By Norm Frauenheim –

PHOENIX – Oscar De La Hoya, already busy promoting a real fight between Jaime Munguia and John Ryder, found himself addressing questions Thursday about reports of another one in what looks to be a further episode in an ongoing feud.

The news conference was about Munguia-Ryder, a significant super-middleweight fight Saturday night on the Suns home floor at Footprint Center.

The buzz was about Ryan Garcia.

De La Hoya-Garcia, a social-media soap opera even before Twitter became X, took a confusing turn late Wednesday and early Thursday.

The brief version – if only there was one – goes something like this: Garcia was fighting Rolly Romero. Then, he wasn’t.

Sounds simple enough, and maybe it would be, pre-social media. But it isn’t. Ryan Garcia is a social media star. He needs a census to count his followers.

And they were talking late Wednesday, first about a Garcia post that said he would be fighting Mexican junior-welterweight champion Rolly Romero on April 20.

Hours later, ESPN reported that Romero was fighting Isaac Cruz on March 30 in Las Vegas. Can you hear the buzz?

De La Hoya did, and he addressed the inevitable after a news conference that included a theme about promotional unity in The Boxing Balkans.

From De La Hoya’s perspective, there’s no feud with Garcia, at least not in what transpired this week.

“A lot is happening,’’ De La Hoya said after the formal Munguia-Ryder news conference concluded. “Look, me and Ryan are on a united front. We are going to get his fight, done and sealed. And I will announce it when it is done.

“I do know for sure it will be April 20 in Las Vegas. But no names.’’

No opponent, yet. The only sure thing is that it won’t be Romero, the World Boxing Association’s 140-pound champion.

“There were negotiations that took place,’’ De La Hoya said. “But nothing in writing.’’

De La Hoya went on to say that the Romero-Cruz fight on Amazon Prime – the first since it struck a deal with Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) — could set up Garcia’s second fight in 2024.

“It turns out, the winner of the Rolly-Isaac Cruz fight could be in the Ryan Garcia lottery for the next fight.’’  

Unity, however, wasn’t exactly the message delivered by Garcia when he reacted to the ESPN news Thursday.

“Look I was informed the deal was finalizing and it would be announced in the coming days,’’ Garcia posted on X.  “Obviously That was a lie. My patience has been tested the last few weeks. I’m trying my best to be as honest and real as I can to you guys. I’ll be looking forward to announcing my next fight. I’m not going to say anything until it’s actually signed and delivered

 I still look forward to putting on a big PPV for Dazn Boxing. Have a Blessed day.’’

A blessed day, at least for some, would be the simple sound of an opening bell, a sound that for awhile might silence the back-and-forth on social media.

That, at least, is an opinion long held by the old-school, no nonsense Bernard Hopkins, a minority partner in De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions who is as direct with his words as he was with his deadly punches during his Hall of Fame days as The Executioner.

“I don’t control social media, so I don’t know what’s going on,’’ Hopkins said at the Phoenix newser. “Is there a fight or not? I don’t know.

“But I do know – and I’ll say it again – I’m sick of the drama queens.

“We as promoters, along with the fans, have to make it clear that we’re not putting up with this anymore. Last year, we started coming back to where we have to be.

“There was Ryan-Tank (Gervonta Davis) in April. People watched. More than 1.2 million watched. Then, there was Terence Crawford and Errol Spence. That was the second fight that said we’re coming back with what people want to see.

“But now we’re in a tug-of-war.’’

A war to keep it real.

HOUSTON, TEXAS (NOVEMBER 30, 2023): International Superstar “King” Ryan Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) and dangerous knockout artist Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (26-1-1, 21 KOs) hosted a press conference ahead of their super lightweight fight that will now be for the WBA Gold Title. Golden Boy Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya and fighters who are participating in the Ryan Garcia vs. Oscar Duarte fight night were also on hand to give comments. The fight night, presented in association with Cancun Boxing, will take place at Toyota Center on Saturday, December 2 in Houston, Texas and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN as part of your subscription beginning at 7:00 p.m. CT / 5:00 p.m. PT. Doors to the Toyota Center open at 5:00 p.m. CT, and the first preliminary fight will begin at 5:00 p.m. CT.

Newly announced co-main event, WBA Lightweight International Champion and rising star Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield (15-0, 11 KOs) of Austin, Texas, will defend his title against Tijuana, Mexico’s Ricardo “Explosivo” Torres (17-7-3, 12 KOs) in a 10-round fight presented in association with Davies Entertainment. Also making his return is Shane Mosley Jr. (20-4, 11 KOs) who will measure up against San Bernardino’s Joshua Conley (17-5-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-round fight for the WBA Continental Americas Middleweight Title. Opening the DAZN card, knockout prospect Darius Fulghum (8-0, 8 KOs) will perform in front of his hometown Houston crowd in an eight-round super middleweight fight against Pachino “Chino” Hill (8-4-1, 6 KOs) of Davenport, Iowa. This fight will be for the WBA Super Middleweight Continental Title.

On the preliminary card in a four-round super bantamweight fight, Waianae, Hawaii’s Asa “Ace” Stevens (5-0, 2 KOs) will go toe-to-toe with Dominque Griffin (5-5-2, 2 KOs) of Irving, Texas. Former Mexican Olympian and bantamweight prospect Gael “El Terror” Cabrera (2-0, 1 KO) of Sonora, Mexico, will make his return in a four-round fight against Las Vegas, Nevada’s Alejandro Dominguez (2-0, 1 KO). The undefeated Sean Garcia (5-0, 2 KOs) of Victorville, California will participate in a four-round fight against Joseph Johnson (3-1-1, 0 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas. Opening fight night with a four-round super lightweight fight, Cape Coral, Florida’s Danilo Diez will make his pro-debut against Jose Valenzuela of Puebla, Mexico (2-10, 1 KO).

Here is what some of today’s participants had to say. You can rewatch the press conference here.
RYAN GARCIA, INTERNATIONAL BOXING STAR AND SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CONTENDER:

“I put everything into this fight. You know, for the first time, I’m extremely committed in a long time. You know 2021 was one of the years that kind of broke me. 2022, you know a big change in me, and 2023 opened my eyes. I’m about to come back for everything, I’m just laser-focused and that’s where my confidence comes from.”
OSCAR DUARTE, SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CONTENDER:

“First of all, good afternoon, everyone. I’m very happy, very content, to be here. I’m enjoying every moment. This was a dream and it is now a reality. And this Saturday, you’ll see my best version. I have a great team, and this Saturday, I’ll be winning.”
FLOYD SCHOFIELD, WBA LIGHTWEIGHT INTERNATIONAL TITLEHOLDER:

“Hello everybody, I’m just super excited that I get this opportunity. I would like to give a big thank you to Golden Boy, Cameron Davies, and my dad. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. I feel like Saturday is just a stepping stone to getting my name out there and put the whole 135 division on notice that I’m here to stay. On Saturday, you can expect some fireworks and I will give you all a great show. Thank you!”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS:

“This fight card is overflowing with top talent that we have personally scouted and have been carefully building to be the next generation of world championship stars. You won’t want to miss this!”
BERNARD HOPKINS, PARTNER OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS:

“This is the moment, as we close 2023 and move to 2024, for our fighters to prove themselves to become the top dog. This is their chance to prove they can one day be the main event.”

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Garcia vs. Duarte is a 12-round fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Cancun Boxing.

Tickets for Garcia vs. Duarte are on sale and are priced at $500, $350, $250, $150, $100 and $50 plus applicable fees. A limited amount of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets will also be available for purchase with exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades included. Standard and VIP tickets can be purchased at ToyotaCenter.com or GoldenBoyPromotions.com.

The event will be available worldwide to all subscribers on DAZN, both live and on demand.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #GarciaDuarte

LOS ANGELES (November 22, 2023) – Undefeated Darius “DFG” Fulghum (8-0, 8 KOs) faces light heavyweight Pachino “Chino” Hill (8-4-1, 6 KOs) in a scheduled eight-round bout at home in Houston on a Golden Boy Promotions card, headlined by Ryan Garcia vs. Oscar Duarte, on December 2 at Toyota Center.

The 27-year-old Fulgham is on a hot run, knocking out each of the eight opponents to date as a professional. However, it isn’t imperative for Fulghum to extend his perfect  KO streak to nine. This will be his third straight scheduled eight-round fight, but the first two only went a total of three rounds.

“It’s (9-for-9) not really important to me because I care most about winning and giving the fans an exciting fight,” Fulghum explained. “I want to give a dominant showing and if the knockout comes, it comes. My opponent is very tough. He’s coming to fight, not rollover.

“Anybody who has seen me train knows I train for 12 rounds. There’s no doubt in my mind that I can go a strong eight. I know I’m in top condition and will be putting on the pressure.”

3 PM has him fighting for the sixth time in 2023, the second under contract to the event promoter, Golden Boy Promotions.

“2023 has been the best year of my career,” Fulghum commented. “The start of my career has been everything I want to do to get me where I’m going, one step at a time. I’m taking my time. My boxing IQ is higher in the pro ranks with the experience I’m gaining. I’m more familiar with the process and I’m learning how to keep care of my body. Overall, I’m more comfortable with the process and I’m used to the PR stuff. Everybody wants recognition, but it has to be earned not given.”

A licensed nurse in Texas with a degree from Prairie View A & M University, Fulghum was a decorated amateur boxer, ranked No. 1 in the USA as a heavyweight, despite fighting as a super middleweight as a pro. He captured top honors at the 2018 National Golden Gloves Tournament and 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Because the fight is after Thanksgiving, Fulghum will need to sacrifice and ship a few of the traditional foods that have too many carbohydrates.

“I’m a big ‘foodie’ but I believe Thanksgiving isn’t all about food,” Fulghum concluded. “I’m not concerned about what I won’t be able to eat this year. I believe Thanksgiving is about being thankful for the people you love, and I will be spending time with a lot of them. I do love food, though. If I wasn’t a boxer, my dream job would be Guy Fieri’s (Food Network host).”   

Fulghum is working with 3 Point Management (3 PM), a growing company based in Los Angeles that has a growing stable of gifted boxers including former world super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (45-1, 30 KOs), NABA Super Flyweight Champion John “Scrappy” Ramirez (12-0, 8 KOs), WBA Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Champion Kareem Hackett (12-0, 6 KOs), super middleweight Cem “Champ” Kilic (17-1, 11 KOs), and heavyweight Zach Spiller (3-0, 2 KOs).

It’s a lock, Fulghum’s time is coming; not if, rather when. Book it!

INFORMATION:

Instagram/X (Twitter)/Linkedin: @DariusFulghum

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. (November 14, 2023): Golden Boy Promotions announced today the signing of the undefeated and current WBO Intercontinental Super Lightweight Champion Arnold Barboza Jr. (28-10 KOs). Barboza Jr. will participate on the DAZN broadcast of the Ryan Garcia vs. Oscar Duarte card in Houston, Texas at Toyota Center on Saturday, December 2.

“I’m ready for the big fights,” said Arnold Barboza Jr. “ I’m ready for the big events, I’m ready to fight in LA where I was born and raised. I feel that Golden Boy and Oscar will deliver this for me and they stepped up and gave me what I asked for.”

“The mold of a Golden Boy fighter is talent and hunger to become a world champion, which are all the qualities that Arnold Barboza Jr. possesses,” said Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya. “We will position him to fight for a World Title Belt in the very near future. We’re the best in the business at building the next generation of stars and Arnold Barboza Jr. will put the 140 pound division on notice.”

“Value is not determined by those who set the price, value is determined by those who choose to pay it,” said Rick Mirigian, Manager to Barboza Jr. “Golden Boy has placed a high value on Barboza and wasted no time to show it.”
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A Los Angeles native, 31-year-old Arnold Barboza Jr. made his professional debut as a welterweight on June 14, 2013, scoring a six-round unanimous decision victory against Gustavo Lopez. Since then, he has quickly dispatched a number of tough rivals and has climbed the ladder to become ranked No. 1 by the WBO, No.6 by Ring Magazine and No. 4 by the WBC. In his decade-long career, Barboza held various regional titles including the WBO International Super Lightweight Title (2020-2021) and the NABF Super Lightweight Title (2018-2019). His most notable wins include an unanimous decision victory against former World Champion Jose Pedraza, a unanimous decision victory against Danielito Zorrilla, a dramatic unanimous decision win against World Title Contender Alex Saucedo, and a fight that went the distance against Antonio Moran.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy.

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 13, 2023) – Golden Boy’s must-watch talent will be the supporting cast for the anticipated return of “King” Ryan Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) who will face the dangerous knockout artist Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (26-1-1, 21 KOs) in a super lightweight fight. The fight night, presented in association with Cancun Boxing, will take place at Toyota Center on Saturday, December 2 in Houston, Texas and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN as part of your subscription.

The co-main event features London’s Ohara “Two Tanks” Davies (25-2, 18 KOs) who will make his highly anticipated U.S. debut as a Golden Boy fighter against El Tigre, Venezuela’s Ismael Barroso (24-4-2, 22 KOs). The 12-round fight is for the WBA Super Lightweight Interim World Championship and is presented in association with TGB Promotions.

On the DAZN card, WBA Lightweight International Champion and rising star Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield (15-0, 11 KOs) of Austin, Texas, will defend his title against Tijuana, Mexico’s Ricardo “Explosivo” Torres (17-7-3, 12 KOs) in a 10-round fight presented in association with Davies Entertainment. Schofield was last seen winning the respect of boxing fans in a bloodbath fight against the tough Haskell Rhodes this past July 8.

Also making his return is NABO Middleweight Champion Shane Mosley Jr. (20-4, 11 KOs) who will measure up against San Bernardino’s Joshua Conley (17-5-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-round fight. Mosley Jr. is coming in hot after an explosive fifth round knockout against D’Mitrius Ballard on the Munguia vs. Derevyanchenko card in June.

Opening the DAZN card, knockout prospect Darius Fulghum (8-0, 8 KOs) will perform in front of his hometown Houston crowd in an eight-round light heavyweight fight against Pachino “Chino” Hill (8-4-1, 6 KOs) of Davenport, Iowa. This fight will mark Fulghum’s sixth time this 2023 calendar year fighting, making him one of the busiest prospects in boxing.

Golden Boy Fight Night: Garcia vs. Duarte Prelims streamed on Golden Boy’s YouTube Channel will kick off the fight night. In a four-round super bantamweight fight, Waianae, Hawaii’s Asa “Ace” Stevens (5-0, 2 KOs) will go toe-to-toe with Dominque Griffin (5-5-2, 2 KOs) of Irving, Texas. Former Mexican Olympian and bantamweight prospect Gael “El Terror” Cabrera (2-0, 1 KO) of Sonora, Mexico, will make his return in a four-round fight against Las Vegas, Nevada’s Alejandro Dominguez (2-0, 1 KO). Opening fight night for his brother and stablemate, the undefeated Sean Garcia (5-0, 2 KOs) of Victorville, California will participate in a four-round fight against a soon to be announced opponent.

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Garcia vs. Duarte is a 12-round fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Cancun Boxing. Davies vs. Barroso is a 12-round fight for the WBA Super Lightweight Interim World Championship presented by Golden Boy in association with TGB Promotions.

Tickets for Garcia vs. Duarte are on sale and are priced at $500, $350, $250, $150, $100 and $50 plus applicable fees. A limited amount of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets will also be available for purchase with exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades included. Standard and VIP tickets can be purchased at ToyotaCenter.com or GoldenBoyPromotions.com.

The event will be available worldwide to all subscribers on DAZN, both live and on demand.

Media interested in covering the fight must fill out a credential application by Monday, November 27. Link can be found HERE.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #GarciaDuarte

HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 25, 2023) – International superstar “King” Ryan Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) and knockout artist Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (26-1-1, 21 KOs) of Parral, Mexico hosted a press conference today ahead of their 12-round, super lightweight collision. The fight will take place at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Saturday, December 2 and is presented in association with Cancun Boxing. The event will be broadcasted worldwide on DAZN as part of your subscription.

Tickets for Garcia vs. Duarte went on sale today and are priced at $500, $350, $250, $150, $100 and $50 plus applicable fees. A limited amount of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets will also be available for purchase with exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades included. Standard and VIP tickets can be purchased at ToyotaCenter.com or GoldenBoyPromotions.com.

Here is what today’s participants had to say:
RYAN GARCIA, INTERNATIONAL BOXING STAR AND SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CONTENDER:
“You know, Oscar is a tough opponent, a knockout artist, so I have to be prepared, you know, refresh after my last fight. I’ve been training with Derek and have been learning a lot and building. At this new weight I feel more confident, just stronger and just more aware.”

“If I expect to become a champion, I can’t take easy fights and think that’s going get me there. So, I knew that Oscar was a challenge. He’s fast. He’s strong. He’s got good timing. So it just made sense for me, you know, this fight, to show what I could do to prepare me for the bigger fights.”

“I know the city’s gonna show out because you know, Houston! So much love out here!”

OSCAR DUARTE, SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CONTENDER:
“I’m happy and very excited to be here. I am thankful for this opportunity. I’m ready. I’m living in my best moment. I’m thankful for my team, my family and come December 2, I’m going to shine. It’s going to be a great fight and I’m going to make Chihuahua and Mexico proud.”

“Come December 2, I’m going to win and I’m going to be the next idol in Mexican boxing with the preparation that I am doing. I have a big rival in front of me, I have an incredible team behind me. They are my strength, and I am ready for the big challenges ahead of me. This is my best moment for me not only physically but mentally too.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF GOLDEN BOY:
“Ryan doesn’t shy away from anything and I mean, you take a look at Oscar Duarte, and he’s a very, very tough knockout artist. And so the fact that Ryan Garcia picked him as as his comeback fight tells you everything about Ryan Garcia. He’s ready. He wants to make a huge statement. He wants to come back and be world champion.”

“Ryan has a champion’s attitude. That’s exactly what he has. And a lot of people in the boxing industry were very surprised because Oscar Duarte is coming off an 11-fight knockout streak. His trainer has been doing wonders and you know, he can’t wait to showcase and so I believe that Ryan Garcia will will will bring his best, and Oscar Duarte will bring his best, and all the fans here in Houston will bring will bring the best energy and hype around this fight.”

DERRICK JAMES, FORMER TWO-TIME TRAINER OF THE YEAR:
“I’m happy to be in Texas and back in Houston. I love Houston. I think that it’s going to be a spectacular night of boxing. Ryan and I are getting along pretty good in training camp and everything is meshing. This is a day by day process. We keep getting better and better and better. So I’m looking for a great night of fights.”
PEPE GOMEZ, CHAIRMAN OF CANCUN BOXING:
“I am very happy to be here. This is a very important fight for Cancun boxing, for Mexico, for Oscar Duarte and our team. We need the best fights for this sport. Thank you Oscar De La Hoya for making this happen.”

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Garcia vs. Duarte is a 12-round fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The event will be available worldwide to all subscribers on DAZN, both live and on demand.

About Toyota Center:
Since opening in October 2003, Toyota Center has set a new standard for sports and entertainment, becoming one of the premier live entertainment venues in the nation. Laid over the span of six city blocks, Toyota Center is home to the NBA’s Houston Rockets. Toyota Center also plays host to the nation’s top concerts and touring shows. The arena’s playing surface is set nearly 32-feet below street level giving Toyota Center the largest lower level of any arena in the nation. Coupled with the exclusive Lexus Lounge and trendy Sire Spirits Social Club, Toyota Center offers something for everyone making it the hottest spot for sports and entertainment in Houston. For more information, visit ToyotaCenter.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #GarciaDuarte

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. (October 3, 2023) – International superstar “King” Ryan Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) will make his highly anticipated return to the ring in what will be a collision of knockout power against Parral, Mexico’s Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (26-1-1, 21 KOs) on Saturday, December 2. Scheduled for 12-rounds, the super lightweight event is presented in association with Cancun Boxing and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN as part of your subscription.

“Let’s go! I am so excited to announce that I will be fighting Oscar Duarte on December 2,” said Ryan Garcia. “I’m back and feeling better and stronger than before. I wanted Duarte for me and for the fans. He’s tough and I’m ready to give people another show at my best weight again. Say whatever you want about Ryan Garcia, but I’m always going to give the fans what they want. Love you. See you December 2 on DAZN. Location and ticketing will be announced soon.”

At only 25-years-old, “King” Ryan Garcia has skyrocketed to the top of superstardom and has proven that he is a supreme pay-per-view attraction. His last fight against Gervonta “Tank” Davis in April 2023 garnered more than 1.2 million pay-per-view buys and generated a $22.8 million gate at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, making it the top 5 best gates in Nevada boxing history. One of the most dynamic and exciting boxers fighting today, his fast-paced style, killer left hook, and long roster of knockouts have impressed boxing fans for years. He has held the WBC interim lightweight title, easily dispatching top contenders such as Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell.

“I feel very happy and full of enthusiasm now that this fight against Ryan Garcia has been finalized. This is the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Oscar Duarte. “I want to thank Golden Boy for giving me this great opportunity. I am very grateful for the support of my entire team. Everyone can expect the very best version of Oscar Duarte. I am ready to win this fight. I will lift the name of Mexico up on high.”

Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte of Parral, Chihuahua has become a boogeyman contender in the lightweight division with his hunter-killer instincts and defensive skills to match. Unafraid to go in the pocket with any fighter, Duarte is a resilient bull who has been knocking fighter’s heads off one-by-one. His sole loss was in 2019 against Adrian Estrella, which he has avenged with a string of 11 straight knockout victories, the last three including the rugged D’Angelo Keyes, the tough Alex Martin, and veteran Javier Franco. The powerful Duarte became a professional in 2013 and also has incredible Mexican star power behind him with award-winning actor, model and television host Gabriel Soto co-managing his career along with Cancun Boxing. 

“This is one of the reasons fight fans love Ryan — instead of taking baby steps back after a hard fought fight, he is returning against a guy with lethal power who doesn’t take a step backwards,” said Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “Whoever emerges victorious is immediately in line for a shot against any of the current world champions. Fans aren’t going to want to miss this one.” 

“It is great to have Ryan fighting again on DAZN in 2023”, said Jared Kass, SVP North America, DAZN Group. “Ryan has been a key part of DAZN since our inception and this barnstormer vs Oscar Duarte will feature in a knockout run of shows in December. Watch all the action live on December 2nd, only as part of your DAZN subscription.”

More information on the venue, undercard, and tickets will be announced in the coming weeks. 

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Garcia vs. Duarte is a 12-round fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Cancun Boxing. The event will be available worldwide to all subscribers on DAZN, both live and on demand. 

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #GarciaDuarte

By Norm Frauenheim –

It wasn’t a classic. Roberto Duran’s place as history’s greatest lightweight remains undisputed.

But it was a fight for the ages.

Ages 18-to-30.

Tank Davis’ victory over Ryan Garcia in a two-knockdown, seventh-round stoppage won’t be remembered for its competitive drama, yet it stands as a significant milestone.

The reported pay-per-view numbers add up to a victory in what was another example of boxing’s inexhaustible resilience. It’s always getting up, forever coming back.

With Davis-Garcia, it did that all over again.

According to reports Wednesday from Boxing Scene, Fight Freaks Unite, CBS and Sports Business Journal, Saturday night’s heavily-hyped bout at Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena did about 1.2 million buys over two platforms, Showtime and DAZN.

There’s always skepticism about PPV reports based on anonymous sources, especially during an era when hackers stealing the signal often out-number the paying customers.

Even if the reported 1.2 million is an exaggeration and closer to 800,000, the bout figures to rank as a major success at a critical time.

Put it this way: The patient, which has been on life support or in the obituary column for years, still has a pulse.

In the months since talks for Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jr. fell apart, there were questions about whether the predicted doom was finally at boxing’s doorstep.

Tank-Garcia, which also included a $22.8-million live gate, says it’s not.

Now, there are even reports that the Crawford-Spence talks have resumed, perhaps for a fight later this year.

I’ll believe it only if I see them gloved up and stepping through the ropes. I also suspect many in the audience for Tank-Garcia feel the same way.

They’ve moved on, exasperated by tired speculation about Crawford-versus-Spence or Oleksandr Usyk-versus-Tyson Fury.

But moving on, it turns out, doesn’t have to be forever. The exasperated can be brought back into the building by the right fight.

Tank-Garcia was that fight.

That’s not to say it went off without problems. There’s widespread anger at DAZN. Subscribers complained they couldn’t get the live stream. Others said they were charged multiple times. DAZN got into the business saying pay-per-view is dead. The streaming service then tried to make sure that it is.

Still, there are options – Showtime and ESPN — for a younger demographic with an interest resurrected by one fight that unlocked an appetite for a few more.

There’s Tank Davis against the winner of Devin Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko on ESPN May 20. There’s Tank-versus-Shakur Stevenson.

Tank is 28; Garcia is 24. A generation of fans, weary of an older generation’s failure to make fights happen, identify with them.

They also bought into their willingness to do what Spence and Crawford, Usyk and Fury haven’t. They fought.

Tank-Garcia looks to be a welcome goodbye to a generation ruled by Floyd Mayweather’s risk-to-reward ratio. Increasingly, it became No Risk, All Reward. All Prize, No Fight. That’s not a ratio. It’s a rip-off. Young fans weren’t buying.

But the Tank-Garcia bout awakened an emerging market, or at least awakened the networks and promoters to a younger audience, impatient for a genuine reason to buy.

In news releases before opening bell, Showtime called the Tank-Garcia card “generational.’’ It was as if the network was searching for a new one.

It found one.

On both sides of the ropes. 

LOS ANGELES (April 27, 2023) Hot off the news that the Gervonta “Tank” Davis vs. ”King” Ryan Garcia fight drew the fifth highest boxing gate in history of Las Vegas and sold more PPVs than any real boxing match in years, Golden Boy Promotions Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya released the following statement:

“I’ve said it for as long as I have been a promoter: If you put together the fights that fans want to see, people will tune in – and in huge numbers. Along with Ryan, we were extremely proud to have forced the fight into happening, and the results speak for themselves. From identifying the best prospects all the way through selling massive events at the top of the sport, there is one company that can make it all happen; that’s Golden Boy.”

The estimated 1.2 million buys and $22 million gate represents the most successful professional boxing match since Canelo-Golovkin II more than 4 ½ years ago (another Golden Boy-promoted event). With promotion for the Tank-King Ryan fight largely taking place across different social media platforms, Golden Boy has further proven it can move and change with the media landscape to still deliver the biggest events in the sport.

NEW YORK – April 25, 2023 – Gervonta Davis’s thrilling seventh-round knockout of Ryan Garcia on Saturday night on SHOWTIME PPV^®, in which Davis took out Garcia with a devastating body shot, will premiere on SHOWTIME this Saturday, April 29 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, giving fans another chance to take in Davis’s picture-perfect, two-knockdown performance against the previously undefeated Garcia.

In addition, ALL ACCESS: DAVIS VS. GARCIA EPILOGUE will premiere immediately following the delayed telecast, capping a memorable buildup chronicled by the Emmy^® Award-winning series, which was recently nominated for two more Sports EMMY Awards. ALL ACCESS: Davis vs. Romero Epilogue was nominated for Outstanding Edited Event Coverage, while ALL ACCESS: Spence vs. Ugas was nominated for Outstanding Writing – Long Form. ALL ACCESS has now been nominated for 13 Sports EMMY Awards since it premiered in 2012, winning five times. This year’s Sports EMMY Award winners will be revealed at a ceremony at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall on May 22.

As an indication of the popularity of Saturday’s event, Episode One of ALL ACCESS: DAVIS VS. GARCIA has garnered 3.7 million views, while Episode Two has 2.6 million views on the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel alone.

Below are some notable headlines that came out of Saturday’s event:

High-Profile Headlines

• Sports Illustrated — Win Over Ryan Fortifies Davis’s Claim As the Face of Boxing

“Davis has staked a strong claim to be the face of American boxing.”

• Associated Press — Gervonta Davis Knocks Out Ryan Garcia with Body Shot

“Davis put himself in position to succeed Canelo Alvarez as the face of the sport.”

• ESPN — Gervonta Davis KO’s Ryan Garcia With Brutal Body Shot

“With that single left hand, Davis cemented himself as one of boxing’s pound-for-pound best fighters.”

• The New York Times — Gervonta Davis Stopped Ryan Garcia in Seven Rounds

“The knockout burnished Davis’s reputation as an accurate, efficient, destructive puncher.”

• The Washington Post — Gervonta Davis Stays Perfect With Seventh-Round Knockout Of Ryan Garcia

“The three-division world champion further cemented his status as the world’s most dazzling boxer in front of a sold-out crowd at T-Mobile Arena.”

• Yahoo! Sports — Davis Knocks Out Ryan Garcia with Ferocious Body Shot

“It wasn’t power that led Davis to this victory. It was his boxing skill, his ring IQ and his ability to capitalize on Garcia’s mistakes.”

• Sports Illustrated — Pound for Pound Rankings: Tank Moves Into Top 10

“He is no longer just one of boxing’s biggest draws – his knockout of Ryan Garcia proved he’s one of the best fighters in the world.”

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Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME^®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ and FLIX^®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. 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.

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 24, 2023) – WBA Super Middleweight regular champion, David Morrell Jr. (9-0, 8 KOs) has expressed his desire to fight WBC Interim World champion David Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) in his next fight. Morrell Jr. made waves with his impressive victory over Yamaguchi Falcao (24-2-1, 10 KOs), a first-round knockout on the undercard of the Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia mega-fight.

Morrell Jr., who is promoted by Warriors Boxing, has been making waves in the boxing world with his impressive performances and is quickly becoming a fan favorite. The undefeated champion is looking for bigger challenges, and a fight against Benavidez is something he has set his sights on.

“I’ll say it and I’ll say it again, I want to fight the best, and David Benavidez is one of the best in the division,” said Morrell Jr. “Millions of fans got to see what I’m all about and I believe I have the skills to beat him. I know he is a warrior that never backs down from a fight, so I’m expecting him to take the challenge. This is a fight I know that fans want to see. The winner can be next in line to fight Canelo. I’m the real monster and I’m ready to prove it in the ring.”

Morrell Jr. has also announced that he dedicated this fight to Autism Awareness. The champion has a personal connection to the cause, as he has many close friends who are dealing with the condition.

“I want to use my platform to raise awareness for autism,” said Morrell Jr. “Some of my closest friends have kids with autism and they are an inspiration, and I want to do everything I can to support them.”

Morrell Jr.’s dedication to the cause has garnered support from the boxing community, and fans are eager to see him in the ring once again. A potential fight against Benavidez would be a highly anticipated matchup and could potentially unify the WBA and WBC titles down the road.

The boxing world eagerly awaits the announcement of this potential matchup and looks forward to seeing Morrell Jr. continue to shine both in and out of the ring.

Gervonta Davis stopped Ryan Garcia in round seven of their 12-round catchweight bout before a capacity crowd of 20, 842 fans at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Garcia hurt Davis with an overhand right. Garcia continued touching Davis until a perfect counter left from Davis landed squarly on the jaw of Garcia that sent him to the deck.

In round seven, Davis landed a left hand to the ribs which made Garcia take two steps back and sink to a knee for the 10-count at 1:34.

Davis, 135.3 lbs of Baltimore is 29-0 with 27 knockouts, Garcia, 135.5 lbs of Los Angeles is 23-1.

Gervonta Davis

“Everything about this was exciting. I was excited to be a part of this event. I remember coming up in the Golden Gloves and seeing Floyd fight at the MGM. It was crazy. I actually just saw Rihanna perform at the Super Bowl, and I thought that’s going to be me one day. And we’re here.

“The reality definitely matches the dream. But the job is never done until I retire so I’m going to keep my head down, stay humble and continue to work.

“Me predicting the 7^th round KO was me just trying to get in his head. I really don’t know until I actually get in there with my opponent, but once I got in there with him I felt like skill-wise, it all matched.

“The first knockdown was just him not knowing his placement and I knew that I was the smaller guy, and my coach was telling me in camp that he’s going to come up with his head up, so just shoot over the top.

“I didn’t think that body shot would end it, but I saw his facial expression and that’s what made me take it to him. It was a good shot, for sure. I thought he was going to get up but I like to play mind games, so when he was looking at me, I was looking at him trying to tell him, ‘Get up!’. And he just shook his head, no.

“I’m definitely the face of boxing. Absolutely!”

Ryan Garcia

“I’m good. ‘Tank’ is a great fighter. I take my hat off to him. I know we talked a lot of trash leading into the fight, but he knows what it is. It’s all love at the end of the day. I was honored to be in the ring with a great fighter and I respect him a lot. You know how the business goes. But I want to say to Tank, you’re a good man.

“He just caught me with a good shot. I don’t want to make any excuses in here. He caught me with a good shot and I just couldn’t recover and that’s it. He caught me with a good body shot, snuck under me and caught me good.

“I couldn’t breathe. I was going to get back up, but I just couldn’t get up.

“I think I should have pressured him a little harder near the ropes. I was giving him a little bit too much respect and I think that was my downfall. I think I gave him a little too much respect in the ring.”

Morrell Destroys Falcao in 1; Retains WBA Super Middleweight Title

David Morrell Jr. retained the WBA Super Middleweight title with a first round destruction of Yamaguchi Falcao.

Morrell came out blistering as he could not miss with his right hooks and uppercuts. Morrell sent Falcao down with a hard uppercut. Morrell finished off Falcao with a devastating right hook that plummeted him face-first and he was out for several minutes before he could get to his feet. The time was 2:22.

Morrell, 167.8 lbs of Santa Clara, Cuba is 9-0 with eight knockouts. Falcao, 166.4 lbs of Espirito Santo, BRA is 24-2-1.

David Morrell, Jr.

“I’m so excited. This was a big moment and a big night for me, so a knockout in the first round is incredible. But this is boxing. First round, second round, I’m not worried when the knockout comes but I got it in the first round.

“I think this is the best moment of my career tonight. It was a big event and a big name. I want to fight the best in the division.

“Much respect to Yamaguchi. I’m glad he’s okay. He’s a good guy and a good boxer.

“David Benavidez is next. Where is he? I want to fight Benavidez, man. He’s next, 100 percent. I don’t want any other guys at 168 pounds. Just Benavidez. I respect Benavidez and his team, but inside the ring, I don’t respect nothing.”

Melikuziev Gets Even With Rosado; Wins Unanimous Decision

Bektemir Melikuziev evened the score with Gabriel Rosado and took a 10-round unanimous decision in a super middleweight contest.

Melikuziev laded 153 of 354 punches. Rosado was just 55 of 332.

Melikuziev, 167.3 lbs of Uzbekistan won by scores of 99-91 on all cards and is 12-1. Rosado, 167.3 lbs of Los Angeles via Philadelphia is 26-17-1

Bektemir Melikuziev

“This was the fight that I wanted. This is the fight that I felt like I made a mistake in the first one, and I had this opportunity for revenge on such a big card. It’s a pleasure for me.

“In the first fight against Rosado, I underestimated my opponent. This time, we put the work in during camp. We went through everything. This time, the goal was to showcase my skills, box and punish him as much as possible too.”

Gabriel Rosado

“I tried, but I was a step behind. Father Time, eighteen years as a pro, but I was game. I walked to him, I boxed him, I tried everything but I was a step too slow.

“I was a split-second behind. He’s fresh, he’s young and I’m happy for him. I knocked him out bad in the first fight and he made adjustments.

“I don’t make any excuses. I was ready. Now it’s time to wrap it up and give my knowledge to younger fighters with management and training. I want to share my experience with them, and maybe do some more commentating.”

”

Elijah Garcia Decisions Kevin Salgado

19 year-old Elijah Garcia remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Kevin Salgado in a welterweight bout.

In round seven, Salgado was deducted a point for a low blow.

Garcia landed 194 of 621 punches. Salgado was 178 of 551.

Garcia, 159.2 lbs of Phoenix, AZ won by scores of 97-92 twice and 95-94 and is now 15-0. Salgado, 159.2 lbs of Mexico City is 15-2-1.

Elijah Garcia

“I was standing a little too still trying to fight on the inside. Salgado is a tough opponent. He was real tough, real strong and I just had to move and box a little bit. Other than that, it was a good, hard 10 rounds. I give my opponent 100 percent props.

“I stayed in shape one hundred percent after my last fight. Back-to-back camps, and not only that, but I made boxing a lifestyle. I’m always in the gym, eating good and doing the best I can to stay healthy.

“I just have to continue getting better in the gym every single day. That’s what it’s about. I learned a lot today. It was my first time going past six rounds and I got the full 10. The fights like this will get me closer to a world title.

“It feels great to get this win on a big stage. I feel like I’m getting better with each fight. I know I have a long way to go, but I like where I’m at. I’m hoping to get right back in the ring soon.”

Kevin Salgado

“I felt like I won. By a small margin, but I should have won.

“I feel really sad because I felt like this was a really good fight. The referee kept getting in my way. I got a point deducted from me but he didn’t say anything when Garcia hit me in the back of the head. It’s all just very sad.

“It felt like swimming against the current. Mexicans always come to fight against everyone and everything: The judges, the opponent, the refs, the home fans. None of that got in my way to keep moving toward.

“I wish I had had more time to prepare. The three weeks’ notice I got didn’t allow me to be as sharp as I wanted or needed to be.

“I’m still here and I will be a world champion someday. I can promise you that.”

Czerkaszyn Stops Espadas in 9

Fiodor Czerkaszyan stopped Elias Espadas in round nine of a 10-round middleweight bout.

Czerkasyn beat up Esoadas throughout and even turned it up in rounds eight and nine, and the bout was stopped at 2:07.

Czerkasyn, 159.1 lbs of Warsaw, POL is 22-0 with 14 knockouts. Espadas, 158.9 lbs of Merida, MEX is 22-6.

Mielnicki Jr. Destroys Charles in 4

Vito Mielnicki Jr. took out Jose Sanchez Charles in round four of their 10-round super welterweight bout.

At the end of round three, Mielnicki dropped Charles with a long right to the head. Seconds later, it was a short, quick right that put Charles down for a second time. In round three, Mielnicki cracked Charles with a counter right to the jaw that sent him sprawlimg down to the canvas and the bout was stopped at 33 seconds.

Mielnicki, 153.1 lbs of Roseland, NJ is 15-1 with 10 knockouts. Charles, 153.6 lbs of Reynosa, MEX is 20-4-1.

Lorenzo Simpson remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Pachino Hill in a middleweight bout.

In round six, Hill began to bleed from the nose.

Simpson, 161.6 lbs of Baltimore won by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55 and is 13-0. Hill, 163.3 lbs of Davenport, IA is 8-2-1.

Good looking Floyd Schofield remained undefeated with a second round destruction of Valentin Leon Jr. in a scheduled 10-round lightweight bout.

In round one, Schofield put Leon on the canvas with a straight left. In round two, Schofield dropped Leon face-first wit a perfect left at 1:51.

Schofield. 134.7 lbs of Austin, TX is 14-0 with 11 knockouts. Leon, 134 lbs of Culican, MEX is 23-2-2.

Jalil Hackett remained undefeated with a third round stoppage over Jason Phillips in a scheduled four-round super welterweight bout.

In round three, Hackett dropped Phillips with a perfect left hook to the body. Seconds later, it was another left hook that ended Phillips afternoon at 2:20.

Hackett, 153.9 lbs of Washington, DC is now 6-0 with five knockouts. Phillips, 153.5 lbs of Davenport, IA is 3-4-2.

Cuttino Oliver stopped Roberto Cantu Pena in round two of a scheduled four-round bantamweight fight.

In round one, Oliver dropped Pena Twice and the fight was stopped 1:07 into round two.

Oliver, 115.6 lbs of Baltimore is now 3-0 with two knockouts. Pena of Mexico is 3-3.

Lightweight Bout (136-Pounds) – 12 Rounds

Gervonta Davis – 135.1 lbs.

Ryan Garcia – 135.5 lbs.

Referee: Thomas Taylor; Judges: Tim Cheatham (Nev.), Dave Moretti (Nev.), Steve Weisfeld (N.J.)

WBA Super Middleweight Title – 12 Rounds

David Morrell Jr. – 167.8 lbs.

Yamaguchi Falcao – 166.4 lbs.

Referee: Celestino Ruiz; Judges: Max DeLuca (N.Y.), Patricia Morse Jarman (Nev.), David Sutherland (Okla.)

Super Middleweight Bout – 10 Rounds

Gabriel Rosado – 167.3 lbs.

Bektemir Melikuziev – 167.3 lbs.

Referee: Tony Weeks; Judges: Tim Cheatham (Nev.), Chris Migliore (Nev.), Steve Weisfeld (N.J.)

Middleweight Bout – 10 Rounds

Elijah Garcia – 159.2 lbs.

Kevin Salgado – 159.3 lbs.

Referee: Robert Hoyle; Judges: Max DeLuca (N.Y.), Patricia Morse Jarman (Nev.), David Sutherland (Okla.)

SHOWTIME PPV COUNTDOWN

Stream Live at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT

on the SHOWTIME SPORTS^® YouTube Channel and the

SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook Page

Middleweight Bout – 10 Rounds

Fiodor Czerkaszyn – 159.1 lbs.

Elías Espadas – 158.9 lbs.

Super Welterweight Bout – 10 Rounds

Vito Mielnicki Jr. – 153.1 lbs.

José Charles – 153.6 lbs.

Veteran sportscaster Brian Custer will host the SHOWTIME PPV telecast while versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo will handle blow-by-blow action alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and three-division world champion Abner Mares. Three Hall of Famers round out the telecast team – Emmy^® award winning reporter Jim Gray, world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr., and boxing historian Steve Farhood as unofficial scorer. The executive producer is four-time Emmy award winner David Dinkins, Jr. with Bob Dunphy directing. Sportscaster Alejandro Luna will call the action in Spanish on Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) with former world champion and SHOBOX: The New Generation^® commentator Raúl “El Diamante” Marquez serving as the expert analyst. 

The SHOWTIME PPV COUNTDOWN show is hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show co-host Brian Campbell, who also serves as an analyst alongside Marquez on SHOBOX, renowned combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani and accomplished sports broadcaster Kate Abdo.

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ABOUT DAVIS VS. GARCIA

Davis vs. Garcia will see undefeated five-time, three-division world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis in a long-awaited clash against hard-hitting sensation “King” Ryan Garcia taking place Saturday, April 22 headlining live on pay-per-view from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The pay-per-view telecast will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features Cuban star and WBA Super Middleweight Champion David Morrell Jr. battling Olympic Bronze Medalist Yamaguchi Falcao in the co-main event. The action will also see an eagerly anticipated rematch between super middleweight sluggers Gabriel Rosado and Bektemir Melikuziev in a 10-round showdown. Kicking off the telecast will be hard-hitting 19-year-old middleweight Elijah Garcia facing rugged Kevin Salgado of Mexico in a 10-round showdown.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com and goldenboypromotions.com, follow #DavisGarcia, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @TGBPromotions and @GoldenBoyBoxing, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @TGBPromotionss and @GoldenBoy or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing, www.Facebook.com/premierboxingchampions/ and www.Facebook.com/goldenboy/