23 April 2015 – Manila, Philippines: ONE Championship™ (ONE) announced that the mixed martial artists competing at ONE: VALOR OF CHAMPIONS have completed the weigh-ins and are ready for the event, which takes place tomorrow evening at the state-of-the-art Mall of Asia Arena in Manila. Bashir Ahmad has stepped in on short-notice to replace Shannon Wiratchai, and will face Amir Khan in a catchweight bout. The bout between Geje Eustaquio and Anatpong Bunrad will now be a catchweight bout.

Visit the official ONE: VALOR OF CHAMPIONS weigh-in photo gallery by clicking:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7pof14b9qwz30a2/SFZmzHv8q8.

Tickets for ONE: VALOR OF CHAMPIONS are on sale at www.smtickets.com. Ticket categories begin with the full Red Carpet and cageside experience at PHP5380. Tickets priced at PHP3180, PHP1280, PHP640 and PHP220 are also available. Prices include ticketing fee.

ONE Welterweight World Champion, Ben Askren, stated, “Luis Santos is not going to take the ONE Welterweight World Championship from me. I’m going to walk across the cage, take him down and beat him up, and there’s nothing he can do to stop me.”

World title challenger, Luis Santos, stated, “I am ready to walk away with the ONE Welterweight World Championship. I am confident in my abilities no matter where the fight goes. If Ben Askren takes me down, I will submit him. If we fight on the feet, I will knock him out. Either way, I am walking away with the ONE Welterweight World Championship.”

MAIN EVENT
ONE Welterweight World Championship bout: Ben Askren (77 kg/ 170 lbs) VS Luis Santos (77 kg/ 170 lbs)

MAIN CARD
Bantamweight bout: Mark Striegl (61 kg/ 135 lbs) VS Casey Suire (61.1 kg/ 135 lbs)
Catchweight bout: Geje Eustaquio (57.1 kg/ 125 lbs) VS Anatpong Bunrad (56.6 kg/ 122 lbs)
Flyweight bout: Eugene Toquero (56.7 kg/ 125 lbs) VS Brianata Rosadhi (55.4 kg/ 125 lbs)
Featherweight bout: Edward Kelly (65.8 kg/ 145 lbs) VS Jimmy Yabo (65.7 kg/ 145 lbs)
Catchweight bout: Amir Khan (67.8 kg/ 149 lbs) VS Bashir Ahmad (68 kg/ 150 lbs)
Flyweight bout: Nicholas Lee (56.7 kg/ 125 lbs) VS Liu Xiao Yang (56.7 kg/ 125 lbs)
Featherweight bout: Wang Ya Wei (65.8 kg/ 145 lbs) VS Sunoto (65 kg/ 143 lbs)

Fans from around the world can witness the action online via live streaming at www.onefc.com/livestream. 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
With a 90%+ market share in Asia, ONE Championship™ is Asia’s largest Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organization. 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.

Saturday night at Harrah’s Philly Casino in Chester, PA highly touted prospect Angel Ocasio is set to make his long awaited return to ring when he takes on Justin Johnson (6-7-4, 2KO’s) in a six round super lightweight tilt.

Ocasio was last seen scoring a second round destruction of Esteban Rodriquez (6-3-1, 1KO) back on December 8, 2012. Since that time Ocasio has taken care of things in his personal life including marrying the woman of his dreams. But the passion for the sport has never left him, so Ocasio has returned to ring with and rededicated himself to sport and is ready to make his move up the rankings.

While most others would have taken quick fights while working back into shape, MAK Boxing Management’s Angel Ocasio did it the right way, methodically working his way back into prime fighting shape in the gyms and with good roadwork. He has sparred with some of the best including the likes of Milton Santiago.

Standing in his way on Saturday night is Justin Johnson, the fighter who is willing to take on anybody anywhere. He has faced some of the top up and comers, including Hastings Bwalya (5-0, 4KO’s), Stevie Weimer (7-0, 2KO’s) Anthony Karperis (3-0, 2KO’s) and owns a victory over Jesus Saucedo (4-0-1,2KO’s).

Now primed and ready Ocasio is ready to make his mark in the world rankings and it all begins again on Saturday night against Justin Johnson. Time to settle unfinished business!!!

Tickets are priced at $50 General Admission, $75 Ringside $100VIP.
For tickets please contact Manny Rivera at 267-325-9963

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Andre Ward will return after a 19-month layoff when he takes on Paul Smith at Oracle Arena in Oakland in a bout that will be televised by BET, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“We’re thrilled to not only be introducing our newest broadcast partnership with BET Networks, but also to use this new platform to telecast Andre Ward’s highly anticipated return to the ring,” said David Itskowitch, COO of Roc Nation Sports’ boxing division. “On June 20, we will once again provide fans a night of exciting ‘throne boxing’ fights, live musical entertainment and an unprecedented fan experience.”

Said Stephen G. Hill, BET’s president of programming, “BET is constantly searching for ways to expand its portfolio of content with the sole goal of satisfying our audiences. Roc Nation is doing very exciting things in the entertainment space and we are excited to partner with them on this groundbreaking deal positioning BET Networks as a go-to destination for premier live boxing events. Together, we’ll provide unique entertainment.”

“I’m very excited to be coming back on June 20 at Oracle Arena in my hometown of Oakland, which has been a long time coming,” Ward said. “I’m equally excited to be fighting on BET in front of a potential viewership of over 90 million homes. As a fighter, this diversifies my portfolio and puts me in front of a whole different audience. I have an extremely tough fighter in front of me in Paul Smith, who’s looking to pull the upset, but I can’t let that happen.

“I have to be on my best game to turn Smith away and beat him the way I want to beat him. As always, I’m ready to put on a tremendous performance in front of my hometown fans and those watching on BET. This is a fight you don’t want to miss.”

“I cannot wait to get back in the ring and test myself against a class act like Andre Ward,” Smith said. “I proved that I belong at the top level with my performances against Arthur Abraham and this is a challenge that I am relishing. Andre is a top pound-for-pound fighter and someone I respect a lot, but he has only boxed once in almost three years and I will give it everything I have got.

“I am fresh and confident going into this fight. It’s a massive opportunity for me and one that I took with both hands when it was offered. I have spent a lot of time boxing in the United States and I look forward to returning for this fight.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, after weeks of specualtion, tickets will goo on sale on Thursday for the mega showdown between Floyd Mayweather and May Pacquiao that will take place on May 2 in Las Vegas.

“It was a battle but finally everybody came together,” Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, told ESPN.com on Wednesday night.

“Then they finally sent over a draft reflecting the deal we had agreed to, and it was absolutely 100 percent what we had agreed to,” Arum said. “But it didn’t come over until 6 p.m. [PT], and by 7 p.m. we had reviewed everything and signed.”

Tickets for the MGM Grand Garden Arena are priced at $7,500, $5,000, $3,500, $2,500 and $1,500, not including applicable service charges, and will go on sale at 3 p.m. ET Thursday via Ticketmaster. They are limited to four per household. There are $10,000 tickets, but they are not among the roughly 500 tickets being made available to the public out of the roughly 16,000 tickets.

“This has been a very complex event, and we are pleased to have resolved the outstanding issues,” said Richard Sturm, president of entertainment and sports for MGM Resorts International. “We look forward to delivering an incredible event weekend, like only Las Vegas can.”

“We were resolute that we were going to hold on to everything we had negotiated with Mayweather Promotions and they weren’t going to use the relationship with MGM to deprive us of our rights,” Arum said. “Ultimately, that’s how the deal was made. We protected Manny and ourselves, and we weren’t asking for anything we didn’t negotiate. We had a deal with Mayweather Promotions, and then they used the MGM to try to erode our rights. And we stood steadfast and we wouldn’t let that happen, and finally we made a deal, a correct deal, and the fight is going ahead. It’s as simple as that.

“We weren’t going to allow anyone to push us around. We didn’t want more than we were entitled to or want anything extra. We wanted everyone to live up to the deal we made. I have to really commend my guys for standing firm, and I want to thank Les Moonves for being a rational person and poised through this whole thing and for not letting us be pushed around.”

ORANGE, Calif. (April 22, 2015) – Jose Roman (19-1-1, 13 KOs), a rising lightweight prospect out of Garden Grove, Calif., is two days away from his “Locked n’ Loaded” main event fight against Martin Cardona (18-4, 13 KOs) of Mexico. The 8-round fight is Roman’s first of the year, after winning four in 2014.

“I’m excited to get back in the ring and show the boxing world what I can do,” said the 27-year-old Roman. “I’ve won five fights in a row, and on Friday, it will be number six.”

Tickets for “Locked n’ Loaded” are priced at $40, $60, & $100 and can be purchased by calling (714) 935-0900, or online at www.ThompsonBoxing.com.

The event takes place at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif.

Roman has been steadily working his way back into the lightweight mix after dropping a disputed split decision to Robert Osiobe two-and-a-half years ago in Las Vegas.

Since then, Roman is undefeated in his last five and knows bigger fights are ahead. But first, he must get through Cardona, who has knocked out his last two opponents.

“It’s going to be an explosive fight,” Roman said. “I’m going to be aggressive from the start and not wait for the fight to come to me. I’m going to bring it early.”

Save the Date

After “Locked n’ Loaded,” Thompson Boxing celebrates its Fifteenth Year Anniversary with a star-studded event on Friday, May 29, from the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif.

Leading the show is the fast-rising, undefeated junior welterweight stud Giovani Santillan. Also, all-action super bantamweights Efrain Esquivias, Juan Reyes, Danny Roman, and Jonathan Arellano, plus the veteran Chris Martin returns. A formal announcement will be released soon.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m, and the first bell rings at 7:45 p.m. The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 N Vineyard Ave, Ontario, CA 91764 and can be reached at (909) 937-0900.

“Locked n’ Loaded” is presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Lucas Oil, in association with LATV Networks.

For additional information please visit ThompsonBoxing.com. For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please check our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ThompsonBoxing. To follow the conversation on social media, please use hash tags #ThompsonBoxing & #LockednLoaded.

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 22, 2015) – After trekking a remarkable 500 miles from Las Vegas, Nevada to Phoenix, Arizona, 50-year heavyweight contender (WBC #17), Bronco Billy Wright (47-4, 38 KOs), has a message to send to the boxing community and the heavyweight division.

“I did this 500 mile “Trek for Cures”, Run, Walk and Ride to help raise money for charities that are close to my heart,” said Bronco Billy Wright. “In addition I wanted to send a message to the heavyweight division, letting everyone rated in the WBC top 15 know that I’m a serious athlete coming for their rankings. My next fight will be announced shortly, and my goal is to take out everyone in my path. I don’t think there is a heavyweight out there that can handle my power. I humbly want to thank the WBC Cares and everyone who supported me during this journey.

The trek ended at the Central Boxing Club in downtown Phoenix, where Bronco Billy was greeted by its members, which included undefeated super-lightweight Jose Benavidez Jr. (22-0, 15 KOs) among others.

“The fighters and coaches at the Central Boxing Club were gracious enough to let me end my trek at their gym and it was fantastic.” Bronco Billy Wright continued. “There were some local TV cameras there to talk about my story. It was a great success and I’m ready to begin my march toward the heavyweight championship of the world.”

Billy currently holds the WBC LATIN AMERICAN, FECARBOX , and United States (USNBC) Silver titles. Right now Bronco Billy is riding a 18-fight knockout streak, 14 of which came by first round KO. With a few more first round knockouts he’ll break Shannon Briggs world record. Look for Bronco Billy to make his return to the ring this summer.

Chester, PA (April 22, 2015)–This Saturday night, April 25, boxing returns to Harrahs Philadelphia with a terrific card promoted by King’s Promotions and XFE.

In the main event, undefeated lightweight Omar Douglas will see action in an six-round bout when he takes on 70-fight veteran Jose Angel Beranza (36-32-2, 28 KO’s) of Tepito, Mexico.

Douglas of Wilmington, Delaware has a record of 13-0 with ten knockouts. He turned pro on May 27, 2011 with a 3rd round disqualification victory over Eric Hall.

Douglas won the NABA USA Super Featherweight title with a 2nd round stoppage over Jean Javier Soto. Douglas also has a quality win with a 8-round unanimous decision over Jesse Carradine (8-2-2). In his last bout, Douglas scored an explosive first round stoppage over Osnel Charles on December 5, 2014 at Harrahs Philadelphia.

“Training camp has been great. I started preparing for this fight as soon as the last fight was over. I have been sparring with the best fighters in the area. When I started my camp, I was only seven pounds over the contract weight,”said Douglas.

Douglas knows very little about Ortiz.

“I really only know that he is from Mexico and he has a pretty decent record.”

This will be the first time that Douglas headlines in his home region and he not about to have any of the distractions to go with that.

“I take it in stride. I consider it just another day at the office. The only difference is that I am closing the show.”

This being his 14th pro fight, Douglas is now rounding into a situation where he knows what he has to do to continue to get better.

“I have been very responsible with my defense. I always knew I had a pro style. It was my late trainer Lewis Lum who told me I was better suited to become a professional world champion than an Olympic gold medal winner.”

Douglas sees himself continuing to grow and fighting on more high profile platforms as the year progresses.

“I see myself on bigger cards. I am with Al Haymon so to fight on a PBC card is a goal for the year. By the end of the year, I should be considered a hot prospect and I should get in three or four more fights that should put my name out more.”

Douglas finished by saying, “On April 25, expect a show. I will be smart and put everything together. I train for every opponent like they are the best. Once it all comes together it will be lights out!!”

In a six-round co-feature, Kyrone Davis (6-0, 3 KO’s) of Wilmington, DE will fight Carlos Garcia (7-13-1, 7 KO’s) of Aguada, PR in a super middleweight bout.

In an eight-round bout, Javonte Starks (11-0, 7 KO’s) of Minneapolis, MN. will take Jeremiah Wiggins (10-3-1, 5 KO’s) of Newport News, VA in a welterweight bout..

Also in six-round bouts:

Angel Ocasio (7-0, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia will take on Justin Johnson (6-7-4) of Pittsburgh, PA in a Jr. welterweight bout.

Adam Kownacki (8-0, 8 KO’s) of Brooklyn, NY will try to keep his perfect knockout streak going when he fights Randy Easton (3-6-1, 3 KO’s) of Sunbury, PA in a heavyweight bout.

Stephen Fulton (4-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia will fight Jamal Parram (7-10-1, 5 KO’s) of St. Louis, MO in a featherweight bout.

Former U.S. Olympian, Raynell Williams (6-0, 3 KO’s) of Cleveland, OH will square off with Jose Del Valle (4-10-3) of Corozal, PR in a lightweight bout.

In four-round bouts:

Christpher Brooker (1-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia, PA take on Maurice Amaro (2-8, 1 KO) of Philadelphia, PA in a super middleweight bout.

Stephan Shaw (3-0, 3 KO’s) of St. Louis, MO will battle Zachary Bunce (2-1, 1 KO) of Las Vegas, NV in a heavyweight bout.

Earl Newman (4-0, 3 KO’s) of Brooklyn, NY will fight Julio Garcia (6-8-3, 3 KO’s) of Rincon, PR in a light heavyweight bout.

Tickets for this great night of boxing cost $100, $75 and $50 and can be purchased by calling 610-587-5950 or www.hboxing.eventbrite.com

The 1st bout will start at 7 PM with the doors opening at 6 PM.

Philadelphia, PA—Amir Mansour may not get his way completely, but his comments that Joey Dawejko has to cut off his beard before their May 8 showdown at the 2300 Arena have not fallen on deaf ears.

“The Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission has directed the (Joey) Dawejko camp that Dawejko’s beard must be neatly cropped in accordance with the athletic commission rules,” said promoter J Russell Peltz.
Mansour recently claimed that Dawejko’s beard could be used against him (Mansour) in clinches.
“(Dawejko) can rub that beard in your face and irritate the skin,” Mansour said. “I want it shaved; I want him uncomfortable.”
Dawejko currently is training in Hollywood, CA, under the supervision of James “Buddy” McGirt, who will be working with the Philadelphian for the first time. They will be back in Philadelphia the week of the fight.
Mansour, 42, and Dawejko, 24, meet in the most anticipated local showdown in Philadelphia in years when they go 10 rounds, or less, in front of a packed house and the ESPN 2 cameras on Friday, May 8.
The left-handed Mansour is 21-1, 16 K0s.
The right-handed Dawejko is 14-3-2, 7 K0s, including four one-round K0s in a row.
A limited number of seats remain.

About May 8

The Mansour-Dawejko fight headlines a seven-bout card at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia. Doors open at 6 pm; first fight is 7.15 pm. The card will be televised live by ESPN 2 at 9 pm. Tickets are $55 and $80 and can be purchased by calling Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and Wanamaker’s Tickets (215-568-2400). Tickets also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com and www.wanatix.com. The May 8 card is promoted by Peltz Boxing, Joe Hand Promotions and BAM Boxing.

Las Vegas, Nevada – The Ultimate Fighter® Latin America is officially back and has been filming its new series in Las Vegas, since March 17th. After reaching an average of 7 million viewers per episode in Mexico and millions more viewers around Latin America during season one, The Ultimate Fighter® Latin America is set to premiere starting the week of August 26th on UFCFIGHTPASS.com, PM Channel 5 in Mexico, UFC® Network and free-to-air networks in Latin America. For 2015, UFC® has recruited talent from all over the region and divided them into two teams: Team Gastelum and Team Escudero. Both teams will represent a combination of Latin American countries including: Argentina, Chile, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Spain.

Kelvin Gastelum (The Ultimate Fighter® winner of season 17) and Efrain Escudero (winner of season Eight of the reality series and first Mexican to win a contract with the UFC), will be official coaches of the second Spanish speaking series of the reality show. In this ninth international edition of the most challenging sports tournament on television, Gastelum will lead a team of four lightweight (155lbs) and four welterweight (170lbs) fighters against Escudero’s squad of eight similarly divided fighters from Latin American countries.

The list of competitors includes fighters hailing from Argentina, Chile, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay and Spain. The competitors are listed in alphabetical order (Name, Professional MMA record, Age, Hometown):

LIGHTWEIGHT

WELTERWEIGHT

César Arzamendia (6-1), 23, Alto Parana, Paraguay
Enrique Barzola (10-2), 25, Lima, Peru

Horacio Gutiérrez (3-1), 24, Guadalajara, Mexico
Oliver Meza (3-0), 28, Panama City, Panama
Jonathan Ortega (7-2-1), 31, Temuco, Chile
Marco Polo Reyes (19-7), 30, Mexicali, Mexico
Daniel Salas (15-5), DF, Mexico
Christihian Soto (5-4), 31, Managua, Nicaragua

Héctor Aldana (5-0), 26, San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico
Wilmer Fernández (7-1), 33, San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Alvaro Herrera (8-3), 29, Guadalajara, Mexico
Enrique Marín (8-2), 28, Sevilla, Spain
Kevin Medinilla (5-0), 23, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Erick Montaño (9-5), 29, DF, Mexico
Marco Olano (6-1), 21, Lima, Peru
Vernon Ramos (3-0), 22, La Fontana, Panama

Fans from the following countries will be able to catch the season on their respective free-to-air networks: Bolivia: Red Uno, Mexico: Channel 5, Nicaragua: Viva Nicaragua, Honduras: Teleprogreso, Panama: NexTV, Paraguay: Telefuturo, Chile: Via X, Peru: America TV and Venezuela: Meridiano TV. The season will premiere on these networks the week of August 26, though dates and weekly episodes will vary per country. Viewers should check their local listings for further information.

More networks will be confirmed prior to the series premiere and subscribers to the UFC Network in Latin America will also get the chance to catch replays and watch exclusive content.

The season finale will be featured during Mexico’s second live event later this year. The card will host the final lightweight and welterweight bouts of the series, crowning the winners of The Ultimate Fighter® Latin America season 2. Further event and ticket details will be released later this summer ahead of the scheduled on-sale at the end of August.

In addition to Kelvin Gastelum and Efrain Escudero, The Ultimate Fighter® has launched the careers of more than 100 UFC fighters and produced champions such as Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Matt Serra and current bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw as well as season winners including Michael Bisping, Ryan Bader and Nate Diaz. Mexican American Tony Ferguson captured the season 13 lightweight title, while Diego Sanchez, also of Mexican descent, was the first-ever winner of the franchise. Sanchez defeated Kenny Florian, a fighter of Peruvian descent, at The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale in 2005. In 2014, Mexican featherweight fighter, Yair Rodriguez, and bantamweight competitor, Alejando Perez, were crowned season winners of the first Spanish speaking series of The Ultimate Fighter® Latin America.

For more show information, bios, videos and photos, visit ultimatefighter.com and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @UltimateFighter or on Facebook.com/TUF.

###

About UFC®
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, 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 129 countries and territories to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide in 28 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 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 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.

Las Vegas (April 22, 2015) – The Raging Babe Soiree: Reaching New Heights presented by RAGING BABE will take place on April 29, 2015, just three days before the fight of the century, Mayweather vs Pacquiao. Over 100 of boxing’s most prestigious and influential women have been invited to attend this exclusive event. The Raging Babe Soiree will be held at Chayo Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar, located in The Linq Promenade in Las Vegas. After dinner, the women of boxing will take in the best views of Las Vegas aboard the world’s tallest observation wheel, the High Roller which features 28 spherical passenger cabins which can accommodate up to 40 passengers each, and is illuminated with dynamic multicolored LED lights nightly. Concluding the night with custom cupcakes from Sprinkles Cupcakes.

“I’m amazed at how far this event has come,” said Michelle Rosado, CEO of Raging Babe. “There were only about 30 invitees at our first event in 2013 and now, two years later, we have over 100 invitees and this is our ‘night out’ to celebrate our accomplishments. Each event we strive to continue developing a strong network and camaraderie amongst these amazing women in professional boxing. It is something that cannot be duplicated.”

The event’s honoree is Michelle Corrales-Lewis, COO of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame and widow of champion boxer, Diego “Chico” Corrales.

Hosting will be Jackie Kallen, “The First Lady of Boxing” and Boxing Insider correspondent. “I am thrilled to once again be joining forces with Michelle Rosado to host the premier female boxing event of the fight weekend. It’s a pleasure to do something to benefit the NVBHOF and give the women in a boxing an event of their own,” stated Kallen.

In addition to honoring Michelle Corrales-Lewis, Raging Babe will donate a percentage of all financial contributions from event sponsors to the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame organization. The NVBHOF is a nonprofit organization that prides itself in honoring the sport of boxing and celebrating to accomplishments of those within it. NVBHOF also supports several community programs, amateur boxing clubs, collegiate boxing programs and several boxing related causes. To learn more, please visit www.nvbhof.com.

Sponsoring this wonderful event is the World Boxing Council (www.wbcboxing.com), Champs Boxing & Fitness Club (www.champsboxingclub.org), 3-Point Tequila, DJ Nina9 (www.nina9.com), Sprinkles Cupcakes (www.sprinkles.com), Chayo Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar (www.chayolv.com), and Ramblin Ralph.

Aside from ring announcing, RAMBLIN RALPH’S main goal is to protect boxing superstars and prospects alike, along with their families, outside of the ring. RAMBLIN RALPH has aligned himself with sports biggest agencies to offer programs for boxers such as 401k, pension, and life insurance. He also brokers deals providing branding, licensing and promotional opportunities with the biggest companies in the world. The goal of RAMBLIN RALPH is to shorten the time of a boxer in the ring, and increase their portfolio outside the ring. You can contact RAMBLIN RALPH for more information at 602-695-5798 or by email at ralphvelezjr@gmail.com.

For more information and/or to become a sponsor of the Raging Babe Soiree – Reaching New Heights, contact Michelle Rosado at michelle@ragingbabe.com.

TORONTO | NEW YORK (April 22, 2015) — Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents a blockbuster card from ONE Championship live this Friday, April 24 at 7:30 a.m. ET, as ONE Championship 26: Valor of Champions emanates from SM MOA Arena in Manila, Philippines, headlined by polarizing welterweight champion Ben Askren facing one of his toughest tests to date against 71-fight veteran Luis “Sapo” Santos.

Airing live exclusively in Canada, ONE Championship: Valor of Champions will also feature a co-main event bantamweight clash between Filipino standout Mark Striegl and undefeated American Casey Suire, plus Filipino flyweight prospect Eugene Toquero meets Indonesia’s Brianata Rosadhi. Rounding out the card, Canadian heavyweight powerhouse Paul Cheng battles Ukrainian Igor Subora, Thai flyweight Anatpong Bunrad throws down with Filipino sensation Geje Eustaquio, plus Jimmy Yabo tangles with Edward Kelly in a clash of Filipino featherweight contenders.

The full fight card for ONE Championship: Valor of Champions includes:

-Ben Askren (14-0) vs. Luis Santos (61-9-1) – ONE welterweight title
-Mark Striegl (13-1) vs. Casey Suire (5-0)
-Eugene Toquero (5-1) vs. Brianata Rosadhi (1-1)
-Paul Cheng (5-1) vs. Igor Subora (5-2)
-Anatpong Bunrad (4-1) vs. Geje Eustaquio (6-3)
-Jimmy Yabo (4-0) vs. Edward Kelly (5-2)
-Shannon Wiratchai (3-1) vs. Amir Khan (2-1)
-Tsu Notto (2-0) vs. Ya Wei Wang (1-1)

The live action continues on Saturday, April 25 at 3 p.m. ET, as Enfusion Live 28 invades the Ice Hockey Stadium in Zilina, Slovakia, featuring Slovakia’s Tomas Senkyr against Morocco’s Ibrahim El Boustati for the -85kg world title, plus Slovakia’s Vladimir Moravcik meets Frenchman Yohan Lidon in a five-round Muay Thai affair. The card also features a one-night, single-elimination -70kg tournament showcasing Milan Pales vs. Brahim Benameur and Tigran Movsisyan vs. Mohammed Jaraya in opening round matchups.

Fight Network’s live Enfusion broadcast at 3 p.m. ET will air on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and in Turkey on D-Smart.

On Saturday, April 25, Fight Network will present its UFC 186 Pre-Show Live at7 p.m. ET, featuring previews, predictions and analysis ahead of UFC 186: Johnson vs. Horiguchi on pay-per-view. Immediately following the main card, Fight Network presents the UFC 186 Post-Show Live, which will include the live post-fight press conference from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

In addition to all the live pre and post-fight coverage, Fight Network is the destination for UFC library content, specials and series, including UFC Unleashed, UFC Now and UFC Ultimate Insider. All airings are listed at tv.fightnetwork.com.

Post-fight coverage continues on Monday’s edition of 5 Rounds on Fight Network, which debuts at 7 p.m. ET and features a comprehensive breakdown of Saturday’s event.

For a full listing of Fight Network’s broadcast schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com, follow us on Twitter @fightnet, become a fan on Facebook and visit us on Instagram @fightnet.

Los Angeles, CA (April 22, 2015) – In less than two weeks, Sid El Harrak will have the chance to change his life and boxing career when he faces undefeated Chris Pearson as part of the historic Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

To prepare for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, El Harrak’s dedicated all of his time to various aspects of training. From cardio to strength and conditioning, sharpening his skills in the gym and intense sparring sessions, the California based Londoner is covering everything imaginable. Most importantly, he believes the grueling training sessions he’s gone through at both Wild Card Boxing Gym locations is already paying off.

“It’s very important to have an ample amount of time to train for a fight and that’s not something I’ve had my whole career,” said El Harrak, who is 12-2-2 with 7 wins by knockout. “Mentally, I feel 100 percent ready to go out there and shine in the biggest fight of my life. I’m still working hard to balance everything out so the world sees the best Sid El Harrak next Saturday.”

He also loves being considered the underdog against the 11-0 and heavily hyped Pearson.

“I have a lot of pride and knowing that I’m coming into this fight as the B-side pushes me that much more. I love the fact that Pearson’s supposed to be “the guy” in this fight. If I fought who he did, I’d be undefeated. At the same time, had he faced the opponents I did under the same circumstances, he’d have a few losses. To be honest, I’m sick of thinking about him. This is the most eager I’ve been for a fight in my career and I can’t wait to show everybody what I can do on May 2nd!”

The El Harrak-Pearson ten round junior middleweight bout will be televised on various networks throughout the world.

LOS ANGELES (April 22) – Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez (44-1-1, 31 KOs) and Texas knockout artist James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland (32-1, 28 KOs) participated in an international media conference call on Tuesday, April 21 to discuss their upcoming 12-round super welterweight bout set for May 9 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. The super welterweight fight will also be televised live on May 9 on HBO World Championship Boxing ® at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Canelo and Kirkland were joined by Oscar De La Hoya, President and Founder of Golden Boy Promotions; Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Chairman and CEO of SMS Promotions; Chepo Reynoso, manager and co-trainer for Canelo Alvarez; Eddy Reynoso, head trainer for Canelo Alvarez; Bay Bay McClinton, strength and conditioning trainer for James Kirkland; Mike Battah, President of Leija*Battah Promotions; and Jesse James Leija, Texas boxing legend and Founder of Leija*Battah Promotions on today’s media conference call. Below is what they had to say:

CANELO ALVAREZ, Former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion:

“Returning to Texas has motivated me tremendously. To have the support form the fans and the love, is what gets me to train harder.

“You are always learning in this game. Going back to the gym to correct mistakes. Sometimes opponents are willing to participate. We are going to do our part and hope the fans are very happy.

“I am ready for whatever comes to my career. I fight hard; I train hard. Whatever happens, I am ready for it.

“We know what James brings to table. A very dangerous, strong, come forward fighter. We are sparring and training. We have to be more intelligent and be prepared come fight night.

“I will fight anywhere. As long as the fans go, enjoy the fight, and walk out happy, I will fight anywhere.

“Kirkland is a very dangerous because his punch is very powerful, very extreme. His punches come from all angles. But, mostly his power, he can beat a fighter with one punch. My goal is to fight the best in the world and the fans get what they want. Independent of the styles, I want to fight the best. We are preparing knowing what we have in front of us.

“People are talking and the majority believe that the fight will end in a knock out, that it won’t go the distance. But, I am ready to go 12-hard rounds.

“At this time, my only focus right now is James Kirkland. There have been talks of my next fight but right now my focus is on James Kirkland, there is nothing else.

“I am working hard, training hard, taking the tough fights, the biggest fights. And only time will tell and the people will tell. In the meantime, I will just be doing my job.”

JAMES “MANDINGO WARRIOR” KIRKLAND, Super Welterweight Contender:

“I appreciate Golden Boy Promotions, SMS Promotions, HBO and everyone sponsoring the fight, everyone that is backing this fight up. Thank you to the fans and the support that has been there from day one. It has been the motivation I need for the fight. I am doing everything I need to do for May 9 to get ready and I am ready for the opportunity.

“I have been preparing myself for an opportunity like this and needed to take time to learn more about boxing. I am prepared. One thing I can say is that the course that takes place should be a positive one and I never stop being in the gym, stop working.

“I am definitely encouraged and anxious. It’s not something I am proving to myself and the city, but to my fans. Kirkland is a warrior.

“If the fight was scheduled for 20 rounds, I would prepare to go 30 rounds. I plan on it being an action-packed fight, round after round. Whatever amount of rounds, I am ready to go all the way. I put in the work and in the training.

“I’m a fighter. I definitely feel like I have the power, will, confidence, speed, heart, and determination to beat Canelo. I feel I have the whole package. After my last fight, I have been putting myself in a position with my training so that on May 9, I can let it all show.

“This is one opportunity I have been wanting. This is a must do and a fight that fans want to see. I am prepared to make big things happen and believe this is my opportunity. This opportunity is going to bring the next best thing to my career.

“I definitely feel like I have a lot to lose and a lot is on the table for this fight. This is something that is destined for me-to take care of business on May 9. And, I feel like I have the right team behind me and supporting me.

“I am a force of nature that overrides. With heart, my heart is bigger. When it comes to will, no one has my determination. With speed, no one has my speed. When people ask about it, it is a fight you don’t have to worry about. Canelo and I will meet in the middle of the ring and that is where it will all take place.

“I’m a lot more strategized with defense, at the same time being able to move and adjust. The things you’ve seen me lacking, these are the things you’re going to see Kirkland advance and enhance in his ability.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions:

“May 9 should be an explosive night, one to remember.

“We would like to thank HBO, Minute Maid Park, Leija*Battah Promotions, SMS Promotions and all the sponsors for making this event possible.

“Canelo is a fearless fighter who is ready to take on the best fighters in his division.”

CURTIS “50 CENT” JACKSON, Chairman and CEO of SMS Promotions:

“I am very excited about the event. Mayweather brought me and Kirkland together. Between the Canelo-Kirkland fight and the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, we will see what this sport is all about.

“You will see the best version of James Kirkland on May 9.

“May 9 is going to be exciting, everyone tune in if you can’t be there. Go down to the stadium and get your tickets now before they sell out.”

MIKE BATTAH, President of Leija Battah Promotions:

“We are looking forward to a mega fight, a historical event in Houston. You can’t miss it.

“James Leija Jr. will be doing his pro debut fight and it will be something to see.”

JESSE JAMES LEIJA, Texas Boxing Legend and Founder of Leija Battah Promotions:

“Boxing is a true sport. The best man is going to win on May 9. We have two fighters who can win in one punch. We have one fighter who is super strong, Kirkland, and the other, a technician, Canelo. It is going to be who can overcome the other.

“And, I am excited my son will be making his pro debut as well. It’s a great night for Texas. A great night of boxing.”

Photos and video assets including b-roll from Canelo Alvarez and James Kirkland’s media workouts are available for use for TV broadcast and website embedding. Download instructions are below:

FTP LOGIN:
https://ftp.goldenboyllc.com
Username: workouts
Password: !Olympic777!
Credit: Golden Boy Promotions
Click HERE to Download Photos
Photo Credit: HoganPhotos/Golden Boy Promotion

Tickets for Canelo vs. Kirkland are priced at $350, $150, $100, $50, $25 and $10, plus applicable fees and service charges, and are on sale now and available for purchase at Astros.com/boxing, the Minute Maid Park Box Office (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com. There is a 19-ticket limit per household.

Canelo Alvarez vs. James Kirkland is a 12-round super welterweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Canelo Promotions, SMS Promotions and Leija*Battah Promotions. The fight will take place Saturday, May 9 at Minute Maid Park in Houston Texas and is sponsored by Corona Extra, Mexico – Live it to Believe it!, Fred Loya Insurance and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Doors open at 11:00 a.m. CT and first bout starts at 11:10 a.m. CT, the HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

An all-new edition of 24/7 Alvarez/Kirkland debuts Tuesday, May 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.canelopromotions.com.mx, www.smsboxing.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.astros.com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @SMS_Boxing, @HBOBoxing, @Canelo, @KOKirkland, @Astros @LeijaBattahPR become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/SMSBoxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/astros and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @smsboxing and @HBOboxing, @Canelopower, @Kirklandsworld. Follow the conversation using #CaneloKirkland.

Philadelphia, PA (April 22, 2015)–For his fourth consecutive fight on HBO, “The Siberian Rocky” Ruslan Provodnikov garnered over 1 million viewers.Ruslan’s fight with Lucas Matthysse averaged 1.243 million viewers and peaked at an outstanding 1.380 million viewers for the clash, which is now a leading candidate for 2015 Fight of the Year.

The bout comes on the heels of Provodnikov’s three previous appearances on the network, where he drew 1.2 million (peaked at 1.4 million) for his 2013 Fight of The Year with Timothy Bradley; his WBO title winning effort against Mike Alvarado that drew 1.232 Million viewers; and his controversial split decision loss to Chris Algieri which drew 1.046 million and peaked 1.1 million viewers.

“Ruslan again showed he is a huge attraction,” said Banner Promotions President Artie Pelullo. “He is without a doubt the most entertaining fighter in boxing today, and it is proven by the ratings for every one of his fights.”

The world’s premier heavyweight returns to New York for a title showdown when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO VS. BRYANT JENNINGS AND SADAM ALI VS. FRANCISCO SANTANA is seen SATURDAY, APRIL 25 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from Madison Square Garden in New York City. The HBO Sports team will call all the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: April 26 (10:00 a.m.) and 28 (11:30 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: April 26 (3:30 p.m.) and 27 (11:30 p.m.)
Boasting a collection of title belts, Wladimir Klitschko (63-3, 54 KOs) from Kiev, Ukraine, and now residing in Miami, takes on Philadelphia’s undefeated Bryant Jennings (19-0, 10 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round championship contest. Long dominating the heavyweight division, three-time champ Klitschko won his first title belt in March 2001. He has a sterling championship bout record of 24-2 and is on a 21-fight victory streak since his loss to Lamon Brewster in April 2004. At one point he and his now-retired brother, Vitali, concurrently held every major heavyweight championship belt between them.
The upcoming bout marks Wladimir’s first fight in the U.S. since 2008 and his 20th HBO bout; he first appeared on the network in July 2000 when he handled Monte Barrett with a seventh-round TKO.
Training in Oakland, Cal., Jennings hopes to use his power and ring agility to spring one of the biggest surprises in recent heavyweight history. His previous two opponents were undefeated prior to facing off against Jennings, while the combined records of his last four opponents was 82-4 before they encountered him.
The opening bout is a scheduled ten-round welterweight contest between Brooklyn’s Sadam Ali (21-0, 13 KOs) and Francisco Santana (22-3-1, 11 KOs) of Santa Barbara, Cal. Ali made his HBO debut last November with a dominating knockout performance against Luis Carlos Abregu. Now he’ll defend his undefeated record against Santana, who’s making his HBO debut.
Immediately following the live boxing, HBO Sports will present the premiere of MAWEATHER/PACQUIAO: THE LEGENDS SPEAK. The half-hour special includes interviews with the five fighters who have faced both Pacquiao and Mayweather in the ring. De La Hoya, Marquez, Cotto, Mosley and Hatton.
Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.
All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.
The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Dave Harmon; director, Johnathan Evans.
® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (April 22, 2015) – Fighter of the Decade, eight-division world champion and boxing superhero CONGRESSMAN MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO will make yet another guest shot on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tonight! Wednesday, April 22, on ABC, beginning at 11:35 P.M. ET / 10:35 P.M. CT. This will mark the ninth time Pacquiao has appeared on Kimmel’s popular late-night talk show — more than any other active fighter — in their series of entertaining appearances together dating back to November 3, 2009 (the week before Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto). It was on that night that Pacquiao unveiled his singing chops, belting out a rendition of the Dan Hill-penned hit ballad “Sometimes When We Touch.” Manny and Hill collaborated on a remake which also became a hit. Subsequent appearances featured Pacquiao singing duets with Kimmel and Will Ferrell, and an uproarious send-up of HBO Sports’ “24/7” reality franchise, starring Pacquiao and Kimmel sidekick Guillermo. (This link will take you to Manny’s surprise appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! following the March 11 Los Angeles press conference that announced the “Fight of the Century” between Manny and Floyd Mayweather Jr. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79ft5j-zZzw&feature=youtu.be.)

That 2009 appearance also marked Manny’s U.S. network TV debut, which has since led to a multitude of network television, radio and magazine features for the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight world champion, including, CBS’ 60 Minutes, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight, ABC’s Nightline, FOX News Channel’s On The Record With Greta Van Susteren, CNN’s America Morning, NPR’s Morning Edition and Weekend Edition, Rollingstone, New York magazine, The New Yorker, Playboy, Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine and cover stories in TIME and Newsweek.

Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), the lone congressional representative of the Sarangani province in the Philippines, is in deep training for the eagerly-anticipated May 2 welterweight world championship unification battle against undefeated FLOYD “Money” MAYWEATHER JR. (47-0, 26 KOs), at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank Inc., the Mayweather-Pacquiao live pay-per-view telecast will be co-produced and co-distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

# # #

For more information visit: www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.toprank.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, www.SHO.com/Sports, and www.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @MannyPacquiao, @mayweatherpromo, @TRBoxing, @HBOboxing, @SHOSports, and @Swanson_Comm, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/TopRankMannyPacquiao www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/TRBoxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

Patrick Nielsen (24-1, 12 KOs) will headline the Nordic Fight Night on May 2 at the Frederiksberg-Hallerne in Copenhagen with a ten-round super middleweight contest against former world title challenger Ruben Eduardo Acosta (30-11-5, 10 KOs).

Nielsen replaces his younger brother Micki who has been forced to withdraw from a scheduled WBC International Cruiserweight title defence with Junior Anthony Wright after contracting pneumonia.

‘’Obviously, it’s disappointing for Micki,’’ said promoter Nisse Sauerland. ‘’He had trained hard and was looking forward to defending his title against Wright, but his health must come first.

‘’However, we’re delighted that Patrick is fit and available to take his place. Now, the Danish fans can look forward to another exciting fight with Patrick testing his skills against a former world title challenger.’’

Nielsen is back in action following a successful super middleweight debut in Copenhagen last month, in which the Danish star claimed the WBA International title with an eighth-round technical knockout victory over George Tahdooahnippah.

‘’I haven’t taken anytime out since my last fight, so I’m more than ready to go,’’ said Nielsen. ‘’I was in the gym sparring when I heard the news about Micki. I feel bad for him as I know how much he wanted this fight, but I’m happy I can take his place and keep it in the family!’’

The Albertslund-boxer will face a tough test in his super middleweight return. The South American Acosta is a serious contender who has challenged for multiple titles including a WBO World title fight with former two-time world champion Robert Stieglitz.

‘’Acosta is an experienced opponent,’’ said Nielsen. ‘’But, I’ll be ready for whatever he has to offer. Against Tahdooahnippah, I showed a glimpse of what I can do at super middleweight, but on May 2, I’m going to show the full package.’’

Team Sauerland in association with Betsafe presents the ‘Nordic Fight Night – Going For Gold’ on May 2 at the Frederiksberg-Hallerne in Copenhagen. The event will be broadcast live in Denmark on TV3/TV3+ and TV3 Sport channels. Tickets are available via billetlugen.dk. Visit betsafe.com for the latest betting odds.

Ermano Fegatilli, the former European champion, is on his way back to the top.

Over the last three years, he has fixed the foundation of his career. He moved abroad, and is now based in the Netherlands. He changed his job, and is now a project manager at Brugmann University Hospital in Brussels. He also got married to a Dutch girl, bought a house and last but not least, joined the renowned team of ABA (Antwerp Boxing Academy) in Antwerp, Belgium.

Ermano Fegatilli: “You don’t start building a house with the roof. I needed to rebuild my foundations to get my boxing career back on track. I’m stronger than ever and ready to reclaim the European title. I’ve been working very efficiently with my coach Renald De Vulder to prepare the upcoming fight.”
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As the official challenger for the EBU title, Ermano faces the challenging task of beating the undefeated Romain Jacob in his own town. Ermano: “He is statistically looking at his first defeat, he came across the wrong guy at the wrong time. That is too bad for him. He is standing in the way of my new European Title, to me he is just a French guy that speaks only French, only does boxing and only fights in his own town. His hometown is his safe haven but I’m going to give him hell. I’ve done this before and I’ll do it again!”

Ermano won the European title in 2011 by beating the British boxer Steven Foster at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton, UK. Ermano: “I don’t mind stepping outside my comfort zone. I went to my competitors’ hometowns many times before to beat them in front of their own crowd, that’s when I do my best boxing.”

His trainer, Belgian top coach Renald De Vulder, added that Ermano is fit and ready to reclaim the European Title. With the full support of his coaches, medical staff and sponsors, Ermano’s chances of bringing the EBU belt back home after three years have never been better. The boxer’s main sponsor, Brandhome, is very proud that the European Title will soon belong to Ermano again and assures all necessary backing to reach this goal.

Ermano’s ambition is to bring the title back where it belongs; at the ABA gym in Antwerp.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Kenny Bayless has been assigned to referee the mega showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

The judges, who will be under intense scrutiny as the eyes of the sports world will be on their scorecards should the fight go all 12 rounds, were also unanimously approved: Burt Clements and Dave Moretti, both of Las Vegas, and Glenn Feldman of Connecticut.

“We looked at a litany of judges from around the world and we narrowed it down,” Bob Bennett, the NSAC executive director, told the commission when offering his

Canadian lightweight Tony “Lightning” Luis (19-3, 7 KOs) says he’s disappointed with the scoring of his controversial unanimous-decision loss last weekend to Derry Mathews (38-9-2, 20 KOs) for the interim WBA Lightweight title in Matthews’ hometown of Liverpool, England, but won’t let it deter him from his goals.

Despite taking the fight on three days’ notice, Luis seemed to outwork Matthews in most rounds and would probably be wearing a championship belt today, had the fight been contested on neutral ground. Unfortunately, the European judges saw it another way, scoring it 114-112 (Jean Legland, FRA), 115-112 (Dave Parris, UK) and 114-112 (Stefano Carozza, ITA), all for Matthews.

“I can’t say I feel good,” said Luis, home safely in Cornwall, Ontario. “This was my shot and I didn’t get the decision, but I know with my performance, I’ll get another one. Most of the press and the fans, especially in North America, know what’s up and saw the fight for what it really was. Derry did what he had to do to survive but not enough to win. He was cagey and made the fight look more competitive than it was, and that’s what a veteran is supposed to do.”

Despite his disappointment in the scoring, Luis says taking the fight was still a good career choice. “It was absolutely the right decision. You don’t turn down a title shot. But taking it on three days’ notice, we knew we’d have to shake off the jetlag quickly. My game plan was good, but on such short notice, it wasn’t muscle memory. I had to keep thinking about it in the ring. That’s why I think it took me three rounds to get going. Despite all this, I still won the fight. Now I know I belong among the champions in this division and that’s a good feeling.”

Luis’ promoter, Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions, says he’s pleased with his fighter’s strong performance and will immediately go to work for the 27-year-old.

“Tony looked sensational on Saturday,” said Cohen. “Taking the fight on such short notice, you’d think fatigue would play a role, but he was a machine in there. That shows you how hard he works in the gym. Of course we’re disappointed in the scoring, but looking at the big picture, we now know we have a championship-caliber fighter in Tony. He responded perfectly to the pressure of a world championship fight. I will be petitioning the sanctioning bodies to keep Tony high up in the ratings and give him another title shot very soon. This time on neutral ground.”

Luis will be returning to action quickly, he is set to fight for a regional title against an opponent TBA on June 26 at the Seneca Niagara Event Center in Niagara Falls, New York, and live on CBS Sports Network.

“I’m a bit discouraged from the politics,” continued Luis, “but am I deterred from my goals? Absolutely not. The people have spoken, the fans know who won and that is consolation for me. I will keep moving forward!”

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

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

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

In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman (50-8-2, 41 KOs); and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney (74-7-3, 45 KOs).

Current world-rated contenders in the GCP roster include Arash Usmanee, universally recognized as a top-10 super featherweight; former WBA International Middleweight Champion and world-rated middleweight contender Jarrod Fletcher; top-rated featherweight Joel Brunker; cruiserweight Lateef Kayode; Canadian lightweight and TV action hero Tony Luis, and WBA and five-time Irish National Amateur Champion, Dennis Hogan; and Rising Welterweight sensation Cecil McCalla.

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

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

ORANGE, Calif. (April 21, 2015) – Super bantamweight Danny Roman (12-2-1, 5 KOs) recently took in a world-class boxing lesson, courtesy of three, intense sparring sessions totaling sixteen rounds against none other than two-division world champion Leo Santa Cruz.

“Defensively, Leo was spectacular,” said Roman, who fights the veteran Giovanni Caro in Friday’s 8-round “Locked n’ Loaded” co-main event from the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif. “Half way through our first sparring session, it finally hit me. I’m going at it with a world champion.

“I was excited, but not anxious. I learned how to keep my distance, but still be active. Leo can pour it on basically whenever he wants. I learned a lot and it definitely was a confidence booster.”

The 24-year-old Roman lives and trains in Los Angeles and has been feverishly preparing for his toughest fight to date. Caro (23-14-4, 19 KOs) is far more experienced than Roman, and has a frustrating style to adjust to.

“Caro likes to charge at you,” said Roman, who signed with Thompson Boxing earlier this year. “We won’t be standing in the same place for very long. The key is to move into areas that we like and go from there. It’s going to be a tough fight, but one that I can win.”

Roman is coming off an 8-round unanimous decision win in March in which he dropped Miguel Tamayo in rounds four and six. He likes to work off his jab and hit the body early and often. Trained and managed by Eddie Gonzalez, Roman is beginning to hit his stride as a professional.

“Roman is starting to learn how to control the pace of a fight,” Gonzalez said. “It’s something that we’ve been working on. He knows how to time opponents now better than before, and he’s starting to change the complexion of a fight by landing more combinations.”

Roman-Caro precedes the “Locked n’ Loaded” main event, which features lightweight standout Jose Roman (19-1-1, 13 KOs) against Martin Cardona (18-4, 13 KOs).

Tickets for “Locked n’ Loaded” are priced at $40, $60, & $100 and can be purchased by calling (714) 935-0900, or online at www.ThompsonBoxing.com.

Save the Date

After “Locked n’ Loaded,” Thompson Boxing celebrates its Fifteenth Year Anniversary with a star-studded event on Friday, May 29, from the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif.

Leading the show is the fast-rising, undefeated junior welterweight stud Giovani Santillan. Also, all-action super bantamweights Efrain Esquivias, Juan Reyes, Danny Roman, and Jonathan Arellano, plus the veteran Chris Martin returns. A formal announcement will be released soon.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m, and the first bell rings at 7:45 p.m. The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 N Vineyard Ave, Ontario, CA 91764 and can be reached at (909) 937-0900.

“Locked n’ Loaded” is presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Lucas Oil, in association with LATV Networks.

For additional information please visit ThompsonBoxing.com. For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please check our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ThompsonBoxing. To follow the conversation on social media, please use hash tags #ThompsonBoxing & #LockednLoaded.

New York, NY (4/21/15) – In February, for the first time in its 12-year existence, DiBella Entertainment brought its popular Broadway Boxing series north and headed to the suburbs of Westchester County. The result was a sold-out event and a huge hit amongst fans. On Friday, May 8th, the series will once again return to the beautiful Hilton Westchester in Rye Brook, NY, with another exciting nine-bout card. Headlining the card will be the much-anticipated ring return and homecoming of Westchester County-native Boyd Melson (14-1, 4KO’s), as he takes on fellow New Yorker Mike Ruiz (17-8, 9KO’s) in a 10-round super welterweight battle for the WBC USNBC title.

Exciting undefeated local talent also scheduled to appear on the card include Danny Valle (5-0, 3KO’s), Alex Vanasse (1-0, 1KO), Max Tassy (3-0, 1KO) and Maxito Sainvil (1-0, 1KO).

Nicknamed “The Rainmaker”, the West Point Cadet Melson was an accomplished amateur. Competing for the West Point amateur boxing team, Melson won the 48th World Military Boxing Championship gold medal in the 69 kg. weight class and was a four-time United States Army champion, a three-time NCBA All-American boxer, a four-time West Point Brigade Open Boxing Champion, as well as being a recipient of the Colonel Marcus Award.

He also won gold medals at the All Army Boxing Championships twice and at the Armed Forces Boxing Championships twice. He made it to the quarterfinals in the 2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships at welterweight, and won a bronze medal at the 2005 US Amateur Boxing Championships. Melson turned pro in 2010 and has compiled an impressive 14-1 record along the way, all while making it his life’s goal to raise awareness on stem cell research. Melson created “Team Fight to Walk” and has donated all of the money that he earns in his boxing matches to stem cell research. An in-depth story was done on Melson in 2013 and profiled on the Emmy Award-winning HBO series Real Sports.

Melson last saw action in the ring in February of 2014, winning an eight-round decision over Donald Ward. In the bout, Melson suffered a torn rotator cuff, forcing an extensive rehab and layoff from the ring. Now Melson is fully healed and ready to once again begin his ascent up the ranks of the junior middleweight division. In his way though stands the tough Long Islander Ruiz. Originally hailing from Puerto Rico, but now calling Long Island his home, Ruiz is 2-2 in his last four, but with both losses coming against highly regarded and world-rated contenders.

Tickets are priced at $100, $60 and $40, and are currently on sale through the DiBella Entertainment office by calling (212) 947-2577. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

The Hilton Westchester is located at 699 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573.