LAS VEGAS (Nov. 13, 2015) – A ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader, highlighted by a super welterweight matchup between undefeated prospects Frank Galarza and Jarret Hurd, blue chip prospect Sergiy Derevyanchenko and undefeated light heavyweight David Benavidez is set for tomorrow/Saturday, Nov. 14 live on SHOWTIME (10:45 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas.

Featured in the main event, Frank “Notorious” Galarza (17-0-2, 11 KOs), of Brooklyn, N.Y., will make his fourth ShoBox appearance as he faces fellow undefeated Jarrett Hurd (16-0, 10 KOs), of Accokeek, Md., in a 10-round super welterweight bout.

Former Ukrainian Olympian and undefeated prospect Sergiy Derevyanchenko (6-0, 4 KOs, WSOB: 23-1, 7 KOs) faces veteran Jessie Nicklow (25-7-3, 8 KOs) in the eight-round super middleweight co-feature. In the opening bout of the tripleheader, David Benavidez (10-0, 9 KOs), of Phoenix, Ariz., makes his ShoBox debut against veteran Felipe Romero (15-9-1, 9 KOs), of La Paz, Mexico, in an eight-round light heavyweight matchup.

Galarza and Hurd, both tipped the scales at 154 ½ pounds each. Derevyanchenko measured at 164 ¾ pounds, while his opponent, Nicklow, weighted 165 ½. Benavidez measured at 171 ¼ pounds while his counterpart, Romero, weighed-in at 173 ½ pounds.

In non-televised action, Bermane Stiverne weighed-in at 254 ½ pounds, while Derric Rossy measured at 230 ¾ pounds. Charvis Holifield weighed 142 ¾ pounds, and Dwain Victorian weighed-in at 140 ¼ pounds. Sanjarbek Rahkmannov measured at 143 ½ pounds, while his opponent Somner Martin weighed-in at 143 ¼ pounds and Trakwon Pettis tip the scale at 138 ¾ pounds, while his opponent, Marquis Hawthorne weighted at 140 pounds even.

Here’s what the fighters had to say prior to Friday’s weigh-in:

Fank Galarza
“I don’t mind challenging fights. You put me in with a tough opponent and you’re going to see a tough Frank Galarza.

“We’ve been here already. We know what it takes to put my undefeated record on the line. I’ve faced the tougher fighters. I know I can swing, but is he ready to swing? I’ve been the [under] dog and been in with the sharks before. And I swam with them.

“I don’t think he’s ready for what I bring to the table. He hasn’t been in with someone like me.

“He’s going to try to come forward and bully me, but that’s not going to happen.

“It takes a tough guy to go in that ring. Anything can happen. At the end of the day, it comes down to who wants it more.

“I’m ready for a 10 rounder. I’ve been looking for one for a while.

“No matter how much video we watch, no one knows what it’s going to happen in the ring. We have to capitalize on his mistakes. Boxing is about adapting and I adapt very well.”

Jarrett Hurd
“It’s a great opportunity for us. We’ve been thinking about fighting [Frank] Galarza since last December.

“Frank might be confident, but he doesn’t intimidate me. My confidence is skyrocketing. My style matches up perfect for him.

“I know what I can do. I sparred with guys that are elite fighters –Lamont Peterson, Antoine Douglas, Dominic Wade, Austin Trout, Jerry Odom. We’ve been sparring with some of the best in [Washington] D.C. and Maryland.

“This is a huge fight for me. It could open the doors that I’ve been waiting for.”

Sergiy Derevyanchenko
“He [Jessie Nicklow] doesn’t have anything I haven’t seen before. He has experience, but I’m ready to show off what I’ve been working on at the gym.

“I can always get better. I’m learning in every fight. There’s a big difference between the amateurs and the pros. I’m leaning new combinations, new techniques. I learn from my sparring partners every day.

“I was preparing for a fight in December, so that’s why the weight is contacted at 166. But I’m a middleweight –the future is 160.

“I’m ready to take the next step. [Gennady] Golovkin is the champion of the world, of course I’d like to fight him.

“Fighters from the Ukraine, we work hard because we know where we come from. Life wasn’t easy for us growing up.”

Jessie Nicklow
“I can back this guy up. The guy [Sergiy Derevyanchenko] is 30 years old and he has six pro fights. They think this is an easy fight, but I’m going to beat the crap out of him. I’m really excited.

“I think these people are stupid –I can’t believe they’re flying me in to fight this guy who’s got six fights. He’s got a big amateur background, but he’s only got six pro fights. I cannot wait to get in the ring Saturday night.

“I’ve fought an [Ryota Murata] Olympic Gold Medalist before. This guy doesn’t have anything I haven’t seen before. I’m not coming to lose. He’s on my soil and I’m coming to beat him.

“I’m 100 percent. This guy is smaller than me. I’m used to fighting big guys.”

David Benavidez
“[Fernando] Romero is better than most of the opponents I’ve faced, so this is definitely a step-up for me.

“I’ve knocked down every fighter I’ve faced. I’m looking forward to putting this guy down.

“We sparred with southpaws in camp, so we’re ready if he switches on us.

“He likes to throw a lot of wild punches. We know there will be a lot of open opportunities for me.

“I sparred with Kelly Pavlik, Gennady Golovkin, Peter Quillin, Julius Jackson. I’m 18 and I’ve been sparring with some of the best fighters in the world.

“I’m focusing on fighting at 168. I don’t have any problem making the weight. I contracted higher for this fight [173], but 168 is the future for us. I’m very excited to fight on national TV for the first time.

“I used to be a lot bigger than I am now. I was 5-foot-4, 250 pounds when I was 13-years-old. I lost the weight and I started to grow.

“I don’t regret not fighting much in the amateurs. I’m happy I turned pro at 16. I had to move to Mexico to do it, but it was the right move for my career.”

Felipe Romero
“This is the best weight for me. I’m a natural light heavyweight.

“I’m working with a new trainer and we’ve been working on some new things. I’m focused full time on fighting.

“I know he’s good, he’s strong, he’s young, but he’s been fighting guys who aren’t very good. He hasn’t faced anyone with my experience. I’ve faced tougher guys and I’m coming to beat him.

“I need to be smart and use my experience. He hasn’t fought many rounds so we’re going to push him. He’s not going to knock me out.

“I’ve fought all over the world. Fighting as an underdog is nothing new to me.”

Bermane Stiverne
“Training has been excellent and I’m ready to fight tomorrow night.

“I’m excited to be fighting again. I’ve been off too long.

“I’ve climbed the mountain to become a world champion and I’m prepared to do it again. I want to get my title back.”
# # #

Tickets for the live event are priced at $155, $105, $80, $55 and $30, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased at Hard Rock Hotel box office, by calling 888-9-AXS-TIX, or online at www.axs.com.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @Notorious_FG, @Swift_JHurd, @SHOSports, @TGBPromotions, @HardRockHotelLV and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports.

Galarza vs. Hurd, 10-round super welterweight main event of ShoBox: The New Generation taking place on Saturday, Nov. 14 at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas and promoted by TGB Promotions. In the co-feature, Sergiy Derevyanchenko faces Jessie Nicklow in an eight-round middleweight bout and in the telecast opener, David Benavidez measures against Felipe Romero in an eight-round light heavyweight matchup.

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 63 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.

It barely lasted more then two rounds, but Edwin Rodriguez scored a 3rd round stoppage over previously undefeated Michael Seals in a thrilling five knockdown Light Heavyweight bout at the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.

In a wild first round, Rodriguez dropped Seals from a series of punches that was capped off by a right to the head. Seals came back to send Rodriguez to the canvas with a short right hand. Just before the end of the first frame, Seals landed a perfect left hook that sent Rodriguez plummeting to the canvas. In round two, Rodriguez caught Seals with a chopping right that sent Seals to the canvas. Seconds into round three, Rodriguez landed a perfect right that sent Seals down hard to the canvas and the fight was waved off at 24 seconds of round three.

Rodriguez, 175.4 lbs of Worcester, MA is 28-1 with 19 knockouts. Seals, 174.4 lbs of Atlanta, GA is 19-1.

Thomas Williams Jr. and Humberto Savigne traded knockdowns in round one but it was Williams who gained the upper hand and scored a 2nd round stoppage in a scheduled 10-round Light Heavyweight bout.

In round one, Williams dropped Savigne with a right hook to the head. Seconds later, It was Savigne who got even as he dropped Williams with a right to the head. In round two, Williams hurt Savigne with several punches and then dropped him for a second knockdown. Williams started landing hard wild shots and the referee stopped the bout at 1:48 of round two.

Williams, 174.6 lbs of Laurel, MD is 19-1 with 13 knockouts. Savigne, 175.8 lbs of Boca Raton, FL via Cuba is 12-3-1.

Bryant Perrella scored a 1st round stoppage over Caquib Fadli in a scheduled 8-round Welterweight bout.

Perrella landed about 10 punches to the body on the ropes and was ruled a knockdown. Perrella jumped on Fadli and landed a left down the middle that was followed by a flurry of punches sent Fadli to a knee and the bout was stopped at 1:30.

Perrella, 146.8 lbs of Fort Myers, FL is 12-0 with 11 knockouts. Fadli, 145.6 lbs of France is 13-6.

Former world title challenger Fernando Guerrero scored a 7th round stoppage over Daniel Souza Santos in a scheduled 8 round Middleweight bout.

Guerrero controlled the action and landed a barrage of punches until the fight was stopped at 1:45 of round 7.

Guerrero, 156.1 lbs of Los Angeles, CA is 28-3 with 20 knockouts. Santos, 156.2 lbs of Brazil is now 13-9.

Las Vegas – UFC® announced today the launch of the official UFC app on Amazon’s Appstore, available on all Amazon Fire streaming devices like Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. UFC fans on Amazon devices now have access to all UFC Pay Per View broadcasts—like the upcoming UFC 193®: ROUSEY vs. HOLM and UFC 194®: ALDO vs. MCGREGOR events—as well as UFC FIGHT PASS®, with exclusive on-demand programming, live events and the most comprehensive mixed martial arts fight library in the world.

“We are thrilled about the new UFC app on Amazon’s Appstore as fight fans can now enjoy the UFC experience on Amazon Fire TV’s set-top-boxes and Fire TV Sticks,” UFC Senior Vice President of Digital Edward Muncey said. “UFC has always been on the cutting edge of utilizing technology to engage our fans, and now Amazon Fire users can view exclusive content wherever they are.”

The UFC app will initially be available in North America, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, China, Japan, Australia, Spain, France and Italy, and will support in-app purchasing in local currencies. The app will provide access to UFC weigh-ins, press conferences and other live streams, bringing fans closer to UFC and their favorite athletes anywhere with their Amazon Fire device.

With UFC FIGHT PASS, users can watch premium on-demand content and live broadcasts through the digital subscription service that has become a must-have for mixed martial arts fans. Along with unparalleled access to the biggest fight library in the world and fan-favorite shows like The Ultimate Fighter, Dana White: Looking for a Fight and Fightography, UFC FIGHT PASS is the premiere destination for the biggest fights and greatest athletes in the sport.

Click here to download UFC’s free app on Amazon Fire devices.

The UFC app is also available on most digital platforms including Xbox One, Xbox 360, iPhone and iPod Touch, iPad, Apple TV, Android, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung Smart TV and LG Smart TV. For a complete list of supported devices, please visit http://www.ufc.com/devices.

About UFC®

UFC® is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 158 countries and territories to over 1 billion TV households worldwide in 21 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service that is available throughout the world with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.

###

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 13) – Tickets for the WBA Interim Heavyweight World Championship showdown between Bryant “By-By” Jennings (19-1, 10 KOs) and Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (23-0, 20 KOs) will go on sale today, Friday, November 13.

The heavyweight 12-round title clash will take place on Saturday, Dec. 19 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY and is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Gary Shaw Productions. Featured as the co-main event of the night and presented by Top Rank in association with Peltz Boxing Promotions and Warriors Boxing Promotions; Nicholas “Axe Man” Walters (26-0, 21 KOs) returns to the ring to take on heavy-handed contender Jason “El Canito” Sosa (18-1-3, 14 KOs) in a 10-round junior lightweight fight. The action-packed night will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.

The exciting night will also feature an HBO Latino® Boxing event, presented in association by Star Boxing and headlined by Cuban light heavyweight contender Yunieski Gonzalez (16-1, 12 KOs) fighting out of Miami, Florida taking on the undefeated power-puncher, Vyacheslav “Lion Heart – Chigonskyy” Shabranskyy (14-0, 12 KOs) of Los Angeles in a 10-round light heavyweight main event. Plus, former world title contender, “King” Gabriel Rosado (21-9, 13 KOs) of Philadelphia makes his highly anticipated return to the ring against former IBF Welterweight World Champion Joshua “Grand Master” Clottey (39-4, 22 KOs) of Accra, Ghana, in a 10-round junior middleweight co-main event. The HBO Latino Boxing event will start at 12:15 a.m. ET/PT (tape delay) or immediately following the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast.

Tickets for the Dec. 19 HBO Boxing After Dark and HBO Latino Boxing event start at $25, $35 and $60 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).

Jennings vs. Ortiz is a 12-round heavyweight bout fight for the WBA Interim Heavyweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Gary Shaw Productions. Walters vs. Sosa is a 10-round junior lightweight bout presented by Top Rank in association with Peltz Boxing Promotions and Warriors Boxing Promotions. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins live at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.

Gonzalez vs. Shabranskyy, is a 10-round light heavyweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Star Boxing. The HBO Latino Boxing telecast begins at 12:15 a.m. ET/PT (tape delay).

Host of the event, the Oneida Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino continues to distinguish itself as a premier destination for blockbuster boxing matches. The December 19 fight will mark Turning Stone Resort Casino’s 16th nationally-televised boxing event in less than two years, cementing the resort as a mecca for knockout televised fights. Located in Upstate New York, the four-season destination resort offers world-class entertainment and gaming, award-winning accommodations, a diverse mix of restaurants, luxury spas and several nightlife options.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.grayshawproductions.com, www.toprank.com,www.hbo.com/boxing, www.starboxing.com and www.turningstone.com. Follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @GaryShawBoxing, @TRboxing, @StarBoxing, @HBOBoxing, @TurningStone and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/Gary-Shaw-Productions-134758615997/, www.facebook.com/trboxing, www.facebook.com/StarBoxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/TurningStoneResort. Visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @StarBoxing, @TurningStone. Follow the conversation by using #JenningsOrtiz and #WaltersSosa

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 13, 2015) – IBF Bantamweight World Champion Randy “El Matador” Caballero (22-0, 13 KOs) hosted a Los Angeles media workout on Thursday, Nov. 12 at City of Angels Boxing Gym ahead of his Nov. 21 face off and first title defense against England’s Lee “Playboy” Haskins (32-3, 14 KOs) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Caballero will headline the preliminary undercard preceding the HBO Pay-Per-View® telecast of the Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez event on Saturday, Nov. 21.

Caballero was joined by Ronny Rios (24-1, 10 KOs) who will also be featured on the Cotto vs. Canelo undercard as part of the pay-per-view telecast against Jayson “Star” Velez(23-0-1, 16 KOs) on Nov. 21. Fighters on the Boxeo Estelar broadcast on Estrella TV on Nov. 20 live from The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Diego De La Hoya (12-0, 7 KOs), Jason “El Animal” Quigley (8-0, 8 KOs), and Roy “Pit Bull” Tapia (11-0-2, 6 KOs) were also in attendance to discuss their upcoming fights.

Below is what the fighters had to say at the Los Angeles media workout:

RANDY “EL MATADOR” CABALLERO, IBF Bantamweight World Champion:

“The way I will win on November 21 will make everyone stop. I’m going to break Haskins down round by round. Even if it’s not televised, I know a lot of people are watching. I’m a Golden Boy Champion, and I’m ready to represent one of the best Promoters out there.

“My title is not going anywhere. I’ve fought so hard to keep it, and I’m hungry to get back in the ring. As people saw, after my surgery, I was in a wheelchair and I was still hitting the gym. I’m trying to make a statement, and let people know who I am, and what makes a champion. My body feels good, and I’m ready to get more titles.”

RONNY RIOS, Top Featherweight Contender:

“We are ready, and well prepared for the fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on November 21. This fight is perfect for me. The challenge it brings feeds into the Puerto Rico vs. Mexico boxing rivalry. It’s also my first time on a Pay-Per-View fight under card, which makes it all the more exciting.

“My opponent likes to fight and dictate the pace but that will not happen this time. For this camp, we corrected a lot of my own mistakes, and tried to make improvements. I’m here to fight the best, and I want to win. Jason Velez is a great fighter and my focus is all on him.”

DIEGO DE LA HOYA, Super Bantamweight Prospect:

“I’ve been training hard for this fight on November 20 against Delgado. I’m ready to make a name for myself, and create my own De La Hoya following. Oscar and everyone at Golden Boy Promotions have been great, but it is because of my own skill and talent that I’ve climbed the ranks.

“I know this is going to be another tough fight for me, but I know I will shine on Nov. 20. I am well prepared and ready to give fight fans the fight of the night.”

JASON “EL ANIMAL” QUIGLEY, Middleweight Prospect:

“I’m ready to be a part of the biggest fight weekend in Las Vegas, and make a statement on November 20 at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. This will be my sixth fight in 2015, and I have been training hard to add another victory on to my record.

“I hope that one day I’ll be able to fight champions like David Lemieux or Canelo Alvarez because they are where I want to be. I know that it will take a lot of sacrifice, but I know that I can do it.”

ROY “PIT BULL” TAPIA, Super Bantamweight Prospect:

“I know it’s going to be a tough fight in Las Vegas on November 20, but I know if I give my 100 percent and create a game plan, I’ll win.

“I feel like I’m a better boxer now I switched to a different camp, I’ve learned a lot of boxing, and I’ve learned to create a plan A, B, and C. I don’t think I would be comfortable with a decision fight, so I’m planning to go all in and put a stop on Eric Ruiz as soon as I can.”
Cotto vs. Canelo, a 12-round fight for Cotto’s WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Championships, takes place Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The fight is presented by Roc Nation Sports, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra; Mexico, Live it to Believe it!; O’Reilly Auto Parts; Tequila Cazadores and Corporate Travel Made Simple (ctms). Also featured on the pay-per-view telecast will be Takashi Muira vs. Francisco Vargas in a 12-round fight for the WBC Super Featherweight World Championship presented in association with Teiken Promotions, and Jayson Velez vs. Ronny Rios is a 10-round featherweight bout. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Randy Caballero vs. Lee Haskins, a 12-round fight for the IBF Bantamweight World Championship, is presented in association with Bristol Boxing Ltd. and will be featured as part of the preliminary undercards available on digital platforms starting at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT.

A limited number of tickets priced at $2,000, $1,750, $1,250 and $650, not including applicable service charges, can be purchased at the Mandalay Bay box office, ticketmaster.com, mandalaybay.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (800) 745-3000. Ticket orders are limited to four per person.

Tickets for closed circuit viewings of Cotto vs. Canelo are priced at $75, not including applicable service charges and can be purchased at all MGM Resorts International Ticket Offices, www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (800) 745-3000.

Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez will be presented live with Fathom Events in select theaters nationwide. Tickets for theater screenings of Cotto vs. Canelo can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. For a complete list of theater locations visit www.fathomevents.com/event/cotto-vs-canelo-live.

Sports bars, restaurants, casinos (outside of Clark County, Nevada) and other commercial establishments can order Cotto vs. Canelo by contacting Joe Hand Promotions at (800) 557-4263 or by visiting www.JoeHandPromotions.com. Joe Hand Promotions is the exclusive commercial distributor for Cotto vs. Canelo throughout the United States and Canada.

Diego De La Hoya vs. Giovanni Delgado is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra and Carmelita Chorizo. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the first bout begins at 5:00 p.m. The Boxeo Estelar broadcast will air live on Estrella TV at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The card will also stream live on EstrellaTV.com and on YouTube via Fenomeno Studios. The Ring TV live stream will begin at approximately 5:00 p.m. PT through 6:00 p.m and can be viewed on RingTVLive.com, YIPTV.com, Fightsports.tv, UCNLive.com, Facebook.com/RingTV, Livestream.com, and The Ring TV Channels on Roku and Amazon Fire.

Tickets, priced at $95, $65, $35 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, are on sale now. Tickets are available for purchase by visiting The Joint box office, calling 888.9.AXS.TIX or online at www.axs.com.

Los Angeles, CA (November 12, 2015) Boxing Superstar, Gennady “GGG” Golovkin was awarded the World Boxing Association’s ‘Boxer of the Month’ for October 2015. The award was given following his dominant eighth round stoppage of David Lemieux on October 17 in front of a sold-out crowd of 20,548 at the ‘Mecca of Boxing’ Madison Square Garden.

The victory raised Golovkin’s record to 34-0 with 31 knockouts including 21 consecutive stoppages in the 15th defense of his WBA world title and improved his knockout ratio to 91.2%, the highest in middleweight division history. This is the sixth time Golovkin has won the monthly award from the WBA.

Currently the WBA/IBF/IBO and “WBC” Interim Middleweight Champion, Golovin is next setting his sights on the winner of the Miguel Cotto/Canelo Alvarez Middleweight Title bout on Saturday, November 21

“Gennady wants to unify all four major sanctioning body titles.” said Tom Loeffler, Managing Director of K2 Promotions. “He will be sitting ringside on November 21 in Las Vegas and looks forward to facing the winner as soon as possible.”

This past Sunday night Golovkin was a special guest of the Dallas Cowboys at AT & T Stadium and held media events in Dallas and San Antonio in his first trip to Texas.

“Gennady is one of the most marketable fighters in boxing and the Cowboys recognize that he is selling out every stadium when he fights.” continued Loeffler. “The media and fan receptions at are our events in Dallas and San Antonio were overwhelming and there is a huge demand for Gennady to fight in Texas, he’s clearly become the ‘People’s Champion.’”

On December 13, Golovkin will head to Panama City, Panama to attend the WBA’s 94th annual convention.

“Gennady is the most active world champion in boxing and he provides excitement every time he enters the ring,” added Loeffler.

In the last three years Golovkin has fought 11 times with all of his victories coming by knockout while providing some of the highest TV ratings worldwide for his fights.

According to Dan Ran Rafael of espn.com, Oscar De La Hoya had some parting words for Floyd Mayweather in this month’s Playboy Magazine.

“You did it. You made it to the 49-0 mark, a milestone that you like to say only the great Rocky Marciano reached but that was actually achieved by others, including my idol Julio Cesar Chavez — but who’s counting,” De La Hoya wrote. “And now you’re retiring. Again. (The first time was after our fight in 2007.) This time you say it’s for real. You’re serious about hanging up the gloves. On to bigger and better things. So I’m writing to you today to wish you a fond farewell. Truth be told, I’m not unhappy to see you retire. Neither are a lot of boxing fans. Scratch that. MOST boxing fans. Why? Because the fight game will be a better one without you in it.”

“Let’s face it: You were boring,” De La Hoya wrote. “Just take a look at your most recent performance, your last hurrah in the ring, a 12-round decision against Andre Berto. How to describe it? A bust? A disaster? A snooze fest? An affair so one-sided that on one judge’s card Berto didn’t win a single round? Everyone in boxing knew Berto didn’t have a chance. I think more people watched ‘Family Guy’ reruns that night than tuned in to that pay-per-view bout. But I didn’t mind shelling out $75 for the HD broadcast. In fact it’s been a great investment. When my kids have trouble falling asleep, I don’t have to read to them anymore. I just play them your Berto fight. They don’t make it past round three.”

“Another reason boxing is better off without you: You were afraid. Afraid of taking chances. Afraid of risk. A perfect example is your greatest ‘triumph,’ the long-awaited record-breaking fight between you and Manny Pacquiao,” De La Hoya wrote, referring to the May 2 fight that set every revenue record in boxing. “Nearly 4.5 million buys! More than $400 million in revenue! Headlines worldwide! How can that be bad for boxing? Because you lied. You promised action and entertainment and a battle for the ages, and you delivered none of the above. The problem is, that’s precisely how you want it.

“You should have fought Pacquiao five years ago, not five months ago. That, however, would have been too dangerous. Too risky. You’ve made a career out of being cautious. You won’t get in the ring unless you have an edge. Sure, you fought some big names. But they were past their prime. Hell, even when we fought in 2007 — and I barely lost a split decision — I was at the tail end of my career. Then later you took on Mexican megastar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, but he was too young and had to drop too much weight.”

“I got into this business to take chances. I took on all comers in their prime,” he wrote. “The evidence? I lost. Six times.”

“The mantra of my firm Golden Boy Promotions is simple: the best taking on the best. It’s too bad you didn’t do the same,” De La Hoya wrote. “You took the easy way out. When you weren’t dancing around fading stars, you were beating up on outclassed opponents. A lot of your opponents were above-average fighters, but they weren’t your caliber. You’re a very talented fighter, the best defensive fighter of our generation. But what good is talent if you don’t test it?

“Muhammad Ali did. Sugar Ray Leonard did. You? Not a chance. You spent 2000 to 2010 facing forgettable opening acts like Victoriano Sosa, Phillip N’dou, DeMarcus Corley, Henry Bruseles and Sharmba Mitchell. There were guys out there — tough scary opponents like Antonio Margarito and Paul Williams — but you ran from them. Were you ever on the track team in high school? You would have been a star.

“Boxing will also be a better place without the Mouth. Your mouth, to be precise, the one that created ‘Money’ Mayweather. I know you needed that Money Mayweather persona. Before he and Golden Boy Promotions came along, nobody watched your fights. You couldn’t even sell out your hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Mouth made you money. More money than you could spend in a lifetime. (Wait, I’ve seen those episodes of 24/7. You probably will spend it all.) But the Mouth doesn’t have a place in boxing; save it for the WWE. Unless you’re someone like Ali, whose fights were as scintillating as his banter, the all-talk, no-entertainment model cheapens our sport. Boxers should speak with their fists and with their hearts. They don’t have to say anything to prove themselves. You’re going to have a legacy. You’ll be remembered as the guy who made the most money. As for your fights? We’ve already forgotten them.”

You’re moving on to a new phase of life now, a second act,” De La Hoya wrote. “I’m sure it will be nice not to have to train year-round. … But I’m wondering what you’re going to do. You have a lot of time and, at the moment, a lot of money. Maybe you’ll put your true skills to work and open a used-car dealership or run a circus. Or maybe you’ll wind up back on ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ It’s a job that’s safe, pays well and lets you run around on stage. Something you’ve been doing for most of your career.”

Philadelphia , PA (November 13, 2015)–On Friday night, November 20, King’s Promotions will present a big night of professional boxing at the
2300 Arena in South Philadelphia.

Highlighting the 10 bout card will be streaking Jr. Lightweight Frank De Alba taking on Jesus Lule in a bout scheduled for 6-rounds.

De Alba of Reading, PA has a record of 16-1-2 with six knockouts and has won 14 straight bouts and is unbeaten in his last 16.

He has wins over Andrew Bentley (1-0), Benjamin Burgos (1-0) and in his last bout when he scored a 6th round stoppage over Benjamin Gomez Uribe (14-3) on May 29th in Philadelphia.

Lule of Fort Myers, Florida has a record of 7-14-1 with 1 knockout.

The 31 year-old Lule turned professional in 2010 and is known for taking on top contenders such as Dodie Boy Penalosa Jr. (9-0), Vic Pasillas (4-0), Oscar Valdez (6-0), Kiun Evans (7-0), Alberto Machado (7-0), Avery Sparrow (2-0), Wang Zhiman (1-0), Dennis Galarza (7-1) and Mason Menard (29-1).

Lule also tangled with undefeated Antonio DuBose twice. The first fight ended in a spirted draw while Lule’s most recent outing, he dropped a 6-round unanimous decision to DuBose on September 19 in Chester, PA.

A packed undercard of local talent has been assembled.

In a 6-round Super Middleweight bout, Antowyan Aikens (10-0, 1 KO) of Atlantic City, NJ will take on Tahir Thomas (4-0, 3 KO’s) of Salisbury, MD

In 4-round Bouts:

Christopher Brooker (4-1, 4 KO’s) of Philadelphia, PA will fight Jade Ealy (1-2, 1 KO) of Atlanta, GA in a Super Middleweight bout.

Terrence Williams (4-0, 1 KO) of Harrisburg, PA will take on veteran Edgar Perez (6-16, 3 KO’s) of Chicago, IL in a Super Middleweight bout.

Ryan Bivins (0-1) of Philadelphia battles pro debuting Daryl Bunting of Vineland, NJ in a Super Middleweight bout.

Hafiz Montgomery (1-0) of York, PA will fight Devon Mosley (0-3-1) of Capitol Heights, Maryland in a Cruiserweight affair.

Tyrell Colston of Philadelphia will make his pro debut against Hector Perez (2-1, 1 KO) of Atlantic Citym NJ in a Cruiserweight fight.

Ely Mendez (1-1) of Reading, PA will take on Derrick Bivins (1-3-2) of Philadelphia, PA in a Featherweight contest.

Corey Morley of Philadelphia will make his pro debut against Brian Donahue (3-13-2) of Philadelphia in a Heavyweight fight.

Scott Kelleher (2-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia will box Jack Grady (0-1-1) of Buffalo, NY in a Lightweight contest.

Tickets can be purchased for $100, $75 and $50 by and be purchased by clicking

https://2300arena.showare.com/ordertickets.asp?p=43&backurl=default.asp

Olympic super heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua faces unbeaten London rival Dillian Whyte on a huge night of boxing on Sky Sports Box Office.

Joshua and Whyte come together at The O2 on December 12 for the British and Commonwealth titles, six years after their first meeting in the amateur ranks – and there is no love lost between them.

The fight headlines a fabulous bill that will include Chris Eubank Jr taking on Ireland’s Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan in a final eliminator for the WBA World Middleweight title, with sparks set to fly between the two rivals. Tony Bellew is up against Mateusz Masternak, while Kevin Mitchell, Luke Campbell MBE and Josh Warrington will also feature.

Sky Sports executive producer of boxing Adam Smith said: “It’s a fantastic way to wrap up the year with some huge names coming together on a massive night of boxing. Sky Sports Box Office brings the biggest names and the best fights and this one promises to be a special night. “

Anthony Joshua said: “This is a huge end to a great year for me. Headlining The O2 and being selected to fight on Sky Sports Box Office is another massive step in my professional career. I have been working hard in the gym so I am looking forward to delivering an early Christmas present to all my fans who will be watching at home or live in the arena.”

Dillian Whyte said: “There’s been a lot of hype around Joshua but in so far as I’m concerned he’s nothing special and I’ve beaten him before. I’m going to beat him again in December – this time I’ll knock him spark out. It’s my time to shine.”

Preview and analysis from the O2 will be provided by Adam Smith, and former world champions Johnny Nelson, Carl Froch and Jim Watt, as well as a range of boxing experts. Sky Sports viewers can look forward to an extensive schedule of support programming providing the best possible analysis of the fight across our channels and digital outlet including Ringside.

It has been another huge year of boxing on Sky Sports Box Office, from Mayweather Pacquiao in May to Klitschko Fury later this month there has been a succession of major moments from the boxing world for Sky Sports viewers to enjoy in 2015.

Also in May, Sky Sports extended its partnership with Matchroom Sport until 2021, offering up to 120 nights of live boxing over the next six years.

The new agreement will bring even more exclusively live access to one of the strongest stables ever seen in world boxing. Only on Sky Sports will viewers be able to follow the next generation of British boxers including James DeGale MBE, Kell Brook, Lee Selby, Kevin Mitchell, Scott Quigg, and Anthony Crolla. Viewers will also be able to watch gold medallists Luke Campbell MBE, and Anthony Joshua MBE, two of Britain’s most exciting sporting prospects.

Anthony Joshua vs. Dillian Whyte is SOLD-OUT – visit http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ to get your hands on tickets.

StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing and Anthony Joshua MBE.

Nov. 13, 2015 – Fight fans eager for a revealing inside look at the eagerly anticipated November 21st HBO Pay-Per-View® middleweight championship superfight between Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez, should mark their calendars to catch an all-new edition of “Face Off,” starring the two prizefighters. “Face Off With Max Kellerman: Cotto/Canelo” debuts Saturday, Nov. 14 at 11:35 p.m. (ET/PT).

Moderated by Max Kellerman, “Face Off” is an insightful and often gripping interview session in which the two fighters square off and answer Kellerman’s questions. This marks Alvarez’s first appearance on “Face Off,” and Cotto’s fourth appearance on the series. In addition, the fighters will be joined on the set by their accomplished trainers. Both Freddie Roach and Eddy Reynoso will participate in the roundtable.

The Cotto/Canelo edition of “Face Off” is set to air multiple times on HBO and HBO2. “Face Off” will also be available on the HBO On Demand® service, HBO NOW, HBO GO® and at www.hbo.com/boxing as well as various other new media platforms that distribute the program.

HBO air times include: November 15 (12:00 p.m. & 6:45 p.m.), 16 (4:00 p.m. & 5:50 a.m.), 17 (11:00 p.m.), 18 (2:00 p.m.), 20 (1:00 a.m.) and 21 (12:00 p.m.).

HBO 2 air times include: November 15 (3:15 a.m.), 17 (1:45 p.m.), 18 (9:45 p.m.), 19 (10:30 a.m.), 20 (7:30 p.m.) and 21 (5:00 p.m.).

All times are ET/PT.

“Face Off With Max Kellerman: Cotto/Canelo” is part of the wide-ranging mix of original programming content being produced for the latest chapter in the storied Puerto Rico-Mexico boxing rivalry. It all culminates when Cotto vs. Canelo takes place Saturday, Nov. 21 from The Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The fight card will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.

#

Josh Warrington will defend his WBC International Featherweight title at The O2 in London on December 12.

The Leeds star is hunting a showdown with WBC champion Lee Selby having defended the title with a shutout win against mutual opponent Joel Brunker in his hometown fortress in Leeds, and the will be out to impress on the bumper London bill as he aims for World title action in 2016.

“2016 is going to be a very big year for me,” said Warrington. “I can only beat who is in-front of us – but it’s time to step it up and fight these guys at world level. The Selby fight has been spoke about but by this time next year, I think I’ll be ready for anyone.

“It was a great performance against Brunker, I was written off by many people who didn’t expect me to go past five rounds. We had a great camp and stuck to the game plan – it worked perfectly. We expected him to come forward and try to over-power me. We had ways of dealing with his pressure and barrage of punches.

“I’ve been down to the O2 a few times, I was there to watch Lee take the World title from Evgeny Gradovich in May. It’s a great venue and a massive card to be a part of – it has the top stars in British boxing and something I’m proud to now be a part of.

“I want to box all over the country, it’s well documented that I have a great fanbase in Leeds – but I’ve been out to Germany already and I’m keen to grow my fanbase across the UK. Anthony Joshua has done it and it’s the right approach to have to be a big star.”

Warrington is part of a stacked bill at The O2 where bitter Heavyweight rivals Anthony Joshua MBE and Dillian Whyte clash for the British and Commonwealth Heavyweight titles.

Chris Eubank Jr and Spike O’Sullivan meet in a final eliminator for the WBA World Middleweight title, Liverpool Cruiserweight favourite Tony Bellew faces Mateusz Masternak, while Kevin Mitchell and Luke Campbell MBE both also feature.

Anthony Joshua vs. Dillian Whyte is SOLD-OUT – visit http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ to get your hands on tickets.

StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing and Anthony Joshua MBE.

By Norm Frauenheim

Floyd Mayweather Jr. must love all the attention he’s getting this week. He’s retired – or so he says – and yet he’s still generating the kind of controversy that would inevitably erupt during the week before one of his fights. Oscar De La Hoya and Adrien Broner have gone Ronda Rousey on him.

It’s hard to figure, other than to say it’s just another chapter in social media’s voracious need for content. Say what you want about Mayweather, but he is TBE at using and maintaining his prominence in social-media.

His mastery of all the digital platforms propelled him to the GDP-like purse he collected for the pay-per-view blockbuster in a victory over Manny Pacquiao that will be remembered more for the number of tweets than the number of punches.

Broner’s profane rant on YouTube isn’t exactly a surprise. It’s also a redundancy to use profane and rant next to Broner’s name. Sorry for that. Still, it’s almost comical to see Broner — angry at Mayweather’s criticism of his October victory over Khabib Allakhverdiev — go off on his ex-hero. Broner did everything but flush TMT T-shirts and TBE caps down the same toilet that was a receptacle for some of his cash a few years ago. Maybe, that’s the sequel.

The surprise was De La Hoya’s letter in the latest issue of Playboy. It was honest. It was forthright. It was funny. De La Hoya summed up what so many are thinking: The business is better off without Mayweather. But why now? Why publish the dismissive farewell to Mayweather at the very time De La Hoya is promoting a Canelo Alvarez-Miguel Cotto on Nov. 21 at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay.

De La Hoya has a fight that has the potential to say a lot more to Mayweather than any letter in Playboy could ever say. It’s a real chance for the business to get beyond the deflating hangover that still lingers from the public dismay over Mayweather-Pacquiao. Perhaps, the timing is just a result of the magazine’s publishing schedule. Deadlines can do things that writers don’t intend. It would have bee nice if De La Hoya had simply written: Mayweather? Who’s he? But that would not have been enough for Playboy, which is seeking a different kind of content these days. The magazine announced it wouldn’t publish nude photos anymore. About 10 days before Canelo-Cotto, however, I’d prefer a centerfold to De La Hoya’s letter.

Once the headlines subside, perhaps the business will be better for De La Hoya’s rhetorical swipe at his old rival. And, maybe, this is the opening salvo in a promotional rivalry that could evolve into the modern version of Bob Arum-versus-Don King. Arum-King was as entertaining and intense as anything that happened within the ring. It helped fuel the 1980s, one of the game’s best eras.

For now, however, I can only think that Mayweather has won another one. Inside and outside the ropes, he has always been able to dictate pace, style and timing. He’s doing it again. We’re talking about him when we should be talking about Canelo-Cotto.

Jose Benavidez Jr. fights for titles. Fights to stay unbeaten.

Fights to stay busy, too.

He’s been pretty good at the first two, but staying busy has eluded him at an age when the young junior-welterweight needs fights like a talented student needs consistent challenges on a long lesson plan.

The 23-year-old Benavidez (23-0, 16 KOs) hopes to eliminate that problematic idle time, beginning on Dec. 12 in Tucson when he fights for only the second time since winning a controversial decision over Mauricio Herrera for a WBA interim title on Dec. 13, 2014, in Las Vegas.

“I was supposed to fight in November, but it didn’t happen,’’ Benavidez said Thursday before a Top Rank news conference in Tucson announcing a Unimas-televised card that will also feature emerging featherweight Oscar Valdez. “I was supposed to fight a couple of times.’’

Both times, Benavidez was mentioned as a possibility for Terence Crawford, the 2014 Fighter of the Year. But Crawford bypassed Benavidez, winning both — first in March over Thomas Dulorme in his 140-pound debut and then Dierry Jean in October.

Benavidez is still a possibility for Crawford. Top Rank’s Bob Arum mentioned him again during the weigh-in last
Friday for Timothy Bradley’s victory over Brandon Rios In Las Vegas.

“I’d love to fight Crawford, absolutely’’ said Benavidez, who in May scored a 12th-round stoppage of Jorge Paez Jr. in Phoenix, Benavidez’ hometown.

It looks as if Benavidez is an alternate for Crawford. Manny Pacquiao is reportedly interested in career ending fight against either Crawford or Bradley. If the Filipino opts for Bradley, Benavidez might the next man up for Crawford. Viktor Postol is another Benavidez possibility.

“Anybody, I’ll fight anybody,’’ said Benavidez, who title will not be at stake on Dec. 12 when he is scheduled to fight Brazilian Sidney Siqueira (26-10-1, 17 KOs), perhaps at a catch weight between 140 and 150 pounds.

Meanwhile, Benavidez is staying busy. He has too. Boxing is the family business. He’ll be with his brother, David, (10-0, 9 KOs), an 18-year-old light-heavyweight who fights Mexican Felipe Romero (19-9-1, 13 KOs) Saturday night on ShoBox card (Showtime 10:45 p.m. ET/PT) at Las Vegas’ Hard Rock.

“Oh, yeah, I have to be there for my brother,’’ Benavidez said. “We train together. Always have. He keeps me ready. We spar and, man, he beats the bleeping bleep out of me.’’

Nothing bleeping busier than a sibling rivalry.

By Norm Frauenheim

Featherweight Oscar Valdez moves seamlessly between English and Spanish. He needs no interpreter for what he’s saying and what he’s doing. From amateur to pro, he understands where he’s been and where he intends to go.

Another step in that process takes place on Dec. 12 in a city he knows.

Tucson is a beginning for the two-time Mexican Olympian.

“It’s really where I began to box,’’ Valdez (17-0, 15 KOs) said Thursday before a Top Rank news conference at Tucson Community Center where he faces Filipino Ernie Sanchez on a Unimas-televised card in an arena just a few city blocks from where he went to school, Manzo Elementary “I was 8-years-old. My dad would take me to these gyms. Then, me and my friends would go to gyms around town and I’d tell them that one day I’d be a professional boxer. That’s kind of how all of this got started.’’

After grade school, Valdez moved to Nogales, a Mexican border town, and continued to work on what began in Tucson. Today, a kid’s dream is reality. It has taken Valdez, now 24, to Beijing for the 2008 Olympics and London for the 2012 Games. It has taken him from prospect to potential contender in a division as competitive as any. It has brought him back to the beginning, Tucson, where his mom, Gloria Fierro, still lives.

It looks as if the Tucson bout might be his last before he steps up to world class. His first challenge for a major title could happen in 2016. Valdez has been mentioned as a possibility for Top Rank prodigy Vasyl Lomachenko. For now, however, he’s still the student, which means another lesson plan against Sanchez (15-6-1, 6 KOs), who is from General Santos City, Manny Pacquiao’s hometown.

“Whenever Top Ranks tells me, I’ll be ready,’’ said Valdez, who lost to Lomachenko in the 2009 World Championships in Milan, Italy. “Hopefully, it will be next year.’’

Siberia, Russia (November 12, 2015)– After his dominant performance this past Saturday when he stopped previously undefeated Jesus Alvarez Rodriguez, former WBO junior welterweight champion, Ruslan Provodnikov is ready for a huge 2016 as he targets the best fighters at junior welterweight & welterweight.

At the top of his list is WBO Welterweight champion, Timothy Bradley.

Provodnikov stopped Rodriguez in 4 rounds in the main event at the 7th Edition Monte-Carlo Boxing Bonanza Night of Champions and is looking for the biggest fish to fry as he embarks on the new year.

The fight was his maiden voyage with new trainer Joel Diaz.

“This was a good win for me. I felt confident and my defense already felt better. I know that in the next camp things will come together for me and Joel’s training. My goal for next year is to avenge my losses to Lucas Matthysse, Mauricio Herrera, Timothy Bradley and Chris Algieri!”, said Provodnikov.

Said Diaz, “This was a fight to get him back after the tough fights. We had a strategy of working on defense and body punches. He did a little more of that then he did in previous fights. It will take a couple of fights to get him to where I want.”

“After the fight he said he wanted to redeem his losses to Matthysse, Bradley and Herrera. I like that, and there are other opponents such as Danny Garcia. That would be a great fight because they are both heavy hitters.

But Bradley is at the top of the list as a rematch of the 2013 Fight of the Year and would be the most desirable fight for the boxing fans.

Bradley, who was trained for two decades under Diaz, also won on Saturday as he stopped Brandon Rios in 9 rounds under the guidance of new trainer Teddy Atlas.

“Teddy is a great motivator, and he brings a lot of energy to the corner.”

One of the memorable moments from Saturday’s Bradley – Rios encounter was a spirited Atlas tirade where he was comparing Bradley to a fireman.

“Well if Bradley is a fireman, it is Ruslan that brings the inferno to the fight. If they rematch it would be a tough fight. After the first fight, everybody knows that Bradley was scarred from the bout. Bradley was damaged and in a rematch, that is what Bradley would be thinking about, and he would not be focused. Ruslan would take the initiative and knock him out”

“Ruslan looked great. The collaboration between Ruslan and Joel Diaz is going well,” said Provodnikov’s promoter Artie Pelullo.

“This win sets everything up for a big 2016. He indicated to me that he wants to avenge his losses and also seek the biggest fights. I think he is in prime position to do just that. I expect to have him in a big fight in the first quarter of 2016. ”

MICHAEL YORMARK: Good afternoon, everybody! Let me first identify those people that are here today joining me, that’s David Itskowitch and Dino Duva from Roc Nation Sports. If you have questions for them, they are available to answer any questions that you might have.

With about ten days left until this historic fight, we’re extraordinarily excited about this mega event between two world-class fighters and champions, Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez. As I’ve previously stated, this will absolutely be the fight of the year! For those fans that will be watching on HBO Pay-Per-View from their home, we believe this fight will provide one of the best dollar-for-dollar values of any fight in recent memory, when you consider the investment and the guaranteed action from two of the world’s top pound-for-pound fighters.

As I travel the country for Roc Nation, you can absolutely feel the buzz building, not only within the boxing industry but through the mainstream media as well. As you saw earlier today, even JAY Z and Oscar have been swept up in the excitement around this event, putting a wager on the table in support of their respective fighters.

Next Saturday’s star-studded event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center and live on HBO Pay-Per-View is virtually sold out with only very few select tickets available that can be purchased on ticketmaster.com.

The success of this event could not have been possible without a number of people and organizations, so I would like to first sincerely thank our six partners, Corona Extra, Creed, Mexico – Live it to Believe it! O’Reilly Auto Parts, Tequila Cazadores and Corporate Travel Made Simple (ctms).

I also want to thank the MGM Resorts International and Mandalay Bay and Richard Sturm, as well as HBO Pay-Per-View and their leadership of Ken Hershman, Mark Taffet and Peter Nelson for their incredible support and promotion of this fight.

As we are now only days away from one of the biggest events in boxing history, in one of the sport’s most prestigious weight classes, in the spiritual home of world championship fights, under the lights of America’s playground, in view of a star-studded crowd, and in front of boxing’s most passionate fan bases from Puerto Rico and Mexico, the equally thrilling styles of Cotto and Canelo are set to light up the sports world on boxing’s biggest stage.

Miguel Cotto, Canelo Alvarez, Oscar De La Hoya, they aren’t the only legends involved in this epic fight. Maybe the most renowned and decorated boxing icon of them all is Miguel’s trainer, living legend, Freddie Roach. I know Freddie has an aggressive strategy and a bold prediction for the fight, and he is here to tell you a little bit about that. Ladies and gentlemen, Freddie Roach.

FREDDIE ROACH: Thank you. Well, Miguel is in training. We have had a great training camp. We have gone through about eight sparring partners, and sparring has worked out well for us. We have maybe two more spars to go, and he’s 100% ready for this fight. It’s going to be a great fight, and we are looking for a knock out in this fight, and we will be the first person to knock out Alvarez, and I can’t wait to get this one on its way. Don’t miss this fight. It will be great.

MICHAEL YORMARK: Having visited Miguel in training camp, I was simply blown away by this man’s commitment and intensity. I know when JAY Z and some of Roc Nation’s partners visited him over the last couple of weeks, they came away with that same impression. You know, I’ve never seen an athlete so determined, so focused and passionate about the task in front of him. There is no one that works harder than Miguel Cotto. He wants to be at his very best next Saturday night and even as a four-time champion and a living legend and future Hall of Famer, he takes absolutely nothing for granted and leaves nothing to chance in preparation for this epic match-up.

I know this fight is important to him and his family, I know that it is also about history, and part of the great rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico. He’s fighting not only for himself but for his people, for his country, and for his family. We are so confident that he’s going to deliver come next Saturday night on the biggest stage of them all.

Before I introduce Miguel Cotto, I do want to mention the team that he has surrounding him from Gaby Penagaricano, Bryan Perez, and Hector Soto; his confidants, his friends and his family.

Ladies and gentlemen, Miguel Cotto.

MIGUEL COTTO: Good evening, everybody. Thank you for being here. We are just days away from the fight. We are training and just waiting for the moment of the fight. Thank you.

Q. How do you consider this fight in comparison with the other ones?

MIGUEL COTTO: Well, each fight is different, and I’m pretty sure — I’m very confident that Freddie has done such a great job, and I’m very confident that I’m going to be victorious on this fight.

Q. How big is this fight in comparison to the other ones that you have had?

MIGUEL COTTO: Well, this is just another fight for me. It’s my fight No. 45 and, like I said before, I’m well prepared and there is no difference, so it’s just another fight for me, and I’m going to do my best.

Q. Miguel, this is going to be I believe your third fight with Freddie as your trainer, and maybe your fourth — I think your third or fourth —

MIGUEL COTTO: Fourth one.

Q. Okay, you’ve had a few different trainers over your career, you have had a heck of a career. What is about Freddie, in your opinion, that has made the match between you and him and work so well for you?

MIGUEL COTTO: We developed a good chemistry between us. We can talk about our plans, what is going to be best for us during the fight, and we have — our chemistry is the best thing we have with each other. It makes our relationship and our fights together the way they have been for us.

Q. Did you not have that with your other trainers in the past? Because you have had some other good trainers, also, it’s not like they didn’t know what they were doing?

MIGUEL COTTO: What is in the past is in the past, you know? I’m here with Freddie, the only thing I’m going to talk about is what I have with Freddie right now.

Q. What do you think it would have been like, then, let’s say you had been not with Freddie for just four fights, say you would have been with him for ten years, how would your career be different?

MIGUEL COTTO: Everything happens when it is the time to happen. I arrived three years ago, and my career had a different way to go right now because of Freddie, because of what Freddie did to myself, and that’s all, you know? I don’t know what should happen in our career if Freddie was with us before. Nobody can know that.

Q. Freddie, I would like to ask you about that. You have trained lots of great fighters in your career. Can you talk about your perspective on what Miguel said as far as the chemistry between you guys? Why has it worked so well for you in the recent fights that you’ve been together, where he’s looked obviously a lot sharper than maybe he’s looked in the few fights that he had right before he joined up with you?

FREDDIE ROACH: We have a lot of respect for each other, and you know we had a history going against each other, even, with the Pacquiao fight, but the thing is, we became friends, and he called me up and asked if I could help and, you know, it was like one of the best phone calls I’ve ever gotten. I was shocked that a fighter of that caliber called and asked me to give him a hand, and it has worked out really well. We get along really well. My whole camp gets along well with his camp, Marvin and all the guys, you know, we all get along. We train really hard together. It’s a team effort, and it works well together, everything fits perfectly. We’ve had three great fights so far, and I expect the best one to be coming up soon.

Q. Why, then, Freddie do you think it’s worked so well?

FREDDIE ROACH: Well, just relationships, you know, the thing is we respect each other, and we listen to each other and we talk about the game plan, and we have no tempers with each other; we work very well together. That’s just what it is, basically. I mean, it’s just that we have a lot of respect, and the thing is to get along in training and — is very important and to listen to each other, and it goes both ways, of course, because you know if he’s not comfortable with something, we’ll make an adjustment to make it right and there are no secrets — everything is on the table.

So we work very well together, and I’m very happy to be here right now, and I’m looking forward to the fight.

Q. Freddie, you said in your opening remarks, you predicted a knockout. You predict knockouts for all of your guys. What makes you think Canelo, who has got hurt a couple of times earlier in his career but never been in that kind of serious trouble except, frankly, against Miguel’s brother, but that’s a long, long time ago. What makes you think he can knock him out, besides just win?

FREDDIE ROACH: I think the caliber of fighter. I think this is the best fighter he’s ever fought, and I think he’s handpicked opponents. Mayweather was a tough fighter but not a big puncher, and this is the first heavy puncher he’s going against, and Miguel has looked great in his last three fights, and his punching power is improving, and he’s using every bit of his body weight to do that, and it’s something we have been working on, and he’s punching very well.

I feel that this guy gets hit too much, and I think Miguel will knock him out somewhere along the way.

Q. Is there anybody from the past, like a past opponent that he reminds you of a little bit, that you can take a lesson from when you’re getting ready for him or is he totally a new challenge?

MIGUEL COTTO: No every fight is different. This chapter with Canelo is a chapter with him. We just work about Canelo, we are just going to work for the night of the fight. Nobody from the past fights reminds me of Canelo because every boxer is different.

Q. Records indicate, points out that you have more experience in comparison to Canelo fights.

MIGUEL COTTO: Definitely we are prepared. Anything can happen. We are prepared that anything can happen in the ring.

Q. Good morning. I’ve seen a lot of athletes in boxing and other sports in their early to mid-30s talking about it being a really great time, because they’ve taken good care of themselves, they physically have everything they need, but they’ve got a tremendous amount of experience and they’re just that much smarter and more analytical and better than they were in their early to mid-20s. Can you talk about how you’re different and how you’re better than you were when you were, say, 23 and 25 and fighting?

MIGUEL COTTO: Just because today I put my mind into the fight, and the best way to beat a guy is in the smartest way. I know I can punch, and I can hit hard, but now at this moment I’m looking for the perfect occasion, and I’m creating the perfect opportunity just to hit my opponent. You know, that’s the thing only time can bring you — experience. That’s all that is different for me right now. Now I understand that I have 36 minutes to finish my opponent, and I use every second of it.

Q. It’s normal that you think you are going to win this fight. What makes you think that you are superior to Canelo?

MIGUEL COTTO: Well, you know, I’ve been working very hard on this, and I’m physically and mentally prepared, and with all the training I’m pretty sure that I’m going to be the one who is going to win this fight.

Q. With all the different styles how do you think you can win this fight?

MIGUEL COTTO: Well we have some ideas. I have come to the ring with ideas, and he has come to the run with his ideas, as well, and I am very well prepared, and whatever is going to happen in there next Saturday, we going to see who is going to be the best in there, but like I said before, he has his ideas, and I have my ideas and whoever is well prepared is going to win this fight, and pretty much it’s going to be myself.

Q. We are going to have 1.5 million pay-per-view visits for this fight, but most of them are because of Canelo Alvarez. What do you think about that? What’s your opinion about this? Do you agree with this?

MICHAEL YORMARK: Obviously not. You know, we feel this is going to be a major event for HBO Pay-Per-View. I know that Oscar threw out the number of 1.5 million yesterday. Our hope is that this fight will do between a million and 2 million, hopefully closer to 2 million pay-per-views. I think we have two great fighters here that represent two great countries and have huge fan bases. The reality is that it’s going to be split down the middle. Canelo is going to bring his fan base to pay-per-view and Miguel will do the same. I think it’s going to be more of an equal distribution, and I think that’s why we’re so bullish and optimistic that this fight has the opportunity to do a very big number.

Q. Freddie, I know the kind of thing from Miguel when he fights a middleweight is that his opponent is going to be naturally bigger. Canelo is a full division heavier than him, so without giving away your game plan, I want to hear from you what you think Miguel’s best attribute is to go against the fact that Canelo has a natural size advantage?

FREDDIE ROACH: You know, I think we’re much faster; I think Canelo is a little bit slower. He tends to box, and punch, lets you know when he’s going to throw, and he tucks and ducks and so forth. But, you know, he’s a good fighter right now, but we’re in really, really good shape and had a great training camp, and coming off three good wins, and we have momentum going for us. It’s the winner of the fight that counts, and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re here to win the fight, whatever it takes.

If we have to box this guy, we will box him. If he wants to slug with us, that’s no problem, we’re ready for that, also. We have had, like, eight sparring partners so far, we have had punchers, boxers, everybody is at the table and ready for it, and I think Miguel is the more intelligent and the smarter fighter, and I think that’s who’s going to win the fight.

Q. Miguel, every night is another fight to you, but this fight has to mean something to you, 15 years into a Hall of Fame career. I want to know where you rank this fight, going into it, especially, you know, when you win, where you think this fight will rank among any other fight you’ve had?

MIGUEL COTTO: It’s going to be my fight No. 45, nothing special with it.

Q. So many people have said something about the age and the good punch of Canelo. So it looks like it’s related to experience and you. What is your opinion about this?

MIGUEL COTTO: Well, I have been boxing for 15 years in a professional arena as well, and people know that, and Miguel Cotto is going to give the best fight on November 21.

Q. What about people saying that you don’t have a good punch, you don’t have a good way to knock him down?

MIGUEL COTTO: Well, I’ve been working very hard for many years, and it’s about experience, and I’m pretty sure that I’m going to do the best that I can in that fight, that’s going to be next Saturday, November 21.

Q. You haven’t said too much about the age, whoever is going to be stronger in the ring?

MIGUEL COTTO: Well, you have to fight and you cannot just go by what people say. I trust Freddie Roach a lot. He has done a great job with me, and on November 21, you are going to see who is going to be the winner, and it’s going to be me.

Q. Freddie has a shown more aggressiveness in your training in comparison to the other ones.

MIGUEL COTTO: Well, my response is that Freddie has done such a great job. We have a plan and ideas, and everything is going to be fine, so it all depends on what’s going to happen. But we are very prepared for this fight, and we are just going to see how to react during this fight, how Canelo is going to react during this fight with all the plans that we have.

Q. It’s been about five months and twelve days, pretty much about 14 years that you started as a professional fighter in your career. Did you ever think you were going to be successful with five titles in this career?

MIGUEL COTTO: Well, every beginning is tough, it’s not easy, but I started doing it pretty much to lose weight. You have to keep fighting, you have to keep doing the best that you can, but you have to work hard, and do the best. This is pretty much the result of my hard work.

Q. Miguel, seems like more and more recently fighters have been open about the longer-term toll that fighting can take. Floyd Mayweather was open about it, Andre Ward talks about it. You’ve earned a considerable amount of money over the years. Have you given any thought to how much longer you want to do this? Do you have concerns about longer-term health or are you just taking it one fight at a time?

MIGUEL COTTO: Boxing is the only thing I know to do in life. I’ve been working for the benefit of my family. I said before that I’m going to retire myself. I am 35 years old. I plan to be in boxing no longer than a year from now.

Q. Miguel, in some aspects both you and Canelo have similar personalities outside of the ring. By that I mean you let your fists do the talking. But with respect to Canelo, as a fighter, looking at him now, do you see any shades of yourself, maybe ten years ago?

MIGUEL COTTO: No. He has his own way to live, I have my own way to live. I think I had bad choices before in my life, but I have to live with that now. I’m thinking better, now, I’m doing things better. Every life is different, every person is different, and I know Canelo is going to do the best for himself.

Q. Considering the build-up and magnitude of this event, a victory next Saturday, will that be the biggest victory of your career?

MIGUEL COTTO: It probably will be the biggest victory of my career, but at the end of the road that’s just going to be victory No. 41 for my career.

MICHAEL YORMARK: I want to thank everybody for participating in today’s call, special thanks, obviously to Miguel and Freddie, as well as Bryan, Hector and Gaby for joining the call today. Two quick things: Number one, the fight week schedule will be sent out momentarily, probably within the next few days, but I do want to point out that the first fight week event will take place Tuesday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

We look forward to seeing everybody in Las Vegas. We’ve got a full week of activities. It’s going to be exciting, and, once again, we look forward to the fight of the year, next Saturday night, November 21 live on HBO Pay-Per-View. Thank you, everybody and see in you Vegas!

###

Cotto vs. Canelo, a 12-round fight for Cotto’s WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Championships, takes place Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The fight is presented by Roc Nation Sports, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra; Mexico, Live it to Believe it!; O’Reilly Auto Parts; Tequila Cazadores and Corporate Travel Made Simple (ctms). Also featured on the pay-per-view telecast will be Takashi Muira vs. Francisco Vargas in a 12-round fight for the WBC Super Featherweight World Championship presented in association with Teiken Promotions and Jayson Velez vs. Ronny Rios is a 10-round featherweight. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Randy Caballero vs. Lee Haskins, a 12-round fight for the IBF Bantamweight World Championship, is presented in association with Bristol Boxing Ltd. and will be featured as part of the preliminary undercards available on digital platforms starting at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT.

A limited number of tickets priced at $2,000, $1,750, $1,250 and $650, not including applicable service charges, can be purchased at the Mandalay Bay box office, ticketmaster.com, mandalaybay.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (800) 745-3000. Ticket orders are limited to four per person.

Tickets for closed circuit viewings of Cotto vs. Canelo at select MGM Resorts International properties in Las Vegas are priced at $75, not including applicable service charges, and can be purchased at all MGM Resorts International Ticket Offices, http://www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (800) 745-3000.

Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez will be presented live with Fathom Events in select theaters nationwide. Tickets for theater screenings of Cotto vs. Canelo can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. For a complete list of theater locations visit www.fathomevents.com/event/cotto-vs-canelo-live.

Sports bars, restaurants, casinos (outside of Clark County, Nevada) and other commercial establishments can order Cotto vs. Canelo by contacting Joe Hand Promotions at (800) 557-4263 or by visiting www.JoeHandPromotions.com. Joe Hand Promotions is the exclusive commercial distributor for Cotto vs. Canelo throughout the United States and Canada.

NEW YORK (November 12, 2015) – In advance of his upcoming move up to the light heavyweight division, WBA Super Middleweight World Champion Andre Ward (28-0, 15 KO’s) is vacating his title. Ward originally claimed the belt in November 2009 with a victory over long-time champion Mikkel Kessler in his opening fight of the Super Six tournament.

“I won the WBA belt for my first world title in 2009 and have defended it six times and it’s been a wonderful ride with the WBA,” Ward said. “Gilberto Mendoza and his team have shown me nothing but respect and I’m looking forward to moving up and hopefully winning the WBA light heavyweight belt.”

“Andre Ward has been one of the finest champions in the WBA super middleweight division’s history,” said WBA President Gilberto Mendoza Jr. “We have always been honored to be represented by such a great athlete, gentleman and incredible role model. We wish him the best success in the future and hope we can facilitate the path to him becoming a two-division world champion at light heavyweight.”

Ward’s six successful WBA title defenses came in victories over Allan Green, Sakio Bika, Arthur Abraham, Carl Froch, Chad Dawson and Edwin Rodriguez.

Known for his strong character and integrity outside the ring and his warrior’s instinct inside it, Ward’s skill and talent were apparent early in his outstanding amateur career. He racked up every title in the books, culminating with a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. As the only male American boxer to claim Olympic gold since 1996, Ward joined the likes of Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Oscar De La Hoya. He turned professional on December 18, 2004, scoring a second round technical knockout victory over Chris Molina at Staples Center in a fight that was televised live on HBO. He has gone on to rack up 27 more victories since then, building an ever-growing legion of fans in the process. After rising to the number two spot on the pound-for-pound list and winning the 2011 Fighter of the Year Award (ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Ring Magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America), it was announced that Ward signed an exclusive promotional agreement with Roc Nation Sports in January 2015, opening a new chapter in his storied boxing career. The Bay Area product returned to the ring on June 20, 2015 at the Oracle Arena in front of his hometown fans in Oakland, California and scored a ninth-round knockout over Paul Smith, continuing his unbeaten streak which dates back to when he was a 13-year-old amateur. Ward recently stepped in front of the camera for a completely different role, a part in the upcoming New Line/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Warner Bros. feature “Creed,” hitting theaters on November 25, a few days following fight week. Fellow Bay Area natives, director Ryan Coogler and the film’s star Michael B. Jordan, reached out to Ward so that he could provide his expertise for the film. In addition to working in front of the camera with Ward, Jordan spent time at Ward’s home gym in preparation for his role as Apollo Creed’s son.

About Roc Nation Sports
Roc Nation Sports, a sub-division of Roc Nation, launched in spring 2013. Founder Shawn “JAY Z” Carter’s love of sports lead to the natural formation of Roc Nations Sports, helping athletes in the same way Roc Nation has been helping artists in the music industry for years. Roc Nation Sports focuses on elevating athletes’ career on a global scale both on and off the field. Roc Nation Sports conceptualizes and executes marketing and endorsement deals, community outreach, charitable tie-ins, media relations and brand strategy. Roc Nation Sports launched its boxing division, a full service promotional company which represents world champions Miguel Cotto and Andre Ward, in August 2014. Roc Nation Sports’ roster includes premiere athletes such as Robinson Cano, Skylar Diggins, Kevin Durant, Geno Smith, Victor Cruz, CC Sabathia, James Young, Dez Bryant, Ndamukong Suh, Rusney Castillo, Yoenis Cespedes, Jaelen Strong, Todd Gurley, Wilson Chandler, Erick Aybar, Justise Winslow and Willie Cauley-Stein.

LOS ANGELES (November 12, 2015) – Golden Boy Promotions in association with Star Boxing plans to feature a full card on HBO Latino Boxing ahead of its previously announced HBO Boxing After Dark® card on Saturday, December 19 to end the year with a full night of exciting matchups from Turning Stone Resort Casino, in Verona, New York.

In the featured main event of the HBO Latino Boxing card, Yunieski Gonzalez (16-1, 12 KOs) of Miami will take on the ruthless and undefeated Vyacheslav “Lion Heart – Chigonskyy” Shabranskyy (14-0, 12 KOs) of Los Angeles in a 10-round light heavyweight attraction. Former world title contender, “King” Gabriel Rosado (21-9, 13 KOs) of Philadelphia will face former IBF Welterweight World Champion Joshua “Grand Master” Clottey (39-4, 22 KOs) of Accra, Ghana, in an exhilarating 10-round junior middleweight co-main event, on the HBO Latino service starting at 12:15 a.m. ET/PT (tape delay) or immediately following the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast.

As previously announced and part of the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast, heavyweight titan Bryant “By-By” Jennings (19-1, 10 KOs) will face recently crowned WBA Interim Heavyweight belt holder Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (23-0, 20 KOs) in a 12-round championship fight. In the co-main event of the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast, Nicholas “Axe Man” Walters (26-0, 21 KOs), returns to the ring to take on granite-fisted Top-10 contender Jason “El Canito” Sosa (18-1-3, 14 Kos) in a 10-round junior lightweight rumble. The HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins live at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.

“This time I’m not leaving it up to the judges to decide whether I win or not!” said Yunieski Gonzalez. “I want to thank my Promoter, Joe DeGuardia, and HBO, for getting me right back on the HBO family.”

“I am excited about fighting Gonzalez on HBO Latino on Dec. 19,” said Vyacheslav Shabranskyy. “I respect him as a fighter and I’m happy for the opportunity to close the year as part of an event of this magnitude. I have been working very hard my whole career and I’m ready for this fight. I want to thank my team for all the hard work and faith in me. I am a man of few words I rather let my gloves do all the talking when it comes to boxing.”

“Golden Boy Promotions is closing out one of our most successful years to date with a big bang by staging these two major cards on the same night,” said Golden Boy Promotions Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “With Gabriel Rosado and Vyacheslav Shabranskyy, you get excitement, action, and two fighters that will not back down in the ring. I can’t think of a better way to close out 2015 than with these fighters headlining cards that will be explosive.”

“I am truly looking forward to Dec. 19 and pleased that Yunieski Gonzalez and Joshua Clottey are both back on the HBO family of networks,” said Joe DeGuardia, President of Star Boxing. “Both are in compelling fights on a spectacular night of boxing for fans. I expect both of our guys to emerge victorious in exciting matches.”

“I have been eager to get back in the ring,” said Gabriel Rosado. “I have been training and staying in shape and my last few fights on BKB have given me the confidence to return with a vengeance. I plan to show everyone that I have what it takes to become a world champion. Fernando Vargas my new trainer believes in me, and I feel he’s the trainer that’s going to take me to the next level. We’re having a great camp, I’m learning a lot of new things that will show Dec. 19.

“I am very excited to be on HBO again and am very grateful to my promoter Joe DeGuardia and HBO and Golden Boy for the opportunity,” said Joshua Clottey. “I am looking forward to fighting Gabe Rosado who I know is a very tough fighter. I know it will be a very good fight which I am confident I will win.”

Originally from Pinar del Rio, Cuba, and now fighting out of Miami, Florida, Yunieski Gonzalez has been a feared contender in the light heavyweight division. Having suffered his first loss in a controversial decision to world title contender Jean Pascal in July, Gonzalez is eager to prove he has what it takes to be considered in the world title contention. Previously, Gonzalez held a spotless record, undefeated since his professional debut in 2010 and holding victories over Brad Austin, Edgar Perez and Jaison Palomeque. Now, the power puncher will be looking for a victory against the undefeated Shabranskyy when he headlines the HBO Latino Boxing event on Dec. 19.

Ukrainian banger Vyacheslav “Lion Heart-Chingonskyy” Shabranskyy, who is now fighting out of Los Angeles, is an exciting light heavyweight contender whose knockout power gets fans cheering every time he steps into the ring. Currently the owner of the USNBC Light Heavyweight Title, Shabranskyy is also a former two-time world champion in kickboxing, which he began at the age of 13, Shabranskyy turned to boxing when he was 16, and the sweet science has been his home ever since. On September 20, 2012, Shabranskyy debuted with a first round knockout of Bryan McGlory, and he has kept his record perfect, winning all 14 of his bouts, 12 by knockout. Included on his victorious slate are wins over fellow prospects Emmanuel Wright, D’Quan Morgan, and Rafael Valenzuela. 2015 has been a busy year for Shabransky as he has taken on and defeated Garrett Wilson, Fabiano Pena and Paul Parker.

“King” Gabriel Rosado is one of the most respected and popular middleweight fighters in the world. The Philadelphia native is known for his fearlessness in the ring, a true warrior who lives up to his claim to be willing to fight anyone, anytime at any place. A knockout victor over the likes of Jesus Soto Karass, Sechew Powell and Charles Whittaker, Rosado has also shared the ring with world champions Gennady Golovkin, Peter Quillin and David Lemieux. Eager for the opportunity to get back in the world title game, Rosado will be coming into the ring with a vengeance on Dec. 19.

Currently ranked as one of the top junior middleweights in world by the WBC, WBA and IBF, Joshua “Grand Master” Clottey is a Ghanaian powerhouse closing in on title shot. A former IBF welterweight champion who owns wins over Zab Judah, Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Cruz, the 37-year-old has four straight wins since his decision losses to boxing greats Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. He most notably won the WBA International Super Welterweight title with a 12-round victory over Anthony Mundine in April 2014 and since then delivered a great performance against Jorge Silva on May 9, 2015.

Gonzalez vs. Shabranskyy, is a 10-round light heavyweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Star Boxing. The HBO Latino Boxing telecast begins at 12:15 a.m. ET/PT (tape delay).

Jennings vs. Ortiz is a 12-round heavyweight bout fight for the WBA Interim Heavyweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Gary Shaw Productions. Walters vs. Sosa is a 10-round junior lightweight bout presented by Top Rank in association with Peltz Boxing Promotions and Warriors Boxing Promotions. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins live at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.

Host of the event, the Oneida Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino continues to distinguish itself as a premier destination for blockbuster boxing matches. The December 19 fight will mark Turning Stone Resort Casino’s 16th nationally-televised boxing event in less than two years, cementing the resort as a mecca for knockout televised fights. Located in Upstate New York, the four-season destination resort offers world-class entertainment and gaming, award-winning accommodations, a diverse mix of restaurants, luxury spas and several nightlife options.

Professional media requesting credentials for the December 19 fight must contact Kelly Abdo, Turning Stone Resort Casino Public Relations Manager at (315) 366.9291 or kelly.abdo@turningstone.com.

Tickets will go on sale soon. Additional ticket information will be announced soon.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.grayshawproductions.com, www.toprank.com, www.hbo.com/boxing www.starboxing.com and www.turningstone.com. Follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @GaryShawBoxing, @TRboxing, @StarBoxing, @HBOBoxing, @TurningStone and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/Gary-Shaw-Productions-134758615997/, www.facebook.com/trboxing, www.facebook.com/StarBoxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/TurningStoneResort. Visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @StarBoxing, @TurningStone. Follow the conversation by using #JenningsOrtiz and #WaltersSosa

Jr. Middleweight Prichard Colon was moved to a rehabilitation facility in Georgia that specializes in head trauma, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Colon (16-1, 13 KOs), 23, suffered the injury during a ninth-round disqualification loss to Terrel Williams in an NBC-televised Premier Boxing Champions card from the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia.

Although Colon is breathing on his own, he has been in a coma since. On Thursday he was moved to Shepherd Center, a hospital in Atlanta that specializes in treatment for those with brain and spinal cord injuries.

“Today is a big day for my brother Prichard Colon,” Ricardo Colon wrote on social media. “Headed to the best rehab center for traumatic brain injuries, Shepherd Center.”

Lou DiBella, who promoted the card on behalf of PBC, said Colon has a long road ahead of him but that going to a rehabilitation facility specializing in brain injuries was best for him.

“It’s one of the best facilities in the world for people in Prichard’s situation,” DiBella told ESPN.com. “He’s going to the best place he can be. It has innovative treatments and is a state-of-the-art facility. But he remains in a coma. The family has been waiting for the approval for the move and for Prichard to be physically strong enough to make a safe trip.

“That’s where they want him to be, and I’m happy they are able to bring him there. The best help anyone can give is to keep Prichard in their thoughts and for people who pray to continue to pray for him, and let’s hope for the best for this fine young man and his family.”

Also writing on social media, Ricardo Colon credited Al Haymon, Prichard’s adviser and the creator of PBC, for making the move to the costly rehabilitation facility possible.

COLOMBIA (November 12, 2015) – WBA lightweight world champion, Darleys Perez (32-1-1, 20 KOs), who’s co-promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing, is looking forward to his highly anticipated rematch with Anthony Crolla (29-4-3, 11 KOs). Perez returns to hostile territory at the Manchester Arena in the United Kingdom on November 21, 2015, the same location where the first fight took place.

Perez, who retained the WBA crown against Crolla with a majority draw on July 18, 2015, knows he must be at his optimum best to retain his title, especially on foreign land. With an expected crowd of 12,000 fans routing against him, Perez feels confident he can pull off another win with his back against the wall.

“I’m a true champion who never backs down from adversity,” said Darleys Perez who hails from Colombia. “Crolla is a very skilled fighter with a lot of heart and I know he’s coming for my title. He’ll have his entire country on behind him when we fight, but that doesn’t faze me. My goal is to end the fight early with a knockout, but if we go the distance, I have complete faith that I will get a fair ruling from the judges in the UK.

In the first fight Perez was deducted two points for low blows, one in the 11th eleventh and the other in the 12th round. This time Perez is well aware of the mistakes he made in their last outing and vows not to repeat those errors.

“There is no doubt that I would have won the fight by unanimous decision if I didn’t get deducted for those low blows.” Perez continued. “It was my fault and I won’t make the same mistakes in the rematch. I’m hungrier now then I’ve ever been and nothing is going to stop me from bringing back my title to my countrymen of Colombia.”

“It’s clear to me that Darleys Perez is very focused for this fight.” said Gary Shaw. “He knows what’s on the line and the many doors that will open up for him with a victory. I’ve had fighters come out victorious when they’ve traveled to other countries and fought for world titles. Perez already proved he can get a fair shake with a gritty performance. The judging now a days is fairer then it’s ever been. When Darleys meets Crolla, only one man will come out victorious, and I believe it will be Perez.”

“This is an incredible fight that matches two world class boxers against each other,” said Ken Thompson, president of Thompson Boxing. “That Perez and Crolla have a controversial history only makes this fight even more exciting. We believe Perez will fight to his full potential and come away with an undisputed win and retain his world championship.”

LAS VEGAS (November 12, 2015) – Undefeated Cuban Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (23-0, 13 KOs) and Russia’s Denis Shafikov (36-1-1, 19 KOs) will fight for a lightweight world title on Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike Friday, December 18 from the Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT and will see cruiserweight world champion Beibut Shumenov (16-2, 10 KOs) in a matchup with former world cruiserweight world champion Krzyzstof Wlodarczyk (49-3-1, 35 KOs). Also featured on the telecast is undefeated junior middleweight Chris “Young King” Pearson (13-0, 10 KOs) and rising unbeaten prospect Gervonta “Tank” Davis (13-0, 12 KOs) in separate attractions.

“On December 18 I’m going to make history by adding another world title to my collection,” said Barthelemy. “Shafikov is a very tough opponent and at this level everyone is dangerous. I’m taking this fight very seriously and the boxing world will take notice of my presence in the ring. Fans love to see action and that’s what I bring to every fight. I’m going to send a stern message to the world of boxing that I’m one of the best in the sport.”

“I’ve been preparing my whole life for this fight and to become a world champion,” said Shafikov. “This is my second world title fight and while I have a great deal of respect for Barthelemy, I will be victorious on December 18. My trainer Abel Sanchez and I have been working hard for the past couple of months and we will have a great game plan on fight night.”

“I am happy to get back in the ring again because I want to fight all of the best fighters in the cruiserweight division,” said Shumenov. “I would like to stay more active because I’m still developing. I am curious to see my progression and how I will do against the best cruiserweights.”

“I’m very excited to be fighting a well-known opponent in Las Vegas,” said Wlodarczyk. “Shumenov is a tricky guy, but he has no heart. He tried to run from the action in his last fight. I do not like to fight guys who run but if I want to fight the best I have to destroy this chicken and I will do it.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions in association with Warriors Boxing, are priced at $100.50, and $25.50 plus applicable fees, and are on sale Friday, November 13. Tickets may be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling the Pearl Box Office at 702-994-3200 or Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

“It’s a great pleasure to be promoting two world title fights on this outstanding night of boxing on Spike from Palms Casino Resort,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “In addition, Mayweather Promotions’ rising stars Chris Pearson and Gervonta Davis will enter the ring looking to remain unbeaten and get another step closer to a world title. It’s going to be a can’t-miss night of action.”

“We look forward to having Spike and Mayweather Promotions back to The Pearl for a night of action-packed bouts,” said Billy Conn, Vice President of Entertainment and Special Events at Palms Casino Resort.

A Cuban amateur national champion, the 29-year-old Barthelemy has yet to taste defeat since turning pro in 2009. Born in Cuba but now fighting out of Las Vegas, he won a super featherweight world title in July of last year by defeating Argenis Mendez in impressive fashion and followed that up with a second round TKO over Angino Perez. Most recently, he defeated former world champion Antonio DeMarco in convincing fashion in a PBC main event in June.

Having fought in eight countries throughout his pro career, the 30-year-old Shafikov brings a full career of experiences with him into his second world title opportunity on December 18. Born in Miass, Russia, he enters this fight having won three in a row by taking down Rustam Nugaev, Miguel Mendoza and Roy Mukhlis.

A native of Shymkent, Kazakhstan fighting out of Las Vegas, Shumenov looks to build on his last fight, which saw him earn a cruiserweight crown by defeating B.J. Flores in July. The 32-year-old won a world title at light heavyweight by defeating Gabriel Campillo in Las Vegas in 2010. The 2004 Olympian for Kazakhstan went on to defend his title five times and will return to the scene of his latest triumph on December 18.

A two-time world champion in the cruiserweight division, Warsaw, Poland’s Wlodarczyk looks to win a world title for a third time in his career at cruiserweight. The 34-year-old owns world title-winning victories over Steve Cunningham and Giacobbe Fragomeni. In his last world title reign Wlodarczyk defended his belt six times, including victories over Danny Green, Rakhim Chakhkiyev and Francisco Palacios.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, Pearson has impressed with strong victories over Steve Martinez, Said El Harrak, Lanardo Tyner and previously unbeaten Acacio Joao Ferreira in four fights before he defeated Janks Trotter in September. The 24-year-old looks to continue to rise within the junior middleweight division and cement his contender status on December 18.

A highly-regarded prospect who won the 2012 National Gloves championship, the 21-year-old Davis has already recorded four stoppage victories in 2015. Most recently, the Baltimore-native stopped former world champion Cristobal Cruz with a vicious combination in their October fight.

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.mayweatherpromotions.com and www.spike.com/shows/premier-boxing-champions.
Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @RealKidBlast, @Beibut_Shumenov, @_ChrisPearson, @SpikeTV, @SpikeSports, @MayweatherPromo, @WarriorsBoxingProm, @PearlAtPalms and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and
www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions. Highlights available to embed at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions.

PROVIDENCE (November 12, 2015) – Undefeated super welterweight contender Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (22-0, 15 KOs) is ready to participate in the proposed World Boxing Council (WBC) 154-pound division tournament to determine its successor for retired Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

A 2008 U.S. Olympian and 2007 AIBA World Championships gold medalist, Andrade is also a former World Boxing Organization (WBO) super welterweight champion, who was stripped of his title earlier this year due to inactivity.

The 27-year-old southpaw from Providence snapped a 16-month hiatus from the ring last month, stopping former South American champion Dario Fabian “El Gallo” Pucheta (20-3, 11 KOs) in the second round for the vacant WBO International super welterweight championship. Ineligible to be world ranked during his stretch as WBO champion and then inactivity, Andrade is now rated No. 3 by the WBC, as well as No. 4 by the WBO.

“I’m happy to be rated No. 3 by the WBC and will be honored to participate in its tournament,” Andrade said. “Hopefully, (Jermell) Charlo and (Austin) Trout will agree to fight in the tournament, so everyone will finally know who No. 1 in the 154-pound division is. I’m ready to prove myself again and I hope they step up to the challenge, too.”

Follow Demetrius Andrade on Twitter @AndradeATeam.

What better way to end the 5th year of Fight Club OC shows than by giving So Cal fight fans 15 big bouts on Thursday, December 3rd in The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center.

With this mega card The Hangar doors will open at 4pm for a full afternoon and evening of action! So come early if you want to enjoy a full six hours of combative sports!

Yes, you read it correct, 15 pro bouts and 80 rounds of fighting and look at the fighters in action:

Nine fighters are undefeated!

Combined record of these nine fighters is 51-0 with 27 knockouts

Long Beach’s Malcolm McAllister looking to go to 7-0 all by KO

Adan Mares back to score another 1st round KO

Ruslan Madiyev looking to go to 7-0 – Ruslan trains with GGG

Fullerton’s MMA 1-1 fighter Trevor Clapper will return to Fight Club OC to face Murrieta’s Edward “Scissorhands” Hyman currently at 2-2.

Don’t forget (weather permitting) to pack your cigar or you can always purchase some great cigars for the Paradise Cigar truck as the cigar lounge will be in full effect on December 3rd.

The View From The Fight Club OC Cigar Lounge

With the 15 bouts scheduled Fight Club OC will bump up the show start time to 4:00pm.

All ticket prices at $55 and are available at www.fightcluboc.com

Thanks To Our 2015 Sponsors!

Buy Tickets

Thursday – Dec 3, 2015
Doors 3:45pm – First Bout 4:00pm

88 Fair Dr
Costa Mesa, CA, 92626

SAN JUAN, P.R. (November 12, 2015) — The boxing gem of Puerto Rico, undefeated Top-Five world-rated lightweight contender FELIX “El Diamante” VERDEJO, and former five-division world champion and 2012 Fighter of the Year NONITO “The Filipino Flash” DONAIRE, will headline, in separate title bouts, the year-end finale of MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout on truTV, on Friday, December 11. Verdejo will be making his homecoming a 10-round defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Latino lightweight title against Josenilson Dos Santos and Donaire, who is on the cusp of another world title shot, will be challenging WBO International junior featherweight champion and No. 1 world-rated contender Cesar Juarez in a 12-round rumble. Both fights will be televised live from Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico on truTV, beginning at 10 :00 p.m. ET/PT. The live boxing series is presented by truTV and Top Rank® and produced in association with HBO Sports®. Find truTV at: http://trutvishere.com/.

The four warriors boast a combined record of 95-9 (64 KOs) — a winning ratio of 91%, with 2/3 of their total victories coming by way of knockout.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Diamante Promotions, tickets to the Verdejo vs. Dos Santos / Donaire vs. Juarez championship event go on sale Today! Priced at $150, $100, $75, $50, $40 and $25, plus applicable charges, tickets can be purchased at www.TicketCenterPR.com, all Ticket Center outlets or charge by phone at (787) 792-5000.

“Fighting as a headliner at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum and in front of my people is a dream that I have always had since I was a little kid,” said Verdejo. “And now, thanks to all the love and support Puerto Rico has given my career, on December 11, I’m going to be able to fulfill that dream. I hope to give all that love back with a big win that unifies my people in a sentiment of happiness and brotherhood.”

“My goal is to get back on top. I am refocused for what I must do in the ring,” said Donaire. That’s why this fight in Puerto Rico is so important for me and my boxing career. I am reading a book called The Power of Habits. It is about getting rid of bad habits and instead using good habits each and every day. It all restarts for me on December 11.”

“Fighting in Puerto Rico is our way of giving our people a night of happiness and union,” said Ricky Marquez, Verdejo’s trainer and manager. “This is the opportunity that Top Rank has given us — to bring together to this Coliseum, whole families, friends, neighbors. It will be a big Puerto Rican party where we all celebrate Felix’s evolution from prospect to contender.”

“December 11 promises to deliver a great night of fights with an unbelievable atmosphere for fans both watching at home on truTV and the thousands in attendance at Roberto Clemente Coliseum,” said Carl Moretti, Vice President of Top Rank.

Verdejo (18-0, 13 KOs), from San Juan, Puerto Rico, who ended 2014 as a consensus “Prospect of the Year,” is looking to conclude this year as a bona fide world title contender. He returns to the ring having won seven of his last nine fights inside the distance, including his first fight of the year, a fifth round knockout of Marco Lopez, on April, 25, for the vacant WBO Latino lightweight title. He successfully defended that title on June 13 at Madison Square Garden during Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend, winning a 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated contender Ivan Najera of San Antonio, TX. Already world-rated No. 4 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and No. 5 by the WBO, Verdejo, 22, continues to develop into a major gate attraction, producing standing room only crowds every time he fights. A former amateur standout who represented Puerto Rico in the 2012 Olympics, Verdejo has been mentored by Puerto Rican boxing icon and Hall of Fame inductee Felix Trinidad.

Dos Santos (25-3, 15 KOs), of Sao Paulo, Brasil, is a two-time WBO Latino junior lightweight champion. His first reign began with a 12-round unanimous decision victory over Alejandro Burella in 2008. He successfully defended the title twice in 2009, via a 12-round unanimous decision over David Paredes and a fourth-round knockout of Leandro Almagro. He regained the WBO junior lightweight title in 2012 via a 12-round unanimous decision over Carlos Rodriguez. This will be just the fifth time Dos Santos, 28, has fought outside his native Brasil.

Donaire (35-3, 23 KOs), a native of General Santos City, Philippines, now living in Las Vegas, is a former five-division world champion on the comeback trail for another world title shot. His banner year in 2012 featured four world championship victories which included beating former world champion Israel Vazquez, Jr. to capture the vacant WBO junior featherweight title, unifying the title by defeating IBF junior featherweight champion Jeffrey Mathebula, followed by Donaire collecting his third belt of the year with a knockout of World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond Belt super bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka, ending Nishioka’s eight-year, 16-bout, winning streak, and concluding his magnificent year by blasting out Mexican icon Jorge Arce in the third round and sealing his 2012 Fighter of the Year honors while extending his 12-year, 30-bout winning streak. He lost his title to undefeated Cuban sensation and WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux in a title unification bout at a sold-out Radio City Music Hall on April 13, 2013. He bounced back in 2014, dethroning World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight world champion Simpiwe Vetyeka at Cotai Arena. Career highlights for Donaire also include knockout victories of world champions Vic Darchinyan, Wladimir Sidorenko, and Fernando Montiel, ending Montiel’s 25-bout winning streak. That victory was named the 2011 Knockout of the Year. Donaire returns to the ring having won both his 2015 fights — capturing the vacant NABF super bantamweight title via a second-round knockout victory of William Prado on March 28 and scoring another second-round knockout win over Anthony Settoul on July 18. Donaire, 32, is currently world-rated No. 2 and No. 5 by the WBO and the WBA, respectively.

Juarez (17-3, 13 KOs), of Mexico City, will be fighting outside Mexico for only the second time. He returns to the ring riding a two-year winning streak which has included victories over Francisco Leal, Octavio Hernandez, Cesar Seda, and in his most recent fight, on July 25, Juan Sanchez, Jr., where he captured the WBO International junior featherweight title via a 12-round unanimous decision. Juarez, 24, is world-rated No. 1 by the WBO.

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

NEW YORK (Nov. 12, 2015) – ShoBox: The New Generation returns on Friday, Dec. 11 live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT), with a quadrupleheader featuring eight undefeated prospects with a combined record of 92-0-3 in the final ShoBox telecast of 2015.

Headlining the DiBella Entertainment and Savarese Promotions-promoted event at the Bayou City Event Center in Houston will be talented 140-pound local prospect Regis Prograis (15-0, 12 KOs), who faces Abel Ramos (14-0-2, 9 KOs) in the 10-round super lightweight main event.

In the co-feature, Bryant Cruz (16-0, 8 KOs) takes on Wesley Ferrer (10-0, 5 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight bout.

Rounding out the telecast, fast-rising Ivan Baranchyk (8-0, 7 KOs) faces Andrew Ruiz (9-0, 5 KOs) in an eight-round super lightweight bout and Steed Woodall (8-0-1, 5 KOs) and Steve Rolls (12-0, 6 KOs) clash in an eight-round middleweight match.

“I am thrilled to present such a tremendous card for SHOWTIME on Dec. 11 featuring eight unbeaten up-and-coming prospects with a combined record of 92-0-3,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “With each boxer looking to reach the next level, these types of matchups are exactly what ShoBox is all about.”

“I’m excited to team up with DiBella Entertainment and SHOWTIME on this great event Dec. 11,” promoter Lou Savarese said. “We can’t wait to feature these eight young, undefeated fighters in their toughest tests to date at Houston’s premier venue, the Bayou City Event Center.”

Tickets are on sale and are priced at $40 GA, $60 GA, $150 Table Seats & $200 VIP Ringside. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.savaresepromotions.com or by calling (713) 658-0299.

To date, 135 fighters have suffered their initial defeats on ShoBox. With eight undefeated fighters on the card, four more O’s figure to go on Dec. 11. The question is, which four?

Prograis vs. Ramos

Last Aug. 7, Prograis made his ShoBox debut with an impressive eight-round decision over then-undefeated Amos Cowart. The hard-hitting Prograis landed an impressive 381 out of 909 total punches thrown, the 18th-highest connect total for a junior welterweight fight counted by CompuBox over eight rounds.

Originally from New Orleans, Prograis and his family have called Houston home since relocating following Hurricane Katrina. The bout on Dec. 11 will be Prograis’ first in Houston since June 2014 and he is expected to draw a raucous crowd. The highly regarded Prograis has tremendous power and speed, but if he’s going to compete against the elite of the 140-pound division, he must first get by Ramos.

“I want to thank the cities of New Orleans and Houston — New Orleans for making me who I am and Houston for taking me in and making me feel at home,” Prograis said. “I am glad to be fighting back in Houston; this truly is my second home. The city took me in as one of their own after I moved here during Hurricane Katrina. Houston is close enough to New Orleans and I am expecting a great turnout come fight night. My opponent is undefeated and that’s all I need to know. He’s coming to win, and I am sure he will be tough. I am preparing for this fight just like I do all of my fights, with the mindset that this is the toughest fight I will ever have. Come Dec. 11, you will see a spectacular performance.”

Like Prograis, the 24-year-old Ramos was a stellar amateur, winning the bronze medal at the 2010 U.S. Boxing National Championships before turning pro the following year. Ramos ran his record to a perfect 8-0, and then met fellow undefeated prospect Maurice Hooker (currently rated No. 10 by the WBO) on ShoBox in January 2014. Ramos and Hooker slugged it out for eight rounds, battling to a majority draw in one of the most exciting fights on ShoBox that year. The only other blemish on Ramos’ record is another majority draw against Levan Ghvamichava (15-1-1, 12 KOs). Ramos has reeled off four consecutive victories with three by knockout, including an impressive second-round TKO over previously once-beaten Roberto Ramirez in June. The bout against Prograis will be his first since signing an exclusive promotional agreement with DiBella Entertainment. Ramos knows that a victory over Prograis will show the boxing world that he is one of the most talented up-and-comers in the division.

“I am very excited to have signed with Lou DiBella,’’ Ramos said. “He’s guided so many fighters to the championship level and I look forward to being added to that list. Right now though, all of my focus is on Dec. 11 and Regis Prograis. He is unbeaten just like me. I am sure he will be my toughest fight, just as I will be his. I am ready to rise to the occasion and show the boxing world I am one of the best in the division.’’

Cruz vs. Ferrer

Both fighters in the co-feature, Cruz and Ferrer, are New York natives. Cruz was a 2012 National Golden Gloves runner-up while Ferrer (a 2009 and 2013 Golden Gloves champion) competed at the 2012 USA Boxing National Championships, defeating 2011 National champion Semajay Thomas. The matchup features two exciting come-forward boxers aren’t afraid to mix it up. Cruz, now living and training in Houston under the tutelage of Ronnie Shields, has shown vast improvement since linking up with the renowned trainer. The bout will be the ShoBox debut for both young prospects, who will be looking to show they have what it takes to compete at the next level.

“I finally have the chance to show the world who I am and what I am about,” Cruz said. “I am excited to be stepping in there with another undefeated fighter who is going to bring the absolute best out of me. I have been working hard for an opportunity like this and it is finally here.’’

“I will be extremely focused and go in there to do what I do best,” Ferrer said. “I know Bryant Cruz personally and he is a great fighter, but I have a job to do and will not let him take away the victory from me.”

Baranchyk vs. Ruiz

Prospects Baranchyk and Ruiz could produce “the fight of the night” in a matchup that has the makings of a slugfest. The Ukrainian Baranchyk, 22, has been impressive since arriving in the U.S. in 2014. He’s been on a tear this year, going 5-0 with five knockouts, all coming in three rounds or less. Baranchyk, a stablemate of Sergiy Derevyanchenko and Ievgen Khytrov, is looking impress when he makes his ShoBox debut against his toughest opponent to date in former nationally ranked amateur standout and now Robert Garcia-trained Andrew Ruiz.

“I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity,” Baranchyk said. “I’m looking to follow in the footsteps of my stablemates Sergiy and Ievgen, who have had some of their best performances on ShoBox. I know that Ruiz is coming to fight, and he is going to be the toughest opponent I’ve faced, but my dream is to become a world champion and there is nothing and no one that is going to get in the way of that.”

Ruiz was one of the most sought-after amateurs coming out of the West Coast when he turned pro at 18 in 2012. After his first year and half as a pro, Ruiz had gone a perfect 7-0, getting major exposure fighting on a number of high level cards, included Pacquiao-Bradley I. Following a victory in August 2013, Ruiz took a break from the sport as he dealt with managerial and promotional issues. Ruiz signed with DBE last January and made his anticipated ring return in February, shaking off a bit of ring rust to get his career back on track. Ruiz, 22, last fought in August, scoring a sixth-round TKO over Andres Bustamante, his fifth knockout in nine career victories. Ruiz is looking to prove that he is the top prospect that so many thought he was when he takes on the dangerous Baranchyk.

“Baranchyk was an accomplished amateur and is currently undefeated, but I am ready for the challenge,” Ruiz said. “This is my shot to prove myself and I’m not going to let it slip away.”

Woodall vs. Rolls

The Woodall-Rolls bout pits two former amateur standouts in their toughest pro fight to date. Woodall was a five-time England National champion, two-time British champion and a quarter-finalist in the World Youth Championships before relocating to the U.S. and embarking on his professional career at the age of 19. Now 21, Woodall has relocated his training camp to Houston and linked up with world-renowned trainer Ronnie Shields. The always-exciting Woodall is an aggressive come-forward banger with good power in both hands. Woodall made his debut under Shields last Oct. 7 in New York City and looked sensational leading Shields to believe that he has what it takes to one day become a world champion.

“I have a great team that is working with me day after day,” Woodall said. “I have had the chance to spar some of the best fighters in all of boxing, including Edwin Rodriguez and Jermall Charlo, and I am looking forward to putting all that work into action come Dec.11. I’ve been putting in the work in the gym and now is my chance to prove it in the ring.”

As an amateur, Rolls competed on both the 2009 and 2010 Canadian National Boxing team, compiling an impressive 83-14 record. In September 2009, he went to the 2009 International Boxing Association (AIBA) Men’s Boxing Championship in Milan, Italy, where he lost in the round of 16 to 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Vijender Singh of India. Rolls, who will make his ShoBox debut, is coming off a unanimous decision last Sept. 19 in his first scheduled eight-round bout.

“Come fight night, I will be more than ready,” Rolls said. “I am looking forward to putting on a great performance in my national TV debut and showing the world I am a force to be reckoned with in the middleweight division.”

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 63 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.

12 November 2015 – Singapore: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), announced today that the mixed martial artists competing at ONE: PRIDE OF LIONS are ready for all the action which takes place tomorrow evening, 13 November, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore.

ONE Welterweight World Champion, Ben “Funky” Askren’s fight against Luis “Sapo” Santos is still under negotiation as Santos failed to make weight for the highly anticipated world title fight. ONE Strawweight World Champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke and Yago Bryan of Brazil will meet each other in a Super Fight bout at 52.9kg.

Visit the official ONE: PRIDE OF LIONS weigh-in photo gallery by clicking:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6k384krsvdao0f3/AABoZfKfuYDUszYYrjf_77sta?dl=0.

COMPLETE WEIGH-IN RESULTS

MAIN EVENT
ONE Welterweight bout: Ben Askren (77.1kg/169.5lbs) VS Luis Santos (78.2kg/172.0lbs)

MAIN CARD
ONE Strawweight Super Fight bout: Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke (52.0kg/114.5lbs) VS Yago Bryan(52.8kg/116.5lbs)
Featherweight bout: Major Overall (65.5kg/144.0lbs) VS Kotetsu Boku (65.7kg/144.5lbs)
Women’s Strawweight bout: Angela Lee (51.6kg/113.5lbs) VS Natalie Gonzales Hills (51.8kg/114.0lbs)
Heavyweight bout: Alain Ngalani (110.6kg/243.5lbs) VS Igor Subora (102.3kg/225.5lbs)

FACEBOOK LIVESTREAM
Featherweight bout: Martin Nguyen (65.3kg/143.5lbs) VS Edward Kelly (65.6kg/144.5lbs)
Featherweight bout: Amir Khan (65.7kg/144.5lbs) VS Jimmy Yabo (65.7kg/144.5lbs)
Featherweight bout: Benedict Ang (65.6kg/144.5lbs) VS Yohan Mulia Legowo (65.4kg/144.0lbs)
Featherweight bout: Li Kai Wen (65.8kg/145.0lbs) VS Nathan Ng (65.8kg/145.0lbs)

Fans from around the world can witness all the action via the live TV broadcast. Check local listings for global live broadcast schedule. The event is also available online via live streaming at http://oneppv.com. The event will be available for purchase at just US$9.99.

For more updates on ONE Championship™, please visit www.onefc.com and follow Twitter and Instagram @ONEFCMMA and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA

About ONE Championship™
ONE Championship is the largest sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, the world’s most exciting mixed martial arts organization hosts the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. ONE Championship™ has partnered with FOX and STAR Sports for an unprecedented 10-year cable television deal with a coverage that spans 70+ countries across the world.