This Friday, January 14, 2022, Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing, Carlos Gonzalez of Best Box, Carlos Andres Tello of Tello-Box and Paco Damian of Paco Presents will present “Box & Roll,” the third instalment of a six-card series of professional boxing shows at the Vasco Núñez de Balboa Convention Center in the El Panama Hotel in Panama City, Panama.

Broadcast live internationally on TyC Sports and in Panama on TV Max Channel 9, in the night’s 10-round main event, Curundu, Panama’s Jaime “Jaimito” Arboleda (17-2, 14 KOs) will face Nicolas Polanco (20-1-1, 11 KOs) of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic for the WBC Latino Silver Lightweight Championship.

In the night’s co-main event, La Banda, Santiago del Estero, Argentina’s Hugo Alberto “Nato” Roldan (20-0-1, 7 KOs) will take on Barranquilla, Colombia’s German Del Castillo (10-1-2, 7 KOs) over 10 rounds for the WBC Latino Silver Super Lightweight Championship.

Also in action will be a female fighter on the fast track appearing in a televised showdown, as Coachella, California’s former amateur standout Gabriela “Sweet Poison” Fundora (4-0, 2 KOs) will take on Santiago de Veraguas, Panama’s Nataly Delgado (8-4-1, 3 KOs) in a 10-round battle for the WBC Latino Flyweight Championship.

And in the opening televised bout, Colon City, Panama’s undefeated Ernesto Marin (9-0, 5 KOs) will face Monteria, Colombia’s Carlos Suarez (8-2, 6 KOs) in a six-round lightweight showcase.

In the TV swing bout, Panama City’s Jordan Salas (0-0-1) will look for his first career victory over debuting fellow Panamanian Pedro Munoz (0-0).

On the untelevised undercard, La Palma, Panama, heavyweight Abdiel Matute (2-1, 1 KO) will fight a four-rounder against Managua, Nicaragua’s David Bejarano (1-4, 1 KO); and in a four-round welterweight bout, Los Santo, Panama’s Alcibiades Ballesteros (0-1) will take on Panama City’s Jonathan Torres (3-0).

The night will begin at 5:00 pm EST with an amateur boxing tournament. Sembrando Campeones, a running program for South American amateur boxing, features the next wave of fighting talent from Uruguay and Panama.

On fight night, the televised action will begin at 22:00 hrs. (10:00 pm GMT-3) in Argentina Time and 20:00 hrs. (8:00 pm EST) in Panama.

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About Sampson Boxing

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America. Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ESPN+, DAZN, VS., FOX, Fox Sports and several international networks. For more information, visit

LOS ANGELES (January 12, 2022) – Undefeated bantamweight prospect John “Scrappy” Ramirez (8-0, 7 KOs), the second boxer signed to 3 Point Management (3PM) which also manages 43-0 Gilberto “Zurdo” Promotions, was arguably the most active boxer in the United States in 2021 with seven professional fights, including three on high-profile platforms headlined by “Zurdo,” the former World Super Middleweight Champion, and today the top-ranked World light heavyweight contender.

“’Scrappy’ is a hard-working kid that I’ve known for a while now and it’s great to have him around,” Zurdo commented. ”He brings a larger-than-life personality, and his flare is often well-received. I believe if he continues to work hard and stays in the gym, the sky is the limit. We know he’s a true athlete and I would put him against anyone in the bantamweight division.”

“Scrappy” made his pro debut December 18, 2020, on a pay-per-view event promoted and headlined by “Zurdo.” Two fights later, “Scrappy” fought in his first scheduled 6-rounder, in addition to a slated 8-round bout in only his sixth pro fight.

“Scrappy” and “Zurdo” are not related, however, they’re close and as the 25-year-old John explained, “With us it’s little bro and big bro. He may not be working my corner, usually because he’s fighting later on the same card, but I’m with him every day we’re training at Brickhouse (Boxing), and he’s always giving me tips and support. I live in downtown Los Angeles only a 15-minute drive from the gym in North Hollywood. It has it all and the real beauty of it is that it attracts fighters to spar and train with, especially when fighters are there for their training camp. We just had ‘Zurdo,’ David Benavidez, and 4-time world champion Brian Viloria, who is there as a trainer, for our last fight.

‘I feel good knowing I was the second fighter signed by 3 Point Management. Now, we have other fighters in our stable and that brings more competition. I want to be the best and, even though we’re on the same team, I want to go out there and do what it takes to be the best fighter I can be. I’m with ‘Zurdo” every day I’m in the gym and I watch him. He makes everything look easy, effortless, and that’s beautiful. He put his trust in me and I want to show him it was a good decision. I take great pride in being the first fighter they signed.”’

Ramirez’ long, arduous journey to this point started on the gridiron not in a ring, when he was a key member of the Lincoln High football team, profiled in a 2015 documentary, “ESPN 60: Letterman.” The players were from a crime-ridden part of Hollywood that was riddled with drugs and guns. Ramirez was a 5’ 4”, 160-pound running back on a team that, starting in Pop Warner competition, then advancing to Lincoln High, which hadn’t experienced success in football. Lincoln High went on to become a 3-time league champion, highlighted by semifinals playoff appearance in his senior year, eventually leading “Scrappy” to a roster spot Los Angeles Valley College’s football team.

Despite being warned he’d be red-shirted as a freshman, Ramirez played on the varsity as a true freshman but, after his first season, “Scrappy” wasn’t happy with his playing time nor the business side of college football. “Scrappy” soon found himself in what he described as a “dark place” for months, trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. He tried to enlist in all four military branches, but was rejected because, he said, due to all the tattoos on his body and their visual placements. One day, he heard a friend’s voice from the past saying, ‘Go to a gym.’ Despite having no experience in boxing, he walked into the famed Wild Card Gym to speak with Hall of Fame trainer, owner Freddie Roach, who told Ramirez training would be hard and that he’d need to start as an amateur boxer. His work ethic was admirable and because he was a gifted athlete, everything soon clicked, and he became a student of boxing. Ramirez had 25 amateur matches, capturing top honors in the Sugar Bert National Championships, as well as in the regional Golden Gloves and SoCal tournaments.

“I was on the right track,” Ramirez added. “Everything I learned in football from Coach Muskaki Matsumoto (Lincoln High) I applied in boxing like discipline. I trained hard every day and there was no wasted time.”

Ramirez moved to New York City because a boxing friend of his had a manager there willing to help “Scrappy” make his pro debut. Unfortunately, though, the pandemic quarantine went into effect, canceling his scheduled pro debut only one week prior to its scheduled date. Ramirez stayed in Churchill Gym, sparring and training, still hopeful of making his pro debut in the Big Apple. He eventually returned to Los Angeles and several weeks before the inaugural Zurdo Promotions event in Galveston, Texas, he received what is now a life-changing call from Zurdo’s manager, David Suh.

Scrappy action.jpg
“Before I went to New York City, I had talked to David about making my pro debut,” Ramirez added. “He remembered when I came back to LA and asked if I wanted to make my pro debut on December 18th (2020). I believe everything happens for a reason. I had become friends with Julian Chua at Wild Card. He saw me working at the gym and liked my work ethic. He gave me pointers and told me that one day we’d be working together. Julian became Zurdo’s head trainer and now he’s mine, too.”

His impressive pro-debut performance – first-round KO — led to enticing “Scrappy” into signing a managerial contract with 3 Point Management.

“Scrappy” says he’s an exciting, unique fighter from his ring walk to his outfit, as well as the way he fights. “I bring Bad Intentions into the ring,” he added. “It’s fun! I’m a chess player who always plans ahead. I’m versatile and able to adapt in the ring, which is super important. I want to take your soul!”

“’Scrappy’ not only has the skills,” Chua added, “he has the charisma and showmanship it takes to be a real star in this sport. Don’t confuse confidence with arrogance. He takes his training with a world championship attitude.”

A self-proclaimed student of boxing, “Scrappy” has particular enjoyed watching and studying Hector Camacho, Edwin Valero, Adrien Broner, Canelo Alvarez, Gervonta Davis, Vasyl Lomachenko, and, of course, “Zurdo” Ramirez.

“I am destined,” Ramirez concluded. “I’ve seen all this. I visualized, planned, and created these experiences before they happened. I was one of the most active fighters in the nation last year. My goal for 2022 is to stay busy, keep learning, and make statements. I’d like to have 6 more fights, get ranked, and bring home a championship belt. I will keep winning and give people a show.

INFORMATION:

Website: www.ZurdoPromotions.com

Facebook: /JohnRamirez

Instagram: @zurdoramirez, @zurdopromotions, @Scrappyboxing

Twitter: @ZurdoPromotions, @GilbertoZurdoRamirez

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 12, 2022) – The pride of Tijuana, Jaime Munguia (38-0, 30 KOs), will make a grand homecoming when he faces undefeated middleweight contender D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard (21-0-1, 13 KOs) in a 12-round fight for Munguia’s WBO Intercontinental Middleweight title. The fighters were originally slated to face each other in 2021, but the fight was postponed due to an injury Ballard sustained during training camp. Now the rescheduled fight will be a winner-takes-all event set to take place in the iconic Plaza Monumental de Playas de Tijuana in Tijuana, Mexico, on Saturday, February 19, and will stream live exclusively on DAZN worldwide, excluding Mexico.

Tickets for the event go on sale Friday, January 14 at 9:00 a.m. PT and are priced at $250MX, $700MX, $2,000MX, $3,500MX, $5,000MX not including applicable service charges. Tickets will be available for purchase at www.arema.com.mx and at their participating retailers.

“Ballard is a good, hungry fighter who will try to keep his undefeated status,” said Jaime Munguia. “He is going to be a dangerous rival, but I won’t let him come take what’s mine. I respect him, just like all my rivals, but I will be prepared to protect my belt and my reputation.”

“I am blessed to have this opportunity to prove I have what it takes to be among the elite in the middleweight division,” said D’Mitrus Ballard. “I believe our styles will make for a great and entertaining night of boxing. Scared money, don’t make no money!!”

“This is a winner-takes-all, high-stakes fight for both Munguia and Ballard,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman, and CEO of Golden Boy. “Ballard has been waiting for an opportunity like this to prove he has what it takes to become a serious contender in the middleweight division. He will come with everything he’s got to ensure a victory on February 19. Munguia will need to step up to ensure his title and undefeated record are not taken away from him. He will have to come in full defense mode to protect what is his. Both fighters have a lot to lose here, and this fight will prove to be an exciting, winner-takes-all event for fight fans.”

“We are very excited about the return of Jaime Munguia to the city where he was born,” said Fernando Beltran, CEO, Zanfer Boxing. “We believe that Ballard will not be easy at all, he is a complicated rival, but we are sure that Munguia will come out with his hand up in victory and give a great night of boxing to all his fans in Tijuana”

Having been away for more than four years, former world champion and undefeated fighter Jaime Munguia is eager to return to Tijuana and show off all he has accomplished in a grand homecoming event at the Plaza Monumental de Playas de Tijuana. One of the most exciting fighters to come out of Tijuana, Mexico, and currently ranked fifth worldwide in the middleweight division, Munguia is a skilled fighter who most recently proved to be among the elites in the middleweight division in a fantastic outing against ‘King’ Gabriel Rosado in Nov. 2021. Already having claimed a world title at 154lbs., Munguia is ready to take on another challenge by facing D’Mitrius Ballard at 160lbs. to kick-off 2022.

After a minor setback in early 2021 due to an injury, D’Mitrus Ballard is ready to start 2022 in a major battle to prove he deserves a spot among the elite of the middleweight division. A native of Temple Hills, Maryland, the undefeated 28-year-old boasts a decorated amateur career and has faced tough competition like Victor “Sina” Fonseca, Alan “Amenaza” Campa, and Olympic bronze medalist Yamaguchi Falcao. Ballard was last seen in the ring fighting against Paul Valenzuela Jr. in November 2021, winning the fight unanimously.

Munguia vs. Ballard is a 12-round fight for the WBO Intercontinental Middleweight Title presented by Golden Boy in association with Zanfer Boxing. The fight will take place on Saturday, February 19 at Plaza Monumental de Playas de Tijuana, in Tijuana, Mexico and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN worldwide, excluding Mexico.

Tickets for Munguia vs. Ballard go on sale Friday, January 14, at 9:00 a.m. PT and are priced at $250MX, $700MX, $2,000MX, $3,500MX, $5,000MX not including applicable service charges. Tickets will be available for purchase at www.arema.com.mx and at their participating retailers.

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 #MunguiaBallard.

Power-punching WBC #13 and WBO #14 light heavyweight contender Ali Izmailov returned to action last Friday night (January 7, 2022) with an impressive four-round stoppage of capable Panamanian veteran Israel Duffus on the untelevised undercard of the ShoBox: The New Generation event at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Fla.

One of the heaviest punchers in the world at 175 lbs., Izmailov (7-0, 5 KOs), from Malgobek, Russia, had things all his way against the determined but outgunned former WBC FECARBOX Light Heavyweight Champion Duffus (20-8, 17 KOs). Despite facing a long list of top prospects, the normally durable Duffus hasn’t lost to a fighter with a loss on his record since 2014 and hadn’t been stopped since 2016. Izmailov dropped Duffus in the third with a clubbing right hand and stunned him badly with another before Referee Chris Young halted the action mercifully at :34 of the fourth.

As promised, Izmailov concentrated much of his brutal attack on the body with both of his concrete hands, which softened Duffus up for the thudding finish. Surprisingly, Izmailov looks to have shored up his defense considerably as Duffus missed more than other opponents have previously in the Russian’s career.

The fight was Izmailov’s second with all-star trainer John David Jackson, with whom he now works and resides in Florida.

“I felt unbeatable,” said Izmailov, post-fight. “He couldn’t touch me and I was hitting harder than ever. Thank you to my trainer John David and Salita Promotions for this opportunity to stay active and show my improved skills.”

“Ali’s fight last Friday was a very good performance for him,” added John David Jackson. “He systematically broke his opponent down with a good jab, a great body attack and very good defense. Some people were concerned with the opponent we had chosen for him, but I knew that he would come through with flying colors. He is definitely ready for bigger and better boxing matches.”

Quickly gaining a reputation with his punching power as the next Russian Bloc strongman soon to make his considerable presence felt in the light heavyweight division, the 28-year-old Izmailov appears to be rounding into form for a championship challenge, despite just seven professional fights. The former amateur star has been fast-tracked by promoter Salita, who says he likes what he saw last Friday from his fighter.

“I was very impressed with the improvements Ali and John have already made together,” said Dmitriy Salita. “Ali is going from the hardest puncher in the division to a nightmare for anyone to try and face with John in his corner and it showed Friday night. That was a good opponent that Ali took apart easily and didn’t have to pay a heavy price for doing it with his improved defense. I am very happy with his performance, overall. He will be in an even bigger fight sometime this year.”

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About Salita Promotions

Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including Showtime, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.

Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action.

January 12, 2022 – Boxing superstar Claressa “G.W.O.A.T.” Shields will make her long awaited U.K. debut on Saturday, February 5, kicking off Black History Month by defending her WBC, WBA and IBF middleweight titles against undefeated #1 ranked challenger Ema Kozin live on pay-per-view in the U.S. and Canada.

The four-fight pay-per-view telecast will begin at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT with Shields vs. Kozin serving as the co-main event to the highly-anticipated headliner between middleweight contenders Chris Eubank Jr. and Liam Williams. Guided by Salita Promotions, Shields signed a lucrative multi-fight deal with promoter Boxxer and broadcaster SKY Sports in the U.K. that has put her on the path toward a superfight showdown with WBO Middleweight Champion Savannah Marshall in 2022.

Marshall owns an amateur victory over Shields, the only boxing defeat she has ever suffered in the amateur or pro ranks. Shields must emerge victorious on February 5 to clinch her long-awaited revenge match against Marshall.

“I’m eager to get back in the ring and I can’t wait to return to boxing on February 5 in the U.K.,” said Shields, who is training in her hometown of Flint, Michigan with her coach John David Jackson. “We’ve been pushing through the delays so that I’m 100% ready to display my skills against Ema Kozin. I’m going to give her a beating that’s going to make Savannah Marshall regret agreeing to face me. This is going to be a performance you’re not going to want to miss.”

The 26-year-old Shields defeated the previously unbeaten and then IBF World Super Welterweight Champion Marie-Eve Dicaire in March of last year to make history and become the first boxer in the four-belt era to be an undisputed world champion in two weight classes. Shields has made history throughout her boxing life, as she is also the only fighter in U.S. Olympic boxing history to win two gold medals with wins in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016.

The pay-per-view can be purchased through the recently-launched PPV.com streaming platform from iNDEMAND, FITE.TV and will be carried in North America across all cable, satellite and telco PPV platforms. On TV, boxing fans can order the event through Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Fios, and Optimum, among others (U.S.), as well as leading operators in Canada. Complete PPV distribution details can be found below.

HOW TO WATCH THE February 5 – Claressa Shields vs. Ema Kozin PPV

TV: Cable, satellite & telco PPV providers, including Xfinity, ____________Spectrum, Contour, Fios, and Optimum, among others (U.S.), as ____________well as leading operators in Canada.
Streaming: PPV.com and FITE.TV

ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS
Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including SHOWTIME, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.

Long Island, New York (January 12, 2022)

Star Boxing and The Paramount are gearing up to kick off the Rockin’ Fights series in 2022 with the 41st edition of the famed “Rockin’ Fights” series scheduled for Friday, March 18th. “Rockin’ Fights 41” will mark the start of the 11th year of fights at The Paramount, since the series inception in 2011.

Tickets are on presale now for our loyal fans until tomorrow January 13 at 10AM using code STAR. Tickets open to the public on Friday, January 14 at 10AM. Tickets can be purchased HERE.

The past two years has been a whirlwind for the “Rockin’ Fights” series. Even a 19-month COVID induced hiatus couldn’t stop the “Rockin’ Fights” ring from being graced by top talent from across the world. Some fighters include super lightweight world title contender and NABA champion, CLETUS “THE HEBREW HAMMER” SELDIN (26-1 21KO’s), undefeated Itlaian, IBO World Super Featherweight Champion, MICHAEL “LONE WOLF” MAGNESI (20-0 12KO’s), former WBC Silver Heavyweight champion and heavyweight world title challenger, CARLOS TAKAM (39-6-1 28KO’s), undefeated rising super lightweight prospect ALEX “EL TORO” VARGAS (12-0 4KO’s), 2016 Irish Olympian “MIGHTY” JOE WARD (5-1 2KO’s).

“We are excited to finally be back in the groove of promoting exciting and fan friendly fights at The Paramount,” said Star Boxing CEO JOE DEGUARDIA. “This will be our third show in seven-months, and we plan to continue to roll with can’t miss action fights. More information on the fight card will be announced soon.”

“Rockin’ Fights” 41 is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing. Stay tuned in on all Star Boxing social media platforms (@StarBoxing) for fight announcements and “Rockin’ Fights” updates! Join the conversation by using the hasthag #RockinFights or #RF41.

“ROCKIN’ FIGHTS” 41 PRESALE TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!
BUY TICKETS HERE
TICKETS START AT JUST $50
FIGHT NIGHT: FRIDAY, MARCH 18TH, AT THE PARAMOUNT
ABOUT ROCKIN’ FIGHTS

Created in 2011, the “Rockin’ Fights” series has developed elite boxing talent and has produced current WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion, the “Common Man”, JOE “THE BEAST” SMITH JR. (Mastic, Long Island 27-3 21KO’s) and former WBO Super Lightweight World Champion, CHRIS ALGIERI (Huntington, NY 24-3 9KO’S), two of only four Long Island World Champions EVER.

“ROCKIN’ FIGHTS” 41 is presented by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.
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For more information visit us at www.StarBoxing.com. For 29 years of action packed fights, subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE. Follow along on social media for fight announcements and updates @StarBoxing, and join the conversation using #RockinFights.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Long Island’s hero, the “Common Man” JOE SMITH JR. will defend his WBO World Title against the power punching CALLUM JOHNSON on January 15, LIVE on ESPN from Turning Stone in Verona, NY.

“ROCKIN FIGHTS” returns for its 41st edition on St. Patrick’s Day weekend at The Paramount in Huntington NY on March 18th.

BUY TICKETS HERE

STAR BOXING ARCHIVES:
Rockin’ Fights 39: Alex Vargas vs Alejandro Munera
ROCKIN’ FIGHTS 39:
September 4, 2021
The Paramount
Huntington, New York
Rockin’ Fights 23: Joe Smith Jr. vs Fabiano Soares
ROCKIN’ FIGHTS 23:
April 23, 2016
The Paramount
Huntington, New York

Last Saturday (Jan 8, 2022), elite heavyweight prospect Fernely Feliz Jr. of Danbury, Connecticut, moved his young pro career forward another notch by easily stopping Chattanooga, Tennessee’s Cleveland Billingsly III in under a round.

Looking markedly more relaxed than in his pro debut last November and fighting on promoter Joseph Samara’s BlackSheep Promotions event at the Tennis Center in Delray Beach, Florida, Feliz landed his fast punches at will against the badly outgunned Billingsly.

A powerful right hook/left hook combination put Billingsly in a daze and a follow-up barrage convinced Referee Samuel Burgos he had seen enough. The official time was 1:13.

“I felt amazing in there. I felt like it was a perfect performance,” said a happy Feliz, post-fight. “This time I wanted to let my hands go and show my speed. I felt like last time I was thinking too much. It was my first fight, so I was being extra careful. Today I wanted to show my hand speed and it worked out perfectly.”

A former USA National Amateur Champion and #1 amateur super heavyweight, the colorful 25-year-old says he and father/trainer Fernely Sr. will next be looking for him to gain some size to compete in the big man’s division.

“I’m weighing in at 215, so I want to put on some more weight,” Feliz explained. “Skill wise, I’m always learning, but I want some more muscle. I wasn’t feeling the strength of my last opponent, but when I start fighting the really bigger guys, it could be a different story if I don’t gain some size.”

“I thought he looked phenomenal,” said Feliz’s promoter, Gino Limeri from Bulldog Promotions of the fight. “I can already see improvement from the first fight. We want to keep him active, so stayed tuned as you will see him again very soon.”

“Jr. is coming into himself,” added manager, Steven Heid The hard work and great sparring he got with Luis “King Kong” Ortiz is already paying dividends. I see can see his confidence building. I’m telling you right now, this kid is like a freight train steaming down the tracks and anyone that steps in front of this train is going to get run over!”

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Columbus, Ohio for the first time in 13 years with a thrilling light heavyweight contenders’ battle that will see former champion and No. 1 ranked Jan Blachowicz take on surging No. 3 Aleksandar Rakic. In a clash of top flyweights, No. 2 ranked contender Askar Askarov faces No. 6 Kai Kara-France in a matchup with title implications.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: BLACHOWICZ vs. RAKIC will take place Saturday, March 26 from Nationwide Arena. The entire event will be available on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, as well as simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+, starting with the prelims at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT. The main card will begin at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: BLACHOWICZ vs. RAKIC tickets will go on sale Friday, Jan. 14 at 10 a.m. ET and are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club^® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Jan. 13 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

No. 14-ranked men’s pound-for-pound fighter Blachowicz (28-9, fighting out of Warsaw, Poland) aims to kick off his 2022 campaign with another spectacular KO victory. During his UFC run, he has delivered memorable wins against Israel Adesanya, Dominick Reyes and Luke Rockhold. Blachowicz now intends to defend his spot on the 205-pound ladder with a show-stealing performance and set himself up for another crack at the championship.

Rakic (14-2, fighting out of Vienna, Austria) hopes to keep his momentum going following consecutive victories over former title challengers Thiago Santos and Anthony Smith. A well-rounded competitor with KO power, he has also secured notable stoppage victories over Jimi Manuwa and Devin Clark. Rakic now hopes to take out a former champion in emphatic fashion and stake his claim for his first UFC title shot.

Undefeated Askarov (14-0-1, fighting out of Khasavyurt, Dagestan, Russia) has wasted no time turning heads since joining the UFC roster in 2019. Following a split draw against now-champion Brandon Moreno, he has since netted impressive wins over Joseph Benavidez, Alexandre Pantoja and Tim Elliott. Askarov is now gunning to earn his first UFC title opportunity with another dominant performance.

Kara-France (23-9 1NC, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) is coming off a sensational KO victory against former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt last month. A heavy-handed striker, he holds thrilling victories over Rogerio Bontorin, Tyson Nam and Raulian Paiva. Kara-France now looks for another highlight-reel finish to continue his ascent up the flyweight rankings.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• MMA legend Matt Brown (25-8, fighting out of Columbus, Ohio) looks to steal the show in front of his hometown fans when he faces Bryan Barberena (16-8, fighting out of Gastonia, N.C. by way of Knoxville, Tenn.) in a welterweight bout guaranteed to deliver action
• No. 8 ranked women’s strawweight contender Michelle Waterson (18-9, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) squares off with No. 9 Amanda Ribas (11-2, fighting out of Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil)
• Nate Landwehr (14-5, fighting out of Clarksville, Tenn.) locks horns with unbeaten Lerone Murphy (11-0-1, fighting out of Manchester, England) in an intriguing featherweight bout
• No. 7 ranked women’s flyweight contender Joanne Wood (15-7, fighting out of Glasgow, Scotland) battles No. 11 Alexa Grasso (13-3, fighting out of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico)
• Tucker Lutz (12-2, fighting out of Baltimore, Md.) takes on SeungWoo Choi (10-4, fighting out of Gangneung, South Korea) in a featherweight matchup
• No. 9 ranked women’s bantamweight contender Sara McMann (12-6, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) meets No. 13 Karol Rosa (15-3, fighting out of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• Rising bantamweight prospects collide when Montel Jackson (12-2, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) faces Danaa Batgerel (10-2, fighting out of Erdenetsagaan, Sukhbaatar, Mongolia)
• No. 8 ranked flyweight contender Matheus Nicolau (15-3-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) takes on No. 10 David Dvorak (20-3, fighting out of Horice, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic)
• Dana White’s Contender Series signee Aliaskhab Khizriev (13-0, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) squares off with Abus Magomedov (24-4-1, fighting out of Düsseldorf, Germany) in a clash of debuting middleweights

Visit the UFC.com for information and content to support your UFC coverage.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 625 million fans and 178 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global sports and entertainment company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About Nationwide Arena

Nationwide Arena is the centerpiece of the downtown Arena District featuring an exciting mixture of restaurants, business, entertainment and residential space that attracts visitors from across the country.   Located on the corner of Nationwide Boulevard and Front Street, the venue opened to great fanfare in September of 2000 and has since hosted the NHL All-Star Game, regular season and playoff hockey, NCAA championships, local, regional and national conferences and a multitude of concerts and touring events.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 17.1 million subscribers.

Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $6.99 a month (or $69.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).

About ESPN

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

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – January 11, 2022 – WBC Featherweight World Champion Gary Russell Jr. and top contender and WBC mandatory challenger Mark Magsayo previewed their world title showdown during a virtual press conference Tuesday before they headline action live on SHOWTIME Saturday, January 22 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, N.J.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^®  telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will see super lightweight contenders Subriel Matías and Petros Ananyan meet for a rematch in the 12-round co-main event, while hard-hitting featherweight Tugstsogt “King Tug” Nyambayar and Vic Pasillas square off in the 10-round telecast opener.

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

Russell, who owns the longest reign of any current male champion and has held his 126-pound belt since 2015, will look to make his sixth consecutive successful title defense on January 22, when he takes on the Filipino power-puncher Magsayo, who is trained by Freddie Roach and comes in off of a Knockout of the Year contender over former champion Julio Ceja last August.

Here is what the fighters had to say Tuesday:

GARY RUSSELL JR.

“I use everything going on with me outside of the ring as fuel. It’s been very difficult dealing with the passing of my brother and my dad’s health issues. I tell people all the time that life is like boxing. You have to keep your chin down and hands up. I’m grateful that I’m mentally strong when it comes to stuff like this. This is what champions do, we overcome adversity.

“I’ve been willing to compete against whoever, whenever and wherever. But I can’t force these guys to get in the ring and fight me. I just have to prepare to the best of my ability. I need a dance partner.

“I see him as a good even-handed puncher, maybe he leans a little more to the right hand. He has good punching power, but none of that matters if you can’t hit your target.

“We’re grinding in training camp. No matter what, we’re not going to make any excuses or complaints.

“If I’m going to move up in weight, I want to fight the champion. I’m not planning to move up in weight just to stand in line. I’m fighting Magsayo because he moved up the rankings and earned this spot. Everyone who I’ve competed against has been the next best guy under the champion.

“I don’t have any concerns with Magsayo’s power. You very seldom see me have to come back on the scorecards. Magsayo had to come back in his last fight because he was losing on the cards. That shows some holes in his armor.

“I never overlook anybody. Of course I want the Gervonta Davis fight. But I’m focused on Magsayo. He’s the one who worked his way into this position to fight me. Davis is in no rush, so I’m going to remain focused on a true warrior who’s getting into the ring with me.

“I stay in the gym. Boxing is not just what I do, it’s a lifestyle for me. Even when I’m over and done with my career, I’m still going to be in the gym. I never really blow up and get big in weight. I love what I do and I’m very militant in my mindset.

“No one can really prepare for me. You can’t prepare like you think you can. I know Magsayo will be at his physical and mental best. I take my hat off to him, because he’s willing to put it on the line to prove he’s the best. I wish other fighters would take that same risk.

“A lot of these other guys aren’t willing to step in there with me because of the skillset that I bring. Finally, we have another fighter with some heart who’s willing to fight. I want him to bring his best, so we’ll see whose best is best.”

MARK MAGSAYO

“I’m very thankful to my whole team for making this fight happen. I’ve been training for three and a half months now, so I’m going to be well prepared for this fight.

“I don’t think Gary has faced anyone since he became champion that has the skills that I have. I’m going to go in there to show him something he’s never seen before and we’ll see how he reacts.

“I learned a lot from the Ceja fight. That gave me a lesson on how to adjust in the middle of a fight. It’s going to help me against Russell.

“I respect Gary Russell Jr., he’s a great champion, but I’m winning this fight on January 22. I want to prove to the people everywhere that I’m the best featherweight in the world.

“I’m going to show the world that I’m the best at this weight. This is the fight that I’ve wanted for a long time. I’ve been waiting patiently for my chance and I’m ready to do my best.

“I’ve had great sparring partners to prepare me for Russell and give me the same looks that he’ll give me on fight night. This is my first world title fight and I’m going to give it my all.

“I’m not trying to be the next Manny Pacquiao, but I’m trying to put my own mark on the history of this sport and for all Filipinos. I’m hungry to prove it all in the ring.

“I’m going to be the stronger fighter against Russell. We trained every day with Freddie Roach and we’ve worked on a lot of different techniques we’ll use in this fight.

“I know he’s going to bring his talent into the ring, but I’m going to show everybody that I can deliver a great fight and become champion.”

#          #          #

ABOUT RUSSELL VS. MAGSAYO

Russell vs. Magsayo will see WBC Featherweight World Champion Gary Russell Jr. defend his world title against top contender and WBC mandatory challenger Mark Magsayo headlining action live on SHOWTIME Saturday, January 22 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, N.J.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® tripleheader begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features a 12-round rematch between super lightweight contenders Subriel Matías and Petros Ananyan in the co-main event, plus hard-hitting featherweights Tugstsogt Nyambayar and Vic Pasillas squaring-off in the 10-round telecast opener.

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

BOSTON (January 11, 2022) – Kansas City (KS) lightweight Marcell Davidson has joined his younger brother, undefeated welterweight Marcus Davidson (2-0, 2 KOs), in Ryan Roach’s Fighter Locker stable having recently signed an exclusive managerial contract.

The 24-year-old Marcell was a decorated amateur boxer, capturing the Ringside World Championships twice, in addition to winning a gold medal at the 2019 National Golden Gloves Tournament. The 6’ 3” southpaw also won a silver medal at the 2017 National Golden Gloves, as well as a bronze the following year at the The Gloves. He also competed in the Olympic Trials.

Davidson got into boxing almost by accident. He and Marcus were together playing football at a local recreation center. The season ended and they were about to sign up for baseball, when the boxing coach asked them what sport they were going to get into next. He told them that boxers are stronger than football players. Marcus was immediately a convert, but Marcell really wasn’t into it. He just ran around instead of training and eventually he was banned because he broke a rule. Eventually, Marcell got his act together and he was allowed back in the gym a couple of years later. Both of the Davidson brothers have been there ever since.

As Marcell says, “My brother talks to everybody, and I follow.” So, when Marcus turned pro and signed a managerial contract with Roach, soon afterwards Marcell joined Fighter Locker.

“I was ready to turn pro and stayed in the gym training,” Marcell explained. “We were talking about which manager to sign with. We waited it out and stayed ready. My brother signed before me, and I listened to him talk about Ryan. My brother said Ryan was a great guy and the time was right for me to sign with him, too.

“Ryan is a great guy. I didn’t know anything about him – not even his family in boxing – but he’s a great guy who wants to help us and build our careers. I could definitely tell that he cares and takes care of his fighters.”

Davidson is slated to make his pro debut Feb. 12^th on “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre,” presented by Vertex Promotions, at Moseley’s On The Charles in Dedham, Massachusetts. 

“I’m very excited,” Marcell spoke about his upcoming pro debut. “You won’t see it, but I’m excited inside. I’ve been waiting for this moment. I’d like to stay very busy this year and maybe move up to 6-rounders by my fifth or sixth pro fight.”

“Marcell is a very skilled fighter,” Roach commented about his newest fighter. “One of his best attributes, which I think will be a huge advantage, is hos 6’ 1” height. We have been discussing him fighting at 135-140 pounds. He is a very athletic, young man with speed and power. He was a nationally ranked fighter who went to the Olympic Qualifiers, so this is a huge signing for my company. I’m excited to have the Davidson brothers under one stable, Fighter Locket. They are very close and do everything together. This will be fun!”

Fighter Locker’s growing stable of gifted boxers also includes California super flyweight Rocco “So Cal Kid” Santomauro (21-1, 6 KOs), New York’s ABF American West super lightweight Ray Jay “The Destroyer” Bermudez (15-0, 11 KOs), Connecticut’s ABF USA super welterweight Jimmy “Quiet Storm” Williams (18-5-2, 6 KOs), Colorado’s ABF American West super middleweight champion “The Amazing” Shawn McCalman (10-0, 6 KOs), Massachusetts super lightweight Adrian “Tonka” Sosa (12-0, 9 KOs), Florida super bantamweight Daniel “The Dedication” Bailey, Jr. (9-0, 5 KOs), Massachusetts featherweight Troy Anderson, Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs), 2-time Brazilian Olympian & 2016 Olympic silver medalist Yuberjen Martinez, Brazilian Olympian Jorge Vivas, 2-time Dominican Olympian, lightweight Leonel de los Santos (5-0, 5 KOs), Dominican cruiserweight Roki “Rocky” Berroa (2-0, 1 KO), Dominican super welterweight Juan Solano Santos (1-0, 1 KO), Dominican featherweight Orlando Perez Zapata (10-0, 8 KOs), Dominican lightweight Isaelin Florian Henriguez (8-1, 4 KOs), Florida light heavyweight Robert Daniels, Jr. (5-0, 5 KOs), Irish light heavyweight Tommy “The Kid” O’Toole (2-0, 2 KOs), Texas super lightweight Miranda “La Alacrana” Reyes (5-0-1, 2 KOs)  ), and Utah brothers, ABF American West lightweight champion Ignacio Chairez (9-0-1, 5 KOs) and lightweight Gabriel Chairez (4-0-1, 2 KOs).

INFORMATION:

WEBSITE: fighterlocker.com, punch4parkinsons.com

FACEBOOK: /fighterlocker

TWITTER: @RoachRyan

INSTAGRAM: @RyanRoach82

ABOUT FIGHTER LOCKER: Established in 2019, Fighter Locker is a comprehensive sports agency that manages professional boxers. Fighter Locker also helps to brand boxers by finding their voice with a 100-percent customized service. Fighter Locker does not really believe in working models. It believes in partnership optimization models in motion.

Fighter Locker uses four creative steps because it believes in “the foundation is everything”: 1. wisely conceived, 2. creatively restrained, 3. Proudly judged, 4. sharply targeted.

JOE JOYCE HAS been told he will be able carry on punching in six week’s time as he accelerates his recovery following a wrist injury that ruled him out of an early 2022 date.

The Juggernaut was scheduled for February action with the intention of beefing up his CV and topping up his experience ahead of a potential world heavyweight title tilt later this year. The 36-year-old is No.1 ranked by the World Boxing Organisation and is next in line to face the winner of the forthcoming Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua rematch, which looks likely to take place in May.

Promoter Frank Warren has indicated a preference for April when it comes to Joyce’s return to action.

The 13-0 Putney man with 12 stoppages to his name sustained the injury after returning from a training stint with his revered coach Ismael Salas in Las Vegas, who he was unable to work with across the build-up to his victory over Carlos Takam at Wembley in July of last year due to travel restrictions.

The sixth round stoppage triumph over the redoubtable and rated Takam reinforced Joyce’s position in pole position with the WBO and it was a performance the 2016 Olympic silver medallist declares himself satisfied with.

“I think it was an ok performance from me and, technique-wise, it was better,” reflected Joyce. “I feel it was a good performance against Takam, although he landed some good shots that didn’t seem to faze me. I was kind of working out his timing and stuff and landing when I could, while trying to avoid or block most of his looping shots that were coming over the top.

“I found the timing with my jab then landed a good left hook in the sixth. After that I was like ‘okay, I am not going to stop throwing punches until this is stopped’.

In some respects, Joyce acknowledges that he reverted to type against Takam after a slick and elusive performance against Daniel Dubois, where he showed nimble footwork and a rapier-like jab. At the SSE Arena it was more of a give and take affair, although he reasons this was not a premeditated tactic.

He also reasons that the absence of Salas was a key factor.

“It is just the way it turned out really, but I think it was a case of not having worked with Salas. This is why I had to reconnect with him and go back to Vegas to start learning some more stuff from him.

“For the Dubois fight he came over for two weeks to set the game plan and polish up my technique, which resulted in me going in and doing the job.

“I am in a better place after doing a training camp with him, for sure. He brings me on a lot and from the start of my professional career he installed in me the fundamentals and biomechanics of boxing.”

Joyce is planning further tutorials with his Cuban mentor when he returns to the first phase of his training in the next couple of weeks before finally getting back into headline action.

“I am looking to fight some time in April and there are some great potential fights for me for this one, which is something to look forward to. I will be back punching soon in about six weeks and this will still be a huge year for me.”

FRESNO, Calif. (Jan. 10, 2022) — The homecoming of former unified junior welterweight world champion Jose Ramirez is happening, just 27 days later than expected. Central Valley native Ramirez will fight former two-weight world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza in the 12-round main event Friday, March 4 at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

Ramirez and Pedraza were scheduled to fight Saturday, Feb. 5, but Pedraza tested positive for COVID-19.

In the six-round heavyweight special feature immediately before the main event, Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr., from the Central Valley town of Tulare, California, will make his long-awaited professional debut. The 10-round co-feature will see the Top Rank debut of featherweight contender Joet Gonzalez, who will fight Filipino veteran Jeo Santisima. The entire Ramirez-Pedraza card will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+. 

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $36 are on sale and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets purchased for the Feb. 5 date will be honored for March 4.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 17.1 million subscribers.

Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $6.99 a month (or $69.99 per year)
at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).

BOSTON (January 10, 2022) – Vertex Promotions returns February 12th with “St. Valentine’s Day’s Massacre,” headlined by undefeated super lightweight prospect Adrian “Tonka” Sosa, on Saturday night, February 12, at Moseley’s On The Charles in Dedham, Massachusetts.

“We’re very excited to continue promoting our shows to showcase local talent,” Vertex promoter Dave Clark said. “We made our debut last September and promoted three more pro shows last year. We learned a lot and continue our goal to keep local fighters active and provide an entertaining night out for fans.”

The 26-year-old Sosa (12-0, fighting out of Lawrence (MA), headlined a Vertex show last September in his first action in more than 2 years. He will take on an opponent to be determined Feb. 12th in the 8-round main event.

In the 8-round co-featured event, undefeated ABF American West and NBA Continental champion RayJay “The Destroyer” Bermudez (15-0, 11 KOs) faces TBA as the Albany fighter continues his march towards a major fight.

Undefeated welterweight prospect James “The Slim Reaper” Perella (8-0, 5 KOs), fighting out of Mansfield, Massachusetts, is matched tough against Mexican challenger Danny “Venado” Flores (15-26-1, 8 KOs) in an 8-round bout. Perella is a 4-time USA New England Championships and 4-time New England Golden Gloves Champion.

It’s “Tank Time,” again. Undefeated Weymouth (MA) super welterweight prospect Francis “Frank The Tank” Hogan (9-0, 9 KOs) will attempt to keep his perfect pro record intact and go 10-for-10 in an 8-rounder versus TBA.

Boston Irish will be in the house as Ireland-natives “Lethal” Larry Fryers (11-5, 4 KOs) and Tommy “The Kid” O’Toole” (2-0, 2 KOs) are schedule to be in action. Fryers, a welterweight now living in Yonkers (NY), is a 20212 Ulster Intermediate Champion, while light heavyweight O’Toole (2-0, 2 KOs) returns to the Boston area for his third pro fight. O’Toole, fighting out of Galway, was a 2019 Irish Elite Championship gold medalist.

Fryers will be in a scheduled 8-rounder, O’Toole a 4, and both will be matched against opponents to be determined.

Also fighting in 4-round matches against TBA’s are popular Dorchester (MA) featherweight Troy Anderson, Jr. (1-0, 1 KO), a 2016 Rocky Marciano Tournament champion, and Southbridge (MA) super featherweight Alex Rivera (2-0, 1 KO).

Opponents will soon be announced. Fighters subject to change.

Tickets are on sale for $85.00 and up (ringside), $75.00 (general admission) and $50.00 (standing room). Tickets are available to purchase online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/st-valentines-day-massacre-21222-tickets-243038654157?aff=ebdssbdestsearch or contact any of the competing fighters to purchase tickets.

Doors will open at 6:30 pm. ET with the first bout scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The USA’s two-time Middleweight World Champion Daniel Jacobs will collide with Britain’s word rated Super-Middleweight contender John Ryder at the famous Alexandra Palace in London on Saturday February 12, live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

Former WBA and IBF 160lbs king Jacobs (37-3, 30 KOs) earned a split decision win over two-time World Title challenger Gabriel Rosado last time out in November 2020 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, just under a year on from his fifth round stoppage win against Mexico’s Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. 

‘Miracle Man’, who hails from Brooklyn, New York, fell short in his WBC, IBF and WBA Middleweight World Title unification clash with pound-for-pound star Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in May 2019, losing out on all three of the judges’ scorecards, but three years on the 34-year-old still has a burning desire to mix it with the best in the world.

Islington’s Ryder (30-5, 17 KOs) suffered a controversial points loss to former WBA Super-Middleweight World Champion Callum Smith in his one and only World Title challenge at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool in November 2019, but the 33-year-old Tony Sims trained-southpaw returned with wins over Mike Guy and Jozef Jurko in 2019 and 2020.

“I’m super excited to be returning to the ring,” said Jacobs. “It has always been a dream of mine to fight in London as a professional, and I’m looking forward to fighting in front of a great crowd. I’m putting my best foot forward on February 12.”

“This is the fight I need to really bring the best out in me,” said Ryder. “Jacobs is a great fighter but he has had his time and now it’s my time to shine! My dreams are at stake on February 12 and destiny awaits. It’s time to get right back to where I need to be.”

Tickets for Jacobs vs. Ryder are priced £40, £80, £120 and £250 (VIP).

Matchroom Fight Pass members will be able to purchase tickets from midday on Monday January 10. Priority ticket info will be emailed directly to eligible members.

General Sale tickets can be purchased via StubHub (www.stubhub.co.uk) from midday on Tuesday January 11.

Undercard details will be announced soon. 

DANIEL DUBOIS HAS placed the winning of a first world title belt right at the top of his 2022 wish list and has WBA champion Trevor Bryan firmly in his sights.

The London heavyweight knockout artist known as ‘Dynamite’ enjoyed a productive 2021 with two typical KO victories – over Bogdan Dinu and Joe Cusumanu – to take his professional ring record to 17-1, with 16 stoppages and more importantly place himself in the top spot of the WBA rankings.

His explosive success has seen him installed as No.1 challenger for the WBA world heavyweight championship currently held by the American Bryan.

Promoter Frank Warren has indicated a March return for the 24-year-old and says he would favour a straight shot at the champion, if the fight can be made.

“It is a new year with new things on the horizon, so I am really excited,” Dubois told Dev Sahni in the Unibet Lowdown.

“It was a good year and a kickstart to the comeback and everything went well. I am just looking forward to the future now, a new year, a new start and a new beginning.

“That [the Bryan match] is a fight that is going to happen. It is a fight I want and a title I want. Things are ticking over at the moment and it will hopefully go that way.

“I definitely fancy it. Since last year when it was mentioned to me I wanted it straight away. It has got to happen this year and I am more than ready, whether it is in England or the US, I want to get my hands on that title and bring it home.

“It is a step in the right direction for me,” reasoned Dubois, who went on to reveal that a brief assessment of the unbeaten Bryan did little to dampen his enthusiasm over his prospects in the fight.

“I’ve checked him out, of course, and he is not that impressive to watch. I just see somebody standing in my way if we get it on. Fingers crossed, we will.

“It will be fun, the whole show will be great and I want to take everyone on this trip with me, this ride to go further than we have been before and keep the momentum moving.

“I only see myself beating him and it is what I am trained to do. I can definitely knock him out and everyone knows I only fight one way.”

Claiming the WBA belt would put Dubois right in the thick of the elite heavyweight mix and place his name into the pecking order to challenge the super champion, who is currently Oleksandr Usyk and potentially Tyson Fury, the WBC king.

“Of course, whoever has the belts I want to face them. I am really excited and what is on the horizon is going to be good. I am determined to go for it now and look good in every performance I have, whether it is against Bryan or someone else.

“I am going to be explosive, devastating and really look the business.”

To watch Dev Sahni’s full Unibet Lowdown interview with Daniel Dubois on YouTube, click here

Images are free to use, please credit: Queensberry Promotions

DEERFIELD BEACH, FL (January 8, 2022)—The World’s Greatest Boxing promoter, Don King, is coming home to Warren, Ohio in spectacular fashion as he has put together a blockbuster championship night of boxing on Saturday, Jan. 29.

Tickets for the night of boxing set for the W.D. Packard Music Hall in Warren, OH are on sale at Ticketmaster or the W.D. Packard Music Hall.  The tickets will be priced at $550, $350, $250, $175 and $80. 

Homecoming At Last! The fight for the forgotten people (the homeless, poor, and downtrodden people) will benefit from this championship doubleheader.

The main event will pit WBC Cruiserweight Champion Ilunga Junior Makabu (28-2 with 25 KOs) and the number one challenger, WBC Silver Champion Thabiso Mchunu (23-5, 13 KOs).   The winner is hopeful of the opportunity to fight World Champion Canelo Alvarez.

In addition to Makabu-Mchunu, King has been busy working the phones to put together two special attractions and two other championship fights.

WBA World Heavyweight Champion Trevor Bryan (21-0, 15 KOs) will be featured in a co-main event special attraction.

The two championship fights will showcase the NABA Cruiserweight title as Johnnie Langston (9-3, 3 KOs) of Sarasota, FL will square off against Nick Kisner (22-5-1, 6 KOs) of Baltimore, MD.

The NABA Middleweight Championship will be up for grabs as local product Michael Moore (18-3, 8 KOs) of Cleveland, OH will meet Anthony Lenk (17-7, 7 KOs) of Niagara Falls, NY.

King hopes to add to this spectacular card in the coming days.

Aaron Aponte has signed a promotional deal with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom.
 
Aponte (4-0 2 KOs) has impressed in his early outings in the paid ranks, turning pro in October 2020 on home turf in Florida with a first round KO before appearing on one of the biggest stages in the sport in his second outing, on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez’s clash with Avni Yildirim at the Hard Rock Stadium home of the Miami Dolphins in February.
 
‘The Alien King’ made it three wins from three with victory on the undercard of Demetrius Andrade’s clash with Liam Williams in April, and in August recorded a second stoppage win in his first fight outside the Sunshine State at the Hulu Theater in New York.
 
The 20 year old former amateur standout will move his assault on the pro game into a new gear in 2022, and the Peter Kahn managed starlet cannot wait to get going.
 
“First and foremost, I want to thank God because without him none of this would be possible,” said Aponte. “I want to thank my parents who have dedicated themselves to making me successful. Thank you to all the coaches I’ve worked with over the years to get to this point.
 
“I have the best manager in the sport Peter Kahn and now with best promotional company in the world in Matchroom and Eddie Hearn. There is no stopping me from becoming the next face of boxing. The Alien King has arrived.”
 
“I am delighted to welcome Aaron to the team,” said Hearn. “We’ve had the pleasure of having Aaron on two cards in Florida and even in his infancy in the paid ranks, this young man has shown that he has both the in-ring talent and growing fan base to become a real force in the sport. We look forward to his journey continuing in 2022 and beyond, and Aaron rising to all challenges we put in front of him.”

Luis Nunez stopped Carlos Arrieta the 10th and final round in a scheduled 10-round junior lightweight bout at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida.

In round three, Arrieta was starting to swell under the left eye.

In round nine, Nunez hurt Arrieta with a right hand and followed up with a hard flurry that rocked Arrieta, and the fight was stopped at 1:41.

Nunez, 128 1/4 lbs of Nagua, DR is 16-0 with 12 knockouts. Nunez, 129 1/4 lbs of Truillo Alto, PR is 14-1.

“The plan was to work the body and to break him down and that’s what we did,” Nunez said. “I saw the right hand was landing and I kept throwing it and trying to set him up for it and attacking until we got what we wanted in the final round. It was a great shot and great win for my career. It’s the way I wanted to close the fight.”

“I thought it was a quick stoppage,” Arrieta said. “I was a little stunned, but I could have continued. I didn’t want the fight to be stopped. He was a strong fighter, a true warrior. He’s a very good fighter and was very effective with the right hand.”

Nuñez said he is ready to go back down to 126 pounds after contesting his first professional fight in the 130-pound super featherweight division. “I fought for most of my career at 122 so 126 is where I belong,” he said. “I felt strong at this weight [super featherweight] but 126 is the weight for me.”

He added: “I knew he was a tough fighter and I’m not surprised the fight went as it did. He came to fight, and we gave the fans a good fight.”

Eranosyan Decisions Castillo

Otar Eranosyan won an eight-round unanimous decision over Starling Castillo in a lightweight bout.

Eraosyan dropped Castillo twice in round one. The first was a counter right. The second came from a huge left that hurt Castillo, and a follow up combination sent him to the canvas.

Eranosyan landed 153 of 605 punches; Castillo was 102 of 430.

Eranosyan, 135 lbs of The Georgia Republic, won by scores of 79-71 and 80-70 twice and is now 11-0. Castillo, 135 lbs of Dominican Republic is 16-1.

“We work on the left hook in training and when the opening presented itself I landed the left hook on the (first) knockdown,” said Eranosyan, ranked No. 7 by the WBA at 130 pounds, who fought six times in 2021. “It’s fine that he got up. This is pro boxing. We train for 12 rounds, 10 rounds, eight rounds, however long it takes we will be there.

“I feel great about my performance. This is why I train like I do and fight as hard as I do for nights like these.”

“I’m ready for all the champions. Bring them on,” Eranosyan said. “Shakur Stevenson, Oscar Valdez, I’m ready for all of them. I’m getting better and better each fight and I’m ready now to face the best. I know that with more performances like these, soon I will be champion of the world.”

Foster Decisions De Los Santos

In a battle of undefeated junior lightweights,. William Foster III won an eight-round split decision over Edwin De Los Santos.

It was a sloppy fight with a lot of holding on the inside, mostly be De Los Santos.

In round four, De Los Santos was deducted a point for holding the head. De Los Santos was also cut over the left eye in the round. Foster was able to create space and land solid shots in the second half of the fight, and won by 77-74 twice, while De Los Santos won a card 77-74.

De Los Santos landed 125 of 421 Punches; Foster was 117 of 488.

Foster, 129 1/4 lbs of West Haven, CT is now 14-0. De Los Santos, 129 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is 13-1.

“I was pressuring him the whole time and I knew he was slowing down and eventually I would get to him,” said Foster, who kept moving forward as the fight progressed and dictated and landed the more powerful punches. “I thought it was the right decision because I was landing more shots as the fight went on.”

The 28-year-old Foster – the younger brother of 20-0 professional light heavyweight prospect Charles Foster – was surprised with how fast De Los Santos started. “I knew I had to stay calm, and I adapted and my experience allowed me to adjust to what was happening,” Foster said. “He wasn’t devastating, and the punches never hurt me. I knew he would slow down and when he did, I began to land my shots and had success with my pressure.”

Regarding the point deduction in the fourth, De Los Santos disagreed with the referee’s decision. “I didn’t think the point should have been deducted,” said De Los Santos, who had scored stoppages in his last seven fights. “I thought I should have been warned first.

“I thought it was a close fight, but I thought I did enough to earn the victory. I was landing the harder shots throughout and he never hurt me.”

Added De Los Santos: “He was a little awkward and he came with a little more than we thought he would, but I still thought I won. He was aggressive and maybe I slowed down a little as the fight went on, but I still thought I was landing. This is a setback but I’ll learn from this and come back better.”

VERONA, N.Y. (Jan. 7, 2022) — WBO light heavyweight world champion Joe Smith Jr will make his first title defense against an unlikely contender. British puncher Callum Johnson tested positive for COVID-19, so Smith will now face Steve Geffrard on Saturday, Jan. 15 at Turning Stone Resort Casino and LIVE on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (simulcast on ESPN+) at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

In the 10-round co-feature, featherweight contender Abraham Nova (20-0, 14 KOs), who was originally slated to fight Jose Enrique Vivas, will fight Dominican veteran William “El Gago” Encarnacion (19-1, 15 KOs) after Vivas dropped out with an injury.

“I give Steve credit for taking this fight on short notice,” Smith said. “He is a tough guy, and I expect him to bring everything he has for this opportunity. I’m ready to fight regardless of who is in the ring with me. My goal is the same, which is to defend my world title and keep it on Long Island where it belongs.”

Geffrard said, “This is the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s crazy how boxing works. One moment I’m thinking about boxing on a local show, then the phone rings for a chance to fight for the WBO world title on ESPN. Unreal!”

Smith (27-3, 21 KOs), the fighting pride of Long Island, won the title last April with a majority decision over Maxim Vlasov. His proposed October return was postponed due to a COVID-19 diagnosis, and with Johnson out, he turns his attention to Geffrard (18-2, 12 KOs), a 31-year-old native of Miami, Florida.

Geffrard is a nine-year pro who has won 18 straight fights since starting his career 0-2. He upped his record to 18-2 last March, winning an eight-round unanimous decision over longtime contender Denis Grachev. Geffrard had a fight scheduled for Jan. 8 in Delray Beach, Florida, but the “South Florida Cinderella Man” jumped at the chance to fight Smith on eight days’ notice.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, tickets priced from $49 to $89 are on sale now and can be purchased at the Turning Stone Resort Box Office, charge by phone by calling 800.771.7711 or online at Ticketmaster.

About Turning Stone Resort Casino

Host of the January 15^th event, Turning Stone Resort Casino is a Forbes Four-Star Award-winning destination resort, which continues to distinguish itself as a premier venue for fight-of-the-year caliber boxing. Turning Stone features world-class amenities including The Lounge with Caesars Sports, a state-of-the-art sports book in partnership with Caesars Entertainment, five hotels, more than 20 signature dining options, two spas, a 125,000 square foot Las Vegas style gaming floor, multiple entertainment venues, five golf courses, and several bars and lounges offering live entertainment every weekend.  Additionally, Turning Stone is the Official Resort Casino of the International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend. The partnership is a multifaceted initiative to spotlight boxing throughout the entire region. The program includes a series of boxing events at Turning Stone that culminate every year in June with an elaborate and bigger-than-ever International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend celebration.  International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend will be held June 9 – 12, 2022.

As an increasing number of athletes and performers now require ticketholders to be vaccinated, Turning Stone has updated its health and safety protocols for the Event Center, The Showroom and Exit 33 nightlife venues to align with industry health and safety protocols.  All ticketholders 12 years or older are required to provide proof of vaccination to attend any event at the Turning Stone Event Center or The Showroom. Children 11 years or younger who are not vaccinated are required to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of the event and will be required to wear face coverings while at Turning Stone. Guests visiting areas other than the Event Center, The Showroom and Exit 33 nightlife venues at Turning Stone are not required to provide proof of vaccination. All guests visiting Turning Stone are required to wear masks.

January 7, 2022: After 6 weekends of unrivaled boxing on the platform brought 2021 to a spectacular close, DAZN, in partnership with Matchroom Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions, announces EIGHT premium fight nights across the U.S. and UK to kick off a busy 2022 of global boxing on DAZN.

Saturday, February 05: Jessie Vargas vs. Liam Smith – Headlining the event is former two-weight world champion Jessie Vargas Vs. former WBO light-middleweight champion Liam Smith with Rungvisai Vs. Cuadras fighting for the vacant WBC Super-Flyweight title also on the card. The show will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Thailand).

Saturday, February 12: Daniel Jacobs Vs. John Ryder – Super-middleweight John Ryder looks to step up in 2022, taking on two-time middleweight world champion Daniel Jacobs in the UK. The event will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

Saturday, February 19: Jaime Munguía vs. D’Mitrius Ballard – Mexican middleweight Jaime Munguía takes on D’Mitrius Ballard in a rescheduled middleweight battle between the pair for the WBO Inter-Continental middleweight title. The event will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Mexico).

Sunday, February 27: Lawrence Okolie – WBO cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie will defend his belt for the second time at the end of February with the opponent to be announced soon. The event will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

Saturday, March 05: Estrada vs. Chocolatito III – Juan Francisco Estrada and Román ‘Chocolatito’ González run it back once more for a highly anticipated trilogy fight for the WBA and The Ring Super Flyweight titles. The event will be live worldwide on DAZN.

Saturday, March 12: Leigh Wood vs. Michael Conlan – Leigh Wood defends his new WBA belt for the first time after producing a 12th-round knockout against Xu Can at Fight Camp, now facing WBA ‘interim’ featherweight champion Michael Conlan. The event will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

Saturday, March 19: Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Michael McKinson – Knockout artist Vergil Ortiz Jr. looks to make it 19-0, taking on flawless British prospect Michael McKinson in the first defense his WBO International welterweight title. The event will be live worldwide on DAZN.

Saturday, March 26: Kiko Martinez vs. Josh Warrington II – Spanish two-weight world champion Kiko Martinez puts his newly acquired IBF featherweight belt on the line against old foe Josh Warrington – who actually beat the champion back in 2017. The rematch will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

“After a stacked fall fight schedule on DAZN to close out 2021, we’re committed as ever to maintain that pace with our partners and thrilled to announce an unrivalled start to 2022 – a year that will see new matchups constantly added as we continue to deliver nonstop boxing action to subscribers and fight fans all around the world,” said Ed Breeze, EVP Rights at DAZN.

“In addition to the live boxing schedule, we also look forward to ramping up our original content slate, featuring even more of the most compelling storylines in and around boxing, daily drops of The DAZN Boxing Show, and much more to be unveiled in the new year.”

“We ended 2021 with a bang and I can’t wait to get started in 2022,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “It’s going to be such an exciting year for Matchroom and DAZN with massive events all over the world, and I’m delighted with the early schedule we’ve put together – unifications, World title action and career-defining nights; there’s so much drama packed into these nights, and we’ve got plenty more to add soon.”

“Golden Boy finished off 2021 with incredible, action-packed fights on DAZN headlined by some of the biggest stars in the sport, Vergil Ortiz, Jr., Jaime Munguia, and Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez. These fighters are the future of boxing and we are delighted to continue to work with DAZN in 2022 on the upcoming events of these fighters,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman & CEO of Golden Boy.

“We are starting 2022 with the announcement of Jaime Munguia vs. D’Mitrius Ballard on February 19 and Vergil Ortiz, Jr. vs. Michael McKinson on March 19. These events are going to be full of non-stop action, featuring the fan-friendly styles of Munguia, Ballard, and Ortiz, Jr.’s incredible knock-out power. 2022 will be an exciting year of boxing for all fight fans.”

Further fights and full undercard details to be announced shortly.

About DAZN Group

DAZN Group is one of the fastest growing sports media companies in the world. Headquartered in the UK and with employees in over 25 countries, our businesses touch every aspect of the way fans engage with sports; from production, through to content distribution and commercialisation. DAZN Group is home to DAZN, the?leading global sport?destination, as well as the popular sport portal, DAZN News. DAZN is leading the charge to give sports fans around the world access to sport anytime, anywhere. DAZN guarantees affordable access on most connected devices including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles. DAZN is now live in more than 200 countries and territories after first launching in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Japan in 2016. Visit www.dazngroup.com for more information.

By Norn Frauenheim-

Year-enders, 2021 awards and 2022 projections, were notable for one traditional category that was mostly overlooked, if not missing altogether.

There wasn’t a whole lot of talk about fights we want to see. Maybe, that’s because only another rematch with COVID-19 seems to matter.

The New Year is only a week old, yet already there are more of the cancellations/postponements that drained enthusiasm and energy from boxing. This one is being blamed on omicron. It’s a so-called variant. From this corner, however, nothing about it has varied from exactly a year ago. Same old virus, same old buzz kill.  

It’s hard to get excited, even sustain interest when it’s uncertain exactly when or even whether an opening bell will happen.

The latest sign was news Thursday that light-heavyweight Joe Smith Jr. was looking for a new opponent for his title defense, still scheduled for Jan. 15 in Verona, N.Y., because UK challenger Callum Johnson tested positive.

“It’s a real great shame for Callum,” his promoter Frank Warren told BBC Sport. “Hopefully we can get him back in, they may want to [reschedule the fight] in late spring.’’

The Top Rank card had already been hit by COVID. Emerging featherweight Abraham Nova of Albany, NY, was supposed to fight Mexican Jose Enrique Vivas. But the stubborn virus spread through Vivas’ camp, forcing him to withdraw. Instead, Nova will fight Dominican William Encarnacion.

If the card had been scheduled for the UK, there would have been no uncertainty. No doubt at all. The date would have been off. Ring lights in the UK will be dark throughout January. Boxing won’t resume until at least Feb. 1, according to news from the British Boxing Board of Control in a story reported this week by Boxing Scene.

The step was taken because of another huge COVID surge in Britain.  In the U.S. that’s ominous, another word for omicron.

What COVID does in the UK usually foretells what it’s about to do in the U.S.

Still, the American version of the game fights on. At least, for now.

There were weigh-ins Thursday for a card featuring junior-lightweights Luis Nunez (15-0, 8 KOs)-versus-Carlos Arrieta (14-0, 9 KOs). The card includes six unbeaten fighters in three bouts. It’s a ShoBox telecast scheduled for Friday (6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET, Showtime) from Orlando, home for Disney World.

It’s also in the heart of Florida, where – according to a University of Florida report –up to 80 percent of the state’s population will get COVID during the omicron wave.

With those kind of odds, it’ll be a huge upset if the fighters, fans, cornermen and officials don’t get infected. Put it this way: Getting vaccinated is the best bet. Hopefully, they all are.

ORLANDO, Fla. – January 6, 2021 – Exciting rising prospect Luis Nuñez (15-0, 11 KOs) and fellow undefeated power-puncher Carlos Arrieta (14-0, 8 KOs) both made weight Thursday, a day ahead of their 10-round super featherweight main event on ShoBox: The New Generation this Friday, January 7, live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT from Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Fla.

The co-feature pits hard-hitting Starling Castillo (16-0, 12 KOs) against ShoBox returnee Otar Eranosyan (10-0, 6 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight bout. In the telecast opener, knockout artist Edwin De Los Santos (13-0, 12 KOs) battles William Foster III (13-0, 9 KOs) in an eight-round super featherweight fight.

The three-fight telecast is promoted by Sampson Boxing.

FINAL WEIGHTS

Super Featherweight 10-Round Bout

Luis Nuñez – 128 ¼ pounds

Carlos Arrieta – 129 ¼ pounds

Referee: Frank Gentile; Judges: Fredrick Fluty, Erik Larsen, Alexander Levin

Lightweight Eight-Round Bout

Starling Castillo – 134 ¾ pounds

Otar Eranosyan – 135 pounds

Referee: Christopher Young; Judges: Fredrick Fluty, Erik Larsen, Efrain Lebron

Super Featherweight Eight-Round Bout

Edwin De Los Santos – 129 pounds

William Foster III – 129 ½ pounds

Referee: Frank Gentile; Judges: Erik Larsen, Alexander Levin, Efrain Lebron

Note: All refs and judges reside in Florida.

FINAL QUOTES:

Luis Nuñez

“I was first given the nickname ‘Explosive’ by my manager, but due to so many fighters having this nickname, we wanted to find a different nickname. That’s when Sampson came with the nickname ‘The Twist’ and he played the music and showed me the video, and that’s where it all started. Honestly, I’m not sure what my opponent will think when he sees me doing the twist. Maybe he will think I’m a dancer, or he’ll take it as a joke. But it doesn’t bother me what my opponent thinks about me.

“From my understanding, Chubby Checker [who originated The Twist] was good friends with Sampson [Lewkowicz]. When I saw the dance, it’s something that stuck with me. So, I want to represent the name ‘The Twist,’ and I want to make it big. It’s really an old song from the 1960s, but I’m going to bring more light to it and bring it back.

“I’m excited to go toe-to-toe with Arrieta and to give a good fight for the viewers. I do understand that my opponent is very experienced and a very good fighter, but I’m preparing to come out victorious. We’re going to analyze, fight, punch, and if a knockout comes, it comes.

“I want to thank [Chris] Colbert for giving me the opportunity to spar with him. I really appreciated the opportunity. I liked the session because Colbert is a classy fighter and sparring with him helped me prepare for this fight. Even though he’s from a heavier division, we were going at it.

“I know I had the opportunity to finish Jayvon Garnett in the later rounds in my last fight, but I didn’t feel comfortable moving forward in that moment because my main focus was to make sure I didn’t make any mistakes and lose.”

 Carlos Arrieta

“I’m the type of fighter that adjusts based on my opponent. I can box and I can bang. I’ll adjust to my opponent and fight whichever way I need to. It depends on their style. But I am a fighter that likes to get into wars. My best quality is my speed but I do have enough power to hurt my opponent.

“I’m expecting a great battle with Nuñez. I hope that he’s ready so that we can put on a good show and a spectacle for the fans. I’m ready for whatever Nuñez brings, but if he starts slow and doesn’t wake up, he’s going to have issues.

“As soon as I heard about this fight, I said yes. It’s a very important fight for me. I’m in the big leagues now. It’s an opportunity that I couldn’t let go by.

“It’s true that I haven’t been in the ring in over a year, but that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been in the gym. I’ve been training non-stop and I’m always in the gym.

“My team has a game plan for how to counter Nuñez’s skills so I am not worrying about that. I have a great team and trust the plan, and I will go out there and put that plan into action.

“On paper, Nuñez is my best opponent to date because he has a great record and is undefeated. I think he just as hungry as I am. But I fought against Ricardo ‘El Matematico’ Nuñez in a really difficult fight. I was cut in that fight and he was a really tough opponent too.

“That fight against ‘El Matematico’ and going through that adversity of being cut matured me. It really helped build my confidence and mature as a fighter. He was a heavy puncher and I was able to withstand his power.”

Starling Castillo

“I have trained for any situation that will appear in the ring. I don’t like talking ahead too much. I will see how his style is once I get into the ring.

“I can’t say whether he’s my toughest opponent. There’s no such thing as a bad rival. He’s there for a reason.

“I learned a lot in my last fight against Juan Carlos Burgos. He’s someone who had a lot of experience, so it was a good learning experience. I made a lot of errors in that fight. We studied the fight and have corrected a lot of the errors that I made, so we learned a lot.”

Otar Eranosyan

“From my last fight on ShoBox, I learned that I can really put on a great show for the fans and for the viewers. But since that fight, I’ve been working a lot on my game. I’ve been trying to improve my leg movements and working on faster movements.

“My amateur career has really helped me. It’s all about the experience I gained. I had around 250 to 300 amateur fights and that gave me all sorts of experience. As a pro, I’ve been able to advance faster than a lot of other prospects because of this. I’ve been able to face tougher opposition earlier in my career because I have the skillset.

“Castillo will be different from my previous opponents because he is a southpaw and he’s taller. He fights a more defensive style than ‘Pork Chop’ [Alejandro Guerrero], who was very offensive. So that created a fight where we went all-in on each other.

“From this point on, I will not have any easy fights. Everything will be very hard. With a win, I will be one step closer to fighting for a world title and of course eventually I want to win the title. I’m 28 years old and I am ready to take on the champions now.

“It doesn’t make any difference to me that I’m on the B-side. I’m not offended in any way. My last fight, I was also the B-side. I don’t feel there’s any difference. I just go out into the ring, do my job and perform how I always do.”

Edwin De Los Santos

“My nickname ‘Grenade’ comes from the fact that when you throw a grenade, it explodes, and it makes a mess and that’s pretty much what my punches do.

“I’m prepared to go rounds, but whenever the opportunity arises and there’s a clean shot, I will go ahead with force. My power is natural. I’ve been knocking people out since I was a kid, despite their experience.

“The fight could go past two rounds, because of my opponent’s experience, but if I catch him that will be it for him.

“A win against Foster will take me to the next level. It’s a dream of mine to fight in the United States and a good performance will really make an impression in the eyes of the public and get my name out there.

“I know my opponent is a really good boxer and he goes in there to fight. We’re working hard as a team to come up with different techniques to take advantage of times when he launches himself and doesn’t cover up, but whatever happens, we can adapt to his way of fighting.”

William Foster III

“I don’t take any opponent lightly. De Los Santos seems like he’s a real good fighter. His resume speaks for itself. It’s impressive. But I’m going to give it my all.

“I’ve faced some really good opponents like Sulaiman Segawa and Donald Smith, but in my eyes, everyone has a flaw. I’m going to exploit his like I exploited the others.

“I’m taller than him. I’m faster. And I believe I’m more knowledgeable. That’s the biggest difference. I have more experience. I’ve fought more impressive opponents than him. Don’t get me wrong. His resume is nice but it’s against opponents that didn’t make him grow as a fighter as much as my opponents made me grow.

“I believe I’ve been tested. Segawa was a really tough fighter. He came to fight. We were throwing a lot of punches and it was a real brawl. He was throwing good combinations.

“This is the type of opportunity that I’ve been waiting for. For a long time. This is one step closer to my goal and to my dream. Which is to be the most dangerous fighter in the world. This will get me right where I want to be. This will be my message to the world that I’m ready to fight and I want to put my name out there and let everybody know who I am.”

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For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, #ShoBox, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports  

About ShoBox: The New Generation

Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 85 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.