ATLANTIC CITY (Jan.19, 2017) — Weights from Thursday’s weigh in at Ballys Atlantic City Hotel and Casino for Friday night’s edition of ShoBox: The New Generation card that will be live on SHOWTIME® at 10 PM ET/PT (Delayed on the West Coast)

Photos by Tom Casino / SHOWTIME

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Adam Lopez 121.6 – Danny Roman 122
(WBA Title Eliminator bout)

Ronald Ellis 167.4 – Christopher Brooker 167.4

Kenneth Sims, Jr. 139 – Emmanuel Robles 139.8

Leroy Davila 118.2 – Anthony Taylor 114.4
Keenan Smith 143 – Marquis Hawthorne 141.1
Anthony Young 150.2 – James Robinson 151.8
Stephon Young 120 – Olimjon Nazarov 119.6
Darmani Rock 250 – Solomon Maye 221
Malik Jackson 122.8 – Christian Foster 122.6

NOTE: Young was originally slated to open the ShoBox telecast in a matchup with Elton Dharry, who was forced to withdraw due to a shoulder injury. Highlights of Young vs. Nazaroz will air in the ShoBox telecast.

Here is what the fighters had to say prior to the weigh-in:

Adam Lopez

“This fight it’s a title eliminator, but I learned my lesson. I had time to reflect on letting the IBF title chance slip away. Now I know what it is and what to do. My only focus is Danny Roman, once I get pass him, I’ll think of what’s next.

“This is my fifth time on the ShoBox series. In my last ShoBox appearance in July, I faced Roman Reynoso. It was a tough fight. We fought to a draw. I think I didn’t get the win because I was distracted. They told me the day of the fight, ‘if you win, you’ll get a shot to the IBF title.’ That made me a little nervous and I started thinking more about that, than about the guy in front of me.

“Reynoso had an awkward style. I caught him with a lot of good jabs, but I let myself open for his right hand. It was a hard fight. It was a good lesson and it was not a loss, but I didn’t get the chance to fight the IBF title. This time around, I’m better prepared, physically and mentally.

“I think speed is a big factor in this fight. I watched some tape on Roman. I’ve seen him in some fights. He looked great when he fought Erik Ruiz, but in his last fight in November, he looked good but he didn’t look phenomenal. When I watched that fight I saw that there are a lot of things I could pick apart.

“With Ronnie Shields, my trainer, we came up with a great strategy. We know Roman is a good body puncher, but we are ready for him.”

Danny Roman

“I think Adam Lopez is a good fighter. He can do a little bit of everything, but he’s not better than me. To be honest, I think he underestimates me. I don’t think he knows the type of fighter I am or the type of fighter I can be.

“I’m versatile. I’m here to win and I’ll do whatever it takes. If he tries to counterpunch me, I’ll counterpunch his counterpunch. If he stands up and boxes me, I’ll box him back. If he wants to brawl, I’ll brawl. It all depends on how he comes at me. Whatever he’s looking to do, I’m ready.

“This fight it’s very important to me. It’s on national television on SHOWTIME and it’s a title eliminator. There’s a lot at stake and I’m not taking that lightly.

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow. I’ve trained for the best performance of my career and I’m not going to disappoint.”

Ronald Ellis

“I’m excited about this opportunity. Brooker’s style is perfect for me. You could say he’s tailor-made for me. I’ve been studying him and I know how to defeat him.

“I feel I can adjust well. I listen to my trainer and I execute. We have a good strategy and if we stick to our game plan, we’ll win on fight night.

“This fight is big for me. There are a lot of opportunities waiting for me if I defeat my opponent tomorrow. The 168 pounds division is hot. I was watching the Jack-DeGale fight on Saturday, and let me tell you. Those two have nothing on me. I could take them anytime.

“I’m not planning on giving up any rounds tomorrow. I don’t like to give up any rounds. I’m here to win. I trained for a 10-round fight — and we are fighting an eight-rounder. So you do the math. I’m ready. This is going to be a good fight.”

Christopher “Ice Cold” Brooker

“My last fight was a learning experience. I’m ready for my next chapter. I was looking for the knockout and when you look for the knockout like I did, you can get knocked out yourself. So that’s what happened. That forced me to go back to the drawing board and change my strategy. I learned from my mistakes.

“I don’t lose, I learn. That’s how I see my setbacks. Now Ellis is in front of me, and I’m ready. I’m very confident in my skills. I have good eyes. My punches always go where my opponent is. My peripherals are really good. I have what it takes to get the win.

“I’ve got some really good sparring partners, Jerry Odom among them. I also sparred with heavyweights.

“I know Ron Ellis is a good fighter, but I’m better. He’s an average fighter with average skills. I have very good eye-hand combination and I’m from Philly. I’m not scared to fight nobody.

“Getting a chance to fight on national television is a big deal for me. I’m not going to disappoint.”

Kenneth “Bossman” Sims Jr.

“This fight is the next step for me. I’m not taking my opponent lightly. I’ve been training hard. I’m ready for tomorrow.

“I know I’ve never been past the sixth round, but I always train for the distance. I’m ready to go 12. I’m in very good shape.

“I saw my opponent on TV. He’s a good fighter, but I can beat him. There’s nothing special about him. I’m more skilled.”

Emmanuel Robles

“I’m a San Diego guy. I’m tough. I feel my opponent is underrating me because I lost my last fight. But my credentials speak for themselves. I’ve been matched tough and I haven’t disappointed.

“I’m a boxer-puncher, and I know how to adjust. I know my opponent is fast and doesn’t like pressure. I’ve been studying him. I know what I’m up against and I’m ready for him. He’ll be surprised.

“I have a good game plan. I over-trained for my last fight. I was trying not to disappoint, but I learned my lesson.”

Promoters: GH3 Promotions, King’s Promotions, Thompson Boxing (Main event)
1st bell: 7:00 PM
Doors 6:30 PM
ShoBox: The New Generation Start time: 10 PM ET / PT

Tickets for the show, which is promoted by GH3 Promotions, Kings Promotions in association with Thompson Boxing (the main event) and Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel and Casino, are $125, $100 $75 & $50 and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or calling 1-800-745-3000.

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

# # #

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 67 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, 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.

MONTREAL (Jan. 19, 2017) – Former IBF Middleweight Champion David Lemieux (36-3, 32 KOs) will defend his NABO Middleweight title against Curtis ”The Cerebral Assassin” Stevens (29-5, 21 KOs) on Saturday, March 11 at Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York and televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT. The two athletes had their first face off during the Montreal press conference held earlier today.

Tickets for this highly anticipated matchup will go on sale January 24 at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT. Tickets for the March 11 HBO Boxing After Dark event are priced at $30, $45, $55 and $75 for ringside seats plus applicable fees and are available at the Turning Stone Resort Box Office by calling 315-361-7469 or online at Ticketmaster
(www.ticketmaster.com).

Here is what the participants had to say at today’s press conference:

DAVID LEMIEUX (36-3, 32 KOs), NABO Middleweight Champion:

“After all this talk, here we are. I’m so excited that this fight will finally be happening. We have big plans for 2017 and this will be the first step. I will make sure to take care of Stevens on March 11. Curtis Stevens came knocking on the wrong door.

“We didn’t refuse any fight. Nobody ducked you. We wanted the negotiations to be fair. So here we are. The fight is on. I am going to be ready. This fight is not going to go your way. It’s going to be a much harder fight than you are expecting. It’s not going to end well for you. This is a fight where I am going to be well prepared for. 2017 is going to be a big year for me and Steven is the first step. Then I will have much bigger steps to take care of. I’m going to be victorious. I’m going to be vicious. It’s a fight that all the fans will want to see. Stevens comes to fight. I come to fight. We’ll see who is stronger, who takes the punches better. It’s going to be exciting.”

CURTIS STEVENS (29-5, 21 KOs), WBC Continental Americas Middleweight Champion:

“It should be an excellent fight. He comes to fight. I come to fight. It should be a move to move battle. You are going to want to see this.”

MARC RAMSAY, Trainer of David Lemieux:

“This is a fight that boxing fans have been wanting to see for a long time. It didn’t pan out before now due to administrative reasons, because David was going after bigger fish. The timing is perfect. This is a fight which guarantees fireworks. What we have here are two good fighters and two great punchers.

“David resumed training in the gym almost immediately after his last fight because we knew a date would be announced soon. We didn’t waste any time and we are ahead of schedule in terms of our training program. We know Curtis quite well. He came over on numerous occasions for camps as a sparring partner. So we know what kind of challenge lies ahead and we expect David Lemieux to come up with a big win.”

CAMILLE ESTEPHAN, President of Eye of the Tiger Management:

“This bout has been highly-awaited by boxing fans and we understand why. These are two athletes with explosive power, who have a high level of integrity towards their sport, and who are ready to face the best fighters. I can guarantee that there won’t be any dancing, running or ducking on March 11. Only two guys that are for real, that will go toe-to-toe. I will bet anything that this will be the fight or the knock out of the year.

“I am very excited about David fighting in the middleweight division which is THE top division in boxing today, with all these talented and explosive fighters. Major fights are coming and this is great news for boxing. It’s important that we offer quality fights to our fans and 2017 promises to be a spectacular year. We are proud to be part of such an event, on March 11.”

KATHY DUVA, Main Events CEO and promoter for Curtis Stevens:

“Main Events has always put together fights that boxing fans hope to see. That is what makes the sport so interesting. We are very happy that this bout between David Lemieux and Curtis Stevens will finally happen and we are very excited about it.”

ROBERT GASPARRI, Golden Boy Promotions Chief Operating Officer:

“The minute after David and Curtis fought on the Canelo vs Khan undercard, there was a buzz out there. These guys had to get into the ring. This fight had to happen. Everytime that these two heavy-handed fighters are on the ring, there are fireworks and it is always exciting. What a great main event it is going to be! David Lemieux vs Curtis Stevens has all the ingredients for a Fight of the Year candidate.”

Professional media requesting credentials for Lemieux vs. Stevens must contact Kelly Abdo, Turning Stone Resort Casino Public Relations Manager at (315) 366.9291 or
kelly.abdo@turningstone.com.

Lemieux vs. Stevens is a 12-round middleweight bout for the NABO Middleweight championship, presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Eye of the Tiger Management and Main Events,and sponsored by “Tecate, BORN BOLD.” The HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Videos and images are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link: http://bit.ly/LemieuxVsStevens. Credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions for any video/image use.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.mainevents.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, and www.turningstone.com follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @main_events, @HBOboxing @TurningStone; and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/maineventsboxing, www.facebook.com/hboboxing, and www.facebook.com/TurningStoneResort and visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @main_events and @TurningStone. Follow the conversation using #LemieuxStevens.

Rob Brant 158.2 lbs. vs. Alexis Hloros 160
WBA-NABA Middleweight Championship

Duarn Vue 128.6 lbs. vs. Lance Williams 130.8 lbs.
DeLorien Caraway 143.2 lbs. vs. Deonte Wilson 138.8 lbs.
Skender Halili 154 lbs. vs. Romon Barber 153.8 lbs.
Jose Homar Rios 133.8 lbs. vs. Matt Murphy 138.6 lbs.
Adrian Taylor 180.6 lbs. vs. Matt Chavez N/A

Venue: Grand Casino Hinckley, Hinckley, MN
Promoter: Greg Cohen Promotions

Tickets for “Grand Friday Night Fights” are priced at $800 Table, $100 Ringside, $50 Reserved and $35 General Admission and are available at grandcasinomn.com, Ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets.

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 and top 10 world-rated contender Jarrell Miller, Undefeated WBA NABA Middleweight Champion and top 5 world-rated contender Robert Brant, WBO NABO Lightweight Champion and top 5 world-rated contender Mason Menard, former WBA Interim World Lightweight Champion and top 10 world-rated contender Ismael Barroso, top 10 world-rated contender Rico Mueller, undefeated WBA International Bantamweight Champion and world-rated contender Mzuvukile Magwaca, WBO Oriental Super Welterweight Champion and world-rated contender Dennis Hogan, IBO World Featherweight Champion Lusanda Komanisi, former WBO Super Lightweight World Champion Kendall Holt, as well as current top 10 world-rated contenders cruiserweight Olanrewaju Durodola, Filipino Jr. Lightweight star Harmonito Dela Torre, Filipino Super Lightweight Czar Amonsot, and top 15 world-rated contenders featherweight world title challenger Eric Hunter and Guyanese bantamweight Elton Dharry.

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.

Los Angeles – Jan. 19, 2017 – Here are the official weigh-in results for Legacy Fighting Alliance’s second event, which will be broadcast live tomorrow night on AXS TV FIGHTS at its new time slot, 9pE/6pP. Headlining the seven-fight televised main card is a bantamweight fight between Lazar Stojadinovic (11-5) and Mike Richman (18-6), who both made weight today.

In the co-main event, bantamweight Chico Camus (16-7) takes on Darrick Minner (17-5), whose stunning first-round submission at RFA 30 was featured in AXS TV’s “Fight of the Week:” http://bit.ly/FOTW_Minner

AXS TV FIGHTS commentators UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich and “The Voice” Michael Schiavello will call the action joined by cageside reporter Ron Kruck from the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Highlights from the night will be available on YouTube following the conclusion of the event.

The complete weigh-in results for AXS TV FIGHTS: LFA 2 are listed below, with each fighter’s record and official weight (in pounds) in parenthesis. Highlights from today’s weigh in are available to embed via YouTube here: http://bit.ly/LFA2_WeighIn

Televised Main Card:

Main Event – Featherweight Fight – Lazar Stojadinovic (11-5, 145.6) vs. Mike Richman (18-6, 145.2)

Co-Main Event – Bantamweight Fight – Darrick Minner (17-5, 136.2) vs. Chico Camus (16-7, 134.8)

Welterweight Fight – Damion Hill (12-5, 168.4) vs. Ben Neumann (11-4, 170.6)

Lightweight Fight – Matthew Marsh (4-1, 155.2) vs. Bobby Lee (5-0, 155.6)

Lightweight Fight – Billy Christianson (12-6, 158.2) vs. Brandon Jenkins (9-4, 155.8)

Bantamweight Fight – Lloyd McKinney (9-4, 135) vs. Mitch White (2-1, 135.8)

Strawweight Fight – Gabby Romero (0-1, 121.2) vs. Linsey Williams (0-0, 116)

Professional Undercard:

Lightweight Fight – Chris Mickle (33-21-2, 152.4) vs. Ben Locken (6-4, 155)

ABOUT AXS TV FIGHTS

AXS TV Fights presents more LIVE mixed martial arts and kickboxing events than any other television network with 45 scheduled LIVE world-class fight cards in 2017. “The Voice” Michael Schiavello and UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich call all the action and Ron Kruck reports from cageside as champions, challengers, and top prospects take center stage every Friday night at 10pE/7pP. AXS TV Fights can be found online, on Facebook and on Twitter. AXS TV is widely distributed in the U.S. via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast/Xfinity, DIRECTV, DISH, Sling TV, Suddenlink, Verizon FiOS, and other cable, satellite, telco and streaming providers. The network is also carried in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

BROOKLYN (January 19, 2017) – This past Saturday, Jan. 14, Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™, hosted the super middleweight unification showdown between Badou Jack and James DeGale, who fought to a majority draw in front of a lively crowd of 10,128 fight fans.

It was a fitting launch to a new year of boxing as Barclays Center played host to some of the sport’s greatest moments in 2016. Nominations and awards, given by Premier Boxing Champions, ESPN.com, RING Magazine, and the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) feature Barclays Center boxing events in a variety of categories, including Fight of the Year, Knockout of the Year, Fighter of the Year, Comeback of the Year, and Round of the Year.

“After hosting four of 2016’s best fight cards, we are proud that many of Barclays Center’s major moments have been recognized by the boxing industry,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “2017 is shaping up to be an even bigger year for BROOKLYN BOXING.”

Barclays Center will continue its momentum with Danny Garcia vs. Keith Thurman in a welterweight unification matchup on March 4.

The list of the 2016 nominations and award wins are below:

Deontay Wilder vs. Artur Szpilka (January 16, 2016)
Knockout of the Year – PBC winner; ESPN.com and RING Magazine Nominee
Wilder knocked out Szpilka in round 9 and retained his WBC heavyweight title during Brooklyn’s first night of heavyweight championship boxing since 1900.

Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter (June 25, 2016)
Fight of the Year – PBC Winner, ESPN.com Nominee, USA Today Boxing Junkie Honorable Mention, and Boxing Writers Association of America Nominee
Round of the Year – RING Magazine Nominee (round 9)
Undefeated welterweight world champion Thurman edged former world champion Porter in a close but unanimous decision scored 115-113 by all three ringside judges. The showdown was the first CBS primetime boxing broadcast since Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks I in 1978.

Leo Santa Cruz vs. Carl Frampton (July 30, 2016)
Fight of the Year – Boxing Writers Association of America Nominee
In a bout that became an instant classic, Frampton won a majority decision against Santa Cruz to take home the WBA Super World featherweight title on July 30, 2016 at Barclays Center.

Carl Frampton
Fighter of the Year – PBC, ESPN.com, and RING Magazine Winner; Boxing Writers Association of America Nominee
Frampton won two world titles in 2016 in two weight divisions against a pair of undefeated champions, including his defeat of Santa Cruz on July 30.

Mikey Garcia
Comeback of the Year – RING Magazine Nominee
Also fighting at Barclays Center on the Santa Cruz vs. Frampton card, Garcia scored a fifth-round TKO of Elio Rojas in his first bout in 2.5 years.

ABOUT BROOKLYN SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (BSE) develops and operates state-of-the-art venues and manages premier sports franchises, delivering dynamic content and experiences for audiences. BSE oversees programming, marketing, sales, and operations for Barclays Center and Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum presented by New York Community Bank, and manages and controls the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and its Development League team, the Long Island Nets, as well as the business operations of the NHL’s New York Islanders.

Barclays Center, which opened on September 28, 2012, offers 17,732 seats for basketball, 15,795 for hockey, and up to 19,000 seats for concerts, and has 101 luxury suites, four bars/lounges, four clubs, and 40/40 CLUB & Restaurant by American Express.

The New Coliseum Presented by NYCB, scheduled to reopen April 5, 2017 after extensive renovation, will offer 13,000 seats for hockey, 13,500 for basketball, and 14,500 for standard concert configurations, with the ability to flex up. The bowl will have a theater seating option for 4,000 guests. With a focus on emerging businesses, BSE identifies and creates alliances, strategic partners and other business opportunities to ensure the success of its assets.

For additional information, please visit Brooklynse.com.

Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz sat down with SHOWTIME Sports® reporter Mark Kriegel as they prepare for their eagerly anticipated rematch next Saturday, Jan. 28, live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) from MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The interviews are the latest in a reoccurring SHOWTIME Sports digital series, THE REVEAL with Mark Kriegel, featuring exclusive and in-depth interviews with boxing’s emerging stars.

Frampton, the consensus 2016 Fighter of the Year who narrowly outpointed Santa Cruz to become a two-division titleholder last July on SHOWTIME, opens up about growing up during “The Troubles” in Belfast, his unique bond with Hall of Fame mentor Barry McGuigan, and how his legacy could forever be connected to Leo Santa Cruz.

A three-division world champion, Santa Cruz discusses the pain of his first defeat, the affect his father’s battle with cancer had on his training, his plans for the rematch and hope for a legendary rivalry.

Below are bites from the separate interviews:

KRIEGEL: “You make good on your father’s dream, and now you’re scared of him dying. The cancer – how did you train?”

SANTA CRUZ: “It was hard, it was hard to train, to concentrate. I still went to the gym and trained, (but) I didn’t train as hard. I didn’t train as the other fights because my dad wasn’t there. My dad was going to chemo, he was going to radiation…I thought to myself, maybe tomorrow he won’t wake up.”

KRIEGEL: “What did you tell your father after you lost?”

SANTA CRUZ: “I told my dad, sorry. I’m sorry we didn’t get the win and that I disappointed you. My dad told me, ‘that’s alright. You didn’t disappoint anybody. We’re going to get him in the rematch.’ ”

FRAMPTON INTERVIEW:
KRIEGEL: “Ali and Frazier had each other, Leonard and Duran had each other. In order to be recognized as a great fighter you need an epic antagonist. And for all the talk, you might actually have one in Leo.”

FRAMPTON: “I would like that – I would like a rivalry where in 20, 30 years from now people remember it. You always need a dance partner, and Leo Santa Cruz could be mine.”

KRIEGEL: Barry says you could end up as the greatest of all the Irish fighters. Aren’t you almost beyond that already? Aren’t the stakes already higher?

FRAMPTON: “No, potentially I could be. After Santa Cruz I want to continue to fight big names and be involved in big fights. There’s never been a Northern Irishman, apart from myself, to win a world title in two weight divisions. If I set my sights sometime in the future for the 130-pound division and become a three-weight world champion, I may feel comfortable calling myself the best Irish fighter of all time.”

KRIEGEL: “Barry represented a symbol of peace during one of the darkest times in Northern Ireland. What does Carl Frampton represent?”

FRAMPTON: “People want to look at me as a new figure for Northern Ireland. I’m a Protestant, married to a Catholic. This is a new age thing.”

# # #

ABOUT FRAMPTON VS. SANTA CRUZ 2:

Carl Frampton vs. Leo Santa Cruz 2 is a world championship rematch of the 2016 Fight of the Year candidate featherweight showdown. The 12-round bout headlines SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING action on Saturday, Jan. 28 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. In the co-main event, lightweight world champion Dejan Zlaticanin will meet former two-division champion Mikey Garcia in the opening bout on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Featherweight world champion Lee Selby will fight for the second time in the United States when he battles former world champion Jonathan Victor Barros in action on SHOWTIME EXTREME.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Ringstar Sports in association with Cyclone Promotions and TGB Promotions, are priced at $504, $404, $304, $204, $104 and $54, and are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.AXS.com.

ESPN and Golden Boy Promotions today announced a multi-year, international agreement for a series of fights to be televised live on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. The first fight, from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, is March 23. Fighters on the card will be announced soon.

“We are excited to announce this new agreement with Golden Boy Promotions, one of the world’s top promoters,” said Burke Magnus, executive vice president, programming and scheduling at ESPN. “ESPN and ESPN Deportes look forward to featuring a new series of exciting world-class matches, along with a deep and wide variety of studio and digital content, in this multi-year, exclusive live-fight package.

In the first year of the deal, ESPN will televise 18 fight cards throughout the U.S., in both English and Spanish, and on its wholly-owned and affiliated networks in Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia and parts of Asia.

“ESPN is a flagship network with a history of showcasing and bringing audiences into the world of boxing, making this deal a natural fit for Golden Boy Promotions,” said Oscar De La Hoya, chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Having worked with ESPN in the past, we know first-hand that its multiple TV and digital platforms represent a must-watch for casual and die-hard sports fans. I’m thrilled that Golden Boy’s talented stable of fighters will be showcased before a wide audience who will have the opportunity to watch and follow the sports’ current and future world champions.”

“From the moment Tecate partnered with Golden Boy in 2016, our mandate has been to bring fight fans closer to the action which has included interactive Fan Fests before major bouts and the immersive Bold Punch app,” said Gustavo Guerra, Tecate Brand Director. “Now we’re excited to play an integral role in giving fans more access to an incredible stable of boxing talent through Golden Boy Fight Night on ESPN.”

In addition to in-the-ring action, ESPN will also feature Golden Boy Media and Entertainment content on multiple platforms, including:

· Golden Boy’s Classic Fight Library
· In the Ring, half-hour interviews with a range of fighters
· Mano-A-Mano, an original half-hour series featuring fighter training
· The Ring TV Express, three-minute highlights of full fights
· Podcasts hosted by Oscar De La Hoya and other Golden Boy talent

“Boxing fans are always looking for new, dynamic content, and this alliance will give fans fresh and original programming across the most well-known platform in the sports world,” said David Tetreault, Executive Vice President of Media and Entertainment for Golden Boy Promotions.

GOLDEN BOY BOXING ON ESPN
Date
Network
3/23/2017
ESPN2 & ESPN Deportes
4/1/2017
ESPN2 & ESPN Deportes
4/20/2017
ESPN2 & ESPN Deportes
5/5/2017
ESPN2 & ESPN Deportes
5/18/2017
ESPN2 & ESPN Deportes
6/17/2017
ESPN Deportes
6/30/2017
ESPN Deportes
7/7/2017
ESPN Deportes
7/15/2017
ESPN2 & ESPN Deportes
8/4/2017
ESPN2 & ESPN Deportes
8/18/2017
ESPN Deportes
9/15/2017
ESPN Deportes
9/30/2017
ESPN Deportes
10/19/2017
ESPN2 & ESPN Deportes
11/2/2017
ESPN2 & ESPN Deportes
11/16/2017
ESPN2 & ESPN Deportes
11/30/2017
ESPN2 & ESPN Deportes
12/14/2017
ESPN2 & ESPN Deportes

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com; follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya; become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing; and follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing and @OscarDeLaHoya.

About ESPN
ESPN, Inc. is the leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring the broadest portfolio of multimedia sports assets with over 50 business entities. Based in Bristol, Conn., ESPN Plaza includes 950,000 square feet in 16 buildings on 123 acres (116 contiguous), with additional office space (400,000 sq. ft.) rented nearby. The company is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN. For more information, visit http://www.espn.com/boxing, @ESPNBoxing.

About Golden Boy Promotions
Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions was established in 2002 by 10-time world champion in six divisions Oscar De La Hoya, the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional company. Golden Boy Promotions is one of boxing’s most active and respected promoters, presenting shows in packed venues around the world. In its 15-year existence, Golden Boy Promotions has promoted some of the biggest and highest grossing events in the history of the sport.

About HEINEKEN USA
HEINEKEN USA Inc., the nation’s leading upscale beer importer, is a subsidiary of HEINEKEN International NV, the world’s most international brewer. European brands imported into the U.S. include Heineken®, the world’s most international beer brand, Strongbow Hard Apple Ciders, Amstel Light, and Newcastle Brown Ale. HEINEKEN USA also imports the Dos Equis Franchise, Tecate Franchise, Sol, Indio, Carta Blanca and Bohemia brands from Mexico. For the latest information on our company and brands, follow us on Twitter @HeinekenUSACorp, or visit HEINEKENUSA.com.

ACCRA, GHANA, (January 19, 2017) In celebration of Ghana’s 60th Independent Anniversary, Streetwise Promotions in association with Errol Hawks Sports Management present an outstanding professional boxing event on Saturday, March 11 at the newly built Bukom Boxing Arena in the capital city of Ghana.

Featured on this extraordinary occasion in separate bouts will be Lightweight World Title Challenger, RICHARD COMMEY, (24-2-0, 22 KO’s), World Ranked Welterweight Contender, FREDRICK “GENERAL OKUNKA” LAWSON, (24-1-0, 20 KO’s), and Undefeated Bantamweight Prospect, DUKE MICAH, (19-0-0, 7 KO’s).

All three will be fighting for World Boxing Council (WBC) International Titles to celebrate the country’s independence anniversary on March 6.

This show will mark the beginning of a committed collaboration between the CEOs of Streetwise Promotions MICHAEL AMOO-BEDIAKO and Errol Hawk Sports Management JACOB ZWENNES to provide a global platform for young and talented Ghanaian boxers to showcase their skills on the world stage. AMOO-BEDIAKO noted the challenges Ghanaian boxers faced in recent years when they had to travel abroad to gain recognition.

Said AMOO-BEDIAKO “When I attended the recent WBC convention in Miami, I spoke to the WBC President MAURICIO SULAIMAN and Vice-Presidents MAURO BETTI and HOUCINE HOUICHI about Africa’s predicaments and they agreed with me and echoed my sentiments. They have agreed to support the idea of making Ghana an international destination for boxing and have been instrumental in providing their international titles to grace this show in March.”

Stated SULAIMAN, “The new era of boxing in Africa is here. The WBC stands tall and proud to support the efforts of Streetwise Promotions and Errol Hawk Management and celebrate this unbelievable boxing card in which three WBC International belts will be contested. Africa has always been a top priority to the WBC and my dear father JOSE SULAIMAN and Ghana has the inspiration of great heroes from the past like NANA KONADU, IKE QUARTEY and the greatest, The Professor, our hero AZUMAH NELSON.”

Richard Commey is very unlucky not to count himself a world champion after two controversial split decision verdicts against him in 2016. He will be fighting for the first time since being released by his former promoters Sauerland and looking to get back to fighting for a world title in the near future.

Frederick Lawson will also be on the comeback trail to claim his rightful position in the welterweight division after fully recovering from an injury sustained during his last fight in November 2015.

Lastly the infectious Duke “The Baby Faced Terminator” Micah, who is the current Commonwealth (British Empire) Bantamweight Champion is set to electrify the Bukom fight night and serve notice to the bantamweight division in 2017 that the kid dynamite has landed on the world stage.

More information on this outstanding event will be announced shortly.

Photo/Streetwise Management

SOCIAL MEDIA/Twitter
@RichardCommey
@Duke_Micha1
@WBCBoxing
@Mickey_Moo
@Streetwisemgt

Callum Smith says he is ready to fight any Super-Middleweight for the vacant WBC crown.

Smith is set to fight for the WBC strap next and travelled to New York to watch the unification battle between WBC champion Badou Jack and IBF king James DeGale MBE end in a thrilling draw.

In the ring after the fight, Jack and his promoter Floyd Mayweather declared that the Swede would move up to 175lbs and yesterday he vacated the title.

‘Mundo’ will now wait to see who he will meet for the crown, with former champion Anthony Dirrell number two in the rankings behind Smith and likely to want to regain the title he lost to Jack in April 2015 – and Smith is ready to take on anyone to get his hands on the belt.

“I said before the fight that I was in a good position and that’s still the case – my next fight is going to be for the World title, that hasn’t changed,” said Smith.

“A draw or a Jack win was always going to create an interesting scenario but the only thing I care about is fighting for the World title.

“A lot of people have backed me since day one to win a World title and it’s going to be great to get out next time and prove them right.

“It’s never been Badou Jack or James DeGale that I want to fight, it’s the World title that I want; it doesn’t matter to me who it is. Anthony Dirrell is the next in line and if it’s him then great, let’s do it.”

Smith landed the mandatory spot in April after destroying Hadillah Mohoumadi inside the opening round of their final eliminator in Liverpool. The 26 year old had hoped to get his hands on a World title fight straight away but with the proposed clash between Jack and DeGale taking longer to solve than anticipated, Smith has boxed three times since moving into the number one position.

The Merseyside talent believes those fights will prove to be important when he gets in the ring, as will the experience gained of being around his brothers Paul, Stephen and Liam when they have boxed for World titles.

“It’s taken me longer than I expected and I’ve had a few fights since getting the mandatory spot, but that’s boxing,” said Smith. “I’ve built up a bank of experience, I’ve had a few more camps, kept to the weight and now whomever it is, I’m ready for them.

“If I’d boxed for it straight after beating Mohoumadi people would have said I was perfectly prepared but just because I’ve had a few fights perhaps down a level that doesn’t mean I’ve not got even better. If I was to fight a so-called fringe level fighter I would get criticised for not fighting for the World title, so I am happy for the way that my career has gone and I believe I’m in a good place to win a belt.

“I’ve been in camp with my brothers fighting for world titles as well as Anthony Crolla and Scott Quigg, and I’ve had worse nerves watching them than on any of my own fights. As stupid as it sounds, I feel like I’ve been there before as I’ve soaked it all up because I thought that I was going to fight for a world title when I turned pro so when it comes around it’s not going to be a big shock for me.”

Philadelphia, PA—It will be another old fashioned all-Philly rumble when lightweights Anthony Burgin and Avery Sparrow collide over eight rounds or less on Friday evening, March 10, at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia. First fight is 7.30 p.m.
“It may not be Bennie Briscoe vs. Cyclone Hart or Joey Giardello vs. George Benton, but it’s a start and Philly vs. Philly is what put our city on the boxing map years and years ago,” said promoter J Russell Peltz.
Burgin (left), 24, a pro for more than four years, is 10-2, 2 K0s, and comes into this fight after having beaten another Philadelphian, Gerald Smith, in his last fight Oct. 14 in the same ring. He also has beaten Philadelphians Frankie Trader, Ramon Ellis (twice) and Kenneth Brown.
In his only other fight in 2016, Burgin lost a four-round split decision to unbeaten DiVante Jones, of Augusta, GA, in a fight most of the crowd at the Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, CT, thought he won clearly. Jones, now 9-0, has not boxed since.
“I am ecstatic to be headlining the fight card on March 10 and excited to be fighting Avery Sparrow,” Burgin said. “When two Philly guys face each other, a spectacular show is guaranteed and this fight will be no exception. I am going to make a statement.
“I’m only getting started and what you’re going to see from me in the future starts March 10. I haven’t been as active as I would like to be but I have fought great fights and tough opponents and it has only made me better. It’s only the beginning and 2017 is my year and nothing is going to stop me from grabbing what is already mine.”
Burgin is managed and trained by Raul “Chino” Rivas, whose excellent stable of fighters includes WBA junior lightweight champ Jason Sosa, junior lightweight contender Tevin Farmer, undefeated lightweight Stevie Ortiz and promising lightweight newcomer Victor Padilla.
Sparrow (right), 23, has had a rough career marked by long periods of inactivity. He will have been a pro for 32 months by fight time, but has only a 5-1 record (3 K0s) to show for it.
His only loss came late in 2015 in the same ring when he was disqualified after five rounds for low blows against lefty Jerome Rodriguez, of Allentown, PA. Sparrow was getting the better of it during the fight, but too many punches strayed low and referee Hurley McCall waved it off after numerous warnings and point deductions.
Sparrow has not boxed since March 26 when he knocked out hometowner Brandon Ruffin in one round in Charlotte, NC. Sparrow also has beaten Jesus Lule, a frequent rival of Philadelphia fighters.
“I’m down now, but after I win this fight, I should be on my way up,” Sparrow said. “I am grateful for this fight and a wonderful opportunity to showcase my talent. No one knows what this chance means to me. It’s much appreciated and it’s a blessing. This will help me get my career back on track. I want good fights to happen. It’s what Philly and boxing needs. I understand completely.”
Eight additional fights complete the card.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (January 19, 2017) – M-1 Global has announced that 2016 M-1 Grand Prix middleweight champion Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko will headline M-1 Challenge 75 in Moscow.

It has also been announced that American lightweight Keon “The Black Assassin” Caldwell will make his M-1 Global debut versus former M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Maxim Divnich.

M-1 Challenge 75 will be streamed live from Moscow in high definition on www.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets.

Shlemenko (54-9-0. 1 NC, M-1: 4-0-0), a three-time Bellator champion, defeated former M-1 Challenge champion Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (see picture above with Shlemenko on right) last year in the M-1 Grand Prix Middleweight Championship semifinals and championship final, respectively, by three-round majority decision and third-round submission (choke). Shlemenko vs. Vasilevsky I & II were the M-1 Challenge 68 & 64 Fights of the Night.

In a much-anticipated All-Russian middleweight showdown, Shlemenko was supposed to fight reigning M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev, who was unfortunately injured during training camp, forcing him out of that match. Vasilevsky replaced Emeev against Shlemenko in the championship final.

In his last action, Shlemenko stopped Kendall Grove in the second round of their main event fight on Bellator 162 last October in Memphis, Tennessee.

“Alexander Shlemenko fighting in Russia is always a significant event,” M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelchtein said, “as he is a true legend of Russian MMA. His fights always sellout arenas, no matter who his opponent. We all know that the story we started last year at M<-1 Grand Prix 2016 isn't over, yet. The whole country is waiting for the fight between Russia's two best middleweights - Alexander Shlemenko and Ramazan Emeev. "Ramazan was injured and Shlemenko had contractual obligations with Bellator. So, throughout the past month, we were waiting for Shlemenko to receive permission to fight in Russia. Now, we have arranged for him to fight on M-1 Challenge 75. We've done a great job to make this possible and now hope that, this time, we will be able to complete this exciting story." Undefeated M-1 Challenge welterweight champion Alexey Kunchenko (15-0-0, M-1: 7-0-0), of Russia, will defend his title against an opponent to be announced, due to originally announced Kazakh challenger, unbeaten Shavkat Rakhmonov (7-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0), withdrawing due to a knee injury. Russian welterweight prospect Sergey "Streetfighter" Romanov (10-1-0, M-1: 3-0-0) faces Russian veteran Magomed "The White Wolf" Sultanakhmedov (18-5-0, M-1: 10-1-0) on the M-1 Challenge 75 card. Caldwell (11-3-0, M-1: 0-0-0), fighting out of Georgia, is the US-based Island Fights champion. A powerful puncher who has nine knockouts in his 11 pro victories, Caldwell was supposed to compete in the 13th season of The Ultimate Fighter, but he withdrew due to personal reasons. He has had several fights in World Series of Fighting. A Ukrainian fighting out of Moscow, Divnich captured the vacant M-1 Challenge lightweight title in 2014 at M-1 Challenge 54, stopping Dzhambulat Kurbanov in the third round on punches in the Fight of the Night. In 2015, Divnich lost his first title defense by third-round knockout to Mansour Barnaoui at M-1 Challenge 57. In his last fight, Artiom Damkovsky knocked out Divnich with a kick in the second-round of their fight this past September at M-1 Challenge 70. INFORMATION: www.M1Global.tv www.mixfight.ru www.wmmaa.org Twitter & Instagram: @M1GlobalNews @VFinkelchtein @M1Global Facebook: www.facebook.com/M-1-GlobalNews M-1 CHALLENGE EVENT CALENDAR: M-1 Challenge 74 - Feb. 18, 2017 - St. Petersburg, Russia M-1 Challenge 75 - March 3, 2017 - Moscow, Russia ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL: Founded in 1997, M-1 Global has established itself in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the premier entity for discovering and developing the world's next-generation of superstar fighters. With its office in St Petersburg, Russia, the M-1 brand has staged more than 160 events worldwide, including M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge, M-1 Global and M-1 Global HWGP events, in addition to co-promoting Strikeforce events and M-1 Global on the U.S. network, Showtime. Captivating live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups, M-1 Global events have featured some of the sport's top names, including legendary heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Sergei Kharitonov, Aleksander Emelianenko, Roman Zentsov, Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Chalid Arrab and Stephan Struve. 2017 promises to be another sensational year of world-class competition, featuring a full calendar of Challenge events, fueled by a talent-rich contention system ranking M-1 Global Champions among the greatest fighters in the sport. ABOUT M-1GLOBAL.TV: Enjoy MMA action now in high definition brought to you by M-1Global.tv, offering only the best fights from M-1 Global and other MMA organizations. M-1Global.tv is a great platform developed specifically to bring together the most exhaustive fight video database. It also provides an easy and intuitive interface, helping everyone to start using the platform in no time while avoiding any spoilers. Besides watching the past fights on demand at any time convenient to the customer, viewers are able to enjoy the action LIVE, all available to M-1Global.tv users through a low-priced month to month digital subscription. Your world of action. Anytime!

On Saturday, February 11, at Jalisco Guadalajara Arena in Guadalajara, Mexico, a trio of well-established promoters, Eddie Reynoso of Clase y Talento Boxeo, Eric Gomez of Golden Boy Promotions and Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing, will team up to present a night of world-class boxing featuring some of Latin America’s future champions.

The event will be presented in association with and broadcast by RingTV.com and TyC Sports of Argentina for the 25th anniversary of their popular Boxeo De Primera to most of North and South America.

In the explosive 10-round main event, Buenos Aires, Argentina’s undefeated Juan Jose “El Pitbull” Velasco (14-0, 8 KOs) will defend his WBA Fedebol Welterweight Championship against once-beaten Fernando “El Cacho” Marin (13-1-3, 9 KOs) of Monterrey, Mexico.

In the eight-round super featherweight co-main event, Córdoba, Argentina’s Jose Matias Romero (12-0, 5 KOs) will take on Guadalajara’s Bernardo “Benny” Gomez Uribe (18-6, 11 KOs).

On the exciting undercard will be a six-round lightweight scrap between Los Mochis, México’s Jairo “Jimmy” Llanes (9-1-1, 8 KOs) facing Emmanuel “El Guerrero” Valenzuela (4-5, 2 KOs) of Ciudad Obregón, México; and eight-round heavyweight battle featuring Guadalajara’s undefeated Filiberto “Chiquilín” Tovar (5-0, 2 KOs) taking on Lawrence Elizondo (8-1, 3 KOs) of Monterrey, México; an “all Guadalajara” six-round super featherweight bout between Heliodoro Napoles (2-2, 1 KOs) and Carlos Mauricio Rochas (1-2).

Five four-round bouts will open the show, featuring super featherweights Alexander Villa (3-0, 3 KOs) of Guadalajara and Zapopan, Mexico’s Hugo Barajas (0-2); featherweights Jair Campos (1-0, 1 KO) of Tepic, Nayarit and Guadalajara’s Leonardo Cervantes (1-8); as well as three more “All Guadalajara” match-ups, including junior middleweights Oscar Larios (Pro Debut) and Juan Carlos González (Pro Debut); welterweights Walter Loera (1-0, 1 KO) and Angel Fernando Lambarena (0-1); and lightweights Jose Manuel Garcia (1-0, 1 KOs) and Luis Guzman (0-1).

“I am very proud to be part of this event and to be working with my esteemed partners, Eddie Reynoso of Clase y Talento Boxeo and Eric Gomez of Golden Boy Promotions,” said Sampson Lewkowicz. “It is our intention to make this into a series of shows that showcase the best of boxing’s new talent. Guadalajara is a beautiful place with so many knowledgeable boxing fans. I’m very much looking forward to a great night.”
About Sampson Boxing
After a very successful run as a matchmaker and adviser, Sampson Lewkowicz switched over to the promotional side of professional boxing in January 2008.

Sampson Boxing has grown into one of the world’s most prestigious promotional firms, representing many of the world’s best fighters and most promising young contenders.

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America and Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, VS. and several international networks.

Russian cruiserweight Alexey Zubov knows what’s at stake when he enters the ring this Sunday in Detroit.

With a second chance in a nationally televised fight possibly looming on the nearby horizon, Zubov (13-1, 8 KOs) from Magnitogorsk, Russia, will face Budapest, Hungary’s Andras Csomor (18-14-1, 14 KOs) in an eight-round bout.

Zubov vs. Csomor will be one of the main supporting bouts in promoter Dmitriy Salita’s special Sunday edition of his “Detroit Brawl” series on January 22, 2017, at Masonic Temple. In the night’s eight-round main event, Detroit’s perennial welterweight gate keeper and fan favorite Lanardo “Pain Server” Tyner (30-10-2, 19 KOs) will face Nagykanizsa, Hungary’s Istvan Dernanecz (10-4, 7 KOs). in the eight-round co-main event Detroit bantamweight James Gordon Smith (11-0, 6 KOs) will face Kiskunfelegyhaza, Hungary’s Szilveszter Ajtai (10-3-1, 5 KOs).

Once again sponsored by the Greektown Casino Hotel, tickets for “Detroit Brawl” are priced at VIP $123, Box Seats are $80 and $60, Seating is $80, $60, $40, and $20. They are available at all Ticketmaster outlets and Ticketmaster.com.

For this training camp, Zubov worked with his trainer, the late Emanuel Steward’s nephew Javan “Sugar” Hill, as he helped prepare former WBC super middleweight champion Anthony Dirrell for his recent fight.

“Everything was perfect in my training this time,” said Zubov. “I love working with Javan, he has helped me grow so much as a fighter. And Anthony Dirrell taught me a great deal as well. I will be showing what I’ve learned this Sunday.”

Although he’s not taking him lightly, the formerly heavily decorated amateur Zubov says his studies of opponent Csomor haven’t revealed much he hasn’t seen before.

“I’ve watched a little bit of him on tape and he does nothing out of the ordinary. I’ve fought guys like him before who have the same style. And I always handle them very well.”

Zubov, looking to face the likes of WBO champ Oleksandr Usyk, countryman Denis Lebedev, or any of the division’s other big names, says his return to national television will be nothing like the first time. Zubov suffered his only career loss, a unanimous decision to Moldova’s Constantin Bejenaru, last April at the Turning Stone in Verona, New York and live on ShoBox.

“I was nervous. I never fought on a big show before that and I choked up,” explained Zubov of the loss. Next time will be totally different. I have been around big-time boxing on big shows enough times now. I will be ready.”

Also seeing action that night will be former cruiserweight world title challenger “Hurricane” Junior Wright (15-2-1, 12 KOs) from Evanston, Illinois, making his heavyweight debut against Detroit’s Damon McCreary (15-6, 11 KOs) in a six-rounder.

In a bantamweight six-rounder, undefeated bantamweight Ja’Rico “Great Lakes King” O’Quinn (4-0, 3 KOs) will take on Chicago’s Angel Carvajal (2-5).

In a super lightweight four, Detroit’s rejuvenated “Lightning” Larry Ventus (7-11-1, 3 KOs) will face Florida’s iron-jawed Jesus Lule (9-20-1, 1 KO).

Popular and undefeated super welterweight Ardreal Holmes (4-0, 2 KOs) of Flint, Michigan, is scheduled to fight Macon, Georgia’s Bryan Goldsby (3-1).

Undefeated Alabama super featherweight Dwayne Zeigler (5-0-1, 5 KOs) will face Aaron Hollis (3-3, 2 KOs) of Cincinnati in a four-round super featherweight fight.

Kronk welterweight Jacob Bonas (2-0-1, 1 KO), Toledo super middleweight DeAndre Ware (8-0, 6 KOs) and undefeated Detroit heavyweight Marcus Carter (1-0, 1 KO) will face opponents that are yet to be announced.

On fight night, doors open at 4:00 pm and the fights begin at 5:00 pm. The Masonic Temple is located at 500 Temple Street in Detroit.

###

For more information on the “Detroit Brawl” or Salita Promotions, visit www.salitapromotions.com. Facebook and Twitter: @DetroitBrawl

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

About Greektown Casino Hotel
Your downtown playground, Greektown Casino Hotel is consistently voted Detroit’s Best Casino. Located right in the hub of the historic Greektown district it’s impossible to be any closer to the action. No matter what you want to play, Greektown Casino Hotel has your non-stop gaming action. From the newest slots and table games to live poker, Greektown Casino Hotel has 100,000 square feet of exciting, action-packed choices and so many thrilling ways to win!

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For your special event or corporate gathering, Greektown Casino Hotel offers impeccable service in addition to a variety of exceptional spaces to help make your event an unforgettable experience.

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MAIN EVENT

Featherweights (6)
Irvin Gonzalez (5-0, 5 KOs), Worcester, MA 128.2 lbs.
Israel “Tigre” Rojas (9-14, 3 KOs), Aqua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico 131 lbs.

CO-FEATURE

Super Middleweights (6)
Ray “Bazooka” Graceski (4-0, 2 KOs), Springfield, MA 172.8 lbs.
Ralph Johnson (2-9, 1 KO), Worcester, MA 170.6 lbs.

UNDERCARD (all 4)

HEAVYWEIGHTS
Jean Pierre Augstin (7-0-1, 3 KOs), Lawrence, MA by way of Haiti 219.2 lbs.
Jose Humberto Corral (19-22, 12 KOs), Aqua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico 214.8 lbs.

Felix Martinez (pro debut), Worcester, MA 223.6 lbs.
Bobby Favors (0-3), Cincinnati, OH 393.2 lbs.

(185-pound) Catchweight
Richard “Popeye The Sailor Man” Rivera (pro debut), Hartford, CT 182.4 lbs.
Davonte Hopkins (0-2), Philadelphia, PA 180.6 lbs.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Brandon Montella (5-0, 4 KOs), Saugus, MA 174.4 lbs.
Roberto “El Viejo” Valenzuela (69-73-2, 56 KOs), Aqua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico 174.2 lbs.

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS
“Irish” Chuck Shearns (2-1, 1 KO), Auburn, MA 155.6 lbs.
Shavonte Dixon (0-1), Philadelphia, PA 149.4 lbs.

(145-pound) CATCHWEIGHT
Wilfredo “El Sucaro” Pagan (pro debut), Southbridge, MA 144.6 lbs.
Alexander Picot (1-1-1, 0 KOs), Cidra, Puerto Rico 143.2 lbs.

WELTERWEIGHTS
Anthony Laureano (1-0, 0 KOs), East Hartford, CT 144 lbs.
Rafael Francis (0-8), Dorchester, MA 148 lbs.

FEATHERWEIGHTS
Ranse Andino (pro debut), Worcester, MA 124.4 lbs.
Jonathan Perez (2-0-1, 2 KOs), Lowell, MA 123.4 lbs.

Luis “Pancho” Santiago (pro debut), Springfield, MA 126.4 lbs.
Jonathan Ramos (0-2), Aqua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico 119.2 lbs.

WHAT: “New England’s Future” professional boxing event

WHEN: Thursday, January 19, 2017

WHERE: Worcester Palladium, 261 Main St., Worcester, MA

PROMOTER: Rivera Promotions Entertainment

DOORS OPEN: 6:30 P.M. ET

FIRST BOUT: 7:30 p.m. ET

TICKETS: $65.00 (ringside), $45.00 (preferred seating) and $35.00 (general admission), on sale and available to purchase at www.ThePalladium.net or the Palladium box office (general admission only), contacting Jose Rivera (elgallojar@gmail.com/508.864.6954) of AJ Rivera (anthoneerivera@gmail.com/774.272.2269). A portion of the proceeds will go to Why Me & Sherry’s House

RING ANNOUNCER: John Vena

SPONSORS: Heavyweights – Lundgren Honda, Atty. Michael H. Erlich, Atty. Maria M. Rivera-Cotto, USANA Health Services; Lightweights – TKO Auto Repair, Atty. Stephen W. Debs.

INFORMATION:
Facebook.com/RiveraPromotionsEntertainment
Twitter: @RiveraPromoEnt @joseriverachamp, @KingRivera

After his thrilling draw with James DeGale this past Saturday night, Badou Jack has vacated his WBC Super Middleweight title as he will move up to Light Heavyweight, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“The WBC has received official notification from WBC super middleweight champion Badou Jack, who has decided to move up in weight and compete in the light heavyweight division,” the WBC said in a statement. “Consequently, the super middleweight championship of the world has been declared vacant. The WBC is extremely proud of Badou Jack, who is our Ambassador of Good Will and Peace. He has been a role model outside the ring with his exemplary behavior and his beautiful family, his wife Jasmine, and his baby daughter, Malaniyah.

“The WBC wishes Badou Jack continuous success and the best of luck in his boxing career, hoping that one day he will compete for the light heavyweight championship of the world.”

“We looking forward to a Badou Jack and an Adonis Stevenson fightin’,” Mayweather said at the news conference after the fight with DeGale. “We gonna make that fight happen. We’re not worried about that because at Mayweather Promotions we can make anything happen.”

“I never want to be remembered as a cherry-picker,” Jack said. “Give me the best guys. If I win, I win. If I lose, I lose. I want to be tested. I want the challenges. I want the big-money fights. I don’t care who’s in front of me. Anyone. … Yeah, I’m ready to fight [Stevenson].”

Mairis Briedis and Marco Huck will meet for the vacant WBC interim Cruiserweight title on April 1st in Dortmund, Germany, According to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“Mairis Briedis is still undefeated and has the reputation of being a very unpleasant opponent with a very hard punch,” Huck said. “I prefer opponents of this caliber, for the bigger the challenge, the better I perform. I will be preparing myself very intensely and conscientiously, because if I do my homework well, a fight is usually decided in my favor before it gets even started.”

“I am incredibly happy about the upcoming fight against Marco Huck,” Briedis said. “He is a true cruiserweight legend and already has shown a lot of incredible fights. Well, in the next fight however we will fight for the WBC (interim) title, which means for both of us all or nothing. I will regard the fight as a one-time chance so I can show my full potential. I know that Marco will also give his best. Therefore the better man may win.

BROOKLYN (January 18, 2017) – Undefeated welterweight world champions Danny Garcia and Keith Thurman hosted a press conference in Brooklyn Wednesday to discuss their primetime showdown that headlines SHOWTIME CHAMPION CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, Saturday, March 4 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The broadcast, which will air live from 9–11 p.m. ET/6–8 p.m. PT, is just the second primetime boxing presentation on the CBS Television Network in nearly 40 years.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $750, $500, $400, $300, $150, $100, and $50 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

Thurman and Garcia were joined by their trainers at the press conference Wednesday afternoon at Barclays Center. Here is what the participants had to say:

KEITH THURMAN

“It’s a pleasure to be here again. This is where it’s at. I get the most love out here, since the first time I ever fought here. The fans in New York make me feel like I’ve made it.

“This fight March 4 has two undefeated champions. Two of the best welterweights going toe-to-toe. Someone’s ‘0’ has to go.

“I’m blessed to get this fight because I’ve been asking for it. I’m looking forward to it. We’re working hard down in Florida. You don’t want to miss this fight.

“This fight is going to have action. There’s too much on the line. I remember Danny from the amateurs. I applaud him for everything he’s done in this career. He signed the wrong contract though, because Keith Thurman’s got this. Danny Garcia, you’re getting knocked out.

“At the end of the day it’s your actions that speak louder than words. We will make our statement on March 4. You will know after that night, who the champion truly is.

“Angel will talk to try to get people off of their game. Danny is an elite fighter, and he can talk for himself. These father trainers seem to like the limelight as much as the fighter, if not more. At the end of the day, I’m only fighting Danny Garcia.

“Danny Garcia has some power. He has enough, even compared to me. But if you look at a lot of his fights, he knocked guys down. But they got back up. There is a difference between knockdown and knockout power.

“He’s dangerous but we believe I’m more dangerous. He hasn’t fought a true welterweight with punching power. I believe I’ll be the last man standing on March 4.

“We’ll see what kind of camp he has. If he works hard, then he’ll be geared up for a tough fight. A fighter’s performance is based off of training camp, not any past fights.

“He’s a champion and I’m a champion. You will see the results on March 4. I’m eager to unify these titles and this should be an exciting fight.”

DANNY GARCIA

“You know I’m already in shape. I’ve been active and in the gym getting ready. I feel great. Come March 4, I’m going to be the unified champion again.

“This is nothing new to me. I’ve been the underdog in a unification fight. At the end of the day, Angel and I, we’re going to come out with a great game plan and get the victory. I will have my hand raised at the end of the night.

“I just had to tell Keith to be careful what he wished for. He wanted this fight, but now that he’s got it, you have to deal with me.

“I’m going to take this one round at a time to get the victory. If the knockout comes, it comes. I’m not going out of my element. I’m going to do what I do best.

“We’re definitely going to work the body. But we’ll work the head too, wherever we can hit him. We’re just working smart and hard in camp. Nothing is changing from past camps. We’re going to put in work.

“I’m excited to fight on CBS. The fans deserve fights to be on free television so that everyone can watch it. I’m excited to unify titles in another division.

“At the end of the day he’s a world champion and you have to respect that. He’s nothing I haven’t seen before. I’ve been fighting people like him since I was a little kid in Philadelphia. I’ve been boxing my whole life for this moment. I just have to go in there and make sure I’m ready mentally and physically.

“I just have to have tunnel vision on fight night. I’m going to show composure during every round and keep the momentum going my way. If it switches a little bit, then I’ll make adjustments and adapt like a true champion. I’ll be prepared like I always am.

“I feel very comfortable at Barclays Center. It’s like another day in the gym with me in here. It’s a fantastic atmosphere. This is the best place in the world to fight and I’m happy to be back.

“I hope everyone comes out to Barclays Center on fight night. I know there are a lot of Puerto Ricans in New York and I hope they’re here to support. Barclays Center is my home away from home.

“I just want to make sure I’m mentally and physically ready. If I’m ready, nobody can stop me. We’re going to do what we always do. Put the hard work in, talk a little trash and back it up.”

DAN BIRMINGHAM, Thurman’s Trainer

“Were here. We’re going to be ready. We’re focused on Danny Garcia. Keith Thurman will be the victor that night and stake his claim as the best in the division.

“Danny Garcia is a very good fighter. He’s like a mirror image of Keith Thurman. He boxes well, punches well and has good defense. But he’s facing a kind of fighter that he’s never faced before. Keith Thurman is the most talented welterweight in the world.

“Keith will bring the strength. He’s not a built-up welterweight. He comes down to make welterweight from about 170 pounds so we expect size to be an advantage.”

ANGEL GARCIA, Garcia’s Father & Trainer

“Danny was the first man to headline here. Danny holds the attendance record at this venue. We knew Brooklyn was where we wanted to have this fight.

“It doesn’t take a genius to figure out where this fight should be. I love this venue and it’s been great to Danny every time he fights here.

“March 4 you will see the champion of the world, Danny Garcia, become a unified champion. Danny is a great fighter and he won’t be beat.

“We’re not the underdog here. Danny is the undefeated champion of the world. Thurman is in for a long night. Believe me.

“Thurman is a good fighter and he’s been around for a long time like Danny. I respect him, but they made him a champion. Danny became a champion, and there is a difference. Danny is a true champion. March 4 he will still be undefeated. Thurman won’t have an answer for Danny.”

LOU DIBELLA, President of DiBella Entertainment

“On the heels of what was a tremendous fight card this Saturday night in this great arena, it’s great to be able to say that it doesn’t get any better than this fight.

“Thurman vs. Garcia is the best against the best, which is really what we have to do to elevate our sport to the sport of kings like it once was. We have two kings sitting at this table

“It’s a privilege to promote another great PBC card and at Barclays Center in my hometown. Say what you will about what is the cathedral of boxing in the U.S., but I’ll take this building over just about any venue in the world. They have a great commitment to the sport.

“In an era where some people think that PPV is a good thing, it’s incredibly important that a fight of this magnitude is on broadcast television. These two champions have the opportunity to do their thing in front of a huge audience. It’s great for boxing.

“We’re very proud that 80 percent of the seats in the building are available for between $150 and $49. We want this to be accessible to all boxing fans. That’s a tribute to everyone involved in this event and to serve all these great fans.”

BRETT YORMARK, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment

“Brooklyn Boxing is defined by 50-50 fights, dramatic moments and a regular schedule of big-time boxing events. Last Saturday night was a great start to our 2017 lineup. Every fan left wanting more, and they will get more, on March 4.

“We’re talking about world class championship boxing at its best. March 4 will be that, and more. This is the best welterweight fight of the year, with two spectacular undefeated fighters.

“We are honored to host the welterweight world title unification showdown between Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia. We expect to host the biggest fight night crowd ever at Barclays Center.

“Thousands of tickets have been sold for this fight and we are gaining incredible momentum. I’m looking forward to a great night on March 4. Buy your tickets now. This is going to be one of those moments at Barclays Center that you need to circle on your calendar.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive VP & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports

“This is truly an event that doesn’t need to be sold. I am here to share that this fight will be the second installment of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS. The obvious question is why? It’s because this fight merits it. As we saw on Saturday, when the best fight the best, the results are often spectacular.

“It’s not a surprise that we get impressive results when elite fighters take on other elite fighters. Special things happen. New fans are created and rivalries are born.

“Danny Garcia and Keith Thurman are the two best welterweight in the world. End of story. They will fight on March 4, it will be a huge audience here at Barclays and on CBS and it will be a special night.”

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @KeithFThurmanJr, @DannySwift, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina. *Prices not including applicable fees.

ATLANTIC CITY (Jan.18, 2017) — Undefeated super bantamweight Malik Jackson has been added to the non-televised undercard this Friday night, Jan. 20 at Ballys Atlantic City Hotel & Casino against Christian Foster in a bout scheduled for 4-rounds that will precede a tremendous tripleheader that will be televised live on ShoBox: The New Generation card on SHOWTIME®.

In the 12-round main event, undefeated WBA No. 3-ranked super bantamweight Adam Lopez (16-0-1, 8 KOs) will face the WBA’s No. 4-ranked Danny Roman (20-2-1, 7 KOs) in a title elimination bout.

In the co-feature, undefeated super middleweight Ronald Ellis (13-0-1, 1 NC, 10 KOs) will face off with Christopher Brooker (11-2, 5 KOs) in an eight-round 168-pound matchup of ShoBox veterans.

In another eight-round featured bout, former national amateur champion Kenneth Sims Jr. (10-0, 3 KOs) and Emmanuel Robles (15-1-1, 5 KOs) will clash in a matchup of promising, super lightweights making their ShoBox debuts.

Jackson of Washington, D.C turned professional on September 30th with a 1st rouns stoppage over Javonta Cherry in Washington, D.C.

Jackson, 22 years old, started boxing at age 9 and had a long amateur career that spanned 120 fights.

He describes his style as a boxer-puncher.

“My training went well for this fight. I was added to the card at the last minute, but I was already in shape,” said Jackson.

In Foster, he is facing a bit of an unknown quantity, but has been stopped inside of two-rounds in both of his fights.

“I don’t know much about Foster, but with all my amateur experience, I can adapt. I have fought internationally , so I have seen all kinds of styles.”

With this fight being on the undercard of a nationally televised event, Jackson is ready to show the fans in attendance that he is a fighter to be reckoned with.

“With an opportunity like this, I am ready to steal the show. I know it is only a 4-round bout, but I will impress.”

Jackson has been even more motivated as fellow beltway boxer Gervonta Davis captured the IBF Junior Lightweight on Saturday night. Jackson has shared the ring with Davis and he feels that he can reach the heights of boxing as well.

“I fought and fought with Gervonta. By seeing him win a title, it shows it can be done, and I am motivated to follow suit. But that will start on Friday as I will have an impressive outing.”

In non-televised action: Stephon Young (15-0-3, 6 KO’s) of St. Louis, Missouri tangos with Olimjon Nazarov (14-3, 8 KO’s) of Tashkent, Uzbekistan in a super bantamweight bout. NOTE: Young was originally slated to open the ShoBox telecast in a matchup with Elton Dharry, who was forced to withdraw with a shoulder injury. Highlights of Young vs. Nazaroz will now air in the ShoBox telecast.

Leroy Davila (4-0, 2 KO’s) of New Brunswick, New Jersey will take on fellow undefeated Anthony Taylor (4-0, 1 KO) of Warren, Ohio in a six-round bantamweight bout.

Keenan Smith, of Philadelphia, 9-0 with 3 knockouts, and will take on Marquis Hawthorne (4-5, 1 KO) of Waco, Texas in a welterweight bout scheduled for six-rounds.

Also seeing action in a 6-round bout is local favorite Anthony “Juice” Young (14-2, 6 KO’s) of Atlantic City who will take on James Robinson (4-5-4, 1 KO) of Brooklyn, N.Y., in a welterweight scrap.

Former amateur standout, Darmani Rock (6-0, 4 KO’s) of Philadelphia will battle Solomon Maye (3-7-2, 3 KO’s) of New Haven, Connecticut in a six-round heavyweight bout.

The non-televised undercard will streamed live on GFL.TV

Tickets for the show, which is promoted by GH3 Promotions, Kings Promotions in association with Thompson Boxing (the main event) and Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel and Casino, are $125, $100 $75 & $50 and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or calling 1-800-745-3000

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

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About ShoBox: The New GenerationSince 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 67 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, 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.

BROOKLYN (January 18, 2017) – The highly anticipated unification showdown between unbeaten welterweight world champions Keith “One Time” Thurman (27-0, 22 KOs) and Danny “Swift” Garcia (33-0, 19 KOs) will headline SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, Saturday, March 4 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The broadcast, which will air live from 9–11 p.m. ET/6–8 p.m. PT, is just the second primetime boxing presentation on the CBS Television Network in nearly 40 years. The first, headlined by a thrilling fight between Thurman and Shawn Porter, was a 2016 Fight of the Year candidate and one of the most watched boxing events of the year. The March 4 broadcast, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, is produced by SHOWTIME Sports® for CBS Television, both divisions of the CBS Corporation.

“Barclays Center and Brooklyn are my home away from home,” said Garcia. “I’ve headlined the most shows at Barclays Center and my fans from Philly and my fans from New York can be there. It’s going to be another Danny Garcia show. I don’t care if people think I’m an underdog. To me, Keith Thurman is nothing but a name. Come March 4, I am going to show the world once again that I am a true champion.”

“I’m looking forward to returning to Barclays Center and headlining a national broadcast on CBS – both the arena and the network were good homes for me in 2016,” said Thurman. “I am the champ, and I always will be. Danny Garcia is a fighter who I have asked for and who I have respect for. But he’s going to learn, just as my past opponents have, that my power and speed will rise above any swiftness he has. I am the true welterweight champion. I will unify the titles and show him what ‘One Time’ feels like. I look forward to this fight and the fans should too; be there on March 4.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $750, $500, $400, $300, $150, $100, and $50* and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

“On the heels of an amazing fight card last weekend, Barclays Center will again host a Premier Boxing Champions mega-fight featuring the best facing the best, on March 4, when undefeated welterweight champions Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia collide in a unification showdown,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “I’m thrilled that this sensational fight will be broadcast by SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS and that 80 percent of the tickets in the arena are priced between $150 and $49.”

“Thurman and Garcia have headlined our two most attended fight nights at Barclays Center,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “March 4 will further cement Barclays Center as the home to the best championship matchups and the premier boxing venue in the country.”

“Our goal is to deliver the biggest, most meaningful matchups to the broadest audience, and an event of this magnitude belongs on CBS,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “This is truly prizefighting at its finest – two undefeated champions in the prime of their careers fighting to unify boxing’s glamour division. When the two best fighters square off we often get spectacular results, as we saw this past weekend on SHOWTIME. The bar has been set high in 2017, and we have every reason to believe Keith and Danny will put on another tremendous show at Barclays Center on March 4.”

After establishing himself as the top fighter at 140-pounds, Garcia moved up to 147-pounds and defeated former champion Paulie Malignaggi before he earned a vacant world title in January 2016 when he bested another former champion in Robert Guerrero. The Philadelphia-native comes off of a victory in his hometown and will return to headline at Barclays Center for the sixth time. Garcia has compiled one of the best resumes currently in boxing with victories over the likes of Amir Khan, Lucas Matthysse, Lamont Peterson, Zab Judah, Mauricio Herrera and Erik Morales.

The hard-hitting Florida-native Thurman comes off of a successful world title defense in a “Fight of the Year” candidate with former champion Shawn Porter that rocked Barclays Center and was the first primetime boxing event on CBS in nearly 40 years. Prior to that, he dominated former champions Robert Guerrero and Luis Collazo on his way to two victories in 2015. The 28-year-old won his belt by knocking out Diego Chaves in 2013 and scored consecutive knockouts over Jesus Soto Karass and Julio Diaz in his first and second title defenses.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @KeithFThurmanJr, @Danny Swift, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina. *Prices not including applicable fees.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Jan. 18th, 2017) — Some fighters get unnerved when they find out their opponent is injured within two weeks of fight night. Not Keith Bell.

“I was relieved,” Bell said. “I went from fighting a stud to a bum.”

Originally scheduled to face Juliano Coutinho on the televised main card of “CES MMA 41” next Friday at Twin River Casino, the Newport News, Va., native will now fight Massachusetts vet Tyler King in hopes of squashing a beef that began four months ago on — where else? — social media with a heated keyboard exchange between the two heavyweights.

The King-Bell bout is one of seven on the AXS TV portion of “CES MMA 41.” Showtime is 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 27th, 2017 with the main card scheduled for 9.

Tickets for “CES MMA 41” are priced at $40.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesboxing.com, www.twinriver.com, www.ticketmaster.com or www.cagetix.com/ces by phone at 401-724-2253/2254 or at the Twin River Casino Players Club. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

The war of words between King and Bell (6-8, 4 KOs) began innocently enough on a congratulatory Instagram post by CES MMA in honor of heavyweight Pat Walsh, who had just scored a big win at “CES MMA 38.” Bell inquired about fighting Walsh on the next card, but King intervened, claiming he’d take down Walsh and several other noteworthy heavyweights before adding Bell “isn’t invited” because “I don’t beat up fighters with under .500 records,” a knock on Bell’s 6-8 mark.

The grenade launched by King set off a day’s worth of digs from both sides, but next Friday’s fight truly didn’t materialize until Coutinho was forced to withdraw from the card due to injury. When presented with the opportunity to settle the argument in the cage instead of online, both sides happily obliged.

“I don’t even care about the opponent, but he opened his mouth, so he can get hurt,” said King, who has won three in a row and last fought at Bellator 163 in November in a rematch against regional rival Josh Diekmann.

“I wanted to get another fight in. CES was in a rough spot with [Coutinho] falling out and they’ve been good to me, so I figured I’d return the favor. I don’t stop training. I’m constantly just working on everything to get better. I went from a relaxed state of mind to, ‘OK, we’re going to war in 18 days. Let’s do it.'”

Aside from their mutual disdain for one another, the only thing Bell and King have in common is they both fought Providence heavyweight Greg Rebello, who is also featured on the “CES MMA 41” main card. Nine months before he fought Rebello himself, Bell made the trip up north to help Rebello prepare for his fight against King in June of 2015.

“They told me to just put pressure on Greg and not really do anything else or have any skill,” Bell quipped. “That’s what I did to prepare Rebello for Tyler.”

Rebello won the fight by third-round knockout and also stopped Bell in the opening round of their scheduled three-round bout last March. Since then, King has won his last three by submission, including the win over Diekmann — his second win over the Connecticut native — a victory against Eric Bedard in the rubber match of their epic trilogy and a win over Lorenzo Hood, whom Bell called “the biggest bust in MMA history.”

“For him to say I fight bums, on January 27th, he’s going to be woken up and not understand why he lost to a ‘bum,'” Bell said. “I never talk like this, but he just brings it out of me. That’s not going to change how the fight will go. His talking does nothing. At the end of the day, they will lock the cage door behind both of us. After all of that talking, then what?

“I’ve always been respectful. I’ve never been ‘that guy.’ I just don’t think Tyler has any respect or he’s just that punch-drunk and doesn’t know any better, but he will know in [nine] days.”

“I don’t take easy fights,” King countered. “If anything, this is a gift for CES. ‘You want me to put this bum out of his misery? Sure, I’ll do you a favor.’

“I do all my due diligence. I watch my film,” King continued. “I saw the fight between him and Greg. He is not tough. He tapped to strikes. If you tap to strike, you are a bitch. There’s no two ways about it. He can crack, I’ll give him that, but he has nothing else. I have so many more tools in my toolbox. If he messes up once, he’s in for a rude awakening.”

King presents a much different challenge for Bell than Coutinho, whom Bell says is an all-around better fighter than King because of his expertise in the ground game. Next Friday’s fight will be Bell’s third with CES MMA. Each of his last 10 fights, win or lose, have ended in the first round.

“I’m at the point in my career where I’m only going to fight the toughest guys around,” Bell said. “CES has given me a lot of opportunities where they normally wouldn’t have to. I’m not a ticket-seller. I’m not from there. The only thing I offer them is they know I come to fight and they know I’ll fight my ass off. It would mean a lot to me to win one for those guys for giving me the opportunities they’ve given me.”

Bell has spent more time in recent months improving his cardio and his boxing. King remains unimpressed. The North Attleboro native and former NFL offensive lineman is in the midst of his longest win streak since 2013 and is confident he’ll make it four in a row next Friday despite stepping to the plate on just two week’s notice.

“In my last three fights, I’ve showed off some dynamic skills,” King said. “It shows that any holes in my game have been filled in adequately. We just keep adding new wrinkles, new cracks, new holds, new submissions. With that being said, we’re going to put on a display.

“I like to fight guys in the cage for money. This is my passion. I was up at 6 a.m. [yesterday] teaching Jiu-Jitsu, then strength and conditioning. Then I did some film work, took a nap, took on some more clients, taught some more classes. You know where I am right now? I’m driving down 93 South going to Connors MMA to do some sparring, then some more strength and conditioning, then I’m going home to sleep my life away and then tomorrow morning I’ll do it over again. You know why? Because I’m ready for this.”

The main event of “CES MMA 41” features reigning CES MMA Featherweight World Champion Matt Bessette (20-7, 5 KOs) of Stafford, Conn., defending his title against Missouri native Kevin Croom in a five-round. Rebello (20-7, 12 KOs) returns to face Minnesota’s Danyelle Williams (8-4-1, 5 KOs) in a three-round bout. Also in the heavyweight division, Walsh (8-2, 3 KOs), a Stoughton, Mass., native, battles New Hampshire’s Kevin Haley (6-3, 2 KOs) in an intriguing regional showdown.

The main card also features a flyweight bout between undefeated New Britain, Conn., vet Carlos Candelario (4-0, 1 KO) and fellow unbeaten Miguel Restrepo (4-0, 2 KOs) of Queens, N.Y., plus a bantamweight battle between Kody Nordby (7-4) of Woonsocket, R.I., and Illinois vet David Garcia (4-1, 2 KOs).

Nordby looks to continue his climb back to the top of the division following his loss to Andre Soukhamthath against the dangerous Garcia, who recently handed Rico DiSciullo his first career loss in September via submission at “CES MMA 38.” Candelario makes his fourth appearance with CES MMA and first since “CES MMA 36” in June when submitted Roosevelt Archie via guillotine in the opening round of a scheduled three-round bout.

Fresh off his comeback win at “CES MMA 40” in November, East Providence, R.I., bantamweight Dinis Paiva (8-6, 5 KOs) faces Findlay, Ohio, vet Jordan Espinosa (8-4, 1 KO). Paiva ended a 13-month layoff in his last bout with a first-round knockout win over Zane Behrend and returns to the network television stage for the first time since his loss to Nordby in October of 2015.

Espinosa last appeared with CES MMA in 2014, but has since won five of his last six, including a victory over Rafael de Freitas at Legacy Fighting Championships 36.

The six-fight preliminary card includes a female flyweight bout between Bourne, Mass., native Sarah Click (1-1) and newcomer Maria Rivera of Framingham, Mass., plus a bantamweight bout between unbeaten Kris Moutinho (2-0) of Milford, Mass., and Fredericktown, Ohio, native Jason Rine (0-1). Fellow Ohio native Raymond Yanez (4-8, 1 KO) of Columbus battles Milford’s Richie Santiago (2-0) and lightweight Connor Barry (2-0) of Stoughton faces New Jersey’s Travis Foster (0-2).

In the flyweight division, David Baxter (3-1, 1 KO) of Bellingham, Mass., battles Pawtucket, R.I., vet Dan Cormier (4-6, 1 KO) and Quincy, Mass., light heavyweight Mike Rodriguez returns in a separate three-round bout.

Visit www.cesmma.com, www.twitter.com/cesmma or www.facebook.com/cesmma for more information, or follow CES MMA on Instagram at @CESMMA.

NEW YORK (January 18, 2017) — Ireland’s Olympic hero MICHAEL “MICK” CONLAN will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by making his professional debut headlining a special card at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Conlan’s pro debut, which will be as a junior featherweight, in a six-round bout against Tim Ibarra (4-4, 1 KOs), of Denver, is set for Friday, March 17 at the “O’Mecca of Boxing.” And to put an exclamation point on the occasion, fellow countryman and UFC superstar and lightweight champion Conor McGregor has accepted Conlan’s invitation to walk him into the ring! Conlan and McGregor — talk about the ol’ One-Toora-Loora in combat sports.

Conlan joins an elite group of Olympic medalists, including George Foreman, Evander Holyfield and Jermaine Taylor, to make his professional debut on boxing’s most hallowed ground.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Madison Square Garden, tickets to Conlan’s pro debut will go on sale Today! Wednesday, January 18 at 11:00 a.m. ET. Priced at $200, $150, $100, $75 and $50, tickets can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008), and online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com.

“I’m honoured and privileged to make my professional boxing debut in the Mecca of Boxing that is Madison Square Garden, fighting in the world’s most famous arena in my professional debut on St. Patrick’s Day. It is something I never dreamed would be possible,” saidl Conlan. “But thanks to my team and Top Rank, it’s happening. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity and I hope to make St Paddy’s Day Weekend at The Garden an annual event! I have the hopes of a nation behind me and I can’t wait to go out and put on a performance for Ireland on St Patrick’s Day!”

“I am looking forward to working with Michael. I believe the kid has a very bright future in boxing,” said trainer Manny Robles. “Now that he will no longer be fighting for trophies, but instead for world titles he will be faced with greater responsibilities. He and I both are ready to take on this new challenge. It is an opportunity I feel humbled by.. I am very excited for Michael making his debut at The Garden, and I hope others are as well. He is an incredible fighter who will put on an incredible fight. And as his coach I am ready to play my role in making sure he does not disappoint his fans, but instead proves to them that he is ready to take on the world.”

“When we agreed to the deal for Mick to sign with Top Rank, and Carl Moretti told me they had put a hold on The Garden for St. Patrick’s Day, I found it hard to hold back my excitement,” said Matthew Macklin, Conlan’s manager. “It will be five years to the day that I fought Sergio Martinez there for the Middleweight Championship and I can tell Mick first hand that it will be an atmosphere like nothing he has ever experienced before! And knowing the potential that Mick has, his exceptional ability and charismatic personality, I feel that starting his career off at Madison Square Garden, the Mecca of Boxing on St. Patrick’s Day, is the fairytale beginning to what I believe is going to be one helluva journey!”

“Top Rank is very bullish on Mick’s long-term success as a global boxing star. His embedded fan base in New York makes it a natural for his professional debut to be as a headliner on boxing’s biggest stage — Madison Square Garden — on one of New York’s biggest holidays — St. Patrick’s Day,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank.

“Some terrific boxers have fought at Madison Square Garden on St. Patrick’s Day – Willie Pep, Beau Jack, John Duddy, Andy Lee, Sergio Martinez and Matthew Macklin,” said Joel Fisher, executive vice president, MSG Marquee Events. “We look to continue that tradition on March 17th with Belfast’s Michael Conlan, who will be making his professional debut in fitting fashion at ‘The Mecca of Boxing.’”

Conlan, 25, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, produced one of the most memorable moments during last summer’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. A loss in the bantamweight quarterfinals to Russia’s Vladimir Nikitin was arguably the most controversial of the boxing tournament. In fact Conlan hurt Nikitin so badly that the Russian forfeited his semifinal fight because he wasn’t able to recuperate from the injuries he suffered from the pasting he received from Conlan. After the decision was announced, Conlan saluted the judges with both middle fingers followed by a series of post-fight interviews ripping the decision and accusing the International Boxing Association (AIBA), which oversees amateur boxing, of corruption. AIBA sent the judges who worked that fight home in the wake of the immediate public outrage. Conlan further added to his legend by sending a Tweet to Russian president Vladimir Putin, “How much did they charge you bro???” A former amateur standout who was a 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist and 2015 World Amateur Champion — a first for a male Irish fighter — Conlan is training in Los Angeles with Manny Robles.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, or facebook.com/trboxeo,and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, or twitter.com/trboxeo, Use the Hashtag #MickConlan to join the conversation on Twitter.

LONDON (18 January 2017) Legendary Irish boxer Peter McDonagh has blasted fellow countryman and MMA superstar Conor McGregor and told him he should fight him first before he even talks about fighting Floyd Mayweather.

Galway born McDonagh, a three-weight Irish champion and the reigning Irish Welterweight Champion, doesn’t believe that McGregor is even the best fighter in Ireland and has thrown down a challenge to UFC great ‘The Notorious’ to prove he has the right to face boxing’s former pound-for-pound king.

McDonagh, known as the ‘Connemara Kid’, has been fighting pro for nearly 17 years in a roller-coaster career with a near 50-50 record in 56 fights, but a current unbeaten run of eight wins has got boxing fans’ and media to sit up and take notice.

He’s changed his nickname to the ‘Cinderella Man’ to reflect the change in his career from outsider to contender as he targets a dream world title shot and with a new found unshakable self-belief and support from the MGM in Marbella, McDonagh’s ready to prove that McGregor’s boasts are just hot air.

McDonagh said, “I started reading about McGregor wanting to fight Mayweather and I thought to myself ‘Hang on a minute, this guy hasn’t even boxed professionally or proved himself in a pro boxing ring and he wants to fight the best pound-for-pound fighter of this generation. Yet he hasn’t even proved himself to be the best fighter in Ireland.’ So I’m coming out publicly to say fight me first and see how you do and if you beat me then start shouting your mouth off for Mayweather,”

“McGregor’s famous for saying ‘Who the F*** is that guy’ , but he will know very well who I am and what I’m all about as he came to National Stadium in Dublin to support his friend Dean Byrne when I fought him for the Irish Welterweight title in November 2015. I beat Byrne who he was cheering for loudly at ringside and after seeing me win a hard and brutal fight I could see the look on McGregor’s face that he would not want to face me in a boxing ring,”

“I respect what he’s done in the UFC and he’s a superstar in the MMA world, but I personally believe that he has no place in a boxing ring and if he comes up against even a half decent boxer he’d get beat easily. He’s making these silly statements that he’d beat Mayweather, but he would get absolutely destroyed. What I’m saying is before you go straight into a boxing ring and fight Mayweather, prove yourself against a boxer like me and if you beat me, but bearing in mind I’ve never been on my backside in my career, then you know you’ve got half a chance in there,”

“I’m the Irish Champion and McGregor’s a massive name back home so Iets do the fight at Croke Park in front of 82,000 fans and give the public what they want to see. If he says he’s the people’s champion then go out and prove it and give the fans’ what they want to see, two Irishman fighting each other on the biggest stage. If he’s proud of his heritage and what he represents then he’ll be a man and take up the challenge, if he doesn’t then it shows he doesn’t care about the Irish fans’ and its all about the money.”

McDonagh next fights in on promoter Mick Hennessy’s EuroFighter show on Saturday 11th February at the Westcroft Leisure Centre, Carshalton, headlined by the European Lightweight Championship between Lenny Daws and Anthony Yigit.

An action-packed card also features Clapham light-heavyweight Kirk Garvey, Morden super-lightweight Craig Whyatt, unbeaten Wraysbury super-welterweight prospect Tony Bange and undefeated super-bantamweight talent Thomas Kindon.

Tickets, priced at £40 and £100 can be purchased through Ticketmaster online at: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/35005172B612815C or by phone on 0844 844 0444

Doors will open at 5.30pm, first fight is at 6pm. The last entry time for the public is 8pm.

Members of the public who have purchased tickets that have the original event date of Saturday 17th December printed on them are advised that they will REMAIN VALID for the new date and can be handed in for entry to the venue on the day.

MEDIA ACCREDITAITON
If you wish to apply for media accreditation for Anthony Yigit v Lenny Daws please CLICK HERE. The deadline for applications to be submitted is Thursday 15th December.

FOLLOW US ON ON TWITTER @HENNESSYSPORTS

FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS VISIT WWW.HENNESSYSPORTS.COM

NEW YORK, NY – January 18, 2017 – Alliance MMA, Inc.
(“Alliance MMA” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: AMMA), a mixed martial arts (MMA) organization that promotes live professional MMA events in numerous major markets across the country, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of the premier MMA promotion in Florida, Fight Time Promotions. The organization, which was founded by Karla Guadamuz-Davis and her husband, the late Olympic Gold Medalist Howard Davis Jr., will be the eighth regional MMA promotion operating under the Company’s umbrella.

“We at Alliance MMA are passionate about continuing our expansion across the country, and this latest acquisition is a meaningful step towards our stated objective of creating a strong presence in every major media market in the country,” said Robert Haydak, President of Alliance MMA. “Miami is a key target market for Alliance MMA, and Fight Time Promotions has a long, successful track record of integrity, consistency, and uniqueness. Karla produces more MMA events than any other promoter in Florida, and currently has 80 fighters under contract. She has successfully led the organization in developing athletes whose bouts are showcased in her world-class events.”

Since 2010, Fight Time Promotions has produced 34 events in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, many of which have been featured on the CBS Sports Network, Comcast Sports Net, and HBO Plus. Co-Founder Howard Davis Jr. was the 1976 boxing Olympic lightweight gold medalist, the first fighter to win the New York Golden Gloves 4-times in a row, and was awarded the Val Barker Trophy for being the most outstanding boxer of the 1976 Olympics, beating out teammates Sugar Ray Leonard and Michael Spinks.

“We consistently provide our fans with action-packed, professional fights,” said Karla Guadamuz-Davis. “Howard was a pioneer in training MMA fighters when the sport first became popular in the United States, and I have worked diligently to keep his legacy alive. His love of the sport was passed on to me and our daughter, so I couldn’t be more excited about joining the Alliance MMA team which I fully expect will allow Fight Time Promotions to expand our presence and reach new levels of success as a business.”

With this latest acquisition Alliance MMA now expects to produce over 64 events on an annualized basis, operating 8 regional MMA promotions across the country: New Jersey-based Cage Fury Fighting Championship (CFFC), Washington-based Combat Games MMA (COGA), Illinois-based Hoosier Fight Club (HFC), Tennessee-based V3 Fights, Maryland-based Shogun Fights, Ohio-based Iron Tiger Fight Series (IT Fight Series), Florida-based Fight Time Promotions, as well as a San Diego-based promotion under the guidance of MMA luminary Eric Del Fierro who expects to debut the Company’s inaugural event in March.

About Alliance MMA, Inc.

Alliance MMA, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMMA) is a mixed martial arts promotion company offering premier promotional opportunities for aspiring mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters to showcase their talent and advance to the sport’s highest level of professional competition. Alliance MMA’s mission is to identify and develop the next generation of fighters and champions to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and other leading MMA promotions.

With some of the world’s leading MMA promotions under the Alliance MMA umbrella, the organization aims eventually to host in excess of 125 events per year, showcasing more than 1,000 fighters. Alliance MMA is also dedicated to generating live original sports media content, attracting an international fan base, and securing major brand sponsorship revenue for live MMA events, digital media and Alliance MMA fighters.

MMA is the world’s fastest growing sport with worldwide fans of approximately 300 million according to sports marketing research firm Repucom. MMA is a full contact sport that allows a wide range of fighting techniques, including striking and grappling from various martial arts and disciplines including Boxing, Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Karate and Muay Thai. Professional MMA fights are legal and regulated by state athletic commissions in all 50 states.

Alliance MMA, Inc. was incorporated in 2015 for the purpose of acquiring businesses that engage in the promotion of mixed martial arts (MMA) events. In 2016, the company completed an initial public offering which culminated in a listing on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Alliance MMA is the only mixed martial arts promotion company that is publicly traded.

For more information visit, www.alliancemma.com

Manchester Cruiserweight starlet Jordan Thompson has signed a long-term promotional deal with Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren. ‘Troublesome’ is planning an attack on the domestic Cruiserweight division and is confident he will be at the top of the pile by the end of the year.

The 23-year-old banger turned pro at the back end of 2015 and made an explosive start to life in the paid ranks, knocking out his first three opponents inside the opening round. He then outpointed tough journeyman Remigijus Ziausys, who Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora both failed to stop, before scoring a second round stoppage win in his last fight.

“Teaming up with Frank is massive and I’m going to repay the faith he’s shown in me,” said Thompson. “I’ve got a huge opportunity to increase my profile with the extra exposure BT Sport and BoxNation will give me. I’m planning on making a bang when I get my chance!

“The domestic Cruiserweight division is wide open and I’m really excited about putting myself right in the mix. Down South you have Isaac Chamberlain who recently beat Wadi Camacho for the Southern Arena title and up North closer to me you have Sam Hyde. I believe I beat them both already but I’m still learning and I need to listen to the advice of those around me.

“I just want to get in that ring against some good opposition, entertain the fans and put on a show because that’s what it’s all about. I think there’s a big space for me in the Cruiserweight division, I’m charismatic and bring something different to the rest of the prospects. I can see myself achieving a lot in this division and very quickly.”

Thompson, whose parents were both karate World Champions, is trained by Haroon Headley at the Heavy Hitters Gym in Manchester alongside Frank Warren stablemate and WBO Inter-Continental Super-Lightweight Champion Jack Catterall.

“I’ve always had a great relationship with Haroon so it made sense to go with him. We go way back to before I even started boxing and it’s good to have him in my corner. I put my trust and faith in him and I know that we’re going to achieve big things together.

“Haroon took me down to Lee Beard’s gym when I started out in boxing and gave me the opportunity to be where I am now. I have a lot of respect for him and he has a lot of respect for me and that’s why we get on so well together.”

“Boxing is Manchester is on the up again with WBO Lightweight Champion Terry Flanagan leading the way and our Jack making a name for himself as one of the best Super-Lightweights in the country. We just need someone flying the flag in the Cruiserweight division and that’s going to be me.”

Promoter Warren said: “Jordan is an exciting addition to our growing team of young talent and I’m looking forward to guiding him to the top of the domestic Cruiserweight division and beyond. He certainly possesses knockout power and has an entertaining style that fans will love.”

You can follow Jordan Thompson on Twitter: @J_Troublesome93 and Instagram: team_troublesome_

On Friday, January 20, at the Grand Casino’s Events & Convention Center in Hinckley, Minnesota, WBA #3-, IBF #13- and WBO #5-rated middleweight contender Rob “Bravo” Brant will put his lofty rankings and his WBA-NABA Middleweight Championship on the line against Mount Clemens, Michigan’s Alexis “Hurricane” Hloros (18-5-2, 12 KOs) in a 10-round slugfest.

A native of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Brant (21-0, 14 KOs) will return to his home state to headline “Grand Friday Night Fights” a nine-bout professional boxing event, presented by Greg Cohen Promotions in association with David Schuster’s winner take all productions.

Tickets for “Grand Friday Night Fights” are priced at $800 Table, $100 Ringside, $50 Reserved and $35 General Admission and are available at grandcasinomn.com, Ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets. The entire event will also be streamed live on FloBoxing.tv (7:30 p.m. CST).

“It has been five months since I’ve been in the ring, but haven’t taken much time off,” said Brant. “I have focused on nothing but preparing for the top level of the middleweight division. Though my original opponent fell through last minute, I am well-prepared for whoever is across from the ring from me. I treat everyone across from me like a world champion and I am prepared to showcase the best version of myself.”

“He’s going to have get past me if he wants to fight the best in the division,” said Holoros. “How he does against me will give a good indication of who he is. If he beats me he’s got something. I know he’s undefeated and coming to fight and so am I. I’ve been fighting a lot of years. I’m ready and I’ll put on a performance the fans that night will remember.”

Other Greg Cohen Promotions prospects in action will be all-action super welterweight Skender Halili from Fort Worth, Texas, via Klina, Kosovo; and ultra-talented welterweight prospect Malik “Iceman” Hawkins (10-0, 7 KOs) from Baltimore, Maryland.

Never in a bad fight, the the 26-year-old power-punching Halili will take on Wichita, Kansas, veteran Romon Barber (7-12, 6 KOs) in a six-round battle.

21-year-old Hawkins, a highly decorated amateur boxer and now undefeated professional, will face an opponent yet to be announced in a six-rounder.

“Rob Brant is on the verge of a very big opportunity and I commend him for wanting to stay sharp and not rest on his laurels,” said Greg Cohen. “The Grand Casino has been a terrific site to work with throughout my company’s history and I’m very happy to be returning once again. Our fighters Skender Halili and Malik Hawkins are in good match-ups on the undercard and we’ve got FloBoxing.tv streaming the event online. It’s a great even I’m proud to have the Greg Cohen Promotions name on.”

On fight night, the action starts at 7 p.m. The Grand Casino Hinckley is located at 777 Lady Luck Drive in Hinckley, MN.

How to Watch FloBoxing Fight Series: Brant vs. Hloros
On TV: Now Available on Roku & Apple TV 4
STREAMING: Available only on FloBoxing. Sign up today for $20 monthly or $150 yearly. Yearly FloPRO access gets you premium content and events from ALL FloSports sites, including FloCombat, FloWrestling, and FloGrappling. The commentary team for Jan. 20 will feature Mike Letourneau, national boxing writer Steve Kim and former heavyweight champion of the world Hassim “The Rock” Rahman. The eight-bout card will begin streaming on FloBoxing.tv at 7:30 p.m. CST. SIGN UP HERE
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 and top 10 world-rated contender Jarrell Miller, Undefeated WBA NABA Middleweight Champion and top 5 world-rated contender Robert Brant, WBO NABO Lightweight Champion and top 5 world-rated contender Mason Menard, former WBA Interim World Lightweight Champion and top 10 world-rated contender Ismael Barroso, top 10 world-rated contender Rico Mueller, undefeated WBA International Bantamweight Champion and world-rated contender Mzuvukile Magwaca, WBO Oriental Super Welterweight Champion and world-rated contender Dennis Hogan, IBO World Featherweight Champion Lusanda Komanisi, former WBO Super Lightweight World Champion Kendall Holt, as well as current top 10 world-rated contenders cruiserweight Olanrewaju Durodola, Filipino Jr. Lightweight star Harmonito Dela Torre, Filipino Super Lightweight Czar Amonsot, and top 15 world-rated contenders featherweight world title challenger Eric Hunter and Guyanese bantamweight Elton Dharry.

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.

Lawrence Okolie has signed a promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing.

The 24 year old’s decision to turn over is the latest step in a remarkable rise, having been inspired by Anthony Joshua’s London 2012 Olympic gold medal win while he was working in McDonalds.

Okolie began boxing in 2010 just to lose weight but following Joshua’s golden moment in east London, Okolie doubled his efforts and after landing back to back University titles in 2014 and 2015 he earned a spot in the British Lionhearts World Series of Boxing team before taking gold in the AIBA European Qualifier in Turkey to make it to the 2016 games in Rio.

Okolie is the first of the 2016 Team GB squad to turn professional, and the Hackney talent has set ambitious targets for life in the paid ranks.

“I want to be the best Cruiserweight that Britain has seen,” said Okolie. “David Haye has done great things, so has Johnny Nelson and many others, but I want to cement my legacy, have my name go down in history and maybe follow Haye by winning the Heavyweight crown too.

“I want to get some excitement going in the division, not just from the fans but also have other Cruiserweights training hard and wanting to fight me, because I want to be in great and exciting fights. I want to have six to eight fights in 2017 and I’ll be looking to get six to eight knockouts – I mean business.

“Even though I’ve only had 26 fights, people are going to say that I should be able to beat everyone because I’ve been to the Olympics. There’s pressure there but it’ll bring the best out of me. Even if people expect me to win, because then I will want to win in style and make a statement.

“I went into the gym the day after Anthony won gold and I went into McDonalds and told them that I wanted to concentrate on boxing so I cut my hours and eventually stopped working there.

“I’ve got natural attributes to box. I was never good at other sports, but boxing happens to be one that I’ve done well in. It’s been down to hard work, application and dedication. I think with most things, if you put time and effort in, you will get better. If you have two fighters that are on a similar level, nine times out of ten the winner will be the one that puts in more time to win, and I’m going to bring that to the pro games.

“I have a lot of self-belief but there’s always that shadow of doubt there that ‘can you do this?’ The answer is always yes but the question is there. Getting thrown in at the deep end is something that works for me as if I know that I am going to win I can go through the motions, but if the pressure is on, there’s a big crowd, it’s a must-win, that’s when I produce my best.

“Outside the ring I want to be a role model in Hackney and show people there that if you work hard and believe in yourself you can achieve a lot.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn is excited to welcome Okolie to his stable of champions, and says that the first step on his path to the top will be announced next week.

“I am delighted to welcome Lawrence to the team,” said Hearn. “Lawrence is the first Team GB Olympian to turn over and I think he has a huge future in the Cruiserweight and Heavyweight divisions.

“Lawrence has all the attributes to become a star inside and outside the ring, and we will announce his debut fight next week. These early stages are where fighters build their foundations and profile to ensure they achieve their dreams and become super stars in the sport – Lawrence has the perfect platform to do that. He will box eight times in his first year on the biggest shows all over the country. It’s official – Okolie’s out the cage!”

By Michael Serra-

On April 29th at Wembley Stadium, Anthony Joshua defends his IBF heavyweight championship against former champion Wladimir Klitchsko.

The general consensus is that Joshua despite winning the title, is largely untested, and still has lots more to learn! Question marks loom over the champion.
In recent performances Joshua has at times looked a tad crude for better use of the word and in winning the title last April, had very little to beat in the champion Charles Martin whom contented himself by taking the count and making no attempt whatsoever to get up and continue.

Last time out Joshua looked a lot more mature, better defensively and looked much better but in all fairness, Eric Molina provided very little and soon folded once Joshua landed, yet again it told us nothing and proved little more than a routine defence for the likeable Hertfordshire man!

Klitchsko hasn’t boxed since losing to Tyson Fury back in November 2015! That night he seemed out of sorts, letting the Mancunian spoil and grab his way through a lackluster twelve rounds.
This is a typical match up of the changing of the guard, the old lion versus the young lion.

This is definitely what the American’s would call ‘a pick em’ while Joshua has youth on his side, Klitchsko has experience.

Joshua’s best chance of victory is going to be by the short route, he has what we call the proverbial punchers chance, and if he can land clean enough he may well be with in a chance of stopping the Ukranian.

Remember back in 2003 when Wladimir defended his WBO title against Corrie Sanders! This is I feel Joshua’s best chance of victory, however if Klitchsko get’s into a rhythm and starts to work that left jab of his, then the Englishman could be in for a long and painful evening.

I’m going to stick my chin out here and go for a stoppage in favour of Joshua, I feel ring rust and father time won’t help and I feel Johshua hits as hard if not harder than Sanders! And that was almost 14 years ago! Joshua for me in six rounds!

For ticket details please visit www.matchroomboxing.com

LAS VEGAS (January 17, 2017) – Undefeated featherweight world champion Carl Frampton hosted media at his training camp in Las Vegas Tuesday ahead of his highly anticipated rematch with former three-division world champion Leo Santa Cruz on Saturday, January 28 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena and live on SHOWTIME.

Televised coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with undefeated lightweight world champion Dejan Zlaticanin battling former two-division world champion Mikey Garcia.

Frampton was joined by undefeated prospect Josh Taylor; who’s 10-round super
lightweight contest is set to be featured as part of bonus coverage on SHOWTIME
EXTREME at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Here is what the participants had to say Tuesday from Porter Hy-Performance Center in Las Vegas:

CARL FRAMPTON

“This camp has been even better than the last one. I had a few problems with my hand during the last training camp but this camp has been brilliant. I’ve been able to put a lot of effort into every session.

“I’m hungry to prove that this wasn’t a fluke. I see some people talking on the internet that I got lucky last time or that Leo would have won with his father in camp the whole time. But I believe there is a lot more to come for me. I’ve been performing better this camp than ever before. I think I win this fight more convincingly.

“I think Leo is a confidence fighter. I think his pride has made him go straight back to the deep end again. He’s always been bigger than his opponents. At both bantamweight and super bantamweight he was bigger. Even though Leo is taller than me, I’m the bigger man. On fight night I’ll be heavier and stronger than him. He’s been able to bully opponents and wear them out, but he can’t do that to me. I think he’s making a big mistake jumping right back in.

“I got drawn in to Leo’s type of fight last time, which made it very exciting. Because of our styles, it’s always going to be a good fight. If it’s two wins to nil for me, I’d rather move on and fight someone like Lee Selby. I just want to be involved in big fights.

“Obviously, being from where I’m from, fighting in New York was a major appeal, and a lot of guys on the East Coast are attracted to an Irish fighter they haven’t seen before. So I got a lot of new support from the East Coast. We brought a lot of people across with us, as well. But now, to be fighting, topping the bill at the MGM in the fight capital of the world, it’s something I never really thought about when I was a kid or when I turned professional. I never really believed I could get to this. But it’s here, and I’m hoping that it can continue for a long time.

“We’re staying at Robert Guerrero’s training camp house, which is a big thing for me in itself. We drove past the MGM Grand and saw my face on the side. That was pretty surreal in itself. I just can’t wait to soak it up.

“This was a big fight enough in New York, now I think it’s going to be like New York on steroids. I can’t wait to soak up the atmosphere on fight week, can’t wait for all of my fans to get here, I think it’s going to be a real carnival atmosphere and people are going to enjoy it.”

“Fighting Leo Santa Cruz in the United States, a 3-weight world champion who a lot of people thought was going to beat me and beat me comfortably, that was a big deal. That was the real turning point of my career. And I think there’s more to come. I’m 30 in February, but I don’t feel any signs of slowing up.

“I genuinely feel like I’m getting better and I think Leo’s going to be in for a tough night here. If I can do what I’ve been doing here in the gym, perform like I’ve been performing in sparring, I’m hurting sparring partners, knocking sparring partners out. I feel like I’m developing, developing into a proper featherweight and I feel like he’s going to be in for a tough night.

“We’ve got a chef in the house that we’re staying at, cooking and preparing our food. We’re training at Shawn Porter’s gym here. It’s a great facility and they’re looking after us, Shawn and (Kenny) Porter. It’s nothing really to deal with apart from the time difference. I reckon it takes a day for every hour of time difference.”

JOSH TAYLOR

“This is the first time I’ve been in Las Vegas and I’m definitely a little star struck by the strip and the big buildings. I’m really have a great time though and it’s a good experience.

“This is a great setup we have here at the gym and I’m getting a lot of good work here. I’ve been sparring with former world champion Shawn Porter and Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas. I couldn’t ask for better work.

“I feel very confident. I’m getting great preparation. It’s not every day you get to spar with guys like this, especially with only seven fights under my belt. I’m feeling really good.”

SHANE MCGUIGAN, Frampton and Taylor’s Trainer

“Training camp has been going really great. Santa Cruz feels like he didn’t have his best performance last time but I don’t think Carl was at his best either. I think we’ll see the same victory this time.

“Carl’s confidence is through the roof. He never lacks in that department. He always rises to the occasion. He performs his best when he’s out there in front of a huge crowd. Leo Santa Cruz is going to bring out the best of Carl Frampton.

“Fighting in Las Vegas is amazing. This is what Carl has been dreaming about since he was a kid. I’ve been dreaming about it too. My father was an amazing fighter but this is a new era of massive crowds coming across the globe. It all starts on January 28 and it’s going to be a great time.”

BARRY MCGUIGAN, Frampton’s Manager, Former World Champion and Hall of Famer

“It was definitely Carl’s toughest fight but I think Carl is still getting better. I think Carl will win even more convincingly this time, but it’s going to be a great fight every time they meet because of the clash of styles.

“Carl has knocked out at least two of his sparring partners in preparation for this. He’s looking very strong and he’s working very hard.

“Santa Cruz is talking about using his range, but I think that’s all smokescreens. Once that bell rings he’s going to come straight at Carl and we’ll be in for another great fight.

“We had the option to squeeze in a mandatory defense before the end of last year. But we thought it was best to rest and get this big fight in by the end of January.”

ABOUT FRAMPTON vs. SANTA CRUZ 2
Carl Frampton vs. Leo Santa Cruz 2 is a world championship rematch of the 2016 Fight of the Year candidate featherweight showdown. The 12-round bout headlines SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING action on Saturday, January 28 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. In the co-main event, lightweight world champion Dejan Zlaticanin will meet former two-division champion Mikey Garcia in the opening bout on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Featherweight world champion Lee Selby will fight for the second time in the United States when he battles former world champion Jonathan Victor Barros in action on SHOWTIME EXTREME beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Ringstar Sports in association with Cyclone Promotions and TGB Promotions, are priced at $504, $404, $304, $204, $104 and $54, and are on sale. Tickets are available at www.AXS.com.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, www.premierboxingchampions.com and www.mgmgrand.com, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @LeoSantaCruz2, @RealCFrampton, @MikeyGarcia, @DinamitDejan1 and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports and www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions.PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.