Kell Brook delivered the destructive performance he promised in his IBF World Welterweight title defence against Kevin Bizier, dismissing the Canadian inside two rounds at the Sheffield Arena, live on Sky Sports.

Big right uppercuts in the opening round was a warning to the Canadian of the barrage that was coming his way.

Bizier began bleeding heavily from the nose early in the second round, and he was floored after being wobbled by a right hand, and then got caught heavily again by the Sheffield star and the fight was waved off by referee Howard Foster after two minutes and 15 seconds of round two.

‘The Special One’ made it 36 wins unbeaten in the paid ranks with his 25th win inside the distance in his third defence of his title, and now the 29 year old wants to land a major fight in the summer.

“I have power that can knock anyone out,” said Brook. “I want to train for a fight when I have a threat on my hands. I’d love the Danny Garcia fight, the Jesse Vargas fight, I’d take the Keith Thurman vs Shawn Porter winner, the Timothy Bradley vs. Manny Pacquiao winner – I want them all.

“I want to thank all the fans, it’s been too long since I’ve been in Sheffield – there’s no me without those fans.

“I’ve been training a long, long, time, I’ve missed my daughters and weddings to get in the best shape ever. We’ve worked too hard to get this belt and I wasn’t going to slip up tonight.

“He couldn’t stand up to the power. I have got the mandatory out the way and now I want that massive fight.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn said that the task to land a major summer fight begins right away and with his mandatory obligations dealt with, Hearn says delivering a blockbuster fight for Brook is his priority.

“We had to fight Kevin Bizier, but it’s what he does to these fighters, he’s a beast,” said Hearn. “Kell needs to prove that he’s the best Welterweight in the world but no-one wants to fight Kell. I want to bring the big fights to Sheffield and we’ll be putting the money up to bring the best over here. There’s so many options for Kell and he wants to unify the division.”

Luke Campbell MBE landed the vacant Commonwealth Lightweight title with a brutal second round stoppage win over Gary Sykes at the Sheffield Arena, live on Sky Sports.

Campbell floored Sykes after stunning him with a left hook to the temple and although Sykes made the count, Campbell leapt on the Dewsbury man and backed him into the ropes and peppered Sykes with his trademark fast hands forcing the referee to step in and the corner to throw the towel in simultaneously with two seconds left in the round.

The Olympic gold medal hero became the first fighter from Hull to land the Commonwealth title in his first fight with new trainer Jorge Rubio, and says that along with a rematch with Yvan Mendy, he’d like to add the British belt too, with Scotty Cardle defending it next weekend in a rematch with Sean Dodd in Liverpool.

“I put 100 per cent into the camp,” said Campbell. “I left my family to go to Miami because Gary is a warrior and gives value for money, I had to stop him before he got going as he’s a tough fighter with bags of ability.

“The loss against Yvan was my fault but I’ve dealt with the consequences and it’s onwards and upwards from here now. It’s a major sacrifice going to Miami for long training camps but this is not a game; you can get hurt in boxing if you don’t pay full attention to your task.

“Mendy is on my list to get revenge for the loss and now I’ve got the Commonwealth belt maybe I can get the British too. Scotty is a great guy but he’s got something I want and that’s what we’re in the game for.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn added: “It was must win for him and I am delighted for Luke. The Mendy fight is one I’d like to make and so is Cardle, who has a tough fight next week. I believe Luke is one of the top Lightweights in the world and we want to land the fights that will let him prove it.”

Kell Brook says he knows that mandatory challenger Kevin Bizier will be desperate to get his hands on his IBF World Welterweight title when they meet at the Sheffield Arena on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.

The Sheffield star landed the title as mandatory challenger himself, putting in a career best performance in ripping the belt from Shawn Porter in California in August 2014.

Brook has already defended the title against one Canadian mandatory challenger in Jo Jo Dan a year ago in the Steel City, and now meets Bizier, who would become Quebec City’s first World champion with victory.

Since Brook was forced out of a defence against dangerous Argentine Diego Chaves in November, talk of a major fight in the summer has been rife, but ‘The Special One’ says that while others have been talking, his focus has been solely on taking care of business on Saturday.

“You cannot take your eye of the ball,” said Bizier. “Kevin is the mandatory challenger, he’s worked hard to get that shot and he deserves it. If I had looked past him and cut corners, you get found out. This is my belt, no-one is taking it from me and I have to be at my best. It’s all well and good saying that I want the big names but without putting on an explosive masterclass against Bizier I won’t get those fights.

“This is my hometown, my arena and my fans – no-one packs an Arena like I do here with these great fans, and I am going to make sure that my return to this place is going to be stylish. He’s getting in with the best and he’s got his work cut-out.

“The IBF don’t mess about, you have to take your mandatory challengers and rightly so – that’s how I won this belt. I got injured with the leg in the knife attack so I had to fight Jo Jo Dan then I boxed Frankie Gavin at The O2 in a voluntary. He’d wanted the fight for a while so we got it on in a great night in London. Chaves was meant to be next and that would’ve been a tough fight but the injury means anther mandatory. So opponent-wise, it’s been hard, but I want a unification fight next or something similarly huge to get people into a stadium watching me fight.

“I’m desperate to have an old fashioned war on Saturday. Kevin is a strong come-forward fighter and I want to excited everyone who comes on Saturday with a war. I’m so excited to get in there in front of my fans. I just want to get weighed-in, get fed, and then get to work.

“My mind has been on the job in hand for months and months, Saturday night is about breaking Kevin Bizier’s heart and his bones.

“I have to prove that I am the champion. I have to look good in the fight, I believe I’m the best in the planet and it’s time to prove that. I’m 30 this year, I want to show people that I am the best and I am ready to have massive fights once I take care of business.”

Brook’s clash with Bizier is part of a huge night in boxing in Sheffield as Hull’s Olympic gold medal star Luke Campbell MBE returns to action in a Yorkshire derby with Dewsbury’s Gary Sykes for the vacant Commonwealth Lightweight title.

Sheffield Middleweight Adam Etches is back in action, Sheffield Heavyweight Dave Allen faces American Jason Gavern and Andy Townend meets Craig Poxton for the English Super-Featherweight title.

Tickets priced at £40, £60, £80, £100 and £150 are on sale now from the Sheffield Arena on 0114 2565656 and at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk. VIP tickets priced at £250 are exclusively available from www.matchroomboxing.com.

Tickets for March 26 are also available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ – StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing.

Kell Brook has told Kevin Bizier to get ready to stand and fight when he defends his IBF World Welterweight title at the Sheffield Arena on Saturday night (March 26) live on Sky Sports.

Brook makes the third defence of his title and second against a Canadian mandatory challenger, and for ‘The Special One’ it’s the conclusion to an extended training camp following the rib injury that forced him out of his October clash with Diego Chaves.

The unbeaten 29 year old is plotting a major summer showdown, and wants to send a statement out to the Welterweight division by destroying Bizier in front of his adoring Steel City following.

“It feels like I’ve been training for an eternity and I just can’t wait to get in there and fight,” said Brook. “The back end of last year was so frustrating. I was excited for the Chaves fight and to get injured with just over a week to go was heart-breaking. When we tried to reschedule the fight the IBF told us that we have to fight Bizier next so he’s in the saddle.

“I was a mandatory challenger once and know how hungry I was. I’ve seen him saying that he is going to try and pressure me on Saturday and that’s music to my ears. I want to stand and fight. I haven’t had that fight night feeling for nearly a year and it’s been killing me inside. Saturday will be quite emotional for me and I feel a special performance coming on.

“Everyone is talking about a big summer fight and of course that’s on the agenda but right now I’m going to soak up the atmosphere in the arena in my hometown and go on a seek and destroy mission Saturday night.”

Brook’s clash with Bizier is part of a huge night of action in the Steel City as Hull’s Olympic gold medal star Luke Campbell MBE returns to action in a Yorkshire derby with Dewsbury’s Gary Sykes for the vacant Commonwealth Lightweight title.

Adam Etches is straight back into title action on the card, Sheffield Heavyweights Dave Allen and Richard Towers clash in a British title eliminator and Andy Townend meets Craig Poxton for the English Super-Featherweight title.

Tickets priced at £40, £60, £80, £100 and £150 are on sale now from the Sheffield Arena on 0114 2565656 and at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk. VIP tickets priced at £250 are exclusively available from www.matchroomboxing.com.

Tickets for March 26 are also available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ – StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing.

Kevin Bizier says he will pile the pressure on Kell Brook when he challenges for the IBF World Welterweight title at the Sheffield Arena on March 26, live on Sky Sports.

Bizier is the second mandatory challenger that Brook has defended his title against, and like the first, Jo Jo Dan, 31 year old Bizier also hails from Canada.

Brook dismissed the test of Dan inside four rounds at his Sheffield fortress last March and one year on, Bizier says he will leave everything in the ring as he aims to rip the title from the champion.

“I’m going to give 100 per cent on March 26,” said Bizier. “I will give everything in the ring for this fight. I don’t want to regret anything, I don’t want to leave that ring knowing I didn’t give it all when fighting for a World title.

“To win rounds and spoil Brook’s party, I’ll have to apply constant pressure to him and get in his face. I’ve worked a lot on my inside work as I cannot stay at the end of his jab.

“Brook is a big hitter who manages distance well, I’ll have to get into the pocket. Boxing inside will give me a better chance to win.

“I know the fans are going to scream for him, but I will block that out. If Brook gets carried away by the emotion of the crowd, it could play into my hands – I intend to give value for money.”

Bizier’s clash with Brook is part of a huge night of action in Sheffield as Luke Campbell MBE returns to the ring, facing fellow Yorkshireman Gary Sykes for the vacant Commonwealth Lightweight title.

Adam Etches is straight back into title action on the card, Sheffield Heavyweights Dave Allen and Richard Towers clash in a British title eliminator and Andy Townend meets Craig Poxton for the English Super-Featherweight title.

Tickets priced at £40, £60, £80, £100 and £150 are on sale now from the Sheffield Arena on 0114 2565656 and at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk. VIP tickets priced at £250 are exclusively available from www.matchroomboxing.com.

Tickets for March 26 are also available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ – StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing.

Kell Brook says he’s going to take his frustrations out on Kevin Bizier when he defends his IBF World Welterweight title at the Sheffield Arena on March 26, live on Sky Sports.

Brook makes the third defence of the crown he landed in August 2014, and the second against a Canadian mandatory challenge, as Bizier follows Jo Jo Dan in trying to wrestle the title from the unbeaten Sheffield star, who returns to action for the first time in ten months after injury ruled him out of a winter clash with Diego Chaves.

The 29 year old champion realised his World title dreams after forcing himself into the mandatory position and ripping the belt from Porter in California, and Brook says while the visitor has his full respect, he’s preparing to put on a boxing clinic in his hometown fortress as he targets summer blockbusters against the star names in the 147lb mix.

“You cannot take your eye of the ball,” said Brook. “Kevin is the mandatory challenger, he’s worked hard to get that shot and he deserves it. If I had looked past him and cut corners, you get found out. This is my belt, no-one is taking it from me and I have to be at my best. It’s all well and good saying that I want the big names but without putting on an explosive masterclass against Bizier I won’t get those fights. This is my hometown, my arena and my fans – no-one packs an Arena like I do here with those great fans, and I am going to make sure that my return to this place is going to be stylish. He’s getting in with the best and he’s got his work cut-out.

“The IBF don’t mess about, you have to take on your mandatory challengers and rightly so – that’s how I won this belt. I got injured with the leg in the knife attack so I had to fight Jo Jo Dan then I boxed Frankie Gavin at The O2 in a voluntary. He’d wanted the fight for a while so we got it on in a great night in London. Chaves was meant to be next and that would’ve been a tough fight but the injury means another mandatory. So opponent-wise, it’s been hard, but I want a unification fight next or something similarly huge to get people into a stadium watching me fight.

“The big names in the Welterweight division excite me and I think they excite the fans. I don’t do boring fights and I’m more than willing to go to America and knock the best out, or lay them out at Bramall Lane.

“I’m going to get business done in style on March 26 and then I want to unify the division this year. It’s basically been 10 months of training for this fight and I’m desperate to get in there and put on a show.”

Brook’s clash with Bizier is part of a huge night of action in the Steel City as Hull’s Olympic gold medal star Luke Campbell MBE returns to action in a Yorkshire derby with Dewsbury’s Gary Sykes for the vacant Commonwealth Lightweight title.

Adam Etches is straight back into title action on the card, Sheffield Heavyweights Dave Allen and Richard Towers clash in a British title eliminator and Andy Townend meets Craig Poxton for the English Super-Featherweight title.

Tickets priced at £40, £60, £80, £100 and £150 are on sale now from the Sheffield Arena on 0114 2565656 and at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk. VIP tickets priced at £250 are exclusively available from www.matchroomboxing.com.

Tickets for March 26 are also available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ – StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing.

Kell Brook has told Kevin Bizier he’s in for a rough night when he defends his IBF World Welterweight title at the Sheffield Arena on March 26, live on Sky Sports – before setting up a blockbuster fight in the summer.

Brook makes the third defence of his crown against the Canadian, after the IBF ordered his second mandatory battle since winning the crown in August 2014, with injury issues forcing him out of a voluntary defence against the dangerous Diego Chaves in October.

Brook met the media today (January 25) for the first time since a twitter storm broke out on Friday between himself, Khan and promoter Eddie Hearn, and while ‘The Special One’ reiterated his frustration at failing to land a clash with the Bolton fighter, he’s focus is on defending his crown in style before a huge fight in the summer against any of the division’s top dogs.

“Getting injured for the Diego Chaves fight was gutting, but that’s boxing,” said Brook. “I’ve been in training since November, all through Christmas and did an 80km bike ride on New Year’s Day – I’m well ahead of schedule and I can’t wait to be back in and boxing in Sheffield.

“Styles make fights, and Bizier is a come-forward fighter who is coming to take my belt; I know that feeling because I went to California to beat Porter. He’s going to bring everything he’s got to win the title, I’m going to go in there all guns blazing and get rid of this guy in style.

“If we can’t get the kid from Bolton then I’d like to get Danny Garcia in a unification, the Shawn Porter vs. Keith Thurman winner, the Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley winner – I just want to have a massive fight in the summer.

“Khan has got no respect for me and that is what makes me want to punch his in the face even harder. For him to dictate terms to me, the champion, makes me laugh. I want that fight, every boxing fan in Britain and beyond wants the fight, even all the other fighters in the divisions want to watch us fight: it’s THE fight that is being talked about. Nothing would give me more pleasure than putting him on the floor.

“It would kill him losing to me, when he was chasing Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao he could live with losing to them, but he couldn’t lose to me and live with it after slagging me off for years.”

Brook headlines back in Sheffield for the first time since his maiden defence almost a year to the day on March 28 against Jo Jo Dan, and headlines a packed card where Luke Campbell MBE returns to action, and in the press conference today Hearn announced that Campbell would now be training in Miami with Jorge Rubio.

Adam Etches is straight back into title action on the card, Sheffield Heavyweights Dave Allen and Richard Towers clash in a British title eliminator and Andy Townend meets Craig Poxton for the English Super-Featherweight title.

Tickets priced at £40, £60, £80, £100, £150 and £250 VIP will go on sale at midday Thursday January 21 to Matchroom Fight Pass members from the Fight Pass area at www.matchroomboxing.com and on general sale the following day (Friday January 22) with tickets in the £40-£150 bracket available from the Sheffield Arena on 0114 2565656 and at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk. VIP tickets are exclusively available from www.matchroomboxing.com.

Kell Brook will defend his IBF World Welterweight title against mandatory challenger Kevin Bizier at the Sheffield Arena on March 26, live on Sky Sports.

Brook makes the third defence of the crown and his second in his hometown fortress in the Steel City following wins against Jo Jo Dan and Frankie Gavin at The O2 in London. ‘The Special One’ meets his mandatory challenger for the second time since landing the title with a stunning win over Shaun Porter in California in August 2014, and returns to action having shaken off the rib injury that forced him out of a defence against Diego Chaves in October.

“I’m delighted to be back fighting at the Sheffield Arena again,” said Brook. “While I was gutted to miss out on fighting in October, I’ve fully recovered from the injury and feel stronger than ever. I’ve been working hard in the gym and working on new things, and I cannot wait to put on another explosive performance for my hometown fans and prove I am the best 147-pound fighter on the planet.”

Bizier landed the mandatory spot with the IBF in November when he forced the unbeaten American-Ghanaian Fredrick Lawson after ten toe-to-toe rounds in Miami, where the Canadian floored Lawson in the fifth round en route to the crucial victory. The 31 year old brings an impressive record of 25 wins with 17 inside the distance to his first fight outside of Canada and America, and the challenger believes he’ll relieve Brook of the title on March 26.

“The most important thing was the date,” said Bizier. “March 26 is perfect for me. I am already in great physical condition and I will have the perfect preparation in Montréal with my trainer Marc Ramsay. I know I will be the underdog once again, but I guarantee you I will give the fight of my life. I am optimistic and I already fought in England as an amateur. Having the crowd against me does not bother me at all.”

Olympic gold medal hero Luke Campbell MBE will return to action on the bill, Sheffield Heavyweights Dave Allen and Richard Towers clash in a British title eliminator and Andy Townend meets Craig Poxton for the English Super-Featherweight title.

Tickets priced at £40, £60, £80, £100, £150 and £250 VIP will go on sale at midday Thursday January 21 to Matchroom Fight Pass members from the Fight Pass area at www.matchroomboxing.com and on general sale the following day (Friday January 22) with tickets in the £40-£150 bracket available from the Sheffield Arena on 0114 2565656 and at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk. VIP tickets are exclusively available from www.matchroomboxing.com.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Kell Brook will defend the IBF Welterweight title against Kevin Bizier.

Details of the where and when will be announced later this week.

Kell Brook has been forced out of his IBF World Welterweight title clash with Diego Chaves at the Sheffield Arena on Saturday, October 24 after sustaining a rib injury in sparring.

Brook was set to make the third defence of his belt against the dangerous Argentine, but having spent time in hospital with the injury and taking the advice of medical experts following scans, the Sheffield star will now look to face Chaves later in the year.

The Sheffield show goes ahead with the Sky Sports debut of Chris Eubank Jr topping the bill as he defends his WBA Interim World Middleweight title against American Tony Jeter, Gavin McDonnell defends his European Bantamweight strap against former World title challenger Jeremy Parodi, along with a host of exciting young talent on the bill.

“It’s always a bitter blow when an injury causes a fight to be postponed, especially so close to the event,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Kell picked up a rib injury in sparring yesterday and spent most of the day at hospital yesterday. Kell was desperate to fight but it was simply impossible and we will now look to reschedule the bout for the end of the year.”

Matchroom Boxing will make a full statement on Monday regarding details of full refunds and partial refunds to those fans still attending the show.

NEW YORK (Oct. 3, 2015) – SHOWTIME Sports® will present seven live boxing telecasts in a span of just eight weeks to close out 2015, including three presentations of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, a SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL telecast and three installments of ShoBox: The New Generation.

The seven telecasts will air live on SHOWTIME® and will feature at least 16 fights, several world championship bouts and more than 10 matchups on the prospect developmental series ShoBox.

The action will kick off with a ShoBox quadrupleheader on Friday, Oct. 23 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME from the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz. In the 10-round middleweight main event, undefeated Rob Brant (17-0, 11 KOs, 0-3 in World Series of Boxing) will square off with Louis Rose (13-2-1, 5 KOs). In eight-rounders, unbeaten Filipino prospect Harmonito Dela Torre (16-0, 11 KOs) meets Wanzell Ellison (10-1-1, 5 KOs) in a junior lightweight scrap, Jarrell Miller (14-0-1) takes on Akhror Muralimov (16-1, 13 KOs) in a heavyweight bout and Lavarn Harvell (15-1, 8 KOs) will meet southpaw Samuel Clarkson (16-3, 10 KOs) in a light heavyweight scrap.

The following day, Saturday, Oct. 24, undefeated Kell Brook (35-0, 24 KOs) will make the third defense of his IBF Welterweight World title against Diego Chaves (23-2-1, 19 KOs) at Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England. The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL telecast will be presented via Sky Sports in the UK and will air live on SHOWTIME in the afternoon with an encore presentation later that evening (SHO, 9 p.m. ET/PT).

ShoBox: The New Generation returns Friday, Nov. 6 from D Hotel in Las Vegas with a four-fight telecast: Up-and-coming unbeaten middleweight Antoine Douglas (18-0-1, 12 KOs) will battle Les Sherrington (35-7, 20 KOs) in the main event. In the co-feature, Taras Shelestyuk (12-0, 8 KOs) will be opposed by an opponent to be determined. Rounding out the card are eight-round scraps between Keenan Smith (7-0, 2 KOs) and Benjamin Whitaker (10-1, 2 KOs) and O’Shanique Foster (8-0, 5 KOs) and Samuel Teah (7-1, 5 KOs) in super lightweight and lightweight fights, respectively.

On Saturday, Nov. 14 quick-fisted Gary Russell Jr. (26-1, 15 KOs) will risk his WBC Featherweight World Championship against Oscar Escandon (24-2, 16 KOs) in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.

Just two weeks later, on Saturday, Nov. 28, in a can’t miss match-up newly crowned IBF Super Middleweight World Championship James DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs) will face former world champion Lucian Bute (32-2, 25 KOs) in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING from the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, live on SHOWTIME. In the co-feature, undefeated knockout artist and former Russian amateur champion Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9 KOs) will face an opponent to be announced in a light heavyweight world championship title eliminator.

Brooklyn Bragging Rights and the WBA Middleweight World Championship will be on the line on Saturday, Dec. 5 when defending champion Daniel Jacobs (30-1, 27 KOs) takes on former champion Peter Quillin (32-0-1, 23 KOs) in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The marquee main event will be preceded by a co-feature fight with additional bouts on the card airing live on SHOWTIME EXTREME.

Closing out the boxing year for SHOWTIME Sports will be a ShoBox two or three-fight card airing live on Friday, Dec. 11.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.

NEW YORK (Sept. 29, 2015) – SHOWTIME Sports® will present the IBF Welterweight World Championship between undefeated defending champion Kell Brook and contender Diego Chaves on Saturday, Oct. 24, live on SHOWTIME at 5:45 p.m. ET / 2:45 p.m. PT from Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England.

The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL presentation of the Sky Sports telecast will feature analysis from SHOWTIME boxing experts Brian Custer, Al Bernstein and Paulie Malignaggi before and after the world championship showdown. An encore presentation of the bout will air on SHOWTIME later that evening at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

“I’m delighted that my fight with Chaves is going to be shown in the U.S.,” said Brook, who hails from Sheffield and will be the favorite in this fight. “I was thrilled when I saw my name in the top 10 of the pound-for-pound list in The Ring Magazine, and now is the time that I need to show the fans in the U.S. that I am a must-see fighter.

“Chaves is an all-action boxer who always comes to fight, and that is the perfect style for me to shine on Oct. 24. I look forward to putting on an explosive performance and making the U.S. stand up and take notice that I am the best welterweight in the world.”

“We know Brook is a tough fighter, very technical,” said Diego Chaves. “But he is not a fast fighter and he is easily bothered by body punches, which is one of our strengths. I believe he has problems going backwards, and we are going to test his punching power, too.

“I feel that my confidence grows with this challenge, knowing that I will have to face a champion like Kell Brook in his home country in England. This raises the stakes for me, going up there as an Argentine and as a huge underdog. We know all the bad blood that exists between Argentina and England and this will give me much more strength. I will make history if I defeat an Englishman in his own country.”

“We’re excited to be back in business with Kell Brook, Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn and to deliver this exciting matchup of top 10 welterweights to the U.S. audience,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports. “Kell won the world title on SHOWTIME in an action-packed victory over Shawn Porter last fall, establishing himself as one of the top welterweights in the world – but Diego Chaves is a rugged fighter who has also proven that he can compete with the elite of the division.”

Brook (35-0, 24 KOs) will make his third consecutive title defense of 2015 in his native England after coming to the U.S. and dethroning previously undefeated IBF Welterweight World Champion Shawn Porter in August 2014 on SHOWTIME. The Sheffield native has scored knockouts in each of his defenses – a fourth round TKO of Jo Jo Dan on March 28 and a sixth round TKO of Frankie Gavin on May 30. Brook aims for a similar result against the veteran Chaves, who has faced some of the top fighters in the 147-pound division.

Chaves (23-2-1, 19 KOs), of Buenos Aires, Argentina, has been a road warrior in recent fights, facing favored Americans on the road in three of his last four bouts. He challenged 147-pound titlist Keith Thurman in July 2013 and, after winning by knockout in a hometown fight in Argentina, was ahead on the judges’ scorecards against Brandon Rios in August 2014 until he was disqualified for an intentional elbow to the face. In his last fight, Chaves fought to a draw against perennial welterweight champion Timothy Bradley.

IBF Welterweight champion Kell Brook will defend his crown against Diego Chaves on October 24 in Sheffield, England, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I’m so excited about boxing in my hometown of Sheffield again. London last time out [in May] was a great experience fighting in front of nearly 20,000 but I’m excited to be back there — it is my home,” Brook said. “I’m looking to excite like I always do and light up the Motorpoint Arena on Oct. 24.”

“Chaves is a rough, tough, durable fighter who is very dangerous,” Brook said. “He’s bringing something new to the table. He’s coming off a draw to Tim Bradley, was ahead on the cards against Brandon Rios until he was disqualified and gave Keith Thurman a solid fight, so we know what level he has mixed at and how good he is.

“We know Brook is a tough fighter, very technical,” Chaves said. “He is a linear fighter, very frontal. He’s not a fast fighter. He is easily bothered by body punches, and that is one of our strengths. And I believe he has problems going backwards. We saw that in his fight against Shawn Porter. When Porter charged forward, Brook had trouble adjusting to that. But we know that he is a great fighter to face, and we are going to test his punching power too, because the opponents he chose so far have not been such great punchers as the ones I have faced lately.

“I feel that my confidence grows with this challenge, knowing that I will have to face a champion like Kell Brook in his home country in England. This raises the stakes for me, going up there as an Argentine, and as a huge underdog. We know all the bad blood that exists between Argentina and England, and this will give me much more strength. I will be making history if I defeat an Englishman in his own country.”

“It’s been a busy year so far boxing Dan in March and Gavin in May. This will be my third defense in seven months but a busy fighter is a happy fighter and I’m very happy at the moment,” Brook said. “I’m looking forward to the next challenge and I’m feeling sharp after my break.

“I’ve seen some of Chaves’ quotes and it’s interesting to see he thinks he can walk me down and overrun me. I don’t think some fighters realize how big I am and how sharp and accurate I punch and I’m looking to make a major statement against him. If he does what he promises it’s going to be one hell of a fight.”

LOS ANGELES (May 19) – Back on top of the boxing world after winning his third division world championship last December, Venezuela’s Jorge “El Niño De Oro” Linares will travel to London, England to defend his WBC Lightweight title for the first time against top British contender “Mighty” Kevin Mitchell at The O2, live on Sky Sports Box Office on Saturday, May 30. The WBC Lightweight World Championship is presented by Matchroom Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions in association with Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Boxing Gym and will be featured on the televised undercard of Kell Brook vs. Frankie Gavin.

“I am excited and honored to be defending my third world championship title in London,” said Jorge Linares. “This third title is something I have worked very hard for and I would like to thank my team, my family, Golden Boy Promotions and Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Boxing Gym for all their support throughout my journey. I have had a great training camp focusing on the skills that I need to defeat an opponent like Kevin Mitchell. I know he is a strong and aggressive fighter and I feel his style of fighting will suit me. This will not be an easy fight.”

“This is the making of my career,” said Kevin Mitchell. “I will win this fight and create a legacy as an unbeaten world champion. I know Jorge Linares is a three-weight world champion and a classy fighter – if you allow him to do what he wants to do, but I believe I will shut him down. I’ve matured, I feel secure with the team around me and I have left that party boy behind, I am enjoying it again. There’s excitement in me, Tony Sims is getting the best out of me as a result; it’s a good feeling. I know I am going to win this fight.”

“Jorge Linares is a world champion fighter and is determined to give Kevin Mitchell a difficult time in the ring as he looks to defend his title on May 30,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions. “Mitchell may have hometown advantage but Linares’ speed and skill will give Mitchell a considerable challenge in the ring. Make no mistake though: this will be a difficult fight for both Linares and Mitchell and one that is sure to excite.”

Tickets are available now with limited numbers priced at £40, £60, £80, £100 and £200 that can be purchased at www.theO2.co.uk and on 0844 856 0202. The £400 VIP packages are exclusively available through www.matchroomboxing.com.

A former world champion at the featherweight and super featherweight divisions, Barinas, Venezuela native Jorge “El Niño De Oro” Linares (38-3, 25 KOs) made it a trio of titles on December 30, 2014 when he knocked out Javier Prieto in four rounds in his adopted hometown of Tokyo, Japan to take the vacant WBC Lightweight Championship. It was another milestone in the 13-year career of the 29-year-old Linares, who has been one of boxing’s best of this era. Winner of bouts over Oscar Larios, Rocky Juarez, Jesus Chavez and Nihito Arakawa, Linares puts his seven-fight winning streak on the line against Mitchell.

A decorated amateur and professional boxer who has long been considered an elite European lightweight, “Mighty” Kevin Mitchell (39-2, 29 KOs) may have come up short in previous title fights against Michael Katsidis and Ricky Burns, but with six consecutive wins, five by knockout, under his belt, the 30-year-old from Dagenham is showing top form as he heads into the biggest fight of his career. Currently the WBC Silver Lightweight Champion, a title he won by stopping Daniel Estrada in eight rounds in January, Mitchell will have all of England behind him when he faces off against Linares on May 30.

Jorge Linares vs. Kevin Mitchell is a 12-round fight for the WBC Lightweight World Championship presented by Matchroom Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions in association with Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Boxing Gym. The Sky Sports Box Office broadcast airs live at 5:00 p.m. GMT.

Kell Brook will defend the IBF Welterweight title against Frankie Gavin on May 30 in London according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

I never expected to be out again so quickly but I can’t wait,” Brook said. “I respect Frankie for stepping up. He has called for this fight for a long time and after he was given a final eliminator against Tim Bradley it made sense for him to take the challenge.

“I feel like I’m unbeatable right now and Gavin isn’t going to be able to cope with my speed and power on fight night. The O2 is one of the best arenas in the world and it’s an honor to headline a card like this.”

“These are the fights you want to be part of and are where I belong,” Gavin said. “I’ve dreamt of a world title and I will be 100 percent ready physically and mentally for Kell Brook. Of course, it’s going to be tough but I believe Kell is beatable and I’ve always felt that I have got the skills and the team to cause an upset.”

Kell Brook made the 1st defense with a a stoppage after round four over mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan in Sheffield, England.

In round two, Brook dropped Dan with a hard right uppercut. Seconds later, Brook sent Dan to the canvas a again from another right hand. In round three, Dan’s nose began to bleed. In round four, Brook dropped Dan again from a right to the head. Brook scored his fourth knockdown at the bell to end round four when he landed a perfectly timed left hook. After the round, Dan’s corner had seen enough and the fight was stopped.

Brook, 145.9 lbs of Sheffield, UK is now 34-0 with 23 knockouts. Dan, 146.4 lbs of Montreal is now 34-3.

SHEFFIELD, England (March 27, 2015) – Defending IBF Welterweight World Champion and hometown favorite Kell Brook and No. 1 challenger Jo Jo Dan made weight Friday.

Tomorrow/Saturday, SHOWTIME Sports® will present the Sky Sports telecast of Brook vs. Dan live on SHOWTIME (6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT) from the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England. Sky Sports’ Jim Watt and Nick Halling will call the action from ringside.

Brook, of Sheffield, weighed 145½ pounds for his first title defense; Dan, a Romanian who now lives in Montreal, Canada, tipped the scales at 146¼ pounds.

Brook (33-0, 22 KOs) will defend the IBF 147-pound crown he took from previously undefeated Shawn Porter last August on SHOWTIME. Two weeks later, Brook was hospitalized with career-threatening injuries after getting stabbed in the thigh during a holiday in Spain.

Dan (34-2, 18 KOs) has won five in a row and eight of his last nine. He is the first Romanian- based Canadian to compete in a world title fight in England since Lucian Bute lost his IBF super middleweight crown to Carl Froch in five rounds in 2012.

Later Saturday evening on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT), WBC Featherweight Champion Jhonny Gonzalez (57-8, 48 KOs), of Mexico City, will defend his 126-pound belt against quick-fisted southpaw Gary Russell Jr. (25-1, 14 KOs), of Capitol Heights, Md. In the co-feature, from The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, undefeated world-ranked Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (25-0, 11 KOs), of Houston, faces the more experienced once-beaten Vanes Martirosyan (35-1-1, 21 KOs), of Glendale, Calif., in a 10-round bout for the WBO Intercontinental super welterweight championship.

(Selected press conference quotes):

KELL BROOK, IBF Welterweight Champion
“Every day has been a challenge, but we have done it. It’s amazing for me to defend the world title in Sheffield. I will be there knowing that I was meant to do this and I belong at the elite level.

“I’ve come a long way, fighting on undercards and in leisure centres to packing out this arena as a world champion. It took me a long time to get that belt and there is no way on earth that Jo Jo Dan is taking it off me, not a prayer. I am going in there to excite; you’ll see flash and power. I’ve kept the fans waiting too long to fight again and I owe them a big performance. If Jo Jo does what he says he’s going to do and bring the fight to me, the fans are in for a treat because you know how I fight.

“He looks like a man that has come to win. He’s the mandatory challenger like I was against [Shawn] Porter and I took the title off him. It’s every fighter’s dream to challenge for a world title and to take it, so I know that he’s put in 100 percent in the gym and he will leave it all in the ring tomorrow night.

“I would never overlook Jo Jo. It’s happened too many times in boxing that fighters are thinking about another fight and they lose the one in front of them. I am focused on him and making sure I take care of business. He’ll bring his best and I will bring my best, and I’ll show everyone why I am special. I am looking to knock him out.”

JO JO DAN, IBF No. 1 Contender and Mandatory Challenger
“I feel great and I am in the best shape of my life. I cannot wait for tomorrow.

“I know what Kell’s strengths and weaknesses are and I’ll show that in the ring. He was impressive against Porter but I am ready to adjust to whatever he can bring and I am ready for 12 hard rounds.

“I am concentrating on Kell Brook. I will get booed, he will get cheered — I don’t care about that, I’m so confident of winning that title.”

# # #

About Showtime Networks Inc.:
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

Sheffield, United Kingdom (3/25/15) – When Jo Jo Dan (34-2, 18KO’s) steps into the ring this Saturday against defending IBF welterweight champion and hometown hero Kell Brook (33-0, 22KO’s), Dan will be entering into hostile confines. The 10-thousand-seat Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, Yorkshire, United Kingdom, will be sold out. Other than a small Dan entourage of roughly 10 of his closest friends and family members, all in attendance will be screaming for the local star Brook. While this might make your ordinary boxer uncomfortable to say the least, Dan is not just your ordinary fighter.

“You can call me the Road Warrior I guess,” said Dan. “This is nothing new to me. It doesn’t bother me one way or the other. If you think about it, all the pressure is now on Brook to perform. I am fully aware that he has the home advantage with the fans behind him, but I plan to make them my fans with my performance. Inside the ring, it is just us and the referee. When they cheer for him, it pushes me to do better. I had a nine-week training camp for this fight, by far my best one ever. I am well prepared. On March 28th, I will be 100% ready for this challenge.”

The 33-year-old Romanian has been living and training in Montreal since 2002, two years prior to making his professional debut. Dan officially made his debut on April 21, 2004, scoring a second-round TKO over Jeff Hill. Over the next six years, Dan continued to rack up win after win, running his record to a perfect 26-0, before earning a shot to challenge for the vacant WBC Silver welterweight title against fellow undefeated contender Selcuk Aydin. Aydin was a feared puncher, having scored 15 stoppages in 19 victories, even earning the nickname “Mini Tyson” along the way. To earn the title, Dan was not only going to have to withstand the hard-charging, heavy-handed Aydin, but he was going to have to do so in his opponent’s backyard of Turkey.

After 12 rounds, Dan looked as though he had done everything he needed to do to earn the victory, as he dominated the Turkish-native in every aspect of the bout. BoxingScene.com scored the bout 117-111, with one judge having it a bit closer in Dan’s favor at 116-111. Unfortunately, the other two judges scored the bout for Aydin with scores of 114-113, giving the hometown favorite the split decision victory, in what was called one of the worst decisions in all of 2010.

Not to be deterred, Dan was quickly back in the ring, picking up three consecutive victories, and setting up another shot at Aydin; once again, in Aydin’s home country of Turkey. Despite badly breaking his jaw in the second round, Dan battled bravely the rest of the way to hear the final bell. However, after 12 hard rounds, Dan would drop another close decision to Aydin.

“After I lost the first fight, it took them a year to call for a rematch. I decided to go back because I was sure of beating him again in his hometown. Unfortunately, I got caught with a good shot in the second round and my whole fight plan went out the window. I had to go to war with him because I knew the doctor or my corner would stop the fight if they knew of my broken jaw. I refused to let m y corner take out my mouthpiece from the second round on, because I knew if they took it out, I wouldn’t be able to get it back in, and the fight would be stopped. I almost stopped him in the 11th round, but I went down for a count while off balance and they gave him that round 10-8 instead of me winning it 10-9. At the end, two judges gave him the fight by one point; the third judge was way off. Had I won the 11th round, instead of the slip being counted as a knockdown, then I would have won a split decision even with that broken jaw. It was the hardest thing that I have ever had to deal with in my life. I was pushing my jawbone with my tongue all fight long just so I could breathe. After the fight, the doctor couldn’t believe how badly my jaw had been broken, or that I was able to fight on for nearly the entire bout. I had to have two major surgeries to repair it and take a year off from boxing, but thank God I was able to make a full recovery.”

Following the second loss and ensuing layoff from the surgeries, Dan signed with powerful US promoter Lou DiBella, of DiBella Entertainment, and picked up two quick victories, setting up an IBF welterweight title eliminator for the number two ranking. His opponent was the highly regarded fast-rising welterweight contender Kevin Bizier, with the fight staged in Bizier’s backyard of Quebec. In what was named Canada’s 2013 ‘Fight of the Year’, Dan won a 12-round split decision in an absolute war.

Almost a year to the date from their first matchup, Dan and Bizier would meet again, at the same venue, this time with the winner earning the right to challenge the champion Brook. Aired on Showtime, Dan turned in yet another spectacular performance, and once again walked away with a 12-round split decision victory over the hometown hero Bizier, earning his shot against Brook this Saturday night.

“Brook is a very good fighter, it is not a mistake that he has become a world champion. I expect him to come out early and try to add me to his knockout list. I won’t be running though. We will find out very early if he can take as well as he can give,” stated Dan.

When asked if he believes that he needs a knockout to win based on past experiences, Dan answered calmly and with full confidence, “No.”

“I don’t train for knockouts. If the knockout comes, then it’s a bonus. I train to win every round. This fight is going to be watched around the world by millions of people. I have full confidence that it will be judged properly and the fighter who deserves the victory will be announced the winner. I am more experienced and better prepared than the previous times I challenged for the world title. I worked very hard to earn this mandatory position and I will not let this opportunity pass me by. On March 28th, I will become the IBF welterweight champion of the world.”

A win on Saturday will cap an amazing couple of weeks for Dan. This past week, Dan received his Canadian Citizenship and his wife is expected to give birth to their first baby daughter any day now.

To follow Jo Jo Dan on Twitter or Instagram, visit @JoJoDan1. You can also find him on Facebook at facebook.com/boxerJoJoDan.

The bout on Saturday night will be televised live by SKY Sports in the United Kingdom, as well as Stateside on Showtime®. Showtime will provide live coverage beginning at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 pm. PT. The bout is promoted by Matchroom Boxing and DiBella Entertainment.

Sheffield, United Kingdom (3/23/15) – Yesterday afternoon, IBF #1-rated challenger Jo Jo Dan (34-2, 18KO’s) arrived in Sheffield with his team ahead of his eagerly anticipated IBF welterweight world championship challenge against hometown hero and defending champion Kell Brook (33-0, 22KO’s). Dan will meet the undefeated Brook this Saturday, March 28th, at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, Yorkshire, United Kingdom. The bout will be televised live by SKY Sports in the United Kingdom, as well as stateside in the U.S. on Showtime®. Showtime will provide live coverage beginning at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 pm. PT. The bout is promoted by Matchroom Boxing and DiBella Entertainment.

Pictured below is Team Dan (Left to right: cornermen Adrian Diaconu, long-time manager Chris Ganescu, Jo Jo Dan, long-time head trainer Pierre Bouchard and assistant coach Jean Francois Bergeron).

NEW YORK (March 16, 2015) – SHOWTIME Sports® will present the Sky Sports telecast of the IBF Welterweight World Championship between defending champion and hometown favorite Kell Brook and No. 1 challenger Jo Jo Dan on Saturday, March 28, live on SHOWTIME at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT from the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England.

Later that evening, live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT), WBC Featherweight Champion Jhonny Gonzalez (57-8, 48 KOs), of Mexico City, will defend his 126-pound belt against quick-fisted southpaw Gary Russell Jr. (25-1, 14 KOs), of Capitol Heights, Md., in the main event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. In the co-feature, from The Pearl at Palms Resort Casino in Las Vegas, undefeated world-ranked contender Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (25-0, 11 KOs), of Houston, faces experienced 2004 U.S. Olympian Vanes Martirosyan (35-1-1, 21 KOs), of Glendale, Calif., in a 10-round super welterweight showdown.

SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL Brook vs. Dan will replay immediately following the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast.

Brook’s upcoming title defense, promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, will be a raucous homecoming for the popular Brit, who last fought in Sheffield in October 2013. Billed as “Unbreakable” in the U.K., the event is also Brook’s comeback fight after getting attacked while on vacation last September.”

“March 28 will be an emotional night for Kell and the team. I remember being by his bedside in September in a Spanish hospital after that horrific knife attack, it looked like his career was over, Aid Eddie Hearn, Managing Director of Matchroom Sports. “He has shown incredible physical and mental strength and looks better than ever in camp. Fans on Showtime will get to see in my opinion the best 147 pounder in the World light up a 10,000 sell out arena on March 28—don’t miss it!”

Brook (33-0, 22 KOs) of Sheffield, England, will be making his first start and initial defense of the 147-pound title he took from previously undefeated Shawn Porter via a 12-round majority decision last Aug. 16 in Carson, Calif., on SHOWTIME. In an impressive performance in his long-awaited shot at a world championship, Brook, 28, won clearly on two of the scorecards (117-111, 116-112) while the third judge had it even (114-114).

“After everything that’s happened over the last six months, it feels incredible knowing I will be defending my World title in Sheffield,” said Brook. “I’m not looking past JoJo I know he will bring the heat but I want to get this mandatory defence done and then target those mega-fights that are out there in the division. I know he feels he worked so hard to get into the mandatory position just like I did, but I will be working twice as hard to keep the belt that I earned. After May 2nd, there will only be two champions in the division—myself and Floyd or Manny. I want to unify this division in style. I’m coming for them all.”

Dan (34-2, 18 KOs), of Quebec, Canada, has won five in a row and eight of his last nine. The 33-year-old earned the crack at the crown with a 12-round split decision over Kevin Bizier in an elimination bout last Dec. 19 on SHOWTIME. Dan also won a split decision over the then-unbeaten Bizier on Nov. 30, 2013.

A native of Romania, the crowd-pleasing Dan, whose full name is Ionut Dan Ion, has lived and trained in Montreal since his pro debut in April 2004. The only blemishes on the southpaw’s record are a pair of close, controversial decision losses to then-undefeated contender Selcuk Aydin –the first in 2010 and the second in 2011– both in Aydin’s native Turkey.

“Kell has not fought anyone like me,” Dan said. “I believe in myself and I don’t think he can bring anything I can’t deal with on fight night. I saw his last fight where he won the world title and it was a great performance, but I just let my team study him in depth and come up with a winning strategy.

“I have waited a long time to get a world title shot so I am determined to take advantage of this opportunity. My prediction for the fight is simple –Jo Jo Dan becomes the new IBF Welterweight World champion.”

# # #

About Showtime Networks Inc.:

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

Kell Brook will make the 1st defense of the IBF Welterweight title against mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan on March 28 in Sheffield, England, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

The 28-year-old Brook was supposed to make his first title defense late last year — the opponent had not been announced — but he suffered a stab wound in his leg during an incident while he was on vacation in Spain in September.

“After everything that’s happened over the last six months, it feels incredible knowing I will be defending my world title in Sheffield,” Brook said. “I want to get this mandatory out of the way and then target those megafights that are out there in the division.

“There is no chance that I will be underestimating Jo Jo Dan, though, as I know how he will be feeling, having worked so hard to get into the mandatory position just like I did, but I will be working twice as hard to keep the belt that I earned.”

“To see Kell walk out in front of a sold-out crowd in his hometown of Sheffield is going to be an emotional night,” Hearn said. “Kell has gone to America and beaten an American to win the world title; it’s a massive achievement and it shows that he is a very, very special fighter.

“Jo Jo Dan is a tough fight. There’s no way that Kell can be anything but 100 percent to beat him, and I have no doubt that he will be. There are some massive fights out there for Kell if he can take care of Jo Jo, but his focus is solely on Dan and I expect him to shine on March 28.”

Brian Rose will face Carson Jones for the WBC International Light Middleweight title at the MEN Arena in Manchester on Friday January 23, live on Sky Sports.

Rose challenged for the World Light Middleweight title earlier in the year and continues his charge to a second shot with a tough test against Jones, who is familiar on these shores after he gave Kell Brook the fight of his life in July 2012 and returning for a rematch last summer.

“I’m excited to be back in the ring again in Manchester on January 23 fighting for another title,” said Rose. “I enjoyed watching Carson taking on Kell and he always comes to fight – I think our styles make for a great match up. The atmosphere in the Arena is going to be electric that night and I’m looking forward to getting the win and moving up the World rankings.”

The Blackpool star faces Oklahoma’s Jones on the undercard of Anthony Crolla’s WBA World Lightweight title challenge against Richar Abril, as the Manchester favourite aims to cap a great 18 months in the ring by ripping the title from the Cuban star.

Tickets are on sale now to Matchroom Fight Pass members at www.matchroomboxing.com priced £30, £40, £60, £100 and £150 VIPs.

Tickets will go on general sale at midday tomorrow with £30, £40, £60 and £100 tickets available from www.eventim.co.uk and on 0844 847 8000, with VIP tickets exclusively available from Matchroom Boxing at www.matchroomboxing.com.

ccording to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF Welterweight champion Kell Brook is in stable condition after being stabbed while on vacation on the Spanish island of Tenerife off the coast of Morocco.

“I was out enjoying a night out before returning home to the UK when I was the victim of an unprovoked attack,” Brook said on Friday from his hospital bed. “I’m devastated right now after being on such a high having achieved my dream of becoming world champion in Los Angeles last month. This is obviously a major setback but the thought of defending my title is what’s keeping me positive right now.

“I want to thank everyone for their support and ask for privacy for myself and my family at this time. Make no mistake — I will be back.”

“We were all glad to get out here and see Kell for ourselves,” said Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn, who visited Brook. “The important thing now is to get him home and, after some rest, begin therapy on his injuries. His first defense was planned on Dec. 6, which is now unrealistic, but we fully expect Kell to be back in the ring early next year.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF Welterweight champion Kell Brook was stabbed in the leg while vacationing Spanish island of Tenerife.

“We have no more details and aren’t commenting further at this time,” said Mathcroom Boxing PR man Anthony Leaver told ESPN.com.

“We don’t know the extent of the injury or any details at all at this stage so [I] can’t say,” Leaver said.

Follow all the action as Shawn Porter defends the IBF Welterweight title against Kell Brook in a battle of undefeated fighters. The action kicks off at StubHub Center with the WBC Lightweight title bout between Omar Figueroa and Daniel Estrada as well as a rematch for the WBC Super Middleweight title between Sakio Bika and Anthiny Direll

12 Rounds–IBF Welterweight champion–Shawn Porter (24-0-1, 15 KO’s) vs Kell Brook (32-0, 22 KO’s)

Round 1 Brook lands a counter left…Jab from Porter..right Upper cut from brook..Jab from Porter..lead right..Right from Brook..10-9 Brook

Round 2 Jab from Brook..jab to the body..Body shot from Porter..Brook cut on left eye brow (accidental Headbutt)..Nice right from Brook..20-18 Brook

Round 3 Good exchange of rights…right from Brook..30-27 Brook

Round 4 Counter right from Brook..right…jab..1-2..Body work from Porter..right..40-36 Brook

Round 5 Jab from Brook..Nice right..Jab..Jab…right..1-2…Clubbing right from Porter..50-45 Brook

Round 6 Porter lands a right..Brook lands a jab..Porter lands 3 lefts inside…Right from Brook..59-55 Brook

Round 7 Porter cut over right eye (accidental Headbutt)…Good body shot from Porter..Body..Jab..right to body…straight right from Brook..right..Porter lands a right..Good uppercut from Brook..left hook from Porter…68-65 Brook

Round 8 Left uppercut from Porter…left hook on inside…right cross from Brook..3 punch combination…combination..jab…Porter working the body...78-74 Brook

Round 9 Jab from Brook..double jab..Porter working body..short left hook from Brook..double jab/right hand..jab..88-83 Brook

Round 10 Nice left hook from Brook…short left hook..Porter working the body..Good right..98-93 Brook

Round 11 4 punch combination from Brook..chopping right from Porter..1-2 from Brook..nice sweeping left hook..right cross to the jaw..108-102 Brook

Round 12 1-2 from Brook..jab..body…Porter lands a counter right..combination from Brook..118-111 Brook

114-114; 117-111 and 116-112 for THE NEW IBF WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD——-KELL BROOK

12 Rounds–WBC Super Middleweight title–Sakio Bika (32-5-3, 21 KO’s) vs Anthony Dirrell (26-0-1, 22 KO’s)

Round 1 Dirrell coming out swinging…Wild fighting…10-9 Dirrell

Round 4 Bika going to the body

Round 5 Jab from Bika…Counter right from Dirrell…

Round 6 Good counter from Bika..counter from Dirrell…Left from Bika…Dirrell lands a right…Left to the body..Straight right..Left hook from Bika…59-55 Dirrell

Round 7 Good right from Dirrell hurts Bika..Short right from Bika…straight from Dirrell…hard rights from Dirrell…69-64 Dirrell

Round 8 Bika deducted a point for a low blow…Big Flurry from Bika…Hard right from Dirrell..79-72 Dirrell

Round 9 More rough stuff…Bika lands a right…88-82 Dirrell

Round 10 The fight cant get any rythym

Round 11 Bika lands a right to the body…Dirrell lands a jab…Counter right…Jab from Bika..Double jab/right from Bika…

Round 12 Dirrell lands an uppercut…Body shot..Sharp right

114-113; 116-111 and 117-110 FOR THE WINNER AND NEW WBC SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION ANTHONY DIRRELL

12 Rounds–WBC Lightweight title–Omar Figueroa (23-0-1, 17 KO’s) vs Daniel Estrada (32-2-1, 24 KO’s)

Round 1 Right from Figueroa…Estrada counters..Estrada lands a left and right..Straight from Figueroa…Sraight right and lead right from Estrada..combination,,right…10-9 Estrada

Round 2 Estrada lands a left hook..left hook on the ropes..Lead left uppercut from Figueroa..Left hook from both…left from Estrada…20-18 Estrada

Round 3 Figueroa was hit with a low blow..Estrada lands a right..Jab..and right from Figueroa…good right...29-28 Estrada

Round 4 Estrada lands a short left uppercut…Jab..Head shot from Figueroa..body and uppercut from Estrada..double jab..Right from Figueroa…body combo that is followed by a left to the jaw..Lead right…Straight left from Southpaw stance..jab to body from Estrada…2 rights and jab from Figueroa..left hook to body…..38-38

Round 5 Figueroa lands a right to the body..48-47 Figueroa

Round 6 Figueroa lands a jab..Estrada goes to body…jab..Figueroa lands a right…58-57 Figueroa

Round 7 Combination inside from Figueroa…Right from Estrada…left hook from Figueroa..right cros…Jab from Estrada…68-66 Figueroa

Round 8 Nice combination from Figueroa…lead right right…Blood around left eye of Figueroa..Estrada lands a right in the corner…Figueroa coming back with a left 78-75 Figueroa

Round 9 Cut caused by accidental head butt….BIG RIGHT AND DOWN GOES ESTRADA…Figueroa all over Estrada..CombINATON ON THE ROPES AND THE FIGHT IS STOPPED….

Kell Brook won the IBF Welterweight championship with a 12-round majority decision over previously undefeated Shawn Porter at the StubHub Center in Carson, California

Early on it was Brook looking to jab and hold on when he Porter would make a surge on the inside. In round two, Brook was cut over the left eye from an accidental headbutt. Brook was timing Porter coming with his nice jab. In round six, Porter was cut over his right eye from an accidental headbutt.

Brook was able to thwart any brief momentum that Porter could muster up as he landed the more telling combinations.

Brook, 146 1/2 lbs of Sheffield, UK won by scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 114-114 and is now 33-0. Porter, 146 3/4 lbs of Akron, OH is now 24-1-1.

“You can tell how much it means to me by my reaction,” said Brook, who was cut over the left eye in the second round. “I’ve been dreaming about this moment since I was nine-years old. It’s unbelievable.

“I was scrappy tonight, and not as slick as I wanted to be. But I’m the world champion now, baby. I was born to do this.

“I’m ready for a mega, mega fight next. I’ll take on Keith Thurman or Floyd Mayweather. Amir Khan should get in queue now. I’m the world champion now so they’re all going to want to fight me.”

Porter, a former U.S. amateur standout, thought he had done enough to win his second title defense despite getting cut over his right eye in the sixth.

“I think I’m still the champion,” he said. “I’m 24-1 and Team Porter will be back to the drawing board. There are no excuses. I do want the rematch.”

Anthony Dirrell wrestled the WBC Super Middleweight title away from Sakio Bika via 12-round unanimous decision.

The fight was very sloppy throughout the contest. When given distance, Dirrell was able to land the more telling blows. Bika was deducted a point in round eight for low blows. Dirrell hit the canvas several other times from Bika’s “veteran” tactics.

Dirrell, 167 3/4 lbs of Flint, MI won by scores of 117-110, 116-111 and 114-113 and is now 27-0-1. Bika, 167 3/4 lbs of Australia is now 32-6-3.

“This journey has been amazing and I can’t even fathom it,” Dirrell told SHOWTIME’s Jim Gray afterward. “I already overcame the biggest fight of my life by beating cancer. I can’t see anything being bigger than this. I was never close to giving up. I stuck to it and now I’m WBC world champion.

“This means the world to me, what else can I say? After beating cancer, making it back from a motorcycle accident and getting a second chance at boxing, I just knew I was going to make the best of it.

“Tonight the referee did a wonderful job. Bika is rough, he’s a helluva fighter. But I’m glad to finally have him in my rearview mirror. I’m not gonna complain about the close scores. I got a unanimous decision and I couldn’t be happier.

“The difference between this fight and our first one is that I wasn’t on the ropes this time. I came out and boxed. But I know I got his attention at the start.”

Said Bika: “I fought very hard. He was a better fighter tonight. I’m going to go back to the gym and come back stronger. This (losing) happens.”

Omar Figueroa defended the WBC Lightweight title with a 9th round stoppage over mandatory challenger Daniel Estrada.

It was a phone booth fight early with Estrada taking the early lead by landing the harder punches in close. Figueroa began to pick up in the middle rounds as he got in close and started landing combinations.

Round nine was action packed as the two traded shots in close. Figueroa was cut around the left eye from a clash of heads. Figueroa seized that moment to land a nice flurry only to see Figueroa come back just before the bell.

That did not deter Figueroa as he came out in round nine and dropped Estrada with a big right hand. Estrada got to his feet but Figueroa was all over him and landed a big combination on the ropes and the fight was stopped at 1:00 of round nine

Figueroa, 135 lbs is now 24-0-1 with 18 knockouts. Estrada, 134 1/2 lbs is 32-3-1.

“I don’t think I did that great and obviously felt I could be more explosive and maybe get him out of there earlier,” said Figueroa, who suffered a bad cut above his left eye from an unintentional headbutt in the ninth. “I was a little concerned that the referee or doctor would stop the fight because of the cut. I knew Estrada would be open for the right hand. I was playing a little possum when I caught him.”

“I’m grateful for the opportunity,” said Estrada, who was making his U.S. debut and fighting less than three weeks after a sister and her daughter were killed in an automobile accident in Mexico. “Initially I felt good but he hurt me and I couldn’t recuperate. I had the mentality to win, but I was up against a great champion.”

Deontay Wilder tuned up for a fall title shot with Bermane Stiverne with a stoppage win over Jason Gavern after round four in their scheduled 10-round Heavyweight bout.

Wilder boxed from the outside while Gavern tried and occasionally got through with an overhand right. In round three, Wilder scored a knockdown when a right hand landed around the ear. Gavern complained that the punch was behind the head. Wilder scored a 2nd knockdown in round four from another straight right. After the round, Gavern encouraged his corner to stop the fight and they obliged.

Wilder, 224 lbs of Tuscaloosa, AL is now 32-0 with 32 knockouts. Gavern, 247 lbs of Kissimee, FL is now 25-16-4.

“This was fun,” Wilder said. “I wanted to go some rounds. A lot of people are still asking so many questions to me; I tried to answer some of them today.

“Of course, I could have landed my right hand more in the first couple rounds. He was leaving me openings, but I didn’t want to show off everything. I wanted to save that for next time.

“I’m ready for that world title fight. I want the WBC champ Bermane Stiverne next, hopefully in late November.”

Jorge Linares tuned up for a title shot with a 2 round demolition of Ira Terry in scheduled 8-round Lightweight bout.

Linares hurt Terry at the end of round one with a hard right that was followed by a combination. Linares finished the fight with a perfect right to the face that plummeted Terry on the canvas and the fight was stopped at 1:20 of round two.

Linares, 137 lbs of Venezuela is now 37-3 with 24 knockouts. Terry, 132 lbs of Memphis, TN is now 26-12-1.

“This was the kind of fight I didn’t expect but that I wanted,” Linares said. “I was able to watch tapes o him extensively so I was well prepared. I definitely want to fight for the world title next. That’s why I was here and took this fight. I’m just waiting for my opportunity.

“That was a good straight right hand I landed on him. Once I connected I knew it was over.”

Lydell Rhodes remained undefeated with a stoppage after 4-rounds over John Nater in a scheduled 8-round Welterweight bout.

Rhodes was dominant with his hand speed. He dropped Nater in round four with a four punch combination where Nater took three steps back to the ropes and took a knee. After the round, Nater decided he had enough and the bout was stopped.

Rhodes, 142 lbs of Las Vegas is now 22-0 with 11 knockouts. Nater, 144 lbs of Bayamon, PR is now 13-7.

Former Irish Olympian Jason Quigley scored a stoppage victory over Fernando Najera in a scheduled 4-round Middleweight bout.

Quigley dominated and opened up a bad cut over Najera’s left eye in round three. Iromically, Quigley was cut over his left eye as well but Najera’s openinh was much worse and Najera’s corner stopped the bout.

Quigley 160 1/2 lbs of Ireland is now 2-0 with 2 knockouts. Najera, 158 1/4 lbs of Tijuana, MX is now 1-4.

LOS ANGELES (Aug. 15, 2014) – An international lineup of boxing standouts from the United States, Venezuela, Ireland, England and Argentina will make up a stacked undercard ahead of Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader of championship bouts at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

In the main event, “ShowTime” Shawn Porter will defend his IBF 147-pound crown against British banger Kell Brook. Plus, WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika will risk his 168-pound belt in a rematch against unbeaten Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell, and undefeated Omar “Panterita” Figueroa Jr. will defend his WBC Lightweight World Championship against mandatory challenger Daniel “Tremendo” Estrada. The tripleheader airs live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).

Before the trio of world title fights gets underway, undefeated heavyweight knockout sensation and WBC Continental Americas Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder will be opposed by Jason Gavern in a 10-round scrap on SHOWTIME EXTREME® (7 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast). In the opening bout, former two-division world champ Jorge “Niño De Oro” Linares faces Ira Terry in an eight-round lightweight match.

Time permitting, unbeaten Lydell Rhodes will take on Bayamon, Puerto Rico’s John Nader in an eight round welterweight matchup and Irish prospect Jason Quigley will take on Tijuana’s Fernando Najara in a four round middleweight bout on SHOWTIME EXTREME.

Also in action tomorrow will be 2012 U.S. Olympian Dominic Breazeale, local favorite Alan Sanchez, 2012 Olympic Gold medalist for Great Britain Luke Campbell, fellow British star Callum Smith and Argentina’s Fabian Maidana.

The next in line to face WBC heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne, Alabama’s Deontay Wilder (31-0, 31 KOs) is not sitting idle while he awaits his shot at championship gold. He looks to follow-up his 96-second demolition of Malik Scott in March with another spectacular win. The most impressive knockout artist in boxing today, the 28-year-old has yet to be extended past the fourth round.

Hoping to derail the “Wilder Express” will be seasoned veteran Jason Gavern (25-16-4, 11 KOs) of Orlando, Fla. Winner of four of his last five bouts, most recently a victory over James Toney last November, the 37-year-old knows that with an upset of Wilder, he will make headlines around the boxing world and set himself up for an even bigger fight.

In the eight-round SHOWTIME EXTREME opener, former two-division world champion Jorge Linares (36-3, 23 KOs) continues his move toward a world title shot when he faces Ira Terry. Winner of five straight, including a March win over Nihito Arakawa in a WBC Lightweight Title elimination bout, the 28-year-old Venezuelan is expected to get a shot at the Figueroa-Estrada winner if triumphant on Saturday.

Memphis, Tenn. veteran Ira Terry (26-11, 16 KOs) has no plans on being a stepping stone for Linares, and coming off of wins in three of his last four fights, Terry has the focus and form to stun Linares and put a dent in his championship hopes.

A multi-sport athlete growing up who has also competed in both boxing and mixed martial arts professionally, Oklahoma City welterweight Lydell Rhodes (21-0, 10 KOs) will risk his unbeaten record in an eight-round matchup with Puerto Rican power puncher John Nater (13-6, 10 KOs),of Bayamon, P.R.

Former Irish amateur and newly signed Golden Boy Promotions star Jason Quigley (1-0, 1 KO) needed just 82 seconds to win his pro debut over Howard Reece in July, and the 23-year-old is making a quick turnaround to get back in the ring to face Fernando Najera (1-3) of Tijuana, Mexico in a six-round middleweight bout.

In heavyweight action, 2012 U.S. Olympian Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale (11-0, 10 KOs) will be fighting for the fourth time in 2014, and after big wins over Nagy Aguilera and Devin Vargas, he hopes to keep his hot streak going in an eight-round clash against tough Utah native Billy Zumbrun (27-13-1, 16 KOs), who has won four of his last five.

Stablemates of headliner Kell Brook, lightweight Luke Campbell (6-0, 4 KOs) and super middleweight Callum Smith (12-0, 9 KOs) will also proudly represent England. Hull southpaw Campbell is a 2012 Olympic Gold medalist who has impressed in each of his six outings as a pro. Campbell will be squaring off against the vastly more experienced Steve Trumble (13-30, 8 KOs), of Baton Rouge, Lain a four-round bout. Liverpool’s Smith is part of a fighting family who is soaring up the 168-pound ladder. Smith looks to continue his undefeated streak in a six-rounder against Abraham Hernandez (5-0, 3 KOs) of Monterrey, Mexico.

In an eight-round welterweight bout, Alan Sanchez (13-3-1, 7 KOs), of Fairfield, Calif., will take on Tijuana native Jose Luis “Zurdo” Ramirez Jr. (7-0-1, 4 KOs), and in the four-round opener, also at 147 pounds, Fabian “TNT” Maidana (1-0), the brother of Marcos “El Chino” Maidana, meets Michigan’s Phillip Soriano (0-3).

Porter vs. Brook is a 12-round fight for Porter’s IBF Welterweight World Championship promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra and AT&T. In the co-main event, the WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Sakio Bika defends his belt in a rematch against Anthony Dirrell, and in the televised opener, Omar Figueroa defends his WBC Lightweight World Championship against Daniel Estrada. The event will take place at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and will air live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (SHOWTIME 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) and will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME (7 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and service charges are on sale now and are available online at AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849) and at StubHub Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call 877-234-8425. Doors open at 1 p.m. PT. The first fight begins at 1:00 p.m.

Shawn Porter 146 3/4 – Kell Brook 146 1/2
(IBF Welterweight title)
Sakio Bika 167 3/4 – Anthony Direll 168
(WBC Super Middleweight Title)
Omar Figueroa Jr. 135 – Daniel Estrada 134 1/2
(WBC Lightweight Title)