NEW YORK – January 23, 2016 – WBA Welterweight World Champion Keith “One Time” Thurman will defend his title against former champ “Showtime” Shawn Porter in a blockbuster matchup of two of the world’s best 147-pound fighters on Saturday, March 12 on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS.

The welterweight showdown will air live on CBS at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT from Mohegan Sun Casino Resort in Uncasville, Connecticut. The event, promoted by DiBella Entertainment, is produced by SHOWTIME Sports® for the CBS Television Network, both divisions of the CBS Corporation.? The last primetime boxing event on CBS was Muhammad Ali-Leon Spinks on Feb. 15, 1978.

Thurman (26-0, 22 KOs), of Clearwater, Fla., and Porter (26-1-1, 16 KOs), of Las Vegas by way of Akron, Ohio, are both coming off superb 2015 campaigns that solidified the fresh faces among the elite of arguably boxing’s most exciting division. With perennial pound-for-pound champion Floyd Mayweather now retired, the 27-year-old Thurman and the 28-year-old Porter are hungry to stake their claim as the future of boxing.

“Thurman vs. Porter is a marquee matchup of two elite boxers in the prime of their careers, and the winner will establish himself as arguably the No. 1 fighter in boxing’s glamour division,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “Fights of this caliber don’t come along very often, and when they do, they deserve to be on the biggest stage possible. That’s why all of us at SHOWTIME and CBS are so excited to be able to deliver this pivotal matchup to a primetime audience on America’s highest-rated network.”

“Last year was an amazing year for me: I headlined the very first Premier Boxing Champions show and was named PBC Fighter of the Year,” Thurman said. “But this is my year to dominate the welterweight division and I’m excited to be getting ready to take out Shawn Porter. I am ready to get back in the ring and bring boxing fans what they’ve been looking for – the top true welterweight champion of the world, the one who is going to take out all competitors one by one. I am Keith ‘One-Time’ Thurman and I’m going to show you what a champion looks like on March 12.”

“I’m very confident in my ability. That’s why I’ve been looking forward to this fight because I’m someone who can beat Keith Thurman,” Porter said. “Nothing about Keith really makes me nervous. I do know that he’s going to be ready for this fight. He’s a fighter that has the heart of a lion just like I do. I expect this to be a fight to the finish. A win over Keith Thurman is what we’ve been waiting for.”

“Keith Thurman against Shawn Porter is one of the best matchups that can be made in the welterweight division right now and I am thrilled that it is taking place at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn.,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “The hard-punching world titleholder Thurman and the highly skilled former champion Porter will have the opportunity to prove that they are the next heir to the throne in the post-Mayweather era of the 147 pound division.”

“One Time” Thurman, who owns a better than 80 percent KO ratio and knocked out 18 of his first 20 opponents, is considered one of the most avoided fighters in boxing. After unsuccessfully lobbying to fight the best of the division for the past two years, Thurman finally had a breakout 2015.

The hard-hitting Florida native floored former champion and long-time contender Robert Guerrero en route to a convincing 12th round unanimous last March in Las Vegas. He then dominated and bloodied former champ Luis Collazo on July 11, winning via seventh round TKO. Thurman won the Interim WBA belt with a knockout of Diego Chaves in 2013 and scored consecutive knockouts over Jesus Soto Karass (2013) and Julio Diaz (2014) in his first and second title defenses.

Against Porter, Thurman will now get a chance to prove what he’s been claiming for years – that he’s the world’s best welterweight – in the toughest test of his career.

“Showtime” Porter has built one of the most impressive resumes in the division since making his welterweight debut in 2010. Porter, who surprisingly turned professional as a super middleweight (168 pounds), won the IBF crown in 2013 with an impressive unanimous decision over Devon Alexander.

The physically-gifted and offensive-minded Ohio native knocked out former two-division world champion Paulie Malignaggi with a brutal clean right hand in April of 2014 in the lone defense of his title. Porter lost the IBF belt less than four months after the Malignaggi victory in a close majority decision defeat to undefeated British superstar Kell Brook, but he bounced back with a fifth-round knockout of Erick Bone in March of 2015. Porter scored what many considered an upset victory in his next bout over then three-division world champion Adrien Broner with a clear unanimous decision last June 20 in Las Vegas.

The aggressive, come-forward Porter has built his career as a perennial underdog who relishes in the role. But, with the resume he has built, it’s hard to consider him an underdog anymore heading into this crossroads showdown with Thurman.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $300, $150, $75 and $35 (plus applicable fees) and Ticketmaster are on sale now. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com; call (800) 745-3000; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets will also be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office starting Saturday, January 23, subject to availability.

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®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Apple®, Roku®, Amazon and Google. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Hulu, Sony PlayStation® Vue and Amazon Prime Video. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™ and Smithsonian Earth™, through SN Digital LLC. 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.

UNCASVILLE, CT. (January 22, 2016) – Undefeated Keith “One Time” Thurman will defend his welterweight world championship against former champion “Showtime” Shawn Porter on Saturday, March 12 in a highly anticipated showdown at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $300, $150, $75 and $35 (plus applicable fees) and go on sale today at 10 a.m. ET through Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com; call (800) 745-3000; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets will also be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office starting Saturday, January 23, subject to availability.

More information on the event will be announced soon.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBA Welterweight champion Keith Thurman could be facing former IBF champion Shawn Porter on December 12.

The bout could be headed to Showtime.

Las Vegas (July 8, 2015) – Former IBF welterweight champion “Showtime” Shawn Porter and top trainer Kenny Porter has confirmed that they will appear and have a booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the second annual Box Fan Expo that will take place Saturday Sept.12, 2015. The Boxing Expo will coincide with Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s last fight and Mexican Independence weekend.

Porter’s spectacular win over Adrien “The Problem” Broner on June 20 has once again confirmed him as one of the brightest stars and top welterweight boxers in the world. He is trained and managed by his father Kenny Porter. Shawn Porter won the IBF welterweight championship title on December 7, 2013 by defeating Devon Alexander. Porter then defended his title by knocking out one of the top stars in the welterweight division, Paulie Malignaggi, in the fourth round. Hailing from Cleveland, Shawn Porter is a 2006 Stow High School graduate, and after sporting one of the most decorated amateur careers in US history, he made a smooth transition to becoming a professional in 2008.

Porter will have at his booth some fun activities and merchandise for his fans to enjoy and purchase.

The Porters join Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, Ruslan “Siberian Rocky” Provodnikov, Terrible” Terry Norris, Joel “El Cepillo” Casamayor, Mia “The Knockout” St. John and “El Feroz” Fernando Vargas among early commitments to this year’s Box Fan Expo.

This unique fan experience event, which allowed fans to meet and greet boxing legends, past and current champions and other celebrities of the sport, debuted last September to large, enthusiastic crowds. This year the Expo will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and once again, allow fans a chance to collect autographs, take photos and purchase merchandise and memorabilia.

Exhibitors such as boxing gear, apparel, broadcasting media and other brand companies who wish to participate will have a chance to showcase their products to fans and the whole boxing industry.

Last year’s inaugural Box Fan Expo featured some of the most popular fighters and boxing celebrities in recent history. Fans were treated to visits with Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr, Sergio Martinez, Amir Khan, Zab Judah, Mikey Garcia, James Toney, Riddick Bowe, Leon Spinks Terry Norris, Shawn Porter, Chris Byrd, Jesse James Leija, Lamon Brewster, Ray Mercer, Earnie Shavers, Mia St-John, Erislandy Lara, Peter Quillin, Jean Pascal and Austin Trout. Also appearing were current WBC Champion Deontay Wilder, the charismatic Vinny Pazienza, Paul Williams, noted commentator Al Bernstein and top trainer Roger Mayweather of Mayweather Promotions.

The roster of attendees for this year’s Box Fan Expo will be announced throughout the next several months and weeks leading up to the event.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online at: http://www.boxfanexpo.eventbrite.com

View the official promo video of Box Fan Expo here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/video-2/

View Promo Flyer here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/promo-flyer/

View Photos Gallery 2014 here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/photos/

For anyone in the boxing industry or brand companies who wish to be involved and reserve a booth as an exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Box Fan Expo at:

U.S.A telephone number: (702) 997-1927 or (514) 572-7222

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on the Box Fan Expo is available at: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

To watch Shawn Porter video about Box Fan Expo go to: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/former-ibf-champ-showtime-shawn-porter-and-top-trainer-kenny-porter-confirmed-for-second-annual-box-fan-expo-taking-place-saturday-sept-12-in-las-vegas/

You can follow Box Fan Expo on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/BoxFanExpo and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

By Bart Barry

Saturday on BET, American super middleweight world champion Andre Ward made his much-needed return to boxing, stopping in the ninth round a hapless but stubborn Brit named Paul Smith, right about the time NBC served its viewers a terrible main event called “The Battle for Ohio”, from Las Vegas, that ended with welterweight Shawn Porter decisioning Adrien Broner by refreshingly wide scores. Before his match with Ward, Smith baldly missed weight and got himself beaten bloody for the indiscretion. Before their opening bell, Broner and Porter verbally antagonized one another, then spent 35 of 36 minutes hugging it out.

Adrien Broner’s defense is an atrocity. It took Marcos Maidana to indicate this a ways back, but Shawn Porter offered its definitive proof in round 1 of their Saturday scrum. After feinting Broner into a retreat – one doesn’t say Broner was feinted out of position, since, defensively, he’s never in position – Porter pursued Broner in a sort of relenting-wildman style Porter employed the entire match, and Broner, whose hands and feet obey autonomous, often-competing masters, leaped backwards and threw his arms directly upwards. When Porter’s punch landed and nearly touched the back of Broner’s head to his C1 vertebra, Broner had both white gloves overhead – in a feat of contorted defenselessness not seen in televised fighting since Marco Antonio Barrera slammed Naseem Hamed’s face on a Las Vegas turnbuckle 14 years ago.

Sensing his stick-em-up pose would not disarm Porter so much as a lackadaisical mugger, Broner immediately, and relentlessly, employed his backup plan: Unrepentant hugging. There’s a reason this worked, sapping Porter of what energy a formless volume puncher like him needs to be effective: Broner has disproportionate upperbody strength even for a welterweight (or whatever weight he now campaigns at). Porter badly wanted to punch Broner, but he was generally unable to, both because Porter is nearer to being bad at boxing than good, and because when Broner got his head and arms in a variety of grappling holds, Porter stopped churning his feet and merely tried to outwrestle Broner.

Before one criticizes Porter’s dad for not telling his son to free his hands with his feet, one pauses, in observance of both Fathers’ Day and regression to the mean, to impart: Andre Ward is just about the only athlete left in prizefighting who knows how to do this. Mediocre as his work may be with most everyone else he’s touched, trainer Virgil Hunter deserves much credit for what fantastic work he did teaching Ward how to fight.

How good it was to see Ward back in a prizefighting ring!

Rusty? Yup. Older? Sure. Less effective punching a cruiserweight than a super-middle? Of course. Likely to lose more than three rounds to Gennady Golovkin in a 12-round fight? No way.

Ward is a serious professional. It was a relief, in this sense at least, to see a man in an exhibition match who wouldn’t foul it up with hotdoggery, sloppiness or boredom. Ward punished Paul Smith for coming in at Chavezweight in his BET debut, also BET’s boxing debut; it was indeed cathartic, however cruel and misplaced the catharsis, to watch Ward make Smith repent for the ordeal of a prefight Nipsey Hussle concert.

Saturday, Nipsey stretched the boundaries of imitative talentlessness to a point at which they’d have snapped even 20 years ago; Nipsey Hussles have always existed, but hip-hop’s natural selection – or, heavens, any selection – did not accommodate them until recently. The nature of the hip-hop business is such that new acts must be discovered for each Tuesday release, and there are not, nor have there ever been, that many talented lyricists in America. (Friday evening in Dallas, LL Cool J will headline a show that features Big Daddy Kane and Doug E. Fresh and Whodini and Sugarhill Gang, and it’s instructive to ask, before the first Nipsey apologist draws breath: Is there another iteration of the known universe in which even a creative record-label executive imagines Nipsey Hussle headlining a concert in 2045?)

If these days I read like a curmudgeon, I’ve made my peace with it. The same element, time, that led a once-sprightly optimist to curmudgeonhood, anyway, is what, in part, PBC relied on to draw ratings for its godawful Saturday show. I watched the fights with a couple Puerto Rican friends from the boxing gym, and after fast-forwarding through much of the undercard offerings – NBC helpfully juxtaposed an excellent U.S. Olympian, Errol Spence, with a dreadful one, Terrell Gausha – we all kept reminding ourselves how wonderful it was this unwatchable bore of a main event was on free television, in an unthinking application of a childhood metric. In the digital era, network television mostly means more ads and scripts written round selling things, but for a certain, later portion of the demographic PBC aims at there is still nostalgic meaning in hearing an event will be broadcasted by NBC or CBS or ABC.

Take the pros with the cons, then, say the cons, because if they’re talking about us, they’re promoting us. True that. It’s one of only two things Broner did well Saturday – along with applying a left-hooked tag to Porter’s floating chin at the top of round 12: Respect the brand. Having lost widely to a competitor who lacks most every one of his gifts, Broner was reliably, and durably, self-aggrandizing in defeat. While intellectually incapable of aping anything else Floyd Mayweather tried to teach him, Broner unwaveringly applies one idea that enriched Money May: Tariffs exacted from men who wish to see my bitch ass beat to death look the same on a spreadsheet as fees gratefully paid by admirers.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

Shawn Porter won a 12-round unanimous decision over Adrien Broner in a Welterweight bout between former world champions that are based in Ohio at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas

In round eleven, Broner was deducted a point for holding. In round twelve, Broner sent Porter to the deck with a hard left hook.

Porter, 146.7 lbs of Akron, OH won by scores of 115-111, 114-112 and 118-108 and is now 26-1-1. Broner is 30-2.

Terrell Gausha remained undfeated by scoring an 8-round unanimous decision over Luis Grajada in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

In round three, Gausha dropped Garjeda with a right hand

Gausha, 154 lbs won by scores of 79-72 twice and 78-73 and is now 15-0. Grajada, 156 lbs of Mexico is 18-5-2.

Michael Hunter scored five knockdowns en route to a fourth round stoppage over Deon Elam in a scheduled 6-round Heavyweight bout.

Hunter scored a knockdown in round two, two in round three and two more in round four and the bout was stopped.

Hunter, 201 lbs is now 8-0 with 5 knockouts. Elam, 197 lbs of Los Angeles is 14-3.

LAS VEGAS (June 4, 2015) – While the eyes of the sports world are fixated on game 1 of the NBA Finals between LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers and Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors tonight, two other great Ohio athletes will look to bring the glory of victory home with them when Adrien “The Problem” Broner and “Showtime” Shawn Porter meet in the ring on Premier Boxing Champions on NBC on Saturday, June 20 (8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT).

Both of these fighters have joined the list of Ohio-born world champions that include boxing greats such as Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Aaron Pryor, Buster Douglas and Kelly Pavlik.

The all-Ohio battle comes in the midst of an exciting time for Ohio sports. In addition to the Ohio State University football team’s winning national championship performance in January, Akron’s own LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers are attempting bring the city of Cleveland it’s first professional sports championship since 1964.

Here is what Broner and Porter had to say about Ohio sports, LeBron and more:

Did you root for Ohio-sports teams growing up? Which ones were your favorite and who were your favorite players? What’s your favorite memory of watching Ohio sports teams?

Adrien Broner: “I grew up watching the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Cavaliers. I didn’t start watching basketball until I was playing more of it in elementary and high school. That’s when LeBron first came into the league. I remember LeBron’s very first game in Cleveland. It was huge. Most players freeze under that kind of hype, but not him.”

Shawn Porter: “I’ve always been a huge Browns fan. I’ve tried to watch every draft and every preseason and regular season game. I got into the Cavaliers a little more when I was in high school. I’m an all around Ohio sports fan though.”

How would you describe Ohio-sports fans? How badly do you want to win for them?

AB: “Ohio fans are very supportive. Some other states don’t like us because we come out strong. I would love to win for the fans in Ohio because bringing a championship back there means a lot to me. I’ve done it three times already and I’m looking for a fourth. You always want that rush again.”

SP: “We’re crazy! Cleveland fans root for their teams with a love and respect that’s admirable. Whether it’s good days or bad days we’re faithful and trying to stay positive. It would be huge for me to win for the fans here and represent Ohio. I’m doing this for everyone in Northeast Ohio. This is a statement about a great kid from Ohio representing the people there and winning another big fight.”

How important was LeBron James returning to Cleveland for the psyche of Ohio sports?

AB: “LeBron coming home was very important because he’s made the Cavs so much better. With him in Cleveland we’re back in the championship series.”

SP: “LeBron coming home was huge. If he didn’t return I don’t know what we’d have done. There probably would have been more riots. But him coming back brought joy to all of us in Ohio. That’s part of our job as professional athletes to bring joy and positivity to family, friends and the fans. That’s exactly what he did by returning to Cleveland.”

Will you be watching the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals? Do you have a prediction for the series?

AB: “I’ll definitely be watching the games. No training until after the game tonight. I think Cleveland wins it all in six games.”

SP: “I don’t make predictions. I’m praying for the Cavs to do this for the city and for themselves. Hopefully they can pull it together and get what they deserve. It would be a great to get a win for the team and for NE Ohio. I’ll be watching every game on my projection screen.”

Describe what it’s like to fight in front of a hometown crowd in Ohio?

AB: “It’s always fun fighting at home in front of a lot of people who know you. Even when your back is against the wall they cheer and help push me on.”

SP: “Honestly, all the crowds are the same when I’m in the ring. I’m actually looking forward to fighting in the big arena at MGM Grand though. I kind of like having a mix of people in the crowd with some for and some against me.”

Is there more pressure and emphasis on performing well on June 20 to walk away with bragging rights in Ohio?

AB: “I think I already have the bragging rights in Ohio.”

SP: “There’s no added pressure, it honestly doesn’t matter to me like that. This is first and foremost about my team. We’re successful as a team and as a family.”

If you could meet one athlete from or who played in the state of Ohio who would it be?

AB: “I’d have to say myself.”

SP: “I met my all-time favorite Cris Carter already. Cris is from Ohio and went to Ohio State. I haven’t met Charles Woodson or LeBron though. Charles is from here, but he went to Michigan for college. But I’d really love to meet LeBron because he’s still doing his thing and he has that burning desire to win. I need to have that same desire and I’m learning that from watching him play.”

# # #

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.nbcsports.com/boxing and www.mayweatherpromotions.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @AdrienBroner, @ShowtimeShawnP, @ErrolSpenceJr, @AmenazaGarcia, @MayweatherPromo @NBCSports, and @MGMGrand and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.Facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.facebook.com/NBCSports.

New York (March 16, 2015)–Boxing is a funny business. Sometimes, even when you lose, you win.

So it was on Friday night, when 26-year-old Ecuadorean junior welterweight Erick Bone showed the world that he is a world-class talent and willing warrior.

Bone, who lives in Queens, NY, and is managed by Eli Mackay, was stopped in round five by former world champion Shawn Porter on Spike TV in Ontario, California.. Viewers saw Bone having some success against Porter. That success may have been suprising as Bone took the fight on twenty-four hours notice.

In round two, Bone, who is signed to adviser Al Haymon, sprained his right knee. He fought for three rounds on one knee. “I won’t make any excuses. But I want people to know I will be back, on TV, and I will be ready for a summer fight,” said Bone (16-2).

Mackay said he is proud his boxer stepped up a weight class on such short notice. “He fought on one knee,” Mackay marveled. “A doctor said it was good the fight ended because Erick’s knee could have been seriously hurt. But it’s just a sprain. Bottom line, Erick is a real talent and will make noise at junior welterweight!”

“As the fight progressed, Erick was starting to figure out Porter. It would have been real interesting to see how it would have played over the scheduled twelve rounds had he not injured his knee.”

Andre Berto scored a 6th round stoppage over Josesito Lopez in a scheduled 12-round Welterweight bout.

Berto scored a knockdown in round six from a hard right hand. Bert finished the fight a moment later when he jumped on Lopez and landed a flurry that sent Lopez down for a second time and the fight was immediately stopped at 1:03 of round six. Lopez boxed well and was ahead on all three judges scorecards.

Berto, 146 lbs of Winter Haven, FL is 30-3. Lopez, 146 1/4 lbs of Riverside, CA is 33-7.

Chris Arreola won an entertaining 8-round unanimous decision in a Heavyweight bout over Curtis Harper

Arreola dropped Harper in round one with a hard three-punch combo.

Arreola, 262.3 lbs won by scores of 78-73, 77-74 and 76-75 and is now 36-4. Harper, 265.2 lbs of Jacksonville, FLA is 12-4.

Shawn Porter stopped late replacement Erick Bone in round five of a scheduled 10-round Welterweight bout.

It was a tough and close fight for the first four rounds until Porter blooded the nose of Bone and preceded to drop Bone three times in round five. The final blow coming from a left hook that sent Bone down for referee Jack Reiss’s 10 count at 2:30 of round five.

Porter, 146.7 lbs of Akron, OH is 25-1-1 with 16 knockouts. Bone, 149 lbs of Ecuador is 16-2.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Roberto Garcia missed weight and will not fight Shawn Porter tonight in Ontario, California.

“It was more than 4 pounds. That is what I was told by the promoter,” said California Commissioner Andy Foster. “I was told that he had to cut too much weight and he couldn’t do it.”

Porter will now fight Eric Bone

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)

By Norm Frauenheim–

Getting a shot at Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been called a derby and a sweepstakes. There are no rules on how to get in line, if in fact there is one. Still, Shawn Porter and Kell Brook will try to win a chance Saturday at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

They’re fighting for Porter’s International Boxing Federation (IBF) version of the welterweight title. But the acronym-sanctioned belt is window dressing. The real fight is to get into the Mayweather conversation.

Thus far, Porter’s name has been dropped, but a mere mention is a little bit like winning a state lottery. Not much chance there. With an impressive win over the unbeaten and dangerous Brook, however, maybe Porter will be more than just another name in a crowded pool of alternates after Mayweather begins searching for another opponent following an expected victory in a September rematch with Marcos Maidana. Porter (24-0-1, 15 KOs), a slight favorite to beat Brook (32-0, 22 KOs) in a Showtime-televised bout, acknowledges the Mayweather stakes, which are impossible to ignore anyway.

“I don’t consider my fights as auditions,’’ he said in a conference call. “I consider them performances. Again, you know this is boxing. We don’t look ahead. But at the same time, yes, Mayweather, we all know he’s on the clock. We’re all right there, hoping we’re next in line.’’

The confident Porter is bold enough to exhibit showmanship. That’s a fine line and he could pay for it if he loses to the quick and versatile Brook. But showmanship is one way to get noticed, which might keep him in the Mayweather conversation and in headlines that could generate pay-per-view sales.

Porter, also mentioned as a possibility for Keith Thurman, hit the pads blindfolded at a Wednesday workout for the media. Maybe, the blindfold was a pre-fight message, warning Brook that footwork and lateral movement would not take him out of harm’s way. Maybe, it was Porter’s way of saying he was looking only at Brook and not ahead to the Mayweather possibility. Whatever it was, it was a theatrical prop. It was designed to get some attention and it did.

Porter’s showmanship was evident on July 12 when he met a handful of writers at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand before Canelo Alvarez’ decision over Erislandy Lara. Porter talked about how he felt invincible, especially after successive victories over Paulie Malignaggi and Devon Alexander.

A lot of good fighters, Porter said, call themselves Superman.

“But I’m Mister Superman,’’ he said.

He’s just another Mister if he loses to Brook, who is fighting in the U.S. for only the second time. Brook might be the UK’s best-kept secret. It’s the UK connection that could make him a viable Mayweather possibility if he upsets Porter. There are rumblings that Mayweather, who promised a surprise for the next Mayday on his Showtime deal, wants a fight outside of his usual Las Vegas neighborhood in a move that could add to his claim on global celebrity.

A fight in the UK fits the bill and might pay a few too. A World Cup-like crowd of a reported 80,000 was at London’s Wembley Stadium for Carl Froch’s rematch stoppage of George Groves on May 31. If in fact Mayweather has further international ambitions, a Wembley bout with Brook could help fulfill them.

Brook is fighting to be a Mister too.

Mister Next.

CARSON, Calif. (Aug. 14, 2014) – Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions hosted the final press conference earlier today for this Saturday’s potentially explosive world championship tripleheader live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

In what should be a thrilling, non-stop action three-fight telecast, IBF Welterweight World Champion “ShowTime” Shawn Porter (24-0-1, 15 KOs), of Cleveland, Ohio, will defend against fellow unbeaten Kell Brook 32-0, 22 KOs), of Sheffield, England, WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika (32-5-3, 21 KOs), of Sydney, Australia, will risk his 168-pound belt in a grudge rematch against unbeaten Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell (26-0-1, 22 KOs), of Flint, Mich., and undefeated Omar “Panterita” Figueroa Jr. (23-0-1, 17 KOs), of Weslaco, Texas, will put up his WBC Lightweight World Championship against mandatory challenger Daniel “Tremendo” Estrada (32-2-1, 24 KOs), of Mexico City.

The three SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING world title fights will be preceded by two important bouts on SHOWTIME EXTREME® (7 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast): undefeated heavyweight knockout sensation and WBC Continental Americas Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (31-0, 31 KOs), of Tuscaloosa, Ala., will take on Jason Gavern (25-16-4, 11 KOs), of Orlando, Fla., in a 10-round match and former two-division world champion Jorge “Niño De Oro” Linares (36-3, 23 KOs) will be opposed by Ira Terry (26-11, 16 KOs), of Memphis, Tenn., in an eight-round lightweight match.

Both Wilder and Linares are mandatory challengers and a victory away from fighting for a world title in the near future; Wilder against WBC Heavyweight Champion Bermane Stiverne and Linares against the Figueroa-Estrada winner.

Tickets priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services 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 1:05 p.m.

Speaking before a large contingent of media from the Southern California area and UK, Porter needed a little crowd participation to make his one and only point when it was his turn to talk at the dais.

“Let’s let him [Brook] know what time it is,” Porter yelled as he stepped up to the mic. Some in the audience responded,”It’s “Showtime!”

After repeating this, Porter then stared down at a still-seated Brook and said. “I think you know what time it is. Saturday night I’m going to make sure you know what time it is.” Porter said thank you and then sat down.

Here’s more from what Porter, the fighters and executives said during Thursday’s press conference at StubHub Center:

SHAWN PORTER, IBF Welterweight World Champion

“There was good energy today and the crowd really got me going. I have a lot to offer to this sport. I’m one of the quickest and strongest guys in my weight class. And I’m probably the most confident too. But I can’t help that. It’s my personality, it’s who I am.

“Saturday night, you’re going to see it all. You’re going to see some boxing, you’ll see some aggression, you’ll see intelligence, some power and quickness. The whole nine yards.

“I’ve done enough homework to know that I can beat him. This has been a long time coming, and I look forward to defending my title on Saturday night. Everybody in the UK better stay up late for this one. I’m hoping to get some new fans over there after this is over.”

KELL BROOK, Undefeated Welterweight Contender

“This has been a long time coming, but I’ve finally arrived on the top stage now. It’s every fighter’s dream to win a world title, and it’s all I’ve been thinking about through all the training and waiting.

“I know Shawn Porter is a very tough customer and a very worthy champion. But this is my time. I’m so ready mentally, and physically, I’ve got my family here. I’m just in the best place of my life. I’m very confident, totally prepared and Saturday could not come quick enough for me.”

SAKIO BIKA, WBC Super Middleweight Champion

“He ran around the first fight and I should have won. It’s nothing new for me to fight in the States and I just have to go there and knock him out so there’s no need for a judges’ decision.

“I don’t need to sit here and talk much. He’s doing enough of that for the both of us. We’ll see who’s doing the talking after I get through with him on Saturday night.”

ANTHONY DIRRELL, Undefeated Super Middleweight Contender

“I’m definitely ready to fight. If I wasn’t I sure couldn’t make it happen in two days. I’m basically going to stick to my game plan from the first fight, but with a few tweaks. I want to leave nothing to chance.

“It’s been nine months since our first fight. You can’t call Bika a real champion. I beat him the first time; this time it’s going to be worse. There’s going to be a new champion on Saturday. It’s going to be a helluva fight, but I’m going to burn him.

“I already won my toughest fight when I beat cancer. A big part of my motivation on Saturday is knowing that Danny Jacobs [a fellow cancer survivor who captured the WBA middleweight title last Saturday on SHOWTIME] will be calling the fights from ringside for SHOWTIME.”

OMAR FIGUEROA JR., WBC Lightweight World Champion

“This is the hardest I’ve ever trained for a fight and now I’m back on one of boxing’s biggest stages. I know Estrada likes to come forward so that should make for an exciting fight for the fans.

“This is another very big fight for me. This fight is for my family and all my friends back in Texas.

“I expect a rough fight, but I know I will win.”

DANIEL ESTRADA, Leading Lightweight Contender
“I’m dedicating this fight to my family and the memory of my younger sister, Janyn, and her five-year-old daughter, Emery, who died after they were in a car crash less than three weeks ago.
“It’s been a very difficult, emotional time for all of us. My sister, who was 27, has always been my biggest supporter in boxing. She always told me that if I continued to work hard I would make it to the top and become a world champion.
“I’m using what she always said to me as motivation for this fight. As bad as we all feel, there was never really a time when I thought I would abandon this opportunity. I know she would want me to take the fight.
“I’ve been waiting a year to fight for the title and on Saturday I’m going to take advantage of my shot. I recognize Figueroa as a great champion for what he brings to the sport, but I’m a Mexican warrior. I’ll show you all that on Saturday.”
DEONTAY WILDER, Undefeated WBC Continental Americas Champion

“I’m right at the door. All I’ve got to do is ring the bell or knock to get inside. Everybody has their opinion on who I should fight, and I know this is a risk fight. Jason [Gavern] comes to fight every time. And you’ve got to respect that. I’ve definitely not looking past Jason, but I’m looking through him.

“I love boxing, and I love what I do. I love being surrounded by other fighters and champions. I love the atmosphere and the fans, just everything that’s involved with boxing. I was very eager and very hungry to get back in the ring.”

JASON GAVERN, Veteran Heavyweight

“This is kind of cool for a former policeman like me to be on a card like this and I thank everyone involved for making it happen.

“Wilder is 31-0 with 31 knockouts for a reason. But I love to fight and look forward to putting on a good show like I always do.”

JORGE LINARES, Former WBC Featherweight & WBA Super Featherweight World Champion

“This is a must-win fight for me which is why I’ve prepared for a very hard fight. I know I have to win to get my title shot. But I’m not here just to win but to look good.

“I have three losses on my record, but in my heart I feel I’ve lost only once [against Antonio DeMarco]. I certainly can’t afford to lose on Saturday. I’m anxious and ready to go.”

JASON QUIGLEY, Unbeaten Super Middleweight Prospect
“My weight is always pretty good because I’ve never gone up and down between fights; I always try to maintain top conditioning.
“I really enjoy being a pro and being part of all the fight-week activities before a fight -the workout, press conference and weigh-in. It’s great to be surrounded by so many great fighters and so much media.
“Saturday is my second pro fight and I’m totally focused and ready to perform.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President and Founder of Golden Boy Promotions

“Every single one of these TV fights could be a main event. This is just a stacked card.

“StubHub Center is known for putting on some amazing fights. I like to call it the ‘Thuderdome’. You know, the old movie with Mel Gibson and Tina Turner where they just go to fight. Every single fight we’ve staged at StubHub has been incredible.

“The main event is definitely one of those fights where you don’t want to blink. I know both these fighters have the hunger and desire to put on just an amazing fight.

“Shawn Porter comes from Cleveland, Ohio, a place that grooms champions, like LeBron James. He’s a real throwback fighter who works hard and will fight anybody. Kell Brook is a true champion who is hungry and determined.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME SPORTS

“SHOWTIME is happy to be back here with Golden Boy at StubHub Center for what I predict will be one of the most exciting cards of the year.

“StubHub is a special place for boxing, one of the top two or three in the world, an outdoor venue that is a perfect setting for fights that draw great fans.

“The three world title fights Saturday couldn’t be more even -they’re all 50-50. All these fighters are coming to win. It should be an all-action show and we are very excited about it.

# # #

Porter vs. Brook is a 12-round fight for Porter’s IBF Welterweight World Championship promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona 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 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).

CARSON, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2014) – Unbeaten IBF Welterweight World Champion Shawn “Showtime” Porter, undefeated contender Kell Brook and seven other boxers who will compete on this Saturday’s stacked Golden Boy Promotions’ fight card at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., participated in an open media workout Wednesday at Fabela Chavez Boxing Center in Carson, Calif..

The exciting, offensive-minded Porter (24-0-1, 15 KOs), of Cleveland, Ohio, will defend his 147-pound crown against British banger Brook (32-0, 22 KOs), of Sheffield, England in what figures to be an explosive main event of a world championship tripleheader live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).

In other world title fights Saturday on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika (32-5-3, 21 KOs), of Sydney, Australia, will risk his 168-pound belt in a rematch against unbeaten Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell (26-0-1, 22 KOs), of Flint, Mich., and undefeated Omar “Panterita” Figueroa Jr. (23-0-1, 17 KOs), of Weslaco, Texas, will defend his WBC Lightweight World Championship against mandatory challenger Daniel “Tremendo” Estrada (32-2-1, 24 KOs), of Mexico City.

Undefeated heavyweight knockout sensation and WBC Continental Americas Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (31-3, 31 KOs), of Tuscaloosa, Ala., will be opposed by Jason Gavern (25-16-4, 11 KOs), of Orlando, Fla., 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 (36-3, 23 KOs) faces Ira Terry (26-11, 16 KOs), of Memphis, Tenn., in an eight-round lightweight match.

Tickets priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services 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.

Here’s what the fighters said during Wednesday’s workout:

SHAWN PORTER, IBF Welterweight World Champion

“Training camp was great; we had some of the camp in Las Vegas and some in the Bay Area. We are ready to rock and roll. I just continue to work hard and sharpen the skills that I already possess.

“I am going into the fight looking for that knockout. I told myself that going four rounds or less would be a beautiful night for me. But at the same time I am prepared for a 12-round fight and being a boxer I know that you must be prepared for anything.

“I welcome the target on my back; I enjoy people talking about me. The good thing about having the target on my back is that I am a very hard target to hit. I am very excited about this fight and looking forward to defending my title. Saturday couldn’t come fast enough and after the fight I will be walking out with that title again.

“I am very humble, but everyone knows that when I get into that ring it’s my time to shine. I will be showing off for the fans, my team, and for my future opponents.

“StubHub Center is a great outdoor venue. I’ve been to the venue about six times, but have never fought there. Every time I go there I wish I was the one fighting in the ring, but my opportunity has finally come and I can’t wait to get out there and feel the energy of the crowd.

“Being that this is only the second time Kell Brook has fought in America, I hope he feels that added pressure of the big fight. The energy of the StubHub Center crowd will make him feel it, that’s for sure. But, at the end of the day I have to get in that ring and handle my business and not worry about all the factors that I can’t control. I can’t worry about what he feels and thinks. I know that I am full of confidence and positive energy and that I’ve been counting down for this fight.

“I love the fact that we are both undefeated, it makes for a great story. I know that he is a great fighter and I can’t look past him — that would be a huge mistake.”

KELL BROOK, Undefeated Welterweight Contender

“Training camp has gone very well. I am ready.

“When you get to this elite level and become a world champion, top fighters want to fight the best and I believe that I am at that level.

“It doesn’t matter that this is only my second time fighting in America. It’s just another ring and I will be ready to go. Boxing is all I do.

“Porter comes forward with swinging punches. Anyone at this level, you must take it off to them, they are in the ring for a reason. I know that it will be a tough fight, but every top performer can adjust and you will see me adjust. I know that it will be a dogfight but I always find a way to win.

“I am a slick fighter who will be very exciting. You are going to see crisp shots and I think that this fight will be a fight of the year candidate. I refuse to lose, but there will definitely be some fireworks during this fight.

“I have been waiting a very long time for my opportunity to fight in a world title fight, so the added pressure and anticipation will work in my favor. I have never been more prepared for a fight before and knowing that this is the biggest fight of my career only adds to my confidence.

“This is definitely my opportunity to show American fans what all the fuss is about with this British guy. My message to them is that I will go into that ring and give it my all and come out with that world title. Get your popcorn ready.”

SAKIO BIKA, WBC Super Middleweight Champion

“Training has been going great; we did everything that we were supposed to do. The weather was very good, the sparing was good, no complaints.

“Nothing has really changed going into this training camp from the last camp, except that I pushed myself very hard. I didn’t put on and take off any weight, I just work very hard in the gym.

“The first fight with Dirrell, I started off a little too slow. For this fight I will try to show that I am the boss in the right from the beginning, and make him scared. I want to attack him relentlessly and prove to him that he doesn’t belong in the ring with me.

“I definitely feel that I won the first fight and everyone saw that. The body shot that he got on me was a low blow, it was a lucky punch. I kept on hitting him so hard and he couldn’t handle the pressure I was putting on him. I know that I won that fight.

“If I am the victor in this fight, I won’t call any names on who I want to fight next. Every time that I call on a fighter, everyone gets too scared and doesn’t want to fight. I need to sit down with my management and see if I need to move up a weight class and fight a big challenger maybe in the light heavyweight division because I feel that I am capable.

“My biggest strength against Dirrell is that I am much stronger than him and I can handle all the pressure that is thrown my way. I am very strong and will pressure him constantly.”

ANTHONY DIRRELL, Undefeated Super Middleweight Contender

“I’m here to officially take what’s rightfully mine. Bika knows I won our last fight. It’s good we got to go straight to a rematch with no fights in between.

“I expect to see nothing new or different from Bika – Bika is Bika. In the ring, he is who he is. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

“I thought I fought a good fight the first time, but I can do even better. I can box better and I can stick to the game plan better. He can’t touch me when I box. In fact, he can’t touch me no matter how I fight him.

“That’s good that Daniel Jacobs (recently crowned WBA middleweight champion) is calling the fights for SHOWTIME. He’s a cancer survivor like me. Between us, we want to continue to inspire others all over the world.”

OMAR “PANTERITA” FIGUEROA JR., WBC Lightweight World Champion

“It’s an honor to represent the people in my hometown. I fight for my brothers and the little kids in my city who feel like they have no hope to leave the city. I started fighting when I was six-years-old; success doesn’t come over night. It takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I want to show the people where I am from that it is possible to be successful and make a good life for yourself. I know that boxing has kept me out of trouble and in some ways saved my life.

“The reason why I moved back home and started training with my dad was mainly because I wanted to be close to my daughter. I missed her terribly when I wasn’t home.

“I wasn’t able to take advantage of the things that were presented to me by training with Joel Diaz because of my (sore) hands, so I decided to just stay home. If I wasn’t able to get the world-class sparring and training, then what was I doing being away from my family? Leaving Joel Diaz had nothing to do with him, I love him. It was solely a personal decision.

“My dad (trainer Omar Figueroa Sr.) grinds my gears, it can be a bit rocky. But with the knowledge I brought over from training with Joel Diaz it can make me grow as a boxer and my dad will grow as a trainer.

“Training is six days a week for three hours and then a jog. I can’t put on too much muscle because then I won’t be able to make weight. Training and dieting is very hard, but I am proud of myself because I actually kept up with it.

“People take care of me from where I am from. The love and support I feel in Texas makes me feel great.

“My hands will always be an issue. We will find out how long they last me on Saturday. I hope they last me long enough to get rid of my opponent. If not, then I will have to suck it up.

“I haven’t looked at any footage of Estrada but my father tells me that he is a straight forward kind of guy. He will get punched a lot and I have to be prepared for that. I am trained in a certain way that will give me the opportunity to exploit his weaknesses. I will focus a lot on the body like I always do.

“Fans can expect a great fight. They will get entertained and get their money’s worth and I will put on an excellent show for them.”

DANIEL ESTRADA, Leading Lightweight Contender
“It doesn’t bother me that I’m sort of the forgotten fighter on this card, but I came here to win my U.S. debut and in my mind I know I will win Saturday and then maybe more fans and media in America will recognize me more.
“I’ve watched a couple of Panterita’s fights and he’s a good, tough champion. That’s why I prepared so hard in Mexico for this. So I definitely respect him as a champion, but he’s not going to win.
“I’ve waited a year-and-a-half for this opportunity, and that gives me extra motivation. This is my chance and I know it. I train all the time and I’ve learned from one of the best fighters, Juan Manuel Marquez, who is my advisor and who will be in my corner Saturday.
“I don’t like to talk, but I am very confident. My camp went well. My conditioning is perfect. I’m hungry for that world title and can’t wait to face Panterita on Saturday night.”
DEONTAY WILDER, Undefeated WBC Continental Americas Champion

“I come prepared to show up and show out for any fight. It doesn’t matter what venue we are in; we can be in the smallest venue in the world and I will come prepared to put on a great show for my fans. I will still perform to the best of my ability.

“I don’t think fighting outside will have any impact on this fight. Coming from Alabama, the weather gets real hot and humid so this is nothing to me. During camp the heat was rising from inside of my boots so it kept me dancing.

“I always want to fight the biggest and best fight. But it has to be the right time and the right money. If people understand that boxing is a business before anything else, then they will understand all the other aspects of boxing. Most people don’t know anything about the business side and make judgments.

“Once I have that belt a lot of questions will be answered. I have had to humble myself and convince myself that my time is coming for that championship. I am ready and excited to prove to everybody, my fans and haters that I will eventually be the champion.

“In facing my opponent, all I would like to say is that we are in the heavyweight division so one punch could end the fight. I am not looking past him, I am only looking through him. My prize is to fight for the world title and in order to be able to do that I must get through my opponent on Saturday.

“My management didn’t want me to take this fight, I was the one who wanted to take it. This fight is giving me the opportunity to fight for a world title for my next fight. I know that I must stay active and I know that my opponent is a tough guy who will come and try to win. You can’t go off of his record, you just never know how he will come out on this night. I don’t want him to feel comfortable. I want to get in and get out.

“I know that I have a big bull’s eye on my back and that if I beat my opponent then I will be in the running for the world title come November.”

JORGE LINARES, Former WBC Featherweight & WBA Super Featherweight World Champion

“I’m the No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger to fight the winner of Figueroa and Estrada. It would be an honor to fight either of them but I am taking nothing for granted and am not taking my opponent lightly.

“I made the mistake once before. They all said I was going to have an easy fight against Sergio Thompson and I lost. That was a crazy fight in Mexico. I got head-butted in the second round, took a knee, and the doctor came in and stopped the fight and I got a loss even though I felt I could continue and the fight didn’t go four rounds. So I learned the hard way that on any given night even the worst fighter can beat you.

“I’ve prepared very hard for this and I’m looking forward to taking care of business on Saturday.”

JASON QUIGLEY, Unbeaten Super Middleweight Prospect
“I’m really looking forward to my second fight since my first went so fast (82-second knockout). I just fought in mid-July so it’s great to be brought back so soon.
“Getting the pro debut out of the way is somewhat of a relief, but I know I have a lot of work to do. Getting the experience is so important, which is why I train all over Los Angeles. I go to different gyms all the time, looking to spar, work and learn.
“I just know my opponent is also 1-0, not much else. I am grateful for the opportunity to fight on Saturday and looking forward to putting on a good show.”
# # #

Porter vs. Brook is a 12-round fight for Porter’s IBF Welterweight World Championship promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona 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 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).

CARSON, Calif. (Aug. 11, 20141) – With less than a week away to fight night, Shawn Porter, Kell Brook and undercard fighters talk about their training camp experiences and expectations surrounding their big fights this Saturday, Aug. 16 at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. live on SHOWTIME®.

In the main event, undefeated IBF Welterweight World Champion “Showtime” Shawn Porter will defend his title against fellow unbeaten British sensation Kell Brook in a 12-round bout. In the co-feature, Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika seeks to retain his WBC Super Middleweight Championship when he faces Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell in a highly anticipated 12-round rematch of their Dec. 2013 split draw. In the opening fight of the telecast, Omar “Panterita” Figueroa Jr. will put his WBC Lightweight World Title on the line when he faces mandatory challenger WBC Silver Lightweight Champion Daniel “Tremendo” Estrada in a 12-round bout.

Fight week has arrived, and as the Aug. 16 fighters wrap up camp, they answer a series of training camp related questions that offer some insight into their final preparations for this Saturday’s bouts.

Q: You’re essentially done with training camp at this point, how did everything go?

A: Shawn Porter (training in Las Vegas) – “Yep, it’s all over as of last week. We just finished, and my dad was very happy with how everything went. We did 15 rounds of sparring to close things out.”

Kell Brook (finalizing his training in Las Vegas)- “We got some great work done. We’re winding everything down, and I’m feeling fresh for fight night.”

Sakio Bika (training in St. Louis) – “Everything has gone smoothly. My team and I have been working very hard and they have been very supportive. The weather has been great, and I haven’t had any injuries. So everything has gone well.”

Anthony Dirrell (training in Detroit) – “It’s going well. It’s just hard work. We’ve been working to make it harder than last camp so that I can keep getting better.”

Omar Figueroa Jr. (training in Weslaco, Texas) – “Everything is going well. This is one of the best camps we’ve had. We’re excited for a great fight.”

Daniel Estrada (training in Mexico City, Mexico) – “I have been working very hard for the past five weeks. I’ve been running around 4:00 a.m. in the high altitude of Mexico along with my team that includes Juan Manuel Marquez, Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Beristain and Raul de Anda, and to know I am receiving the advice of one of the greats in the sport [Marquez] gives me the peace of mind that I am doing the right thing for this upcoming fight.”

Deontay Wilder (training in Tuscaloosa, Ala.) – “Everything has been going as planned. This has probably been one of the shortest training camps I’ve had. That thrills me though. A lot of fighters claim to be athletes, but on the night of the fight I’ll show exactly how athletic and ready I am. I’ve been missing the ring and I’m ready to get back.”

Jorge Linares (training in Las Vegas) – “I’m very happy not only because I have a fight coming up, but also because I’m at home once again. I’ve been training with Ismael Salas for two years now and I feel like I’m at home here, so everything is going great.”

Q: We’re less than a week from fight night. How are you feeling physically?

A: Shawn Porter – “I’m in the best shape of my life, but I always try to stay prepared.”

Kell Brook – “Mentally strong, and physically ready.”

Sakio Bika – “I’m feeling very good, I’m ready to defend my belt. Everything has been great in St. Louis.”

Anthony Dirrell – “Great, if I’m not ready by now then I’m not ready. I feel ready to go.”

Omar Figueroa Jr. – “I honestly feel like I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I only took a week and a half off after my last fight. So I’ve been super active ever since I started training for my last fight.”

Deontay Wilder – “I’m good to go. I’m always in shape. I’m always in the gym. I treat boxing like my nine to five. Others may not take it seriously, but this is a sport where you can get hurt if you don’t protect yourself and take it seriously. So I’m always tuned up and ready to go for my fans.”

Jorge Linares – “[Fight night] It’s basically here, so I’m excited and feeling well. I’ll be on weight and ready to fight.”

Q: Has your game plan stayed consistent, or has it evolved since you started camp?

A: Shawn Porter – “It stayed consistent. We always train hard.”

Kell Brook – “It’s always been the same. We’ve been training 100 percent the whole way through.”

Sakio Bika – “Kevin (Cunningham) and I always do the same thing. He keeps me positive, focused and working very hard to get ready for Aug.16.”

Anthony Dirrell – “We’re working on some of the same strategies and some different ones, but they’re old things that I know will work on Aug. 16.”

Omar Figueroa Jr. – “We’ve changed a few things just because we want to try to encompass everything. We work on boxing, brawling, speed and movement. Hopefully it all comes together for me at the same time.”

Deontay Wilder – “This is boxing, and this is the heavyweight division. So you can’t take anyone lightly. I’m not treating this like a warm-up. My main focus is fighting for a title, but I’m not looking past my opponent on Aug. 16.”

Q: What have you been doing to pass the time when you are not in the gym?

A: Shawn Porter – “I’m normally at home relaxing, and I love going to the movies too. You can usually find me at one of the two.”

Kell Brook – “I rest and sometimes I like to have a walk down the strip. It’s nothing too strenuous though.”

Sakio Bika – “We go to the movies, or I’ll go to the mall and try to walk around and keep busy. This is not the craziest city, so there aren’t a lot of distractions. That makes this a great place to train.”

Anthony Dirrell – “I like to play games. We’ve got a gaming system, and we go to the movies. We don’t do anything too big though because the focus has to stay on the fight.”

Omar Figueroa Jr. – “I have my daughter with me almost every day. So I spend a lot of time with her. I also play video games.”

Deontay Wilder – “I love the water. So I swim a lot. I get massages. We go to the movies and I spend time with my kids. I’m traveling a little bit too. It’s tough to fit everything in, but I’m love being a father and I love being around my kids. However, even when I’m away from the gym my mind is focused on boxing. I’m always working on things and trying to figure out how to get the world title. I’m so ready to go for the title fight that I shouldn’t even need a training camp. I’ll have one, but I feel like I’m prepared right now.”

Q: In terms of diet, are you doing anything specific during this camp?

A: Shawn Porter – “Nope, we know what works and we know what got us here. We stick to that.”

Kell Brook – “Not really, I’ve just been sticking to it and staying in great health.”

Sakio Bika – “No, I’m not doing anything special really. I eat what I want to eat, but I eat clean. I never have to cut much weight.”

Anthony Dirrell – “No, I’m eating the same things as always. I don’t have a problem with weight. I’m careful with what I eat, but I can eat what I want.”

Omar Figueroa Jr. – “Yes, this camp has been totally different. It has to do with me maturing as an athlete. I’m closely following my diet plan. I’m eating every three hours, and I’m avoiding sodium and carbs. I’m surprising myself this time around. I got myself in line because this is for the good of my career.”

Deontay Wilder – “No, not really. As a heavyweight I can basically eat anything. But I have a high metabolism as well so that helped. I just try to make sure to eat the right things.”

Jorge Linares – “I’m right on weight. I feel good and even though this fight is not at my regular weight of 135 pounds, I feel very good. Whoever can’t make weight with the extreme heat here in Las Vegas, has serious issues. Thankfully, I feel very good.”

Q: What is the one thing you can’t eat during training that you miss most?

A: Shawn Porter – “I stay away from most things actually. My diet is typically just clean, organic food with lots of vegetables.”

Kell Brook – “There’s no one thing really, I just try to eat healthy all around.”

Sakio Bika – “It’s not about food for me. The one thing I don’t have in training camp is my family and my friends. Here in training camp I don’t have anyone, and I miss the people that are closest to me. I miss having breakfast and dinner with my family. But I know this is business. I’m here to train. I know in a couple of weeks and I can see those important people again, and they understand what I’m doing here.”

Anthony Dirrell – “No sweets!”

Omar Figueroa Jr. – “I feel like I’m a pregnant lady with some of the cravings I’ve been having. Lately I’ve been wanting gummy bears, and pork rinds – stuff that I don’t even eat normally.”

Deontay Wilder – “I’m staying away from the fried foods.”

Q: What is your biggest motivation while training?

A: Shawn Porter – “It’s all about the prize. I know what’s to come and where I’m headed. The outcome is what motivates me to put on a great performance for the fans on fight night.”

Kell Brook – “I like to prove people wrong and challenging myself. My family helps a lot too.”

Sakio Bika – “It’s about family first because I have to come here and work hard to provide for them. I love what I’m doing, and I love boxing. At the end of the day it’s about coming here so that I can put food on the table. That’s why I wake up early in the morning.”

Anthony Dirrell – “My two-year-old son motivates me to make a better life for him and my family.”

Omar Figueroa Jr. – “My family is most important, and the kind of lifestyle that I’m able to offer my whole family means a lot to me. I want to look out for my parents and my brothers too. I want to be able to give them the lifestyle that they’ve always wanted. I’m prioritizing things like my daughter’s college fund too.”

Daniel Estrada – “I have been waiting for this opportunity for almost a year. I’ve been the mandatory challenger for a while, but for some reason I couldn’t get the fight for the title. Now the opportunity is here and I am very positive I will become a World Champion on August 16.”

Deontay Wilder – “My motivations is fighting for a world title. I need to go into the ring and take care of my opponent on Aug. 16. I have to fight to win and succeed in order to provide for my family.”

Q: What is your typical training day like during this camp?

A: Shawn Porter – “My day starts with a 7 a.m. training session on the track that takes about an hour. Then I rest before heading to the gym to box from around 1- 4 p.m. Then I relax for a bit before heading for a massage and maybe an ice bath. I also like to work in some basketball on certain days.”

Kell Brook – “It all depends really. I start with a run in the morning. Then we do strength and condition. I spar in the afternoon, and then we do some technique work.”

Sakio Bika – “It’s six days a week. I wake up at 6 a.m. and run. Then I eat breakfast. After that I go to gym, and at noon I work with Kevin and spar. We finish up around 4p.m. and then I rest. Later I eat dinner and go to bed early.”

Anthony Dirrell – “I wake up at 6:30 a.m. We train hard in the morning, and then I rest for a bit. Then we go to gym to box and spar. Later in the evening we do strength and conditioning training before bed.”

Omar Figueroa Jr. – “Right now I’m back to two times a day, but at the beginning of camp, I trained three times a day. I wake up and go to the gym around 11 a.m. I have insomnia so I go to the gym a little later. I start with strength and conditioning. Then we do boxing around 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. We finish up with a night run around 11 p.m.”

Deontay Wilder – “We hit the bags for a couple of rounds and listen to some old school funk why we get warmed up. Then, I hit the heavy bags for a couple of rounds and we do uppercut work. Every day is different though. Sometimes we switch things up and will keep things as exciting as possible. The same thing every day gets boring, so we like to change it up and keep it fun.”

While each fighter has similar tendencies training, each pugilist has their own story. Please see additional questions below.

SHAWN PORTER

Q:Has Vegas become your favorite place to train?

A: “I love to mix it up and go to different cities sometimes to train, but top to bottom I’d say Vegas is the best.”

Q: What makes Vegas so appealing as a backdrop for training?

A: “This being home now makes everything that much easier. Nothing’s complicated and I’m able to keep it easy.”

Q: You’re obviously coming off of a smashing KO win against Paulie Malignaggi this past April. Can you describe how the aftermath of that fight impacted your approach to this camp?

A: “More than anything, it made me realize that I need to put on another spectacular performance this time around so that I can get what’s coming.”

Q: Kell Brook is going to be the first Brit you’ve faced professionally. Do you expect anything different from him stylistically, and are you preparing differently for him?

A: “No, nothing specific. There’s nothing too complicated or unorthodox about his style. So I didn’t need to bring in any kind of specialist to spar, or plan for anything too different.”

KELL BROOK

Q: You’ve talked about your familiarity with fighting in the U.S. once previously in Atlantic City, and you mentioned how fighting outside of England might actually lessen your stress level heading into the biggest fight of your career. Would you elaborate a bit on that and why you’ll be so comfortable fighting for a title in Carson, Calif.?

A: “I’m confident because I’ve been here before and I’m very well prepared. I have my family with me too. When I box at home in front of eight or nine thousand people who know me there’s a little more pressure. When I come over here it can be easier to focus on the fight.”

Q: You made the trip to the U.S. for this fight on July 30. How was the travel, and do you think that finishing up the last two weeks of your training in the U.S. prepared you as well as your training regimen back home?

A: “Yep, I travel well, and I’m in good company. They keep me smiling.
“I’m ready now though. We’ve just been putting in work and now it’s all about enjoying this and being ready.”

Q: This will be your third professional bout against an American fighter, but both of your previous two were against Carson Jones. From your experience in those two fights, and from watching video of other U.S. fighters, do you notice anything different stylistically about U.S. fighters, and does that change your preparation in training camp at all?

A: “I believe I can adapt to any style. I’ve been sparring with some American fighters. They do have some unique things about their style. But the best fighters know how to adapt, and that’s what I’ll do.”

SAKIO BIKA

Q: Are you preparing differently for Dirrell this time around?

A: “I’m not going to change too much. I’m coming out to fight. I don’t want to run around and chase him. I’m going to show Anthony that I’m ready to do exactly what I’ve always done: to make people happy to see me fight. If he wants to take my belt off of me he better come prepared.”

Q: Is there one specific element of Dirrell’s repertoire that you’re working especially hard in camp to combat better when you meet this Saturday?

A: “The main thing I have to do is keep working hard every day and getting my rest when I can. I’ll be ready for Anthony. I always come to fight. I’m sure that I’m doing everything the way that I’m supposed to. And I’m training hard with my team so that I can defend and retain my belt.”

Q: How, if at all, do you think fighting him at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. will differ from the fight you had at Barclays Center?

A: “Not at all because I’ve fought before in an open arena, and I’ve fought in California before too. Anywhere they put a ring, in a shopping mall, a movie theater, I can fight anywhere.”

ANTHONY DIRRELL

Q: Are you preparing differently for Bika this time around?

A: “It’s basically the same, just tweaking a few things here and there really.”

Q: Is there one specific element of Bika’s repertoire that you’re working especially hard in camp to combat better when you meet on Aug. 16?

A: “Not really, he’s going to be the same fighter. I’ll stick to my game plan and fight my fight, and he’ll do the same.”

Q: How, if at all, do you think fighting him at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. will differ from the fight you had at Barclays Center?

A: “It makes no real difference. A ring is a ring. It’s going to be one on one no matter what.”

OMAR FIGUEROA JR.

Q: You decided to make some changes to your training regimen coming into this camp. You’re now training with your father instead of Joel Diaz, and you’ve moved your training back home to Weslaco, Texas. Can you talk about why you decided to change things up?

A: “It’s just because of my daughter. I see her every day now. It was very hard for me to leave and not be able to see her. That’s a big part of why I had to get my act in line.”

Q: After you had your April fight at StubHub Center, did you learn anything from that experience that may have altered your training now that you’ll be returning there?

A: “Definitely, the April fight wasn’t a hard fight. It wasn’t as physical as I’m used to fighting. The biggest thing was keeping my weight where it needs to be heading into this fight.”

DANIEL ESTRADA

Q: Are you excited for your first opportunity to fight professionally in the U.S.?

A: “I am planning to take advantage of all the things I did in the gym. All the sacrifices will be paid back with a positive outcome on Saturday. I know I did the right things in training, and we have the right strategy at the gym, so there will be no excuses whatsoever.”

DEONTAY WILDER

Q: Your dominance in the ring has been well documented. With none of your professional opponents making it past the fourth round, do you ever feel like it’s a struggle for you to stay disciplined and train?

A: “Discipline is a mental thing, and I’m mentally strong. All of the hard work is in the gym and with the sparring. When it’s time to actually fight that’s the easy part, and it’s more fun actually. But it’s not hard for me to stay disciplined at all. I’ve changed lots of things regarding my style. I’m more patient now. I’m definitely a thinker now and that maturity helps me. People will find out that I’m a different kind of guy. They’ll see when I become the heavyweight champ just how disciplined I am.”

Q: How do you handle training for an opponent yet to be named, and how does that uncertainty impact your training?

A: “Camp has been the same as always. We’re not looking past August 16, but we know to prepare for Stiverne. That’s how confident I am in my ability and skills. I’m not worried about people picking the ‘right guy’ for me. I would be the laughing stock of the world if I had the title fight lined up and lost this fight on August 16. So I just have to get the job done next week and we’ll go from there.”

JORGE LINARES

Q: Do you believe that you have a distinct advantage going into your fight thist week?

A: “I always think positively, you have to jump in the ring thinking like a winner. I trust my training, my trainer and my corner. We don’t have any negativity at all. We feel good and prepared.”

Q: Are you feeling the pressure of needing to secure a win h in order to get a shot at a world title?

A: “It’s obligatory; I have to win on Saturday, without a doubt. There’s no thinking about losing, I have to get a good win this week and then we’ll look for that world title. Winning that world title is the only thing present on my mind.”

# # #

Porter vs. Brook is a 12-round fight for the IBF Welterweight World Championship promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. In the 12-round co-main event, the WBC Super Middleweight Champion Sakio Bika defends his belt in a rematch against Anthony Dirrell, and in the televised opener, Omar Figueroa defends his WBC Lightweight Title against Daniel Estrada. The event will take place at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and will air on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) and will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts will air 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 services charges and will be available online atAXS.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.

LAS VEGAS (Aug. 6, 2014) – Unbeaten IBF Welterweight World Champion “ShowTime” Shawn Porter and undefeated contender Kell Brook held an open media workout at Barry’s Gym in Las Vegas on Wednesday as they reach the apex of preparation for next Saturday’s world championship showdown.

Porter (24-0-1, 15 KOs), of Akron, Ohio, will defend his 147-pound crown against Britain’s Brook (32-0, 22 KOs) in the main event of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader Saturday, Aug. 16, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from the storied StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., home to some of the most memorable, non-stop action, exciting fights in recent boxing memory.

Joining Porter and Brook on Wednesday were former two-division world champion Jorge “Niño De Oro” Linares, Porter’s father and trainer, Kenneth Porter and Dominic Ingle, who trains Brook.

Linares (36-3, 23 KOs), of Barinas, Venezuela, will face Ira Terry (26-11, 16 KOs), of Memphis, Tenn., in the opening bout of the Aug. 16 SHOWTIME EXTREME telecast, live at 7 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Here’s what the participants and their trainers had to say during Wednesday’s workout:

SHAWN PORTER, IBF Welterweight World Champion

“I stay hungry because I know the feeling. I know what it takes to get to this position; I know the struggle along the way. It takes a lot of hard work and commitment.

“I’m not concerned about Kell Brook. Earlier today, people were asking me about his power, and I don’t have much to say about that other than that I haven’t seen anything on film that makes him different from anybody else.

“I believe that Brook will feel the added pressure in this being his first title fight. I handled it great. I welcomed it and loved it going into my first title fight. I’m not sure if he has the same personality to handle the extra pressure. I do know there will be a big crowd out there and I can’t wait. The West Coast is hot and the crowd gets loud. I’m ready.

“This fight will be pure entertainment for the crowd, and I love to entertain the crowd and my fans. I have played this fight in my head thousands of different times from going the distance to me knocking him out with one punch.

“I don’t know if he is the toughest opponent I’ve faced yet. His record (32-0) would say that he is, but if you take a look at the caliber of fighters that I’ve fought before him, I think the other guys are more challenging fighters, especially Devon Alexander, who has an awkward and complicated style. Not to call Kell Brook plain, but he has a more up-and-down style that will be easier to deal with.

“I’ve watched about six different fights on Brook, all the way back to as early as I could.

“There is no added pressure for me to win. The easy part is to make the adjustments and doing what I do. There is no added pressure. The fights in the past are in the past. For me it’s on to bigger and better things so this fight has to be bigger and better. We had an excellent training camp and I am in the best shape of my life. With that being said, I believe this fight will be more spectacular.”

KELL BROOK, Undefeated Welterweight Contender

“It’s been a long time coming for me, fighting for this world title, with all the postponements before. But this is the start for me, fighting at the elite level in America. People always have an opinion; I just want to compete with the best fighters in the world. I’m a fighter. I was born to compete.

“I think about fighting in somebody else’s backyard. It goes through my mind, of course. Many things go through my mind. But it’s boxing and there’s nothing I can do. It’s the way the situation is. I’ve traveled a long way to challenge for the world title, but I’m prepared for everything and anything.

“Me beating Porter and winning a world title opens up all of the doors and opportunities. I think a fight with Amir Khan would be a huge. Everybody would grab on to that fight.

“I’m excited. The future’s bright. But it’s all about performing next Saturday. I always rise to the occasion. The bigger the fight, the better the opponent, and the better I am. I think you’ll see the best of me –ever.

“I don’t think anybody at this level has massive weaknesses. Porter is a good fighter. He’s aggressive, he’s done what he’s done in the last couple fights and proven that he belongs where he’s at being world champion.

“The fact is, it’s going to be a very, very tough fight. I’m always trying to improve myself. You never stop learning. I’m still proving myself. I’m not studying him, as much as I’m studying me, that the best Kell Brook can beat Shawn Porter.

“Fans can expect fireworks from me next Saturday night. It’s a candidate for Fight of the Year. I believe you have two young, unbeaten fighters with punching ability power going at it. It’s been a long time coming. I’ve always wanted to be a champion and it’s now my time. My dream will come true. So believe you me, I’m going to leave it all in the ring that night.”

JORGE LINARES, Former WBC Featherweight & WBA Super Featherweight World Champion

“We’re only two weeks away, it’s basically here. So I’m excited and feeling great. I’m ready to fight. I’m right on weight. Even though this fight is not at my regular weight of 135 pounds, I feel very good.

“Whoever can’t make weight with the extreme heat here in Las Vegas, has a serious issue [laughs]. Thankfully, I feel very good.

“I don’t feel like I’m coming into the fight with any disadvantages. I always think positively, you have to jump in the ring with the thinking of a winner.

“I trust my training and my trainer and corner. We don’t have any negativity at all, we feel good and prepared.

“It’s obligatory; I have to win next week, without a doubt. There’s no thinking about losing, I have to get a good win next week and then look for that world title.

“Winning that world title is the only thing present on my mind. “

KENNETH PORTER, Shawn Porter’s Father and Trainer

“When you get to this level it’s necessary to have everything that he needs in one facility so that he doesn’t have to travel or worry about weather or be concerned that he has to go into a different city to train. We want to control all aspects of the environment where we train. There are certain types of bags that he likes that other people don’t. We want to make sure that he is completely comfortable.

“There are not many welterweights that stay within 12 pounds of their weight like Shawn does, and he has stayed at that weight year-round for two years now. He is very disciplined because this is his lifestyle. He doesn’t go on a diet, this is the way he lives. He doesn’t go to camp, this is the weight he is at year-round until he is done with boxing.

“[Julio] Diaz was a two-time world champion, Devon [Alexander] was a two-time world champion, Paulie [Malignaggi] was a two-time world champion in different weight classes. Brook doesn’t have the resume of those guys. Not that Shawn made it look easy against those guys, but he pretty much dominated those fights. This is another level stepping up for Brook and he has to climb up to us. Once he tries to get up to us, Shawn will kick him right back down, that’s just what he does.”

DOMINIC INGLE, Kell Brooks’ Trainer

“Coming to the U.S. doesn’t faze us. We’ve been in this situation before. Once you’re in that ring you could be anywhere in the world. It doesn’t matter where you are; when you’re in that ring you could be on the moon. Anything can happen.

“When Ricky Hatton boxed, he had some tough fights in America and won the title. And he put England back on the map in the welterweight division. And now Kell is here to do the same thing.

“No stone has been left unturned for this fight. Shawn Porter is a tough guy –he surprised a few people when he beat Devon Alexander –and we’re not taking him lightly. He’s a champion, we’re in the U.S. and we’re here to take the belt.

“I’ve known Kell since he was nine-years-old and the superstars like Naseem Hamed were rolling into the gym. That’s the motivation for Kell, that’s what Kell wants to do. He wants to be the next fighter from Sheffield and be a world champion like Naseem Hamed was. That’s a great motivation for Kell Brook and that’s what has gotten him through all the injuries. That’s what has kept him focused and that is what will make him win the fight on Aug. 16.

“It’s been a long camp for Kell, probably about twice as long as his usual camps. His usual camps are about eight to nine weeks and by the time he steps into the ring to fight Shawn Porter he will have been in training camp for 16 weeks.

“Kell trains hard, probably sometimes too hard for his own good and you’re going to pick up injuries. Sometimes these things happen in your career. Lots of fighters have injuries, but they usually happen well away from the fights and don’t interfere with the fights. Unfortunately for Kell, they happened coming into the fights and that has set him back a long, long time. He should have had this fight a year and a half ago. His time has finally come. He has his chance and that’s all he wants.

“Porter’s fight with Devon Alexander wasn’t a fantastic fight. There was a lot of hitting and holding and it wasn’t very clean. The referee let both fighters get away with a lot of dirty tactics that wouldn’t have been allowed in the UK. At the end of that fight neither fighter seemed convinced they won the fight – there was no celebration and Shawn Porter got the decision.

“It was a different fight altogether against [Paulie] Malignaggi. Shawn Porter closed him down very quickly and put his game plan on straight away. It was a good finish and he’s done very well his last two fights.”

# # #

Porter vs. Brook is a 12-round fight for Porter’s IBF Welterweight World Championship promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona 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 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 on SHOWTIME EXTREME at 7 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services 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.

Kelly Swanson
Thanks, everybody, for calling in on this Monday. Today, we’re having our conference call with Shawn Porter and Kell Brook, who will be fighting against each other for Porter’s IBF Welterweight World Championship on Saturday, Aug.16.

At this time, we’re going to start with Kell, who’s calling in from the UK, and then Shawn Porter will be joining us afterwards. To make the introduction I’m going to turn it over to Oscar De La Hoya, president and founder of Golden Boy Promotions.

Oscar De La Hoya
Thank you very much, Kelly. Yes, we are excited, once again, to team up with SHOWTIME on presenting to you a terrific boxing card, which will be taking place at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., on Aug. 16t promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. Thank you to the sponsors, Corona and AT&T. This televised event will be on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, and we are always thrilled and excited to showcase some terrific fights starting with the co-feature, Omar Figueroa versus Daniel Estrada, which will be a 12-rounder for the WBC Lightweight World Championship. For the co-main event we have Sakio Bika versus Anthony Dirrell, which will be a 12-round WBC Super Middleweight Championship fight.

The reason why we’re here today is the main event, which will be a terrific fight, showcasing two of the top welterweights in the world today: Shawn Porter versus Kell Brook. On the call we have Kell Brook with a record of 32-0 and 22 KOs out of Sheffield, England. He is currently ranked number five by The Ring magazine at welterweight. He also possesses tremendous punching power, and is a great knockout artist and boxer. He’s coming off a great win against tough, rugged, Mexican welterweight champion, Alvaro Robles that took place last March. Brook plans on making a tremendous fight against the hard-punching Shawn Porter on Aug. 16 at StubHub Center.

As you all know, StubHub Center is known for its terrific matchups, its competitive fights, action-packed fights and this is no exception. Let me introduce to you, and everyone give a warm welcome; it’s his first time fighting in the U.S., and going up against a terrific champion in Shawn Porter. I commend Kell Brook for coming all the way across the pond to fight Shawn Porter. Like I said, with a record of 32-0 and 22 KOs, let me introduce to you, Kell Brook.

Kell Brook
Yeah, it’s great to be part of a bigger, stronger team with you, Oscar. It’s going to be brilliant fighting for the welterweight world champion at my young age, and we’re not too far away now, after finishing some hard training with still more to come. I’m more than ready for this opportunity.

Q
Can you talk about just the general frustration, if that’s the right word, that you’ve had given what happened with injuries?

K. Brook
Yes, it’s been very, very frustrating for me. I’ve been in line for this title before, and injuries caused the delay. I’ve been on the back burner and trying to keep fighting in between. I’m onto a new chapter now, and here we are. I think Devon Alexander gave Shawn Porter a tough fight and then Shawn looked good in his defense against (Paulie) Malignaggi. He took care of him, which no one has done before. He’s proven that he’s a worthy champion. Here we are again. I think I’m more than ready. I’ve been training very hard for this fight, and as the records show, I’m 32-0. That’s what I like to do, is win, and I’m coming over there and giving it my all.

Q
Do you think the fact that you’ve traveled for a fight will put you a little bit more at ease being outside of England for this biggest fight of your career?

K. Brook
Most definitely. I’ve boxed out there before so it won’t be the first time me doing that. I’ll keep that in my mind now, I’ve done that and it won’t be bothering me at all. I know that this is the biggest opportunity in my life, but I’m prepared for it, and it’s just me and Shawn Porter and I’m ready.

Q
How far in advance of the fight will you arrive in America?

K. Brook
Well, I’m coming over Wednesday (today), so I think it’s like two and a half weeks before the fight.

Q
Oscar, why are youe going to StubHub Center for this event?

O. De La Hoya
StubHub Center was a perfect fit for this type of card. As you know, StubHub Center now has the reputation of staging some of the best fights in recent years. We saw (Robert) Guerrero and (Yoshihiro) Kamegai, which was a tremendous fight. When putting this event together, StubHub Center was the first choice. The fact that you have no local fighters does not matter.

I feel the fans in Los Angeles that will be attending are just accustomed to watching some great fights no matter where they’re from, and the fact that the fighters will be performing at the StubHub Center, there’s a bit of added pressure for every single fighter because you must perform. It reminds me kind of like the Thunderdome movie with Mel Gibson; I mean, you have to fight there. The atmosphere is great, the fans are expecting great fights and I believe this is what Kell Brook and Shawn Porter and every fighter on the card will give us — a tremendous fight.

Q
Can you talk about that performance you had against Senchenko, and what it did for your confidence level?

K. Brook
I think it was a right fit, and I think it was a right fight. I think overall getting (Vyasceslav) Senchenko out of there in four rounds, I think it was appealing to the fans and for my career, and I think it was a good performance overall.

Q
When you were sitting on the outside looking at Alexander and he had that fight with Shawn Porter, how surprised were you that he lost the title to Porter?

K. Brook
I wasn’t shocked because anything can happen in boxing. I think there’s a blueprint over that with Devon against as many fighters who just smother him, because he likes to keep that distance and be on the back foot. So, you know, when watching it, I wasn’t really too shocked.

Q
Some people were quite surprised by Porter’s next fight when he fought Paulie Malignaggi and he took him out so easily. What were your thoughts on that particular fight?

K. Brook
Yes, I remember watching that fight. I didn’t expect that and I was definitely shocked after knowing that Malignaggi had been in with Cotto and some other big names, and other big fighters. I was slightly surprised knowing that Shawn Porter knocked Malignaggi out so quickly. It was a little bit of a shock to me.

Q
I’m sure you are aware how big it would be if you were able to get this title belt, and then an allUK fight between yourself and Amir Kahn. Do you have that just a little bit in the back of your mind?

K. Brook
Of course, it’s a business and it is in my mind. I know that this is the key to Fort Knox. It’s a business; it’s a match of money fights out there, not Mr. Amir Kahn, but international fights. I think people in America and around the world now will take note after beating Shawn Porter.

Q
When American fight fans get to see you in this fight against Shawn Porter, what do you think they’ll be surprised about most?

K. Brook
I don’t think they’ll be surprised, I think that it is what it is. They’re going to see what Kell Brook can really do, and, in fact, everyone around the world is going to see why they do call me “The Special One” and you’re going to see me at my best.

Q
What do you think Shawn meant when he talked about you being a very technical fighter, and how much is he on point?

K. Brook
I think he knows that he’s up against someone who’s 32-0, who’s passionate about actually becoming world champion and he’s probably seen the cat-like reaction. I’m a big welterweight and strong and determined. I think that he can maybe see it in my eyes that I’m not coming to lay down, I’m coming to lay it on the line. I’m a lion and I’m coming to take that title. I think he knows that it’s going to be like that.

Q
Do you have any doubts that you could win a decision in America? Do you have any reason for concern as far as the judges?

K. Brook
Yes, of course, it goes through your mind, but I think the entire world is going to be watching. It’s a hard division, and to win I have to be winning clearly, so all the world’s going to see it. Obviously, they’re going to remind me, I think, in my own country but I think, in this fight, it’s going to be so clear who the winner is there’s not going to be no doubt.

Q
You were implying that he feels more pressure because you’re not from this country, or for a number of reasons. Why did you say that? What is your rationale for saying that?

K. Brook
I just believe that maybe not in this fight, it’s high risk, world to world, it’s sad that if they could pick they definitely wouldn’t pick Kell Brook. I’m 32-0 and a star from England who has come to fight, so I think chucking and changing the dates, all the little things, it would just leave that time there. But it is what it is; I’m the man ready for that title, so there’s nowhere to go now.

Q
How would you handle Porter’s pressure and speed?

K. Brook
Amateurs and professional are completely different. Shawn had many fights and, myself, I’ve had far less amateur fights. I think the amateurs and professional are completely different, as you know. We’ve been having the sparring, watching Porter. We know it’s going to be a tough fight, we know that he’s seasoned and a professional. We know it’s going to be tough, but that’s what we prepare for, so that’s what it is.

Q
Have you ever fought anyone like Porter?

K. Brook
I think I’ve fought every kind of talent. I think that I’ve been boxing 20 years now, and I’ve been in there with every style there is. His style is not going to surprise me. I’ve dealt with that style, and boxing, to me, just comes natural, so there you go with that.

Q
Do you think the quality of your opponents is better than Porter’s opponents?

K. Brook
This one is arguable and the fact is, I’m at 32-0 out of 32 fights, and I’m ranked at that for a reason. I think that I can’t really compare opponents with his opponents, but the fact is I’m here and that’s where we are.

Q
After this fight, if you should win, who would be the next one that you would like in the 147- pound list?

K. Brook
I don’t know, and I think that if it came down to it, the team would decide what my next move will be. I just know that winning this fight puts me in line with all the elite fighters in the world of welterweights. I know I’ll be fighting a big name.

O. De La Hoya
Thank you very much, Kell Brook, and we’re looking forward to your arrival. Now on the call, from Akron, Ohio; he’s one of the United States’ best amateur boxers of this era; he’s now considered as an orthodox offensive machine coming off an impressive victory over Julio Diaz. He’s fought against the likes of Phil Lo Greco, Alfonso Gomez. Fighting at 147 pounds, he’s someone to be reckoned with; last December scoring 12-round unanimous decision over Devon Alexander to win the IBF title, and coming off a spectacular fight against Paulie Malignaggi, who he stopped in the fourth round.

Let me introduce to you, with a record of 24-0 and 15 knockouts out of Akron, Ohio facing Kell Brook, another undefeated fighter, Shawn Porter.

Shawn Porter
Thanks for that wonderful introduction. Things have been going great in camp. We just finished our first session here on the track, and just jumped in the car to do this interview. I’m excited about the fight Aug. 16. StubHub, I’m finally performing there so I’m excited about that. I’ve been to the venue a half a dozen times or so, and I love it, and so I can’t wait to get out there in person and give you guys a great show.

O. De La Hoya
Thank you very much, Shawn, and welcome to the Thunderdome. Now, for the media, we open it up for questions.

Q
You talked about his technical skills; obviously he’s a big guy and a strong guy, similar to you. Characterize what challenge Brook poses in as many ways possible.

S. Porter
Well, when I first turned pro they told me we were going to take it slow and build ourselves up and learn the fight game before we jumped into a big fight; the IBF championship fight that I had. I understood that the whole way; it was a growth process, was a building process, I was stepping up each fight. Anyone out there that’s saying this is the new Shawn Porter; no, this is not the new Shawn Porter, this is someone who has worked hard, someone who has developed and built himself up.

Now I’m here, I’m the IBF Welterweight Champion of the World and we now have another opponent in front of us, someone who’s very skilled, very basically and fundamentally sound. Just looking at film of the guy, he keeps his hands up, he throws a good, straight jab and good a one-two. That’s the basics of boxing, that’s the fundamentals of boxing. Things that I work on everyday and he’s very good at them. Not everybody else I’ve faced up to this point has been as good at them as he has.

With that being said, we’re going to go out there, we’re going to do everything the way we always do it. We’re going to box, use our speed, our power, our quickness, everything that we have, and keep in mind that he is a good fighter and we won’t be rushing in, we won’t be getting out of control.

Q
Is there any more pressure now given that you’ve been projected as the next star for the next few years over the next one, maybe two weight classes?

S. Porter
No, there’s no added pressure at all. This is what I love to do, and I’m having fun with it right now. We work extremely hard, and you know my dad, you know my trainer, my manager, Kenny Porter; nobody sets the bar higher than him. I’m working extremely hard every day, and the pressure is put on me all in the gym and on the track and in the swimming pool and in camp. Once I get to the fight all the pressures, I’ve already felt them all. There’s no pressure to deal with in the fight, just going out there and doing everything the Porter way and getting the job done, as we have.

Q
Oscar, can you assess Shawn’s growth, what you saw in him, say against Paulie Malignaggi maybe that surprised you, and then what maybe you see as a challenge in Kell Brook similar to what, I guess, Shawn sees.

O. De La Hoya
Well, I’ll tell you what didn’t surprise me is, the way he knows how to adapt. Shawn Porter is a fighter who, if he has to stay on the outside and throw calculated combinations, he can. One thing about Shawn, he’s always very exciting; that’s a given, so StubHub Center fits him perfectly. But, depending on who he has in front of him, he either walks right through you and demolishes you the way he did against Paulie Malignaggi, or he takes calculated risks; that’s who Shawn is. He’s a smart offensive fighter, and that head combination is very dangerous. This is not the new Shawn Porter; this is the Shawn Porter who’s just getting started.

Q
Do you feel like you’re just basically entering the prime of your career physically?

S. Porter
Honestly, I would say yes. I don’t really know what age you’re considered in your prime or anything like that, I don’t follow statistics. Nothing about me is statistical. I’ve defeated every one that’s ever been put against me, so I don’t know in terms of me if being 26 has anything to do with it.

Yes, I feel that all the experience that I had in the amateurs has been great for me, and has made me where I am as a pro and all the experience that I’ve had now as a pro has got me to the point that I’m at right now where I just feel very comfortable. I feel very excited about my matches, I’m excited to do camp and I’m excited about life. I think, right now, yes, I am in my prime.

Q
What is your motivation for fighting? Some guys it’s strictly glory, money is secondary; other guys they want to make a ton of money; other guys want to be in the Hall of Fame. What’s your specific motivation?

S. Porter
My specific motivation, I would say, is, there’s a level of excitement that I get from boxing, that I get from being in the ring and entertaining those crowds. I have those matches that just fill me up, man; it really does, it fills me up. I guess, along with that would be, yes, just a great career and the glory and all of that that comes with it. I think maybe my biggest motivation is probably my dad and my family. He pushes me, and we train year-round. We’re calling it camp right now because six weeks out from a fight it’s what you do; you call it a camp, but we live this, I train hard all day every day. I hardly take any time off, a few days after a fight and I’m right back at it because, again, this is what I love to do and you have to be prepared at all times.

Q
Do you think that at the level of fights that you’re in now that at some point, just for your own long-term career, that you do need to take a little bit of time off and give your body a decent rest?

S. Porter
We train hard year-round so we can afford to take those breaks during camp. Your body needs to rejuvenate, recover; we take those breaks. The other day I didn’t even hit the gym, I went and got a pedicure, I went and did some swimming and I relaxed my body. That’s what you have to do. When you train hard and you stay prepared you can afford to take those days off where it doesn’t get monotonous training and working hard doesn’t become boring or something you don’t want to do.

We’ve formed this thing, and I love calling it the Porter way because we do it in such a way that no one else can do it. We allow ourselves to take breaks during camp and just enjoy life and rest and recover and stay focused on the program without having to burn our body out or anything like that. Again, I’m enjoying life right now, I’m loving every bit of it, and I will be prepared Aug.16.

Q
Do you view, in any way, even in the back of your mind, that if you put on an explosive, impressive performance against Kell Brook; keep your title andstay unbeaten that, in fact, you become a serious candidate to get a fight with Mayweather?

S. Porter
Of course you do, you look forward to those opportunities. I don’t consider my fights as auditions, I consider them performances. I go out there and I give it my all, I don’t go out there and give it my all with expectations of getting something bigger and better, but with the expectations of making that fight the biggest and best fight that I’ve had, and then going from there. Again, you know this is boxing, we don’t look ahead of ourselves, but at the same time, yes, Mayweather, we all know he’s on the clock and we’re all right there standing there hoping that we’re next in line.

Q
You guys are both undefeated. Someone’s 0 must go. Does that put more pressure on the fight?

S. Porter
No pressure at all. You look at my record, I’m undefeated against undefeated fighters, so I’m going to keep that going. I do look forward to staying undefeated, and carrying my belt out of that ring Aug.16.

Q
You’re only blemish in your career is a draw to Julio Diaz. Just curious what you felt after that draw, and did you change anything at all to come back and have this explosion that you’ve had since then?

S. Porter
Yes. I think after the draw, obviously, I didn’t perform the way I liked to, the way I wanted to and that just motivated me to work even harder, and right all my wrongs that I did in that fight. Not that I put that fight behind me, but it’s not something that I look at all day every day or anything like that. Yes, I understood that I didn’t perform the way I should have, and I didn’t make the fight the Shawn Porter fight that it should’ve been. Since then I’ve focused on working harder in the gym, and just coming out being exciting in the fight.

Q
Do you feel when you get in there that you’re bigger and stronger than these guys and that you can physically bully them the way that you did Paulie Malignaggi?

S. Porter
Well, I’ve always believed that. Every fight we come in with our game plan, we work on it in the gym. We have a strategy that’s fight specific and we have to go to that. Every fight isn’t going to be Shawn Porter coming in and knocking you out. Some fights I’m going to have to box, I’m going to have to use my feet and my hand speed. Other fights I can walk in, be a little more dangerous, and throw some really hard shots and walk guys down; it all depends. With this fight, I’m not going to say too much over the air, but we do understand that we have to come in there locked and loaded and ready to fight.

Q
When you look at your opponent, Kell Brook, what do you see in him? What do you see as his strengths in the ring?

S. Porter
He’s good. He keeps his hands up, he’s very technically sound, he’s got a good one-two, he’s fast and he’s strong so this is going to be a good fight for me.

Q
How do you see that fight plan out? Do you see it going the distance?

S. Porter
I don’t make predictions, but I will say that Shawn Porter will be undefeated after Aug.16.

Q
How is Kell Brook any different than any other fighter that you’ve fought?

S. Porter
Well, I’ve pretty much fought the who’s who of young fighters out there. With that being said, it’s just another step up. He’s the guy that is mandatory for the IBF title, and the guy that we were told we had to fight. We go in there with a great game plan and we’ll execute it and fight him and move on from there.

Q
Also, you have pressure versus speed; what do you have to say about that, and pressure versus technical?

S. Porter
Yes. I can do it all so I’ll pressure a little bit, I’ll fight him on the outside, whatever I have to do.

Q
With all the opponents that you fought versus Kell’s, who do you think fought the better opponents; the most quality opponents?

S. Porter
Well, my dad, he keeps me going, he keeps me on my toes, keeps me moving and he’s always got me stepping up. With that being said, from boxing the who’s who in amateurs, the boxing tough competitors here in the pros to sparring Manny Pacquiao, I think everything that I’ve done speaks for itself. I’ve been in the ring with great champions and the better opposition so I do think that they give me the upper hand in the fight Aug.16.

Q
Talk to boxing fans, what they say is; they want Porter vs. Keith Thurman so I guess I’m going ask, will you fight “One Time” if you beat Kell Brook? Do you want to fight him?

S. Porter
I’ll fight “One Time” two times. I don’t look past what’s in front of me. Again, we’ve seen it all over the internet, all over the media wavelengths; everybody wants that fight. I think it’d be an exciting fight and it’s a fight that I wouldn’t turn down.

S. Porter
Final closing statement: I’m working hard. You guys know me, you know I’m going to go in the ring Aug.16 and give it my all. I look forward to seeing everyone out there, it’s going to be a great fight ata great venue. I’m excited to get out there to StubHub, and then perform Aug. 16. See you guys soon. I thank Golden Boy, Al Haymon, Team Porter, everyone out there, thank you very much.

O. De La Hoya
Thank you very much, Shawn Porter. We’re looking forward to an exciting fight, exciting card.. Thank you very much to all the media. I appreciate your time and being on the call, and we will see you very soon, and witnessing what is not only young guns, but young guns that are ready, willing to fight anybody. Thank you very much.

Shawn Porter vs. Kell Brook is a 12-round fight for the IBF Welterweight World title promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. In the 12-round co-main event, Omar Figueroa defends his WBC Lightweight title against Daniel Estrada, and in the televised opener, the WBC Super Middleweight title is on the line when Sakio Bika defends his belt against Anthony Dirrell. The event will take place at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and will air on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) and will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).

Tickets priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges are on sale now and are available online atAXS.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.

LAS VEGAS (July 12, 2014)—Golden Boy Promotions and SHOWTIME® will deliver another explosive night of boxing from the renowned StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., when undefeated IBF Welterweight World Champion Shawn “Showtime” Porter (24-0-1, 15 KOs), of Akron, Ohio defends his belt against fellow unbeaten British star Kell Brook (32-0, 22 KOs), of Sheffield, England, on Saturday, Aug. 16, headlining a three world championship fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast.

In co-featured fights on the telecast, undefeated Omar “Panterita” Figueroa (23-0-1, 17 KOs), of Weslaco, Texas, risks his WBC Lightweight World Championship for a second time against mandatory challenger Daniel “Tremendo” Estrada (32-2-1, 24 KOs), of Mexico City, and WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika (32-5-3, 21 KOs), of Sydney, Australia, will defend against unbeaten Anthony “The Dog’’ Dirrell (26-0-1, 22 KOs), of Flint, Mich., in a rematch of a wildly exciting and controversial 12-round split draw last Dec. 7.

“From the championship fight between Shawn Porter and Kell Brook, to Omar Figueroa’s defense of his lightweight title against Daniel Estrada, to the rematch that fans demanded between Sakio Anthony Dirrell, Golden Boy Promotions continues to deliver on the promise of a simple premise – bringing the best fights to fans of boxing,” said Oscar De La Hoya, President and Founder of Golden Boy Promotions. “The StubHub Center’s reputation as the home to some of the best fights in boxing is only growing, and we’re proud to put on three more great fights that will only help cement that reputation.”

Tickets priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges and will be available online atAXS.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.

Unorthodox offensive machine, Porter, 26, will be making the second defense of the 147-pound belt he won in a close but clear upset 12-round unanimous decision over big favorite Devon Alexander “The Great” last Dec. 7. In his lone defense, Porter overwhelmed former two-division world champion Paulie Malignaggi, via ruthless fourth-round TKO last April 19 from Washington, D.C. Strong, fast, confident and physically gifted, Porter scored two knockdowns against Malignaggi while appearing to seriously hurt him throughout. He ended the one-sided bout with a clean right hand. The bout was stopped at 1:13 of the fourth round.

Regarding his upcoming defense, Porter, an amateur standout before turning professional in October 2008, said: “I think I have the edge on Brook with everything. I’m faster than he is, stronger than he is, quicker than he is, more athletic, and if you put all that in one fight, I’m going to be the winner.”

The world title fight has been a long time coming for Brook, 28, a power-punching, upright fighter who has been a mandatory contender for some time and was supposed to challenge Alexander three times during his reign only for the fights to be called off due to injuries. Then, Porter outpointed Alexander.

“I’m confident I’m going to win. I’m planning on bringing Porter’s belt to the United Kingdom with me,’’ said Brook, who is coming off a tougher than expected eighth-round knockout over Mexican welterweight champion Alvaro Robles last March 15. “I am fitter than ever and ready to go. I have been in training for a long time, so August 16 it’s the perfect date for me.”

Figueroa, 24, captured the then-vacant WBC 135-pound crown on a unanimous 12-round decision over Nihito Arakawa in a brutal slugfest that stole the show July 7, 2013, on SHOWTIME. Figueroa, despite fighting with a cut on his nose from an accidental headbutt, registered two knockdowns in a memorable slugfest in which 2,112 total punches were delivered in 36 minutes of non-stop action.

In his lone defense, the offensive-minded, crowd-pleasing Figueroa retained his crown with a 12-round split decision over amateur nemesis and fellow Texan, Jerry “The Corpus Christi Kid” Belmontes, last April 26 at StubHub Center on SHOWTIME. Figueroa was victorious in a puncher versus boxer matchup by the scores of 118-110, 116-112 and 113-115.

Estrada, 29, who’ll be making his SHOWTIME and United States debut, has campaigned exclusively in Mexico. He’s won nine consecutive fights, five by way of knockout. At 5-feet-10 ½, he is three inches taller than Figueroa.

Estrada won the WBC Silver Lightweight Championship with a sixth-round TKO over Isaias Sampaio on April 19, 2013. Before that, Estrada scored a 10th-round technical decision over Arakawa in a match stopped after the 10th after Estrada could not continue due to a swollen right eye that was caused by an unintentional headbutt.

Unbeaten since losing a split 12-round decision to Reyes Sanchez in a scrap for the vacant WBC Silver Light Welterweight Title on Sept. 11, 2010, Estrada is coming off a third-round knockout over Hugo Armenta last Dec. 14.

Bika, 35, is no stranger to winning hard-fought, tough, tight, world title fights. He won the then-vacant WBC 168-pound belt with a 12-round majority decision over Marco Antonio Periban (116-112, 115-113 and 114-114) on June 22, 2013, on SHOWTIME and then boxed to a split decision draw (114-112, 110-116 and 113-113) against Dirrell despite getting floored in the fifth and losing a point for a low blow in the 11th round.

A 2000 Olympian for his native Cameroon, Bika felt he deserved the decision against Dirrell and took exception with the penalty for a punch the referee ruled south of the border.

“I feel I was fighting the referee as well,’’ Bika said. “The body shot was a legitimate shot. Not below the belt line. I got him on the belt line, Dirrell just wanted to milk it. I was the busier fighter and now I just want to fight the best ahead of me.”

While Bika was going 12 rounds for the ninth time, it was the first time Dirrell had gone past eight. Still, the younger brother of 2004 U.S. Olympic Bronze medalist and former world title challenger Anthony Dirrell was positive that he’d done enough to triumph. Upon hearing the verdict, a visibly upset Dirrell bolted from the ring.

“I want to apologize to the fans for leaving the ring like that, but I was just disappointed,” a frustrated Dirrell told SHOWTIME’s Jim Gray a few minutes later. “He hit low and head butted. I definitely want a rematch.”

Dirrell’s career has twice been seriously jeopardized; the first time in December 2006 when he was diagnosed with cancer and was sidelined for 20 months and again in May 2012 when he was involved in a motorcycle accident and suffered a broken lower left leg and left wrist. At the time he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, Dirrell was 12-0 and had been boxing professionally for only two years.

A victory over Bika would cap a remarkable journey, and Dirrell is confident it will happen in the rematch.

“This fight has been on my mind since I heard the decision from our first fight,’’ he said. “I’m just real excited to get it. I know I can beat Bika, I know I have what it takes and that’s what it is. It just takes hard work and dedication to stay focused on the game plan.

“I could have done better the first fight. I don’t feel like he was hitting me with more shots than I was hitting him with, but I still think I won it. This time it will be convincing.‘’

# # #

Shawn Porter vs. Kell Brook is a 12-round fight for the IBF Welterweight World title promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. In the 12-round co-main event, Omar Figueroa defends his WBC Lightweight title against Daniel Estrada, and in the televised opener, the WBC Super Middleweight title is on the line when Sakio Bika defends his belt against Anthony Dirrell. The event will take place at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and will air on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) and will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).

Las Vegas (JUNE 16th, 2014) – IBF welterweight champion Shawn “Showtime” Porter and top trainer Kenny Porter has confirmed that they will appear and have a Booth at the inaugural Box Fan Expo this September at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Shawn Porter is one of the brightest rising stars and top welterweight boxers in the world. He is trained and managed by his father Kenny Porter. Shawn Porter won the IBF Welterweight Championship Title after defeating Devon Alexander. Porter then defended his title by knocking out one of the top stars in the welterweight division, Paulie Malignaggi in the fourth round. Hailing from Cleveland, a 2006 Stow High School graduate, and after sporting one of the most decorated amateur careers in US history, Shawn made a smooth transition to becoming a professional in 2008. He is currently undefeated with 24 wins and no losses.

Shawn Porter Quote:
“I’m looking forward to the Box Fan Expo. It’s going to be a great and exciting opportunity for me and my Dad to reach out to the public, and meet many boxing fans, from all over who have supported me. We’ll have the Team Porter booth for my fans to come ask questions, take photos and get autographed shirts and dvd’s. Its going to be an exciting time for the boxing community and I’m honored to be a part of it”

Every year, one of the biggest boxing weekends of the year is Mexican Independence Day. In 2014, that weekend has just got bigger, better and more fan accessible with the announcement of the FIRST-EVER BOX FAN EXPO.

Box Fan Expo will take place on Saturday, September 13th, 2014 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and will run from 10am to 6pm.

To Purchase tickets click: http://www.BoxFanExpo.eventbrite.com/

Box Fan Expo is the ultimate fan experience that was created to promote the entire boxing industry and to allow fans to celebrate, Meet and Greet their favorite boxers and boxing celebrities. The event will feature boxing legends, today’s superstars, Hall of Famers, future prospects and the stars of today all under one roof.

The event will also feature major promoters, ring card girls, sanctioning organizations as well as trainers, referees, commentators and announcers. Anyone that directly or indirectly represents the sport of boxing will have a chance to showcase themselves to the boxing fans and whole industry. Also in attendance will be exhibitors, sponsors, television broadcasters and media.

Box Fan Expo will also feature different activities such as autograph sessions, photo ops, weigh in, face off with your favorite fighters and buy merchandise.

Throughout the next several months, there will be weekly updates on the many stars that have already committed their appearance at the Box Fan Expo.

For anyone in the industry who would like to be involved and reserve a booth, contact

Box Fan Expo at:

U.S.A Telephone Number: (702) 997-2099 or (514) 572-7222

Email info@boxfanexpo.com

For more info go to:www.boxfanexpo.com

Follow Box Fan Expo on twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BoxFanExpo

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

Box Fan Expo is committed to helping the Retired Boxers Foundation which is a nonprofit organization that helps improve the quality of life for retired fighters. This is a fantastic opportunity for sponsors, retailers and anybody involved in the boxing industry to get involved and be a part of this once in a lifetime event and help out this great cause. Box Fan Expo is proud to announce that part of the proceeds from the event will help the Retired Boxers Foundation.

LONDON (April 25) – Rising star Keith Thurman is ready to do the business against former world champion Julio Diaz this weekend before going after IBF champion Shawn Porter.

The highly touted Thurman, who has been making serious waves in the welterweight division, goes up against the experienced Diaz, who ran Amir Khan extremely close 12 months ago, this Saturday night at the StubHub Center in California, live on BoxNation.

Florida native Thurman’s reputation continues to grow with many in the sport predicating that he will be the man to rule over the 147 pound weight class in the near future, but first one of boxing’s biggest punchers must show the hype is for real as he faces his sternest test yet.

“What excites me most is being in the main event. They could have put me on other cards as a co-feature, but this shows me respect and I want to thank Golden Boy for that,” said Thurman, who has amassed a record of 20 knockouts in his 22 wins.

“Every fighter has to take it one fight at a time, and I’m going in on Saturday to do my job. Winning on Saturday is obviously very important. Others in my division are already name-fighters, but I’m just starting to build mine.

“I’m still coming up in the world of boxing. So this is a chance for me to show that I’m not like all others,” he said.

The unbeaten 25-year-old has proven to have a crowd pleasing style, which he refuses to change, and will continue with that against the respected Diaz.

“I expect Diaz to fight his heart out,” said Thurman. “He says he plans to knock me out. I don’t know if that’s fight hype or his strategy, but I’ll be ready. I want guys who come to fight. I want to make and be in the best fights. On my record I have an ‘O’ but I’m not afraid to let it go.

“I work very hard and count my blessings that I’m where I’m at. I love the support the fans give me. We’re going to give them a real fight on Saturday,” he said.

A potential fight which has been mooted for later this year is a clash with the current IBF welterweight world champion Porter.

The all-action Porter, who recently blasted his way past Paulie Malignaggi in a highly impressive knockout win, has gone from strength-to-strength since he faced Diaz in two closely contested bouts, prior to capturing his world title against Devon Alexander last year.

Thurman is aware of how closely Diaz ran Porter but is eyeing up the possibility of facing the Ohio man should he prevail in his next fight.

“Diaz had some great performances against Shawn Porter and he gave Amir Khan a great fight. Diaz is a former world champion. They say he’s a veteran with a lot of experience. But I’m 25 and have been at this for 18 years, so I’m a veteran, too,” he said.

“I’ve known Shawn Porter and his Dad for years. I know they’re calling me out. When the time is right, we’ll fight. I expect to fight for maybe another 10 years,” Thurman added.

34-year-old Diaz, however, believes he is no one to overlook having been counted out on many occasions before springing a surprise.

The two-time world champion believes he can do much of the same when he faces off against one of boxing’s most touted prospects.

“They said I was an old man three years ago and said it was time for me to retire. Actually, I’ve been hearing the same thing for 15 years. They said it when I lost my title. They said it when I got knocked out. But I’m still here,” said Diaz.

“I’ve always felt like a world champion, which is a reason that I’m able to come back and win fights no one thinks I can. The biggest mistake I made, I think, was staying at lightweight too long. I think I fought at 135 for 12-13 years,” he explained.

“Going against Thurman is a very dangerous opportunity for me, but one I have to take. I have to take a big risk in any fight that comes my way to get the big reward.

“Keith Thurman is for real. He’s getting all the attention. But that’s the way it always is before my fights. Let’s see what they’re saying after our fight on Saturday,” said Diaz.

Saturday night’s card is stacked with some of the biggest hitting stars around, with Argentine ace Lucas Matthysse making his ring return following his thriller against Danny Garcia last September when he steps in against another puncher in John Molina.

World title action on the night sees the heavy handed Omar Figueroa defend his WBC lightweight belt against fellow Texan Jerry Belmontes.

Also, this Sunday from 7pm, BoxNation viewers will be able to see the premiere of episode two ‘All Access: Mayweather v Maidana’ as we delve into their respective camps ahead of the mega showdown next Saturday night.

Thurman vs. Diaz is live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD & Virgin 546) this Saturday night. Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-

About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Diaz and Mayweather vs Alvarez.

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BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

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49 year-old Bernard Hopkins continued to make history as scored a 12 round split decision pver Beibut Shumenov to to retain his IBF and capture the WBA Light Heavyweight title at the DC Armory in Washington, DC.

The 1st three rounds set the pace that Hopkins wanted as next to nothing happend and Shumenov’s offensive pace was set for the evening. Hopkins started to get his trademark lead right hand going in round four. Hopkins became a little more active as each round passed. Hopkins took took all the middle rounds and was building up a solid lead. In round 10, he landed a perfect right hand that sent Shumenov to the canvas. It looked for a minute as if Hopkins would be able to get the stoppage but he did not turn on the gas and continued to land solid shots all be that they were one at a time. Shumenov landed very few punches of note but somehow a score card read 114-113 in his favor. The two other cards were correct at 116-111 for Hopkins.

The ageless wonder will now wait for the winner of the May 24 WBC title fight between Adonis Stevenson and Andrej Fonfara. Hopkins, 172.4 lbs of Philadelphia improves his Hall of Fame mark to 55-6-2. Shumenov, 174.4 lbs of Shymkeent, KAZ is now 14-2.

On his future, Hopkins said, “We are with SHOWTIME until I end my career. Stevenson, I am coming to Canada. I am getting my papers together. I want to be the undisputed light heavyweight world champion this year, period.”
A disappointed Shumenov told Gray, “To be honest, I wasn’t thinking about the scorecard. I tried hard. Bernard, but he was the better man tonight. I chose the wrong strategy and used the wrong style. I am angry that I couldn’t get the victory. I am a true warrior and I want to fight only the best. Tonight, obviously it wasn’t my fight.”

Shawn Porter scored an explosive 4th round stoppage over Paulie Malignaggi to retain his IBF Welterweight title.

In round one, Malignaggi was cut from what looked like a jab. In round two, the fight get physical and hurt Malignaggi from a leaping left hook. Porter landed several more power shots during the round.

In round four, Porter came out and landed a right hand that sent Malignaggi to the canvas. Malignaggi was clearly hurt and ate a huge left hook that drove him to the ropes. Porter was all over Malignaggi and landed 2 hard punches in close and Malignaggi was sent to the canvas and the fight was stopped.

In the aftermath, Gray asked Porter what it was that Malignaggi had told him just moments after the bout. “Paulie, wished me the best and I don’t know what he is looking at for himself [in the future] but he said, ‘Make sure they know that I lost to a great champion. Go out there and be great.’ I am going to honor his words and his wishes.”

Speaking about the win, Porter said, “I definitely needed this victory. To get it like that from a guy like this. He touched me in every way possible being in the ring with him. I knew what he was coming with. But I always had questions of my own. I came in and answered those questions tonight.”

When asked what he wants next, Porter said, “I’m going to enjoy this and let my team handle what is next. I’m sure they will all communicate. We’ll come up with the next game plan and we’ll tackle it.”

Gray then asked Malignaggi what it was that he told Porter. “I just said, ‘Don’t make me have lost to an average fighter. Go be great so that I can say that a really great fighter beat me.’ I know that he has that potential.

Regarding retirement, “If I do retire, and I don’t want to make that decision right now while I am emotional, but I don’t want to do it off of an average champion. I want to do it off of a great champion.

Breaking down the fight, Malignaggi said, “He was controlling the distance. I couldn’t get going. He was going away and then bringing the attack. He mixed it up well. He came right at me at times and then, at other times, he moved away.”

When asked about retiring and focusing the rest of his career solely on his commentating work for SHOWTIME, Malignaggi said, “I can’t really think about that right now. If I give you an answer right now I would tell you that I am stopping fighting but maybe I’d change my mind next week. I want to go home and think about it.”

Porter, 146.8 lbs of Akron, OH is now 24-0-1 with 15 knockouts. Malignaggi, 146.2 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is now 33-6.

Peter Quillin scored a 12 round unanimous decision to retain the WBO Middleweight crown over Lukas Konecny.

Quillin boxed well over the 1st half of the fight and landed shots through the high guard of Konecny. At the end of round six, a right hand wobbled Konecny. Round eight saw some good action as both land hard shots. Quillin got through with a left hook while Konecny landed some left hooks. The fight turned lethargic in round ten and even drew some boos from the crowd at the Armory. Konecny started to bleed from right eye in round ten. There were a couple decent exchanges down the stretch but neither fighter was in any danger.

Quillin, 159.8 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores of 120-108 and 119-109 twice and is now 31-0. Konecny, 158.25 lbs of Usti, CZ is now 50-5

After the fight, Quillin said, “I’m thankful that I was able to get up in here with a tough customer in front of me and get up and fight.”

Sadam Ali made short work of Michael Clark by scoring a 1st round stoppage in their 10-round Welterweight bout.

Ali landed a left hook to the face that sent Clark down for the 10-count at 2:06 of round one.

Ali. 146 1/4 lbs of Brooklyn is now 19-0 with 12 knockouts. Clark, 144 lbs of Columbus, OH is now 44-10-1-1.

Marcus Browne remained undefeated by scoring an 8-round unanimous decision over veteran Otis Griffin.

Browne dominated the action and scored a knockdown from a perfet straight left in round five.

Browne, 174 lbs of Staten Island, NY won by scores of 80-71 on all cards and is now 10-0. Griffin, 176 lbs of Sacramento, CA announced his retirement before the fight finished with a mark of 24-16-2.

Zachary Ochoa scored a 5th round stoppage over Hector Marengo in a scheduled six round Jr. Welterweight bout.

Ochoa dominated and scored a knockdown in round round from a roundhouse right hand. He dropped Merango for a 2nd time from a body shot in round five. Just seconds later, Merango’s corner threw in the towel at 1:32 of round five.

Ochoa, 139 1/2 lbs of Brooklyn is now 7-0 with 4 knockouts. Merango, 140 1/4 lbs of Aricibo, PR is now 6-8-4.

LONDON (April 17) – Paulie Malignaggi has vowed to claim his third world title this weekend after he felt he was unjustly stripped of his belt against brash-talking Adrien Broner.

The Brooklyn star goes in against the newly crowned IBF welterweight champion Shawn Porter this Saturday night, live on BoxNation, on a stacked card headlined by the ageless Bernard Hopkins who faces Beibut Shumenov in a light-heavyweight world title unification.

But, it is the matchup between the slick Malignaggi and the all-action Porter which has the potential to steal the show, with the seasoned New Yorker adamant that he will bounce back to win his third world title following the loss of his WBA crown to Broner last year.

“I think, as far as I’m concerned, I haven’t lost at all in the last three years. Adrien Broner was given my world title, so I feel like I need to win another world title to kind of rightfully get what’s mine,” said Malignaggi.

“I deserve to be a world champion; I should not have lost that bout. It was basically a win for Broner where I basically became a filler for Adrien Broner’s bullshit resume that he has.

“My name just became a filler on that resume, and I feel like for that reason I need to get a world title to kind of redeem myself and get what’s rightfully mine.

“I mean Shawn worked hard for his, but it’s a world championship that I want and now I got the chance to do it. So I’ll look forward to the challenge. I’ll look forward to putting on a good show on Saturday,” he said.

It was following his win against Devon Alexander last December that Porter came to prominence with his commanding unanimous points victory dethroning the tricky southpaw.

The 33-year-old Malignaggi was the star attraction that night as he took on – and beat – fellow Brooklyn rival Zab Judah at the Barclays Center, but it was Porter’s performance which caught ‘The Magic Man’s’ eye.

“Once he beat Devon, Shawn put himself in another level, which is the level of guys like me who will look at and say, ‘Oh, you know what, he’s a guy to be reckoned with, he’s a force to be reckoned with, and I might wind up in the ring with him.’

“All the other stuff didn’t matter before that. Once you become world champion I think you put yourself, you set yourself apart from the rest of the class, and Shawn did that by winning the world championship,” he said.

The 26-year-old Porter is known for his come-forward aggressive style, something which Malignaggi is confident he will exploit.

“I think the trick is always to take what a fighter does best and kind of try to minimise it or take it away from him,” he said. “So one of Shawn’s best assets is that aggressive physicality, so as a fighter, as a veteran of the sport, as a guy myself who has been around some of the best fighters in the world and has been trained with some of the best trainers in the world, including the one I have now, Eric Brown, I think you gain a lot of knowledge going through all of that,” said Malignaggi .

“It’s not out of the question to say Shawn is a very good fighter, but at the end of the day there’s traps that can be set for that kind of aggressiveness, and there’s traps that will be set for that kind of aggressiveness,” Malignaggi added.

The Ohio native is unfazed at Malignaggi’s claims and believes confidence from his recent win against Alexander and the fact he’s sparred with some of the very best will help spur him to victory.

“Yes [the Alexander fight is] a pretty good blueprint for going against someone like Paulie, and then you take into account everything I’ve done up until this point,” said Porter.

“Sparring with Manny Pacquiao, I mean there’s no better blueprint than that. The guy’s got the quickest hands and feet in the business. So I have all the experience in what it takes to beat Paulie, and it’s just a matter of getting in there on Saturday and doing it.

“It’s been a few years since I’ve been involved with Manny’s camp. The Shane Mosley fight was the last time I had done anything with him,” he said.

The undefeated Porter, who has an impressive amateur background, goes into the bout with less wear and tear on his body than his hardened welterweight challenger but still regards him as one of the very best at 147 pounds.

“He’s right up there, he’s at the top,” said Porter. “I think out of everyone I’ve fought, other than Julio [Diaz] and Devon, he’s got the most spirit. So I know what I’m up against April 19.

“I’m up against a crafty veteran, someone who’s got the hands, feet, and likes to hustle his hands, and like he’s said, he’s in shape. So I’m prepared to come in there and be in just as great a shape as he’s in and be just as smart as he is, and be aggressive and do what I have to do to hold onto my title,” declared Porter.

Also featuring as the third title fight on the night will be unbeaten WBO middleweight world champion Peter Quillin, who goes in against the experienced Lukas Konecny, as he eyes a showdown with the other leading names in the division, including Britain’s Martin Murray.

Hopkins vs. Shumenov & Malignaggi vs. Porter is live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD & Virgin 546) this Saturday night. Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.