KEITH THURMAN VS. JOSESITO LOPEZ, PLUS ADAM KOWNACKI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

BROOKLYN (December 22, 2018) – Unbeaten welterweight champion Keith Thurman and veteran welterweight Josesito Lopez, plus Brooklyn’s undefeated heavyweight contender Adam Kownacki, hosted a press conference Saturday night to discuss their fights on Premier Boxing Champions on FOX & FOX Deportes taking place Saturday, January 26 from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.

Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will see Kownacki battle former title challenger Gerald Washington in a 10-round contest and unbeaten featherweight contender Tugstgogt Nyambayar take on Claudio Marrero to open the telecast, all leading up to the Thurman vs, Lopez main event.

Tickets for the show, which is promoted by TGB Promotions in association with DiBella Entertainment, begin at $50 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

Here is what the fighters had to say Saturday before going face-to-face in the Barclays Center interview room, prior to the PBC on FOX fight night in Brooklyn:

KEITH THURMAN

“I feel great physically. We’re working really hard and just getting back into everything we did before the injury. It feels tremendous and I’m so happy to be able to do this back in Brooklyn. January 26, you will see the return of the number one welterweight in the world.

“I need to come back and stay active and healthy. I’m going to remind everyone this year why I’m one of the baddest men on the planet. At the end of the day, I’m here to make a statement that ‘One Time’ is back.

“I have one belt, and I’m missing one belt. I’m going to re-establish my own accomplishments this year, then go from there. We’re taking it one fight at a time. Right now my eyes are set on Josesito Lopez.

“I’m a world-class fighter. I’ve fought through injuries my whole career. A real fighter ends up getting addicted to the game. There’s nothing better in this life than being under those lights and being part of the action.

“My legacy is not over. Unification against Danny Garcia was not enough for me. Ultimately, I’m just waiting to be presented with a man who is better than me. There might not be one, but I’m not afraid to let my ‘0’ go.

“I need fights like this against a guy like Josesito Lopez. He’s going to be there and give the fans a great fight. He’s coming to take me out. He looked like he was in shape a month ago when I first saw him.

“It’s been a long time and I’m truly honored to be back. It’s been hard for me to not be in the ring while I wait for the elbow to recover. I’m so happy to be back.”

JOSESITO LOPEZ

“I’m really excited to be here tonight. Keith Thurman is a world-class, elite fighter and I’m going to make the most of this opportunity.

“I’ve been in this position before and I’ve never shied away from big battles. This is another big one and I’m going to be ready for it and become world champion.

“I’m sure Keith Thurman is as strong and skilled as anyone I’ve ever faced. He’s undefeated for a reason. I give him his respect for that. I’m preparing for him to be the best fighter I’ve ever faced.

“We’re both experienced fighters who have fought world class competition. I’ve faced my share of tough heavy punchers. I’ve pretty much seen it all. Come January 26, we’re going into deep waters and we’ll see how each of us reacts.

“No matter how active Thurman has been, the importance of this opportunity doesn’t change. If anything we might see a better and healthier Keith Thurman than we’ve seen in years. I’m expecting the best Keith Thurman there is.

“I’m going in against one of the toughest welterweights out there. I don’t need anyone to believe in me but myself. I’m going to give it my all to come out with that title.”

ADAM KOWNACKI

“January 26 is going to be a great night. Every time I fight, it’s very exciting. I throw a lot of punches and bring the pressure. Gerald Washington is going to be a tough test, but if I get through him, I’m even closer to a title shot. That’s the ultimate goal.

“It’s a little bit of a fairytale story. I was just a little kid from Brooklyn wearing the Golden Gloves and now I’m fighting at Barclays Center. It’s a whole new environment. Hopefully next year I’m the main event. That’s the goal and it’s going to be a dream come true. I have to keep working hard to achieve it.

“I think when I fought Iago Kiladze, he was also a runner who could box. I managed the ring very well with him so I’m looking to do the same with Washington and punish the body. The taller they are the harder they fall.

“Gerald Washington is a tough exam. He’s a former title challenger and I know he’s going to bringing his “A-game.” My goal is to become the heavyweight champion of the world and in order to do that I have to get by Washington. That’s what I plan on doing.”

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Fans can live stream the fights on the FOX Sports app, available in English or Spanish through the FOX or FOX Deportes feeds. The fights are available on desktop at FOXSports.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku.

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

Undefeated Welterweight Champion Keith Thurman Makes Long Awaited Ring Return to Defend His Title Against Battle-Hardened Veteran Josesito Lopez Live in Primetime on Premier Boxing Champions on FOX & FOX Deportes Saturday, January 26 From Barclays Center in Brooklyn

BROOKLYN (December 18, 2018) – Undefeated WBA Welterweight World Champion Keith “One Time” Thurman returns to the ring after a lengthy injury layoff to defend his title against veteran Josesito Lopez on Saturday, January 26 live in primetime in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.

Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will see a co-feature featuring fast-rising unbeaten Polish heavyweight contender Adam Kownacki as he clashes with former title challenger Gerald Washington in a 10-round battle and unbeaten featherweight contender Tugstgogt Nyambayar battles Claudio Marrero to open the telecast.

Tickets for the show begin at $50 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

“There is a high level of anticipation and intrigue surrounding the ring return of welterweight champion Keith Thurman, and Josesito Lopez will certainly provide some answers about where Thurman is after nearly two years out of the ring,’’ said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Adam Kownacki and Gerald Washington have the opportunity to show exactly where they stand in the resurgent heavyweight division. Both of them are big heavyweights who love to throw power shots. Nyambayar and Marrero are guaranteed to add fireworks to an already thrilling show. It’s the kind of night that will have fans on the edge of their seats.’’

“I speak for boxing fans everywhere when I say we are eagerly anticipating Keith Thurman’s return to the ring,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of BSE Global. “He has experienced great success at Barclays Center, so it’s fitting that he will lead off a strong year of BROOKLYN BOXING programming in 2019. I also look forward to seeing local favorite Adam Kownacki, who always comes with a strong contingent of loud fans.”

Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs) made a steady rise through the welterweight ranks and reached the pinnacle with hard-fought victories over Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia at Barclays Center, the latter of which earned him a WBC crown in addition to his WBA title. But a string of injuries has sidelined him for nearly two years, calling into question his place amongst the 147-pound elites. The 30-year-old Thurman, who is still the reigning WBA welterweight champion, is looking to regain his top-tier status in the division starting with Lopez. Thurman, who lives and trains in Clearwater, Florida, enters the ring for the first time since a split decision victory Garcia on March 4, 2017.

“I’m extremely excited to step back into the ring,’’ said Thurman. “It’s a little nerve-wracking considering the time off and because I want to have a tremendous performance. I want to speak more with my hands more than my words and quiet the naysayers who think that Keith Thurman has lost his passion and skills in boxing. I believe I’m the best welterweight in the division and in the world and I hope to showcase that on January 26 with a knockout. The best fights in the welterweight division have involved Keith Thurman and that will continue to be the case. I’m looking forward to having a tremendous year and showing why I’m number one.”

The 34-year-old Lopez (36-7, 19 KOs) is looking to thwart Thurman’s plans to regain his lofty position in the 147-pound division. Nicknamed “The Riverside Rocky’’ because of his all-action style, the Riverside, California-native has stepped into the ring against some of the best boxers of this generation. He has rattled off three straight victories since suffering a TKO loss to former welterweight champion Andre Berto in 2015. Lopez is coming off a unanimous decision victory over previously unbeaten Miguel Cruz on April 28 live on FOX.

“I’m approaching this fight leaving no stone unturned as I prepare to take that world championship,’’ Lopez said. “I’ve set up training camp with altitude, chasing chickens, chopping wood – really into putting in the work. Overall the layoff will affect him and there could be a little hesitation, but we’ll see come fight night. The improvements that I’ve made with Robert Garcia the last couple of years will come into play. They’ve strengthened my qualities and I can’t wait to show it to the world.”

Kownacki (18-0, 14 KOs) has risen through the heavyweight ranks with a tough-as-nails brawling style that produced a string of knockout victories and exciting showdowns. His knockout streak ended at four in his last fight when he scored a unanimous decision victory over former heavyweight champion Charles Martin on Sepember. 8. Kownacki, who was born in Lomza, Poland and now lives in Brooklyn, will be fighting at Barclays Center for a third straight time and the eighth time overall.

“Living in Brooklyn this is like a home game for me,” said Kownacki.” I’ve had some of my best performances at Barclays Center and I can’t wait to step into the ring against Gerald Washington and showcase myself on PBC on FOX. There is nothing better to start off the year than with a knockout and that’s what I plan on doing on January 26 at Barclays Center. I hope all my fans will come out like they always do and have the arena in white and red.’’

Washington (19-2-1, 12 KOs) is a 6-foot-6 heavyweight who has been able to use his athletic ability to power his way past most of the opponents he faces. That athleticism will pose a challenge to Kownacki, who could be facing the toughest fight of his career. The 36-year-old Washington of Vallejo, California is a former college football standout at the University of Southern California and a U.S. Navy veteran who has challenged Deontay Wilder for his championship. He is coming off a unanimous decision victory over John Wesley Nofire in his last fight on June 10.

“I can’t wait to show everything I’ve been working on,’’ said Washington, “Boxing is a sport of truth. It brings the truth to light and it exposed my truth and what I needed to work on. You have to be able to adjust and be comfortable in every situation. You have to be ready for what’s to come. I’m expecting a hard fight from him. He’s a bruiser. He’s tough and he loves to fight. He’s in his hometown and he’s ready and he’s going to bring it, but I’m ready to position myself to fight again for a world title.’’

Nyambayar (10-0, 9 KOs) has made a rapid ascent through the talent-laden featherweight division with precision and power. The 26-year-old Nyambayar, who is from Ulan-Bator Mongolia and now lives in Carson, California, won a silver medal in the 2012 London Olympics as a member of the Mongolian boxing team. He scored a KO victory over Oscar Escandon in his last fight on May 26.

Marrero (23-2, 17 KOs), a 29-year-old southpaw from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, is coming off a stunning KO victory over Jorge Lara in his last fight on April 28. Marrero two losses have come against former featherweight champion Jesus Cuellar in 2013 and Jesus Rojas in 2015. A victory over Nyambayar will put Marrero in position to fight for a world title again.

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Undefeated Welterweight Champion Keith Thurman Makes Long Awaited Ring Return to Defend His Title Against Battle-Hardened Veteran Josesito Lopez Live in Primetime on Premier Boxing Champions on FOX & FOX Deportes Saturday, January 26 From Barclays Center in Brooklyn

BROOKLYN (December 12, 2018) – Undefeated WBA Welterweight World Champion Keith “One Time” Thurman returns to the ring after a lengthy injury layoff to defend his title against veteran Josesito Lopez on Saturday, January 26 live in primetime in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.

“There is a high level of anticipation and intrigue surrounding the ring return of welterweight champion Keith Thurman, and Josesito Lopez will certainly provide some answers about where Thurman is after nearly two years out of the ring,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Adam Kownacki and Gerald Washington have the opportunity to show exactly where they stand in the resurgent heavyweight division. Both of them are big heavyweights who love to throw power shots. It’s the kind of night that will have fans on the edge of their seats.”

Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs) made a steady rise through the welterweight ranks and reached the pinnacle with hard-fought victories over Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia at Barclays Center, the latter of which earned him a WBC crown in addition to his WBA title. But a string of injuries, including surgery and rehabilitation on his elbow, has sidelined him for nearly two years, calling into question his place amongst the 147-pound elites. The 30-year-old Thurman, who is still the reigning WBA welterweight champion, is looking to regain his top-tier status in the division starting with Lopez. Thurman, who lives and trains in Clearwater, Florida, enters the ring for the first time since a split decision victory Garcia on March 4, 2017.

“I’m extremely excited to step back into the ring,” said Thurman. “It’s a little nerve wracking considering the time off and because I want to have a tremendous performance. I want to speak more with my hands more than my words and quiet the naysayers who think that Keith Thurman has lost his passion and skills in boxing. I believe I’m the best welterweight in the division and in the world and I hope to showcase that on January 26 with a knockout. The best fights in the welterweight division have involved Keith Thurman and that will continue to be the case. I’m looking forward to having a tremendous year and showing why I’m number one.”

The 34-year-old Lopez (36-7, 19 KOs) is looking to thwart Thurman’s plans to regain his lofty position in the 147-pound division. Nicknamed “The Riverside Rocky” because of his all-action style, the Riverside, California-native has stepped into the ring against some of the best boxers of this generation. He has rattled off three straight victories since suffering a TKO loss to former welterweight champion Andre Berto in 2015. Lopez is coming off a unanimous decision victory over previously unbeaten Miguel Cruz on April 28 live on FOX.

“I’m approaching this fight as leaving no stone unturned as I prepare to take that world championship,” Lopez said. “I’ve set up training camp with altitude, chasing chickens, chopping wood – really into putting in the work. Overall the layoff will affect him and there could be a little hesitation, but we’ll see come fight night. The improvements that I’ve made with Robert Garcia the last couple of years will come into play. They’ve strengthened my qualities and I can’t wait to show it to the world.”

“I can’t wait to show everything I’ve been working on,” said Washington, “Boxing is a sport of truth. It brings the truth to light and it exposed my truth and what I needed to work on. You have to be able to adjust and be comfortable in every situation. You have to be ready for what’s to come. I’m expecting a hard fight from him. He’s a bruiser. He’s tough and he loves to fight. He’s in his hometown and he’s ready and he’s going to bring it, but I’m ready to position myself to fight again for a world title.”

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Porter Edges Garcia, Wins Vacant WBC Welterweight Title

BROOKLYN, NY — “Showtime” Shawn Porter earned a hardfought 12 round unanimous decision over Danny “Swift” Garcia to capture the vacant WBC Welterweight World Title in front of 13,058 paid fans at the Barclay’s Center. It was a war of attrition between the two 30 year-old former champions, but it was ultimately Porter’s bulldog style in the ring that proved to be too much for Garcia to handle. At the end of the championship rounds, the judges scorecards read 116-112 and 115-113, twice, in favor of Porter.

In the early goings, Philadelphia’s Garcia, who is trained by his father Angel, continuously popped Porter with solitary shots, keeping the normally over-aggressive Porter at bay. There were certain times over the course of the first 9 minutes of action that it looked as if it were Porter’s strategy to not to rush Garcia, and instead, sit back and force the counter-puncher to come to him. However, as that plan — if it even was his plan — was clearly not working, Porter reverted back to his old aggressive style and began to march forward and take the fight to his counterpart.

From the fourth round on, it became the fight that Porter wanted. Time and time again, each round played out in a similar fashion, with Porter, who is trained by his father Kenny, charging forward, and Garcia doing his best to pepper in counters to fend off the Ohio-native. However, more often than not, Porter landed shots on his way in, and then once inside, attacked the body.

It was workrate, and effective aggression that ultimately carried the day for the new champion, Porter.

Judge Don Ackerman scored the contest 116-112, while judges Julie Lederman and Eric Marlinski had it 115-113, all for Porter. 15rounds.com scored the contest 115-113, Garcia.

The defeat marks the second loss for Garcia, who lost his WBC title to Keith Thurman in March of last year.

This was the third straight win for Porter, all coming at the Barclay’s Center, since also losing to Thurman in 2016. Porter’s only other blemish on his record is a majority decision loss to Kell Brook in 2014.

“I tell people all the time I don’t make predictions. I made a prediction and a hard one to live up to,” Porter said after the contest. “I said I wasn’t leaving New York without this belt and I’m not leaving New York without this belt.

“I knew he was going to be accurate. The game plan for me was to be accurate from the outside and show we could beat him without roughing him up on the ropes.

“He tried to outhustle me, mostly at the end of the rounds. He did a tremendous job.”

Garcia, who also spoke afterward, thought he he deserved the nod. “I thought I did enough to win,” he said. “It was close fight. The judges didn’t give it to me.

“He was throwing a lot. I had my defense tight so it wasn’t effective. I thought I landed the clearer shots. I thought I won this fight.”

During the post-fight Showtime interviews, IBF World Welterweight Champion, Errol Spence, Jr. hopped in the ring and had a few words of his own to say to Porter.

“The same way that you called Danny out, I’m going to call you out,” Spence said.

“I think I’m the best welterweight in the division. I’m the truth and I guarantee you I come home as unified champion. I definitely want that fight against Porter.”

Ugas Has Easy Night Against Barrionuevo

Yordenis Ugas (23-3, 11KO) outclassed Cesar Barrionuevo (34-4-2, 24KO) en route to an easy 12 round unanimous decision victory in a WBC welterweight title eliminator.

In fairness, having to follow the action-packed Kownacki-Martin brawl wouldn’t be easy for any pair of prize fighters, but this particular contest and stylistic matchup made for minimal excitement.

Over the course of twelve rounds, the 32 year-old Cuban was the slicker fighter, keeping his Argentinian counterpart on the outside, seemingly popping and landing shots at will, while also countering nicely with lefts to the body.

The southpaw, Barrionuevo, who was fighting for the first time on US soil, couldn’t seem to solve Ugas and failed to land anything of significance over the course of twelve rounds.

In the end, all three judges scored the contest for the Cuban, with Kevin Morgan and John McKai agreeing on a shutout 120-108, and Tom Schreck seeing it 119-109.

The result hands Barrionuevo his 4th career defeat, all of which have come via the judges’ scorecards.

The win extends Ugas’ win streak to 8, an undefeated run that dates back to 2014, and will slot him in to be the mandatory challenger to face the night’s main event winner, Danny Garcia or Shawn Porter.

“I want the winner of Danny Garcia vs. Shawn Porter,” Ugas said afterward. “I’m here to compete with the top level guys in the sport.

“I have had some difficulties in my life. I’m back and I’m moving forward. I’m ready for whoever comes my way. I’m ready for a title.“

Bombs Away, Kownacki Outslugs Martin, Earns UD

In front of hundreds of his rowdy Polish fans decked out in red and white, Polish-born Brooklyn heavyweight Adam Kownacki (18-0, 14KO) scored the biggest win of his career, earning a narrow unanimous decision over former IBF World Champion “Prince” Charles Martin (25-2-1, 23 KO) in a ruthless ten round slugfest. All three judges scored the fight 96-94 for the 29 year-old Kownacki.

Early on, Kownacki brought nothing but pressure and straight rights, and Martin had no answer for it. The 32 year-old former titlist was unable to slow down the 263-pound freight train that is Kownacki. When Kownacki was in tight, the more chiseled 246-pound southpaw Martin began finding a home for his left hand, throwing them time and again to Kownacki’s soft, exposed midsection. It was a punch that would eventually pay off and show its impact a few rounds later.

In the fourth round, Kownacki turned up the heat, and unleashed a series of rights and lefts that found their unopposed target. Upon receiving the blows, Martin’s head whipped straight back, and left, and right, but he was ultimately able to outlast Kownacki’s barrage, tie up, and reset.

In the fifth, Martin seemed to gain some momentum, and started to land his left with more regularity, both to the head and body.

In the sixth, though, Kownacki came right back, unleashing his missile-like stiff jabs and straight rights from the sound of the bell. Midway through the sixth, the fight witnessed the best exchange of the contest to date when Kownacki landed a monster right hand, that Martin somehow ate, and then moments later, the former champ uncorked what might have been his best left of the night, that Kownacki somehow ate.

As the fight progressed into the late rounds, the better conditioned Martin began to impose himself on Kownacki, who was noticeably tiring. As round 8 drew to a close, Martin landed a monster left to Kownacki’s body, followed by an unobstructed left to the head that left Kownacki dazed. If it wasn’t for the ensuing bell, Kownacki would have been in a ton of trouble.

In the 9th, perhaps feeding off the hometown crowd’s energy, Kownacki again came of his stool firing. Midway through the round, however, he began to tire, and once again Martin was able to do good work, getting the better of the round’s remaining exchanges.

In the 10th and final round, operating on what had to be pure crowd-fueled adrenaline, Kownacki came off his stool and looked he like he did in round 3, rushing forward to meet Martin and unleash those heavy gloved fists. As had become pattern the few previous rounds, Kownacki tired considerably and was hurt badly by a Martin left to the body. The left stopped Kownacki in his tracks and Martin began to tee off. What followed that left to the body was :15 seconds of target practice as Kownacki was unable to defend himself or elude any blows. But seemingly out of nowhere, about :30 seconds after absorbing the best Martin had to offer, Kownacki caught Martin with a straight right that started his own flurry of unblocked blows that had Martin reeling until he was able to clinch and regroup.

The battle continued on to the final bell and in the end all three judges, Carlos Ortiz, John Stewart, and Joseph Pasquale scored it the same, 96-94 for Kownacki.

For Kownacki, who also has a TKO4 over former world title challenger Artur Szpilka on his resume, the win against Martin tonight is undoubtedly his biggest achievement.

Martin, who won the IBF World Championship in 2016 in a bout against Vyacheslav Glazkov who tore his knee in the 3rd round, will wake up tomorrow with regret, but no shame. The Missouri native waited just a round or two too late to get going and fought too many of the early rounds strictly on the defensive.

Martin’s only other defeat came via KO2 at the O2 Arena in England against Anthony Joshua in a heavyweight unifier.

“The Polish fans were awesome tonight,” Kownacki said afterward. “It definitely gave me a boost. It’s a blessing, they’re the best in the world.

“Charles Martin gave it all in the ring tonight. He put up a good fight….I thought I won the decision a little wider than the cards, but Charles came to fight all night. He was in shape and coming forward and I had to dig deep”

Martin also spoke after the bout. “I believed I got the win,” he said. “I did work on the inside and no one saw that. I did really good work on the inside.

“I will get back in the gym. I’ll keep on going. Looks are very deceiving. I put up a hell of a fight and I came up just short.”

Serrano Makes History, Becomes First Female Six Division Champ

Brooklyn’s Amanda Serrano (35-1-1, 26KO) again made history at the Barclay’s Center, becoming the first female fighter to win titles in six divisions, capturing the WBO Junior Welterweight Championship when she scored a controversially wide ten round unanimous decision against Yamila Esther Reynoso (11-5-3, 8KO).

In the first round, it looked like Serrano would outclass her Argentinian counterpart. But after a rough first two minutes in which she tasted some of the best shots Serrano had to offer, Reynoso calmed down and settled in. The tough 22-year old started to fight coming forward, willingly exchanging with her 29 year-old Puerto Rican-born southpaw counterpart. By the third round, the momentum had completely swung in the favor of Reynoso, who ever more confidently was willing to eat one of Serrano’s punches to land one of her own.

But like a veteran former titleist should, Serrano adapted to the punches and the pressure. By the middle rounds, Serrano began timing her opponent and successfully started to slip and counter Reynoso’s offerings. Midway through the contest, both fighter’s faces began to swell, and blood eventually began to trickle from Reynoso’s nostrils.

Serrano continued to be on the receiving end of some of Reynoso’s best shots, but she always able to land her own leather whenever they exchanged.

At the end of ten hard-fought championship rounds, all three judges, Larry Hazard, Joseph Pasquale, and Waleska Roldan scored the contest 99-91 for Serrano. 15rounds.com also scored the contest for Serrano, but had it much closer, 96-94.

The win makes it 21 in a row for Serrano, who was fighting for the first time since stopping Marilyn Hernandez inside 1 round last November.

Serrano’s lone defeat remains a 2012 unanimous decision loss against Frida Walberg in 2012 in Sweden.

The result makes it four losses in her last seven bouts for Reynoso, who was fighting outside Argentina for the just the second time, and making her US debut.

“This means everything to me,” Serrano said after the contest. “I work so hard and I hope this fight shows the fans that girls can fight and we can give it our all just like the men do. We deserve to have this platform and we deserve to be shown.

“She was tough and she came to win. I give her a lot of credit for pushing forward and engaging. I’m hoping to be on SHOWTIME next time. I’m a six-division world champion and I’m ready for anything next.”

Colbert Remains Perfect, Scores Wide UD Over Fassinou

Another Brooklyn-native and Atlas Cops & Kids fighter, Chris “The Golden Child/Lil B-Hopp” Colbert (9-0, 4KO) remained perfect in front of his hometown crowd, scoring a unanimous shutout decision against Maryland’s Fatiou Fassinou (28-11-3, 15KO) in an 8 round featherweight contest. All three judges turned in scores of 80-72. Colbert applied pressure throughout the scrap, forcing Fassinou onto his back foot, making him throw punches going backward. It was effective, and when Colbert, who came to the ring sporting a sombrero and to the tune of the Mexican national anthem, let his hands fly, he did so will ill intent. The 21-year old shined in spurts, but didn’t seem find the final gear to finish of his hard-nosed Ghanaian counterpart. The result makes it 4 straight losses for Fassinou and 7 in his last 8 bouts.

Hitchins Knocks Down Valenzuela En Route To UD Win

In his sixth professional fight, all of which have been fought at the Barclay’s Center, former Haitian Olympian and Brooklyn-native, Richardson Hitchins (6-0, 3KO) cruised to a six round unanimous decision against Mexico’s Cesar Valenzuela (7-3, 2KO). The judges cards at the end of the super lightweight bout read 60-53×2 and 60-52, all for the 20 year-old Mayweather Promotions prospect. Hitchins, who fights out of Atlas Cops & Kids Boxing Gym in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, scored a first round knockdown, which set the tone early in the fight. In the third round, Hitchins continued to batter Valenzuela, who was able to weather the storm and live to see out the remainder of the contest. This is the second straight loss to a blue chip prospect for the 32 year-old Valenzuela. His last defeat came courtesy of TKO via the fists of Golden Boy Promotions prospect, Vergil Ortiz, Jr., on the undercard of Gennady Golovkin-Canelo Alvarez last September.

Price Cruises To UD Win Vs. Enjani

Super flyweight Dylan “The Real Deal” Price (7-0, 5KO) made it 2-for-2 for Philadelphia fighters on the night, earning a wide unanimous decision against Rwandan Mulapi “The African Mexican” Enjani (3-6-2, 1KO). Two judges scored the six round contest a shutout for Price, 60-54, while the third had it 59-55. The fight marked Price’s fourth straight at the Barclay’s Center, where he seems to have found a second home, enjoying vocal support from the early arriving crowd. Coming into the bought, Enjani was looking to build on back to back victories, albeit against foes with combined records of 0-7-1. Price had other plans, adn easily outpointed his counterpart. To his credit, Enjani has still yet to be stopped in any of his defeats.

Wilder Unloads On Williams, Stops Him Inside One

Cruiserweight Marsellos Wilder (2-0, 2KO), the 29 year-old younger brother of WBC World Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder, needed just 2:12 of a scheduled 4 round bout to blast out his opponent, Ryan Williams (0-2), earning his second straight stoppage victory to start his career. Wilder overwhelmed his foe, constantly applying pressure and backing Williams. Eventually, the 6’3” Wilder backed Williams into the red corner, where he unleashed a left to the body, followed by a right that wrapped around the ear. That final combination was enough for referee Michael Griffin to jump between fighters and call a halt to the contest at the 2:34 mark of the first round.

Quarles Earns Hard-Earned SD Over Willis

In an 8 round middleweight scrap, Brandon Quarles (20-4-1, 10KO) earned his 20th professional victory via split decision over fellow veteran Marcus Willis (18-6-2, 5KO). Judges scores read 78-74 for Willis, and 77-75 and 78-74 for the Virginia-native, Quarles. The win makes it two wins in two tries in 2018 for Quarles, while Willis loses for the second time in the calendar year, and for the second time in the last three fights.

Lopez Wins Tough UD Vs. Luna

Colorado featherweight Ricky Lopez improved his record to 20-4, 6KO, earning a hard-fought unanimous decision win over Texas-native Ramsey Luna (14-6, 6KO). Scores for Lopez were 77-75 and 78-74, twice. The result makes it seven wins in a row for the 31 year-old Lopez, while also marking Luna’s fourth defeat in his last seven bouts.

Torres Kicks Off Night With Early TKO Over Valadez

In the opening contest from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, 21 year-old Philadelphian Jeffrey Torres (5-0, 3KO) kept his record spotless and scored a first round stoppage against fellow super lightweight Emmanuel Valadez (5-6, 4KO). The bout, which was scheduled for 4 rounds, marked the first time Torres’ stepped inside the ropes since last September when he stopped Latorie Woodberry. For the 30 year-old Mexican, Valadez, the bout resulted in his sixth professional defeat, all of which have come inside the distance.

Danny Garcia vs. Shawn Porter & Adam Kownacki vs. Charles Martin Media Conference Call Transcript & Audio Recording

Lou DiBella
Thanks everyone for joining us for this conference call for what should be an amazing, SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING card presented by Premier Boxing Champions at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday, September 8th. The main event Danny Garcia vs. Shawn Porter is for the WBC World Welterweight Championship. It’s a sensational fight, incredible match up of styles, one of the best fights you can make in the Welterweight division.

It will be the main event of the tripleheader. It will also feature Yordenis Ugas vs. Cesar Barrionuevo in a WBC Welterweight Eliminator. And also an extremely interesting and important heavyweight match up between Adam Kownacki of Brooklyn, New York by way of Lomza, Poland and Charles Martin from Carson, California, the former World Heavyweight Champion.

Obviously an effort by Charles to get back into the big picture in the heavyweight division with one big win. And for Adam an opportunity to defeat a former World Heavyweight Champion and put himself into the immediate title conversation. It’s a sensational card, tickets for the live event, which is co-promoted by my company and TGB Promotions in association with DSG Promotions. They started $50 and they are on sale now.

They could be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com or by calling 1800-745-3000, they can also be purchased at the box office in Barclays Center. Fights involving Garcia and Porter rank among the highest attended and highest grossing gates for boxing at Barclays Center. So both of these fighters are basically fighting in their homes away from home.

Adam Kownacki is a huge favorite within the Polish community in the New York area. He’s a very big ticket seller and this will be his seventh fight at Barclays Center. So right now tickets are moving incredibly well. The ringsides and the better seats are good to be gone quickly. So people should get on the phone and order their tickets you know for this fight when they can and they were tickets down to $50 so this is an affordable event for everybody.

In addition to being a huge event for Brooklyn and for Barclays Center this is another string of top boxing events in major fights that would be presented by SHOWTIME under the leadership of Stephen Espinoza, doesn’t get better than this. In my mind, this is as good a premium cable fight as you could possibly make.

Again it just continues in a multi-year period of excellence for SHOWTIME. Stephen, why don’t you say a few words?

Stephen Espinoza
Thanks very much, Lou. September 8 will be our 26th live boxing presentation of the year. That’s 26 live boxing events this year and of those we’ve had eight matchups of top five versus top five fighters, and that’s clearly what Danny Garcia vs. Shawn Porter is – two of the top five in the welterweight division. That again will be the eighth time this year alone that that’s happened on SHOWTIME.

We’re also here to talk about the heavyweights, Adam and Charles. Adam is hugely popular with Brooklyn’s Polish community. He’s fighting at Barclays Center for the fifth time. Charles Martin is no stranger to Barclays Center either, having won his heavyweight title there on SHOWTIME back in 2016.

It’s a very intriguing crossroads fight in a division, which has certainly got a lot of attention, a lot of buzz lately. So I think you know that’s all part of a very solid card, interesting card top to bottom. I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention Amanda Serrano who is trying to become boxing’s third six-division champion when she fights Yamila Reynoso for the WBO Junior Welterweight World Championship. A little bit of everything as far as high quality fights, we are really looking forward to September 8.

L. DiBella
Thank you Stephen, and as Stephen pointed out there is a terrific undercard featuring loads of New York talent and an incredibly significant women’s fight between Amanda Serrano and for a 140-pound belt, which would be Amanda’s sixth weight class with the title. As Stephen pointed out that would put her there with two other great male Hall of Fame level fighters and make her the first woman to hold a distinction as well as the first Puerto Rican, so that’s a very significant fight.

Let’s get started with the great heavyweight match up. I’m going to first to say a few words about a young man I’m very familiar with, born in Poland, moved to Brooklyn with his family when he was seven, two times New York Golden Gloves champion, rated in the top 10 by the WBC and number 13 by the IBF. Six round knockout recently against Iago Kiladze, he has wins over former title challenger Artur Szpilka as well as a number of other good wins with his record but really a rising young heavyweight close to his big opportunity with his biggest obstacle and a former world champion Charles Martin in front of him.

A. Kownacki
Hey thanks Lou for the introduction. I’m ready to make a statement. It’s a very big fight for me, I’m training very hard and hopefully after this fight I’ll be mentioned as a heavyweight contender. I’m thrilled to be on a great show in Barclays Center live on SHOWTIME and can’t wait. It’s definitely going to be a great night for me.

L. DiBella
Charles Martin only lost to Anthony Joshua in April of 2016. He has couple of knock out wins since then, 6’5″, 32-year-old, top 10 by the WBC at number nine and number 15 by the BF. Charles this is a pretty immediate way to get back into the picture, if you could beat this young contender and he’s looking at you as his biggest resume mark to date. So this is a big night for you, can you say a few words?

Charles Martin
Yes, I can’t wait. I’ve been training hard, doing what I got to do, staying focused, and I’m looking to put on a big show come September 8th and you know keep going up those rankings, trying to get back to my belts. I know it’s going to be a tough fight and that’s what I am training for, so we’ll see nothing new.

Q
When you turned pro did you have the expectation or the confidence that you would reach this level of the sport?

A. Kownacki
My goal was always to be world champion. Winning the New York Golden Gloves was a big thing for me. So after I won that, that’s where I was looking to win the title. With every fight I inch closer so I’m training very hard to reach the dream comfortably.

Q
Charles, what do you have left to accomplish in sport boxing.

C. Martin
I want to show what I can really do in the sport, so I’m just here to show people my skills and that’s what I am going to do on September 8th. I got some stuff to prove so that’s what it is.

Q
What does fighting in New York mean to you personally?

A. Kownacki
I love it. In fact, it’s one of the best feelings. If you can make here, you can make it anywhere. So I want to continue that and keep winning in New York.

Q
Charles do you think the winner of this fight will be right in line for a title shot?

C. Martin
Yes, possibly, but I’m never looking past my opponents. So I’m right on the money. I got to take care of Adam Kownacki first before anything.

Q
What is in Adam Kownacki’s style which makes him so hard to first of all predict and then to fight?

C. Martin
He is just a good fighter with a lot of heart. He is winning because he is a good fighter. I’m just saying he is a good fighter.

I’m prepared for everything you can possibly think of. I’m coming to minimize everything he brings, that’s what we are working on.

Q
Charles, could you tell us how you think you’ve improved as a fighter since facing Joshua and what lessons did you take from that fight?

C. Martin
Yes, I’m more mature, I’m grown. I’m a grown man. So we’re ready when I get in that ring. When I work out, when I go to training, I’m serious about what I do. I’m taking my craft seriously, so that’s what’s the difference. I’ve grown.

Q
What do you think your advantages are over Adam in this fight?

C. Martin
I’ve come in to win, come in to make a statement. I’m bringing devastation.

Q
Adam how do you view Charles as a fighter and what do you think your advantages are over him?

A. Kownacki
Well, first of all, I thank Charles Martin for pronouncing my name right, I think he is one of the few people that actually said it correctly but I will be in pressuring him all night. I’m a pressure fighter and if Charles Martin is able to give me all then I think it’s going to be a tremendous fight.

Q
Do you want to make prediction for the fight?

A. Kownacki
I do know that it is going to be exciting. There will be lot of fireworks.

C. Martin
No predictions. I like to prove it and I like to show it. Let me show it, no predictions.

Q
Charles does returning to Barclays Center bring back any special memories for you, was that part of the motivation for to take this fight?

C. Martin
Well as far as taking the fight it didn’t matter where we fought, but I love fighting in Brooklyn. I like the Barclays Center big stage, so I am looking forward to it.

Q
What led you to taking the fight with Kownacki?

C. Martin
It’s just who we are fighting with, you got to fight somebody. I haven’t been in the ring often recently but I’ve been in camps and working every day. We have been working really hard

Q
Adam do you feel like this is the final step towards getting that title shot or do you feel like there is more work to be done?

A. Kownacki
As you all see Charles Martin is very focused, so I’m prepared for the best Charles Martin that he brings, and I could beat the best Charles Martin and go for the title shot right after. I am looking at Charles Martin as if he still has the title, as if he is the champion, so I am ready. I am running and doing more workouts. I’m looking at Charles Martin as if he is still a champion, so by beating him it puts me right in o the title shot. He’s a contender and the former world champion so bringing a shot at title would be I think the next step in my career.

Lou DiBella
Adam and Charles I look forward to seeing you guys fight week, and now we’re going to move on to the main event of this great event on Saturday, September 8. Once again it’s 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York for the WBC World Welterweight Championship and frankly Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter don’t really need whole lot of introduction.

Q
A lot of guys who fight Shawn obviously come away from their fights feeling that he uses his head, how much are you preparing for that and how can you kind of combat that from happening to you?

Danny Garcia
I got to go in there and fight my fight. I can’t go in there and basically get caught up in his fight. We have the right sparring partners, short guys around 5’6″ using the head, who come forward. So me and my father got the perfect game plan to get away from the head butt. So yes we have some tricks for that.

Q
How much will you make the referee aware of that?

D. Garcia
At the end of the day I’m not really worried about the referee, it is a fight. The referee does his job and I’m just going to do my job and that’s go in there and fight. So I’m not really worried about his head. I just have to go in there and fight my fight.

Q
What it would mean for you if you’re able to stop him in the fight?

D. Garcia
It will mean a lot, if you avoid the scorecard that’s always a great thing, you don’t even have the judges judge, so it will be great. I stopped people for the first time in their careers so it won’t be the first and it won’t be the last time I did it.

Q
You’ve been involved in close decision before and I know you can’t go into a fight looking for a knockout but how imperative is it for you to try to end this fight before it goes to the cards so you don’t put yourself in those situations again?

D. Garcia
At the end of the day, those fights are growing fights, those type of fights are what makes you a better champion and makes you a better fighter. If you win easy fight all the time you don’t know what you have to work on, you want to improve. So those type of fights show what you got to work on. So I think every fight in my career has been the right fight and I’m going to go in there and use all those fights and all the experience I have had to get this victory.

Q
Shawn can you answer that as well?

Shawn Porter
I plan on going in there and taking care of it in the easiest way. I need to make sure I’m doing everything that I need to do to win the fight decisively and with no question at all that I am the winner.

Q
Do you think Danny can do anything to make you not fight his fight?

S. Porter
I think it’s a psychological thing. I say when you are in ring with me, you know what I am going to bring, and you really got to get yourself going for that. I think a lot of times they get caught up with my work rate and my aggression and they feel like they have to counter that with the same work rate and aggression. I don’t know what game plan they have for me, but I do know that I’ll be ready for anything.

Q
How excited were you or how did you feel when you found out you were going to get this opportunity?

D. Garcia
It was exciting because obviously I want the world championship again, the WBC title was my title to begin with. So it was exciting when I got the call and it was all right away and it’s a fight that I like and I was excited and I said let’s get it on.

Q
Can you talk about your point of view as this being a competition not only between yourself and Shawn but between your dad and also his dad?

D. Garcia
We’re looking at it like another fight. We are not looking at it like your dad versus my dad. This is just Team Garcia versus his team and that’s how we always look at it. So we are just preparing ourselves, working hard every day and again we are going to do what we always do.

Q
How difficult was it to swallow having the first defeat of your career?

D. Garcia
It was tough, it was tough, I have a mind of a winner and honestly waking up that day I thought I was going to be the unified champion of the world. I was real confident when it came to the scorecard that I was there to win the fight because I finished the fight strong, and you know what there were a lot of close middle rounds.

He won a lot of the early rounds, but I felt like I pushed the fight, I thought I won the fight, it didn’t go my wat. That got me going again but you know mentally it was tough but you know physically it didn’t affect me, so now it is behind me in the past. I feel good, I’m motivated and this is the same Danny Garcia you want to see. So in my mind I still feel like I kind of have to go out there and prove myself.

Q
You both lost close fights to Thurman, can you tell me how much either of you would like to get a rematch?

D. Garcia
You know I got to get this victory first and then quite frankly, I’ll fight anybody, it doesn’t matter who it is.

S. Porter
Yes, I think the fight against Thurman was very, very close, and I wanted a rematch right away, but that was in 2016. At the time, it was the best fight in the division. It is still that but I’d like to see and fight some other competition first, and trust me I just love to fight.

Q
How would you rate your performance in that fight against Brandon Rios and do you feel like you need to do better than that to beat Shawn Porter?

D. Garcia
I’ll give myself a B, I was off a year before that. I felt like I knocked off a lot of rust, I felt like I’d be really good for being a year off and went and got the knockout, which was the goal. I felt like that was the only way to win that fight if I am knocking him out and that made me so happy so yes I’m back where I need to be and I’m active.

I’m fighting again and you know I always tell people that an active Danny Garcia is a dangerous Danny Garcia.

Q
When you look at the welterweight division do you feel excited about new potential fights that a lot of people are already kind of fantasy matchmaking for both of you guys?

D. Garcia
Yes, definitely, it was exciting to be in a division full of talent. If I get this belt I will fight whoever, the biggest fight, the biggest payday. I will fight anyone.

Q
Lou, where do you rank this event at least on paper among all the other boxing cards that you’ve been a part of in Brooklyn?

L. DiBella
We put on some amazing cards, this is another one and frankly I’m as excited about this one as I’ve been about anyone in a long, long time and I’ve said this main event is a fight that I had loved for years and it’s a fight that sort of was inevitable and it’s now happening and it’s a great fight but you know everything else on this card is important, it has significant history being made.

There’s going to be a major contender either Martin back again or Kownacki in the heavyweight division. It’s a great, great card, headlined by two great champions and Garcia and Porter, and it’s another card in the run of great cards on SHOWTIME in association with Premier Boxing Champions and another great card in the line of Brooklyn Boxing at Barclays Center. So you know it’s continuing to build those brands at the same time.

So it’s going to be a big night for boxing on September 8th, I would hope everybody joins us.

Q
Danny how long did it take you for you to get over your loss to Keith Thurman?

D. Garcia
It took me a little while and at the end of the day I never pictured myself on the wrong side of a decision, but it is what it is. I came back strong against Rios and did what I was supposed to against him and stop him and knock him out. The next two guys up for the title was me and Shawn and that’s how the fight got made.

Q
Can you tell us about the success you had at Barclays Center?

D. Garcia
Yes, definitely it is, I love Barclays Center. I opened up the building and I was the first world title fighter at Barclays Center in 2012 when I knocked Morales out. I fought many epic battles here you know against Morales, Peterson, Judah, Thurman, the list goes on.

Of course a lot of great knockouts there, you have a big fan base in Brooklyn. When I walk through the streets of Brooklyn everyone knows who I am, so that’s my home away from home. I love the atmosphere. I love the people at Barclays Center and it’s my home away from home and I’m excited.

Q
Do you still have any potential future plans to bring a fight back to Philly?

D. Garcia
In a perfect world after this fight I would come back and defend my title in Philly, but we got some work to do come September 8, so we got to get this victory and get the job done and then whatever’s next is next but I would love to bring something to the area.

Q
Shawn, what makes this Danny Garcia very intriguing?

S. Porter
I’m aggressive. I come strong, I come fast, I come hard, and Danny is one that’s a little bit more patient. The fight is a brilliant fight. I’ve been around the block 100 times and coming back to Brooklyn we are both familiar with them and they are familiar with us.

If you want to you know the other intangibles of this fight, it’s two hard hitters, two strong guys, two young guys and that just makes for a very great intriguing fight and it will be just that.

Q
Can you talk a little bit about the style match up, everybody has got to be different, but for both guys is there any fight from your past that kind of lays the blueprint for how this one’s going to go?

D. Garcia
At the end of the day for a lot of people from the amateurs, the pro game, they come forward. I have to go in there and push him back and that’s what I am preparing for and that’s what I wake up every day and get my work done and to be the best that I can be, and perform the best that I can perform.

I’m going to go ahead and make adjustments like a true champion and get the victory and I think that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day.

S. Porter
I’m not exactly sure what’s going to happen yet but I’m sure I’ve had previous experience with whatever he brings to the ring. My experience and my knowledge in the ring is what is going to help me through that.

Q
How much does that help you when you had those long periods of inactivity before and still been able to perform at a high level when you go into a fight like this?

S. Porter
If anything I’m healthier, I’m happy and I’m relaxed. I’m fully recovered for anything that I’ve been through and you know the list goes on there. I think that if anything, I’ll have fresh legs late and a fresh mind to get in the ring with Danny. I think in the past just the time in between fights has made me stay hungry. This being for a world championship title and the WBC, plus Danny Garcia is one of the top guys in his division. Everything in this fight has kept me hungry from the moment that the talk began about this fight happening and now we’re like 23 days away from the fight I think and it is coming soon.

Q
Shawn earlier Danny said that he gave himself a B for his performance against Brandon Rios, how did you think he fought against Rios?

S. Porter
Honestly prior to the knockout it was a C performance for me, it was a C performance. I thought that he was not as fast and sharp as I expected him to be. If it is Shawn Porter versus Brandon Rios, I would not expect him to go that long. He found the right punch at the right time, he landed it, he knocked him down after that and that was what I needed from Danny in order for me to get in the ring and do what I did.

Danny doesn’t knock out Brandon I don’t get in the ring, and this fight may or may not be happening right now, but I’m ready.

Q
In regard to a Keith Thurman rematch, do you put that out of your mind at this point because he hasn’t fought so long?

S. Porter
Yes, I put it out of my mind, and again no disrespect to Keith, but we haven’t seen him, we don’t know what Keith is going to look like when he gets back in the ring and I would hate for Keith to get back in the ring to be any less than what he was the first time we fought. There’s too many questions and this is why Shawn Porter wins the rematch right now. So I have definitely put the rematch a lot further behind me than it was prior to this fight has been announced but this is the number one thing on my mind right now.

D. Garcia
He’s out because of me. I was the one who broke his elbow, but I just feel like I just feel like he’s not hungry no more since he unified the division. I think he reached the height in his career that he always wanted to reach.

I think he’s married now or he’s traveling the world, so his mind is not in the game. So I just don’t think he’s hungry anymore. I think he passed what he wanted to accomplish. I may be wrong but from what I see that’s how it seems to be.

L. DiBella
Thanks for joining us everyone and we’ll see you on September 8 at Barclays Center.

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For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports,www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @DannySwift, @ShowtimeShawnP, @LouDiBella, @TGBPromotions, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing and www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

Top Welterweight Contender Yordenis Ugas Faces Argentina’s Cesar Barrionuevo in 147-Pound Title Eliminator

BROOKLYN (August 1, 2018) – Top 147-pound contender Yordenis Ugas and Argentine slugger Cesar Barrionuevo will battle in a WBC welterweight title eliminator while unbeaten Polish heavyweight contender Adam Kownacki will face former heavyweight champion Charles Martin in a 10-round attraction as part of a tripleheader live on SHOWTIME Saturday, September 8 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® main event (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) will pit two of the division’s biggest names against each other as former 147-pound champions Danny “Swift” Garcia and “Showtime” Shawn Porter square off for the vacant WBC Welterweight World Championship. The winner of Ugas vs. Barrionuevo earns the WBC’s second mandatory position to the winner of Garcia vs. Porter.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, in association with DSG Promotions, start at $50 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

Ugas (22-3, 11 KOs), who was born in Cuba and now lives in Las Vegas, is one of the busiest boxers in the sport and a consensus top-10 fighter in the welterweight division. After losing a unanimous decision to Amir Imam in 2014, the 32-year-old Ugas took a year off from boxing, moved up to 147 pounds and came back on a tear. During a 12-month span from August 2016 to August 2017, Ugas won five straight fights, knocking off top contenders and prospects including Jamal James, Bryant Perrella, Levan Ghvamichava, Thomas Dulorme and Nelson Lara. Ugas has added two more stoppage victories in 2018, including February on SHOWTIME when he handed Ray Robinson his first defeat since a 2010 decision to Shawn Porter.

“I’m very excited to be part of such a great card,’’ Ugas said. “This is a huge opportunity to put myself in position to fight the best fighters in the welterweight division and that’s my goal. I don’t know much about my opponent, but he is a power punching Argentine and I have to be 100 percent ready come September 8. This will be my second appearance on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and I look forward to making another huge statement. I’m going to close the show in New York like my friend, Yankees’ closer Aroldis Chapman.’’

Barrionuevo (34-3-2, 24 KOs) has devastating one-punch power and is wildly popular in his native Argentina, where he has held regional titles while stopping seven of his last nine opponents. Barrionuevo will make his U.S. debut on September 8. The 29-year-old has won 10 fights in a row and has only lost once since 2010 as he looks to follow in the footsteps of Marcos Maidana and Lucas Matthysse, elite welterweights from Argentina. Barrionuevo, who is ranked No. 6 by the WBC at 147 pounds, was previously scheduled to face Abel Ramos on Aug. 3 in Las Vegas before taking the opportunity to fight Ugas in this title eliminator.

“I am proud to be fighting in the United States and fighting on SHOWTIME is a dream come true,’’ said Barrionuevo. “Argentine boxing has a long history of great champions from Carlos Monzon to Sergio Martinez and most recently Marcos Maidana. I am looking to become one of those great Argentine fighters of this era and it starts on September 8. I bring the power and the heart of my country with me and expect all the Argentine flags to be out at Barclays Center.’’

Kownacki (17-0, 14 KOs) has become a must-see attraction amongst the large contingent of Polish boxing fans in his hometown of Brooklyn and will return to fight at Barclays Center for the fifth time on September 8. The 29-year-old has steadily climbed up the rankings, having most recently knocked out then once-beaten heavyweight Iago Kiladze in Brooklyn in January. Prior to that win, the undefeated heavyweight scored a dominant stoppage of Artur Szpilka last July on Long Island in a matchup of top Polish heavyweights.

“It’s exciting to be back in the ring on SHOWTIME to showcase my skills,’’ said Kownacki. “It will be another step to reach my goal of becoming the first Polish heavyweight champion. I am training hard in preparation to fight Charles Martin. It will be an amazing night in Barclays Center. I’m hoping Barclays Center will be covered in white and red.’’

Born in St. Louis, Martin (25-1-1, 23 KOs) captured the IBF Heavyweight World Championship in January 2016 via a third round TKO against Vyacheslav Glazkov at Barclays Center on SHOWTIME. The 32-year-old scored knockouts in 21 of his first 23 before losing in his first title defense against Anthony Joshua in the UK. Martin trains in Big Bear, California and has since scored two knockout victories on his way towards a matchup with Kownacki that could move him closer to another shot at a belt.

“I don’t want to talk about fighting, I just want to get in there and show off my skills,” said Martin. “For this fight I asked for the toughest opponent that I could get. I’m not worried about who is in front of me. I will be ready on September 8.”

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For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @DannySwift, @ShowtimeShawnP, @LouDiBella, @TGBPromotions, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing and www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.