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Frampton’s great friend Paddy Barnes challenges WBC flyweight champion Cristofer Rosales on the biggest show ever held in Belfast and reckons his clash will steal the show in front of 25,000 fans.

Here are a selection of quotes from today’s final press conference.

FRANK WARREN (Promoter)

“It is going to be a fantastic occasion. We have Ireland’s best in action.

“Carl is a tremendous professional, fantastic to work with and the reason we are here. He knows what is at stake and wants to put himself in line for a full world title fight.

“He is not fazed and just wants the best. He wanted to fight at Windsor Park and we have delivered.

“After this he will be in a major, major fight which fans will love, but Jackson is here to win and upsets happen. This is Carl’s dream and I don’t want it turning into a nightmare.

“Paddy is really stepping up to the plate after five professional fights and if gameness wins world titles he wins this weekend.

“I am looking for history being made and I believe Paddy can do it in his sixth fight.”

CARL FRAMPTON

“It has been a dream to box at Windsor Park and is about to become a reality. To have friends on the bill like Paddy Barnes, Conrad Cummings and Steven Ward makes it more special.

“I have seen a few things Luke has said, but from start to finish I have trained very hard and it’s about more than Luke. It’s Windsor Park.

“The last year everything has flipped. I’m in my prime and about to deliver big performances. In the past I was getting big wins, but I wasn’t a happy fighter.

“I know a fair bit about Luke and he is highly ranked for a reason. He is a good fighter, but I am at another level.

“It will also mean the world to me for Paddy to win a world title on this bill and I think his fight will steal the show.

“He is always the joker, but he is serious this time and if I had my last pound I would back him.”

JAMIE MOORE (Frampton’s trainer)

“Carl is a consummate professional. We wanted one of the top two or three guys in the world, but it wasn’t possible. Windsor Park is the dream he has always wanted though.

“I understand why Luke’s camp say Carl has overlooked him, but that is to give them confidence. Statistics have shown he is 10 per-cent fitter than the Donaire fight.

“I think Carl is in his prime. Boxing isn’t about fitness and technique but also mental. It is about getting everything right.

“Carl is still improving and that is scary. He does things you cannot teach.”

LUKE JACKSON

“I thought Carl was overlooking me but he knows what is at stake. If Carl loses to me his career is over. I have got to fight the perfect fight and I believe I can do it.

“It’s a real life Rocky story if I win. I have come from nothing. I have gone through a lot to get here and if I spoke about that I’d be here all day.

“My father has left Australia for the first time ever to be here and it makes me so proud. A 67-year-old man has travelled halfway around the world for me.

“I have tried to prepare mentally for all the things that can happen and we have to see if it works.”

BILLY HUSSEIN (Jackson’s trainer)

“Luke is an ultimate professional and I have had to slow him down. I believe Carl is overlooking us and thinking of the Warrington fight.”

CRISTOFER ROSALES

“I am used to fighting away and I have no bother fighting in front of this big crowd. I know enough to realise I am going to win on Saturday.

“I don’t want Paddy to go running like a chicken. I will let him dictate and then I will catch him.”

PADDY BARNES

“It is going to be a great fight. Cristofer is relentless and it’s going to be fight of the night.

“To become a world champion especially in my home city will be the best thing ever. If I dictate the pace, I can control the distance and will win.”

DANNY VAUGHAN (Barnes trainer)

“The camp has been unbelievable and Paddy has given his heart and soul in camp and we just can’t wait.

“We have been to spar with Kal Yafai who beat Rosales and that was fantastic.”

Also on the bill Tyson Fury fights Francesco Pianeta and WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will be ringside. A big win and Fury could face Wilder later this year.

There is a star studded undercard and just a handful of tickets remain from www.ticketmaster.ie.

Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions proudly announces the signing of Canadian Heavyweight Champion Mladen “Monster” Miljas to a promotional contract.

Undefeated Miljas, a perfect 8-0, 8 KOs, stands an impressive 6’ 6” and weighs in around 240 lbs. The 25-year-old Mississauga, Ontario, native won the Canadian title last December with an upset two-round stoppage of long-time champion Dillon Carman.

Cohen, a well-established promoter in the sport, has worked with several world champions and gained a reputation for finding hidden gems like Miljas in boxing’s less-travelled areas.

“It feels great to sign with a real promoter,” said Miljas. “For a long time, I didn’t have anyone arranging my fights, so it feels really good having someone on my team now. I’d like to be active and fight every month if I can.”

Having had just 20 amateur fights (17-3) and eight pro fights, Miljas is still a work in progress, despite being national champion in a country that has produced several world champions including Matthew Hilton, Donny Lalonde and George Chuvalo. Canada is also where several other champions learned to box, including Arturo Gatti and Lennox Lewis.

“I did martial arts, starting when I was four and got in a lot of fights as a kid, so it comes naturally,” he explained. “I’ve always been a hard puncher. I was that kid nobody wanted to play sports with because I played too rough. I don’t have too much in-ring experience, so I’m still learning in every fight. I get better and better, so I want to learn as much as I can in the ring and get in with a good variety of opponents.”

Cohen says he’s impressed by Miljas’ accomplishment already and sees tremendous potential in a fighter that big who can punch.

“Mladen is working hard every day to reach his full potential,” said Greg Cohen. “He’s a giant with unbelievable power and a natural gift for fighting. For a fighter with less than 30 fights in his life to take out the Canadian champ of the last four years in under two rounds, that is an amazing achievement. We are going to keep him fighting as regularly as possible and help him develop into a new force in the division. Mladen has all the gifts you need.”

“It felt amazing,” said Miljas of winning the championship. “It shows you I’m on the right track so far. I like to put myself in the underdog position. It’s good when you can overcome adversity. I like proving people wrong. Everyone expects you to lose and you go out there and win it anyway. I want to win bigger and better titles now. I want world titles now!”

About Greg Cohen Promotions

One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.

Founder and CEO Greg Cohen has been involved with professional boxing in various capacities since the late 1980s, honing his craft and establishing himself as a shrewd international boxing businessman.

Distinguished by his ability to spot and develop raw talent, Cohen first made promotional headlines for his expert guidance of, among many others, former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout, who Cohen helped guide from unknown New Mexico prospect to elite pay-per-view level superstar.

In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney.

Cohen currently promotes undefeated WBO NABO Heavyweight Champion a top contender Jarrell Miller, top-rated middleweight contender Robert Brant, and former WBO NABO Lightweight Champion and world-rated contender Mason Menard, among many others.

Greg Cohen Promotions has hosted world-class boxing events in the finest venues throughout the United States and the world and has also proudly provided talent and/or content for several television networks including CBS Sports Network, HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC Sports Network, CBS Sports Network, MSG and FOX Sports Net.

For more information, visit gcpboxing.com. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GCPBoxing. Twitter: @GCPBoxing.

17 August 2018 – Jakarta, Indonesia: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced its return to Indonesia’s bustling capital city of Jakarta. The Jakarta Convention Center will once again play host to another exciting evening of world-class martial arts action. ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES, set for Saturday, 22 September will see the biggest and brightest stars take to the ONE Championship cage to showcase their incredible skills. In the main event, reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka Naito of Japan will defend his title against rising star Joshua Pacio of the Philippines.

Ticket information for ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES is available at www.onefc.com.

Reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito is one of the most successful martial artists to ever emerge from Japan. In just four short years since debuting in 2012, Naito conquered the notoriously competitive Japanese martial arts scene, capturing the Shooto Strawweight Title. Since making his ONE Championship debut in 2016, Naito has captured the ONE Strawweight World Championship on two occasions, defeating former champions Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke and Alex Silva. Naito is now set to defend his title against former opponent Joshua Pacio in an epic rematch.

Former ONE World Title challenger Joshua “The Passion” Pacio of Baguio City, Philippines was inspired to take up martial arts ever since he was 12 years old. After an undefeated amateur career, Pacio soon made his professional debut, where he went 6-0 before making it to the global stage of ONE Championship. In 2016, he got his chance against reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito, falling just short of victory. Now riding a three-bout winning streak, Pacio has earned a rematch against the champion, and will now face Naito for the ONE Strawweight World Championship.

23-year-old Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu is a mixed martial artist from Kagoshima, Japan. Holding a professional record of 10-2, Wakamatsu is an aggressive knockout artist with shocking power. With nine of his 10 victories coming by way of knockout, Wakamatsu is a force to be reckoned with at flyweight. A winner of 10 of his last 11 bouts, Wakamatsu has decided to take his talents to the ONE Championship cage. He makes his promotional debut against Danny Kingad.

Danny “The King” Kingad, a premier flyweight talent from the famed Team Lakay of Baguio City, is a wushu champion with a professional record of 10-1. A true warrior from the mountains of the Philippines, the 22-year-old is a tremendous striker who possesses well-rounded grappling skills. In November 2017, Kingad challenged reigning ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes, and fell short in his quest of capturing the world title. In his most recent bout, “The King” moved forward by defeating rising Chinese star Ma Hao Bin by unanimous decision. Up next, he returns to action against newcomer Yuya Wakamatsu.

Former ONE Flyweight World Champion Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov was inspired by his father, an amateur champion in Greco-Roman wrestling. Akhmetov began training in martial arts in 2000, and proved to be as talented as his father, eventually becoming a three-time National Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion. Akhmetov then joined ONE Championship in 2015, shocking former flyweight champion Adriano Moraes to capture the title. He eventually surrendered the belt back to Moraes in a rematch and has since been on a quest to return to title contention. Akhmetov can get one step closer to his goal if he can get past his next opponent, Ma Hao Bin.

“The Southern Eagle” Ma Hao Bin is unbeaten in ONE Championship. Ma, a Chinese national freestyle wrestling champion, made his professional debut in January 2016, where he defeated Wu Ting Shen and Bu Huo You Ga in a single evening of action to claim the ONE Changsha Bantamweight Tournament Championship. Since then, the 24-year-old has strung together an impressive 11-3 professional record, which includes four wins by submission and two by knockout. Ma now returns to action against Kairat Akhmetov.

Former SEA Games Wushu Bronze Medalist Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol began training in wushu at the age of 17, after taking up an opportunity to compete for the Indonesian national team. She was highly successful in this regard, capturing both an Indonesian National Wushu Championship and a local boxing title. She even won a bronze medal in wushu at the Southeast Asian Games, with her striking success spurring her towards a career in mixed martial arts. Lumban Gaol is set to face Jomary Torres in her next outing.

Undefeated Filipino talent Jomary Torres is from Sindangan, in the Zamboanga del Norte province of the Philippines. With an unblemished professional record of 4-0, Torres currently sharpens her skills under the watchful eye of famed Filipino wushu world champion, ONE veteran Rene Catalan. Torres is riding a wave of momentum, having won the first four bouts of her career, including three inside the ONE Championship cage. In her most recent outing, Torres stunned Team Lakay star April Osenio to win by first round knockout. Her next assignment is against Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol.

Besides capturing the IBC Featherweight Championship, Victorio Senduk competed in wushu at the Southeast Asian Games, medaling in 2007 and 2011. He first began training in karate at age 14, and within three short years, proved talented enough to become a professional martial artist. His run of success in the cage as well as in the wushu arena brought him to the attention of ONE Championship, and he soon achieved his dream of competing on the global stage by making a successful debut at ONE’s inaugural Indonesia event in 2012. He now faces off against the veteran Sunoto.

WKF Indonesia Champion “The Terminator” Sunoto is from East Java, but moved to Jakarta in 2012 to pursue his martial arts dreams. He first started training in taekwondo as a child, but soon picked up other disciplines while travelling around the country to compete in several tournaments. Besides becoming a regional sanda champion, Sunoto also currently holds the rank of brown belt in traditional Japanese jiu-jitsu, and is a member of the Indonesian national sambo team, belying his growing all-around skills. Sunoto signed with ONE Championship in 2015, and has since put on many thrilling displays. Sunoto will take on Victorio Senduk in his next outing.

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 is the largest global sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Championship 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. The world’s most exciting martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1.7 billion potential viewers across 138 countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, and more.

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Former Super Bantamweight champion Jessie Magdaleno has re-signed with promoter Top Rank, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“Jessie has consistently been in thrilling contests, including against Nonito Donaire and Isaac Dogboe. His style makes him must-watch TV,” Top Rank president Todd duBoef told ESPN on Wednesday. “We believe that there are many compelling matches that will excite the fans as he looks to secure another title shot.”

“We sat down and talked with Top Rank and they gave us a better contract than the last one. We negotiated it and here we are back with Top Rank,” manager Frank Espinoza said. “We weren’t looking to go anywhere else. Top Rank took Jessie to a world championship and I believe he can still be a world champion. Things have been going good with Top Rank. We have a good relationship and we and wanted to re-up, and there was an offer and we took it.”

“He’s going to stay at 122 (pounds),” Espinoza said. “We want to fight Dogboe again. He believes he can beat him. That’s the fight we would like to fight.”

“Jessie has been working out with Salas in Las Vegas. He’s been in the gym,” Espinoza said. “Now it’s time to get ready for a fight and get back what’s his.”

New York, NY (August 15, 2018) DiBella Entertainment will showcase three of their top contenders in televised or streamed action this Saturday, August 18, including undefeated heavyweight Oleksandr Teslenko, super middleweight Demond Nicholson and welterweight Ivan Golub.

A native of Chernivtsi, Ukraine, now fighting out of Toronto, Canada, the 26-year-old Teslenko (13-0, 11 KOs) will face Los Angeles, CA-based veteran Avery Gibson (9-6-4, 3 KOs) in a scheduled eight-round clash from Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. The bout will be streamed live on ESPN+ as part of an eight-bout card beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT.

The heavy-handed Teslenko will be making his third start of 2018, scoring two previous
second-round knockouts against Terrance Marbra and Keenan Hickmon earlier this year. Gibson will be looking to stay in the win column following a stoppage of Enrique Gastelum in the second stanza on November 18, 2017, in Lancaster, CA.

Additionally, on Saturday night in Hanover, MD, Nicholson and Golub will be featured in separate 10-round WBC USNBC title bouts from Maryland Live Casino. Both bouts will be telecast live on CBS Sports Net beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Also originally from Ukraine and now fighting out of Brooklyn, NY, the 29-year-old Golub,
(14-1, 12 KOs) faces battled-tested veteran Lanardo Tyner (34-12-2, 21 KOs), of Houston, TX. Co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Fight Promotions Inc. and managed by David McWater’s Split-T Management, Golub is returning to the ring following a third-round knockout of Fidel Monterrosa Munoz on January 20, in front of his legion of local fans at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Tyner has won both of his fights this year; a fifth-round stoppage of Gundrick King and an eight-round decision versus Andre Byrd.

In the main event on the CBS Sports Net telecast, the 25-year-old Nicholson (18-3-1, 17 KOs), of Laurel, MD, clashes with Brazil’s Isaac Rodrigues (25-2, 20 KOs). Nicholson will look to return to the win column following a hard-fought loss to top-rated contender Jesse Hart on April 28, in Philadelphia. Unbeaten in his last eight fights, Rodrigues heads back to the ring following a fourth-round stoppage of Frankie Fillippone on June 8, in Verona, NY.

WORCESTER, Mass. (August 17, 2018) – The official weigh-in was held today at Grille 57 for tomorrow night’s “Homecoming, presented by Granite Chin Promotions in association with Rivera Promotions Entertainment, at The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Below are the official weights:

MAIN EVENT – MIDDLEWEIGHTS (8)
“El Gallo” Jose Antonio Rivera (41-6-1, 24 KOs), Worcester, MA 159 lbs.
Larry “Slomoshun” Smith (10-37-1, 7 KOs), Dallas, Texas 155 1/2 lbs.

CO-FEATURE – SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS (6)
Kendrick Ball, Jr. (9-1-2, 6 KOs), Worcester, MA 162 lbs.
Fabian Valdez (2-3, 0 KOs), Cananea Sonora, Mexico 171 lbs.

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS (6)
Khiary Gray (15-4, 11 KOs), Worcester, MA 154 lbs.
Antonio Chaves Fernandez (9-33, 4 KOs), Brockton, MA 153 lbs.

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS (4)
Wilfredo Pagan (4-0, 2 KOs), Southbridge, MA 150 lbs.
Engelberto “Guarura” Valenzuela (11-14, 3 KOs), Agua Prieta, Mexico 156 lbs.

JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS (4)
Joshua Orta (pro debut), Springfield, MA 129 lbs.
Edwin Rosado (1-7-1, 1 KO), Worcester, MA 132.6 lbs.

WELTERWEIGHTS (4)
Eslih Owusu (pro debut), Worcester, MA 149 lbs.
Bryan “The Brick” Abraham (6-30-2, 6 KOs), Schenectady, NY 148 lbs.

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS (4)
Jose Angel “KO” Ortiz (4-1-3-1, 1 KO), Springfield, MA 159 lbs.
Patrick Leal (0-4), Somerville, MA 156 lbs.

(All fights & fighters subject to change)

WHAT: “Homecoming” professional boxing event

WHEN: Friday, August 17, 2018

WHERE: The Palladium, Worcester, MA

PROMOTER: Granite Chin Promotions in association with Rivera Promotions
Entertainment

TICKETS: $75.00 (ringside) and $45.00 (general admission), are on sale and
available to purchase at www.ThePalladium.net or the Palladium box
office (general admission only), or by contacting Jose Rivera
(elgallojar@gmail.com/508.864.6954), AJ Rivera
(anthoneerivera@gmail.com/774.272.2269) or any of the fighters.

DOORS OPEN: 6:00 p.m, ET

FIRST BOUT: 7:00 p.m. ET

OTHER: Event sponsors include Lundgren Honda, Elm Wealth Group, Atty. Maria M. Rivera-Cotto, Championsofhealth@USANA.com, Chieftain Liquors, Centro Las America, Baystate Savings Bank, Pamela Laporte Realty, Worcester Vocero, ChrisFIT Xperience and Grille 57 (hosting the official weigh in and after party).
.

A portion of the proceeds will go to Spina Bifida Association of Greater New England.

INFORMATION:
Facebook.com: /RiveraPromotionsEntertainment, /GraniteChinPromotions
Twitter: @RiveraPromoEnt @joseriverachamp @KingRivera_, @Granite_Chin

NEW YORK (August 16, 2018) – Undefeated super featherweight prospect Jon Fernandez will face O’Shaquie Foster in the main event of a ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader on Friday, September 21 live on SHOWTIME® at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT from Firelake Arena in Shawnee, Okla.

The telecast, headlined by two ShoBox veterans, is the first of back-to-back ShoBox: The New Generation telecasts on Fridays in September. The following week, September 28, will mark the sixth telecast in 2018 of the popular developmental series that has produced 77 world champions including the likes of Errol Spence Jr. and Deontay Wilder.

The event, promoted by DiBella Entertainment, is likely to see knockout stoppages, with six prospects boasting a combined record of 68-2-1 and 47 KOs.

“I’m thrilled to promote what will be an exciting edition of ShoBox: The New Generation, on Friday, September 21, at FireLake Arena in Shawnee, Okla.,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “This tripleheader features WBC Silver champion Fernandez, one of the hottest prospects in boxing, facing Foster, a tough Texan trained by the renowned Bobby Benton. The co-feature will be explosive while it lasts between Gonzalez, a New England knockout artist newly signed to DiBella Entertainment, and Ramos, an all-action pressure fighter from Spain promoted by Sergio Martinez. One of Brooklyn’s finest prospects, Ferrer will open the telecast against fellow unbeaten Ortiz, a stablemate of world champion Tevin Farmer from Philadelphia. I’m grateful to ShoBox Executive Producer Gordon Hall and SHOWTIME for continuing to provide a platform to showcase these top prospects.”

The powerful Fernandez (16-0, 14 KOs), a prospect from Bilbao, Spain co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and MaravillaBox Promotions, will be making his third ShoBox appearance when he faces Foster (13-2, 8 KOs) in the 10-round main event contested at 130 pounds.

In a battle of two featherweights packing punching power, Worcester, Massachusetts’ Irvin Gonzalez Jr. (10-0, 9 KOs) will take on Carlos Ramos (9-0, 6 KOs) in a scheduled eight-rounder. Rounding out the tripleheader, Wesley Ferrer (12-0-1, 7 KOs) of Brooklyn, N.Y., collides with undefeated lightweight prospect Steven Ortiz (8-0, 3 KOs) in the eight-round telecast opener.

Tickets for the event are priced at $60 for ringside, $40 for floor seats and $30 for general admission. Tickets go on sale Friday, August 24 and can be purchased online at www.firelakearena.com.

JON FERNANDEZ vs. O’SHAQUIE FOSTER – 10-Round Super Featherweight Bout

Fernandez, the protégé of former unified middleweight world champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez, scored two sensational knockouts on ShoBox in 2017, stopping Ernesto Garza in the third round and knocking out Juan Reyes with a highlight-reel right hook. VIDEO: https://youtu.be/IC2HRJqxa-Q

Making a name for himself as one of the best prospects in the sport, “Jonfer” has knocked out 14 consecutive opponents. The 5’11” Spaniard, who holds an 88 percent knockout ratio, is traveling to the U.S. for the fourth time with an eye on a statement victory.

“O’Shaquie Foster is a very good fighter and although he was the underdog he put on a great performance by beating Frankie Alba in his last fight,” Fernandez said. “This is a big fight for both of us. I’m grateful to Lou DiBella for this opportunity to again show why I’m one of the best prospects in boxing.”

Fernandez, ranked WBC No. 10 at 130 pounds, won the vacant WBC Youth World Super Featherweight Title in 2016 and the vacant WBC Silver Super Featherweight Title in 2017. The former amateur standout, who landed on the ESPN Top Prospects of 2017 list, is currently trained by Tinín Rodríguez in Madrid.

O’Shaquie Foster, of Orange, Texas, is making his fourth appearance on ShoBox, last appearing on the series in July 2016. Since falling to Rolando Chinea in a close split-decision in that ShoBox appearance, Foster has bounced back with three consecutive victories, including a majority-decision victory over veteran Frank De Alba last time out in April.

“This is a great opportunity for me,” said Foster. “I know how good Fernandez is and how well thought of he is, but once we get in the ring, I’ll show the world that I’m a future world champion. I’ve been in training and will be ready for victory on September 21.”

A highly decorated amateur standout who compiled a record of 162-18, the 24-year-old Foster advanced to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials where he lost to once-beaten professional prospect, Joseph “Jo-Jo” Diaz. Before that, Foster was a 2010 PAL National Champion, a five-time Ringside National Champion and two-time National Junior Golden Gloves Champion.

IRVIN GONZALEZ JR. vs. CARLOS RAMOS – Eight-Round Featherweight Bout

A 22-year-old from Worcester, Mass., Gonzalez turned pro in 2016 after a standout amateur career where he compiled a 90-15 record. He was a 2015 New England Golden Gloves champion and qualified for the 2016 Olympic trials.

Gonzalez, who will be making his ShoBox debut, has knocked out all but one of his professional opponents. He scored an impressive unanimous decision victory over Raul Lopez and a body shot knockout of previously undefeated Marlon Olea in back-to-back bouts in 2017.

“This is an opportunity to show the world what I’ve been working my whole life for,” Gonzalez said. “With hard work anything is possible and I will show on September 21 that I have what it takes to become a world champion. This is just the next step for me. I’m entering and leaving the ring with an undefeated record.”

Undefeated featherweight prospect Carlos Ramos, born in Ecuador but fighting out of Madrid, Spain, has compiled a perfect record of 9-0 with six knockouts. The 22-year-old southpaw will be making his U.S. debut against a serious step-up in competition in the undefeated Gonzalez.

Ramos, also under the tutelage of Sergio Martinez, fought on the undercard of Jon Fernandez’s WBC Silver title bout in September 2017, outpointing Lesther Cantillano. Relatively unknown stateside, the young Spanish prospect will be looking to make a splash in his U.S. debut.

“I’m excited to fight in America for the first time and face Irvin Gonzalez,” said Ramos. “I know he’s a big puncher and has a lot of knockouts but all the great sparring I’ve had has built my confidence for a fight like this. I’m sharper than ever and ready to hand him his first loss.”

WESLEY FERRER vs. STEVEN ORTIZ – Eight-Round LIGHTWEIGHT Bout

Ferrer, a Brooklyn, N.Y. native, will be making his ShoBox television debut in his first fight of 2018. The skilled lightweight has started his professional career unbeaten through his first 13 fights, and will be facing his second consecutive undefeated opponent. In December 2017, Ferrer, who is trained by his father Mateo De La Cruz, fought to a hotly contested draw with Will Madera in Times Square.

“This is exactly the fight I need against another undefeated prospect so that I can show how good I am,” said Ferrer. “This is my first fight of 2018, my first on ShoBox and hopefully the first of many big wins.”

An accomplished amateur boxer in New York City, Ferrer was a two-time New York Golden

Gloves champion, 2012 New York Amateur Boxing champion and New York City Metro Tournament champion, as well as a participant at the 2013 National Golden Gloves.

Steven Ortiz, signed to Evander Holyfield’s The Real Deal Boxing, has made a name for himself in Philadelphia, winning five straight bouts in his hometown. Last time out, Ortiz registered an impressive second round knockout of Joshua Davis, sending his opponent to the canvas three times. Compiling a record of 45-5 as an amateur, Ortiz is a five-time Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Champion and National Silver Gloves Winner.

“I am excited to show my talents on ShoBox and promise to bring an exciting fight against Wesley Ferrer,” Ortiz said. “The world is going to see the new face of the lightweight division on Sept. 21. I can’t wait to show everyone who Steven Ortiz is.”

# # #

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

About ShoBox: The New Generation

Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 77 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

LOS ANGELES (Aug.15, 2018): OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Hi there, everyone. Thank you very much for joining us and for participating in the Canelo Alvarez international media conference call.

September 15 couldn’t be close enough. We are exactly about one month away from one of the most anticipated high-class action rematches of the middleweight division between Lineal Middleweight Champion Saul Canelo Alvarez and GGG, who is a WBC, WBA, IBO Middleweight World Champion. This epic event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time, which will start at 8:00 p.m. Eastern/5:00 p.m. Pacific time.

For those of you who want to be present in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena, you can still get your tickets. There’s only a few tickets left, and you can access those tickets at www.T-Mobilearena.com or by calling 888-929-7849. The closed-circuit tickets went on sale today. Fight fans can watch live from the MGM Grand, the Mandalay Bay, the Mirage, and the Luxor, and tickets may be purchased at the MGM Resort International box office.

We would like to highlight a couple of upcoming events. Next week on Wednesday, August 22nd, the media will get an opportunity to talk to Chepo and Eddie Reynoso, who are the trainers of Canelo, and you’ll be able to talk to Abel Sanchez, the trainer for Gennady Golovkin. Again, the date is Wednesday, August 22nd, and that will be at 1:30 p.m. ET/ 10:30 a.m. PT

Additionally, we have — we’re hosting an open to the public and to the media workout live from the brand new arena in Downtown L.A. It’s L.A.’s newest soccer club, the LAFC, which is called the Banc of California Stadium, and that’s Sunday, August 26. Both fighters will be hosting an open to the media and to the public workout. We expect thousands and thousands of people to attend.

Let me just take this opportunity to thank the sponsors. Obviously, the official beer of boxing, that’s Tecate, Hennessey, never stop, never settle, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events. Thank you very much for your continued support to the sport of boxing.

Now I would like to introduce to you. He is the world champion going against Gennady Golovkin for the second time. He has made an incredible career in such a short period of time, Saul Canelo Alvarez.

CANELO ALVAREZ: Greetings to everybody. We’re happy to be here with you again on this teleconference call. More than everything, we are ready. There’s only one month left. We’re very happy. We’re very focused in training. And we’re happy that we’re just days away from this fight.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Beautiful. Now we will open it up to the media for questions. Thank you.

Q. Hi there, my question for Canelo, this fight will represent what will be, if he wins, the 21st consecutive title defense for Gennady Golovkin, which would break the record that he currently shares with Bernard Hopkins, who, of course, is a partner in Golden Boy. I wonder, from Canelo’s perspective, how significant would it be for him — I know to win would be big, but how significant would it be to prevent his rival from breaking such a hallowed record?
CANELO ALVAREZ: Well, you know, Gennady Golovkin has his goals. He has his wishes, just like me. Mine is to win on September 15. I mean, whatever he wants, that’s his record, his desires. That’s why he’s training. That’s why he’s training to win.

All I know is that I’m prepared to win on the 15th of September, to give a great fight and make it absolutely clear that I’m the best middle weight in the world.

Q. Another question for Canelo. This will be Canelo’s first rematch of his career. Most top fighters at one point or another do have a rematch, but I’m just wondering if he has just any general thoughts on engaging in what will be his first rematch.
CANELO ALVAREZ: I’m very happy to have this tiebreaker. I’m very happy for this opportunity to make clear who is better. This is the opportunity to show who is better. So I’m happy, and I’m content, and I’m relaxed. I’m training 100% because, obviously, I know what I have in front of me. I know Golovkin is not an easy opponent, and I know what I have to add to my strategy. So, again, I’m happy to have the tiebreaker to make it clear who is the better fighter in the first fight.

Q. The first question is why do you think this rematch will be different? What will you do differently? What will be different to tip the balances in this fight in your favor?
CANELO ALVAREZ: The first fight gave me the guidelines to know what to do in the second fight, to know what to do differently. In the first fight, I realized a lot of things. I learned that I can knock him out. I learned that I can hurt him. There are a lot of things I learned in that fight, but also in that first fight, it was my first fight officially at 160 pounds, at the 160 pound limit, so I had to adapt. But now I’m more sure and more confident about what I can do in this rematch.

Q. How do you feel about the accusations from the other side, from Abel Sanchez, from team Golovkin, and how have you been able to deal personally with dealing with people like that?
CANELO ALVAREZ: Yeah, you know, I’m very bothered, and I’m angry at their accusations, but I will utilize it in my favor because I have experience in this. I know that, if I get angry and closed minded, that I might make some mistakes, and it will be wrong. So I’m going to use this in my favor to train harder to give that extra push, and I’m going to use that anger intelligently in my favor on September 15.

Q. Hello, everybody. Oscar, I have a question, and then I have one for Canelo, if I may. Oscar, you had two guys, notable guys, Sugar Shane Mosley and Fernando Vargas, test positive after they fought you, and I know some of us reporters — and I don’t know about the fans, but I’m assuming some of them too, kind of never looked at those guys the same way after that because we were wondering, right? So in your mind, how concerned are you that, even if Canelo didn’t do this on purpose, that his legacy has become tainted by the dirty test?
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: I’m not concerned one bit because this is totally different. Sugar Shane Mosley and Fernando Vargas tested positive for steroids performance-enhancing drugs, and this is totally different. This was Clenbuterol that was in meat, in tainted meat. So, look, everybody in Mexico knows about the big problem they have with Clenbuterol in their meat, and in Mexico he’s a bigger star than ever.

So I don’t think his career will be tainted whatsoever. I think once he beats Golovkin in a spectacular fashion, then people will forget about it here in the states.

Q. Oscar, let me ask you one more thing, and I just have one for Canelo. The pay-per-view numbers were very good the first time. Is it safe to say, because of this controversy, that they could be even way better this time because everybody loves controversy?
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Absolutely. This pay-per-view the second time around will be much bigger than the first time around.

Q. And Canelo, the same kind of question I asked Oscar, the first one. Is he concerned that people are going to look at him differently now with the test with the Clenbuterol?
CANELO ALVAREZ: No, the people who have always supported me have been there and will always be there. They know what it is. I’ve made all the tests. So they will always be there, my supporters.

Q. This is for Canelo. GGG is known for his knockout power. He has an 87 percent KO rating. Having felt this power, how does it stack up against previous opponents, and is he the hardest hitter you’ve ever fought?
CANELO ALVAREZ: Obviously, he’s a very strong fighter. He has a very strong hit in his punches. That’s his biggest virtue as a fighter, that he has that power, but obviously, I’ve fought other strong fighters as well. And despite him being a 160-pounder with respectable power, it’s nothing out of this world. I showed him the first fight that I can take his punches, and simply that, he’s a respectable puncher with respectable power, but nothing out of this world.

Q. You and GGG haven’t fought for a year. How hard is it to shake off the rust after a year of inactivity?
CANELO ALVAREZ: I feel well, and I don’t think the year off will affect me at all. I like to train. I like to stay active. So I feel good. The most I’ve lasted usually from September to May, which is about nine months. So I think three additional months is nothing. I stay training, and I stay active, and it’s not going to affect me for this fight on September 15.

Q. Obviously, with the Clenbuterol, it may have hurt your image, but you deserve credit for being clean throughout your entire career and a very decorated career. But despite all of that, do you feel there’s added pressure to show because you’ll be under the microscope more for this fight?
CANELO ALVAREZ: No, I don’t feel any pressure at all. I have nothing to show in that respect. All I have to show is I’m the best. In the first fight, it wasn’t demonstrated because, obviously, it ended in a draw. But that’s the only thing I need to show, that I’m the better fighter than him on September 15.

Q. What is the lesson that you have learned from these months and from being a year off? You’re 28 years old. Obviously, you’ve had good things, but this is obviously that moment. What have you learned from this experience?
CANELO ALVAREZ: I learned a lot. I learned who was really there for me. But I also learned — I got a lot of experience so that it doesn’t happen. The only error that I made is I didn’t educate myself properly on the situation with meat in Mexico, and I have to learn from that so it doesn’t happen again.

Q. I started out with my questioning of Canelo asking about the prospect of stopping GGG from breaking the record that he shares now with middle weight defenses with Bernard Hopkins. I wanted your perspective on that. I know he’s your partner. I know you guys have a long relationship with each other. But how satisfying would it be for you to see Canelo stop him from breaking his record?
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Bernard Hopkins wouldn’t be any happier if Canelo — when Canelo stops him from breaking his record. Obviously, that’s a huge seat in his career. Even 21 defenses is huge. Bernard Hopkins, the fighters he’s faced, the opposition he’s faced, and then being able to defend his title 22 times is incredible.

So September 15, I’m pretty sure Bernard Hopkins is going to be rooting for Canelo even more so because his record’s on the line.

Q. I also wonder from you, Oscar, when you’ve talked to Canelo about the fight, is there anything that you saw in the first fight, as an experienced fighter yourself, that you saw that you gave him a tip about or something that maybe you saw in the way that Golovkin fought that you think that he can exploit or do better in the rematch with? And if so, what was that?
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Yeah, there’s always — you can always do better. That’s the beauty about boxing, and he knows what he has to do. I believe he fought a great fight. He fought his own fight, and I had him up two points. So, obviously, the second time around — and that’s the beauty with a rematch is that you can change up your style. You can adjust to your opponent’s style, and that’s the beauty with Canelo is that he knows how to adjust, unlike GGG that only fights one way, and that’s coming forward.

Q. Obviously, after this first fight, how many times have you seen this first fight on tape? And the real question is what did you see that you liked? What did you see that you’ve been able to work on that you’ll be able to utilize for this rematch?
CANELO ALVAREZ: I’ve seen that fight about ten times, and what I think I needed or if there was an error, it was that I defended punches and I didn’t take advantage to counter that. I have to add that to this game plan. Every chance I get to hit him, I have to hit it. Every time I slip or dodge a punch, I have to come back. That’s what I needed in this fight, and that’s what I’m going to do on September 15.

Q. After this rematch against Golovkin, do you think that this will close the story or end the story between you two, or do you think there will be a third fight between Canelo and GGG?
CANELO ALVAREZ: As with the first fight, we have to see how this fight is going to take place and how it’s going to pass. After the first one, we needed the second one because it was a draw and because the fans wanted it. Personally for me, I want it to end here. I want it to define very clearly who’s the best in this rematch.

Q. First question is for Canelo. GGG had said that he had lost a lot of respect for you after what happened in February. Do you still have respect for him? And if you don’t, will you have respect for him regardless of what happens after September 15?
CANELO ALVAREZ: No, in the same way actually, it’s going to be worse. The respect that we had was lost. He crossed the line with his statements, with what he said, with the excuses, with all the crying from his team. So the respect, it was completely lost, and that’s how it will continue. In fact, this loss of respect and their statements and what they all said, this will help me to give 100 percent and give that extra push to leave it clear that I’m the better fighter.

Q. Based off of that, a lot of people have taken what he said, and they’ve taken it to heart. Do you feel you’re fighting for your reputation coming up on September 15?
CANELO ALVAREZ: No. This fight I will just show that I’m the best, that I’m better than he is. That’s why I’m fighting, to continue my history and my story and to continue facing good challenges.

Q. I’ve seen in videos — I’ve seen you in the videos that Golden Boy throws out. I’ve never seen you throw punches with so much fury and so much angst and so much desire, especially on the gym equipment. Do you see this as therapy so you’re not overtaken by resentment on the day of the fight?
CANELO ALVAREZ: This anger that I have, it helps me train harder. It helps me to train with a lot of strength. But mentally, I’m relaxed. I have the experience to manage that anger. When I step into the ring on September 15, I’ll go in with a cold and calm mentality.

Q. Oscar, back when you fought Manny Pacquiao, Bob Arum started a Mexicans for Pacquiao campaign and was quoted as saying, you have to understand that Manny is more of a Mexican style fighter than Oscar De La Hoya will ever be. Does it bother you that ten years later we’re still using this Mexican style gimmick? And what advice did you give Canelo, having gone through this yourself?
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Well, it’s obviously all a gimmick. It’s a gimmick to win fans over. I did it with fighting hard and beating the best out there and fighting the best out there. Canelo did it the same way. He’s a Mexican national, and the Mexican Nationals love him. So all this gimmick stuff about Mexicans for Golovkin and Mexicans for Pacquiao, that’s all it is. It’s a gimmick.

It’s sad to know there are a few fans that fall for it, but it’s really nice to know that Canelo has Mexican fans that love him and support him 1,000 percent.

Q. In the first fight with Golovkin, what was the thing that most surprised you and most disappointed you in that first fight?
CANELO ALVAREZ: I knew that he was strong, and I knew that he could take punches, and I knew that he could assimilate well. Nothing surprised me. I knew who he was. I knew he’s strong. And he’s going to be strong in this fight. I know he’s going to be strong in this fight, and that’s why I’m training.

But more than that, the first fight showed me what I can add to my game plan to beat him on September 15.

Q. A lot of people think this fight’s not going to end by knockout, that it’s going to go the distance. Do you agree with that assessment, or are you going to go out there and look for the knockout?
CANELO ALVAREZ: From the beginning, I will work him to look for that KO. That’s what I’ll be doing from the very first round, and that’s why I’m training and I’m mentally prepared to do that. Obviously, you know, that’s the way I want this fight to end by knockout, and for them to raise my hand after that knockout victory.

Q. Obviously, you talked some about some political concerns before. As the biggest star, what do you think about the new president in Mexico?
CANELO ALVAREZ: I’ve always reserved myself to speak about political issues. The thing with Trump, well, I had to speak out against what he said about Mexicans. My opinion is what I have, that we’re not all the same. So I never really get into political issues. Hopefully, this president is good and that he makes well on his promises and that he can represent us very well.

Q. You haven’t fought in about a year. What has been the hardest thing about that year off? Especially since you’ve said that you love training and that you love fighting. What’s been the hardest thing?
CANELO ALVAREZ: Yeah, it’s been a year off. That’s the hardest thing. I’m more anxious than ever to get in the ring and throw punches, especially with all that has taken place surrounding this fight. But I always stay training, and I always stay active. I like training even if I don’t fight, and I stay active.

Q. Has he taken more tests, anti-doping tests after what has happened?
CANELO ALVAREZ: I’ve always had tests. I’ve always participated in these tests since 2012. I’ve been in tests and voluntary tests for each training camp, and they keep doing it whether or not what took place — whether or not I tested positive. They can come every week, and they can come at any time, and they don’t let you know, and it’s all voluntary — not obligatory. I voluntarily do these tests. And they have done it 15 or 20 times since that day in February, and they keep doing it. And any time they come here, I’m ready to take those tests.

Q. Hello, Canelo, from San Diego. We’re happy to have you here, as always. You are by far not only the most familiar, famous fighter in Mexico, but you’re also a role model for all the young fighters that Oscar has there at Golden Boy. How do you feel about the responsibility knowing they’re all looking up to you as a role model? How do you proceed with that, and how do you manage that knowing that they are all looking to you?
CANELO ALVAREZ: I feel well, and I manage it well. I do it by being calm, by being disciplined, and those two attributes maintain me as an example. I keep training hard, and I keep giving good fights, and I’ll keep doing that so that I continue being a role model for these young fighters.

Q. Oscar, I’d like you to weigh in on that question because you watch him interacting with your younger fighters. What do you see in their interaction together?
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Well, that’s exactly what it’s all about is looking up to fighters that you want to be like when you grow up yourself. That’s what every sport has. Every sport has a hero. Every sport has an athlete that they look up to. Saul is the one on top right now. He’s the one who is look upon. He’s the hero. And so everybody — every young fighter looks up to him and wants to be like him. So that’s the beauty about boxing is that, when you have fighters like Saul who can come up and be those role models, it only makes boxing better, and it gives these kids an opportunity for them to realize their own dreams.

Q. Out of all the statements and the craziness that occurred with the positive testing, obviously, the other team is using it to get you out of focus. Do you think that you will use it in your favor so that Golovkin’s side is the one who will be out of focus for this rematch?
CANELO ALVAREZ: Look, I don’t know what they intend. I don’t know what they’re intending to do or what their intentions are. All I know is that I want to get in the ring and defeat him, and any error that he makes, I’m going to take advantage of on this fight and in this rematch.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Okay. Thank you very much, Saul. Thank you very much, everyone. All the media, just want to let you know that August 26nd we want to make this the biggest workout event live from the Banc of California Stadium. LAFC plays there. We want to make sure that everyone goes, all the media, and spread the word to the public.

Obviously, September 15 can’t come any faster. Thank you very much. Gracias.

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Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

Limited tickets for Canelo vs. GGG 2 are still available, and are priced at $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700, and $500 not including applicable service charges and taxes. There will be a limit of eight (8) per person at the $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700 and $500 price levels. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets are also available for purchase at http://www.t-mobilearena.com/ or www.axs.com.

Tickets for the closed circuit telecast of Canelo vs. GGG 2 at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage and Luxor are priced at $100, not including applicable fees. Seating is general admission at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage while Luxor will have assigned seats. Tickets may be purchased at any MGM Resorts International Box Office, by phone with a major credit card at (800) 745-3000 or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/canelovsggg2.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloGGG2 into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy Promotions for any photo and/or video usage.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.caneloggg.com and www.hbo.com/boxing; follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @hboboxing and @TomLoeffler1; become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/gggboxing, and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing; follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @HBOboxing and @OscarDeLaHoya; and follow the conversation using #CaneloGGG2.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Aug. 15, 2018) – Bryant “B.Y.” Jennings and Jesse “Hollywood” Hart are born-and-bred Philadelphia fighters hoping for another world title shot.

Jennings (23-2, 13 KOs), who challenged Wladimir Klitschko for the heavyweight title in 2015, will face Alexander “Sascha” Dimitrenko (41-3, 26 KOs) on Saturday at the Ocean Resort Casino’s Ovation Hall in the 12-round main event. Hart (24-1, 20 KOs), who dropped a unanimous decision to Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez last year for the WBO super middleweight title, will face Mike Gavronski (24-2-1, 15 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature. With a win, he hopes to earn another shot at Ramirez.

Jennings-Dimitrenko and Hart-Gavronski will be televised LIVE on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 10 p.m. ET. All undercard bouts, including 2016 U.S. Olympic silver medalist Shakur Stevenson (7-0, 4 KOs) against Carlos Ruiz (16-4-2, 6 KOs) in an eight-round featherweight bout, will be streamed on ESPN+ beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

The ESPN+ broadcast will also include former world champion Jason Sosa (20-3-4, 15 KOs) against Reynaldo Blanco (14-4, 8 KOs) in an eight-round super featherweight bout; Atlantic City’s Thomas LaManna (25-2-1, 9 KOs) versus Matthew Strode (25-6, 9 KOs) in a eight-round super welterweight bout; and Philadelphia bantamweight prospect Christian Carto (15-0, 11, KOs) against Javier Gallo (25-15-1, 13 KOs) in an eight-rounder.

At the Atlantic City PAL gym on Wednesday, many of the fighters from Saturday’s card worked out for the media. This is what they had to say.

Bryant Jennings

On fighting Dimitrenko: “I’m expecting him to come out better than he did in his previous fights. I expect him to have the will to win, wanting to establish his name and his legacy.”

On being the ESPN headliner: “I try not to look at all that. I’m just glad that I’ve been fighting consistently and to still be ‘alive’ in this boxing game. All of those other things are great, absolutely wonderful.”

“I’m just grateful for the opportunity, grateful for the consistent fighting schedule. I’m just looking to win and climb the heavyweight ladder. I let everything fall into place once the results come in.”

Alexander Dimitrenko

“It is very important for me to be here, to fight live on ESPN against Jennings. I will do anything to win this fight. I am here to win this fight. I prepared myself very well. It’s an honor to fight here in America. Everybody watching will get a great show. Saturday night can’t come soon enough. I am ready to fight.”

Jesse Hart

“The Atlantic City market is one of the best markets in the world because it’s so rich in boxing history. Mike Tyson fought Michael Spinks here. Before the market went to Las Vegas, it was all Atlantic City. This is boxing roots. This is boxing heritage.”

On being close to another title shot: “You always look at what’s in front of you. You never look at what’s ahead. That’s what my dad {Eugene “Cyclone” Hart} always tells me. To do that, you have to focus on the now, not the future. If you get ahead of yourself, you may miss what’s in front of you.”

On Mike Gavronski: “I have nothing derogatory to say about him. I think he’s alright. I don’t see anything special about him, but it is what it is.”

Mike Gavronski

“I’m absolutely ecstatic. A lot of hard work has gone into this, but there’s more hard work to do. I need to keep my head in it, and that’s about it.”

On being the underdog: “I don’t even worry about that stuff. I’m just going to stick to what I know and do what I do.”

Shakur Stevenson

“I got a lot of family and friends coming. I plan on putting on a heck of a show. I feel like every time I’m on the east coast, I have my best performances. I’m coming off two straight knockouts, and I’m going to get my third in a row on Saturday night.”

“I feel like I’ve waited my whole life to win a world title. That would be a dream come true. I’m ready to move into the top 10 and take on anyone who has a belt.”

Christian Carto

“I’m just worried about this fight. After that, I can sit back and relax and enjoy the rest of the show.”

“I’m fighting a guy who has been around. I’m ready for what he brings. I bring an exciting, fan-friendly style to the ring. I know I’ll have a ton of support from my family and friends.”

Thomas LaManna

On fighting on ESPN in his hometown: “It feels great. They could’ve put anyone else on the card. I’m glad that they recognized all of the hard work that me as an individual put in to my craft, marketing myself, and the fan base that I bring to the table. On Saturday night, I’m going to perform in front of everybody. It’s a big platform. It’s pretty cool getting all of this notoriety and exposure and stuff, but I learned now not to let the hype get to me. I’m focused on what I have to focus on, and that’s my fight.”
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Promoted by Top Rank, in association with EC Box Promotion, remaining tickets, priced at $127, $77, $52, and $37 (including facility fees), are on sale now. Tickets are available at the Ovation Hall box office, online at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or by phone at 800-745-3000.

For more information visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, facebook.com/espndeportes; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, @ESPN @ESPNBoxeo,@ESPNDeportes. Use the hashtag #JenningsDimi to join the conversation on social media.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International (DTCI) segment in conjunction with ESPN. ESPN+ offers fans two exclusive, original boxing programs The Boxing Beat with Dan Rafael (Tuesdays, weekly) and In This Corner (twice monthly). In addition to exclusive Top Rank boxing content, programming on ESPN+ includes hundreds of MLB, NHL and MLS games, thousands of college sports events (including football, basketball and multiple other sports from more than 15 conferences), UFC (beginning in 2019), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby, cricket, new and exclusive documentary films and series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films. Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time.

LAS VEGAS, NV (August 15, 2018) – Devin Haney Promotions, the promotional company owned by undefeated WBC Youth and USBA Lightweight Champion, Devin “The Dream” Haney (19-0, 13 KOs), was just granted a boxing promoter’s license by the California State Athletic Department (CSAC).

At 19-Years old, Devin Haney, who was born in San Francisco and raised in Oakland, becomes the youngest promoter in boxing history. With the approved application, Devin Haney Promotions is off to a good start and looking is forward to showcasing events in California.

“Getting approved for my promoter’s license in California is something I envisioned since I turned professional,” said an elated Devin Haney, who now lives in Las Vegas. “Devin Haney Promotions will start doing shows on a modest scale, that will eventually lead to mega events.”

“I already have a couple of young hungry prospects on my roster and will be looking to sign other talented fighters as we march forward,” Haney continued. “I plan to showcase some of the best fighters in boxing.”

In his last fight, Haney looked sensational in his SHOWTIME debut, scoring a 9th round TKO against a worthy opponent in Mason Menard (33-3, 24 KOs), who many boxing insiders’ thought was going to give Devin problems. Haney’s performance was electrifying, setting him up for another date on the network.

“We have some big news that will be announced soon,” Haney concluded. “With the partnerships my dad and I have garnered, Devin Haney Promotions will be taking boxing to whole new level. I couldn’t do this without the help of my dad William, and the team he assembled around me. Together we are going to the top.”

“All I can say is the future is bright for Devin Haney Promotions,” stated William Haney, who has been guiding his son’s career since he made his pro debut at age 17. “Things are about to take off for everyone on the team, and boxing in California will be on the rise.”

Costa Mesa, CA; History will be made in a week as the first every Championship Fight on a Fight Club OC show will take place when 2012 Rio Olympic Bronze Medal winner Murodjon Akhmadaliev faces Ramon Contreras for the vacant WBA Super Bantamweight Intercontinental Championship Belt on the Thursday, August 23rd edition of Fight Club OC.

Amateur Standout Akhmadaliev Goes For WBA Title on 8/23
And what a match up it will for fans in The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, CA, as Akhmadaliev at 3-0 (2KO’s) was not only the Olympic Bronze Medal winner in 2012 for his native Uzbekistan but also the 2015 World Amateur Champion. He will face without a doubt his toughest test to date meeting the current WBA Fedebol Super Bantamweight Champion Ramon Contreras from Chile who brings a 15-6 record with six knockouts. The winner could have a shot at a 2019 date with current World Champion Daniel Roman, so a lot is at stake on August 23rd.

Fans from around the world can watch this title fight as well as the entire six bout card will be show on Facebook Live.

Tickets for the August 23rd Fight Club OC show all priced at $60 are available online at www.socafights.com.

WORCESTER, Mass. (August 15, 2018) – Three-time, two-division world champion “El Gallo” Jose Rivera has a new opponent for his comeback fight this Friday night in “Homecoming”, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP) in association with Rivera Promotions Entertainment (RPE), at The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The 45-year-old Rivera (41-6-1, 24 KOs), who was matched against Ruben “Modern Day Warrior” Galvan, didn’t find out until yesterday (Tuesday) that Galvan had broken a finger the night before. Texas veteran Larry “Slomoshun” Smith (10-37-1, 7 KOs) is the late replacement for Rivera in the eight-round main event.

“I am not a fan of late changes,” Rivera said, “but at this point it’s either that or no fight, and I’ve trained too hard not to fight.”

Rivera last fought in 2011, taking an eight-round decision over Paul Mpendo, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut.

The name of the event is “Homecoming” because five fighters in action are from Worcester, including three who’ve never fought there before as professionals.

Super middleweight Kendrick Ball, Jr. (9-1-2, 6 KOs) and junior middleweight Khiary Gray (15-4, 11 KOs), both promoted by CES Boxing, will be fighting at home in Worcester as pros for the first time in a pair of six-round bouts. Ball faces Mexican Fabian “El Lobo” Valdez (2-3) in the co-featured event, while Gray (15-4, 11 KOs) faces Antonio Chaves Fernandez (9-33, 4 KOs), of Brockton, MA, in a rematch of a fight won by Gray.

Also scheduled to fight on the undercard in four-round bouts are Southbridge, MA welterweight Wilfredo “El Sucaro” Pagan (4-0, 2 KOs) vs. Engelberto “Guarura” Valenzuela (11-14, 3 KOs), Springfield’s (MA) pro-debuting featherweight Joshua Orta vs. Worcester’s Edwin Rosado (1-7-1, 1 KO), Worcester’s pro-debuting welterweight Eslih Owusu.vs. Bryan “The Brick” Abraham (6-30-2, 6 KOs) and Springfield, MA welterweight Jose Angel “KO” Ortiz (4-13-1, 1 KO) vs. Somerville’s (MA) Patrick Leal (0-4).

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $75.00 (ringside) and $45.00 (general admission), are on sale and available to purchase at www.ThePalladium.net or the Palladium box office (general admission only), or by contacting Jose Rivera (elgallojar@gmail.com/508.864.6954), AJ Rivera (anthoneerivera@gmail.com/774.272.2269) or any of the fighters.

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

Event sponsors include Lundgren Honda, Elm Wealth Group, Atty. Maria M. Rivera-Cotto, Championsofhealth.USANA.com, Chieftain Liquors, Centro Las America, Baystate Savings Bank, Pamela Laporte Realty, Worcester Vocero, ChrisFIT Xperience and Grille 57 (hosting the official weigh in and after party).

A portion of the proceeds will go to Spina Bifida Association of Greater New England.

INFORMATION:
Facebook.com: /RiveraPromotionsEntertainment, /GraniteChin Promotions
Twitter: @RiveraPromoEnt @joseriverachamp @KingRivera_, @Granite_Chin

LAS VEGAS, NEV. (August 15, 2018) – “He ran, he stalled, he didn’t conquer,” so sayeth trainer of the year ABEL SANCHEZ about former two-division world champion Canelo “Beef Jerky” Alvarez, (49-1-2, 34 KOs), of Guadalajara, Mexico. Sanchez is putting his star pupil GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN, (38-0-1, 34 KOs), from Karaganda, Kazakhstan, boxing’s longest-reigning world champion (since 2010), through his paces at The Summit, the high altitude training camp in Big Bear Lake, Calif., in preparation for the Mexican Independence Day rematch between the two top pound for pound fighters. Golovkin, the beef-eating undefeated World Middleweight Champion with the positive attitude and the negative random drug test results, is hard at work training for his record-breaking 21st consecutive title defense. Canelo vs. Golovkin 2, takes place Saturday, September 15, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.

“The last fight between Gennady and Canelo was a real contrast of styles,” said Sanchez. “Gennady had to chase Canelo, who boasted that he was the true Mexican warrior, around the ring. It reminded me of the four corners offense those old Dean Smith-coached basketball teams used to play. I’m seriously considering asking the Nevada Athletic Commission to install a 24-second clock to force Canelo to engage. Compare the activity between the fighters in their first fight. Gennady did everything in that fight. Gennady wasn’t the one who got booed by the fans when those crazy scorecards were announced. And Gennady is going to do even more in the rematch. I read that Canelo isn’t eating beef in this camp. Let’s just hope he stopped eating duck too.”

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

24/7 Canelo/GGG 2 debuts

Tuesday, August 28, at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.

Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

Remaining tickets for Canelo vs. GGG 2 are priced at $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700, $500 and $300, not including applicable service charges and taxes. There will be a limit of eight (8) per person at the $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800 and $700 price levels with a limit of two (2) per person at the $500 and $300 price levels. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, ;;

www.caneloggg.com ;;and www.hbo.com/boxing; ;;follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @hboboxing and @TomLoeffler1; become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,

www.facebook.com/gggboxing, and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing; follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @HBOboxing and @OscarDeLaHoya; and follow the conversation using #CaneloGGG2.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying

and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloGGG2 into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy Promotions for any photo and/or video usage.

August 14, 2018

WBC middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin has submitted his 30-day advance weight to the WBC.

On August 14, Golovkin weighed 168.3 pounds, well within the 10 percent limit of 176 pounds. 7-day advance weights are also monitored with a 5 percent limit, which in this case will be 168 pounds.

Las Vegas – UFC® lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will defend his title against former two-division champ and No.1 contender Conor McGregor in the most anticipated fight in the promotion’s history. The co-main event will see a battle between heavyweight KO artists, as No.2-ranked contender Derrick Lewis will lock horns with No.5-ranked Alexander Volkov. UFC® 229: KHABIB vs. MCGREGOR takes place Saturday, Oct. 6 from T-Mobile Arena and will air live on Pay-Per-View.

Known for his crushing pressure and ground game, the undefeated Nurmagomedov (26-0, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia) has proven to be unstoppable inside the Octagon®. Over the course of his spectacular run, he’s earned dominant wins over Edson Barboza, Michael Johnson, Rafael Dos Anjos, Abel Trujillo and Thiago Tavares. Nurmagomedov’s last outing saw him best Al Iaquinta to capture the lightweight championship. He now looks to earn his first successful title defense in a grudge match for the ages.

McGregor (21-3, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland) looks to reclaim his belt against his most heated rival yet. The bout marks his return from competing against Floyd Mayweather in the biggest global boxing match ever seen on Pay-Per-View. In the Octagon, he’s delivered incredible victories against Nate Diaz, Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes, Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway. He became a two-division champion by knocking out Eddie Alvarez in 2016, and he now aims to take his top spot back against his toughest test to date.

Heavy-handed Lewis (20-5 1NC, fighting out of Houston, Tex.) looks to stake his claim for a title shot with another vicious finish. During his UFC stint, “The Black Beast” has earned impressive finishes against Marcin Tybura, Travis Browne and Gabriel Gonzaga. His last outing saw him earn a decision win over recent title challenger Francis Ngannou. He is now primed to put away another surging contender.

A champion outside the UFC, Volkov (29-6, fighting out of Moscow, Russia) is currently riding an impressive six-fight win streak. Following victories against Stefan Struve, Roy Nelson and Timothy Johnson, the Russian standout netted a spectacular KO win over former champ Fabricio Werdum in March. Volkov is now ready to deliver a show-stealing performance to earn a UFC title shot.

Additional bouts on the card include:

In a pivotal clash of flyweight contenders, No.2-ranked Sergio Pettis (17-3, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) takes on No.5-ranked Jussier Formiga (21-5, fighting out of Natal, Brazil)
No.7-ranked light heavyweight contender Ovince Saint Preux (22-11, fighting out of Knoxville, Tenn.) looks to stop undefeated No.12 Dominick Reyes (9-0, fighting out of Victorville, Calif.)
No.7-ranked strawweight contender Michelle Waterson (15-6, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) squares off with No.8 Felice Herrig (14-7, fighting out of Crystal Lake, Ill.)
Rising bantamweight Sean O’Malley (10-0, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.) will look to keep his perfect record intact against streaking Jose Quinonez (8-2, fighting out of San Diego, Calif. by way of Tlaltenango, Mexico)
No.11-ranked bantamweight contender Lina Lansberg (8-3, fighting out of Malmo, Sweden) meets Yana Kunitskaya (10-4 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M. by way of Murmansk, Russia)
Gritty welterweight Ryan LaFlare (13-2, fighting out of Farmingdale, N.Y.) aims to continue building momentum against tough prospect Tony Martin (12-4, fighting out of Boston, Mass.)

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Visit the UFC® Press Portal for information and content to support your UFC coverage. Please click here to apply for the event.

UFC® 229: KHABIB vs. MCGREGOR will air live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Saturday, Oct. 6, with the prelims kicking off the evening on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT.

Tickets for UFC® 229: KHABIB vs. MCGREGOR go on sale Friday, Aug. 17 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $2,505, $2,005, $1,505, $1,005, $755, $555, $405, $355, $305, $255, $205 (does not include fees). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.axs.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.

UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Aug. 16 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

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About UFC®

UFC® is a premium global sports brand and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2018, UFC boasts more than 284 million fans worldwide and has produced over 440 events in 22 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 160 countries and territories to 1.1 billion TV households worldwide in 40 different languages. UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service, 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.

About T-Mobile Arena

T-Mobile Arena, the 20,000-seat venue located on the Las Vegas Strip between New York-New York and Park MGM, opened April 6, 2016. The arena hosts more than 100 events annually including major headline entertainment, awards shows, UFC, boxing, basketball and other sporting events, family shows and special events. This fall T-Mobile Arena welcomed the Vegas Golden Knights, a National Hockey League expansion team and the city’s first professional sports team. The city’s newest landmark, recently named the “2017 Venue of the Year” by Billboard Touring” as well as the “Best New Major Concert Venue” by Pollstar Magazine, features 50 luxury suites, more than two dozen private loge boxes, complete broadcast facilities, and other specially designed exclusive hospitality offerings and fan amenities destined to create a guest experience second to none. Toshiba Plaza, an adjacent two-acre outdoor entertainment space, features performance stages, a variety of video screens and other interactive content and display areas. Industry-leading architect Populous designed T-Mobile Arena to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s standards for LEED® Gold Certification. T-Mobile Arena is a privately funded joint venture between AEG and MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). For more information, visit the T-Mobile Arena website at www.t-mobilearena.com.

BELFAST (August 14, 2018) – Lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former two-time heavyweight title challenger Francesco Pianeta faced off on Tuesday in Belfast during the final press conference for their 10-round heavyweight bout this Saturday from Windsor Park. The second comeback fight of the former unified champion will stream live exclusively to U.S. audiences on the SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page and SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT (please note new start time). SHOWTIME will air an encore presentation later that evening on SHOWTIME EXTREME® (10 p.m. ET/PT).

Fury vs. Pianeta will serve as the chief support of Carl Frampton’s interim featherweight title defense against undefeated contender Luke Jackson on the pitch at Windsor Park, where an expected 30,000 fans will witness the first boxing event at the home of Northern Irish football.

Studio coverage of SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL from New York begins at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT with host Brian Custer and Hall of Fame analyst Steve Farhood providing pre-and post-fight analysis. Live coverage from Belfast, which will be provided by BT Sport, will begin with the Pianeta ring walk shortly after 3:30. U.K. sportscaster John Rawling will call the action with Barry Jones providing analysis, and Ronald McIntosh conducting post-fight interviews for Fury-Pianeta.

The former IBF, WBA and WBO champion Fury (26-0, 19 KOs) returned to the ring in June and will fight for the second time in less than 75 days following a nearly three-year layoff. Prior to his extended hiatus, the 6-foot-9 Fury established himself as the premier heavyweight boxer in the world by becoming the first man to defeat Wladimir Klitschko in more than 11 years.

Pianeta (35-4-1, 21 KOs), a 6-foot-5 southpaw who fights out of Germany, has twice challenged for the heavyweight world title. Pianeta faced then-unified champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2013 and lost in a bid for a secondary title against Ruslan Chagaev in 2015.

Here’s what the fighters had to say at Europa Hotel in Belfast on Tuesday:

Tyson Fury

“The old Tyson Fury is gone. The Tyson Fury from three years ago and beyond is finished. Let’s face it, we all move forward in life with age and experiences and I’m not looking to dwell on the past. I’m looking to live for today and improve on who I am tomorrow. The new Tyson Fury is here now and my promise is to put on a good fight. Whether that’s better or worse than the old Tyson Fury, we’ll find out on Saturday night.

“What you’re likely to see from me on Saturday is a heavyweight Sugar Ray Leonard. Anything less is a failure.

“I do want to win a world title again so I have to raise my game. I’ve been out of the ring for three years nearly. It’s an uphill battle to lose the weight I’ve lost. It’s been challenging and a long, hard battle to get back to where I am.

“I study my heavyweights and I know Francesco has fought some very good men. He had a very good winning spree, he was 28-0 when he fought Klitschko. I’m not underestimating Francesco. I know he’s a very big, strong fellow and he knows if he wins this fight then he can go on to fight (Deontay) Wilder instead of me. It’s all to play for.

“In heavyweight boxing, if you take your eye off the goal for ten seconds you’re out of there. I know what to expect, I expect him to bring his ‘A game’ and he’s going to try to knock me out because that’s what they all do. Hopefully, he’s not successful and we put on a great show and entertain the fans.

“If I come through this, then Wilder has a chance to fight me for the lineal championship. I’m not the one who gets the chance to fight him. Let’s face it, he hasn’t really fought anybody. He has 40 fights and it is what it is. We’re not here to talk about Wilder at all. It may as well be a million years in the future, I’ve got to concentrate on this man in front of me. I’m sure he wants to take my glory away from me.

“I’ve made all the right sacrifices. I trained really well, ate right, slept well and I had four or five sparring partners that were all southpaws. If I do what I think I can do, then I’ll impress, put on a good show and win the fight. If I don’t do what I think I can do, then I’ll get chinned in about ten seconds and it will be, ‘See you later Tyson Fury and hello Francesco Pianeta.’

“Southpaws are a lot more awkward because there’s less of them in the division. You don’t get too much work with southpaws other than when you’re fighting with them. It’s hard to get southpaws to spar in training because there aren’t many heavyweight southpaws around the world. But I do have one interesting fact, every southpaw amateur or professional I’ve ever faced I’ve knocked out. That’s not good for Francesco.

“To be a two-time heavyweight champion is all right. It’s not great because there’s been plenty. To be a three-time heavyweight champion, it’s been done before. So I think I want to set a precedent of being a five-time heavyweight champion without losing a fight. That’s my goal. I always aim for the stars and set big targets.

“If I can beat Francesco Pianeta on Saturday night, I’ve beaten another boxer. Big deal. But if he beats me, he’s going on to something very big. It would be life-changing for him. It I can’t beat Francesco, then I’m going nowhere.

“I think I’m the greatest heavyweight that’s ever been born, so I should handle Francesco Pianeta. And whoever else is out there, Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua, all the bums out there.

“It’s very easy to win all the belts back. I’ve only got to beat two bums, basically. Wilder and Joshua and that’s it. They both haven’t got a brain cell between them so it shouldn’t be too hard for a great boxer like myself.”

Ben Davison, Fury’s Trainer

“Everything is good with Tyson. It’s good that he’s getting straight into the ring again. It’s been a good progression since the last fight and everything is perfect. We’re just ready for Saturday night. You can’t do anything more from now.

“He’s lost a good amount of weight since the last fight. To me, there’s only a certain level of fitness that you can get to and Tyson runs on two very good engines anyway. There’s never been any worry with that.”

Francesco Pianeta

“I’m going to give my best and I’m looking forward to the fight. It’s an honor for me to box in front of such an audience.

“I have a high opinion on Tyson. I was very impressed with his win over Klitschko, I rate him very highly. He says that he’s knocked out every southpaw he’s ever faced, but we’ll see if he is able to do that Saturday night.”

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.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Amazon, Apple®, Google, LG Smart TVs, Oculus Go, Roku®, Samsung and Xbox One. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels, DirecTV Now, FuboTV, Hulu, Sling TV, Sony PlayStation™ Vue, and YouTube TV. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™, and offers Smithsonian Earth™ through SN Digital LLC. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.

Did you ever worry that this rematch might not happen? How close were you to moving on to another opponent?

“Of course I wanted the rematch to happen but it was never a worry for me if it did or did not happen. That is because after Canelo failed two random drug tests in February everything changed. After I beat Vanes Martirosyan on May 5, I authorized my promoter Tom Loeffler to begin a new negotiation for the rematch with Canelo. Canelo and Golden Boy Promotions assumed I would fight under the terms of the May 5 rematch and they were unhappy when I gave them my terms. What they refused to admit was that it was their side that changed everything once Canelo failed his drug tests. That was their fault not mine.

“My team and I treat everyone we do business with on a professional level. Whether we agree or disagree we show respect. But Golden Boy decided that they would share my proposal with the media and insult me — every day. I guess they thought the media, the event partners, and the fans would agree with them and put pressure on me to accept their terms. It did not make a difference to me. It did not make a difference to the fans, they just wanted to see the fight. I knew what I wanted. I knew what was fair. So it was easy to deal with Golden Boy. I did not care what others thought. I am the champion. Canelo was the challenger. If they wanted the rematch, this time it would be on my terms.

“How close was I to moving on to another opponent? I actually had. Golden Boy gave me a deadline to accept their latest “final offer.” They were very public about that too. I had a deal in place to fight WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders in August and I was planning to start my training camp in Big Bear. Tom told the Saunders team that if Canelo agreed to my terms we would take that fight first. We were honest with them. That is how we deal with people. One hour after the deadline for Golden Boy’s “final offer” passed, Tom received a call from them saying they would meet my terms and the deal was done.”

24/7 Canelo/GGG 2 debuts Tues., Aug. 28 at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.

Canelo vs. GGG 2 takes place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

Given the outcome, Hooker (24-0-3, 16 KOs) – who is co-promoted by Roc Nation Sports and Matchroom Boxing – will fight Saucedo (28-0, 18 KOs) for the WBO super lightweight title belt fight on ESPN+. Roc Nation Sports, Matchroom Boxing and Top Rank are expected to schedule the bout for either Nov. 16 or Nov. 17 in Oklahoma City.

“I’m very excited to defend my world title on a national platform and show the world what I bring to the ring,” Hooker said. “I feel like this is my time – I’m hungry, I’ve been working hard and I’m ready to make Alex Saucedo my next victim.”

“Maurice has earned all of his accolades and we’re incredibly proud of how he’s represented Roc Nation in the ring,” Roc Nation boxing promoter Dino Duva said. “We look forward to collaborating with Top Rank and Matchroom Boxing to finalize the details of this bout and it’ll be one that boxing fans won’t want to miss.”

When Hooker returns to the ring, it will mark his first bout since he toppled Terry Flanagan on June 9 via split-decision victory to capture the vacant 140-pound championship belt. The 29-year-old achieved the feat in his first career world title fight in Flanagan’s hometown of Manchester, where he earned scores of 115-113 and 117-111 while another judge scored it 117-111 in Flanagan’s favor.

Saucedo is coming off his own victory over Leonardo Zappavigna on June 30 in Oklahoma City, where he won via a seventh-round TKO.

ABOUT ROC NATION SPORTS:

Roc Nation Sports, a sub-division of Roc Nation, launched in spring 2013. Founder Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter’s love of sports led to the natural formation of Roc Nations Sports, supporting athletes in the same way Roc Nation has been working alongside and advocating for artists in the music industry for years. Roc Nation Sports focuses on elevating athletes’ career on a global scale both on and off the field. Roc Nation Sports conceptualizes and executes marketing and endorsement deals, community outreach, charitable tie-ins, media relations and brand strategy. In August 2014, Roc Nation Sports launched its boxing division, a full service promotional company that represents fighters such as WBO Super Lightweight champion Maurice Hooker, WBO Oriental Heavyweight champion Zhang Zhilei, IBF Intercontinental Light Heavyweight champion Meng Fanlong, Junior Younan, Darmani Rock, Tyler McCreary, Tramaine Williams, Wellington Romero and John Bauza. Roc Nation Sports’ roster includes premiere athletes such as Robinson Cano, Skylar Diggins, Kevin Durant, Geno Smith, Victor Cruz, CC Sabathia, Dez Bryant, Yoenis Cespedes, Todd Gurley, Jerome Boateng, Romelu Lukaku, Wilson Chandler, Justise Winslow, Willie Cauley-Stein, Miguel Sano, Melvin Ingram, Rudy Gay, Leonard Fournette, Juju-Smith-Schuster and Josh Hart, among many others

LAS VEGAS, NV (August 13, 2018) – Prince Ranch Boxing’s undefeated welterweight, Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (10-7 KOs), who is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, was voted “Prospect of the Year” by the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame committee. Please join Blair Cobbs along with many other boxing greats this Friday when the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame hosts it’s meet and greet event at Caesars Palace.

“It’s an honor to be voted Prospect of the Year by the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame,” said an enthused Blair Cobbs. “I’ve worked very hard to get to this point in my career. I want to thank my manager Greg Hannley for guiding me, and his support throughout my career has been crucial to my success. I also want to thank Golden Boy Promotions and my family and friends for believing in me.”

“Blair Cobbs is a talented fighter with a bright future,” said Greg Hannley, president of Prince Ranch Boxing who manages Cobbs. “I’m ecstatic that the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame committee is honoring Blair with this award. Blair exemplifies all the good traits a prize fighter should have. I’m honored to be his manager.”

Cobbs, who resides in Las Vegas, NV, by way of Philadelphia, is trained by two-time world champion Bones Adams. In his last fight, Cobbs scored a 2nd round knockout over Emmanuel Valadez, a fight that took place at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

For more information on the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame and their upcoming events please visit www.NVBHOF.com. Their Meet & Greet/Fan Experience will take place this Friday August 17, 2018, followed by their 2018 6th Annual Induction Dinner on Saturday August 18, 2018. Click links above to purchase tickets.

(Aug. 14, 2018) — American fight fans will be treated to breakfast and boxing on Thursday, Aug. 16 when Ryosuke Iwasa makes the second defense of his IBF junior featherweight world championship against No. 1 contender TJ “The Power” Doheny at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Iwasa (25-2, 16 KOs), a 28-year-old native of Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan, is 19-1 when fighting at Korakuen Hall, the iconic venue located in the same complex as the world-famous Tokyo Dome.

Iwasa vs. Doheny will be streamed live in the United States beginning at 6:45 a.m. ET on ESPN+ — the new multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International segment in conjunction with ESPN.

Iwasa, a 10-year-pro, is a southpaw who won the first eight bouts of his career before a 10th-round TKO loss to Shinsuke Yamanaka on March 5, 2011. Yamanaka went on to win the WBC bantamweight world title in his next fight and would make 12 successful title defenses. Iwasa won 11 straight bouts following the Yamanaka defeat before suffering the only other blemish on his record, a sixth-round TKO loss to Lee Haskins for the interim IBF bantamweight title. Iwasa moved up to the junior featherweight division after the Haskins fight, winning the world title in September of last year with a sixth-round TKO against Yukinori Oguni. In his last bout, on March 1, Iwasa defended his belt with a wide unanimous decision against Ernesto Saulong.

A Boston resident who was born in Ireland and spent much of his pro career based in Australia, Doheny (19-0, 14 KOs) has won seven of his past eight bouts via knockout. In his last bout, on a St. Patrick’s Day card in Boston, Doheny stopped veteran Mike Oliver in the second round. Doheny is attempting to make history against Iwasa. With a victory, he would become only the second Irish-born pugilist to win a world title in Japan. Wayne McCullough accomplished that feat in 1995 when he dethroned Yasuei Yakushiji via split decision to win the WBC bantamweight title.

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About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International (DTCI) segment in conjunction with ESPN. ESPN+ offers fans two exclusive, original boxing programs The Boxing Beat with Dan Rafael (Tuesdays, weekly) and In This Corner (twice monthly). In addition to exclusive Top Rank boxing content, programming on ESPN+ includes hundreds of MLB, NHL and MLS games, thousands of college sports events (including football, basketball and multiple other sports from more than 15 conferences), UFC (beginning in 2019), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby, cricket, new and exclusive documentary films and series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films. Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time.

Philadelphia, Penn.. Orange, Ca. (Aug. 14, 2018) – Ruben Villa (12-0, 5 KOs), one of the rising talents in the featherweight division, takes to the ring for the fourth time this year on Friday, Aug. 24 from Omega Products International in Corona, Calif.

The southpaw from Salinas, Calif. battles well tested veteran Jose Santos Gonzalez (23-6, 13 KOs) of Mexico in the “Locked n’ Loaded” 8-round main event.

Villa, 21, has fought veterans before, specifically Ernesto Guerrero and German Meraz. The seasoned Gonzalez poses a threat in the sense that he’s been in the ring against current bantamweight title holder Zolani Tete, and unbeaten contender Duke Micah.

“These are the types of fights that help you grow into a better fighter,” said Villa, who is managed by Danny Zamora. “We have a smart game plan in place. I’m naturally bigger than him so we’ll use that to our advantage.”

Villa, a two-time national Golden Gloves champion, is coming off an impressive sixth round knockout of Ricardo Lopez in June. The talented featherweight showed off his finishing ability by out boxing Lopez until the knockout moment presented itself.

“I was landing solid punches in every round,” remarked Villa after the fight. “I knew I would be able to take him out. I wore him down and in the sixth, I just let me hands go and I caught him with a lot of heavy punches.”

Villa is promoted by Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing.

All fights will be live streamed on TB Presents: Locked n’ Loaded via Thompson Boxing Facebook page and ThompsonBoxing.com.

The livestream starts at 8:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 p.m. ET with Beto Duran as the blow-by-blow announcer and Steve Kim providing expert, color commentary.

For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please check Banner Promotions Facebook Page , and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @BannerBoxing

Photo by Carlos Baeza / Thompson Boxing

https://www.facebook.com/btsport/videos/260535998101682/

Paddy Barnes will start televised proceedings on Saturday August 18th when he challenges WBC World Flyweight champion Cristofer Rosales for his world championship in front of a home crowd in Belfast at the city’s national stadium, Windsor Park.

Televised coverage of the big night of boxing will begin straight after the huge Premier League local derby between Chelsea and Arsenal live on BT Sport 1. Coverage of the big fight night will begin at 7:45pm.

“This is a massive bonus for Paddy fighting straight after the Arsenal-Chelsea match, it means there will be an even bigger audience tuning in to watch him for his big world title fight.” said boxing promotor Frank Warren; who also had a message for the fans heading to Windsor Park on August 18th:

“Get yourself in the stadium nice and early, grab a drink and enjoy an excellent night of world class boxing. Let’s hope it will stay nice and dry for everyone!”.

Amateur stand-out Barnes has two Olympic bronze and two Commonwealth Gold medals to his name and will be looking to add a professional world title to that collection on August 18th.

This will only be Barnes’ sixth outing as a professional after being fast-tracked to world title contention. In his most recent fight Barnes impressed by stopping tough Nicaraguan, Eliecer Quezada in the sixth round; a fighter who narrowly lost to upcoming opponent Rosales with a split decision just seven months before.

The WBC Flyweight king, Cristofer Rosales will be making his maiden title defence in Belfast after stopping the unbeaten Japanese fighter, Daigo Higa in Japan in which was a major upset.

The 23-year-old Nicaraguan already has thirty fights as a professional but has previously lost to two undefeated Brits in Andrew Selby and Kal Yafai. Rosales will be fighting to make it third time lucky against British opposition when he faces Barnes, along with retaining his WBC strap.

Fellow Belfast native and good friend of Barnes, Carl Frampton will be headlining the Windsor Park event when he defends his interim WBO World Featherweight title against Australia’s Luke Jackson.

Also on the BT Sport televised bill Lineal heavyweight king Tyson Fury faces a step up when he tackles two-time world title challenger Francesco Pianeta.

The bill also includes a light-heavyweight clash between Belfast’s Ward and Dubliner Steve Collins Jr. Also in action is WBO European middleweight champion Luke Keeler, Cummings, KO king Lewis Crocker, Marco McCullough, Sean McComb and Steven Donnelly.

Featherweight champion Oscar Valdez will switch trainers from Manny Robles to Eddy Reynoso, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I want to thank Manny Robles and his whole team for everything they have done for me over the last few years, but like everything in life, changes are sometimes needed to move forward, Valdez said. “I’m very grateful to them for their friendship and all they have taught me.”

Frank Espinoza, Valdez’s career-long manager, echoed his fighter’s sentiments.

“We are very grateful for everything that Manny Robles and his team did for Oscar, but as we move forward to bigger challenges in Oscar’s career, we felt as a team that Eddy Reynoso is better suited for what is ahead,” Espinoza said.

“This is a challenge for me because Oscar Valdez is a great fighter, and one of my goals is to work on what’s necessary to make him a complete fighter,” Reynoso said. “I think Oscar will bring out the best of me as a trainer, while I will bring the best out of him as a world champion and as a representative of Mexico.”

“As a boxer you have to [be] able to develop as much as you can, and I believe that this change to Eddy Reynoso will help me become an even better all-around boxer and fighter,” Valdez said. “I want to be one of the best fighters in the world and leave the best legacy that I can in boxing, and I will always work hard to achieve the greatness that I seek.”

Greg Cohen Promotions won the purse bid to stage the WBA Middleweight title bout between champion Ryota Murata and Rob Brant, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Cohen, who promotes Brant, was the only promoter to show up at the purse bid, which took place at the WBA offices in Panama City, Panama, and he won with an offer of $202,114 — $200,000 was the minimum bid allowed. He cited Oct. 27 as the fight date with locations potentially being New York, Atlantic City, New Jersey or Minneapolis (Brant’s home turf).

Murata won’t participate in the bout, as co-promoters Top Rank and Teiken Boxing declined to bid. They were upset that the WBA granted Brant a 50-50 split of the winning purse bid, which is a highly unusual cut for a challenger. Typically, the split would be 70-30 in favor of the titleholder.

With Murata not going through with the fight against Brant, he likely will either vacate the second-tier 160-pound title — Gennady Golovkin holds the main WBA belt — or be stripped.

Either way, Murata will fight on Oct. 20 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and headline a Top Rank on ESPN+ card, Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti told ESPN.

“We elected not to bid on the fight, and neither did Teiken, so Greg Cohen was the only bidder on the fight, but Murata will be fighting Oct. 20. That’s all I can tell you,” Moretti said.

“The 50-50 was agreed to by all parties, and nobody objected at the time,” Cohen told ESPN from Panama City. “I can only control my actions. We’ve been part of this process [since] early 2017. Everybody was aware of the terms. The 50 percent has been out there. We went forward, we won the bid. It’s unfortunate if they don’t want to do the fight, but Rob Brant will be fighting for the WBA title in his next fight. We’d like it to be against Murata, but if it’s not against Murata, it will be against the next-highest-rated available contender.”

What have the last few months been like for you? How do you feel about the criticism you have received from some other fighters? How have your fans responded?

“I’ve already spoke about what has happened. I want to turn the page on this and focus on this big fight on Sept. 15. I want to move forward. The people know. I gave the explanation I needed to give at the moment I needed to give it. I’m 100% focused on this upcoming fight and nothing more.

“I already touched on that topic. I already gave an interview on that topic. That was going to be the only and last interview that I was going to do on that topic so that I could turn the page on this chapter and so that we could all focus 100% on the fight. If there is any doubt, I would like for everyone to grab from there [the interview] because I won’t be saying the same thing to every single person. We gave an exclusive interview on this topic. I did to so that every one of you would refer to that interview regarding what happened.”

The interview Canelo refers to:

http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/24175816/canelo-alvarez-my-mistake-not-knowing-risks-eating-meat-mexico

On the year that has passed:

“I always stay in shape. This has all served as experience, and I keep training, which is important. Thankfully, my body has been very good to me and has always been able to adapt quickly to everything. [During the time off] I dedicated myself to do other things. I needed to fix some things that I had pending. After being in the sport for 13 years, it also gave me some much-needed rest.”

On criticism:

“A lot of the criticism comes from people who don’t know. They just talk. Usually it’s just people who talk for the sake of talking. They don’t read about or know about what is going on. They just want to attack people. They don’t do anything with their lives besides attack people. But that’s why I just see them and see myself and know that it won’t affect me.”

24/7 Canelo/GGG 2 debuts Tues., Aug. 28 at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.

Canelo vs. GGG 2 takes place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

FRESNO, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2018) – Maxim “Mad Max” Dadashev will defend the NABF super lightweight title against former WBC lightweight world champion Antonio DeMarco on Friday, Sept. 14 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. The Dadashev-DeMarco bout will serve as the co-feature to Jose Ramirez’s WBC super lightweight title defense against Antonio Orozco.

Ramirez-Orozco and Dadashev-DeMarco will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 10 p.m. ET, with the entire undercard to be streamed at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ — the new multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International segment in conjunction with ESPN.

Headlining the ESPN+ broadcast will be 2012 U.S. Olympian and United States Marine Corps veteran Jamel Herring (17-2, 10 KOs) against John Vincent Moralde (20-1, 10 KOs) for the vacant USBA junior lightweight title. Also appearing on ESPN+ will be Hiroki Okada (17-0, 12 KOs), a 140-pound contender who will make his Top Rank debut against Cristian Coria (27-6-2, 11 KOs) in a 10-rounder. And, in a special attraction, Gabe Flores Jr. (9-0, 5 KOs), the 18-year-old phenom from Stockton, California, will see action in a six-round featherweight bout against Roger Gutierrez (7-1-1, 4 KOs).

Dadashev (11-0, 10 KOs) is coming off a 10th-round stoppage against former world champion Darleys Perez on June 9 in Las Vegas, while DeMarco (33-6-1, 24 KOs) most recently knocked out then-undefeated Eddie Ramirez in the first round in October of last year.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Golden Boy Promotions, tickets to this world championship event, priced at $150 (floor), $90, $60, $35, and $25, plus applicable fees, are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000, or at the Save Mart Center box office. For more information and box office hours, visit www.savemartcenter.com.

“This is going to be the biggest night in the history of Central Valley boxing, as more than 14,000 fans will pack the Save Mart Center to watch Jose Ramirez defend his world title,” said Rick Mirigian, Ramirez’s manager. “The undercard is a special one, and we can’t wait for the fans in attendance and watching on ESPN and ESPN+ to see what we have in store.”

“DeMarco is a skilled veteran and a former world champion who I have a lot of respect for,” Dadashev said. “I am ready to fight for a world title soon, and DeMarco is in my way. I will put on a spectacular performance for the great fans in Fresno and for everyone watching on ESPN.”

“I’m just honored and excited to be back for this card,” Herring said. “As some may know, Jose and I were Olympic teammates, but we haven’t fought on the same night since our amateur days. It’s great to reunite with a close friend again. I’m really motivated to fight for my first title as a professional. Though it isn’t for a world title, a big win here will catapult me higher in the rankings and a step closer to a world title. I’m also motivated for this fight because Moralde got a victory over one of my training partners {Ismail Muwendo} in his last outing, so I feel as if we must get that victory back. I look at every fight as a title fight, and let’s not forget I’m fighting in front of my Marine Corps family so it’s a must that I put on a great performance!”

“It feels great to be fighting on Mexican Independence Day weekend,” Flores said. “This has been the best training camp of my career, so the fans can expect an explosive Gabe Flores Jr.!”

“I’m so excited about signing with Top Rank. I would like to thank Mr. Bob Arum, the greatest promoter in the world, for this amazing opportunity,” Okada said. “Ever since I signed, I’ve been training harder than ever. This is such a great chance, and I am going to do my best to make the most of it.”

In other undercard bouts:

Welterweight puncher Alexander Besputin (10-0, 8 KOs), coming off a third-round knockout at the Save Mart Center on May 26, will face Alan Sanchez (20-3-1, 10 KOs) in a 10-rounder.

Fresno native Isidro Ochoa (5-0, 1 KO) will face Victor Morales (9-0, 5 KOs) in a six-round lightweight contest.

Former two-time interim world champion Bryan Vasquez (37-3, 20 KOs) will take on Carlos Cardenas (21-14-1, 13 KOs) in a lightweight bout.

Top 122-pound prospect Santos Ortega (2-0, 1 KO), who last fought July 7 at the Save Mart Center, will fight Sebastian Baltazar (1-1, 0 KOs) in a four-rounder.

Ruben Rodriguez (3-0, 1 KO), from Indio, California, will fight an opponent to be announced in a six-round super featherweight bout.
About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International (DTCI) segment in conjunction with ESPN. ESPN+ offers fans two exclusive, original boxing programs The Boxing Beat with Dan Rafael (Tuesdays, weekly) and In This Corner (twice monthly). In addition to exclusive Top Rank boxing content, programming on ESPN+ includes hundreds of MLB, NHL and MLS games, thousands of college sports events (including football, basketball and multiple other sports from more than 15 conferences), UFC (beginning in 2019), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby, cricket, new and exclusive documentary films and series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films. Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time.