boxer as Enrico,” Braehmer adds ”He has given me fantastic sparring since I have been with Team Sauerland and is one of the reasons why I am currently the WBA Champion.”
Hagen Doering, matchmaker for Team Sauerland also sees a lot of potential in Koelling: “Every time he steps through the ropes you can see a real progression in his technique and tactics. This is why we plan to have him fight for a championship this summer – whether this be an Intercontinental or even a European Championship.’’
But first Koelling has to get Croatian Bajrektarevic out of the way. “He is southpaw and last time I fought, I beat a southpaw by knockout,” Koelling states optimistically. “This will be the perfect warm up ahead of a big fight this summer!”

There are still a limited number of tickets available for this show via www.eventim.de.

GATINEAU, QUEBEC, Canada (March 24, 2014) – Highly-touted light middleweight prospect Steven Butler will make his professional debut this Friday night against Jean-Francoise Plourde (1-0) in a four-round match airing live on pay per view from Lac Leamy Casino in Gatineau, Ontario, Canada.

Fight Club Series, presented by Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM), is being distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 7:00 p.m. ET – 4:00 p.m. PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via DIRECTV, iN Demand, DISH, and Avail-TVN. The event may also be watched worldwide on PPV at www.PunchingGrace.com

The 18-year-old Butler is the youngest Canadian National Champion ever, in addition to being the grandson of former Canadian junior middleweight Marshall Butler (20-5, 15 KOs). Steven probably wouldn’t be making his pro debut if boxing hadn’t replace Ritalin in his life.

“When I was in fifth grade,” Butler explained, “they labelled me as hyperactive and put me on Ritalin. Today, I’ve found piece of mind through boxing. Even though I played other sports, nothing releases my anger, my energy and provides me with true clarity except boxing. I no longer take meds. The moment my glove makes contact, I am free. Boxing is my new prescription.”

Butler started boxing at the age of 12 along with his brother. It didn’t take long for Steven’s natural raw talent to emerge. He went on to win 48 of 54 amateur bouts with one draw, including only one loss in his last 35 matches. His impressive lists of accomplishments includes four-time winner of the Bronze Glove Tournament, as well as gold-medal performances at the Silver Glove, Adidas and Golden Gloves tournaments.

World welterweight title challenger Antonin Decarie (29-2, 9 KOs), currently rated No. 8 by the WBC No. 13 by the IBF #13, headlines the seventh installment of the popular Fight Night Series ) against former Mexican champion Pablo Munguia (19-4, 11 KOs).

Up Close with Antonin D̩carie РQuestion: Do you worry how you look while you are in the ring?
Up Close with Antonin Decarie – Question: Do you worry how you look while you are in the ring?

Lebanese-born Montreal super featherweight Baha Laham (12-1-2, 5 KOs) faces southpaw Roody Pierre-Paul (8-1, 5 KOs) for vacant WBC Continental Americas title in the 10-round co-feature.

The undercard also features many of Canada’s most exciting prospects including Schiller Hyppolite (8-1, 5 KOs) vs. Bahamian super middleweight Jermain “Choo Choo” Mackey (18-7, 14 KOs) in a 10-round bout; super middleweight Pascal Villeneuve (3-0, 2 KOs) vs. Francois “The Tank” Miville (6-1, 2 KOs) and Mitch Louis-Charles (3-1-1, 2 KOs) vs. Guillaume Tremblay-Coude (2-0, 1 KO), cruiserweight Samer Baraket (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. Sandy Pembroke (3-7, 1 KO), and heavyweight Zack Bunce (2-0, 1 KO) vs. Steven Harvey (4-1, 2 KOs) in four-round fights.

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

For further information about Butler and Friday night’s show, please visit www.eottm.com, www.PunchingGrace.com or www.IntegratedSportsNet.com, or follow on Twitter @eotmvd and @IntegratedPPV.