HBO Sports visits Maryland for the first time since 1979 when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: VASYL LOMACHENKO VS. JASON SOSA AND OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK VS. YUNIESKY GONZALEZ AND ALEKSANDR USYK VS. MIKE HUNTER is seen SATURDAY, APRIL 8 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md., exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will call 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 9 (8:45 a.m.) and April 11 (12:35 a.m.)

HBO2 playdate: April 10 (1:05 a.m.)

The fights will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and affiliate portals.

In a junior lightweight title fight, rising sensation Vasyl Lomachenko (7-1, 5 KOs), of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Ukraine, puts his crown on the line against Jason Sosa (20-1-4, 15 KOs), from Camden, NJ, in a scheduled 12-round contest. Named 2016 fighter of the year by several media outlets, the multi-talented Lomachenko is a two-time Olympic gold medalist who has become a two-division world champion after just a handful of pro fights.

Known for his punching power and aggressive style, Sosa is on a five-year, 20-bout unbeaten streak, amassing a 70% knockout-to-win ratio along the way. With more professional ring experience, Sosa looks to derail Lomachenko’s momentum in the 130-pound division.

The middle bout is a ten-round light heavyweight fight that pits Oleksandr Gvozdyk (12-0, 10 KOs) from Kharkiv, Ukraine, against Yuniesky Gonzalez (18-2, 14 KOs), a native of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, who now lives in Miami. Gvozdyk captured the bronze medal as a member of the 2012 Olympic team, which also included the other two Ukrainian fighters on the evening’s card. Gonzalez also has a rich amateur background, with more than 300 fights in his native Cuba, a hotbed of amateur boxing stars. Both men look to make a major impression in the talented 175-pound division.

Undefeated fighters vie for a cruiserweight title in the opening bout, as Aleksandr Usyk (11-0, 10 KOs) from Kiev, Ukraine, makes his second HBO appearance for a 12-round tilt with Mike Hunter (12-0, 8 KOs). Defending his 200-pound title belt, Usyk, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist, trains in Onxard, Cal. Hunter hails from Las Vegas and was a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team.

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The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jonathan Crystal; director, Johnathan Evans.

® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

OXON HILL, MD (February 23, 2017) — The VASYL LOMACHENKO – JASON “El Canito” SOSA junior lightweight world championship event has become an embarrassment of Ukrainian riches with the addition of two title fights. Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) cruiserweight world champion and Olympic gold medalist OLEKSANDR USYK and NABF light heavyweight champion and Olympic bronze medalist OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK will be defending their titles against MIKE HUNTER and YUNIESKYI GONZALEZ, respectively, in all-action co-main event battles, Saturday, April 8, at The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD. The Lomachenko, Usyk and Gvozdyk championship Ukrainian tripleheader will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

The six televised championship fighters boast a combined record of 80-4-4 (62 KOs), good for a winning percentage of 91% with over 3/4 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Peltz Boxing Promotions, K2 Promotions, K2 Promotions Ukraine and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, remaining tickets for the Lomachenko-Sosa world championship event are priced at $153, $128, $103, $78 and $53, including all applicable service charges and taxes. They can be purchased online at mgmnationalharbor.com or ticketmaster.com. For more tour and ticket information, visit mgmnationalharbor.com or call (844) 346-4664.

“I’m very happy to fight on the same card with Vasyl Lomachenko and Oleksandr Gvozdyk, this is something we’ve been talking about since we were amateurs — to have three members of the 2012 Ukrainian Olympic Team in the same event,” said Usyk. “It’s fantastic to be able to do this. I would like to thank my promoters Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Krassyuk and Tom Loeffler from K2 Promotions along with my manager Egis Klimas and HBO, and also Bob Arum and Top Rank for adding me to this show. Michael Hunter is a tough, undefeated opponent and I’m certain that this will be a great show for the fans in attendance and those watching on HBO.”

“I’m excited for this fight because I asked for it. If I don’t knock him out, I’ll be surprised,” said Hunter.

“I’m happy to know the name of my next opponent. He is a strong fighter and a new challenge for me,” said Gvozdyk. “Thanks to Top Rank and HBO to making this happen.

“I’m very happy to be back on HBO thanks to Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, and my management team,” said Gonzalez. “I’m training hard at Mundo Boxing Gym and I’m going to be ready to win this fight”

“Top Rank is very proud to present these two compelling co-main event championship fights featuring Oleksandr Usyk, with K2 Promotions, and Oleksandr Gvozdyk,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “In a historic first, HBO World Championship Boxing will present three title fights, featuring three Ukrainian champions defending their titles, and within eyesight of the Nation’s Capital.”

“We’re very excited to bring Oleksandr back to the United States and for this world title defense to be telecast on HBO,” said Tom Loeffler, Managing Director of K2 Promotions. “Both Oleksandr and Michael Hunter were 2012 Olympians who are undefeated as professionals. This is the second cruiserweight world title fight HBO has telecast recently and we’re honored to work with Peter Nelson and HBO on showcasing this division. Not since the epic battle between James Toney and Vasily Jirov in 2003 has the cruiserweight division been showcased on HBO and we’re very proud to present fans entertaining fights in this weight class.”

“We are very grateful to our partner and close friend Peter Nelson for giving the U.S. fans such an opportunity to watch this upcoming star, Oleksandr Usyk, live on HBO. It will be a unique event in the history of Ukraine when three Ukrainian boxers battle on the same HBO fight card,” said Alexander Krassyuk of K2 Promotions Ukraine. “Oleksandr Usyk is an absolutely extraordinary boxer. We expect a spectacular show and of course a flawless victory against the undefeated contender Michael Hunter. The whole country of Ukraine is looking forward to watching this event live.”

“I’m very happy and thankful to K2 Promotions and Top Rank along with HBO to be able to present Lomachenko, Usyk and Gvozdyk on one special night,” said Egis Klimas, manager of Usyk.

“So happy and thankful to our promoter Top Rank and HBO for bringing Gvozdyk back in the ring on April 8th,” added Klimas, who also manages Gvozdyk. “In his last fight, on HBO Pay-Per-View when he fought Isaac Chilemba, Gvozdyk proved he was a quality fighter who belongs on TV battling the best fighters in the light heavyweight division. Gonzalez is a good fighter, fans will see good show and Gvozdyk will be able to show everyone his world-class skills.”

”I am looking forward to April 8 and this exciting HBO show,” said Joe DeGuardia, promoter for Gonzalez. “Yuniesky Gonzalez once again will be stepping into the ring with a world class and very dangerous light heavyweight in Gvozdvk. However, Yuniesky is one tough, fan-friendly fighter and, with his new trainer Pedro Diaz, he is a very confident. Yuniesky will be appearing for the third time on the HBO network and you can be sure that everyone will be in for one heck of a fight”.

Usyk (11-0, 10 KOs), from Kiev, Ukraine, and a 2012 Olympic gold medalist, captured the WBO cruiserweight world title in his 10th professional bout, a division record for winning a world title in the fewest fights. Usyk dethroned Krzysztof Glowacki via unanimous decision on September 17, 2016, ending the undefeated defending champion’s two-year reign. In his last fight, on December 17, Usky made his U.S. and HBO debut, successfully defending his title by knocking out world-rated contender Thabiso Mchunu in the ninth round. Considered the class of the division, Usyk trains in Oxnard, Calif. under the tutelage of Anatoly Lomachenko, father/trainer of Vasyl Lomachenko.

Hunter (12-0, 8 KOs), of Las Vegas, Nev. and a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, has won five of his last seven bouts inside the distance. He scored a career-best victory in his last fight, on May 13, 2016, winning a 10-round unanimous decision over the previously undefeated Isiah Thomas to capture the NABO cruiserweight title. Hunter is currently world-rated No. 9 by the WBO

Gvozdyk (12-0, 10 KOs), from Kharkiv, Ukraine, enters this fight having won 10 of his last 12 fights by knockout, including all three of his NABF light heavyweight title fights. A bronze medalist at the 2012 Olympics, Gvozdyk captured the vacant NABF title with a second-round knockout of Nadjib Mohammedi on April 9, 2016. He successfully defended that title twice last year scoring a sixth-round TKO of Thomas Karpency on June 23 and an eighth-round stoppage of Izek Chilemba on November 19. He enters this fight world-rated No. 6 by the WBO and the World Boxing Council (WBC), and, No. 7 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

Gonzalez (18-2, 14 KOs), a native of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, who lives and trains in Miami, Fla. with Pedro Diaz, has collected his last nine victories by way of knockout. His only blemishes are a very disputed decision loss to former WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal and a majority decision loss to Vyacheslav Shabransky in 2015. Last year Gonzalez won both his fights by stoppage.

The non-televised undercard will feature undefeated No. 1 super middleweight contender JESSE “Hard Work” HART from Philadelphia, PA., and local favorites from the metro Washington, D.C. area, including undefeated prospects MIKE “Yes Indeed” REED and PATRICK HARRIS in separate bouts. Full details on the undercard will be announced at a later date.

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

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LONDON (17 February) – A star-studded night of boxing on BoxNation just got better with ‘The Channel of Champions’ set to show pound-for-pound star and WBO super-featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko’s world title defence against Jason Sosa exclusively live on Saturday April 8th.

The exciting clash will be aired live through the night following Terry Flanagan’s lightweight world title defence from Manchester earlier in the day as part of a stacked night of boxing on BoxNation.

Flanagan will put his title on the line against the well-schooled Russian Petr Petrov, with the Manchester Arena card also featuring an intriguing clash between the unbeaten Liam Williams and former light-middleweight world champion Liam Smith.

A host of top names are set to feature on the card including the debut of female boxing star Nicola Adams and thrilling heavyweight Daniel Dubois.

Former super-flyweight champion Zolani Tete will be up against Arthur Villanueva, with the undefeated Jack Catterall facing a real test against the tough Martin Gethin.

Following the live action from Manchester attention will turn towards two-division world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Lomachenko who will be out to continue his surge through the 130-pound division.

He recorded a stunning victory over the previously undefeated and formidable champion Nicholas Walters in his last outing, as his masterful performance forced the Jamaican to quit.

He now takes on 28-year-old Sosa, who has only one loss on his record in 25 fights, and goes into the fight as the WBA super-featherweight world champion.

Taking place at The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, Lomachenko is ready for Sosa and anyone who comes his way.

“I would like to thank Jason Sosa, who unlike the other champions, agreed to take this fight to determine the best in this weight division, even though everyone knows I am the division’s Papi,” said Lomachenko.

“I moved up to 130 pounds hoping champions in this division were not cowards like those at 126 pounds. It looks like I was wrong. To all the other ‘champions’ in the 126 pound and 130 pound divisions, I say this to you, ‘You are not champions, you are businessmen – bad businessmen. By avoiding risks, you cheat the boxing fans and that is bad business.’

“I came to this sport to prove to myself and others that I am this big and loud champion. So, while all of you continue to hide from me, I am going forward to achieve my goals. My next step is on April 8th. See you there!,” he said.

Sosa knows the challenge which awaits but is undaunted at the prospect of facing Lomachenko.

“We understand that this is the most difficult fight of our career due to the fact that we are fighting the best fighter – Vasyl Lomachenko – in the history of amateur boxing,” said Sosa.

“The beauty of all of this is that I only had three amateur fights and will prove to the world that we are by far the better fighter,” he said.

Jim McMunn, BoxNation Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to be able to once again showcase one of the very best pound-for-pound fighters in the world in Vasyl Lomachenko. Anyone who knows boxing knows that he is a serious talent and BoxNation subscribers are going to be in for a real treat when he takes on Jason Sosa on April 8th. April 8th is going to be a very special night of boxing on BoxNation with two unbelievably good cards starting off live from Manchester with Terry Flanagan defending his world title and a number of world class fights including Liam Smith against Liam Williams, plus the debuts of Nicola Adams and Daniel Dubois. We will then switch over and go live to see a unique talent in Vasyl Lomachenko from the States. It’s going to be a night not to be missed on BoxNation.”

BoxNation is available on Sky/Freeview/Virgin/TalkTalk/EE/Apple TV/ online at watch.boxnation.com and via apps (iOS, Android, Amazon) for just £12 a month. Buy now at boxnation.com.

– ENDS –

About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated boxing channel. From £12* per month with no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.
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TODD duBOEF: On behalf of Top Rank we would love to thank HBO, the No. 1 premium channel in the world with great programming all the time, and MGM, who we have a great relationship with in Las Vegas and all over the world; and obviously both fighters — Jason Sosa has had an incredible rise especially over the past year and gotten himself a title and Vasyl Lomachenko, having only eight professional fights, has people declaring that he is pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world and was also considered by many the Fighter of the Year last year. We love making matches like this. You are talking about two of the top, top fighters in the division. We know it’s going to be an incredible fight between two guys deserving of the accolades they have received.

RUSSELL PELTZ: Thanks, Todd. We are really looking forward to this challenge. Jason had a terrific year last year and he won the title in Beijing, defended it in Monte Carlo and will now be fighting the man that everyone is calling the best fighter in the world which I guess we will find that out on April 8th. Jason is up for the challenge – he is a real fighter and real fighters fight. We will see if he can match his skills with Lomachenko and I believe that Jason’s trainer, Raul Cheno Revas is as good a trainer as there is in the world today. You may not have heard a lot about him but I think you will in the coming years. We are going into this fight, obviously as we would in any fight, to win.

I met Chino is 2012 – I went to another promoters fight in the Northeast section of Philly — I was there to scout a lightweight named Anthony Bergen who turned pro that night and I was impressed and when the fight was over I met Chino and we made an agreement that night to sign Anthony Bergen and he said to me at the time ‘if you want Bergen you have to take Jason Sosa.’ Jason had about 7 or 8 fights at the time and I had seen him a few times and said ‘I really don’t want to do that.’ He said, ‘It’s part of the package.’ And I don’t want to say I reluctantly agreed because Jason always made great fights and I knew it. So Jason came along as part of the package. Like, when was Tom Brady drafted? So that’s what happened to Jason, he turned out to be the main fighter in my stable ever since. Like I said before, guys like Freddie Roach and Virgil Hunter may get more recognition but Chino has turned Jason’s career around and the career of another junior lightweight named Kevin Farmer with a completely different style from Jason – a slick boxer compared to a slugger. Chino has completely turned both of their careers around.

RAUL CHINO RIVAS: I thank Top Rank and Russell Peltz, and I want to thank HBO for believing that Jason Sosa is worthy. Jason Sosa is a throwback fighter. He is very aggressive with a lot of heart and determination. He is something really special. He reminds me of Marvin Hagler. He keeps coming and coming and coming because he believes and has the will to win. This is an opportunity and a challenge for us, his fundamentals and skills and angles and defense. I have a lot of respect for Lomachenko. I believe he is the best pound-for-pound fighter and it won’t be easy, not a walk in the park — we’ve always been the underdog but all of the pressure is on him. He is the two-time world champion. We will have to execute the game plan to the best of our ability, and I believe I have the best man. And they believe they have the best man. So on April 8, the whole world will see, on HBO. Every fight Lomachenko is getting a learning experience and a confidence boost. I have been watching for a long time — through the Olympics. His father is a great trainer and why he does not have all of the Ukraine fighters I have no idea. We are in Puerto Rico training and getting in extremely good work. I know that Lomachenko is going to be in great condition and Jason will be in great condition so you are going to see something special.

JASON SOSA: I would like to that God. I would like to thank Top Rank, Russell Peltz and HBO and also Lomachenko and his team for accepting this opportunity. I am very excited for April 8th and I am going to be in the best condition of my life. I have to be to fight one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world and the best amateur fighter that ever lived. At the end of the day, my team and I have got to be prepared. I am excited and very humbled and looking forward to everyone meeting the new Jason Sosa. I only had three fights as an amateur and the fights I am getting as a professional are keeping me hungry and focused and maintaining my craft. First and foremost I have one of the best trainers in the world and to have the opportunity to learn from him is a blessing for me. A lot of people say that I am blessed because I have him in my corner and I really believe that because without him I would not be champion today. So I am very excited and looking forward to April 8th.

TODD duBOEF: I would like to introduce Egis Klimas, a manager who has more courage than anyone and also has quite a stable of fighters that he brings from Europe to the USA.

EGIS KLIMAS: Hello everybody and thank you for being with us on this call. First of all I would like to let everybody know that I am very proud and very blessed to present one of the best fighters in the world, Vasyl Lomachenko. I want to thank Top Rank for bringing us back quickly for another opportunity to fight and I want to thank HBO for showing the fight around the whole nation, and thank Sosa for taking this fight. It’s not easy when you have a good fighter to get somebody in the other corner, but Top Rank is doing a very good job getting the best fighters possible to make the best fights. Looking forward to April 8 to go to Maryland for Vasyl to defend his title. He is always in the best shape and he is training hard and he’s going to be ready. The fans are going to see a great fight. And here is the WBO champion of the world, Lomachenko.

VASYL LOMACHENKO: Hello everybody, I just want to say I am happy to be back in camp and I am enjoying every single day I am preparing for my fight. I want to thank Jason Sosa for training to come for the victory and he is going to bring a great fight for the fans. Thank you very much and we will see you on April 8.

How do you feel about finally winning the [WBA] title, but made to vacate it, against [WBO champion] Lomachenko?

JASON SOSA: My thoughts are, this is boxing and that happens. I just have to maintain focus and just keep moving on. Just like my first loss. I’ve got one career loss and I never just focus on that loss, I just move forward. Same thing, they stripped me of the title and it hurt me because I would like to unify my title. I think that’s what every world champion would love to do. I would like to apologize to the Lomachenko team as well because I am sure they would like to fight for another title, but at the end of the day I am focused and looking forward to April 8 and hopefully win the WBO belt.

So this is not about unifying titles – you want a fight on the big stage against a top level opponent…

JASON SOSA: We want to fight the best. Lomachenko is the best in our weight division right now. That’s what boxing is all about — at the end of the day a world champion wants to fight a world champion. We are more than eager to take the challenge on April 8. We are going to put the game plan to perfection. We take it day by day and keep getting in better shape getting ready for April 8.

No one is going to questions Jason Sosa’s toughness but how do you deal with the skill level?

JASON SOSA: Very simple and short — I have the best trainer in the world and I believe he is going to have the perfect game plan and I am going to execute the game plan to perfection.

How does Lomachenko feel about that this is not going to be for the title that Sosa had?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: I understand that this is not Sosa’s decision – it is the WBA and they took the title from him. Of course I would rather unify titles. At this point I am happy to fight one of the best in the division and he is the one that took this opportunity. The other champions were running like rats from a sinking ship and not coming into the ring. Nowadays it’s not about the sport – all of the boxers have become businessmen and they are looking just to get the money and not the glory.

Why have the fight in a venue that seats only 3,000 people?

TODD duBOEF: We don’t necessarily agree with the size of the venue being indicative of the size of the match. I remember as a child the Pavilion here in Las Vegas used to have some of the biggest fights out there. Benitez, Hagler and Antifermo all fought there and sometimes on the same card. Size does not matter, not this situation, but one of the things we wanted to do was bring this match to the east coast because of Sosa’s fan base and wanted to spread Vasyl’s brand also, and we want to offer that to a new facility and it’s an honor to be able to go there.

How many times would you like to fight this year and do you plan to move up to 135?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: I was always for fighting three or four times a year. I am ready to fight and I want to fight three or four times a year. It doesn’t always depend on me, it also depends on opponents and the TV and the promoter. I am looking this year to fight at least three times. As far as moving up in weight class, if the thing is going to go like it is today, everybody is running away and not fighting me, I will be forced to go to 135 pounds and I would hope that the guys at 135 would be standing up and coming to fight.

Is it difficult to find opponents for Vasyl?

EGIS KLIMAS: Well, as you can see, the champions are not coming. That question would probably be better to go to the promoter. I am not the one that is finding opponents.

Are you learning English and do you feel it is important to do so?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: I am talking in the language of boxing.

EGIS KLIMAS: Yes he is learning English but he is not going to speak it until it is perfect English. He wants everything in his life maximized, so if he is going to start speaking English it is going to be perfect English.

What do you think about the venue and do you think you would be bringing more high profile events there?

TODD duBOEF: I physically have not been there but I have spoken to the executives at Las Vegas about the venue and their enthusiasm is very high in regards to us bringing the boxing community there. Boxing has so much symbiotic behavior to the gaming customer and fighters and fans from the local area excites them. We have had numerous conversations on a corporate level but we have not been there. There is no formal commitment but we are going have kids from the DC area on the card such as Mike Reed and Patrick Harris, and Jessie Hart is going to be coming down I-95 from Philly. We are not locked into anything in the future, we will see how this comes off – it’s a high level fight on HBO.

Were you disappointed that the Salido fight fell through?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: Yes I was a little disappointed because as far as I knew everything was moving along and everything was agreed to then all the sudden they turned around and said he wasn’t going to fight. But, you know, such is life.

Do you still want to face him or have you moved on?

VASYL LOMACHANKO: Yes, I would still like to fight him, but it doesn’t depend on me. We will see how it goes.

Why are you training in Puerto Rico for this fight?

JASON SOSA: I have tried to train in New York and also Florida but I have found that my best training is done in Puerto Rico.

What do you think about Lomachenko?

JASON SOSA: He is the closest fighter to perfection in boxing.

When do you plan to go to 135?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: If I have the opportunity against any of the champions at 135, if they are willing to fight and my promoter can put the fight together, I am looking forward to it.

When you look in the mirror, do you see yourself as the best fighter in the world, or the top 10?

VASY LOMACHENKO: It is very hard to answer the question because when I look in the mirror I don’t think about who the pound-for-pound fighter is. I am usually working on my hair at that moment.

What do you think of the talk that puts you in the Top Ten?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: If you want to just talk regarding me, as a pound-for-pound fighter, I would probably say that I will probably be the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter after I beat a couple of champions at 135.

Since a couple of fighters turned down the opportunity to fight Lomachenko, can you take us through the making of this fight?

TODD duBOEF: We have a long relationship with Russell Peltz, the co-promoter of Jason Sosa, and when the date came up for the fight for Lomachenko, the offer went out to a few different fighters — one being a rematch with Orlando Salido and one being the champion Jezreel Corrales and the other one being Sosa. Russell was truly a professional and has a great relationship with us and we could make a deal pretty easily. When you say about me having a tough time making fights — I think what happens in this business, I think Vasyl said it right — the fighters are becoming businessmen — not ones that are willing to roll up their sleeves and become prizefighters — so that’s a dilemma that we deal with especially when you take the risk/reward of fighting Lomachenko. Jason and Russell understood that they wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. That door opened and they are going to step through it. We applaud that and you applaud when guys take those challenges.

RUSSELL PELTZ: Top Rank called us, offered us the fight, and we said yes — because that’s what fighters do — fight. I talked it over with Chino and talked it over with Jason, and listen, we know we’re not the first choice — we get that. We know Salido turned it down for more money. We know Corrales turned it down for more money — because as everybody said, boxing is more of a business than a sport. We understand that we are here because no one else wanted the challenge. The point is, we are going to take advantage of that. Because when I was a kid, I loved a fighter named Harold Johnson. Johnson was the light heavyweight champion of the world and he was scheduled to fight a kid from Peru and about six weeks before the fight the kid failed the eye test. So they brought in Henry Hank and two weeks before the fight Hank got injured. So they brought in Willie Pastrano on 10 days notice. Pastrano knew he wasn’t the first choice but he took advantage of it and he won the title. That’s what it’s all about — fighters fight.

TODD duBOEF: What a great way to finish this call. Tickets go on sale Monday at 10 A.M.!

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Two-division world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist VASYL LOMACHENKO and World Boxing Association (WBA) super featherweight world champion JASON “El Canito” SOSA will battle for Lomachenko’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior lightweight world title, Saturday, April 8, at The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD. The fight between the two world champions will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

The non-televised undercard will feature undefeated No. 1 super middleweight contender JESSE “Hard Work” HART from Philadelphia, PA., and local favorites from the metro Washington, D.C. area, including undefeated prospects MIKE “Yes Indeed” REED and PATRICK HARRIS in separate bouts. Full details on the undercard will be announced at a later date.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Peltz Boxing Promotions, tickets for the Lomachenko-Sosa world championship event go on sale This Monday! February 20, at 10:00 A.M. ET. Priced at $153, $128, $103, $78 and $53, including all applicable service charges and taxes, tickets can be purchased online at mgmnationalharbor.com or ticketmaster.com. For more tour and ticket information, visit mgmnationalharbor.com or call (844) 346-4664.

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

About MGM National Harbor
The newest addition to the MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) portfolio, MGM National Harbor has an unrivaled setting offering stunning panoramic views of the eastern shore of the Potomac River in Maryland. The $1.4 billion LEED® Gold Certified resort, which opened December 8, 2016, sits a short distance from Washington, D.C. to the north and historic sites, including George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate across the river in Virginia. The 24-story, 308-room resort features premier amenities and experiences for locals as well as visitors from around the world including a dynamic casino with over 125,000 square feet of space that includes slots, table games and poker; a world-class spa and salon; an entertainment theater with flexible seating for up to 3,000; high-end branded retail; 50,000 square feet of meeting space; and restaurants from renowned local, national and international chefs. For more information, visit mgmnationalharbor.com or follow on Facebook and

OXON HILL, MD (February 15, 2017) — Two-division world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist VASYL LOMACHENKO and World Boxing Association (WBA) super featherweight world champion JASON “El Canito” SOSA will battle for Lomachenko’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior lightweight world title, Saturday, April 8, at The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD. The fight between the two world champions will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

The non-televised undercard will feature undefeated No. 1 super middleweight contender JESSE “Hard Work” HART from Philadelphia, PA., and local favorites from the metro Washington, D.C. area, including undefeated prospects MIKE “Yes Indeed” REED and PATRICK HARRIS in separate bouts. Full details on the undercard will be announced at a later date.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Peltz Boxing Promotions, tickets for the Lomachenko-Sosa world championship event, go on sale This Monday! February 20, at 10:00 A.M. ET. Priced at $153, $128, $103, $78 and $53, including all applicable service charges and taxes, tickets can be purchased online at mgmnationalharbor.com or ticketmaster.com. For more tour and ticket information, visit mgmnationalharbor.com or call (844) 346-4664.

“I would like to thank Jason Sosa, who unlike the other champions, agreed to take this fight to determine the best in this weight division, even though everyone knows I am the division’s Papi,” said Lomachenko. “I moved up to 130 pounds hoping champions in this division were not cowards like those at 126 pounds. It looks like I was wrong. To all the other ‘champions’ in the 126 pound and 130 pound divisions, I say this to you, ‘You are not champions, you are businessmen. Bad businessmen. By avoiding risks, you cheat the boxing fans and that is bad business.’ I came to this sport to prove to myself and others that I am this big and loud champion. So, while all of you continue to hide from me, I am going forward to achieve my goals. My next step is on April 8th. See you there!”

“We understand that this is the most difficult fight of our career due to the fact
that we are fighting the best fighter – Vasyl Lomachenko – in the history of
amateur boxing,” said Sosa. “The beauty of all of this is that I only had three amateur fights and will prove to the world that we are by far the better fighter.”

“It will be exciting to see the great champion Vasyl Lomachenko back in the ring,” said Egis Klimas, Lomachenko’s manager. “We give Jason Sosa credit for stepping up to this challenge. We want to thank our promoter Top Rank and HBO for arranging this great event.”

“Vasyl Lomachenko is history in the making. He is the greatest fighter in the world,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “Vasyl is the total package — power, balance, skills, and tricks. And he will need to be at his best against Jason Sosa who has the talent to match his guts for getting into the ring with Vasyl. The fans watching it live at MGM National Harbor or on HBO are in for helluva night.”

“I don’t know why this fight is happening. All of the boxing experts tell me Jason Sosa won’t win one second of any round and who am I to quibble with experts. They are probably the same experts who picked Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump,” said Hall of Fame co-promoter Russell Peltz. “Funny things happen when the bell rings. Jason Sosa is a real fighter and real fighters fight. One of the problems in boxing today
is that most of the fighters are not real fighters; they are businessmen. That’s why guys
ask for outrageous money to fight Lomachenko. Jason is cut from a different breed. He
wants to find out how great he really is. What kind of fighter wouldn’t want this kind of a
challenge?”

“One of the finest prizefighters in the world, Vasyl Lomachenko looks to deliver another masterful performance in his 2017 ring debut,” said Peter Nelson, Executive Vice President, HBO Sports. “Having upended the experts more than once, Jason Sosa is an underdog overlooked at the peril of his opponents, and we’ll see a true battle of wills in this world championship title showdown.”

“We are excited to partner with Top Rank and HBO Sports on this sensational championship boxing event at The Theater at MGM National Harbor. The Theater gives us another opportunity to show the fans in the DMV region, and those watching worldwide, what our resorts are all about and our ability to host high-profile events normally reserved for large-scale arenas,” said Richard Sturm, President of Entertainment and Sports for MGM Resorts International.

Lomachenko (7-1, 5 KOs), of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Ukraine, makes his 2017 debut coming off a year that saw him named “Fighter of the Year” by several media outlets, including The Fight Game with Jim Lampley. In his last fight, on November 26, Lomachenko made his first defense of the WBO junior lightweight title, totally dominating Nicholas Walters. The previously undefeated former WBA featherweight world champion quit on his stool after the seventh round with his trainer and father, Jobs Walters, telling referee Tony Weeks, ‘”No mas.” Not only was it a total domination but a boxing masterpiece painted on the canvas by Lomacheko. The greatest amateur boxer of his era and arguably of all time, two-time Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist Lomachenko, became a two-division world champion just as he did with his first professional world title, he won world title No. 2 in a record least amount of fights — SEVEN! On June 11, 2016, he annihilated defending three-time WBO junior lightweight champion Roman “Rocky” Martinez via a cringe-worthy knockout punch in the fifth round . Lomachenko captured his first world title — the vacant WBO featherweight title — on June 21, 2014, winning a scintillating majority decision over the previously unbeaten Gary Russell Jr. It was Lomachenko’s third professional bout, tying him with Thailand’s Saensak Muangsurin for fewest fights to win a world title. Muangsurin won a junior welterweight title in 1975, also in his third professional fight. Lomachenko first gained international renown by winning gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Games as a featherweight and a lightweight, respectively. He retired from the amateurs with a 396-1 record.

Sosa (20-1-4, 15 KOs), from Camden, NJ, and managed by Raul Chino Rivas, enters this fight riding a five-year, 20-bout unbeaten streak which includes 14 knockout victories dating back to 2011! Many local fans, who flock to his fights, consider Sosa to be one of the best fighters to come out of Camden since Dwight Qawi. Sosa’s been a fan favorite since turning pro in 2009 because of his exciting and aggressive style, strong punching power. He captured the WBA super featherweight world title on June 24, 2016 in Beijing, coming from behind on all three judges’ scorecards to knock out undefeated defending champion Javier Fortuna in the 11th round. He successfully defend the title in his last fight on November 19 in Las Vegas, winning a unanimous decision over No. 7 world-rated contender Stephen Smith. .

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

About MGM National Harbor
The newest addition to the MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) portfolio, MGM National Harbor has an unrivaled setting offering stunning panoramic views of the eastern shore of the Potomac River in Maryland. The $1.4 billion LEED® Gold Certified resort, which opened December 8, 2016, sits a short distance from Washington, D.C. to the north and historic sites, including George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate across the river in Virginia. The 24-story, 308-room resort features premier amenities and experiences for locals as well as visitors from around the world including a dynamic casino with over 125,000 square feet of space that includes slots, table games and poker; a world-class spa and salon; an entertainment theater with flexible seating for up to 3,000; high-end branded retail; 50,000 square feet of meeting space; and restaurants from renowned local, national and international chefs. For more information, visit mgmnationalharbor.com or follow on Facebook and Twitter.

Vasyl Lomanchenko will defend his 130 pound world title against beltholder Jason Sosa on April 8 at the new MGM Casino outside of Baltimore, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I don’t think anybody beats Lomachenko, but Sosa has a puncher’s chance,” Top Rank’s promoter Bob Arum said. “He’s certainly a respectable opponent.”

“Sosa beat two good fighters in Fortuna and Smith, and he wants to find out how good he is,” said Russell Peltz, who co-promotes Sosa with Top Rank. “He wants to test himself against the best and Lomachenko is one of the best. If there were more fighters with Sosa’s attitude, boxing would be in better shape.”

“Sosa wants the fight and his trainer [Raul ‘Chino’ Rivas] likes the fight,” Peltz said. “I don’t think Jason will get discouraged if he falls behind early. He didn’t lose focus in China against Fortuna, and he came from behind and won the fight. I think he’ll keep trying for every minute of every round against Lomachenko.

“I know Lomachenko was this great amateur with [close to] 400 fights, but that takes a toll on your body. There’s a point where it adds up and it takes its toll on the body. I’ve seen Lomachenko fight, and everybody is beatable. I saw Cassius Clay beat Sonny Liston. On April 8, we are going to have the best chance of everybody to beat Lomachenko because we’re gonna be the one in the ring with him. Sosa is a world-class puncher and still learning to fight. He only had three amateur fights, but he’ll give it everything he has like he always does.”

Arum initially tried to make a unification fight for Lomachenko (7-1, 5 KOs) against Panama’s Jezreel Corrales (21-1, 8 KOs) but said the Corrales camp ultimately rejected the fight.

“He didn’t want the fight,” Arum said. “That’s one of the problems with Lomachenko — nobody’s got the balls to fight him except Sosa.”

Arum also said he attempted to make a rematch between Lomachenko, 28, and former titlist Orlando Salido (43-13-4, 30 KOs), who won a close decision over Lomachenko in 2014 in Lomachenko’s second professional fight. Lomachenko was attempting to win a vacant featherweight title — which had been stripped from Salido the previous day for failing to make weight — and thus set the record for winning a world title in the fewest bouts.

“With Salido, we were up to a crazy number,” Arum said. “He still wouldn’t take the fight and he has nothing going now. He won’t fight Lomachenko again.”

Stephen Smith believes Jason Sosa’s style is perfect for him to become the WBA World Super-Featherweight champion when they clash for the title in Monte-Carlo on Saturday November 12, live on Sky Sports.

Smith challenges for World honours for the second time in 2016 having travelled to Connecticut in April and provided IBF king Jose Pedraza with a stiff test. The Puerto Rican came out on top on points to retain his crown but ‘Swifty’ banked the valuable experience from his first World title fight

Sosa climbed off the canvas in the fifth round to stop Javier Fortuna in the 11th round and claim the title in China in June, and Smith says he can force the champion into mistakes that he will capitalise on to conquer the world at the second attempt.

“This is chalk and cheese to the Pedraza fight,” said Smith. “Jose is a tall, distance fighter who moves a lot and switches, relies on his skills, and it was always going to be a cagey fight and one that I had to take the fight to him as he’s the champion and that’s how it played out.

“Sosa is short, strong, known as a big puncher, so I have got to force him into mistakes and use my skills to get him onto my shots. It’s a good fight and one that’s more suited to me, I prefer a style like Sosa than Pedraza.

“Sosa KO’d Fortuna when he was behind on the cards so you have to have respect for his punch power. I watched his fight with Nicholas Walters and saw a few things and I thought Walters won the fight. He’s got some good results on his CV but the performances aren’t that great.

“I think I hit as hard as anyone in the division, I’m confident in my power and I believe that if I land flush on him I can really hurt him. I have to use my ability and skill first and foremost though, make him miss and make him look stupid at times.

“I’ll stick to the game plan and do what I am told, if I land on him he’ll know he’s been hit and I am confident I can hurt him without looking for it. Sosa might come to look to KO me as Pedraza couldn’t and that might play into my hands too. I hope he thinks he can do that – I’d welcome that.”

Smith’s clash with Sosa is part of a huge night of action in Monte-Carlo as the most feared Heavyweight on the planet, Luis Ortiz, makes his European debut against Malik Scott for the WBA Inter-Continental title.
WBA World Bantamweight king Jamie McDonnell defends his crown against Liberio Solis. It’s the fifth defence for the Doncaster ace, who followed his stoppage win over Javier Chacon with a pair of impressive wins over Tomoki Kameda in Texas last year and stopped Fernando Vargas in nine rounds at The O2 in London this April.
Martin Murray is targeting World title action in 2017 but faces a stiff test in the shape of former interim WBA Middleweight champion Dmitry Chudinov.
INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS
Tickets from 100€

Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer
T. +377 98 06 36 36 from 10am to 7pm, 7 days a week
ticketoffice@sbm.mc
montecarlolive.com
About Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer
Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer proposes a unique experience uniting well-being and gastronomy, offering its clients a resort like no other in the world: 4 casinos including the legendary Monte-Carlo Casino, 4 hotels (Hôtel de Paris, Hôtel Hermitage, Monte-Carlo Beach, Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort), and 33 restaurants of which 4 on their own together make up 6 stars of the prestigious Michelin Guide. Known for its nightlife, the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Group offers an astounding choice of bars and concert halls. The Group, which is a talent scout and committed supporter of artistic creation, programmes musical events with daring artistic choices at the Sporting Summer Festival, the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival, La Rascasse and the Buddha Bar. Its nightclub, Jimmy’z, is one of the most reputable in Europe and has been for the past 40 years.

Jason Sosa believes he’ll ruin the World title dreams of Stephen Smith once again as he defends his WBA World Super-Featherweight title in Monte Carlo on Saturday November 12, live on Sky Sports.

The New Jersey native makes the first defence of the title he ripped from Javier Fortuna in dramatic fashion in China in June, climbing off the canvas in the fifth round to stop the Dominican Republic man in the 11th as he was trailing on the cards.

Prior to defeating Fortuna, Sosa had drawn with rising star Nicholas Walters, and as the 28 year old aims to continue his impressive recent record, he is yearning for another stoppage win to raise his profile and believes he’s proved he can hang with the elite.

“It could come down to a war,” said Sosa. “We’ll see how he comes out and then we will adjust and go from there. We try stay pretty, not just box in your face.

“We want to go for the stoppage, we want to look impressive and sharp. It’s the first defence so we want to look very good.

“I fought Nicholas Walters, a World champion and one of the most feared at 126lbs, then I fought Fortuna who had never been stopped and I ended up knocking him out, so I do believe I have fought better competition than Smith.

“We trained for that kind of fight. We knew what he was bringing to the table, it played out how we thought it was going to happen on the day of the fight. It was the first time I fought in a ring that was soft and as soon as we found that out we knew that was Fortuna’s kryptonite, because he likes to run around the ring. I’m more aggressive. It went just as we planned.”

Sosa’s clash with Smith is part of a huge night of action in Monte-Carlo as the most feared Heavyweight on the planet, Luis Ortiz, makes his European debut against Malik Scott for the WBA Inter-Continental title.
WBA World Bantamweight king Jamie McDonnell defends his crown against Liberio Solis. It’s the fifth defence for the Doncaster ace, who followed his stoppage win over Javier Chacon with a pair of impressive wins over Tomoki Kameda in Texas last year and stopped Fernando Vargas in nine rounds at The O2 in London this April.
Martin Murray is targeting World title action in 2017 but faces a stiff test in the shape of former interim WBA Middleweight champion Dmitry Chudinov.
INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS
Tickets from 100€

Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer
T. +377 98 06 36 36 from 10am to 7pm, 7 days a week
ticketoffice@sbm.mc
montecarlolive.com
About Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer
Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer proposes a unique experience uniting well-being and gastronomy, offering its clients a resort like no other in the world: 4 casinos including the legendary Monte-Carlo Casino, 4 hotels (Hôtel de Paris, Hôtel Hermitage, Monte-Carlo Beach, Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort), and 33 restaurants of which 4 on their own together make up 6 stars of the prestigious Michelin Guide. Known for its nightlife, the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Group offers an astounding choice of bars and concert halls. The Group, which is a talent scout and committed supporter of artistic creation, programmes musical events with daring artistic choices at the Sporting Summer Festival, the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival, La Rascasse and the Buddha Bar. Its nightclub, Jimmy’z, is one of the most reputable in Europe and has been for the past 40 years.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBA Super Featherweight champion Jason Sosa will take on Stephen Smith on November 12th in Monte Carlo.

“We are fighting Stephen Smith Nov. 12 in Monte Carlo. Davis or his team priced themselves out,” said Sosa co-promoter Russell Peltz.

“I’m delighted to have this fight, really grateful for the opportunity as I believe it’s a fight I will win,” Smith told ESPN.com on Saturday. “The fact that I got the chance so soon after Pedraza was even better. I was happy to fight again straight after that fight (against Brizuela), and it has proved beneficial now with this opportunity coming about.

“I think Sosa is a good, solid fighter without being spectacular in any area in particular. He has had a couple of decent results lately — drawing with Walters, then beating Fortuna — although, like many, I thought Walters won. [Sosa’s] confidence should be high, and I should be facing him at his best, which I’m relishing.”

Luis Ortiz scored an impressive 7th round stoppage over Bryant Jennings in a Heavyweight bout at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

Ortiz rocked Jennings with straight left in round one and once again in round three with a combination in round three.  Jennings showed tremendous resolve by landing some solid shots inside that seemed to throw Ortiz of his game.

In round seven, Ortiz landed a thudding left that sent Jennings down face first.  Jennings was able to continue but for not much loner as two more lefts sent him stumbling into the ropes and the fight was stopped at 2:41.

Ortiz, 239 lbs of Cuba is 24-0 with 21 knockouts.  Jennings, 229 1/2 lbs of Philadelphia is 19-2.

Former Featherweight champion, Nicholas Walters and Jason Sosa battled to a dubious 10-round majority draw

Walters focused on the body and landed some crisp shots inside.  Sosa was wobbled in round five from a short right on the inside.  Sosa showed heart but Walters was accurate on the inside and landed 113 more punches then Sosa.

Somehow Sosa won a card 96-94 while two cards read even at 95-95.

Walters, 129 1/2 lbs of Montigo Bay, JAM is 26-0-1.  Sosa, 130 lbs of Camden, NJ is 18-1-4.

Gabriel Rosado pounded out a 10-round unanimous decision over former world champion Joshua Clottey in a Middleweight bout.

Rosado, 158 lbs of Philadelphia, PA won by scores of 97-93 twice and 96-94 and is now 22-9. Clottey, 157 lbs of Bronx, NY is 39-5.

Former world champion, Yuriorkis Gamboa won a 10-round unanimous decision over Hylon Williams in a Lightweight bout.

Gamboa, 133 lbs of Miami, FL won by scores of 98-92 twice and 96-94 and is now 25-1. Williams, 133 lbs of Houston, TX is now 16-2-1.

Follow all the action as Luis Ortiz battles Bryant Jennings for the WBA Interim Heavyweight title.  The action begins at 10:15 PM ET / 7:15 PT with a Super Featherweight bout between former world champion Nicholas Walters and Jason Sosa

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Round 1 Ortiz working the body…Straight left hurts Jennings..Big left hurts Jennings again..Jennings wobbling..God body shot..

Round 2 Jennings lands a combination..right..Uppercut from Ortiz..Uppercut from Jennings..

Round 3  Big left hurts Jennings..Combination from Jennings…

Round 4 Ortiz lands a left…2 Uppercuts from Jennings

Round 5 hard uppercut from Ortiz

Round 6 Combination for Ortiz

Round 7 Body shots from Jennings..Straight right from Jennings..HUGE UPPERCUT AND DOWN GOES JENNINGS..BIG RIGHT AND JENNINGS STUMBLES INTO THE ROPES..ONE MORE SHOT AND THE FIGHT IS STOPPED

Round 1 Good left hook to body from Walters..Left to body..Hard body..left to body and right from Sosas..Right from Walters

Round 2 Hard left from Walters..Right..left to body..Uppercut..Uppercut..Sosa lands a right uppercut..Good body shot

Round 3 Walters lands a jab

Round 4 Walters lands an uppercut on the inside

Round 5 Hard right wobbles Sosa..2 rights and uppercut from Sosa..Hard body shot from Walters..

Round 6

Round 7 Hard body shot from Walters..Vicious left hook to the body

Round 8 Walters lands a right down the middle

Round 9 2 hard rights from Sosa..right on the inside..Walters lands a body shot..Hard right and left hook from Sosa

Round 10 Right lead from Walters…

96-94 Sosa, 95-95 on 2 cards….DRAW

Punches:  Walters: 281-622    Sosa: 168-873

VERONA, NY (December 18, 2015) — Undefeated former world featherweight champion NICHOLAS “Axe Man” WALTERS and once-defeated Top-10 contender JASON “El Canito” SOSA. will face off against each other in a 10-round junior lightweight rumble Tomorrow! Saturday, December 19. Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Peltz Boxing Promotions and Warriors Boxing Promotions, Walters vs. Sosa will open the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast, which will be televised live from Turning Stone Casino Resort, beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT. The telecast will also feature Bryant “By-By” Jennings vs. Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz in a 12-round heavyweight battle for the WBA interim Heavyweight title. That fight will be presented by Golden Boy Promotions, in association with Gary Shaw Productions.

Walters and Sosa boast a combined record of 44-1-3 (35 KOs) — a winning percentage of 92% — with 80% of their victories coming by way of knockout.

NICHOLAS WALTERS
“I’m a descendant of the gladiators. I come to fight.

“I’m not sure if the fight is going to go past four rounds. It depends if Sosa comes to fight. I’m sorry, but Sosa is not going do to me what I did to Nonito Donaire or Vic Darchinyan.

“I’m a lion! I don’t know if Sosa is a lion. People are expecting a big fight, and I’m going give them a big fight. The Axe Man is very dangerous. He’s always prepared for a war.

“When you don’t know much about a fighter, that’s dangerous. Sosa will find out. Nonito didn’t know much about me until I knocked him out.

“Next year, anything is possible. I’m looking to fight the big names fighters. Gamboa? Anything is possible. Vasyl Lomachenko is not looking in my direction. But I’m here. I’m ready to fight. I’m not hiding from nobody. I’m a true fighter. I believe if I’m going to be the best, I have to fight the best. I’m not even concerned about fighting at heavier weights. I’ve been sparring guys at 140 and 145 pounds.”

JASON SOSA

“I played basically every sport, from football to soccer, and used to work a day job in park services until two years ago.

“I first learned how to street fight growing up in the notoriously tough Camden, NJ. That was a plus.

“I’m very intelligent in the ring. I’ve got to give it to my guy — my father figure — Raul Rivas. He changed my whole boxing style. I believe after this fight, people will recognize Raul “Chino” Rivas as one of the top trainers.

“I’m the bigger, the stronger and the smarter guy. I’ve sparred taller, longer, heavier guys in training camp. We know what we’re expecting from Walters, and we’re ready for it.

“My prediction is: I’m going to go out there and focus. I feel that we are going to come out victorious.

“I’m an aggressive fighter, a smart fighter, a powerful fighter.”

“I have some advice for all the fight fans who don’t know me who will be tuning into HBO on Saturday night. Don’t blink!”

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

Walters (26-0, 21 KOs), from Montego Bay, Jamaica, has won 11 of his last 13 fights by stoppage. He captured the vacant WBA featherweight title on December 12, 2012, knocking out Daulis Presscott (26-1, 19 KOs) in the seventh round. He successfully defended the title three times during his three year reign — all by knockout — stopping Alberto Garza, former two-division world champion Vic Darchinyan and 2012 Fighter of the Year and former four-division world champion Nonito Donaire in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, respectively. A former amateur standout who collected gold medals at the 2007 Pan American Games Qualifier III and the 2005 and 2007 Caribbean Championships, Walters is known for his expert boxing skills and movement and two-fisted punching power that are at a caliber of a much higher weight class. In his last fight, on June 13 at Madison Square Garden, Walters was forced to vacate the title when he failed to make the weight limit by one pound. However, he emerged victorious, winning a unanimous decision over the previously undefeated Top-10 contender Miguel Marriaga.

Sosa (18-1-3, 14 KOs), from Camden, NJ, enters this fight riding a four-year, 17-bout unbeaten streak which includes 13 consecutive knockout victories dating back to 2012! Many local fans, who flock to his fights, consider Sosa to be one of the best fighters to come out of Camden since Dwight Qawi. Sosa’s been a fan favorite since turning pro in 2009 because of his exciting and aggressive style, strong punching power and an average length of bouts of under four rounds. He is currently world rated No. 8 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and No. 13 by the WBO.

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

Professional media requesting credentials for the December 19 event must contact Kelly Abdo, Turning Stone Resort Casino Public Relations Manager at (315) 366-9291 or kelly.abdo@turningstone.com.

Remaining tickets, priced at $60, $35 and $25, plus applicable fees and taxes, may be purchased at the Turning Stone Resort Box Office, by calling (315) 361-7469, or online via www.ticketmaster.com.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.garyshawproductions.com and www.turningstone.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/trboxing, www.facebook.com/trboxeo, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/Gary-Shaw-Productions, www.facebook.com/TurningStoneResort or www.facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/trboxing, www.twitter.com/trboxeo, www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/GaryShawBoxing, www.twitter.com/TurningStone or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the hashtags #WaltersSosa #JenningsOrtiz to join the conversation on Twitter.

HBO Boxing wraps up an exhilarating year with a twin bill of action when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: BRYANT JENNINGS VS. LUIS ORTIZ AND NICHOLAS WALTERS VS. JASON SOSA is seen SATURDAY, DEC. 19 at 10:15 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: Dec. 20 (9:30 a.m.) and 21 (12:10 a.m.)

HBO2 playdate: Dec. 22 (11:15 p.m.)

In the main event, Philadelphia’s Bryant Jennings (19-1, 10 KOs) takes on Luis Ortiz (23-0, 20 KOs), originally from Camaguey, Cuba, and now living in Miami, Fla., in a scheduled 12-round heavyweight fight.

Known for his power, athleticism and agility, Jennings suffered his only defeat at the hands of then-heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko last April. Ortiz will rely on his extensive Cuban and international amateur background as he looks to remain undefeated.

Kicking off the night, the co-main event features Nicholas Walters (26-0, 21 KOs) and Jason Sosa (18-1-3, 14 KOs) in a scheduled ten-round junior lightweight bout.

Rising star Walters, from Montego Bay, Jamaica, is also undefeated, while Sosa, of Camden, NJ, has won 14 straight fights. With a combined record of 44-1-3 and 35 KOs, the two fighters have a winning percentage of 92%, with knockout ratio of 80% in those victories.

Later that evening, HBO Latino presents an exclusive tripleheader of same-day action, slated to begin at 12:15 a.m. (ET/PT) or immediately following live boxing on HBO. Yunieski Gonzalez meets Vyacheslav Shabranskyy in a light heavyweight fight; Gabriel Rosado battles Joshua Clottey in the middleweight co-main event; and Cuban Olympic gold medalist Yuriorkis Gamboa, a former unified featherweight titleholder, goes up against Hylon Williams Jr. in a lightweight bout.

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 HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jonathan Crystal; director, Johnathan Evans.

LOS ANGELES (December 15) – Fighters featured on the December 19 HBO Boxing After Dark and HBO Latino shows at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York share their final thoughts on training camp as fight week kicks off. In the main event of the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast, former heavyweight world title contender Bryant “Bye – Bye” Jennings (19-1, 10 KOs) of Philadelphia, will face the heavy-handed Cuban heavyweight Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (23-0, 20 KOs) in a 12-round matchup for the WBA Interim Heavyweight World Title. The co-main event of the night features former WBA Featherweight and Super Featherweight World Champion from Montego Bay, Jamaica’s Nicolas “Axe Man” Walters (26-0, 21 KOs) taking on Jason Sosa (18-1-3, 14 KOs) of Camden, New Jersey in a 10-round super featherweight fight. The HBO Boxing After Dark telecast will begin at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.

In the HBO Latino Boxing (12:15 a.m. ET/PT; tape delayed) main event Yuneski Gonzalez (16-1, 12 KOs) of Del Rio, Cuba will face Los Angeles’ undefeated Vyacheslav “Lion Heart – Chigonsky” Shabranskyy (14-0, 12 KOs) in a fight scheduled for 10-rounds. The co-main event will feature an exciting 10-round middleweight slugfest as “King” Gabriel Rosado (21-9, 13 KOs) will fight the dangerous former IBF Welterweight World Champion Joshua “Grand Master” Clottey (39-5, 22 KOs). Opening the HBO Latino telecast will be former WBA and IBF Featherweight World Champion Yuriorkis Gamboa (24-1, 17 KOs) squaring off against Hylon Williams Jr. (16-1-1, 3 KOs) of Houston in a 10-round lightweight bout.

Off camera, rising light heavyweight prospect, D’Mitrius Ballard (10-0, 7 KOs) of Washington, D.C. will take on Brazilian seasoned fighter Fabiano “Pit Bull” Pena (11-3-1, 8 KOs) in a six to eight-round light heavyweight fight and opening the night Manati, Puerto Rico’s Jorge “Destroyer” Melendez (28-5-1, 26 KOs) and Steven Martinez (15-2, 12 KOs) of Bayamon, Puerto Rico will clash in a 10-round middleweight fight.

Below is what the fighters had to say about as their training camp comes to a close this week.

BRYANT “BYE BYE” JENNINGS, Former Heavyweight World Title Challenger:

“The weather is warm out here in Florida, and John David Jackson is doing a great job as my new trainer. He’s a man that knows the fight game being that he was a fighter himself, a former world champion to be exact. The little things he’s showing me are making a big difference. I was happy that my promoter Gary Shaw came out to visit and see the progress I have made. We’re out here doing it. I believe I’ve become a better fighter, and it will show come fight night.

“This is a big fight for the heavyweight division. The interim WBA World heavyweight title is on the line. The winner will move on to bigger and better things. Everyone says he has a lot of power but his opposition is suspect. He’s a big slugger and I’m a boxer that gives a lot of movement. I believe I’m the one with the better skills and better pro experience. I’m winning this fight.

“I think it’s great. The sport needs to keep its integrity. Ortiz is a good fighter but he’s already shown that he has some insecurities. When a fighter gets caught cheating while using steroids to get an edge says a lot about that person. He paid his dues and now it’s time to fight. With VADA testing installed for this fight, everyone will be on an even playing field.

“With Klitschko losing to Fury, the heavyweight division is wide open. There are a lot of hungry fighters out there ready to take charge and I’m one of them. I know I got what it takes to become a world champion. The heavyweight division is mine to be conquered.”

LUIS “THE REAL KING KONG” ORTIZ, WBA Interim Heavyweight World Champion:

“I am ready physically and mentally for this fight, and I am going to come out to destroy my opponent. I have not been able to show off my condition and preparation in my last few fights, and this is my opportunity to show the world that I am the best. I have been ready for a world championship fight for three years and am ready for to go 15 rounds if needed.

“This is the new era of the heavyweight division, and I am in the running to become the best in the world. I feel like I have the conditions to become a world champion; I have the power, speed and intelligence in the ring.

“Jennings will be a difficult fighter, but I am also a difficult fighter. I have been physically prepared for this fight for three years.”

NICHOLAS “AXE MAN” WALTERS, former WBA Featherweight and Super Featherweight World Champion:

“My focus is to be the smarter fighter in the ring, to focus, to fire off more combinations, to take control of the fight. We know that Sosa is a hard puncher and he comes to fight.

“This is an important fight for me because it is at 130 pounds, which is a step up for me.”
“Training the right way is the proper way to prepare for such an important fight like this. I know the difference in this fight is will be my speed in the ring.”

JASON SOSA, Super Featherweight Contender:

“I have been working extremely hard on speed and angles because we know that Walters is flat footed and I want to make sure I have an advantage with movement on fight night.

“We know that Walters is a tough fighter with an impressive record. He has beat Donair and Darchinyan which are both strong opponents. But we also believe that we are the bigger fighter being that this is his first fight at 130. He has never felt power like mine and I believe that will be my biggest advantage on Dec. 19.

“Winning this fight would mean everything that we have been working on for the past five years is starting to pay off and will put me in a good position for a World Title next year.”

YUNIESKI GONZALEZ, Light Heavyweight Contender:

“Every aspect of my training has been elevated to be able to make a great impression. Shabranskyy applies basic combinations and I am a fighter that is more complex and will bring that advantage with me on fight night.

“A victory on Dec. 19 will keep me on the right track as I climb to the top of the mountain and establish myself as an elite fighter in the light heavyweight division.

“I have focused on turning my punches over to maximize my power. I’m not going to give up too much information, but the world will see on Dec. 19.”

VYACHESLAV “LION HEART – CHINGONSKY” SHABRANSKYY, Light Heavyweight Contender:

“The primary focus of this training camp has been to make sure my power and conditioning are the best they can become Dec. 19. I will finish camp knowing that I’m in the best shape ever.

“Gonzales is an aggressive come forward fighter. He’s not the typical Cuban boxer, he is more of a ‘banger’ come forward fighter which isn’t typical of Cuban fighters and I have made sure to prepare for that.

“This fight, without question is the biggest fight of my career so far and is step closer to getting a shot at a world title. I’m a smarter fighter now. My team and I have a game plan in place, if I stick to that I believe the fight will be in my favor.

“With every camp there is growth. Everyday I come into the gym the goal is to get better, in every single aspect- physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When there is a well-rounded growth it becomes easier to focus and devote myself to training, to be more willing to learn and to be taught.”

“KING” GABRIEL ROSADO, Former Middleweight World Title Contender:

“My primary focus is to do everything Fernando tells me to do. I believe in his information and I’m confident that it will make me a better fighter.

“This fight means a new beginning; it’s the second chapter of my career, and I believe it’s truly my time to shine. I know that Clottey is a defensive-minded fighter and will be looking to counter. But, I believe that I have the advantage. I’m younger, faster, stronger, and I believe my ring IQ is better.

“I’ve learned not to rush things, timing is everything. The focus and discipline has to be 100 percent. I believe that will show Dec. 19.”

JOSHUA “GRAND MASTER” CLOTTEY, Former IBF Welterweight World Champion:

“This is another that and I approach it like all my other fights: I train hard, eat correctly, get my rest properly and win.

“I know Gabe is very tough and always comes to fight so I expect a hard fight from him. I just will need to stay focused and I do what I need to in order to win.

“I want to be a world champion again, and I believe my experience will help me be one again and know I can do that by winning this fight.”

D’MITRUS BALLARD, Light Heavyweight Prospect:

“My primary focus going into this fight has been to become a better fighter, a more complete boxer. I want to make sure that I show all of my talents, experience and growth in the ring. The focus, the intensity of my training has been stepped up, my entire camp has stepped it up and we are ready.

“Winning this fight and advancing my record to 11-0 just means I’m one step closer to the goal a World Championships and putting people on notice that I am a threat in the light heavyweight division.”

YURIORKIS GAMBOA, Former WBA and IBF Featherweight World Champion:

“My primary focus for every fight is to get in the ring, get the job done in a way that I perform my best as a fighter, and the people paying for tickets go home happy with what they went to see. However for this fight I added another layer to that. I focus on proving to everyone that I still have what it takes to make it to the top.

“Winning means a lot. But the real pudding in the cake is winning this fight the way I know I can win it. Putting up a show for the people and getting the ‘W’ would mean the world to me. I am at a stage in my career that I need to fight as often as I can. I have to win but I also have to put on a good show to bring more and more people in to watch me fight.

“I think my experiences as a fighter are the only advantage I bring to this fight. Other than that, we are two hungry men with two arms waiting for this opportunity to shine.

“I learned that boxing is a lot tougher outside of the ring than inside. I learned that we are not meant to be boxing forever and have to take advantage of every opportunity in front of us as if it were the last one. I am about to put that to use.”

HYLON “KID COSMO” WILLIAMS, Lightweight Contender:

“This training camp my main focus was to put myself in a great state of mind and grind hard as I could stress free. I know my opponents a veteran fighter that’s had a decorated career and he’s been on my boxing radar since 2008 when I became a professional fighter.

“Winning this would be the door opener to the title shot I’ve always dreamed about and of course it’ll not only put a sock in people’s mouth but it’ll open the eyes to all my critics and have them see me in a new light.

“My youth and knowledge of the fight game will carry me through this fight. Having the heart to take on a former world champion shows I have the heart of a lion to protect my record and not duck anyone.”

Tickets for the Dec. 19 HBO Boxing After Dark and HBO Latino Boxing event start at $25, $35 and $60 for ringside seats plus applicable fees and are available at the Turning Stone Resort Box Office by calling 315-361-7469 or online at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com).

Jennings vs. Ortiz is a 12-round heavyweight bout fight for the WBA Interim Heavyweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Gary Shaw Productions and is sponsored by Corona, Mexico – Live It to Belive It! and Carmelita Chorizo. Walters vs. Sosa is a 10-round junior lightweight bout presented by Top Rank in association with Peltz Boxing Promotions and Warriors Boxing Promotions. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. ET and first fight begins at 6:05 p.m. ET, and the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins live at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.

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

Host of the event, the Oneida Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino continues to distinguish itself as a premier destination for blockbuster boxing matches. The December 19 fight will mark Turning Stone Resort Casino’s 16th nationally-televised boxing event in three years, cementing the resort as a mecca for knockout televised fights. Located in Upstate New York, the destination resort offers world-class entertainment and gaming, award-winning accommodations, a diverse mix of restaurants, two luxury spas and several nightlife options.
Professional media requesting credentials for the December 19 fight must contact Kelly Abdo, Turning Stone Resort Casino Public Relations Manager at (315) 366.9291 or kelly.abdo@turningstone.com.

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

VERONA, NY (November 9, 2015) — Undefeated former World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight world champion NICHOLAS “Axe Man” WALTERS returns to the ring to take on granite-fisted Top-10 contender JASON “El Canito” SOSA in a 10-round junior lightweight rumble. Walters vs. Sosa will take place on Saturday, December 19, at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY. Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Peltz Boxing Promotions and Warriors Boxing Promotions, Walters vs. Sosa will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark, beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. ET. The telecast will also feature Bryant “By-By” Jennings vs. Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz in a 12-round heavyweight battle for the WBA interim Heavyweight title. That fight will be presented by Golden Boy Promotions, in association with Gary Shaw Productions.

Walters and Sosa boast a combined record of 44-1-3 (35 KOs) — a winning percentage of 92% — with 80% of their victories coming by way of knockout.

“I am training hard in Panama. I know how important this fight is and I will be in optimum physical condition,” said Walters. “My team has been studying video of my opponent Sosa. I cannot wait to leave Panama, get into Verona, New York and get inside the ring. Boxing is my passion.”

“First, I would like to thank God for all that he has done for me in my life. I also would like to thank Russell Peltz, Top Rank and HBO,” said Sosa. “I would also like to thank Nicholas Walters for giving me the opportunity to fight on December 19th. He is a very strong fighter and the toughest opponent that I have faced. But I am up for the challenge. I have a great team and they are getting me in the best shape of my life and making sure that I am mentally and physically ready to come away with the win. I am sure we are both ready for war and fans are not going to want to miss this.”

“I believe this will be the final Fight of the Year candidate for 2015,” said Carl Moretti, Vice President of Top Rank. “The making of this fight is the product of the right decision made at the right time by all the right people.”

Walters (26-0, 21 KOs), from Montego Bay, Jamaica, has won 11 of his last 13 fights by stoppage. He captured the vacant WBA featherweight title on December 12, 2012, knocking out Daulis Presscott (26-1, 19 KOs) in the seventh round. He successfully defended the title three times during his three year reign — all by knockout — stopping Alberto Garza, former two-division world champion Vic Darchinyan and 2012 Fighter of the Year and former four-division world champion Nonito Donaire in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, respectively. A former amateur standout who collected gold medals at the 2007 Pan American Games Qualifier III and the 2005 and 2007 Caribbean Championships, Walters is known for his expert boxing skills and movement and two-fisted punching power that are at a caliber of a much higher weight class. In his last fight, on June 13 at Madison Square Garden, Walters was forced to vacate the title when he failed to make the weight limit by one pound. However, he emerged victorious, winning a unanimous decision over the previously undefeated Top-10 contender Miguel Marriaga.

Sosa (18-1-3, 14 KOs), from Camden, NJ, enters this fight riding a four-year, 17-bout unbeaten streak which includes 13 consecutive knockout victories dating back to 2012! Many local fans, who flock to his fights, consider Sosa to be one of the best fighters to come out of Camden since Dwight Qawi. Sosa’s been a fan favorite since turning pro in 2009 because of his exciting and aggressive style, strong punching power and an average length of bouts of under four rounds. He is currently world rated No. 8 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and No. 13 by the WBO.

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

Professional media requesting credentials for then December 19 event must contact Kelly Abdo, Turning Stone Resort Casino Public Relations Manager at (315) 366-9291 or kelly.abdo@turningstone.com.

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

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.garyshawproductions.com and www.turningstone.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/trboxing, www.facebook.com/trboxeo, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/Gary-Shaw-Productions, www.facebook.com/TurningStoneResort or www.facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/trboxing, www.twitter.com/trboxeo, www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/GaryShawBoxing, www.twitter.com/TurningStone or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the hashtags #WaltersSosa #JenningsOrtiz to join the conversation on Twitter.

2 fights have been added to the December 19 HBO card at the Turning Stone Resort Casino and will be shown on HBO Latino prior to the Boxing After Dark Card that will feature Luis Ortiz taking on Bryant Jennings and Nicholas Walters battling Jason Sosa according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Gabriel Rosado will take on former Welterweight champion Joshua Clottey while Yunieski Gonzalez will take on Vyacheslav Shabranskyy in a Light Heavyweight bout.

“We worked hard to put this card together and we’re very happy with it,” Oscar De La Hoya told ESPN.com. “Four really good fights on one card. It will be a great night to end the year with a bang.”

“Clottey is going up a little bit in weight and Rosado is going down a little bit in weight,” De La Hoya said. “Besides it being a good fight, I think the winner will put himself back in line for an even bigger fight with any of the top junior middleweights or middleweights.”

“Gonzalez and Pascal was a great fight and we saw what Gonzalez could do, so we know we’re throwing Shabranskyy into the fire. But the winner will be knocking on the door to fight the best light heavyweights,” De La Hoya said. “We promote Shabranskyy and, of course, I’m rooting for my guy, but this is a 50-50 fight.”

“It was pleasant to work with Joe and we’re looking forward to doing lots more business with him in the future,” De La Hoya said.

“I like the fights for my guys and I like the card that it’s on,” he said. “It’s a high-profile card and I have high hopes for Yunieski Gonzalez coming off the last fight because I thought he beat Pascal. A lot of people thought he beat Pascal.

“For Joshua, it will be a little higher weight than usual but I think it’s the kind of card and kind of higher-profile fight that can put him in position to be where he has been — in world title contention.”