The July 26 edition of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra will feature former Jr. Lightweight and Featherweight title challenger Juan Carlos “Mini” Burgos (30-1-1 20 KOs, ESPN.com No. 4 ranked Jr. Lightweight) and Yakubu “The Black Mamba” Amidu (18-4-1, 16 KOs) in the 12-round Lightweight main event. Friday’s show from Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln, Calif., will air live at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2, WatchESPN, and broadband Spanish-language ESPN Deportes+. ESPN Deportes will televise Friday’s fights on Saturday, July 27, at 9 p.m. The card is promoted by Banner Promotions.

New Picture (7)
Watch Teddy Atlas and Joe Tessitore preview Friday’s main event

Commentators:
Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas will be ringside describing the action for ESPN2, while studio host Todd Grisham (@GrishamESPN) will present all the latest boxing news and highlights. Delvin Rodriguez, will call the fights with Pablo Viruega for ESPN Deportes’ Viernes de Combates (Friday Night Fights), on both ESPN Deportes+ and ESPN Deportes, while Leopoldo Gonzalez and Claudia Trejos will anchor the studio. Bilingual reporter Bernardo Osuna (@osunaespn) will present live interviews and reports for both shows.

Main Event:
Mexico’s Burgos is coming off a 12-round draw in a Jr. Lightweight title challenge against Roman Martinez.

After that fight, ESPN.com boxing writer Dan Rafael wrote, “Making his first defense, Martinez escaped with his belt on another highly debatable decision. Almost all of press row, as well as the Twitterverse and HBO’s Harold Lederman, had Burgos winning the fight. He hammered Martinez with hard body punches throughout the bout. According to CompuBox, Burgos landed more punches in 10 out of the 12 rounds. Burgos just seemed more in control, stronger and better able to do what he wanted to do. Martinez seemed to have a hard time dealing with his height and reach.”

California’s Amidu, who is co-managed by actor Vince Vaughn, is looking to rebound from a 10-round split decision loss to Haskell Rhodes.

“I’ve been working with Yakubu since he came to the United States,” said Amidu’s co-manager & trainer Baba Sumaila. “I managed his brother, Abdullai. So when Yakubu came here, I started working with him. Yakubu is always training. When we have a fight, he increases the tempo to make him more ready for the fight. We know our opponent is very good, but we’re ready for that. We are ready.”

Co-Feature:
Friday’s 10-round co-feature will pit Lightweights Miguel “Silky Smooth” Gonzalez (21-3, 15 KOs) of Cleveland against Brazil’s Josenilson “Jo” Dos Santos (24-1, 14 KOs). Gonzalez scored a 10-round unanimous decision win over former lightweight titlist Miguel Acosta in his last fight, while Dos Santos is looking to continue his winning ways following a 12-round unanimous decision win over Carlos Rodriguez.

Upcoming Schedule:

Date
Time (ET)
Main Event
Location

Networks
Fri., Aug 2
9 p.m.
Javier Fortuna (22-0, 16 KOs) vs. Luis Franco (11-1, 7 KOs)—10 rounds, Featherweights
Buffalo Run Casino, Miami, Okla.
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
Fri., Aug 9
10 p.m.
Rustam Nugaev (24-6-1, 14 KOs) vs. José Hernández (14-6-1, 6 KOs)—10 rounds, Lightweights
Morongo Casino, Cabazon, Calif.
ESPN2, ESPN ESPN Deportes+ , WatchESPN
Fri., Aug 16
9 p.m.
Andrzej Fonfara (23-2, 13 KOs) vs. Gabriel Campillo (22-5-1, 9 KOs)—12 rounds, Light Heavyweights
U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago
ESPN2, ESPN ESPN Deportes+ , WatchESPN
Fri., Aug 23
TBD
Argenis Méndez (21-2, 11 KOs) vs. Arash Usmanee (20-1, 10 KOs)—12 rounds, Jr. Lightweights
Turning Stone Casino, Verona N.Y.
ESPN2, ESPN ESPN Deportes+ , WatchESPN
*Schedule subject to change

Follow ESPN’s Friday Night Fights on Twitter @ESPNFNF or like it on Facebook. Follow ESPN Deportes’ Viernes de Combates on Twitter @ESPNBoxeo. Also 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.

New York, NY (7/23/13) – All of the fighters for tomorrow night’s DiBella Entertainment and SMS Promotions Broadway Boxing card at Roseland Ballroom weighed-in earlier today.

Below are the official weights for tomorrow night’s show.

8 ROUNDS – JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Yuri Foreman vs. Jamaal Davis
Brooklyn, NY Philadelphia, PA
30-2, 8 KO’s 14-9-1, 6 KO’s
154 lbs. 155 lbs.

6 ROUNDS – SUPER BANTAMWEIGHTS
Heather Hardy vs. Cassie Trost
Brooklyn, NY Seattle, WA
5-0 1-1-1
121 lbs. 121 lbs.

4 ROUNDS – JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Emmanuel DeJesus vs. Khalik Memminger
Canovanas, Puerto Rico Killeen, TX
5-0, 4 KO’s 6-10-3, 3 KO’s
152 lbs. 152 lbs.

6 ROUNDS – LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Travis Peterkin vs. Hector Hernandez
Brooklyn, NY Yuma, AZ
7-0, 4 KO’s 10-5-2, 4 KO’s
176 lbs. 176 lbs.

4 ROUNDS – JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS
Bryant Cruz vs. Nuwan Jayakody
New Rochelle, NY Washington, DC
5-0, 5 KO’s 1-1, 1 KO
130 lbs. 129 lbs.

4 ROUNDS -LIGHTWEIGHTS
Louis Cruz vs. Justin Robbins
Bronx, NY St. Louis, MO
3-0, 2 KO’s 1-1
137 lbs. 137 lbs.

6 ROUNDS – MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Akil Auguste vs. Louis Rose
Brooklyn, NY Lynwood, CA
2-0, 2 KO’s 7-1, 2 KO’s
161 lbs. 162 lbs.

4 ROUNDS – HEAVYWEIGHTS
Ytalo Perea vs. John Orr
Howard Beach, NY Kansas City, KS
3-0, 2 KO’s 1-0
252 lbs. 272 lbs.

*Donte Strayhorn’s opponent failed to make wait*

The card on July 24 is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s SMS Promotions and sponsored by SMS Audio, Manfredi Auto Group, Newlio.com, and Everlast. The event will be aired on Broadband via GFL.tv. SNY will broadcast the event tape-delayed. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000. Tickets are priced at $125, $85, $65 and $45. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door the night of the fight. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
# # #

For more information visit us at www.dbe1.com and www.smsby50.com . Follow us on twitter @loudibella and @50Cent . You can visit our fan pages at facebook/dibellaentertainment and facebook/50cent

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (July 23rd, 2013) – The show will go on for fan-favorite Joe Gardner this weekend following a last-minute change of plans.

With Queens native Alexander Mancera forced to withdraw due to a broken nose sustained this past weekend, Gardner (11-6-1, 1 KO) will now face Russell Lamour (4-0, 2 KOs) of Portland, Maine in a six-round super middleweight bout Saturday, July 27th, 2013 on the undercard of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “Game On” professional boxing event at Twin River Casino.

“Injuries are part of the game, but Joe is a professional and has always been willing to adjust to the inevitabilities of boxing,” CES matchmaker Michael Parente said. “This is another evenly-matched, competitive fight. That’s what we do.”

Gardner, 37, is looking to rebound following a close, split-decision loss to Rich Gingras in May (Gingras, coincidentally, will be facing Providence’s Vladine Biosse in the main event Saturday with Biosse’s New England Super Middleweight title on the line) while Lamour is looking to keep the good times rolling following his first-round knockout win this past Friday in New Hampshire. The 29-year-old Haitian middleweight, who will move up in weight for Saturday’s fight, flattened Aquilano Brandao on the undercard of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights show at Rockingham Park, sending Brandao to the canvas three times before the fight was stopped at the 1-minute, 46-second mark of the opening round.

Prior to making his professional debut in November, Lamour competed in the World Series of Boxing, an international competition for amateur fighters in which the participants fought on teams in five-round bouts without protective head or chest gear. The fighters were allowed to maintain their amateur status, making Lamour’s knockout win over John Downey in November his official pro debut. Lamour finished 4-4 in the World Series of Boxing.

The main event between Providence’s Biosse (15-2-1, 7 KOs) and Pawtucket’s Gingras (13-3, 8 KOs) will be for Biosse’s New England Super Middleweight Title, which he has successfully defended three times since winning it in 2010. Gingras, a former contestant on the reality television series The Contender, is aiming for his third consecutive win and his fourth in his last five fights.

Popular middleweight prospect Thomas Falowo (10-1, 7 KOs) of Pawtucket, R.I., could steal the show in the eight-round co-feature when he faces hard-hitting southpaw Chris Chatman (10-2-1, 5 KOs) of Jersey City, N.J. The undercard of “Game On,” appropriately titled with Twin River celebrating its recent launch of table games, also features the professional debut of highly-touted Groton, Conn., female bantamweight Marcia Agripino, who will face Brooklyn’s Vanessa Greco (1-2-3). Providence super middleweight KJ Harrison-Lombardi (1-0) will make his Twin River debut against Boston’s Maceo Crowder (2-1) in a four-round bout. “Game On” will also feature the professional debut of Hartford light middleweight “Jabbin’” Joe Wilson Jr., who will battle Saul Almeida (0-2) of Framingham, Mass., in a four-round bout. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets for “Game On” are $41.00, $76.00, and $126.00 (VIP) and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.shop.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.

As an added bonus, Twin River and CES have teamed up to offer fight fans and VIP customers an exclusive offer with their ticket purchase. Show your ticket stub at the event, join the Twin River Rewards Club and get a free $25 Twin River gift card and two free tickets to a Twin River concert. CES has upped the ante by offering an additional $25 gift certificate to either Meritage or Chardonnay’s restaurant in Rhode Island with the purchase of a $126 Jimmy’s Club VIP ticket.

(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Game On.” Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must enter through the West entrance.)

Undefeated Flyweight Jonathan Gonzalez will fight former world champion Giovanni Segura on Augusta 17th in Carolina, Puerto Rico according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“Segura caused a big hurt in Puerto Rico when he beat — two times — our champion, Ivan Calderon, and I want to heal those hurts, no matter if [it] is a KO or a decision win,” Gonzalez said. “I am going to win and after this bout become a world champion.”

“Segura is a tough fighter, but we have our plans to face him,” Gonzalez said. “The people said [will I] be ready for the pressure Segura will [apply], but I ask Segura if he is going to be ready for my pressure.”

“Now we have a more international card with fighters from Dominican Republic, Cuba, Mexico, United States and Puerto Rico,” promoter Ivan Rivera of PR Best Boxing Promotion said. “Felix Diaz and Yudel Jhonson, two great prospects who were good amateur fighters for their countries, will fight for their first time in Puerto Rico.”

Orlando, FL, (July 23, 2013) Two-time world title challenger and top rated junior middleweight Delvin Rodriguez and Star Boxing’s Joe DeGuardia were in Orlando, Florida this afternoon for the
Kick-Off Press Conference to announce Rodriguez’s fight with three-division world champion Miguel Cotto set for Saturday, October 5 at the Amway Center and broadcast LIVE on HBO.

“I want to thank God for giving me this opportunity” said Rodriguez. “I know it takes so much to make a fight like this happen, I’m also very thankful to my promoter Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing, Top Rank, HBO and Miguel Cotto Promotions.”

“This fight motivates me more than ever to face a true champion, true warrior, this fight will really show what I have and bring out the best in me. For me it’s now or never. I’m a warrior that comes forward.”

“I admire Cotto as a fighter and respect him as a person but on fight night that goes out the door, I don’t care if he’s my brother or another person” continued Rodriguez.

Said Joe DeGuardia, President of Star Boxing, “We’re very thankful to Miguel Cotto Promotions, Top Rank and HBO for this opportunity.”

“Both Delvin and Miguel are warriors. This fight truly brings together two styles that I firmly believe will result in a war and a great fight for the fans.”

“As many of you know Delvin was involved in the 2011 Fight of the Year against Pawel Wolak. He’s always fought anyone we’ve put in front of him, he personifies what a warrior is in boxing.”

The Miguel Cotto/Delvin Rodriguez 12 round super welterweight battle will be seen in over 180 counties across the globe.

Cotto and Rodriguez boast a combined record of 65-10-3 (46 KOs) — a winning percentage of over 83% and a victory by knockout ratio of 71%. Promoted by Miguel Cotto Promotions and Top Rank, in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Tecate, tickets to Cotto vs. Rodriguez will go on sale, Tuesday, July 30 at 10:00 a.m. ET. Priced at $150, $100, $50 and $25, tickets can be purchased online at amwaycenter.com, Chase® Box Office at Amway Center, Ticketmaster retail locations, charge-by-phone at 800.745.3000 or at Ticketmaster.com.

All dates, act(s) and ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All tickets are subject to applicable taxes, service, handling and facility fee charges. For Amway Center box office and ticket information, visit amwaycenter.com (phone purchases are not available through the Amway Center box office). The Amway Center is located at 400 West Church Street and the box office is located on the north side of the Amway Center, near the intersection of Church Street and Hughey Avenue.

ABOUT STAR BOXING:

Star Boxing Inc. celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2012. Star Boxing has worked to produce some of the most exciting and memorable boxing events in recent history. Star has continued to work with and develop a number of very exciting world champions, world rated contenders and young prospects. Star has consistently brought credibility, integrity, and exciting fights to the boxing industry. For more information on Star Boxing, visit their official website at www.StarBoxing.com and follow them on Twitter @ Star Boxing and Facebook at Star Boxing.

New York, NY (7/23/13) – With DiBella Entertainment stable-mate Edwin Rodriguez yelling from ringside to “Make your statement!”, Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczweski (17-0) did just that this past Friday in his national TV debut on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights. Kielczweski, of Quincy, Mass., scored a sensational one-punch KO over the previously undefeated Puerto Rican knockout artist Miguel Soto (now 11-1, 11KO’s) in the fifth round of their scheduled eight-round super featherweight contest at Rockingham Park in DBE Salem, NH. The knockout was so spectacular that it was voted as the fifth best play of the day on that evening’s ESPN Top 10.

Kielczweski’s highlight-reel knockout came just six days after Worcester’s Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (24-0, 16KO’s) demolished Denis Grachev inside the opening round of the finale to the coveted Monte-Carlo Million Dollar Super 4 tournament in Monaco.

Both performances were eye-catching and spectacular.

Both performances were easily the most important and impressive of their respective careers.

Both performances have the boxing world still talking and fans excited about the future possibilities.

“It has been exactly 10 days since my fight and I am still ecstatic,” said Rodriguez. “The fan and media response that I have received since I returned home has been overwhelming. I spent the day at the ESPN studios last week and was a special guest for Friday Night Fights. It was great being there to see Ryan put on such a terrific performance. Not only is he a stable-mate of mine at DBE, but I also consider him a friend. To see him perform the way he did in his biggest fight and first national TV exposure was just great. I remember being in that same position not so long ago.”

“It was the absolute best way I could ever imagine to celebrate a birthday,” said Kielczweski, who was celebrating his 24th birthday this past Friday. “Having Edwin at the fight and hearing him cheer me on was really something special. Edwin is an inspiration to not only me but to everyone coming up out of the New England area right now. Fighting on his undercards and seeing the success he has had makes me want to work that much harder so I can get to that level.”

Boxing has been a way of life for the two Massachusetts-natives for many years. Both the 28-year-old Rodriguez, who began boxing at 16, and 24-year-old Kielczweski, who first took up the sport at the ripe old age of six, had stellar amateur careers fighting throughout the New England region. Both fighters claimed the New England Golden Gloves championship, with Rodriguez also winning the 2005 US Amateur Championship and the 2006 National Golden Gloves.

Both Rodriguez and Kielczweski turned pro in 2008. Kielczweski has fought exclusively under the DBE banner, having been brought to DiBella’s attention by Sampson Lewkowicz, who also discovered middleweight kingpin Sergio Martinez, as well as Manny Pacquiao. Rodriguez signed up with DiBella a year later in 2009.

The two have been featured together on five cards thus far, including when Rodriguez headlined the HBO Boxing After Dark event on September 29, 2012, at Foxwoods, as well as his October 21, 2011, ShoBox: The New Generation headliner, also at Foxwoods. In addition to his two appearances on HBO and three on Showtime, Rodriguez has also been featured twice on ESPN. Kielczweski hopes that he will be able to follow in that same path as he makes the transition from up-and-coming prospect to legitimate world championship contender.

With his victory over Grachev, Rodriguez is in line for a title shot and has expressed interest in facing any and all of the champions in the 168lb. division. The WBC #3, WBA #3, IBF #3, WBO #5 and ESPN.com #8-rated super middleweight Rodriguez will be coming to New York within the next week or two to further discuss his next move with DiBella.

“I want a world championship. This is what I have been dreaming about since I first started boxing. All of the hard work and grueling hours in the gym and time away from my family; these are the sacrifices that I have had to make to get to this point, to challenge for and to win a world championship,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez continued, “I’m rated in the top five in all four major sanctioning bodies and I feel that I match up well with any of the champions in the 168lb. division. Whether it is Froch, Stieglitz, Bika or Ward, I am ready. Everyone knows that Ward is the top guy and there has been talk about that fight. I am coming to New York in the next week or two and meeting with Lou to discuss what he thinks is the best move for us. Whatever he decides though, I know that my team (head trainer Ronnie Shields, strength and conditioning coaches Danny Arnold/Matt Bartula and nutritional and conditioning advisor Victor Conte), will come up with a great game plan and have me in the best possible shape to get me into position to take home that belt. New England fight fans are some of the greatest in the entire world, and I am ready to be their next champion.”

While Kielczweski is still a bit away from that level, he does feel that his performance was an eye-opener and that he is ready to prove himself against any of the other so-called top super featherweights in the world.

“There were discussions earlier this year of me facing Jose Pedraza. I loved that fight when they first brought it to my attention, and I still do. He has been called a blue-chip prospect, and the next champion to come out of Puerto Rico. A win over him will put me right where I want to be in my career.”

NEW ENGLAND STRONG

In addition to Rodriguez and Kielczweski, the New York-based promoter DiBella has a number of New England fighters under his DBE banner, including junior welterweight contender Danny O’Connor (21-1), of Framingham, Mass., and New Haven, Connecticut’s exciting undefeated super bantamweight Luis Rosa (14-0). O’Connor is managed by Ken Casey, leader singer of the Dropkick Murphys, and has developed a cult-like following of fans that continues to grow with each outing. Both O’Connor and Rosa picked up victories on the undercard of Gennady Golovkin’s middleweight title defense over Matthew Macklin on HBO last month at Foxwoods.

UNCASVILLE, CT – Ten years ago, Arkansas heavyweight Dominick Guinn sprung onto the boxing scene by blasting the highly regarded Michael Grant with his potent left hook, stopping him in round seven after four knockdowns. The sensational victory was part of the 24-bout winning streak that started Guinn’s career and made him a suddenly hot prospect among the big men.

At the time, heavyweight was a crowded division full of hungry fighters, and Guinn never quite made it to the top of his class. But he never stopped believing in his talents. He had good size, solid boxing skills and that crushing power that earned him the nickname “The Southern Disaster”. Guinn kept fighting, and remained in the gym, waiting for his chance to breakthrough once again.

So when Guinn received the surprise call to fight Tomasz Adamek, 48-2, 29 KOs, on the next edition of NBC Sports Network’s live boxing series, Fight Night, it felt like destiny to the self-described gym rat.

Originally Adamek was scheduled to face Tony Grano on August 3rd. However a back injury forced Grano to pull out of the bout, opening the door for Guinn to stage another return to significant heavyweight action. The Houston-based heavyweight will again try to take the division by storm with another surprise win.

The 10-rounder between Guinn and Adamek is one third of the big “Three to See” triple header at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT. The broadcast begins at 10:30 PM ET, and also includes middleweight Curtis Stevens (24-3, 17 KOs) against Saul Roman (37-9, 31 KOs), and cruiserweight Eddie Chambers (36-3, 18 KOs) versus Thabiso Mchunu (12-1, 9 KOs*), in separate 10-rounders.

Although Adamek is still in hot pursuit of another shot at the heavyweight title, Guinn, 34-9-1, 23 KOs, believes he’s recently seen a few cracks in his popular opponent’s armor, and is convinced that the time is ripe for his left hook to again make him a player among heavyweights.

In addition to this, Guinn has never been stopped in his 13-year boxing career, and he figures his granite chin could be the antidote to Adamek’s heavy hands. If Guinn can pull the upset, his career will get the sudden jolt he’s been waiting for.

Hungry to again make his mark and finally reach his potential in the ring, the always-ready Dominick Guinn may prove to be a dangerous substitute against Adamek.

*Guinn and Mchunu records per Fight Fax

“THREE TO SEE” FIGHT INFO:

August 3rd “Three To See” card at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT. In the main event Curtis Stevens and Saul Roman will clash for 10-rounds in a middleweight war. Also co-featured will be a 10-round cruiserweight battle between Eddie Chambers and Thabiso Mchunu. Heavyweight, Tomasz “Goral” Adamek will take on Dominick Guinn for 10-rounds. Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov will be featured on the undercard in an 8 round heavyweight fight.

NBC Sports Network Fight Night will telecast the August 3rd show beginning 10:30PM EDT.

To find the location of the NBC Sports Network on your local cable, satellite or IPTV provider, click here: http://www.nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/30092015/ns/sports/

Tweet the link to NBC Sports Network Fight Night channel finder: bit.ly/175UuU

Tickets are priced at $125 and $40 (price includes facility fees) and can be purchased by calling Mohegan Sun Box office 860-862-8499 or through Ticketmaster. For ADA accessible sales, call Mohegan Sun Box Office at 860-862-8499.

ORLANDO, FLA (July 23, 2013) — Twelve years after making his professional debut, three-division world champion and the Pride of Puerto Rico MIGUEL COTTO will make his Florida debut when he faces two-time world title challenger and current Top-Five contender DELVIN RODRIGUEZ in a 12-round super welterweight battle. Cotto vs. Rodriguez will take place Saturday, October 5, at the home of the Orlando Magic, Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., which is hosting its first-ever professional boxing event.

Promoted by Miguel Cotto Promotions and Top Rank, in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Tecate, tickets to Cotto vs. Rodriguez will go on sale, Tuesday, July 30 at 10:00 a.m. ET. Priced at $150, $100, $50 and $25, tickets can be purchased online at amwaycenter.com, Chase® Box Office at Amway Center, Ticketmaster retail locations, charge-by-phone at 800.745.3000 or at Ticketmaster.com. All dates, act(s) and ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All tickets are subject to applicable taxes, service, handling and facility fee charges. For Amway Center box office and ticket information, visit amwaycenter.com (phone purchases are not available through the Amway Center box office). The Amway Center is located at 400 West Church Street and the box office is located on the north side of the Amway Center, near the intersection of Church Street and Hughey Avenue.

Cotto and Rodriguez boast a combined record of 65-10-3 (46 KOs) — a winning percentage of over 83% and a victory by knockout ratio of 71%.

“I am very happy to be back on October 5 and fighting in front of all the great fans of Orlando, Florida,” said Cotto.

“I’m going to go for the knockout,” said Rodriguez. “I will take advantage of the biggest opportunity of my life.”

“Miguel Cotto has participated in some of boxing’s biggest events over the past 10 years,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank. “His return to the ring on October 5 will be another electrifying night for the fans watching it live in Orlando and the boxing fans throughout the world. Top Rank is thrilled to work with him and his promotional team on this event.”

“When Miguel Cotto is in the ring it is always exciting to watch. For us it is a great pleasure to present the return of one of boxing’s biggest stars to our great Puerto Rican community in Orlando and all the Latino fans of Florida. October 5th will be a great night for boxing,” said Héctor Soto, Vice President of Miguel Cotto Promotions.

“As Delvin’s promoter, it is an honor to have our boxer fight against Miguel Cotto, a true boxing legend,” said Joe DeGuardia, president of Star Boxing. “As a boxing aficionado, I am excited to see this fight, which is one that real boxing fans are enthusiastic about. I expect a thrilling battle of will and skill between these two veteran warriors and look forward to October 5.”

“Landing another high-profile event like this is a knockout for the City of Orlando in terms of entertainment and economic impact,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “Whether it’s Wrestlemania, the NBA All-Star game or NCAA Championship games, Orlando has proven that we have what it takes to host top-tier sporting events. We look forward to hosting what will be a thrilling fight and once again showcasing Orlando to a worldwide audience.”

“Today’s announcement is particularly exciting because it is our first professional boxing match and an internationally televised one,” said Orlando Venues Executive Director Allen Johnson. “This is yet another milestone for Amway Center and illustrates our commitment to host diverse events that cater to the greater Central Florida community and beyond.”

Cotto (37-4, 30 KOs), from Caguas, Puerto Rico, has sold more fight tickets at the “Mecca of Boxing,” Madison Square Garden, than any other fighter in this millennium. He held a world title every year from 2004 to 2012 while winning 17 of the 21 world championship bouts he has fought. Puerto Rico’s most exciting fighter and one of its greatest, Cotto held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight crown from 2004-2006, successfully defending it six times before vacating it to capture the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title at the end of 2006, a title he held for nearly as long. After losing the WBA title to three-time world champion Antonio Margarito, arguably the fight of the year, in July 2008, Cotto won his second welterweight belt in February 2009, knocking out Michael Jennings in the fifth round to become the WBO welterweight champion. He lost the title in his second defense, November 2009, to Manny Pacquiao. Cotto captured the WBA super welterweight title June 5, 2010, in the first fight ever held at the new Yankee Stadium, by stopping undefeated defending champion Yuri Foreman. He successfully defended that title twice in 2011, knocking out former world champion Ricardo Mayorga and Margarito in the 12th and 10th rounds, respectively. He lost his world championship belt on May 5, 2012, losing an exciting and close decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a title unification bout in what many consider one of the toughest fights of Mayweather’s career. In his last fight, on December 1, Cotto unsuccessfully challenged WBA super welterweight champion Austin Trout, losing a 12-round decision. Notable scalps on Cotto’s belt include world champions, ”Sugar” Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, Joshua Clottey, Paulie Malignaggi and Demarcus Corley.

Rodriguez (28-6-3, 16 KOs), a native of the Dominican Republic, now fighting out of Danbury, Conn., first came into prominence by knocking out Luis Hernandez (20-2, 13 KOs) in the third round of their 2006 fight to capture the USBA welterweight title. Victories over Oscar Diaz (26-2, 12 KOs) and Shamone Alvarez (20-1, 11 KOs), led to Rodriguez’s first title shot, against Isaac Hlatshwayo, for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight crown in 2009, where Rodriguez lost a close split decision. Rodriguez’s debut in the super welterweight division was in 2011’s “Fight of Year,” a Draw against Pawel Wolak (29-1, 19 KOs) that had fans on their feet as the two gladiators went toe-to-toe for 12 brutally exquisite rounds. After the winning the rematch against Wolak at the end of that same year, Rodriguez unsuccessfully challenged undefeated WBA super welterweight champion Austin Trout in 2012, losing a 12-round decision. He enters this fight having knocked out previously undefeated George Tahdooahnippah (31-0, 23 KOs) and Freddy Hernandez (30-4, 20 KOs) in the sixth and eighth rounds, in February and May of this year, respectively. He is currently world-rated No. 4 by the WBO.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com and www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing and facebook.com/trboxeo, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo or twitter.com/warcotto.

NEW YORK, July 23 – Big-time boxing hits Broadway on Monday, August 19 when the brand new Golden Boy Live!series premieres on FOX Sports 1, America’s new sports network,from Best Buy Theater in Manhattan with an exciting tripleheader. Headlining this groundbreaking event is top middleweight contender Danny Jacobs of Brooklyn facing former world title challenger Giovanni Lorenzo of Manhattan in a 10-round bout for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Middleweight Championship.

In the co-main event, the Bronx’s Eddie Gomez risks his perfect professional record in an eight-round welterweight match-up against Philadelphia veteran Steve Upsher Chambers.

Adding to the local New York City flavor is 2012 U.S. Olympian and Staten Island native Marcus Browne who will be featured in a televised fight against an opponent to be determined as well as bantamweight prospect and Brooklynite Claude Staten Jr. who will be featured on the non-televised portion of the fight card.

The event airs live on FOX Sports 1, marking the first of 24 Golden Boy Live! events televised by the network over the next year, bringing world class boxing into the living rooms of sports fans nationwide during primetime.

“The launch of FOX Sports 1 is a major event not only for boxing, but the sports world,” said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “Our goal at Golden Boy Promotions is to bring boxing into the homes of sports fans and with this new series, more people than ever will have access to these great fights.”

“FOX Sports 1 is thrilled to kick off its relationship with Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions with an event of this magnitude,” said Patrick Crakes, FOX Sports SVP of Programming & Research. “This card shows just what Golden Boy can bring together, and being able to offer this kind of sports programming to the FOX Sports 1 prime time audience is an awesome opportunity.”

Highlighting the importance of the series’ debut, numerous stars from the boxing, entertainment and sports worlds are expected to attend including Oscar De La Hoya, future Hall of Famer and current IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard Hopkins and former Two-Time World Champion Paulie Malignaggi.

Jacobs vs. Lorenzo is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. ET with the first bell sounding at 8:00 p.m. ET. The FOX Sports 1 broadcast airs live at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets, priced at $125, $60 and $35, plus applicable taxes, fees and service charges, are on sale now and available for purchase online at www.axs.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849) and at the Best Buy Theater Box Office between 12:00 p.m. ET and 6:00 p.m. ET.

After surviving a harrowing bout with cancer, Brooklyn’s Danny “Miracle Man” Jacobs (25-1, 22 KO’s) made the comeback of a lifetime in 2012, returning to the ring to knock out Josh Luteran and Chris Fitzpatrick, but this inspirational 26-year-old won’t be satisfied until he has a world championship belt around his waist and a win on August 19 will move him even closer to his goal.

A native of the Dominican Republic now making his home in Manhattan, 32-year-old Giovanni Lorenzo (32-5, 24 KO’s) has made a name for himself as one the top middleweights in the world for years, challenging Sebastian Sylvester, Felix Sturm and Hassan N’Dam for the 160-pound championship. He has yet to secure a belt, making his bout against Jacobs a critical one as he looks to take his career to a new level.

Former amateur star Eddie Gomez (14-0, 9 KO’s) has had a phenomenal run as a professional thus far, winning all 14 of his bouts against increasingly more difficult competition. With five wins in 2012, the Bronx product has added two more wins to his ledger in 2013, knocking out Javier Gomez in March and shutting out Luis Hernandez in April.

Philadelphia’s Steve Upsher Chambers (24-2-1, 6 KO’s) is unbeaten in 20 of his last 22 bouts, with his only loss coming against former World Champion Luis Collazo in a hard-fought eight-round battle last October. Eager to get back into the ring and start a new winning streak, the 28-year-old veteran gets his chance on national television against Gomez on August 19.

Well on his way to becoming the best boxer ever produced by the borough of Staten Island, 2012 United States Olympian “Sir” Marcus Browne (5-0, 5 KO’s) has dominated everyone in his path since turning pro in November of 2012. Victorious in each of his five bouts, with all of those wins coming by way of knockout, the 22-year-old light heavyweight is coming off of a second-round technical knockout win over Ricardo Campillo in June that once again showed his power and poise in the ring.

The perfect example of New York’s claim as the world’s melting pot, Brooklyn’s Claude Staten Jr. (1-0) proudly represents his Portuguese, Chinese and Panamanian heritage every time he steps into the ring. A former New York and National Golden Gloves participant as an amateur, Staten took his talents to the pro game in March of 2013, impressing his hometown fans at Barclays Center with a shutout victory over Mike Hill.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,www.twitter.com/DanielJacobsTKO, www.twitter.com/eddiegomez718 and www.twitter.com/bestbuy_theater, follow the conversation using #GoldenBoyLive, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing. For more information on FOX Sports 1 visit www.FOXSports.com/FOXSports1 and become a follower on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@FOXSports @FOXSports1 and @FOXSportsPR.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (July 22, 2013) – In her first mixed-martial-arts fight since retiring from boxing, Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm registered a devastating knockout in her Legacy Fight Championship fight debut this past Friday night at Arena Theater in Houston, Texas.

Holm (4-0, 4 KOs) is on her way to becoming even greater force in MMA than she was in boxing, in which she captured 14 world titles in three different weight classes. She stopped Allana “Hands of Stone” Jones (2-3) with a highlight reel-like, KO Kick of the Year candidate at 2:22 of the second round in Legacy FC 21.

“Lenny (Fresquez, Holm’s promoter) told me she was a special person “an ecstatic Mike Maynard (Legacy FC president) said after the fight. “She really lived up to all the hype. It is great to have her in Legacy’s stable. We are very excited to work with Holly and the team of Jackson/Winklejohn. No doubt this girl will also be the biggest name in MMA also. It is not only a pleasure to work with her, but am really impressed by what a great person she is as well as her entire team.”

Fighting out of Team Jackson-Winkeljohn, Holm overcame blurry vision in the opening round, the result of getting unintentionally poked in the eye. She started out moving and striking, then effectively mixed in front and head kicks. Mid-way through the second round, Holm unloaded a picture-perfect left kick to Jones’ head, immediately ending the fight as the referee rushed in before Holm did additional damage to her semi-conscious opponent.

Holm was a consummate boxer, recording only nine knockouts 38 professional boxing matches (33-2-3), however, in four MMA fights to date she has stopped all four opponents, three via kicks, not punches.

She is competing in the 135-pound weight class, the only women’s division in the UFC, dominated right now by Ronda Rousey.

“Holly’s very skilled and working on her wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu,” Holm’s manager/trainer Mike Winkeljohn said. “We’re fine-tuning her skills on the way to the top. The ultimate goal is to win the highest MMA title out there, whether that’s by beating Ronda Rousey or somebody else at that time, to be the best in the world. It’s Holly’s time to showcase her MMA skills.”

Her longtime fight promoter, Lenny Fresquez, plans to feature Holm on a show November 2 at Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque.

“This was one of the most exiting nights of my career working with Holly and Mike,” Fresquez added. “I always knew she was going to be a force to be reckoned with in MMA but not so fast. We have never waited around for anybody and now everybody understands why. Holly has so many options. We just ran out of people in boxing; no threats for her. Now, she has plenty of challenges.”

For more information about Holly Holm go online to www.FresquezProductions.com

All young fighters dream of becoming world champion one day. Promising 25-year-old German welterweight prospect Rico Mueller (14-1) is no excpetion to that rule. On August 3rd, Mueller is looking to take another step towards reaching his big goal in his hometown Eberswalde (Germany) when the reigning IBO intercontinental champion is set to defend his title against Norwegian toughguy Geir Inge Jorgensen (28-2).

„I am looking forward to fighting at home in front of my family and friends. This is always a very special thing to me“, says Mueller. „I am in great shape and I promise my fans an exciting fight. I will surely not underestimate Jorgensen. But I want to get all the way to the top and I know that I have to beat him to get there.“
By trying to secure a shot at the IBO world championship Mueller is looking to join titleholders such as heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko and middleweight monster Gennady Golovkin. „Those are big names and great champions“, adds Rico. „I hope to one day get to the point where they are now. I know that I got a long way to go though.“
At least Mueller knows how it feels to wear a golden belt around his waste. In January 2011 he became IBO Youth welterweight champion by outscoring Nestor Faccio from Argentina. Now he wants to underline his claims at the „big“ world title by beating Jorgensen who has never been knocked down in his pro career.
„Of course, I would love to knock him out but this is something you cannot plan or force“, states Mueller. „I just have to do my job in the ring. Everything else happens by itself.“
On the undercard former IBF world championess Jennifer Retzke is looking to win the IBO title against Florenze Muthoni and Robert Maess takes on Prinz Issa El Sleiman fort he German welterweight championship. The show on August 3rd will be Open Air at „Family Garden“ in Eberswalde and starts at 5pm local time. Tickets are available on eventim.de or rico-mueller.de starting at 20,- Euros.

Former world champion Rafael Marquez has signed a promotional agreement with Golden Boy Promotions according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“We’d like to give him a comeback fight and see how he does, give him a few fights and then eventually match him with a Leo Santa Cruz or an Abner Mares. Rafael Marquez is a good name and he has always made good fights,” Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer said. “We have some potential fights for him.”

“Rafael is coming off a loss, so we will give him a fight in September and see how he looks and see if he can still compete with one of our young guys,” said Golden Boy matchmaker Eric Gomez. “He wants to fight for a world title again and at his age, he doesn’t want to waste any time. He wants good fights. He wants any one of our top guys at 122 or 126.

“So we will give him a fight, get him cleaned up [from his last loss]. He’s a little long in the tooth but he has a lot of fans and he is still very well liked. He said he still wants to train and being back with Nacho has to be a positive.”

“I will make those four fights with Golden Boy and then say goodbye to boxing, which could happen in 2014,” Marquez told the Record, a Mexican newspaper. “I need another world title. I feel pretty good to continue fighting. People will see the difference in Rafael Marquez. I have to show them that I have a lot left. There are many opponents who could face me — Abner Mares, Leo Santa Cruz, Victor Terrazas.”

PHILADELPHIA (July 22, 2013)— Saturday in South Korea, Ji-Hoon Kim scored a third-round stoppage over Roy Tua Manihuruk to capture the WBO Asia Pacific Welterweight title.

Kim, fighting at Welterweight for the first time, looked strong as he dropped Manihuruk in round two from a perfect uppercut. Kim controlled the fight and ended things at 0:57 into round three when he floored Manihuruk with a double right and referee Bruce McTavish stopped the bout.

Kim, who has been a favorite of American fans due to his all action style, will now be ranked at welterweight by the WBO as his record improves to 25-9 with 19 knockouts.

Manihuruk of Indonesia is now 14-8-2.

“After his Ji-Hoon’s fight with (Mauricio) Herrera we wanted him to go back and work on things.” said Banner Promotions CEO Arthur Pelullo

“He looked good at the new weight and we will now look to get him a good fight”

Below is a video link to the fight:
http://cafe.naver.com/sindo2011/2951

UNCASVILLE, CT – When Thabiso Mchunu meets Eddie Chambers, 36-3, 18 KOs, in their nationally televised 10-round bout at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT, it will be the first time the South African banger competes professionally outside of Africa. It will also be his first appearance on U.S. television. With an impressive resume and word-of-mouth reputation despite his absence from American airwaves, the fighter they call “The Rock” is surrounded by an intriguing air of mystery.

Chambers versus Mchunu is one of three 10-round clashes that make up the latest edition of Fight Night on NBC Sports Network on August 3rd. Also on the card are Curtis Stevens against Saul Roman in a middleweight bout, plus Tomasz Adamek and Tony Grano in a battle of heavyweights. The broadcast begins at 10:30 PM ET.

Mchunu enters the ring against Chambers with a professional record of 12-1, with 9 KOs*, as well as credentials that add some real danger to the mystery.

During his five year career, Mchunu has won three African titles. He gained the vacant South African cruiserweight title in just his fourth bout, with a 9th round stoppage of Patrick Madzinga. Two fights later, he grabbed the vacant WBA Pan African cruiserweight crown with a 32-second KO of Marciano Commey. In his most recent fight, Thabiso knocked out Danie Venter in round five to win the vacant African Boxing Union cruiserweight title.

Mchunu’s heavy punch has taken out 77% of his opponents. According to Hall of Fame matchmaker Russell Peltz, that kind of power is nothing to sneeze at: “Even if Chambers boxes his way up on the scorecards, he’ll need to be careful of Thabiso’s power until the final bell. Eddie will also have to deal with Mchunu being a southpaw. It’s an awkward style that most fighters try to steer clear of.”

“This match-up is a five-star fight that could very well steal the show on August 3rd,” said promoter Kathy Duva of Main Events. “Both fighters have big reputations to defend. I have no doubt that both of them truly belong among the top five contenders in the cruiserweight division.”

Of course no one knows if “The Rock” can defeat “Fast” Eddie until they actually meet in the ring, but Mchunu has the opportunity to make August 3rd a night to remember when the mystery is finally revealed.

*Mcuhnu record per Fight Fax

“THREE TO SEE” FIGHT INFO:
August 3rd “Three To See” card at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT. In the main event Curtis Stevens and Saul Roman will clash for 10-rounds in a middleweight war. Also co-featured will be a 10-round cruiserweight battle between Eddie Chambers and Thabiso Mchunu. Heavyweight, Tomasz “Goral” Adamek will take on Dominick Guinn, for 10-rounds. Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov will be featured on the undercard in an 8 round heavyweight fight.

NBC Sports Network Fight Night will telecast the August 3rd show beginning 10:30PM EDT.

To find the location of the NBC Sports Network on your local cable, satellite or IPTV provider, click here: http://www.nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/30092015/ns/sports/

Tweet the link to NBC Sports Network Fight Night channel finder: bit.ly/175UuU

Tickets are priced at $125 and $40 (price includes facility fees) and can be purchased by calling Mohegan Sun Box office 860-862-8499 or through Ticketmaster. For ADA accessible sales, call Mohegan Sun Box Office at 860-862-8499.

PHOENIX — June 22, 2013 — Valley fight fans, and those watching the Iron Boy 8 live stream from around the world were treated to yet another night of high-energy, high quality boxing.

Here are the official results:

Amateur

Ryan Ridell SD Edgar Brito

Professional

Candido Lopez UD Rafael Rivera
Abel Ramos KO Rd. 2 Richard Colas
Moises Alvizo UD Joe Martell
Francisco De Vaca KO Rd. 2 Michael Herrera
Alexis Santiago KO Rd. 3 Jaime Gutierrez
Mario Esparza UD Wilber Lopez
Joey Ruelas KO Rd. 2 Johnny Jackson
Co-main Event: Jensen Ramirez UD Emilio Colon-Garcia
Main Event: Victor Castro UD Marcos Herrera

Iron Boy Promotions also announced Iron Boy 9, scheduled for September 21st at Celebrity Theatre. Alexis “Beaver” Santiago will compete for the WBC USA Super Bantamweight title.

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Iron Boy Promotions is a Phoenix-based boxing promotions company. Established in 2011, Iron Boy Promotions is committed to providing quality, high-powered boxing shows with talented fighters.

ORLANDO, FLA. (July 21, 2013) — Three-division and four-time world champion and the Pride of Puerto Rico MIGUEL COTTO and two-time world title challenger and current Top-Five contender DELVIN RODRIGUEZ will host a news conference, open to the public, announcing their upcoming 12-round super welterweight battle, Tomorrow! Tuesday, July 23 in the Disney Atrium at the Amway Center (400 West Church St., Orlando, Fla. 32801). The news conference will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Joining Cotto and Rodriguez will be The Honorable Buddy Dyer, Mayor of Orlando, Allen Johnson, Executive Director of Amway Center, Héctor Soto, Vice President of Miguel Cotto Promotions, and Todd duBoef, President of Top Rank.

Cotto (37-4, 30 KOs), of Caguas, Puerto Rico, making his Florida debut, and Rodriguez (28-6-3, 16 KOs), of Santiago, Dominican Republic , will headline the Amway Center’s first-ever professional boxing event, Saturday, October 5. The Cotto vs. Rodriguez super welterweight event will be promoted by Miguel Cotto Promotions and Top Rank®, in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Tecate.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com and www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing and facebook.com/trboxeo, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/warcotto.

SAN DIEGO, CA. (July 22, 2013) – On Saturday afternoon September 7th, WBO Lightweight champion Ricky Burns will defend his crown when he takes on tough veteran Ray Beltran in a bout that will be televised in the United States on WealthTV and www.wealthtv.com

“We are excited to be able to bring this outstanding five-star world title fight to United States boxing fans”, said WealthTV President Charles Herring. “Beltran is a tough Mexican American fighter who cut his teeth and earned this opportunity the hard way. We just had top American heavyweight Tony Thompson go over to the United Kingdom twice and score big wins over David Price on WealthTV and it would not shock me if Beltran follows suit and brings home the title.”

The fight is promoted by Matchroom Sport and will originate from Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow, Scotland.

“I’m delighted that Ricky’s fourth defense of his WBO title will be shown live in the States on WealthTV,” said Burns’ promoter Eddie Hearn. “Raymundo Beltran promises to be the toughest test yet of Ricky’s reign and with some big unification bouts on the horizon for Ricky, American fight fans will enjoy seeing the best of the Scotsman in front a passionate sold-old Glasgow crowd.”, said Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport

Burns of Coatbridge, Scotland has a record of 36-2 with 11 knockouts and has not lost a fight in over six years which spans 21 fights. He won the WBO Super Featherweight title with a thrilling 12 round unanimous decision over Roman Martinez. He made three defenses of his crown which includes wins over Andreas Evensen and Joseph Laryea. He then stopped former WBO Super featherweight champion Nicky Cook in one round.

Burns moved up to Lightweight and in his first fight at the higher weight class, he scored a 12 round unanimous decision over former champion Michael Katsidis to win the WBO Interim title.

Burns won the full title with a twelve round unanimous decision over former WBA champion Paulus Moses. Burns looked great in taking out fellow United Kingdom fighter Kevin Mitchell in four rounds. In his last bout, Burns had to dig deep but he retained the crown after Jose Gonzalez had to retire on the stool after nine rounds on May 11th.

Burns is 8-0 in world title fights.

Born in Los Mochis, Mexico, Beltran comes from an area that breeds great fighters. Now a resident of Phoenix, Arizona Beltran has a record of 28-6 with 17 knockouts.

“Ray Beltran is the Mexican buzzsaw who is always in the kind of action fight that fans like to see. Beltran will fight in a real entertaining battle against Ricky Burns. Boxing fans are in for a real treat,” said Bob Arum, CEO, Top Rank.

The 31 year-old has fought all over the United States in opponent’s hometowns and has had quality wins. He had a win over David Torres (21-1) before being on the wrong end of two debatable decisions to future world title challenger and undefeated Sharif Bogere and undefeated Luis Ramos Jr.

Beltran had won three in a row which started with his biggest win to date when he scored a ten round majority decision over then number-one ranked Hank Lundy in Lundy’s backyard of Atlantic City. He followed that up with a ten round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Ji-Hoon Kim.

In his next bout, Beltran scored a ten round unanimous decision over Alejandro Rodriguez on April 27th in Austin, Texas.

Beltran trains out of the Wild Card Gym and has been a frequent sparring partner with eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao.

Beltran will be making his first attempt at a world title

Boxing fans can enjoy this world championship card nationally on Verizon FiOS TV channel 169 and 669 in HD and AT&T U-Verse TV channels 470 and 1470 in HD, along with over 100 cable systems across the country. For those viewers that don’t receive WealthTV from their cable provider, on-line viewing is available on numerous connected devices and via www.wealthtv.com.
About WealthTV
WealthTV is the premier lifestyle and entertainment network —the destination for exclusive and original programming, simultaneously transmitted in high definition and standard definition. WealthTV delivers to informative shows to its viewers, providing invaluable insights on what every American dreams of – from travel secrets to fast cars, from outrageous homes to live events, and much more. The network fills a television vacuum by delivering intellectually stimulating, thought-provoking entertainment and always-unbiased news from an insider’s perspective. For more information, please visit www.wealthtv.com.

New York, NY (7/22/13) – This Wednesday, July 24, DiBella Entertainment and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s SMS Promotions will stage the latest edition of the NYC’s longest running boxing series – Broadway Boxing at midtown Manhattan’s famed Roseland Ballroom.

In the feature bout of the evening former world junior middleweight champion and now resurgent contender Brooklyn’s own Yuri Foreman (30-2, 8KO’s) taking on Jamaal Davis (14-9-1, 6KO’s) in an eight-round junior middleweight match-up.

The remainder of the 10-bout card features an array of up-and-coming talent, including SMS Promotions promoted Luis Olivares (4-0, 3KO’s), Emmanuel DeJesus (5-0, 4KO’s) and Donte Strayhorn (2-1) all in separate four-round bouts.

Making his 4th consecutive appearance at Roseland Ballroom will be DBE’s Travis Peterkin (7-0, 4KO’s) as he takes on Hector Hernandez (10-5-2, 4KO’s) in a six-round light heavyweight match-up. The NY Golden Glove Champion 22-year-old Peterkin, who like Foreman lives and trains in Brooklyn has been impressive in each of his previous seven outings, and has been garnering rave reviews throughout the NY boxing scene.

Fellow Brooklynite and fan-favorite female super bantamweight Heather “The Heat” Hardy (5-0) will also see action on the card when she squares off against Cassie Trost (1-1-1) in a six-round female bout. The Irish-American Hardy, who trains at the famed Gleason’s gym, has seen her army of fans grow from each outing to the next. The bout on Wednesday will be Hardy’s 5th on a Broadway Boxing card since turning pro in August of last year.

Also seeing action on the card for the DBE-stable will be the Bronx’s 2010 NY Golden Gloves Champion and 2011 National Golden Gloves runner-up Louis Cruz (3-0, 2KO’s) as he takes on Justin Robbins (1-1) in a four-round lightweight match-up.

Westchester County’s Bryant “Peewee” Cruz (5-0, 5KO’s) will look to keep his perfect knockout ratio in tact when he takes on Nuwan Jayakody (1-1, 1KO) in their four-round junior lightweight match-up.

2012 Olympian Ytalo Perea (3-0, 2KO’s) looks to continue on his tear through the professional ranks when he squares off against fellow unbeaten John Orr (1-0) in their four-round heavyweight contest.

Rounding out the card will be Akil Auguste (2-0, 2KO’s) as he moves way up in class when he takes on Louis Rose (7-1, 2KO’s) in their four-round middleweight showdown. A victory over Rose, who is coming off back-to-back upset victories over Delen Parsley (10-0) and Gino McClellan (9-0) will make a major statement for the young Auguste’s career.

The card on July 24 is promoted in association with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s SMS Promotions and sponsored by Manfredi Auto Group, Newlio.com, and Everlast. SNY will broadcast the event tape-delayed. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000. Tickets are priced at $125, $85, $65 and $45. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door the night of the fight. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

SAN ANTONIO – The promotional posters for “Knockout Kings II” that arrived in some writers’ inboxes these last few weeks were different from the original posters that featured Haitian-American Andre Berto and Mexican Jesus Soto-Karass, the men who will fight in the main event Saturday at AT&T Center. The new posters featured Texan Omar “Panterita” Figueroa, who will fight Japan’s Nihito Arakawa for the WBC’s interim lightweight title and have to sell more tickets than Berto, Soto-Karass and Arakawa, combined, for Leija-Battah Promotions’ first post-Canelo event to succeed at the box office.

“(Arakawa) is going to be tough,” Figueroa said Friday morning. “Usually Japanese fighters are a lot like Mexicans in the fact that that they fight with a lot of pride, a lot of heart. There’s no quit in them either. I’m preparing for a good 12 rounds, hopefully . . . I mean, hopefully, it doesn’t go that long.”

There has been a gradual but pronounced shift away from the main-event fighters and towards Figueroa, as it appears circumstances have confirmed what was long known about Saturday’s headliner, Andre Berto: He does not sell tickets. Berto makes interesting fights when he is matched with someone who can beat him, a scenario to which he was rarely treated during his deservedly maligned HBO tenure. Berto was no more the next Floyd Mayweather than Victor Ortiz was the next Oscar De La Hoya, despite programmers’ hopes, though both men were close enough in appearance to make network executives believe otherwise. Now on Showtime, Berto is in the precarious place where his next loss may be his last televised loss.

He is aware of this, or aware as Berto can be; at the announcement press conference in this city’s famed Mi Tierra restaurant in May, Berto mentioned coming close to a Mayweather fight twice, against Ortiz and then Robert Guerrero, losing both tryouts, and being determined not to lose a third. How enthusiastic anyone might be about a Mayweather-Berto fight is dubious, else Golden Boy Promotions would not have announced Matthysse-Garcia, a casting call for Mayweather’s next opponent, as its Sept. 14 co-main, last week. Since Berto is not an introspective lad, though, it’s best for all parties to have him believe Saturday’s fight is to win the Mayweather lottery. There is something about the way Berto claps that bears watching as a metaphor, or insight into his connection with fans: He doesn’t mirthfully slap his hands together but rather does a two-fisted, right-pinky-knuckle-to-left-index-knuckle touch, that says: I am too cool for all this.

Omar Figueroa is the draw upon which Saturday’s gate relies. Berto’s opponent, Jesus Soto-Karass, is the fabled tough Mexican, of course, but Mexicans are quite familiar with him subsequently, and will never see him as more than Antonio Margarito’s limited stablemate. And while the third Knockout King, Florida’s Keith Thurman, might become a draw someday, he’s not known well enough to sell tickets in Texas against a welterweight who’s only once fought outside Argentina.

Figueroa is from Weslaco in the Rio Grande Valley, a four-hour drive south of San Antonio, a city in South Texas (so is the awesomeness of Lone Star State: “South” Texas begins 250 miles north of Texas’ southern border) – a place known by Texans as “The Valley” and home to more than a million persons who are Texans by both birth and generations. More than 80-percent of them share ethnic origins with the Mexicans just a few miles south of Figueroa’s Weslaco, but most of them have been in the United States, or at least Texas – whether during its time as a Confederate state, its own republic or part of Mexico – longer than your family has.

“Honestly, I do not know, but I’m glad they do,” Figueroa said, when asked why fellow Valley residents drive four to five hours to see his matches. “We’re mainly Mexicans in the Valley, and Mexicans, we have such a passion for everything we do.

“It’s a mutual thing. They support me, and I put on my best face when it comes to fighting.”

Figueroa’s fans are Texans in the very core of their being, and Texans support their own, especially when their own looks as they do and fights ferociously as Figueroa does.

“I go in there to just punish my opponent as much as possible, in the sense that the knockout will kind of, sort of, come – sooner or later?” Figueroa said. “That’s our plan, I guess.”

“Panterita” – the affectionate diminutive of the Spanish word for panther – has power in both hands and a willingness to engage in attrition fighting, the kind both Mexicans and Texans thrill to. Figueroa is trained by Joel Diaz in Indio, Calif., where Timothy Bradley shares his camp.

“Bradley, whom I have the pleasure of working with, has a lot of heart and a lot of brains,” Figueroa said, then addressed his campmate’s March showing against Ruslan Provodnikov. “If I’m ever in one of those – in that circumstance? – I hope that I react the same way, that I don’t cower and quit. I don’t know if anyone else, except for the Mexicans, those types of fighters who live to fight fights like that, would have put up with that sort of punishment and try to keep the fight going.

“It was just an amazing feat for a human being to take those kinds of punches and fight on.”

Bradley is the name Figueroa mentions first and solely when asked for prizefighters he models himself after; he hopes to react to semi-consciousness in the mindless and miraculous way Bradley does, and while he does not admit to seeking such a chance, one detects in his voice a sense he would not mind it. If somehow Nihito Arakawa takes Figueroa to that state, endures the Texan’s attack without wilting then catches him on the way in, and Figueroa fights his way through it, comporting himself with even some of Bradley’s honor, on national television, South Texas will have its new draw, and Leija-Battah Promotions will have still more of what leverage it has already earned.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

Joseph Diaz Jr. scored a first round stoppage over Luis Cosme in a scheduled four round Featherweight bout.

Diaz stopped Cosme with a body punch.

Diaz is now 6-0 with four knockouts. Cosme is 8-3-1.

In a four round Super Featherweight bout, Erick Ituarse and Humberto Zatarain fought to a draw.

Scores were 38-38 on all cards. Ituarse is now 5-0-1. Zatarain is 3-1-2.

Ivan Morales scored a ten round unanimous decision over Alejandro Morales in a Super Flyweight bout.

Ivan won by scores of 98-93, 98-92 and 97-93 and the native of Tijuana, MX is now 22-0. Alejandro of Los Mochis, MX is now 14-4.

Daniel Sabido scored a third round disqualification win over Jorge Gallegos in a scheduled four round Jr. Middleweight fight.

Gallegos was disqualified for excessive holding.

Sabido is 3-1. Gallegos is now 3-2.

Chris Algieri thrilled his hometown fans and scored a ten round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Mike Arnaoutis at the Paramount Theater in Huntington, New York

Arnaoutis had a strong round two as he landed some solid left’s. Algieri picked up the pace and worked well throughout the fight behind a long jab. he used his size advantage to cut Arnaoutis around the right eye in round seven. Algieri closed the show and boxed well down the stretch

Algieri of Huntington, NY won by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92 and is now 17-0. Arnaoutis of Queens, NY via Greece is now 24-9-2.

“Chris Algieri’s boxing expertise came through on every level as he proved once again that he is on the road to a world title shot,” said Star Boxing’s Joe DeGuardia at ringside. “It was a great 10-round action fight before an enthusiastic crowd that witnessed a great battle of skill and will.”

“My hat’s off to Arnaoutis, who was in great shape and certainly came to fight,” Algieri said. “I’m awed by the great competition and will keep moving ahead toward my world title goal.”

“Chris Algieri is up and coming no matter who’s in front of him and he keeps progressing and developing,” said DeGuardia. “Tonight, he certainly passed his biggest test so far.”

Alan Gotay scored a six round unanimous decision over Michael Doyle in a Lightweight bout.

Scores were 60-55, 58-56 and 58-56 for for Gotay who is now 6-0. Doyle is 1-3

Jonathan Cuba scored a fifth eound stoppage over Anthony Kaperis in scheduled six round Jr. Welterweight bout.

Cuba battered Karperis on the ropes until the ref stopped it at 1:50 of round five.

Cuba is now 7-5-1 with five knockouts. Karperis 4-2.

Vincent D’Angelo made a successful pro debut by scoring a four round unanimous decision over Michael Mitchell in a Super Middleweight bout

Scores were 40-36, 39-37 and 39-37 for D’Angelo who is now 1-0. Mitchell is 1-2-1.

Wendy Toussiant made a successful pro debut by scoring a four round unanimous decision over On’Rey Towns in a Middleweight bout.

Scores were 40-36 on all cards for Toussiant who is now 1-0. Towns is now 0-2

Hank Lundy got himself back into title contention with a ten round unanimous decision over Olusegun Ajose at Rockingham Park in Salem, New Hampshire

Lundy put in a solid performance as he was consistent performance as he showed good handspeed. Lundy, who is known to switch between orthodox and southpaw fought from the left handed stance for just about all of the fight. He had a very good round seven as he put together some nice combinations that pushed Ajose back. Ajose was never able to get off but Lundy has to be given credit for the fight against a highly credible opponent.

Lundy, 139 3/4 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 100-90, 98-92 and 98-92 and is now 23-3-1. Ajose, 140 lbs is now 31-2.

Ryan Kielczweski scored a spectacular fifth round stoppage over Miguel Soto in a scheduled eight round Super Featherweight bout featuring undefeated fighters.

Kielczweski dominated the action by landing some solid rights and good body work. Soto had some swelling around the right eye in round four. In round five, Kielczweski landed a perfect left to the jaw that sent Soto down for the ten count at 2:59 of round five.

Kielczweski, 128.6 lbs of Quincy, MA is now 17-0 with four knockouts. Soto, 129.2 lbs of Sabra Hollo, PR is 11-1.

“I am still fresh, I feel like I could go another five rounds. I hit him with a perfect left hook, right on the button. I controlled the fight the entire time. I used my jab and just took it one punch at a time. I am thrilled with my performance. This was a perfect way to celebrate my 24th birthday.”

Charles Martin remained undefeated by scoring a fourth round stoppage over Aaron Kinch in a Heavyweight bout scheduled for six rounds.

Kinch was dropped in round three from a uppercut. Martin continued the assault in round four and battered Kinch on the ropes until the fight was stopped at 2:55 of round four

Martin is now 9-0-1 with eight knockouts. Kinch is 5-2-1.

John Molina scored a stunning come from behind stoppage over previously undefeated Mickey Bey in the final scheduled round of their Lightweight bout at the Joint at The Hard Rock in Las Vegas.

Bey boxed slickly in round one. Molina started to walk Bey down in the second and started to get closer. Bey’s work produced a mouse under the left eye of Molina in the second frame. Molina started to get through with power shots in round three. The action started to get heated as Bey would land the straighter but Molina was landing the harder. Bey took the hard punches well and steadied himself by backing up and taking advantage of his hand speed.

Bey mixed up his punches well using lead rights, quick left hooks and uppercuts. It got to the point where Molina was following Bey and looking for the big shot.

It was actually Bey who looked like he would maybe get a stoppage as he was ripping shots off the face of Molina in the final frame. Molina then landed a left hook that froze and hurt Bey. With Bey clearly hurt, Molina jumped all over Bey and landed about fifteen unanswered blows with many of them being flush in the face until referee Vic Drachulich rescued Bey at 2:01 of the final round.

The finish with reminiscent to Molina’s come from behind stoppage over Hank Lundy as Molina was down 90-81, 89-82 and 88-83 to Bey heading into the final round.

Molina, 134 1/2 lbs of Covina, CA will now look for a second title opportunity with a record of 26-3 with 21 knockouts. Bey of Las Vegas via Cleveland is now 18-1-1.

Molina knew the score entering the final session. “I knew I was fighting an uphill battle and that I was definitely behind on the scorecards, but I always felt I was in the fight,’’ he said. “This is how we do it. This is why we do boxing. I seized the moment and got the job done. When my back was up against the wall, I came back stronger.

“Bey was a strong-armed guy who was difficult to get inside against. But I knew I’d hurt him early with a body shot because he let out a moan. I wanted him to get a little confidence as the fight went on so he would stand more. I think he wanted to try and discourage me at times but it didn’t work. When I connected in the 10th, I saw his eyes roll back. The beauty of boxing is possessing knockout power in both hands.’’

The event was presented by Mayweather Promotions. Boxing superstar and pound-for-pound kingpin, Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr., promotes both Bey and Jack. He also promoted four other boxers on Friday’s card. Mayweather, who was seated at ringside in time for the evening’s first bout at 5:30 p.m., got into the ring and congratulated Molina afterward.

“That meant a hell of a lot to me,’’ Molina said. “It says a lot about Floyd.’’

“I don’t want to take any credit away from Molina but I felt I was fighting two or three people in there,’’ Bey said. “The ref was warning me for one thing or another the whole fight. He nit-picked me for everything, pretty much took 80 percent of my arsenal away. It became a distraction, and then it took me out of my game plan. He definitely affected my performance.’’

According to ShoStats provided by CompuBox, Bey threw more punches (531-432) and landed more punches (253-145).

“This is a major disappointment,’’ Bey said. “I felt I did what I had to do. I knew I was way ahead on points. I wasn’t trying to finish him in the last round, I was just fighting my fight. I landed a lot of hard shots, too. We’ll have to see where we go from here.’’

Badou Jack scored the best win of his young career as he scored a ten round unanimous decision over Farah Ennis in a Super Middleweight bout.

Jack continuously pushed Ennis back with the jab and mixed in an occasional right hand behind it. Ennis sat back and would try to jab with Jack but it was few and far between and barely used his right hand. Despite being urged on by his corner, Ennis continued to fight at a measured pace and Jack was never threatened during the fight.

Jack, 167 1/2 lbs of Stockholm, SWE won by scores of 100-90; 98-92 and 98-92 and is now 15-0. Ennis, 166 1/2 lbs of Philadelphia is now 21-2.

RONX, NY (July 19, 2013) The Official Weigh-In for “ROCKIN FIGHTS 9” was held Friday afternoon in New York City.

Promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, “ROCKIN FIGHTS 9” takes place this Saturday night, JULY 20 at The Paramount in Huntington, New York.

Below are the results of the weigh-in;

Chris Algieri, 143.5
Mike Arnaoutis, 143.5

Alan Gotay, 134
Michael Doyle, 133

Anthony Karperis, 137
Jonathan Cuba, 138

Vincenzo D’Angelo, 167
Michael Mitchell, 164

Wendy Toussaint, 159
On’Rey Towns, 162.5

algieri-arnaoutis
Chris Algieri and Mike Arnaoutis

Gotay- Doyle
Alan Gotay and Michael Doyle

Karperis-Cuba
Johnathan Cuba and Anthony Karperis

Mitchell- D’Angelo
Vincent D’Angelo and Michael Mitchell

Wendy-Towns
On’Re Towns and Wendy Toussant

Starting at $50, advance tickets for “ROCKIN FIGHTS 9” are available through Star Boxing (
www.StarBoxing.com, 718-823-2000) and Ticketmaster (www.Ticketmaster.com, 800-745-3000.). Tickets are also available at The Paramount Box Office (www.Paramountny.com, 631-73-7300.).

The Paramount is located at 370 New York Avenue in Huntington, New York. Doors on the night of the event will open at 7:00 p.m. ET with the first bell at 7:30 p.m. ET.

ABOUT STAR BOXING:

Star Boxing Inc. celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2012. Star Boxing has worked to produce some of the most exciting and memorable boxing events in recent history. Star has continued to work with and develop a number of very exciting world champions, world rated contenders and young prospects. Star has consistently brought credibility, integrity, and exciting fights to the boxing industry. For more information on Star Boxing, visit their official website at www.StarBoxing.com and follow them on Twitter @ Star Boxing and Facebook at Star Boxing.

ABOUT THE PARAMOUNT:

Opened September 30, 2011 this 1,555 capacity live entertainment venue located in downtown Huntington, Long Island, features concerts, boxing, comedy, community and other special events. Booked by Live Nation, the Paramount has hosted over 150 events in its first year of operation and quickly established itself as the premier music venue on Long Island. Some recent acts to take the stage include Pitbull, Taking Back Sunday, The Pixies, Elvis Costello, Warren Haynes, Willie Nelson, Brand New, Goo Goo Dolls, Primus, Marilyn Manson, Korn, The Wanted, The Script, Panic! At the Disco and many, more.

ABOUT THE FOX HOLLOW:

Nestled upon 8 private acres of Long Island’s north shore is the Fox Hollow, which features a state of the art event venue, fine dining restaurant and an all-suite luxury boutique hotel. Owned & operated by the Scotto Brothers, their Above & Beyond philosophy in providing each & every guest with superior services and amenities is paramount. Visit the Fox Hollow online at www.TheFoxHollow.com & www.TheInnAtFoxHollow.com

CAMELOT LIMOUSINE
Official Sponsor of the Paramount Boxing Series
Camelot Limos is a family owned and operated business located in Nassau County, with over 25 years of professional experience; serving satisfied clientele since 1984. The owners of Camelot Specialty Limos are very active in the business and play a major role in the company’s day to day operations. Camelot Specialty Limos, Inc. is an Accredited Member of the Better Business Bureau.

email: info@camelotlimo.com

LAS VEGAS (July 19, 2013) — LARRY HOLMES and JULIO CÉSAR CHÁVEZ SR., two of boxing’s greatest champions, confirmed they will be present in Las Vegas for their induction on Saturday, August 10, at the Monte Carlo Las Vegas Resort & Casino into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

Holmes, of Easton, Pa., won the title on June 9, 1978 by defeating Ken Norton at Caesars Palace in one of the great heavyweight matches in history. The fight was dead even after 14 rounds and Holmes won the match, and the title, in a magnificent 15th round.

Holmes held the championship for seven years, three months and two days, making 20 consecutive defenses. Holmes, who like Chávez was chosen in the non-Nevada resident boxer category, began his career 48-0 before losing a highly controversial decision to Michael Spinks.

Holmes fought until 2002, racking up a 69-6 record with 44 knockouts. He scored many notable wins in Nevada in addition to beating Norton. He also bested Muhammad Ali, Earnie Shavers and Gerry Cooney.

“I’m honored to be inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, and I want to express my appreciation to all those who voted for me,” Holmes said. “Vegas has always been my home away from home. There’s nothing like Las Vegas.”

Chávez, who retired in 2005 with an incredible 107-6-2 mark with 85 knockouts, fought in Nevada so often he could have applied for resident status. He fought in the state 25 times, including 19 times in world championship matches.

He met most of the top opponents of his era in Nevada, including two major bouts with fellow NVBHOF inductee Oscar De La Hoya. Among the major wins he had in Nevada were knockouts of Roger Mayweather, Edwin Rosario and Meldrick Taylor.

“I’m privileged to be inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame,” Chávez said. “I would like to thank the Nevada Athletic Commission, the city of Las Vegas, and all the sportswriters for this honor. I am humbled by it. I would also like to say thank you to the guys that I faced over my career. I appreciate all of you, I enjoyed the competition and it was an honor to face you. Also, I would like to thank my family, which has played a big role in my life, and all those people that have played a role in my career and those who have made a positive impact in my life.

“Last but not least are the fans. I feel truly blessed by the fans and all the support they have given me throughout my boxing career as well as all that support my family over the years, I will never forget all those memories.”

Both men have previously been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Remaining tickets for the historic first Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame banquet are for sale online at www.nvbhof.com

The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame is a non-profit, 501-c-3 charitable organization. Ticket sales to its events, purchases from, and donations to the NVBHOF are tax-deductible. Donations can be made by visiting the NVBHOF website.

Please like NVBHOF on Facebook (facebook.com/nvbhof) and follow it on twitter (@nvbhof)

For information or ticket purchases, go to www.nvbhof.com or call 775-384-1903.

Team Sauerland today won the purse bids to stage the EBU EU Light Heavyweight title showdown between Erik Skoglund (17-0, 9 KOs) and Lolenga Mock (31-13-1, 12 KOs).

Tabling a bid of €53,305, Team Sauerland saw off competition from veteran promoter Morgens Palle, who bid €45,000. The date is yet to be confirmed but the fight will take place on one of Team Sauerland’s Nordic Fight Night shows.

”It will be great fight,” said Skoglund. ”Mock is a tough opponent. He has been in the game a long time. Physically he is very strong and is hard to stop so I will be preparing for 12 rounds of action. However I know I can out-box him so as long as I am in good shape I don’t think I will have any problems.”

Promoter Nisse Sauerland said: ”This will be a good test for Erik. Mock is no pushover but Erik is ready for this fight. His development over the last couple of years has been incredible and he is now a force to be reckoned with in the Light Heavyweight division. This fight will be another opportunity for Erik to show exactly what he is capable of.”

Yankee Stadium may be the house that Ruth built, but The Paramount in Huntington was built by boxer Chris Algieri, who will make his triumphant return July 20 to further his quest for a world title.

“It will be a tremendous Saturday night of boxing with ‘The Pride of Huntington’ looking to remain undefeated before his hometown crowd,” said Star Boxing’s Joe DeGuardia at a pre-fight press conference at The Fox Hollow in Woodbury. “From the top of the ticket down through the undercard, The Paramount will be rocking with outstanding professional boxing.”

The aptly-named “Rockin Fights 9” will showcase the undefeated Algieri, 16-0 (7 KO), vs. Junior Welterweight “Mighty Mike” Arnaoutis, 24-8-2 (11 KO). The former USBA and NABO Junior Welterweight Champ has more experience than Algieri, but the former MMA champ said his ring smarts will give him the edge.

“The operating room will be the ring and Chris Algieri will be the doctor,” DeGuardia said, noting that the “Pride of Huntington,” who comes to the fight with a Masters Degree in nutrition, put his medical school studies on hold to pursue a world title. “Don’t let his looks fool you-he’s one tough boxer.”

According to DeGuardia, whose Star Boxing has been bringing quality boxing to the Paramount and other venues for 20 years, Algieri is about one year away from a world title match and
has been exhilarating crowds, especially at The Paramount, with some amazing fights. His last match at The Paramount was in February when he defeated Jersey City prospect Jose Peralta Alejo in a brawl that was broadcast live on NBC’s Fight Night.

“I’ve had a tremendous camp and I am ready to go,” the hometown hero told his fans. “Don’t let my calm demeanor fool you. When I step into the ring, I’ll be a different person.”

Sporting a shiner under one eye at the press conference from an aggressive sparring session was undercard favorite Rich “Kid Brasil” Neves, a 6-0-1 (3 KO) Junior Middleweight. He’ll be stepping into the ring against New York City’s Enver “The Great” Halili, 3-1 (1 KO). “I’ve had a tremendous camp,” Neves said. “I’m ready for battle.”

“I’m coming to fight. I’m coming to win and that’s exactly what I’m going to do,” said another undercard star, Lightweight Alan Gotay, 5-0 (3 KO), of Huntington, who will go up against Michael Doyle, 1-2, of Prichard, AL.

Also on stage before a throng of reporters, family and friends in Fox Hollow’s Winter Garden Room was Junior Welterweight Anthony “Showtime” Karperis, 4-1 (2 KO), of Hicksville who will duke it out with Jonathan Cuba, 6-5-1 (4 KO), of Queens. “Thank you to Star Boxing and the Paramount for giving us this opportunity to show the world what we got.”

“Headliner Chris Algieri made his way up through Star Boxing undercards and I fully expect these fighters, thanks to their grit and devotion to the sport, to headline a show of their own someday,” DeGuardia said. “Be prepared for Thunder and Lightning.”

The Saturday night “Rockin Fights 9” card will also feature the professional debut of Super Middleweight and Golden Gloves champ Vincenzo D’Angelo of Glen Cove vs. Michael Mitchell, 1-1-1, of Paterson, N.J.

Also stepping into the pro ring for the first time will be Middleweight Wendy “The Haitian Hurricane” Toussaint of Huntington vs. On’rey
Towns, 0-1, of Hillside, NJ.

Starting at $50, advance tickets for “ROCKIN FIGHTS 9” are available through Star Boxing (
www.StarBoxing.com, 718-823-2000) and Ticketmaster (www.Ticketmaster.com, 800-745-3000.). Tickets are also available at The Paramount Box Office (www.Paramountny.com, 631-73-7300.).

The Paramount is located at 370 New York Avenue in Huntington, New York. Doors on the night of the event will open at 7:00 p.m. ET with the first bell at 7:30 p.m. ET.

ABOUT STAR BOXING:

Star Boxing Inc. celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2012. Star Boxing has worked to produce some of the most exciting and memorable boxing events in recent history. Star has continued to work with and develop a number of very exciting world champions, world rated contenders and young prospects. Star has consistently brought credibility, integrity, and exciting fights to the boxing industry. For more information on Star Boxing, visit their official website at www.StarBoxing.com and follow them on Twitter @ Star Boxing and Facebook at Star Boxing.

ABOUT THE PARAMOUNT:

Opened September 30, 2011 this 1,555 capacity live entertainment venue located in downtown Huntington, Long Island, features concerts, boxing, comedy, community and other special events. Booked by Live Nation, the Paramount has hosted over 150 events in its first year of operation and quickly established itself as the premier music venue on Long Island. Some recent acts to take the stage include Pitbull, Taking Back Sunday, The Pixies, Elvis Costello, Warren Haynes, Willie Nelson, Brand New, Goo Goo Dolls, Primus, Marilyn Manson, Korn, The Wanted, The Script, Panic! At the Disco and many, more.

ABOUT THE FOX HOLLOW:

Nestled upon 8 private acres of Long Island’s north shore is the Fox Hollow, which features a state of the art event venue, fine dining restaurant and an all-suite luxury boutique hotel. Owned & operated by the Scotto Brothers, their Above & Beyond philosophy in providing each & every guest with superior services and amenities is paramount. Visit the Fox Hollow online at www.TheFoxHollow.com & www.TheInnAtFoxHollow.com

CAMELOT LIMOUSINE
Official Sponsor of the Paramount Boxing Series

email: info@camelotlimo.com