Las Vegas (February 21, 2019) – Hall of fame broadcaster Al Bernstein has confirmed that that he will appear and hold a Meet & Greet with his fans at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the fifth Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday May 4, 2019 from 10am to 5pm, during Cinco De Mayo weekend. The Boxing Expo will also coincide with the highly anticipated fight between Canelo Alvarez vs Danny Jacobs, that will take place later that evening at the T-Mobile Arena.

Bernstein will make his 3rd appearance at this years’ Expo, at the Hannibal Boxing Media booth and will be signing copies of the book Off The Ropes: The Ron Lyle Story, featuring a foreword by Al Bernstein. He will also be available to sign photos and boxing items, as well as taking pictures for fans to enjoy.

Bernstein joins Michael Spinks, Erik Morales, James Toney and Jessie Vargas as an early commitment to this year’s Box Fan Expo.

About Al Bernstein
Al Bernstein is best known to a national audience as the voice of boxing, first for ESPN, and now as the analyst for Showtime Championship Boxing. This Hall of Fame broadcaster is considered by many as the most recognizable and respected boxing commentator. In 2012, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He also hosts online shows, Al Bernstein’s Boxing Hangouts and Quick Hits, giving Al a chance to talk boxing and provide great insights for fans around the globe.

About Box Fan Expo
Box Fan Expo has been a huge success with fans and boxing industry people. Many boxing stars have attended the last four Expos such as Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Roy Jones Jr., Marcos Maidana, Andre Ward, Errol Spence Jr., Sergio Martinez, Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Tim Bradley, Deontay Wilder, Amir Khan, Shawn Porter, Fernando Vargas, Zab Judah, James Toney, Vinny Pazienza, Mikey Garcia , Mia St.John, Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares Maricela Cornejo, Badou Jack, Terry Norris , Riddick Bowe , Earnie Shavers, Leon Spinks, Danny Jacobs, Jorge Linares, Brandon Rios and many more…

Exhibitors such as boxing gear, apparel, new equipment’s, energy drinks, alcohol, supplement products, broadcasting media, sanctioning bodies and other companies who wish to participate will once again have a chance to showcase their brand to fans, media and the boxing industry.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online at:
https://boxfanexpo.eventbrite.com

Box Fan Expo is the ultimate boxing fan experience event, which allows fans to Meet and Greet Boxing Superstars of today, current and former world champions, Legends of the sport and other boxing Celebrities at their booth. On Site, fans will experience different activities from Autograph Sessions, Photo Sessions, FaceOff with your favorite boxers, as well as a chance to purchase merchandise and memorabilia from their booth, plus so much more… you won’t want to miss this must-attend Expo!

Box Fan Expo will also feature top boxing organizations, promoters, ring card girls, famous trainers and commentators as well as boxing gear companies “ALL UNDER ONE ROOF”.

Throughout the next several months leading up to the Event, there will be weekly updates on the many stars that will commit their appearance at the Boxing Expo. And for anyone in the Boxing industry or other Exhibitors (non-industry), who would like to be involved and reserve a Booth, contact Box Fan Expo:

Telephone number: (514) 572-7222 or Las Vegas Number (702) 997-1927

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

For More information on Box Fan Expo visit: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

Follow Box Fan Expo on Twitter and Instagram: @BoxFanExpo

Follow Box Fan Expo on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

Richard Riakporhe is expecting an easier night’s work when he makes the first defence of his WBA Inter-Continental Cruiserweight title against Belfast’s highly-touted Tommy McCarthy at the East of England Arena on Saturday March 2, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.

The undefeated Dillian Whyte-mentored Londoner produced a stunning comeback to stop the previously unbeaten Sam Hyde in an epic battle at the Manchester Arena in November and is fully confident of making a successful first defence of the World ranking title next week.

“I’m feeling good going into this fight as I believe Sam Hyde is a better opponent than Tommy McCarthy,” said Riakporhe. “That’s meant as no disrespect to Tommy as he’s a fighter that I’ve watched a lot of and have admiration for. I remember watching the Commonwealth games back in 2010 and he looked pretty decent then.

“He’s got a good skillset and a solid background, but I believe that this is my time now and the momentum is in my corner. I’ll do anything to win and to keep on winning. There’s no way I’m overlooking Tommy as every fight is a huge risk and anything can happen, but I’ve got the bit between my teeth and I’ll be prepared come fight night.”

With one eye seemingly set on British Champion Lawrence Okolie, Riakporhe hasn’t let a potential clash with his fellow Londoner disrupt his focus when preparing for McCarthy, but the Walworth man couldn’t resist speaking about the current Lonsdale belt-holder.

“Lawrence Okolie has the British title at the moment and I believe that would be a good fight for me in the future if he still has the belt. I was focusing on individuals at one point in my career, but I soon realised that despite making noises, a lot of people don’t really want to fight you. I’d rather just focus on the titles right now, so I can progress in my career and get the experience that I need.

“I’d like the Okolie fight down the line for sure. We’ve been close to fighting twice but it doesn’t sound like he wanted it. Granted he’s ahead of me with the belts and in the pecking order but a couple of wins and why not? He must be shying away from it for a reason.

“Having watched a few of his fights Okolie has issues with movement. I train out in Cuba quite a lot, working on my lateral movement so that mixed with my punching power I think will cause him big problems.

“It’s a good division at the minute with the likes of Craig Glover coming through. Win this on March 2 and I want them all over the next year or two, what’s the point in holding back? I would like to box overseas at some point as well. I want to carry on getting experience for the big day one day, which I know is going to come – and that’s for a World title challenge.”

Riakporhe vs. McCarthy is part of a huge night of boxing in Peterborough.

Jordan Gill headlines his first show as he goes for his second pro title in a WBA International Featherweight clash with Mexico’s Emmanuel Dominguez.

Unbeaten Indiana Super-Middleweight contender Anthony Sims Jr fights for the second time in the UK after an explosive debut in Cardiff last summer.

Nottingham’s Leigh Wood clashes with Ghana’s Abraham Osei Bonsu for the vacant Commonwealth Featherweight crown.

Heavy-handed Super-Middleweight prospect John Docherty looks to make if four knockouts from four fights after impressing again on the Garcia vs. Cheeseman undercard at The O2 and Leeds Super-Bantamweight and former Team GB amateur standout Qais Ashfaq aims to go 5-0, and there’s also action on the undercard for Northampton Super-Welterweight Kieron Conway, Wisbech Super-Welterweight Joe Steed and St Ives Super-Lightweight Bradley Smith.

DENVER – February 21, 2019 – On March 16, IBF Welterweight Champion Errol Spence Jr. will defend his title against unbeaten four-division world champion Mikey Garcia. For the highly-anticipated bout, broadcast live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, Garcia will move up to try and capture a title in a fifth-weight class against Spence. “Spence Jr. vs. Garcia,”and its co-featured fights, will be shown on big screens across the nation.

Tickets for “Spence Jr. vs. Garcia” can be purchased online atwww.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices now.

The live broadcast of “Spence Jr. vs. Garcia” presented by Fathom Events, FOX Sports, and Premier Boxing Champions, is set for Saturday, March 16 beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. CT / 7:00 p.m. MT / 6:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. AK / 4:00 p.m. HI. Boxing fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in more than 300 select movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network (DBN). A complete list of theater locations is available on the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

Spence (24-0, 21 KOs) is no stranger to big stadium events, as he won the IBF title by traveling to England to take on then-champion Kell on May 27, 2017. In front of a raucous crowd of over 27,000 loyal Brook supporters, the 28-year-old Spence stopped Brook in round 11 to wrest away the title.
This will be Spence’s third defense of the title. After beating Brook, he successfully defended it with an eighth-round stoppage of two-division champion Lamont Peterson and then knocked out mandatory challenger Carlos Ocampo in the first round in his last fight at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Tex., near his hometown of Desoto, Tex. on June 16. Spence turned pro shortly after representing the U.S. at the 2012 London Olympics with much promise and rose to the championship ranks with wins over former champion Chris Algieri and veteran contenders Leonard Bundu, Alejandro Barrera and Chris van Heerden.

Garcia (39-0, 30 KOs) is striving to put together a legendary career and is aggressively pursuing that goal. He has won world championships at featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight. He now eyes a welterweight title against the consensus class of the division in Spence. Fighting out of Moreno Valley, Calif., Garcia unified the IBF and WBC Lightweight World Championships in his last bout by scoring unanimous decision victory over Robert Easter, Jr. on July 28.
The 31-year-old first reached the championship ranks by blitzing through the featherweight and junior lightweight division, defeating Orlando Salido, Juan Manuel Lopez, Roman Martinez, and Juan Carlos Burgos to establish himself as a star in the sport. Garcia has been on a fast track since ending a nearly 2.5-year hiatus with a knockout victory over Elios Rojas in 2016. After the victory over Rojas, Garcia scored a KO victory over Dejan Zlaticanin for the WBC lightweight championship in January 2017, before defeating four-division champion Adrien Broner in July, and then captured a title at 140 lbs. by dropping down and defeating Sergey Lipinets last March.

“Boxing fans won’t want to miss this chance to find out who is the best pound-for-pound fighter when ‘Spence Jr. vs. Garcia’ comes to local cinemas across the country,” Fathom Events CEO Ray Nutt said. “As a tradition for fight fans, there’s nothing better than watching bouts live on the big screen from AT&T Stadium.”

For artwork/photos related to “Spence Jr. vs Garcia”visit the Fathom Events press site.

About Fathom Events
Fathom Events is the leading event cinema distributor with theater locations in all top 100 DMAs® (Designated Market Areas) and ranks as one of the largest overall theater content distributors. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC); Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK); and Regal, a subsidiary of the Cineworld Group (LSE: CINE.L), Fathom Events offers a variety of unique entertainment events in movie theaters such as live performances of the Metropolitan Opera, top Broadway stage productions, major sporting events, epic concerts, the yearlong TCM Big Screen Classics series, inspirational events and popular anime franchises. Fathom Events takes audiences behind the scenes for unique extras including audience Q&As, backstage footage and interviews with cast and crew, creating the ultimate VIP experience. Fathom Events’ live Digital Broadcast Network (“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live and pre-recorded events to 975 locations and 1,578 screens in 181 DMAs. The company also provides corporations a compelling national footprint for hosting employee meetings, customer rewards events and new product launches. For more information, visit www.FathomEvents.com.

About FOX Sports
FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing 21st Century Fox’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FOX Sports includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing relationships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; FS1, FS2; FOX Sports Regional Networks, their affiliated regional web sites and national programming; FOX Soccer Plus; FOX Deportes and FOX College Sports. FOX Sports also encompasses FOX Sports Digital, which includes FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App and FOX Sports GO. Also included in the Group are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and BTN 2Go, as well as a licensing agreement that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network.

About Premier Boxing Champions
The Premier Boxing Champions series was created and is produced by Haymon Sports, LLC. It features the most accomplished and decorated array of international professional boxing talent across the most popular weight divisions.

Unbeaten middleweight world champion Christina Hammer has sent out a message to her rival 160-pound champion Claressa Shields as she prepares to travel stateside for a press conference next Tuesday in New York City to officially announce their battle for the undisputed women’s middleweight championship Saturday, April 13 live on SHOWTIME from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

Hammer became the first German fighter to successfully defend their title in the U.S. since Max Schmeling, when she defeated Tori Nelson in June on SHOWTIME from Detroit. A win on April 13 would make her just the second undisputed champion in female boxing history.

“I’m looking forward to fighting Claressa in the U.S.,” said Hammer in the video. “This fight against Claressa is the biggest fight there is. It’s the biggest fight in the history of female boxing. It’s a game changer. I’m doing everything I can in this training camp to beat her. Claressa’s fight against Hanna Gabriel showed that she is beatable. I’m going to do the job better than Gabriel.”

# # #

ABOUT SHIELDS vs. HAMMER
Shields vs. Hammer is a SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION that will pit undefeated middleweight world champions Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer against each other in a battle to crown the undisputed 160-pound world champion, in what is arguably the most significant women’s boxing event in history.

Promoted by Salita Promotions, the event takes place Saturday, April 13 from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. with coverage beginning on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

BROWNSVILLE, TX (February 21, 2019) – Welterweight prospect Omar “El Relampago” Juarez (1-0) of Brownsville, Texas, returns this Saturday, February 23, 2019 at the Minneapolis Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Juarez will square off against Phillip Percy in a four-round bout, on the undercard of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on FS1, headlined by Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell (32-1-1, 23 KOs) vs. Avni Yildirim (21-1, 12 KOs) for the vacant WBC super-middleweight title.

Juarez, a 19-year-old amateur standout has his sights set on becoming a star, as he enters his second pro fight working with PBC brand, the industry leader in the sport.

“I am excited to live out my dream, to be able to compete and have a chance to dominate at the highest levels,” said Omar Juarez. “This next fight will be one step closer to becoming a world champion, as that is my dream. I am grateful to be on such a big card and the fans will see me perform at my highest level.”

Juarez, who is also a motivational speaker when he is not boxing, is looking to have his action in the ring lead others to follow their dreams.

“Dreams do come true, and I’m living mine now,” continued Juarez. “I can be living proof for people in my area that working hard can get you to any place in life you wish to go. This training camp has been great I know what I need to do to get the knockout. I believe with the right execution of my game plan, I will get my first career professional knockout.”

SAN ANTONIO, TX (February 21, 2019) – Prince Ranch Boxing signs highly decorated amateur, Hector Coronado (1-0, 1 KO), to a managerial pact with TMB & PRB Entertainment, working as his promoter as his next bout will be February 23rd, 2019, at the Floresville Event Center, in Floresville, TX.

The event titled “Small Town Big Showdown” is being presented by TMB & PRB Entertainment. The super welterweight, Coronado will face Kenny Williams, an experienced veteran, who will be taking his tenth professional bout when facing Coronado on Saturday.

The 19-year old Coronado who resides in Del Rio, Texas, will campaign at the super-welterweight division. He’ll look to continue his knockout ways as his first win was extremely dominate, scoring a fourth-round TKO over Carlos Eduardo Garcia on May 16th, 2018.

“I am excited to have my career guided by experienced people,” said Coronado, who is managed by Greg Hannley, CEO of Prince Ranch Boxing. “To have a professional team around me as I march forward in my professional boxing career, is a blessing. Now it’s time for me to perform.”

“I grew up here in Texas and did well as an amateur, and now it’s time shine as a professional,” Coronado continued. “Entertaining my friends, family, and new fans in the state I call home is going to be exciting. Come out and enjoy the show!”

“Hector Coronadoi is a fine young man and his talent is extraordinary,” Greg Hannley said. “He’s a decorated amateur who is proud to represent Texas and is always looking to put on a show. I see him doing big things in this sport.”

“We are thrilled that Coronado decided to sign with us,” said Rick Morones, of TBM & PRB Entertainment, who promotes the young fighter. “We are busy building a young pool of talented fighters who can grow into world champions and Coronado is one of the fighters we believe will do so.”

“He just has all the things you want to see from a young fighter and he works hard,” stated Alex Draghici, of TMB & PRB Entertainment. “We’re very excited to see what the future holds for him.”

“Small Town Big Showdown” takes place at the Floresville Event Center on Feb. 23, 2019. Tickets priced $25 General Admission, $80 Ringside and $800 VIP Tables (10 seats) are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (210) 449-5599 or (210) 322-9974. The Floresville Event Center is located at 600 SH 97West, Floresville, TX 78114. Doors open at 6:00 PM, first bell at 7:30 PM.

Philadelphia, PA (FEBRUARY 21, 2019) – TONIGHT!!! at 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia, King’s Promotions and Titans Boxing Promotions will host a unique round-table podcast with some of the talented fighters that will be on display on Friday night, March 1st at 2300 Arena.

In the main event, Tyrone Brunson will take on Jamaal Davis in a 10-round battle for the Pennsylvania State Junior Middleweight title.

Scheduled to appear at the Podcast, which will begin at 7:30 PM ET and be streamed LIVE ON KING’S BOXING FACEBOOK PAGE & TITANS BOXING FACEBOOK PAGE will be Tyrone Brunson, Rasheed Johnson, Vincent Floyd, Rasheen Brown, Antonio Dubose along with promoters Marshall Kauffman of King’s Promotions and Andrew Foy of Titans Boxing promotions.

In the eight-round co-feature, Tyrone Crawley, Jr. (7-1-1) of Philadelphia takes on Victor Vazquez (10-5, 4 KOs) of Yonkers, New York in a junior welterweight fight.

Joseph George (8-0, 6 KOs) of Houston, Texas battles Oscar Riojas (17-11-1, 6 KOs) of Monterrey, MEX in a super middleweight fight.

In six-round bouts:

Nahir Albright (4-1, 1 KO) of Philadelphia battles Roy McGill (6-1, 3 KOs) of Harrisburg, PA in a super lightweight contest.

Rasheed Johnson (4-2, 1 KO) of Philadelphia fights Vincent Floyd (4-5-1, 2 KOs) in a clash of Philadelphia based welterweights.

Antonio DuBose (9-2-1, 2 KOs) of Philadelphia, PA fights Danny Flores (15-14, 8 KOs) of Mexico City, Mex in a super featherweight match.

In four-round bouts:

James Martin (3-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia fights Rick Pyle (1-1) of Harrisburg, PA in a welterweight fight.

Rasheen Brown (2-0) of Philadelphia fights Hugo Rodriguez (0-2) of Monterrey, Mexico in a super bantamweight fight.

Kendall Cannida (2-1) of Philadelphia, PA fights Angel Rivera (4-0, 3 KOs) of Harrisburg, PA in a light heavyweight fight.

Tickets are $100, $75 and $50 and can be purchased at www.2300arena.com

WORCESTER, Mass. (February 21, 2019) – Worcester boxer Kendrick “Peppa” Ball, Jr. is living the dream and closing in on some of his goals in the ring.

Ball (11-1-2, 8 KOs), fighting out of his native Worcester, MA, will headline his first show and fight for his first title belt, when he headlines “Every Man For Himself”, the inaugural event presented by Shearns Boxing Promotions (SBP), on Friday night, March 15, at The Palladium in Worcester. This will be the first time Ball headlines a show, in addition to fighting for his first title, in the six-round main event for the vacant New England middleweight title,

The 26-year-old Ball, promoted by CES Boxing, faces upset-minded Danny “Feel Good Hollywood” Rosenberger (4-6-4, 1 KO), of Youngstown, Ohio.

“This fight is so important for me because I’ve always wanted to headline in my hometown and fight for a title,” the 6′ 3″ Ball said. “Another goal of mine, before I started boxing, was to fight on a card with my cousin, Owen Minor, who will be making his pro debut. He’s a big puncher and people can expect a big KO from him.

“I’m an exciting fighter who likes to get knockouts. Expect something big to happen March 15th. I’m working on boxing more, using my jab a lot, to improve. I don’t know a lot about my opponent, but I understand he likes to move a lot.”

“Shearns Boxing is happy to have Kendrick Ball, Jr. headline our Mar. 15th card,” SBP promoter Chuck Shearns commented. “He’s a good kid whose family is rooted in Worcester boxing. There definitely is a rise in the number of quality fighters coming out of Worcester. This will probably be our last chance to watch Kendrick Jr. fighting in Worcester before his promoter, CES Boxing, has him fighting on the national scene.”

Ball, who started boxing at 13, experienced an unusual start to his boxing career, losing his first nine amateur bouts, before becoming a decorated boxer who turned pro in 2016.

“I wasn’t really ready, my head wasn’t into boxing when I started,” Ball explained. “I didn’t want to quit, and that experience taught me to never to give up. I knew that I was good – I had success sparring with pros – but it wasn’t there when I fought. I kept punching and grew into my own.”

Ball captured gold medals at three Western Golden Gloves Championships, plus top honors at the Rocky Marciano Tournament, also becoming a prestigious USA New England champion.

Trained by his father, Ken Ball, Sr., who owns and operates Camp Get Right gym in Worcester, Ball Sr. & Jr. have succeeded when many father-son relationships in boxing have often failed.

(L-R) Kenneth Ball, Sr. & Jr.

“We have a tight bond and we’ve been doing this since he was little,” Ball Sr. reported. “It’s worked out well. I try to separate father-son and make it trainer-boxer, but that’s hard at times.”

His son added, “It’s all good. Sometimes it’s difficult and becomes a little hard, but only because he’s pushing me. He’s my trainer, mostly, during fights.”

Father and son agree that there is a boxing resurgence in Worcester, which has a rich history dating back a century, but it also went through a slow period. Ball is part of a gifted quartet that’s making noise today in boxing, joining Khiary Gray, Jermaine Ortiz and Irvin Gonzalez.

“Over the last three years,” Ball St. remarked, “boxing has been hot again in Worcester. There are a lot of talented, young boxers in Worcester. Once Khiary turned pro, that triggered a lot of boxers turning pro.”

“We’re all close,” Ball Jr. concluded. “We’ve trained together and support each other.”

Worcester boxing is on the rise and more talent is turning pro, starting Mar. 15th when Ball’s cousin, Minor, makes his long-awaited pro debut in a four-rounder versus Corey Morley (0-2-1), of Philadelphia.

Undefeated Providence light heavyweight Angel Camacho, Jr. (15-0, 5 KOs) returns to the ring after a three-year absence in a six-round bout, co-featured event against Dallas challenger Taronze Washington (17-26, 9 KOs).

Undefeated Southbridge, MA welterweight Wilfredo “El Sucaro” Pagan (5-0, 3 KOs) takes on upset-minded Peruvian Carlos Galindo (1-7), fighting out of Woburn, MA, in a four-round clash.

Also fighting on the undercard, all in four-round fights, are Springfield, MA lightweight Calixto Cruz (1-0) vs. TBA, Worcester cruiserweight Jake Paradise (0-2) vs. Francisco Artri Neto (0-2), of Woburn, MA, New Britain, CT Nathan Martinez (2-0) vs. TBA, and Bridgeport, CT junior lightweight Carlos Marrero III (0-2-1) vs. Worcester’s Edwin Rosado (1-8-1, 1 KO).

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

General admission tickets are priced at $25.00 and available to purchase online at thepalladium.net. Boxers on the card have $50.00 and $25.00 tickets to sell.

Doors open at 6 p.m. ET, first fight at 7 p.m. ET.

Event sponsors include Lundgren Collision, Tecate, Grill 57, Worcester Railers, Worcester Red Sox, Palley Advertising, and Allstate Insurance.

INFORMATION:

Facebook.com/ShearnsBoxingPromotions

Twitter: @ShearnsBoxing

LONDON – February 21, 2019 – Former two-time super middleweight champion James DeGale and former world title challenger Chris Eubank Jr. faced off at the heated final press conference on Thursday for their 12-round showdown that headlines SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING this Saturday, February 23 live on SHOWTIME (3:45 p.m. ET/12:45 p.m. PT) from The O2 in London.

DeGale (25-2-1, 15 KOs) and Eubank (27-2, 21 KOs) will finally settle their long-running score when the two outspoken rivals meet in London. In the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING co-feature bout, Olympic Silver Medalist and top prospect Joe Joyce (7-0, 7 KOs) will measure against former WBC Champion Bermane Stiverne (25-3-1, 21 KOs) in a 12-round heavyweight clash.

Former two-division world champion, Chris Eubank Sr., was in attendance and not shy about stating this is not going to be an easy fight for his son. “This is a 50/50 fight and for the first time I am petrified of what the outcome can be. I am petrified that Junior may not win this fight,” he said.

The event is promoted by Poxon Sports and presented by Premier Boxing Champions. Joyce-Stiverne is promoted in association with Ringstar Sports and Don King Productions. The doubleheader will air live in the U.S. exclusively on SHOWTIME and on ITV Box Office in the U.K.

Veteran broadcaster Brian Custer will host the doubleheader from London with combat sportscaster Mauro Ranallo calling the action ringside alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein. Three Hall of Famers will round out the telecast team – Emmy® award winning reporter Jim Gray, boxing historian Steve Farhood as unofficial ringside scorer, and world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr.

Here’s what the fighters and their respective camps had to say during Thursday’s press conference at Intercontinental at The O2:

JAMES DEGALE:

“I vacated my title for fights like this. Chris Eubank has been calling my name for a long time and finally I get a chance to punch him in his face.

“I have no respect for him. None. This guy is a diluted idiot. And on Saturday night I can’t wait to deal with him. I’m going to come and give it to him properly. He can’t box. We’ve all heard this before.

“This is the biggest fight of his career. It’s retirement time. Whoever loses this fight is finished. It’s do or die on Saturday…His retirement fight is here. It’s his last fight, I promise you that.

“I’m proven. I’ve been there, done that. I’ve won everything. He’s done nothing. And I’m going to retire him.

“Eubank is a tough fighter, he’s strong. He has a lot of good attributes, but I’m too good for him. To mix it up and go to the very top you need more than strength and toughness. Every time he’s stepped up, he’s lost.

“The fear of losing is because I know what’s on the line. This is do or die. If I can’t beat him, if I can’t beat Chris Eubank Jr., I’m done.

“A lot of people think I’ve seen better days. A lot of people think I’m on the decline. I’ve had issues in the past, but I can honestly say I’m fully fit. I’m in the best shape I’ve been for a long, long time, physical and mentally. When I feel like I feel no one can beat me.

“If I can’t beat Chris that means I’m shot, that means I’m over the hill.”

CHRIS EUBANK JR.:

“This guy is a bum. He talks a good game. He’s going to have a good go, but at the end of the day I’m going to be too much for him.

“We are both at a stage where we can’t lose. We are both fighting for our careers. He knows he can’t handle me. He’s asking himself, ‘Can I survive?’ And the answer is absolutely not.

“There’s nothing he can do in that ring that I can’t handle. I’m going to box his head off.

“I’ve got a full time trainer now. For the first time in my career, I have a trainer day in and day out focusing on strategy to prepare me for what James is – a slick southpaw. That’s why I’m so confident. If he wants to run, we have the gameplan. If he wants to stand and swing, we have the gameplan. We have a plan for everything.

“What matters is that James’ career is over in a few days. I sent him a message after he lost to [George] Groves saying he needs to keep up because we are going to fight one day. And now that we’re finally here I look into his eyes and I don’t see a confident guy.

“It’s my time. I’m expecting the best he’s ever been and that’s still not going to be enough.

“I’m a world-level fighter. Anyone in the boxing game knows that. This is my opportunity to prove that once and for all to set the record straight and prove I’m the real deal. I know this is a defining fight in my career. It is do or die and I’m ready for that.

“James knows what’s coming. At the end of the day, his last performances haven’t been up to par, but i don’t think he respected his [past] opponents. He respects me, and I respect him and that’s why this is a real fight.

“I’ve been in the game for a long time but this is just the beginning of a long journey for me. This is my biggest fight. I have to win. If I win, I’m back on the world stage. Beating James DeGale sets me up for a world title which is the whole reason I started in this game.”

JIM MCDONNELL:

“There are levels to boxing. Chris was a good prospect coming through but he’s not on the same level as James. He’ll find out what it takes to be a world champion. James DeGale is levels above Chris Jr.

“Chris may have all the drive he needs but he doesn’t have the skills to beat James DeGale.

“I know James is not losing. James DeGale is probably the best British fighter I’ve seen in my country.”

CHRIS EUBANK SR.:

“I’ve seen the pinnacle of James and it’s intoxicating. With Chris, not everything I’ve said has been applied. It may have been heard, but not applied. What I said works. I wouldn’t have 19 championship wins if it didn’t.

“I’m not convinced [Chris will win] because James DeGale has pedigree. Being an [Olympic] Gold Medalist and former world champion is real. I respect the man’s abilities. Junior hasn’t.

“My son looks at the physical aspect of boxing and, from a physical point of view, I don’t think there is anyone who can stand with him. But boxing isn’t just physical – it’s also spiritual, and that’s where Junior lacks. I don’t know whether he has that.

“This is a 50/50 fight and for the first time I am petrified of what the outcome can be. I am petrified that Junior may not win this fight.

“This is the wisdom of someone who has been here. You never underestimate your opponent based on past performances. Anyone who thinks this guy is on a slide because of past performances is making a mistake.

“From a physical aspect, Junior has the upper hand. From a spiritual aspect and pedigree aspect, James has the upper hand, and that’s why this is a 50/50 fight.

“I do know Chris has learned and let’s see what is produced. It can be a brilliant fight.”

PAULIE MALIGNAGGI:

“I like our chances. I know the guy that I have been in camp with. The things I’ve seen, I like. They are much more positive this time around.

“You can’t underestimate a guy like Eubank. He always comes to win. But, regardless of the gameplan, there is a certain mentality and my guy has it. He’s a Gold Medalist and he knows what mentality to bring on Saturday.

“James has won two major world titles, an Olympic Gold Medal. Chris has had some good wins but when he went to that elite level, he lost. Chris is a good fighter but he’s not beaten this level of opposition.”

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, subscribe to the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

Montreal, Canada – UFC® legend and former two-division champion Georges St-Pierre announced his retirement from mixed martial arts (MMA) today at a press conference in Montreal. Widely considered the greatest welterweight champion of all time, he holds the record for the most 170-pound title defences at nine.

“It takes a lot of discipline to become and stay champion. It also takes a lot of discipline to stop while still feeling that you’re in the best physical and mental shape of your life but I’ve always planned to leave the sport when I’m at the top and in good health,” said St-Pierre (26-2, fighting out of Montreal, Canada). “I want to thank my family, my fans, my coaches, trainers and training partners, my sponsors and my agents for their indefectible support during all these years. I will forever be grateful for the work of Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, as well as Dana White and all UFC employees for giving me the opportunity to showcase my skills before the world, from UFC 46 to UFC 217. I also want to thank each of my opponents. All of them are incredible athletes who brought out the best in me. I retire from competition with great pride at having had a positive impact on my sport. I intend to keep training and practicing martial arts for as long as I live and I look forward to watching the new generation of champions carry our sport into the future.”

During his time at the top of the weight class, St-Pierre earned spectacular victories over Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit, Jake Shields, B.J. Penn (twice) and Josh Koscheck (twice). He also avenged his sole losses to both Matt Hughes and Matt Serra. In November 2017, St-Pierre captured the middleweight championship with a thrilling third-round submission win against Michael Bisping.

“Georges has cemented his legacy as one of the pound-for-pound greatest fighters ever,” UFC President Dana White said. “He beat all the top guys during his welterweight title reign and even went up a weight class to win the middleweight championship. He spent years as one of the biggest names in MMA and remains one of the best ambassadors for the sport. He put Canada on the MMA map.”

Born in the small municipality of Saint-Isidore, Quebec, St-Pierre was frequently bullied by older and stronger students throughout his childhood. However, he used this conflict as fuel to dedicate himself to martial arts. After working his way up the ranks through Quebec regional promotion TKO MMA, he debuted on the big stage with a unanimous decision win over Karo Parisyan at UFC 46 in 2004. He won his first welterweight championship via knockout over Matt Hughes at UFC 65 in 2006. After losing the title to Matt Serra, he later recaptured the belt via TKO in their rematch at UFC 83 in Montreal. He then went on to secure nine consecutive defences before stepping away from competition indefinitely. Following a four-year hiatus, St-Pierre returned in November 2017 to defeat Michael Bisping at UFC 217 to become a two-division champion.

In 2011 St-Pierre set the largest UFC gate outside the U.S. at $12,075,000 when he headlined UFC 129 at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The event currently holds the second largest attendance in UFC history with 55,724 fans. St-Pierre won Sports Illustrated Fighter of the Year in 2009. He was named Rogers Sportsnet Canadian Athlete of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He was nominated for best fighter at the ESPY Awards in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2018. Outside the Octagon®, St-Pierre was featured in films Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Kickboxer: Vengeance.

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About UFC®

UFC® is a premium global sports brand and the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. UFC boasts 278 million fans worldwide and has produced over 460 events in 24 countries since its inception in 1993. Acquired in 2016 by global sports, entertainment and fashion leader Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG), together with strategic partners Silver Lake Partners and KKR, UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas with a network of employees around the world. UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe, while programming is broadcast in over 165 countries and territories to 1.0 billion TV households worldwide in over 40 different languages. UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content to fans around the world. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

LIAM WILLIAMS BELIEVES his March 8 British title challenger Joe Mullender is overplaying his hand ahead of their highly-anticipated showdown with continual claims that he will simply drag the champion into a punch-up.

The pair clash at the Royal Albert Hall, with Williams making a first defence of the middleweight title he won in considerable style against Mark Heffron in December.

Mullender, a self-confessed slugger who likes to get up close, is confident he will be able to draw the more refined Williams into a scrap and insists it is the only way he knows.

Williams, for his part, says he is tiring of the back-to-basics rhetoric and is now even more determined to outclass what he considers a more limited opponent.

“Yeah, ‘I’m gonna punch him in the face – he’s gonna punch me’, it is getting boring now to be honest with you,” stated the 26-year-old former British super welterweight champion from Clydach Vale.

“At first maybe I was, not overlooking him, but I’ve always thought from day one that I am going to beat him fairly handily. Now, with him playing whatever card he is playing, it has motivated me even more because I just want to punch his head in.

“He has done my head in a bit so I just want to get him out of the way and make him realise the level he is at. That is what I’m going to do come March 8, so I haven’t got long to wait now.”

The 19-2-1 Williams contends that Mullender cannot have it both ways when, on the one hand, he claims it is just a fight while, on the other, it is the biggest occasion of his career with the treasured Lonsdale belt at stake.

The punch traffic, he adds, will be in one direction only.
“Yeah, exactly, he is just a bit boring and what I have seen is him keep saying we are going to punch each other’s heads in. Not at all, he is not going to punch my head in, I’m just going to beat the f**k out of him and go home still as British champion – and move on unmarked.

“That is exactly where we are at. He can keep thinking what he wants to think, or telling people what they want to hear, it makes no difference to me. I am still going to turn up on form and do my thing.”

The British middleweight title clash between Liam Williams and Joe Mullender is part of a huge night of boxing at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday March 8 that also features young heavyweight star in the making Daniel Dubois’ 10th fight against former world title challenger Razvan Cojanu, along with WBO world No.1 ranked light heavyweight Anthony Yarde defending his Intercontinental title against Baltimore’s Travis Reeves.
Also on the card, British welterweight champion Johnny Garton makes a first defence of his belt against the Welshman Chris Jenkins, while unbeaten featherweight Lucien Reid takes on his toughest test to date against Birmingham’s Indi Sangha.
Unbeaten prospects Hamza Sheeraz, Denzel Bentley, Jake Pettitt, James Branch jr and Harvey Horn also feature on the show.

Tickets are priced from £40 and are available to buy via www.RoyalAlbertHall.com

21 February 2019 – Singapore: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced that Japanese mixed martial arts legend Yushin “Thunder” Okami has joined the promotion.

With a professional record of 35 wins and 12 losses, Okami is one of the most prolific martial artists to emanate from Japan over the last two decades. With a career that began in 2002, Okami has competed in numerous weight classes — from light heavyweight all the way down to welterweight — in various Japanese promotions including Pride and Pancrase.

Okami has defeated some of the biggest names in the industry, athletes such as Ryuta Sakurai, multiple-time mixed martial arts World Champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva, Evan Tanner, Mike Swick, Mark “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Munoz, multiple-time Pancrase Middleweight World Champion Nate Marquardt, and former Bellator World Champion Hector Lombard, among others.

A black belt holder in Judo, Okami has also taken part in numerous high-profile grappling tournaments including the famed ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in 2003.

Okami is highly-skilled in all areas of martial arts, featuring world-class grappling skills paired with tremendous knockout power. He brings his veteran experience over to ONE Championship, instantly becoming a top contender.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

About ONE Championship™
ONE Championship (ONE) is the largest global sports media property in Asian history, and the largest producer of millennial live sports content in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE is the Home of Martial Arts, and is the world’s largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. ONE hosts the biggest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions on the largest global media broadcast in Asia. ONE eSports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship, runs Asia’s largest global eSports Championship Series with some of the biggest blockbuster game titles in the world. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1.7 billion potential viewers across 138 countries with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, Great Sports, Tencent, and more.

Unbeaten Indiana Super-Middleweight contender Anthony Sims Jr is targeting his first professional title in 2019.

‘The Magician’ begins his campaign at 168lbs in a scheduled ten round contest with Argentina’s Mateo Damian Veron at the East of England Arena in Peterborough on March 2, shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.

The stylish 23-year-old has reached 17-0 in the paid ranks with 16 of those wins coming inside the distance. He claimed an impressive knockout victory on the undercard of Joe Cordina’s Commonwealth title victory over Sean Dodd in Cardiff back in August and is aiming to steal the show again on his second outing on British soil.

“I’m over the moon to be fighting back in the UK, I feel like I’m coming back home,” said Sims Jr. “I’m looking to show off my skills to all of my UK fans and everyone watching on Sky Sports and DAZN. I’ve been adopted by the British and it feels good to be back.

“My goal is not only to be a World Champion, but to build awareness around mental health issues and be a voice for all people. I’m starting to get a large following in the UK and I want to keep building that with big performances. March 2 is going to be a lot of fun and I can’t wait to meet more of my UK fans.

“The opponent doesn’t really matter, I just want to get a belt. They all have two arms and two legs just like me. So I’m just working out the kinks and building to that point where I can compete with best. Anybody that holds a title is a target to me.

“I can’t really be specific about what belt I want and what opponents I want but all I know is I’m gunna get me a belt in 2019. Ive been building up to this point and in 2019 you’re going to see me explode onto the scene. This is only the beginning of a magical journey.”

Sims Jr vs. Veron is part of a huge night of boxing in Peterborough.

Jordan Gill headlines his first show as he goes for his second pro title in a WBA International Featherweight clash with Mexico’s Emmanuel Dominguez.

Richard Riakporhe makes the first defence of his WBA Inter-Continental title against Belfast’s 12-1 Tommy McCarthy.

Nottingham’s Leigh Wood clashes with Ghana’s Abraham Osei Bonsu for the vacant Commonwealth Featherweight crown.

Heavy-handed Super-Middleweight prospect John Docherty looks to make if four knockouts from four fights after impressing again on the Garcia vs. Cheeseman undercard at The O2 and Leeds Super-Bantamweight and former Team GB amateur standout Qais Ashfaq aims to go 5-0, and there’s also action on the undercard for Northampton Super-Welterweight Kieron Conway, Wisbech Super-Welterweight Joe Steed and St Ives Super-Lightweight Bradley Smith.

London (20 February 2019) Undefeated British Heavyweight sensation Joe Joyce came face-to-face with Bermane Stiverne ahead of their Commonwealth Title clash today, but it erupted between the Former World Champion and the British fighter’s manager.

Joyce defends his Commonwealth title against the Canadian puncher in the chief-support to James DeGale’s mouthwatering showdown with Chris Eubank Jr. this Saturday night (23rd February) at The O2, promoted by Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) and Poxon Sports, exclusively live in the U.K on ITV Box Office in the U.S on Showtime.

The Londoner was in a determined mood today, confident that his destructive fists will do all the talking on Saturday night. He said, “I’m feeling great, having had a great training camp at Big Bear, California. I’m ready to put a dent on Stiverne, so make sure you’re there to see it! I have all the respect for him as a former WBC Champ, but it’s a stepping stone to greater things for me. I’m moving fast, each fight is getting me closer to the top three names in the sport. I’ll be going straight back into the gym after I win this fight to prepare for the next challenge. I’m determined to make big strides in my career this year.”

Responding to reports that Stiverne got the better of him in a four round sparring session four years ago, Joyce drew rapturous laughter from the audience when he commented, “He says he took me to school in training…But I went to University!”

Stiverne initially appeared to be in a serene mood. Knowing victory will catapult back into World Title contention, he said, “I feel great and I’m prepared. We could talk all we want right now but what matters is Saturday night at The O2. I didn’t come all this way to lose. I’ve come prepared and we can talk about the future when I’ve taken care of Joe.”

The air of calmness momentarily slipped however, when Joyce’s manager Sam Jones suggested that Stiverne ducked opportunities to spar with Joe before he fought Dominic Breazeale in 2017. Stiverne erupted and screamed, “You were just seeking publicity! I don’t want to talk to you. Sit your ass down!

But Stiverne flipped moments later when he said to Jones, “Don’t get me hot. I’ll slap you today and still fight Saturday…little b**** that you are.” and had to be restrained by security guards as he went towards Jones.

The 6ft 6in ‘Juggernaut’ from Putney, South West London, has steamrolled all seven of his opponents since turning professional in October 2017 after capturing the Silver medal at the Rio Olympics, to single himself out as one of the most feared talents in the Heavyweight division.

Clashing with Stiverne represents a giant step up in class and will see Joyce take on the riskiest test of his unbeaten career, but with huge rewards.

The rock-solid power puncher, born in Montreal, Canada, of Haitian descent and based out of Las Vegas, held the WBC crown for two years and has fought some of the very finest in the division, including Deontay Wilder and Chris Arreola, in a 29-fight career that’s included 21 stunning knock-outs.

If fearless Joyce pulls off victory against a man of Stiverne’s pedigree, he will catapult himself within touching distance of a world title shot and establish himself as a name on everybody’s lips, alongside Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder at the very top of a thrilling Heavyweight division

In 1976, nobody gave Leon Spinks – who had only seven professional fights behind him at the time – a chance in hell when it was announced he would fight the legendary Muhammad Ali for the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship. Spinks however, shocked the planet to beat Ali, and there are certainly parallels between that historic upset and Joyce’s fight with the older seasoned pro in Stiverne.

Joyce’s promoter Richard Schaefer, Chairman and CEO of Ringstar Sports, said, “Stiverne is in tremendous shape and he’s a difficult guy to beat, but I am going to make a bold statement by telling you that Joe Joyce today is the best Heavyweight in the world. By the end of the year I believe he will be Heavyweight Champion of the World and by next year he will be ready to take on Fury, Wilder and Joshua. He is a generational talent.”

Carl Lewis, representing Don King, Stiverne’s promoter, said, “This fight won’t be a stepping stone for Joe Joyce, it’s gonna be a stumbling block! Everyone is so kind here in the UK but thanks for the tea and crumpets, we are here for a special night of fighting. Make no mistake, Bermane is ready. It’s great for a 7-0 fighter to want to take on a former Heavyweight Champion of the World, but Joyce has made a big mistake.”

Please credit ‘Courtesy of Lawrence Lustig’ where used
Saturday night at The O2 will also see Andre Sterling take on Ricky Summers in a British Light-Heavyweight Title Eliminator bout.

Ricky Summers, who hails from Tipton in the West Midlands, came within touching distance of the British Title in 2017 when he gave then Champion Frank Buglioni a hard first title defence at The O2, only to narrowly lose on points.

After rebounding strongly by winning his last two fights, Summers is ready to get back into title contention. He said, “I have had 5-6 weeks of hard training and it couldn’t have gone better. I have looked at Andre’s fights and he’s a good kid, I rate him, and he did well as an amateur. But I’m ready for war. I love to fight, and everyone saw that when I fought Frank Buglioni. I’m a much better fighter now and my big stage O2 experience will be invaluable on fight night.”

Unbeaten Andre Sterling’s career has been going places fast. In his last fight out in November 2018, the former Fitzroy Lodge amateur was crowned Southern Area Light-Heavyweight Champion. He now knows victory against Summers could lead to a dream shot at the prized Lonsdale Belt.

Sterling, in bullish mood, said, “I feel wonderful and I had a great training camp. I saw Ricky’s fight against Frank Buglioni but being honest, I wasn’t impressed with it. I have trained hard for this fight and I hope he’s ready because I am.”

Please credit ‘Courtesy of Lawrence Lustig’ where used
LCpl Chez Nihell, England’s 2018 ABA Elite Super Heavyweight Champion, will add an intriguing sub plot to an action-packed evening at The O2 when he makes his professional debut in a four round Cruiserweight contest.

Chez, who served in Afghanistan, has received special permission from the British Army to combine his status as a serving soldier with launching his pro career.

Looking confident and proud, Chez said, “I’m excited to fight on Saturday at The O2 for my debut. Training has been class and I made Cruiserweight comfortably. I have left no stone unturned in the gym and I am grateful for the tremendous support I have received from the Army boxing family and from my supporters on the Isle of Wight, where I grew up.”

In a very rare occurrence, Chez will have his wife LCpl Alanna Nihell – an official Second and decorated champion herself having secured three ABA Lightweight titles and a Commonwealth Games Bronze Medal in 2014 – working in his corner on the night.

Commenting on this unique situation, Chez said, “My wife and I met through the sport of boxing when were team mates in the Army boxing set-up. We started dating and the rest is history. Over the last few years we have trained together every day. She has been an inspiration and I can’t wait for her to be in my corner. It would feel weird if she wasn’t on this journey with me, and she’s buzzing for it as much as I am.”

A Storm Is Coming is headlined by the long awaited domestic blockbuster showdown between James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr for the Vacant IBO World Super-Middleweight Championship; Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Joe Joyce defends his title against Challenger and Former WBC World Champion Bermane Stiverne; Former IBF World Featherweight Champion Lee Selby returns to action and takes on Omar Douglas; The British Heavyweight Title Eliminator between Andre Sterling and Ricky Summers. Plus an action packed undercard featuring super-featherweight Anthony Cacacae; welterweight Chris Kongo; light-heavyweight Seb Eubank and the pro-debut of cruiserweight Chez Nihell.
VIDEO
James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr. Head-To-Head on The O2 roof

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Tickets available from www.AXS.com and Inner Ringside/VIP Hospitality from www.sportandmusic.co.uk

This fight will be shown exclusively on ITV Box Office. For further information and updates, please go to www.itvboxoffice.com

For further event information, please visit www.poxonsports.uk and www.premierboxingchampions.com or follow on Twitter and Instagram at @PoxonSports, @PremierBoxing, @ITVBoxOffice, @ITVBoxing and join the conversation with #DeGaleEubankJr

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Diego Pacheco is relishing a busy year in the pros as he fights for the second time in the paid ranks at the Auditorio Municipal Fausto Gutierrez in Tijuana, Mexico on Saturday night, live on DAZN in the US and Sky Sports in the UK.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW PRICED FROM $165 (MEXICAN PESOS) HERE

Pacheco made his pro debut in style at the same venue in December, stopping Luis Gonzalez inside the opening round to give an early glimpse of his massive promise.

The rangy 17 year old left the amateur scene with a glut of titles to his name and the number one rated Middleweight in America and Mexico, and the Los Angeles starlet is looking to get more rounds and experience under his belt as he enters his first full year as a pro.

“I’m excited to get back out so soon,” said Pacheco, who faces Alberto Aguilar (1-0 1KO). “Since the amateurs I’ve been fighting in Tijuana, and it feels great to get back there for my second pro fight.

“I love being at home. I’ve been at camps in other places but it doesn’t feel the same. I can go home and I just rest.

“The debut was a really good experience. It was nothing like I expected, turning from amateur to pro, but it was a great experience and I can’t wait to do it again.

“In my first fight I felt like was a little nervous, so I felt like I was holding back a little bit, this fight I want to let my hands go a little more. It was towards the end of the round where I started letting my hands go, and that’s where I hit him and dropped him.

“I’m tall and I have long reach so I like to keep my distance, but I also like to walk them down. Everyone’s told me I hit pretty hard. I feel like I’m a power puncher, but I stay within a distance. I don’t like to smother myself.

“There’s no-one that’s signed with Matchroom Boxing USA from my area. So everywhere I go, they’re like ‘Oh he’s signed with Eddie Hearn, he’s with Matchroom and DAZN’. Everyone here is signed to other promoters, but it’s different to be signed with Eddie. I feel great that I’ve signed with Matchroom, I feel like it was a great decision, and I feel like I have a lot off opportunity to be great with Matchroom.

“By the end of this year, I just want to get as much experience as I can. I’m only 17 so there’s no rush. Personally, I have a lot of guys that I want to get. I just want to put a good few first fights in and just take over when the time is right, I have a great team around me and we won’t be rushed.”

Pacheco’s second outing as a pro is part of a huge night of action in Mexico as Brandon Rios and Humberto Soto clash in an all-Mexican affair, in association with Zanfer and Paco Presents.

There’s a stacked undercard in support of the main event, led by the rematch between Jose ‘Gallito’ Quiniro (20-2-3 9KOs) and Joel Cordoba (7-4-2 1KO). The Mexicans shared a draw in a Christmas cracker in December and will return to the same venue as that clash to find a winner this time.

Alexis Espino makes his professional debut on the card, with the 19 year old Las Vegas native and decorated amateur itching to get life in the pro game underway on a proud night for his Mexican family.

A trio of unbeaten Mexicans complete the current line-up in the shape of 2016 Olympian Joselito Velasquez (7-0 6KOs), Omar ‘Pollo’ Aguilar (11-0 10KOs) and Sulem Urbina (8-0 1KO).

Miami, Fla. – February 20, 2019 – “Boxeo Telemundo,” the #1 Spanish-language boxing program in the U.S., celebrates 30 years on the air, setting a historic milestone as the longest-running sports program in Spanish-language television. The show returns to Telemundo with the first event of the year this Friday, February 22 at 11:30 p.m. ET. The program premieres with a brand-new look, and a line-up of special segments and content celebrating the most memorable moments of “Boxeo Telemundo” over the last three decades.

“We are proud of the successful run Boxeo Telemundo has had over the last 30 years bringing boxing fans the best of up-and-coming Hispanic contenders vying for championship titles,” said Ray Warren, President of Telemundo Deportes. “We look forward to continue serving our fans with the best boxing as part of our efforts to continue positioning Telemundo Deportes as the leading Spanish-language destination for the Biggest, Best, Global sports events.”

Debuting in 1989, “Boxeo Telemundo” has grown to become the #1 combat sports program in the U.S. among Hispanics, across broadcast and cable landscape. Since its launch, “Boxeo Telemundo” has broadcast over 350 title fights, showcasing some of the biggest boxing stars as they rose to stardom and won their first championship titles. Among these stars is Saúl Canelo Alvarez who won his first pro boxing title on “Boxeo Telemundo” in 2008. Other notable Champions featured include Juan Manuel Marquez, Diego Corrales, Carlos Maussa, Floyd Mayweather, Israel Vázquez, Wilfredo Vázquez, Rafael Ruelas, Jorge Solis and many others. In addition, renowned boxing Hall of Famers have also appeared on the show including Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Felix Trinidad.

“Boxeo Telemundo” is hosted by veteran boxing expert and Florida Boxing Hall of Famer Rene Giraldo, who joined the show in 1989, a few months after it launched, becoming the boxing commentator with the most years on the air in Spanish-language television. Giraldo currently calls the action alongside Edgar Lopez, who joined the boxing franchise in 2015. World Boxing Champion and former Olympian Abner Mares joined the team last year.

The show will celebrate its 30th anniversary with special content across platforms throughout the first season of 2019, beginning on Friday, February 22. Each week, “Boxeo Telemundo” will feature segments dedicated to the anniversary celebration that takes viewers back to some of the show’s most memorable moments including the best fights and stories of renowned boxers featured.

In addition, special guests will appear each week through the first season including Jessi Losada, long time co-host of Boxeo Telemundo; Raul Marquez, ex-World Champion, former Olympian and current TV analyst; and Jennifer Salinas, former boxer who recently appeared on Telemundo’s current hit show “Exatlón.”

Telemundo Deportes digital platforms also join the celebration with special short-form dedicated content throughout the year and across social media. As part of these efforts, TelemundoDeportes.com is featuring a special 30-episode web series “Los 30 en 30 de Boxeo Telemundo” hosted by Giraldo that highlights the best moment of the show and bouts, including the unforgettable appearances of fighters that have now become legends in the sport.

“Boxeo Telemundo” returns with a battle highlighting the rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico as Yomar “The Magic” Álamo faces Mexico’s Manuel “La Tormenta” Méndez in a 10-round event for the WBO regional title live on Telemundo on Friday, February 22 at 11:30 p.m. ET, from Osceola Heritage Park Events Center in Kissimmee, Florida. The coverage will be led by Giraldo, Lopez and special guest Losada.

All the action will be broadcast live on Telemundo and streamed live on Telemundo Deportes app with additional extensive news and content on TelemundoDeportes.com, including access to the weigh-in and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

Yomar “Magic” Alamo (15-0 12 KO’s) of Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico is the pride of his native suburb. He claimed the WBC Youth Jr Welterweight title in front of his home crowd by knocking out Zsigmond Vass in one round. Last July, he won against Wilfrido Buelvas and is now ready to make his first appearance on Telemundo against Mendez.

Manuel “Tormenta” Mendez (16-4-1 11 KO’s) of Mexican descent, from Colton, California is a known spoiler in the boxing industry. Mendez is 5-1-1 against undefeated fighters in his career. His last outing proved just that, when he faced local prospect Jonathan Navarro (15-0 8 KO’s) over 10 rounds that ended in a controversial split decision loss. Mendez will be looking to pick up his first regional belt on February 22.

“Boxeo Telemundo” will continue on March 1 as the show returns to South Florida for a 10-round event featuring Puerto Rican Miami resident Derrieck Cuevas against Ed “The Lion” Paredes of Pembroke Pines. The showdown will take place at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

Source: Nielsen NPX Live+SD P2+(000) based on regularly scheduled programs (5+ telecasts). Boxeo rank among all networks airing boxing based on Nielsen Detailed Type Code = Boxing (excluding repeats). 2018 Reach based on 6 minute qualifier.

In the wake of signing Tyson Fury, Bob Arum and Top Rank sent an offer to WBC Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder to join the ESPN platforms, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“We want to speak to Wilder together with his manager and his adviser and we want to do this fight where it belongs, on a big platform, which is ESPN pay-per-view. Wilder himself said (in media interviews) there is no contractual impediment that would prevent it. None. He is not signed in any manner, shape or form to any network. We have been informed that it is not the case (that Showtime has an option on the rematch). Ultimately, that may not be the case but I really believe from what we learned that Wilder is telling the truth and he is not bound to any network for any fight.

“We’re going to reach out and say contact us, please, and bring whomever you want to a meeting, your manager Finkel, your adviser Haymon, your trainer (Jay Deas, also a co-manager). Bring any and all of them to a meeting with us and let’s sit down and put this together.”

“I’m not going to get into specifics about Showtime’s contractual rights and entitlements but I will say we are very confident and very comfortable with our position with Deontay,” Showtime’s Stephen Espinoza told ESPN. “We’ve worked with Deontay and supported Deontay for many, many years and many, many fights and we fully expect for that to continue for the foreseeable future.”

“The idea that we wouldn’t do business with Finkel or Haymon is absurd,” Arum said. “We want to do this fight and we want to do it sensibly and correctly. We’re ready to put up all the money to do the fight. If it can’t happen it can’t happen, but it’s Wilder’s choice subject to advice from his manager and adviser. The one thing we want to make clear is there is no impediment to doing business with Wilder no matter who his manager is, no matter who his adviser is. We’re happy to deal with them. Wilder is going to have to decide what he wants to do in consultation with Finkel and Haymon.”

“ESPN+ will pay significant money for them to fight other fighters and then to do the rematch on pay-per-view in the fall,” Arum said. “That is all open for discussion. It’s certainly not a deal breaker if they want to do the rematch next. Fury is happy either way. He is happy with the tremendous money he will earn for a fight on ESPN+ and I think Wilder will be equally happy with doing a fight on ESPN+ for the money I know we can offer. Wilder has to make that decision. We’re not talking about peanuts. We’re talking about Wilder probably making more against somebody else (in the interim bout) than he made when he fought Fury and then making even more in the rematch in the fall.”

“The amount Wilder would earn for a fight on ESPN+ before a rematch would be far in excess of $4 million,” Arum said.

Arum said the reason for putting potential interim bouts on ESPN+ rather than the linear television network is because part of Top Rank’s long-term deal with ESPN is to assist in “building up the app because it’s something that ESPN is really behind and that’s how we would do it. If they each fought on ESPN+ there would be tremendous programming on ESPN leading up to the ESPN+ shows featuring their fights.”

“ESPN will give him a great platform. Everybody will know him,” Arum said. “He will be the heavyweight most familiar to the public. If Wilder joins us and becomes part of this he will give Fury a run for his money in terms popularity. As a personality, Tyson Fury reminds me of George Foreman — everything but the punching power.”

“Fury is going to be one of the iconic figures in sports because he’ll be so amusing and so much fun that people will tune in to hear him sound off,” Arum said. “He has an unusual personality and he is very fan friendly and will attract huge audiences like George did.”

“That’s the old Tyson Fury,” Arum said. “The new Tyson Fury is fan friendly. He is the George Foreman of the Foreman comeback. He’s not going to demean anyone or say anything about gays or lesbians. He is just an amusing fun character. What he did before, that’s behind him. He had mental problems before. He’s come out of that and become a mensch.”

Kubrat Pulev will headline a Top Rank show on March 23rd in California, according to Dan Rafael of espm.com.

The card will take place at either The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California, or the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California, but Pulev still needs an opponent.

First, a deal with fringe contender Robert Helenius (28-2, 17 KOs) fell through, and on Wednesday morning the same happened with Romania’s Bogdan Dinu (18-1, 14 KOs), who got destroyed in four rounds by Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller in his last fight in November.

Dinu promoter Greg Cohen told ESPN that even though he worked out a deal for the fight with Top Rank, Dinu’s management ultimately turned down the offer and he informed Top Rank chairman Bob Arum that Dinu was not going to fight.

Top Rank signed Pulev to a co-promotional deal with Epic Sports in December, and this will be his first bout under the agreement. Pulev (26-1, 13 KOs), 37, of Bulgaria, is one of the mandatory challengers for three-belt unified world titlist Anthony Joshua.

HOUSTON (February 20, 2019) – Former super welterweight world champion
Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will look to reclaim a piece of the 154-pound crown when he challenges WBA champion Brian Castaño on Saturday, March 2 live on SHOWTIME from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™, and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

“Brian Castaño is coming into this fight with an undefeated record, but it’s nothing I haven’t seen before,” said Lara. “This will be my third fight in a row versus an undefeated fighter. I’m taking this very seriously. Stylistically, I feel I’m the superior fighter, but he’s a very strong champion. I will be prepared to take back a title in this great division, then look to the biggest fights that are out there.”

One of the big fights that could be out there for Lara is a rematch with unified 154-pound champion Jarrett Hurd. Lara dropped a split-decision to Hurd in a unification showdown on SHOWTIME that was the consensus 2018 “Fight of the Year”, having been recognized by the BWAA, ESPN and Sporting News, amongst others.

“The fight against Hurd was a great fight for the fans, but I felt I won seven or eight rounds that night,” said Lara. “To be on the wrong end of another close decision left a bad taste in my mouth. That fight being recognized as ‘Fight of the Year’ shows my versatility as a fighter. I was on the ballot before with Alfredo Angulo, so it was good to get recognized for being a warrior, not only a craftsman. I will always give the fans my all and come March 2, it will be no different.”

Lara is continuing to to work with longtime trainer Ronnie Shields in Houston, where Lara has prepared for his matchup with sparring that includes going up against top prospects in 18-year-old Joey Spencer and 24-year-old Eimantas Stanionis.

“Ronnie and I are working great together, and we have an excellent game plan in place.,” said Lara. “This is one of the better camps I’ve had the last few years. Having young fighters like Spencer and Stanionis in camp with me is refreshing because I know they are hungry. When we spar, I feed off their energy, because I know they are trying to take take their game to the next level, which makes me better. This is a demanding sport and they are definitely pushing me.”

March 2 also gives Lara a chance to share the stage with another one of Cuba’s best fighters, as Luis Ortiz is set to take on Christian Hammer in the co-main event, making the night a celebration of Cuban boxing.

“Luis Ortiz and I go way back and I’m happy that my brother is fighting on the same card as me,” said Lara. “We’ve gone through a lot since leaving Cuba to pursue our dreams of becoming world champions here in the U.S. Like myself, I know he’s going to be ready to entertain the fans on fight night and make this a memorable night for Cuban boxing!”

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions in association with DiBella Entertainment, are on sale now and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

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

LONDON – February 20, 2019 – Undefeated heavyweight Joe Joyce and former heavyweight world champion Bermane Stiverne sounded off at the final press conference on Wednesday for their 12-round showdown that opens a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader this Saturday live on SHOWTIME (3:45 p.m. ET/12:45 p.m. PT) from The O2 in London.

Joyce (7-0, 7 KOs), Stiverne (25-3-1, 21 KOs) and their respective camps had to be separated as they debated the truth surrounding a 2017 sparring session in Las Vegas. Stiverne was preparing for his November 2017 rematch with WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilder while Joyce was readying for his professional debut after a decorated amateur career. Both Joyce and Stiverne promised to erase any doubt surrounding the sparring session this Saturday.

A 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist, Joyce aims to continue his perfect knockout streak as a professional and inch closer to a world title shot. A former WBC Heavyweight World Champion, Stiverne hopes to prove he’s still a force in the stacked heavyweight division following a disappointing 2017 loss to Wilder.

In the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, former two-time super middleweight world champion James DeGale will face-off with former world title challenger and British rival Chris Eubank Jr. in a 12-round grudge match. Veteran broadcaster Brian Custer will host the doubleheader from London with versatile combat sportscaster Mauro Ranallo calling the action ringside alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein. Three Hall of Famers will round out the telecast team – Emmy® award winning reporter Jim Gray, boxing historian Steve Farhood as unofficial ringside scorer, and world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr.

Here’s what the fighters and their camps had to say during Wednesday’s press conference at Intercontinental at The O2.

JOE JOYCE:

“I had a really good camp in Big Bear and I’m ready to go and put a dent on Stiverne on Saturday night.

“Bermane Stiverne, all respect to him, he’s a former WBC Champion. I have a lot of respect for him for taking this fight. It’s the perfect fight right now for my situation. It’s a great stepping stone for my career.

“I’m top five in the WBA at the moment, I’m moving fast. Each fight is getting me closer and closer to the top three names in the heavyweight division. I’m just going to keep on working hard in the gym and if everything goes well I’ll be back training for the next one soon. This year I’m going to make big strides.

“It was four rounds [of sparring] but I think that’s all he could do at that stage. He says he took me to school but I went to university, if you know what I mean. When we sparred in his camp in Las Vegas he was a bit lethargic. I don’t really care, though – they can talk however they want but we’ll see what happens Saturday night.

“I know how good I am and I just need to show all of you guys. I’m happy with Richard [Schaefer] having the faith in me. I’m just going to do my job and show how good I am.

“He’s towards the end of his career. He’s going to want to beat me to get back in the mix, but good luck to him. I’d be happy if I beat him before seventh or eighth round. I’m not going to be Wilder. I won’t beat him in under a round. I’m not there yet, but I will be eventually.

“This is quite a step up for me. I have my eyes set on bigger fights and he is the right step for me. To be honest, I was surprised that he accepted the challenge. I think that he believes that a win over me will help him regain his status as a top heavyweight. He won’t beat me.

“He’s going to try to come in and try to take me out early, but he’s not going to be able. I’m ready for him. I’m confident that towards the end of the year my name will be among the top five heavyweights in the world.

“A Wilder fight, that’s a fight to make in the future. That’s a good fight, I like the WBC belt.”

BERMANE STIVERNE:

“It’s good to be back. I feel great. I came prepared. We can talk all we want right now but what matters is what happens Saturday night. I’m prepared. My team made sure of that.

“I’m not looking past Joyce. That’s what I have to take care of on Saturday. I’m well prepared. We can talk about the future once that business is taken care of.

“There are a lot of stories about our sparring, but it wasn’t anything too interesting. It was a couple, maybe four rounds. Nothing to talk about. I’m not going into this fight based on the sparring we had. I’ve never disrespected this man. I posted a picture and thanked him for the sparring.

“Obviously they are taking this fight based on what happened in the last fight with Wilder and I’m glad. They are underestimating me. We could go back and forth all day but that’s not what matters. What matters is what happens on Saturday at The O2.

“I’m a stumbling block, not a stepping stone.

“I’m glad he thinks I’m here as a gatekeeper or stepping stone. I’m not really worried about that. They didn’t call me last minute – I was already in the gym. However they view me, I’m ready. I’ll tell you one thing, they didn’t catch me with my pants down. I’m ready.

“I would have packed it up or hung it up if I wasn’t ready. I’m coming to fight.

“Wilder hit me with a right hand in the rematch and that was it. You’re not going to see the same thing on Saturday. This is the perfect fight for me. They’re taking me too lightly and it’s a mistake.”

ABEL SANCHEZ, Joyce’s Trainer:

“We’ve prepared for the Bermane that fought Chris Arreola.

“These are the types of fights that will prepare us for the elite later this year.

“I wasn’t with Joe when his sparring with Stiverne took place, but if it got a guy like Stiverne heated up, it must have been something.

“We feel he’s ready for the next step. Stiverne is the kind of test we have to go through to move forward with his career.

“Joyce is probably the most decorated fighter in the U.K. He’s smart, very athletic and he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with just like George Foreman was.

“In the heavyweight division one punch can define the outcome of a fight so we are preparing for the guy that fought Deontay Wilder for 12 rounds, the guy that defeated Arreola.”

CHARLES MOONEY, Stiverne’s Trainer:

“I brought Tony Thompson to fight David Price, which they thought it was an accident and we knocked him out in the second round. They thought it was a fluke and they brought us back again and we stopped him again. I’m not a giant slayer, but I’m 2-0. I stopped an Olympic bronze medalist and now I’m going to stop a silver medalist. We’re working our way up to gold.

“Joe needs to grow up a bit. He’s not ready for this. We’re going to kick that ass. My opinion, I think he should have waited a little bit. He should have traveled the road instead of trying to leap over the fence. When the bell rings we’ll know.”

RICHARD SCHAEFER, Joyce’s Promoter:

“This card is historic and one of many ITV cards that Al Haymon and the PBC will bring to the U.K. fans.

“DeGale and Eubank is a 50/50 fight, but this fight is going to steal the night. When I saw Stiverne walk into the room I knew that he means business. When Stiverne is in tremendous shape he is a very difficult guy to beat.

“I’m going to make a bold statement – Joe Joyce today is the best heavyweight in the world. By the end of the year, he’ll be heavyweight champion of the world. By next year he’ll be ready to take on Wilder, [Anthony] Joshua and [Tyson] Fury.

“Joyce is a generational talent. This is going to be a very difficult test. We want to see the best Stiverne because Joe Joyce is going to make a statement.”

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, subscribe to the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

Deniz Ilbay (21-1, 9 KOs) will face Jonathan Jose Eniz (23-11-1, 9 KOs) for the IBO Intercontinental Welterweight title on March 2 at SØR Amfi in Arendal.

The Cologne-boxer is back in action following a convincing victory over domestic rival Denis Krieger at the Schwalbe Arena in Gummersbach on December 1, and can now take the next steps towards a World title challenge as he meets 24 year-old Argentinian Eniz for the IBO Intercontinental strap.

“I would like to thank Team Sauerland for this opportunity,” he says. “My aim is to fight for a World title, and winning the IBO Intercontinental belt will bring my closer to this. I will not underestimate Eniz, but I’m confident I can win!”

Ilbay says he is looking forward to boxing in Arendal having witnessed the last Team Sauerland event at the SØR Amfi live on German TV: “I watched it on Sport1. It looked like a great show with an amazing atmosphere, and I’m really looking forward to boxing in front of the Norwegian fans.”

Ilbay’s IBO Intercontinental title fight is the second championship contest confirmed for Arendal with hometown hero Kai Robin Havnaa facing Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid for the IBO International Cruiserweight title.

“This is an exciting addition to what promises to be one of the biggest events in Norwegian boxing history,” said promoter Nisse Sauerland. “Fans in Arendal can now look forward to a second title fight. There will be lots of good options out there for Deniz if he wins, and the World title will not be far away.”

Kai Robin Havnaa tops the bill at the SØR Amfi in Arendal with a historic IBO International Cruiserweight title fight against Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid.

Katharina Thanderz provides chief support with a super featherweight contest against Rachel Ball, Deniz Ilbay faces Jonathan Jose Eniz for the IBO Intercontinental title, Hadi Srour is back in the professional ring to meet Zoltan Szabo, and Kristiansand’s Jamshid Nazari takes on Ivica Gogosevic.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.no or by calling (+47) 22 82 81 97.

Vasyl Lomachenko will defend his lightweight titles against former beltholder Anthony Crola on April 12th at Staples Center in Los Angeles, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

We thought Loma would be fighting Richard Commey, but because of his hand surgery, a small procedure on a ligament, the focus obviously moved to Loma fulfilling his mandatory against Crolla once that happened. We’ll look to unify the titles with Commey afterward, in the late summer,” Top Rank Vice-President Carl Moretti told ESPN on Tuesday night, shortly after the deal with Crolla was made.

“Loma wants all the titles at lightweight, and he wants to keep them and defend them,” Moretti said.

“It’s a huge opportunity for Anthony Crolla,” Crolla Promoter Eddie Hearn said. “He has earned his stripes, a former world champ who has fought the best. He won the final eliminator against Yordan in November, and I’m happy he gets this chance now. Lomachenko is a great talent, but Anthony is in great shape and ready for this chance.”

CARSON, Calif. (February 19, 2019) – Undefeated bantamweight prospect Damien Vazquez battles former world champion Juan Carlos Payano in an eight or 10-round attraction while unbeaten welterweight prospect and 2016 Lithuanian Olympian Eimantas Stanionis will face once-beaten Sammy Figueroa in an eight-round fight on Premier Boxing Champions Prelims on FS1 Saturday, March 9 live from Dignity Health Sports Park, formerly StubHub Center, in Carson, California.

Prelims begin at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT and lead into a PBC on FOX and FOX Deportes show that’s headlined by WBC Welterweight World Champion Shawn Porter making his first title defense in primetime against mandatory challenger Yordenis Ugas.

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

Born in Colorado and training in Las Vegas, Vazquez (14-0, 7 KOs) is the younger brother of former three-time champion Israel Vazquez. The 21-year-old has fought professionally since 2013 and picked up two wins in 2018. He most recently won his first 10-round fight with a unanimous decision over then unbeaten Luis Gollindano last April.

Payano (20-2, 9 KOs) became a world champion in 2014 when he defeated Anselmo Moreno by technical decision before defending and then losing the title in a pair of exciting fights against Rau’shee Warren. Originally from the Dominican Republic, but training in Miami, Payano put together three-straight victories before losing a title challenge to unbeaten Naoya Inoue last October.

After representing his native Lithuania at the 2016 Olympics, Stanionis (7-0, 5 KOs) relocated to Southern California where he has trained while compiling his unbeaten record. The 24-year-old took a step up in competition last time out and dominated tough veteran Levan Ghvamichava to earn an eight-round unanimous decision last August on FS1.

The 28-year-old Figueroa (11-1, 4 KOs) returns to action for the first time since defeating Ismay Eynullayev in March 2017. The Puerto Rican fighter had picked up wins over previously unbeaten foes Javontae Starks and Fernando Paliza before suffering his only defeat to Miguel Cruz in May 2016.

# # #

ABOUT PORTER VS. UGAS
Shawn Porter vs. Yordenis Ugas is a Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes event that will see WBC Welterweight World Champion Shawn Porter defending his title for the first time against top-ranked contender Yordenis Ugas Saturday, March 9 from Dignity Health Sports Park, formerly StubHub Center, in Carson, California.

Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features a duel between two hard-hitting brawlers as Abel Ramos and Francisco Santana meet in a 10-round welterweight match in the co-feature, while heavy-handed slugger Efe Ajagba steps up to face experienced veteran Amir Mansour in an eight-round heavyweight attraction in the televised opener.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

New York, February 19, 2019

On February 22nd, next Friday, Belgium born cruiserweight JOEL “BIG JOE” DJEKO will be making his New York debut at The Paramount in the main event of the critically acclaimed STAR BOXING series, “Rockin’ Fights”. Djeko will be taking on Italian SIMONE “TYSON” FEDERICI in what is set to be an all-world cruiserweight showdown between two stellar fighters, looking to lay roots in the United States.

Star Boxing sat down with Djeko, to learn more about his life, inspirations, and career goals:

Q: When were you born and where did you grow up?
DJEKO: I was born on July 30th, 1989, in Brussels, Belgium. I am of Congolese and Cuban parents. I grew up in this European capital and did all my education in schools for people with disadvantaged backgrounds.

Q: Have you done any community work for the impoverished communities you speak about?
DJEKO: For 7 years I am an ambassador of Change ASBL. This association fights against exclusion and its consequences, but also for equal opportunities. It offers opportunities for these impoverished young people to stay on the right path by taking different actions. I regularly give my time to this youth group to give them a positive outlook on life. I encourage them to get by and advise them in their choices when they need it.

Q: What was life like where you grew up?
DJEKO: Life was not easy. I grew up in a poor environment and had to fight every day to get by.

Q: How did you begin boxing?
DJEKO: I started with Thai boxing, but wanted to improve my fighting technique with fists so I started boxing. I fell in love with this sport and I never lost it again. I trained many years in the famous boxing club of Brussels with coach Leon Nzama. I owe him a lot for teaching me his old school boxing. Then I trained with Donald Turner in his Bootcamp in Atlanta which also gave me a lot of basics. Today I train at Fitzroy Lodge ABC gym in London held by Mark Reigate and Linton Aymer, because I moved to London in August of 2018 to further my training.

Q: Who is your favorite fighter(s)? Is there any fighter you try and emulate in the ring?
DJEKO: My favorite fighter has always been Thomas “Hitman” Hearns. But if I had to give active fighters that I try to emulate I would say, without hesitation, Andre Ward and Bernard Hopkins. They are geniuses of boxing for whom I have great respect after all of the belts they have won in different categories.

Q: What motto/quote do you live by?
DJEKO: I prefer to live 1 day as a hero than 100 days as a coward.

Q: What are your accomplishments in both amateur and professional boxing?
DJEKO: On the amateur side, I have been national champion. As for my career as a professional, I am the former IBA Intercontinental Champion, and current IBO Continental Champion. Today I am ranked 47thin the world.

Q: Do you have a family?
DJEKO: I have a sister and three brothers. I am married and have a pretty 6-year-old daughter.

Q: What is your life like now?
DJEKO: My very good international ranking allowed me to get sponsors, which allows me to live on only boxing. I spend all my time at the gym to improve myself more and more.

Q: How do you feel about fighting in New York?
DJEKO: I am excited for this fight, I can’t wait for the day to arrive. This stage is for me the opportunity to show myself to the real public of boxing and to unlock big fights that will arrive thereafter.

Q: How do you feel about signing with distinguished promoter Joe DeGuardia and his world renown promotion company, Star Boxing?
DJEKO: I’m super excited to be boxing under the banner of Star Boxing Inc. and I know that it’s with Joe DeGuardia that big fights with a global opportunity will arrive, very soon

Q: What are your career goals?
DJEKO: After this fight, I will go directly to boot camp to prepare my May 4th fight against Matty Askin (ranked 13thin the world and 2nd in the UK) for the IBO Intercontinental belt. This Victory will open doors for a World Championship, which is my goal. What I want above all is to refresh boxing by bringing him a new face. I was boycotted and people always put sticks in my wheels. Coming up people wanted me to be a journeyman, but I knew I have the ability to be a world champion. Today I believe that I am at the same stage as the boxers who have always been promoted and protected. I have the rage, I’m not here to play. I come to take my place, that of world champion.
So, what I’m going to do is bring the world of boxing a new energy, mine and as General Big Joe, warlord, I intend to train my army and to know my fans.
I am a leader who attracts the public. Some boxers do it for the national level, I’m international and that’s why my audience comes from everywhere. Moreover, my English, Belgian and French fans do not stop contacting me to know how to see this fight of February 22nd.

Q: What do you want fans to know about you?
DJEKO: I’m trying to create my story in the history of boxing. Now is the time to start following me. Know that there is only one throne and crown and it is for me. I invite all fans of boxing in search of thrills and challenges to join me in my quest today. I will realize your expectations because I will break the doors of failure by the fists of Victory.
I am a pirate in the soul, I do not represent any Flag but my fans. And I pay special attention to all those people who come from underprivileged backgrounds, who are boycotted and set aside. I fight every day to show them that we must hang on and not fall into delinquency, I fight for these future generations to have the same chances of succeeding regardless of their social background. Know that nobody is condemned to failure and that no one can stop you if you have decided to not let them.

Thanks to all my fans, I’m waiting for you on February 22nd at The Paramount, in NY.

ARLINGTON, TX. (February 19, 2019) – Unbeaten welterweight world champion Errol Spence Jr. and undefeated four-division world champion Mikey Garcia went face-to-face at a press conference in Arlington, Texas Tuesday as they previewed their showdown that headlines a Premier Boxing Champions on FOX Sports Pay-Per-View event on Saturday, March 16 from AT&T Stadium.

Spence and Garcia were joined by Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager Jerry Jonesat the same stadium where they will battle for the welterweight title and pound-for-pound supremacy.

Tickets for the March 16 event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Ringstar Sports, are on sale now, and can be purchased at SeatGeek.com, the Official Ticketing Provider of AT&T Stadium.

Here is what the press conference participants had to say Tuesday:

ERROL SPENCE JR.

“This is a dream come true. This is something that still hasn’t really hit me yet. I try not to get caught up in the moment, but this is my favorite team that I’ve watched since I was sitting on my dad’s lap.

“Every time I see Mikey I get excited and anxious and want to go to the gym and spar. On Sunday, I sparred 18 rounds because of the whole press conference and face off on Saturday. Looking into Mikey’s eyes, I can see how hungry he is and that’s motivating me.

“Mikey is very difficult because of how me places his punches. He’s always thinking and he has a high ring IQ. But I’ve been clicking on all cylinders. I’m strong mentally and physically and prepared for anything he brings to the table. A win here can definitely catapult me and I’m ready to make it happen.

“Any athlete would love to have their home team supporting them. It just so happens I have the most popular team in the world right here in Dallas. It means a lot because they don’t have to do that. I’m very humbled and it feels great to represent Dallas. I always support my people here.

“I’m 100 percent prepared and focused on Mikey Garcia. I’m hungry and I’m already on weight. I can’t wait to put on another show. March 16, you have to make sure you don’t miss it. It’s going to be a legendary night.”

MIKEY GARCIA

“This fight deserves a home like this. This fight deserves this type of atmosphere and energy. I was a Cowboys fan myself growing up and now I’m here in their home about to have the biggest fight of my career. It’s unbelievable, but here we are. I’m excited to make this a memorable night. This is history in the making.

“I’m very excited for what’s coming in a few weeks. This is a fight that I really wanted and it’s definitely the biggest challenge of my career. To fight the best welterweight in the division is no easy task. Errol Spence Jr. is going to bring the best out of me.

“I’m sure Errol is getting ready for the biggest fight of his career just like I am. That’s what’s going to make this interesting. That’s the recipe for a tremendous fight. It’s not very common to see two of the pound-for-pound best, still undefeated and fighting each other in their prime.

“We’ve been implementing techniques that will help me improve my speed, explosiveness and reaction time, while also adding a little bit of mass. I think all of that is going to be beneficial to me on fight night. I feel very happy with the results.

“If I don’t take these risks, then I won’t be rewarded. I want to be recognized as one of the greatest and the best of this generation. How can I achieve that if I don’t take these risks? That’s why I’m taking the biggest fight available.”

DERRICK JAMES, Spence’s Trainer

“I’m very happy to be here. It’s been a really good ride with Errol and myself. This is our 10th year working together and this is a beautiful place for everything to culminate. Mikey is a true fighter and he has a phenomenal trainer in his brother and father. We’re prepared for him and in shape right now. We’re ready to go.”

ROBERT GARCIA, Garcia’s Brother & Trainer

“We’ve had a great training camp and our sparring partners are doing a great job preparing us for a very tough challenge. By the time the fight comes, you’re going to see what Mikey is all about. Everyone who watches this fight is going to enjoy a great night of boxing.”

JERRY JONES, Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager

“I don’t know if we’ve ever had an event here that has this kind of stature and the combination of two men standing in there on their own, and at the very best stage of their career. This is two champions meeting and that is something very rare for fans.

“When we built this stadium I thought a lot about boxing. The Dallas Cowboys constituency is particularly into boxing. We have a fantastic Mexican and Hispanic fan base and when we have fights at this stadium, there is a great affinity for boxing. When there is a fight of this caliber at this stadium, then we know we’re doing something very special.

“These two fighters are uniquely associated with this stadium and the Cowboys. Errol Spence Jr. literally lives next door and is from this particular area. The last night he had at The Star, he had his Cowboys gear on and made our players and myself so proud.

“Our home away from home, Oxnard, California is where Mikey Garcia used to watch the Cowboys practice. We have a lot of kinship with these two fighters and our fans are in for a tremendous treat.

“These two fighters are worthy of this stadium. Their skill level and ability to compete is worthy of this stadium. This is a special event that will be taking place on March 16.”

TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions

“Errol Spence Jr. vs Mikey Garcia is one of the most intriguing fights of the year. It’s a fight that will determine who is pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world.

“We’re thrilled to be at the home of the best professional franchise in sports, in the Dallas Cowboys. This is the perfect place for this event that features two unbeaten champions in their primes, putting their records on the line. Mikey and Errol are destined to walk out of that tunnel and into that ring to engage in a battle that will never be forgotten.”

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ABOUT SPENCE VS. GARCIA
Spence vs. Garcia is a Premier Boxing Champions on FOX Sports Pay-Per-View event that is headlined by unbeaten IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol Spence Jr. defending his title against four-division world champion Mikey Garcia on Saturday, March 16 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The PBC on FOX Sports Pay-Per-View undercard will feature undefeated former super middleweight champion David Benavidezbattling veteran contender J’Leon Love, unbeaten former bantamweight champion Luis Nery taking on former champion McJoe Arroyo and fan-favorite Chris Arreola facing unbeaten Jean Pierre Augustin.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @Ringstar, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

About AT&T Stadium:
AT&T Stadium is one of the largest, most technologically advanced entertainment venues in the world. Designed by HKS and built by Manhattan Construction, the $1.2 billion stadium features two monumental arches, the world’s largest HDTV video board cluster, an expansive retractable roof and the largest retractable end zone doors in the world. Features of the stadium include seating for 80,000 and expandability for up to 100,000, over 300 luxury suites, club seating on multiple levels and the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop, open to the public year round. The stadium is also home to a world-class collection of contemporary art, made up of over 50 pieces from an international array of curated artists displayed on the walls and in the grand public spaces of the venue. In addition to being the Home of the Dallas Cowboys since opening in 2009, the stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLV, the 2010 NBA All Star Game, the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four, the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship Game and the annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. The venue has also played host to high school and college football, concerts, championship fights, international soccer matches, and other special events. For more information, go to www.attstadium.com.

New York, NY (February 19, 2019) DiBella Entertainment’s acclaimed and long-running Broadway Boxing series hits the road to Columbus, Ohio, for a SPECIAL EDITION partnering with entertainment legend and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger to present a stacked heavyweight event at the Arnold Sports Festival in the Voinovich Center on Saturday, March 2. The event will be streamed live on LIVE.DBE1.com, as part of DBE’s partnership with CBS Sports Digital and Sportslive, starting at 7:00 p.m. EST.
The main event features WBO #8 rated heavyweight Junior Fa (16-0, 9 KOs), of Otahuhu, New Zealand, in the toughest bout of his career versus former French heavyweight champion Newfel Ouatah (16-2, 9 KOs).
Also featured on the show will be undefeated heavyweights George Arias (12-0, 7 KOs) and Stephan Shaw (10-0, 7 KOs) in separate bouts, as well as a slew of local talent, including Isaiah Steen (11-0, 9 KOs), Ardreal Holmes (8-0, 4 KOs), and Jamie Walker (9-1-1, 3 KOs).
“I’m thrilled to team up with the Arnold Sports Festival and Team Tory Promotions to present a special heavyweight edition of Broadway Boxing in Columbus, Ohio,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “New Zealand’s undefeated, world ranked contender Junior Fa clashes with former French heavyweight champion Newfel Ouatah in the main event. The stacked card will feature heavy-hitter Hemi Ahio, in his US debut, as well as rising prospects Stephan Shaw and George Arias. The exciting heavyweight action will stream live on CBS Sports Digital and Sportslive, and fans in attendance will also see local talent, including Isaiah Steen and Ardreal Holmes, on the undercard.”
Said Troy Speakman of Team Tory Promotions, “The Arnold Classic and Team Tory Promotions are excited to team up with DiBella Entertainment to bring the best in professional boxing to the biggest sports festival in the world.”
Tickets for the SPECIAL EDITION of Broadway Boxing start at $40 and may be purchased online HERE.
Celebrating its 31st year, the 2019 Arnold Sports Festival is the world’s largest multi-sport festival featuring 80 events from February 28 to March 3, 2019, in Columbus, OH, attracting an estimated 200,000 sports and fitness fans watching more than 22,000 athletes compete at various city venues. The festival features 16 Olympic events with the world’s most talented athletes from around the world competing. For more information, please visit their website at www.ArnoldSportsFestival.com.
The Voinovich Center is located on the grounds of the Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211. Doors will open on the night of the event at 6:30 p.m. with the first bell at 7:15 p.m. More information on the four-day “Arnold Sports Festival” may be obtained HERE.
The 29-year-old Fa has previously fought three times in the United States, including two impressive nationally-televised victories against Fred Latham on November 10, 2017, a devastating first-round knockout, and a 10-round decision versus Craig Lewis on March 9, 2018, both of which aired on SHOWTIME. Returning to New Zealand, Fa won a 10-round decision versus Luis Pascual on June 22, 2018. Most recently, the former amateur standout knocked out Rogelio Omar Rossi in the first round on December 15, 2018.
A professional since 2009, the 33-year-old Oautah has experience at the top level, having battled former world title challenger Johann Duhaupas in 2017 and contender Erkan Teper in 2014. He returns to action following a third-round knockout of Tamaz Zadishvill on December 22, 2018, in Rhone, France.
Fighting out of The Bronx, NY, Dominican Republic native George Arias (12-0, 7 KOs) faces off against upset-minded Robert Simms (8-2, 3 KOs), of Saginaw, MI, in a scheduled eight-round heavyweight bout. The 27-year-old Arias heads back into battle after a stunning second-round knockout of Byron Polley on September 21, 2018, in Shawnee, OK. Riding a three-bout winning streak, Simms took home a decision victory against Marquis Valentine on September 14, 2018. Prior to that victory, Simms scored an upset decision versus Joe Cusamano on June 2, 2018, in Mashantucket, CT.
From the fighting city of St. Louis, MO, top heavyweight prospect Stephan “Big Shot” Shaw (10-0, 7 KOs) will compete in an eight-round bout against Donovan Dennis (12-3, 10 KOs). The 26-year-old is coming off two stoppage victories in 2018. On February 7, 2018, he scored a sixth-round stoppage of Joel Caudle in New York City and followed that with a first-round knockout of Aaron Chavers on October 27, 2018, in New Orleans, LA.
Rounding out the heavyweights, Auckland, New Zealand native Hemi “The Heat” Ahio (12-0, 8 KOs), makes his US debut against battled-tested Ed Fountain (12-4, 5 KOs), of St. Louis, MO. A professional for four years, the 28-year-old has built a huge following with his all-action style in his native country and returns following a second-round knockout of Junior Iakopo on December 6, 2018.
Middleweight prospect Isaiah Steen (11-0, 9 KOs), of Cleveland, OH, will compete in his first eight-rounder against Chicago’s Chris Chatman (15-9-1, 5 KOs). The 22-year-old Steen returns to the ring following a fourth-round stoppage of Cameron Burroughs on July 28, 2018, in Louisville, KY.
Junior middleweight Ardreal Holmes (8-0, 4 KOs), of Flint, MI, clashes with Marcus Washington (4-1, 1KO), of Toledo, OH, in a six-round contest. With three victories in 2018, the 22-year-old Holmes is back in action after a six-round decision win versus Lucius Johnson on December 22, 2018, in Columbus, OH. A winner of his last four, Washington is coming off a four-round decision win against Angelo Snow on September 2, 2017.
Columbus, Ohio fan favorite Jamie Walker (9-1-1, 3 KOs) vies for the vacant WBA-NABA super welterweight title in a highly anticipated 10-round battle against Dan Karpency (8-2, 4 KOs), of Adah, PA. Walker is a former Ohio State 154lb. champion and his only loss came in a war against Skender Halili at last year’s Arnold Sports Festival. Karpency, a pro since 2013, comes from a boxing family and is the younger brother of former world title challenger Tommy Karpency.
Following Broadway Boxing, boxing fans tuned in via CBS Sportslive are encouraged to switch over to SHOWTIME® for a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader. In the main event, former world champion Erislandy Lara challenges unbeaten Argentinean Brian Castano for the WBA Super Welterweight title belt, while Luis “King Kong” Ortiz continues his march toward another world title shot, live from Barclays Center, in Brooklyn, NY.

BILLY JOE SAUNDERS describes the prospect of fighting for the WBO super middleweight world title against Shefat Isufi as the beginning of a new chapter in his always colourful career.

The unbeaten former WBO middleweight champion will bid to become a two-weight world champion on April 13 at The SSE Arena, Wembley live on BT Sport, in a fight that he hopes will unlock the door towards the marquee encounters he has long craved.

The 29-year-old was middleweight world champion from December 2015 until late last year, but his wish to unify belts did not come to fruition despite an obvious willingness on his part, with him twice signing a contract to fight Gennady Golovkin, who held the other three belts.

By seizing the opportunity to fight for the vacant title at 168lbs, Saunders hopes his options will expand in what is a more fragmented division that increases the possibility of unifications, plus putting him in a strong position should the current middleweight kings head north in weight.

There is also the winner of this weekend’s domestic duel between James DeGale and Chris Eubank jr to target.

“It is just a new chapter for me,” reasoned the 27-0 southpaw stylist. “At middleweight I tried everything to make the big fights happen after my David Lemieux performance and we chased the Canelo and Golovkin fights.

“So this is about giving myself another option instead of looking in that one room. I can go back down to middleweight or stay at super middleweight – wherever the big fights present themselves, I’m there.

“2018 was a terrible year for me in my boxing career to say the least. When you get knocked down it is how you come back and I have got Tyson Fury to look to with what he’s gone through and it just gives me that little bit more belief.

“You can sit and mope around or you can get on with it. I’m going to get straight back and I am fighting for the super middleweight world title. How will I be at the weight? It might not suit me as much… Time will tell.

“I’m going to come back bigger and better than ever and the super middleweight world title is the way forward. There is a big fight at the weekend and I would love the winner, while you’ve also got Callum Smith. If Canelo and Golovkin don’t want it, maybe I can get a big one in the UK.

“I’ve got plenty of life left in me and I will fight anybody, anybody at all from middle to super middle and Frank will make them. He has delivered what I asked for, I said ‘Frank, I want a world title fight’ and he has come up with this. It is a very good move to put me in position for the big names.”

Ticket details for ‘Redemption’, Saunders v Isufi, at the SSE Arena, Wembley will be announced soon.

A second main event has been added to the professional boxing event on Friday, March 1, at the Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., and live on Boxeo Telemundo (11:35 PM ET/PT).

Presented by Kris Lawrence and The Heavyweight Factory, in association with All Star Boxing, Rumble at the Rock IV will now also feature highly touted WBO No.1-ranked and WBO Bantamweight Latin Champion Ricardo “Hindu” Espinoza (22-2-19 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico, defending his title against Panama’s rugged veteran Ricardo “El Matematico” Nuñez (29-8-23 KOs).

In the 10-round welterweight co-main event, Miami via Puerto Rico’s Derrieck Cuevas (18-0-1, 14 KOs) will face fellow Floridian Ed “The Lion” Paredes (38-7-1, 25 KOs) of Pembroke Pines, Fla.

Tickets for “Rumble at the Rock IV” cost $60, $100, $150, $250 and $500 and are available through ticketmaster.com.

Nuñez, a former world title challenger, is looking to test his young opponent by bringing him into deep waters and kickstarting his boxing career for one last shot at a world title. On the other hand, Espinoza is coming off a second-round stoppage of then undefeated Colombian prospect Yeison Vargas (17-1-12 Kos).

“My opponents tend to underestimate me because of my young age,” said Espinoza. “They soon realize my power once in the ring. I never underestimate anyone who has two hands.”

“I’ve seen that Espinoza has never fought into later rounds,” said Nuñez. “I’m looking to take him into uncharted waters to see if he still has the power he claims when we get into rounds 8, 9 and 10.”

On fight night, the Hard Rock Event Center doors open at 6 p.m., and the action starts at 7 p.m. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is located at 1 Seminole Way in Hollywood, Fla.

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About Hard Rock Event Center
Hard Rock Event Center is the newly constructed 3,600-seat venue located in the northwest corner of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood. As part of the $1.5 billion property expansion, the former Hard Rock Live arena will be razed and replaced with a state-of-the-art 6,500-plus-seat venue in a theater-style configuration, slated to open in 2019. In the interim, a full schedule of concerts, comedy shows and other events will take place in the Hard Rock Event Center. Seminole Hard Rock has hosted some of the hottest musical acts such as John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Marc Anthony, Billy Joel, Andrea Bocelli, Tim McGraw and Carlos Santana; top comedians including Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, George Lopez and the late Robin Williams; as well as major sporting events and events of major sports stars, from UFC matches to charity galas for Jason Taylor, Alonzo Mourning, Dwyane Wade and more. For additional information, please visit www.myhrl.com.

About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is the flagship casino resort of Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. It is a world-renowned entertainment, gaming and hospitality destination that features a AAA Four Diamond-rated luxury hotel; expansive gaming offerings including first-in-class slots, high-stakes table games and South Florida’s premier poker room; spa and fitness center; award-winning dining and nightlife; and the popular Hard Rock Event Center which hosts A-list entertainers, comedy and sporting events. A $1.5 billion expansion slated to open in fall 2019 will bring 638 luxury guestrooms to a first-ever, iconic, guitar-shaped hotel and 168 upscale guest accommodations in an adjacent hotel tower overlooking a lush, “Bora Bora” style, private cabana environment; a 42,000 square-foot Rock Spa®; a 13.5 acre recreational water-focused experience for sunbathing, swimming, kayaking, sailing and paddle boarding; 21 distinctive restaurants, bars and lounges; an expanded gaming floor featuring 3,100 slots, 193 table games and a 45-table poker room; 120,000 square feet of premier meeting and convention space; and 26,000 square feet of new retail space. The highly anticipated 6,500 seat Hard Rock Live theater-style concert venue will feature headline performances and live broadcast capabilities. The resort is located on 87 acres of the Hollywood Seminole Reservation along State Road 7, (U.S. Highway 441). The resort is 10 minutes from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and 30 minutes from downtown Miami and Miami International Airport. For more information, visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com, call 800-937-0010 or follow us:
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