TRENT RAWLINS DEFEATS SANTANDER SILDAGO VIA MAJORITY DECISION IN MAIN EVENT OF BOXFEST 2
POMONA, CALIF. (February 27, 2022): Australian heavyweight Trent Rawlins (13-2-1, 10 KOs) scored a six-round majority decision win over Santander Sildago (30-11, 24 KOs) of Arboletes, Colombia in the main event of a MarvNation Promotions card Saturday evening in Pomona, Calif.
Rawlins won with scores of 58-54, 58-54 and 56-56. The event, which was billed as BoxFest 2, took place at The Derby Room and was streamed in its entirety on MarvNation’s official YouTube channel.
“I felt great,” said Trent Rawlins. “My opponent was a veteran. He was a tough guy with 30 wins. It was a tough fight and all praise be to God for giving me the victory tonight. I’m going to keep building in order to one day fight for the heavyweight championship of the world.”
In the co-main event, Ashton Sylve (7-0, 7KOs) of Long Beach, Calif. stopped Aldimar Silva (22-19, 14 KOs) of Sao Paulo, Brazil in the second round of a scheduled six-round featherweight fight. Sylve won with a time of 0:32 of the aforementioned round.
Mylik Birdsong (13-0-1, 9 KOs) of Los Angeles, Calif. defeated Daniel Perales (12-22, 6 KOs) of Monterrey, Mexico via unanimous decision in a six-round welterweight fight. Birdsong won with three scores of 58-55.
Raul Solomon (9-1, 8 KOs) of Long Beach, Calif. beat Jeremy Ramos (11-12, 4 KOs) of Colorado Springs, Colorado via unanimous decision in a six-round super middleweight bout. Solomon won with two scores of 59-55 and one score of 60-54.
Ruben Islas (4-0, 3 KOs) of Rialto, Calif defeated Alen Dudo (0-1) of Sarajevo, Bosnia via unanimous decision in a four-round super featherweight fight. Islas won with three scores 40-36.
Saul Bustos (15-0-1, 8 KOs) of Los Angeles, Calif. beat Martin Angel (21-20-1,14 KOs) of Sonora, Mexico via unanimous decision in an eight-round 147-pound battle. Bustos won with three scores 80-79.
Alan Garcia (5-0, 4KOs) of Ulysses, Kansas knocked out Luis Norambuena (4-9-1) of Talca, Chile via knockout in the second round of a scheduled four-rounder in the 135-pound division. Garcia won with a time of 0:38 seconds of the round just mentioned.
Lawrence King (11-1, 9 KOs) of Los Angeles, Calif. defeated Abel Nicolas Adriel (25-23-3, 5 KOs) of Buenos Aires, Argentina via unanimous decision in a six-round super middleweight fight. King won with three scores of 60-54.
Juan Sanchez (2-0, 2KO) of Buena Park, Calif. knocked out Chilean prospect Javier Lara (2-1) in the first round of a scheduled six-round welterweight fight. Sanchez won with a time of 2:51.
Sincere Brooks (2-0) of Long Beach, Calif. won against Andres Abarca (2-8) of Normandy Park, Washington via four-round unanimous decision in a super lightweight bout. Brooks won with two scores of 40-36 and one score of 39-37.
William King (2-0) of Perris, Calif. beat Michaels Mendez (0-3) of Las Vegas, Nevada. via unanimous decision in a four-round super lightweight bout. King won with two scores of 40-36 and one score of 39-37.
Rawlins vs. Silgado was a six-round heavyweight fight presented by MarvNation Promotions. The event took place on Saturday, Feb. 26 at The Derby Room in Pomona Calif. The entire card was streamed live on MarvNation’s official YouTube channel.
For more information, follow MarvNation on Instagram and Twitter @MarvNation_.
About MarvNation
MarvNation Promotions was founded in 2014 by Marvin Rodriguez and was created with a vision to not only create concerts or boxing events, but to also create experiences for the fans. In 2018, after noticing a lack of support for many young and hungry prospects without an extensive Olympic and amateur background, MarvNation involved itself in the sport of boxing with a mission to make a way for these young prospects and develop them into top contenders and champions in the sport. Established both on a national and international level, MarvNation is here to bring you the best of boxing and live entertainment.
Jeffrey Torres & Derek Whitley register impressive knockouts

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (February 27, 2022) – Granite Chin Promotions successfully kicked-off its 2022 campaign last night with “Showcase,” featuring many of New England’s best and most popular professional boxers, at Sheraton Hotel in Framingham, Massachusetts.
Only the second pro boxing event ever held in Framingham, “Showcase” was streamed live on bxngtv.com. Granite Chin Promotions’ next event will be March 19 in Derry, New Hampshire.
“This was the club show of all club shows,” promoter Chris Traietti said. “We had three fighters get their first pro wins. Then, we saw the cream rise. We asked Denzel (Whitley) and Carlos (Castillo) to step up and they did their jobs. The difference between Denzel and his father (Derrick) and uncle (Darren) is that Denzel has somebody to look out for him. (Denzel’s father and uncle are his coaches and both former pro fighters.) They (father and uncle) had people who exploited their toughness. I’m going to capitalize on his talent. He will be in his first scheduled 8-rounder in his next fight this June.”
In the main event, Puerto Rico-native Jeffrey Torres (10-1, 6 KOs) used his height, length and skill advantages against his Mexican opponent, Israel “Filipino” Rojas (14-26, 5 KOs), who was unable to withstand Torres’ assault right from the opening bell. Rojas was dropped early by an overhand right, and he immediately got on his bicycle, but the change in strategy didn’t work. Rojas went down again, this time from a right cross, and the fight ended when the referee didn’t like the way Rojas responded after he beat the count.
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Jeffrey Torres (R) was too much for Israel Rojas to handle
Rising welterweight prospect Denzel “Double Impact” Whitley (8-0, 6 KOs) stopped converted MMA fighter Alfred “Keenan” Raymond (1-1, 0 KOs) in the third round. Whitley started putting his punches together in round two and in the third, he dropped Raymond with an overhand right and the fight was stopped because Raymond injured his right shoulder when he landed awkwardly, and he was unable to continue.
“I give myself a C+ because I should have started faster,” Whitley harshly graded himself. “He was a good opponent who brought it to me and that’s what I needed. I’m still undefeated! I’m working my way up to eight rounds and fighting better competition. I’m going to push it to the limit.”
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Denzel Whitley (L) improved to 8-0
Rising welterweight prospect Josniel “TG” Castro 8-0-1, 6 KOs) suffered a cut over his left eye from an unintentional clash of heads versus Jesus Rivera Garces (18-27-1, 12 KOs), the former WBC Youth World Super Lightweight Champion from Mexico. The fight was stopped in round three on the advice of the ring doctor and declared a no contest.
In a fight that could have been held in the proverbial phone booth, light heavyweight Stephen “Clubber” Langlais (4-1, 3 KOs) out-slugged Scott “Scotty Bombs” Lampert (2-4, 2 KOs), who lived up to his nickname early in the fight. Langlais went downstairs in the second round, in which Lampert took a knee, and a straight right to the stomach dropped Lampert, leading to the referee stopping the fight.
Super middleweight Laurent Humes (4-0, 4 KOs) knocked down a game Juan Celin Zapata (6-21-2, 4 KOs) four times in the opening round en route to a first-round technical knockout. Humes used a left hook to the head for the first two knockdowns, then went downstairs with a left hook to the body for Zapata’s third trip to the canvas, followed by another left hook to the body that ended the show with two seconds remaining in round one.
Young junior middleweight Carlos Castillo (5-0, 3 KOs) needed rounds and he got six from Antonio Chaves Fernandez (9-42-4, 3 KOs) to win a 6-round majority decision. Castillo, 23, fought in his first scheduled six-round and was taken the distance by the always difficult Fernandez.
Undefeated southpaw prospect Steve Sumpter (4-0, 4 KOs) needed only 1:03 to dismiss super middleweight David Rohn (0-12-1). Sumpter dropped Rohn on the seat of his trunks with a straight right and soon after he closed the show with a left hook that led the referee to stop the fight.
Brazilian junior middleweight Maycon Oller (1-3, 1 KO) upset Jamer Jones (2-1, 2 KOs) in the second round. Jones used his jab as a range seeker, moved inside, and battered Oller throughout the opening round. But Oller came back strong in the second, catching Jones with a couple of head-snapping punches. One sent Jones flying onto the ropes that was ruled a knockdown, but he was hurt and when Oller connected on a few more solid shots and he was out on his feet, when the referee wisely halted the action.
Framingham rivals Saul “The Spider” Almeida (1-14-4, 1 KO) and Kevin “Lucky” Lewis were in a grudge match. Lewis’ pro debut was anything but lucky for him as he was unable to continue after three rounds against cruiserweight Almeida, a Brazilian MMA fighter of note in New England. The two were supposed to fight each other last October, but Almeida came in overweight and their fight was scrapped. Almeida recorded his first pro boxing win in his 19th fight.
In a battle of previously winless junior middleweights, Anthony “Gentle Savage” Andreozzi (1-2, 1 KO) and Robert Bricks (0-9) came out throwing bombs. The action didn’t slow as Andreozzi landed much more often, mostly with powerhouse exchanges in an all-out brawl. The end came in the second round, when Andreozzi closed the show with a right uppercut from which Bricks never recovered for a second-round technical knockout victory.
Highly decorated amateur Felix Parrilla (4-0, 4 KOs), fighting out of New Haven (CT), completely outclassed his opponent, Ecuadorian junior lightweight Ronny Arana (0-5), who was unable to beat the referee’s count after getting hammered and dropped with a vicious left hook to the body in the opening round. Parrilla was a 4-time New England Golden Gloves Champion, as well as a silver medalist at the 2018 National Golden Gloves Tournament.
Florida junior middleweight prospect Eric Tudor (2-0, 2 KOs) unleashed his fury on Rynell Griffin (8-51-2, 2 KOs), unloading a dozen unanswered punches on Griffin, who was trapped in a neutral corner, until the referee waved off the fight midway through round two.
Journeymen Larry “Slo Mo” Smith (13-50-4, 9 KOs) and Manny “Shake Em’ Up” Woods (17-16-1, 6 KOs) opened the nighty in a competitive fight between veteran middleweights. Smith was the aggressor from the opening round, cutting off the ring and throwing combinations, while Wood relied too often on one big punch, The fight was stopped on the advice of the ring doctor in the ninth round because of cut over Woods’ left eye and awarded a technical knockout to Smith.
Complete results below:
OFFICIAL RESULTS
MAIN EVENT – JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS
Jeffrey Torres (10-1, 6 KOs), New Haven, CT
WTKO1 (2:59)
Israel Rojas (14-26, 5 KOs), Aqua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico
CO-FEATURE – WELTERWEIGHTS
Denzel Whitley (8-0, 6 KOs), Holyoke, MA
WTKO3 (2:35)
Alfred Raymond (1-1, 0 KOs) Warwick, RI
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Saul Almeida (1-14-4, 1 KO), Framingham, MA
WTKO3 (3:00)
Kevin Lewis (0-1), Framingham, MA
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Stephen Langlais (3-1, 2 KOs), Acushnet, MA
WTKO2 (2:37)
Scott Lampert (2-3, 2 KOs), Dover, NY
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Laurent Humes (4-0, 4 KOs), Enfield, CT
WTKO1 (2:58)
Juan Celin Zapata (6-21-2, 4 KOs), Bronx, NY
Steve Sumpter (4-0, 4 KOs), Pittsfield, MA
WTKO1 (1:03)
David Rohn (0-12-1), Moline, IL
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Larry Smith (13-50-4 (9 KOs), Dallas, TX
WTKO9 (1:59)
Manny Woods (17-16-1, 6 KOs), Saint Petersburg, FL
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Carlos Castillo (5-0, 3 KOs), Holyoke, MA
WDEC6 (59-55, 59-55, 57-57)
Antonio Chaves Fernandez (9-42-4, 3 KOs), Brockton, MA
Maycon Oller (1-3,1 KO), Concord, NH
WKO2 (2:42)
Jamer Jones (2-1, 2 KOs), Pittsfield, MA
Anthony Andreozzi (1-2, 1 KO), Swansea, MA
WTKO2 (1:52)
Robert Bricks (0-9), New York, NY
Eric Tudor (2-0, 2 KOs), Fort Lauderdale, FL
WTKO2 (1:15)
Rynell Griffen (8-51-2, 2 KOs), Las Vegas, NV
WELTERWEIGHTS
Josniel Castro (8-0 1 NC, 6 KOs), Boca Raton, FL
No Contest 3 (2:39)
Juan Jesus Rivera Garces (18-27, 1 NC, 12 KOs), Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS
Felix Parrilla (4-0, 4 KOs), New Haven, CT
WKO1 (2:17)
Ronny Arana (0-5), New York, NY
Okolie Decisions Cieslak; Retains WBO Cruiserweight Title

Lawrence Okolie made the 2nd defense of the WBO Cruiserweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Michal Cieslak at the 02 Arena in London, England.
In round five, Okolie dropped Cieslak with an overhand right to the head.
Okolie landed 125 of 466 punches; Cieslak was 55 of 313.
Okolie, 199.3 lbs of Hackney, ENG won by scores of 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112 and is now 18-0. Cieslak, 199.5 lbs of Radom, POL is 21-2.
Yafai stops Bautista in 5
2021 Olympic Gold Medal winner Galal Yafai made a successful pro debut with a 5th round stoppage over Carlos Vado Bautista in a scheduled 10-round flyweight bout.
Yafai beat up Bautista over the course of the fight. In round five, Yafai landed a straight left that sent Bautista down, and the fight was stopped.
Yafai, 111.5 lbs of Birmingham, ENG is 1-0 with one knockout. Bautista, 109 1/2 lbs of Mexico City is 10-5-1.
Gill stops Guerfi in 9
Jordan Gill stopped Karim Karim Guerfi in round nine of their featherweight bout
It seemed liked it would be Guerfi’s night as in round seven, Guerfi sent Gill to the canvas with a starlight right hand. In round nine, Gill landed a big right that sent Guerfi crashing down on his back and he was out at 2:59.
Gill, 126 lbs of Chatteris, ENG is 27-1-1 with eight knockouts. Guerfi, 125.3 lbs of Manosque, FRA is 30-6.
Fowler Decisions Maciej
Anthony Fowler won a 10-round unanimous decision over Lukasz Maciej in a middleweight fight.
Fowler, 163.5 lbs of Liverpool, ENG won by scores of 99-91, 99-92 and 99-93 and is now 16-2. Maciej, 163.6 lbs of Lublin, POL is 27-4-1,
Wardley Stops Martz in 2
Fabio Wardley remained undefeated with a 2nd round stoppage over Daniel Martz in a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout.
In round two, Wardley dropped Martz with an overhand left-right combination. Wardley scored a 2nd knockdown when he landed a left to the side of the head, and the fight was stopped at 30 seconds.
Wardley, 234.5 lbs of Ipswitch, ENG is 13-0 with 12 knockouts. Martz, 266.2 lbs of Clarksburg, WV is 20-10-1.
Hatton Stops Ducker in 6
Campbell Hatton remained undefeated with a 6th and final round stoppage over Joe Ducker in a lightweight bout.
Hatton dominated the action until the bout was stopped at 2:23.
Hatton, 136.2 of Manchester, ENG is 6-0 with two knockouts. Ducker, 136.7 lbs of Loughbrough, ENG is 9-9-2.
Garcia Emerges From Obscurity, Shocks Colbert and Eyes Gutierrez

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – In what has to be considered the early front runner for upset of the year, previously unheralded Hector Luis Garcia launched himself onto the world stage with a one-sided twelve-round unanimous decision win over former interim champion Chris Colbert on Saturday night at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. With the win, Garcia claims the WBA #1 ranking and sets up a showdown with WBA super featherweight champion Roger Gutierrez.
Colbert (16-1, 6 KOs) of Broolyn, New York got off to a solid start and through three rounds, his speed appeared to be too much for Garcia to handle. Garcia came to life in fourth, but Colbert was up to the challenge, thwarting most rallies with his speed and elusiveness.
In the sixth, Garcia (15-0, 10 KOs) of San Juan de la Maguana, San Juan, Dominican Republic landed some of his more telling blows up to that point in the fight. In the seventh, Garcia, 129.6, landed a picture perfect counter left that rocked Colbert’s world and dropped the Brooklyn native to the shock of the crowd on hand. With only seconds remaining, Colbert, 128.8, evaded enough to last to the eighth.
Garcia continued to pressure Colbert as the bell to begin the eighth was done sounding. Colbert returned fire as the round came to a close, but it was too late to take the stanza on the cards. Colbert rebounded to great effect in the ninth, landing the more telling blows in the round. However, Garcia came back and dominated much of the action in the tenth. The intensity turned up in the eleventh as fights waged in the crowd, Garcia showed Colbert up in the middle of the ring for moving and retreating. When the fight resumed, Garcia continued his consistent attack with little regard for any return fire. In the twelfth, Colbert lost the support of some of the crowd as he avoided Garcia at nearly all costs, when the situation called for a complete sell-out to attempt to salvage the victory.
When the fight came to its merciful end for Colbert, Garcia had upset the applecart with scores of 119-109 and 118-109 twice. For Colbert it is back to the drawing board and perhaps some second guessing of his decision to fight rather than wait for the title opportunity he had already secured. Now that title opportunity goes to Garcia, who with how he handled Colbert, has to be considered a real threat to Gutierrez’ hold on the WBA belt.

Gary Antuanne Russell (15-0, 15 KOs) of Capitol Heights, Maryland scored the biggest knockout and win of his emerging career, halting former champion Viktor Postol (31-3, 12 KOs) of Marina Del Rey, California by way of Velyka Dymerka, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine in the tenth.
By midway through the fight both fighters had their moments, with neither distancing themselves from the other in any meaningful way. In the seventh round Russell, 139.4, started out more aggressively, as Postol, 140.6, slowed his output. As the fight went to the ninth, Russell’s face looked the worse for wear as Postol picked his spots and landed clean.
Russell came out inspired in the tenth, pressuring Postol around the ring and landing with hard blows. In what looked to be a premature stoppage, based on the conditions of the fight and considering the fighter in question, referee Michael Ortega stepped in at 2:31 of the tenth with Postol taking combinations on the ropes.
With the win, Russell claimed the vacant WBA Continental Americas light welterweight title and may find himself one win away from a world title opportunity.

Previously largely unknown Fernando Daniel Martinez (14-0, 8 KOs) of Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina ended the longest active title reign in boxing by outwilling a great champion in Jerwin Ancajas (33-2-2, 22 KOs) of Panabo City, Davao del Norte, Philippines over twelve action-packed rounds en route to a unanimous decision to claim the IBF super flyweight title.
After a tactical first round, Ancajas, 114.6, came with a dedicated body attack that began to slow Martinez’ aggression in the second. However, Martinez, 114.6, rebounded to exchange on mostly even terms in the third until Ancajas uncorked a combination that staggered the Argentinian near the end of the round.
The fourth and fifth featured excellent two-way action and even though Martinez’ face sprung a small leak, it was the Argentinian that came on strongest with a series of left hands.
Ancajas struggled to keep up with Martinez’ output as the fight wore on through the middle rounds. Martinez continually loaded up with his left while Ancajas looked for openings. The Filipino champion closed out the eighth well, placing stiff blows between Martinez’ guard.
Undeterred, Martinez came on strong in the eighth and ninth, loading up on head shots as Ancajas struggled to fend off the onslaught. The younger Martinez refused to let off the gas pedal through the end of the bout, but the veteran Ancajas showed the resiliency that aided his long title reign. After great two-way action to close the bout, it was Martinez that was crowned champion by scores of 117-111 and 118-110 twice.
Claudio Marrero (26-5, 18 KOs) of Santo Domingo, Districto National, Dominican Republic won a hard-fought eight-round majority decision over previously unbeaten Viktor Slavinskyi (13-1-1, 6 KOs) of Los Angeles, California by way of Mykolaiv, Mykolaiv Oblast, Ukraine.
Marrero, 130.8, got out to a hot start, keeping Slavinskyi, 129, at bay with his hard jab and stringing his combinations together in support. Midway through the fight Slavinskyi found more success landing clean, but it was ultimately Marrero’s early lead and strong workrate that carried the fight. One judge had the fight even at 76-76, but was overruled by the scores of 78-74 and 77-75. With the win, Marrero keeps himself alive as a potential opponent for a name adversary after having previously fought just one stay-busy bout since a decision defeat in a title eliminator against Xavier Martinez in 2020.
Powerfully built lightweight prospect Justin Cardona (7-0, 4 KOs) of Salinas, California beat down a game, but overmatched Joshua Draughter (4-2-1, 1 KO) of New Orleans, Louisiana before scoring a third-round stoppage.
Early in the first, a quick right hand scored a flash knockdown for Cardona, 132.6, when one of Draughter’s gloves touched the canvas as a result of the punch. Draughter, 130, seemed bothered every time he was touched by a lead left hand. Cardona continually found a home for his right hand as well, as evidenced by the swelling that quickly came to be near Draughter’s left eye.
After another punishing second round, Cardona tried to end matters with just about every punch he threw in the third. Without much coming in return from Draughter, the referee called a halt to the bout at 1:31 of the round, despite mild protest from the Louisiana native.
Local favorite Angel Barrientes (8-1, 6 KOs) of Las Vegas continued his rise back to prominence as a top prospect with a third-round technical knockout over Brian Cannady (10-3, 6 KOs) of Fort Myers, Florida.
Barrientes, 121.6, came out placing some well-timed shots as Cannady, 119.8, was willing to throw in the early part of the opening round. As the round progressed, Cannady shifted to a defense first approach, covering up behind a high guard. Barrientes turned down the output and looked to pick his shots. Early in the second, Barrientes backed up Cannady and landed two overhand right to drop the Floridian along the ropes. Looking to regain his legs, Cannady looked to hold on the inside, but Barrientes did well to keep space for the most part.
Early in the third, a couple well-timed body shots backed Cannady into the ropes again. As Cannady struggled to stay up right and fell, he tackled Barrientes on his way down. Referee Michael Ortega, noticing the trend of the fight, chose this moment to call a halt to the bout at 1:31of the third round. Barrientes has now won five straight after suffering his lone pro defeat. For Cannady it was his third straight defeat after beginning his career 10-0.
In the opening bout of the evening, 19-year-old light middleweight prospect Micky Scala (5-0, 3 KOs) of Mesa, Arizona fired up a large gathering of his fans in an action-packed two-round stoppage of sturdy Jose Gomez Jr. (3-2, 3 KOs) of Concord, California.
Scala, 153.6, and Gomez, 150.8, came out ready to trade in a back-and-forth opening stanza. Gomez seemed to get a few more hard left hands in during the first half round of trading on the inside. Scala, who had a large cheering section from Arizona, was the first to hold on the inside, rather than throw punch-for-punch. Both fighters returned to their corner red-faced from the onslaught each brought.
Maybe something his corner said after the first fired up Scala, because he came out guns blazing from the opening ding. Finally a right hand on the inside dropped Gomez. The game combatant from Concord rose, but a series of unanswered punches caused a halt to the action in a neutral corner at 1:18 of the round.
Photos by Stephanie Trapp/Showtime
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com or followed on Twitter @MarioG280
Robinson stops Ortiz after three

PHILADELPHIA–Ray Robinson shook off a two-and-a-half year layoff by stopping veteran Silverio Ortiz after round three of a scheduled six-round junior middleweight bout in front of a big crowd at the 2300 Arena.
Robinson was very sharp with his punches as he continuously banged shots off the head of Ortiz. Ortiz was able to get in a some flush punches of his own. Robinson had a big round three as he had Ortiz in trouble several times. The corner of Ortiz had seen enough and bowed their charge out of the fight.
Robinson of Philadelphia is 25-3-2 with 13 knockouts. Ortiz of Mexico is 37-29.
Muhsin Cason remained undefeated with a 5th round stoppage over Steven Lyons in a scheduled six-round cruiserweight fight.
Cason got off to a slow start, but started to turn the fight around in the fourth frame. In round five, Cason landed a left-right and another hard left that put Lyons down for the count at 2:58.
Cason of Philadelphia via Las Vegas is 10-0 with seven knockouts. Lyons is 5-8-2.
Oscar Barajas won a six-round majority decision over Jerome Conquest in a lightweight fight.
Barajas of Mexico won by scores of 58-56 twice and 57-57 to raise his record to 17-8-1. Conquest of Philadelphia is 11-7.
Dominque Mayfield won a four-round unanimous decision over Darryl Clark in a heavyweight bout.
Mayfield scored a knockdown in round two and won by scores of 40-35 on all cards.
Mayfield of Philadelphia is 1-1. Clark of Houston is 1-2.
Joel Caudle stopped previously undefeated Robert Sabbagh after round four of their heavyweight fight.
Caudle was aggressive and was landing some hard shots until Sabbagh pulled the plug on the fight at the end of round four.
Caudle is 9-6-2 with six knockouts. Sabbagh of Brooklyn, NY is 3-1.
Good looking prospect Isaiah Johnson destroyed Dieumerci Nzau in 72 seconds of their junior welterweight fight.
Johnson viciously dropped Nzau with a hard left cross. He finished off Nzau with a hard combination that forced a stoppage.
Johnson is now 4-0 with four knockouts. Nzau is 11-16.
Edwin Cortes made it two straight over Jerrod Miner in a four-round bantamweight contest.
Cortes, 115.5 lbs of Millville, NJ won by 40-36 scores on all cards to go to 2-0. Miner, 119.2 lbs of Philadelphia is 2-14-2.
Jabril Noble stopped Joseph Santana in round one of a scheduled four-round lightweight bout.
In round one, Noble hurt Santana several times before dropping Santana with a left hook, and the fight was stopped at 2:01.
Noble, 134.2 lbs of Philadelphia is 3-0 with three knockouts. Santana, 139 lbs of Providence, RI is 0-5.
VIDEO: Lawrence Okolie vs Michal Cieslak Plus Undercard Weigh-In
OKOLIE VS. CIESLAK WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER

8 x 3 mins International Heavyweight contest DEMSEY MCKEAN 246lbs 1oz v ARIEL ESTEBAN BRACAMONTE 293lbs 1oz (Queensland, Australia) (La Cumbre, Argentina) followed by 6 x 3 mins International Light-Heavyweight contest followed by 6 x 3 mins International Cruiserweight contest followed by 17:00 GMT LIVE ON DAZN 6 x 3 mins Lightweight contest followed by 10 x 3 mins International Heavyweight contest followed by 10 x 3 mins International Middleweight contest followed by 12 x 3 mins European Featherweight Title followed by |
VIDEO: Chris Colbert talks “Primetime” Nickname & Wants Gary Russell Jr Next | SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
Taylor wins Split-Decision over Catterall; Retains Undisputed Junior Welterweight title

Josh Taylor escaped with a 12-round split decision over heavy underdog Jack Catterall to retain the undisputed junior welterweight title a the Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Scotland
It was a tough fight with Catterall getting through with overhand lefts. Taylor took a few rounds to get going and was able to get into the fight in the second half of the contest.
In round five, Taylor began to swell around his right eye.
In round eight, Catterall landed a left that was ruled a knockdown. In round 10, Catterall was deducted a point for hitting on the break. Taylor was deducted a point after round 11 for tapping Catterall after the bell.
Taylor landed just 73 of 302 punches; while Catterall was 120 of 525.
The judges saw the fight 114-111 and 113-112 for Taylor. Catterall won a scorecard 113-112.
Taylor, 140 lbs of Scotland is now 19-0. Catterall, 139 lbs of Chorley, ENG is 26-1.
Two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Robeisy Ramirez stopped Eric Donovan in round three of their 10-round featherweight bout.
In round one, Ramirez dropped Donovan with a straight left. In round three, Ramirez landed a hard left that sent Donovan down and the fight was over at 1:04.
Ramirez, 126.3 lbs of Cuba is 9-1 with five knockouts. Donovan, 126.3 lbs of Ireland is 14-2.
Nick Campbell scored a 7th round stoppage over Jay McFarlane in a scheduled 10-round heavyweight brawl
In round seven, Campbell dropped McFarlane with a right uppercut. Campbell continued to batter McFarlane with hard power shots and the fight was finally stopped at 2:18.
Campbell, 254 lbs of Glasgow, SCO is 5-0 with five knockouts. McFarlane, 276 lbs of Glasgow is now 12-6.
Paddy Donovan remained undefeated with a 6th and final round stoppage over Miroslav Serban in a welterweight fight.
In round six, Serban was cut around the left ear. and the fight was stopped.
Donovan, 146 lbs of Limerick, IRE is 8-0 with six knockouts. Serban, 145 lbs of the Czech Republic is 13-9.
Ebonie Jones and Eftychia Kathopuli fought to a six-round draw in a featherweight contest.
The referee score was 57-57. Jones, 126 lbs of Portsmouth, ENG is 1-0-1. Kathopuli, 124 lbs of Scotland is 4-3-1.
John Docherty stopped Jordan Grant in round two of their eight-round super middleweight fight.
In the 2nd frame, Docherty landed a left uppercut to to the body that sent Grant down for the count at 2:49.
Docherty, 172 lbs of Scotland is 12-1 with nine knockouts. Grant, 176 lbs of Hamilton, SCO is 4-2.
Bilal Fawaz stopped Malam Varela in round three of their four-round middleweight contes.
In round one, Fawaz was credited with a knockdown and a left knocked Varela off balance. In round three, Fawaz landed a 16 punch flurry on the ropes, and the fight was stopped.
Fawaz, 158.3 lbs of London, ENG is 2-0 with two knockouts. Varela, 162 lbs of Manchester, ENG is 1-2.
Scott Forrest stopped Eric Nazaryan in the 2nd round of their four-round cruiserweight bout after Nazaryan could not continue due to a arm injury.
The time was 1:08 for Forrest, 203.3 lbs who is 1-0 with one stoppage. Nazaryan, 207 lbs is 28-26-4-2.
2021 Olympian Kurt Walker stopped Jaroslav Hiradel in the opening round of their four-round featherweight bout.
In round one, Walker dropped Hiradel with a body shots, and the fight was stopped at 2:03
Walker, 129 lbs of Northern Ireland is 1-0 with one knockout. Hiradel, 127.3 lbs of the Czech Republic is 1-3.
Kieron Molloy made a successful pro debut with a 2nd round stoppage over Damian Esquisabel in a junior middleweight bout.
The time of the stoppage was 33 seconds for Molloy, who is now 1-0. Equisabel is 4-8.
JIMMY KELLY DEFEATS KANAT ISLAM TO CAPTURE THE WBO GLOBAL MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
PLANT CITY, Florida (Feb. 25, 2022): Jimmy “Kilrain” Kelly (26-2, 10 KOs) of Manchester, United Kingdom defeated Kazakh contender Kanat “QazaQ” Islam (28-1, 22 KOs) by majority decision in the ProBox Promotions’ main event Friday evening in Plant City, Florida.
Kelly, who captured the WBO Global Middleweight Championship, won with scores of 96-94, 97-93 and 95-95. The fight took place at Whitesands Event Center, one of 11 scraps put together by the Florida-based company headed by Garry Jonas.
“I thought I won every round,” said Jimmy Kelly, who admitted after that he wanted to fly home quickly to see his two kids. “I even hurt my hand and could only box with my jab during the last four rounds. Despite that, I still feel I won every round. I felt his pressure, but I didn’t feel his power. Kanat was looking for the counter all night, but I didn’t let him do it.”
In the co-main event, “Pistol” Pete Dobson (15-0, 9 KOs) of The Bronx, New York beat Mexican southpaw Jose Miguel Borrego (19-4) via wide unanimous decision. Dobson’s accuracy, movement, ring generalship, all of that added up to a long night for Borrego, by scores of 97-93, 98-92 and 100-90. Dobson has sharpened his game by getting superior sparring, against the likes of Terence Crawford, of late.
Jonathan Eniz (12-8, 2 KOs) of Buenos Aires, Argentina scored an upset unanimous decision victory against Mark Reyes Jr. (14-2, 12 KOs) of Tampa, Florida after 10 rounds of action. The three judges scored the fight in Eniz’s favor with the following scorecards: 95-94, 95-94, 96-93.
The Argentine won over the sold-out house with this fast hands, crazy stamina and slick movement. Reyes Jr looked a step behind at times, but he drew massive cheers from locals, for his ability to slick and duck, when he avoided getting tagged hard as Eniz flurried maniacally in round nine.
Najee Lopez (3-0, 3 KOs), a cruiserweight standout of Puerto Rican nationality who represents Ellwood, Georgia, scored a second-round knockout victory against Alex “El Principe” Theran (23-7, 15 KOs) in what was his first fight scheduled for six rounds. Lopez scored two knockdowns, the latter of which ended matters at :33 of the aforementioned round. Lopez said after that he believes he’s ready for another step up, after downing a boxer who’d battled Anthony Yarde, Yunieski Gonzalezand Hot Rod Kalajdzic. “I feel like I can compete with the best of them,” Lopez said after the victory.
Marques Valle (4-0, 4 KOs) of Wesley Chapel, Florida scored a vicious stoppage win over Robbie Rose (1-2) of Richburg, South Carolina in what was a scheduled six-round welterweight battle. The older Valle brother, age 23, ended the fight at 1:29 of the very first round. His power and hand speed were on a different level.
Rising Puerto Rican knockout artist Julio Solis (6-0, 6 KOs) scored a first-round knockout against Trenton Gibson (1-1) of San Antonio, Texas in a lightweight battle originally scheduled for four rounds. The time of stoppage was 1:41 of the opening round. A healthy portion of the sold-out crowd seemed to be Solis rooters.
Floridan prospect Dominic Valle (3-0, 3 KOs) defeated Nelson Colon Torres (4-6, 3 KOs) of Aibonito, Puerto Rico via knockout in what was originally a scheduled four-round bout in the super featherweight division. Valle, the younger of the Valles, at 21, ended matters at 1:56 of the third round.
Light heavyweight Matthew Tinker (8-0, 6 KOs), a UK-born prospect who calls the United States his home, maintained his undefeated record by defeating Brandon Maddox (8-5-1, 6 KOs) of Detroit, Michigan via six-round unanimous decision. Tinker, using a persistent jab, won with scores of 58-56, 58-56, and 59-55.
Casey Dixon (1-0, 1 KO) of Atlanta, George won his first professional bout via second-round knockout against Arsenio Hall (3-6) of Chester, South Carolina in a light heavyweight clash. The brawler Dixon ended matters at :28 of round two.
Imran Haddabah (4-0, 4 KOs) of Saint Petersburg, Florida knocked out Dominique Wiltz (0-3) of Houston, in a light heavyweight bout. The bout was halted at 2:39 of the second round as the 6-4 winner struck with a nasty hook which buzzed Wiltz badly.
Tommy Wu (1-0) made a successful professional debut with a four-round unanimous decision win against Anthony Curtiss (3-14, 2 KOs) of Butte, Montana. The California welterweight came out rumbling in the first, and he found a stubborn target in Curtiss. Wu won via scores of 39-36, 40-36 and 40-36.
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#
Islam vs. Kelly was a 10-round fight presented by ProBox Promotions for the WBO Global Middleweight Championship. The event took place on Friday, Feb. 25 at Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida.
About ProBox Promotions
ProBox Promotions is a Florida-based company founded by entrepreneur Garry Jonas out of a desire to incorporate his love of boxing and business marketing to develop a revolutionary way to promote the sport. The company boasts an impressive stable of fighters that includes Erickson Lubin, Mark Reyes Jr., Jose Miguel Borrego and more.
Colbert, Garcia to Clash as Gutierrez Awaits the Winner

By Mario Ortega Jr.-
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — Tomorrow night, heading a Showtime-televised tripleheader from the Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chris Colbert aims to stay on the path towards recognition as a world champion as he takes on ranked contender Hector Luis Garcia in a WBA super featherweight title eliminator. For the winner, the prize will be a meeting with WBA kingpin Roger Gutierrez, who had been primed to defend against Colbert on Saturday before a COVID-19 diagnosis two weeks prior. Fighters for the entire card weighed-in Friday at the Nolita 1 Ballroom, four floors up from the casino floor.
The recent lineage of the WBA’s 130-pound title is a far too complicated web to completely untangle in this space, but the belt looms over the main event. In short, Colbert claimed the interim version of the title with a unanimous decision over Jezzrel Corrales in 2020 and went on to defend it twice before it was eliminated from circulation. Gutierrez, who had claimed what had been referred to as the “regular” WBA title in 2021, was elevated to full champion with defending against Colbert the next required step for consolidation.
On February 10th, rumors of Gutierrez’ medical condition were confirmed, leaving Colbert without his opportunity to gain full recognition as the WBA champion at 130-pounds or a dance partner for the 26th.
Enter stage left Garcia (14-0, 10 KOs) of San Juan de la Maguana, San Juan, Dominican Republic. With the short notice, the WBA and promoter Tom Brown looked to the sanctioning body’s featherweight rankings, where Garcia places fifth. Garcia, who scaled 129.6-pounds, was last seen rebounding from a first-round knockdown to decision Isaac Avelar in a super featherweight bout last December.
Colbert (16-0, 6 KOs) of Broolyn, New York was relieved of his interim champion moniker in anticipation of the consolidation bout, but now finds himself in an eliminator, fighting for the opportunity he was already granted. Apparently this is by design, as Colbert, should he still be holding his interim champ tag, would be best described as a fighting champion. Reports suggest Colbert could have simply waited for Gutierrez, but chose to fight and keep the date with Showtime. Colbert scaled 128.8-pounds Friday.

One of the longest active titleholders in boxing, IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas (33-1-2, 22 KOs) of Panabo City, Davao del Norte, Philippines will attempt to defend his mantle successfully for the tenth straight outings against Fernando Daniel Martinez (13-0, 8 KOs) of Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina over twelve rounds.
Ancajas, weighing 114.6-pounds on Friday, has not lost a bout since 2012 and claimed his belt back in 2016 with a unanimous decision over then-champion McJoe Arroyo in the Philippines. Ten months ago Ancajas made his ninth successful defense with a unanimous decision win over once-beaten Jonathan Javier Rodriguez Valles in Connecticut and on Showtime.
Martinez, who weighed-in at 114.6-pounds also, is taking what appears to be a monumental step-up in class from the competition he has seen thus far in his professional career. Martinez last saw action against a sub .500 fighter in Dubai, scoring a fourth-round stoppage in the stay busy bout. Martinez has seen the tenth round or later just three times in his career.

The fight that has most insiders excited going into the televised tripleheader, mega prospect Gary Antuanne Russell (14-0, 14 KOs) of Capitol Heights, Maryland will take on grizzled veteran Viktor Postol (31-3, 12 KOs) of Marina Del Rey, California by way of Velyka Dymerka, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine in a ten-round junior welterweight bout that likely has title implications for the winner.
On top of the career stakes for both fighters, there’s a high level of emotional components heading into the fight. Notably, Postol’s home country has come under attack in recent days, which will clearly be weighing on the mind in some way for the former champion. Russell lost his brother Gary “Boosa” to a heart attack in 2020, while his father battles serious medical issues himself presently. Facing the same backdrop of events, Russell’s older brother Gary Jr. recently dropped his title in a close fight.
With a win over a credible contender like Postol, Russell may be at the cusp of completely escaping his older brother’s shadow and launching himself into a world title opportunity. Postol represents a step-up in class for Russell, last seen stopping Jovannie Santiago last May, and is the first former champion the Maryland native has shared the ring with.
Unlike Russell, Postol has been in the ring with the top guys of the 140-pound division time and time again, going the distance, but coming up short against the Murderer’s Row of Jose Carlos Ramirez, Josh Taylor and Terence Crawford. Prior to the Crawford bout, Posol achieved the dream of becoming world champion with a tenth-round stoppage of Lucas Matthysse back in 2015. The question to be answered: does Postol still have it in the tank to turn back a young blue-chip prospect? Russell hopes to put himself in the same sentence with the three that turned back Postol’s challenge. Russell came in at 139.4-pounds, while Postol scaled 140.6-pounds.
In off-television action, veteran contender Claudio Marrero (25-5, 18 KOs) of Santo Domingo, Districto National, Dominican Republic will take on Viktor Slavinskyi (13-0-1, 6 KOs) of Los Angeles, California by way of Mykolaiv, Mykolaiv Oblast, Ukraine in an eight-round super featherweight bout. Marrero, who weighed-in at 130.8-pounds, is looking to get back in line for title contention, having fought one stay-busy bout since a decision defeat in a title eliminator against Xavier Martinez in 2020. Ukrainian import Slavinskyi, who fights while his homeland surely weighs on his mind, is taking a leap in competition in meeting Marrero Saturday. Slavinskyi, who came in at 129-ppunds, has gone the ten-round distance once in his career.
Guerrero Family pupil Justin Cardona (6-0, 3 KOs) of Salinas, California will take on Joshua Draughter (4-1-1, 1 KO) of New Orleans, Louisiana in a six-round lightweight fight. Cardona, who trains under Robert Guerrero and the former world champion’s father/trainer Ruben, weighed-in at 132.6-pounds. Draughter, who is 1-1-1 in his last three fights, came in at 130-pounds.
19-year-old light middleweight prospect Micky Scala (4-0, 2 KOs) of Mesa, Arizona will battle Jose “El Guero” Gomez Jr. (3-1, 3 KOs) of Concord, California in a six-round contest. Scala, a nationally regarded youth amateur before turning professional at 16-years-old in 2019, came in at 153.6-pounds. Gomez, who trains out of the Double Trouble Boxing Club in Antioch, California, weighed-in at 150.8-pounds.
Once-beaten super bantamweight Angel Barrientes (7-1, 5 KOs) of Las Vegas will take on Brian Cannady (10-2, 6 KOs) of Fort Myers, Florida in a four-rounder. Barrientes, who has rebounded from his lone pro defeat to go 4-0 and stop three opponents, weighed-in at 121.6-pounds. Cannady, who came in at 119.8, has lost two straight decisions after beginning his career undefeated in ten bouts.
Former two-division champion, Rances Barthelemy (29-1, 15 KOs) of Las Vegas by way of Havana, La Habana, Cuba had been pegged to continue his slow rise back to prominence against returning Chris Howard (17-2-1, 8 KOs) of Cincinnati, Ohio in an eight-round light welterweight contest, but that bout fell off the card at some point.
17-year-old welterweight prospect David Lopez (1-0, 1 KO) of Oakland, California was slated to meet Corey Champion (2-4, 2 KOs) of Louisa, Virginia in a four-rounder. Champion opted to fight February 19th instead, where he was decisioned over four-rounds by Joseph Veazy in Maryland.
Former nationally ranked amateur light heavyweight Chavon Davis of Ambridge, Pennsylvania by way of Mansfield, Ohio was slated to make his professional debut against Nathan Davis Sharp (4-3, 4 KOs) of Merced, California in a four-rounder. Late in fight week that bout was a no-go for undisclosed reasons.
Tickets for the Premier Boxing Champions event, promoted by TGB Promotions, are available online at AXS.com.
Quick Weigh-in Results:
WBA Super Featherweight Title Eliminator, 12 Rounds
Colbert 128.8
Garcia 129.6
IBF Super Flyweight Championship, 12 Rounds
Ancajas 114.6
Martinez 114.6
WBA Continental America’s Light Welterweight Championship, 10 Rounds
Russell 139.4
Postol 140.6
Super Featherweights, 8 Rounds
Marrero 130.8
Slavinskyi 129
Lightweights, 6 Rounds
Cardona 132.6
Draughter 130
Light Middleweights, 6 Rounds
Scala 153.6
Gomez 150.8
Super Bantamweights, 4 Rounds
Barrientes 121.6
Cannady 119.8
Photos by Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com or followed on Twitter @MarioG280
Weights from Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (February 25, 2022)–Weights for Saturday Night’s RDR Promotions show at the 2300 Arena.
Ray Robinson 154 – Silverio Ortiz 156.3
Muhsin Cason 195.1 – Steven Lyons 198.7
Jerome Conquest 138.4 – Oscar Barajas 139.6
Dominick Mayfield 252.9 – Darryl Clark 240.9
Isaiah Johnson 139.5 – Dieumerci Nzau 144
Robert Sabbagh 227.4 – Joel Caudle 283.5
Jabril Noble 134.2 – Joseph Santana 139
Edwin Cortes 115.2 – Jerrod Miner 119.2
PROMOTER: RDR PROMOTIONS
VENUE 2300 ARENA
1ST BELL: 7 PM ET
STREAM: BXNGTV.COM
Tickets are $75, $100 and $150 and can be purchased at
POUND-FOR-POUND SUPERSTAR CANELO ALVAREZ SIGNS MULTI FIGHT DEAL WITH MATCHROOM AND DAZN

Pound-for-pound superstar Canelo Alvarez (57-1-2, 30 KOs) has signed a new multi-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing and DAZN. The first fight will see boxing’s biggest attraction step up in weight to take on Dmitry Bivol (19-0, 11 KOs) in a bid for the WBA Light-Heavyweight title on May 7. The second fight in the multi-fight deal is set for September. The May 7 blockbuster will be available to subscribers around the world on DAZN, excluding Latin America and Mexico. In the U.S. & Canada, the event will be offered exclusively on DAZN Pay-Per View (PPV) – newly introduced for very select events to come – and priced at $59.99 for current subscribers and $79.99 for new subscribers (inclusive of a one month subscription to DAZN). Canelo Alvarez claimed the IBF Super-Middleweight strap last time out against a tough Caleb Plant, becoming the first boxer ever to become undisputed champion at Super-Middleweight. Prior to that, the Mexican star picked up the WBA, WBC, WBO and The Ring Magazine Super-Middleweight titles against Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders respectively, all within a year to make history and cement his spot as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, a memorable period that saw the 31 year old bag numerous fighter of the year awards including ESPN, Sports Illustrated and Ring Magazine. Dmitry Bivol has been flawless in the paid ranks and now bags the blockbuster showdown he’s been craving in the form of boxing’s pound-for-pound king Canelo. Bivol picked up the WBA Light-Heavyweight title in 2016 and has defended it an impressive ten times already to become of the best active Light-Heavyweight fighters in the world. “I am very happy with this fight against Dmitry Bivol,” said Canelo. “It is another great challenge for me and my career — especially as I go up in weight and face an exceptional light heavyweight champion like Bivol. “I am also very excited that we have this fight slated for Cinco De Mayo Weekend – May 7 – for all the fans to enjoy. We will be ready, like we always are.” “I always only wanted to fight the best!” said Bivol. “I believe that the rest of my goals will begin materialize on May 7!” “It is an absolutely honour to announce a multi fight promotional deal with the pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Canelo transcends boxing and is the biggest star in the sport and we look forward to promoting some historic nights in 2022 live on DAZN PPV. First up, Saul takes on yet another champion, this time in the shape of fearsome undefeated WBA Light-Heavyweight king Dmitry Bivol. Fans can expect a thrilling all-action match up and we look forward the pair coming face to face at a press conference in San Diego next Wednesday.” “Bivol vs Canelo, this is going to be a very competitive and interesting fight,” said Andrei Ryabinskiy of World of Boxing. “I am very glad that we were able to make this happen, for Dmitry this is a big chance!” “This will be a great night of boxing where two of the best collide for the highest recognition in the sport!” said Bivol’s manager, Vadim Kornilov. “The victor on May 7 will go on to become the biggest name in boxing for many more years to come!” “We’re delighted to continue growing our long-term partnership with Canelo, beginning with a spectacular clash between the pound-for-pound king and a very tough and determined champ in Dmitry Bivol,” said Ed Breeze, DAZN EVP, Rights. “Both fighters were eager for this battle and we’re thrilled to make it happen around the world on DAZN as well as in the U.S. & Canada by way of the introduction of DAZN PPV. It’s a truly mega matchup and we look forward to broadcasting it to fight fans all over the globe.” 2022 – At A Glance Aside from the May 7 event, DAZN’s schedule for U.S. subscribers in 2022 is strong as ever, including the below with dozens more still to come: February 5: Carlos Cuadras vs. Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (Winner) February 12: Daniel Jacobs vs. John Ryder (Winner) February 19: Jaime Munguía (Winner) vs. D’Mitrius Ballard February 27: Lawrence Okolie vs. Michal Cieslak March 5: Chocolatito III vs. Julio Cesar Martinez March 12: Leigh Wood vs. Michael Conlan March 19: Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Michael McKinson March 26: Kiko Martinez vs. Josh Warrington II April 9: Ryan Garcia vs. Emmanuel Tagoe April 30: Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano May 7: Canelo Alvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol (Live Exclusively on DAZN PPV) The May 7 Canelo vs. Bivol mega matchup will be on DAZN PPV in the U.S., marking the first of very occasional events to come that will be sparingly offered to fight fans on top of a DAZN subscription. This event is priced at $59.99 for current subscribers on the app and $79.99 for new subscribers (inclusive of one month’s subscription to DAZN). The DAZN subscription in the U.S. is currently priced at $19.99 a month or just $99.99 for an entire year (which equates to only $8.33 per month). At this unrivalled value, existing subscribers will continue to enjoy a stacked boxing schedule of at least 50 top-tier fight nights annually, discounted PPV events, and an ever-growing slate of DAZN Originals including many of the most fascinating stories and figures in boxing. New subscribers to DAZN in the U.S. can continue to take advantage of the current annual subscription cost of $99.99 until May 2. Those signing up for an annual subscription after May 2 will be charged the new annual price of $149.99 (which still just equates to only $12.50 per month). Existing subscribers will be grandfathered in at their current $99.99 annual subscription cost. |
GEGARD MOUSASI CONTINUES LEGENDARY CAMPAIGN AS MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION WITH DECISIVE FIRST ROUND TKO VICTORY
C- Gegard Mousasi (49-7-2) defeated #1- Austin Vanderford (11-1) via TKO (punches) at 1:25 of round one
Gegard Mousasi defends his middleweight title: “Well, I was taking my time, I wanted to hurt him. I never said I was the best middleweight, but now I’m going to say it, I’m the best middleweight.
“From now on I am going to destroy some people. I’m good, I’m confident, I’m at my best ever. I’ve never been so confident in my life.”
#5- Sinead Kavanagh (8-5) defeated #4- Leah McCourt (6-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Sinead Kavanagh following her unanimous decision win: “The knee went at the first second, it just buckled and I could hardly even stand. I had to turn this into a dog fight, but I told you guys I have a good game on the ground. I just ground my teeth and dug deep. I have full Irish heart and fighting heart, that is what that was.”
Ciaran Clark (5-0) defeated Abou Tounkara (7-3) via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at 5:00 of round one
Ciaran Clarke speaking following the win in front of his home fans: “Look I’m delighted to get this victory in front of the Irish fans. I feel terrible that it happened via injury, but I’m so happy to get the victory in Bellator. Thanks to Scott Coker and everyone for having me fight on the main card.
“This is a dream come true. Look at me now; years ago I was the swing bout, now I’m on the main card.”
Khasan Magomedsharipov (7-0) defeated Jose Sanchez (11-2) via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
#9- Jornel Lugo (8-0) defeated Brian Moore (14-9) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
PRELIMINARY CARD:
Brett Johns (18-3) defeated Khurshed Kakhorov (8-1) via TKO (punches) at 3:00 of round three
Davy Gallon (20-7-2) defeated Charlie Leary (17-12-1) via TKO (punches) at 3:01 of round two
Stephanie Page (6-3) defeated Danni McCormack (5-1) via TKO (punches) at 1:46 of round one
Darragh Kelly (1-0) defeated Junior Morgan (3-1) via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:47 of round one
Vladimir Tokov (8-1) defeated Daniele Scatizzi (11-6) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Gokhan Saricam (7-1) defeated Kirill Sidelnikov (13-7) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Nathan Kelly (4-2) defeated Scott Pederson (1-3) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Lee Hammond (2-0) defeated Jamie Hay (2-1) via TKO (punches) at 3:32 of round one
****
Updated schedule of BELLATOR events
Fri. Mar. 12 // BELLATOR 276: Borics vs. Burnell // The Family Arena // St. Louis, Mo.
Fri. Apr. 15 // BELLATOR 277: McKee vs. Pitbull 2/Nemkov vs. Anderson // SAP Center // San Jose, Calif.
Fri. May 6 // BELLATOR PARIS: Bader vs. Kongo 2 // Accor Arena // Paris, FRA
Fri. May 13 // BELLATOR LONDON: Amosov vs. MVP // The OVO Arena Wembley // London
****
About BELLATOR
BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, BELLATOR events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, BELLATOR can be seen on SHOWTIME. BELLATOR is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. BELLATOR is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
Granite Chin weights from Natick, Mass.
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (February 25, 2022) – The official weigh in for tomorrow night’s “Showcase” pro boxing card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions, was held today at SKYBOKX 109 Sports Bar and Grill in Natick, Massachusetts.
“Showcase” will be streamed live from Sheraton Hotel in Framingham (MA) on bxngtv.com for $19.99.
Limited tickets will be on sale fight night while they last at the venue.
Fighters’ Weights below:
OFFICIAL WEIGHTS
WI ME.JPG
MAIN EVENT – JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS (8)
(R) Israel Rojas (14-25, 5 KOs), Aqua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico 138.8 lbs.
(L) Jeffrey Torres (9-1, 5 KOs), New Haven, CT by way of Puerto Rico 138.6 lbs.
WI CF.JPG
CO-FEATURE – WELTERWEIGHTS (6)
Alfred Raymond (1-0) Warwick, RI 151.2 lbs.
Denzel Whitley (7-0, 5 KOs), Holyoke, MA 147.4 lbs.
MIDDLEWEIGHTS (10)
Manny Woods (17-15-1, 6 KOs), Saint Petersburg, FL TOMORROW
Larry Smith (12-50-4 (8 KOs), Dallas, TX TOMORROW
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS (6)
Carlos Castillo (4-0, 3 KOs), Holyoke, MA 154.6 lbs.
Antonio Chaves Fernandez (9-41-4, 3 KOs), Brockton, MA by way of Cape Verde 153 lbs.
WELTERWEIGHTS (6)
Josniel Castro (8-0, 6 KOs), Boca Raton, FL 148.8 lbs.
Juan Jesus Rivera Garces (18-27, 12 KOs), Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico 155.2 lbs.
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Kevin Lewis (pro debut), Framingham, MA 182.8 lbs.
Saul Almeida (0-14-4), Framingham, MA by way of Brazil 183.8 lbs.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS (4)
Scott Lampert (2-3, 2 KOs), Dover, NY 178.6 lbs.
Stephen Langlais (3-1, 2 KOs), Acushnet, MA 174.8 lbs.
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS (4)
Laurent Humes (3-0, 3 KOs), Enfield, CT 169 lbs.
Juan Celin Zapata (6-20-2, 4 KOs), Bronx, NY by way of Honduras TOMORROW
David Rohn (0-11-1), Moline, TOMORROW.
Steve Sumpter (3-0, 3 KOs), Pittsfield, MA 171.4 lbs.
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS (4)
Jamer Jones (2-0, 2 KOs), Pittsfield, MA 152.6 lbs.
Maycon Oller (0-3), Concord, NH by way of Brazil TOMORROW
Robert Bricks (0-8), New York, NY 154.8 lbs.
Anthony Andreozzi (0-1), Swansea, MA 158.2 lbs.
Rynell Griffen (8-50-2, 2 KOs), Las Vegas, NV TOMORROW
Eric Tudor (1-0), Fort Lauderdale, FL 155.4 lbs.
JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS (4)
Ronny Arana (0-4), New York, NY by way of Ecuador 131.6 lbs.
Felix Parrilla (3-0, 3 KOs), New Haven, CT 125.6 lbs.
(card subject to change)
INFORMATION:
Facebook.com/GraniteChin
Twitter: @Granite_Chin
CHRIS COLBERT VS. HECTOR GARCIA OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND COMMISSION OFFICIALS

WBA Super Featherweight World Title Eliminator– 12 Rounds
Chris Colbert – 128 ¾ lbs.
Hector Garcia – 129 ½ lbs.
Referee: Kenny Bayless; Judges: Patricia Morse Jarman (Nev.), Dave Moretti (Nev.), Steve Weisfeld (N.J.)
Super Lightweight Bout – 10 Rounds
Gary Antuanne Russell – 139 ½ lbs.
Viktor Postol – 140 ½ lbs.
Referee: Mike Ortega; Judges: Tim Cheatham (Nev.), Glenn Feldman (Conn.), Lisa Giampa (Nev.)
IBF Junior Bantamweight World Championship – 12 Rounds
Jerwin Ancajas – 114 ½ lbs.
Fernando Martinez – 114 ½ lbs.
Referee: Jack Reiss; Judges: Max DeLuca (Calif.), David Sutherland (Okla.), Steve Weisfeld (N.J.)
Veteran sportscaster Brian Custer will host the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast while versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo will handle blow-by-blow action alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and three-division world champion Abner Mares. Three Hall of Famers round out the SHOWTIME telecast team – Emmy® award winning reporter Jim Gray, unofficial scorer Steve Farhood and world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. The executive producer is four-time Emmy® award winner David Dinkins, Jr. Saturday’s telecast is produced by Ray Smaltz III and the director is Bob Dunphy, son of legendary Hall of Famer Don Dunphy. Former junior middleweight world champion Raúl “El Diamante” Marquez and sportscaster Alejandro Luna serve as expert analysts in Spanish on Secondary Audio Programming (SAP).
# # #
ABOUT COLBERT VS. GARCÍA
Colbert vs. García will see undefeated rising star Chris “Primetime” Colbert square off against unbeaten Dominican Olympian Hector García in a 12-round WBA Super Featherweight World Title Eliminator headlining live on SHOWTIME Saturday, February 26 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast kicks off at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and will feature another unbeaten young phenom in the co-main event. Gary Antuanne Russell, a 2016 U.S. Olympian, faces former world champion Viktor Postol in a 10-round super lightweight bout, while IBF Junior Bantamweight World Champion Jerwin Ancajas defends his title against unbeaten Argentine Fernando Martinez in the televised opener of the loaded tripleheader.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #ColbertGarcia, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.
Split-T Management Super Six in Action This Weekend
NEW YORK – February 25, 2022 – On the Heels of Sonny Conto’s unanimous decision on Thursday night in Philadelphia, six Split-T Management fighters will look to follow suit over the weekend throughout the United States and The Dominican Republic.
Friday night in Plant City, Florida, brothers Marques and Dominic Valle will look to stay undefeated as Marques takes on Robbie Rose in a six-round super welterweight fight, while Dominic battles Nelson Colon Torres in a four-round super featherweight fight.
Maques of Wesley Chapel, Florida is 3-0 with three knockouts. The 23 year-old, has a win over Leonidad Fowlkes (2-0) and is coming off a 1st round stoppage over Jimmy Rosario on August 7th.
Rose of Richburg, South Carolina is 1-1 and is coming off a win over Vincent Gigante on December 25, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey.
Dominic is 2-0 with two knockouts. At 21 years-old, the younger Valle took out Michael Gaxiola on August 7th in Plant City, Florida.
Torres of Cayey, Puerto Rico is 4-6 with three-knockouts.
Marques Valle weighed 148 lbs. Rose was 149.6
Dominic Valle was 128.8 lbs. Torres weighed 130 lbs.
The Valle brothers are promoted by Probox Promotions.
On Saturday night, four more distinguished fighters will be in action.
In Philadelphia, welterweight Ray Robinson returns to the ring in a six-round main event against Silverio Ortiz at the 2300 Arena.
Robinson of Philadelphia, has a record of 24-3-2 with 12 knockouts. The 36 year-old Robinson will be shaking off a two-and-a-half-year layoff as he is coming off of back-to-back draws with world title challenger Egidijust Kavaliauskas (21-0) and former British Olympian Josh Kelly (9-0). In both of those fights, most observers believe that Robinson should have had his hand raised in victory. Robinson has wins over Roberto Acevedo (2-0-1), Darnell Jiles Jr. (8-0-1), Former U.S. Olympian Terrance Cauthen (36-7-1), Ray Narh (26-2), Aslanbek Kozoev (25-0-1) and Sherzodbek Almjanov (22-2).
Ortiz of Merida, Mexico has a record of 37-28 with 18 knockouts. At 39 years-old, Ortiz is a 22 year veteran of the ring and has faced no less than nine world champions and a plethora of title challengers, contenders and prospects. He has wins over Juan Carlos Chan (9-1-1), Ricardo Dominguez (13-0-2), former world title challenger Daniel Seda (20-1-1), Elvis Perez (18-4-3), Mahonri Montes (25-0-1), Armando Robles (24-1-2), Jesus Gurrola (19-4-3), Jorge Silva (20-4-2), Ivan Pereya (19-2), Felipe De La Paz Teniente (11-2-1), Mian Hussein (16-0), Ramzan Baysarov (7-0). Ortiz is coming off a loss to Chrodale Booker on September 24, 2021 in Hartford, Connecticut.
In Atlanta, super middleweight, Money Powell IV takes on veteran Fidel Monterrosa Munoz in an eight-round bout.
Powell of Fort Mitchell, Alabama is 12-1 with seven knockouts. The 24 year-old Powell has won two in a row and is coming off a decision win over William Langston on February 27, 2021 in Atlanta.
Munoz of Barranquilla, Colombia is 39-27-1 with 31 knockouts. The 33 year-old Munoz has faced four world champions as well as many contenders and top prospects. Munoz is coming off a decision loss to undefeated Anthony Hines on October 29th in Melrose, Massachusetts.
Powell is promoted by ProBox Promotions.
In Multisuto, Dominican Republic, undefeated junior lightweight, Yan Santana will look to make it 3-0 when he takes on Juan Ysabel in a four-round bout.
Santana, 22 years-old of La Romana, Dominican Republic is 2-0 with two first-round stoppages, coming off an early win over Juan Nicasio Mercedes on December 21st in the Dominican Republic.
Ysabel is making his pro debut.
At the Caribe Royale In Orlando, Florida, lightweight Joseph Adorno will take on Iron Alvarez for the IBO USBO title.
Adorno, 22 years-old of Allentown, Pennsylvania is 14-0-2 with 12 knockouts, recently signed with GH3 Promotions, and has wins over Marcos Antonio Ocano (1-0), Kevin Cruz (8-0) and Damian Alejandro Sosa (9-2). Adorno is coming off a draw with undefeated Jamaine Ortiz on April 24, 2021 in Kissimmee, Florida.
Alvarez, 28 years-old of Tampa, Florida, has a record of 14-1 with 10 knockouts. He won his first 14 bouts and is coming off first professional blemish as he lost to undefeated Christian Tapia on December 4th in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
VIDEO: RDR Promotions Weigh In: Ray Robinson vs Silverio Ortiz Plus Undercard
AUDIO: Welterweight Ray Robinson talks about his upcoming fight with Silverio Ortiz
VIDEO: Welterweight Ray Robinson talks about his upcoming fight with Silverio Ortiz
VIDEO: Lawrence Okolie vs Michal Cieslak Plus Undercard Press Conference
OKOLIE VS. CIESLAK + UNDERCARD PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman:
“A huge night of boxing planned for Sunday, I’ve always felt there is massive potential for Sunday boxing, and you’ll see it in full action and flow this weekend – starting at 3pm in London and main event expected in the ring around 9pm live on DAZN. Lawrence Okolie: “I’ve had 17 fights, 14 by KO, on the weekend it’ll be 18 and 15 by KO. Everyone can say what they want about the opponent until after I’ve beaten them and then we’ll be onto the next one and we’ll see what everyone says about him. Shane McGuigan, trainer of Lawrence Okolie: “Cieslak put on a fantastic performance against Makabu and I thought arguably could have won that fight. He’s only got the one blemish on his record, but these are the fights we need for Lawrence Okolie, he is the best Cruiserweight in the world, I know that for a fact – we just need to go out there a prove it. Michal Cieslak: “To be honest, I don’t care what other people think like media or supporters, I’m focused on myself and on what I’m going to do Sunday. Andrzej Liczik, trainer of Michal Cieslak: “I can confirm that Cieslak is very well prepared for the fight on Sunday, he will go out there and defeat the opponent, Lawrence Okolie. Carlos Vado Bautista: “I’m really happy to be here on this excellent bill, it’s going to be a great night. To be fair whether or not Galal is making his debut, it’s not relevant for me, all I know is he’ll be ready, I’ll be ready as well and we’re going to have a war. Karim Guerfi: “I’m happy to fight on this Matchroom show, probably the best promotor in the world. I’m ready for this fight, I really believe in myself and to prove who I am and why I’m a champion. Jordan Gill is a good technical fighter but I’m ready for him. I hope on Sunday it will be a great fight. Jordan Gill: “That’s why I win, I’m looking forward to it, it’s a big challenge and I thrive under pressure. The pressure is on, I’ve got to win this fight but I’m looking forward to it. Fabio Wardley: “No athlete likes to take time out of the sport they love but sometimes it’s needed and what we have to do, I took that time and everything’s back and firing at 100%. That was the plan, to get into a nice even place and have a really big year, I’m kicking it off with a big one against an opponent that’s been in with some top-level operators. That’s the way we’re starting things and I’m only looking to get bigger from here. Daniel Martz: “I’ve made the weight so easy this time, I’ve got a new nutritionist who has been a great help to me. You’re going to see a different animal on Sunday night, now I’m in the ring fully fuelled, in the best shape of my life and so mentally focused. I know this guy has never been stopped but come Sunday night I’m going to stop him; I’m going to break him down and stop him. Lukasz Maciec: “I know that this is a big opportunity for me, and I will intend to make the most of it. Campbell Hatton: Joe Ducker: “I just can’t wait, all the hard work is done, I’m just ready now.” John Hedges: Cheavon Clarke: “It’s exciting, I’m ready to go. It’s been very similar to the GB experience, there’s more media and people watching. I’m looking forward to getting started. Demsey McKean: |
TOM LOEFFLER’S 360 PROMOTIONS SIGNS IRISH AMATEUR STANDOUT CALLUM WALSH
Los Angeles, CA (February 24, 2022) Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions has signed Irish Amateur Standout Callum Walsh of Cork, Ireland, it was announced today. Trained in Los Angeles by Hall of Famer and Legendary Trainer Freddie Roach, the 21-year-old junior middleweight Walsh, (1-0, 1 KO), will fight for the second time as a professional at the Hollywood Fight Nights’ – St. Patrick’s Day Bash on Thursday, March 17 at the Quiet Cannon / Montebello Country Club.
Said Tom Loeffler about the signing, “We are excited to have Callum sign with 360 Promotions and put his trust in us directing his career. Ever since meeting Callum and his family, I knew he has star potential. With his amateur experience as one of the top boxers coming out of Ireland coupled with Freddie Roach, the sky’s the limit. Callum had an impressive KO in his pro debut last December. Just as impressive was the fan support that Callum already has. Many fans flew from Ireland for his pro debut, which was a sight to see.”
Stated Callum Walsh, “I’m very excited to sign with 360 Promotions. Tom Loeffler has accomplished great things in boxing and he’s definitely the right man to complete Team Walsh. With Freddie coaching, Tom lining them up and me knocking them down, Team Walsh is going straight to the top!”
Said Freddie Roach about his young charge, “Callum is a great prospect and a willing student. I love his attitude. There is no drama. He simply works hard and has a strong desire to improve. Those are the key ingredients to becoming a future world champion. I look forward to bringing out the best in him over the next few years.”
Prior to turning professional Walsh was a six-time Irish National Champion and also a European Champion. He made his pro debut with a first-round knockout of Earl Henry on December 10, 2021 at the Quiet Cannon. Walsh’s opponent for March 17 will be announced shortly. Callum is managed by Ian Buckley.
Advance Tickets for March 17, starting at $150 (VIP Ringside), $100 (Preferred Seating) and $80 (Reserved Seating), online at Hollywood Fight Nights / Seating. The Quiet Cannon – Montebello Country Club is located at 901 via San Clemente, Montebello, CA 90640. Doors will open on the night of the event at 5:30 p.m. PT. For more information on the venue please visit www.QuietCannon.com.
About 360 Promotions:
During 2017, Tom Loeffler founded 360 Promotions to provide rising boxers additional opportunities to develop their talents. In 2018, 360 Promotions launched the Hollywood Fight Nights series at the Avalon Nightclub in Hollywood, CA. Hollywood Fight Nights is billed as the VIP boxing experience which provides a platform for rising boxers to develop their talents as future champions.
Loeffler holds the record for having promoted the most heavyweight world title fights this century while promoting all the championship fights of Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko for K2 Promotions, a company he founded with the brothers. Tom also brought the Spotlight to the Flyweight division launching the Superfly Series on HBO that highlighted stars including Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, Juan Francisco Estrada, Kazuto Ioka, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Carlos Cuadras. Tom is best known for his work with Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin building him into an international superstar as the reigning middleweight world champion for the last 10 years. He strategically secured global sponsorship deals with Jordan Brand, Hublot, Tecate, Chivas, and Bijan. Tom has also worked with Hall of Fame fighters Shane Mosley, James Toney and Kevin Kelley as well as hosting the US debut of Naoya Inoue.
Social Media
#HollywoodFightNights
@360BoxingPromos
@TomLoeffler1
@360BoxingPromos
@callum_walsh1
@360BoxingPromotions
@TomLoeffler1
Website
SHOWDOWN AT THE ALAMODOME: RYAN GARCIA VS. EMMANUEL TAGOE, SAT., APRIL 9, LIVE ON DAZN

SAN ANTONIO, TX (February 25, 2022) – The undefeated, lighting fast Ryan “King Ry” Garcia (21-0, 18KOs) of Victorville, CA, makes his grand return to the ring on Saturday, April 9th, against Accra, Ghana’s Emmanuel “The Gameboy” Tagoe (32-1, 15KOs). The 12-round, lightweight Texas showdown will take place at San Antonio’s historic Alamodome on Saturday, April 9th, and will be streamed live worldwide on DAZN.
Tickets for Garcia vs. Tagoe go on sale Tuesday, March 1st at 10:00 a.m. CT and are priced at $250, $150, $100, $75, and $40, not including applicable facility fees. Tickets will be available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com or in-person at the Alamodome Box Office, Monday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. CT.
Fans have been awaiting the return of the boxing sensation, Ryan “King Ry” Garcia, a skilled, lightning-fast puncher who has steadily climbed the ranks of the lightweight division. A big win against Tagoe, a top ten contender, would propel Garcia to the top of the division. Garcia has defeated tough contenders like “Ruthless” Romero Duno, Francisco Fonseca, Carlos “The Solution” Morales, and Jason “La Maravilla” Velez. Garcia was last seen in a spectacular seventh-round stoppage of 2012 Olympic gold medalist, Luke Campbell.
“I am excited and motivated to be back in the ring finally. I’m ready to do something special and give the fans a show they will never forget,” said Ryan Garcia. “I always want to make sure I give all my fans something memorable every time I fight.”
Emmanuel “The Gameboy” Tagoe, from Accra, Ghana, has accumulated various titles since his professional debut in 2004, including the IBF International, WBA International, and WBO Africa lightweight titles. The 32-year-old is currently ranked #10 by the WBC in the lightweight division and has risen in the division’s ranks since his U.S. boxing debut in 2013 with a ninth-round stoppage of Gerardo Robles on ESPN2. His last outing came on November 27th, 2020, when Tagoe met former WBO NABO champion Mason Menard in a 10-round lightweight contest, defeating Menard via majority decision with scores of 98-82, 97-73, and 95-95.
“I have always wanted a fight against Ryan Garcia. It’s a dream come true for me to be the main event in such an important fight,” said Emmanuel Tagoe. “I am grateful to my manager, Peter Kahn, and promoter, Lou DiBella, for providing me with this opportunity. Thank you to Golden Boy Promotions for finally getting this fight done. This is the second time I will be fighting on DAZN, and I will use this opportunity to show myself off to the world. All of the pressure is on Ryan. I am going to make Ghana proud, and everyone will know who Emmanuel ‘Game Boy’ Tagoe is after April 9th in San Antonio.”
“Fans have been anticipating the grand return of Ryan Garcia to the ring,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman, and CEO of Golden Boy. “Ryan has captivated the sport with his incredible speed and power, and on April 9th, fans will get to see a big Texas showdown at the historic Alamodome. Emmanuel Tagoe is a top 10 lightweight contender, so this will be a challenging fight for Ryan. I can guarantee that April 9th will be a night fans will remember as Ryan’s Grand Return to boxing.”
“It’s great for boxing that Ryan Garcia is returning to the ring and, after a significant layoff, Ryan is taking on a legitimate top ten contender,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Emmanuel Tagoe has won 32 fights in a row, is hungry, and is one of the top boxing talents from Ghana. A hungry Ghanaian contender is a dangerous opponent, and the world is going to see it on April 9th.”
“Ryan Garcia is fast becoming one of the biggest names in the sport, and we are thrilled to see him return April 9th against a very tough competitor in Emmanuel Tagoe,” said Ed Breeze, EVP Rights, DAZN. “Ryan has already made a huge statement in the highly competitive lightweight division, and we look forward to broadcasting this can’t-miss event live and exclusively worldwide as part of a completely stacked spring boxing schedule on DAZN.”
“We are excited to host this wonderful matchup and to welcome back Golden Boy Promotions to the City of San Antonio and the iconic Alamodome.” said Stephen Zito, General Manager of the Alamodome.
Garcia vs. Tagoe is a 12-round lightweight fight presented by Golden Boy in association with DiBella Entertainment. The event is sponsored by Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle,” and “BetOnline – Your Online Sportsbook Experts.” The fight will take place on Saturday, April 9th, and will stream live exclusively on DAZN, worldwide.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #GarciaTagoe
April 23: Heavyweight Titans Fury & Whyte Collide at Wembley Stadium

LONDON (Feb. 25, 2022) — After storming the United States with a pair of knockouts over Deontay Wilder, WBC/Lineal/Ring Magazine heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury returns home for an all-British battle against WBC interim champion Dillian Whyte on Saturday, April 23 at London’s Wembley Stadium connected by EE. Fury-Whyte will be broadcast live on Pay-Per-View in the U.S.
Promoted by Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and Top Rank, tickets will be on sale exclusively from Ticketmaster at midday on Wednesday, March 2. Fans hoping to purchase a ticket for the event are encouraged to sign-up for Ticket Alert emails HERE to receive the ticket link direct to their inboxes. News on undercard bouts will be announced shortly.
“Tyson Fury coming home to fight under the arch at Wembley Stadium is a fitting reward for the No.1 heavyweight in the world following his exploits across the Atlantic in his epic trilogy against Deontay Wilder,” stated Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren. “The fact that this mandatory defense of his WBC title comes against another Brit only adds to the occasion. They are two of the biggest characters in British sport and both normally have plenty to say for themselves.
“It is going to be an incredible night and a huge occasion for sport in this country that will capture the imagination of fans right across the world.”
Bob Arum, chairman of Top Rank, added: “Tyson Fury conquered America, and it is only fitting that he defends the heavyweight championship in a packed Wembley Stadium. Dillian Whyte has called for this fight for years, and while he is a deserving challenger, no heavyweight can match ‘The Gypsy King.’ This is going to be a momentous night of boxing with tens of thousands of fans in attendance at Wembley Stadium.”
Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs), based in Morecambe, has held the lineal heavyweight title since November 28, 2015, the night he ended the nearly decade-long championship run of Wladimir Klitschko. Following over two years of inactivity, he returned to action in June 2018, inspiring millions with a comeback that saw him fighting for the world title within six months of his June 2018 comeback victory over Sefer Seferi in Manchester. The only blemish on his record — a disputed December 2018 draw against Wilder — was avenged with stoppage wins over the American star in February 2020 and October 2021. The Dillian Whyte showdown marks his first bout in London since February 2015.
Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs), who was raised in Brixton, London, earned a shot at Fury
with a seven-year run as a world-level heavyweight. Following a seventh-round TKO loss to Anthony Joshua in 2015 — when both were undefeated prospects — Whyte went on an 11-fight winning streak that included triumphs over Joseph Parker, Oscar Rivas, Lucas Browne, and Derek Chisora (2x). His momentum, and mandatory position, was halted when Alexander Povetkin knocked him out with a single left uppercut in August 2020. Whyte exacted revenge in March 2021, knocking out Povetkin in four rounds to regain his interim title.
VIDEO: Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall | Weigh-In
Weigh-In Results: Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall

• Josh Taylor 140 vs. Jack Catterall 139
(Undisputed Junior Welterweight World Title— 12 Rounds)
• Robeisy Ramirez 126.3 lbs vs. Eric Donovan 126.3 lbs
(Featherweight — 10 Rounds)
• Nick Campbell 254 lbs vs. Jay McFarlane 276 lbs
(Vacant Scottish Heavyweight Title — 10 Rounds)
• Ebonie Jones 125.3 lbs vs. Efty Kathopouli 124 lbs
(Featherweight— 6 Rounds)
• John Docherty 172 lbs vs. Jordan Grant 176.3 lbs
(Light Heavyweight — 8 Rounds)
(Streaming on Top Rank’s YouTube Channel, 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT)
• Paddy Donovan 146 lbs vs. Miroslav Serban 145 lbs
(Welterweight — 6 Rounds)
• Kurt Walker 129 lbs vs. Jaroslav Hriadel 127.3 lbs
(Junior Lightweight — 4 Rounds)
• Kieran Molloy 154.3 lbs vs. Damian Esquisabel 154 lbs
(Junior Middleweight — 4 Rounds)
JOSH TAYLOR VS JACK CATTERALL ‘EASY’ KO PREDICTION MADE BY OHARA DAVIES
LONDON, FEBRUARY 25 – Ohara Davies believes Josh Taylor could stop Jack Catterall when the pair meet in a undisputed clash on Saturday night.
New Probellum signing Davies has fought both men and reckons that a “focused” Taylor can defend his super-lightweight belts with a statement KO win in Glasgow this weekend. Davies, who has his sights set on a clash against Ismael Barroso later this year with the backing of his new promoter, does not see the fight going the 12 rounds distance if undisputed champion Taylor is on form. “I see Taylor winning the fight,” said Davies, who signed with Probellum last week. “Catterall is a good opponent but he hasn’t fought at the level Taylor has been fighting at. “If Taylor turns up, it should be easy work for him. I think Taylor stops him. If he is in shape and if he has been focused in camp then he can stop him.” Davies (23-2), who has spent the last two weeks sparring with the dangerous Hovhannes Bachkov in Dubai, says Catterall’s inactivity will work against him. “Taylor has also been busy but Catterall hasn’t over the last few years,” ‘Two Tanks’ Davies added. “Taylor has been fighting champion after champion after champion – he’s on a roll. “Catterall hasn’t been on a roll, he’s been ranked No1 with the WBO for the past few years and he hasn’t been making much noise, but he does have a punchers’ chance.” |
About Probellum?????? Launched in September 2021, Probellum is a global boxing promotion and media company, and the fastest-growing brand in the sport.?????? Following the success of the opening two shows in December 2021, Probellum have already announced big fight nights for Dubai, Newcastle and Liverpool with more events to be confirmed in due course. Probellum’s elite stable of fighters includes Nonito Donaire, Regis Prograis, Estelle Mossely, Lee McGregor, Donnie Nietes, Dina Thorslund and Muhammad Waseem. But the company has also recruited the next generation of stars with Peter McGrail, Mark Dickinson and Pat and Luke McCormack and Shabaz Masoud among the young talents under the Probellum umbrella.??? Since launching, Probellum has signed co-promotional partnerships with some of the biggest promoters globally, including DiBella Entertainment (US), Wasserman (Germany), Universum (Germany), GYM (Canada), Maravilla Box (Spain), Team Ellis (Australia), Titov Boxing Promotions (Russia), Volcano Boxing (El Salvador), BXSTRS Promotions (Mexico), PR Best (Puerto Rico) Glozier Boxing (New Zealand), Box Office Sports (Ghana) and LNK Boxing (Latvia).??? |
Scottish Homecoming: Josh Taylor ready to go upscale

By Norm Frauenheim-
Josh Taylor has always hoped a castle would be in his future. He likes history. Mostly, he likes making some.
The castle will have to wait. But another chance at history is close. It might be there Saturday after Taylor’s first bout in his native Scotland in more than four years. He defends his unified junior-welterweight title against somebody named Jack Catterall, known only in the UK.
Despite an unbeaten record, Catterall’s anonymity says a lot about what Taylor is expected to do. A win is almost assumed. He won’t say that. Not exactly.
“How is he going to win?” Taylor asked Thursday at a news conference.
Taylor then went on to answer his own question. It was an answer that also included what Scottish fans expect.
“…This isn’t a one-sided fight,’’ he said. “It’s my job to make it a one-sided fight.’’
If that task gets done as thoroughly as the betting odds suggest, it’ll be definitive. Actually, it’ll be a lot more than that. On Thursday, Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) was a 20-to-1 favorite over Catterall (26-0, 13 KOs). Translation: He’d have to trip and fall into a moat to lose this one.
This fight itself has the feel of a homecoming parade. Taylor returns with all the relevant belts – WBO, WBC, WBA, IBF and The Ring. He’s the second Scottish fighter to win an undisputed title since lightweight great Ken Buchanan.
The only complaint, perhaps, is the setting. The bout (ESPN+, Sky Sports, 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT) will happen at the OVO Hydro arena in Glasgow. No moat there. It has none of the magic of that castle, the one on a hilltop in Edinburgh about eight miles from Prestonpans, a mining town where Taylor grew up.
Taylor has long fantasized about a summer fight on a lawn in front of the castle or somewhere within the medieval walls. He talked about the possibility after taking possession of the belts in a decision over Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas last May. He talked about it before his long-awaited showdown with Ramirez. But there was no place at the roundtable for one of boxing’s royalty.
“I’m beginning to get to the point of telling them just to ram it,’’ Taylor told The Herald, a Glasgow newspaper, before his two-knockdown victory over Ramirez at Vegas’ Virgin Hotels. “It’s beyond me why the people at the castle don’t want to have one of their natives and have a massive historical event there.
“Yet they’ll let Lady Gaga or someone go up there and have a concert. It’s beyond me, the logic.’’
But history is not beyond him. There’s plenty of talk that his homecoming is also his goodbye to the junior-welterweight division. A jump up the scale makes sense. There’s not much else he can do at 140 pounds. Other than The Ring’s version, the acronym-sponsored titles come up with a succession of mandatories and sanctioning fees. That’s what Catterall is. He’s the WBO’s mandatory challenger.
In a move to welterweight, Taylor moves up to challenges he has long envisioned. He has talked about Terence Crawford for a couple of years. At 5-10, he’s two inches taller than Crawford. At 31, he’s four years younger. It’s time.
The problem is Crawford’s lawsuit against his former promoter, Bob Arum, Taylor’s current promoter. It was filed not long after Crawford’s November stoppage of Shawn Porter in a victory that enhanced his pound-for-pound credentials in the ongoing debate with Canelo Alvarez, still No. 1 in most rankings.
Crawford alleges racism, among other things. As long as the lawsuit is pending, the inflammatory allegations aren’t exactly a way of bringing Arum to the bargaining table.
Still, Taylor, who argues that Crawford – not Canelo –is pound-for-pound No. 1, believes the fight could happen. He has mentioned Crawford several times throughout the media tour for the Catterall bout.
The lawsuit, Taylor told FightHype.com “is a bit of an obstacle. But I still believe it’s a very doable fight. We’re both sort of in the same house. It looks like it can be made. I think it can be made.’’
Crazier things have been made in boxing, where today’s enemy is tomorrow’s business partner. The hostility between Crawford and Arum could be part of the promotion. Bad blood sells.
There are other possibilities. Taylor has also mentioned Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas, who are scheduled to fight April 16 on the Dallas Cowboys home field at AT&T Stadium in Arlington TX. But Crawford is always first and foremost in any Taylor talk about the welterweight division.
“That’s the fight that would give me the fear factor and push me to new heights,” Taylor told The Guardian. “Otherwise, if you don’t have that kind of challenge, you go stale.’’
Going stale is also no way to get into that old, upscale house on top of a Scottish hill.